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Blood Siren
Cylus Keltan wants nothing more than to stay out of the poisonous bed of greed and politics, but when his surrogate father throws himself from a mile-high window, he is forced back into the corrupt world he swore never to return to. With the help of Nero Graves, a cybernetic agent, he uncovers a plot to cripple the government and deploy an alien super plague with the potential to kill billions known as "Siren."
Can they discover the link between his friend's death and Siren before it's too late?
This is the 2nd Edition. 7 new chapters and new bonus content at the end!
Can they discover the link between his friend's death and Siren before it's too late?
This is the 2nd Edition. 7 new chapters and new bonus content at the end!
- GenresScience Fiction
450 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2012
1 person is currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Michael Formichelli
6 books23 followersRaised in the Bronx, Michael Formichelli has been a die-hard fan of science fiction and fantasy since his mother first let him stay up late to watch Star Trek re-runs in the early 1980's.
Along with a passion for sci-fi, Michael is a lover of all things science related from astronomy to biology and beyond.
When not actively writing or absorbing science fiction media, Michael studies languages, astrophysics/cosmology, and works in the field of biology. He also holds a black-belt in Kendo, but has shamefully allowed himself to get rusty (he still practices from time to time).
He lives in orbit of New York City with his wife, a sassy chinchilla, and a very precocious cat.
Along with a passion for sci-fi, Michael is a lover of all things science related from astronomy to biology and beyond.
When not actively writing or absorbing science fiction media, Michael studies languages, astrophysics/cosmology, and works in the field of biology. He also holds a black-belt in Kendo, but has shamefully allowed himself to get rusty (he still practices from time to time).
He lives in orbit of New York City with his wife, a sassy chinchilla, and a very precocious cat.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
July 10, 2014
If you’ve been following my blog you’ll know that I’ve been on a streak of really bad, or at most mediocre, books. I honestly started to wonder if this whole self-published endeavor wasn’t worth it; why spend hours each week reading crappy books. Luckily, I stumbled upon Blood Siren by Michael Formichelli, which was a refreshing breath of fresh air. Set thousands of years in the future, long after mankind had escaped the sol system and joined galactic politics, Blood Siren follows the interactions between Barons, the leaders of the Confederation. The Confederation is one of the main powers in the galaxy, and while mention is made of other groups, and the Confederation’s wars with them, they do not play a role in the story thus far.
Formichelli brings us into a world that is as fully fleshed out as any I have seen. There are a plethora of different aliens, which are all distinct from anything I’ve seen before, artificial beings, and humans modified so much by cybernetic enhancements that they are almost unrecognizable. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how Formichelli deals with the relationships between different species. One human who is in relationship with a Nyangari has to deal with the fact that his sense of smell can detect her pheromones, and thus knows her mood far more intimately than any other lover she’s experienced. Though this doesn’t play a part in the overall story, it does set up a rich world.
Through this rich world we travel with a cast of diverse characters: Two barons, one mired in self doubt and depression since his family was killed five years prior, the other dealing with the recent murder or suicide of his father and his own ascent to Baronship. A reporter who, in rather typical fashion, will do anything to get the story, but provides a unique perspective and a way for Formichelli to show a little of what life is like outside of the elites. An artificially created human who is filled with cybernetic enhancements, including an onboard computer with a distinct personality, and is ultimately beholden to an unknown AI. My favorite aspect is that all of these characters are flawed in their own ways, yet remain likeable and compelling. It is easy to become attached.
Blood Siren is a complex work, and requires the reader's full attention. It even includes a tree of the complex bloodlines within the Baronies; very helpful while trying to untangle the complex relationships within. It has everything I could ask for, political intrigue, action, mystery, and even romance. It is the first book in a series, and while little is concluded in it’s pages it didn’t leave me feeling that it was unfinished. There were enough plot points resolved, or at least transitioned into different phases that I left satisfied. And honestly, with a story as complex as Blood Siren’s it would be too much to ask it to be wrapped up in one volume. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to what was my favorite book so far in my self-published challenge.
