Ratings:
Star Rating: ★★★★★
If This Book Was a Movie Rating: PG-13
Review:
“They've never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”
That’s the first line. THE LITERAL FIRST LINE.
When that masterpiece is the first line, you know it’s gonna be good.
Meet Alessandra Stathos, the second daughter of a minor nobleman.
While her father is bankrupt and struggling to hold onto his estate, Alessandra has amassed her own fortune through the many expensive gifts her illicit lovers have given her over the years. In order to keep her flawless reputation, she holds incriminating secrets over each lover, swearing to expose them if they so much as hint at their secret rendezvous.
But Alessandra has higher aspirations than manipulating half the noblemen or becoming one of the richest ladies of the court.
Alessandra wants to be queen.
And she’s got a plan to get there.
“I pull the ring from my finger and stare down at it lovingly. Why does [my father] think I’ve taken so many lovers? They’re fun, to be sure, but most important, they’re going to finance my stay at the palace.”
Alessandra’s plan to become queen has three steps.
Seduce the infamous Shadow King.
Marry him.
Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.
Alessandra’s plentiful fortune, combined with her wickedly gorgeous sewing ability, means when Alessandra shows up to the Shadow King’s ball in a daring black ensemble, all eyes are on her. Especially the dark ones of the king.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Alessandra discovers she's not the only one trying to kill the king. So she now has two missions: 1) keep the king alive long enough to marry him, and 2) don’t lose her heart again in the process.
Okay. I know a lot of people disliked this book but GUESS WHAT I LOVED THIS BOOK SM OMIGOSH I CAN’T.
*chokes on air because she is squealing too loud*
“It will be highly scandalous, and I suspect none of the men at court will be able to keep their eyes off me. That’s the point. When a man sees something that several other men want, he can't help but want it too.”
first off, WE STAN A QUEEN WHO USES HER BRAIN LIKE WHAT A CONCEPT.
Alessandra watches people, learning the tells of a liar, the nervous habits of guilty dukes. She knows what men find attractive, and isn’t afraid to use that knowledge to get what she wants. She has a passion for sewing, an ability to make gorgeous masterpieces of silk and chiffon with simple movements of the needle. She designs gowns for seduction, gowns that mess with people’s heads so she can twist the power away from their dumbstruck fingers.
this girl is smart and that makes me happy.
But what REALLY puts Alessandra onto my “power heroine” shelf is her brutal villainy.
“Who in the world would steal and then not keep the riches for themselves? That’s just bad business.”
Alessandra isn’t likable. This girl never wavers about manipulating people, stealing jewels, or hurting those who hurt her. She isn’t a secretly kind soul who hides her good deeds for the peasants. She hates and kills. She’s wicked through and through.
but she gave me serious Jude Duarte and Kaz Brekker vibes soooo i don’t know what it says about me that Alessandra is one of my favorite heroines.
NEXT!
“He swallows the bite in his mouth. “Alessandra Stathos, that’s positively despicable.” He says the words like they’re the highest compliment he can give me. “You are an absolute gem, do you know that?””
AWWW KALLIAS MY DARK SWEETHEART YESSS.
Meet Kallias Maheras, the Shadow King (and one of my favorite book boyfriends)
*grins distractedly with hearts in her eyes*
This man is the very definition of a Hurt, Hot, Wicked, Misunderstood Villain Who Falls for the Heroine AND HE’S ONE OF THOSE ONES WHO ONLY HAS A SOFT SPOT FOR ALESSANDRA HFIUESSFHIUEISEFHJS
so anyways he stole my basic heart in exactly .03 seconds.
I loved how he and Alessandra actually became friends before they fell in love. And then the I-want-to-kill-you-and-I want-to-kiss-you angst??
We stan.
I know someone’s gonna point out how evil they both are, so let me forestall any unnecessary questions.
I know they’re both wicked and brutal and toxic.
but they can be wicked and brutal and toxic together so i luv can i come to their wedding
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Recommendations If You Liked This Book:
Cruel Prince by Holly Black
To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo
THIS REVIEW IS EVERYTHING. I didn't love the book, but I'm so, so glad you did!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH