Author: Kiera Cass
Series: -
Genres: YA, Romance, Mythology
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Hardback
Pages: 336
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SYNOPSIS: From Kiera Cass, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Selection series, comes a sweeping stand-alone fantasy romance.
A girl with a secret.
The boy of her dreams.
An Ocean between them.
Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.
Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude...until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.
Falling in love with a human breaks the Ocean’s rules. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.
This was a very highly anticipated book for me even though Kiera wrote it before The Selection series... she said she had re-written and changed parts apart from getting a huge cover makeover! I love the cover! I must say I have read some bad reviews on Goodreads but, in my case, I loved it!
THE WORLD: Here is the best part, it's our world just as we know it but Sirens are real. They're always girls, typically teens or young adults, because the Ocean doesn't take wives or mothers. The reason? When these girls are saved from drowning they are turned into Sirens and in exchange they have to serve the Ocean for 100 years. Their job is to sing at least once a year so that human boats/ships deviate from their route and end up sinking. This way a few humans are sacrificed so that the Ocean can provide for the rest of humans and animals. Wives and mothers would mourn their beloved ones too much and that's why the Ocean only takes girls.
CHARACTERS: The main character is 19 year old Kahlen. She was born into a wealthy family, and for circumstances, she was saved by the Ocean from drowning during a ship wreckage around the 1930's. She was made a Siren and since then she served the Ocean for 80 years. The main story starts when Kahlen moves to Miami with her other two sisters, Miaka and Elizabeth. She has another sister called Aisling that is about to be changed back to human because she has already served for 100 years but she doesn't live with them. She likes being alone and isolated (and she has a reason). Kahlen is not like her outgoing sisters and prefers to be alone as well so while Miaka and Elizabeth go to parties, she goes to the library. There she meets Akinli Schaefer and they have an instant connection. Oh! I almost forgot to mention that Sirens cannot speak! If humans hear a Siren's voice they would immediately try to throw themselves into the water. So Kahlen likes Akinli a lot but she knows they cannot be together for several reasons: 1) she's a Siren and has to serve the ocean for 20 more years 2) she doesn't age while being a Siren, she's basically immortal.
The Ocean herself also acts as another character and we meet Akinli's cousins, Ben and Julie.
I don't want to give away the story... no spoilers! and it's a complex story so you'll have to read it yourselves. I think it's worth it.
LOVE: There is love. There is love in a motherly way, there is love in a sisterly way, and there is love in a romantic way. Banned love. But don't worry! There is no explicit content. The love was written very classy.
The Ocean herself also acts as another character and we meet Akinli's cousins, Ben and Julie.
I don't want to give away the story... no spoilers! and it's a complex story so you'll have to read it yourselves. I think it's worth it.
LOVE: There is love. There is love in a motherly way, there is love in a sisterly way, and there is love in a romantic way. Banned love. But don't worry! There is no explicit content. The love was written very classy.
PLUS: I loved all the mythology surrounding Sirens and the fact that the Ocean is very much "alive" in this book. It's a She by the way. I really liked that fact that the Ocean is treated with respect... I don't know why... maybe it's because Basque people are taught to respect the Ocean since they're children. Anyway, another plus was the strong bond these Sirens have. It's like a sisterhood! even though these girls are from all over the world they take care of each other like a family.
Also there are some plot-twists. Small ones but the kind that make you change your perspective.
MINUS: My only minus is that Kahlen sometimes exaggerates a lot the whole love thing. I mean... well I don't know because I've never been in love so maybe not. To a certain extend I can understand her because she was born in the era where you were supposed to marry and have a family and live happily ever after so that's what she has wanted all her live but now as a Siren it's not possible anymore. Her mind is in conflict and it can be frustrating for the reader. It didn't bother me much though.
OVERALL: 5 stars and goes to favorites. Since the only minus didn't even bother me, it's only fair to give all stars. I'm so happy I pre-ordered it and now I own a beautiful hardcover :D
NOTE: maybe some people didn't like the book so much because it's not in their age range? or maybe it's not the right genre for them? I don't know I'm still trying to see the flaws... meh, different opinions = good.
EXTRA: Listen to Into the Waves (Siren Song) written by Kiera!
Also there are some plot-twists. Small ones but the kind that make you change your perspective.
MINUS: My only minus is that Kahlen sometimes exaggerates a lot the whole love thing. I mean... well I don't know because I've never been in love so maybe not. To a certain extend I can understand her because she was born in the era where you were supposed to marry and have a family and live happily ever after so that's what she has wanted all her live but now as a Siren it's not possible anymore. Her mind is in conflict and it can be frustrating for the reader. It didn't bother me much though.
OVERALL: 5 stars and goes to favorites. Since the only minus didn't even bother me, it's only fair to give all stars. I'm so happy I pre-ordered it and now I own a beautiful hardcover :D
NOTE: maybe some people didn't like the book so much because it's not in their age range? or maybe it's not the right genre for them? I don't know I'm still trying to see the flaws... meh, different opinions = good.
EXTRA: Listen to Into the Waves (Siren Song) written by Kiera!
Come throw your heart into the waves
Your soul is lost, and still it saves
Drink me in and come undone
Trade a thousand lives for one
Come away, drink it in
Drink and sink and let it end
Drink and sink and let it end
You are no more, you are no less
For all must die, all must rest
Bring your body unto me
Let your graveyard be the sea
Come away and drink it in
Drink and sink and let it end
Drink and sink and let it end
What did you guys think about THE SIREN?
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