Siren's Fury

So, this book was a bit of a quandary. If you'll recall from my review of the first book in this series, I loved the supporting characters but wasn't a huge fan of Nym's unwillingness to fight. I also desperately wished for more world-building and less romance. Picking up Siren's Fury, I mouthed a silent wish that those things would be altered and started reading. Bright side, they were! Down side, not quite the way I'd hoped.

Let's start with the positive points. First off, I was finally given a Nym who had some fire! Granted, it took a decent portion of the story for her to get to that point, but I cheered her on as she finally made actual decisions instead of waffling back and forth. I liked her character much more this time around show more and, although I missed some of the characters from the first book, it made this read much quicker and more enjoyable. Oh sure, Nym's decisions weren't always fabulous. Still, I was happy to see a girl who was willing to fight back. There still wasn't quite the amount of world-building I was hoping for, but Bron did come sharper into focus. This time around I finally felt like I was more firmly settled into the story. While Nym, Rasha and Lord Myles were hatching their schemes, I was right on board.

Sadly, the two things I asked for were there in place of the two things I loved the first time. As I mentioned, my favorite characters weren't in this particular book. I missed Colin's humor, and his ability to break up the monotony. Also Nym spends a lot of time in her head, trying to make heads or tails of the things she has facing her. That meant that all the new characters, including Rasha, didn't get much face time. They felt a little flat. As for the romance? Well, it was definitely much less of an issue in this story. Except, the emotional ties were still very much there. Nym made a lot of bad decisions because of her inability to separate emotion from action.

So, once again, I have to give this book three stars. I definitely enjoyed it much more than the first, and I'm glad to see that Nym is developing as a character! Alas, I don't think I'll be following her to the final book in this trilogy. It's not a bad series, by any means. It's more that I'm looking for something to blow me away. show less

Review Originally Posted At: FictionForesight

In accordance with current FTC Guidelines, please let it be known this book was received through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An Alluring 3.5 Stars!

Siren’s Fury is a Ferris wheel of emotions, complete with up’s and downs, and points where your just lost in the moment.

A Quick Summary:

Please note, this is the second book in this series. Last year I read the first book, Storm Siren, and I immediately fell in love with it.

Although I haven’t done a complete review for Storm Siren, I will say it is well worth the read. Easily a 4 and 1/2 star début! If you haven’t already read the first book, I would suggest starting there. Otherwise, you’ll be quite lost, and that show more simply would not do!

But, I digress. Let’s move on to talk about this newest book in the series, Siren’s Fury!

We left off in Storm Siren with quite the cliffhanger. Suffice to say that Mary Weber decided she wasn’t content with making me wait months and months for the books release. Oh no, she also had to start this book moments before the last book left off. So yes, you do get the joy of feeling your heart-break again! Only this time around, the hope of repair is futile at best.

With the war at a close, and Nym’s nation finally making peace with their long-time enemy, Bron, things should be looking up. Unfortunately, this is a trilogy, and happy times make for poor sequels. Nym’s enemy Draewulf isn’t dead, and she’s lost her elemental ability. With her true love in peril, and the world on the line, Nym must find new power to deal with this most severe threat. However, such a power comes at a terrible price. Worse yet, what if this is exactly what Draewulf wanted her to do? How can Nym hope to overcome such terrible adversity when she was barely victorious the last time?!

The Good:

Emotional doesn’t seem a strong enough word to describe this book. But, without being overly dramatic, it’ll have to do…. Ah screw it, WHY MUST YOU PLAY WITH MY EMOTIONS!? You’re sick! I can’t believe how many feels this book evokes. I was surprised and upset for the first 40 pages, depressed for the next 130, and then I was just really pissed off, till about the last 20. Is it a testament to Mary Weber’s writing skills? Absolutely. Do I resent her for it? Absolutely. Most of all, I loved that I found myself yelling at the book, especially at how stupid Nym was being, and how dark the book stayed. Just ugh. See, I told you, emotional.

