162 reviews for:

Of Song and Scepter

Liesl West

3.91 AVERAGE

rosieposie3's review

2.5
adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

nin34's review

3.0
adventurous dark emotional fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

It just felt rushed. I don't feel like I really got to know the characters, and I would have liked more world building. 

elle1991's review

3.75
adventurous challenging dark 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

This is a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid.

Enna is the bastard of the Abyssal Siren King. When he died she found herself magically bound to a death dealer, forced to carry out killings in her masters name.

One day, her master hatches a plan to take on a princess’s form and try to win the heart of the Coral Kingdom and in tern, become queen. Enna has to pretend to be her handmaiden in this scheme in order to finally gain freedom from her master. 

Sorren is the crown Prince of the Coral Kingdom and is being forced into a marriage with the Abyssal Court. He feels nothing for the princess, but the princess’s handmaiden is feisty and just the pairing he has always searched for. Little does he know that she is there to deceive his kingdom.

This was a very easy book to read. It’s relatively short. I loved the world and loved having a book based in the ocean. It was dark and brooding and a fun read. 

Overall, I felt like aspects of the book could have been drawn out more, such as the connection and chemistry between Enna and Sorren. I feel that would have made the book connect more emotionally.

Overall, a fun and simple read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
🌶️🌶️

nicoledicksonxo's review

4.0
dark emotional 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: No
lali_reads's profile picture

lali_reads's review

4.0

Well, this was a lot of fun. If you like feisty, bad ass FMCs that can sprout a tail, this is for you.

It didn't read as a debut novel, so kudos to Liesl! The world has a lot of potential and I have some leftover questions that I wonder if they would be answered in later books. So I look forward to the next one already hahaha

My only negative comment is that the end felt a bit rushed and off when compared to the build up and pace of the book. I was expecting a bit more court drama (don't tell me that Lord Varik isn't fishy

sheadiie's review

3.0
adventurous dark tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I really like mer stories and I feel like this had potential but just fell flat. There were multiple points in the story that could've introduced conflict or expanded the world and it just didn't happen.

SPOILERS!!!

The main thing I'm talking about is the Abyssal king just not giving a single F that the princess got murked. What was the point of having that guard get away in the beginning if not to tell the king their mission was compromised, the princess murdered and impersonated and the siren that did it ends up with the price said dead princess was to marry. This is a perfect set up for conflict!! Plot! An antagonist is right there!!! These kingdoms already have beef so this is a match to a flame. I also found it odd to have a big world map, with multiple kingdoms and not introduce anything apart from where the story takes place. It's one thing if there's to be more books, but this to me reads as a standalone. 

Like I said, this had potential. Just needed more time to flesh out and tie off loose ends. If you want a book that's an easy read with a straightforward plot (setting aside the plot holes) and you like mermaids/sirens and smut, bon appetite. 
jessbrooks227's profile picture

jessbrooks227's review

3.5
dark funny slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

ashleyadamsbooks6's review

5.0

This dark little mermaid retelling is part of a set of standalone book series!! I cannot wait for what Liesl has in store for her next book!!

I fell in love with Enna and Soren right away! Their chemistry was on point and the spice was

sallyreadsinfinitely's review

4.0

For my second retelling of The Little Mermaid this year, I read Of Song And Scepter. I ran to sign up for this ARC because the idea of a stabby version of the Little Mermaid was everything, and it lived up to that hype.

Enna is a badass and she does what she needs to do in order to survive (and deal with her blood oath) but when she has to pretend to be someone she's not and deny her own feelings it becomes a bit too much. Soren was my favorite. He was strong, clear about what he wanted, and unwilling to settle for less than love.

There was a bit of world building in the beginning, but it picked up pace quickly, and once Soren and Enna were together in more scenes, it was just perfect. If you like mermaids, mythical beings, or just wish Ariel was a little more stabby, pick up this one!