To Kill a Kingdom

 

To Kill a Kingdom 

by Alexandra Christo 

Feiwel and Friends, 2018. 342 pages. YA Fiction, Fantasy 

Princess Lira, next in line for the siren throne, has been taught brutality by her mother for as long as she can remember and has the literal hearts of seventeen princes in her collection as a testament to her savagery. As punishment for breaking a fundamental rule her mother the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the thing sirens loathe most – a human, and tasks her with bringing back the heart of the prince that hunts their kind as the price to end her banishment. 

Prince and heir, Elian is more at home on his ship at sea than he ever has been in his own kingdom. His true calling is hunting the sirens that prey on humans, especially the one that preys exclusively on princes. When he rescues a drowning woman in the middle of the ocean with no other ships in sight, and she promises to help him find the key to ridding the sea of sirens, he realizes he can actually win this war. But can he trust her? 

 This is a dark story, both main characters categorize themselves as murderers, that is a loose retelling of The Little Mermaid. Much like Cinder by Marissa Meyer, it has elements of the fairy tale while still having its own unique storyline. The book is full of snark and banter, making it an easy and enjoyable read despite the dark premise. I especially enjoyed the character growth as Lira is puzzled by the loyalty of Elian’s crew, without the cruelty she was taught to associate with strong leadership. I would definitely recommend for those who enjoy fractured fairy tale retellings, or even just a good stand-alone ocean fantasy.

ER