The Siren

I just read this in almost all the same day! I loved the unique story and take on sirens, how they're still just people and have dreams and desires and struggles. I loved the sisterhood and strong, immediate love and support they had for each other, and even the Ocean's love. Hard to understand a different entity like that in the context of human emotions, and I think it was conveyed nicely.And I loved Akinli!!! Could there be a cuter, sweeter, more endearing character? No way! Every time he spoke, he was so positive, compassionate, selfless, charming, adorable! Of course Kahlen fell in love with him immediately and physically could not live without him! Wow! (And not the bad kind that drives you to the Ocean... ;)My one regret is that there weren't more interactions between them to continue to get to know Akinli and Kahlen together, to watch their adorable interactions. I was hoping for more of that by the end to show that they were still adorable together and so cheerful and optimistic. I want more Akinli! LolI was not exactly expecting the ending, and was actually hoping for a bit more happy ending than what we got, but I guess it still seemed to fit and at least implied the rest of the happy ending. I was actually hoping that Kahlen would get the urge to go check on Aisling after she was gone to confirm she was doing well. I would have liked that extra resolution there, especially with how important she was to the main character, and how her situation and end result might have made Kahlen feel better in her suffering, that she would eventually be able to find happiness like Aisling did as long as Akinli was happy. Obvoiusly, there was more going on in her situation that couldn't end the same way because they couldn't live without each other in the end.It's lovely to think that love exists where they truly are inseparable and they truly give each other reason to live and will be only theirs for eternity. I feel that way about my husband and I. We have been stuck in the "honeymoon phase" for 7 years this week, and despite everyone's assurances that it will fade and we'll eventually be what they consider "normal," we have no intention of ever changing or letting our cute adoration for each other fade. It's a conscious choice and life isn't perfect, but true love exists, that's what fairy tales are based on! It can last forever, and despite life's challenges, you can still be in love even more than the first kiss! Experiencing those challenges and getting through them together should just make you realize even more that you can't get through it all without each other. Thanks to fairy tales for reminding us that it's still possible and not all love and marriage leads to terrible ends. Keep dreaming and waiting for that special someone to give your heart to! <3

http://theinkgobbler.blogspot.hk/2013/07/book-review-siren-by-kiera-cass.htmlTaking a dip (forgive the pun) into other books written by an author you've read is sometimes a little daunting. You have these expectations this author's writing, characters and story, and there's always some tiny part of you that worries, "What if I end up disappointed?" I read the first two books of Kiera Cass's "The Selection" trilogy, and immensely enjoyed myself! I was a little iffy about picking up "The Siren", an older book Ms. Cass had written, but found myself wrapped up in an entirely different story that's interesting in its own way.Don't form any bonds with humans. You can speak to your sisters, and can always commune with the Ocean, but your voice is deadly to humans. You are, essentially, a weapon. Kahlen has lived by these rules for decades now, patiently waiting for a life she can finally call her own. Ever since a fatal boat trip that left her family dead, Kahlen has lived a lonely existence as one of the four sirens, a sisterhood of beautiful girls who help the Ocean feed. But when Akinli, a human, enters her world, she finds the vast Ocean increasingly restricting and can't bring herself to live by the rules anymore. Suddenly the life that she's been waiting for is nowhere near as important as the one she's living now.What I really enjoyed about "The Siren" was its unique take on mermaids--not to mention, these seafaring mythological creatures are perfect reading material for summer! The concept of a sisterhood of sirens who are saved from the brink of death by the mysterious Ocean is something I haven't encountered before, and it was exciting to see how these humans-turned-sirens dealt with such a life-altering change. One of the central issues Kahlen and her sisters deal with as sirens is their responsibility of feeding the Ocean; essentially leading humans to their watery deaths by using their enchanting, deadly voices. At the same time, the sisterhood of sirens have access to a life of luxury, spending their limitless time and money in exotic places and indulging in the richest of foods and clothing. Though whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is another question entirely.Unfortunately, one of the things that did disappoint me a little was Kahlen herself. Sure, she's meant to be beautiful and compassionate, but she's also crazy selfish too! I mean, I would understand why she'd want more for herself, since she's forced to live a lonely life, but still. For example, after falling head over heels in love with Akinli, Kahlen concocts a not-so-genius plan to stay with this mortal boy she loves: She'll stay away from water, marry Akinli, then fake her death a few years later after living a happy, married life. Um, what?! She'd put this boy, whom she supposedly loves with all her heart, through the pain of losing his wife? Not to mention the fact that he's already dealt with death of his loved ones in his life. Yet fully knowing this, she decides that she has to have him for herself, even if it means that he'll get hurt. Eh. A major shake of the head there, Kahlen.Akinli, however, is a pretty good love interest for Kalen in the story. He's sweet and kind, if a little bit on the sensitive side (I think he's cried more than Kahlen has in the book), and falls for Kahlen despite the fact that she can't/won't speak. It takes a huge heart to do that. The other characters in "The Siren", like Ben and Julie, Akinli's cousin and Ben's girlfriend respectively, add an extra touch of sweetness and familiarity to Kahlen's experiences as a human, and they without a doubt create a homey, family feel. Kahlen's siren sisters are also great characters to read about, especially because they each have their own distinct personalities. Take, for example, Elizabeth. She's loud and wild and goes around stealing cars and boys' hearts. On the other hand, Miaka is the gentle, meek, artistic type who grows into herself as the years progress. Aisling is cold and distant, but, as is revealed later on in the novel, for a reason.Another disappointment I found in "The Siren" was the narrative voice. Told from Kahlen's point of view, the narration was a little stilted and awkward. I think the main reason for this is that it sounded really 'tell-not-show', if that makes any sense. In other words, the narration seemed like it was just recounting the past in a rather orderly fashion, instead of showing to the readers what's happening to Kahlen. Maybe it's because the first bunch of chapters take place over a span of years, so you're fast forwarding through a lot of time in fewer pages. Or maybe it's also because there was relatively less dialogue, since Kahlen couldn't speak to Akinli and the other humans lest she bring them to their deaths. But that was actually kind of sweet, since it lead to an incredibly romantic, genuine romance between her and Akinli. Either way, the narrative voice was just a little iffy and not as flowing as it could've been.All in all, Ms. Cass's "The Siren" is a decent novel with an engaging cast of characters and a unique take on classical mermaid folklore, though it could've been even more exciting had the heroine not been so darn selfish, and if the narrative voice had been a little smoother. Nonetheless, I'd say it's worth a read if you're a fantasy YA lover!Rating: 3.5/5