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Siren Anthology #1
Breathing Water
Returning to the ocean could mean returning home, returning to the unlikely friends and family who filled Santi's childhood, and returning to the magic little girls only dream of. But it could also mean returning to the devastation and death she witnessed six years ago. Now at eighteen, with the mysteries of the ocean a distant memory, Santi must overcome her fears to find out what became of her beloved friend Rogan, his family, and an entire world of mythical creatures. But will she find the ocean as welcoming as when she was a child?
- GenresFantasyYoung Adult
406 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2015
2 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
S.R. Atkinson
3 books4 followersI have been a writer since I was a child, finishing my first chapter book in 5th grade about a computer who brainwashed a little girl to take over the world. Since then my writing ability has improved but my imagination has stayed the same.
Weaving tales of adventure, magic, and heart, I try to write real-world problems in fantastical situations. I always makes sure females are heroic and family values are at the fore-front.
My first book, Breathing Water, was released in July 2015 and the sequel, Surface Tension, came out in July 2016 to rave reviews. I am so excited to have my third book in the Siren Anthology series, Treading Waves, coming out June 16, 2019!
Weaving tales of adventure, magic, and heart, I try to write real-world problems in fantastical situations. I always makes sure females are heroic and family values are at the fore-front.
My first book, Breathing Water, was released in July 2015 and the sequel, Surface Tension, came out in July 2016 to rave reviews. I am so excited to have my third book in the Siren Anthology series, Treading Waves, coming out June 16, 2019!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 19, 2019
This book is about mermaids, or as they’re known in this world, Serras. Santiago is a human, known as a Crural to Serras, who learned how to breathe underwater from her childhood best friend, Rogan, who is a Serra. Since then, Santi split her time between land and water, with Serras accepting her as part of their community. But when Sirens attack the Serras in a brutal fight, Santi has to return to the surface for her own safety. Six years later, at the age of eighteen, Santi finally decides it’s time to return to the water and find her friend, but she is captured before she has the chance to reunite with him.
Breathing Water starts off following Santi in third person, and then suddenly switches to first person to tell the story of a character named Nephira. From then on we split our time between these two characters, and I have to say that it was Nephira that sucked me into this story. For some reason, I didn’t connect with Santi and there wasn’t much about her that really stood out to me, but Nephira’s story had me completely hooked.
Nephira was taken by Crurals and kept in captivity by a Tullus, a Roman King. Her chapters are her accounts of what happened whilst she was trapped and the consequences of her time spent on the surface. Learning about her experience was heart-breaking and the storytelling throughout these chapters were the best parts of this book for me.
I enjoyed finding out about Santi’s past and her memories with Rogan, but I felt like I didn’t really know much about who Santi was as a person. I don’t know why I didn’t connect with her side of the story as much as I did Nephira, but since this is the first in a series, I’m hoping I’ll get to know and appreciate Santi more in the next book.
The world-building in this story was fascinating and I loved learning the mythology about the Serras and the Sirens. It was convincing and believable, and every aspect of it was well thought out. There were definitely a few twists regarding the Sirens that I hadn’t expected! I felt like there was a lot to learn too quickly at times, but things were explained clearly so I wasn’t left confused. However, I did find some of the chapters to be a little too long. I’m a reader who has a preference for short, sharp chapters though, so that’s probably just me being fussy!
This is an interesting start to this series and I’m definitely looking forward to discovering more about the Serras and their history. There’s a lot of potential for great mythology in a series like this and I hope to learn more of it! I definitely want to get to know Santi and Rogan more. As main characters, I want to be rooting for them, which I didn’t find myself doing much of throughout this book. But I’m keen to see where this story goes.
Breathing Water starts off following Santi in third person, and then suddenly switches to first person to tell the story of a character named Nephira. From then on we split our time between these two characters, and I have to say that it was Nephira that sucked me into this story. For some reason, I didn’t connect with Santi and there wasn’t much about her that really stood out to me, but Nephira’s story had me completely hooked.
Nephira was taken by Crurals and kept in captivity by a Tullus, a Roman King. Her chapters are her accounts of what happened whilst she was trapped and the consequences of her time spent on the surface. Learning about her experience was heart-breaking and the storytelling throughout these chapters were the best parts of this book for me.
