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comfyhedgehog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
โธ ๐ฐ.๐ฑ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐
''๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ , ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ.''
Brimming with determination and the lure and threat of siren songs, To Kill a Kingdom is an enthralling dark, seductive YA high fantasy standalone novel entwined with romance, betrayal, princes, hearts, doubt, desperation and the power that comes with strength, second chances and change.
Princess Lira, also known as the Prince's Bane, keeps a heart for every year she has been alive hidden in the sand of her bedroom. Lira has ripped out, and buried seventeen. All that out of princes' chests. Hearts are power, and if there's one thing that Lira's kind, the sirens, crave more than the ocean, it's power. Lira is siren royalty and the daughter of the ruthless Sea Queen. A twist of fate forces Lira to kill one of her own, and as punishment, the Sea Queen curses Lira in the one thing the sirens loathe the most- a human. Now without her siren song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer to the Sea Queen, that of Prince Elian, or remain a human forever. Prince Elian is heir to a powerful kingdom, but the ocean he calls his home. The hunting of sirens is his calling. But it's not easy. When he rescues a drowning woman, he's not sure if he can trust her. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good. But is she telling the truth? His goal is to kill the Prince's Bane. But will he be able to, when he and Lira go on this sail together?
โหโนโก ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ:
Before going into this book, I didn't really expect to like it as much as I did. YA fantasy novels are a hit or miss for me, especially with the enemies to lovers trope. But once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. The story had me in its grip from the moment I read the first sentence. I really liked the ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ of the book. The dark seas and underwater kingdom creeping with siren songs, and I liked the idea of the multiple kingdoms and how they differ from each other, and how we travel through these kingdoms on a ship named the Saad alongside Lira, Elian and the rest of the crew. It truly felt like a voyage. The world I found to be unique but not too complicated. It was easy to understand, but I in the meantime also felt this sensation of wonder and curiosity, but also in the meanwhile the constant threat of danger. I found the ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ to be ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ. It felt like a melody, and read for me like a dark fairytale, and I was often enthralled by some combinations of words and sentences I read, and often kicking my feet as well. Like this!:
''In the pits of our souls, if I amuse myself with the notion that I have a soul - Elian and I aren't so different. Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother's murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling to us both. A song of freedom and longing.''- Lira
Speaking of that, the ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ and ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ in this book! Although It was for me quite predictable how the story would progress, It didn't bother me at all and I had a great time, especially because of the ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง. I really really really loved the slow burn in this book! In the beginning, the goal of Lira and Elian is clear: Lira has to rip out Elian's heart out of his chest, and Elian has to kill Lira. But throughout the book they both have this inner question: do they really want to do that? There's this constant taste between the two of distrust, lies and deception. And that of hesitation. But there's also a whisper of longing and attraction. And that of curiosity. And it makes it so much better when they have these moments when they take the time to take a look in each other's heart and get to actually know a piece of each other as a person under the stars, or the moments when their feelings for each other win over the obligations they both feel they have. It made it all feel so much more real and exciting, especially more exciting and nerve-wrecking when Lira and Elian get to the point of actually having to face the conflict with all the emotions going on like that of blossoming love and the distrust after betrayal yet the sliver of hope. I was feeling for them a lot, and rooting for them both individually as together. I was so invested in the story, I wanted to read further and further. There were a few cute moments, and which also showed how much the two actually have in common. Aahrrhh I loved the slow burn.
''Are you ever going to kiss me?'''
Slowly, Elian says, ''That's not a favor.''
And the banter and subtle flirting!
''Remind me not to get on your bad side,'' Elian says.
''Too late.''
He grins.
I liked the characters individually a lot. And their ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก. What I liked the most is how self-aware they both are. They get a lot of many difficult decisions to make, and struggles to face, but they both know who they are. They know their strength and weaknesses. And from the moment they meet each other, even though there are these teasing and sarcastic remarks and because they are each other's enemy and bane, they respect each other and their selves. And what I truly liked a lot as well was how Lira wasn't written as the damsel in distress who needed saving, nor did Elian think of her as so, or as losing a part of herself or her strength once she fell in love with Elian. No, she remained her own person individually and became even more resilient. And the same counts for Elian. I LOVE that so much! Can we get more of that? The ending I find to be perfect as well. They each follow their heart's calling, and don't lose their selves, but keep on seeking each other out as well. I liked the other characters also. I enjoyed reading the relationship between Kye and Madrid, and that between Lira and Kahlia. And the friendship between the crew.
