August 12, 2014

Storm Siren Blog Tour: Dream Cast, Review + Giveaway

http://theunofficialaddictionbookfanclub.blogspot.com/2014/07/ffbc-blog-tour-storm-siren-storm-siren.html

Welcome to my stop on the Storm Siren blog tour! Today I have my dream cast along with my review of the book to share - and don't forget to enter the giveaway! To follow the rest of the tour, click on the banner above.


Storm Siren (Storm Siren #1)
Author: Mary Weber
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)

Description:

“I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you.”

In a world at war, a slave girl’s lethal curse could become one kingdom’s weapon of salvation. If the curse—and the girl—can be controlled.

As a slave in the war-weary kingdom of Faelen, seventeen-year-old Nym isn’t merely devoid of rights, her Elemental kind are only born male and always killed at birth — meaning, she shouldn’t even exist.

Standing on the auction block beneath smoke-drenched mountains, Nym faces her fifteenth sell. But when her hood is removed and her storm-summoning killing curse revealed, Nym is snatched up by a court advisor and given a choice: be trained as the weapon Faelen needs to win the war, or be killed.

Choosing the former, Nym is unleashed into a world of politics, bizarre parties, and rumors of an evil more sinister than she’s being prepared to fight . . . not to mention the handsome trainer whose dark secrets lie behind a mysterious ability to calm every lightning strike she summons.

But what if she doesn’t want to be the weapon they’ve all been waiting for?

Set in a beautifully eclectic world of suspicion, super abilities, and monsters, Storm Siren is a story of power. And whoever controls that power will win.
 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18806259-storm-siren?ac=1
 
Here are some picks for my dream cast of the book!

Jennifer Lawrence as Nym
Laura Benanti as Adora
Jennifer Stone as Breck
Logan Lerman as Colin
Chris Hemsworth as Eogan
Storm Siren is the first book in a sensational new YA fantasy trilogy. The story is about Nym - a girl who has been a slave since a very young age. Nym is also an Elemental - which aren't supposed to exist anymore, and it's a known fact that there are no female Elementals. Except Nym. She's always hated her "curse" and the destruction that she brings to those around her. Nym believes that she's doomed to lead a terrible life as a slave and that it would be better for everyone if she were dead. One day when Nym is being sold at a slave auction, her powers are unleashed in front of the entire marketplace. When she wakes up, she's told that a very wealthy woman - who is one of the King's highest court - has taken her in. Adora - Nym's new mistress - tells her that she can learn to use her gift in order to protect the people of her country in the terrible war that's been raging for years. Finally, her life could mean more than a peasant slave who bears the guilt of the curse she carries. Will Nym be able to control her powers and save the people of Faelen? Is she capable of being the greatest weapon that the kingdom has?

I wasn't sure what to expect when I started this book. I don't read a lot of fantasy novels, so I just sort of jumped right in. I was immediately sucked into the world that the author created. It's a dangerous yet beautiful world that has similarities to our own - but there's also big differences, like Elementals. The concept of Elementals completely intrigued me. I loved learning all about them - their history, their powers, the lore - it was all really fascinating. I hope that the author gives us more background and history in the next book. The characters were all very well rounded, especially Nym. She's been a slave for the majority of her life; has been beaten and her left hand is even permanently maimed. As an Elemental, Nym should have been killed at birth just for being what she is. It's also well known that there is no such thing as a female Elemental - except that's exactly what Nym is. She's not sure why she's the exception to the rule, but feels like it's a heavy burden and curse that she must bear throughout her life. I loved watching her character slowly transform in the book. She starts out as a snarky girl who is full of shame and guilt, but as she learns to control her powers and is given the chance to fight in the war to save her kingdom's people, Nym gains self confidence and starts to come into her own. The other major characters in the book - Nym's quirky new mistress Adora, the blind slave named Breck who befriends Nym, Colin - another Elemental like Nym and also Breck's twin brother, and finally Eogan - the handsome and mysterious man who is training Nym to control her powers - are all very well written. They each have distinctive personalities with strengths and flaws like everyone else - which made them feel all the more realistic to me. By the end of the book I felt like I knew each of them personally and that I had experienced everything right alongside Nym.

The plot was full of action along with political intrigue, twists and turns, and romance. The author did a wonderful job meshing all the different genres together to create an original and fresh new series. There's lots going on throughout the book, which had me devouring each page as fast as I could in order to find out what was going to happen next. I don't do spoilers, so I'll just say this: the ending turned everything upside down and backwords. Talk about something you didn't see coming until it smacks you in the face and leaves you reeling. Overall, I found this to be a phenomenal book in what promises to be an amazing fantasy trilogy. The writing had a quick pace and a natural flow with tons of vivid imagery and detailed descriptions. Like I mentioned earlier, I was immersed fully in the story from very early on and I didn't come up for air until after it was finished. And I'm still thinking about the book and the ending. Needless to say, I very highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy, as well as readers who enjoy well written stories with an unique story. I'm definitely counting down until the release of the next book and will likely be re-reading this one at least a couple more times in the interim.


An Epic New Fantasy!!
Aside from Goodreads, I hang out on FACEBOOKTWITTER, and my BLOG. Come say hi!

Officially though: Mary Weber is a ridiculously uncoordinated girl plotting to take over make-believe worlds through books, handstands, and imaginary throwing knives. In her spare time, she feeds unicorns, sings 80’s hairband songs to her three muggle children, and ogles her husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. They live in California, which is perfect for stalking L.A. bands, Joss Whedon, and the ocean. She likes orange trees, tattoos, and ALL the music. ;0) 

BOOK 1 in my YA fantasy STORM SIREN trilogy releases Aug 2014 from Thomas Nelson, HarperCollins. Eep!

AUTHOR LINKS:

2 comments:

  1. Great selected cast Steph!
    Any other interesting title from Mary that you can suggest me to read?

    Stay well,
    Amy
    Books that I like the most

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Amy! Storm Siren is actually the first book I've read by Mary so I can't recommend any others right now. I definitely suggest reading Storm Siren though! :)

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