Scan barcode
readingonthehorizon's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lily Sparks' The Merciless King of Moore High is an adventurous and emotional delve into the post apocalyptic world where all adults have turned into mounds of flesh that ooze with death. Stuck with just their peers, the students of Jefferson High and Moore High take on differing political systems that both delve into chaos as their worlds collide. Forbidden romances bloom and hearts are broken as Kay fights to bring justice and peace to both schools, the twists and turns sure to bring you to the edge of your seat and rip your heart out.
The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.
Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Blood
amberdlewis's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book was So. Good. It grabbed my attention right away and did not let go. There were so many twists and turns along the way, I was fully invested. You were never sure who you could really trust and there was so much at play. Yet, it wasn't overly complicated. Everything had a purpose and everything worked together well to make a good story. The only thing I had an issue with was that, unless I misses something, only high schoolers managed to survive into the apocalypse and they all survived within their school kingdoms. I get that older teens would've had the best chance but no middle school aged sibling made it out? No elementary kids managed? Not a one? With so much other good world building, this one little detail bugged me, but maybe that will come up in future books, because I really, REALLY hope there are future books.
lav's review
adventurous
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TYSM to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this ARC!
I had a really great time with this book! I didn't know what expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the layered plot of political intrigue (seasoned with a heavy dose of teenage drama, of course)
I enjoyed how the large cast of characters in their various factions showed the many ways people might react to an apocalyptic event like this, especially in complete isolation between schools. On the note of different schools, would loooove to see how the other schools in town have handled everything in future books! The characters each had their own distinct voice and point of view, so the conflicts that arose made sense and genuinely seemed difficult to resolve peacefully due to their fundamental differences in worldview.
I'm not typically a love triangle person and the whole forced-Leo-dating was a liiiittle contrived for me, but all around I didn't mind (and sometimes even enjoyed!) the romance between Kay and Brick. Good for them!
Also I'm sooo excited for the messiness next time Nirali and Merlin see each other hehehe
I had a really great time with this book! I didn't know what expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the layered plot of political intrigue (seasoned with a heavy dose of teenage drama, of course)
I enjoyed how the large cast of characters in their various factions showed the many ways people might react to an apocalyptic event like this, especially in complete isolation between schools. On the note of different schools, would loooove to see how the other schools in town have handled everything in future books! The characters each had their own distinct voice and point of view, so the conflicts that arose made sense and genuinely seemed difficult to resolve peacefully due to their fundamental differences in worldview.
I'm not typically a love triangle person and the whole forced-Leo-dating was a liiiittle contrived for me, but all around I didn't mind (and sometimes even enjoyed!) the romance between Kay and Brick. Good for them!
Also I'm sooo excited for the messiness next time Nirali and Merlin see each other hehehe
suzanna_gg's review against another edition
5.0
this book is CRAZY I need a sequel now.
- I loveee how this started I feel like a TON of dystopian/fantasy books start with exposition and I really enjoyed how we jumped right into the interesting part that’s in the synopsis
- From the dam to the beach, Brockton will be free 🍉
- The love triangle is boring I’m way more into the political lines drawn between rooms and cliques and such !! Wish that got more (all) the page space
- Using food as a scare tactic yup !
- Re: love triangle every interaction between Kay and Leo or Kay and Brick is soooo cliche and I roll my eyes !!
- Let teenagers swear ! Especially in an apocalypse!!!
- Merlin the girl wizard is gay, yippee !!
- Genuinely idk who to trust or who is a “good guy” and that hasn’t happened in a book in a long time
- This plot is so BUILT. it makes sense. It’s linear. Genuinely it’s complicated but so smart and well done.
- There’s so many characters but they feel different. I remember who they are. That’s pretty big for such a large cast
- Kind of obsessed that this author will straight up kill her characters ! Props for that
- EPILOGUE? No. I need another book
craftyhilary's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Merciless King of Moore High takes place in a modern day Connecticut where adults have morphed into terrifying monsters (called Growns by the kids of Jefferson High, where we begin our story). Kay, Student Council secretary, runs afoul of the school's current leadership and is abandoned in a nearby town, where she's scooped up by cheerleaders from Moore, another local high school. Moore feels like a paradise to Kay, but things are far more sinister than they appear on the surface.
This had so many unexpected twists that I felt like I had whiplash, in a good way. Rather than leaning on the usual "love triangle during the apocalypse" approach that is common in young adult dystopian science fiction, this was more political than romantic. These are teenagers, so it's not surprising there's some relationship drama, but it's more Lord of the Flies than The Hunger Games. I was so wrapped up in what would happen that I binged it in just a couple of days. Definitely recommended for fans of this genre.
This had so many unexpected twists that I felt like I had whiplash, in a good way. Rather than leaning on the usual "love triangle during the apocalypse" approach that is common in young adult dystopian science fiction, this was more political than romantic. These are teenagers, so it's not surprising there's some relationship drama, but it's more Lord of the Flies than The Hunger Games. I was so wrapped up in what would happen that I binged it in just a couple of days. Definitely recommended for fans of this genre.
lpcoolgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Loved reading this book, loved this world and watching the characters deal with it, I had such a great time reading it!
adrihean's review against another edition
4.0
The adults in Brockton, Connecticut are turned into monsters one day out of nowhere. Now Kay is one of the Student Council members of Jefferson High trying to keep her classmates from starving after they were forced to lock themselves in their school. When Kay stumbles onto a secret from the other leadership at the school she is left for dead. But she is saved from cheerleaders from another school, Moore High. Moore High has taken a different approach to the new world they live in when she finds they have a king and actively fight the monsters instead of hiding away. But can Moore High be trusted any more than Jefferson High?
“The Merciless King of Moore High” by Lily Sparks is a unique YA fantasy with dystopian vibe. I liked how ridiculous some of the characters and their actions were because it was realistic to how some teen would act given their immaturity. I liked kay a lot though because she was smart but also not needlessly brave. It was not like any other story I’ve read which was nice. I give a 4 out of stars.
More...