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beaniebabybecca's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol
hannahshriver5's review
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death and Violence
whatsemilyreadin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
In the late 2000s, Louisa, a young artist from the deep south, is admitted to Wrynn College of Art in New England, and struggles to prove herself among her elite, mostly rich classmates. She finds herself drawn to her originally removed roommate Karina, and the two begin a torrid, emotional love affair. The story follows the two of them, in addition to Preston Utley, a boy in their class at Wrynn that Karina dates at the same time she's becoming involved with Louisa, and Robert Berger, a painter-turned-adjunct-professor at Wrynn who's battling his own internal conflicts surrounding his place in the art world, over the course of less than a year of their lives.
The reason I'm giving this book four stars instead of five is because I do think the pacing felt a little off. The beginning of the story seemed to stretch on, and the end rushed by very quickly. I also feel as though the inclusion of Preston's POV was only for us to learn information requisite to the plot - he was a compelling character, and I realize his involvement in the lives of the other three protagonists was vital, but I don't think an entire POV was necessary. On the other hand, I felt extremely emotionally connected to Robert, Louisa, and Karina's stories. Louisa really struggled with having to leave behind her family, whom she's very close with (not to mention her grandfather is very sick), in order to pursue her dreams of attending Wrynn, which I can relate to very closely.
Antonia Angress did an incredible job of making each of these characters feel like real, tangible people, and by the end of Sirens & Muses, I wanted nothing more than for each of them to find happiness.
Graphic: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
random19379's review
- 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
5.0
Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Rape, Suicide, Alcohol, and Classism
jneverland's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
erickaonpaper's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Dementia
lovelymisanthrope's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
"Sirens & Muses" follows four artists during a semester at a prestigious and competitive art school, Wrynn College of Art. Louisa is a level-headed, quiet nineteen-year-old who feels completely out of her element. Karina's parents have made a huge name for themselves in the art world, so it feels inevitable that Karina herself will succeed. Preston's home life is rife with turmoil, and he acts out and uses his shock-value art to get a rise from everyone. Robert is a once famous artist who has found himself as a professor at Wrynn. All of these characters have their flaws, and they are all just trying to succeed at the one thing that makes their life worth living.
This novel was pretentious as hell, but that is kind of why I loved it. These characters are artists and they view the world in such a different way. They are outraged by the problems they are facing in America in 2011 and are constantly walking the line between staying true to the art and creating for the sake of beauty, and selling out to a capitalistic society so they can survive in this world.
One big, reoccurring plot point in this novel is the Occupy Wall Street movement that was taking place at the time. Occupy Wall Street was a movement that protested and brought light to the economic inequalities that were taking place, and still truly take place to this day. The government can bail out big banks and multi-billion-dollar companies, but they cannot make higher education affordable? I started college in 2011 and graduated in 2016 with what felt like an insurmountable amount of debt. I completely sympathize with these characters about wanting to continue learning, being told I have to get a degree to succeed, and then feeling slighted when I graduated jobless, with debt that crippled my financial independence. Although I did not pursue an art degree, I did pursue an English degree, and I understand the struggle of feeling like a sell out because we live in this capitalistic world and I need money to survive. I think this one, moderate plot point just hit so close to home that I could not put this book down and led to my 5-star rating.
Of all the characters, I was most drawn to Louisa and Karina. They come from two entirely different worlds, but I wanted to see them both succeed so badly with their art, and their relationship. I think they are the perfect balance to one another, and having that opposite in their life, really helps them succeed with their art. Everyone thinks Karina is perfect and has the most poetic life, but she really struggles and faces real problems that would strike down anyone. She might have been born with an advantage because of her parents, but her life is far from "easy". Louisa has such a strong work ethic and is the real underdog in this story. She comes from a small town and works twice as hard just to be able to afford to stay at this art school. They are the perfect antithesis for each other.
I think Robert provides a good contrast to the other main characters because he shows a potential path they may find themselves on down the line. He has lived through being a young artist and now he has wisdom that he could not see when he was their age.
Preston is a fuckboy and I could do without his parts, but I do think he provided commentary about another type of young artist.
I already want to reread this book, and I look forward to finding more like it to enjoy!
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
b1tchless_ho3's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Moderate: Drug use and Emotional abuse
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
bella_cavicchi's review
- 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
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Alcohol
exeuntomnes's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Sirens and Muses has the perfect atmosphere for a story set in the world of art.
The story follows four different points of view: Louisa, Karina, and Preston, all art students at an elite art school called Wrynn, and Robert, a sulky art professor. We accompany the students throughout their complicated relationships with each other and their dedicated art practices as everything slowly begins to tear apart around them.
This book was both appealing and thoughtful. I really enjoyed the exploration of art, power, youth, and class; it was truly a page-turner from the start. Angress explores each character's personality in a truly unique way and how they are able to relate to their peers and the world around them.
The way each story of the characters masterfully intertwine felt entirely real and fascinating.
This story deeply moved me. I can't truly explain why. I loved the flawed characters, the longing to create something worthwhile, and the messy relationships that truly despict what it is to be part of the art world, the sensitivity and the self-doubt that this entails.
To be honest, the only thing I could say I didn't like or enjoy as much as the rest of the book was that the ending felt a bit rushed, but it was exciting and lovely to be able to read those last passages, which ended the story on a beautiful bittersweet note.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Death of parent, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual assault