Storm Siren by Mary Weber

Storm Siren by Mary Weber. Thomas Nelson, 2014. 333 pages.

Reading Level: Young Adults, ages 12-15
Maturity Level: 6 (ages 15-18) and up

Nymia (“Nym” for short) has 14 circles etched on her arm: fourteen circles for 14 owners. She is a slave with a secret that can and has destroyed. Nym is elemental but unable to control her power over the elements. As the story begins, she is bought by yet another owner, but this time Adora, Nym’s latest owner, knows Nym’s secret and intends to use it. A war is raging between the land of Faelen, Nym’s home, and its neighbor, Bron. Adora believes that Nym and others with elemental power are key to winning the war. Nym is plunged into a world of intrigue, court politics, and intensive training. Can Nym learn to harness her power in time to stop Bron? And can she control her rising feelings for Eoghan, Adora’s handsome and mysterious trainer who harbors his own secrets?

Throughout the story, characters —particularly Nym— wrestle with forgiveness and the question of evil. Are we born evil? Can we control ourselves? Colin, Nymia’s friend, muses:

‘I think some of us have to fight harder to choose good over evil because evil’s got it out for them. And maybe it’s because those’re the ones evil knows will become the strongest warriors, recognizing true wickedness when it rears its head.’

Something, a wave, a feeling, a force tingles up through my feet as if the earth beneath is agreeing with his words.

While a Creator is occasionally referenced, answers are focused on the earth and the power of the individual.

Faelen is a medieval fantasy world similar to The Inheritance Cycle and Cornelia Funke’s Inkworld. As such, it has an element of darkness that will make it too dark for younger readers, both in its war-torn setting and in the dark creatures that appear within the story.Like Marissa Meyer, Weber invents her own exclamations instead of characters swearing. Told in the first person, the narration and dialogue are sometimes almost too casual for a fantasy world. Despite this, the plot sweeps readers along until the book’s conclusion —and what a conclusion it is!

Cautions: Sensuality (kisses, physical attraction, prostitution mentioned), Violence (dark themes, fighting), Supernatural (dark magical beings), Character Issues (cutting)

Overall Value: 3.5 (out of 5)

• Moral/worldview value: 3.5
• Artistic value: 3.5

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Christian, Adventure

Cover image from Thomasnelson.com. An ARC of this book was received from the publisher in return for a fair review.