There's not much I have a negative thought about. The reason for not giving To Kill a Kingdom 5 stars, is because I found I was missing a bit more backstory from some characters and a bit more small romantic moments as build-up. But that's all.
โหโนโก ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฏห เผ เณโ๏ฝกห:
๐ง Song playing:
โณ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
หห๐ขึดึดเป๐ หห๐ขึดโงห ...๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก๐
โหโนโก ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ-๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ:
Trigger warnings: violence, death, blood, child abuse, emotional abuse, slavery & genocide.
Sexual content: nothing more than a few kisses.
Vulgar language: there's almost next to none curse words, there's no mentions of the d-word, the f-word of the c-word. It's safe.
โหส ''๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก, โ๐'๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐.'' ๐ผ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ . ''๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐คโ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐.'' - ๐ฟ๐๐๐
''๐ธ๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ , ๐ค๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ฆ.''
Brimming with determination and the lure and threat of siren songs, To Kill a Kingdom is an enthralling dark, seductive YA high fantasy standalone novel entwined with romance, betrayal, princes, hearts, doubt, desperation and the power that comes with strength, second chances and change.
Princess Lira, also known as the Prince's Bane, keeps a heart for every year she has been alive hidden in the sand of her bedroom. Lira has ripped out, and buried seventeen. All that out of princes' chests. Hearts are power, and if there's one thing that Lira's kind, the sirens, crave more than the ocean, it's power. Lira is siren royalty and the daughter of the ruthless Sea Queen. A twist of fate forces Lira to kill one of her own, and as punishment, the Sea Queen curses Lira in the one thing the sirens loathe the most- a human. Now without her siren song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver the heart of the infamous siren killer to the Sea Queen, that of Prince Elian, or remain a human forever. Prince Elian is heir to a powerful kingdom, but the ocean he calls his home. The hunting of sirens is his calling. But it's not easy. When he rescues a drowning woman, he's not sure if he can trust her. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good. But is she telling the truth? His goal is to kill the Prince's Bane. But will he be able to, when he and Lira go on this sail together?
โหโนโก ๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ:
Before going into this book, I didn't really expect to like it as much as I did. YA fantasy novels are a hit or miss for me, especially with the enemies to lovers trope. But once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. The story had me in its grip from the moment I read the first sentence. I really liked the ๐ฌ๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ of the book. The dark seas and underwater kingdom creeping with siren songs, and I liked the idea of the multiple kingdoms and how they differ from each other, and how we travel through these kingdoms on a ship named the Saad alongside Lira, Elian and the rest of the crew. It truly felt like a voyage. The world I found to be unique but not too complicated. It was easy to understand, but I in the meantime also felt this sensation of wonder and curiosity, but also in the meanwhile the constant threat of danger. I found the ๐ฐ๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ to be ๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐ฅ. It felt like a melody, and read for me like a dark fairytale, and I was often enthralled by some combinations of words and sentences I read, and often kicking my feet as well. Like this!:
''In the pits of our souls, if I amuse myself with the notion that I have a soul - Elian and I aren't so different. Two kingdoms that come with responsibilities we each have trouble bearing. Him, the shackles of being pinned to one land and one life. Me, trapped in the confines of my mother's murderous legacy. And the ocean, calling to us both. A song of freedom and longing.''- Lira
Speaking of that, the ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ญ and ๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐ in this book! Although It was for me quite predictable how the story would progress, It didn't bother me at all and I had a great time, especially because of the ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง. I really really really loved the slow burn in this book! In the beginning, the goal of Lira and Elian is clear: Lira has to rip out Elian's heart out of his chest, and Elian has to kill Lira. But throughout the book they both have this inner question: do they really want to do that? There's this constant taste between the two of distrust, lies and deception. And that of hesitation. But there's also a whisper of longing and attraction. And that of curiosity. And it makes it so much better when they have these moments when they take the time to take a look in each other's heart and get to actually know a piece of each other as a person under the stars, or the moments when their feelings for each other win over the obligations they both feel they have. It made it all feel so much more real and exciting, especially more exciting and nerve-wrecking when Lira and Elian get to the point of actually having to face the conflict with all the emotions going on like that of blossoming love and the distrust after betrayal yet the sliver of hope. I was feeling for them a lot, and rooting for them both individually as together. I was so invested in the story, I wanted to read further and further. There were a few cute moments, and which also showed how much the two actually have in common. Aahrrhh I loved the slow burn.
''Are you ever going to kiss me?'''
Slowly, Elian says, ''That's not a favor.''
And the banter and subtle flirting!
''Remind me not to get on your bad side,'' Elian says.
''Too late.''
He grins.
I liked the characters individually a lot. And their ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ ๐ซ๐จ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ก. What I liked the most is how self-aware they both are. They get a lot of many difficult decisions to make, and struggles to face, but they both know who they are. They know their strength and weaknesses. And from the moment they meet each other, even though there are these teasing and sarcastic remarks and because they are each other's enemy and bane, they respect each other and their selves. And what I truly liked a lot as well was how Lira wasn't written as the damsel in distress who needed saving, nor did Elian think of her as so, or as losing a part of herself or her strength once she fell in love with Elian. No, she remained her own person individually and became even more resilient. And the same counts for Elian. I LOVE that so much! Can we get more of that? The ending I find to be perfect as well. They each follow their heart's calling, and don't lose their selves, but keep on seeking each other out as well. I liked the other characters also. I enjoyed reading the relationship between Kye and Madrid, and that between Lira and Kahlia. And the friendship between the crew.
There's not much I have a negative thought about. The reason for not giving To Kill a Kingdom 5 stars, is because I found I was missing a bit more backstory from some characters and a bit more small romantic moments as build-up. But that's all.
โหโนโก ๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ๐ฏห เผ เณโ๏ฝกห:
๐ง Song playing:
โณ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
หห๐ขึดึดเป๐ หห๐ขึดโงห ...๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐คโ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ , ๐ค๐๐กโ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐ค, ๐๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐ก๐
โหโนโก ๐ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ญ-๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ:
Trigger warnings: violence, death, blood, child abuse, emotional abuse, slavery & genocide.
Sexual content: nothing more than a few kisses.
Vulgar language: there's almost next to none curse words, there's no mentions of the d-word, the f-word of the c-word. It's safe.
โหส ''๐ผ ๐๐๐๐ค ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐'๐ก ๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ. ๐ผ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก, โ๐'๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก ๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐.'' ๐ผ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ . ''๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐กโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ โ๐๐ ๐ ๐โ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ก ๐คโ๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ผ ๐ค๐๐ข๐๐ โ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ โ๐๐.'' - ๐ฟ๐๐๐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Child abuse and Emotional abuse
Minor: Slavery and Genocide
vi_holmes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-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
3.0
I'm disappointed in this one. This was on my tbr for so long and it just missed the mark for me.
Lira is awesome and honestly carries the book. I wish it was only from her perspective. Elian was just annoying in my opinion. I struggled to get through his chapters. Kye is right when he says he's naive. And the romance between Lira and Elian felt forced and rushed. Honestly, the romance the way it played out felt unnecessary and I wished it wasn't included.
Both romances in this book are based on just banter alone. It got old fast with nothing else added to it.
I did enjoy the world building, however, and the mythos around the sirens and the Hundred Kingdoms. I didn't vibe very well with this installment but I will still read the next one in the Hundred Kingdoms series.
Lira is awesome and honestly carries the book. I wish it was only from her perspective. Elian was just annoying in my opinion. I struggled to get through his chapters. Kye is right when he says he's naive. And the romance between Lira and Elian felt forced and rushed. Honestly, the romance the way it played out felt unnecessary and I wished it wasn't included.
Both romances in this book are based on just banter alone. It got old fast with nothing else added to it.
I did enjoy the world building, however, and the mythos around the sirens and the Hundred Kingdoms. I didn't vibe very well with this installment but I will still read the next one in the Hundred Kingdoms series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide and Body horror
thewillowwood's review
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I read this in one fell swoop during a long flight. I canโt think of any complaints. Well paced, interesting worldbuilding, loveable and complex characters. A fun, fast paced fantasy read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Body horror, Physical abuse, Murder, War, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse and Confinement
Minor: Trafficking and Slavery
soupsoupsoup's review
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Death of parent
anastasia_raf's review
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
"Lira, a famous siren, must prove herself by stealing the heart of the man, a prince, threatening their race."
To kill a kingdom...more like to kill my time! Because that's what this book felt like. Fun time, a way to kill evening boredom.
I felt nothing towards the characters to actually be scared for them or even care if they would survive or not. Still, I flew through it and I found the writing pleasant.
Honestly, the only reason I probably enjoyed most of it was because it was pirate-sea themed. The fast pace benefited the book and the almost constant action made it easier to follow. I couldn't help but cringe at the Greek used in the book. My first language is Greek, and I was disappointed that it felt like I was reading Google translation sentences sort of pieced together... Coherent enough to be cringy but also bad enough to be...well, cringy. I liked the way she used Greek words for the name of each kingdom. They were actually pretty well used! But the dialogues in Greek were, unfortunately, very poorly written.
I appreciate the effort but wish the author payed a little more attention to the grammar and translation of the dialogues.
To kill a kingdom...more like to kill my time! Because that's what this book felt like. Fun time, a way to kill evening boredom.
I felt nothing towards the characters to actually be scared for them or even care if they would survive or not. Still, I flew through it and I found the writing pleasant.
Honestly, the only reason I probably enjoyed most of it was because it was pirate-sea themed. The fast pace benefited the book and the almost constant action made it easier to follow. I couldn't help but cringe at the Greek used in the book. My first language is Greek, and I was disappointed that it felt like I was reading Google translation sentences sort of pieced together... Coherent enough to be cringy but also bad enough to be...well, cringy. I liked the way she used Greek words for the name of each kingdom. They were actually pretty well used! But the dialogues in Greek were, unfortunately, very poorly written.
I appreciate the effort but wish the author payed a little more attention to the grammar and translation of the dialogues.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Grief, Murder, Trafficking, Torture, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Slavery, and Vomit
val_theburrowofstories's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Violence, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Gun violence, and Child abuse
Minor: War and Genocide
averyjpub's review
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed this book, from the pace to the unique story, I love a bad ass viscous mermaid but Lira does start to fall flat once she becomes human. Itโs kind of confusing. Elian could have used more character development because the family dynamic was never really clear. The dialogue between them is cute but definitely doesnโt make me think of romance, the first kiss was cute but I still donโt feel like there was enough build up to it, little chemistry shown through. I thought the mermaid heart part at the end was sweet and revealing, I never saw it coming. It was a solid book and I would definitely recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Violence
stepnic's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and War
Minor: Confinement, Sexual harassment, Cursing, and Torture
extrafolklore's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence
samara__don's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
OMG. I absolutely loved this bookkkk.
Dude their character development was so good, all the characters were a vibe and i enjoyed reading about all of them.
The book was definetly fast-meduim pace which is my speed and I enjoyed their adventures a lot. Especially when they would save each other and also the relationship/friendship development between characters was good.
I also enjoyed the relationship between Lira and Kahlia and how they would always look out for eachother.
"I believe in you"
Their chemistry was so good and like how they wanted to look out for each other even though they knew they shouldn't. It was like a good slow burn romance between Ellian and Lira (not too slow though). The fluff in this book was so goooooood.
Dude their character development was so good, all the characters were a vibe and i enjoyed reading about all of them.
The book was definetly fast-meduim pace which is my speed and I enjoyed their adventures a lot. Especially when they would save each other and also the relationship/friendship development between characters was good.
I also enjoyed the relationship between Lira and Kahlia and how they would always look out for eachother.
"I believe in you"
Their chemistry was so good and like how they wanted to look out for each other even though they knew they shouldn't. It was like a good slow burn romance between Ellian and Lira (not too slow though). The fluff in this book was so goooooood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
Moderate: Physical abuse and Child abuse