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Sirens are beautiful, dangerous, and musical, whether they come from the sea or the sky. Greek sirens were described as part-bird, part-woman, and Roman sirens more like mermaids, but both had a voice that could captivate and destroy the strongest man. The pages of this book contain the stories of the Sirens of old, but also allow for modern re-imaginings, plucking the sirens out of their natural elements and placing them at a high school football game, or in wartime London, or even into outer space.
Featuring stories by Kelly Sandoval, Amanda Kespohl, L.S. Johnson, Pat Flewwelling, Gabriel F. Cuellar, Randall G. Arnold, Micheal Leonberger, V. F. LeSann, Tamsin Showbrook, Simon Kewin, Cat McDonald, Sandra Wickham, K.T. Ivanrest, Adam L. Bealby, Eliza Chan, and Tabitha Lord, these siren songs will both exemplify and defy your expectations.
Featuring stories by Kelly Sandoval, Amanda Kespohl, L.S. Johnson, Pat Flewwelling, Gabriel F. Cuellar, Randall G. Arnold, Micheal Leonberger, V. F. LeSann, Tamsin Showbrook, Simon Kewin, Cat McDonald, Sandra Wickham, K.T. Ivanrest, Adam L. Bealby, Eliza Chan, and Tabitha Lord, these siren songs will both exemplify and defy your expectations.
284 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
6 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Rhonda Parrish
106 books243 followersRhonda Parrish has the attention span of a magpie. Not only can she not focus on a single project at a time, but she also fails at sticking to one genre or even one type of writing (she does manage to stay true to one hockey team, though – Let’s go Oilers!). Perhaps best known for her work as an anthology editor – the Ottawa Review of Books called her “Canada’s best-known and most prolific speculative fiction anthologist” – Rhonda also works as a short story writer, novelist, game writer and a poet. She has been honoured to be included in a handful of ‘Best of’ anthologies, earn a coveted starred review from Publisher’s Weekly and be shortlisted for several awards including the Rhysling Award, the Aurora Award, the Dwarf Stars Award and Alberta Book Publishing Awards.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
Most of her work falls under the speculative fiction umbrella but she has also penned paranormal non-fiction and non-speculative work.
In an effort to impose some order in her chaos, these days most of her short fiction and poetry is published directly through her Patreon https://www.patreon.com/c/RhondaParrish .
More information about her, updates and calls for submission are posted on her website http://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 18, 2016
The moment Rhonda Parrish announces another anthology--especially Magical Menageries installments--I get grabby hands. She always cultivates an amazing selection, and this group of maligned and misunderstood sirens is my favorite of all her books so far, displacing FAE (which I will continue to heartily recommend).
Sirens of all sorts splash and flap between these pages. Good, bad, intelligent, empty-headed, they're all in here. L. S. Johnson smashes it out of the park again with her story, "We Are Sirens," about a hive mind of sirens who are slowly gaining their independence. Michael Leonberger writes from the perspective of a human seduced, "Is This Seat Taken," is disturbing because of its likeable but flawed protagonist. Adam L. Bealby tells the tale of a couple of country bumpkins who fish up something they can't quite handle, in "The Fisherman's Catch," which is grotesque (in a good way) with amazing voice.
Get this anthology. Do it now. You won't regret it.
Sirens of all sorts splash and flap between these pages. Good, bad, intelligent, empty-headed, they're all in here. L. S. Johnson smashes it out of the park again with her story, "We Are Sirens," about a hive mind of sirens who are slowly gaining their independence. Michael Leonberger writes from the perspective of a human seduced, "Is This Seat Taken," is disturbing because of its likeable but flawed protagonist. Adam L. Bealby tells the tale of a couple of country bumpkins who fish up something they can't quite handle, in "The Fisherman's Catch," which is grotesque (in a good way) with amazing voice.
Get this anthology. Do it now. You won't regret it.
May 17, 2016
Poignant, diverse, and enthralling: this new volume in the Magical Menagerie series evokes the majesty of sirens, from the traditional deep sea variety of Greek mythology to those that entice sailors of deep space to ones who scan modern dating sites with wistful hopes for a good match. I could not stop reading.
June 21, 2016
Sirens is yet another strong entry into the Rhonda Parrish's Magical Menagerie series from World Weaver Press. As I've said before, I'm not usually one to read anthologies, but I've gotten hooked on Parrish's carefully shaped anthologies. I'll try not to spoil any of the stories too much for you as I review this latest installment. As a caveat: I was given a free e-ARC of this book for the purpose of writing this review; all opinions are entirely honest and entirely my own.
"Siren Seeking" by Kelly Sandoval plunges us into the world of sirens by asking what a demigod does when she's done sinking ships. From the clever demigod dating service Elsewhen to the various dates Thelia subjects herself to, it's a light-hearted story with dark undertones and lovely callbacks to the mythology of the sirens.
"The Fisherman and the Golem" by Amanda Kespohl is a touching story of a lonely young fisherman who impulsively buys a golem at the market. The mystery of the golem kept me intrigued, and Ged's affection for her despite himself is endearing. This is a great addition to the anthology.
"We Are Sirens" by L.S. Johnson is written in a seductive, breathless, breath-taking first-person-plural point of view, not the royal we, but the we of five souls that sing in harmony. It tells a story of lust and violence and music, hearkening back to age-old myths as it hurtles forward in the present day.
"Moth to an Old Flame" by Pat Flewwelling takes us into London during the Blitz, where one lone siren exists in the maelstrom of world war. Her love for a kind--and deaf--veterinarian inspires Serena to take desperate measures to thwart a god.
"The Bounty" by Gabriel F. Cuellar imagines a new place in the modern world for a supernatural being still angry over Odysseus' escape. Drawing on the mythology of two traditions, the story weaves a tale of hunger and justice.
"The Dolphin Riders" by Randall G. Arnold is a fascinating glimpse into an Earth struck by natural disaster, seen through the eyes of Roberto. Only Roberto, of all the school-aged survivors, is willing to venture out onto the sea that so recently ravaged their homes. Only Roberto sees the dolphin riders. A story of two cultures with a long and painful history, it asks what future humans will strive for.
"Is This Seat Taken" by Michael Leonberger grabs the reader and drags you deeper and deeper into the mind of a bored, frustrated Washington, D.C., military contract analyst. When he sees a beautiful woman on the Metro, it's only the beginning of a suffocating journey into nightmarish obsession.
The placement of "Nautilus" by V.F. LeSann proves once again Parrish's skills as an anthologist. Following the subterranean "Is This Seat Taken," LeSann hurtles us into outer space on a rescue mission. Nautilus is a self-aware, emotionally intelligent research vessel with a human-shaped avatar. Carrying a tiny crew of humans who don't fully understand Nautilus, the ship ventures through space storms into a nebula in search of a missing fellow research ship. A beautiful look at desire, longing, and artificial intelligence, "Nautilus" ended up being one of my favorite stories in the anthology.
