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

This story was fast paced and full of action. The chapters were short and I easily finished this book within a day.

The premise is really good and compelling, and the political power dynamics made me turn a blind eye to the love triangle (which I wasn’t exactly a fan of). Love triangles kind of ruin the whole romance aspect of a book for me and I really do enjoy a good love story, so this felt like a bit of a bummer.

The premise of the Growns was a-mazing! The world building did really hook me in, and (almost) made up for my gripes with this story.

I’ve got to give it to the author that she really did keep me guessing. The plot wasn’t predictable at all and the plot-twists managed to keep me on my toes the entire time.

All things considered, I think this book was very fun to read and I thank Netgalley together with the author and publisher for the eARC!

ENGLISH

It is an intriguing and somewhat strange book, bizarre in some ways and interesting in others. It's between Hell Followed With Us and The Hunger Games for me! If anyone likes both books, I think this will be a very interesting read and you will love it.

It's got intrigue, gore, political/teen romance drama, and LOTS OF PLOT TWIST!
I'm not going to lie, I would have liked to know more about what happened in the Before or to show us some more specific things about the moment when the adults became monsters and the world began its apocalypse but I think that is a plus.
It's understandable that the protagonists did not want to relive those moments.

What intrigued me most about the story was the psychology behind the Moore High kids. While everyone at Jefferson takes it very literally, the characters at Moore High try to survive the disastrous events using a kind of fantasy mask to cope with them. At first the terms they used bothered me, but as I read and understood their ideology, I realized that these kids needed to believe it to not go crazy. The author, in my opinion, explored that side of the story very well.

On the other hand, the romance between Kay and Bricks or Kay and Leo did not catch my attention too much, I would have loved that kind of drama where there are love triangles in a dystopia years ago but I have read so many that now they do not catch my attention. Mind you, reading Kay's POV was refreshing because honestly, that girl is a mess and made me worry about her many times.
Overall it was a good read and I do recommend it 👌🏻.


ESPAÑOL
Es un libro intrigante y medio extraño, bizarro en algunas cosas e interesantes en otras. Está entre Hell Followed With Us y The Hunger Games para mí! Si a alguien le gusta ambos libros, creo que este será una lectura muy interesante y les encantará.

Tiene intriga, gore, drama político y de romance adolescente y UN MONTÓN DE PLOT TWIST!
No voy a mentir, me hubiera gustado saber más sobre lo que pasó en el Antes o que nos mostraran algunas cosas más especificas de el momento en que los adultos se convirtieron en monstruos y el mundo empezó con su apocalipsis pero creo que, dentro de lo que cabe, es comprensible que los protagonistas no quisieran revivir esos momentos.

Lo que más me intrigó de la historia fue la psicología detrás de los chicos de Moore High. Mientras en Jefferson todos se lo toman de forma muy literal, los personajes de Moore High intentan sobrevivir a los desastrosos eventos usando una especie de mascara fantasiosa para poder sobrellevarlos.
Al principio me molestaban los términos que usaban pero conforme fui leyendo y entendiendo su ideología, me di cuenta que estos chicos necesitaban creerla para no volverse locos. La autora, en mi opinión, exploró muy bien ese lado de la historia.

Por otra parte, el romance entre Kay y Bricks o Kay y Leo no me llamó demasiado la atención, esa clase de drama donde hay triangulos amorosos en una distopía me habría encantado hace años pero he leído tantas que ahora no me llaman la atención.

Eso sí, leer el POV de Kay fue refrescante porque, honestamente, esa chica es un desastre y muchas veces me hizo preocuparme por ella.
En general fue una buena lectura y sí la recomiendo 👌🏻.

"The Merciless King of Moore High" is a ya dystopian novel written by Lily Sparks.

In the small town of Brockton, Connecticut, all the adults have suddenly turned into bloodthirsty monsters and the teenagers, unaffected, live barricaded in their respective schools trying to survive. Eighteen-year-old Kay, one of the members of the Student Council at exhausted Jefferson High, tries to keep her classmates alive, until she learns a secret dangerous to the institution's already fragile balance of power. Dragged out in the middle of the night, left for dead in the middle of town, she is unexpectedly rescued by a raiding party of cheerleaders from cross-town rival Moore High. Escorted to their facility, she discovers a society as prosperous as it is violent and quarrelsome, based on a fantasy feudal system inspired by a once-popular video game and ruled by the ruthless and vengeful King Max. If Kay wants to survive, she must be granted asylum at Moore, which means slaying "dragons," following the rules, not asking the wrong questions, and navigating the rival factions, political intrigues of the court, and more. However, when she discovers a deadly secret that extends all the way to Jefferson, both schools and everything they have created are in danger of burning to the ground.

"The Merciless King of Moore High" is a book with super interesting premises, which unfortunately did not fully convince me in its development.

The setting, which winks at "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding, is the element I enjoyed most. Dark, wild and at times truly brutal, it intrigued me a lot.

The story proceeds quickly and dynamic, full of action, deceptions, subterfuges and power plays. The captivating writing, the simple style and the presence of short chapters made my reading easy and smooth, so much so that I arrived at the end without almost realizing it!

The characters, unfortunately, seemed shallow, flat, and nebulous to me. There are several first person povs, including Kay's, but none conveyed anything to me. Even the romance, potentially interesting, left me indifferent gee whiz! And then let's not talk about the secondary characters, for me undefined shapes in the background!

