Storm Siren

Storm Siren #1

by Mary Weber

In a world at war, a slave girl's lethal curse could become one kingdom's weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

"I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don't want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you."

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn't merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth—meaning, she shouldn't even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she's being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn't want to be the weapon they've all been waiting for? Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Magic, High Fantasy, Paranormal, Young Adult Fantasy

341 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 19, 2014

About the author

Hi. I write books. I eat things. I kiss things. I believe in mermaids.

I'm also the author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series, and the March 2019 release, To Best the Boys. When not working, I sing 80’s hairband songs to my three muggle children, and ogle my husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. We live in California, which is perfect for stalking aging movie stars while wearing fanny packs and sweatpants.

For those who like to know such things (mainly my mom), Storm Siren was featured in the Scholastic Book Fair and my novels have been endorsed by such nice humans as Marissa Meyer, CJ Redwine, Shannon Messenger, and Jonathan Maberry (in fact, Marissa Meyer and I have a fun interview in the paperback of her book, CRESS). Also, Boba tea & sweatpants are life. {We can chat about life (in sweatpants over tea, obviously) in my Newsletter.

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Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

First of all, when I requested this book, I didn't realize that it was published by Thomas Nelson, which is a Christian imprint of HarperCollins. If I had known, I probably wouldn't have requested the book, b/c I don't like being preached at when I'm reading recreationally, BUT . . . I am happy to report that it wasn't an issue. SO if you thought you might like this book, but held off, b/c, unlike me, you were in the know about Thomas Nelson, worry not.

If you have an issue with the book, I seriously doubt that will be it.

Moving on.

I'm quite vocal about choosing YA that doesn't feel like YA. YA in which the characters come across as older, wiser, more experienced than their numerical ages. I can't actually recall being told Nym's age, but whatever it is . . . it's YA.

Nym is an orphan and a slave. She is also an Elemental. In her world, Elementals are killed at birth, except, also in her world, Elementals are universally male. We are never told how Nym manages to be both female and an Elemental, two things that we are assured are mutually exclusive. In fact, it's not even really addressed at all, except to add to her super special snowflakeness by pointing out the impossibility of her existence.

But Elementals, male or female, are not the only creatures of magic in Nym's world.

There are five (I think) nations, all with their own specific type of magic user. We are not given a reason for the existence of magical creatures, and it is not explained why the type of magic depends on geography.

It just does.

The world-building left a lot to be desired.

Also . . . I'm too bloodthirsty for this book. My favorite characters are assassins and thieves and mercenaries. I don't want them to be killers without conscience, but if someone needs killing, then by golly, they had better be up to the task.

But Nym doesn't want to kill anyone. EVER. Her country has an enemy that far outclasses it in weapons, has airships, is bombing and destroying whole villages--men, women, children, the elderly, the sick, it doesn't matter, they are all being killed indiscriminately, but that's not Nym's problem. She's the one who has to be able to look at herself in the mirror, and she will not be turned into a weapon. *sniffs*

How she can look at herself, knowing she could have prevented all of that indiscriminate death if she'd put on her big girl panties and killed them first, doesn't come up, apparently. Or if it does, she acts her age, digs her heels in, and refuses to hear that which she does not want to acknowledge. Tra-la-la.

It's tedious.

So is Adora, the crazy noblewoman who purchases Nym from the slave market.

Adora, we are told, is the most powerful person in the kingdom. After the king, of course. She's so ridiculous, she's a caricature of a villain. She dresses in ghastly and extravagant (animal-themed) costumes. She may or may not literally keep a harem of strapping young men, but of course, she wants, more than anything else, the young man whom she cannot compel to sleep with her, and is very seriously rumored to have killed a kitchen girl (or two), simply for looking at said young man.

She's the biggest property owner in the kingdom, and she sits at the king's right hand on his "Counsel" (whatever that means<------AGAIN, we are not told), and is his most trusted adviser on the war effort . . .

A position . . . we can only infer, she inherited . . . b/c we, for once, are told that her father had held the same position, as had his father before him . . .

Well, sure, why not? If the monarchy is hereditary, I supposed the positions of those who advise in a strategic capacity can be as well. Just train them up the same way you would a prince or princess. B/c that always works so well . . .

There were also numerous little inconsistencies like man-eating horses that didn't turn on their exhausted riders.

I suspect that were I ten years younger, a lot of these things wouldn't bother me. Or at least they wouldn't bother me quite as much. However, I am not ten years younger, and I am much too cynical to embrace Nym's kill-them-with-kindness approach to warfare. This wasn't a bad book, it just wasn't a good book for me. And despite my numerous issues, there were still parts that I enjoyed. If you're an optimist who longs for a heroine who doesn't resort to violence to make a difference, then STORM SIREN could very well be the best book you'll read all year. You know your preferences better than I ever could.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY INITIAL REACTION AFTER FINISHING STORM SIREN:



AS I REREAD THE HELL OUT OF THE LAST FEW PASSAGES, THIS WILL MORPH INTO DENIAL



YOU CAN ONLY BE IN DENIAL FOR SO LONG BEFORE ANGER SETS IN...



This book is so so so so so good. I might not be able to review this properly because of its epicness but I shall try slave about it. I will just need to go through the grieving process first and recover.

Send help.
***
Obviously, I never got to the bargaining phase because there's nothing left to bargain for. Mary Weber made sure of that. Nothing's left to bargain for. If that didn't give you any indication how crueltastic this book is, I don't know what will.

I went on straight to depression, as people do, because that's where I excel at and the grieving process is not the freaking Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. You can skip if you want to and Maslow can't say anything about it.



I lounge around in this limbo for a short while (read: 3 days), thinking acceptance felt like a long way away. Like the distance from L.A. to Tokyo.


Because Ariana Grande clearly needs to have her presence known. Oops, wrong artist.

I do think I'm in the acceptance phase right now but NO ONE DARE TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS BOOK'S ENDING BECAUSE I'M GONNA CLAW YOUR EYES OUT BEFORE YOU CAN EVEN SHOUT CRAZY.


I lied. I'm still in the anger phase.

Let's pretend I'm not at all unhinged while I prattle about why I'm shoving STORM SIREN up your body holes. First off, this is not a siren/mermaid or any other sea-hoopla book. I'm actually kind of happy it's not the case because mermaid novels tend to sink, pun intended, real fast.

“I think some have to fight harder to choose good over evil because the evil's got it out for them. And maybe it's because those're the ones evil knows will become the strongest warriors, recognizing true wickedness when it rears its head ... Maybe the ones who've struggled with true evil are the ones meant to make the biggest difference against it, you know?”

In a nutshell, STORM SIREN is about an orphan slave girl suddenly thrust in the middle of a long waged war between two kingdoms. She was bought by a batshit crazy slave owner as a pawn and a weapon to end this war once and for all. She must prove her worth and learn to control her abilities or she would be hanged for the abomination that she is.

Nym is a lost, broken girl plagued by guilt, grief and self-loathing. She sees herself as nothing but a monster cursed at having an ability that could kill anyone that gets too close. Cheeky and cynical, it's equal parts exasperating and empowering to see her come to terms with what and who she is. Is she a monster that brings only havoc and destruction or is she the savior that will ultimately save her kingdom?

Eogan, her ability trainer, is mysterious and frustrating. Hot and cold, his attitude inconsistencies drove me crazy.  But it is not without good reason and glimpses of his true feelings showed that he cares and understands Nym more than he will ever let on. He makes her feel visible and safe, feelings that Nym tried to hide with indifference. I ship these two so hard. It was hard work and I totally have to beg Mary Weber to finally make my ship sail and when it did, it was unfrakingbelievable.

“I stare back, as if to defy him and whatever his problem has been. Except something hungry stirs behind his gaze, and the next thing I know he's taking my heart for a thirsty-leap into green depths, and I'm drinking him in as fast as I can, excruciatingly aware of how parched I am.”

— Goodness. *fans self*

But Eogan is not there merely to make us swoon because he is definitely a character in his own right and plays a bigger role than being Nym's love interest. And guys, Eogan is a person with color! I don't even want to make a big deal out of this because it shouldn't even be a deal in the first place, but he is, and my heart is so happy. And since we're talking about not your usual run-of-the-mill characters, we have here a bald, well-muscled flirty guy and a sassy blind friend. Even Nym has a mishappen hand.

