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The Siren Tragedies #1
Hubris
Can they defy fate when their enemy wrote the rules?
As a linguistics student and book nerd, Eric didn't think it was his fate to be surrounded by powerful women or to travel a road filled with danger and magic. But when he picks up a dusty vintage book from an antique store, he finds himself surrounded by Light lords, Dark lords, and Sirens-the ancient, winged keepers of a delicate balance between worlds invisible to humans.
Telese, the brazen Siren who appears in Eric's dorm room, has tried to distance herself from humans while working to keep the balance between the Light World, which wants humans to progress, and the Dark World, which wants humans eradicated. After millennia of unwilling loyalty to her all-powerful father-whose orders are as calculated and heartless as his punishments for defying them-Telese fears his latest order could mean the end of humans and Sirens both.
Telese's yearning for freedom and Eric's passion for knowledge bring them together in a dangerous alliance. They must challenge their old beliefs to bring together the warring Light and Dark Worlds, reveal magic to humans, and rally the Sirens against the father-leader who wrote their rules.
Can Eric and Telese save humans and create a united, harmonious system of rule, or will the worlds they must align fall victim to their hubris?
As a linguistics student and book nerd, Eric didn't think it was his fate to be surrounded by powerful women or to travel a road filled with danger and magic. But when he picks up a dusty vintage book from an antique store, he finds himself surrounded by Light lords, Dark lords, and Sirens-the ancient, winged keepers of a delicate balance between worlds invisible to humans.
Telese, the brazen Siren who appears in Eric's dorm room, has tried to distance herself from humans while working to keep the balance between the Light World, which wants humans to progress, and the Dark World, which wants humans eradicated. After millennia of unwilling loyalty to her all-powerful father-whose orders are as calculated and heartless as his punishments for defying them-Telese fears his latest order could mean the end of humans and Sirens both.
Telese's yearning for freedom and Eric's passion for knowledge bring them together in a dangerous alliance. They must challenge their old beliefs to bring together the warring Light and Dark Worlds, reveal magic to humans, and rally the Sirens against the father-leader who wrote their rules.
Can Eric and Telese save humans and create a united, harmonious system of rule, or will the worlds they must align fall victim to their hubris?
388 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2022
2 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Sarah V. Hines
5 books10 followersAbout the Author:
Sarah V. Hines is the author of The Siren Tragedies. She was born in Ohio and currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her half-Bengal, half-demon cat, Balthazar. She majors in International Relations and Anthropology when she has time and money and hopes to work in policy-making someday. Her passions include foreign affairs, comparative religion, fiction writing, digital art and attempting to learn languages (of which she is currently working on Russian and Spanish),
Books have been Sarah's go-to escapism since she began to learn to read at around 2. Her favorite writer is Edgar Allan Poe since she was 7 years old. After reading The Raven and The Black Cat, Sarah decided she would someday write her own books and has been trying to do so ever since. Her favorite memory is just before her 9th birthday when she woke up on Christmas morning to find a beautiful new typewriter underneath the Christmas tree with a note that said: "Dear Sarah, Now you can stop using your mother's typewriter. Love, Santa."
About the Series:
The Siren Tragedies loosely ties in various mythologies with international relations. The series is a story of the price of diplomacy and freedom from a violent system that seems ingrained in the very fabric of existence. Telese, the main protagonist, is a flawed heroine that must confront her violent, megalomanic father, Alexandros, as well as her own darkness that has plagued her since her childhood when she sunk the city of Atlantis and then buried the city of Pompeii. She must rally sisters and nieces that have known nothing but fear of the man that holds their lives by a delicate thread. She must also unite the warring Light World and Dark World who have no interest in working together in order to face the growing threat to humans, sirens and all of existence. The release date for the first book, Hubris, is scheduled for March, 2022.
