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I Killed the King: A YA Fantasy Whodunnit of Murder, Magic, and Six Suspects in a Locked Room
One of Us Is Lying meets Knives Out—with beasts, murder, and magic—in this first book in a thrilling locked-room whodunnit YA fantasy duology by Andrea Hannah and New York Times bestseller Rebecca Mix.
After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can reveal why he has gathered them, the castle goes dark.
When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.
With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.
After a decade of war, the kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia have finally agreed to peace. As nobles and magic wielders from both countries arrive at remote Castle Avendell for a historic all-night masquerade to celebrate, King Costis summons an unlikely group to his the crown prince, his Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, and the palace’s questionable new healer. But before Costis can reveal why he has gathered them, the castle goes dark.
When the lights come back, the king is dead—murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guard knew of, and with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters lacing the blade.
With no clear killer—and everyone a suspect—they make a risky Tell no one until the treaty is signed. But when a winter storm seals everyone inside and someone aware of the king's untimely death begins to pick off guests one by one, the six suspects must work together to discover who killed the king . . . before one of them is next.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2025
53 people are currently reading
11414 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Mix
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
September 6, 2025
I Killed the King
by Rebecca Mix, Andrea Hanna
Mystery Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 16, 2025
HarperCollins Children's Books
Ages: 16+
The kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia, after a decade of war, have agreed to peace, and their nobles, plus those from around the kingdoms, all meet at Castle Avendell for an all-night masquerade party.
As the party begins, King Costis summons his son, the Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, the new healer, and, unknown to them, someone else hides in a wardrobe, who was also invited to the party, but not by the king.
Before the King can tell them why he'd gathered them in the room, the lights go out, and when they come back on, the King is dead. There is evidence accusing each of them. But when there's another body, they know they must work together before more die.
Upon reading this, I questioned why I requested it. The only reason I can see is because of the 'beasts and magic' claim in the blurb. As for those beasts and magic, false advertisement. There are beasts mentioned, and some magic that the characters have, and spoiler, but none of it stands out in this book; all but one is filler, just to be able to list this as fantasy.
Needless to say, I was bored and skimmed this. I didn't have my suspect decided upon until about halfway through, but of course... Spoiler...
It's not a bad story, there is a lot of mystery; evidence, and accusations, and maybe if I was a bigger fan of mystery I would have enjoyed this more, but without 'beasts and magic' I was bored. But I think the biggest issue I had with this was the six, yes 6, POVs because some of the characters seemed to be almost identical in certain aspects. I can see a little as to why, but with all of the characters, it was overwhelming, and I had to spend more time forcing myself to keep them separate than enjoying the story.
There is violence and death that's not described in detail, but I don't think readers under sixteen would be able to keep up with the number of characters' POV this book contains. I could barely keep them all straight... Six is too many!
Even though the blurb claims this is the 'first book in a thrilling locked-room whodunnit duology', I won't be continuing.
2 Stars
by Rebecca Mix, Andrea Hanna
Mystery Fantasy YA
NetGalley eARC
Pub Date: Sept 16, 2025
HarperCollins Children's Books
Ages: 16+
The kingdoms of Avendell and Istellia, after a decade of war, have agreed to peace, and their nobles, plus those from around the kingdoms, all meet at Castle Avendell for an all-night masquerade party.
As the party begins, King Costis summons his son, the Istellian bride-to-be, his personal guard, a wild beast tamer, the new healer, and, unknown to them, someone else hides in a wardrobe, who was also invited to the party, but not by the king.
Before the King can tell them why he'd gathered them in the room, the lights go out, and when they come back on, the King is dead. There is evidence accusing each of them. But when there's another body, they know they must work together before more die.
Upon reading this, I questioned why I requested it. The only reason I can see is because of the 'beasts and magic' claim in the blurb. As for those beasts and magic, false advertisement. There are beasts mentioned, and some magic that the characters have, and spoiler, but none of it stands out in this book; all but one is filler, just to be able to list this as fantasy.
Needless to say, I was bored and skimmed this. I didn't have my suspect decided upon until about halfway through, but of course... Spoiler...
It's not a bad story, there is a lot of mystery; evidence, and accusations, and maybe if I was a bigger fan of mystery I would have enjoyed this more, but without 'beasts and magic' I was bored. But I think the biggest issue I had with this was the six, yes 6, POVs because some of the characters seemed to be almost identical in certain aspects. I can see a little as to why, but with all of the characters, it was overwhelming, and I had to spend more time forcing myself to keep them separate than enjoying the story.
There is violence and death that's not described in detail, but I don't think readers under sixteen would be able to keep up with the number of characters' POV this book contains. I could barely keep them all straight... Six is too many!
Even though the blurb claims this is the 'first book in a thrilling locked-room whodunnit duology', I won't be continuing.
2 Stars
June 30, 2025
2.5 Stars, rounded up
This has the bones of a very good fantasy story and the execution of two friends writing a fantasy story together via Google Docs. In other words, the creator notes behind it are obvious in the ultimate execution. There are too many characters. We are told too many times about the characters (without the actions of the characters doing much to back up what we are told). The plot unfolds not in a way that feels carefully planned but in a way that feels like two friends delighting each other with the twists they've sent off via email. Which is fine. But it doesn't make for a good fantasy book. Sorry.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. And there were times when I felt like I could have liked it, if only the authors could stick the landing. But the execution never quite got there, which was just... disappointing. Anyway, my full review will dig into this more at Gateway Reviews. The review will be published September 12, 2025. Swing by if you want!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This has the bones of a very good fantasy story and the execution of two friends writing a fantasy story together via Google Docs. In other words, the creator notes behind it are obvious in the ultimate execution. There are too many characters. We are told too many times about the characters (without the actions of the characters doing much to back up what we are told). The plot unfolds not in a way that feels carefully planned but in a way that feels like two friends delighting each other with the twists they've sent off via email. Which is fine. But it doesn't make for a good fantasy book. Sorry.
I wanted to like this book. I really did. And there were times when I felt like I could have liked it, if only the authors could stick the landing. But the execution never quite got there, which was just... disappointing. Anyway, my full review will dig into this more at Gateway Reviews. The review will be published September 12, 2025. Swing by if you want!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
January 5, 2026
I Killed the King is a fantasy book like no other I've read so far. It blends fantasy with murder mystery and a locked room setting, and I was hooked from chapter one.
I loved that it was written by two authors who are friends and thought they did an incredible job together on the story.
