Thank you to NetGalley for the e-arc.
All opinions are my own. This is a no-spoiler review.

4.5 Stars

Oh wow, that was one hell of a ride!!! I knew that this was right up my alley only by reading the summary. And I was right. I loved it. This books genre is somewhere between horror, dystopian/apocalyptic ya, nerdy video game and highschool drama. That sounds like an absolut crazy mix, but it thoroughly worked for me. If you want a book that has a little bit of body horror, a touch of the fantasy-vibe with political intrigue, but make it highschool...this book is definitly for you.

I absolutely adored the characters and all of their weird storylines. Especially with the multiple pov's, you really get an inside view on why certain characters act/make decisions the way they do. However I found it a bit difficult at the end to follow exactly what was happening. BUT I think it's because English is not my first language...after reading it a second time, I got all the details;)))

The pacing of the book was fantastic. I did not feel bored for a second. I was hooked as soon as I read the first page and I finished the book in one and a half days. I simply could not put it down.

I also really appreciated the queer representation and just in general the diverse character cast.

I really hope that there will be a sequel! I don't want to say goodbye to these characters just yet...I feel like there's a lot more coming for them!

THE MERCILESS KING OF MOORE HIGH is one wild ride! I'm not sure what was more shocking: the grotesque dragon-like monsters comprised of the corpses of the grown-ups of the town, or the twisty deceptions of the teenagers fighting the monsters and each other for their very survival. What I do know is this book was completely unexpected, riveting, and unputdownable! But it's not just about the action. Sparks has created such authentic, relatable characters that I wanted to root for every one of them, even the ones making less-than-honorable decisions. With action, heart, and powerful storytelling, THE MERCILESS KING OF MOORE HIGH offers a completely fresh take on apocalyptic horror, and I'm excited to see what's next from this author.

oh my god. This book. Where do I start??

I've read 6 books from NetGalley until this one, and of course, all of them were special and good in their own ways, but none of them made me want to scream, push my face into a pillow, or put a countdown in my calendar so I can order this book asap when it comes in stores. This book though, this book did all of that.

I unhinged my jaw and swallowed this book whole. I Literally did not do anything today besides sitting in bed, holding my phone and reading this book with music in the background.

The Merciless King of Moore High is an apocalyptic survival story, rom-com, and action/adventure with equal parts teen-drama, politics, and body-horror. Basically everything I LOVE. Even if that's not your cup of tea specifically, I still don't doubt you'll love it as much as I did.

The story has several POVs but primarily we follow Kay and Moore High 'enforcer' Brick. There are a few other POVs, including from one of the student council leaders at Jefferson High, but for the most part, this is Kay and Brick's story. I always love when a book has different POVs, and this did not disappoint. Amazing.

God, and the writing? Where do I start. I don't think I've ever read a book that describes body horror and monsters as good as this one, and I've read A LOT of them. The writing was so clever and satisfying, a true reminder that I actually love reading. The characters, also, were simply amazing. Each one of them stood out for different reasons, but mainly because of their personalities. I legit fell in love with all of them. Well, maybe not all, if you know what I mean. But still. Even the "villains" of the stories were written so good that I might have sympathised with them half of the story, even without wanting to.

For the record, I just added the author's other books to my shopping cart, and I can't wait to read them.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this truly outstanding book in advance!

3.5 rounded up

This book was a wild ride! When the end of the world as we know it arrives, who knows how we will act. This book looks at two high schools on the oppositive sides of town forced in to that very situation, and the way they respond is extremely different. There is political turmoil, action, deception, a bit of fantasy, and even romance all rolled into this one dystopian story. What happens next will keep surprising you until the final chapter. While the ending wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, it shows the chaos that surrounds the high-schoolers trying to survive when all the adults have combined into grotesque corpse monsters.

Lily Sparks' "The Merciless King of Moore High" is an adventurous and emotional delve into the post apocalyptic world where all adults have turned into mounds of flesh that ooze with death. Stuck with just their peers, the students of Jefferson High and Moore High take on differing political systems that both delve into chaos as their worlds collide. Forbidden romances bloom and hearts are broken as Kay fights to bring justice and peace to both schools, the twists and turns sure to bring you to the edge of your seat and rip your heart out.

