To Kill a Kingdom

Author: Alexandra Christo
Pages: 344
Overall: 5/5
Setting: 4.5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Cheers Factor: 5/5
Pairing: Drag Me Under
This deep blue cocktail reminds me of the ocean that Lira calls home and I think it feels deep when you look at it which was the goal.


Ingredients
1 oz vodka (I used Kettle One)
1 oz white rum (I used Bacardi White Rum)
1 oz Blue Curacao
1 oz raspberry liquor (I used di’ Amore)
Lime wedge
Ice

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“That’s what a story is. A bunch of lies.”

Instructions
-Fill shaker with ice and combine vodka, rum and blue curacao and shake
-Strain over fresh ice in glass
-Pour raspberry liqueur over a spoon to layer on top
-Garnish with lime wedge
-Enjoy

“Look at you. My monster come to find me.”

Take a Shot: In this little mermaid retelling you get a sexy and dark side of both perspectives. It’s subtle and yet compelling and you want to see what will happen to the prince of gold and the future queen of death.

“By falling for a monster, I have become one for her.”

    I’m gonna preface this by saying in the first 100 pages I was not under the impression that I would actually like this book. I came hot off the heels of reading A Court of Silver Flames and this book doesn’t have any of the spice that one had. However, once I made it about a third of the way in I was so hooked. It’s really something about Elian in all honesty. Everything he says I felt like had such a sexual tension filled undertone that I was finding myself wanting him to be my new book boyfriend. He’s a spitfire that plays so well off of Lira’s personality and that’s truly what made the book so magical. The relationship between these two is really just a natural enemies to lovers where they don’t even realize the level of enemies they are until the end. 
    I loved the time spent on the Saad and spent in Midas too. I liked the different places that we went through and the locales we got the opportunity to see. I do feel that this is the biggest shortfall of this book, but even still it’s not a big enough deterrent to make the book unlikeable. 
    I loved the plot and the spin on the little mermaid. Making Lira a prince murdering siren and Elian a pirate prince who kills sirens was so fun. I really love that the reader knows everything and gets to read in anticipation of the big climax of the reveal of information to come. 
    Some of my favorite parts were when we were in Elian’s perspective because again he’s an intriguing and rough character that I now am in love with. If you’re wondering why I’m in love with a fictional character well it’s none of your business but how can you not be? I loved when Lira goes to attack Elian and he holds the knife to her throat and he says that wasn’t so smart. I was so excited that he had that bite to him and that he was willing to be weary of Lira. I also loved the explanation of how his plans always end in scars as well it really reminded me of Aelin from Throne of Glass. One last thing I love about Elian is the protective nature he has over Lira without entirely understanding it. He thinks to himself about how “maybe - just maybe - I don’t need to rip Rycroft into any more pieces.” Like woah, yep we are so here for that one.
    Although I felt this title was a hard one to get into I am so glad that I chose to read it because it was so rewarding in the end. I was pleasantly surprised and that’s something that doesn’t happen all too often and for that this book gets a gold star.

“Become the queen we need you to be."