I enjoyed finding out about Santi’s past and her memories with Rogan, but I felt like I didn’t really know much about who Santi was as a person. I don’t know why I didn’t connect with her side of the story as much as I did Nephira, but since this is the first in a series, I’m hoping I’ll get to know and appreciate Santi more in the next book.
The world-building in this story was fascinating and I loved learning the mythology about the Serras and the Sirens. It was convincing and believable, and every aspect of it was well thought out. There were definitely a few twists regarding the Sirens that I hadn’t expected! I felt like there was a lot to learn too quickly at times, but things were explained clearly so I wasn’t left confused. However, I did find some of the chapters to be a little too long. I’m a reader who has a preference for short, sharp chapters though, so that’s probably just me being fussy!
This is an interesting start to this series and I’m definitely looking forward to discovering more about the Serras and their history. There’s a lot of potential for great mythology in a series like this and I hope to learn more of it! I definitely want to get to know Santi and Rogan more. As main characters, I want to be rooting for them, which I didn’t find myself doing much of throughout this book. But I’m keen to see where this story goes.
May 13, 2019
I bought this book as a gift for my niece as a follow up to the first book I also purchased for her. I read this book before sending it to her to read as I did with the first one and was happy to do it. The books are a fun fast read and a perfect gift for the young adult in your life.
August 7, 2019
Breathing Water by S.R. Atkinson is a refreshing tale of one of the most mysterious and fascinating creatures living in the depths of water -- mermaids. Ever since I was a child, I've been hearing and seeing different versions of tales about them. That's why now that I am an adult, I enjoy reading about them because it gives me a nostalgic feeling. Luckily, this book tells an entertaining narrative that I haven't seen or heard before.
The story follows two main protagonists named Santiago and Nephira. Through alternating POVs, it narrates what's happening in the present time and in the past. The first story arc is focused on Santiago. Santi is a human, a Crucal to Serras. She has a childhood Serra friend, Rogan, who taught her how to breathe underwater so she can stay under the sea for a long time. Unfortunately, when a tragic attacked happened to Rogan's community, Santi had to leave for her own safety. Six years after the traumatic accident, Santi decided to look for her Serra family. However, the community and people that she loved and was looking for wasn't what she remembered and expected to be.
The second story arc is about a Serra named Nephira. She was taken captive by Tullus, a Roman King. Because of Tullus's cruelty, she had to face unimaginable difficulties. These hardships that she faced would also become the turning point of how the Serras live. Also, this would lead to further problems which would deeply affect the present time.
Full link Review: https://levicorpvsblog.wordpress.com/...
The story follows two main protagonists named Santiago and Nephira. Through alternating POVs, it narrates what's happening in the present time and in the past. The first story arc is focused on Santiago. Santi is a human, a Crucal to Serras. She has a childhood Serra friend, Rogan, who taught her how to breathe underwater so she can stay under the sea for a long time. Unfortunately, when a tragic attacked happened to Rogan's community, Santi had to leave for her own safety. Six years after the traumatic accident, Santi decided to look for her Serra family. However, the community and people that she loved and was looking for wasn't what she remembered and expected to be.
The second story arc is about a Serra named Nephira. She was taken captive by Tullus, a Roman King. Because of Tullus's cruelty, she had to face unimaginable difficulties. These hardships that she faced would also become the turning point of how the Serras live. Also, this would lead to further problems which would deeply affect the present time.
Full link Review: https://levicorpvsblog.wordpress.com/...
December 17, 2019
S.R. Atkinson’s The Siren Anthology is a trilogy about realizing your childhood fantasies are a reality–albeit much darker than you could’ve imagined.
Bringing your childhood fantasies about mermaids to life
Remember all the time you spent as a child using your imagination to conjure stories? S.R. Atkinson’s debut trilogy The Siren Anthology brings those fantasies to life. The trilogy, comprised of Breathing Water, Surface Tension, and Treading Waves, follows Santiago, a typical 18-year-old living with her mother, as she realizes that the thought-to-be-imagined memories of her childhood are actually real.