The book begins with King Costis who's throwing a masquerade ball in celebration of peace being made between two waring kingdoms: Avendell and Istellia. He summons an odd selection of people to his chambers but before he can fully explain why he's called on them, the lights go out and when they come back on, he is dead. But who killed him and why? As they all suspect each other and strange occurrences begin happening, one thread unravels another and not only do they have to unmask the killer, they have to keep the Kings murder a secret until after the peace treaty is signed, stop any further murders and learn who to trust. Trapped in the castle in the midst of a winter snowstorm that's getting worse and a monster loose inside, this book pulls you inside and teases you at the end of each chapter to unravel the mystery inside.
I loved that it was written by two authors who are friends and thought they did an incredible job together on the story.
The book begins with King Costis who's throwing a masquerade ball in celebration of peace being made between two waring kingdoms: Avendell and Istellia. He summons an odd selection of people to his chambers but before he can fully explain why he's called on them, the lights go out and when they come back on, he is dead. But who killed him and why? As they all suspect each other and strange occurrences begin happening, one thread unravels another and not only do they have to unmask the killer, they have to keep the Kings murder a secret until after the peace treaty is signed, stop any further murders and learn who to trust. Trapped in the castle in the midst of a winter snowstorm that's getting worse and a monster loose inside, this book pulls you inside and teases you at the end of each chapter to unravel the mystery inside.
June 21, 2025
2⭐️
My opinion: I kept waiting for this book to get better, but it didn’t. Going into this book, I was expecting a story heavily inspired by Clue, and it was at first with the cover, the plot, six suspects, a huge castle, secret passages, etc. It’s only a mystery book to a certain extent though, almost everything that happens after the killer is revealed felt unnecessary. I was expecting the entire story to be about who killed the king (as it’s the title) and that there would be some dramatic reveal at the end, but no, we find out at 60%. The story was also hard to get into because of the pov, this book is the first one I’ve read of its kind.
genre: mystery, fantasy
pov: multi - third person, present tense
trope: unreliable narrator
Age rating: 13+
Violence: the king and a few others are murdered, st@bbing, strangling, poisoning
Romance: crushes, innuendo, confessions of love
Drinking/drugs/smoking: drunkenness, mentions of brandy, vodka, and wine, all characters drink underage (by American standards, the book doesn’t mention a drinking age), one character drinks to numb his emotional pain, the same character eats a large pink tranquilizer pill (meant to be used on animals) because they were out of alcohol
Language: 10 f***, 1 sh!th0le, 1 a$$h0le, 1 a$$, 1 g0dd@mn, 3 d@mn, 2 h3ll
Other: two of the male main characters are secretly in love with the other, this is a major part of the plot and is woven in throughout the story
Trigger warnings:
- mention of animal death
- mention of animal abuse
- semi-descriptive death of father
- mention of how another character was abused by her father
Publish date: 16-September-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
My opinion: I kept waiting for this book to get better, but it didn’t. Going into this book, I was expecting a story heavily inspired by Clue, and it was at first with the cover, the plot, six suspects, a huge castle, secret passages, etc. It’s only a mystery book to a certain extent though, almost everything that happens after the killer is revealed felt unnecessary. I was expecting the entire story to be about who killed the king (as it’s the title) and that there would be some dramatic reveal at the end, but no, we find out at 60%. The story was also hard to get into because of the pov, this book is the first one I’ve read of its kind.
genre: mystery, fantasy
pov: multi - third person, present tense
trope: unreliable narrator
Age rating: 13+
Violence: the king and a few others are murdered, st@bbing, strangling, poisoning
Romance: crushes, innuendo, confessions of love
Drinking/drugs/smoking: drunkenness, mentions of brandy, vodka, and wine, all characters drink underage (by American standards, the book doesn’t mention a drinking age), one character drinks to numb his emotional pain, the same character eats a large pink tranquilizer pill (meant to be used on animals) because they were out of alcohol
Language: 10 f***, 1 sh!th0le, 1 a$$h0le, 1 a$$, 1 g0dd@mn, 3 d@mn, 2 h3ll
Other: two of the male main characters are secretly in love with the other, this is a major part of the plot and is woven in throughout the story
Trigger warnings:
- mention of animal death
- mention of animal abuse
- semi-descriptive death of father
- mention of how another character was abused by her father
Publish date: 16-September-2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s books for providing an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review
Read
August 22, 2025start on: 8.13.25
end on: 8.21.25
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is this a safe space to say i’m confused but idk what i’m confused about?
‧₊˚✧pre-read✧˚₊‧
hehehehe arccccc!!! ugh i’m so excited this one sounds so cool
end on: 8.21.25
‧₊˚✧pre-review✧˚₊‧
is this a safe space to say i’m confused but idk what i’m confused about?
‧₊˚✧pre-read✧˚₊‧
hehehehe arccccc!!! ugh i’m so excited this one sounds so cool
April 3, 2025
This was so brilliant, I don’t have words.
MY CHILDREN. Oh man, this little band of misfits.
Oak - my boy, you can do no wrong, ever.
Kellam - sweet, sad, and filled with yearning, you have my heart.
Clove - precious, fierce, smart, and filled with love.
Melarie - whip-smart, loyal, my best girl. (Also, can someone make sure she’s okay? Her taste in men is… troubling, to say the least.)
Vesryn - loyal and kind, despite everything.
Ellion - oh buddy, Ellion needs a hug. And like, a nice warm bath or something. A hot chocolate and a baked good.
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to read this again and again and again. A new favourite, for sure.
ETA: Can we say perfect book or can we say perfect book?
This had me riveted from page one and I was desperate for more after every chapter.
Rebecca and Andrea have done such an amazing job of making you fall in love with every single character, hoping none of them were killers and forgiving them when they were (no spoilers!)
I am so invested in this story; it has such interesting world-building - the gods, the magic system, the royal families and kingdoms, everything!
I can't wait to read book 2, I can't wait to see what happens and what chaos ensues.
Huge thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC. And to whoever answers your Edelweiss requests, if I ever have that kid, it’s all yours!
MY CHILDREN. Oh man, this little band of misfits.
Oak - my boy, you can do no wrong, ever.
Kellam - sweet, sad, and filled with yearning, you have my heart.
Clove - precious, fierce, smart, and filled with love.
Melarie - whip-smart, loyal, my best girl. (Also, can someone make sure she’s okay? Her taste in men is… troubling, to say the least.)
Vesryn - loyal and kind, despite everything.
Ellion - oh buddy, Ellion needs a hug. And like, a nice warm bath or something. A hot chocolate and a baked good.
Oh my gosh, I can’t wait to read this again and again and again. A new favourite, for sure.
ETA: Can we say perfect book or can we say perfect book?
This had me riveted from page one and I was desperate for more after every chapter.
Rebecca and Andrea have done such an amazing job of making you fall in love with every single character, hoping none of them were killers and forgiving them when they were (no spoilers!)
I am so invested in this story; it has such interesting world-building - the gods, the magic system, the royal families and kingdoms, everything!
I can't wait to read book 2, I can't wait to see what happens and what chaos ensues.
Huge thank you to HarperCollins for the ARC. And to whoever answers your Edelweiss requests, if I ever have that kid, it’s all yours!
April 4, 2025
4.5⭐️
When a King is murdered, in the presence of 5 unlikely witnesses, and none of them saw who struck the killing blow, what happens next?
This was a cool endeavor of the relationships between people formed in chaos and stress. I loved the play on time throughout the book and all the twists and turns with peeks into each of the characters. I can honestly say that the reveals were not what I was thinking and while this is fantasy, it was not high fantasy. Some characters had magical abilities, but we didn’t see a heavy use of those powers in the book.
I do think the ending was left open for a possible second book which honestly I’d be here for- I think there’s more to some of the characters stories and would love to get more!
When a King is murdered, in the presence of 5 unlikely witnesses, and none of them saw who struck the killing blow, what happens next?
This was a cool endeavor of the relationships between people formed in chaos and stress. I loved the play on time throughout the book and all the twists and turns with peeks into each of the characters. I can honestly say that the reveals were not what I was thinking and while this is fantasy, it was not high fantasy. Some characters had magical abilities, but we didn’t see a heavy use of those powers in the book.
I do think the ending was left open for a possible second book which honestly I’d be here for- I think there’s more to some of the characters stories and would love to get more!
July 22, 2025
Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given,
and my opinions are my own.
Yes, I know the book hasn't even been released yet, but with that ending, please, I need the next book right now! Seriously! What? There were so many twists and turns during the book, that I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was. Then that ending. Ugh. But it was sooo good. I really can't wait for the next one. Will be putting a reminder on my calendar to check for a sequel.
If you can't tell, I would definitely recommend this book!
and my opinions are my own.
Yes, I know the book hasn't even been released yet, but with that ending, please, I need the next book right now! Seriously! What? There were so many twists and turns during the book, that I had absolutely no idea who the murderer was. Then that ending. Ugh. But it was sooo good. I really can't wait for the next one. Will be putting a reminder on my calendar to check for a sequel.
If you can't tell, I would definitely recommend this book!
November 22, 2025
Let me tell you what, it's been a while since I've read a book that's quite so dungeons & dragons coded. It felt like a one-shot being played by a group of friends, and I really loved it for that. I was so invested the whole time, trying to piece together what the heck was going on in this castle. I did figure out a lot of it, but it went in some crazy directions that I found really fun. I didn't realize that this is going be a duology but on further investigation that's on me for not reading the synopsis properly because it's right there lol and I'll 100% be reading book 2. I need answers! (but not like... too many things were left undone? it's not a cliffhanger, we do figure out who killed the king, but there are more things to explore in the wider world and I, for one, am sat to learn it all)
Overall, I thought it was quite good. I love a fantasy mystery, and I'm glad this randomly appeared in my email from Netgalley because I wouldn't have heard about it otherwise and I really enjoyed it! Four stars!
*content warnings for profanity (10 f-bombs) (TEN), murder (obvi lol), necromantic magic, and gay characters
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
Overall, I thought it was quite good. I love a fantasy mystery, and I'm glad this randomly appeared in my email from Netgalley because I wouldn't have heard about it otherwise and I really enjoyed it! Four stars!
*content warnings for profanity (10 f-bombs) (TEN), murder (obvi lol), necromantic magic, and gay characters
**I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
October 8, 2025
A whodunit but make it fantasy! What a great concept and fun yet sometimes stressful adventure. With multiple POVs, I couldn’t help but fall in love with all 6 of these characters.. especially Kellam and Oak 💙 So many twists and turns and shocking reveals, I was guessing up until the very end.
This has been one of the most fun reads I’ve had this year and I’m really looking forward to the next part to this YA Fantasy duology. Check out the blurb… I’m telling you, you’ll want to add this one to your TBR right away. 📚
This has been one of the most fun reads I’ve had this year and I’m really looking forward to the next part to this YA Fantasy duology. Check out the blurb… I’m telling you, you’ll want to add this one to your TBR right away. 📚
Want to read
March 16, 2025IM SO EXCITED GDJHDJSDFGHJKLS
December 13, 2025
I got this book because I saw a video of one of the authors promoting the mlm plot of two of the characters. A knight who loves his prince and vice versa and neither of them knows. While what she said would happen did happen (dramatic love confession and all included) it was definitely not quite matching the vibe I was expecting. It was more of a subplot than a grand reveal- especially because the reader knows both their feelings because of the multiple POVs- and it came much sooner than I thought it would.
Speaking of the POVs, there are 6 of them which is quite a lot and sometimes it read as if the characters who the chapters were focused on lacked their own voices. They're were multiple instances where I had to check the name of the chapter to make sure I know whose view I'm supposed to listen to.
While I enjoy murder mysteries and magic fantasy settings, I am not 100% sold on the idea of combining them. But I still will definitely read the second book too see where the authors are bringing the plot next, though part of me now hopes it won't be another murder mystery because that would feel like too much repetition.
That all said, I did still enjoy the book, it was an easy read, had a bit of a "chaos DND party" feeling too and the individual characters do all have potential to be extremely lovable.
Speaking of the POVs, there are 6 of them which is quite a lot and sometimes it read as if the characters who the chapters were focused on lacked their own voices. They're were multiple instances where I had to check the name of the chapter to make sure I know whose view I'm supposed to listen to.
While I enjoy murder mysteries and magic fantasy settings, I am not 100% sold on the idea of combining them. But I still will definitely read the second book too see where the authors are bringing the plot next, though part of me now hopes it won't be another murder mystery because that would feel like too much repetition.
That all said, I did still enjoy the book, it was an easy read, had a bit of a "chaos DND party" feeling too and the individual characters do all have potential to be extremely lovable.
September 25, 2025
I inhaled this. A locked room murder mystery fantasy? With magic and gods and a little romance? Yes please! I need more books like this. I’m guessing people who didn’t like this are going into it because of the Knives Out comparison. The mystery is there with a tiny bit of humor. But this is mostly a fantasy.
September 19, 2025
Middle school appropriate. First, the opening chapter is pure magic. It is beautifully done. The suspense was amazing and I definitely fell for a couple red herrings. Loved the plot twist at the end of chapter 37. There were some unusual story elements (Vesryn) that I will be interested to see play out in the sequels. Not sure I understand some of the magic (can’t say more without spoilers) but I think that is on me and not the writing so I am looking forward to when that will most likely be recapped in book 2. Finally, some of the word choices were really inspired—I stopped to admire several times when a tuen of phrase really stood out. Looking forward to more!
October 6, 2025
thanks to NetGalley for the eARC
⭐️=2.5 | 😘=2 | 🤬= 3.25 | ⚔️=3 | 13+
summary: six teenagers locked in a castle on the night an important treaty is to be signed, each with their own motivations and secrets, and then the king dies, and one of them killed him! gasp!! solve the mystery!!
thoughts: huh. hmm. okay. lots to say. very strong start, fun premise. locked-in-a-castle mystery will always hit—or rather, have the potential to hit.
there are two ways that a murder mystery can end in a super unsatisfying way: where is the catharsis of this genre if you take that from me?? so i hate that kind of resolution
the latter half of the novel was truly bizarre and honestly a bit of a mess. these gods aren’t coming out of nowhere, exactly, but the two different villains felt like two separate novels, one with magic and one without. i don’t know if the world was as coherent and carefully plotted out as is absolutely necessary for a murder mystery. that’s why it’s hard to do a successful murder mystery in a fantasy world, because your magic system has to be so clear to the reader that it’s possible for them to discover the true murderer and solve the mystery, too, but in this book that isn’t possible, so that means it’s bad at being a mystery. things were just not foreshadowed enough in the right way??
also the characters lost their fun personality traits after the first couple chapters—specifically thinking of Kellam. like he had the whole wry, sarcastic royalty thing going on and then all the jokes were totally gone after his dad died, which like, understandable, but also it means he’s super boring now and not funny. also not all of the characters were equally interesting—Clove and Melarie were super weak compared to everyone else.
basically this had a lot of potential but I was not super obsessed with the execution :(
⭐️=2.5 | 😘=2 | 🤬= 3.25 | ⚔️=3 | 13+
summary: six teenagers locked in a castle on the night an important treaty is to be signed, each with their own motivations and secrets, and then the king dies, and one of them killed him! gasp!! solve the mystery!!
thoughts: huh. hmm. okay. lots to say. very strong start, fun premise. locked-in-a-castle mystery will always hit—or rather, have the potential to hit.
there are two ways that a murder mystery can end in a super unsatisfying way: where is the catharsis of this genre if you take that from me?? so i hate that kind of resolution
the latter half of the novel was truly bizarre and honestly a bit of a mess. these gods aren’t coming out of nowhere, exactly, but the two different villains felt like two separate novels, one with magic and one without. i don’t know if the world was as coherent and carefully plotted out as is absolutely necessary for a murder mystery. that’s why it’s hard to do a successful murder mystery in a fantasy world, because your magic system has to be so clear to the reader that it’s possible for them to discover the true murderer and solve the mystery, too, but in this book that isn’t possible, so that means it’s bad at being a mystery. things were just not foreshadowed enough in the right way??
also the characters lost their fun personality traits after the first couple chapters—specifically thinking of Kellam. like he had the whole wry, sarcastic royalty thing going on and then all the jokes were totally gone after his dad died, which like, understandable, but also it means he’s super boring now and not funny. also not all of the characters were equally interesting—Clove and Melarie were super weak compared to everyone else.
basically this had a lot of potential but I was not super obsessed with the execution :(
September 16, 2025
This is a fantasy murder mystery 🕵️♀️ with a nonlinear timeline, six POVs, and a strong focus on relationships under pressure. If you’re into character-driven fantasy with a murder mystery structure, light mythology and a bit of emotional weight, it’s worth a read. Not super heavy on magic, but enough going on to keep you interested especially if there’s a sequel.
The plot digs into the 6 MCs’ connections to the king, to each other and to the broader political and mythological world they’re in.. I enjoyed the 6 POVs but I realize some may not.
The book is more about uncovering layered truths than just “who killed the king.” There’s romantic tension, light humor and a timeline that moves around a bit which works well (for me at least), even if it takes some attention to keep track of everything. The killer is revealed earlier than expected (about 60% through), which shifts the story into less predictable territory.
It’s a pretty quick read. The pacing mostly works even if some moments felt a bit rushed. Because the story sticks to a single setting (as murder mysteries tend to), the worldbuilding feels somewhat limited. The mythology was a cool addition (I’m a sucker for them!), even if the magic system tied to it wasn’t fully explained. That part felt a little underdeveloped but maybe it’s something the sequel will get into more?
Warnings: Includes violence (stabbing, poisoning, etc.), trauma, underage drinking/drug use, references to abuse (including animal abuse) and queer romance as a central element.
Thank you to @booksparks , @mix.becca , @andeehannah and @harpercollins for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
The plot digs into the 6 MCs’ connections to the king, to each other and to the broader political and mythological world they’re in.. I enjoyed the 6 POVs but I realize some may not.
The book is more about uncovering layered truths than just “who killed the king.” There’s romantic tension, light humor and a timeline that moves around a bit which works well (for me at least), even if it takes some attention to keep track of everything. The killer is revealed earlier than expected (about 60% through), which shifts the story into less predictable territory.
It’s a pretty quick read. The pacing mostly works even if some moments felt a bit rushed. Because the story sticks to a single setting (as murder mysteries tend to), the worldbuilding feels somewhat limited. The mythology was a cool addition (I’m a sucker for them!), even if the magic system tied to it wasn’t fully explained. That part felt a little underdeveloped but maybe it’s something the sequel will get into more?
Warnings: Includes violence (stabbing, poisoning, etc.), trauma, underage drinking/drug use, references to abuse (including animal abuse) and queer romance as a central element.
Thank you to @booksparks , @mix.becca , @andeehannah and @harpercollins for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 15, 2025
Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! This was a very fun and quick read. There were a couple points that I thought felt almost too brief, but mostly I thought the characters and story line were fleshed out and dynamic. I would have liked to see more of the world building, but the nature of a murder mystery style fantasy story means the scene is set in one place. The threads of the murder pulled me along with no resistance, and the ending of the book makes me VERY eager to see what book 2 will bring! 10/10 would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy, murder mystery, and the hint of something bigger than you.
October 10, 2025
I liked this very much. It did feel confusing at times, but that comes with the territory of a murder mystery. And boy did the confusion make sense with the reveal.
I do however understand the other reviews saying, that it felt not fully developed. Sometimes some things just felt a little undercooked. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the plot and my love for the characters.
This book is, in my opinion, wholly original.
I'm excited for a sequel.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
I do however understand the other reviews saying, that it felt not fully developed. Sometimes some things just felt a little undercooked. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the plot and my love for the characters.
This book is, in my opinion, wholly original.
I'm excited for a sequel.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC of this book.
September 7, 2025
ARC Review
Wow. Just wow. This book hooked me right away and kept me turning the pages until the very end.
The setup is honestly one of the best murder mystery premises I’ve read in YA fantasy.
Right at the start, King Costis summons six people to meet up with him:
Kellam – the prince, his son
Melarie – a princess from a neighboring kingdom, and Kellam’s bride-to-be
Oak – the King’s most trusted guard
Clove – a beast tamer
Ellion – the palace’s mysterious new healer
and Vesryn – a girl who shouldn’t be there, but sneaked in.
Before the King can reveal why he’s gathered them, the castle goes dark—and he’s murdered. The knife belongs to the princess, the wound is in a weak spot only his guard would know, and the blade is laced with venom from one of the beast tamer’s animals.
Every single one of them has motive and opportunity. With no clear killer and a treaty hanging in the balance, the six make a pact to keep the King’s death secret until it’s signed. But when a winter storm traps everyone inside and guests begin to die one by one, the suspects have no choice but to work together before one of them is next.
This book had such a strong cast. Each character really shone in their own way, with different strengths, flaws, and backstories that made them feel distinct. Some had more time in the spotlight than others, but they all brought something to the table, and by the end I felt attached to all six.
And honestly, this is exactly my style of YA. There’s no romance in the center of the plot (which is so rare these days!). Instead, the focus is on the different kinds of relationships—childhood friends, unspoken crushes, enemies forced to work together, strangers who bond through survival. That mix of emotions, regrets, and grudges felt so much more powerful than a love story ever could have in this context. It’s messy, raw, and very human.
The murder mystery alone would have been enough to carry the book, but I loved how it was blended with the fantasy elements—the gods, the magic, the monsters. It added so much flavor without being confusing or overly complicated. The multiple POVs worked really well, giving us insight into each character’s background and their very human reactions to the danger surrounding them. It made the “who did it” guessing game even more fun, because everyone had secrets, and no one felt truly safe.
What impressed me most, though, was how the story kept raising the stakes. You think it’s going to be a straightforward “find the killer and we’re done” type of plot, but oh no—so many twists keep coming, and real consequences follow. I loved that the authors weren’t afraid to take risks. Important characters fall, and their deaths matter, pushing others to grow, reflect, and change.
One character arc especially touched me: someone who started out feeling like a failure, burdened by guilt and not wanting to go on, slowly choosing life instead. Watching that shift—from hopelessness to deciding to live for others—was one of the most emotional parts of the book.
And then there’s the ending. It gave me all the emotions. Sweet and heartbreaking in just the right balance, with one moment that actually made me cry. It wraps up the immediate story in a satisfying way but also leaves just enough threads open that I’m desperate for more.
Overall, I Killed the King is everything I love in YA: a compelling mystery, fascinating characters, real risks, emotional growth, and a plot that never let me go.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Wow. Just wow. This book hooked me right away and kept me turning the pages until the very end.
The setup is honestly one of the best murder mystery premises I’ve read in YA fantasy.
Right at the start, King Costis summons six people to meet up with him:
Kellam – the prince, his son
Melarie – a princess from a neighboring kingdom, and Kellam’s bride-to-be
Oak – the King’s most trusted guard
Clove – a beast tamer
Ellion – the palace’s mysterious new healer
and Vesryn – a girl who shouldn’t be there, but sneaked in.
Before the King can reveal why he’s gathered them, the castle goes dark—and he’s murdered. The knife belongs to the princess, the wound is in a weak spot only his guard would know, and the blade is laced with venom from one of the beast tamer’s animals.
Every single one of them has motive and opportunity. With no clear killer and a treaty hanging in the balance, the six make a pact to keep the King’s death secret until it’s signed. But when a winter storm traps everyone inside and guests begin to die one by one, the suspects have no choice but to work together before one of them is next.
This book had such a strong cast. Each character really shone in their own way, with different strengths, flaws, and backstories that made them feel distinct. Some had more time in the spotlight than others, but they all brought something to the table, and by the end I felt attached to all six.
And honestly, this is exactly my style of YA. There’s no romance in the center of the plot (which is so rare these days!). Instead, the focus is on the different kinds of relationships—childhood friends, unspoken crushes, enemies forced to work together, strangers who bond through survival. That mix of emotions, regrets, and grudges felt so much more powerful than a love story ever could have in this context. It’s messy, raw, and very human.
The murder mystery alone would have been enough to carry the book, but I loved how it was blended with the fantasy elements—the gods, the magic, the monsters. It added so much flavor without being confusing or overly complicated. The multiple POVs worked really well, giving us insight into each character’s background and their very human reactions to the danger surrounding them. It made the “who did it” guessing game even more fun, because everyone had secrets, and no one felt truly safe.
What impressed me most, though, was how the story kept raising the stakes. You think it’s going to be a straightforward “find the killer and we’re done” type of plot, but oh no—so many twists keep coming, and real consequences follow. I loved that the authors weren’t afraid to take risks. Important characters fall, and their deaths matter, pushing others to grow, reflect, and change.
One character arc especially touched me: someone who started out feeling like a failure, burdened by guilt and not wanting to go on, slowly choosing life instead. Watching that shift—from hopelessness to deciding to live for others—was one of the most emotional parts of the book.
And then there’s the ending. It gave me all the emotions. Sweet and heartbreaking in just the right balance, with one moment that actually made me cry. It wraps up the immediate story in a satisfying way but also leaves just enough threads open that I’m desperate for more.
Overall, I Killed the King is everything I love in YA: a compelling mystery, fascinating characters, real risks, emotional growth, and a plot that never let me go.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.
September 27, 2025
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Really 4.5⭐️ - this was such a unique story filled with multiple perspectives and unreliable narrators. I only docked 1/2 of a star because the end was a little hard to follow.
Really 4.5⭐️ - this was such a unique story filled with multiple perspectives and unreliable narrators. I only docked 1/2 of a star because the end was a little hard to follow.
August 26, 2025
I Killed the King is an enthralling murder mystery that feels like a Knives Out movie but is actually set in a dazzling fantasy world, painted in crystalline snow and white flowers through an atmospheric and flowing writing style – Andrea Hannah and Rebecca Mix blended and harmonized their two voices so perfectly that the distinction between one author and the other is truly seamless.
In a country torn by a decades-long war, the Castle of Avendell is set to become the center of a new era of peace. But when King Costis is suddenly killed, a ragtag group of Costis’ own making will have to work together to find the killer and survive, in an engrossing plot full of surprising and satisfying twists.
The plot itself is brilliantly intertwined with a layered and original world-building, that mixes magic and religion through a delightful magical system where different powers are associated with different gods.
Something particularly alluring about I Killed the King is that it doesn’t feel limited by its age category: all the different themes of the book are explored in a way that is mature and compelling, and the characters are never written as particularly childish or foolishly dumb – they are all teenagers who, for one reason or another, had to grow up quick, to get smarter than their peers to survive with the cards fate dealt them, and this is reflected in how they act throughout the course of the book. This makes it so that, even if it is a Young Adult book, it also has the potential to be easily appreciated by readers who are starting to grow out of the genre.
Writing a six POVs fantasy story that is wholly captivating is expectedly hard, yet Rebecca and Andrea truly succeeded at drafting all these different points of view in a way that all the characters maintained their individuality and were equally enjoyable to read. They are messy and justifiably depressed, but each of them found a special place in my heart, especially Oak, with his unnerving loyalty and never-ending patience for Kellam’s antics, and Ellion, who for all his mistakes never stops trying to help, to be better.
While there are some beautifully developed “romantic” relationships in this book (Oak and Kellam’s one was especially divine, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time), the group dynamic between the six main characters was simply superb, and so well handled: most of the book takes places over the course of a single night, putting together people who had never been all in the same room before said night, and still the bond between them is built in such a way that it feels like they spent months together, that they truly came to care about each other between one twist and the next… when they said their goodbyes at the end, it truly felt like they were a family.
I honestly can’t wait to see more of the world and understand how the events of this book will reflect on it, because I feel like everything is a ‘lily’ away from going down.
In the meantime, I recommend I Killed the King to readers looking for a fantasy novel that will keep them stuck on the pages, make them cry a little and also fall in love with six amazing characters – and a scruffy ghost cat.
In a country torn by a decades-long war, the Castle of Avendell is set to become the center of a new era of peace. But when King Costis is suddenly killed, a ragtag group of Costis’ own making will have to work together to find the killer and survive, in an engrossing plot full of surprising and satisfying twists.
The plot itself is brilliantly intertwined with a layered and original world-building, that mixes magic and religion through a delightful magical system where different powers are associated with different gods.
Something particularly alluring about I Killed the King is that it doesn’t feel limited by its age category: all the different themes of the book are explored in a way that is mature and compelling, and the characters are never written as particularly childish or foolishly dumb – they are all teenagers who, for one reason or another, had to grow up quick, to get smarter than their peers to survive with the cards fate dealt them, and this is reflected in how they act throughout the course of the book. This makes it so that, even if it is a Young Adult book, it also has the potential to be easily appreciated by readers who are starting to grow out of the genre.
Writing a six POVs fantasy story that is wholly captivating is expectedly hard, yet Rebecca and Andrea truly succeeded at drafting all these different points of view in a way that all the characters maintained their individuality and were equally enjoyable to read. They are messy and justifiably depressed, but each of them found a special place in my heart, especially Oak, with his unnerving loyalty and never-ending patience for Kellam’s antics, and Ellion, who for all his mistakes never stops trying to help, to be better.
While there are some beautifully developed “romantic” relationships in this book (Oak and Kellam’s one was especially divine, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time), the group dynamic between the six main characters was simply superb, and so well handled: most of the book takes places over the course of a single night, putting together people who had never been all in the same room before said night, and still the bond between them is built in such a way that it feels like they spent months together, that they truly came to care about each other between one twist and the next… when they said their goodbyes at the end, it truly felt like they were a family.
I honestly can’t wait to see more of the world and understand how the events of this book will reflect on it, because I feel like everything is a ‘lily’ away from going down.
In the meantime, I recommend I Killed the King to readers looking for a fantasy novel that will keep them stuck on the pages, make them cry a little and also fall in love with six amazing characters – and a scruffy ghost cat.
September 11, 2025
3.5/5 rounded up
What a fun read! I'm a big fan of the Fantasy/Mysteries (Fantastic Mystery? Mysterious Fantasy?) trend happening and "I Killed the King" is no exception. I love a book that switches perspective, and while 6 points of view is a lot, it never felt confusing or jumbled, even during flashback scenes which is a feat in itself. The pacing of any mystery is important and I never felt like I was dragging through this. While some familiar plot twists and tropes were definitely employed here, the characters and setting kept me from feeling like I've read it before. I can definitely see young folks who have grown past the PJO series but still have an attachment to a pantheon system enjoying this. The magic system relying somewhat on the power of the gods but the world still holding some looser mysterious power outside of that also felt decently balanced, if not a little too convieniently tailored for solving the mystery.
The one distinct exception to that balance I won't go into for spoiler reasons, but about three quarters into the book there was an element that felt way too convienient and while it had some reasoning behind it, I would've employed it differently.
Overall, this wasn't a mind-blowing mystery, but it was well-paced and fun! With the straight-forward writing style, content, and language combined with the amount of perspectives, I think it was appropriate to label YA.
What a fun read! I'm a big fan of the Fantasy/Mysteries (Fantastic Mystery? Mysterious Fantasy?) trend happening and "I Killed the King" is no exception. I love a book that switches perspective, and while 6 points of view is a lot, it never felt confusing or jumbled, even during flashback scenes which is a feat in itself. The pacing of any mystery is important and I never felt like I was dragging through this. While some familiar plot twists and tropes were definitely employed here, the characters and setting kept me from feeling like I've read it before. I can definitely see young folks who have grown past the PJO series but still have an attachment to a pantheon system enjoying this. The magic system relying somewhat on the power of the gods but the world still holding some looser mysterious power outside of that also felt decently balanced, if not a little too convieniently tailored for solving the mystery.
