This book switches between the Pov’s of the 2 main characters, Siren Princess Lira and Prince Elian. Every year on a siren’s birthday they must lure a human into the ocean with their song and take their heart. Lira decides to take her heart a few weeks before her birthday and her mother, the cruel sea queen, get very upset and destroys the heart (when a siren steals a heart they become magically bonded to it so destroying it is like destroying a part of them) and for taking the heart early, when her birthday comes her mother has forced her to take the heart of a commoner. Before that, Lira has only taken princes' hearts. Not wanting to lose the disrespect of her people she decides to go against her mother's wishes and steal the heart of the siren hunter, prince Elian. Elian has lived his life on the sea and it is the place he calls home. His kingdom, considered the golden kingdom, sines a blinding light in the sun. It is believed that the royal family’s blood flows gold (which is untrue). Elian has seen Lira once, with her long red hair and has been searching for her so he can kill her. Killing Sirens is Elian’s mission. Right before Lira was about to sing to Elian to lure him into the water, a mermaid pulls her under and tries to fend her off, saying that Elian is treasure (because of his “golden blood”) and she tries to stop Lira. The mermaid is scratching and clawing at Lira, the only thing she can think to do is kill the mermaid. Elian sees them in the water and dives in after them. Once the mermaid is dead Lira goes for the prince but his guards arrive and not wanting to be killed she swims away. Seeing that Lira killed a mermaid, her mother punishes her but takes her song and transforms her into a human. She is told that if Lira does not get the princes heart by the solstice then she will remain a human forever. Being so far underwater and getting used to lungs, Lira passes out to be found by none other than Elian and his crew out at sea. Being a girl floating in the middle of the ocean they keep her alive to learn more about her. While they are out at sea we find out that Elian was told about a crystal identical to the one the sea queen has and if he were to take it he could kill her and all of the sirens. Lira hears this and knowing how to uncover the stone she makes a deal that she will help them find the stone, they are hesitant to say yes. The reason she says that she wants to help is because the sea queen (she does not say mother) took something from her and killed her family. She though has a plan of her own. She would take the stone and use it to overthrow her mother so that she can be the sea queen. While on the ship they spot a siren so the crew captures her. Before they can kill her though the siren starts speaking in her the siren’s language calling them all horrible humans, etc. and being able to understand her Lira responds in that language. The crew, seeing that she can speak that language (it is forbidden in the kingdoms) agree to let her on the mission because of their curiosity. They dock in the ice kingdom. The stone is at the top of the tallest mountain there. As a coming of age thing for the royals there they must hike up the mountain to prove they are of royal blood but Elian believes that there is a back path so that all the royals survive so he makes a deal with the princess there to take them up the mountain. Once at the top of the mountain and at the cave that holds the stone, Lira tells them that it requires siren blood to open. While camping there for the night Lira sneaks off to get the stone for herself. But once she has opened the gate the princess attacks her. Seeing that she is a siren the princess tries to kill Lira. Prince Elian tries to stop them but when she finds out that Lira is a siren she feels betrayed and starts to attack her as well. Elian is a better fighter so he is able to disarm Lira but takes pity and does not kill her. He tells her to leave and never return. But before she can do that the sea queen (who felt the stone being released) shows up to take the stone for herself along with every other siren as an army. Having “helped” her get to the stone her mother returns her to her siren form. Realizing what her mother is going to do, Lira convinces Elian to work with her to defeat her mother. With the stone in hand she is able to speak to the other sirens and try to convince them to join her. They have to fight and only worry about themselves. The sea queen does not care if they die, she only wants power. With a little more talking they decide to join her. With the power of all the sirens with her Lira is able to push her mother off the cliff, to her death. Lira becomes the next queen and they all live happily ever after. Sirens do not kill humans any more and they all live in peace.
I really enjoyed the book! I would have rated it a 4 ½ stars if I could. When the book was described to me they said it was a little mermaid retelling but make it darker and change mermaid to siren and, loving the little mermaid, immediately put it on hold. I have read one other pirate book before this but nothing like this so it was really entertaining. I could have finished this in a day. It was really descriptive so the story was really clear which made it that much more enjoyable.
I would definitely recommend it if you like fantasy or pirates or YA. I loved the characters and story and would definitely recommend it. It is a stand alone book so if someone is looking for one I would tell them this book.
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