Book Review: The Siren by Kiera Cass

Taking a dip (forgive the pun) into other books written by an author you've read is sometimes a little daunting. You have these expectations of this author's writing, characters and story, and there's always some tiny part of you that worries, "What if I end up disappointed?" I read the first two books of Kiera Cass's "The Selection" trilogy, and immensely enjoyed myself! I was a little iffy about picking up "The Siren", an older book Ms. Cass had written, but found myself wrapped up in an entirely different story that's interesting in its own way.

Don't form any bonds with humans. You can speak to your sisters, and can always commune with the Ocean, but your voice is deadly to humans. You are, essentially, a weapon. Kahlen has lived by these rules for decades now, patiently waiting for a life she can finally call her own. Ever since a fatal boat trip that left her family dead, Kahlen has lived a lonely existence as one of the four sirens, a sisterhood of beautiful girls who help the Ocean feed. But when Akinli, a human, enters her world, she finds the vast Ocean increasingly restricting and can't bring herself to live by the rules anymore. Suddenly the life that she's been waiting for is nowhere near as important as the one she's living now.

What I really enjoyed about "The Siren" was its unique take on mermaids--not to mention, these seafaring mythological creatures are perfect reading material for summer! The concept of a sisterhood of sirens who are saved from the brink of death by the mysterious Ocean is something I haven't encountered before, and it was exciting to see how these humans-turned-sirens dealt with such a life-altering change. One of the central issues Kahlen and her sisters deal with as sirens is their responsibility of feeding the Ocean; essentially leading humans to their watery deaths by using their enchanting, deadly voices. At the same time, the sisterhood of sirens have access to a life of luxury, spending their limitless time and money in exotic places and indulging in the richest of foods and clothing. Though whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is another question entirely.

Unfortunately, one of the things that did disappoint me a little was Kahlen herself. Sure, she's meant to be beautiful and compassionate, but she's also crazy selfish too! I mean, I would understand why she'd want more for herself, since she's forced to live a lonely life, but still. For example, after falling head over heels in love with Akinli, Kahlen concocts a not-so-genius plan to stay with this mortal boy she loves: She'll stay away from water, marry Akinli, then fake her death a few years later after living a happy, married life. Um, what?! She'd put this boy, whom she supposedly loves with all her heart, through the pain of losing his wife? Not to mention the fact that he's already dealt with death of his loved ones in his life. Yet fully knowing this, she decides that she has to have him for herself, even if it means that he'll get hurt. Eh. A major shake of the head there, Kahlen.

Akinli, however, is a pretty good love interest for Kalen in the story. He's sweet and kind, if a little bit on the sensitive side (I think he's cried more than Kahlen has in the book), and falls for Kahlen despite the fact that she can't/won't speak. It takes a huge heart to do that. The other characters in "The Siren", like Ben and Julie, Akinli's cousin and Ben's girlfriend respectively, add an extra touch of sweetness and familiarity to Kahlen's experiences as a human, and they without a doubt create a homey, family feel. Kahlen's siren sisters are also great characters to read about, especially because they each have their own distinct personalities. Take, for example, Elizabeth. She's loud and wild and goes around stealing cars and boys' hearts. On the other hand, Miaka is the gentle, meek, artistic type who grows into herself as the years progress. Aisling is cold and distant, but, as is revealed later on in the novel, for a reason.

Another disappointment I found in "The Siren" was the narrative voice. Told from Kahlen's point of view, the narration was a little stilted and awkward. I think the main reason for this is that it sounded really 'tell-not-show', if that makes any sense. In other words, the narration seemed like it was just recounting the past in a rather orderly fashion, instead of showing to the readers what's happening to Kahlen. Maybe it's because the first bunch of chapters take place over a span of years, so you're fast forwarding through a lot of time in fewer pages. Or maybe it's also because there was relatively less dialogue, since Kahlen couldn't speak to Akinli and the other humans lest she bring them to their deaths. But that was actually kind of sweet, since it lead to an incredibly romantic, genuine romance between her and Akinli. Either way, the narrative voice was just a little iffy and not as flowing as it could've been.

All in all, Ms. Cass's "The Siren" is a decent novel with an engaging cast of characters and a unique take on classical mermaid folklore, though it could've been even more exciting had the heroine not been so darn selfish, and if the narrative voice had been a little smoother. Nonetheless, I'd say it's worth a read if you're a fantasy YA lover!

Rating: 3.5/5

Book Review: Of Triton by Anna Banks

Nothing screams summer like the ocean...or mermaids. With the sun shining bright and the sky blazing blue, I can't help but feel a little lighter on my sandaled feet! I read Anna Banks's "Of Poseidon" a couple of months ago, and thoroughly enjoyed myself as I dove into the world of the Syrena. Luckily for me, its sequel, "Of Triton", was released just last week, which of course meant I had to get my grubby hands on a copy. And trust me, there's nothing like a good YA book along with a nice, refreshing smoothie to have in your hands  as you kick back and enjoy the summer!

Emma has just been kidnapped by her own mother. Who also happens to be the long-lost Poseidon princess, which means that Emma struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she's a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below the surface, one that deserves death. As if that's not bad enough, her mother's reappearance among the Syrena heightens tensions between the two kingdoms--Poseidon and Triton--which could jeopardize the happiness of her family, not to mention her relationship with Galen. Emma is now tasked with a difficult decision: Should she comply with Galen's request to stay away from the water to keep herself safe? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself--and her Gift--to save a people she's never known?