The one distinct exception to that balance I won't go into for spoiler reasons, but about three quarters into the book there was an element that felt way too convienient and while it had some reasoning behind it, I would've employed it differently.
Overall, this wasn't a mind-blowing mystery, but it was well-paced and fun! With the straight-forward writing style, content, and language combined with the amount of perspectives, I think it was appropriate to label YA.
September 17, 2025
"Chaos comes for you.."
This was a journey, and I loved every step!
I just woke up from a fat nap because I was up till 4 a.m. finishing this!
The king is dead... and chaos erupts!
Is it the prince who is next in line for the throne?
Is it the Necromancer who wants nothing more to play with dead things?
Or is it the bodyguard who has always wanted more...
I am treading lightly because I do not want to give away any spoilers....but if you love a unique and magically delicious story with intrigue and a murder to solve....look no further!
This was a journey, and I loved every step!
I just woke up from a fat nap because I was up till 4 a.m. finishing this!
The king is dead... and chaos erupts!
Is it the prince who is next in line for the throne?
Is it the Necromancer who wants nothing more to play with dead things?
Or is it the bodyguard who has always wanted more...
I am treading lightly because I do not want to give away any spoilers....but if you love a unique and magically delicious story with intrigue and a murder to solve....look no further!
July 26, 2025
From the description, I was expecting a locked room whodunit.
The story starts with 6 people in a room, lights go out, and then the king is dead. Each character was summoned to the king's chambers and it's a motley crew of people, most of whom want the king dead for one reason or another - so far, so good. Everyone suspects everyone else and they're all trying to figure out whodunit - perfect. We get some secret passages and every character is hiding something - great.
But then the story goes in a different direction. We find out who killed the king about halfway through but it stops being the central part of the story. Instead we get political conspiracy and the supernatural becomes heavily involved (I'm trying not to give anything away). I think if the book was described differently, I would be less bothered. I went in expecting a fantasy Agatha Christie book and it wasn't that at all.
The book also felt longer than it was. It dragged and it felt like things were reiterated more than they needed to be. It has the skeleton of a good story but needs more fleshing out (and a different book description).
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
The story starts with 6 people in a room, lights go out, and then the king is dead. Each character was summoned to the king's chambers and it's a motley crew of people, most of whom want the king dead for one reason or another - so far, so good. Everyone suspects everyone else and they're all trying to figure out whodunit - perfect. We get some secret passages and every character is hiding something - great.
But then the story goes in a different direction. We find out who killed the king about halfway through but it stops being the central part of the story. Instead we get political conspiracy and the supernatural becomes heavily involved (I'm trying not to give anything away). I think if the book was described differently, I would be less bothered. I went in expecting a fantasy Agatha Christie book and it wasn't that at all.
The book also felt longer than it was. It dragged and it felt like things were reiterated more than they needed to be. It has the skeleton of a good story but needs more fleshing out (and a different book description).
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
July 11, 2025
An odd book, but compelling! A murder mystery set in a fantasy world, at a ball held in honor of the conclusion of a long war between two kingdoms. The characterization was done really well. Some of the supernatural elements were odd—I don't usually read mythology-inspired books with gods—but overall, very entertaining and I cared about all the characters, which is more than I can say for some other books I've read.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.
May 13, 2025
I want to thank NetGalley, the authors, and HarperCollins for a earc of this book.
This was amazing. I loved every moment of this novel. From the very start, I was hooked and I need to know who killed the king. There were a few instances where I though I knew but then I was proven wrong and the hunt was on again. I really love this and I cant wait to read more from this author.
This was amazing. I loved every moment of this novel. From the very start, I was hooked and I need to know who killed the king. There were a few instances where I though I knew but then I was proven wrong and the hunt was on again. I really love this and I cant wait to read more from this author.
July 15, 2025
Thank you Storytide Publishing for giving me access to an ARC of I Killed the King!
This was a solid fantasy/thriller, with a fun mythology element as well. I feel like the writing was a bit scattered and unpolished in places, but I can definitely see this being a strong favorite for young adult readers or people looking for a unique “escape the night” type book!
This was a solid fantasy/thriller, with a fun mythology element as well. I feel like the writing was a bit scattered and unpolished in places, but I can definitely see this being a strong favorite for young adult readers or people looking for a unique “escape the night” type book!
June 26, 2025
give me book two and give it to me NOW
This was the perfect blend of mystery and fantasy for me and it's so character driven that all I care about is this ragtag group
This was the perfect blend of mystery and fantasy for me and it's so character driven that all I care about is this ragtag group
September 7, 2025
Well, this book started strong, and ended… okay. Just okay.
I enjoyed the first half of the book way more than the second; particularly once we found out who murdered the king, the plot unfortunately started unraveling for me.
This book was pitched as a fantasy murder mystery. But we spent so little time actually trying to solve the mystery. The (main) murder was resolved 60% into the book. And the fantasy elements never really came together for me. Most of this book is just backstory for the main cast of characters, which is kind of a bummer, as it started getting old after a while.
The magic system felt all over the place for me. I didn’t love that many characters conveniently had the magical ability they needed at the perfect time (especially in the case of Ellion). It felt like the authors were trying to make a structured magic system, but then didn’t know how to fully fleshed it out in the story.
The mythology surrounding the gods was cool (at first), and I usually love that kind of stuff…but with so many info dumps, particularly at the beginning of the book, it was hard to keep track of everything. And when it comes to the magic system, I’m still confused as to who gets magic from the gods and why.
In regards to the murder mystery element, I wish there was more detective work done to figure out who killed the king. I never felt like the characters were actively trying to solve the king’s murder. And given the five suspects were in the room when the king died, I never felt like they were truly wary of each other.
One thing I love about the book is the queer rep! There’s plenty of it, which is great. However, the prince x bodyguard relationship was a bit odd to me. I actually liked the yearning at first. But then the bodyguard kept reiterating how the King was like a father to him, he was the King’s son in everything but blood, he and the prince grew up together, etc. So it came across as if the prince and bodyguard grew up like brothers basically… so for them to then be crushing on each other started to feel a bit icky to me. I think had the bodyguard not reiterated time and time again that he was basically the adopted son of the king, the relationship would’ve come across better.