Another anthology favorite is "Siren's Odyssey" by Tamsin Showbrook. Told in alternating points of view, the story is a poignant and gritty look at a life-changing encounter between Aahleis, a siren, and Hannah, a human drug-addict living on the streets. When Aahleis chooses Hannah to feed on, she's in for a big surprise. There are hints of a well-developed world outside this short story, and I look forward to reading more stories about these characters.
Simon Kewin takes us back to space, where a woman seeks healing from a failed relationship in "Safe Waters." At Atlantis Resort, humans can have their consciousness implanted in artificial bodies--whales, seahorses, even mermaids. But are the waters really as safe as the resort promises?
I must admit, "Notefisher" by Cat McDonald is not my usual kind of fare. There's an Alice-in-Wonderland feel to the story, blurring the lines between illusion and reality as the narrator attends a music and art festival, aimlessly wandering through his days and spending the nights with drug-induced hallucinations. The themes of creativity and hope carry the reader through the story, juxtaposed beautifully with fear and depression.
"Experience" by Sandra Wickham takes us to a modern-day siren who has chosen a life as house entertainment on a cruise ship. But when old responsibilities come knocking and deliver an ultimatum--serve the Goddess or lose your powers--she must find a way to balance her past with her future.
"Threshold" by K.T. Ivanrest takes the concept of deadly sirens luring men to their death and turns it neatly on its head. The terrifying Between, creatures whose attacks are preceded by alluring songs of courage and battle, are a threat to humankind. Navrin is about to make his first Between kill, which will mark him as a man. But the kill goes terribly wrong, and his five-year-old sister is lost across the threshold of their realm and another. Navrin and his step-brother must journey across the border, and they will face tests and learn secrets that might just repair their broken relationship.
"The Fisherman's Catch" by Adam L. Bealby takes us into a gruesome game of oneupsmanship, as two fishermen constantly try to outdo each other. Written in an engaging first-person voice, it made me shudder.
"One More Song" by Eliza Chan is a gorgeous fantasy/noir story about Mira, a siren PI in a semi-submerged alternate world where sea people are "out" to humanity. It has such a great blend of complex world-building and subtle social commentary that I found myself hoping there are more stories set in this world. From kappas to water dragons, from sirens to sleazy businessmen, this story is full of three-dimensional characters, so I'm sure there are more stories just waiting to be told.
And as a fitting ending to the collection, "Homecoming" by Tabitha Lord takes us back to the mythical days of Penelope and Odysseus and Kalypso, giving the old story of the faithful wife a delicious new twist.
This is the fifth of Rhonda Parrish's anthologies I've reviewed, and the fourth in her Magical Menageries stories. If all anthologies were so well-curated and themed, I would read a lot more short fiction. As it is, I've reached the point where I will happily plunk down my money for anything Parrish edits.
"Siren Seeking" by Kelly Sandoval plunges us into the world of sirens by asking what a demigod does when she's done sinking ships. From the clever demigod dating service Elsewhen to the various dates Thelia subjects herself to, it's a light-hearted story with dark undertones and lovely callbacks to the mythology of the sirens.
"The Fisherman and the Golem" by Amanda Kespohl is a touching story of a lonely young fisherman who impulsively buys a golem at the market. The mystery of the golem kept me intrigued, and Ged's affection for her despite himself is endearing. This is a great addition to the anthology.
"We Are Sirens" by L.S. Johnson is written in a seductive, breathless, breath-taking first-person-plural point of view, not the royal we, but the we of five souls that sing in harmony. It tells a story of lust and violence and music, hearkening back to age-old myths as it hurtles forward in the present day.
"Moth to an Old Flame" by Pat Flewwelling takes us into London during the Blitz, where one lone siren exists in the maelstrom of world war. Her love for a kind--and deaf--veterinarian inspires Serena to take desperate measures to thwart a god.
"The Bounty" by Gabriel F. Cuellar imagines a new place in the modern world for a supernatural being still angry over Odysseus' escape. Drawing on the mythology of two traditions, the story weaves a tale of hunger and justice.
"The Dolphin Riders" by Randall G. Arnold is a fascinating glimpse into an Earth struck by natural disaster, seen through the eyes of Roberto. Only Roberto, of all the school-aged survivors, is willing to venture out onto the sea that so recently ravaged their homes. Only Roberto sees the dolphin riders. A story of two cultures with a long and painful history, it asks what future humans will strive for.
"Is This Seat Taken" by Michael Leonberger grabs the reader and drags you deeper and deeper into the mind of a bored, frustrated Washington, D.C., military contract analyst. When he sees a beautiful woman on the Metro, it's only the beginning of a suffocating journey into nightmarish obsession.
The placement of "Nautilus" by V.F. LeSann proves once again Parrish's skills as an anthologist. Following the subterranean "Is This Seat Taken," LeSann hurtles us into outer space on a rescue mission. Nautilus is a self-aware, emotionally intelligent research vessel with a human-shaped avatar. Carrying a tiny crew of humans who don't fully understand Nautilus, the ship ventures through space storms into a nebula in search of a missing fellow research ship. A beautiful look at desire, longing, and artificial intelligence, "Nautilus" ended up being one of my favorite stories in the anthology.
Another anthology favorite is "Siren's Odyssey" by Tamsin Showbrook. Told in alternating points of view, the story is a poignant and gritty look at a life-changing encounter between Aahleis, a siren, and Hannah, a human drug-addict living on the streets. When Aahleis chooses Hannah to feed on, she's in for a big surprise. There are hints of a well-developed world outside this short story, and I look forward to reading more stories about these characters.
Simon Kewin takes us back to space, where a woman seeks healing from a failed relationship in "Safe Waters." At Atlantis Resort, humans can have their consciousness implanted in artificial bodies--whales, seahorses, even mermaids. But are the waters really as safe as the resort promises?
I must admit, "Notefisher" by Cat McDonald is not my usual kind of fare. There's an Alice-in-Wonderland feel to the story, blurring the lines between illusion and reality as the narrator attends a music and art festival, aimlessly wandering through his days and spending the nights with drug-induced hallucinations. The themes of creativity and hope carry the reader through the story, juxtaposed beautifully with fear and depression.
"Experience" by Sandra Wickham takes us to a modern-day siren who has chosen a life as house entertainment on a cruise ship. But when old responsibilities come knocking and deliver an ultimatum--serve the Goddess or lose your powers--she must find a way to balance her past with her future.
