Review: The Siren by Kiera Cass

Title: The Siren
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Hardcover, 327 Pages
Published January 2016

Summary: Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again. Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude…until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of. And though she can’t talk to him, they soon forge a connection neither of them can deny…and Kahlen doesn’t want to. Falling in love with a human breaks all the Ocean’s rules, and if the Ocean discovers Kahlen’s feelings, she’ll be forced to leave Akinli for good. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.

I have been a big fan of Kiera Cass since I read The Selection series, so I had high hopes for this book going straight into it. Even if it isn't your typical plotline (which is a good, refreshing thing!), her stories always contain just the perfect blend of love and drama to keep you on the edge of your seat, wanting more. 

The concept of this book was like nothing I had ever read before. Kahlen was just a young girl when she was drowning in the Ocean, and in a moment of desperation she swore to do whatever it took to keep herself alive. So the Ocean spared her life -- with the stipulation that, for the next hundred years, Kahlen is to serve as a Siren and lure hundreds of thousands of people to their watery deaths as a way to feed Her and keep her alive. 

It was a chilling concept that I'd never considered before, and it was a bit confusing at first and took a few chapters to understand, but then I was hooked. Watching Kahlen and her sisters in their interesting fantasy life while they also struggled with very real human emotions was heartbreaking -- not to mention the passage of time and their immortality, watching the entire world grow and change around them...and without them.

I enjoyed reading this book. I found the plot line to be something special and intriguing, and Kahlen seemed like a sweet, hardworking character who will do anything to protect those she loves -- even if it goes against the wishes of the Ocean. And as the story progresses, you learn how worthwhile and important of a character Kahlen really is, as evidenced by the Ocean's reluctance to let her go. 

The romance between Kahlen and Akinli was also really heartwarming to read about. Even when Kahlen couldn't speak and disappeared on Akinli multiple times, he never abandoned her or treated her with anything other than utter adoration -- which is prevalent throughout the entirety of the story. They really do end up being each other's twin flames, which is overwhelmingly adorable. (Even if it causes some serious problems at some points in the story -- which I won't spoil for you, so you should read it yourself!)

Overall, I enjoyed The Siren. It's a quick, easy read if you don't have the time to dedicate to a huge novel, and you'll be getting a very intriguing, unique love story in the process. If you have any interest in fantasy or romance, or you loved the Selection books as much as I did, I'd definitely recommend The Siren! Kiera Cass has done it again with another amazing book, and I can't wait to get my hands on whatever she writes next.