"There are few things more exciting to discover than a debut novel packed with powerful storytelling and beautiful language. Storm Siren is one of those rarities. I'll read anything Mary Weber writes. More, please!" -JAY ASHER, New York Times bestselling author of Thirteen Reasons Why "Storm Siren is a riveting tale from start to finish. Between the simmering romance, the rich and inventive fantasy world, and one seriously jaw-dropping finale, readers will clamor for the next book-and I'll be at the front of the line!" -MARISSA MEYER, New York Times bestselling author of the Lunar Chronicles "I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don't want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you." As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn't merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth-meaning, she shouldn't even exist. Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell.
But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war or be killed. Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she's being prepared to fight ...not to mention the trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons. But what if she doesn't want to be the weapon they've all been waiting for? Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win. "Readers who enjoyed Marissa Meyer's Cinder series will enjoy this fast-paced fantasy which combines an intriguing story line with as many twists and turns as a chapter of Game of Thrones!" -Dodie Owens, Editor, School Library Journal Teen "Weber builds a fascinating and believable fantasy world. Inventive and entertaining." -Kirkus Reviews "[F]antasy readers will feel at home in Weber's first novel ...a detailed backdrop and large cast bring vividness to the story."
-Publishers Weekly "Readers will easily find themselves captivated. The breathtaking surprise ending is nothing short of horrific, promising even more dark and bizarre adventures to come in the Storm Siren trilogy." -RT Book Reviews, 4 stars
I am torn about Storm Siren! For the most part, I was bored and at times annoyed or frustrated. But that final page! OMG! It was fantastic! I want to know what comes next, but then again, I don't want to be bored or frustrated if the sequel is more of the same. I don't think it will be, but I don't know. But seriously, that last page...I did not see that one coming!
Storm Siren started off well enough. Nym is definitely a Negative Nancy, which took some getting use to, but I found that I actually liked her that way. It wouldn't make sense for her to be all happy and optimistic, since she's a slave and has been sold fifteen times! She's also killed people with her Elemental ability that she can't control. And there's all of the terrible stuff she's gone through as a slave, including getting her hand broken, leaving her crippled. She doesn't have much to smile about, and I actually admired her being able to backtalk those who choose to talk down to her because of her position. She'll probably rub a lot of readers the wrong way, but I liked her.
As for what frustrated me about Storm Siren, I'm one of those readers who once they notice an inconsistency can't let it go! After Nym is purchased and brought to the castle, they dye her hair so no one knows that she's an Elemental. She'd probably be killed otherwise, even though she's the only female. But her owner also sends her out to practice controlling storms. Wouldn't someone notice odd changes in the weather every single day? Especially when she's calling down lightning and blowing up trees! And an avalanche! I'm sure the castle has no close neighbors, but any neighbors probably wouldn't notice her hair. So the hair dye is to keep her hidden from the people in the castle, who are close enough to notice all of these crazy storms! But no one ever notices! Most of the book is about Nym learning to control her power, so I was quite distracted thinking about this.
In the end, I kind of like Storm Siren. I loved the premise of this only female Elemental being used as a weapon in war, and things do get quite exciting near the end. But nothing happens for most of the book, which left me bored on top of my frustration at the above mentioned oversight. I did predict one of the twists at the end, but it's one of my favorite type of twists: when something believed to be just a story or legend turns out to be true! But then that last page...no freaking way! I honestly did not expect that and really want to know what happens!
