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sjanke2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
RIYL: campus novels, the art world, the haves and have nots, bisexual love triangles, Occupy Wall Street, adjectives
Casting: ironically, Phoebe Bridgers as Karina and Daisy Edgar Jones as Louisa
Casting: ironically, Phoebe Bridgers as Karina and Daisy Edgar Jones as Louisa
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Dementia, Toxic relationship, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Drug use, Grief, Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Mental illness
bella_cavicchi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I wish I could say my enjoyment of SIRENS & MUSES was surprising, but it quite honestly focuses on everything I love: art and nature, coming of age, existence in the recent but not the present, etc., etc. This was a read I savored, and I'm already looking forward to Angress' sophomore novel, whatever it may be about (!)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Suicide attempt, and Sexism
liteartha's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
a striking debut that's left me very eager for future works from the author.
opening on three students and one visiting artist at wrynn, a fictional art school, sirens & muses follows the four over the next year of their lives. half campus novel and half musing on the NYC art scene, angress navigates an abrupt mid-book shift in environment with impressive deftness. the writing is mature, emotionally compelling throughout, and largely incisive in its commentary on class and the commodification of art. angress is clearly very knowledgeable about the contemporary art world and even from my distinctly outsider perspective, it was easy to feel drawn into the setting.
the novel is indulgently ambling, focused more on the interplay of characters and their creative processes over any particular plot. while the four POV characters are treated to fairly equal attention, louisa and karina felt vastly more developed than preston and robert (granted, i was inevitably going to be drawn more to the plot of young sapphic artists and the intimacy of it all—portrait de la jeune fille on feu was not far from my mind at times).
set in the early 2010s, sirens & muses manages to dodge the social and political atmosphere that would follow in short time. preston runs a photography tumblr full of loud and provocative photoshop jobs, the occupy movement is building steam, social media is a very limited part of how the characters interact with the world. in short, the world of sirens & muses feels very much on a precipice the characters aren't aware they're facing down.
there was fat to be trimmed in parts and certain aspects of its commentary that i'd have liked to see expanded more upon, especially in regards to robert's past, but on the whole everything comes to a satisfying if open-ended conclusion. perfect for those looking for art novels and different spins on the dark academia niche. an earnest recommendations from me!
thank you to netgalley and ballantine books for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review
opening on three students and one visiting artist at wrynn, a fictional art school, sirens & muses follows the four over the next year of their lives. half campus novel and half musing on the NYC art scene, angress navigates an abrupt mid-book shift in environment with impressive deftness. the writing is mature, emotionally compelling throughout, and largely incisive in its commentary on class and the commodification of art. angress is clearly very knowledgeable about the contemporary art world and even from my distinctly outsider perspective, it was easy to feel drawn into the setting.
the novel is indulgently ambling, focused more on the interplay of characters and their creative processes over any particular plot. while the four POV characters are treated to fairly equal attention, louisa and karina felt vastly more developed than preston and robert (granted, i was inevitably going to be drawn more to the plot of young sapphic artists and the intimacy of it all—portrait de la jeune fille on feu was not far from my mind at times).
set in the early 2010s, sirens & muses manages to dodge the social and political atmosphere that would follow in short time. preston runs a photography tumblr full of loud and provocative photoshop jobs, the occupy movement is building steam, social media is a very limited part of how the characters interact with the world. in short, the world of sirens & muses feels very much on a precipice the characters aren't aware they're facing down.
there was fat to be trimmed in parts and certain aspects of its commentary that i'd have liked to see expanded more upon, especially in regards to robert's past, but on the whole everything comes to a satisfying if open-ended conclusion. perfect for those looking for art novels and different spins on the dark academia niche. an earnest recommendations from me!
thank you to netgalley and ballantine books for providing this digital review copy in exchange for an honest review
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, and Grief
caseythereader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thanks to Random House for the free advance copy of this book.
- SIRENS AND MUSES is atmospheric, enveloping the reader in the characters' art world bubble.
- It's got a touch of Donna Tartt to it, with the wealthy college students getting wrapped up in each other and their studies, and I think anyone who has ever been in an art program (hi, me) will find some aspects of the story highly, maybe uncomfortably, relatable.
- This book gets really deep into questions about what and who is art for, and while the fine art vs the internet throughline could have been trite, I think it was pretty well done. Additionally, the bits about how so much art has simply become items for wealthy billionaires to trade around...whew.
- SIRENS AND MUSES is atmospheric, enveloping the reader in the characters' art world bubble.
- It's got a touch of Donna Tartt to it, with the wealthy college students getting wrapped up in each other and their studies, and I think anyone who has ever been in an art program (hi, me) will find some aspects of the story highly, maybe uncomfortably, relatable.
- This book gets really deep into questions about what and who is art for, and while the fine art vs the internet throughline could have been trite, I think it was pretty well done. Additionally, the bits about how so much art has simply become items for wealthy billionaires to trade around...whew.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Vomit
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