Sarah V. Hines is the author of The Siren Tragedies. She was born in Ohio and currently lives in Washington, D.C. with her half-Bengal, half-demon cat, Balthazar. She majors in International Relations and Anthropology when she has time and money and hopes to work in policy-making someday. Her passions include foreign affairs, comparative religion, fiction writing, digital art and attempting to learn languages (of which she is currently working on Russian and Spanish),
Books have been Sarah's go-to escapism since she began to learn to read at around 2. Her favorite writer is Edgar Allan Poe since she was 7 years old. After reading The Raven and The Black Cat, Sarah decided she would someday write her own books and has been trying to do so ever since. Her favorite memory is just before her 9th birthday when she woke up on Christmas morning to find a beautiful new typewriter underneath the Christmas tree with a note that said: "Dear Sarah, Now you can stop using your mother's typewriter. Love, Santa."
About the Series:
The Siren Tragedies loosely ties in various mythologies with international relations. The series is a story of the price of diplomacy and freedom from a violent system that seems ingrained in the very fabric of existence. Telese, the main protagonist, is a flawed heroine that must confront her violent, megalomanic father, Alexandros, as well as her own darkness that has plagued her since her childhood when she sunk the city of Atlantis and then buried the city of Pompeii. She must rally sisters and nieces that have known nothing but fear of the man that holds their lives by a delicate thread. She must also unite the warring Light World and Dark World who have no interest in working together in order to face the growing threat to humans, sirens and all of existence. The release date for the first book, Hubris, is scheduled for March, 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 19, 2024
Sirens are complicated beings, and Telese may be the most complex of all. She has the weight of the world on her broken wings, and a fire brewing inside her that may prove to be too much for her and the mortal world. But that same fire may also be their salvation.
Wonderful world and mythology building in this first book of The Siren Tragedies series by Sarah V. Hines. But at the heart of it all, the book is really about family and alliances. Who is worthy of your trust, and who are you willing to put your life on the line for? The relationships slowly come more and more into focus through this high stakes adventure. I look forward to seeing how they evolve further in Book 2, Axis.
Wonderful world and mythology building in this first book of The Siren Tragedies series by Sarah V. Hines. But at the heart of it all, the book is really about family and alliances. Who is worthy of your trust, and who are you willing to put your life on the line for? The relationships slowly come more and more into focus through this high stakes adventure. I look forward to seeing how they evolve further in Book 2, Axis.
March 10, 2018
This book is an entertaining of various mythologies with well-developed characters and a complex plot.
I love all mythology, although most especially Greek. In Hubris, Sarah V. Hines uses Greek mythology for her base while finding the common ground with other mythologies and weaving them in. Hines shows not only creative energy in writing this book but also a level of intelligence in finding patterns throughout different cultures that not all people recognize.
Sometimes this world-building overwhelmed me; I often found myself trying to figure out who was which figure from which mythology rather than paying attention to the story. Sometimes I also had a hard time keeping straight who created what, but that might have been purposeful--after all, do Telese and her sisters even know the full truth about their origins?
The characters are varied and diverse, and many of the Sirens represent people from all over the world. Even Roxy, the leader of the Siren warriors, most closely resembles Australian indigenous people rather than European humans. I would have liked for more of that diversity to have been represented in the forefront of the novel with the main characters, but the diverse minor characters are a start.
Some parts of the plot were a little predictable for me. However, Hines still manages to pull off several twists which I did not see coming. I can't discuss many in detail for fear of spoilers. Suffice to say that I did not expect the one about Van, but once I did, it entirely made sense.
The battle between good and evil and the gray area of morality are so very important to our world right noe, and I think that Hines takes perfect advantage of that. She twists it into a new concept while fitting in some social and political commentary along the way. Needless to say, Hines me had me both laughing and signing with disbelief at the state our world has entered--but maybe if Telese is successful, our own situation won't seem so bleak and hopeless!
All in all, this book is great start for this series. It's tense but humorous with a good balance between plot and character development. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but that just makes me even more excited for the next book. Besides, how can you turn away a book with family drama, backstabbing, and a Dark Lord named Mortimer?
