sarahrusty's review against another edition
2.0
I had high hopes for this book after being in love with the Selection series. After hearing Kiera rewrote her first novel after her success I couldn't wait to read this. However I found the voice of the ocean to be very grating. I do enjoy unique names in a book, but this book had to so many unique names that it left me confused. I felt the struggle and depression that Kahlen went through but it dragged on and was a bit of a dud of a romance. For only having such little time together with her love interest, this epic love story left me disappointed.
wind_flower's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
allyways's review against another edition
3.0
(3.5) cute n magical. obsessed with siren lore and the ocean as a character, just wish the romance was more angsty.
marianaarguellogalvez's review against another edition
3.0
Puntuación 3.5/5
Disfrute mucho de esta lectura fue agradable y entretenida. La autora presenta una versión única de la historia de la sirenita desde otras circunstancias y otro punto de vista sin que tuviera que aparecer en escena una Úrsula cruel, o cualquier otro personaje antagonista.
Con una trama ligera la autora nos zambulle en una historia compleja y con toques siniestros. Donde un grupo de muchachas con la oportunidad de vivir una segunda vez, se les da habilidades sobrehumanas que las mantendrán jóvenes por un tiempo límite de 100 años y deben seguir una serie de condiciones para mantener al océano o a Oceanía bien alimentada, para que está siga proveyendo vida a la humanidad.
La única forma en que Oceanía puede alimentarse es mediante el sacrificio de las personas al momento del hundimiento de barcos. Y esto lo realizan las muchachas con su voz, la cual usan para atraer a los pasajeros de los barcos. Oceanía es lo que supongo el espíritu del océano, ella se muestra muy posesiva con las muchachas a las que acoge. Ella se figura como la madre de las muchachas y está dispuesta a hacer sacrificios por el bien de sus chicas.
El grupo de muchachas está conformado por Miaka la artista del grupo, Aisling la cual prefiere estar separada de las demás y guardar sus propios secretos, Elizabeth la fiestera, padma la cual es la última que acoge Oceanía y es una jovencita maltratada por su familia. y Kahlen la ávida lectora, que disfruta de su espacio y que siempre cumple con las reglas. Kahlen es la protagonista de esta historia y es la más leal a Oceanía y su favorita, ella nunca rompe las reglas aunque lo que haga le dejé con culpa y pesadillas traumáticas. Ella ha cumplido 80 años sirviendo a Oceanía hasta que se cruza con su amor predilecto.
El romance que surge entre Kahlen y Akinli es instantáneo, y ella al principio se lo esconde a sus amigas. Con las cuales ha compartido mucho tiempo y estas empiezan a notar que algo no va bien.
Por otro lado Akinli es un muchacho muy dulce, cariñoso, divertido y optimista, que conoció a Kahlen y se sintió atraído por ella por alguna razón. Cuando paso por la tragedia de perder a sus padres él todavía acogió y ayudó a Kahlen aún cuando ella desapareció sin darle ninguna explicación.
Surge un gran problema, y es que Akinli escucha la voz de Kahlen por accidente, y esto lo empuja a dirigirse al mar. Luego de que Kahlen convence a Oceanía de no llevárselo tendrá que alejarse de él nuevamente. Lo que más adelante conlleva un gran sacrificio y un problema mayor porque su separación causa una enfermedad rara en Akinli y a su vez en Kahlen, debido a su exposición a la voz de sirena de ella que actúa como un veneno.
Luego las amigas de Kahlen toman la decisión de intervenir por el bien de su amiga, y Oceanía la vuelve humana de nuevo entregandosela a Akinli. Lo que hace que ambos se recuperen de esa fuerte enfermedad y tengan su final feliz.
Disfrute mucho de esta lectura fue agradable y entretenida. La autora presenta una versión única de la historia de la sirenita desde otras circunstancias y otro punto de vista sin que tuviera que aparecer en escena una Úrsula cruel, o cualquier otro personaje antagonista.
Con una trama ligera la autora nos zambulle en una historia compleja y con toques siniestros. Donde un grupo de muchachas con la oportunidad de vivir una segunda vez, se les da habilidades sobrehumanas que las mantendrán jóvenes por un tiempo límite de 100 años y deben seguir una serie de condiciones para mantener al océano o a Oceanía bien alimentada, para que está siga proveyendo vida a la humanidad.
La única forma en que Oceanía puede alimentarse es mediante el sacrificio de las personas al momento del hundimiento de barcos. Y esto lo realizan las muchachas con su voz, la cual usan para atraer a los pasajeros de los barcos. Oceanía es lo que supongo el espíritu del océano, ella se muestra muy posesiva con las muchachas a las que acoge. Ella se figura como la madre de las muchachas y está dispuesta a hacer sacrificios por el bien de sus chicas.
El grupo de muchachas está conformado por Miaka la artista del grupo, Aisling la cual prefiere estar separada de las demás y guardar sus propios secretos, Elizabeth la fiestera, padma la cual es la última que acoge Oceanía y es una jovencita maltratada por su familia. y Kahlen la ávida lectora, que disfruta de su espacio y que siempre cumple con las reglas. Kahlen es la protagonista de esta historia y es la más leal a Oceanía y su favorita, ella nunca rompe las reglas aunque lo que haga le dejé con culpa y pesadillas traumáticas. Ella ha cumplido 80 años sirviendo a Oceanía hasta que se cruza con su amor predilecto.
El romance que surge entre Kahlen y Akinli es instantáneo, y ella al principio se lo esconde a sus amigas. Con las cuales ha compartido mucho tiempo y estas empiezan a notar que algo no va bien.
Por otro lado Akinli es un muchacho muy dulce, cariñoso, divertido y optimista, que conoció a Kahlen y se sintió atraído por ella por alguna razón. Cuando paso por la tragedia de perder a sus padres él todavía acogió y ayudó a Kahlen aún cuando ella desapareció sin darle ninguna explicación.
Surge un gran problema, y es que Akinli escucha la voz de Kahlen por accidente, y esto lo empuja a dirigirse al mar. Luego de que Kahlen convence a Oceanía de no llevárselo tendrá que alejarse de él nuevamente. Lo que más adelante conlleva un gran sacrificio y un problema mayor porque su separación causa una enfermedad rara en Akinli y a su vez en Kahlen, debido a su exposición a la voz de sirena de ella que actúa como un veneno.
Luego las amigas de Kahlen toman la decisión de intervenir por el bien de su amiga, y Oceanía la vuelve humana de nuevo entregandosela a Akinli. Lo que hace que ambos se recuperen de esa fuerte enfermedad y tengan su final feliz.
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Interesting concept, but I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes throughout this book. A step, or two or three, below The Selection.
tiasy97's review against another edition
4.0
This made me want to cry and laugh and LOVE. I looooved this!!! So much so that I read it in one day as I just NEEDED to know what happened and where the story went. It shows how complicated relationships can be and just makes you appreciate the relationships you have with people. Def recommend 🩷
marionw's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
laurahadi's review against another edition
4.0
I really love it but i cried in the end i hated what Keira did like how dare she couldn't she just leave her...m. With her
librarycutie's review against another edition
2.0
Read February 3, 2016
I started this book knowing very little about it, only that it was originally written in 2009 and this is the version that didn’t make it in the traditional publishing version and she decided to give the story a second chance, releasing the new version January 26th 2016. From the beginning, I was completely hooked on this unique story and the characters!
If you’ve read The Illiad and the Odyssey (or have heard about Sirens), then you may know that the mythical Sirens are deadly beautiful singers of the Ocean, originally known for luring men to their death. Although it’s not completely true for this books, Sirens are deadly singers of the Ocean, but their voice is the only deadly thing about them. In order for the Ocean to live, She must feed, so the Sirens sing their for Her.
It begins with Kahlen, going about what her life looks like as a human and how she became a Siren. You will find out all through out the book about what a Siren really is, and how their live’s will work. They’re beautiful, they cannot age, they cannot get sick, but they can life a semi-normal life, as long as they’re careful not to speak, or make a single sound, within a certain distance of humans. There can only be four sirens at a time, if more it would bring too much attention, and if less it could all go wrong. They are also under a 100 year sentence for the Ocean, serving them for a century until their duty is done and they can continue the rest of their lives as a human — but, they will not remember a single thing about their past, as a human or as a siren. It’s like a new life for them.
Of course, there are guidelines, The Ocean does not take mothers or wives and only takes daughters, that way they will only serve Her, and nothing could interfere with their tasks to keep Her alive. You'll of course have to read how they help feed the Ocean, seriously.
Now, Not all Sirens complete their century of sentences, if they are disobedient or are in danger of spilling the Ocean and Sirens secrets, then the Ocean will end their life. The story and situations sound cruel, and I thought it was malicious within the first few chapters but then started to understand the Ocean a little more, and could see She really loved for her children, the Sirens. She did have a favorite Siren, she was the only one to accept the Ocean, and to come to Her on her own, to talk to Her; that was, until she met him.
With only their “sisters” for company, it can sometimes get lonely, and for Kahlen, it seems to deepen. The Ocean has compassion for her, as does her Sisters, but with every death, with ever song, with every year, she still has the nightmares. Sirens don’t have to sleep or eat to survive, but Kahlen does both, she doesn’t want to lose what she used to be.
With only 20 years left to Kahlen’s sentence, something remarkable seems to happen. A human boy talks to her, and finds comfort in her silence, accepting it, and still wanting to talk to her. Once she realized her feelings for this boy, she flees, and she has to drag her sisters with her, hiding this secret in fear the Ocean will find out. This won’t be the only time they meet, know that.
Kahlen becomes close with Aisling, the oldest sister, just before she has to leave, finally getting to continue her life as a human at the age she was frozen to, but not before telling her how she copes with the loneliness, and spilling her deepest secret she’s been hiding. They all say hello to a new sister and say goodbye to another sister.
Kahlen, Miaka, Elizabeth, and newly sister Padma, continue serving the Ocean, but not so easily, there’s a lot these sisters go through, and a lot that the Ocean goes through, as her eldest, and favorite, is slipping from Her grip. This story is about love, love between sisters, strangers, family, and love to yourself, it’s a story with reading.
I will say that even though I absolutely loved this book so much, I kind of assumed what would happen in the end, and guessed what happened before that, it seemed expected, which is why i deducted .5 from the rating.
I can’t say more without spoiling anything major, but definitely check this book out! If you didn’t like the Selection series, have no fear, this Stand Alone Contemporary YA is amazing, Don’t push away an author based on one series, give them a second chance!
I started this book knowing very little about it, only that it was originally written in 2009 and this is the version that didn’t make it in the traditional publishing version and she decided to give the story a second chance, releasing the new version January 26th 2016. From the beginning, I was completely hooked on this unique story and the characters!
If you’ve read The Illiad and the Odyssey (or have heard about Sirens), then you may know that the mythical Sirens are deadly beautiful singers of the Ocean, originally known for luring men to their death. Although it’s not completely true for this books, Sirens are deadly singers of the Ocean, but their voice is the only deadly thing about them. In order for the Ocean to live, She must feed, so the Sirens sing their for Her.
It begins with Kahlen, going about what her life looks like as a human and how she became a Siren. You will find out all through out the book about what a Siren really is, and how their live’s will work. They’re beautiful, they cannot age, they cannot get sick, but they can life a semi-normal life, as long as they’re careful not to speak, or make a single sound, within a certain distance of humans. There can only be four sirens at a time, if more it would bring too much attention, and if less it could all go wrong. They are also under a 100 year sentence for the Ocean, serving them for a century until their duty is done and they can continue the rest of their lives as a human — but, they will not remember a single thing about their past, as a human or as a siren. It’s like a new life for them.
Of course, there are guidelines, The Ocean does not take mothers or wives and only takes daughters, that way they will only serve Her, and nothing could interfere with their tasks to keep Her alive. You'll of course have to read how they help feed the Ocean, seriously.
Now, Not all Sirens complete their century of sentences, if they are disobedient or are in danger of spilling the Ocean and Sirens secrets, then the Ocean will end their life. The story and situations sound cruel, and I thought it was malicious within the first few chapters but then started to understand the Ocean a little more, and could see She really loved for her children, the Sirens. She did have a favorite Siren, she was the only one to accept the Ocean, and to come to Her on her own, to talk to Her; that was, until she met him.
With only their “sisters” for company, it can sometimes get lonely, and for Kahlen, it seems to deepen. The Ocean has compassion for her, as does her Sisters, but with every death, with ever song, with every year, she still has the nightmares. Sirens don’t have to sleep or eat to survive, but Kahlen does both, she doesn’t want to lose what she used to be.
With only 20 years left to Kahlen’s sentence, something remarkable seems to happen. A human boy talks to her, and finds comfort in her silence, accepting it, and still wanting to talk to her. Once she realized her feelings for this boy, she flees, and she has to drag her sisters with her, hiding this secret in fear the Ocean will find out. This won’t be the only time they meet, know that.
Kahlen becomes close with Aisling, the oldest sister, just before she has to leave, finally getting to continue her life as a human at the age she was frozen to, but not before telling her how she copes with the loneliness, and spilling her deepest secret she’s been hiding. They all say hello to a new sister and say goodbye to another sister.
Kahlen, Miaka, Elizabeth, and newly sister Padma, continue serving the Ocean, but not so easily, there’s a lot these sisters go through, and a lot that the Ocean goes through, as her eldest, and favorite, is slipping from Her grip. This story is about love, love between sisters, strangers, family, and love to yourself, it’s a story with reading.
I will say that even though I absolutely loved this book so much, I kind of assumed what would happen in the end, and guessed what happened before that, it seemed expected, which is why i deducted .5 from the rating.
I can’t say more without spoiling anything major, but definitely check this book out! If you didn’t like the Selection series, have no fear, this Stand Alone Contemporary YA is amazing, Don’t push away an author based on one series, give them a second chance!