*** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Okay. Whew!
I felt like it took me so long to read this, but in reality I just kept getting up to eat.
::Hides face in embarrassment while stuffing mouth with Mac n Cheese::
So. Isle. Where do I begin?
Ah. How about THIS WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SIREN BOOK THAN ANY I'VE READ BEFORE. (AND HOW GORGEOUS THIS COVER IS!!)
Don't believe me?
Okay, normal traits in a YA Siren book: she (because let's face it, it generally is a "she") can turn into a mermaid, usually starts sprouting scales for no reason, finds a group of mermaids, has a crazy voice that lures people, can turn into a monstrous bird. Sometimes.
Okay, traits in Isle: no mermaids at all but instead super powered part demonic creatures that have bird familiars, THE FREAKING LAMIA, did I mention freaky demons? Oh, and we can't forget VENOMOUS DEMONIC CREATURES THAT HAVE SUPER HUMAN STRENGTH. And shapeshifters.
Aren't hooked yet?
Here's where I'll get into some crazy spoilers, so go read it now and come back.
Or don't.
That's totally your loss.
But my overall rating is a solid 4 stars.
And here's why:
The story follows the typical YA structure of they need to do something to get the main character to the place and then the discovering of powers that she's had all her life and (surprise surprise) she's not really human.
Okay.
But! As soon as they started going into the mythology of the world, (I was like "Oh no, another book about sirens" as soon as they said Sirena) I was hooked. I do my research and write about creatures of myth, and one that I haven't heard of in a YA book yet was the Lamia. So imagine my surprise when I read "Queen Lamia..." and I was like oh boy this is going to get great.
And it did.
My issues don't like with the story: I think it was definitely unique and interesting with a world that comes together and falls into place.
My issues was the main character.
I actually couldn't stand her. Until the scene where Alexo is killed in front of her. Because once Aston goes into hiding and her inner demon begins consuming her like a FREAKING POSSESSED person, literally, I was like oh man this is going to get crazy. And it did.
So, unfortunately, I had to take a half star away because the main character was SO WHINEY in the beginning. And, up until that scene where she's going bananas in her own head, her random outbursts of emotion made no sense to me. I don't think it was emphasized enough that she had been told not to show emotions her whole like. Like it was mentioned as an afterthought.
My other issues goes hand-in-hand with that one, which is the writing for the dialogue from Eben. I feel like his dialogue was forced and I couldn't stand it when he was there. I was like ew dude, that's your cousin. Stop oggling her and calling her "girlie." However, he did come in the clutch in the end so I can't say he was useless. I just have to deduct a star because his dialogue felt a bit forced.
Placing those two issues to the side, my favorite characters were Aston, the love interest, and Yael. Aston was like this trickster romantic, if that makes any sense, and I thought he was the best written character in the book.
Yael just makes me want to hold her and tell her everything will be okay.
She's just so freaking precious.
I love her.
And the Elder? They made me so angry I started praying that Nora would kill them. I hope she does in the sequel. Which I will TOTALLY buy.
My biggest like for this book was the way the water played such an important role for them. Between the islands, the seals, the salt water as a cure, I thought it was a clever distraction. It kept me thinking that she might sprout a tail.
But no. SHE TURNS INTO A FREAKING WOLF. A BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOLF WHO NEEDS HUGS AND LOVES AND UGHHHHHH.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this read. However, because of my dislike of Nora in the beginning it was hard for me to want to continue. The only thing in the first half of the book that kept me reading was the world (and Aston and Yael).
But I totally do recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a fresh take on a myth that seems over done toady.
4 stars to this gem.
Okay. Whew!
I felt like it took me so long to read this, but in reality I just kept getting up to eat.
::Hides face in embarrassment while stuffing mouth with Mac n Cheese::
So. Isle. Where do I begin?
Ah. How about THIS WAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SIREN BOOK THAN ANY I'VE READ BEFORE. (AND HOW GORGEOUS THIS COVER IS!!)
Don't believe me?
Okay, normal traits in a YA Siren book: she (because let's face it, it generally is a "she") can turn into a mermaid, usually starts sprouting scales for no reason, finds a group of mermaids, has a crazy voice that lures people, can turn into a monstrous bird. Sometimes.
Okay, traits in Isle: no mermaids at all but instead super powered part demonic creatures that have bird familiars, THE FREAKING LAMIA, did I mention freaky demons? Oh, and we can't forget VENOMOUS DEMONIC CREATURES THAT HAVE SUPER HUMAN STRENGTH. And shapeshifters.
Aren't hooked yet?
Here's where I'll get into some crazy spoilers, so go read it now and come back.
Or don't.
That's totally your loss.
But my overall rating is a solid 4 stars.
And here's why:
The story follows the typical YA structure of they need to do something to get the main character to the place and then the discovering of powers that she's had all her life and (surprise surprise) she's not really human.
Okay.
But! As soon as they started going into the mythology of the world, (I was like "Oh no, another book about sirens" as soon as they said Sirena) I was hooked. I do my research and write about creatures of myth, and one that I haven't heard of in a YA book yet was the Lamia. So imagine my surprise when I read "Queen Lamia..." and I was like oh boy this is going to get great.
And it did.
My issues don't like with the story: I think it was definitely unique and interesting with a world that comes together and falls into place.
My issues was the main character.
I actually couldn't stand her. Until the scene where Alexo is killed in front of her. Because once Aston goes into hiding and her inner demon begins consuming her like a FREAKING POSSESSED person, literally, I was like oh man this is going to get crazy. And it did.
So, unfortunately, I had to take a half star away because the main character was SO WHINEY in the beginning. And, up until that scene where she's going bananas in her own head, her random outbursts of emotion made no sense to me. I don't think it was emphasized enough that she had been told not to show emotions her whole like. Like it was mentioned as an afterthought.
My other issues goes hand-in-hand with that one, which is the writing for the dialogue from Eben. I feel like his dialogue was forced and I couldn't stand it when he was there. I was like ew dude, that's your cousin. Stop oggling her and calling her "girlie." However, he did come in the clutch in the end so I can't say he was useless. I just have to deduct a star because his dialogue felt a bit forced.
Placing those two issues to the side, my favorite characters were Aston, the love interest, and Yael. Aston was like this trickster romantic, if that makes any sense, and I thought he was the best written character in the book.
Yael just makes me want to hold her and tell her everything will be okay.
She's just so freaking precious.
I love her.
And the Elder? They made me so angry I started praying that Nora would kill them. I hope she does in the sequel. Which I will TOTALLY buy.
My biggest like for this book was the way the water played such an important role for them. Between the islands, the seals, the salt water as a cure, I thought it was a clever distraction. It kept me thinking that she might sprout a tail.
But no. SHE TURNS INTO A FREAKING WOLF. A BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOLF WHO NEEDS HUGS AND LOVES AND UGHHHHHH.
Overall, I truly enjoyed this read. However, because of my dislike of Nora in the beginning it was hard for me to want to continue. The only thing in the first half of the book that kept me reading was the world (and Aston and Yael).
But I totally do recommend this read to anyone who enjoys a fresh take on a myth that seems over done toady.
4 stars to this gem.
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