"Of Triton" is one of those incredibly enjoyable, easy reads that you whip through in about a day, and that's especially helped by the fact that it has such a smooth storyline that remains compelling until the very last page. There's a lot that happens in this sequel, with tensions that start off high from the onset--I mean, kidnapped by your own mom? Who also turns out to be some rebellious mermaid princess? Talk about en media res. Emma and Galen make a lot of discoveries as the novel progresses, ones that have the potential to shift the balance of things in the Syrena realm, as well as the survival of their own relationship. There really never is a dull moment in "Of Triton", though I do have to admit that there were times when I had to flip back a few pages because I missed out on something important. Perhaps the storyline was a little too smooth--Ms. Banks could've punctuated the climax a little more strongly to make things even more exciting.

Just like in "Of Poseidon", the chapters of "Of Triton" alternate between the perspectives of Emma and Galen. I remember writing in my review of the first book that I was a little iffy with Galen's chapters, since they were told from a third-person point of view and in the present tense, which sometimes felt a little awkward. The same can be said about Galen's perspective in "Of Triton"--I still think past tense or a first-person point of view could've worked better for him--but I've grown used to it by this point, so it's not too bad. Otherwise, I enjoyed following both Emma and Galen throughout the book. They're likable characters who are both determined, compassionate and thoughtful, plus it's super cute to see the way they interact with each other from both perspectives!

The other characters in "Of Triton" were just as likable and interesting to read about. I especially like Toraf and Rayna--they have such a dynamic relationship that's not generic at all and remains volatile and passionate throughout; a little like yin-and-yang. Rachel, the high-heel struttin', ex-Mafia who helps Galen with human intel, is, as always, a brilliant and fun character, though I still can't believe what happened to her in the book! (See? No spoilers!) As for Nalia, aka Emma's mom and long-lost Syrena princess, I was still a little skeptical about her character. I mean, now that she's revealed to be a mermaid who has a lifespan of 300 years, it just makes her even more unbelievably immature. Sure, she's stubborn like Emma, but sometimes I felt like it was a little weird to have her mom as a pretty irresponsible and childish character. Eh. My opinion of her, however, is a little tempered by her interaction with Grom, whom she was meant to be mated with before her disappearance. Still, though, I wouldn't want a mom like her.

All in all, "Of Triton" is a thoroughly enjoyable, fun read that's perfect for those lazy summer days, with a dynamic cast of characters and a seamless storyline that keeps you interested throughout. I'm really looking forward to the final book in the "Of Poseidon" series, "Of Neptune", and can't express just how refreshed and...summery (!) I feel now!

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

There are times in life when you just need a good, light-hearted book to get you through an especially tiring or stressful day, and with my final exams coming up, I sure as heck need a whole truckload of them in the next couple of weeks! Luckily for me, I have a whole list of books I've always wanted to read, plus the exciting new releases this month. "Of Poseidon" has been on my to-read list for a while now, and I finally got the chance to whip it out...yesterday. Yes, I gobbled up the book in a day--it was just what I needed!

When Galen, the prince of the Syrena, encounters a girl who can talk to fish, he knows she's one of them, and is determined to know more about her. Emma's lived a normal human life for all of her eighteen years, until one day, she literally stumbles into an incredibly attractive young man. Little does she know that from that day onward--the very same day of a deadly shark encounter--everything is about to change.

The characters of "Of Poseidon" are your typical YA cast of characters--and I love 'em! Emma and Galen are both likable, strong characters, and you get a really good sense of their distinct personalities through the chapters of the book, which are told alternating between the two's points of view. (I do have to insert here that I felt like the present tense was pretty awkward when told from a third-person point of view, though!) Luckily, Emma isn't one of those annoying, whiny heroines, which seem to be a little too prevalent in a lot of YA books. Instead, she's witty and honest, with a good head on her shoulders. It's also interesting to see things from Galen's perspective, especially with the whole mysterious Syrena business going on. One criticism I have about the two's relationship is that it just happened a little too perfectly. As in, "I-feel-that-spark-between-us-O-M-G" perfect. Sure, there was the initial denial and misunderstandings between the two of them, punctuated here and there with some arguments, but everything got resolved quickly and cleanly--a little too much so. Nonetheless, there's undeniable chemistry between the Emma and Galen, particularly as the relationship developed throughout the book.

The rest of the characters were equally as likable--maybe even more so! Rayna and Toraf make an interesting and cute pair, with her hot temper and his undying devotion to her. I especially like Toraf's witty, laidback personality and the way that played off with his sappier feelings of love for his mate. I'm definitely pretty bummed that Chloe, Emma's sassy, confident best friend, couldn't have stayed in the story for longer! She would undoubtedly spice things up in the novel and add so much to the character dynamics...maybe Ms. Banks shouldn't have done what she did with Chloe! Another thing I was a little iffy about was the character of Emma's mom. She seemed a little too teenagerish for my standards, even if she's meant to be one of those more relaxed, 'liberal' moms. I mean, stomping your foot? Not even teenagers do that!

The storyline of "Of Poseidon" was generally rather easy-going and smooth, mostly following Galen and Emma as their romance progressed and as Emma learned about who she is. I think there could've been more of a real climax, though, because there weren't moments when your heart began to race in anticipation of what happened next. Instead, I think "Of Poseidon" is generally more of an easy read, introducing the characters and the concept of Syrena and so on. Maybe the sequel will have more action in it.

Overall, Anna Banks's "Of Poseidon" is a flirty, fun read with a fun cast of characters and an intriguing new take on mermaids. It's definitely not a literary, classic masterpiece, but it's great for times when you need an easy-going book--plus it has such a beautiful cover! I'll also be checking out the sequel, "Of Triton", which is being released this May!

Rating: 3.5/5