All in all this is a book with very good premises, a fascinating setting and a compelling story, which unfortunately disappointed me in terms of the characters!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

TYSM to NetGalley and North Star Editions for this ARC!

I had a really great time with this book! I didn't know what expect going in and was pleasantly surprised by the layered plot of political intrigue (seasoned with a heavy dose of teenage drama, of course)

I enjoyed how the large cast of characters in their various factions showed the many ways people might react to an apocalyptic event like this, especially in complete isolation between schools. On the note of different schools, would loooove to see how the other schools in town have handled everything in future books! The characters each had their own distinct voice and point of view, so the conflicts that arose made sense and genuinely seemed difficult to resolve peacefully due to their fundamental differences in worldview.

I'm not typically a love triangle person and the whole forced-Leo-dating was a liiiittle contrived for me, but all around I didn't mind (and sometimes even enjoyed!) the romance between Kay and Brick. Good for them!

Also I'm sooo excited for the messiness next time Nirali and Merlin see each other hehehe

All around would def recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and North Star Editions for the ARC!

Thoughts I had while reading :
this book is CRAZY I need a sequel now.
- I loveee how this started I feel like a TON of dystopian/fantasy books start with exposition and I really enjoyed how we jumped right into the interesting part that’s in the synopsis
- From the dam to the beach, Brockton will be free 🍉
- The love triangle is boring I’m way more into the political lines drawn between rooms and cliques and such !! Wish that got more (all) the page space
- Using food as a scare tactic yup !
- Re: love triangle every interaction between Kay and Leo or Kay and Brick is soooo cliche and I roll my eyes !!
- Let teenagers swear ! Especially in an apocalypse!!!
- Merlin the girl wizard is gay, yippee !!
- Genuinely idk who to trust or who is a “good guy” and that hasn’t happened in a book in a long time
- This plot is so BUILT. it makes sense. It’s linear. Genuinely it’s complicated but so smart and well done.
- There’s so many characters but they feel different. I remember who they are. That’s pretty big for such a large cast
- Kind of obsessed that this author will straight up kill her characters ! Props for that
- EPILOGUE? No. I need another book

Final thoughts
- I actually,,, kind of like the love triangle now. Because it’s not a love triangle. It’s a political mess and I’m here for it
- I’m dead serious about needing a sequel and genuinely I wish I could beta read for it or at the very least get the next one as an ARC too

One of my favorite books I’ve read this year

This book is profound. It is a beautifully twisted look at society and the different turns it can take. The world that the author created is mindbendly amazing. The characters are bold, vibrant, almost too bright to be real but they are. The emotional rollercoaster that you are taken on can shake you to your core. The plot with all the twists and backflips, fighting monsters wherever they be found, truly touches you. At the end of this story, I was left craving more, dying to know what would happen next in this world I have become completely enmeshed in. I can’t wait to see where the story will go next.

Review: This was an interesting dystopian/YA/SciFi (lol) read despite the failed character development. What kept me tuned in was the writing. Flow was really nice with regard to scene development and the movement therein. The author lost a great opportunity to imbue the novel with bold characterization coupled with the pace. Other reviewers echoed the same disappointment with the characters. Most stated that they were flat. Although I agree in presentation, I think the author kept the characters consistent with the event that occurred. With YAs you most likely would get a Lord of the Flies situation where the constant threat of death keeps you in a survival state without room for developing behaviors. But, this is entertainment so allowances are made for changes outside the box of reality.

I do not think the author overlooked anything, just kept it as real as possible while adding unrealistic YA hormonal output. In an unrestricted juvenile society you would find more rape etc. Not, glowing skin, twinkling eyes and sniffing body scents.

Quite the novel of mixed messages and rampant polarity. If the author gets her shjt together and picks one path, watch out.

Rating: 3.6/5

The Merciless King of Moore High merges the cutthroat fantasy politics of The Cruel Prince with the post-apocalyptic high school setting of Netflix's Daybreak. Sparks lays out twist after twist like a winning hand of cards, turning the story on its head every time you think you've figured it out. Breathlessly tense, unpredictable, and a heck of a lot of fun.

This book is pure chaos and I LOVED it!

Lily Sparks can have the most unhinged plots and craziest group of characters and nails the execution perfectly EVERY SINGLE TIME!

We follow two rivaling groups of teenagers, when their Connecticut town becomes home to monsters. All the adults have changed into grotesque and bloodthirsty monsters and all the kids take up residency in the schools… Kay has been exiled from Jefferson High, just left behind by her people. So she makes her way over to their rival, Moore High, where their King Max rules with a vengeance.

The characters in this book are just freaking wild! They are so over the top and simultaneously, incredibly realistic. The shenanigans they get up to are just mind boggling, but what would you do if EVERY adult was a monstrous creature? Their systems of politics and hierarchy and so intricate, which cracked me up.

I had to keep reminding myself that these are just kids, and that some of them long for their parents and the way things were before. There is fear of the inability to sustain life. There are all of the major contenders to think about in any post apocalyptic situation, like food!!

There is such ingrained humor to this book, while still giving you high stakes intensity. We get secrets, betrayal, romance, and TONS of action. This book is pretty epic! I enjoyed myself through every single minute.