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kdlfjasdlkfjowe4i3jr's review against another edition
5.0
Read in the psych hospital. Loved this book so much
coco_lolo's review against another edition
3.0
When I first started Wake, Siren, I honestly thought I'd be adding it to my favorite books of the year. That didn't change for a while, but the stories unfortunately lost motivation and drive in the second half, and finishing felt more like a chore. There were so many great lines and female narrators during that first section, and I loved MacLaughlin's decision to include modern-day language in some, while keeping others grounded in myth; this made the stories more diverse and entertaining, especially when the characters had such distinct voices. By the time I was roughly halfway in, though, the retellings and voices became somewhat monotonous.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
kaylaoswald's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
kay_west_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this feminist retelling of female characters found in Ovid's Metamorphosis.
Organized like a short story collection, each chapter explores a different woman going through a type of change (or Metamorphosis). Some stories take place in present time, some lean into fantasy others are from an unreliable narrator.
I loved every story. No misses. No notes. This will be a definite re-read for me.
This book is best read, now.
Organized like a short story collection, each chapter explores a different woman going through a type of change (or Metamorphosis). Some stories take place in present time, some lean into fantasy others are from an unreliable narrator.
I loved every story. No misses. No notes. This will be a definite re-read for me.
This book is best read, now.
caoilo's review against another edition
4.0
Wake, Siren is a retelling of Myths. It shows these myths in a new way. Here MacLaughlin hides nothing, glazes over nothing, romanticizes everything but the harsh truth.
Though MacLaughlin uses modern English and in a vulgar and crude way. it is exactly what is called for. She tells these myths not in a wool over eyes way they are usually told.
MacLaughlin leaves you in no doubt that you are reading a story about innocence, trust, rape, lies, and vengeance.
MacLaughlin could use beautiful prose in one line and cutting vulgarity the next, yet at no time did I feel it was disjointed.
Each story had held my attention and shock me awake. This is the title, it was my Siren MacLaughlin wanted to wake and every story stoked the fire in my soul.
The stories were not easy to read given their topic but that made them that much more important. I felt, even with the element of magic/power there was a real undercurrent of real life ; the guilty do not always pay, the innocent often suffer, revenge is taken on the wrong person, we can not always control our lives.
For me this book raised one question in particular. Why for all this time have these myths been so loved?
Though MacLaughlin uses modern English and in a vulgar and crude way. it is exactly what is called for. She tells these myths not in a wool over eyes way they are usually told.
MacLaughlin leaves you in no doubt that you are reading a story about innocence, trust, rape, lies, and vengeance.
MacLaughlin could use beautiful prose in one line and cutting vulgarity the next, yet at no time did I feel it was disjointed.
Each story had held my attention and shock me awake. This is the title, it was my Siren MacLaughlin wanted to wake and every story stoked the fire in my soul.
The stories were not easy to read given their topic but that made them that much more important. I felt, even with the element of magic/power there was a real undercurrent of real life ; the guilty do not always pay, the innocent often suffer, revenge is taken on the wrong person, we can not always control our lives.
For me this book raised one question in particular. Why for all this time have these myths been so loved?
traceturner's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence
hardcover_hardon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5