"Burn the Kingdom Down" by Addie Thorley

 

“Burn the Kingdom Down” by Addie Thorley is a gripping enemies-to-lovers YA romantasy filled with political intrigue, mystery, and secrets - one I devoured in a couple of sittings. The writing pulls you straight into the story, with engaging characters and satisfying plot twists. This is very much an action-driven book, with the romance slowly building and woven into the plot.

The book follows second-born Princess Indira of Tashir, a nation of planters. She is a master gardener with the rare ability to grow bagrava, a highly sought-after plant coveted by their enemies for its power to improve farming conditions and induce euphoria, among other things.

Vanzador, a rival nation, promises protection in exchange for a bagrava tithe. The Vanzadorian king has the power to literally move the earth itself - but the price is high, as we discover later on. Over the years, their demands increase, placing a chokehold on the already struggling Tashiri. Crown Princess Rowenna Harrack is taken as a captive bride to marry Prince Alaric, an additional incentive to ensure Tashir’s obedience.

A year later, Rowenna returns home in a casket, and Vanzador’s king, Soren, demands her sister Indira as a replacement. Indira agrees to the marriage so she can uncover what happened to her sister, avenge her death, and burn their kingdom down. Yet when she arrives in Vanzador, things are nothing like the stories Rowenna described in her letters, and Indira finds herself torn between her old home and the new life she is expected to lead.

Thus begins an exciting adventure chock-full of magic, political and sexual tension, slow-burn romance, love, and twists. With themes of grief, manipulation, sisterhood, friendship, betrayal, trust, revenge, and moral conflict, the author weaves a story I truly enjoyed. I especially liked the message of hope - that just as plants can be propagated and replanted, there is always a chance to start over and try again. The author also explores how far we are willing to go for our loved ones, and the difficulty of letting go.

I loved the emotional dynamics between the characters, especially the bonding and emotional connection between the sisters, as well as the vivid world-building, the plant-based magic, the memory tithing, and the prose. Indira isn’t perfect: she’s fearful for her safety yet impulsive, strong yet riddled with self-doubt, capable in some ways and weak in others - and that’s what makes her human. 

Indira's inner monologues with her deceased sister beautifully reveal her doubts and emotional growth, and I was glad to see her find her voice. I enjoyed Indira’s growth and the gradual build-up of her relationships, especially with the prince. Alaric is complex as well, full of past trauma and demons of his own, and I loved watching him slowly open up. 

The last third dragged a bit and could have been tightened. An epilogue wouldn’t have gone amiss either, so I’m deducting a star. Still, this is a well-plotted, well-written, and fast-paced novel that stands well on its own. I loved this book - just in case that wasn’t clear - and highly recommend it to fans of slow-burn romantasy with political and sexual tension, true enemies-to-lovers dynamics, clean romance, and lifelike characters in a setting that leaps off the page.

* Triggers: attempted sexual assault, forced marriage, death.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book:  "Burn the Kingdom Down" by Addie Thorley
 

"What We Did to Survive" by Megan Lally

 

This book has just the kind of tropes I love: the vacation-gone-wrong-at-sea trope. Throw in a survival story, and you’ve got me. What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally is a suspenseful survival thriller following four teens’ misadventure at large.

Hannah is vacationing with her best friend, Emmy, and Emmy’s family at a resort in Mexico. The vacation would have been better without Emmy’s older brother, Jackson, being there—due to an unrequited crush. Ben, Emmy’s wealthy new boyfriend, whom she just met on the retreat, invites Emmy and Hannah to join him on a day cruise on their last day at the resort. He charters a private sailboat for them, and Jackson joins in as their chaperone.

At first, everything goes smoothly, and Captain Keith seems capable. They relax, laugh, and enjoy themselves. That is, until the promised storm hits. As the weather worsens, tensions rise, and soon the storm brewing between them is just as deadly as the one raging outside. And just like that, survival isn’t just a word—their lives are at stake.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I love a good survival story with high stakes—who doesn’t? After a slow start, the book picked up and turned into a rollercoaster, with one disaster following another. There’s plenty of action, and the suspense was always high on the suspense-o-meter. The sense of isolation, dread, and danger combined with the deadly weather gave me the shudders. I felt like I was on the boat with them, watching the story unfold—although I wouldn’t be as dumb as they were, ignoring weather alerts and common sense.

Emma and Hannah were opposites; opposites attract isn’t just a saying. Hannah was prudent, kind, and inventive; Emma impulsive, rash, and the life of the party. Still, they were best friends—that is, until the next guy came along and Emma threw caution to the wind, ignoring her friend’s warnings to be careful.

I was irritated with Emmy at first—her careless conduct and the way she dismissed her friend’s warnings to trust a stranger over her best friend. Frustrating doesn’t even begin to cover it. Ben wasn’t a piece of cake either, obnoxious as he turned out to be, flaunting his wealth and skills and mocking Emma's career choices. 

In fact, Hannah and Jackson were my favorites. Jackson was smart and kind, and I liked Hannah’s ability to improvise and adjust. I was surprised they didn’t insist on canceling the trip. I was even more surprised that Emmy’s parents didn’t put their foot down and forbid them to go.

There were a couple of twists—the last one I didn’t predict nor like. There was a whiff of young love, but it isn’t the main story. A few scenes demanded some suspension of disbelief. I can’t say I liked the ending, although it made sense in a way. Still, I would have preferred another one.

For a YA book, it’s rather dark, exploring fallible human nature. The story also touches on friendship, trusting the wrong people, fighting to survive against overwhelming odds, and how far you’ll go to stay alive.

Despite my slight issues with the book, I loved the writing and couldn’t stop reading. I rate it 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to fans of the genre. After this book, you’ll think twice before boarding a ship…

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "What We Did to Survive" by Megan Lally