This book was fantastic. I loved the characters, the world building, the romance, the magic system and the writing. If you are looking for a great YA stand alone fantasy I definitely recommend it.

When I requested this, I did not realize it was a second book. I tried going back to the first book of the series to read this one, but it just was not to my taste and I never was able to get into Princess of Souls.

I really enjoy Alexandra Christo's (dark) fairy tale retellings and this was no exception. To Kill a Kingdom is one of my favorite books and I look forward to future releases! (sorry it took me a year and a half to review)

Thanks to the author, publisher, and net galley for the eARC in exchange for my review.

Ok first of all, how did I not realize this was a sequel to TO KILL A KINGDOM??

Anyway, I liked this book a lot. Was it as good as TKAK? No. But it was still very enjoyable. I loved the main characters and their enemies to lovers banter and vibe weeds top notch. They’d be fun characters to read more about.

I also really like this world. I’d love to see other stories set in this world.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really like the premise of a Rapunzel retelling with more magic and worldbuilding, unfortunately, this novel fell flat for me. It felt like I was reading a rough sketch of what the book could eventually be; I liked the character but they weren't fully formed, I liked the plot but the pacing was too slow, etc.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Feiwel & Friends for this eARC for review.

Pausing this book for now and unsure when I will resume, but it's currently at a 3.5 stars for me.

As I was behind in my reviews for a bit, I purchased both the audiobook as well as a hard copy of this so that I had various methods of continuing reading, depending on where I was/what I was doing. Unfortunately, the beginning of this REALLY grabbed me and I was very interested, but somewhere around 45% in I was no longer grabbed and realized I wasn't very invested in what the characters were doing or where they were going. I still want to finish the story, but I'm putting this aside for now. I also somehow missed that this was a sequel to the novel To Kill a Kingdom? Unsure if they're truly connected or if they just take place in the same world, but as I haven't read the first book yet that may be why I'm not fully invested.

Funny thing I bought this book without reading book one because of course I did not know it was a sequel

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I loved this book. I am a huge Alexandra Christo fan and was obsessed with her first novel, so there isn't a shock I loved this one as well. This book includes witches, collecting souls, and a swoon worthy romance. Selestra and Nox have such good banter and I can't pass up an enemies to lovers romance. This was pitched as a Rapunzel retelling, but I felt like it wasn't that similar and was kinda reaching for a connection that wasn't there. Overall this fantasy romance was unique and exciting, just not exactly what it was pitched to be.

Basics: a fairy tale retelling.
Review: I wanted to love this work, but I had trouble even getting into it. I didn't like the pacing, and found myself not wanting to know where the plot and characters were headed next. I can see why this would appeal to readers interested in this style and genre, and even though I loved Christo's To Kill a Kingdom, this one wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the dARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I have been a fan of Alexandra Christo's books since her first one and I have to say, Princess of Souls had all the things I have enjoyed about her past books all in one.

If you like a book with a lot of adventure, danger, and the enemies to lovers trope, consider picking this one up. Selestra and Nox are fantastic characters and Christo does a wonderful job of developing their stories...both separate and together.

The world building was done well and the story itself was well-written. I can't wait to read whatever Christo writes next!

I love retellings and this was a really interesting take on a Rapunzel retelling. I enjoyed the fairytale elements and the nods to the original story. Selestra is a young witch who has been confined to a castle all of her life. She will some day become the King’s right hand witch and assist him in collecting souls to remain immortal. The story also follows Nox. He is rebellious and headstrong. He wants revenge against the immortal king more than anything and when his and Selestra’s fate is tied together it makes for a fast paced journey of survival and revenge.

The characters really made the story for me. Enemies to lovers is how this was described and the interactions and banter between Selestra and Nox were amazing! Their relationship built slowly but felt natural. They had to learn to rely on and trust each other and I love that moment when they realize they actually like each other.

This book takes place in the same world as To Kill a Kingdom and it’s so fun seeing other parts of the world the author has created. If you’re a fan of Alexandra Christo’s other books I would definitely say this is a must read. If you haven’t read this authors other books I would say this is still a solid YA stand-alone retelling that I definitely would recommend.

Thank you Macmillan Children’s Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was sucked in at the first page! What a gripping twist to an old tale. Buying a copy for the library and myself.

This was a very unique retelling of the Rapunzel story. I have not read the other book set in this world and did not feel like I was missing any part of the story. The ending felt a bit rushed and I would have liked to spend more time in the magical land.

Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo is a fascinating Rapunzel adaptation in which the heroine can see someone's death by touch. That is a rather unfortunate gift to have, and it means Selestra has had an isolated upbringing. The sympathy you feel for her is instantaneous, made more palpable once you understand how cold and unfeeling her mother is. Nox adds a refreshing breath of irreverence, mystery, and thirst for revenge and provides an excellent impetus for Selestra to learn more about her powers.

As much as I love book series, I enjoy a stand-alone every once in a while, and Princess of Souls provides a satisfying arc for Selestra's story once she starts taking an active interest in her own life. I love Nox, and his scenes are so enjoyable, but I'm glad this is a one-off. Extending it into a second book would have stretched the story too thin. Princess of Souls is excellent as it is, and Selestra is a welcome addition to the list of strong heroines who learn they are even stronger than they ever believed possible.

Selestra is a witch - the last of her line, heir to her mother, destined to be the next witch bound to the immortal king, Seryth, whose immortality comes from ingesting the souls of others. But Selestra does not want to be bound to Seryth, does not wish to take her mother's place - and they all know it. Alone, isolated by her mother and the king, with magic she does not understand, cannot control, and which scares her, Selestra seeks desperately for a way out. But will she find it - and if she does, will it be in time?

This novel is a different take on magic, and shows what happens when magic is misused, even abused, by the wrong people and for the wrong reasons. Selestra - uncertain, untrained, isolated, and afraid - is not your usual sort of protagonist. Trained to defend herself by Asden, a warrior of the king's Last Army, threatened by the king, her mother, and Nox, another soldier in the Last Army, Selestra has no one to rely upon except herself, and the isolation foisted upon her leaves her without allies and nearly without resources. This is an enjoyable novel, and I can only hope that the author will write a sequel.

Great book and enjoyed the characters . loved the slight romance and the how well the group worked together. Overall a great book . I would read this author again.

It’s been such a while since I’ve read a fantasy and really enjoyed this! I love the way pieces of the original story are weaved through the retelling bits!

I liked it well enough. It was average in every way, characters, plot, world building... very run of the mill. Which is sad because I was excited due to this being the author of the highly acclaimed To Kill a Kingdom. The story felt lackluster and run of the mill. The characters aren't memorable, and even the evil villain and villainess felt like a non threat most of the time. I got bored at around 60% in and would have DNFd if I had a stronger will.