"Threshold" by K.T. Ivanrest takes the concept of deadly sirens luring men to their death and turns it neatly on its head. The terrifying Between, creatures whose attacks are preceded by alluring songs of courage and battle, are a threat to humankind. Navrin is about to make his first Between kill, which will mark him as a man. But the kill goes terribly wrong, and his five-year-old sister is lost across the threshold of their realm and another. Navrin and his step-brother must journey across the border, and they will face tests and learn secrets that might just repair their broken relationship.
"The Fisherman's Catch" by Adam L. Bealby takes us into a gruesome game of oneupsmanship, as two fishermen constantly try to outdo each other. Written in an engaging first-person voice, it made me shudder.
"One More Song" by Eliza Chan is a gorgeous fantasy/noir story about Mira, a siren PI in a semi-submerged alternate world where sea people are "out" to humanity. It has such a great blend of complex world-building and subtle social commentary that I found myself hoping there are more stories set in this world. From kappas to water dragons, from sirens to sleazy businessmen, this story is full of three-dimensional characters, so I'm sure there are more stories just waiting to be told.
And as a fitting ending to the collection, "Homecoming" by Tabitha Lord takes us back to the mythical days of Penelope and Odysseus and Kalypso, giving the old story of the faithful wife a delicious new twist.
This is the fifth of Rhonda Parrish's anthologies I've reviewed, and the fourth in her Magical Menageries stories. If all anthologies were so well-curated and themed, I would read a lot more short fiction. As it is, I've reached the point where I will happily plunk down my money for anything Parrish edits.
July 8, 2016
A harried professional longs to be beautiful, untouchable, unreachable. A gentle fisherman yearns for a companion. A boy is determined to best his stepbrother and win his sister’s affection. These are a few of the characters in Sirens, the latest offering in the Magical Menageries series edited by Rhonda Parrish and published by World Weaver Press.
Longing infuses these tales, which are populated by humans wanting something more and watery beings either wistfully recalling a past when they were feared, or who are just as hungry as ever.
Many such anthologies would have opened with a story from Greek mythology and ended in the modern world. Rhonda Parrish did the opposite, starting with an amusing yarn called “Siren Seeking” by Kelly Sandoval about the relationship issues of a contemporary siren. Thelia dates a succession of mythical creatures, never quite understanding what she’s missing. Then she meets a mermaid who reminds her of the time when songs lured sailors to their death, and she becomes increasingly conflicted as Sandoval’s writing grows darker and more beautiful. “All mortals understood longing, and sorrow”, Sandoval writes, a theme that ripples throughout this anthology.
"We Are Sirens" by L.S. Johnson is one of the best chapters. It would be easy to dismiss the miniskirt wearing, slurpee loving protagonists as man eaters masquerading as teenaged girls, except that Johnson hints at other motivations. All goes awry when they notice Sarah leaving a bedroom with her eyes swollen and her jacket fully buttoned. They take Sarah under their wings and promise revenge, but Sarah has a surprise for them. What starts off like a frat party orgy evolves into a tale of identity and becoming, told through an evocative sing-song rhythm.
Many of the stories are set in worlds ravaged by climate change and human indifference. "The Dolphin Riders" by Randall G. Arnold revolves around a tribe of feral youths who encounter the supernatural while trying to survive in the aftermath of a deadly tsunami. The heroine in “One More Song” by Eliza Chan lives in a waterlogged city where an elderly lady fears the bunyip who gives her a seat on public transit, and the police turn a deaf ear to the domestic abuse endured by a captive selkie.
The anthology ends with “Homecoming” by Tabitha Lord, which is the strongest and most classical tale. This thoughtful story alternates between Penelope, who is besieged by unwanted suitors in
Odysseus’ absence, and Kalypso, who bewitched the Greek hero. The author gives Penelope a greater role in her husband’s return and echoes the bittersweet longing that opened this book.
The quality of writing in Sirens is not as even as its predecessor Corvidae, which is my high water mark for consistency in an anthology. At least one story telegraphs the ending, and a couple of chapters favour brutality over subtlety. Yet the authors address the issues of our age – sexual and physical violence, xenophobia, loneliness and alienation, and environmental destruction – with fine writing and a deft touch. While its tales range from horror to science fiction, Sirens will particularly appeal to those who enjoy urban fantasy that is lapped by literature and ringed by myth.
*I received an advance copy of Sirens to review. I have not been paid for this review.
Longing infuses these tales, which are populated by humans wanting something more and watery beings either wistfully recalling a past when they were feared, or who are just as hungry as ever.
Many such anthologies would have opened with a story from Greek mythology and ended in the modern world. Rhonda Parrish did the opposite, starting with an amusing yarn called “Siren Seeking” by Kelly Sandoval about the relationship issues of a contemporary siren. Thelia dates a succession of mythical creatures, never quite understanding what she’s missing. Then she meets a mermaid who reminds her of the time when songs lured sailors to their death, and she becomes increasingly conflicted as Sandoval’s writing grows darker and more beautiful. “All mortals understood longing, and sorrow”, Sandoval writes, a theme that ripples throughout this anthology.
"We Are Sirens" by L.S. Johnson is one of the best chapters. It would be easy to dismiss the miniskirt wearing, slurpee loving protagonists as man eaters masquerading as teenaged girls, except that Johnson hints at other motivations. All goes awry when they notice Sarah leaving a bedroom with her eyes swollen and her jacket fully buttoned. They take Sarah under their wings and promise revenge, but Sarah has a surprise for them. What starts off like a frat party orgy evolves into a tale of identity and becoming, told through an evocative sing-song rhythm.
Many of the stories are set in worlds ravaged by climate change and human indifference. "The Dolphin Riders" by Randall G. Arnold revolves around a tribe of feral youths who encounter the supernatural while trying to survive in the aftermath of a deadly tsunami. The heroine in “One More Song” by Eliza Chan lives in a waterlogged city where an elderly lady fears the bunyip who gives her a seat on public transit, and the police turn a deaf ear to the domestic abuse endured by a captive selkie.
The anthology ends with “Homecoming” by Tabitha Lord, which is the strongest and most classical tale. This thoughtful story alternates between Penelope, who is besieged by unwanted suitors in
Odysseus’ absence, and Kalypso, who bewitched the Greek hero. The author gives Penelope a greater role in her husband’s return and echoes the bittersweet longing that opened this book.
The quality of writing in Sirens is not as even as its predecessor Corvidae, which is my high water mark for consistency in an anthology. At least one story telegraphs the ending, and a couple of chapters favour brutality over subtlety. Yet the authors address the issues of our age – sexual and physical violence, xenophobia, loneliness and alienation, and environmental destruction – with fine writing and a deft touch. While its tales range from horror to science fiction, Sirens will particularly appeal to those who enjoy urban fantasy that is lapped by literature and ringed by myth.
