this was just ... not it. there was SO much info dumping, and the sad part was, the information dumped on the reader was not even GOOD (it rarely is, honestly, when will authors learn to weave information about their world into their books organically 🙄). The world building was so confused, it read like a 2012 YA Dystopian in the worst way possible but then there were also FAE and Witches, oh and don't forget humans (but they don't really matter). But that's not all, there are also districts sectors for different species, and Fae have four different elemental affinities, only this time around the oppressors are not the Fire Nation, but the Water Tribe water Fae.

Despite her killer instincts, I initially liked Saoirse as her character is fierce and sassy. Her perspective also felt fresh and complex due to her struggles and weaknesses. That said, it soon became clear that her character is very manipulative, arrogant and cold, which made it hard for me to connect or relate to her. I don’t care about this book. If it’s a series, you just know it’s gonna end like lol your brother isn’t dead. He’s ruling or a prisoner in the siren kingdom that isn’t destroyed. (I grossly overestimated how much plot this book would get to.)Saoirse Sorkova survives on secrets. As the last siren in her kingdom, she can sing any man to an early grave – but her very existence is illegal, and if her true identity were ever discovered, it would be her life on the line. The Cruel Prince meets To Kill a Kingdom in this seductive YA fantasy debut, in which a siren must choose between protecting her family and following her heart in a prejudiced kingdom where her existence is illegal. I’ve read a few books on the Fae in the past, and while they were entertaining, they needed depth and were largely forgettable. It had a lot of complexity, and the world was filled with history and culture. The elemental magic system included Fae and other magical creatures. I adored Saoirse’s ability to taste emotions. It meant I could genuinely feel every interaction she had.

Prince Hayes was my other favourite character. I loved the interactions between him and Saoirse. The romance was so perfect, and the plot and side plots were totally gripping! I wish I could tell you more but I can’t without revealing too much. Descriptions of our characters surroundings on the other hand were just non - existent. The story starts out in a pub for example, but do I know how it looked like?? Nope. Same with Characters, I guess one dude's cheekbones looked like glass, whatever that's supposed to mean. Not sharp like glass, not cut like glass, just glass. Guess our poor man was just see-through. And everyone's eyes were a different crystal colour, but that's as far as we get. Then it’s the prince’s birthday rehearsal, and somebody tries to use water magic to drown him. But don’t worry, Ariel rescues Prince Eric. And the audience is like oh my god, shouldn’t the water make her kill everybody? And the author is like oh my god, no. This is true love and actually, she can resist the water’s compulsion. And the audience is like oh, so she like definitely didn’t have to kill anybody in this book? And the author is like correct. She’s morally gray! And the audience is like no, she’s actively a bad person. It never rubs me the right way when we have main characters that are just chill with slavery, but it seems extra wrong when those characters are people of color. There was a fantastic plot at work in this book, all circling around Saoirse as a siren and her love for and need to protect her family. Who was Raze, the Resistance and the Spektral were all big questions in my mind and yet I didn't see that late plot twist coming...jaw drop.In-your-face honesty and fierceness season the instantly appealing 1st person POV. Compassion, melancholy and a sense of justice are also mixed in. The narrative is intimate and in synch with what she is feeling and her thoughts. Her siren tendencies, the way she tastes emotions and her murderous inclination are described aptly. This is a passionate story of a protagonist we should consider a villain, a beautiful 'monster' to be afraid of, though we can't help but love her. Can she fight her nature?

That being said, I'm *especially* glad I read this gem. This book is honestly one of my favorite books of the year and I am sure will become a favorite series. It is a fast-paced story with a lot going on and a lot of tension brewing. The world building in this is so fantastic. We don't get info dump, rather we get a steady stream of info that makes it easy to follow the fantasy world and understand what's going on (I LOVE when authors can do this so seamlessly). This book has fae, witches, sirens, and a whole host of other creatures important to this story. Saoirse should hate Prince Hayes. After all, his father is the one who enforces the kingdom’s brutal creature-segregation laws. But when Hayes turns out to be kind, thoughtful, and charming, Saoirse finds herself increasingly drawn to him—especially when they’re forced to work together to stop a deadly killer who’s plaguing the city. There’s only one problem: Saoirse is that deadly killer. There's a lot to root for in this exciting fantasy debut, even the very flawed main character -- eventually. Saoirse loves her adoptive family and will do anything for her sister. She's also an assassin for hire. "He must be someone bad," she thinks to herself, until she kills someone close to the prince. Her awakening to compassion is far too slow, but it is in heavy competition with her bloodthirsty instincts. Until she grows closer to the prince, she's pretty lost to those instincts. The relationship that develops between Saoirse and Prince Hayes is a pleasant surprise. Here's a siren who's supposed to woo anyone without a thought, and instead she hides her identity with a fake face and some grumpy manners. And still, romance blossoms. I would recommend it to fans of sirens and readers who enjoyed The Cruel Prince and To Kill A Kingdom.

Buy this Book!

Oh my freaking god I loved this book! I read it in under 24 hours it ws so damn good. A captivating story of hidden identities, secrets, betrayals and a slow burn romance to die for, this is a new YA favourite of mine. I cannot wait for the sequel and will absolutely be re-reading this. Saoirse is the perfect morally-grey anti-hero that you cannot help but root for. She will do anything for her family, risking her own life for her sister. She is the perfect grump of the grumpy/sunshine romance but deep down she cares, a lot. One of the greatest strengths of this book is that Burton has created a compelling protagonist who walks the fine line between what is right and what is wrong. When her sister, the one person she cares about most in this world, is in danger, how far will Saoirse go to protect her?