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Siren #2
Pulse
The sirens are back, but Vanessa may be the biggest threat of all . . . Nothing has been normal since Vanessa Sands learned that her sister was murdered by sirens - femme fatales of the watery depths - and that everything she believed about herself and her family was a lie. Vanessa has always told her boyfriend Simon everything. But she worries that if he finds out who - or what - she truly is, he'll run a mile. To make things worse, when Parker, Hawthorne Prep's resident charmer, shows an interest in her, she can't resist the siren's urge to stray. And on top of all this, she's trying to be strong for her parents as they come to terms with her sister's death. But personal problems must be put aside, because the Winter Harbor sirens are back for revenge. Now Vanessa must face her past and accept that she is just like her enemies - every bit as alluring and every bit as dangerous.
416 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
39 people are currently reading
3693 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Rayburn
19 books398 followersTricia Rayburn lives on eastern Long island with her fiancé and crazy shih tzu. She tries to eat vegetables instead of candy but, in her weaker moments, loves Reese's Pieces. The Melting of Maggie Bean is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
July 13, 2016
Някакъв неписан закон е втората книга от поредица/трилогия да е по-скучна от първата. "Мъртво вълнение" не е изключение. Май описанието на задната корица ми се стори по - вълнуващо от нещата, които авторката е написала. Но въпреки това ще довърша трилогият, стига да намеря третата книга в някоя морска книжарничка.
January 20, 2015
To: all YA novel authors
From: Mizuki
Dear YA authors:
Would you guys please get on with the PLOT and leave those annoying silly teenagers' romance melodramas of yours behind for good!?
From: Mizuki
Dear YA authors:
Would you guys please get on with the PLOT and leave those annoying silly teenagers' romance melodramas of yours behind for good!?
August 14, 2018
Didn’t enjoy this as much as I did Siren.
However, it was still enjoyable!
I’ll go into further detail in my August wrap up video on my booktube channel!
However, it was still enjoyable!
I’ll go into further detail in my August wrap up video on my booktube channel!
Want to read
August 16, 2011Thank GOD this is set to release in FEB... I still don't know if I can wait that long! SIMON<3
dropped
April 7, 2017Unacceptable.
I got to page 64 and completely gave up. Unlike the last book, the fact that there were mermaids couldn't save it this time. I thought I would give this series another chance by reading the sequel to the first, but it was a really really bad idea and now, I'm seriously regretting it.
The introduction was horrible. I didn't even know who was who at first, especially Simon. At one point the author was talking about some random tour guide and then a second later, she just throws in the name Simon and WAH-LA! All of a sudden that random tour guide is the Simon from the first book. What the actual hell.
So now Vanessa is a siren but doesn't want to tell anyone (Why? Because she's stupid). Pretty much she's pulling that I'm-brave-and-moving-on-but-really-I'm-dying-inside act. Though this has gotten so old, some authors really pull it off nicely, but Undercurrent just didn't make the cut, at all.
It was just so bad and so boring that I couldn't handle it anymore. I am definitely not finishing this series. End of story.
I got to page 64 and completely gave up. Unlike the last book, the fact that there were mermaids couldn't save it this time. I thought I would give this series another chance by reading the sequel to the first, but it was a really really bad idea and now, I'm seriously regretting it.
The introduction was horrible. I didn't even know who was who at first, especially Simon. At one point the author was talking about some random tour guide and then a second later, she just throws in the name Simon and WAH-LA! All of a sudden that random tour guide is the Simon from the first book. What the actual hell.
So now Vanessa is a siren but doesn't want to tell anyone (Why? Because she's stupid). Pretty much she's pulling that I'm-brave-and-moving-on-but-really-I'm-dying-inside act. Though this has gotten so old, some authors really pull it off nicely, but Undercurrent just didn't make the cut, at all.
It was just so bad and so boring that I couldn't handle it anymore. I am definitely not finishing this series. End of story.
June 3, 2011
Do you like long, protracted storytelling that leads nowhere? How about new, irrelevant story arcs that seem to add nothing to the overall plot? Do you enjoy new characters that add no value? If so, this it totally the book for you.
When we last checked in with Vanessa, she had hooked up with longtime crush Simon, uncovered a plot by local sirens, Raina and Zara, to seduce and murder a herd of men, saved Betty from near death, freed Caleb from Zara's grasp, and frozen a wicked troupe of murderous sirens a mile beneath the ocean's surface. Pretty cool stuff, right? Well, I thought so. So I was pretty amped when I began Undercurrent and found that the story basically picked up where it had left off.
It's September and Vanessa Sands is recently back home in Boston. Paige has moved in with the Sands family - though this is never fully explored or explained - and Simon and Vanessa are officially bf/gf. In addition, Vanessa is struggling to understand and cope with her new life as a siren. Groovy. I was totally loving the possibilities. Toss in the lingering plot thread of who Vanessa's mother really was - introduced toward the end of Siren - and the fact that there are strange, unexplained deaths popping up everywhere Vanessa turns, and I was hooked. Only the first third of Undercurrent doesn't really go anywhere, it consists of Vanessa basically whining about her relationship with Simon. "Wah, I'm a siren so Simon must not be in love with me for reals" and "boohoo, I must break up with him because he's under my spell, but I can't because I needs him so much" and my favorite "I have to wear beige or all the men in the universe might simultaneously have heart attacks if they notice me."
Whatever.
What made Siren so compelling was the flow of the storytelling and the building suspense. While Vanessa grew as a character and began to unveil her true self, the mystery of what was happening in Winter Harbor unfolded simultaneously, making for an interesting juxtaposition. The more Vanessa embraced her secret side, the more desperate the need to destroy the very creature she was becoming. But Vanessa stopped evolving as soon as Siren ended and, if anything, seemed to almost regress.
What bothered me most, I think, is that as I was reading, it felt more like an information gathering endeavor than a story and I felt no real connection to the events as they unfolded. Part of the problem is the jarring transitions from chapter to chapter, another component is the unexplained metamorphosis these characters had gone through from book one. Simon has lost any appeal he once had and is now a vapid, love sick puppy. Paige has lost her quirky charm. Caleb is almost completely absent. Vanessa's parents, who I never particularly got to begin with, have almost seemed to swap personalities. And to top it off, there's now a love triangle with Parker King, the school casanova, which adds nothing to the story but unnecessary conflict.
The one saving grace, and the reason this received two stars over one, was the twist I hadn't seen coming. I have to give kudos where kudos are due. I won't reveal it for obvious reasons, but I will say that the mystery of Vanessa's biological mother is revealed in an interesting way. Sadly, this isn't until the final pages. As a matter of fact, the story doesn't really get going until the final third of the book at which point it sprints to the finish line.
Ultimately, this was a disappointing follow up to a book I truly enjoyed and, in my opinion, a prime example why not every story should be a trilogy. Some things are better left alone.
When we last checked in with Vanessa, she had hooked up with longtime crush Simon, uncovered a plot by local sirens, Raina and Zara, to seduce and murder a herd of men, saved Betty from near death, freed Caleb from Zara's grasp, and frozen a wicked troupe of murderous sirens a mile beneath the ocean's surface. Pretty cool stuff, right? Well, I thought so. So I was pretty amped when I began Undercurrent and found that the story basically picked up where it had left off.
It's September and Vanessa Sands is recently back home in Boston. Paige has moved in with the Sands family - though this is never fully explored or explained - and Simon and Vanessa are officially bf/gf. In addition, Vanessa is struggling to understand and cope with her new life as a siren. Groovy. I was totally loving the possibilities. Toss in the lingering plot thread of who Vanessa's mother really was - introduced toward the end of Siren - and the fact that there are strange, unexplained deaths popping up everywhere Vanessa turns, and I was hooked. Only the first third of Undercurrent doesn't really go anywhere, it consists of Vanessa basically whining about her relationship with Simon. "Wah, I'm a siren so Simon must not be in love with me for reals" and "boohoo, I must break up with him because he's under my spell, but I can't because I needs him so much" and my favorite "I have to wear beige or all the men in the universe might simultaneously have heart attacks if they notice me."
Whatever.
What made Siren so compelling was the flow of the storytelling and the building suspense. While Vanessa grew as a character and began to unveil her true self, the mystery of what was happening in Winter Harbor unfolded simultaneously, making for an interesting juxtaposition. The more Vanessa embraced her secret side, the more desperate the need to destroy the very creature she was becoming. But Vanessa stopped evolving as soon as Siren ended and, if anything, seemed to almost regress.
What bothered me most, I think, is that as I was reading, it felt more like an information gathering endeavor than a story and I felt no real connection to the events as they unfolded. Part of the problem is the jarring transitions from chapter to chapter, another component is the unexplained metamorphosis these characters had gone through from book one. Simon has lost any appeal he once had and is now a vapid, love sick puppy. Paige has lost her quirky charm. Caleb is almost completely absent. Vanessa's parents, who I never particularly got to begin with, have almost seemed to swap personalities. And to top it off, there's now a love triangle with Parker King, the school casanova, which adds nothing to the story but unnecessary conflict.
The one saving grace, and the reason this received two stars over one, was the twist I hadn't seen coming. I have to give kudos where kudos are due. I won't reveal it for obvious reasons, but I will say that the mystery of Vanessa's biological mother is revealed in an interesting way. Sadly, this isn't until the final pages. As a matter of fact, the story doesn't really get going until the final third of the book at which point it sprints to the finish line.
Ultimately, this was a disappointing follow up to a book I truly enjoyed and, in my opinion, a prime example why not every story should be a trilogy. Some things are better left alone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2012
One of my best friends first introduced me to the Siren series a while ago and I really enjoyed the first one. This book, however, disappointed me a bit.
It takes place where Siren leaves off, which was great. There were parts I liked, and others I didn’t, and some I just hated. My friend warned me that I would get pretty frustrated with Vannessa, and at first I didn’t understand why, but then, I did.
One thing that I absolutely loved in Siren was Vanessa and Simon’s relationship. Simon is such a sweet guy and he’s been in love with Vanessa since they were little kids, which only made their relationship all the more adorable. This book, however, crushed my hopes of a happy ending with the introduction of yet another infamous love triangle.
My favorite part of the whole book may have been Vanessa’s father’s story. I was really intrigued by it in the first book and was dying to know the while story. It’s rather complicated, as these things always are, but without it, I don’t know if I would have been able to endure the whole book. I felt like not much really happened until the last fifty pages. Most of it just seemed to be Vanessa agonizing over her relationship with Simon and the Parker situation.
I don’t really have anything against Parker. He’s just not Simon; and I’m going to leave it at that.
There were times also, when a chapter would end at a really intense moment, but when you’d start reading the next one, it would start off like a week later. I was always wondering why, because it felt like more should have been explained. It was like jumping from one place to another.
Overall, I’m not sorry I read it. It answered a lot of the questions I was left with at the end of Siren. It also made me form new questions, one being: What will happen with Vanessa and Simon’s relationship in the future? Vanessa, I might have lost respect for, but I do hope things work out. The one thing about love triangles is they always keep you guessing and wondering.
It takes place where Siren leaves off, which was great. There were parts I liked, and others I didn’t, and some I just hated. My friend warned me that I would get pretty frustrated with Vannessa, and at first I didn’t understand why, but then, I did.
One thing that I absolutely loved in Siren was Vanessa and Simon’s relationship. Simon is such a sweet guy and he’s been in love with Vanessa since they were little kids, which only made their relationship all the more adorable. This book, however, crushed my hopes of a happy ending with the introduction of yet another infamous love triangle.
My favorite part of the whole book may have been Vanessa’s father’s story. I was really intrigued by it in the first book and was dying to know the while story. It’s rather complicated, as these things always are, but without it, I don’t know if I would have been able to endure the whole book. I felt like not much really happened until the last fifty pages. Most of it just seemed to be Vanessa agonizing over her relationship with Simon and the Parker situation.
I don’t really have anything against Parker. He’s just not Simon; and I’m going to leave it at that.
There were times also, when a chapter would end at a really intense moment, but when you’d start reading the next one, it would start off like a week later. I was always wondering why, because it felt like more should have been explained. It was like jumping from one place to another.
Overall, I’m not sorry I read it. It answered a lot of the questions I was left with at the end of Siren. It also made me form new questions, one being: What will happen with Vanessa and Simon’s relationship in the future? Vanessa, I might have lost respect for, but I do hope things work out. The one thing about love triangles is they always keep you guessing and wondering.
June 22, 2011
I love Tricia Rayburn’s writing—it’s just so engaging. Undercurrent was even better than I thought it would be. The mystery aspect was just as thrilling as Siren, if not more so, and I finished it within 24 hours.
Undercurrent takes place at the beginning of the school year (shortly after where Siren ended). We see Vanessa’s struggle with her changing body now that she is a full siren. Not only does she have to deal with the physical demands of constantly needing saltwater, but she also commands the attention of every male in the room without meaning to. This makes it nearly impossible for Vanessa to have male friends and causes her to constantly second guess why people are talking to her and if anyone boy will ever truly love her for who she is and not because of her powers.
Still reeling after the loss of her sister, Vanessa must find a way to be normal in a school where everyone knows about the tragedy she suffered and boys are falling at her feet. All of this is really a backdrop to Vanessa’s fear now that the lake is melting. The sirens she imprisoned in the frozen lake with Simon should all be dead, but Vanessa could swear she sees them. As Vanessa embarks on her adventure, she tries to answer several questions: is she imaging the sirens or did they somehow survive? What happened to her real mother? Will anyone love her for who she is instead of because her powers?
Accompanying Justine on her quest to find these answers and learning about her emotional struggles keeps the pages of this book flying. This is a fantastic beach read and an excellent series. I can’t wait to see what Tricia Rayburn writes next!
Visit www.abouttoread.com for more reviews.
Undercurrent takes place at the beginning of the school year (shortly after where Siren ended). We see Vanessa’s struggle with her changing body now that she is a full siren. Not only does she have to deal with the physical demands of constantly needing saltwater, but she also commands the attention of every male in the room without meaning to. This makes it nearly impossible for Vanessa to have male friends and causes her to constantly second guess why people are talking to her and if anyone boy will ever truly love her for who she is and not because of her powers.
Still reeling after the loss of her sister, Vanessa must find a way to be normal in a school where everyone knows about the tragedy she suffered and boys are falling at her feet. All of this is really a backdrop to Vanessa’s fear now that the lake is melting. The sirens she imprisoned in the frozen lake with Simon should all be dead, but Vanessa could swear she sees them. As Vanessa embarks on her adventure, she tries to answer several questions: is she imaging the sirens or did they somehow survive? What happened to her real mother? Will anyone love her for who she is instead of because her powers?
Accompanying Justine on her quest to find these answers and learning about her emotional struggles keeps the pages of this book flying. This is a fantastic beach read and an excellent series. I can’t wait to see what Tricia Rayburn writes next!
Visit www.abouttoread.com for more reviews.
July 5, 2011
Undercurrent picks up only a short time after Siren ends. I really love when sequels do this. I don't like missing out on anything so it was refreshing to be put right back in the action, so to speak.
Overall though, I have to say I was a little disappointed. I absolutely loved Siren and I couldn't wait to read the sequel. But...well...I didn't love it. There were parts that I loved and there were parts that I hated and everything else fell a little flat. The writing itself was very well done and very well played out but the story and the characters weren't what I was expecting.
I'm saddened by this because I loved the storyline of Siren. I loved the characters and I loved the plot. Undercurrent very much felt like a bridge book. Things happened that needed to happen to move the series along but a lot of the book felt like filler. And...a pet peeve of mine….there is a love triangle. I hate love triangles. That's just me though.
Because of these reasons, I found myself growing distant with Vanessa. This shouldn't happen. I should be invested in her and her life and her story and her feelings and….at times I found myself really annoyed with her. There were also some logistical things that got to me. Too many 6 hour drives up and down the east coast that didn't feel right fitting into the timeline.