I love all mythology, although most especially Greek. In Hubris, Sarah V. Hines uses Greek mythology for her base while finding the common ground with other mythologies and weaving them in. Hines shows not only creative energy in writing this book but also a level of intelligence in finding patterns throughout different cultures that not all people recognize.
Sometimes this world-building overwhelmed me; I often found myself trying to figure out who was which figure from which mythology rather than paying attention to the story. Sometimes I also had a hard time keeping straight who created what, but that might have been purposeful--after all, do Telese and her sisters even know the full truth about their origins?
The characters are varied and diverse, and many of the Sirens represent people from all over the world. Even Roxy, the leader of the Siren warriors, most closely resembles Australian indigenous people rather than European humans. I would have liked for more of that diversity to have been represented in the forefront of the novel with the main characters, but the diverse minor characters are a start.
Some parts of the plot were a little predictable for me. However, Hines still manages to pull off several twists which I did not see coming. I can't discuss many in detail for fear of spoilers. Suffice to say that I did not expect the one about Van, but once I did, it entirely made sense.
The battle between good and evil and the gray area of morality are so very important to our world right noe, and I think that Hines takes perfect advantage of that. She twists it into a new concept while fitting in some social and political commentary along the way. Needless to say, Hines me had me both laughing and signing with disbelief at the state our world has entered--but maybe if Telese is successful, our own situation won't seem so bleak and hopeless!
All in all, this book is great start for this series. It's tense but humorous with a good balance between plot and character development. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but that just makes me even more excited for the next book. Besides, how can you turn away a book with family drama, backstabbing, and a Dark Lord named Mortimer?
September 28, 2024
Hubris is an incredible blend of a fantasy world mixed into modern culture and factual history. The characters (many female centered protagonists) are very strong, and as complex and authentic as real people are - so you will certainly form attachments. Hines's writing style is very witty, visual, detail-oriented, and the world she created is beautifully conveyed through poetic description; I truly felt as if I was watching a movie of the full adventure - seeing every scene that she painted - and was as passionate on saving humanity as her characters were.
If you are a fan of the magical wielding power of HP, the adventurous and intense underdog spirit of LOTR, as well as the witty and sarcastic humor (and alternate world with mystical beings) of Supernatural, then this book hits!
If you are a fan of the magical wielding power of HP, the adventurous and intense underdog spirit of LOTR, as well as the witty and sarcastic humor (and alternate world with mystical beings) of Supernatural, then this book hits!
March 8, 2024
I started “Hubris” recently and I have loved it. The series is filled with intriguing details and decisions, in which the strong female characters including women of power bring a refreshing outlook. I have enjoyed getting to know and to follow the story of the wide range of diverse characters the author offers. With the mix of Greek mythology and others it has been a thrilling read for me. In short, this book has humor, strong bonds, suspense and war. And through-out my journey has kept me on my toes. I definitely recommend “Hubris”.
August 31, 2018
A great fantasy read!
With ties to different political and social dilemmas across the world and crossover of mythology, this novel is FANTASTIC! It has suspense, war, destruction, and the unbreakable bond of sisters and those who want to fight against oppression and servitude.
READ IT!
With ties to different political and social dilemmas across the world and crossover of mythology, this novel is FANTASTIC! It has suspense, war, destruction, and the unbreakable bond of sisters and those who want to fight against oppression and servitude.
READ IT!
May 27, 2022
Hubris is truly unique and so much fun to read! It was a really unique story, very different from most other current fantasy, not the cookie cutter stuff we've all grown accustomed to. I loved the heartfelt relationships between the characters and cannot wait to delve more into the world of the sirens.
August 5, 2022
If you enjoy fantasy stories with complex villains and strong female characters, this is a must-read! Sarah's writing style is pithy and imaginative. The story is full of magic and suspense. Can't wait for the sequels!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews