Author: Mary Weber
Series: Book One in the Storm Siren Series
Published By: Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins (August 19, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Book Description:
“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”
In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.
As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.
Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.
Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.
But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?
Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.
There was no way after seeing all of the glowing reviews for this going around the blogsphere that I was going to say no to it. Add in the fact that this wasn't a mermaid or siren story (something I sadly have a love hate relationship with) and I was completely sold on starting this. I just knew it was going to be more than a pretty cover. After all, how could all those 4 and 5 star reviews be wrong?
Thankfully they weren't wrong, at least not completely. . This was so much fun and I seriously I liked it more than I thought I would in fact. My only real complaint and reason why I wasn't completely in love with it was because of the lack of world building. Things needed to be explained just a bit more. Terms were thrown out at us and names of places but that was the extent of our knowledge about them and sadly our explanation but you know what, in the end it was okay because the rest of the book was so entertaining that I could ignore the lack of other things.
I enjoyed Nym, Breck, Collin and Eogan so much. Each of their stories came out little by little, nugget by nugget and I really enjoyed knowing more about them.
I loved the world that we did get to see, what was explained about the people and about Nym and Collin's powers and what being an Elemental meant to not only Nym but the others as well.
Overall this was a fun exciting read that was filled with all things magical with just enough hint at a romance to keep you guessing and wanting more.
I do have to warn you though that there is quite the nasty cliffhanger at the end, so be prepared for it, I wasn't and I almost (almost) wish I would have waited to start this one when book two was closer to being released.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
Oh those cliffhangers are brutal. I have to wait for the whole thing to come out now days. lol I can't believe I've not seen this one at all until now. Thanks for the heads up on it :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, I am not loving all the cliffhangers that seems to be in almost every book these days.
DeleteI have a hate-hate relationship with mermaid/siren stories. Not a single one ever worked for me. So it's good to know that this is not it. I keep seeing such fabulous reviews, I have to admit to being curious although I had no intention of reading it at first.
ReplyDeleteI really didn't either Maja but I think once I learned it wasn't a mermaid tale and all seeing all the glowing reviews, I had to read it. ;)
DeleteI've been seeing this one around for many weeks now. Many loved it, my closest friends hated it, and I'm really on the fence. I want to read it because her power is interesting, and there are some political intrigue, I think? But I heard the MC is super wishy-washy to the point you want to bonk her on the head.
ReplyDeleteFaye at The Social Potato
She is a little but she didn't irritate me too bad. Mostly she just doesn't know how to trust anyone but it is understandable. ;)
DeleteI haven't heard of this book before, but I like the premise. Will have to keep my eye out for it at the library. Great review today :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jayne! I did see this one at the library in the ebook section so hopefully you can find it as well. :)
DeleteYes I saw a lot of point telling we had a problem with the worldbuilding. It's too bad because it's usually the most interesting thing in a book like that.
ReplyDeleteYeah that was sort of disappointing.
DeleteI'm glad you liked this one. It was such a great read and I'm excited to see where the story goes next, but yes, the ending was really brutal.
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
I read this one mainly because of you! :P
DeletePretty neat book.
ReplyDeleteI just love the cover design.
The cover is beautiful!
DeleteThanks for the heads up on the cliffhanger Ali! I will definitely be waiting for book two then before picking this one up even though, like you, I've been seeing it everywhere and all those reviews have really made me want to give it a try. Despite the lack of world-building, I'm glad you enjoyed this overall!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny! I will definitely be reading book two. :)
DeleteThis one sounds pretty cool, although the lack of world building is a bit of a bummer.
ReplyDeleteIt was but like I said, it didn't distract from the story as much as I thought it would so that was a bonus. ;)
DeleteGrrrr, I know what you mean Kindlemom about those cliffhangers and it's not like w/TV when you only have to wait a week. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks this one looks like its right up my alley, but I may wait a while to read it he he he
Yes exactly! Having to wait 6 months to a year in most cases is just plain mean! :P
DeleteOh dear, I am so fed up of cliffhangers! I definitely will leave this one until the next book is out then... I just can't deal with one more cliff hanger right now.
ReplyDelete*sigh* Me too. :(
Delete"there is quite the nasty cliffhanger at the end"
ReplyDelete*snorts* YEP. That's one way to put it, LOL. But even though I had more issues with this book than you did, I have to admit--that was a rather good twist ;)
It really was, lack of everything else or not. ;)
DeleteI love the cover and may add this eventually..but for now that nasty cliffhanger has me waiting..LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you at all Kim!
DeleteYay, I'm glad you enjoyed Storm Siren as well, despite the lack of the world-building. I'm excited to see where the story goes after the killer cliffhanger! Wondeful review :)
ReplyDeleteI really am too Kim!
DeleteI have heard really interesting things about this one and I cannot wait to read it myself. Too bad that the lack of world-building stopped you from enjoying this one fully. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteThat is true which I think is why I sometimes struggle with this genre but really, it wasn't that bad at all.
ReplyDeleteMany other bloggers brought the lack of world-building subject up, sigh. Sad sad sad but I'm still going to try it because it seems pretty cool. ^^ Lovely review, Aly (HA, I know your name.)
ReplyDeleteThere have been SO many wonderful reviews for this one, but your review has really sold it to me completely. :) Even if the world-building is a bit lacking, I think it's the story that counts most, and it sounds like it succeeded there. And thanks for the warning about the evil cliffhanger - I'll definitely have to prepare myself for it! ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing and, as always, BRILLIANT review! <3
~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf
Glad you are going to try it! :D
DeleteI'm not a big fan of those cliffhangers but it does work sometimes, especially in fantasy books. I've seen this book around too but I think this is the first review over read. I think I will probably wait for the 2nd book till I give this one a try, hopefully the world building will develop properly on there! Lovely review, Kindlemom! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Amir!
DeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this one! I agree with you about the world building, but for me I just loved this anyway and I loved that the characters felt so fleshed out and that it was a unique story. It just really surprised me in a great way. And yes, that cliffhanger!!! I knew that the guy wasn't gone, but I wasn't expecting that!
ReplyDeleteI know me either Tressa! It completely surprised me.
DeleteI'm glad that you ended up liking this one even with it's problems. It does sound interesting. So thank you for your review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping Natalie and it is definitely worth the read. ;)
DeleteGreat review. I think I'll wait for the next book before starting it because I hate cliffhangers.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely wait then. ;)
DeleteI've heard a bunch of great things about one and I'm glad it turned out to be a fun read for you! The romance sounds cute, although the cliffhanger does make me nervous. Fantastic review :)
ReplyDeleteThe cliffhanger was awful but in a good way.
Delete