Final verdict:
Am I sorry I read it? Absolutely not. While it might not have been my cup of tea and while Vanessa herself might have lost some appeal to me, I am invested in the story and the world that Tricia has created. I need to know what happens! With one? more book in the series to go, I'm very much wishing it were already in my hot little hands!
Overall though, I have to say I was a little disappointed. I absolutely loved Siren and I couldn't wait to read the sequel. But...well...I didn't love it. There were parts that I loved and there were parts that I hated and everything else fell a little flat. The writing itself was very well done and very well played out but the story and the characters weren't what I was expecting.
I'm saddened by this because I loved the storyline of Siren. I loved the characters and I loved the plot. Undercurrent very much felt like a bridge book. Things happened that needed to happen to move the series along but a lot of the book felt like filler. And...a pet peeve of mine….there is a love triangle. I hate love triangles. That's just me though.
Because of these reasons, I found myself growing distant with Vanessa. This shouldn't happen. I should be invested in her and her life and her story and her feelings and….at times I found myself really annoyed with her. There were also some logistical things that got to me. Too many 6 hour drives up and down the east coast that didn't feel right fitting into the timeline.
Final verdict:
Am I sorry I read it? Absolutely not. While it might not have been my cup of tea and while Vanessa herself might have lost some appeal to me, I am invested in the story and the world that Tricia has created. I need to know what happens! With one? more book in the series to go, I'm very much wishing it were already in my hot little hands!
July 21, 2011
* published on Page Turners Blog on 7/28/2011*
Oh Tricia Rayburn, how I adore you. I loved Siren but the sequel has left me a little speechless. Tricia not only explained the mysteries that were left unresolved in Siren, but she churned them around like the most dizzying whirlpool, and after finishing the last page, I feel like I still have very unsteady sea legs. What I love about the plot choices Tricia made is how quietly she brings the reader along until about half way through the book when the action keeps increasing and the pieces she explained earlier begin to fall into place.
Throughout it all, Vanessa maintains a credible point-of-view as she discovers her powers and the rest of her terrifying heritage is revealed. And then there’s Parker. I mean, Simon. Nope, wait, Parker. *sighs* Simon. Yes, it’s a love triangle but one that’s equally balanced and just when you think Vanessa’s choice is clear, one more fact is made known until MY only choice is to reach for a tissue as I close the book. You know that moment when you grab the phone and text “OMG, this book is so good that it stayed with me throughout the next day?” Yeah, I was completely and utterly there. Still am, perhaps. Well, a little.
It’s summer and if you haven’t jumped into the Siren series, what are you waiting for? There is no better time to contemplate what life would be like if you were in Tricia Rayburn’s dark, twisted salt-watery world. I know that I want to go back and read through it once more.
Oh Tricia Rayburn, how I adore you. I loved Siren but the sequel has left me a little speechless. Tricia not only explained the mysteries that were left unresolved in Siren, but she churned them around like the most dizzying whirlpool, and after finishing the last page, I feel like I still have very unsteady sea legs. What I love about the plot choices Tricia made is how quietly she brings the reader along until about half way through the book when the action keeps increasing and the pieces she explained earlier begin to fall into place.
Throughout it all, Vanessa maintains a credible point-of-view as she discovers her powers and the rest of her terrifying heritage is revealed. And then there’s Parker. I mean, Simon. Nope, wait, Parker. *sighs* Simon. Yes, it’s a love triangle but one that’s equally balanced and just when you think Vanessa’s choice is clear, one more fact is made known until MY only choice is to reach for a tissue as I close the book. You know that moment when you grab the phone and text “OMG, this book is so good that it stayed with me throughout the next day?” Yeah, I was completely and utterly there. Still am, perhaps. Well, a little.
It’s summer and if you haven’t jumped into the Siren series, what are you waiting for? There is no better time to contemplate what life would be like if you were in Tricia Rayburn’s dark, twisted salt-watery world. I know that I want to go back and read through it once more.
August 7, 2011
WOW!! I was blown away with the first book Siren, and I was blown away with the second one Undercurrent. This series is FANTASTIC!! Vanessa is a great heroine that I have enjoyed reading about. Her struggles and growth throughout the books captures you and before you know it, you have finished he book.
In Undercurrent, Vanessa is dealing with being a siren, yet she doesn't let anyone know and with this info, here lies the struggles she deals with throughout the book. I absolutely love Simon and was so torn up in parts of this book. No spoilers...!
Wonderful read with suspense building plot that captures and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the book is done...Ready for the next installment!
In Undercurrent, Vanessa is dealing with being a siren, yet she doesn't let anyone know and with this info, here lies the struggles she deals with throughout the book. I absolutely love Simon and was so torn up in parts of this book. No spoilers...!
Wonderful read with suspense building plot that captures and keeps you on the edge of your seat until the book is done...Ready for the next installment!
March 27, 2020
Интересна, завладяваща, но бая по-драматична и по-любовна от колкото ми харесва...
June 1, 2018
An okay sequel but nothing special or engaging.
June 12, 2020
Pulse (2012) by Tricia Rayburn is the second book in the author’s Siren series.
Set in the fictional town of Winter Harbor, the story follows the main character Vanessa Sands who is a Siren. Sirens are women with the power to put men under a magical spell. But some Sirens have been using their powers for bad and men are dying. This compounds Vanessa’s fears about being a Siren. She is also worried that her boyfriend Simon is only in love with her because she is a Siren and when she meets another guy Parker she wonders if his interest is due to her powers too. She has found out that her mother is not her biological mother and that her father got a Siren pregnant who is her birth mother. She is also worried that her father is now having yet another affair behind her mother’s back. This all comes at a time when she is grieving for her sister Justine who was killed by Sirens. Supported by her friend Paige, she must try to survive and save those she cares about from the powerful and evil-minded Sirens coming her way.
I did like the book but I didn’t love it. The ending seemed far-fetched. Endings are very difficult in books and it can be a real shame if a story works apart from it’s ending. However in this case, there was a bit of an issue in the middle too. The same things were been rehashed over and over again and it caused the book to drag on a bit with space that could have had a new scene, new angle, just a new something in it. That’s the flaws. But on the up side, it had a good plot and the start was very promising and parts of the middle too. It’s written well for the most part and there was much in it like grief and accepting who you are which was written great and which worked very well. I haven’t read the first book and maybe that’s why I didn’t love it. Maybe it would be better to read after the first one.
An enjoyable, light read for the most part though.
Set in the fictional town of Winter Harbor, the story follows the main character Vanessa Sands who is a Siren. Sirens are women with the power to put men under a magical spell. But some Sirens have been using their powers for bad and men are dying. This compounds Vanessa’s fears about being a Siren. She is also worried that her boyfriend Simon is only in love with her because she is a Siren and when she meets another guy Parker she wonders if his interest is due to her powers too. She has found out that her mother is not her biological mother and that her father got a Siren pregnant who is her birth mother. She is also worried that her father is now having yet another affair behind her mother’s back. This all comes at a time when she is grieving for her sister Justine who was killed by Sirens. Supported by her friend Paige, she must try to survive and save those she cares about from the powerful and evil-minded Sirens coming her way.
I did like the book but I didn’t love it. The ending seemed far-fetched. Endings are very difficult in books and it can be a real shame if a story works apart from it’s ending. However in this case, there was a bit of an issue in the middle too. The same things were been rehashed over and over again and it caused the book to drag on a bit with space that could have had a new scene, new angle, just a new something in it. That’s the flaws. But on the up side, it had a good plot and the start was very promising and parts of the middle too. It’s written well for the most part and there was much in it like grief and accepting who you are which was written great and which worked very well. I haven’t read the first book and maybe that’s why I didn’t love it. Maybe it would be better to read after the first one.
An enjoyable, light read for the most part though.
