Compare Elian’s role as a prince of Midas to Lira’s role as the princess of the sea. How are their positions similar? How do they differ? How do they each see their position as royalty?

What is Lira’s motivation for killing princes? How does her motivation change over time? Using examples, explain why her motivation changes.

How does To Kill a Kingdom serve as a pastiche of “The Little Mermaid”? Explain the elements of the story that borrow from the fairy tale, and how the book differs from the original.