Like I said, the romance was perfection for me. There were gazillion chances for Weber to go for the love triangle route but she didn't. The romance, while one of the best aspects of this novel, is just an excellent backdrop as it was supposed to be, because this story is most importantly about Nym's journey to self-discovery and self-redemption.

But what is a fantasy novel without a solid worldbuilding?

I am greatly delighted to say that the worldbuilding here was off the charts. It's bursting at the seams with its commitment to geography, language and social structure. The steampunk-esque details and magic system were also interesting. But what I admire the most was how Weber handled the enslavement aspect. It was not swept aside and used simply as a means to make Nym's history colorful but it was treated as a real problem that needs resolution. I hope in the next installment Weber will give focus on the perverse nature of some men in this novel because they really irked me out.

“...But instead of my power exploding like a thunderstorm, it comes as a gentle tide. A heart surrender. Almost painful in its approach, beckoning tears to my eyes as it renders my defenses nonexistent. And suddenly I can't remember why I ever needed them anyway because the very power I've spent my life cowering from is, at its core, pure.”

The prose was simply lovely. No matter how eager I was to turn pages after pages, I had to pause once in a while so I can reread some passages that were just beautiful. This novel made me come alive with its electric magic and the come down from the high was pretty agonizing. There were plenty of WTF moments, swoon-worthy moments, hair pulling moments, awe-inspiring moments and gasp-inducing moments. The ending was all of these combined and it was brutal. In truth, Mary Weber has a dangerous persona that concerns me, yet I'm beyond excited to read the next installment.

Highly unpredictable, imaginative and vividly woven, this book is the reason why I am reading fantasy novels. STORM SIREN rocked my world from the very beginning and left me reeling as I turned the last page. Mary Weber has truly written a wonderful, riveting debut novel and it's definitely one of my best reads this year.



This review is also posted at Smitten over Books. A copy was provided by the publisher at no cost in exchange for an honest review.

[Wendy Higgins]

So good!!! Shame on me for taking this long to read it! Gorgeous writing, enthralling story, tense romance. And as an extra added bonus the author is super sweet.
Definitely recommend.

[hillary · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF page 162 (maybe?) | 02/01/19

The trouble I went through to read this book... wow was it not worth it.

Story time in which a bookworm goes to the library to return two books she had borrowed before she left for Christmas break. She went there with the intention of not borrowing anymore books, because she was leaving in two days and she totally didn't have the time to read another book and return it immediately. But you know what? Said girl went to the YA section just to "give a look for next time" and she saw this book.
So you expect her to remember the book for when she comes back from Christmas break, right? Wrong. She borrows it and brings it across Europe. Such a clever thing to do, it's not like she already has a lot of luggage to carry around.
But at least she was loving the book! The main character was strong and witty and the world building seemed amazing. Fast forward to the plane journey when she reads on, surpasses page 100 and finally starts to understand why she never heard of this book before and why no one ever gushed about it.
Once home she decides to take a break from the book and start another one, or two, or three. That borrowed book stays on her bedside table for the entire break. She didn't predict that at all!
Now she's going back to grad school and not only had she to renew the library hold, but she also has to bring it back in a 20kg suitcase. Tune in to know how this ends, I guess? Lol.

Back to the book, what did I think about it? At the beginning I was loving it! Then after the 50 page mark the book started to show how underdeveloped everything is, from the world building, to the characters, to the powers the characters have.
I didn't mind the writing as I enjoy reading a simple and synthetic writing, but when these flaws I mentioned emerged, the writing began to result rather simplistic and that wasn't a good sign.

I hate with a passion Colin's character, he keeps making advances at Nym even after it's obvious she doesn't want anything to do with him. She punches him in the face after he tries to kiss her for the first time, so I guess it's pretty explicit that she doesn't want you? And that you're sexually assaulting her??? But he keeps going and no one. does. a. thing. Not even the love interest!

There's instalove too and Eogan was as flat as the other characters in this book. Nym was the most fleshed out and I didn't mind her, but I seriously couldn't keep reading just because I liked her a tiny bit.

The world building was extremely vague. There's a war and even if it's mentioned every page, it seems like it's a child's play. Nym is taken to be trained because she has an amazing power (yeah, right...) but she's asked if she's ready just after 2/3 days of training because the other country is attacking in few days. How is she supposed to learn stuff in one week only?

The last drop was the journey with the horses that happens on page 150 or something like that, which is supposedly "part of the training" but it's just there to make longer this book of nothing.

[Heather · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star
BR with Rachelle
In a Word: Potential (though let’s face it … all of it wasted)

OH
MY
GOD!
Let me take a moment to pick my jaw up off the floor!
The end of this book just kicked me in the face with a major cliffhanger!
But let’s buckle our seatbelts for a moment because this review is about to get a little rough.

MAJOR SPOILERS BELOW but they are all marked ... so definitely resist the urge to click the spoiler tag ... you have been warned!

The Story

Orphaned from a young age, Nym is a slave facing her 15th sale. Nym has a dark past and a deep secret. A secret that could have her killed. A secret that has killed before. A secret that is about to be revealed and exploited in a twisted tale of politics and war.

Nym is an Elemental, able to control storms in a world where Elementals are always male and killed at birth. She shouldn't even exist, and now she must fight to control her powers and keep from becoming a weapon in the wrong hands.

What I did like

Basically, this book was a medley of brilliant ideas and excellent plotline with poor execution. Ok so yeah, maybe that’s not exactly a pro. More like a backhanded compliment. Oh well, it's the best I could do.

The potential of this book was phenomenal, but it just had WAY too many blaring issues in development to really become anything great.

Nym was a likeable MC. She was strong and powerful but she was also flawed and scarred. These are the things that make a character REAL. I also really adored Colin because … snarky boys give me life! Unfortunately, I found myself needing more depth to all of the characters in general. Another mark missed. I will talk a little more on this in a few.

The saving grace for this book for me was the relationship between Colin and Nym (although not quite pushed as far as it should have been also, the author fucking killed Colin and let's face it, he was the best thing about this book!!!!), as well as the last 50 pages of the book (where we finally get some action and mind blowing plot twists).

What I did notlike

I guess I sort of already touched on a few of these in the previous section so this may be a bit repetitive. *shrugs*

This book had great potential but it lacked severely in the development of characters, scenes, and the world as a whole.

The relationships just didn't go far enough, which made things like friendship and romance feel shallow, forced and unrealistic. It also made the romance between Nym and Eogen feel a bit instalove-ish and awkward. And nobody likes that!

The world building in this book had to be some of the WORST world building I have ever come across. This book read like a follow-up course. Like there was some pre-requisite course in the development of this world that I simply missed. It was as if the author already expected me to know what and where things were which did not bode well for my understanding of what the fuck was going on.

The scene detail definitely suffered from the same underdevelopment. There were several scenes where I was lost completely with no idea where characters were or what the scene was even supposed to look like. Luckily I have a wild imagination and was able to fill in the blanks at times, but I really wish this book had just done it for me. I found myself rewriting everything all the time and that’s never a good sign.

Furthermore, the transitions between scenes were sometimes a bit untidy. In several places, it was easy to tell where two separately written scenes were spliced together, but without the proper alignment. This left the story feeling fragmented and confusing at times.

I guess basically I could sum up all of my issues with this book into one word. Development … or the lack there of.

I could also go into a few more nit picky tiny things but there are enough blaring issues here that I don't think that will be necessary.

In Conclusion
All of the development issues aside, I enjoyed this story. I don't think that I would recommend it though and I certainly wont read it again.

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea but the book wasn't for me.

I don't understand how you can have all of these powers but allow yourself be a slave. But that's what turned me off this particular book from the beginning. I just didn't understand Nym.

I'm hoping their are plenty of others that love the book though :)

[Nadine Brandes · Rating 5 out of 5]

From one cliffhanger-ending-author to another.
Thank you.
Nym is real.
Eogan is totally swoon-worthy.
The ending killed me.
I love it.

Peeps, read this book. And then you'll want to own a flesh-eating horse. :P

[R.F. Gammon · Rating 3 out of 5]

*inhales deeply*

COOOOOOOOLLLLLIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNN

My actual son. My new son. I love him. Love him, love him, LOVE HIM. The MVP. Personality, sweetness, an interesting story, not trying too hard but still trying too hard, precious, pure. I LOVES. *flails softly*

The rest of this book? Eh. I'm so tired of physical based romance. It exhausts me to a level that nothing else does. Eogan had no real personality--he was just strong, silent, and HANSUM. V. V. HANSUM. Wut r wurds to describe how hansum.

