21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Concept But...., September 20, 2010
This review is from: Siren (Hardcover)
I wanted to like this book. The plot sounded really cool and this specific fantasy element is one that hasn't been explored much (if at all) in YA fiction. But it just didn't work for me. The beginning was strong and definitely pulled me into the story. But the remainder of the book felt disjointed and I had a hard time following the plot at certain points. Specifically:
- I was pretty surprised at the fact that after the loss of their older daughter, Vanessa's parents were comfortable allowing her to stay in their summer cottage without supervision. It felt forced and unrealistic.
- Speaking of parents, why do ALL the parents in this book seem totally clueless and/or irresponsible. What the hell happened to Caleb and Simon's parents? Their youngest son vanishes and we never hear a peep from them. And the less said about Paige's mom, the better.
- The romance element felt flat to me. I don't mind that it didn't dominate the entire story...but I would have liked it to feel more real than it did. I never got a sense of Simon's appearance at all...nor did I really understand what Vanessa saw in him.
- I'm still trying to figure out what the heck happened at the end of the story.
- Vanessa's total lack of insight about herself, her relationship with her sister, and the big reveal towards the end of the book jarred with her otherwise intelligent and perceptive nature. It felt like there were two Vanessas...one who seemed to be Vanessa and one who popped in once in a while to introduce key, dramatic elements into the plot and then vanish.
In summary, the author is obviously very talented but the story lacks cohesion and the characters were either too flat or schizo to hold my interest. I assume this is going to be a series...I might pick up the next book just to see if the plot gels and comes together more. We'll see.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A dark paranormal mystery with a bit of romance, July 20, 2010
This review is from: Siren (Hardcover)
Tricia Rayburn's Siren, is a paranormal mystery with a nice touch of romance. Are you looking for a suspenseful paranormal novel that doesn't involve vampires, werewolves, or angels? If so, then Siren might be exactly what you need. This quick summertime read follows Vanessa Sands, a teenager looking into a series of mysterious deaths off the coast of Maine.
What I Liked:
- This book pulled me into the story immediately. Not only is Justine's death tragic and suspicious, but the overall atmosphere in Winter Harbor is eerie and intriguing.
- Vanessa is a likable heroine with a family that cares about her. Vanessa's fears feel genuine and endearing, and it is impossible not to hope she is able to find some closure regarding her sister's death.
- Simon is not a 'bad boy' romantic hero. He is a kind, slightly nerdy guy with an interest in meteorology. He and Vanessa have known each other for many years, and when they begin to act on their non-platonic feelings for one another, their changing relationship is presented in a lovely, realistic way. Their romantic scenes together are sweet and sensuous without being overly explicit.
- Winter Harbor is filled with a variety of unique characters that keep the story interesting - snotty Zara, friendly Paige, gorgeous Raina, intelligent Bettina, smitten Garrett, and unsociable Oliver.
- Much like his brother Simon, Caleb is also sincere, thoughtful, and easy to like. Both Carmichael brothers increase this novel's appeal, but I would still consider the story more of a paranormal thriller than a paranormal romance.
- Siren is not afraid to venture into dark territory with several murders and an unremorseful villain. It is spooky and suspenseful, and I often found myself wondering which characters would survive until the end of the book.
- There are quite a few twists in this story, but I think the best one involves a moment when it becomes clear that our understanding of Justine has been dictated by Vanessa's perception of her.
- I liked the way one particular line of dialogue from the very beginning is repeated much later in the story when the stakes are high.
- Layers of this mystery are revealed little by little which keeps the book's pace moving forward at a fast clip, so Siren feels like a very quick read.
What I Wished:
- I wanted more answers. A few aspects of this story are wrapped up too quickly at the end, and there are a couple of story elements that are never explained. I don't mind mysterious or ambiguous endings if it is obvious that the author wanted readers to draw their own conclusions or intended to set up a cliffhanger ending that would leave readers desperate for a second book, but I wouldn't actually classify this book in either of those two categories. It has a fairly conclusive ending that leaves room for a sequel but doesn't demand one, but somehow it still left me wondering if I had missed a few answers along the way. For example, I felt that I had missed the meaning behind "Boo" and didn't fully understand why Justine was able to communicate with Vanessa from beyond the grave. I wanted a bit more resolution and explanation.
- While I like that this story is visually descriptive and almost reads as though you are watching a film, I was not so fond of the way the story sometimes felt a little too much like a cheesy thriller like I Know What You Did Last Summer. Many of the secondary characters seemed conveniently devised to play a single key roll in the plot, and some characters seemed a bit like caricatures at times. A few examples of this include the wise old blind woman, the reclusive old man who happens to have written a book about the town's dark history, and a couple of secondary characters who seem as though they are introduced simply to become the next victims (kind of like the red-shirted ensigns in Star Trek).
- This last note is an extremely nit-picky complaint, but Vanessa's father's nickname - 'Big Poppa' - seemed so laughably odd to me that it took me out of the story each time it appeared. The humorous nickname just did not seem to fit the tone of the rest of the novel.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal mysteries and to anyone looking for a quick summer read with the spooky atmosphere of a small coastal town that finds itself tormented by a slew of unexplained drownings. I was pleased to hear that Siren will be the first book in a trilogy, and I look forward to checking out Tricia Rayburn's middle-grade novels.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely New & Intriguing But..., July 28, 2010
This review is from: Siren (Hardcover)
I know I am the first person to give this book less than a "4 star" rating, but I couldn't help it. Although I love YA fiction, I loved the premise of this story, and I loved the folklore, I couldn't help but be left wanting. The ending was inappropriately placed as I feel much was left to be desired. I wanted to know what happened between Vanessa and Simon, what about Caleb? I know those who have not read the book and therefore don't know what I mean about questioning the relationships between the characters, but I have to throw it in here.
As for the plot, the story had/has great potential (if it becomes a series). If it becomes a series, then I know why I was left hanging on at the end. I agree with the other reviews that it was well written and interesting, but I couldn't help but believe that some of the mythology and folklore could have been explained a little better. I know what sirens are mythologically speaking, but what are they and how are they different in this story? I could try to flesh it out for you, but I don't feel like it was done justice. If the author had been pushed a bit further developing the idea of using a powerful creature like the siren, I believe this story could have been truly superb.
I do believe it is worth reading, if anything to give other writers an idea about how to flesh out their mythologies a little better. As for characterization, that I believe, was done beautifully. Not only were the primary characters interesting, but so were the secondary. Twists and turns definitely kept me reading and I finished the book in a little over a day. It is a wonderful piece to add to my YA fiction collection, but unless there is a series, the best rating I can give is three stars.
I do not regret buying or reading this novel, and I encourage any paranormal/supernatural YA or adult fiction reader to buy and read this novel. It is smart, sweet, but a little under developed, and therefore I cannot join the troops among the 4+ star ratings!
Great job though to Tricia Rayburn and I truly hope this is one of at least a trilogy as Vanessa's fate (both personally and romantically) are definitely left up in the air.
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