This is one of the those books where the more I think about it after I’m done reading, the more frustrated I get with its execution. I was left with more questions than answers—and not just questions to be answered in the sequel, but questions that should’ve been answered in book one to make it less confusing. I shouldn’t have felt more confused whenever a new piece of lore was introduced in the story, and yet I was most of the time.
Ultimately I could see myself reading the sequel whenever it comes out, but I won’t be in any particular rush to do so.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
[Note: I had so many questions while reading that I couldn't fit them all here! So I'm only providing some of my notes...]
I enjoyed the first half of the book way more than the second; particularly once we found out who murdered the king, the plot unfortunately started unraveling for me.
This book was pitched as a fantasy murder mystery. But we spent so little time actually trying to solve the mystery. The (main) murder was resolved 60% into the book. And the fantasy elements never really came together for me. Most of this book is just backstory for the main cast of characters, which is kind of a bummer, as it started getting old after a while.
The magic system felt all over the place for me. I didn’t love that many characters conveniently had the magical ability they needed at the perfect time (especially in the case of Ellion). It felt like the authors were trying to make a structured magic system, but then didn’t know how to fully fleshed it out in the story.
The mythology surrounding the gods was cool (at first), and I usually love that kind of stuff…but with so many info dumps, particularly at the beginning of the book, it was hard to keep track of everything. And when it comes to the magic system, I’m still confused as to who gets magic from the gods and why.
In regards to the murder mystery element, I wish there was more detective work done to figure out who killed the king. I never felt like the characters were actively trying to solve the king’s murder. And given the five suspects were in the room when the king died, I never felt like they were truly wary of each other.
One thing I love about the book is the queer rep! There’s plenty of it, which is great. However, the prince x bodyguard relationship was a bit odd to me. I actually liked the yearning at first. But then the bodyguard kept reiterating how the King was like a father to him, he was the King’s son in everything but blood, he and the prince grew up together, etc. So it came across as if the prince and bodyguard grew up like brothers basically… so for them to then be crushing on each other started to feel a bit icky to me. I think had the bodyguard not reiterated time and time again that he was basically the adopted son of the king, the relationship would’ve come across better.
This is one of the those books where the more I think about it after I’m done reading, the more frustrated I get with its execution. I was left with more questions than answers—and not just questions to be answered in the sequel, but questions that should’ve been answered in book one to make it less confusing. I shouldn’t have felt more confused whenever a new piece of lore was introduced in the story, and yet I was most of the time.
Ultimately I could see myself reading the sequel whenever it comes out, but I won’t be in any particular rush to do so.
NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:
[Note: I had so many questions while reading that I couldn't fit them all here! So I'm only providing some of my notes...]
October 13, 2025
Like others have mentioned, this is a marvelous premise executed unsatisfactorily. All fiction, and perhaps especially this book's foundations of mystery and fantasy, rely on the literary equivalent of edging to get you to wonder and anticipate what might happen next and ultimately to remain to find out how it actually comes to be. I largely put up with this because the characters have been drawn with enough clarity or depth or intrigue to give me a reason to want to find out what happens to them; or because the authors have held up their end of the bargain in our exchange (my attention for their art) with such masterful, inventive, lucent prose or world-building that I'm utterly captivated. Here, I stayed because I needed to find out how they could possibly tie up any of the threads of this story given the frustrating and mind-numbing stop-start rhythm of the narrative.
As others have mentioned, the glut of discrete narrators does not help this book's case, and particularly when (as others have also mentioned) there's not enough variation between their perspectives to make you feel as though entering this story from a different emotional/physical/narrative vantage point. This is exacerbated by the aforementioned edging and stop-start rhythm: the jerkiness of leading up to a moment of clarification, only to be plunged into another character's POV that follows the same trajectory on rinse and repeat is, at best, grating and, at worst, a confession of the authors' own limitations.
It also could very well be that I'm way older than the intended audience. The five main characters are all roughly late teens and, while I could relate overall to their inter turmoils and teenage angst, the fact that most of the 387 pages were spent describing them made it all seem melodramatic, frankly. I rolled my eyes a lot. There was also a lot of inexperience, a widespread sense that none of them really felt confident enough to do anything and them truly not knowing anything — these are not inherently flaws. A foundational element of the fantasy genre might as well be "kid who doesn't know how to do anything steps into their awesome power," but when you have five of them and they all come off annoying, juvenile and stunted, it tires. More than once, reading this gave me an even deeper appreciation for Tamora Pierce's talents and how well she developed the Circle of Magic characters and lore. Queen!
This is become a long venting rant so I'll just sum up the rest of my complaints by saying they didn't develop the world enough to understand the weight of anything. The magic system did remind me of Tamora Pierce, specifically the Circle of Magic and Immortals series, which was a nice callback but I wish I knew more about it!
I will end by saying, I did tear up at the end so I did end up coming to care for these idiots. That would typically be enough to round up to 3 stars but honestly I don't really want people to think this is a 3 star book, because it's not!
As others have mentioned, the glut of discrete narrators does not help this book's case, and particularly when (as others have also mentioned) there's not enough variation between their perspectives to make you feel as though entering this story from a different emotional/physical/narrative vantage point. This is exacerbated by the aforementioned edging and stop-start rhythm: the jerkiness of leading up to a moment of clarification, only to be plunged into another character's POV that follows the same trajectory on rinse and repeat is, at best, grating and, at worst, a confession of the authors' own limitations.
It also could very well be that I'm way older than the intended audience. The five main characters are all roughly late teens and, while I could relate overall to their inter turmoils and teenage angst, the fact that most of the 387 pages were spent describing them made it all seem melodramatic, frankly. I rolled my eyes a lot. There was also a lot of inexperience, a widespread sense that none of them really felt confident enough to do anything and them truly not knowing anything — these are not inherently flaws. A foundational element of the fantasy genre might as well be "kid who doesn't know how to do anything steps into their awesome power," but when you have five of them and they all come off annoying, juvenile and stunted, it tires. More than once, reading this gave me an even deeper appreciation for Tamora Pierce's talents and how well she developed the Circle of Magic characters and lore. Queen!
This is become a long venting rant so I'll just sum up the rest of my complaints by saying they didn't develop the world enough to understand the weight of anything. The magic system did remind me of Tamora Pierce, specifically the Circle of Magic and Immortals series, which was a nice callback but I wish I knew more about it!
I will end by saying, I did tear up at the end so I did end up coming to care for these idiots. That would typically be enough to round up to 3 stars but honestly I don't really want people to think this is a 3 star book, because it's not!
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