I did appreciate the plot. It wasn't terribly fresh but oh well, I got over that. <---- me @ most of this book tbh

Overall 3 stars. Will likely read sequels. Likely will not be head over heels for sequels but we shall see.

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Suggested Age:18+ Genre:Fantasy

I've sat on writing this review because of how I felt. I kept thinking that maybe I would change my mind but I haven't. If this book had been published by a secular publishing company and had it not been labeled as YA. I honestly wouldn't have rated as a one star. I'd probably have given it a three and that's largely because the author had this annoying issue with "counting." I counted, one, two, three, a gazillion times that she felt the need to count in the manner in which I just did. I felt like I'd fallen in the mad hatter's hat, transported myself into Wonderland and suddenly, I'm five years old and learning to count.

 I'm trying really hard to keep the snark and disdain for this book out of my review but given how far from "Christian" this book is...I'm having a hard time of it. If it looks like mud, it's mud. This looks nothing like Christianity. To be a Christian means to have a Christ like character. This book is a very poor example and has absolutely no business being classified as a Christian genre, nor in being published under a Christian banner. I'm not just a prude, I have read many books with content that is less than squeaky clean; Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series comes to mind. However, this book is not what it claims and that is what bothers me.





Everything that is wrong with this book

1-Eluding to child abuse or sexual abuse of a child. I feel there is a fine line that simply becomes too much for young teens to handle. There also becomes a point in which descriptions become too graphic for this age group. I'll give an example from Storm Siren that stuck out at me as inappropriate and in contrast, a similar situation in The Hunger Games that was appropriately vague.


Storm Siren:

"Suddenly he's on top of me, with both hands around my neck, choking me so I can't breathe. I bring my knee up, but he's too quick. His leg crushes against my injured thigh


An awkward hush falls. The man's perverse pleasure is tangible as again he lifts the reins. But this time he doesn't stop until her feet are off the ground and the little girl's expression has exploded into full blown terror. She is kicking, flailing, gasping. Choking at the end of her noose. And he's enjoying every second of it. I shut my eyes and feel the throbbing of my own neck. One...two...three heart pulses, and abruptly there's a pause in the air. As if the wind itself is holding her breath. And then the sounds of a choked spasm, so fragile in its hopelessness, signaling what I already knew. He's going to let her die. But I can't."

In contrast, there is this quote from The Hunger Games which as you can see, it lets a person know what is going on while remaining vague for the younger audiences.

“President Snow used to… sell me… my body, that is,” Finnick begins in a flat removed tone. “I wasn’t the only one. If a victor is considered desirable, the president gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them for an exorbitant amount of money. If you refuse, he kills someone you love. So you do it.”

The drawn out description of the treatment of the young slave girl in Storm Siren leaves little to the imagination and alludes to exactly what she is being purchased for. It tipped the scale from vague on into graphic which would be more appropriate in an adult book


2- Self harm and mutilation. I handled this situation much better until I read the thank you note at the end of the book
Through the book you have content such as the following

"The fresh, sticky blood swirls around the old memorial tattoos in my skin. The ones already stained into my flesh in suffocating threads entwined around my bones. I lean against the stone of my room's fireplace and push the knife blade further into my arm, just above my elbow, until the scorching pain sucks the air from my lungs."

From the thank you notes-

"Thus this page comes stained with tear drips and blood spatters, markers showing just how deeply you've engraved your name on my world."

Following the themes of self-mutilation, this single phrase just popped out at me as someone who has a particular interest in self-harm. It also makes me fear for young adults who would read that and form this romanticized view of cutting. I felt the ending in which she overcomes her desire for mutilation was shattered with that single line in the thank you notes following the story.


3. Cursing Substitutions. "What the hull" is too much like "What the hell" to be blunt. This was not the only curse word substitution but the most prevalent so I will leave it at that. I would have had no issue with "muttering a curse under her breath" or a vague phrase of that nature is more appropriate for the Christian genre. I simply hold that Christian label to a higher standard.

With my mixed emotions over the content and the thought that it was a bit too graphic for young adult, I went to goodreads to see what others were thinking. I was completely floored by the comments and reviews. I understand that you all cannot control what people write in a review. However, when I see this type of response it solidified to me that this book did not reflect a Christian label nor did it generate a Christian response.

Again, I know you can't control what people say in reviews. But, should a faith-based book really generate this type of response?

View all my reviews

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Sandra (LadyGrey Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

2016 Book Awards
Runner Up: Heroine of the Year 2016 (awarded to Nym)
(more information about these awards on my blog)


Thanks to Winnie who bought me this for Christmas!

I need some good GIFs to describe how I feel right now. Hold on.







Did you all get that?
Good, because I'm still a mess because of this book.
Seriously, from reading the excerpt I thought it would be good. But I did not expect this sort of emotional Throne of Glass-esq roller coaster of emotions.
(alright, maybe not quite, but you get the idea)

First of all; I love Nym, the main character. She sees herself as a monster, she has these dangerous powers that she cannot control and they have caused people to die and she carves memorials into her arm to remind herself of this. The arm that is not inked with the circles marking her as a slave, that is. But yeah; self harm is a part of this story and as it is all written from Nym's point of view it can become quite intense at times when she just desperately want to cut herself because of something she has done. And I do feel like there are other stories with similar plots like this that misses that - that raw need to harm yourself because of what you've done to others.

I could talk about this forever, by the way, but I think it's better if you pick up the book and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Personally I love a book that doesn't have a complicated language and you can skim some sentences without missing out on a ton of details - and this book was exactly like that. There are interesting characters, some romance, magic that's (at times) completely out of control and a very interesting world that I would love to read more about. World building is perhaps what this book lacks a bit in - and sadly the map provided for the book wasn't a detailed Lord of the Rings-kind of map. I really miss those kinds of maps.

Also it's the kind of book where everything seems to solve itself 20 pages before the end and you know that it's the first part in a trilogy and there is bound to be a cliffhanger and... yeah, things happen and immense reactions and I almost threw the book into the wall because of that ending and the fact that I didn't have the next book sitting on my shelf, ready to read.

So yeah; I'm definitely, definitely continuing this trilogy *goes online to order the next book right away*.

[Amanda K · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this book before requesting the sequel, Siren's Fury, on Netgalley. I didn't realize it was a sequel until after I had gotten approved, so I had to go out and get myself a copy of this. Now I'm wondering why this book hasn't received more attention. I really enjoyed the world building here; it was fun learning about the different kingdoms and politics going on. The Uathúil were an interesting concept, as was seeing how the different kingdoms accepted them. I would like to know more about Uathúil as the series progress; I hope the next books offer more insight into how they came to be/how they came to be treated how they are. I would also like to know more about why the kingdom of Faelen was so accepting of the requirement to kill all Elementals. Why are Elements only ever boys? Why is Nym the only girl Elemental that we know of? There's definitely an interesting start, but I hope to learn more in the next books.

The plotline at times was a bit predictable, I knew when something was up, and I guessed a couple of the twists, but it was still enjoyable. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning, but I didn't feel like it dragged, and it definitely picked up of the course of the book. And be warned, there's a pretty cruel cliffhanger, so make sure you have the sequel on standby.

I liked Nym, she had a good heart, she wanted to protect people. She has hurt and killed with her powers before, and because of that she thinks herself a monster and things her powers a curse. The angst at times did start to get a bit annoying. She was always doubting herself and her powers and her control, and at times I did just want to slap her and tell her to pull herself together and believe in herself. Colin and Breck were my favorite characters. They are Terrene twins from one of the other kingdoms, and all the Terrenes there are born twins, one with a gift and one with a curse. Colin can manipulate earth and Breck is blind. Breck is a very frank, no nonsense, determined servant girl. She's got so much spunk and I just really liked her. Colin is bald, and often shirtless, and goofy and cocky in a joking way, and he's fiercely loyal to his sister; he's got a good heart,and he cares for Nym, but is quick to laugh and lighten the mood. I loved them both. Eogan was alright, I have nothing bad to say about him, and at time he melted my heart a bit, but I just didn't like him as much as I like Colin and Breck.