I enjoyed how much more information we were given regarding the side characters. It was nice to learn some extra back story about Rasha and Lord Myles. It added to their character arc and gave me a better understanding of why they act like they do. I was especially interested to learn about why Rasha hated Myles as much as she did, aside from the fact that he’s a complete tool. So in that regard, it was quite nice having my curiosity sated.

As always, I really enjoyed Mary Weber’s amazing world-building. You know the old cliché that says “this person was able to make the scene come alive”? Well that’s definitely the case here. The way the setting is described, so detailed and real, it makes you feel like your actually there. The words feel like they fly off the page and transport you directly into Miss Weber’s amazing world. You can almost taste the sea-salt, hear the roaring thunder of a storm raging overhead, and feel the wind whipping your face. Even in the middle of a battle, you can’t help but feel like your there, fighting alongside Nym. I’ve said it before, for me envisioning the story is half the battle. You can have the best characters, and amazing plot lines, but without being able to picture it, it’s all for nothing. Luckily, we don’t have to worry about that here.

The same applies for the imagery. It’s amazing how vivid everything seems. If you want a great example of this, just go back and re-read the scene with the spiders. God I hate spiders. *shivers*

The Bad:

I can’t stress this enough, I really miss the original characters. Yes we still have Nym, and yes we still have Eogan (sort of), but man I really want Breck and Colin back. They added so much more depth and entertainment to the story, that it just felt like this continuance was lacking without them. Especially in regards to the sarcasm and dry humor. That would have come in handy with all of the depressing sadness that surrounded most of this story. I’m still hoping against hope that Colin will somehow magically come back in the next book. I would hope for Breck’s return too, but that seems too good to be true.

Even though it was a major plot point in the story, I really hated that Nym lost her elemental powers. I know that without them she was able to learn more about herself, and about her emotions, and blah blah blah. I know it, I just don’t care. I miss my ridiculously overpowered elemental! With the lack of powers, this book felt oddly reminiscent of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. By that I mean that it felt like a bridge story, filled with emotions and little action. The previous story was great, and hopefully the ending is amazing, but the middle is just rather blah.

Finally, I get that Eogan is the love of Nym’s life. I understand that she is extremely upset because of what’s going on. But man I really wish that so much of the book wouldn’t have been spent going over and over the same thing. For one, it’s extremely depressing. I mean for most of the book Nym is being beaten down and overpowered. It felt sad to read, and not in a good way. I miss the badassery that Storm Siren was filled with. Sure she had her issues, but she fought the whole way. I get the Nym is growing up, I just don’t want to lose what made her such a great character.

Overall:

Siren’s Fury was an emotional sequel that provided us with some much-needed back story and insight into characters we’ve already come to know, including our amazing heroin Nym. While it is a great read, it is not quite as bright and action packed as the first book. Looking forward, I hope that the conclusion to this amazing series brings back the heart-pounding action and romance that drew me in in the first place. Either way I’ll be sure to rant about it the next time around.

*Oh and please, please, please, bring back either Breck or Colin. Or, at the very least, give us a spin-off prequel with one, or both of them in it. Hell I’d even take a short-story, I’m not picky!

(www.FictionForesight.com) show less

3.75 Stars
If you enjoyed Storm Siren, you will want to read this sequel. The YA novel is good, although the story moves slower than the first book in the series and lacks a loveable, humorous character (Colin). It's the middle book, so think less action and more setup for the next one. The ending definitely sped up quickly and convinced me to continue with the series. The cover art is gorgeous!

Net Galley Feedback

A gripping, whirlwind read with deep characters that will leave you breathless at the end.

Riding in on the heels of Storm Siren (book one in the trilogy) Siren's Fury takes up where it left off with a shocking change. Nym's elemental powers are gone! This came as an absolute shock to me since I don't read book descriptions usually so then, during the rest of the story, I kept wondering...When will she get them back? Will she get them back? How will this end?

Just like book one, Siren's Fury is full of descriptive writing and dynamic charters from the complex and curious Lord Myles to the infuriating Draewulf. With her humor still intact, Nym feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders and the desire to do anything it takes to show more stop Draewulf.

