A Bookish Sarah

encouragement & bookish things

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Sarah
Welcome, friend! Relax & rest awhile, if you please. I am an ordinary gal, a follower of Christ, mama to Gabriel, Heidi, & Aidan; and wife to Evan. Here on this little blog, I share all manner of bookish things, including full content reviews, writerly snippets, encouragement for everyday life, and a whole collection of names & their meanings.

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Encouragement

Book Review | Siren's Fury

Siren's Fury
Mary Weber

Publisher:  Thomas Nelson
Genre:   Christian Fiction, Fantasy, Medieval, Steampunk
Released:  June 2nd, 2015

{jacket cover}
"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 risked her life to save Faelen, her homeland, from a losing war, only to discover that the shape-shifter Draewulf has stolen everything she holds dear.  But when the repulsive monster robs Nym of her storm-summoning abilities as well, the beautiful Elemental realizes her war is only just beginning.

Now powerless to control the elements that once emboldened her, Nym stows away on an airship traveling to the metallic kingdom of Bron.  She must stop Draewulf.  But the horrors he's brought to life and the secrets of Bron are more than Nym bargained for.  Then the disturbing Lord Myles tempts her with new powers that could destroy the monster, and Nym must decide whether she can compromise in the name of good even if it costs her very soul.

As she navigates the stark industrial cityscape of Bron, Nym is faced with an impossible choice: change the future with one slice of a blade. . . or sacrifice the entire kingdom for the one thing her heart just can't let go.

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WARNING: Possible Spoilers

{The Basics}
SWEET BABY RAYS.

O_O  It's the second book.  The SEQUEL.  Book 1 ended in a total, jaw-dropping cliff-hanger.  SO.  Before you go any further, if you have yet to read Storm Siren, read it!  It's so, so good.  One of my absolute favorites. (You can read my review here, or at the link above.)

Because this is the second of the Storm Siren trilogy, this tale begins right after the "conclusion" of the first.  Essentially, we are thrown right where we were left off.

{Positives}
Nym has been an unloved nobody since birth.  Tossed from slave owner to slave owner, she had yet to experience the camaraderie and love of friendship, until she met Colin and Breck and Eogan.  But in what seems like moments, all she loves is torn from her and she feels alone.  Through it all, faithful Princess Rasha, of the kingdom of Cashlin, stays by her side.  She doesn't sugar-coat the truth, but she doesn't abandon Nym, even when Nym chooses to ignore her sound advice.

{Negatives}
As mentioned above, after losing her Elemental powers to the wicked Draewulf, Nym allows herself to be swayed by the sly Lord Myles in order to gain new powers to defeat the evil.  She truly believes these new powers can help and will save a most beloved friend.  However, had she ignored Myles' snaky wordsss and listened to Rasha, more trouble could have been avoided.  Actions have consequences.

It is implied several times that she and Myles. . . er, collaborate in his bedroom.  NOTHING of the like happens, I assure you, we just see the disapproving looks of the guards.  

In the kingdom of Bron, children are used as soldiers and pilots.  

{Spiritual Content}
It is acknowledged by most that there is a Creator.  Nym eventually comes to believe that she is created for a purpose, and realizes (almost too late) that she doesn't need anything more than what she has already been given.

As an Elemental, Nym has the ability to control the weather and manipulate storms.

Dark magic plays a rather large part in this.  Kinda creepy, to be honest.

{Violence}
VERY gory at times.  Guards and innocents are slain, with chests ripped opened and limbs mutilated and/or missing.  On an airship, we hear that a man was thrown overboard.  Another man is strapped to said airship's hull.

Beatings, bruisings, fights, etc.  Lots of blood, guys, lots of blood.

In a show of power, there is a duel of sorts between two warriors (actually reminded me of gladiators).  One alone is victor, or so we think, until a boy warrior comes in to finish him off.  [SPOILER]  That boy refuses and is beaten nearly to death.  

Upon taking these new dark powers in order to save the world--as Nym truly believes--the potion must fuse with her blood and her ensuing dreams are rather violent.  

Nearly every confrontation with Draewulf is intense and often bloody.

[SPOILER] Draewulf has a Dark Army, which could basically be called the Walking Dead. . . I won't go into detail there. . .

{Language, Alcohol & Drugs}
Curse words such as "litches," "kraken," and "oh hulls."

Alcohol at parties and such.  Mention of drunken guards/men/etc.  

{Love-y-ness}
Nym truly loves Eogan.  We see that in how far she's willing to go to save him.  They kiss a couple times.

{Conclusion}
SO GOOD.  If you read the first, you should definitely be itching to read this one.  I certainly cannot wait till the third and final installment of this trilogy! Mrs. Weber has done a fantastic job in my opinion.  I love her writing style, her characters are each their own--unforgettable, and the story intensely awesome.  Well done! When's the next one comin'??

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Recommended ages:  16+
My rating:

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Comments

  1. I need to start reading this series!
    Hope everything's going well with y'all!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. love your blog omg! i followed you on here and bloglovin :))
    - azia | http://xokxt.blogspot.com/
    bloglovin' | https://www.bloglovin.com/blogs/kiss-me-goodbye-13875313

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