Review: Storm Siren by Mary Weber

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

“My hair slips down my back and shoulders and around my face like fresh snow falling on the forest floor. Pure white. I raise my chin as the buyers stare. Yes. Look. You don’t want me. Because, eventually, accidentally, I will destroy you. It’s what I do.”
Seventeen-year-old slave girl, Nym, should not exist. In a world where Elementals are only born male, and always killed at birth, she is an anomaly at best. At worst, people around her die.
When a court emissary identifies her weather-manipulating ability as a weapon, Nym is purchased and put to work honing her skills. With time running out for the kingdom of Faelen, Nym might be all that stands between it and the technologically-advanced horror racing down upon them—not to mention the rumored reemergence of the monstrous shapeshifter, Draewulf. But some elements even she can’t control.
Nym must decide whom to trust as she’s unleashed into a world of assassins, changelings, and political betrayal surrounding a young king fighting for his throne, a tired nation that has forgotten its calling, and her handsome tutor whose dark secrets could destroy both her people and her heart.

MY TAKE:
This book started out so promising that in my notes I wrote "Kinda hope I had a hard copy because this is the kind of book you savor, turning the pages slowly".

In Storm Siren, Nym is an Elemental slave with the power to control the weather. However, she doesn't really know how to control her power and she ends up hurting her owners. When Adora discovers her at an auction, Adora buys her and forces her to train under Eogan, with the ultimate goal being using Nym and another fellow Elemental to win the war against Bron invaders.

There are so many things going for this book. The world-building is quite good, although at this point, any book that begins with a map reminds me of either Tolkien or Tamora Pierce. The characters, for the most part, are interesting. There are plenty of things happening in the book, so the action is quite fast-paced. My biggest problem with the book? Nym.

In the beginning, I sort of liked Nym. She had a major attitude problem, but her back story explains why. Her compassion was also nice. However, as the story progressed, I became more and more annoyed with her to the point that unless it made logical sense, I would either roll my eyes. What was it exactly that angered me? She was so self-centered and her self-pity started to burden her character. It was always about how she felt and how she was going to live with herself if she did something. I understand what Nym wants, but why doesn't she just follow Eogan's advice?

I usually like female heroines who fight in wars. However, if Nym didn't have any powers, she most definitely would NOT be someone I want with me in battle. She's too unpredictable and soft. Without her powers (and her occasional compassion), she would not be an asset in the battlefield. Hopefully, she'll be a tougher warrior in the second book. It's a good thing the rest of the book is pretty solid, and the plot twists are interesting. Otherwise, this book would score pretty low.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. Their world is interesting.
2. There were a couple of unexpected plot twists.
3. The book makes you care about most of the characters, or at the very least, feel strongly about them. 

THE BAD:

1. Nym can be annoying and self-centered.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The delicious scents of baked bread and roasted meats seep from the covered platters they're carrying, permeating the cherrywood walls and lush, silver floor carpets.

READ IT IF:

1. You like books wherein the female heroine has powers.
2. You like books with epic wars.
3. You like rich, well thought-out worlds. 

RATING:


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