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Siren
Siren is an epic high fantasy saga set in Ardaion, a realm whose wellspring of power is tied to its unbroken line of predatory Siren Queens.
Serena— rejected by her mother the High Queen and being raised by her grandfather, a legendary general— straddles two politics and the raw power of her siren bloodline. When an enemy threatens invasion, Serena is ordered to cross the sea, seize the contested island of Skaera, and raise a new court in the shadow of war.
She must confront rival courts, fractured loyalties, and the bonds of love.
Kingdoms will clash, myths will wake, and one siren princess comes of age.
Comps: Game of Thrones meets ACOTAR, Stormlight Archives meets From Blood and Ash, Priory of the Orange Tree meets The Poppy War
Keywords: Sirens, Battle Mages, worldbuilding, epic fantasy, empire fantasy, morally grey, wings, fangs, coming of age, friends to lovers, dark fantasy, found family, trauma, matriarchy, subverted tropes
Themes: legacy and duty, coming of age, love and loss, power dynamics, rulership, personal agency, morality, utilitarianism vs. deontology, sisterhood, matriarchy
Serena— rejected by her mother the High Queen and being raised by her grandfather, a legendary general— straddles two politics and the raw power of her siren bloodline. When an enemy threatens invasion, Serena is ordered to cross the sea, seize the contested island of Skaera, and raise a new court in the shadow of war.
She must confront rival courts, fractured loyalties, and the bonds of love.
Kingdoms will clash, myths will wake, and one siren princess comes of age.
Comps: Game of Thrones meets ACOTAR, Stormlight Archives meets From Blood and Ash, Priory of the Orange Tree meets The Poppy War
Keywords: Sirens, Battle Mages, worldbuilding, epic fantasy, empire fantasy, morally grey, wings, fangs, coming of age, friends to lovers, dark fantasy, found family, trauma, matriarchy, subverted tropes
Themes: legacy and duty, coming of age, love and loss, power dynamics, rulership, personal agency, morality, utilitarianism vs. deontology, sisterhood, matriarchy
- GenresFantasy
393 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2025
14 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 7, 2025
I was honored to be a beta reader for this book. It was a thrilling ride. Intense worldbuilding but it didn’t bog down the flow of the story at all. I could see the lands so vividly in my mind while reading. Serena’s story was powerful but also heartbreaking because she has love but not from all that should have loved her. She’s smart, thoughtful, and capable yet also a weapon used by others. I would definitely read more in this world.
I think I could live in The Tides ☺️
I think I could live in The Tides ☺️
July 28, 2025
Fascinating story that draws you in right at the beginning. The author builds the world so beautifully that you can almost "feel" the cold and "smell" the sea. As each character grows, so will you and your need to know what happens next!
November 12, 2025
So I love the world building and I love how you explain why.The animosity is there between the mother and the daughter and I love how it is very well.Detailed of how things are done in their social structure.And their kingdoms, that is very key.I like that.I like the development of the different characters and how they are treated and how they are trained, which is really great, because you get that she's just a young kid trying to figure things out.And he's just a young boy trying to figure things out, and things happen.That were beyond their control.I mean, they were infants just barely born when the bad guy decided to be bad. But this is definitely an epic journey. I know you said that there was a cliffhanger on this one, and this is a trilogy, but that's not entirely a cliffhanger. I call that a to be continued in next book. The way that you did that one because they're just getting ready to go. And this is their Goodbye. That's not a cliffhanger, really now. If it was in the middle of her swinging or bringing down the lightning, then yes, that would be cliffhanger. This is more of a tub continued, and I really enjoyed it. That I don't mind it too much.When trilogies have to be continued at the end of the first and the second book.Because I know the third book is gonna tie it up in a neat little bow and i'm waiting.I am waiting and need the rest of these books in audio.This is a need, not a want.
August 19, 2025
A deep and complex world that births danger, magic, and allure, Siren is a 4.5/5.
The cover perfectly encapsulates the feelings of the story. Dark. Mysterious. Alluring. Perfect for a fantasy story.
The world of Siren is jammed packed with information. While it can be daunting at first, I noticed that it laid the perfect foundation to an enjoyable reading experience. This makes for re-reads where the experience will be unique each time as you recall different aspects of the world you didn’t realize upon first read. The second half of the story, the action ramped up and I was transported onto the conflicts and the emotions the characters were feeling.
Speaking of characters, this was a highlight. Serena is a complex lead whose pain, and sense of duty I felt. With her, I could see the themes of innocence, resilience, and a realistic response to the weight of her role in the story. The male leads left me bouncing back and forth. Each have their own experiences and motives. Under Isla’s writing, these characters made me go from angst to laughter and then back to uneasiness (In a good way!). I will be interested to see how the potential romance develops in book 2.
With light-hearted moments in the midst of an oncoming war, this epic fantasy story will have you feeling a wide range of emotion as you diver deeper into its pages much like a siren’s call.
The cover perfectly encapsulates the feelings of the story. Dark. Mysterious. Alluring. Perfect for a fantasy story.
The world of Siren is jammed packed with information. While it can be daunting at first, I noticed that it laid the perfect foundation to an enjoyable reading experience. This makes for re-reads where the experience will be unique each time as you recall different aspects of the world you didn’t realize upon first read. The second half of the story, the action ramped up and I was transported onto the conflicts and the emotions the characters were feeling.
Speaking of characters, this was a highlight. Serena is a complex lead whose pain, and sense of duty I felt. With her, I could see the themes of innocence, resilience, and a realistic response to the weight of her role in the story. The male leads left me bouncing back and forth. Each have their own experiences and motives. Under Isla’s writing, these characters made me go from angst to laughter and then back to uneasiness (In a good way!). I will be interested to see how the potential romance develops in book 2.
With light-hearted moments in the midst of an oncoming war, this epic fantasy story will have you feeling a wide range of emotion as you diver deeper into its pages much like a siren’s call.
September 2, 2025
This book follows the story of Serena, the newest siren heir. She gets rejected by her mother at birth and is instead raised by her grandfather.
The synopsis of the book is that she must seize control of an island to raise a new court, but actually, this book is about Serena's life as she grows up. It follows her from the moment of her birth up to the moment she is given the order to invade the island.
There is a lot of world building in this book, as would be expected from a high fantasy. We get to explore the world's history, how it was formed, and how it has become what it is now.
I really enjoyed Serena as our main character. She is a very likable character who goes through many struggles throughout the book. Her character development was fantastic!
Overall, an interesting start to the trilogy and I will definitely be continuing.
The synopsis of the book is that she must seize control of an island to raise a new court, but actually, this book is about Serena's life as she grows up. It follows her from the moment of her birth up to the moment she is given the order to invade the island.
There is a lot of world building in this book, as would be expected from a high fantasy. We get to explore the world's history, how it was formed, and how it has become what it is now.
I really enjoyed Serena as our main character. She is a very likable character who goes through many struggles throughout the book. Her character development was fantastic!
Overall, an interesting start to the trilogy and I will definitely be continuing.
July 19, 2025
This story sank its claws into me from page one—full of heartbreak, power, and the kind of heroine you root for even when she breaks the rules. If you love dark magic, and messy beautiful growth, this one’s unforgettable. Can’t wait for book 2!
September 4, 2025
Wow!!! I was not prepared for the adventure Siren took me on. Serena overcomes everything her "mother" throws at her. This strong FMC continuously rises from the ash. If you think you're prepared for the plot, you're not! Isla had me feeling the emotions of her characters, devoted, devistation, and love. Each plot twist had me covering my mouth, holding back the curse words late into the wee hours.
Does it stop at just the FMC? Absolutely not. Isla made each MMC strong, determined, and masculine. I can't talk about these male characters without giving anything away. Pick up, Siren! you won't regret it!
Does it stop at just the FMC? Absolutely not. Isla made each MMC strong, determined, and masculine. I can't talk about these male characters without giving anything away. Pick up, Siren! you won't regret it!
December 21, 2025
Tldr: an excellent read if you enjoy epic fantasy, a perfectly paced slow build-up of the lore and world, and plot thickening to entice you into book two!
The book centers mostly around a siren princess of the Moon Court, Serena, and also her friend Graye, who were illegally soul-bonded together as infants. The novel goes from Serena's birth, until she is in her early twenties.
There is plenty of friendship, love and heartbreak in the novel, silly moments and serious, intense battle scenes and moments of reprieve - Isla does an impeccable job at truly showing the life of two children, learning, growing and maturing into young adults. We learn about the world as they do while they grow, life getting much more complex as they reach adulthood and receive new responsibilities befitting a Princess next in line to rule, and a Lord of one of the courts of Ardaion. The major characters are all detailed, fleshed out and well written, and even the side characters all have their own distinct personalities that each bring something special to the narrative. It made me laugh, made me cry, it made me stay up way too late reading just to find out what happens next, and it made me message Isla to fake yell at her for being mean to the characters and my feelings, haha. It is honestly an absolutely astounding debut novel.
There are soooo many tasty little lines that made my brain very happy between the prose and dialogue throughout the novel. I've been recommending it to all my book friends, because I need someone to yell about this book with other than just the author, Isla (who is a lovely human being on top of being an amazing writer, and creative force to be reckoned with - she designed the cover, and the merch she has herself!).
I can't wait to get my hands on book two!
The book centers mostly around a siren princess of the Moon Court, Serena, and also her friend Graye, who were illegally soul-bonded together as infants. The novel goes from Serena's birth, until she is in her early twenties.
There is plenty of friendship, love and heartbreak in the novel, silly moments and serious, intense battle scenes and moments of reprieve - Isla does an impeccable job at truly showing the life of two children, learning, growing and maturing into young adults. We learn about the world as they do while they grow, life getting much more complex as they reach adulthood and receive new responsibilities befitting a Princess next in line to rule, and a Lord of one of the courts of Ardaion. The major characters are all detailed, fleshed out and well written, and even the side characters all have their own distinct personalities that each bring something special to the narrative. It made me laugh, made me cry, it made me stay up way too late reading just to find out what happens next, and it made me message Isla to fake yell at her for being mean to the characters and my feelings, haha. It is honestly an absolutely astounding debut novel.
There are soooo many tasty little lines that made my brain very happy between the prose and dialogue throughout the novel. I've been recommending it to all my book friends, because I need someone to yell about this book with other than just the author, Isla (who is a lovely human being on top of being an amazing writer, and creative force to be reckoned with - she designed the cover, and the merch she has herself!).
I can't wait to get my hands on book two!
November 5, 2025
Siren is a mixed bag. To begin, the author is an amazing person. She is very supportive, helpful, and engaging to speak to. However, I need to rate this book as a story, and not as a reflection of her. It is an epic fantasy and lives up to the title. It does some things well: big magic, big characters, big lore, and a big world (although the teleportation everywhere makes the world feel rather small, ironically). It's got all of the aspects of a strong FMC with a harem of MMCs, some morally gray conflicts, big bloody battles, an interesting villain, and even a hint of some spice. As I said, a trademark epic fantasy.
However, this is where my main issue arises: Just because something is epic fantasy, it doesn't mean it needs to be wordy fantasy. There are so many repetitive descriptions of characters, places, events, and plot points, and it was incredibly distracting for me to read. By the end, I found myself skimming over much of the filler just to get to the next plot point. In some of the earlier chapters, the characters are given full descriptions multiple times just paragraphs apart (I know she has long black hair, please stop telling me)! The length and repetition slow down what otherwise would be a tight and fantastical read, but as it is, the book should have been 50k words shorter.
I have other issues, but I feel that those are more related to personal preference, so I won't spend the time to divulge them here.
However, if you are a fan of fae and epic fantasy, enjoy a FMC-driven story, enjoy magic and worldy-lore, appendices at the end of your book, can push past repetitive descriptions and information, and don't mind overly-wordy stories, then this book is for you.
