YA Buddy Readers' Corner ♥ discussion

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

Awesome! Can't wait to start this next week. :)

Count me in!

I'm so glad we have people for this! I've heard friends either really love it or thought it was the worst. I didn't want to tackle it alone.

I'd like to read this one too, but I've never done a Buddy Read before, are there any daily page requirements?

Michelle wrote: "I'd like to read this one too, but I've never done a Buddy Read before, are there any daily page requirements?"

Hi! Glad to have another reader.
Not sure. I'm currently doing my first BR (different book Witchmark) and no ones said so. I think there are if the group decides too. You can look at this thread "How to Buddy Read" here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Count me in too :)

Michelle wrote: "I'd like to read this one too, but I've never done a Buddy Read before, are there any daily page requirements?"

No, not really. You can read on your own speed and write status updates here or some people like to read a book in one sitting or away from the pc and put all updates in one post, it's up to you really. Remember to put things about the content in Spoilers, that's the only important rule as far as I know. :)

Starting today! So excited.

I'm 50% done!

84% done. Sorry cuties, I’m not as chatty about this one as much as I thought I’d be.

Started this morning, just got to chapter four. Anyone else getting confused by the first person point of view changing? Does that get better/easier?

It seems to be a constant PoV change. Is anyone bothered by Lira's comparisons in the first few chapters (view spoiler)[mostly by Lira's PoV, she compares a prince to having a face of an angel and eyes like apples. She's a Siren how does she know so much about human things? I find her endless knowledge unbelievable. (hide spoiler)]

I haven't had much time in the last days, so I'm starting now.

11 % - (view spoiler)[I like Eilan and Lira, kind of, I need to know more about them and their world to really understand what's going on, though. (hide spoiler)]

Kate wrote: "It seems to be a constant PoV change. Is anyone bothered by Lira's comparisons in the first few chapters [spoilers removed]"

Yes, that bothered me, too!

31 % - (view spoiler)[ Sometimes the characters seem pretty smart, but then there are times, when it’s convenient for the story, they are just dumb. Why is Eilan wondering what “Prinkipissa” could mean? It’s obviously resembling a word he knows and uses. (hide spoiler)]

68 % - (view spoiler)[Eilan saves Lira and Lira saves him, they are becoming friends and I wonder if it takes long now before they both fall madly in love. Could Lira stay in her human form forever? (hide spoiler)]

83 % - (view spoiler)[Now that Eilan has kissed her I wonder if making Lira fall in love counts as taking a sirens heart. And he knows she is a siren now. I fear there is so much story left and not enough pages to fit a great ending. (hide spoiler)]

The End - (view spoiler)[The last fight seemed to last forever and then the last chapter felt really rushed, that makes the book a little less good for me. The world building was lacking at some points, too. (hide spoiler)]

I agree @Julie.
I felt that (view spoiler)[ To Kill a Kingdom as a whole was very disjointed. There were times that were rushed, and the characters knowledge was all knowing to help the reader, but not genuine knowledge that they'd know, a 3rd person pov might have fixed that, idk. It was rushed with the friendships and character development, and I didn't really form an attachment to anyone :(. (hide spoiler)]

Kate wrote: "I agree @Julie.
I felt that [spoilers removed]"

Yes, exactly. (view spoiler)[At times I had the feeling that the characters endless knowledge was extrem exaggerated and at other times the characters were just dumd, so they could not discover any secrets to keep the story going. (hide spoiler)]

Alright just got it all done earlier today, had to process a little before reviewing.
(view spoiler)[
So I totally agree with everyone's points of where the author used too much artistic liberty to make the story progress. And the pirate crew thats absurdly loyal to a prince for unexplained reasons. Take it from a supervisor with a manufacturing crew of 13, people do not just respect you because you say you understand them and are different than the rest of "management". And the ending was very anti-climatic for me and kinda petter paddered off. BUT I still enjoyed the book and got caught up in the drama. And I also appreciated the parallels drawn to the Little Mermaid Disney movie. Like the two eel-like characters who convince her to break a rule and having her "voice" taken away when she's turned human. It was a really great plot idea and I would have loved to see what it would have been if it were three times as long or a series and the maturity went up a couple years.
(hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting March 14th 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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I'm joining this!!! Please

Yay! Please do. :)

I hope this is not too late.

22% (view spoiler)[ Ok, so much has happened and I am so curious as to what will happen with the Pegos princess and Elian… I am so glad that Lira was not able to take Elian’s heart. I really do not care for the Sea Queen. I can’t wait to get to know the pirate crew better! (hide spoiler)]

38% (view spoiler)[ wow that was just so mean. But he did promise to make Lira more comfortable in that crystal prison lol, “a pillow” yea that does make it more comfortable. I can’t believe the Sea Queen has turned Lira into a human. I wonder if this is gonna back fire for the Sea Queen. I love the way that Elian interacts with Lira. He doesn’t trust her… The whole incident with the siren and her speaking the siren’s language should’ve tipped him somehow but it would be unimaginable that a siren would become human. (hide spoiler)]

59% I love this banter (view spoiler)[ the whole notion of them being married to each other is super funny. I love the quick wits on both sides Elian is so fast and Lira is so rude! (hide spoiler)]

72% I can’t believe she did that! (view spoiler)[ seriously! Lira taking a bullet for Elian is kind of crazy but she did it. She is falling for him and she is becoming more human and in tune with her emotions. I am glad Rycroft is being taken to a prison! I feel like Lira should tell Elian already who she is but at the same time he is going to hate her! (hide spoiler)]

