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_stellalovesbooks_'s review against another edition
5.0
persefoni's review against another edition
4.0
If you've got a heart for pirates, killer sirens, and fantastical lands, then I say this book is for you.
The Pros
-Compelling characters: They've all got personalities, and ones that makes us want more, more, more. Not a page goes by when I'm not smiling because of one character or another making just the right snipe to make me smile.
From Lira, the siren princess, and Elian and his crew of siren hunters, all the way to most minor of characters (the circus doctor, perhaps?), there isn't one character in this book whose backstory I wouldn't love to have a book dedicated to. But most of all, I loved that these characters had ambition in their bones that made the story move. They all had a reason for what they were doing, (thus, thankfully not always going on and on about love and whatnot). For the most part, at least, they knew their priorities.
-AMAZING WORLD BUILDING: This, by far, was my favorite part of the whole book. The kingdoms, the history behind each one, the legends the author gives each ruling family, the hierarchy between sirens and mermaids in the Sea kingdom. The specific languages spoken, even. I was so floored whenever any world building was mentioned, and were probably the parts that I was always so excited to come by in the book.
The Cons (Unfortunately)
-The World building: It was so much, that one book shouldn't have been just it! There was so many things happening that by the end, I've given myself a huge headache and couldn't read past most descriptions of the settings. Everything seemed rushed and I could barely keep up. I firmly believe that this story could've been and should've been told in more than one book. A trilogy or even just a duology.
All the lore, the other kingdoms mentioned, and we never get to visit most of them, let alone hear about them, even by mention of name. (Though I understand naming would be hard since there's allegedly 100 of them and we only got to see like 5 of them). It was like being given a huge, voluminous cake, and just as you finished one spoonful of it, they snatch it away. Your growling stomach be damned.
-The Romance: This wouldn't be the first time I got nit picky about a romance in a story, and it won't be the last. But unlike other stories, I was actually rooting for this one to hook me in. I'm always a sucker for Enemies-to-Lovers trope, so I was so sure that I'd love the romance. But beyond their constant witty flirting with each other, Lira and Elian's love story never seemed to be compelling enough for their actions in the later part of the book to make sense. The love fell flat, sorry to say.
Don't get me wrong, I loved their conversations, their character comparisons, etc. I just felt the story skipped points where they could've spent more time building something between each other.
Despite all that, however, it was still a good read that I'd be able to recommend to any friend.
katiesims's review against another edition
4.0
isabellahood35's review against another edition
3.0
jessisquishy's review against another edition
5.0
Me ha encantado se me ha hecho un libro interesante y entretenido, con unos personajes muy diferentes y entrañables. Además el tema de las sirenas es algo que me gusta mucho y que además está muy bien llevado.
maverhoeff's review against another edition
5.0
ashuno_105's review against another edition
4.0
cynthia5539's review against another edition
4.0
cilly_karma's review against another edition
2.5