However, this is where my main issue arises: Just because something is epic fantasy, it doesn't mean it needs to be wordy fantasy. There are so many repetitive descriptions of characters, places, events, and plot points, and it was incredibly distracting for me to read. By the end, I found myself skimming over much of the filler just to get to the next plot point. In some of the earlier chapters, the characters are given full descriptions multiple times just paragraphs apart (I know she has long black hair, please stop telling me)! The length and repetition slow down what otherwise would be a tight and fantastical read, but as it is, the book should have been 50k words shorter.
I have other issues, but I feel that those are more related to personal preference, so I won't spend the time to divulge them here.
However, if you are a fan of fae and epic fantasy, enjoy a FMC-driven story, enjoy magic and worldy-lore, appendices at the end of your book, can push past repetitive descriptions and information, and don't mind overly-wordy stories, then this book is for you.
October 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5 stars
A haunting, emotional, and beautifully immersive debut!
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Siren, and it was an absolute thrill from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and layered—intense without ever overwhelming—and I could see every corner of Ardaion come to life through Isla’s stunning prose. Serena’s story is both powerful and heartbreaking: a siren princess bound by duty, love, and a destiny she never asked for. She’s intelligent, fierce, and vulnerable in all the best ways.
The friendship between Serena and Graye is the emotional heart of the novel, and watching them grow from innocent children to powerful young adults felt so natural and deeply human. Isla does an incredible job balancing sweeping battles, tender moments, and sharp political intrigue. Every character—major or minor—has depth and purpose, and there’s always something new to discover in each reread.
By the second half, I was fully lost in the tide of emotion, action, and heartbreak. The prose is chef’s kiss, the dialogue sharp and satisfying, and the cover perfectly captures the story’s dark, alluring tone.
A must-read for fans of epic, character-driven fantasy with deep lore, emotional storytelling, and a siren’s whisper of danger. I can’t wait for book two!
A haunting, emotional, and beautifully immersive debut!
I was lucky enough to be a beta reader for Siren, and it was an absolute thrill from start to finish. The worldbuilding is rich and layered—intense without ever overwhelming—and I could see every corner of Ardaion come to life through Isla’s stunning prose. Serena’s story is both powerful and heartbreaking: a siren princess bound by duty, love, and a destiny she never asked for. She’s intelligent, fierce, and vulnerable in all the best ways.
The friendship between Serena and Graye is the emotional heart of the novel, and watching them grow from innocent children to powerful young adults felt so natural and deeply human. Isla does an incredible job balancing sweeping battles, tender moments, and sharp political intrigue. Every character—major or minor—has depth and purpose, and there’s always something new to discover in each reread.
By the second half, I was fully lost in the tide of emotion, action, and heartbreak. The prose is chef’s kiss, the dialogue sharp and satisfying, and the cover perfectly captures the story’s dark, alluring tone.
A must-read for fans of epic, character-driven fantasy with deep lore, emotional storytelling, and a siren’s whisper of danger. I can’t wait for book two!
November 5, 2025
A haunting, beautifully written fantasy that feels both fresh and timeless.
Siren hooked me from the start. Isla Melysin has created a rich and immersive story where every detail makes you feel as if you’re really there, and the legends give the sense of an ancient world. There’s a depth and darkness to this book that lingers after the final page and has you reaching for book two.
The characters are wonderfully developed and strikingly real. Serena is powerful and vulnerable and I loved watching her grow into her role. Greye is likeable and complex enough that any potential triangles will be deep and layered, rather than a simple obstacle or distraction. And Mab - a constant antagonistic force to be reckoned with, whose wounds we know and understand, and you can’t help but love to hate her. Every relationship in this book carries emotional texture and every choice feels earned.
The beginning of this book gave me Robin Hobb vibes (though the story is completely different). Isla Melysin’s writing balances beauty and tension, and the pacing is great. Siren feels like a new story told with the gravity of an ancient myth, and I love it. Highly recommend for anyone who loves character-driven fantasy with a touch of shadow.