February 8, 2012
I actually liked Pulse more than its predecessor, Siren. A lot of people have said there was too much boy drama, but I guess I must be a fan, because I really enjoyed it. I think there was a great mix of drama and mystery in this one, with the same eerie vibe from book one, and while I wasn’t happy with a few of the old characters, I loved finding out about some of the new ones.
Vanessa was a changed person in Pulse. Though she tried to go back to living her old life, the transformation her body had undergone made this impossible. She was a siren now, and there was nothing she could do about it. She needed to drink saltwater and bathe in it. She attracted the attention of men everywhere she went, and what was worse was that it made her stronger. Sometimes she needed it. Sometimes she craved it. I really appreciated the sort of hopelessness of her situation. Throughout the whole of this book, and the last book, sirens were portrayed as almost evil creatures that hunted men for sport. Now, Vanessa was one. As much as she didn’t want to be, there was no changing it. She was forced to deal with it. It was completely unfair and I could definitely feel for her. She didn’t want to hurt people, but it seemed liked she was hurting people without even meaning to. She was completely stuck with this terrible ordeal. While I do think she did some stupid things, I could sort of understand how she was feeling. She was confused and scared and didn’t know what to do anymore. For a person who had just gone through a huge physical change, who had been lied to their whole life and who had just lost their only sister, I think Vanessa did pretty well not have a complete emotional breakdown.
Vanessa and Simon’s relationship really took a turn for the worse in this book. Mostly because of Vanessa and her actions, which I will admit would push any boy away. As Vanessa was a siren, she attracted boys really easily. It’d be unusual for then not to notice her. Enter Parker King. Initially quite indifferent towards Vanessa, he began to take more and more interest in her. But more on him later. For now, I will just say that Simon noticed. Simon saw that Vanessa was becoming more detached. She was scared he only loved her because of her siren powers, and wasn’t sure if he loved her just for her. She was trying to protect him, but only made things worse. And her hanging out with Parker didn’t help things either. She was unintentionally connecting with him, and though perhaps she could have prevented some things for happening, she couldn’t deny that she was drawn to him. Simon, as Betty said, would not be enough for a siren like Vanessa. As much as I did like Simon in book one, I felt he sort of lost some of his appeal in this one. He didn’t really do much at all, and wasn’t the same quirky, committed guy he was in book one. Then after Parker, he practically ignored her until the end (and Vanessa seriously didn’t help herself – she didn’t even explain her actions, which baffled me). [Mini-spoiler, highlight to view]While I completely understand why Simon said he needed time to think about their relationship (anyone would be angry after all that, I sympathise with him entirely),[/spoiler] I just felt less interested in his character. Like some of the connection he and Vanessa had in the first book was missing, right from the beginning of Pulse. I was much more interested in finding out about Parker.
Parker King was probably the most interesting character in Pulse, for me. I really liked him and enjoyed every scene he was in. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, but I liked this because while Vanessa did truly love Simon, she needed Parker in a different way. And Parker...well, I think he was more than just the reputation he had. The descriptions of him were very telling (you’ll see what I mean when you read the book). He wasn’t just your usual second guy in a love triangle. He was much more. He had his own problems, especially with his father. And he was a nice guy, despite everything. He was funny and smart. He was willing to be there for Vanessa. How much of that that was Vanessa’s siren allure, I don’t know. That’s probably what upset me most. I really wished for Parker and Vanessa’s relationship to be real, something more than just her powers at work. But I’m not sure how much of it was real and how much wasn’t. It all seemed so natural. Parker really did seem to just grow to care about Vanessa. But who can be sure? Vanessa certainly wasn’t. She knew this was the work of her power, but what she felt for Parker – those were her own emotions there. No matter how much she told herself she loved Simon, she liked spending time with Parker. Things felt right with Parker. It was all very confusing and mixed up. One minute you really thought that Vanessa was supposed to be with Simon and that Parker was just a guy under the siren spell – and the next minute, it wasn’t so clear. Part of Vanessa did need Parker, and that part wouldn’t just go away.
Another part of Pulse I enjoyed was the introduction of Willa. We didn’t get to know much about her because she was only introduced towards the end (Vanessa should have confronted her father much earlier, in my opinion) but I have a feeling we’ll get to know more about her in the next book. I did miss Caleb in this one, however, he was barely in it, and Paige didn’t have much of a role until the end. I hope we get to see more of those two in book 3, and more of another certain someone who appears at the end of this book.
The story in Pulse was probably a little slower than Siren. Not a lot happened in the first half, except Vanessa questioning her sanity, seeing strange vision of sirens that were supposed to be dead, but I liked that. We really got into Vanessa’s mind, and how unsure of herself she was. Was she seeing things? Or was something bad going to happen? The second half was when things really picked up, though. There were some huge twists I honestly could not have guessed, and while I think again the conflict may have been resolved too quickly, the ending definitely left me eager for more.
Overall, Pulse was an excellent sequel. I may be a minority in believing it was better than the first, but anyone who enjoyed Siren should definitely give it a go. I’m officially really excited for book three – I can’t wait! Though I have a feeling things may not go as I hope...
Vanessa was a changed person in Pulse. Though she tried to go back to living her old life, the transformation her body had undergone made this impossible. She was a siren now, and there was nothing she could do about it. She needed to drink saltwater and bathe in it. She attracted the attention of men everywhere she went, and what was worse was that it made her stronger. Sometimes she needed it. Sometimes she craved it. I really appreciated the sort of hopelessness of her situation. Throughout the whole of this book, and the last book, sirens were portrayed as almost evil creatures that hunted men for sport. Now, Vanessa was one. As much as she didn’t want to be, there was no changing it. She was forced to deal with it. It was completely unfair and I could definitely feel for her. She didn’t want to hurt people, but it seemed liked she was hurting people without even meaning to. She was completely stuck with this terrible ordeal. While I do think she did some stupid things, I could sort of understand how she was feeling. She was confused and scared and didn’t know what to do anymore. For a person who had just gone through a huge physical change, who had been lied to their whole life and who had just lost their only sister, I think Vanessa did pretty well not have a complete emotional breakdown.
Vanessa and Simon’s relationship really took a turn for the worse in this book. Mostly because of Vanessa and her actions, which I will admit would push any boy away. As Vanessa was a siren, she attracted boys really easily. It’d be unusual for then not to notice her. Enter Parker King. Initially quite indifferent towards Vanessa, he began to take more and more interest in her. But more on him later. For now, I will just say that Simon noticed. Simon saw that Vanessa was becoming more detached. She was scared he only loved her because of her siren powers, and wasn’t sure if he loved her just for her. She was trying to protect him, but only made things worse. And her hanging out with Parker didn’t help things either. She was unintentionally connecting with him, and though perhaps she could have prevented some things for happening, she couldn’t deny that she was drawn to him. Simon, as Betty said, would not be enough for a siren like Vanessa. As much as I did like Simon in book one, I felt he sort of lost some of his appeal in this one. He didn’t really do much at all, and wasn’t the same quirky, committed guy he was in book one. Then after Parker, he practically ignored her until the end (and Vanessa seriously didn’t help herself – she didn’t even explain her actions, which baffled me). [Mini-spoiler, highlight to view]While I completely understand why Simon said he needed time to think about their relationship (anyone would be angry after all that, I sympathise with him entirely),[/spoiler] I just felt less interested in his character. Like some of the connection he and Vanessa had in the first book was missing, right from the beginning of Pulse. I was much more interested in finding out about Parker.
Parker King was probably the most interesting character in Pulse, for me. I really liked him and enjoyed every scene he was in. I’m not usually a fan of love triangles, but I liked this because while Vanessa did truly love Simon, she needed Parker in a different way. And Parker...well, I think he was more than just the reputation he had. The descriptions of him were very telling (you’ll see what I mean when you read the book). He wasn’t just your usual second guy in a love triangle. He was much more. He had his own problems, especially with his father. And he was a nice guy, despite everything. He was funny and smart. He was willing to be there for Vanessa. How much of that that was Vanessa’s siren allure, I don’t know. That’s probably what upset me most. I really wished for Parker and Vanessa’s relationship to be real, something more than just her powers at work. But I’m not sure how much of it was real and how much wasn’t. It all seemed so natural. Parker really did seem to just grow to care about Vanessa. But who can be sure? Vanessa certainly wasn’t. She knew this was the work of her power, but what she felt for Parker – those were her own emotions there. No matter how much she told herself she loved Simon, she liked spending time with Parker. Things felt right with Parker. It was all very confusing and mixed up. One minute you really thought that Vanessa was supposed to be with Simon and that Parker was just a guy under the siren spell – and the next minute, it wasn’t so clear. Part of Vanessa did need Parker, and that part wouldn’t just go away.