88% Well then! (view spoiler)[ Now he knows and he tried to kill her for it but in the end he couldn’t deliver the killing blow, he let her go. The war is about to start!!! It has all culminated to this! (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ I was so scared the whole time that Elian was going to be killed! I’m all for letting the sirens choose but hey if I was getting beaten, I would just make them submit then give them choice later!! Ha-ha. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do. I am glad Yukiko took the new deal and married the Queen Galina, he did offer her a kingdom and that she could be a queen, just not his queen lol. I Liked the end, Peace and not more death and war. (hide spoiler)]

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Date changed. Restarting August 22nd 2020. Happy Reading ☺

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Going to start in a little while :)

22%
I'm really liking this so far! I love the setting and the story is really original, with hints to the Little Mermaid. I love it!
(view spoiler)[ I feel really bad for Elian, I like him a lot more than I like Lira so far, he just wants to be free & now he'll have to marry someone he doesn't really want to marry :( I'm guessing she either dies or she's evil idk. I do hope this book will end well, because I feel like Lira will die in the end help (hide spoiler)]

34%
(view spoiler)[ Ah no, I changed my mind, I don't like Elian anymore lol. I do like Lira, but I wish he wouldn't be so heartless to her. I know that'll probably change, but still :( Although it wouldn't have been fitting for him to immediately trust her, so that's really in character I guess (hide spoiler)]

38%
(view spoiler)[ I really do not like Elian at this point, he's being such an asshole!
I feel like Lira's necklace will probably be the key to opening that palace thingy where the key to destroying the Sea Queen is, idk. (hide spoiler)]

I'm going to start in a while, I'm just finishing up ACOTAR!

I'm starting it!!

Trisha wrote: "I'm going to start in a while, I'm just finishing up ACOTAR!"

Yeeeeesss omg what did you think? :)

60%
I'm laughing way too hard at this: (view spoiler)[ “Admire it,” Rycroft repeats. “Or steal it?”
“An entire boat?” I give him my most shit-eating grin. “It’s nice to know you have such a high opinion of me.” I turn to Lira. “Do you think it could fit in your purse?”
“Perhaps,” she says. “Nothing here looks very big.”
She casts a meaningful look at Rycroft and I cough, covering my mouth to hide the possibility of laughter. (hide spoiler)]

65%
(view spoiler)[ noooo he leaves her! Man I keep hoping this'll end well, but I still feel like it won't :( You better come back for her though Elian!! (hide spoiler)]

Danique wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm going to start in a while, I'm just finishing up ACOTAR!"

Yeeeeesss omg what did you think? :)"

I LOVED IT!!!!!

Danique wrote: "22%
I'm really liking this so far! I love the setting and the story is really original, with hints to the Little Mermaid. I love it!
[spoilers removed]"

I really hope she doesn't, by the way, have you read Hans Christian Anderson's The Little Mermaid?(view spoiler)[She actually dies in the story, and turns to living sea foam(If I remember correctly) and I really don't want that to happen.....that would be heartbreaking. (hide spoiler)]

44%
(view spoiler)[I'm really liking this so far, and I'm wishing for Elian to find out that Lira is mermaid, though I'm pretty sure that won't go as I want it to.....so I'm not wishing for it at the same time? (hide spoiler)]

73%
(view spoiler)[ okay someone has to die for that ritual right? I just feel like that's the case. Maybe it'll be that pirate guy (I don't remember his name lol, but the bad one who nearly killed Lira (I was going to type Etta what?????)), but It'll probably be Lira or maybe even Elian :(((((((

Also, that bargain he made with that queen Galina, I feel like it'll be her marrying that princess, because she can't be touched by men, but she can be touched by girls? Idk, I just hope he won't have to marry Yukiko/Sakura (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm going to start in a while, I'm just finishing up ACOTAR!"

Yeeeeesss omg what did you think? :)"

I LOVED IT!!!!!"

YES OMG I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU DID!! Read the next ones asap because the next book is my aaaaaabsolute favorite!!!

Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "22%
I'm really liking this so far! I love the setting and the story is really original, with hints to the Little Mermaid. I love it!
[spoilers removed]"

I really hope she doesn't, ..."

Yes I feel like that is what'll happen :( (view spoiler)[ When Sirene's die in the story, they turn to sea foam too, so I feel like she will as well :( (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "44%
[spoilers removed]"

I know exactly what you mean lol

Danique wrote: "60%
I'm laughing way too hard at this: “Admire it,” Rycroft repeats. “Or steal it?”
“An entire boat?” I give him my most shit-eating grin. “It’s nice to know you have such a high opinion of me.” ..."

SAME!! I was struggling to keep my giggles in...

Danique wrote: "Trisha wrote: "Danique wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm going to start in a while, I'm just finishing up ACOTAR!"

Yeeeeesss omg what did you think? :)"

I LOVED IT!!!!!"

YES OMG I'M SO HAPPY THAT YOU D..."

I"m going to start the next one asap, maybe tomorrow!

I'm at 63% by the way

81%
(view spoiler)[ Ahwwww they kissed, I love it!!!!! But I now feel like he's already protected against sirens, since he already has a sirens heart (since she's in love with him you know). I don't think it's the actual heart he'll need, but just the figure of speech heart. Does that makes sense? lol

I'm really dreading the moment the sea queen will turn up and they'll figure out who she is and he'll hate her :(((((((((( Also, what if that princess who's going with them is actually the Sea Queen, kinda like in the Little Mermaid, where she tries to win over the prince? What if she's actually trying to win the eye for herself in this way? (hide spoiler)]