The series begins with a flashback to a traumatic memory that Santiago has somewhat suppressed. But six years later, Santiago quickly realizes that those memories are true and that her friends from the ocean need her help. She must return to the ocean to find out what happened to her friend Rogan, a mermaid (otherwise known as a “Serra”) and join the fight against the Sirens. Santi must not only overcome the shock of realizing that an entire civilization lives beneath the waves but must also reacclimate herself to life under the water.
Over the course of the trilogy, readers are treated to nearly non-stop action, burgeoning romance, and strong friendships. Atkinson is able to use Santiago as an avatar for the reader as she learns about the Serran civilization, making the exposition flow smoothly. As a debut series, The Siren Anthology is a fun read that is plot-driven and therefore easy to follow.
The Bottom Line: 2/5 Stars
While the concept and story are intriguing, the driving nature of the plot often overwhelms the character development. There are times where the action is a bit confusing and some characters are not fully realized. I would definitely recommend these novels to young YA readers or anyone looking for a quick, fun read.
Bringing your childhood fantasies about mermaids to life
Remember all the time you spent as a child using your imagination to conjure stories? S.R. Atkinson’s debut trilogy The Siren Anthology brings those fantasies to life. The trilogy, comprised of Breathing Water, Surface Tension, and Treading Waves, follows Santiago, a typical 18-year-old living with her mother, as she realizes that the thought-to-be-imagined memories of her childhood are actually real.
The series begins with a flashback to a traumatic memory that Santiago has somewhat suppressed. But six years later, Santiago quickly realizes that those memories are true and that her friends from the ocean need her help. She must return to the ocean to find out what happened to her friend Rogan, a mermaid (otherwise known as a “Serra”) and join the fight against the Sirens. Santi must not only overcome the shock of realizing that an entire civilization lives beneath the waves but must also reacclimate herself to life under the water.
Over the course of the trilogy, readers are treated to nearly non-stop action, burgeoning romance, and strong friendships. Atkinson is able to use Santiago as an avatar for the reader as she learns about the Serran civilization, making the exposition flow smoothly. As a debut series, The Siren Anthology is a fun read that is plot-driven and therefore easy to follow.
The Bottom Line: 2/5 Stars
While the concept and story are intriguing, the driving nature of the plot often overwhelms the character development. There are times where the action is a bit confusing and some characters are not fully realized. I would definitely recommend these novels to young YA readers or anyone looking for a quick, fun read.
December 17, 2019
S.R. Atkinson’s The Siren Anthology is a trilogy about realizing your childhood fantasies are a reality–albeit much darker than you could’ve imagined.
Bringing your childhood fantasies about mermaids to life
Remember all the time you spent as a child using your imagination to conjure stories? S.R. Atkinson’s debut trilogy The Siren Anthology brings those fantasies to life. The trilogy, comprised of Breathing Water, Surface Tension, and Treading Waves, follows Santiago, a typical 18-year-old living with her mother, as she realizes that the thought-to-be-imagined memories of her childhood are actually real.
The series begins with a flashback to a traumatic memory that Santiago has somewhat suppressed. But six years later, Santiago quickly realizes that those memories are true and that her friends from the ocean need her help. She must return to the ocean to find out what happened to her friend Rogan, a mermaid (otherwise known as a “Serra”) and join the fight against the Sirens. Santi must not only overcome the shock of realizing that an entire civilization lives beneath the waves but must also reacclimate herself to life under the water.
Over the course of the trilogy, readers are treated to nearly non-stop action, burgeoning romance, and strong friendships. Atkinson is able to use Santiago as an avatar for the reader as she learns about the Serran civilization, making the exposition flow smoothly. As a debut series, The Siren Anthology is a fun read that is plot-driven and therefore easy to follow.
The Bottom Line: 2/5 Stars
While the concept and story are intriguing, the driving nature of the plot often overwhelms the character development. There are times where the action is a bit confusing and some characters are not fully realized. I would definitely recommend these novels to young YA readers or anyone looking for a quick, fun read.
Bringing your childhood fantasies about mermaids to life
Remember all the time you spent as a child using your imagination to conjure stories? S.R. Atkinson’s debut trilogy The Siren Anthology brings those fantasies to life. The trilogy, comprised of Breathing Water, Surface Tension, and Treading Waves, follows Santiago, a typical 18-year-old living with her mother, as she realizes that the thought-to-be-imagined memories of her childhood are actually real.
The series begins with a flashback to a traumatic memory that Santiago has somewhat suppressed. But six years later, Santiago quickly realizes that those memories are true and that her friends from the ocean need her help. She must return to the ocean to find out what happened to her friend Rogan, a mermaid (otherwise known as a “Serra”) and join the fight against the Sirens. Santi must not only overcome the shock of realizing that an entire civilization lives beneath the waves but must also reacclimate herself to life under the water.
Over the course of the trilogy, readers are treated to nearly non-stop action, burgeoning romance, and strong friendships. Atkinson is able to use Santiago as an avatar for the reader as she learns about the Serran civilization, making the exposition flow smoothly. As a debut series, The Siren Anthology is a fun read that is plot-driven and therefore easy to follow.
The Bottom Line: 2/5 Stars
While the concept and story are intriguing, the driving nature of the plot often overwhelms the character development. There are times where the action is a bit confusing and some characters are not fully realized. I would definitely recommend these novels to young YA readers or anyone looking for a quick, fun read.
August 15, 2019
An enjoyable sequel! As the first book focuses on the world-building of the Serras, Surface Tension gives us an intuitive understanding of Santi’s character and her roots.
The plot starts right after the battle of Serras and Sirens. Now, Santi went back on land, and when his Abuelo died, she and her mother got hold of her Abuela’s journal. Through it, she discovers a secret that will bring a huge change to both her life and the Serra’s world. Just like the first book, this novel quickly pulls me again in this underwater world and become invested in the characters’ stories. It once again used the same writing technique where the story introduces another narrative besides Santi; but this time, this new character is close and very dear to Santi. Moreover, this book made me a little emotional. I didn’t realize I already became emotionally invested in these characters. Lastly, even when there are a lot of serious topics discussed in this novel, it was balanced by those funny and lighthearted moments.
Full Review Link: https://levicorpvsblog.wordpress.com/...
The plot starts right after the battle of Serras and Sirens. Now, Santi went back on land, and when his Abuelo died, she and her mother got hold of her Abuela’s journal. Through it, she discovers a secret that will bring a huge change to both her life and the Serra’s world. Just like the first book, this novel quickly pulls me again in this underwater world and become invested in the characters’ stories. It once again used the same writing technique where the story introduces another narrative besides Santi; but this time, this new character is close and very dear to Santi. Moreover, this book made me a little emotional. I didn’t realize I already became emotionally invested in these characters. Lastly, even when there are a lot of serious topics discussed in this novel, it was balanced by those funny and lighthearted moments.
Full Review Link: https://levicorpvsblog.wordpress.com/...
November 19, 2015
I love when an author can bring something new to a subject that has been done over and over, and this author has done a brilliant job of doing just that. She taps into all your five senses to involve you in the story. The story hooks you right from the beginning and never lets up all the way till the end.There is not only one, but two amazing female characters that young girls can admire and look up to for their courage and determination.This book has action, adventure, humor, friendship, and inspiring characters. I can't recommend this book enough and I can't wait to see what's in store next.
September 2, 2016
Wow! Breathing Water is not your average young adult book! This book reminds me of Avatar, only in a sea-setting with even more character development and intertwined plot lines. I was pleasantly surprised with lots of action, battle scenes, and suspense, without skimping on literary skill. S.R. Atkinson is an amazing storyteller, as she paints scenes so vividly you almost forget that the book is fantasy; she doesn't leave out any details, and her skillful imagery makes Breathing Water that more thrilling. I really recommend this book to anyone who is looking for their next page turner!
September 12, 2015
3.5 stars
I really liked this book. The characters are interesting and likable, and the descriptive writing really brings the story to life.
It was a fun, quick read with enough drama to keep me intrigued. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I really liked this book. The characters are interesting and likable, and the descriptive writing really brings the story to life.
It was a fun, quick read with enough drama to keep me intrigued. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
September 29, 2018
This unique book weaves the tale of protagonist Santi together with historical mermaid lore in a way that builds suspense for this tale and sets up what looks to be a promising trilogy!
March 20, 2016
The plot felt a little slow for me, but I am still very interested in what will happen in the next book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews