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A review by judearden
Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This is a book about awful characters making awful decisions… what’s not to love?!
I thought each of the four main characters had interesting perspectives and engaging storylines. The characters are definitely the highlight of the book, the author’s ability to write complex people with full emotions who got messy and dirty and did stupid things was what really shined. I hated three of the four main characters, and yet I couldn’t stop reading about them.
I love art, and reading about art, and learning about art, so the plot and the setting were right up my alley. If you’re not as big into art, I could see this book being a bit of a slog.
Sirens and Muses was relatable for me in a depressing sort of way. It was realistic almost to the point where it was hard to read. At times I found myself wishing something good would happen for one of the characters, even if it was unrealistic, just because I needed something happy. Part of why I read is to escape, and Sirens and Muses is just as bleak as our world. This isn’t a fault necessarily, but I do think you have to go into the book in the right headspace. Don’t read this book looking to be inspired lol.
In saying that, I do think there was something inspiring about seeing characters going through things that I’ve gone through, and seeing them persevere. IDK.
I finished this book about a week ago, and as I’ve sat with it I think I’ve decided that my biggest issue with it is that I don’t think the characters really changed all that much. With the exception of Louisa, none of them had their perspectives challenged in a meaningful enough way so as to be impactful, and to incite change within them. Don’t get me wrong, they each did go through subtle changes that I was happy to read about, but most of them were these insanely privileged, intensely bigoted jackasses who, by the end of the story, were only slightly less bigoted jackasses. Maybe that was a purposeful decision to demonstrate the stark realities of the art world…but it wasn’t fun to read about lol.
All in all, I found this book entertaining for two main reasons: 1, because I love reading about art and other struggling artists, and 2, because I love reading about messy characters making bad decisions. It was an entertaining read, but not something that I think will stick with me forever.
I thought each of the four main characters had interesting perspectives and engaging storylines. The characters are definitely the highlight of the book, the author’s ability to write complex people with full emotions who got messy and dirty and did stupid things was what really shined. I hated three of the four main characters, and yet I couldn’t stop reading about them.
I love art, and reading about art, and learning about art, so the plot and the setting were right up my alley. If you’re not as big into art, I could see this book being a bit of a slog.
Sirens and Muses was relatable for me in a depressing sort of way. It was realistic almost to the point where it was hard to read. At times I found myself wishing something good would happen for one of the characters, even if it was unrealistic, just because I needed something happy. Part of why I read is to escape, and Sirens and Muses is just as bleak as our world. This isn’t a fault necessarily, but I do think you have to go into the book in the right headspace. Don’t read this book looking to be inspired lol.
In saying that, I do think there was something inspiring about seeing characters going through things that I’ve gone through, and seeing them persevere. IDK.
I finished this book about a week ago, and as I’ve sat with it I think I’ve decided that my biggest issue with it is that I don’t think the characters really changed all that much. With the exception of Louisa, none of them had their perspectives challenged in a meaningful enough way so as to be impactful, and to incite change within them. Don’t get me wrong, they each did go through subtle changes that I was happy to read about, but most of them were these insanely privileged, intensely bigoted jackasses who, by the end of the story, were only slightly less bigoted jackasses. Maybe that was a purposeful decision to demonstrate the stark realities of the art world…but it wasn’t fun to read about lol.
All in all, I found this book entertaining for two main reasons: 1, because I love reading about art and other struggling artists, and 2, because I love reading about messy characters making bad decisions. It was an entertaining read, but not something that I think will stick with me forever.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault