Siren Says

by Jennifer Herrera

“Mysterious, beautiful, and enchanting in the true and sinister sense of the word. You have been warned!” —Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Outlander

A lush, spellbinding tale about a tenacious young woman who must harness her family’s dangerous magic to put a stop to the sacrifices they’ve been making for more than a century

Twenty-five-year-old Raven Wynn knows that the ancient plant magic running through her veins brings nothing but destruction. It doomed her Welsh ancestors. It killed her mother. It’s the reason she’s now bound by a painful curse—one that will destroy her if she can’t find a way to break its hold.

When her estranged Aunt Delilah bursts into her life promising a cure, Raven seizes the chance. However, her freedom comes at a steep price: Once her magic is fully unleashed, she is more powerful—and more dangerous—than anyone thought possible.

Desperate to tame powers she never wanted, Raven makes a pact with Delilah: In exchange for learning to control her magic, Raven will capture one of the spirits that roam Delilah’s hometown on May’s Eve so that it may grant Delilah’s secret wish. With the help of an enigmatic new friend, Cherry, as well as an infuriatingly handsome stoneworker, Idris, Raven learns that her task is even more perilous than she imagined—one false move and the spirits could trap her soul—forever.

A sumptuous escape into a world of Celtic spirits and botanical magic, Siren Says is a bewitching story of the unbreakable bonds between women, the interplay between goodness and power, and the capacity of love to mend our very souls.

Genres: Fantasy, Witches, Fiction, Adult, Science Fiction Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 18, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Herrera is a literary agent, who is fascinated by both the stories we tell ourselves to live and the lies we cling to that sabotage our chances at a good life. She was born and raised in northwest Ohio and now resides in Philadelphia with her husband, kids, and kittens.

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

Expanding my sci-fi/fantasy collection this summer.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Putnam Publisher and the author, Jennifer Herrera for the early eARC!

Publication date: August 18, 2026

[Thea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, and I liked the initial setup of the story, but I found the character development confusing and the worldbuilding incomplete. Three main points -
1 - It seemed like the story was supposed to be one of women's empowerment, but Violet's character didn't sell this for me. She betrays her sister, marries a man who turns out to be an abuser and subjects her niece to years of pain all because of some vague visions that demand it must be this way. If she was as clever as she is described, why was her best solution to put her family in such compromising positions? How does this honor her power? This didn't make sense to me and I think the "it had to be this way" explanation at the end of the book felt like a cop out. On the same topic of empowerment, our FMC relies heavily on the MMC to understand her situation and has to be saved by him at the end. It was very mixed messaging.
2 - The magic system was vaguely described through interactions between Raven, Delilah and Idris, but by the end it still wasn't clear to me why Raven's bloodline was so powerful or exactly how it all worked. Cherry's character is also revealed to have strong powers but it's never really established how the work or how she can use them to manipulate the world, which is key to the other magics we see.
3- Finally, sirens are described in different ways in different cultures but none that I am aware of fit with the way the author described the women in this story. This was a disappointment to me because I went in with certain expectations that were not met. Admittedly, I am not an expert in mythology, but the author dedicated significant time to her other Celtic inspirations so this point felt worth mentioning.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for access to an eARC so I could leave this review.

[Cleverly Chloé]

I requested this on Netgalley. Fingers crossed!

[Meshari.m · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sirenn Says” is an engaging fantasy tale about Raven, who must use her family’s dangerous magic to end the sacrifices they have been making for generations. I loved that it contains elements such as plant magic, mythical beings, and Celtic myth influence. The romance takes an important role in the plot; personally, I enjoyed it, it was the cherry on top. The only issue is that I found the magic system somehow confusing, especially at the end; maybe it could’ve been explained better.

[JensBookishWays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siren Says was different than any other witchy book I’ve read! This book had beautiful imagery, tons of plant facts, and was much darker than I thought it would be.

Thank you to the Author for the gifted Physical ARC to read and review.

Raven, the FMC, knows magic is dangerous and the cause of pain in her life. She loses her mother at a young age and lives with her abusive step father. After living with pain for 13 years, Raven meets her Aunt Delilah, who promises a solution to her problems. Raven learns about her magic and the task she must complete to help Delilah. I felt Delilah, Idris, Cherry, Ash, and Striker were underdeveloped as characters.

The plot was medium paced with some slow parts throughout. The story read like a dark fairytale with twists I didn’t see coming. This was then interspersed with descriptive plant discussions.

I struggled with the world building. Raven and her family are Sirens, but I am not really clear on what a Siren truly can be and all the powers they have - only plants and birds? I don’t know how other witches and lower Magics associate with/know each other. I don’t know if the public is aware of magic or not. Several sections of the book promoted women strength and solidarity, and that men try to control powerful women. But Raven is saved more than once by a man and her magic seems most beautiful during coitus with a man. This all seems contradictory to the messaging in the story.

I liked the Celtic mythology. The creatures were creepy! I liked the technical aspect of the plant extractions. I liked the imagery in the story. The keening weeping willows were my favorite. The music magic was beautifully described.

This book has spice, 🌶️🌶️. This author writes great tension and attraction.

Overall, this book was original and read like a dark fairytale. I enjoyed the read but needed more character development and world building.

[Ilonka Gangadin (masbookslessgluten) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven has spent her life suffering from a curse her witch mother placed on her deathbed, binding her magic and leaving her in constant pain. With a volatile stepfather and a stepbrother she’d do anything to protect, she’s desperate for a cure.

When she reconnects with her mysterious aunt, she’s offered a chance to finally break free, but only if she agrees to do her aunt’s bidding. As Raven sets off on her quest, long-hidden truths begin to surface, missing pieces fall into place, and she discovers her mate along the way.

A dark, witchy, and mysterious read that kept me hooked and left me wanting more!

[Rachel Vachon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy of this lovely book!

In this dreamy, Celtic-inspired fantasy, twenty-five-year-old Raven views her ancestral plant magic as a curse and nothing but destruction. It is the same volatile power that claimed her mother’s life and left Raven tethered to a literal, agonizing wound that will claim her life if she can’t find a way to cure it. When her estranged Aunt Delilah appears offering a cure, Raven decides to take the chance for freedom. However, breaking the bind on her curse unleashes a magic power far more explosive and dangerous than she ever imagined.

Desperate to tame the powerful magic she never wanted, she must train with Delilah, who will only teach her after the make a pact. Delilah will help her control her magic if in 2 months time, Raven can capture a spirit to grant Delilah’s secret wish. Aided by her new friend Cherry and the charming yet
infuriating handsome stoneworker Idris, Raven embarks on a journey that uncovers dark family secrets and dangerous that might just steal her soul. Can Raven free herself of her magic and right the wrongs of her ancestors?

I just LOVED this one!!! For me this was the perfect mix of fantasy with just a hint of romance. I haven’t been so enthralled in a box like this in a while - where I turn into a gremlin in bed saying “one more chapter” to my husband as I continue to read until 2am just to finish the story. The pacing was fantastic.

The mix of welsh folklore and botonical science was absolutely beautifully written. I really enjoy when fantastical stories pull in some realism to ground the story.

The romance and “spice” was very tasteful and purposeful to the story. I’ve been a bit turned off by romantasy lately, as some of the romance delves into too much heavy smut for my tastes. This book was just the right level for me!

I can really foresee this one being the fantasy book of the summer!

[Wessy Acrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC from Putnam Publishing for Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera

I loveddddddd this one!! This being a magical enemies to lovers/coming of age/witch book about plant magic was honestly a refreshing take in a genre that can get very overplayed and repetitive.

The character development of Robin and Idris was, in itself, a page turner and I loved how Idris’ magic was based solely on crystals/gems.

Welsh mythology is not something I thought I’d catch myself wanting to learn more about but this read definitely opened a few rabbit holes for me to fall into during my free time.

I could see this branching into more books but honestly, it also had an ending that left me satisfied, which I don’t find happens that often.

[Sarah Hernandez]

Thank you Netgalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of Siren Says in exchange for my honest review.

I am sad to say I DNF’d this one very early on, at 9%. I did not feel a pull to our main character or her story. She lacks depth or any interesting quirks or personality traits. The setting was unimpressionable. The supporting characters also did not hold my interest. I did not really feel interested in learning more about her or the magic she possesses or her “wound”. Overall I was just very uninterested as a whole. I read to 9% then put it down for weeks and the only reason I have ever thought about it was my obligation to Netgalley. I hope there are people out there who enjoy this but this just did not do it for me.

[Samantha Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy of this book.

This book has promise, but there were many plot holes and a few issues with the characterization. I also noticed that a few times a character would be forgotten about mid scene or mid storyline which was odd, and I wish the magic system would have been explored more.

However, I know it isn’t easy to create a new fantasy world and even harder to do one based off of Welsh. For that and the positive parts of this book, I think this is a solid debut.

[annie]

DNF @ 52%. For one thing, the description is pretty misleading; it vaguely insinuates that there’s a romance arc, but this is a romantasy through and through, and a poorly written one at that. The romance initially starts out as something kind of resembling a rivals-to-lovers premise if you squint, but there’s no valid reason why they would resent each other, so it’s mostly dropped after awhile. The chemistry between the two characters is not convincing at all, which is a shame considering their relationship takes up most of the story.

The biggest issue for me was the extremely juvenile writing style and characterization; if I had read the first few chapters without knowing how old the main character was, I would’ve guessed this to be a coming-of-age YA novel. With a few edits, I honestly think that would’ve served the story a lot better, but the disconnect between the teenaged tone and mid-twenty something characters was too jarring for me to get through.

I was looking forward to a lush fantasy with botanical magic at the center, not a CW teen drama with a few plant facts mixed in.

[Emily Hauser · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF because it was more Romantacy than I expected, and I really am not a fan of that genre. Personal preference but I could see fantasy and romance fans enjoying

[grey ☽]

ARC review to come

[Adrienne]

DNF at 45%
Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for providing me with this eARC. I thought the themes presented in the description of the book were really interesting. I was especially excited to see how Celtic mythology came into play, as I have only read one other series that touches on this. The first 25% of the book was great. I thought the setup was done really well and was very intriguing. Once it began to get into the thick of the plot, though, things started to not make sense. There was very little description of the magic system. I got nearly halfway through the book, and I barely have a grasp on who can practice what and what kinds of magic there are. Raven, our FMC, seems to know everything and nothing about the magic she possesses, which can be a little confusing. Finally, I thought that Raven's complete infatuation with Idris came on very quickly and became overwhelming almost immediately. At the part I stopped at, Raven couldn't go two pages without mentioning him in some capacity. This started to get annoying pretty fast, and unfortunately, it's the main reason I had to put down this book.

[Lindsay West · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This was a new type of read for me. I love fantasy books but have never read books solely about witches and with plant magic at that. I will never look at plants the same again lol. I loved the creativity of the magic in this book: plant magic, song magic, stonework, spirit magic. It was so creative.

Raven is a very likable female main character and Isdris was a lovable main male character. There really wasn’t a character I didn’t like which is rare for me. The emotional journey that Raven went on while discovering herself and learning to embrace who she is is something many of us can relate to. I think the author did a wonderful job with having the situation be relatable even though it involved magic. The strength of the women in this book constantly reminded me of the strength of the women in Practical Magic. I really loved this read and devoured it quickly.

[Natalie Johanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons and Netgalley for the ARC.

I have so many thoughts about this book. If I was rating just the plot and story, it would be 4.5 stars, but the writing, unfortunately brought it down for me. 2.5 rounded up to 3.

First off, the good:
the story was an interesting one and I liked the use of plants in the magical system. I enjoyed the interweaving of Celtic myths (at least I think it's real Celtic myths). It had a fresh take I hadn't seen before.

Now for the less good:
The worldbuilding was so confusing and the magic system... I'm still trying to figure it out fully. After finishing the book, I still don't know if everyone knows about magic or just this weirdly isolated town? It's implied in the beginning and through conversations with Raven's step dad that, no, not everyone knows about magic but then that just falls by the way side and everyone seems to know about magic? The first half of the story, Raven is lamenting that her magic hasn't come in and she has no magic...yet she's walking around talking to plants like that IS COMPLETELY NORMAL and it's not explained until nearly half a book later that the plant thing is just part of who she is. So like... is that not magic? Does everyone talk to plants?

Also, I'm not entirely sure how Raven's magic works. In the beginning she was lighting stuff on fire and zapping people with electricity when she got cranky but then as she became "more powerful" she could only use magic if she had powders? I couldn't track what the rules were. I also cant figure out if Sirens are ONLY the Wynn family line or if that is a type of magic. It's used as both and it's very confusing. Contextually, it seems like Sirens is a type of magic, but then there are lines saying only Wynns can be Sirens. So... I don't know. It can be ignored for the most part if you just flow with it, but like I said, it was inconsistent.

Now for the real bad:
The writing is just... bad in a lot of parts. The Character of Striker is... just bad. And unnecessary. The stepdad added very little and was such a flat and undeveloped character for the "backstory" for Raven it really fell flat. He appears halfway through the story and suddenly there's also a dead sister that is supposed to be a big reveal, but since it's been HALF A BOOK and never been mentioned, the reveal was just confusing rather than mind blowing. His whole character was a bad cliche. Also, Raven's half brother is Ash...Striker's actual kid... and in dialogue Ash calls him Striker... not dad. It was weird enough I had to go back to see if I'd missed something. There were also several overly repeated phrases the author is clearly a fan of. If I took a shot for every "my wound", "that is to say that", "ten minutes later", "an hour later" I'd have died of alcohol poisoning by the end of it. Aside from phrases, there was also a lot of unnecessary repetition. Nearly exact lines repeated a paragraph later. Throughout the entire book. Trust your readers to remember what we read a page ago.

The editing was just, not there. People were grabbing beers when the last paragraph had them already drinking some. Sitting down when they already were. Silly things that just jerk you out of the story.

Overall, this was an interesting story with a lot of potential that failed to deliver.

[mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start off, I want to say that I sat down and started this and didn’t get up until I finished it.

I loved the start of this book! It is the reason I kept going. The search of the “why” in the beginning that our main character Raven goes through had me intrigued.

The intrigue never went away, but I found myself a little lost in the middle of the book with the plot. There is so much about the magic system and Raven’s magic itself that never really got explained or answered. Despite years and years with no magic, everything came pretty easily to her. I wish there was just more explanation on the family ties and what a siren truly means. The power that her family bloodline holds was mentioned in the climax, but there was no answer on why a siren is so different to other magic users in this story.

I wish that I also knew more about the characters !! I wanted to know more about Idris, (outside of the sudden realization and infatuation) Cherry, (I can see why she didn’t because of her meaning to the plot but STILL) and Delilah especially !!

That reveal happened so fast I had to sit there and go back before I continued just to make sure I didn’t miss any lead up to it. The peace and acceptance Raven feels about it is so chill and if that was me I would be asking QUESTIONS NONSTOP about EVERYTHING.

Idris was such a cool guy and I wish I saw more of him in the years they knew one another before the romance started. HIS MAGIC IS SO COOL ???? I feel a little robbed cause he was my favorite, but alas I can live.

I loved how Idris and Raven’s magics combined into how they fell in love was very touching though. I ATE that UP.

The little looks of lore in this book is EVERYTHING though !!!! I wanted to read more about it !! I just got a little confused when everything was tying in plot wise to it. Like i said before, i’d be asking QUESTIONS.

The end of this story is when I got some answers, but then I found myself with more questions. There was some heavy reasons and lore for her family and everything that followed in the climax felt sort of looked over and rushed. Generational trauma was solved very quickly lolol.

Overall, I really did enjoy my time with this story! Despite me getting a little washed in the murky middle, I still wanted to know what happens and was hooked ‘til the very end !

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for a review!

[RavenCantRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siren Says
2.5 ⭐️

Thanks NetGally and Putnam for the advanced copy!

I had initially requested this book because it sounded so neat and the main character and I share a name, unfortunately that was the beginning and end of the positives I found.

I do think that there is definitely an audience for this, it just wasn’t my personal cup of tea.

Raven is a young woman who comes from a family of witches, or Sirens (still not entirely sure the distinction? Is it just ravens family that are sirens? I have a lot of questions. The world building wasn’t very tight) but her mother died when she was young and her last act was to bind ravens magic. Because of this, Raven has a wound that won’t go away and causes her immense pain.