The amount of love I feel for this novel is overwhelming. It was full of action from start to finish, tugging at my heartstrings and crushing my soul with wild forms of betrayal. I can confidently say that the epilogue has me pulling at my hair, desperate for more.

Thank you so much to North Star Editions and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy!

I enjoyed most of this book! I thought there was a good level of gore for a post-apocalyptic monster book, and the characters were all likable. The ending felt rushed though and was way too complicated. I'm all for things not being neat, but this was a little too messy even for my tastes. 3.5 out of 5 for me!

I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book. Goodreads categorizes it as fantasy, dystopia, and queer, none of which fit particularly well. It's hard to find words to describe the reading experience: somewhere between post-apocalyptic/court politics/survival horror/dark comedy/forbidden romance.

What I liked:
- After finishing, I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to be taking away from the story. Whose choices were justifiable? We're supposed to be rooting for Kay, but given the circumstances, I understand the choices that other characters made, even when they were horrible.
- The vibes are just. terrifying and there's such a good sense of suspense.
- The book starts right in the middle of the action, but it's pretty easy to understand what's going on. There's a lot to keep track of, but it's extremely well-done. I appreciated not being confused.
- brick brick brick brick

What I didn't like:
- I was a little confused by the Arthurian influences. It used names like Kay and Merlin, but none others, and wasn't overly consistent with their themes.
- The love triangle, which turned into more of a hexagon when you include all the marriage plots and past relationships, wasn't super convincing.
- Categorized as queer on goodreads. There is one queer ship tease but that's it.

I really liked this one! Blew through it in 24 hours and I thought it was a very fun romp through post apocalyptic suburbia through the eyes of teenagers. There was just something very playful about the visual of a bunch of cheerleaders riding a jeep through subdivisions looting houses and fighting monsters.

The book shows the pov of three characters: Kay, Nirali, and Brick. Kay -- exiled for uncovering a secret she couldn't keep, Nirali -- trying to find a beacon of hope for her school in trying times, and Brick -- navigating the balance of power between his best friend (King Max!) and Kay, the intriguing new rescue.

After all of the adults in the world morphed and merged into monsters, the children left behind were forced to band together to stay alive. When Kay, secretary of the student council at Jefferson High is kidnapped and dumped in the woods in the middle of the night, she is rescued by students from crosstown rival Moore High. After gaining sanctuary, she finds herself a part of the Court of King Max, a student who has styled himself after a video game character, and who rallies the students to kill the 'Dragons' terrorizing those still left alive.

Kay is quickly enmeshed in the court intrigue between King Max, Merlin, Brick (stoic and scarred knight of the kingdom), and those who wish to dethrone him. Add in the cross town school rivalry and you get one part mystery and one part political maneuvering which leads to a very entertaining read.

Again, I really had fun with this one, but I have two minor comments I want to share:
1. Given the title and the names of the characters, I really expected more King Arthur related content. There's a Merlin and a Kay and an Arthur, but it was sometimes hard to tell who else corresponded to the myth, and how the plot related to the old legends. This is only book one so perhaps time will tell but I spent a lot of energy looking for parallels I couldn't find.
2. The plot twist at the end was truly CW worthy. Which makes sense, given that this author is a former CW writer. I didn't love it because it's not a trope I'm particularly fond of, but it certainly will be exciting for some!

Still, very excited for the sequel!

This is one of the stranger books I read this year. It is a post apocalyptic book where all the adults turned into monsters, merged together. The survivors are high schoolers who survived inside their schools.
Kay is from Jefferson High, which is ruled by the student council (who were all elected before the apocalypse). Things aren't going well, they are starving, the school is dirty and infested with roaches, and Kay learns a secret the council has been trying to keep from the people.
The story opens in the middle of the action, which was a little confusing at first but I got the hang of it quickly. If anything, it worked well that we didn't get a lot of exposure beforehand, you figure everything out soon enough. Kay is kidnapped and dropped in the middle of the city so she doesn't spill the secret, and they presume the monsters will kill her. She is saved by a group of scavenging cheerleaders from Moore High, another high school.
Moore High functions very differently from Jefferson. The school is turned into a medieval video game. the titular character, Max, is King of the school and everyone must bow to him etc. And everyone in this school has to go out to slay dragons (which is what they call the monsters). And they're actually quite succesful! Killing a dragon keeps other dragons away until the corpse is decomposed, so they use this time to put up fences to expand their safe territory.

I thought the characterization of the two schools was so interesting. Jefferson seems very organized, run by the student council, but in reality it is a total shitshow. Moore on the other hand looks like a total shitshow, and in some ways it is, but they are also quite succesful at killing these dragons, expanding their safe territory.

What I also thought was great about this book is that none of the characters are truly good or evil. Everyone is trying to survive, of course, and some people are better than others, but there were absolutely times I thought someone really sucked and it turned out maybe they don't? Politically, it's a total mess.

I was not super fond of the love triangle, the romance itself was kind of cheesy, but I did like the political undertones within the love triangle. It's not just about love, it's about loyalty, survival and who supports who.

I did love Nirali and Merlin, I think they are my favorite characters so far. Both are complex, not fully good, but I can see where they're coming from and I hope to see more of them in the next book.

Going into this, I thought it was a standalone, but the ending does indicate it's part of a series, it ends very open, though it is a well rounded story on its own. I'm curious where it's heading next.

One thing I do want to mention that I'm a bit conflicted about: in the book, the characters use the phrase "From the dam to the beach, Brockton will be free", and I think the author included this in support of Palestine, which is great, but I'm honestly not sure if this is the most sensitive way to include a reference to this phrase in post apocalyptic fiction. I haven't lowered my rating because of this because I'm honestly not sure how to feel, I truly do think the author meant well and did it out of support, but I do think it worth mentioning.

When all the adults transform into horrible monsters and kids are left up to their own devices, how do you carry on? Do you adapt and fight your way to living? Do you succumb to fear and take survival day by day? Lily Sparks explores this, and more, in The Merciless King of Moore High. Every time I thought I understood, or knew what was going to happen next, Sparks beautifully unfolded the story even more which completely changed everything I thought knew. I was hooked from the first sentence and highly recommend this book to anyone. There are layers upon layers to unpack, and the storytelling overall is incredible.

The Merciless King of Moore High
Lily Sparks
April 23, 2024

The adults of Brockton, Connecticut have all turned into monsters, and we can assume the whole world as well. Only the children and teenagers remain— those that survived the initial change. Jefferson High is the safe space for its remaining students but probably not for long. Everyone is slowly starving to death. Kay wants to do a big Costco trip to get food and supplies, but there is significant pushback from some of the other Student Council members. One evening, she is kidnapped and left for dead. A scavenger team from another high school in the area, Moore High, find her and bring her back. Jefferson High existed under the control of the existing Student Council but Moore High is run like the Middle Ages and it is thriving. Kay’s arrival threatens to overturn this peaceful facade.

The book had an interesting premise. The lack of knowledge about what happened to all the adults and what may happen to the teenagers as they grow is realistic. The book had you learn about this new world alongside the characters because in the book timeline, it has been less than a year since it first happened. I don’t know if this will remain a standalone or become a series, but if the book remains a standalone, the book becomes unfulfilling to me. The book just ends and the epilogue introduces a whole new twist that may never be explored which makes you think “what’s the point”? Not every book needs to have a perfect now to wrap up the end because that’s not how the real world works. This book is also revolving around teenagers and no one can say they would have been able to survive a dystopian future or make rational decisions when your brain is still developing. However, the characters are almost always working against themselves and those around them at every turn, which can be frustrating. I did enjoy the changing of point of views because the first POV, Kay, was very annoying to me and it grew more annoying as the book went on.

I did see a few author blurbs mention King Arthur’s court which definitely tinged this book differently when I started. This book is most definitely not a King Arthur retelling or twist besides the name Merlin being used by the right hand woman of the King. This most likely changed my expectations which I should have checked at the door when starting. If you enjoy a post-apocalyptic universe and teen drama, this book is for
you.


#netgalley #themercilesskingofmoorehigh
#northstareditions

EDIT: i've come back again to add that I enjoyed this so much, that I read it again!

The Merciless King of Moore High by Lily Sparks totally took me by surprise. Honestly, I picked up this ARC thinking it would be another typical high school story with some survival drama, but wow, was I wrong. Sparks has this amazing way of pulling you into the world of Moore High, and before you know it, you're right there in the middle of all the chaos and excitement.

The main character is someone you can't help but root for. She's thrown into this crazy school hierarchy ruled by the 'Merciless King' – think the popular kid who runs everything but with a mysterious edge. What's cool about Sparks’ writing is how she makes these characters feel real. They're not just stereotypes; they have layers and secrets that unfold in the most unexpected ways.

The dialogue in the book is spot on. It’s witty, fast-paced, and feels like actual teenagers talking. You know how some books try too hard to sound young and end up missing the mark? This isn't one of those. The conversations flow naturally, and some of the comebacks had me laughing out loud.

The 'Merciless King' is a character that you love to hate. He's charismatic, mysterious, and has this allure that keeps everyone, including the reader, on their toes. Sparks does an excellent job of slowly revealing his backstory, which adds layers to his character and makes him more than just the typical high school antagonist. His interactions with the heroine are filled with tension and an undercurrent of something deeper, making their dynamic one of the most compelling parts of the book.

One of my favorite aspects of the book is the dialogue. It's witty, sharp, and so, so believable. Sparks has a knack for capturing how teenagers talk and interact with each other. The banter between MC and her friends is particularly well-done; it's a mix of sarcasm, humor, and the kind of heartfelt moments that define deep friendships.

The plot itself is a rollercoaster. There are twists and turns that I didn't see coming, and Sparks does an excellent job of keeping the suspense high while still giving moments of levity and heart. The climax of the story, which revolves around a big event (no spoilers!), is both exciting and emotionally charged. It's a culmination of all the character arcs and storylines in a way that's satisfying and feels true to the story.

What really got me was how the book took me back to my high school days – the intense friendships, the first crushes, the drama. It's like Sparks knows exactly what it's like to be a teenager but this is with an edge..I found the story super engaging. It's not just a book for teens; there's something in it for adults too, like a little trip down memory lane.

The ending is a whirlwind. Sparks ties up all the loose ends in a way that's satisfying but leaves you wanting more. It's one of those books you finish and immediately want to talk to someone about.

In short, "The Merciless King of Moore High" is a gem. It’s a perfect mix of nostalgia, drama, and humor. Lily Sparks really nailed the high school vibe, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. If you're looking for a book that's fun, relatable, and a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, this is it.

Beautiful worldbuilding with a loveable MC, Kay will have you rooting for her from the very beginning up until (and even after) the end.

[4.25⭐️]
What a great book!
In this world where adults transformed into gigantic monsters, the students have to survive on their own and rebuild society. The premise of the story was really interesting to me so I knew I had to read it as soon as possible.
This book is filled with political intrigues, murders, love stories, betrayals and so much more. The plot is full of twists and turns and until the end you don’t really know who to trust so you are literally glued to the pages and have to read chapter after chapter to know how the story will continue.
I was also absolutely in love with the characters, we had such a diverse cast and all of them were really well characterized, like you could actually tell them apart, something that is not at all obvious!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Reviewing NetGalley arc.

This fun, fast paced YA story about the end of the world and how teenagers cope and survive. The concept of the monsters and the world building was super solid and unique. The political mess and character motivations were so complex it makes you wonder for a little bit who the bad guy actually is. What kept it from being a 5 star read? Kay got a little TOO whiny and weak there in the middle and the ending left a lot of unanswered questions and no way the “solution” at the end works out. It’s a pretty weak ending if it is to be a standalone but if a sequel ever comes about I will definitely check it out.

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for a review!

personally, my week at high school has been terrible. i had a five page essay, a french test, a calc test, a government project.... the list goes on. kudos to this book for reminding me that it could be worse; all the adults in my life could've spontaneously turned into horrible combination monsters.

the high school drama was real. i feel like i know a max in my own life and i very much would NOT want him to be king of anything. the ending was a little unsatisfying, but tbh i don't know how they could've wrapped it all up neatly after all that went down. a LOT of stuff went down near the end.

the chess game was my favorite part that was iconic. although one could argue that nirali is really playing chess all the time. i don't even know why she bothered going for pre-med, girlie would have made a FANTASTIC politician. i still don't really know what to think of her even though i was reading her pov. she is a mystery. she is the moment.

overall fun book! many many characters and plot lines to keep of, but they definitely all converge for a big finish. i'm assuming there will probably be a sequel to this at some point just because of the way it ended? but some of the plot lines still wrapped up neatly in this book, which was nice :)

This was absolutely wild and unexpected at every turn. I loved the combination of horror and high fantasy elements overlaid on the complete mundanity of a high school, loved the twisty court politics, loved the characters, loved the suspense, and the plot twist was excellent.

So. This is both fantastic and a little clunky.

I immediately saw the book's cover and fell in love. It's based on my favourite tarot card, so how could I not? Next, the description! It reads like the Walking Dead meets a teen drama, and that's EXACTLY what this is.

The book grabs you right from the beginning and pulls you along with it. It's got a great pace, and you're immediately drawn into the horrific world the teens find themselves in. It would have been nice to have a little more world building -- the monsters are just there with no interest, theorisation or explanation. It sets them as a mechanic to cause horror and ensure the world they're in is cut off from everyone else.

For the characters, they were great, there were no totally overdone tropes, but the book did try to fit a LOT in within a short about of time. This feels like it would have sat better broken into a series. There was the introduction of different POVs a bit far into the book, which felt jarring. The book also ended on a way that I didn't feel satisfied with, it felt a bit too unresolved.

The queer rep is one of the pseudo-main characters has a something with another woman. It's main, but would have liked to pull at that thread more.

Did I enjoy reading it? Yes. Would I recommend it for everyone? No. Would I recommend it for fans of teen horror? 100%.

Thank you to Netgalley and Flux for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Merciless King of Moore High follows Kay Kim, a student council member trying to ensure her classmates survive in their turned upside down town. Nine months ago, the adults transformed into huge bloodthirsty monsters and the kids have barricaded themselves in their school. Kay has been forced out of her school, Jefferson High, after learning a secret but is rescued by cheerleaders from rival Moore High. The biggest catch, is that the students at Moore High go on monster hunts and thriving there depends on being brave. Kay has to navigate slaying dragons, court politics, and love triangles to create a new home. Except, she discovers another secret that might destroy both schools.

I struggled a bit with this book. Normally, I love all things dystopian and post-apocalyptic survival stories of a wide variety. However, this book just didn’t do it for me. The characters fell a little flat and the twist, while unique, of having Kings and Arthurian character roles and names, wasn’t something I entirely enjoyed. I definitely think a lot of other people will love this twist, and I think this is more a case of it’s me and not the book.

I thought the Growns/dragons were super cool and I loved this unique take on the genre and monsters. I would’ve preferred more world-building, but I did find everything to be explained well. I liked that the book had multiple POVs as it really kept the pace moving quickly and it was nice to be able to hear from the kids at both schools. I thought the high school clique drama was done well and something a lot of teenagers will enjoy.

Overall, I think a lot of youth/high schoolers will really love this book, but it ultimately wasn’t for me.

This book was So. Good. It grabbed my attention right away and did not let go. There were so many twists and turns along the way, I was fully invested. You were never sure who you could really trust and there was so much at play. Yet, it wasn't overly complicated. Everything had a purpose and everything worked together well to make a good story. The only thing I had an issue with was that, unless I misses something, only high schoolers managed to survive into the apocalypse and they all survived within their school kingdoms. I get that older teens would've had the best chance but no middle school aged sibling made it out? No elementary kids managed? Not a one? With so much other good world building, this one little detail bugged me, but maybe that will come up in future books, because I really, REALLY hope there are future books.

4.5 Stars Rounded up