The Siren

By Kiera Cass

Kiera Cass is one of those sweet, simplistic writers that is perfect for young girls and ladies.  She doesn't need to push boundaries to match the culture. She doesn't need to use crude language or sexual situations to draw you in. She just tells a story, a beautiful story about people drawn together. The Siren is one of those stories. 

Kahlen was crossing the Atlantic on an ocean liner when the Ocean called to her. When Kahlen answered Her amid all the chaos and death of everyone else from the ship, the Ocean welcomed her in to become one of Her own, a Siren. Kahlen, with 2-4 other Sirens, is transformed into a deadly messenger. Whenever the Ocean needs to "eat", the Sirens call and sing all passengers to death.

Eighty years later, Kahlen is still a Siren. She only has 20 more years before she will be released from her sentence, but each passing year weighs heavily upon her. She is the only Siren that has nightmares about what they have done. She keeps a scrapbook about all the passengers she sings to their death.  She does not live in the present but clings to the past. The other Sirens she lives with do not understand her and encourage her to change, but it is just not Kahlen. All she has ever wanted was to fall in love and get married.

But one day, that all changes. She meets a boy. And not just any boy, but a special one. Akinli does not shy away from her quiet nature. (Sirens cannot speak or sing in front of anyone or the Ocean will claim them). He does not fear her different ways. In fact, he is a perfect complement for her. And just as she feels as if he could be the One, she leaves to save him and herself from pain and lose. She is Siren, she cannot age for 20 more years, she cannot speak, and she cannot give away the secret of the Sirens. He would just grow old in front of her and not understand the mystery of her. So Kahlen leaves, pulling her sisters with her to move somewhere else and withdrawing further into herself.

Love has other ideas though.  After a extremely difficult singing, Kahlen "runs" away and ends up right by Akinli, as if they are linked. It had been months since she left, but he takes her in as if it were only yesterday.  They spend a magical, perfect day together, but Kahlen makes a mistake, opening her mouth, speaking a single word. In that instant, Kahlen trades her life for his, adding more time to her sentence in exchange for his safety and life. And though that is sad enough, things are not that simple.

Even though Sirens cannot get hurt or experience pain, Kahlen starts to fall ill. She cannot swim underwater like she used to; she cannot sing to death the way she did before.  She is extremely fatigued, sleeping long hours even though Sirens do not need to sleep. And it's not just her. The other Sirens report back that Akinli has the same symptoms. The two are linked, and just when all hope is lost about saving them, the Ocean finally shares the secret that could save them both.

What I liked: Again, Kiera Cass is a wonderful writer. Her style is straightforward but engaging, sucking readers in. You want to know what happens. You grow closer to these characters even though they aren't real. They are easy to read but sweet and satisfying. The characters are realistic and complex, but unique and fresh. Kiera Cass also wrote The Selection series, and I felt those were just as wonderful!

I would recommend this book, and The Selection series, to ANY middle school and young adult girl. They are amazing books!