I just love how Charlotte and Natalie wrote him to be the playful, downright creepy but super fun God I think he ought to be. Sometimes. It's like the side of Hades I didn't know existed but was brought out in a comical way which made Sirenz such an enjoyable book.
Title: Sirenz by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
Pages: 264
Release Date: June 8th 2011
Published by: Flux
Source: Authors (thanks Char and Nat!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
Summary (from Goodreads):
Bickering frenemies Meg and Shar are doing some serious damage at a midnight sample sale when they find themselves arguing over a pair of shoes—with fatal consequences. One innocent bystander later, the girls are suddenly at the mercy of Hades—the god of the underworld—himself. To make them atone for what they’ve done, Hades forces the teens to become special-assignment Sirens, luring to the Underworld any individual whose unholy contract is up.
But just because they have an otherworldly part-time job now doesn’t mean Meg and Shar can ignore life’s drudgeries (work) or pleasures (fashion!). Finding that delicate balance between their old and new responsibilities turns out to be harder than they expected, especially when an entire pantheon of Greek deities decides to get involved. Then there’s the matter of the fine print in their contracts . . .
Meg and Shar are frenemies. The bickering, I'm prettier than you type. Why not when they're like the opposite ends of the teenage spectrum? Shar is the perky, cheerleader looking type, blonde and likes all the sparkly things in the world, while Meg likes everything black, a style that clashes with Shar. When Shar asked Meg to go shopping, they thought everything will be okay, until they found a guy who they both like, and a pair of shoes they'd kill for. Literally. So when "Sweet Jeans" a.k.a. the guy they both liked ended up dead in the subway tracks, the Lord of the Underworld comes swooping in, cutting them a deal. Bring him a soul whose contract is up and he'll make sure they don't go to jail. So they became Sirens, armed with loaded credit cards, a luxurious apartment and powers. But it turns out that Sweet Jeans was the assistant of the man they should usher to the next life, and Hades wasn't exactly telling them everything about their deal...
I haven't laughed as much as I did until I've read this book. It's not that the plot doesn't make sense, it's just that every single character in this book tickled my funny bone, may they be saying sarcastic things or just being unintentionally funny like Meg and Shar. They thought they had it cut out. How difficult can it be? Luring a fashion tycoon to a portal to Tartarus using gifts like enticing men by simply speaking or by looking at them. They had the proper tools. But Meg and Shar didn't know how to use their powers properly, and they didn't know that every time they use it, they turn into Sirenz, with wings and beaks.
The portrayal of Gods and Goddesses couldn't be more up to date than it is here. They are even using modern technology! An iPhone loaded with apps on how to be a Siren? Hades and Persephone on speed dial? The authors attempt to put a modern spin into Greek mythology worked very well in this book. The Gods are their usual playful self, just being a God, trying to take control of what they think is theirs, belittling humans. I think it's more truthful, the way they behaved here, selfish, controlling and being all high and mighty. Those were the qualities of Gods that I'm familiar with and it's nice to read of them again.
Considering how they are frenemies, Shar became an understanding friend to Meg. I loved how they transformed from being a problem child to the best of friends. I'm all for friendship and no matter how hilarious their experience were, Shar and Meg were no fools. Granted, the Gods made them pawns in another game, they were trying to take charge of their own lives, which is difficult to do.
Sirenz is a lighthearted, highly entertaining tale of friendship formed between two unlikely teenagers brought together through the selfish, shallow whims of divine beings. If you like reading about Gods being God-like, selfish, regal, beautiful and all powerful, this is the book for you. Add a dash of fashion, a drop of quirky side characters and a funny storyline, Sirenz is a read you shouldn't miss!
Content (plot, story flow, character):
Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!
Book Cover:
Having shoes on the cover makes a lot of sense once you've read the book.
Having shoes on the cover makes a lot of sense once you've read the book.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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