Week 48 Review: The Merciless King of Moore High

From Goodreads:

When the adults of Brockton, Connecticut, morphed into gigantic, bloodthirsty monsters nine months ago, the students at Jefferson High barricaded themselves inside their school. Now eighteen-year-old Kay Kim is one of the Student Council members trying to keep her classmates from starving.

Kay has no poker face and can't keep her mouth shut when she knows she's right, so when she accidentally learns a secret that threatens the delicate power balance at Jefferson, she's dragged out of the school in the dead of night and dumped in the middle of town in a secret assassination attempt.

But when a raiding party of cheerleaders from crosstown rival Moore High comes to her rescue, Kay finds herself among ruthless, hard-partying road warriors who have adopted the feudal trappings of a once-popular video game. Life at Moore is violent and cliquish, but everyone is thriving—everyone, that is, who survives the kingdom's periodic monster hunts. For Moore's beloved King Max demands only two absolute fealty and that everyone at Moore help kill the "dragons."

If Kay wants to survive, she must be granted asylum at Moore—which means slaying dragons, not asking the wrong questions, and navigating the rival factions, love triangles, and political intrigues at court. But when Kay discovers a deadly secret that reaches all the way to Jefferson, her inability to hide the truth might spark the revolution that burns both schools to the ground.

My Review:
I loved reading this book! I love her writing, and this standalone sounded really fantastic! And it was, I loved watching these characters navigate the perils of this new world as well as the politics between the different groups, working for survival and for power.

These characters were so great to read about, as they navigated this changed world where there is so much danger, and they've made these schools their safe havens. But the politics within the schools is pretty fierce. When Kat is kicked out of Jefferson, it's lucky that's she's brought to Moore High. Well, maybe, but it's not easy.

Oh, but there was so much going on in this book! I loved following these characters as they navigated this world, as they schemed and plotted, and it was just such a well done story! I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next! 

The way things ended, it could stay a standalone, but I would absolutely love for it to be a series, to spend more time in this world, with these characters. Given everything that they went through and learned, and where we left them, a sequel would be fantastic! 

Loved reading this book, and I can't wait to read more by Lily Sparks! 

Author: Lily Sparks 
Read: November 29th, 2023
Source: NetGalley 
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded really great, and it's a SAC 2023 Book and a WoW Book! 
Publisher: North Star Editions 
Expected Publication: April 23rd 2024

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars