To Kill a Kingdom

From the first sentence I was in love with this book. Seriously. I read the line and went “Wow, I'm going to love this book.”

This is the siren book I have been waiting for. Yeah, I have a ton of mermaid books on my TBR to read, so who knows if one of those will fit the bill too, but this one was just what I needed.

See, Lira is a killer. Sure, she might have doubts about it occasionally, but that doesn't mean she doesn't make threats all the time or try to take down other beings. She is badass. I love her. She does have her own problems though.
Prince Elian, is kind and caring, but also shows no mercy to the beings who kill his fellow humans. He doesn't like that he is a killer, but he has no regrets. He isn't your stereotypical prince – he's clever and charming, but he is so much more than that annnnddd he is also, kind of a pirate.

These two are just perfect together! Oh, and the romance? Totally a slow-build. There might be some instant attraction, but the feelings come later and it is awesome to see build. This is the kind of romance I like! There is also witty banter, many times including how Lira will kill Elian or how Elian is going to leave her behind. Yet, there isn't anything abusive in this enemies-to-lovers trope. No one holds power over the other, so I wasn't uneasy about Lira being on Elian's boat.

One thing I should mention though, there is mention of parental abuse and manipulation, which really scars Lira. This is a heavy topic that is introduced and dealt with and I think it was done in a respectful manner and appropriately.

One last thing before I go, I absolutely loved the writing. It grabbed me and I would lose track of time. I was caught on every word and absorbed into the world-building and description which was just the right amount for me. I never felt confused about location or setting appearances. I almost didn't want the book to end.

So, I totally recommend this to fantasy fans and I plan on keeping an eye out for this author's future titles. Go read this book!