by Mary Weber
Publisher: Thomas Nelson / HarperCollins
Release Date: August 19th 2014
“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.
Storm Siren is definitely an epic fantasy novel that takes you into another world. Powered by a strong female lead and robust cast of supporting characters.
I loved Nym has a character she is fierce and strong with a moral struggle that rages inside her. She has these awesome powers (that she knows about from the beginning thank goodness). She is one of those people that keeps getting knocked down but keeps getting up. Even though she is tired and wishes she was the type that could just lay there and admit defeat. It’s not in her nature to do so because she is a survivor.
This book is rich with characters. There are so many great different ones and I love when you even the evil ones are fleshed out. You get to be inside their heads a little bit more. It’s also one of those books where you are never quite sure who you can trust. I found myself staying skeptical and keeping my allegiance to Nym alone. It’s funny how fantasy novels have taught me that things are not always as they seem. Everyone has their own motive and inner battle.
This is one of my favorite type of relationships too. The kind of loathing, respect, friends thing going on between Nym and Eogan. I also like that Colin tries to throw his hat in the race. It’s in that fun loving kind of way though.
Okay so Bolcranes freak me out.
As far as the plot is concerned, I really did like it. I really needed a map next to me at times when I was reading though. The world building is good, especially for Faelen. It’s the other nations that I was kind of getting confused of their placement. I have a feeling it is more of an issue with me then if someone else was reading. I also felt that there were points when the book was slow and I can’t exactly pinpoint why. I felt like there was plenty going on but just something wasn’t drawing me in as much as the beginning and ending did. You are definitely rewarded with the ending though so it’s worth it to stick with it.
This book has a fabulous ending. While I was reading I actually had to take a minute get more comfortable and looked at my husband and said, stuff just hit the fan in this book.(ok maybe I didn’t use the word stuff). It had me hooked and was completely amazing. I closed the book and thought how the heck do you get back from that. How do you get back from that!! I need book two because I’m just blown away. Would I consider it a cliffhanger yes, but an appropriate one for sure. If you enjoy fantasy, I recommend this book.
Officially though: Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. She likes orange trees, tattoos, and ALL the music. ;0)
BOOK 1 in my YA fantasy STORM SIREN trilogy releases Aug 2014 from Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins. Eep!