Another part of Pulse I enjoyed was the introduction of Willa. We didn’t get to know much about her because she was only introduced towards the end (Vanessa should have confronted her father much earlier, in my opinion) but I have a feeling we’ll get to know more about her in the next book. I did miss Caleb in this one, however, he was barely in it, and Paige didn’t have much of a role until the end. I hope we get to see more of those two in book 3, and more of another certain someone who appears at the end of this book.
The story in Pulse was probably a little slower than Siren. Not a lot happened in the first half, except Vanessa questioning her sanity, seeing strange vision of sirens that were supposed to be dead, but I liked that. We really got into Vanessa’s mind, and how unsure of herself she was. Was she seeing things? Or was something bad going to happen? The second half was when things really picked up, though. There were some huge twists I honestly could not have guessed, and while I think again the conflict may have been resolved too quickly, the ending definitely left me eager for more.
Overall, Pulse was an excellent sequel. I may be a minority in believing it was better than the first, but anyone who enjoyed Siren should definitely give it a go. I’m officially really excited for book three – I can’t wait! Though I have a feeling things may not go as I hope...
September 2, 2024
This was a really nice second in the series. I listened to this via audible and it had all the vibes. I like seeing her struggle with her new siren sickness, and especially the descriptions of Boston and Maine were really nice.
The plot was lacking quite a lot. From her inner monologues and the reveal how she was being followed really makes her sound like a moron. It's so frustrating how she has all these thoughts but doesn't communicate them with her friends or boyfriend. Like Vanessa just runs around making blunders, ruining things with Simon and narrowly missing the sirens. She's annoying and I wish she would not be such a stock im Arsch.
There's too little that happens for it to justify being a whole book. honeslty this all could've been over in 50 pages. This book reminds me a lot of the Wake series by Amanda Hockings where nothing much happens.
But I really like the vibes and Nicola Barber who narrates it on audible did a really great job. It's a nice book but it had a lot of problems and I will be reading the next one.
The plot was lacking quite a lot. From her inner monologues and the reveal how she was being followed really makes her sound like a moron. It's so frustrating how she has all these thoughts but doesn't communicate them with her friends or boyfriend. Like Vanessa just runs around making blunders, ruining things with Simon and narrowly missing the sirens. She's annoying and I wish she would not be such a stock im Arsch.
There's too little that happens for it to justify being a whole book. honeslty this all could've been over in 50 pages. This book reminds me a lot of the Wake series by Amanda Hockings where nothing much happens.
But I really like the vibes and Nicola Barber who narrates it on audible did a really great job. It's a nice book but it had a lot of problems and I will be reading the next one.
May 4, 2018
2.5
The first book was WAY better than this one... half of the book nothing happened and the other half things were thrown at us! I didn't like how things weren't ''shown'' to us but they were told often while using a conversation. If you give me a end of chapter with a cliffhanger show me what happened there... don't tell me while the MC is talking with a friend or something!
The first book was WAY better than this one... half of the book nothing happened and the other half things were thrown at us! I didn't like how things weren't ''shown'' to us but they were told often while using a conversation. If you give me a end of chapter with a cliffhanger show me what happened there... don't tell me while the MC is talking with a friend or something!
January 19, 2024
Was it good, no. Was Parker fine as hell, YES. 💋🍆💦❤️🫶😍😳🫠🤭😈👀👀
January 6, 2024
2 stars for Parker and Parker alone.
February 13, 2013
First off, there will be some spoilers throughout this review but I am not going to tag every single one so be warned.
If you don’t want to know what happens, don’t read any further.
The sequel to Siren was essentially an information guide before the third book is released. Not a lot of real action happened in this book. There was a lot of information and plot development. Much of it was about how Vanessa was changing and how she tried to understand the changes. There was also the resurgence of the “evil” Sirens who were supposedly killed in the first book.
The beginning of the story had me worried the story would fall into a murky, dark puddle and drown in a shallow abyss of death. Thankfully, my curiosity perked up as the story progressed.
At times, the story felt very long and drawn out and then it would change entirely and move very rapidly.
1. I don’t believe the Siren’s control of Betty was satisfactorily explained. The excuse of love as a link to her daughter and granddaughter seemed thin to me. And, in all the other reading, I don’t recall the ability to control one another as one of the Siren’s gifts (I could’ve missed it but I don’t think so).
2. Simon and Vanessa were an interesting change of pace as far as relationships go. I understood Vanessa’s reservations about Simon’s affection given what she is but I also don’t think she was fair to him. She should have given him the benefit of an explanation before all the signals got crossed and essentially ended their relationship. I like that even at the end, their relationship was still fractured and Simon turned away from Vanessa (though not unconditionally). They didn’t put a band-aid on the relationship or magically make up. I appreciate the honesty of that kind of reaction. Their relationship is broken and it will take some serious work to recreate it if they choose to try.
3. The reappearance of Charlotte was not shocking. I never believed she was really gone. Even in the first book, it occurred to me that she would probably appear at some point. The long lost mother angle always gets played out in paranormal/mythological stories. It wasn’t a hard plot device to guess if you’ve read enough books.
4. Paige was also a little confusing. Her reasons for acting as she did in the end and transforming were really sketchy. Illogical. After all she’d suffered at the hands of her mother and sister, it just didn’t seem realistically justifiable that she’d want to become part of that world. It didn’t make sense and, for me, wasn’t really explained well.
5. Parker. Parker was the ghost in the background by the end of the story. He was still very enamored with Vanessa thanks to her Siren prowess – however unintentionally it began but, the issue wasn’t resolved. I assume it will be addressed in the next book. Parker was a huge part of Vanessa’s story in Undercurrent but their relationship was only established because of her allure and was also the reason Simon wouldn’t reconcile with Vanessa (props to him for that). So, Parker has become a fairly important player but as of the end of Undercurrent, there’s no hint as to what may happen with his and Vanessa’s situation/relationship.
There are definitely a lot of things that need to be resolved in the final book. I only hope the issues that need to be resolved are explained better in the final book because the issues in Undercurrent were seriously lacking in plausible explanations.
The sequel to Siren was essentially an information guide before the third book is released. Not a lot of real action happened in this book. There was a lot of information and plot development. Much of it was about how Vanessa was changing and how she tried to understand the changes. There was also the resurgence of the “evil” Sirens who were supposedly killed in the first book.
The beginning of the story had me worried the story would fall into a murky, dark puddle and drown in a shallow abyss of death. Thankfully, my curiosity perked up as the story progressed.
At times, the story felt very long and drawn out and then it would change entirely and move very rapidly.
1. I don’t believe the Siren’s control of Betty was satisfactorily explained. The excuse of love as a link to her daughter and granddaughter seemed thin to me. And, in all the other reading, I don’t recall the ability to control one another as one of the Siren’s gifts (I could’ve missed it but I don’t think so).
2. Simon and Vanessa were an interesting change of pace as far as relationships go. I understood Vanessa’s reservations about Simon’s affection given what she is but I also don’t think she was fair to him. She should have given him the benefit of an explanation before all the signals got crossed and essentially ended their relationship. I like that even at the end, their relationship was still fractured and Simon turned away from Vanessa (though not unconditionally). They didn’t put a band-aid on the relationship or magically make up. I appreciate the honesty of that kind of reaction. Their relationship is broken and it will take some serious work to recreate it if they choose to try.