Formichelli brings us into a world that is as fully fleshed out as any I have seen. There are a plethora of different aliens, which are all distinct from anything I’ve seen before, artificial beings, and humans modified so much by cybernetic enhancements that they are almost unrecognizable. One of my favorite aspects of the book is how Formichelli deals with the relationships between different species. One human who is in relationship with a Nyangari has to deal with the fact that his sense of smell can detect her pheromones, and thus knows her mood far more intimately than any other lover she’s experienced. Though this doesn’t play a part in the overall story, it does set up a rich world.
Through this rich world we travel with a cast of diverse characters: Two barons, one mired in self doubt and depression since his family was killed five years prior, the other dealing with the recent murder or suicide of his father and his own ascent to Baronship. A reporter who, in rather typical fashion, will do anything to get the story, but provides a unique perspective and a way for Formichelli to show a little of what life is like outside of the elites. An artificially created human who is filled with cybernetic enhancements, including an onboard computer with a distinct personality, and is ultimately beholden to an unknown AI. My favorite aspect is that all of these characters are flawed in their own ways, yet remain likeable and compelling. It is easy to become attached.
Blood Siren is a complex work, and requires the reader's full attention. It even includes a tree of the complex bloodlines within the Baronies; very helpful while trying to untangle the complex relationships within. It has everything I could ask for, political intrigue, action, mystery, and even romance. It is the first book in a series, and while little is concluded in it’s pages it didn’t leave me feeling that it was unfinished. There were enough plot points resolved, or at least transitioned into different phases that I left satisfied. And honestly, with a story as complex as Blood Siren’s it would be too much to ask it to be wrapped up in one volume. I am anxiously awaiting the sequel to what was my favorite book so far in my self-published challenge.
August 7, 2015
What I liked:
Where do I start?! Warring dynasties, political intrigue, murder and mayhem, cool tech, aliens, virtual reality - this is a scifi/space opera of epic proportions and multilayered complexity, with something for pretty much every fan of science fiction. The descriptions are glorious, the characters fascinating and very individual, and the various cultures both alien and 'human' each have a very distinctive and well-thought out uniqueness. The world building alone was A+ for me.
What I didn't like:
While I loved the in-depth descriptions and complex politics, it did make the story on the slow side for me (sorry, I'm not as patient as I used to be!), especially at the midway point. It was also slightly lacking on emotional punch (one reason I tend toward SciFi romance rather than straight SF these days). It ended rather abruptly, but since this is clearly labelled as book one of a series, this was not a huge negative.
In conclusion:
This is not a quick or particularly easy read. It's definitely one more for the classic/epic SF fans who enjoyed books such as Dune or Asimov's Robot series, but with a shinier makeover. This story is what I hoped Jupiter Ascending would be like from the film's appearance, but everything that the film sadly failed to deliver. I'd read the next one for Nero Graves alone.
Where do I start?! Warring dynasties, political intrigue, murder and mayhem, cool tech, aliens, virtual reality - this is a scifi/space opera of epic proportions and multilayered complexity, with something for pretty much every fan of science fiction. The descriptions are glorious, the characters fascinating and very individual, and the various cultures both alien and 'human' each have a very distinctive and well-thought out uniqueness. The world building alone was A+ for me.
What I didn't like:
While I loved the in-depth descriptions and complex politics, it did make the story on the slow side for me (sorry, I'm not as patient as I used to be!), especially at the midway point. It was also slightly lacking on emotional punch (one reason I tend toward SciFi romance rather than straight SF these days). It ended rather abruptly, but since this is clearly labelled as book one of a series, this was not a huge negative.
In conclusion:
This is not a quick or particularly easy read. It's definitely one more for the classic/epic SF fans who enjoyed books such as Dune or Asimov's Robot series, but with a shinier makeover. This story is what I hoped Jupiter Ascending would be like from the film's appearance, but everything that the film sadly failed to deliver. I'd read the next one for Nero Graves alone.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews