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Siren Spell Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings

A modern Russian fairytale retelling of deadly sirens, ballet, and theatre that's perfect for a dark night. In this tale Kirkus calls "strong and insightful", Giselle dreams of dancing in the ballet for which she was named, but her grandmother issues a haunting warning against performing the ballet, lest it lure the vain and deadly sirens who inspired the tale back to town. When the creatures arrive and begin claiming lives, Giselle is forced to choose between her passion for dance and saving the boy who whispers poems to her, snatching backstage kisses.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In this YA novel from Swanson (Perilous: A Ripple Novel, 2015, etc), a ballet-obsessed teenager in Oregon confronts dangerous sirens, her family's mysterious history, and, most frightening of all, the need to forgive her mom.

Foulweather, Oregon, is "bucolic without being idyllic," the sort of town Portlanders visit only if they take a wrong turn. But Foulweather is where Giselle Chekhov and her ballet-fixated family live--despite the danger presented by the enigmatic (and rarely seen) sirens. Giselle's mother runs the ballet studio there. A star dancer, Giselle seems on track for the title role in a story ballet about menacing spirits, the very piece that she is named after. (And, according to her grandmother, the reason why the sirens are being seen again.) The students in levels four and five at the studio "would all kill to dance the part of
Giselle. Giselle Chekhov, however, wouldn't have to. The role had always been hers," Giselle muses. But when her mom declares that Giselle is too tall for ballet, she is forced to attend the drama class at her performing arts high school. Fortunately, there's a sexy boy in the class who makes her feel like she matters. Unfortunately, she has to process her mother's ballet betrayal, her aching for her dancing life, and the maybe supernatural sirens who visit her in her dreams. Swanson sensitively captures a particular teen experience, detailing Giselle's occasional bafflement over her immigrant grandmother and mother's Russian ways, and her drive to succeed at ballet. But while Giselle may face quintessential (or, depending on the reader's point of view, clichéd) teen dilemmas like getting into romantic trouble, she remains an engaging character, with her love for her younger sister especially well drawn. Swanson's prose is strong and insightful. (And funny too at times: those who spent time in high school drama class may recognize the truth in Giselle's arch remark, "Drama students in tears, thought Giselle. What a surprise.") The author doesn't offer many reasons to fear for Giselle--for instance, the audition she feels nervous about ends in a standing ovation. But there's such a strong voice to the characters that it's a pleasure to spend time with them.

A delightful drama with well-done supernatural elements that heighten the themes of anger and forgiveness. --
Kirkus Reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B018055VQ4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Williams Press; 2nd edition (November 14, 2015)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 14, 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1906 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 389 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1702405478
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 108 ratings

About the author

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Cidney Swanson
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With over a million books sold to date, Cidney Swanson is a multi-award-winning author of hopeful adventures featuring characters you'll wish were family. When she's not sending her characters into Sci-Fi or Fantasy peril, Cidney can be found obsessing over her neurodiverse-driven special interests (language, Disney, Mars, and Shakespeare). Cidney divides her year between Oregon and Florida along with her family and entirely too much rain. You can visit her at her eponymous website.

Cidney is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and Novelists, Inc. (NINC). Her awards include the 2014 SCBWI Spark Honor for SAVING MARS, for which she was also named to Kirkus Reviews Best of 2012. In 2020, she was the inaugural recipient of the Good Story Grant.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
108 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and thought-provoking. They describe the book as an amazing read with a wonderful plot and compelling human drama. Readers praise the writing style as outstanding and the author's portrayal of her desires, concerns, and struggles around art. The character development is also appreciated.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Story quality"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find the characters and plot engaging, with compelling human drama. The story is described as a lovely coming-of-age tale with light supernatural elements. Readers appreciate the well-written mother-daughter relationship and find it hard to put down.

"Short version: This is a nicely written coming-of-age story that I'd recommend to anyone interested in: life in a ballet family, negotiating art vs...." Read more

"...It's a good story, well written and affirming." Read more

"...This is a story worth setting aside your washing dishes, putting away clothes, doing paperwork/homework for the duration of the read...." Read more

"...Ms. Swanson delivers an intelligent and thought-provoking story in her book Siren Spell, that I daresay will leave readers spellbound just as it did..." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and engaging. They say it's a wonderful story from a good author.

"I enjoyed reading this book. This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot. I had a hard time putting this book down." Read more

"A wonderful story from a very very good author!..." Read more

"Excellent, as usual..." Read more

"Such an amazing read..." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing style"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the author's writing style. They find it engaging and say she portrays her desires, concerns, and struggles around art well.

"...I think the author excellently portrays her desires, concerns, and struggles around her art -- as well as broader issues of growing pains, family..." Read more

"...It's a good story, well written and affirming." Read more

"...Ms. Swanson, I love your writing. Please don't stop. I can't wait for whatever you choose to share with us next." Read more

"Once again, Ms. Swanson knocks it out of the park. Her writing style is outstanding, and makes this such an interesting story...." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers like the character development. They say it's very character-driven and has a touch of the supernatural, though never overbearing.

"...It's very character-driven, and has a touch of the supernatural though it never gets too dark. This book really resonated with me...." Read more

"...of ballet, myth and Shakespeare references, along with the character development. The story moved along quickly and was hard to put down...." Read more

"I enjoyed reading this book. This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot. I had a hard time putting this book down." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2016
    Short version: This is a nicely written coming-of-age story that I'd recommend to anyone interested in: life in a ballet family, negotiating art vs. life, Russian folklore, immigrant experiences, older vs younger generations. It's very character-driven, and has a touch of the supernatural though it never gets too dark.

    This book really resonated with me. As someone who was once a performing-arts-obsessed teen, the protagonist rang so true. I think the author excellently portrays her desires, concerns, and struggles around her art -- as well as broader issues of growing pains, family dynamics, and "living in two cultures" as the child of immigrants.

    I actually went into the book expecting a darker story with more fantasy/horror elements (like, ballet meets Lovecraft). If that's what you're after, this book may disappoint. But taken for what it *is* -- a coming of age story with some supernatural undertones -- it's lovely. The human drama was compelling and I'm actually glad it wasn't overshadowed by the fantastical elements, which instead catalyze the interpersonal drama and lend some interesting symbolism. (Let's just say that supernatural creatures whose deal is dancing people to death... come across a bit differently to folks whose lives are devoted to dance.)

    The writing style is clear and doesn't draw attention to itself. Part of me wishes it were more lyrical, but given that (a) it's a first-person narrative of a teenage girl and (b) a big theme of the novel is how dreams need to be rooted in reality, I think the more realistic style suits it. There's also a nice use of cultural references, with invocations of Russian folklore and food, ballets and Shakespeare plays, Harry Potter, classical music, and even Star Trek. Perhaps because the culture I consumed/studied as a teenager strongly invokes my own sense of nostalgia, it really helped create the atmosphere for me.

    So even though I went into this book expecting something quite different, I love what it turned out to be. I'd heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in the topics it touches on.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2022
    The conflict in the story is timeless. Mother steps all over daughter's dreams. There is no apology for the hurt. Mother and daughter both suffer. But in the process of working through the pain, Giselle develops greater understanding for her mother, sister, and Grandmother. It's a good story, well written and affirming.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2022
    I have inhaled a multitude of stories in my life. I have stayed up all night consuming a book to the end and I’ve revisited those books that call to me to see what different story I can glean after the 3rd reading. This one was different. I felt as though I was caught in the spell of sirens, dancing, or rather reading against my will, breathlessly until the end.
    Ms. Swanson made the story swirl and spin as it told of Gisselle’s journey to discover forgiveness. This is a story worth setting aside your washing dishes, putting away clothes, doing paperwork/homework for the duration of the read. You may even find that you yourself will be different because don’t we all have someone to forgive?
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2017
    I was introduced to Cidney Swanson's writing through her awesome series, Rippler. I now have a collection of her books on my Kindle and this one was no disappointment.

    What might have been a simple tale of family disagreements, becomes a more haunting recounting of the battle between vengeance and forgiveness when the legendary sirens are rumored to have returned to town.

    Ms. Swanson delivers an intelligent and thought-provoking story in her book Siren Spell, that I daresay will leave readers spellbound just as it did me.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2022
    Cidney has developed the sisters, Giselle and Katya into very rounded individuals that everyone can relate to. It’s also interesting to see the family dynamic between their mother and grandmother woven into their all consuming life in the ballet.

    The sirens of Foulweather make an interesting parallel with both the ballet storyline and Giselle’s Shakespearean roll in a Midsummer’s Night Dream. In many respects this also serves as Giselle’s coming of age.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2018
    I really enjoyed the blend of ballet, myth and Shakespeare references, along with the character development. The story moved along quickly and was hard to put down. I especially liked Grandma Babushka. The stormy relationship between Giselle and her mother was pretty realistic.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2016
    I adore Cidney Swanson's work. I've read her two very different (and completely awesome) series and now this wonderful entertaining standalone story. She works as beautifully in the fantasy genre as in the sci figure genre. Ms. Swanson, I love your writing. Please don't stop. I can't wait for whatever you choose to share with us next.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2018
    I enjoyed reading this book. This book has wonderful characters and a wonderful plot. I had a hard time putting this book down.
    One person found this helpful
    Report

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