3. The reappearance of Charlotte was not shocking. I never believed she was really gone. Even in the first book, it occurred to me that she would probably appear at some point. The long lost mother angle always gets played out in paranormal/mythological stories. It wasn’t a hard plot device to guess if you’ve read enough books.
4. Paige was also a little confusing. Her reasons for acting as she did in the end and transforming were really sketchy. Illogical. After all she’d suffered at the hands of her mother and sister, it just didn’t seem realistically justifiable that she’d want to become part of that world. It didn’t make sense and, for me, wasn’t really explained well.
5. Parker. Parker was the ghost in the background by the end of the story. He was still very enamored with Vanessa thanks to her Siren prowess – however unintentionally it began but, the issue wasn’t resolved. I assume it will be addressed in the next book. Parker was a huge part of Vanessa’s story in Undercurrent but their relationship was only established because of her allure and was also the reason Simon wouldn’t reconcile with Vanessa (props to him for that). So, Parker has become a fairly important player but as of the end of Undercurrent, there’s no hint as to what may happen with his and Vanessa’s situation/relationship.
There are definitely a lot of things that need to be resolved in the final book. I only hope the issues that need to be resolved are explained better in the final book because the issues in Undercurrent were seriously lacking in plausible explanations.
June 9, 2011
The summer's over, and it's back to real life in Boston for Vanessa Sands, but her real life has drastically changed since her sister's death. Joined by her best friend, Paige, Vanessa has returned how to a life of hidden truths, dangerous secrets and a new sense of self that is scarier than she could ever have imagined. She's beginning to question who she really is, who she can really trust and where her place is in the world. But when mysterious deaths begin turning up again, Vanessa and Paige have an idea that it might just be the past summer coming back to haunt them, yet again. Can Vanessa find peace with who she has become, or will it destroy the life she has been clinging so desperately to?
Undercurrent is the second book in the Siren series, after the appropriately-titled first book, Siren. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Undercurrent follows the haunting premise and story of Vanessa, your average teenager in every aspect except that she's plagued by Sirens, and yes, we're talking those Sirens from Greek mythology. Tricia Rayburn has spun a sequel filled with angst, terror and self-discovery that's sure to appeal to the fans of book one. With a steady, conversational tone, Tricia writes a steady-paced book without serious plot faults, lags or hiccups, making for an engaging read.
Now, while I enjoyed the writing style of Undercurrent, much like I enjoyed book one, I have to say that I had some issues with book two. Part of what made Siren so great was that it was riddled with mysteries and this dark, underlying issue that kept you guessing until the very last page when it just left you hanging. Undercurrent got off to a bit of a slow start with a very tell-don't-show bit about Vanessa's relationship with Simon. Simon was a great, steady guy, too, but his character building revolved entirely around Vanessa, so I never felt like I got to know him better aside from the few moments when he was with her. Her relationship with him was strained because of her newfound condition, but her endless comments and internal dialogue about having to "wear her hood up to hide her face" or "wearing beige so boys wouldn't swoon" really got to me. I think that the main issue I had with Undercurrent was the continuous hint of tension that never really built until the last 40 pages or so, when the action kicked in. Were there highlights? Of course! I loved the introduction of Parker's character, and I wanted to get to know him more. Willa, too, was a great addition. I guess the problem was that the hints of greatness took too long to swell into a great climax.
Overall, Undercurrent was a good book, and it was definitely a smooth, quick read despite my issues with it. I still really enjoy the author's writing, and I definitely want to read book three based on the ending of the book. I just wanted more from a sequel to a great series start. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories and mythology.
I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
Undercurrent is the second book in the Siren series, after the appropriately-titled first book, Siren. Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Undercurrent follows the haunting premise and story of Vanessa, your average teenager in every aspect except that she's plagued by Sirens, and yes, we're talking those Sirens from Greek mythology. Tricia Rayburn has spun a sequel filled with angst, terror and self-discovery that's sure to appeal to the fans of book one. With a steady, conversational tone, Tricia writes a steady-paced book without serious plot faults, lags or hiccups, making for an engaging read.
Now, while I enjoyed the writing style of Undercurrent, much like I enjoyed book one, I have to say that I had some issues with book two. Part of what made Siren so great was that it was riddled with mysteries and this dark, underlying issue that kept you guessing until the very last page when it just left you hanging. Undercurrent got off to a bit of a slow start with a very tell-don't-show bit about Vanessa's relationship with Simon. Simon was a great, steady guy, too, but his character building revolved entirely around Vanessa, so I never felt like I got to know him better aside from the few moments when he was with her. Her relationship with him was strained because of her newfound condition, but her endless comments and internal dialogue about having to "wear her hood up to hide her face" or "wearing beige so boys wouldn't swoon" really got to me. I think that the main issue I had with Undercurrent was the continuous hint of tension that never really built until the last 40 pages or so, when the action kicked in. Were there highlights? Of course! I loved the introduction of Parker's character, and I wanted to get to know him more. Willa, too, was a great addition. I guess the problem was that the hints of greatness took too long to swell into a great climax.
Overall, Undercurrent was a good book, and it was definitely a smooth, quick read despite my issues with it. I still really enjoy the author's writing, and I definitely want to read book three based on the ending of the book. I just wanted more from a sequel to a great series start. I give it a 3 out of 5, and I'd recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal stories and mythology.
I received this ARC free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
June 28, 2015
Review @Bloody Bookaholic
I remember when I finished Siren. I was pumped, I wanted Undercurrent here and now. And after months of waiting, well, Undercurrent fell a little flat in comparison.
We pick up this story 2-3 months after Siren. Paige moves to Vanessa's home, and they both start their senior year together. Simon is back at college, but him and Vanessa are doing the long distance relationship The Sirens are still frozen. This is the part where everybody is supposed to be happy, but Vanessa isn't. She is all freaked out that the Sirens are coming back again, and doesn't believe that Simon really loves her. She thinks her powers are messing with his head, and she hates herself for it. She's also mad as all hell at her family because they lied to her her entire life.
I was not so into Undercurrent as I was into Siren. All the Siren elements were there, but I felt as if I was in a very slow parade that had no new exciting destination in mind. Half way through the novel and I still saw no point in sight. It was just Vanessa talking about how she needed to leave Simon because he didn't really love her, and Paige trying to convince herself to go to college, even Simon lost some of his appeal. I mean in the first book he was interesting and hot in a geeky way, in this book he loses his personality and is always behind Vanessa like a sick love puppy, only at the end does he redeem himself a bit.
Not to say I didn't enjoy the novel, but it's just so slow. I need something other than the mystery of the missing mother to keep me reading (actually, caught by surprise by this whole thing, so that was a nice twist!). One thing I did enjoy though was the new guy in Vanessa's life. He was a cutie... and hot. The scenes with him in them were so much fun.You could say that him/Vanessa/Simon have a love triangle going on, but at the same time they don't. You have to read the novel to understand it. It's sad to say though, that I enjoyed Parker King (the new guy) more than I enjoyed Simon in this whole novel.
Also one thing that really pissed me off about Undercurrent was how each chapter ended just when it was getting good. It's like something great happened that needed more explanation and that could have been potentially awesome but right when it started getting good it was cut off. It was so annoying.
One of the things I really like about this series no matter what is that the sirens are evil. They have to kill men, they have to survive. They have to make men love them because if not they don't function properly. I like how Vanessa deals with this, and how she is trying to cope with that part of herself as best as she can. It's dark and twisted, and I like that in my novels.
By the middle Undercurrent redeems itself. It starts jogging and then it just runs at a full gallop to the finish line. It was a bit confusing, but it kept me reading. Also Undercurrent had this element of suspense that was very enjoyable. All in all, it was nice but not as lovable as Siren. I think there will be a third novel, let's see how that one goes ^^
I remember when I finished Siren. I was pumped, I wanted Undercurrent here and now. And after months of waiting, well, Undercurrent fell a little flat in comparison.