This was a fun quick read, and it really is underhyped. And I'm really glad I have the sequel, because that cliffhanger was not nice.

[Monty Cupcake ☠ Queen of Bloodshed ☠ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Different. I enjoyed the premise and the mc's, but I feel like a lot of things bogged down the story. I'm also unsure why the female mc is said to be so powerful, yet everyone beats on her. She should be kicking ass and taking names with her powers. I did enjoy the multiple villains, never lacking for one. The ending was kind of self evident, which I don't like. Nor am I happy with the cliff hanger ending. Must everything have a cliff hanger?

Also, wasn't aware this was YA, which explains the...controlled level of violence. There's violence, sure, but, for the most part, it's not ruthless. The violence is a product of war & survival. A lot of it is even tempered with forgiveness & mercy, which is a shame, since you know all those people left to live will be back to being bad in book 2.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/08/23/y...

UPDATED: US giveaway for Storm Siren 8/23/14 to 8/30/14: http://bibliosanctum.com/2014/08/23/y...

When I finished Storm Siren, I was speechless. If I am correct about what the ending implies, I just could not believe the story had the audacity and boldness to say, “Oh YES indeedy, I am going to go there!” And honestly, it’s refreshing whenever a Young Adult novel surprises me. I like unpredictability especially when it comes to my YA, and weird as this may sound, I admit I do get a little thrill in my heart whenever I get completely blindsided.

It was, however, a journey to get to that point. One of the reasons why I think Storm Siren will be a very successful book is because it mixes the familiar with the new. Yes, we have some unexpected plot twists and bombshells, an incredible world with a rich magic system, and a heroine with a unique superpower. But balanced with this is also a novel that feels distinctly like it belongs in this genre, with archetypal characters and the usual tropes of YA. Despite this, I believe YA readers will feel comfortable with it and love it for what it is.

The book opens with our protagonist, a seventeen-year-old Elemental girl named Nym, facing her fifteenth sell as a slave. An unfortunate incident triggers her storm-summoning powers while she is on the auction block, resulting in chaos and panic. After passing out, Nym wakes up inexplicably in a luxurious bedroom in a mansion, and is informed that she has been purchased by Adora, the rich and influential noblewoman and court advisor to the king of Faelen.

Throughout this entire novel, we are told that Nym is special. This is practically thrust into our faces the entire time, from the fact that she shouldn’t even exist, since Elementals are all supposed to be only born male, to her role as the only person who can save Faelen in the war against the neighboring kingdom of Bron. But Nym isn’t the perfect savior either. She’s reluctant to use her powers even in defense of her friends due to her inability to control the storm. She has also already caused no small number of deaths in her life, albeit accidentally, and hates the idea of killing more people even if they are the enemy.

Storm Siren features a great story, encompassing a lot of political intrigue and epic battles. The story itself is definitely a winner. But that isn’t to say it couldn’t have been stronger, and perhaps it is a credit to the book and author that my only issue was that I always felt like wanting more.

I mentioned the world and the magic earlier in this review, for example. When Nym is sent to train with a tutor to hone her Elemental abilities, her classmate as it were is a boy named Colin who is a Terrene, someone from his land who can manipulate the earth and stone. Terrenes are also always born as twins, with one twin having abilities and the other not. Apparently, there are even more “brands” of magic users in this world, each with their own specific types of powers and presumably interesting facts about their backgrounds. I mean, this stuff is great! It’s world-building gold. Unfortunately, we just don’t get to learn much about them at all. This is possibly due to limitations like book length or the fact the author couldn’t work those details into the plot, but I sometimes also felt like she may have been trying to put too much into her story.

I also think more emphasis could have been placed on supporting characters. We only have a total of about five characters we really get to know, and I found Breck and Eogan interesting but a few others were quite superficial, like Adora the classic cold villain or Colin with the heart of gold and a personality of a golden retriever puppy. I thought some of the other characters of the court, like the king and a couple of visiting nobles and a princess could have been developed more as well, since relatively they weren’t given much attention but they all had pivotal roles to play by the end of the novel. It would have given the politics and the brewing war between the different kingdoms that extra oomph, and perhaps made things less confusing.

Like I said, I wanted more – but I’m also the kind of person who constantly asks questions when I’m reading, especially when it comes to a book’s world and lore. Did I need all this information to enjoy the story? No, the story itself is solid, even though I felt more world building could have enhanced it. Just when I thought for sure I had everything nailed down, just when I figured it was all going to end the same neat and tidy way that all YA books do, the last few chapters with the final showdown threw me for a loop. I learned that Mary Weber is someone who is not afraid to do things with her characters, even if it means shock and heartbreak to the reader. And I just have to admire and raise my glass to that.

The issues I mentioned notwithstanding, I did have a good time with this book. It started out like the YA novel it’s meant to be – feels like YA, reads like YA – but then went and gave me a surprise at the end. So ultimately I got exactly what I expected, plus a bit more as a bonus! 3.5 to 4 stars from me.

[Jaye Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had been anxiously looking forward to reading Storm Siren ever since I first set eyes on the cover. Just look at it. Isn’t it one of the most gorgeous covers you’ve ever seen? I suppose I’m a bit biased considering my obsession with the color blue. But anyway, the book itself did not disappoint. Mary Weber created a fascinating world that was very different from other fantasy books I’ve read (and I’ve read quite a few since it’s my favorite genre). The society almost felt like The Hunger Games with the crazy costumes worn at the parties. Another of the things I found so different was that the book was in first person. I’m not sure I’ve read a first person fantasy before this. I personally prefer third person, but Mary did such an excellent job with first person that it didn’t bother me at all. Even though the whole book was from Nym’s point-of-view, you get a very clear sense of all the different character’s personalities, and they’re each very distinctive.

My favorite character was probably Eogan. I especially loved the twist when you learn his backstory. But I can happily say I really, really liked Nym too. That’s a big deal. I always have a hard time finding female protagonists I actually like, especially in first person stories.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted read, this probably isn’t for you. There’s a lot of cruelty and it is a pretty dark story at times. And if you’re used to really obvious Christian stories, this probably doesn’t fit that. But it has a strong theme of knowing your worth and that you were created for a reason. So if you don’t mind darker tones and like following the stories of broken characters like I do, I do recommend it to fellow fantasy readers who are looking for something different and interesting. Just be prepared for the agonizing cliffhanger ending! I literally yelled, “No!!” when I finished. Now I have to try to be patient book two’s release next summer.

I received this book free from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachel :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those of you who liked my previous 5 star review, I changed it because I read The Crown. I realized how much better that book was than this book. Then I changed this to 4 stars. I still loved this book! I just rated this 5 stars because I had wanted SO BADLY to love it. But, it wasn't to be.


only for the reason that I was really confused at times! Other then that, LOVED! The writing gave me chills it was so good.

[Elizabeth Dragina · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF

Meh. I was so bored and I didn't connect to any of the characters. The world felt bland. The powers felt bland.

I was expecting so much from this author after hearing wonderful things about the book. I can't begin to describe how disappointed I am. 😕😦

Not impressed ... beyond this I won't be giving a review. If there's anything more you'd like to know just comment below. :P

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my... oh dear... *gasping for breath* *grasping for reality*... WHEN IS SIREN'S FURY COMING OUT??? :D

I hardly know what to think of the whole story yet, but my mind is whirling with the epic-ness of it.

Alright. Let's try for some orderly thoughts here...

Storm Siren was raw. Gripping. Emotional. Powerful.

Nymia is a slave. Fourteen scars encircle her arm, one for each time she was sold. A fifteenth is about to be added, but by who? Because Nym has a secret. Who dares take the white-haired girl with storms running through her veins?
With a strange twist of events, the young Elemental lands in a place of great power, and great peril. Secrets brood and danger lurks; and Nym has to decide. —Cower within the shadows of fear and the broken past, or embrace her gifts and soar.

Storm Siren is a unique fantasy, mixed with an element of dystopian/sci-fi. There’s Elementals, skin-changers, bolcranes, and slightly creepy war horses. Then we have airships and crazy parties where equally crazy people come in dressed in ludicrous costumes and pink, blue, or orange hair (something akin to the people of the Capital in The Hunger Games). I would call it fantasy for the most part, but definitely had a sci-fi feel at times.