I enjoyed this book and truly felt the struggle Nym faces. In my mind she is a stubborn character who will do whatever it takes to do what she thinks is right. Sometimes I found myself arguing with her decisions though most of the time I was rooting along with her. You want to fight for (and with) her as much as you want to wrap her up in a hug and tell her she's loved.

I definitely recommend this to lovers of YA Fantasy and just great fiction in general! It's fast-paced and keeps you guessing until the end. I can't wait to start Siren's Song (book three)!

My rating: 4*
Originally posted on my blog: http://eahendryx.blogspot.com/2016/05/sirens-fury-by-mary-weber-review.html
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I received a free copy of this book for review purposes, but was under no obligation to read the book or post a review. I do so under my own motivation and the opinions I have expressed in this review are honest and entirely my own. show less

I would like to thank Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for granting me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review.

Goodreads Teaser:
""I thrust my hand toward the sky as my voice begs the Elemental inside me to waken and rise. But it's no use. The curse I've spent my entire life abhorring—the thing I trained so hard to control—no longer exists."

Nym has saved Faelen only to discover that Draewulf stole everything she valued. Now he’s destroyed her Elemental storm-summoning ability as well.

When Nym sneaks off with a host of delegates to Bron, Lord Myles offers her the chance for a new kind of power and the whispered hope that it may do more than show more simply defeat the monster she loathes. But the secrets the Bron people have kept concealed, along with the horrors Draewulf has developed, may require more than simply harnessing a darker ability.

They may require who she is.

Set against the stark metallic backdrop of the Bron kingdom, Nym is faced with the chance to change the future.

Or was that Draewulf’s plan for her all along?"

A wild, electric ride, this sequel supplies non-stop drama, emotional roller coasters, and a touch of self-awareness and personal growth. Nym, heartbroken over the loss of her love Eogan and determined to rescue him before Draewolf can completely consume him, races headlong into one long series of potentially life ending experiences. But she doesn't head out alone. With her are Lord Protector Myles and Princess Rasha, both people with their own agendas and powers, but so different from each other that their continued friction causes its own problems.

While this book certainly doesn't lack in the adventure, intrigue, or drama arenas, it felt a bit abbreviated. There was too much material that was glossed over, leaving me to think that there was more going on than was being told. Now I know that is in part because the third book was being set up while this section of the tale was being shared, but the two parts weren't as seamless as I'd have liked. Had they been I'd never have noticed.

But aside from that this sequel did a solid job of expanding the characters in play, and enhancing their stories and our emotional attachment, or abhorrence, to them. It was interesting how Rasha stepped into Eogan's role of being Nym's balancing point, while Myles grew from someone she detested to someone she actually developed feelings for. Feelings beyond disgust that is. As to how those relationships were developed, I'd say that was well done, and for the most part felt as if they were happening as naturally as they could, given the short amount of time that this part of the story takes place in.

Nym's development was interesting to see unfold. She was at times much older than her years, but then something would happen to remind us of how young she still is. And it is her youth that causes many of the problems she and her companions face. For all she's experienced in her short life she's still lacking the necessary years of practical experience that she needs to help guide her decisions. And yet, that youth may be what ends up saving everyone - or dooming them all, including anymore herself. I guess we'll have to wait for book three to learn where things are going to go for Nym and her friends. Those that survive this sequel that is! show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Epic high fantasy set in a captivating world with interesting characters, action packed adventure, and suspenseful plot! I have really enjoyed this series so far and can’t wait to read the final book!

Opening Sentence: Five minutes earlier…

The Review:

To start things off, I have to warn you that this review will contain spoilers for book one. It is pretty much impossible to review this book without giving away some spoilers as to what happened at the end of the last book. So if you haven’t read Storm Siren, I would recommend skipping this review, and I would also recommend you go and read Storm Siren now because this is an amazing series!

Nym was able to stop the war between Bron and show more Faelen, but the price she paid was way higher then she was expecting! Her beloved Eogan has been stolen from her by the evil Draewulf, and now her precious elemental powers are gone as well! She always thought of her powers as a curse, but now that she has finally mastered how to use them she feels worthless without them.