We pick up this story 2-3 months after Siren. Paige moves to Vanessa's home, and they both start their senior year together. Simon is back at college, but him and Vanessa are doing the long distance relationship The Sirens are still frozen. This is the part where everybody is supposed to be happy, but Vanessa isn't. She is all freaked out that the Sirens are coming back again, and doesn't believe that Simon really loves her. She thinks her powers are messing with his head, and she hates herself for it. She's also mad as all hell at her family because they lied to her her entire life.
I was not so into Undercurrent as I was into Siren. All the Siren elements were there, but I felt as if I was in a very slow parade that had no new exciting destination in mind. Half way through the novel and I still saw no point in sight. It was just Vanessa talking about how she needed to leave Simon because he didn't really love her, and Paige trying to convince herself to go to college, even Simon lost some of his appeal. I mean in the first book he was interesting and hot in a geeky way, in this book he loses his personality and is always behind Vanessa like a sick love puppy, only at the end does he redeem himself a bit.
Not to say I didn't enjoy the novel, but it's just so slow. I need something other than the mystery of the missing mother to keep me reading (actually, caught by surprise by this whole thing, so that was a nice twist!). One thing I did enjoy though was the new guy in Vanessa's life. He was a cutie... and hot. The scenes with him in them were so much fun.You could say that him/Vanessa/Simon have a love triangle going on, but at the same time they don't. You have to read the novel to understand it. It's sad to say though, that I enjoyed Parker King (the new guy) more than I enjoyed Simon in this whole novel.
Also one thing that really pissed me off about Undercurrent was how each chapter ended just when it was getting good. It's like something great happened that needed more explanation and that could have been potentially awesome but right when it started getting good it was cut off. It was so annoying.
One of the things I really like about this series no matter what is that the sirens are evil. They have to kill men, they have to survive. They have to make men love them because if not they don't function properly. I like how Vanessa deals with this, and how she is trying to cope with that part of herself as best as she can. It's dark and twisted, and I like that in my novels.
By the middle Undercurrent redeems itself. It starts jogging and then it just runs at a full gallop to the finish line. It was a bit confusing, but it kept me reading. Also Undercurrent had this element of suspense that was very enjoyable. All in all, it was nice but not as lovable as Siren. I think there will be a third novel, let's see how that one goes ^^
June 18, 2011
Another mermaid novel for summer and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. I was so happy when I picked up a copy of this novel while at BEA. I had wanted to read Siren (the first novel) for a while and with obtaining this novel it gave me the push to go out and buy the first so that I could read them together. Of course, now I have to wait probably a year or more for the third novel in the trilogy...
Reading this second novel right after the first definitely had its perks. First of all, since Undercurrent happens right after Siren, I was already in tune with the characters and there was no period of catch-up, so immediately I was thrown into the drama and action.
One thing that I really liked about this novel was how you weren’t sure whether Vanessa was slightly going crazy or if she was really seeing what she thought she was seeing. There were times when I wondered if the transformation had friend her brain (or the connection was playing tricks on her) or whether she was just seeing something that no one else was looking for. The whole psychological angle of the story was just amped from the first novel, which made this a really interesting read.
Another thing that I liked about this novel was the romantic side of things. Sure, there were times where I just wanted to scream at the characters and fill them in on how things were, but I loved reading about Vanessa’s inner battle against her siren nature and her love for Simon. I think that’s why the ending broke my heart just a little bit.
The slight cliff-hanger ending almost made me chuck this novel across the room. I cannot wait to find out what happens next and it made me upset that it didn’t end. Of course, I’m also so excited now to read the last novel in the trilogy, which means that there’s another whole book where I can read about Simon and Vanessa’s romance. But the anticipation might just kill me.
In all, this is a great second novel and a great novel in general. In fact, I enjoyed reading this one just a little bit more than the first! I’m giving it an 8/10.
Reading this second novel right after the first definitely had its perks. First of all, since Undercurrent happens right after Siren, I was already in tune with the characters and there was no period of catch-up, so immediately I was thrown into the drama and action.
One thing that I really liked about this novel was how you weren’t sure whether Vanessa was slightly going crazy or if she was really seeing what she thought she was seeing. There were times when I wondered if the transformation had friend her brain (or the connection was playing tricks on her) or whether she was just seeing something that no one else was looking for. The whole psychological angle of the story was just amped from the first novel, which made this a really interesting read.
Another thing that I liked about this novel was the romantic side of things. Sure, there were times where I just wanted to scream at the characters and fill them in on how things were, but I loved reading about Vanessa’s inner battle against her siren nature and her love for Simon. I think that’s why the ending broke my heart just a little bit.
The slight cliff-hanger ending almost made me chuck this novel across the room. I cannot wait to find out what happens next and it made me upset that it didn’t end. Of course, I’m also so excited now to read the last novel in the trilogy, which means that there’s another whole book where I can read about Simon and Vanessa’s romance. But the anticipation might just kill me.
In all, this is a great second novel and a great novel in general. In fact, I enjoyed reading this one just a little bit more than the first! I’m giving it an 8/10.
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August 9, 2011I absolutely loved Siren, but Undercurrent kind of blew my mind. The second installment in this powerful trilogy is ten times more dark, dramatic and intense, but still holds on to the beautiful terror and mystery that Siren introduced.
The pace is a bit slower in this one. In Siren, the story seemed to have a clear focal point. Vanessa and Simon knew what they were looking for and knew what they were doing. But in Undercurrent, things seem kind of blurred. It bothered me at first, I admit. But as I continued to read, I grew less and less bothered. Vanessa's struggle with being a siren, her frequent hallucinations of Zara and Raina, and the unraveling past of her biological mother are mysteries of their own. And they all come together for an intense and wicked ending that has me dying for the third book as soon as possible.
If I could only have one complaint about Undercurrent, it'd be the addition of Parker. I definitely understand the importance of his character and why he was necessary, but I think this is one series that could have done wonderfully without a love triangle. I might just be a tad bitter considering how much I'm Team Simon, but I couldn't help wishing that Parker would be the victim of a siren's attack at some point in the story. (I'm evil, I know)
Overall, Undercurrent is an explosive follow-up to Siren that kept me on the edge of my seat with every page that I turned. The sirens are back and angrier than ever and Vanessa's battle to keep not only them but her own siren, from harming others is one that will stun, entertain and scare you at the same time. If you're a fan of Siren, pick this one up ASAP!
The pace is a bit slower in this one. In Siren, the story seemed to have a clear focal point. Vanessa and Simon knew what they were looking for and knew what they were doing. But in Undercurrent, things seem kind of blurred. It bothered me at first, I admit. But as I continued to read, I grew less and less bothered. Vanessa's struggle with being a siren, her frequent hallucinations of Zara and Raina, and the unraveling past of her biological mother are mysteries of their own. And they all come together for an intense and wicked ending that has me dying for the third book as soon as possible.
If I could only have one complaint about Undercurrent, it'd be the addition of Parker. I definitely understand the importance of his character and why he was necessary, but I think this is one series that could have done wonderfully without a love triangle. I might just be a tad bitter considering how much I'm Team Simon, but I couldn't help wishing that Parker would be the victim of a siren's attack at some point in the story. (I'm evil, I know)
Overall, Undercurrent is an explosive follow-up to Siren that kept me on the edge of my seat with every page that I turned. The sirens are back and angrier than ever and Vanessa's battle to keep not only them but her own siren, from harming others is one that will stun, entertain and scare you at the same time. If you're a fan of Siren, pick this one up ASAP!
September 2, 2011
The first book was more intriguing as it was the first time I was exposed to men grinning in their deaths and plot about songstresses of the sea. Undercurrent is more of Vanessa coping with who she really is and realising more things about her abilities and her messy background. Of course, the twists in the book was what captured me as a reader and this book was good. I kept reading for hours till I finished the plot as I especially do not like to hang in the middle of a plot with creepy smiling dead victims and women who have powers to seduce and are stalkerish. I definitely would not have a good night.
