About the Book
-
Author:
- Mary Weber
Cover Story: Turn Arrrrroooooound
BFF Charm: Heck Yes!
Talky Talk: M’lady
Bonus Factors: Effie Trinket
Anti-Bonus Factors: Cliffhanger
Relationship Status: Hate to Love You
Cover Story: Turn Arrrrroooooound
Something (or someone) has apparently seriously pissed off the woman on this cover. I’d run, if I were them. When a situation escalates to the point of lightning coming out of a person’s hands, you know shizz is going down.
The Deal:
The kingdom of Faelen has been at war with the kingdom of Bron for a hundred years. Nym couldn’t care less, however; more than a decade of being forced to live as a slave will do that to a person. Unfortunately, fate often makes plans for people without their consent, and for Nym, the fact that she’s an extremely rare female Elemental—with the ability to cause storms and control the weather—has led fate to decide that she’ll be an instrumental part of saving the kingdom from complete collapse. If she can learn to control her powers, that is.
BFF Charm: Heck Yes!
Thanks to what she thinks is a curse, Nym has caused many accidents (i.e., deaths) during her seventeen years. These accidents have led to her being sold at the slave auctions 14 times in 11 years. But none of the incidents were Nym’s fault, not really. In Faelen, people with her abilities are (by law) killed at birth, so she’s had no one to teach her how to live with and control her power. As soon as she gets a handle on what she can do, I’m sure she’ll be much safer to be around. The best part of Nym, however, is the fact that even after 11 years of being mistreated and manhandled, she isn’t broken. She still has moxie and sass and can find the good in people (if it’s there).
Swoonworthy Scale: 7
There are some really great breath-catching moments in Storm Siren. You know, those moments when you can’t help but hold your breath because the characters are thisclose to each other and passions are flaring? I love those moments. Nym’s relationship is also rife with animosity at times, which only adds to the hotness. (I realize this is weird, but I know you know what I mean.)
Talky Talk: M’Lady
Mary Weber has definitely spent time reading fantasy novels. Storm Siren is filled with some of the best of the genre’s themes: royalty, class issues, magical abilities and places, shady members of the royal court and people who are hiding their true selves. That said, the novel never comes across as formulaic or like something I’d read a hundred other times, which says a lot about Weber’s world-building abilities.
Bonus Factor: Effie Trinket
One of the secondary characters in Storm Siren is, at one point, described thusly:
Her curly hair is dyed emerald green, and on top of head is a tiny hat sewn to look like frog eyes. The glittery green scales that make up her clothes clutch her legs and arms like a man’s hunting outfit, but with a bustle coming off the back to give the appearance of a dress. … Drawing closer, I note that the makeup on her upper cheeks is painted to resemble butterfly wings with tiny green jewels dotting the edges. It’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen, and also the most disturbing. Partly because it makes her look like she ate the butterfly …
She’s definitely been reading Effie Trinket’s Guide to Fashion.*
*Someone please write this book.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Cliffhanger
UGH. JUST … UGH.
(I wasn’t completely blindsided, but … WHY YOU GOTTA PLAY US LIKE THAT, MARY?!)
Relationship Status: Hate to Love You
Even though your ending caused me some serious teeth gnashing, Book, the rest of our time together was really enjoyable. So, yes, I will go out with you again, but you best be buying—and I’ll be ordering appetizers, an entrée and dessert—to make up for the angst you’ve put me through.
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson. I received neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Storm Siren will be available Aug. 19.