As a ship of delegates are getting ready to take off for negotiations with Bron, Nym decides she should go along. She knows that Draewulf is planning something terrible and even though she no longer has her powers she can’t just stand idly by, and watch him destroy everything she has worked to protect. She also learns that there are new abilities she can obtain that may help her to save the man she loves, but these new abilities are much darker and harder to control then her elemental powers. With war coming and everyone Nym holds dear in jeopardy, she must find a way to defeat Draewulf once and for all!

Nym is just one of those characters you can’t help but love. She is a strong heroine that has been through a lot and she has had to learn to take care of herself. Throughout this book she goes through many difficult changes in her life, but instead of running away like most people would she fights back. Her determination to save the people she loves knows no bounds and even though she makes many mistakes along the way she always tries to do the right thing! You also get to see a much darker side to her personality, and the struggles she endures throughout the book made me respect her even more then I already did. One of my favorite things about Nym is her moody attitude, she can be pretty feisty at times, but she can also be a total sweetheart too. She is such a well rounded character and I can’t wait to see where her story goes next!

The cast of secondary characters is pretty big, so I am just going to talk a little bit about a few of my favorites! To avoid any major spoilers I’m not going to talk about Eon and Draewulf, but I will say they were both written brilliantly! The first person I want to mention is Lord Myles. In the first book he is a pretty minor character and for the most part I didn’t really care about him all that much. But he plays a much bigger part in this book, and I think he was probably one of my favorite characters. He is a sly person and I honestly can’t tell you if he is a villain or a hero. Everything he does is calculated and he isn’t a very honest person, but he has rare moments where his good qualities shine through. The best thing about his character was that he kept me guessing and I loved that.

The only other character I am going to mention is Rasha. She is a princess from the kingdom of Cashlin, and she has been sent as a delegate for her people during this time of war. Her and Nym have developed a good friendship throughout the story and I loved watching them interact together. Rasha is one of the only people that will stand up to Nym and tell her how stupid she is acting at times. She is the type of friend that will hold you accountable for your actions, but she will bend over backwards to help you. There is still much to Rasha that remains a mystery and I am excited to see how things play out for her in the next book.

Siren’s fury is an epic high fantasy brimming with adventure, romance, and intrigue! After the terrible cliffhanger I was left with in Storm Siren, I have been desperate to read this book and it did not disappoint! I will admit that the beginning of the book started out a little slower then I would have personally liked, but it soon picked up and I found that I couldn’t put it down. I love how the story developed and grew from the first book! The world that Weber has created is so captivating and intriguing! There was very little romance in the book, but what was present was perfection! I truly enjoyed the entire cast of characters and each one of them left their own little stamp on my heart! The plot really thickened and while the ending wasn’t nearly as heart wrenching as the first book, it still left me dying to see what’s going to happen next. High fantasy has always been one my favorite genres and this series has quickly claimed a spot in my favorites! I would recommend everyone give this series a try, especially if you are a fan of high fantasy!

Notable Scene:

“What the?” The siren in my veins begins fluttering and beating, like a bird flailing through. I try to jerk away, and for a second, I swear a cry breaks out from my rib cage before the hot surge courses in and cools to harden like doused metal underneath my skin, searing my blood to my bones. The siren’s scream falls silent and there is nothing but heaviness.

My powers.

My ability…

I twitch my wrist at the sky to resummon the storm, but the clouds keep dissipating. What in hulls? I wrench harder, twisting my fingers to claim the night air, the wind, the rain.

Except it’s not there.

It’s gone.

As if my Elemental blood has been drained and I am left a normal non-Uathuil, Faelen person.

“What did you do?”

FTC Advisory: Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins provided me with a copy of Siren’s Fury. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

Siren's Fury is a great sequel. I had a bit of trouble remembering details from book one and reconnecting, but the plot was unexpected, there is a lot of cool and spooky magic and plenty of action!