There is just something magical about picking up a hardbound book, flipping the pages and touching their gritty texture and feeling the weight of words transfer into vivid imagery inside your head. Books transcend time and place and when you pick up a really good book, you become involved in the author’s world and in essence, the hero or heroine’s world as well. As a BookLook blogger, I was given a great opportunity to review an advanced reader’s copy of Storm Siren written by Mary Weber. As an avid fan of fantasy and science fiction literature, the moment I saw the cover to Storm Siren it instantly drew my interest. I may have mentioned before but covers on a book can really make or break a deal. It is the first step in engaging a reader and a possible fan. But all those pretty images are just images until you dive into the book and decide for yourself whether the book truly belongs on your bookshelf, or in your Kindle library, or…you get the idea.
Giddy with excitement at receiving my hardbound Storm Siren, I told my family to leave me alone for a few hours while I enjoyed this fascinating book. From the synopsis alone, I had a feeling that I would be drawn into this new world and become immersed into the drama of intrigue, suspense, and the paranormal. And I was right. The first sentence of the book captivated me and I couldn’t put it down from then on. Storm Siren is a book about triumph, hardships, and discovery. But through all the intricate weaving of storytelling, there is a tender love story between all the fighting, misconceptions, and drama.
I really liked the heroine, Nym and the story is told in the first person so it was easy to follow along. Nym was brave, tempestuous, yet held an abundance of control and dignity throughout the book. She was young and passionate and didn’t always make the right choices but through the heart of it all, she believed in doing the right things. Then there was Eogan, the warrior charged to train Nym to fight for the kingdom in which she is also a slave. I liked that Eogan burned for her just as she burned for him and the dialogue between those two was so much fun to read! It was like watching first love being discovered and blossomed. And then the ending, the abrupt ending which had me going, “oh no! What happened to Eogan?” But fear not, the author’s second installment of Storm Siren will continue next June 2015. I hope I will get a chance to review that book as well.
I’d say this book is best for ages 16 and above. Although there isn’t anything too explicit in the book, the writing style is a bit mature and definitely not situated in a teenage world although the characters in the book seem quite young. But it was an easy read for me as the author transitioned smoothly and had very little grammatical errors. And the author’s usage of Faelon’s language was quite ingenious. It reminded me of Lord of the Rings where they had their own languages. Mary Weber is definitely a very good storyteller and her writing draws you in the moment you read her words. I like discovering new authors and will keep an eye on this one. If you’re interested in paranormal abilities set in a world of fantasy and war, you’ll definitely enjoy reading Storm Siren by Mary Weber. Storm Siren is set to be released on August 19, 2014.
Thomas Nelson Book’s summary of Storm Siren:
“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.
Editor’s Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions made on this book are entirely my own and has not been influenced in any way. I have not received monetary compensation for reviewing this book other than receiving a copy of it. I may reveal spoilers from time to time but I will always preface it so you can skip that part or read them for the sheer fun of it.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
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