Siren hooked me from the start. Isla Melysin has created a rich and immersive story where every detail makes you feel as if you’re really there, and the legends give the sense of an ancient world. There’s a depth and darkness to this book that lingers after the final page and has you reaching for book two.
The characters are wonderfully developed and strikingly real. Serena is powerful and vulnerable and I loved watching her grow into her role. Greye is likeable and complex enough that any potential triangles will be deep and layered, rather than a simple obstacle or distraction. And Mab - a constant antagonistic force to be reckoned with, whose wounds we know and understand, and you can’t help but love to hate her. Every relationship in this book carries emotional texture and every choice feels earned.
The beginning of this book gave me Robin Hobb vibes (though the story is completely different). Isla Melysin’s writing balances beauty and tension, and the pacing is great. Siren feels like a new story told with the gravity of an ancient myth, and I love it. Highly recommend for anyone who loves character-driven fantasy with a touch of shadow.
November 2, 2025
SIREN is a coming-of-rage epic fantasy that kept me reading late into the night. From page one, there's a sense of an ancient, predatory darkness, and those themes delivered time and time again.
The characters in this story are well-developed, each bringing so much value to the pages that even the villains had me saying "oh sh*t!" out loud.
SIREN builds up tension in a unique way, told through time-jumped chapters following the FMC's adolescence, and I really enjoyed that for the beginning! That style of storytelling tells us what we need to know and gets us to where we need to go without feeling bogged down.
Though it's told in third-person POV, there's a sense of intimacy with the writing style. A type of immersion that's easy to escape into as we follow the characters. You feel their failures with them, their strengths, and weaknesses. Their fears, desires, and triumphs. The world-building is vibrant, and the politics in the realm are brutally satisfying.
4.5 stars rounded up!
The characters in this story are well-developed, each bringing so much value to the pages that even the villains had me saying "oh sh*t!" out loud.
SIREN builds up tension in a unique way, told through time-jumped chapters following the FMC's adolescence, and I really enjoyed that for the beginning! That style of storytelling tells us what we need to know and gets us to where we need to go without feeling bogged down.
Though it's told in third-person POV, there's a sense of intimacy with the writing style. A type of immersion that's easy to escape into as we follow the characters. You feel their failures with them, their strengths, and weaknesses. Their fears, desires, and triumphs. The world-building is vibrant, and the politics in the realm are brutally satisfying.
4.5 stars rounded up!
July 7, 2025
With so many books on Sirens, why should you read this one? Good question. Because, it is a smart, well written story about the fae BEFORE they became the modern fae we know today. It follows the history evolution of Siren queens and the Heir. The current Heir is Serena, a strong female lead that goes through hell and survives. The story follows her through love found and lost. Bonds that feel unbreakable, yet strain to allow growth.The worldbuilding has vivid imagery. The map helps lay out this new world. I highly recommend this book!
January 1, 2026
This is an excellent beginning to an epic trilogy. The first half of this book takes you through a detailed world set up, allowing the reader time to build a clear picture of location, relationships, and characters. The second half offers drama, grief, and intrigue that keeps you hooked in. The development of the main character into a strong, powerful woman felt natural and smooth.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book and am excited to start book two.
Overall I truly enjoyed this book and am excited to start book two.
January 8, 2026
THIS BOOK!!! Oh my goodness this book!
From the very first chapter I was hooked.
The world building, the characters, the emotion behind every single aspect!
This epic fantasy…. Is just that epic!
It had me saying “just one more chapter” till 3am I could not put it down!
From the very first chapter I was hooked.
The world building, the characters, the emotion behind every single aspect!
This epic fantasy…. Is just that epic!
It had me saying “just one more chapter” till 3am I could not put it down!
October 20, 2025
When I tell you that this book absolutely stole my heart I mean it! Between the heartbreak and the amazing bonds I just can’t get enough!! Also be prepared to cry 😭 Graye and Serena are the sweetest of friends from the day they are born! Reading their story and them growing up is just amazing! 🤩
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews