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A review by _ckarys
The Syren's Mutiny by Jessica S. Taylor
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
THE SYREN’S MUTINY is the book every reader who loves syrens more than mermaids was waiting for! If you love a good seafaring adventure along the lines of To Kill a Kingdom and Fable, with bloodthirsty syrens, dashing rogues and a mildly steamy romance to keep the blood flowing, I highly recommend trying this one.
This book has everything an adventure at sea needs: dangers at sea, dangers on land, and a cast of deeply addicting and flawed characters to keep the story interesting. While this installment only scratches the surface of the world-building potential, I’m already obsessed with the darkness of the syren lore and how it connects with the superstitions tied to women at sea. These syrens are true predators, and I loved seeing this aspect of their way of life as much as I did seeing the camaraderie and sisterhood that links them in their everyday life.
The characters were certainly the highlight of the novel. Brigid and Caelum were incredible protagonists! They’re both strong and determined in their own right, but they also don’t hide their vulnerabilities, which made them that much more likeable and relatable. I especially loved the way the author handled the descriptions of Brigid’s past trauma and the anxiety that she carries with her from that moment on. It’s no surprise that this incredible characterization also brought to a fantastic romance. I will never stop advocating for the superiority of stories where acquaintances/friends grow estranged only to meet again when they’re older. The chemistry between Caelum and Brigid jumped off the page from their very first scene together, and the author did an incredible job at pacing this relationship, balancing the attraction with moments of misunderstanding and tension. The few steamy moments between them promise such great things from the sequel! Sequel that I will need in my hands effective immediately thanks to that fantastic cliffhanger, which was the perfect gasp-out-loud ending to a book that was hard to put down.
This book has everything an adventure at sea needs: dangers at sea, dangers on land, and a cast of deeply addicting and flawed characters to keep the story interesting. While this installment only scratches the surface of the world-building potential, I’m already obsessed with the darkness of the syren lore and how it connects with the superstitions tied to women at sea. These syrens are true predators, and I loved seeing this aspect of their way of life as much as I did seeing the camaraderie and sisterhood that links them in their everyday life.
The characters were certainly the highlight of the novel. Brigid and Caelum were incredible protagonists! They’re both strong and determined in their own right, but they also don’t hide their vulnerabilities, which made them that much more likeable and relatable. I especially loved the way the author handled the descriptions of Brigid’s past trauma and the anxiety that she carries with her from that moment on. It’s no surprise that this incredible characterization also brought to a fantastic romance. I will never stop advocating for the superiority of stories where acquaintances/friends grow estranged only to meet again when they’re older. The chemistry between Caelum and Brigid jumped off the page from their very first scene together, and the author did an incredible job at pacing this relationship, balancing the attraction with moments of misunderstanding and tension. The few steamy moments between them promise such great things from the sequel! Sequel that I will need in my hands effective immediately thanks to that fantastic cliffhanger, which was the perfect gasp-out-loud ending to a book that was hard to put down.