Title: SIREN Author: Tricia Rayburn
Release Date: July 2010
Rating: 3/5--Mixed Feelings.
One Word Plot: Mermaids?
Good if...you're looking for a beach book
Vanessa and Justine Sands have spent their summers in Maine hanging out with the neighboring Carmichael brothers for almost as long as they can remember. But this year, after a terrible fight with their parents about her future plans, Justine jumps off a cliff to her death. Vanessa doesn't believe that her sister killed herself so she starts digging for answers. It turns out that Justine's death isn't the only one that summer. Dead men are washing ashore all along the coast, and the weather is going crazy. As she searches for clues, Vanessa begins to suspect that there might be a connection between the many deaths. This novel starts out well, but quickly drags. Rayburn's writing has an almost cinematic quality, but that causes problems when things aren't explained clearly and readers are left to infer too much in the action. While the premise of sirens in modern-day North America is fascinating, the idea is not fully explored. Far too much of the book is spent with Vanessa chasing after her sister's boyfriend for answers.
My Thoughts...Mixed. 3/5 rating. Let me say first that this book is worth reading; I do recommend it. Let me say next that it wasn't as amazing as I was hoping it to be. It starts with a the horrible death of Vanessa's sister Justine. Except Justine's death was brushed over. I mean if my sister died I would have been way more distraught, right? Then Simon and Vanessa team up to find Caleb (Justin's bf and Simon's brother) who has gone missing. Simon and Vanessa together is the very best part of this book. There were some heart-stopping moments and loved how there relationship grew throughout the novel. So then the end of the book came and I guess my fault in it was it felt very imcomplete. I guess that's the point of novel two.
On another note, in a lot of ways this novel reminded me of SEA CHANGE by Aimee Friedman. Both set in a small beach town and both involving a local town mystery and possibly mermaids. I liked SEA CHANGE just a little bit more if you are wondering.
2 comments:
Great review. I have this book and Sea Change on my tbr list, so I'll be ordering them very soon. It doesn't sounds like a spectacular story, but I don't mind that. :) Loving the cover.
I've been eying this one, but haven't read it yet. I love siren/mermaid books, but I'm Not sure if I will read this one or not; I hate it when the ending feels incomplete!
Thanks for the review! I'm glad I read it. :)
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