*I received an advance copy of Sirens to review. I have not been paid for this review.
August 14, 2016
Sirens in outer space. Sirens in WWII-era London. Sirens at high school football games, and Sirens who are dating online, and Sirens in ways you’ve probably never seen before.
Parrish’s anthology is filled to the brim with tales to make you second-guess your mythology, pulling a legendary species of creatures into the “real world”—or not. The collection is had been smartly curated, with every tale offering a unique voice and perspective to the subject, providing a variety of stories to eclectic that there’s something for everyone. Read one or read them all—some were much sharper than others (my favorites being “We Are Sirens” by L.S. Johnson; “The Dolphin Riders” by Randall G Arnold; and “Nautilus” by V.F. LeSann), but as always with being introduced with many tales by different authors, some are going to be more appealing than others.
All in all, you’re going to find something you like. Magic and mystery, the “real world” and worlds we can only dream of. SIRENS dishes up what it promises—tales to defy expectations and make your imagination run wild.
Parrish’s anthology is filled to the brim with tales to make you second-guess your mythology, pulling a legendary species of creatures into the “real world”—or not. The collection is had been smartly curated, with every tale offering a unique voice and perspective to the subject, providing a variety of stories to eclectic that there’s something for everyone. Read one or read them all—some were much sharper than others (my favorites being “We Are Sirens” by L.S. Johnson; “The Dolphin Riders” by Randall G Arnold; and “Nautilus” by V.F. LeSann), but as always with being introduced with many tales by different authors, some are going to be more appealing than others.
All in all, you’re going to find something you like. Magic and mystery, the “real world” and worlds we can only dream of. SIRENS dishes up what it promises—tales to defy expectations and make your imagination run wild.
July 18, 2016
I was given an advance copy of this book to read, and asked to provide a cover quote if I wanted to. I DID want to, and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this magical book. Each story has its own unique, ferocious take on the mythological Siren. Fantasy and short fiction fans should definitely check it out.
June 27, 2016
What fun! I quite enjoyed this anthology, reading it easily in a few hours. The opening one-two punch of "Siren Seeking" by Kelly Sandoval and "The Fisherman and the Golem" by Amanda Kespohl were both charming and captivated me from the start. The story selections should appeal to fans of urban and contemporary fantasy, fairytale re-tellings, and mythology (there are a couple of sci-fi stories, but these are accessible to non-sci-fi readers).
As with most anthologies, some stories worked better for me than others, so a shout-out to a couple of my favorites:
"One More Song" by Eliza Chan-- an intriguing world, where rising water levels have turned the City (I'm assuming this isn't the only one?) into a half-sunken metropolis where humans and varieties of water fae live uneasily side by side. Loved the world-building and would love to read more set in this universe. (I see in the author's bio that she is working on just that very thing, so yay for me!)
"Homecoming" by Tabitha Lord is a re-telling of the last of the Odyssey from the perspectives of Penelope and Kalypso. Very good and the last sentence is stunning.
Also noteworthy: "The Fisherman's Catch" by Adam L. Bealby; "Experience" by Sandra Wickham; "Notefisher" by Cat McDonald; and "Moth to an Old Flame" by Pat Flewwelling.
As with most anthologies, some stories worked better for me than others, so a shout-out to a couple of my favorites:
"One More Song" by Eliza Chan-- an intriguing world, where rising water levels have turned the City (I'm assuming this isn't the only one?) into a half-sunken metropolis where humans and varieties of water fae live uneasily side by side. Loved the world-building and would love to read more set in this universe. (I see in the author's bio that she is working on just that very thing, so yay for me!)
"Homecoming" by Tabitha Lord is a re-telling of the last of the Odyssey from the perspectives of Penelope and Kalypso. Very good and the last sentence is stunning.
Also noteworthy: "The Fisherman's Catch" by Adam L. Bealby; "Experience" by Sandra Wickham; "Notefisher" by Cat McDonald; and "Moth to an Old Flame" by Pat Flewwelling.
July 7, 2016
Editor Rhonda Parrish always puts together strong anthologies, and this is probably my favorite from her to date. The stories here stretch from fresh takes on the Greek tales that first mentioned these tempting water spirits, through modern urban fantasy, to far-future space adventures with singing creatures of a different sort. Altogether, it makes for a haunting experience. Some of my favorite stories included Kelly Sandoval's humorous "Siren Seeking," with witty dialogue that made me laugh out loud; "We Are Sirens," L. S. Johnson's mind-bending take on sirens that stalk the modern world and find themselves in a puzzling predicament; "Safe Waters" by Simon Kewin, in which a woman in an artificial mermaid's body finds herself tempted by a strange sea creature; the sibling rivalry and coming of age in K. T. Ivanrest's "Threshold;" and Tabitha Lord's "Homecoming," in which Odysseus's patient wife Penelope uses some magical wiles of her own in a moment of desperation. All in all, a quality anthology with a good mix of stories.
August 1, 2016
"Sirens" as a theme offers a broad spectrum of literal possibility, from the avian monsters of Greek mythology to the sleek temptresses of the sea. But the writers of this anthology offer an even broader range of interpretations. One of my personal favorites is "Nautilus," by VF LeSann, a delicious tale of AI and a tantalizing call in deep space. Though far removed from the original concept of sirens, it feels right in this varied collection.
I also need to shout out to "Moth to an Old Flame," only only because of the London Blitz setting but because of the delightful premise of a siren in love with a deaf man.
Rhonda Parrish always does a nice job of assembling widely varied but complementary short stories and this anthology is no different. This collection is definitely worth a look if you like to read classic mythology in alternate settings, urban, historical, or speculative, or retellings of the same.
I received an ARC to review but this does not influence my review.
I also need to shout out to "Moth to an Old Flame," only only because of the London Blitz setting but because of the delightful premise of a siren in love with a deaf man.
Rhonda Parrish always does a nice job of assembling widely varied but complementary short stories and this anthology is no different. This collection is definitely worth a look if you like to read classic mythology in alternate settings, urban, historical, or speculative, or retellings of the same.
I received an ARC to review but this does not influence my review.
August 5, 2016
The siren uses voice to lure people to distraction and so to an unfortunate end. This anthology could be a siren in and of itself, as it can lure a middle-aged man away from attending to life's necessary chores such as earning a living. The topic offers fertile grounds for original storytelling because both modern and ancient literature have done so little with it. We have sirens in the sea, in outer space, and in the underground/subway system.
The book is always better, but each story in this book could be the kernel for a movie. Most tales show the siren to be evil, but some justify their harshness pointing to the pollution of the oceans - human eco-terrorism. Other sirens can act altruistic and maternal. Others are very classical in a very modern setting. Each story entertains intensely
The book is always better, but each story in this book could be the kernel for a movie. Most tales show the siren to be evil, but some justify their harshness pointing to the pollution of the oceans - human eco-terrorism. Other sirens can act altruistic and maternal. Others are very classical in a very modern setting. Each story entertains intensely
May 5, 2017
Anthologies are always tricky to rate and review, simply because it is not one story, it is (in this case) 16. Overall, I liked the book. I'm not entirely sure I want to buy a dead-tree version (I bought it on Kindle when it first came out); I'm leaning toward yes, but it's not a strong yes. If I weren't trying to whittle down my ridiculously large library, I more certainly would.
Snapshort reviews of each story.
"Siren Seeking" (Kelly Sandoval): Very enjoyable, it seems like it would be a good story to flesh out. I would love to see more of Thelia.
"The Fisherman and the Golem" (Amanda Kespohl): Another story I greatly enjoyed. It took a few pages for it to click what the deal was with Lucette, but I didn't see who she really was until it was too late. Well done.
"We Are Sirens" (L.S. Johnson) was fantastic. It was an excellent take on "what if the ancient Sirens were still around."
"Moth to an Old Flame" (Pat Flewwelling): Very enjoyable, and a different interpretation on what would it be like if the ancient gods were still around and up to their old tricks. The last line was a bit of a groaner, though.
"The Bounty" (Gabriel F. Cuellar): The unnamed main character was excellent, as was the story itself, and I would love to see more of her. Again, an excellent "What if?" story, and the answer is one of those "Of course!" things.
"The Dolphin Riders" (Randall G. Arnold) was rather disappointing. It wasn't a *bad* story, it just felt kind of flat. I don't think it was the writing, I just think the whole premise and setting just sealed the story's fate for me.
"Is This Seat Taken" (Michael Leonberger) was an excellent suspense story in the Hitchcockian tradition. Even though by the time the story is almost done, you know where it's going, but you still can't look away.
"Nautilus" (V.V. LeSann): Not bad. This is one of the more different stories, in that it's a science fiction tale set in the heart of the galaxy, but it held true to the theme of "sirens-but-not-necessarily-sirens" that's the book's premise. Naut is a different character, but one that you look at and think, "Yeah, that's how humans would treat him," which made him a sympathetic character. Which makes what happens even more surprising.
"Siren's Odyssey" (Tamsin Showbrook) was a very enjoyable read, but this story was also a thematic stretch. The setting was very well developed, as were the characters. The tag-team PoV narration was very well done. I finished it wanting to know what happens next with Alice and Hanna.
"Safe Waters" (Simon Kevin): Again, a thematic stretch (unless you include mermaids in your definition of "sirens"), but other than that it was a very enjoyable story. And, to be honest, I don't think I would have made a different decision than Lina did.
"Notefisher" (Cat McDonald) is the only story out of the collection that I didn't like. I think a lot of it was its heavy reliance on acid, and that was too much for me to overcome with the story that was told.
"Experience" (Sandra Wickham) was, up until the very end, a very enjoyable story. The finale was a let-down, as it seemed very deus-ex-machina. But other than that, it was very good.
"Threshold" (K.T. Ivanrest) was, again, not a bad story. I couldn't see the connection to the book's theme, which distracted greatly and downgraded it a notch for me. All in all, it was okay.
"The Fisherman's Catch" (Adam L. Bealby) is an old-school horror story that was told very well, right down to the requisite twist ending.
"One More Song" (Eliza Chan) is far and away my favourite story in this book. Basically a variation of the hard-boiled detective story, not only are the characters fantastic (especially Mira, the main character), but the world is incredibly developed and left me wanting more. A lot more. As in "I would literally pay real money for a book of these stories."
"Homecoming" (Tabitha Lord) is a retelling of the return of Odysseus, from Penelope's point of view Not a bad story, but not particularly memorable, either.
Snapshort reviews of each story.
"Siren Seeking" (Kelly Sandoval): Very enjoyable, it seems like it would be a good story to flesh out. I would love to see more of Thelia.
"The Fisherman and the Golem" (Amanda Kespohl): Another story I greatly enjoyed. It took a few pages for it to click what the deal was with Lucette, but I didn't see who she really was until it was too late. Well done.
"We Are Sirens" (L.S. Johnson) was fantastic. It was an excellent take on "what if the ancient Sirens were still around."
"Moth to an Old Flame" (Pat Flewwelling): Very enjoyable, and a different interpretation on what would it be like if the ancient gods were still around and up to their old tricks. The last line was a bit of a groaner, though.
"The Bounty" (Gabriel F. Cuellar): The unnamed main character was excellent, as was the story itself, and I would love to see more of her. Again, an excellent "What if?" story, and the answer is one of those "Of course!" things.
"The Dolphin Riders" (Randall G. Arnold) was rather disappointing. It wasn't a *bad* story, it just felt kind of flat. I don't think it was the writing, I just think the whole premise and setting just sealed the story's fate for me.
"Is This Seat Taken" (Michael Leonberger) was an excellent suspense story in the Hitchcockian tradition. Even though by the time the story is almost done, you know where it's going, but you still can't look away.
"Nautilus" (V.V. LeSann): Not bad. This is one of the more different stories, in that it's a science fiction tale set in the heart of the galaxy, but it held true to the theme of "sirens-but-not-necessarily-sirens" that's the book's premise. Naut is a different character, but one that you look at and think, "Yeah, that's how humans would treat him," which made him a sympathetic character. Which makes what happens even more surprising.
"Siren's Odyssey" (Tamsin Showbrook) was a very enjoyable read, but this story was also a thematic stretch. The setting was very well developed, as were the characters. The tag-team PoV narration was very well done. I finished it wanting to know what happens next with Alice and Hanna.
"Safe Waters" (Simon Kevin): Again, a thematic stretch (unless you include mermaids in your definition of "sirens"), but other than that it was a very enjoyable story. And, to be honest, I don't think I would have made a different decision than Lina did.
"Notefisher" (Cat McDonald) is the only story out of the collection that I didn't like. I think a lot of it was its heavy reliance on acid, and that was too much for me to overcome with the story that was told.
"Experience" (Sandra Wickham) was, up until the very end, a very enjoyable story. The finale was a let-down, as it seemed very deus-ex-machina. But other than that, it was very good.
"Threshold" (K.T. Ivanrest) was, again, not a bad story. I couldn't see the connection to the book's theme, which distracted greatly and downgraded it a notch for me. All in all, it was okay.
"The Fisherman's Catch" (Adam L. Bealby) is an old-school horror story that was told very well, right down to the requisite twist ending.
"One More Song" (Eliza Chan) is far and away my favourite story in this book. Basically a variation of the hard-boiled detective story, not only are the characters fantastic (especially Mira, the main character), but the world is incredibly developed and left me wanting more. A lot more. As in "I would literally pay real money for a book of these stories."
"Homecoming" (Tabitha Lord) is a retelling of the return of Odysseus, from Penelope's point of view Not a bad story, but not particularly memorable, either.
March 3, 2018
Sirens are beautiful, dangerous, and musical, whether they come from the sea or the sky. Greek sirens were described as part-bird, part-woman, and Roman sirens more like mermaids, but both had a voice that could captivate and destroy the strongest man. The pages of this book contain the stories of the Sirens of old, but also allow for modern re-imaginings, plucking the sirens out of their natural elements and placing them at a high school football game, or in wartime London, or even into outer space.
Featuring stories by Kelly Sandoval, Amanda Kespohl, L.S. Johnson, Pat Flewwelling, Gabriel F. Cuellar, Randall G. Arnold, Micheal Leonberger, V. F. LeSann, Tamsin Showbrook, Simon Kewin, Cat McDonald, Sandra Wickham, K.T. Ivanrest, Adam L. Bealby, Eliza Chan, and Tabitha Lord, these siren songs will both exemplify and defy your expectations
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I seldom read a collection of stories, but I found myself ordering this book for the works of the above listed authors because I’ve heard about several of them.
This anthology is filled with wonder, magic, and magical creatures. Parrish never disappoints. The authors and their work are exquisitely different from each other and fill the pages with unforgettable characters. You’ll love spending every minute with them. You want enthralling menagerie, pick up this book. You will delve into the world of mythology, demi-gods, mermaids, obsession, lust, violence, golems, hunger, violence, kindness, human/siren interactions, artificial intelligence, feedings, seahorses, whales, science fiction, Atlantis, Goddesses, cruise ships, space, courage, battles, traps, dueling fishermen, sleazy businessmen, faithful wives and not so faithful husbands… You’ll be wanting more of these characters and possibly wanting to read a fully fleshed out novel involving some of the premises in the anthology. The bottom line, you’ll want more!
Featuring stories by Kelly Sandoval, Amanda Kespohl, L.S. Johnson, Pat Flewwelling, Gabriel F. Cuellar, Randall G. Arnold, Micheal Leonberger, V. F. LeSann, Tamsin Showbrook, Simon Kewin, Cat McDonald, Sandra Wickham, K.T. Ivanrest, Adam L. Bealby, Eliza Chan, and Tabitha Lord, these siren songs will both exemplify and defy your expectations
MY THOUGHTS:
I received this book in exchange for my honest review. I seldom read a collection of stories, but I found myself ordering this book for the works of the above listed authors because I’ve heard about several of them.
This anthology is filled with wonder, magic, and magical creatures. Parrish never disappoints. The authors and their work are exquisitely different from each other and fill the pages with unforgettable characters. You’ll love spending every minute with them. You want enthralling menagerie, pick up this book. You will delve into the world of mythology, demi-gods, mermaids, obsession, lust, violence, golems, hunger, violence, kindness, human/siren interactions, artificial intelligence, feedings, seahorses, whales, science fiction, Atlantis, Goddesses, cruise ships, space, courage, battles, traps, dueling fishermen, sleazy businessmen, faithful wives and not so faithful husbands… You’ll be wanting more of these characters and possibly wanting to read a fully fleshed out novel involving some of the premises in the anthology. The bottom line, you’ll want more!
August 12, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It was fascinating! It lures you inside and won't let you go! I promise.
September 26, 2016
i really liked this collection of stories. There were a couple i wasn't too excited about, but the rest were pretty good.
December 29, 2016
I enjoyed this multi-faceted look at Sirens. Each author put a different spin on these mythical creatures and each brought them vibrantly to life. Great read.
March 2, 2017
Initially, I was concerned about how to adequately review an anthology. Rhonda Parrish’s Sirens made it really easy: This book is exceptional. Parrish collected a wide variety of stories about sirens, the mythical creatures that use their voices to sing men toward an inevitable demise. Our world is clearly changing, shifting over time as national and world-wide events shape the dynamics in jobs, relationships, worship, and recreation; not only for humans, but the sea folk as well. These short stories range from futuristic imaginings of alien-esque sirens leading spaceships to their doom, to old-school tales of fishermen and the sirens that, although sometimes accidentally, inevitably alter the courses of their lives. Each of the short stories is well-written, absolutely unique from anything I’ve read before, and touching in its own way.
One thing that readers of my reviews might have noticed about me, is that I really like to connect the books I’m reading with my real life. With Sirens, I took the book with me on a whitewater rafting trip through the Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River and let my imagination run wild as we avoided rocks while careening through Class 5 rapids. If possible, I’d recommend trying to read Sirens near some sort of body of water, if only to get on board with the connection that the sirens themselves have with the water. It adds an extra little bit of magic to an already magical collection of short stories.
Siren Seeking by Kelly Sandoval: The opening story of Sirens comes from the unexpected angle of a siren stumbling her way through the dating world via dating website for paranormals. Whaaat? Yeah. A dating website for paranormals. Is there anything that sounds cooler than that, and how do I sign up? I do wish this short-story had been a little longer, because there were many parts of the story that could have been stand-alone stories due to the sheer potential.
The Fisherman and the Golem by Amanda Kespohl: A lonely fisherman finds himself buying a beautiful golem from a magician in his village marketplace, and discovers that humanity hides in unlikely, and supposedly “empty,” shells. A beautiful story of love, compassion, loss, and healing. This was one of my absolute favorites of the book (and the whole Magical Menagerie series, actually).
We are Sirens by L.S. Johnson: These cool-girl sirens seem to be masters of their world; they control the perceptions of the humans with whom they interact, and manipulate the eddies of emotion through which they drift. At no point did I suspect any yet-to-be-read part of the story, and I ate up every shock, picked my jaw up, and went back for more. There was always more to be had, too.
Moth to an Old Flame by Pat Flewwelling: Immortal forces clash as a siren is forced to become an unlikely hero. Serena, the siren in this short-story, struggles to break free of a love-triangle (or square? maybe rhombus?) that involves Eros (AKA Cupid) and his arrows that incite love regardless of the victim’s will. #ThanksForThat Admittedly, this was not one of my favorite stories, due to the trite humor in the exchanges between characters.
The Bounty by Gabriel F. Cuellar: This super short story is amazeballs. The siren in the story takes a background to the real siren: the insidious will-o-the-wisp, who acts as a lure for the siren. This duo forms the perfect clean up team, and makes me reaaaally glad that I’m not a bad guy. If i had powers like this, this would be a great way to use them.
The Dolphin Riders by Randall G. Arnold: It’s a fairy tale re-write of The Lord of the Flies, and it’s difficult to know who I want to root for in this story. There’s an undercurrent of despair that lurks under the surface of this story, briefly rearing its head occasionally to remind the reader that despite children making up the main characters, the story isn’t meant to be one told to children. This story is deeper than I expected, and I feel like it needs a couple of good reads to really process the social commentary.
Is This Seat Taken by Michael Leonberger: My hackles rose as I read this story, attempting to digest the thought of this married man lusting after the beautiful woman on the train. I wanted to punch is face in, and I really hoped he got murdered, deboned, eaten, as he started to treat his poor wife like garbage and focused his entire attention on a woman he didn’t even know. I’m still irritated about it. That must mean that the author really did his job with this story.
Nautilus by V. F. LeSann: The romantic imagery of Nautilus drifting through space in search of Argonaut inspires awe and a feeling of being a small being in a huge seemingly-empty universe. I think we have all felt as Nautilus feels: alone, misunderstood, used, overlooked. Nautilus is made to feel as “naught” by the crew, and resents the lack of respect and sheer lack of comprehension that human decency doesn’t apply just to human beings. This was one of my very favorite stories in Sirens. Very well written, and the ending left me strangely at peace.
Siren’s Odyssey by Tamsin Showbrook: On the first read, the story is disturbing in an interesting way. On my second time through, I started inadvertently creating connections between the actions of the characters and my own tumultuous relationships. That takes “disturbing” to a whole new level. Who of us hasn’t had a relationship with euphoric moments that have sinister undertones? Or been with someone who uses you, but cares about the pain it causes? If you read Siren’s Odyssey with an open mind, who knows what connections you might make. If you go in looking for relationship connections after reading this review, then find yourself trying to compartmentalize some unresolved ex-directed anger… #sorrynotsorry
Safe Waters by Simon Kewin: I’m not gonna lie: If I could choose a sea creature in which my consciousness would be transplanted, it would be something powerful like an orca. What would you be? Safe Waters offers a tidbit of escapism as Lina takes a vacation from her stressful job and bad breakup in the guise of a mermaid. Simon Kewin challenges our commitment to the life we are “supposed to” have, and teases us with the idea that we can still make decisions that change everything. The story is brief, the characters are interesting, and the premise is liberating.
Notefisher by Cat McDonald: While vividly detailed, Notefisher was a little too abstract for me. It’s one of those times that my “judgey-ness” rears its head, and I leave a story thinking Well, at least it’s semi-resolved when it ends. This didn’t seem to fit into the book as well, due to the abstraction, and, frankly, I was irritated by the use of hallucinogenic drugs to explain the existence of the notefisher.
Experience by Sandra Wickham: Told from the point of view of a siren, Experience gives the reader a warm glowing-but disbelieving feeling at the end, as the plot quickly moves from introduction, to disaster and decision-making, to conclusion. The story doesn’t focus much on the characters, so it was hard for me to feel much for the characters themselves, but their opinions had a little weight. Overall, I liked the story, but I would have enjoyed a little more depth.
One More Song by Eliza Chan: Flat out, this story made me uncomfortable. I read this a handful of months after a very significant domestic battery incident, and found myself becoming tense on the very first page. As this story has the potential to trigger readers with a history of abuse, I thought it was worth mentioning in case other readers have similar sensitivities. Another aspect of the story that is charged with undertones of civil rights and obtaining justice, is the tension between the seafolk (and other paranormals!) and humans as they are forced to share living space due to changing world ecology. This was a unique and thought-provoking short story, and I’d be happy to read other works by Eliza Chan if they are even a little bit as interesting as this.
Homecoming by Tabitha Lord: Sirens wraps up with the more traditional tale of Odysseus and the sea-nymph Kalypso, with a slight twist as the point of view is from Odysseus’ wife Penelope, as well as from Kalypso. The story-telling is stark and unembellished, moving briskly through the scenes as though reporting facts instead of weaving another world or another time. I was confused about the occasional lack of quotation marks around the characters’ conversations, but determined upon a second read-though that the quotations were only missing from the Kalypso sections; possibly this is due to a difference in communication and thought process that a siren might have compared to a human? Overall, I found this to be a strange choice as the finale piece for the book, as there were other, more moving short stories, and the final couple sentences of Homecoming left me uneasy and unable to decipher what emotions I was even supposed to be feeling.
One thing that readers of my reviews might have noticed about me, is that I really like to connect the books I’m reading with my real life. With Sirens, I took the book with me on a whitewater rafting trip through the Cataract Canyon on the Colorado River and let my imagination run wild as we avoided rocks while careening through Class 5 rapids. If possible, I’d recommend trying to read Sirens near some sort of body of water, if only to get on board with the connection that the sirens themselves have with the water. It adds an extra little bit of magic to an already magical collection of short stories.
Siren Seeking by Kelly Sandoval: The opening story of Sirens comes from the unexpected angle of a siren stumbling her way through the dating world via dating website for paranormals. Whaaat? Yeah. A dating website for paranormals. Is there anything that sounds cooler than that, and how do I sign up? I do wish this short-story had been a little longer, because there were many parts of the story that could have been stand-alone stories due to the sheer potential.
The Fisherman and the Golem by Amanda Kespohl: A lonely fisherman finds himself buying a beautiful golem from a magician in his village marketplace, and discovers that humanity hides in unlikely, and supposedly “empty,” shells. A beautiful story of love, compassion, loss, and healing. This was one of my absolute favorites of the book (and the whole Magical Menagerie series, actually).
We are Sirens by L.S. Johnson: These cool-girl sirens seem to be masters of their world; they control the perceptions of the humans with whom they interact, and manipulate the eddies of emotion through which they drift. At no point did I suspect any yet-to-be-read part of the story, and I ate up every shock, picked my jaw up, and went back for more. There was always more to be had, too.
Moth to an Old Flame by Pat Flewwelling: Immortal forces clash as a siren is forced to become an unlikely hero. Serena, the siren in this short-story, struggles to break free of a love-triangle (or square? maybe rhombus?) that involves Eros (AKA Cupid) and his arrows that incite love regardless of the victim’s will. #ThanksForThat Admittedly, this was not one of my favorite stories, due to the trite humor in the exchanges between characters.
The Bounty by Gabriel F. Cuellar: This super short story is amazeballs. The siren in the story takes a background to the real siren: the insidious will-o-the-wisp, who acts as a lure for the siren. This duo forms the perfect clean up team, and makes me reaaaally glad that I’m not a bad guy. If i had powers like this, this would be a great way to use them.
The Dolphin Riders by Randall G. Arnold: It’s a fairy tale re-write of The Lord of the Flies, and it’s difficult to know who I want to root for in this story. There’s an undercurrent of despair that lurks under the surface of this story, briefly rearing its head occasionally to remind the reader that despite children making up the main characters, the story isn’t meant to be one told to children. This story is deeper than I expected, and I feel like it needs a couple of good reads to really process the social commentary.
Is This Seat Taken by Michael Leonberger: My hackles rose as I read this story, attempting to digest the thought of this married man lusting after the beautiful woman on the train. I wanted to punch is face in, and I really hoped he got murdered, deboned, eaten, as he started to treat his poor wife like garbage and focused his entire attention on a woman he didn’t even know. I’m still irritated about it. That must mean that the author really did his job with this story.
Nautilus by V. F. LeSann: The romantic imagery of Nautilus drifting through space in search of Argonaut inspires awe and a feeling of being a small being in a huge seemingly-empty universe. I think we have all felt as Nautilus feels: alone, misunderstood, used, overlooked. Nautilus is made to feel as “naught” by the crew, and resents the lack of respect and sheer lack of comprehension that human decency doesn’t apply just to human beings. This was one of my very favorite stories in Sirens. Very well written, and the ending left me strangely at peace.
Siren’s Odyssey by Tamsin Showbrook: On the first read, the story is disturbing in an interesting way. On my second time through, I started inadvertently creating connections between the actions of the characters and my own tumultuous relationships. That takes “disturbing” to a whole new level. Who of us hasn’t had a relationship with euphoric moments that have sinister undertones? Or been with someone who uses you, but cares about the pain it causes? If you read Siren’s Odyssey with an open mind, who knows what connections you might make. If you go in looking for relationship connections after reading this review, then find yourself trying to compartmentalize some unresolved ex-directed anger… #sorrynotsorry
Safe Waters by Simon Kewin: I’m not gonna lie: If I could choose a sea creature in which my consciousness would be transplanted, it would be something powerful like an orca. What would you be? Safe Waters offers a tidbit of escapism as Lina takes a vacation from her stressful job and bad breakup in the guise of a mermaid. Simon Kewin challenges our commitment to the life we are “supposed to” have, and teases us with the idea that we can still make decisions that change everything. The story is brief, the characters are interesting, and the premise is liberating.
Notefisher by Cat McDonald: While vividly detailed, Notefisher was a little too abstract for me. It’s one of those times that my “judgey-ness” rears its head, and I leave a story thinking Well, at least it’s semi-resolved when it ends. This didn’t seem to fit into the book as well, due to the abstraction, and, frankly, I was irritated by the use of hallucinogenic drugs to explain the existence of the notefisher.
Experience by Sandra Wickham: Told from the point of view of a siren, Experience gives the reader a warm glowing-but disbelieving feeling at the end, as the plot quickly moves from introduction, to disaster and decision-making, to conclusion. The story doesn’t focus much on the characters, so it was hard for me to feel much for the characters themselves, but their opinions had a little weight. Overall, I liked the story, but I would have enjoyed a little more depth.
One More Song by Eliza Chan: Flat out, this story made me uncomfortable. I read this a handful of months after a very significant domestic battery incident, and found myself becoming tense on the very first page. As this story has the potential to trigger readers with a history of abuse, I thought it was worth mentioning in case other readers have similar sensitivities. Another aspect of the story that is charged with undertones of civil rights and obtaining justice, is the tension between the seafolk (and other paranormals!) and humans as they are forced to share living space due to changing world ecology. This was a unique and thought-provoking short story, and I’d be happy to read other works by Eliza Chan if they are even a little bit as interesting as this.
Homecoming by Tabitha Lord: Sirens wraps up with the more traditional tale of Odysseus and the sea-nymph Kalypso, with a slight twist as the point of view is from Odysseus’ wife Penelope, as well as from Kalypso. The story-telling is stark and unembellished, moving briskly through the scenes as though reporting facts instead of weaving another world or another time. I was confused about the occasional lack of quotation marks around the characters’ conversations, but determined upon a second read-though that the quotations were only missing from the Kalypso sections; possibly this is due to a difference in communication and thought process that a siren might have compared to a human? Overall, I found this to be a strange choice as the finale piece for the book, as there were other, more moving short stories, and the final couple sentences of Homecoming left me uneasy and unable to decipher what emotions I was even supposed to be feeling.
November 1, 2016
The Magical Menagerie series has something for everyone. This particular collection is not my favorite simply because I'm not drawn to the mythology of Sirens and all that it encompasses. But, like all the series, the writing is top-notch, and I look forward to the next in the collection as soon as it comes out.
August 7, 2023
This was my least favorite anthology so far by Rhonda Parrish. A lot of the stories were pretty out there for my taste.
April 11, 2025
Review to follow
July 14, 2016
MY REVIEW FOR BOOK CLUB BABBLE:
Rorschach tests are designed to expose the predispositions of our unconscious minds. Submitting a story for an anthology might do the same thing. Rhonda Parrish asked writers to compose a tale, utilizing the concept of sirens, the enchanting songstresses who woo men to their death. The stories, which were selected for the anthology Sirens, include as many different embodiments of these magical creatures as there are descriptions of ink blobs. The variety and creativity displayed in the collection speaks to the individuality of these writers. And, reminds the reader that while we are all different, there is something beautifully human in the ability to build a complex construction from a simple idea.
For more click here: http://bookclubbabble.com/reviews/cre...
Rorschach tests are designed to expose the predispositions of our unconscious minds. Submitting a story for an anthology might do the same thing. Rhonda Parrish asked writers to compose a tale, utilizing the concept of sirens, the enchanting songstresses who woo men to their death. The stories, which were selected for the anthology Sirens, include as many different embodiments of these magical creatures as there are descriptions of ink blobs. The variety and creativity displayed in the collection speaks to the individuality of these writers. And, reminds the reader that while we are all different, there is something beautifully human in the ability to build a complex construction from a simple idea.
For more click here: http://bookclubbabble.com/reviews/cre...
September 15, 2016
Anthologies are always fun because you get a variety of perspectives and styles. I enjoyed the overall flow of this collection. Some of the tales in here were beautifully written and leave a lasting impression. The last story especially, which is the way it should go.
There were only one or two stories that just didn't grab me as much as the others, but they were good in their own right. I definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, especially women.
There were only one or two stories that just didn't grab me as much as the others, but they were good in their own right. I definitely recommend this to fantasy fans, especially women.
Read
August 2, 2016Although I liked the concept of an anthology on Sirens, I was overall disappointed. I did like all the different interpretations of a siren, but most of the stories were clumsy and unsatisfying.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews