ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

And just like that, we finish the adventures in the Sand and Sky.

I won't lie, it took me a while to get into this book, trying to remember bits and pieces from The Queen Will Betray You. It's been a hot minute since I read book two but I found my way through book three fairly well regardless.

The King Will Kill You follows immediately after book two and its major cliffhanger. The book is very tense considering the domino effect of never ending bad things happening to the Sand and Sky. Our heroes Amarande and Luca are trying to fit into their new roles as rulers of their respective kingdoms however, with people constantly questioning their authenticity and with the lines of succession in question among the other kingdoms, Amarande, Ferdinand and Luca are seemingly fighting against all odds.

I enjoyed this book. It was good seeing Amarande and Luca step into their roles again. The book seemed consistent with the previous two books in the sense that it maintained the same sort of vibe and pacing. This book though was quite heavy with politics and court intrigue. While I love these two tropes, it did slow this book down at times from how much time was dedicated discussing the state of the Sand and Sky.

All in all, this book was a good ending to the series and it tied everything up pretty well. Actual rating lies more between the 3-4 star range for me.

What a wonderful completion to this trilogy!

I am a sucker for fantasy and the sweetness between this couples ending and their journey together was one of my favorites.

Highly recommend for fans of fantasy!

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

"The King Will Kill You" by Sarah Henning is the third and final installment in the Kingdom of Sand and Sky series, and it delivers a satisfying conclusion to the story of Amarande and Luca. The book is full of action, suspense, and heart, making it a fitting finale to the series.

Henning's writing style is immersive and engaging, drawing the reader into the richly detailed world she has created. The characters are well-developed, with Amarande and Luca continuing to be strong and likable protagonists who face numerous challenges and obstacles on their journey.

Another standout aspect of this book is the world-building. Henning has created a vivid and intricate world that is full of magic, political intrigue, and complex power dynamics. The different kingdoms and factions all have their own unique cultures and histories, which adds depth and complexity to the story.

However, one criticism of the book is that some plot points and character motivations are not fully fleshed out. The story moves quickly, and some elements feel rushed or underdeveloped, leaving the reader wanting more depth and nuance.

Additionally, while the action scenes are well-written, they can sometimes feel repetitive or formulaic. The battles and confrontations follow a similar pattern, which can make them feel less impactful and exciting.

Overall, "The King Will Kill You" is a solid conclusion to the Kingdom of Sand and Sky series that will satisfy fans of the previous books. While there are some criticisms to be made, Henning's writing style and the strong characterizations of Amarande and Luca make this book a worthwhile read.

(i received an e-arc from tor and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

this instalment definitely lived up to the hype of the trilogy's opener (The Princess Will Save You). once again, i enjoyed the two main characters' witty banter, made better by the higher stakes.

2.5/5
I had a bit of a hard time getting through this one, especially after flying through books 1 and 2. I didn't find it as engaging as the other two in the series. I absolutely love the characters. They are my favorite part of this trilogy. However, I was not a fan of how political heavy this one was. I know that this entire trilogy has a political plot, but in this novel that's all there was. There weren't as many action scenes and the balance between action and political was way off to me. I expected a big finish to this trilogy, but I was let down. The ending happened so quick and seemed a bit too easy. Like where was the struggle? I needed more from this book, especially with it being the last installment. Overall, I really liked the trilogy, but it definitely is not a new favorite.

I was so excited to finish out this series but after rereading book one than reading book two. Starting this one that excited waned just a little. This one ended as I expected it to end. I did enjoy it for the most part but it was really just a meh read. Nothing really exciting and nothing to really write home about. I would say that if you are interested in this series to try and get it used or from the library.

This was a fun series. I’m sad to see it go but I’m happy to move on to other things. While this wasn’t an “OMG” amazing book, it was still rather entertaining.

Ahh what!? I'm slightly disappointed in this ending of the trilogy, It felt different than the other books, but I'm not too disappointed with the ending, and am mostly satisfied with the conclusion.

A good ending to an enjoyable series.

I would most definitely recommend this to a customer looking for a YA adventure story, that also has court politics involved.

I found the whole series very interesting, and though the pacing could be a bit slow, the books aren't so long that the story drags on and on by any means.

A very cute love story, HEA guaranteed!

This book was really interesting! I was intrigued by the storyline and that's what initially drew me to this title. I also really love the cover artwork.

The King Will Kill You is the final book in the The Princess Will Save You series- and what a finale it was! I can’t say much without spoiling the series as a whole, so go read it if you love strong heroines in high fantasy settings!

I had a feeling I wouldn’t like this one that much because after the first book I just grew less and less attached to the series; it’s totally a me problem but I find that a lot of YA is so recycled and just depicts different variants of similar events.

The PERFECT conclusion to this epic series! I have fallen in love with Sarah Henning and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

I really enjoyed this book. I hope the author continues to write more books in the future. I can't wait to see what the author releases in the future.

Without too many spoilers, readers last left Amarande and Luca in control of Ardenia and Torrence, respectively. Queen Ines and Geneva, the Warlord of the Torrent, had upended the continent, the two controlling all five kingdoms before being defeated by Amarande, Luca, and their band of friends. Despite much seeming settled, The Queen Will Betray You concluded with Renard, presumed dead at Amarande’s hand, sitting up and taking a breath.

As a reader, I had a more difficult time getting through The King Will Kill You. After two very exciting previous novels, the third book in the series felt a bit like it was spinning its wheels until the final confrontation. Much of The King Will Kill You focused on politics and the way that each kingdom tried to uphold or undermine the new normal of the continent.

While Amarande and Luca have become steadfast characters to root for, this novel also saw fan favorites sidelined to expedite political talks, specifically Ferdinand, Ula, Urtzi, and Osana. While I can see how there was a need for a third book in the series, I felt that some of these characters were not dealt enough pages to make their stories complete.

Overall, the end battle is worth it, but this is a bit of a slower novel to read. The epilogue was also not unexpected, but it was a nice conclusion. I very much enjoyed this series and I’m sad to see it go. I do recommend it with the caveat to have patience with the final installment of the series.

-I was very excited for this book since I’ve enjoyed the first two
-Kept me engaged and wondering how everything was going to wrap up
-I love Ama and Luca
-Ferdinand really grew on me
-I feel like this book could have been longer a bit since it felt like the resolution was very short compared to how long we spent getting to it.

Confession time? I truly started this series thinking The Princess Will Save You was a standalone, and was kinda bummed to get to the end only to find out there was another book to wait for...and another... That said, I adored Luca and really felt he carried the story in this one! Not a perfect series (I mean, what is?!) but still a fun read, and I enjoyed seeing how things would 'officially' end in this one! Felt like a long time coming, but still a good ending and an enjoyable read!

I was really satisfied with the conclusion to this trilogy! The pace was fast, the characters were fun and often funny, and the culmination of the plot mirrored the source material in fun ways.

Amarande and Luca face new challenges in their quest to regain their rightful places in The King Will Kill You by Sarah Henning.

Having thwarted the murderous monarchs in The Queen Will Burn You, Amarande and Luca think their last remaining problems is catching a runaway Geneva until they are confronted with the continent’s archaic rules that Myrcell, Basilica and The Pyrenées’ new monarchs seek to uphold — namely that Amarande is not fit to be queen by her own right despite having been crowned a mere week before.

Naturally, Amarande doesn’t take kindly to this and makes her quest to legitimise her crown her first priority, and is the driving force of the plot. As in the previous books, she remains headstrong and temperamental, but her trials so far have made her less impulsive, especially once she is given time. She is also incredibly righteous as she doesn’t hesitate to point out the injustices the continent has and continues to commit against women. Even though she was Ines’ and Geneva’s target she realises that she can understand how and why they were forced into their plans by a world seeking to tear them down. Despite all this, her character arc culminates in a surprising change at the end of the series that really showed her growth.

After having reclaimed his title, Luca settles into it quite well, choosing a diplomatic option first in many cases. Always in contrast to Amarande, he is more measured in his plans, eloquently teasing the rest of the continent over to his cause, but he will not hesitate to fight when needed. His character arc throughout the series sees him becoming his own person rather than a character constantly attached to Amarande, which I appreciated.

Henning doesn’t hesitate to give her secondary characters arcs of their own, even the ones like Geneva and Renard. Their scenes humanise them despite all they’ve done, and they serve as a reminder that the state of things is never black and white, even in fiction.

Plot-wise, The King Will Kill You by Sarah Henning brought back many of the themes seen so far in the series, while new and exciting twists kept me engrossed with every new chapter, especially after the second half. Personally I didn’t quite see the point of bringing Renard back though I did find his chapters interesting as a character study more than a plot device. However, Henning did a good job tying him into the Geneva subplot leading up to the climax.

Henning’s signature purple prose is also one of the defining characteristics of this book. While it can be wordy at times, her unusual metaphors and engaging descriptions of action scenes compliment the book rather than slowing down its pace. Not to mention that the writing simply fits with the characters, especially during Amarande and Luca’s chapters.

Overall, Sarah Henning wrote a strong series with a feminist message at its core. While that message can get repetitive, her female characters each embody it differently with every new challenge they face. The King Will Kill You offers a satisfying conclusion to the series, with an unexpected ending that shows true character growth.