Author: Kiera Cass

The Siren

by Kiera Cass
Published by Harper Teen on January 26, 2016
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Pages: 336
Format: Hardcover

Source: Library
Buy the Book • Goodreads

"You must never do anything that might expose our secret. This means that, in general, you cannot form close bonds with humans. You can speak to us, and you can always commune with the Ocean, but you are deadly to humans. You are, essentially, a weapon. A very beautiful weapon. I won't lie to you, it can be a lonely existence, but once you are done, you get to live. All you have to give, for now, is obedience and time..."

The same speech has been given hundreds of times to hundreds of beautiful girls who enter the sisterhood of sirens. Kahlen has lived by these rules for years now, patiently waiting for the life she can call her own. But when Akinli, a human, enters her world, she can't bring herself to live by the rules anymore. Suddenly the life she's been waiting for doesn't seem nearly as important as the one she's living now.

From Kiera Cass, author of the Selection series, comes a captivating stand-alone fantasy romance.

Kahlen is a Siren, bound to serve the Ocean by luring humans to watery graves with her voice, which is deadly to any human who hears it. Akinli is human—a kind, handsome boy who's everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. Falling in love puts them both in danger . . . but Kahlen can't bear to stay away. Will she risk everything to follow her heart?

I’ve always been a fan of Kiera Cass’ writing and covers. The Siren is re-release of her first published work in a new package. I am hoping the original is still available somewhere online to compare and contrast the two versions. I loved the friendship between Kahlen and Akinli. She must remain mute because of her abilities to lure others to the sea. Akinli defies the odds and strikes up a relationship with the selectively mute student. I wished for more time to flesh out their interactions, as most of the book they are away from each other.

The Siren is at times darker than I prefer when the girls sing to lure ships and swimmers to the ocean. The ocean herself, is a mother figure with a jealous heart. At times cruel and unforgiving in her punishment. She attempts to comfort Kahlen and heal her, but heartbreak and restlessness ultimately draws her in another direction. With many settings and a fairy tale storyline, The Siren will appeal to teens. Looking forward to more from Ms. Cass!

Content: some partying, seduction, mild swearing

Kiera Cass graduated from Radford University with a degree in History. She grew up in South Carolina and currently lives in Blacksburg, Virginia with her family. In her spare time, Kiera enjoys reading, dancing, making videos, and eating unhealthy amounts of cake. You can learn more about Kiera at kieracass.com, follow her on twitter via @kieracass, and see her silly videos at YouTube.com/user/kieracass