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rileydobereading's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing and Violence
earlieststar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-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? N/A
3.75
CW: depictions of drowning
would be 4 but the .25 is bc i wish this book was double the length.
fight at the end felt a little rushed and too magic-y for me. couldnt envision it properly and it lacked explanation on what the magic system was supposed to be.
aside from that i loved the characters, and both elian and lira are developed and lovable and genuinely well thought through.
the worldbuilding is really interesting. again, i wish we saw more of it, but im glad that it was overexplained nor dragged on. its just- the book is good and interesting and i wanted more of it. but its well written within the length and honestly, it might have gone off the rails if we spent a couple hundred more pages in the world so ill take my wins.
i liked the mythical side of the sirens a lot. they truly do feel brutal and otherworldly in this really engaging way.
slow burn in a 300 page standalone is hard to achieve but the tension was delicious. thank you for the food.
the vibes are also immaculate and there was some really good banter.
would be 4 but the .25 is bc i wish this book was double the length.
fight at the end felt a little rushed and too magic-y for me. couldnt envision it properly and it lacked explanation on what the magic system was supposed to be.
aside from that i loved the characters, and both elian and lira are developed and lovable and genuinely well thought through.
the worldbuilding is really interesting. again, i wish we saw more of it, but im glad that it was overexplained nor dragged on. its just- the book is good and interesting and i wanted more of it. but its well written within the length and honestly, it might have gone off the rails if we spent a couple hundred more pages in the world so ill take my wins.
i liked the mythical side of the sirens a lot. they truly do feel brutal and otherworldly in this really engaging way.
slow burn in a 300 page standalone is hard to achieve but the tension was delicious. thank you for the food.
the vibes are also immaculate and there was some really good banter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Gore, and Violence
davianareads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I didn’t realize that this book is a Little Mermaid retelling going into it, but enjoyed it thoroughly. There were a few typos that I was surprised by and it threw me out of the story somewhat. Also, there is a bit of filler along the journey. However, the banter between characters was highly enjoyable and I found all of the characters to be lovable, even if some of the side characters fell a little flat.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gore, Violence, Death, and Emotional abuse
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
zerneboch's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.25
tl;dr: I recommend this novel for those who don't like to read complex and long books, but still want to read something which has a suprisingly deep message.
My opinion without major spoilers:
This book was a VERY pleasant surprise. As a foreword, I don't like young adult books because of their predictable plot, but this one was a good way to get out of my literature shell. I like to experiment, and I bought this book at a discount just because it suggested a plot similar to the Little Mermaid which I liked as a child. Oh boy, if you think this novel is a mermaid story with some dark athmosphere, you are wrong. The plot revolves around two main characters, you bet, a young prince and a young princess from very different realms both running away their responsibilities - having way more significant duties. These two characters desire the same, have really similar personalities, yet they are enemies. But this story is not your tipical enemies to lovers trope. In this novel both parties give something unambigiously important to each other, a life lesson, which would be hidden. Both learn about humanity. This is what this novel is all about: humanity. This is not a russian realist novel about human values, it is a psychological trip disguised as a young adult novel, where even the romance is moderate yet satisfactory. The characters discover their true meaning in life, both individually yet together meanwhile they exchange ridiculously childish conversations what carries the story in a lighthearted and entertaining way. As a sidenote I would like to mention that although the plot is slightly predictable, yeah, the villain will perish, the end-end left me satisfied and made the story whole. Also, the side characters are lovely, having little but supporting role, and they have their small development as well - as they were not forgotten halfway the story!
Additonal side-note: the male protagonist's personailty felt strangely unique. I mean, he is your tipical sun-tanned, handsome, skillful prince, but his thinking, feeling and acting was unlike than in any other YA, I've read. He was so respensible and authentic that I almost believed this book was written by a man! No offense, I loved Lira's character too! She is really badass, not just pretending! :)
My opinion without major spoilers:
This book was a VERY pleasant surprise. As a foreword, I don't like young adult books because of their predictable plot, but this one was a good way to get out of my literature shell. I like to experiment, and I bought this book at a discount just because it suggested a plot similar to the Little Mermaid which I liked as a child. Oh boy, if you think this novel is a mermaid story with some dark athmosphere, you are wrong. The plot revolves around two main characters, you bet, a young prince and a young princess from very different realms both running away their responsibilities - having way more significant duties. These two characters desire the same, have really similar personalities, yet they are enemies. But this story is not your tipical enemies to lovers trope. In this novel both parties give something unambigiously important to each other, a life lesson, which would be hidden. Both learn about humanity. This is what this novel is all about: humanity. This is not a russian realist novel about human values, it is a psychological trip disguised as a young adult novel, where even the romance is moderate yet satisfactory. The characters discover their true meaning in life, both individually yet together meanwhile they exchange ridiculously childish conversations what carries the story in a lighthearted and entertaining way. As a sidenote I would like to mention that although the plot is slightly predictable, yeah, the villain will perish, the end-end left me satisfied and made the story whole. Also, the side characters are lovely, having little but supporting role, and they have their small development as well - as they were not forgotten halfway the story!
Additonal side-note: the male protagonist's personailty felt strangely unique. I mean, he is your tipical sun-tanned, handsome, skillful prince, but his thinking, feeling and acting was unlike than in any other YA, I've read. He was so respensible and authentic that I almost believed this book was written by a man! No offense, I loved Lira's character too! She is really badass, not just pretending! :)
Content Warnings
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Blood
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 can’t 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
things100's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
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 adored this book, it was so good the enemies to lovers was done to perfection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Gore
Moderate: Blood
Minor: Death and War
kayceeisbookish's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail