A review by librarycutie
The Siren by Kiera Cass
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!