Ravens solution is to try to find a way to get rid of her magic and this is where the story lost me. I can’t stand a character that thinks that something their whole family did is suddenly bad because of a single incident when they were a child who wasn’t fully capable of comprehending the whole scope of the picture. She doesn’t try to find a mentor, she doesn’t ever try to understand her magic, she just immediately writes it off and it annoyed me. Which is why I think others might like this even though I do not.

The cliche evil step dad was also just not developed well imo and the world building wasn’t very confusing (as stated above) especially when trying to figure out if the world is aware of magic??? Ravens step brother Ash doesn’t believe in it, but her step dad seems to know it’s real? And it only got more confusing as the story went on.

The romance also didn’t hit for me, I didn’t really feel the tension even as we went farther along. Raven would have feelings one moment only to not have them the next? And idris just fell flat for me.

I thought the plant magic system was really interesting but couldn’t get fully into it because of how annoyed I was with Raven for saying she didn’t have magic and then the next sentence literally talking to plants. Like girl get it together, the pieces are right there.

I would like to see what this author does next as I thought the concept was truly unique, but this one wasn’t for me.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Some nights, after the house finally gets quiet and my brain has been running a thousand miles an hour all day, I just want a book that pulls me somewhere else for a while. *Siren Says* ended up being exactly that kind of escape for me.

The first thing that pulled me in was the atmosphere. The whole story feels lush and a little eerie, like walking through a foggy forest where you know something magical might be hiding behind the trees. Raven’s connection to this old plant magic, especially the way it’s tied to family history and loss, gave the story a weight that kept it from feeling like just another fantasy adventure.

Raven herself was easy to root for. She’s carrying a lot of grief and fear around her magic, and I liked that she wasn’t instantly brave or confident about it. She’s cautious, sometimes stubborn, and clearly tired of the chaos this power has brought into her life. As a mom who has spent plenty of time trying to hold things together when life gets messy, I understood that instinct to just survive what’s in front of you and deal with the rest later.

The relationships in the book really worked for me too. Her complicated connection with Aunt Delilah kept me guessing the whole time. I never quite knew how much to trust her. And Cherry was such a bright spot in the story. Their friendship added some warmth to a plot that could get pretty dark. Idris, the stoneworker, brought just enough romantic tension to make things interesting without completely taking over the story.

If I’m being honest, there were a couple moments where the pacing slowed down a bit for me, especially in the middle. But the world Jennifer Herrera created kept me invested enough that I didn’t mind lingering there for a while.

By the time I finished, I realized this was one of those books that feels like a little pocket of magic you step into for a few hours. The mix of Celtic folklore, family secrets, and the idea that power can both heal and destroy made it a really satisfying read. For someone like me who picks up books to get out of her own head for a bit, this one did the job beautifully.

[Allexus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Just wow.

This is the first novel I’ve read by Jennifer Herrera, and I am completely in awe. Her attention to detail in every aspect of this story shines, especially in the way she puts together themes of nature and the quiet, often overlooked significance of gems.

The story begins with our FMC, Raven, reeling from the death of her mother, Violet. While some mothers leave behind heirlooms or sentimental keepsakes, Violet leaves Raven with something far more devastating: a curse born from their family’s Siren magic. It promises her a lifetime of pain unless she can find a way to break it. What follows is an emotional journey as Raven navigates grief, identity, and her decision to turn her back on the very magic that is slowly destroying her.

In Siren Says, Herrera creates a cast of characters that are relatable and well-balanced for the story. From the strength of deep friendships to the aching vulnerability of simply wanting to be loved by someone, each relationship adds depth and emotional weight to the story.

Herrera also does a beautiful job incorporating elements of Celtic folklore, which I’ve come to realize might be one of my favorite themes. Her writing reflects a deep respect and love for nature, making the world feel immersive and alive.

Throughout the story, I experienced a wide range of emotions, madness, betrayal, grief, and heartbreak. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt such a deep connection to characters or resonated so strongly with the themes in a book.

Thank you, Jennifer, for writing this story. It’s one I’ll carry with me for a long time, maybe even forever. One day, when I have a daughter, I hope she understands the depth of a mother’s love and the lengths they will go to in order to give their children the life they deserve.

[Thio Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

The William Morris-inspired cover is gorgeous—I want to wallpaper my house with this pattern!

Raven Wynn hasn’t always known it, but she’s on a journey of discovery and sacrifice. It takes her to some dark places, and it isn’t always clear who’s a friend and who’s an enemy. With the limited knowledge she’s been given, Raven must rely on instinct to see her through.

Siren Says weaves Welsh folklore into the modern world in a fascinating tale of familial atonement. Jennifer Herrera includes a helpful guide to the Welsh vocabulary used in the story, as well as plenty of embedded descriptions, so it never becomes confusing.

A distinct cast is introduced—sweet Ash, narcissistic Striker, elusive Cherry, mysterious Delilah, and talented Idris. At one point or another, I suspected every one of them of having a nefarious agenda, which kept me guessing. That said, the pacing of the romantic thread felt slightly off to me; feelings were sometimes developed and then forgotten too quickly. Raven occasionally decided to trust, not always logically, but because it was convenient.

The story as a whole, however, maintains a consistent style: a little dark, a little moody, a little ruthless. I loved the interwoven plant lore and how Herrera doesn’t shy away from life, death, and mourning, presenting them as part of the same cycle.

If you enjoy stories with an interesting magic structure rooted in folklore, self-discovery leading to self-acceptance, and a dash of spice, Siren Says is for you!

Thank you to Putnam for the opportunity to read Siren Says. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley and am writing this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Lehman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that makes you want to apologize to every plant you’ve ever neglected.

Cursed by her own mother, marked by magic she doesn’t yet understand, and inexplicably bound to the natural world, Raven Wynn is a woman shaped by her wounds.

Then a seer tells her the quiet part out loud: “What’s horrible is to have a gift and not to use it. What’s horrible is not to be everything you’re meant for.” And just like that, the story shifts.

Herrera writes nature the way it actually works — not as backdrop, but as a mirror. “When you expose their roots, you’re exposing their most vulnerable parts.” That line does double duty: it’s botany and it’s intimacy, and Raven uses it exactly that way when she finally lets her love interest know how she feels.

The family journal entries that open each chapter are some of the best writing in the book. One in particular stopped me cold: “If the trunk of a tree is injured, the whole tree doesn’t rot and die. Instead, the tree grows around its wound, forming a cavity. It learns to live without a piece of itself. As do we all.”

When Raven finally commits to her magic — really commits — she is resolute: “There was so much beauty in the world, so many tiny miracles. If Nature was capable of adaptation, then so was I.”

Family secrets unravel across every chapter, keeping you second-guessing everyone’s intentions right up until the finale — which, for the record, is a wild ride. Every character had a role to play. Every planted seed came up.

Raven Wynn dismantles traditions set in motion decades before she was born. That’s the kind of power this book is about.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fascinating read that pulled me in with its mystery, tension, and lingering sense of confusion in the best way possible. While there is a romantic subplot woven throughout the story, the true focus is the intricate fantasy world and magical system.

The FMC, Raven, is a siren whose magic was bound by her mother before her death. As Raven grows older, the binding becomes increasingly painful, eventually leading her toward secrets surrounding her family and a mysterious aunt who pulls her into an entirely new world filled with danger and unanswered questions. I’ll avoid spoilers, but the unfolding mystery kept me invested from beginning to end.

Idris, the MMC, initially felt somewhat flat compared to Raven, especially early in the story. However, as the book progresses, his role becomes much more meaningful, and by the end, he added a deeply emotional layer to the story that I genuinely appreciated. The romance and spice between Raven and Idris felt beautifully written, intimate, and refreshingly unique.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was its original take on sirens and magic. The worldbuilding is incredibly detailed, with unique creatures, layered lore, and a thoughtfully crafted magical system. This is definitely a book best suited for devoted fantasy readers who enjoy deep worldbuilding and complex magic systems.

The plot is packed with twists, reveals, and several genuinely shocking moments that even caught me off guard as an avid fantasy reader. And the meaning behind the harp? Absolutely beautiful. That detail added so much heart to the story and ended up being one of my favorite elements of the entire book.

[Faith Lavezoli · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for something spooky and atmospheric to read this fall, look no further. Siren Says has a good mix of cozy small town vibes and more gritty real-world problems. It's perfect for those looking for short chapters!

The main character, Raven, is one of those characters whose quality of living is dramatically impacted by magic. She reminds me of Alex Stern from Ninth House and Charlie Hall from Book of Night. Her mother placed a curse on her to contain her magic, but died before she could either explain why or remove it, leaving Raven to live for years with a painful ward suppressing the magic that was building up inside her. Raven is motivated by her pain, wanting more than anything to rid herself of the magic that was harming her and that had killed her mother.

There were different magics talked about, but they weren't fully explained. As much as I would have liked to know what all of the different types of magic were, I preferred to only be told about the ones that are actually relevant in the story. Sometimes fantasy books feel a little bit too structured and info-dumpy, so I'm fine with not knowing how all of this magic works. Raven herself still doesn't fully understand the magic by the end of the book either.

The romance was a but rushed and it played a larger role in the story than I was expecting. It wasn't my favorite, but I did really like both of the characters and was happy that they were together.

There was a pronunciation guide at the beginning, which was really helpful. I didn't always refer to it when I should have but I still liked being able to have it to check the pronunciations of the Welsh words.

4.25 Stars

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This felt like a fresh take on fantasy compared to a lot of what I’ve been reading lately. It’s still very much fantasy, but it leans into a quieter, more grounded kind of magic that made the world feel new. The magic tied to plants, stones, and music was especially beautiful and almost poetic. There’s already a sense of strength and calm in those elements in the real world, so seeing that idea pushed into something magical really worked for me.

I was fully invested in Raven and her coming-of-age journey, especially her shift from bloodbinding toward seeing the beauty and possibility in magic. Her arc felt earned and emotionally satisfying. Overall, the book was fun, fast-paced, and genuinely enjoyable to read.

That said, a couple things pulled me out a bit. I found it odd that Idris and Delilah were never actually in the same room or interacting directly until the very end. It felt like a missed opportunity, especially since Delilah absolutely seems like someone who would have strong opinions about him. I also struggled to understand how non-magical people fit into this world. Raven’s stepfather and stepbrother clearly don’t believe in magic, but then events like the May Day ceremony make it seem like the town as a whole buys into the origin story. I couldn’t quite tell whether magic was known, believed, or quietly dismissed, and that lack of clarity was confusing.

Still, the originality of the magic system and Raven’s story made this a strong and memorable read for me.

(Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book)

[Alyssa Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me a minute to get through. The concept and initial plot line had me hooked, a girl who tragically lost her mother and had her magic suppressed and has no one to guide her. She can also “talk” to plants, or rather feel their energy. Seemed a great way for a story to start. Then it got very confusing, very quickly. The magic system is not very well explained and I feel that there could have been better world building. It felt a bit haphazard and I think if the world had been fleshed out a bit more, the story would have been more enjoyable to me. I was also very confused at the term and use of the term “siren”. No mythology I’ve heard of uses siren in that way…I’ll admit I’m not well versed in welsh mythology though, so I could be wrong. Another reviewer also mentioned that the story felt very female empowerment forward and then at the last moment, the MMC had to save the FMC from herself, even though she had saved the world, which was very mixed signal.
That brings me to another plot hole that I was confused about, did the FMC save the world or just the small town she lived in? The book wasn’t very clear on that point either.

All in all I feel like this book left much to be desired. I feel with some more explanation and a little more world building this could be a great story, and definitely something that is different from the typical romantasy type stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this e-ARC, I am honored to have been chosen to read this!

[Cal Stee Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This eARC was provided by Putnam via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the premise of this book and was immediately intrigued by the blend of botanical magic and Celtic lore. The magic system itself was interesting, though at times a bit confusing. Also, I was a bit disappointed that the story does not fully explore how the magic works, which left me with some unanswered questions.

Overall, the story was pretty good, but it leaned much more heavily into romance than I expected, with some moderate spice. I was not prepared for that, especially since the description does not really indicate how romance-focused the book becomes. Because of that, I would personally categorize this more as romantasy than sci-fi fantasy. That being said, I did enjoy the tension between Raven and Idris. While their relationship did not necessarily pull at my heartstrings, their banter felt natural and made the romance feel more believable rather than tacked on.

One aspect of the story that I found distracting was the repetitive narration. There were moments when something would be explained, only for it to be explained again in the next paragraph. This felt unnecessary and occasionally pulled me out of the story.

My biggest issue, though, was with how the botanical magic was handled. Without getting into spoilers, the story leans heavily into Raven’s affinity for plants and her magical abilities. However, during some of the most intense moments, that magic seemed to disappear, almost as if the author forgot to include it. If a character has such compelling magical abilities, I wanted to see the story fully lean into them.

All in all, I liked Siren Says, but it is not something I see myself rereading. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy romantasy with botanical magic, Celtic lore, and a medium level of spice.

[Celia Posada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of Siren Says in exchange for an honest review.

Siren Says is a witchy and magical book with a dark fairytale feel that sets it apart from other magical/witch books. I was really intrigued by the main plot and I loved that there was a lot of Celtic mythology included. The creatures were creepy and the imagery was well done.
The author did a great job with detailed descriptions and explanations of plants and horticulture as well as the beautiful descriptions of the music and sounds of the plants.
I struggled some with the world building and understanding of the magic system as a whole and wish this had been covered in more detail. I would have really enjoyed meeting some characters who possessed some “lesser magics” as well as more character development of the side characters.
Personally, I was not a fan of the romance plot line. I struggled to feel and understand the chemistry between them and their relationship seemed to go from 0 to 100 very quickly. A lot of their dialogue felt really cringy to me. I almost DNF’d bc of the line “his large hands swept around to the smile lines of my ass.” but I was too invested in the main plot to give up. I genuinely feel like I would have rated this higher if their relationship was more of a slow burn.
All in all, not a bad debut! I’d still recommend reading it if you want a witchy read with folklore and a Brothers Grimm type vibe to it. I’d definitely read more by this author in the future.

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Raven Wynn ha vivido toda su vida marcada por una herida que crece sobre su espalda y que amenaza con matarla lentamente. Todo comenzó el día en que su madre decidió protegerla a un costo irreversible. Desde entonces Raven ha rechazado todo lo que tenga que ver con lo sobrenatural mientras busca una forma de sobrevivir en un mundo que no tiene respuestas para ella

Cuando señales inquietantes comienzan a repetirse y una decisión aparentemente pequeña cambia el curso de su destino ella se ve arrastrada a una verdad que ha evitado durante años, su cuerpo no solo guarda dolor también guarda un poder que exige ser escuchado.

__
El romance no funcionó para mi, se siente incompleto y en varios momentos confuso. La relación con Idris queda demasiado al aire y hay decisiones de él que no terminan de tener sentid, Por ejemplo una vez que Idris conoce a Cherry parece dejar de lado a Raven con demasiada facilidad incluso después de descubrir que fue Cherry quien realizó el hechizo y no Raven no hay una platica ni una disculpa hacia ella, además continúa ayudando a Cherry como si nada hubiera pasado lo que debilita mucho el vínculo romántico que supuestamente se estaba construyendo
También resulta difícil de entender por qué Idris lleva a Cherry con su madre cuando Raven ni siquiera tenía conocimiento de lo que realmente estaba ocurriendo con ella.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Sarah Kemmerer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Siren Says is a captivating tale that pulls you in from the start. Raven's magic was bounded by her mother before she came of age, and has been killing her from the inside ever since. In order to get rid of her hated magic, she makes a deal with a long lost aunt. For two months she will train until she completes a dangerous task for her Aunt Delilah, who will remove her powers. With the help of grumpy Iris and aloof Cherry, Raven learns more about her family and magic than she ever thought possible.

THIS WAS GUT WRENCHINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Ughhh the ending was everythinggg. Everything just came together perfectly.

This has to be one of my newest favorite fantasy novels. I literally could not put it down, and there were even times where I had to hold back tears. The book features a story and magical system that is completely different from most other books, which is a refreshing break from the constant repetition. The incorporation of Celtic themes was so beautiful. It felt new, interesting, FRESH.

The romance was perfectly integrated, and I felt like it added a lot to the story without becoming the sole focus. The slow burn and character development is completely worth it. Raven grows on her own and as a partner. It's amazing to see her trust others again. She starts off almost completely alone in the world, but gains friendships, love, and family.

5 stars, would definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!