I don’t even know what to say. Trying to gather all my thoughts together here… This book took me on a wild, hair-raising, exciting journey full of twists and turns. While I didn’t appreciate every aspect of Storm Siren, I found myself quite fascinated, and was quickly caught up in the story.

Nymia. Who wouldn’t feel for her? The tumultuous, dangerous, raw feelings raging around inside her have the power to erupt into a full-blown storm. She has a dark past that leaves her scarred in more ways than one, and faces a future full of more emotional pain and terror. She’s an incredible character… relatable, I feel. Real.

Eogan… was an interesting guy. :-) I must admit, I was quite startled where his backstory wound up to. I felt like I didn’t get to know him as well because he was so layered in secrets, but you still glimpsed his own personal pain, and his caring for Nym. I’ve decided that I quite like him, now that I know all his secrets.

I loved Colin!! :D Though he tended to show an appearance of thinking highly of his looks and such, he countered that quite nicely with charm, kind-heartedness, and sacrifice. *Sniff* I won’t say anything about his story… but the bald-headed Terrene boy is great, :-)

There was a really great group of characters. Pretty much all of them had me guessing about who they were/what they were doing; and then getting surprised (or shocked), and so on. The villains were done well I think. In a way that shows their depravity, but yet doesn’t render them to the typical “bad guy”. I was intrigued by them all.

The whole theme of Storm Siren was powerful. Perhaps not in the way one would expect, but still, it touched me deeply. This book, though Mary Weber is a Christian I believe, is not meant to be Christian fantasy. However, it still had an incredible allegory woven throughout. The memorial scars. The crippling fear. The self-hatred. And then we watch it morph into something strong and courageous. It’s a theme of self-worth and not letting your gifts and abilities be taken over by evil, but rather using them for good. Now here’s where I make an important note. I understand how someone could take it differently; I myself felt thrums of “I’m powerful”, “I will save myself” and that kind of thing. But… well, I guess for the most part I just took it as an allegory of us seeing our worth in God’s eyes, and finding the courage to use the gifts He has given us boldly for good. I was expecting the usual, kind of shallow, dark story of YA, non-Christian fantasy, and I suppose that’s why I noticed the poignancy of the allegory in Storm Siren. If you take Nym's story as a boost to rely on your "strong" self rather than God, than you probably aren't getting the drift I am. But if you naturally take the theme of Storm Siren as a more healing/realizing you have a purpose sort of story, then I would say its a pretty great tale.

That being said, I still did squirm a little at some of the parts about Nym controlling the lightening etc.; and how pressing her pulse renders... this, and her squeezing someone’s hand renders… that. It can all feel a little too much like tapping into the "earth’s powers", or your own "inner powers" and whatnot. So yes, I was a little wary. Yet, the more I read, the more it didn’t seem so much that way. I guess sometimes with fantasy, I just take it all in as fantasy, and I can read it and understand it (sort of), without feeling its some strange new-age thing. I don’t know. You’ll have to read it and see for yourself. Controlling the elements kind of seems like a hot topic in fantasy books these days. It’s definitely not my favorite, but Mary Weber wrote it all in such a thought-provoking, allegorical way, that I was intrigued.

There was a fair amount of “swearing” in this book, albeit, in the fantasy language. So they’re unfamiliar words, but you definitely get the drift. Also, there were a few heated romance moments, and some men acted a little inappropriately around Nym or other women. Also, there's immoral issues alluded to now and then, especially with Nym's owner. Nothing too drastic, just caution to younger readers. Also, quite a bit of violence. We have some quite creepy/frightening scenes, and some utterly strange and scary animal creatures. Some descriptions of violence or gruesome detail went a bit overboard for my taste; but still, nothing too horrific in my opinion. I would say the audience for Storm Siren should be older teens to adults.

Um… I’m still not sure what to think of the treacherous wolf-guy and his disturbing abilities. I’m leery of too much werewolf/witch type things for sure. So, along with the element powers and such, I really need to read the next book and see where those two things go to truly decide how I feel about them. I’m okay with them for now… but you just never know what could happen next. So it really remains to be seen if I can safely recommend this book.

So. What can I say? I was captivated and thrilled. I was mildly startled at the unexpected, then quite surprised, then shocked. Ooh!! A page-turning adventure for sure! I loved the scenes between Eogan and Nym… (except at times they did get a bit overly romance-y). I loved how he could help calm her storm, :-) The fantasy world, the customs, the war, were intriguing and alarming. The whole story leaves you wanting more. Especially when you get to the end!!!! I sensed it coming deep down, but still, I jumped a little inside. OH NO!!! What’s going to happen?? I refuse to think that things will go as expected, :-/ Haha.

Like I said, there’s no center Christian allegory in Storm Siren. But a creator is alluded to a handful of times. And there is this special garden that… well, you’ll have to read about it yourself. But it was a poignant moment in the book, and I felt it had something to do with the creator. Can’t quite remember. This book tells a dark story for sure, but there was such a redeeming tilt to it. It was incredible to watch the characters grow… in heart and soul. I don’t know how to explain it, but I don’t feel like the darkness overwhelmed this story. I saw this beautiful picture through Nym’s story. It was truly poignant. I guess it remains to be seen if her start upward is going to make her powerful and trust in herself, or…. Yeah, I don’t know. Christian allegories are important within fantasy to me; but I felt I could still appreciate Nym’s story a lot.

But… so much remains to be seen. I’m so dying to read Siren’s Fury to find out what happens after that devastating cliff-hanger. We’ll see, we’ll see. Right now, I have hopes for this series. If you’re looking for a strong Christian allegory, this book isn’t that. However, I still found the main story of it to be moving. And its an incredible, exciting fairytale-ish/fantasy sort of story in any case! :-)

[Acqua · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I had to explain to someone what not to do when writing a YA fantasy novel, I would make them read this book.

[Micheline · Rating 2 out of 5]

*An ARC was provided by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.*

Storm Siren was one of those books that I knew I needed even before it came out. I am a HUGE fan of elementals and elemental magic so that bit was a no-brainer. The synopsis seemed original to boot with an elemental female who shouldn't exist being saved from a life of slavery and trained as a weapon to save kingdoms. Despite all this promise though, Storm Siren ended up falling flat by focussing on a questionable 'romance' instead of elaborating on plot, villains and tying up loose ends.

Sigh, will I ever learn to not be lured in by the pretty covers? I sure hope so because it seems like I'm on a bridge to nowhere with these debut novels lately. Admittedly, Storm Siren started off promising enough, tying into the blurb nicely we got introduced to a broken and jaded MC with exceptional powers that she can't seem to control. Elementals in this world are killed at birth, and what's more: there's never been a female elemental. Like, ever. Nym believes she is cursed and since she keeps being sold from slaver to slaver, it's obvious that her previous owners tend to agree. Until finally someone sees her for what she truly is and offers her a choice: train to become a weapon to defend Faelen from impending war or die. Obviously she chooses to begin training and that's where her whole life changes.

Within her lavish new owner's house, Nym is still a slave but being taught to control her curse makes it all worth it for her. Soon she meets other people with gifts, and training together becomes their sole purpose - when their eccentric and cruel mistress isn't forcing them to attend extravagant parties as spies that is. It's about at this point where Storm Siren began to falter. There's something of a budding love-hate relationship that begins to surface and takes up most of the story's focus. The two main boys in the story become potential love interests with the classic nice guy being ignored while the MC focuses all her energies on the jerk who's only nice to her in between being jerky. Notice that I avoided using the word ''romance'' because to me there was nothing remotely romantic about their interactions. I'm sure some would disagree with me but it doesn't change how I felt reading this one.

The best part of Storm Siren for me was in fact the elemental magic. It's the reason I was attracted to the book to begin with and it's what I was hoping would be the main focus of the story. Unfortunately, Nym's powers and their evolution seem to take a backseat for the better part of the story. The elemental bits only really became front and center at the very end - with a few notable exceptions. Sure we see her training a lot and struggling to harness her powers but all those scenes are tainted with supposed 'romantic' tension and frustrations. It seemed to me that even the character development suffered by this relentless focus on building some sort of a love story.

As an MC, Nym was likeable enough but I would have liked her a lot better had the 'romance' been completely removed from the equation...or at least put on the sidelines. I really enjoyed Colin though but I feel his character wasn't given the attention he deserved. Colin's twin sister Breck was another character I liked but I found myself forgetting she was supposed to be the same age as Nym and Colin. For some reason she came off like she was around 10-11 years old instead of being a teen like the rest of them. And then there's Eogan. *groan* Eogan didn't seem to be able to decide what the hell kind of a man he was. He oscillated from being a jerk to being something of a nice guy but I could never tell if he was lying or being sincere. Nym couldn't either but she seemed to have less of a problem with it than I did >.<

Similarly, the world-building in Storm Siren was decent but it took a backseat to other points of interest. There were some nice descriptions of their surrounding areas as they moved around but even now I feel like I know little about Faelen and it's structure. Nym was training to defend the people of Faelen but I found I didn't care much about the city and it's plight. For whatever reason though, I kept reading. I always hold out some hope that the ending might turn things around with a book like this. The ending was action packed enough to keep my interest but when the dust settled, there were simply too many loose ends for me to feel satisfied. And that twist right at the end was surely meant to build tension for a sequel but it only annoyed me further. Like WTF?!

Truth be told, Storm Siren had a lot of potential but the focus on lackluster romantic tension simply put me off. It's not that I don't enjoy romance in my YA literature but I need it to have a nice flow, proper development and it's usually preferable for it to not take focus away from the main storyline. Even the thrill of elemental magic couldn't save this one.

This review was previously featured on my blog:

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Don't miss my interview with author Mary Weber, when we talk about Nym's character, friendships, costumes, awesome guys and whether the future series will have a love triangle.

From the first page I was hooked on Storm Siren, and I loved it all the way until the end when I reached one of the worst cliffhangers ever. At the center of this book is one broken but powerful girl. But as I became caught up in Nym's personal journey and emotions, I found many more surprises and a lot greater action than I ever anticipated. At times the heart-aching tale of one girl, and at others a heart pounding rush filled with shocking revelations, political schemes and awe inspiring abilities, Storm Siren drew me in entirely.

It all begins at a slave auction where Nymia is being sold for the fifteenth time in 11 years. Nym doesn't last long at any one place, because whenever she gets angry or upset, she destroys something - or someone. Her current slave owner tells her to cover her long white hair because it is a dead giveaway about what she is: an Elemental Storm Siren who can control the weather. Though, usually it just controls her.

Because of all of the destruction Nym has caused, she considers her ability to be a curse. Proving her point, we get to see Nym in action right at the beginning of the book. When she gets angry at a leering slave buyer, a violent lighting storm immediately develops that puts an innocent child in danger. After this, I was both in awe of Nym and also could understand her inner brokenness about a power she never asked to have. It was a thrilling start.

This is really a book about a girl learning to love and accept who she is. Finding redemption and her own inner strength. Nym is feisty and bold at times, but she also possesses a tremendous amount of self-loathing and doubt about her curse. Nym believes she is a terrible person because of what she's done, even though the destruction she's caused has also saved her life many times. Nym memorializes the people she's hurt in the past by carving reminders on her body. It's a painful but visceral way for her to never forget. I love Nym's personal journey through this book, and I felt her emotions right along with her.

When the story begins, Nym feels utterly alone in the world. She's had no guidance or training, and since her parents' death, she has been passed around from one household to another. But throughout the course of the book, Nym meets several characters who become important to her. Two of my favorite of Nym's relationships are with Colin and Eogan. One is firmly in the friend category and the other definitely crosses the line into something else. There is no love triangle at all, so don't worry! But Nym has many fantastic scenes with both of these boys. Colin seems less serious and more young and cocky in the beginning, though also lovable. But I enjoyed the conversations that he and Nym share near the end of this book. Colin is one of the characters and moments that made the biggest impact on me in this story.

Nym's relationship with Eogan starts off with much more volatility. There were times I wanted to scream at him along with her, but I love how he pushes Nym out of her comfort zone. He challenges her to accept who she is and to believe that her ability truly is a gift that she can control and use. Eogan and Nym are a great counter and challenge to each other, and I was always looking forward to how they would would next set each other off. Eogan has that mysterious vibe going, a trait that sometimes seems overused. But I like how it was handled in this book. His character actually makes sense once you understand him better.

The only thing I wished for in this book was more information about the world and political situations, as well as the major players involved. We learn that it consists of 5 nations each featuring people with certain gifts. Not everyone has them, but they seem to originate in the people group. We meet or hear about individuals from each country, but I had a bit of trouble keeping them all straight at times. There were a lot of intriguing secondaries that I wanted to know more about, including their objectives and motives - The King, Princess Rosamund are two examples. Hopefully, we'll get more in book two.

The end killed me. Seriously one of the worst cliffhangers I've encountered. I'm holding out hope that author Mary Weber will continue to surprise us and things aren't exactly what they seem. In any case, she's made me completely desperate for the next installment in the series, and in awe of her ability to draw me into her characters' lives.

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: HIGH

Find this and other reviews on my blog Love is not a triangle

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

Storm Siren is one of those books that completely flew under my radar until I came across it on NetGalley. As soon as I read the summary, I knew that this was going to be the perfect book for me. Mary Weber, however, exceeded all of my expectations with Storm Siren and it was hard for me to believe that this was only her debut novel.

Storm Siren's strength lies in its protagonist, Nym. Initially, she was presented as this headstrong, snarky and witty girl who seemed like she was afraid of absolutely nothing in her world, but as the layers of the story peeled off, so did, Nym's character. For me, what made Nym a character who was easy to connect with were her fears and strong emotions of guilt. I love strong heroines as much as everyone else, especially in a genre like fantasy, but I'm not a fan of characters who are also completely strong. I like heroines with vulnerabilities and Nym was most definitely one. She was multi-layered and complex, undoubtedly a memorable heroine. Nym's weaknesses stemmed from the impact that her power as a female Elemental has had on innocent people. Nym has had to kill people due to her powers and that has slowly gnawed at her from the inside. You can't help but feel for her and want to hug her, especially when she cuts herself in memory of those she accidentally killed. Her emotions were raw and reached to me and affected me in many ways. Besides Nym, Storm Siren also had an outstanding secondary who all had a pivotal role in Nym's life. Nym made some great friends when she was brought to court. Her budding friendships with Breck and Colin was one of my favorite parts of the book. I was impressed by the author's ability to write a strong platonic relationship between Colin and Nym. I was initially worried that the book would turn into a love triangle, but Colin and Nym were only good friends who respected and loved each other.

Storm Siren also had a lovely romance, that developed in the sidelines. This wasn't one of those books where once the love interest is introduced, everything goes down hill. Nym and Eogan had a sweet romance that grew as the plot moved further without drowning the main story line. Also, kudos to the author for creating an interracial couple. Diversity isn't something you see very often in YA fantasy, so I was immensely pleased to see that Eogan belonging to a different race than Nym. Additionally, Storm Siren had an addictive story line to it. The book opened with a scene of an auction where Nym is being sold and from the very start, you know you're in for a wild ride. This is one of those books where I felt like the story only got better and better as the book progressed. I was so hooked onto the story, it was hard for me to let go of my e-reader. There was non-stop action and a ton of heartbreaking moments that nearly destroyed me. The world building in this novel was also strong. I loved watching the veils of the world building gradually unravel as the plot progressed. I was completely invested in it and I want to know more about the Elementals. Mary Weber is a talented author and one reason why I believe she is talented is that she manages to balance every aspect of her story, from the character development to the world building. She is also incredibly cruel because she ended Storm Siren in a seriously heart crushing cliffhanger that had me gasping out loud.

By the end of this book, I was left salivating for more, not only because of the cliffhanger, but also because I just want to be immersed again in this gorgeous world. With its stunning writing, fantastic characters and solid world building, Storm Siren is a fantasy novel that deserves to be read by every fan of the genre.

[Yodamom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Failed in so many ways. I can list so many ways it went wrong for me and can't really remember any good points. I will not be continuing to read this author's work.
#1 problem was the narrator, she was monotone, unemotional and ruined any POW the book may have had.
#2 The heroine was a whiner, she went on and on about her leg, her lag was the most important thing happening while the bodies fell around her
#3 Mean eating horses ? These beasties wanted to eat her, chomp her head into little bits, but that was forgotten as the story went along ?
#4 She doesn't want to kill anyone, even when all her loved one are bleeding around her, children are dying, hundreds dead, she watches, whines and complains. Sure she has that right, but she is the only one capable of saving her people from those who are torturing thousands and she can't kill a few ? (just pissed me off)
#5 The prince is hiding as a servant in this horrible house with this nasty handy woman ? Why?
#6 This wolf who takes over people, why ?
#7 The ending ? Killed off the only possibly good character left so there goes the slight speck of interest I had.
#8 The romance ? Was it romance or control ? It didn't really play out either way enough to become a real thing.
#9 Special little snowflake with no heart, no strength and no ability to hold my interest.

[mary liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ummmm . . .

No thanks, haha.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
There was no way after seeing all of the glowing reviews for this going around the blogsphere that I was going to say no to it. Add in the fact that this wasn't a mermaid or siren story (something I sadly have a love hate relationship with) and I was completely sold on starting this. I just knew it was going to be more than a pretty cover. After all, how could all those 4 and 5 star reviews be wrong?

Thankfully they weren't wrong, at least not completely. . This was so much fun and I seriously I liked it more than I thought I would in fact. My only real complaint and reason why I wasn't completely in love with it was because of the lack of world building. Things needed to be explained just a bit more. Terms were thrown out at us and names of places but that was the extent of our knowledge about them and sadly our explanation but you know what, in the end it was okay because the rest of the book was so entertaining that I could ignore the lack of other things.

I enjoyed Nym, Breck, Collin and Eogan so much. Each of their stories came out little by little, nugget by nugget and I really enjoyed knowing more about them.

I loved the world that we did get to see, what was explained about the people and about Nym and Collin's powers and what being an Elemental meant to not only Nym but the others as well.

Overall this was a fun exciting read that was filled with all things magical with just enough hint at a romance to keep you guessing and wanting more.

I do have to warn you though that there is quite the nasty cliffhanger at the end, so be prepared for it, I wasn't and I almost (almost) wish I would have waited to start this one when book two was closer to being released.

[Danielle (Love at First Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary
A seventeen-year-old girl stands on an auction block, about to be sold to her fifteenth house. She is an orphan, a slave. But she's also something more. When her long, white hair is revealed to the crowd, so is her true nature as an Elemental, as a girl with powerful storm-summoning abilities. She can control the weather with her emotions, but for her entire life that has meant that her anger has led to danger and destruction. When she cannot leash her tumult on the inside, the outside world suffers. Her ability is a curse - and now also a weapon.

Adora - court advisor to Faelen's king - buys Nym at the auction and gives her a choice: Nym can aid in the war against Bron, one of their neighboring kingdoms, or she can be killed. Choosing the former, she begins training with Eogan, who not only can spark the storms inside her but help calm them as well. He is not afraid to push Nym beyond her breaking point, because if they are to have any chance of winning the war, Nym has to gain control of her abilities. For Nym, though, that may be more than she's willing to sacrifice. Will her Elemental powers always go hand-in-hand with death and destruction? Will she ever be more than a curse and a weapon?

First thoughts
A lovely, lovely book, but wow are cliffhangers evil! This one is particularly brutal. D:

Full review
If I'm not fully recovered, I'm at least emotionally stable enough to write a coherent review. Yes, the ending is a shocker, an evil, evil twist that has done it's job of making me want the next book just so I'll know everything turns out okay. Even still, don't let that detour you from reading Storm Siren. It's worth the pain, because I believe Mary Weber has crafted an absorbing new fantasy world in the likes of The Lumatere Chronicles and The Girl of Fire and Thorns. Rich character growth, swoon-worthy romance, and heart-pounding action complete the package. There's a lot to love about this debut.

Although I'm more of a contemporary romance girl, I can definitely appreciate a fantasy world built from the ground up, and Storm Siren does so with more than a little imagination. There are five kingdoms, and each contains a small population of Uathúils, or people with magical capabilities specific to their land. In Faelen, where Nym resides, that would be Elementals. Except for a long time now - for reasons made known later in the story - all Elementals have been killed at birth, and they've always been male. Nym is an anomaly, and now she can be the greatest asset to Faelen's military. How is this - she - even possible? There is no explanation given, at least not yet, and I hope that's remedied in the sequel. She trains beneath Eogan (more on him later) and alongside Colin, a Terrene who can shift the land. Her and Colin are expected to be the saviors of Faelen, winning the war with their abilities.

Some details I loved and that combine to make this a fascinating and three-dimensional world: the court politics of Faelen; the social class divide, not just between the peasants and those in court but also the lack of rights for the Elementals and the suffering of those in Faelen's army; the fantastical creatures such as man-eating horses; and the legends and myths that have been passed down and are now rooted in Nym's culture. I hope in the next book we are given an even wider scope of this world. I would like to know more about the various kingdoms and their histories with one another and their Uathúils.

The story itself is engaging and moves forward at a brisk pace. As more layers of this world and these characters are peeled back, every new turn feels necessary and thoughtful; there are no wasted pages here. Most of the plot centers around Nym's training and her learning to control her powers, with plenty of character reveals, political machinations, and plot twists to keep things interesting. Court society is brand new to Nym, and she's having to navigate it while also discovering as much as she can about its politics and the ongoing war. Who really has her people's best interests at heart? It's toward the end when the action really picks up, the war with Bron finally coming to the forefront, a chance for us to see what the characters are capable of. I was flipping through those pages like a madwoman to get to the end, except when I got there I only wished for more pages. That brutal ending. *Refuses to go there again.*

Unsurprisingly, it's the characters I care most about in Storm Siren. The emotional core that's at the heart of this book begins and ends with Nym herself. It was impossible for me not to sympathize with her. She holds herself responsible for the death of her parents and for every murder committed during a release of her Elemental powers. Nym is full of self-loathing because of this and feels nothing but disgust for her curse. She doesn't believe she can ever do an ounce of good with it. She is utterly alone, and maybe always should be. Yet mixed in with her vulnerability is a heart of gold and tough-as-nails skin. She doesn't let anyone break her down, even when she's fighting against her own feelings of self-worth. Girl has some spark and snark. There's also the joy Nym feels when she starts to realize that her curse can be a gift once she learns to tame it; over and over again Eogan tells her that she's not what she has done and those words eventually soak in like rain. I loved watching the changing course of her convictions and seeing her willpower increase tenfold. Hers is a moving journey and one I had no difficulty connecting with.

My other favorite character is Eogan, Nym's handsome trainer and love interest. His ability works as a block against other Uathúils' powers; for Nym, that means his touch is like a calming effect, which in turn teaches her how to control her summoning powers on her own. Eogan is difficult to understand at first - he's sometimes protective and obviously drawn toward Nym, and other times cold and standoffish. Without giving anything away, one of my favorite things about this book is his character twist and why he acts a certain way. I don't think it's been done before with a YA love interest, and I like the way it plays into the romance. There's not a lot of kissing scenes here, but the relationship between Nym and Eogan has a certain intensity to it. Their chemistry is so tangible. It's very much of the push-pull variety, with a lot of frustration and confusion for Nym. Eogan prods at her tender wounds yet he can be all tenderness himself. There are plenty of charged moments these two share, and though it hasn't been an easy relationship, I can't wait to see where they are headed together next.

Storm Siren is an impressive fantasy debut by Mary Weber. Her writing is thoughtful and at times even stunning, and her words have woven a powerful and inspiring story that promises to stick with me. I hope you decide to give this a chance; that way we can agonize over the conclusion together until the second book releases. ;)

This review can also be found at Love at First Page.

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody help me. I knew that there was going to be a cliffhanger ending, but I was still not prepared. Not at all prepared for that shocking and horrifyingly thrilling ending.

Nymia is a seventeen year slave surviving in a country ridden by war. She is an Elemental, which means she shouldn’t even exist for Elementals are always born male and slaughtered. She is sold the fifteenth time to a High Council member who is the king’s most trusted advisor. She gives Nym a choice: train to be used as a weapon to win the war or die. Nym makes her choice and is soon training hard alongside another Uathúil under Eogan while at the same time going to parties and pretending to be something she is not. But does she really want to help the country that keeps her enslaved and murders her kind? And how can Eogan calm her down and seemingly block her powers? What is he hiding?

Let me first say that the cover is georgous. Just look at it. I love the blue and the dark look it has to it. I just love the white hair too along with the lightning. So neat! Also, I got a hardback copy of this for Christmas and I love hardback!

I love the way this is told in first person. The similes were beautiful. The emotions felt raw and real. I felt for Nym like I was her. It was really amazing. I really loved Nym, she had done many terrible things in her past and was terribly ashamed of it and felt so guilty. But she wanted to make up for it even if she didn’t believe she could. She knew that she deserved die, but that didn’t mean she wanted to. Nym is a heartbroken character, and that is probably why I liked her so much. Because I’m really more for the male protagonist than the female protagonist.

I do feel like there maybe should have been a few more side characters or a few more names. But it was great with the side characters there were. I was interested in Eogan from the beginning. He has such a secretive side to him that intrigued me. Colin, man, he was so caring and funny. His past was sad, but he didn’t let that bring him down. He was very open about himself. Breck, Colin’s twin sister, felt a little flat. She needed to play more of a part in the book or more of a personality or something. Adora was crazy and a touch creepy, but very interesting. I would like to know how she came to be the way she was.

The book was dark, but didn’t feel at all depressing like a lot of dark books feel. It was definitely was a very intense and suspenseful book with a good bit of action. The romance was very prevalent too, at least in the case of feelings and emotions. Kissing only happened two or three times. There is quite a bit of sadness at the end, but then the ending gives you an overall feeling of shock.

I’d recommend this to people who love fantasy and powers. This is probably best for a older teenager and up, just because of the romance and the sporadic violence.

You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nym is a female Elemental, she shouldn't even exist, Elementals are normally born male and if found they are sentenced to death. Nym has spent her life as a slave hiding who she is after the loss of her parents when she was five. Nym thought that her curse of being able to control the elements was the cause of not only her parents deaths but many others over the years.

Sold at an auction to someone that wants to turn Nym into a weapon to help save her land of Faelen from an oncoming war she is turned over to a trainer to learn to control her powers. Nym finds herself thrown into a world of politics and secrets. She finds herself not sure if she wants to be turned into a weapon to save a land that has taken all of her rights and she knows she doesn't want to be responsible for killing anyone else.

I've had this series on my TBR for quite a while but just hadn't gotten around to reading it. The cover alone just screams read me read me, such beautiful artwork that was just trying to pull me in. I'm not quite sure why it took so long to get to but when I saw the series on Netgalley I knew I just had to pick it up and wasn't disappointed in the least.

Packed full of excitement and adventure with wonderful world building this was an intriguing read. Nym thinks of herself as a monster due to her abilities and had no idea that she would even be able to control them and use her powers for good. I loved watching her grow into her own during this story and see that maybe she wasn't the monster she always thought she had been.

At the end of this I was just left with one of those wow, really, moments that you sometimes get with a series. A cliffhanger ending that has left me with a what in the world is going to happen next with my fingers crossed it will only get better from here.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....

[k.m.s. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me forever to figure out how to rate this :P I'd say 3.5 stars. I loved the theme, but I didn't like how it was shown + some "other" scenes, and the ending kinda ripped my heart apart because I would have loved for Nym to find healing. SO, I'll have a better, more coherent review here soon XD

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 1 out of 5]

The review that stopped me from reading this book:
{Warning, graphic quotes from this book}
REVIEW HERE!

[Keertana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 Stars

The more I ruminate over Storm Siren the less I find to enjoy about it. I found Weber's debut to be remarkable when I originally read it, mainly because I had read the novel in a single sitting and the adrenaline rush that comes from finishing an action-packed book is difficult to beat. It makes it hard to think and upon finishing Storm Siren I was concerned for the future of the series but, still, very much in love with the characters and journey I'd found inside. Now, having put a considerable amount of time and distance between myself and Storm Siren I am able to discern that this novel, while an excellent debut, is by no means flawless. What's more, the narrative lags seem more and more evident upon reflection and I find myself in the tenuous situation of not quite knowing whether or not I'll be picking up the sequel after all.

Storm Siren begins with a clap of thunder as Nym, an Elemental, is forcibly sold at an auction and, upon witnessing the cruelty of a master towards his young slave, retaliates in anger. In Nym's world Elementals are killed at birth and, what's more, are born male. Thus, Nym is an anomaly; she shouldn't exist. With a well of power she is unable to control, however, Nym is dangerous and has accidentally murdered dozens over the course of her short life span. Wracked with guilt and loathsome of her own gifts, Nym finds herself bought by Adora, a noblewoman and court adviser who promises to train Nym. Under Adora's command Nym finds Eogan, the handsome trainer who is immune to Nym's powers and claims to be able to help her harness it.

Nym's journey is a compelling one, particularly as her entire childhood has been spent being bought and sold from one owner to another. With her white hair Nym cannot escape the features which mark her as Elemental and nor can she escape her gift. Storm Siren stands out in large part due to the gradual arc Nym experiences. When she is first bought by Adora Nym resists training with Eogan. Not only does she lack faith in his promises but she doesn't believe in herself either. Thus, to watch her grow with every experience, get up from every set-back, and move forward from a past that has been haunting her is admirable.

Yet, as Nym conquerors her inner demons and finally finds self-confidence, the world around her grows weaker and weaker. Nym, having lived the life of a slave, has traveled extensively throughout the land of Faelen. Not only does she understand the downtrodden lifestyle of these citizens better than she comprehends the opulence of Adora's world but her bond to her country could have easily been felt. Unfortunately, it wasn't. Weber swiftly shifts the focus of the novel from Nym's past as a slave to her present as an Elemental. I found this to be a necessary direction for the novel as a whole but, as far as world-building went, Storm Siren lacks a comfortable balance. Weber provides readers with just enough information to understand the immediate situation on hand. Whether it be the politics, society, or class structure of this realm, Weber is careful to always impart the bare minimum. Thus, while I could follow the story line perfectly, I felt cheated of truly immersing myself in an original and intriguing universe. Towards the end of Storm Siren the political machinations at hand, which have been building throughout the narrative, truly reach a climax and, in those instances, a deeper understanding of the prior bonds, political struggles, and unspoken relationships between the characters would have been invaluable.

Nevertheless, the world-building aside, I didn't find much else to fault with Storm Siren. Granted, Adora's characterization veered on cartoonish, at times, for she is cast as a villain and desperately wants Eogan for herself, threatening Nym if she gets too close to him. Moreover, the conclusion of Storm Siren leaves much to be desired, forcing readers to remain hanging on a cliffhanger of deadly proportions shortly after a massacre that upends the former direction of the plot. I cannot bring myself to be satisfied with a novel that leaves too much up to chance, to fate, to imagination. I needed more concrete answers, particularly after reading an entire narrative composed of character growth and politics and war. Truly, I suspect this is a series to binge-read, back-to-back, or simply drive yourself crazy with curiosity.

For all those qualms, I still enjoyed Storm Siren immensely. Eogan, the mysterious trainer whose job it is to help Nym, is a bundle of surprises and the steady romantic arc built between him and Nym is both tantalizing and heart-breaking. What I love best about Nym and Eogan's relationship is the fact that it is multi-faceted, full of hard truths and unexpected hurdles, but it still remains wonderfully rewarding. Their companionship gives and takes strength in equal measure, which I appreciated, and I only wish for an even greater dose of swoon. In addition to Nym's romance with Eogan, however, another crucial relationship at the heart of Storm Siren is the friendship shared between Nym and Colin. Much like Rossi's Under the Never Sky, there is no love triangle caused by the presence of two men in Nym's life. Instead, while Eogan's support and faith gives Nym the strength to find her self-confidence, Colin's friendship and laughter allows her to embrace life once more and emerge from the shell she once was. Both these bonds are fierce, just as is the respect between Eogan and Colin as Colin, too, is Eogan's student. Together, the three of them are an unstoppable force to be reckoned with and their relationships bring them only closer, not farther.

There is much to love and cherish within the pages of Storm Siren but for fantasy lovers for whom world-building is a deal-breaker, I'd recommend waiting on this one. Its cliffhanger is nasty, the ending is remarkably uncertain, and though Storm Siren begins with such a promising tale I remain in the dark as to where this story is headed next. Sure, I'm curious, but I'm also wary. Storm Siren is a strong YA Fantasy debut but, coming off of the Grisha trilogy, Weber leaves more to be desired. Quite a bit more.