Thank you Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo is a fun, magical tale based on Rapunzel. This book is set in the same world as Christo’s previous work, To Kill a Kingdom, however, it works marvelously as a standalone book.
“For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother’s place as the King’s Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King’s immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death.
A soldier in the King’s army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King’s immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra.
Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them.”
Once again, Christo has built a wonderful world full of dark magic, treacherous seas, mysterious islands and mythical animals which all flow perfectly together.
Princess of Souls was slightly more juvenile than I was expecting, although I think this was probably in order to reflect the naivety of Selestra, our tenacious green-haired FMC. The romance element was slow-burning and satisfyingly sweet. I loved the banter between Selestra and the rogue soldier, Nox. The dual POV also worked as a brilliant device to understand more about these two guarded and complex characters.
The book is incredibly fast-paced and full of swashbuckling action from the very beginning.
Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo be released on October 11, 2022. It is currently available to Preorder HERE. (Affiliate link)
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