I felt really bad for Simon, having been hurt time and time again and angry at Vanessa. Just what was she doing?! I mean like seducing and hooking up with Parker whom she obviously doesn't love. But later i was really caught up in the plot when Raina, Zara and the other sirens have escaped. Zara and raina really strikes a fear and wariness in me whenever I read about them. Zara is so insisting and cruel whereas Raina is sly, scheming, cruel as well. Together, they make a fearless and pretty powerful pair I would think. As usual, this book expects the reader to guess a lot but at least not as bad as Siren so it was quite acceptable. and of course, I felt pity for Vanessa and Simon when Simon did not hook up with Vanessa again. They were such a cute couple -sigh- but I do understand why Simon needed time to think. Who wouldn't be angry with Vanessa? Overall, I recommend the Siren trilogy (Y)
I felt really bad for Simon, having been hurt time and time again and angry at Vanessa. Just what was she doing?! I mean like seducing and hooking up with Parker whom she obviously doesn't love. But later i was really caught up in the plot when Raina, Zara and the other sirens have escaped. Zara and raina really strikes a fear and wariness in me whenever I read about them. Zara is so insisting and cruel whereas Raina is sly, scheming, cruel as well. Together, they make a fearless and pretty powerful pair I would think. As usual, this book expects the reader to guess a lot but at least not as bad as Siren so it was quite acceptable. and of course, I felt pity for Vanessa and Simon when Simon did not hook up with Vanessa again. They were such a cute couple -sigh- but I do understand why Simon needed time to think. Who wouldn't be angry with Vanessa? Overall, I recommend the Siren trilogy (Y)
December 24, 2011
Undercurrent left me at a standstill. I have no clue where the author plans on going with this series, but I’m not saying that in a bad way. At this point I’m just waiting for the next Siren novel.
*WARNING: SPOILERS FOR SIREN AHEAD*
Undercurrent was an interesting read, I didn’t like it more than Siren, but rarely do I prefer a sequel to the original. Undercurrent begins not long after where Siren left off. Vanessa goes back to school, while digging into her family’s past and dealing with her boyfriend. Not to mention she’s freaking out over the fact she’s a siren. I actually enjoyed watching Vanessa unravel. Seeing her characters in depth, she grew on me. Vanessa, despite the siren-ness, is real. She’s worrying over college, and having guy trouble. She reminds me of plenty of people I know in High School. Even if she goes a little crazy, she freaks out in a realistic way.
The sirens return in Undercurrent, and they’re as nasty as ever. These sirens scare me and Undercurrent taught me to hate them on an all-new level. They’re thrilling and they add to the never-ending mystery. The Siren books put the mythical beings in a classic light, these sirens are no Ariel.
Undercurrent was good, but the ending left me hanging again. I love cliffhangers but this cliffhanger wasn’t as quaint or as clever as Siren’s. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t like it. Either way Undercurrent was a good follow up to the first Siren book.
*WARNING: SPOILERS FOR SIREN AHEAD*
Undercurrent was an interesting read, I didn’t like it more than Siren, but rarely do I prefer a sequel to the original. Undercurrent begins not long after where Siren left off. Vanessa goes back to school, while digging into her family’s past and dealing with her boyfriend. Not to mention she’s freaking out over the fact she’s a siren. I actually enjoyed watching Vanessa unravel. Seeing her characters in depth, she grew on me. Vanessa, despite the siren-ness, is real. She’s worrying over college, and having guy trouble. She reminds me of plenty of people I know in High School. Even if she goes a little crazy, she freaks out in a realistic way.
The sirens return in Undercurrent, and they’re as nasty as ever. These sirens scare me and Undercurrent taught me to hate them on an all-new level. They’re thrilling and they add to the never-ending mystery. The Siren books put the mythical beings in a classic light, these sirens are no Ariel.
Undercurrent was good, but the ending left me hanging again. I love cliffhangers but this cliffhanger wasn’t as quaint or as clever as Siren’s. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t like it. Either way Undercurrent was a good follow up to the first Siren book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2012
I did the unthinkable. I read the sequel to Siren, one of the most disappointing books I've read.
But in all honesty, it's a definite improvement over the previous installment. Granted, that doesn't take much, but this book was readable.
Undercurrent still is not a stunner though. In fact, there were still bits where I just kind of skimmed over everything.
I know authors think that by adding tons of crazy boy drama that they're making their book appeal more to the teen demographic, but really it just drives me up the wall. I get that drama is cool or whatever, but I don't think I've ever actually heard a teenager say, "WOW I LOVE ALL THE BOY DRAMA IN THIS BOOK IT WAS SO REAL AND NOT ANNOYING!". I mean really.
But anyway. The plot is sort of still there. I mean, it gets reaaaaally slow in the middle, but there is always a task at hand and not just endless moping.
Vanessa learning to cope with all the siren stuff is interesting, and definitely expands on the mythology of the world here. Still, I do wish they'd do the mermaid thing if they'r not going with the bird-like siren from Greek mythology.
Simon is largely neglected in this book and Caleb is pretty much non-existent. Some kid named Parker is the newest boy toy here, and he sometimes is quite likeable, although most of the time he just pisses me off to no end.
Proceed with caution.
But in all honesty, it's a definite improvement over the previous installment. Granted, that doesn't take much, but this book was readable.
Undercurrent still is not a stunner though. In fact, there were still bits where I just kind of skimmed over everything.
I know authors think that by adding tons of crazy boy drama that they're making their book appeal more to the teen demographic, but really it just drives me up the wall. I get that drama is cool or whatever, but I don't think I've ever actually heard a teenager say, "WOW I LOVE ALL THE BOY DRAMA IN THIS BOOK IT WAS SO REAL AND NOT ANNOYING!". I mean really.
But anyway. The plot is sort of still there. I mean, it gets reaaaaally slow in the middle, but there is always a task at hand and not just endless moping.
Vanessa learning to cope with all the siren stuff is interesting, and definitely expands on the mythology of the world here. Still, I do wish they'd do the mermaid thing if they'r not going with the bird-like siren from Greek mythology.
Simon is largely neglected in this book and Caleb is pretty much non-existent. Some kid named Parker is the newest boy toy here, and he sometimes is quite likeable, although most of the time he just pisses me off to no end.
Proceed with caution.
September 12, 2011
Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed the sequel to Siren. Undercurrent picked up where Siren left off. I love the unique story line with Sirens. I have only ever read one other book with the same topic. Vanessa is an awesome main character. I find her very relatable. I couldnt understand why she just couldnt be open and honest with Simon. It was obvious how much he cares for her. I was mad at her Dad (Big Poppa) for the majority of the book, but find myself actually liking him at the conclusion. The same goes for Vanessas mother, not her biological one. The secret surrounding Willa was crazy - I definately didnt see that coming!! Is it wrong of me to always want her to hook up with Parker. I think the problem for me is I dont find Simon attractive - glasses, brown hair and eyes. Boring LOL!! But I will admit he seems like such a sweet guy. Guess it just goes to show, I always love the bad boys :P I cant wait to see how this trilogy ends. If 'supposably' all the sirens are gone. How will there be a story line for the final book. Hmmmmmm, it leads me to believe Zara and Raina just wont die!! Book 3 hurry up. Im excited already :)
June 14, 2011
I found Undercurrent, the sequel to Siren, to be somehow darker, scarier than the first book. I found Vanessa’s growing confliction as she lies to hide what she is from the ones she loves is the core of the plot. Even more details about what being a Siren requires unfold within this story; the new boy Parker isn’t Simon but he’s endearing nonetheless. As a reader, we know that evil is coming for her, but not what they plan. I reveled in this sense of foreboding. Some of the plot twists were predictable, while the ending was maybe the most realistic of any book I’ve read: sad yet not without hope. Rayburn has left us asking, Now What?
Overall: A
The book is due out July 12th and you can preorder your copy here.
Arc provided gratis by Edgmont at BEA.
Overall: A
The book is due out July 12th and you can preorder your copy here.
Arc provided gratis by Edgmont at BEA.
Want to read
October 15, 2010maybe this will improve it. but i don't hold much hope
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