Sirensong: A Faeriewalker Novel [Paperback]

When a queen invites you to court, even if that queen wants you dead, you go. That's what Dana learns at the beginning of SIRENSONG. At least she gets to take her boyfriend and best friend with her. But she also has to take her relentless fight instructor who might or might not be transferring his affections to another, her father, and the queen's haughty son. Almost without fail, I lose a bit of interest when books with fae end up crossing into Faerie. There are the obligatory forests, nasty critters, and not quite normal phenomenons, but I always find the scenes set there--regardless of the book--a bit ho-hum. Sad to say it, but I found that true here too. Fortunately, the last third of SIRENSONG, even set in Faerie, is pretty great. The action, romance, and emotions all kick up ten fold.

Don't expect the same amount of sexy time as in the previous books. There are a few scenes that still push the YA boundary, but they are significantly lighter and less frequent in SIRENSONG. That's not to say Dana doesn't think about sex a lot, she does, but it's in the context of knowing she will never have it and whether or not Ethan will stick around without it. I wish Dana had had more self respect to realize that if Ethan wouldn't stay without sex then she doesn't need to waste her time. In that sense, she took a step back from the strength and intelligence I admired in her previously.

My biggest disappointment with SIRENSONG is the fact that it is the unintentional swan song for the series (Jenna has confirmed that SIRENSONG is the final Faeriewalker book). It is very clearly not written as the final book since many of the extremely compelling storylines threading through the previous books are left hanging. Is the Erlking secretly not as bad as he pretends? Will Ethan be able to accept the physical limitations imposed on his relationship with Dana? Will Dana's mom ever acknowledge her alcoholism and seek help? Why is Dana able to use magic when no other faeriewalker ever could? Will Dana break her vow to the Erlking with Ethan or give her virginity--and her powers--to the Erlking as promised? Precious few of these questions are answered in SIRENSONG.

Overall, SIRENSONG is another fun foray into a faerie infused world, but there are too many questions left unanswered and too many storylines left unresolved in the series as a whole. It isn't a cliffhanger, but it isn't the true series ending either that it needed to be. Jenna has said that she is working on a new YA series and it's clear by now that she has the writing chops to make it another winner. It's just unfortunate that this series won't get the chance to end the way I think Jenna and we readers would have wanted.

Sexual Content:
Kissing. Scenes of sensuality. References to sex

SPOILERS
Sirensong by Jenna Black is the third and finale book in the Faeriewalker series. This one follows as Dana enters the Faerie world because she's summoned by the Seelie Queen. While her and her friends do have a few problems along the way, it's nothing compared to what awaits them at the Seelie court. Dana is accused of murdering Titania's granddaughter.

It was nice to see into the Faerie world and finally go there and all, but this story seemed... well, lacking.

The first half of this book involves preparing for traveling into the Faerie world and the start of traveling through the Faerie world. While I don't mind it when there is traveling, it's kind of dull to have half the book all about travel. Though, when you look at it, it doesn't seem like it's half the book. Anyways, while they're traveling with the Prince, they come under attack by these random creatures. Come to save the day is the "sexy Erlking".

Which by the way, is annoying how EVERYONE is described as sexy, hot, handsome or something along those lines. How good they look, how hot they are, how gorgeous they look, how their outfit makes them look so sexy, etc. Got it, they look hot. No need to drill it into our heads. I think I would have remembered that from the first book when you mentioned it every page. Just saying.

When they arrive at Queen Titania's palace, they met up with her granddaughter for a dinner. After her and Dana talk for a bit, they go to sit down to eat. Only problem is that a bomb goes off and kills Titania's granddaughter. A bomb means one thing: a faeriewalker brought it in. So now Dana has to run with her friends because it doesn't look like she'll survive much longer where she is.

Fast forward to later that day or the next day and Dana figures out, she's not alone. She's not the only faeriewalker. (At this point, I'm pretty much going, well duh! You kept going on how you didn't bring the bomb and you still question maybe you did but don't recall doing it? Really?!)

It seems like some of the characters there are there just to be there. Ethan, I could somewhat see being there as he and Dana wanna have their makeout sessions and talk about how they want to have sex, but can't. Kimber had to come because she's Dana's friend and wasn't going to not come. Plus, well, apparently someone had to make Dana look pretty. And then there's Keane. I get the fact that he's there as a Knight's son and for protection and all that, but he wasn't all *that* good. Plus, it seemed he was more there to annoy Ethan. At least Dana realizes she doesn't like him and he doesn't like her.

Which by the way, why is it a girl who dresses frumpy ends up getting g so many guys lusting after her and she wonders why that's possible? Why can't a girl be a normal girl and ENJOY dressing up once in a while? I'm not saying get all ball gown dressed up, but a nice shirt and a pair of jeans is all it takes. And she has THREE guys after her, which she has no idea how or why. How is that possible if you look frumpy all the time?

But it's okay because the other two guys end up fine without her. Keane decides to go off with Kimber (ah, the reason they both came - to take Dana's mind off of them and to realize they like each other.) And of course, this bothers Ethan and Keane and Ethan have to argue ALL THE TIME because they already hate each other. The Kimber thing just adds to it. And why is it that Ethan and Keane can find time to argue so much when they're ON THE RUN trying to hide from people who want to kill them. Really, it's amazing they weren't captured sooner.

Then... the end... we do find out there's another faeriewalker. So, the Erlking doesn't need Dana to keep her promise about giving him her virginity. In fact, the Erlking is so understanding that he knew she would never do it anyways so he asks if she wants to release it. As long as she doesn't say anything to the faeriewalker about how he is going to try to take her virginity later on, Dana can go have sex like crazy with Ethan or whoever else she wants.

The ending just wrapped up too sweetly, too perfect and too nicely. Jenna took out the other options and gave a quick escape for Dana and the Erlking problem. Things were solved too quickly. It was all clichéd and too easy. I would have liked a bit more trouble.

There were still questions left unanswered. I thought maybe there would be another book to answer those questions, but no. There isn't. It's kind of a disappointment because of that. You leave things hanging and you don't want to answer them because you don't feel like it? Even though you have hinted or played with them all throughout the series.

Still, this book wasn't all that bad. I enjoyed it more than Glimmerglass. I think I would recommend it. But I'm not entirely sure since I'm not crazy about every book in the series.

Dana is a Faeriewalker, someone who can bring technology into the world of faerie and bring faery into the world of mortals. She has limited magic ability, is half fae and half human and is currently heavily guarded as both queens of faerie want her dead.

When Dana is invited to the land of faerie to be presented at court, she doesn't want to go. Queen Titiana has made it no secret that she would prefer Dana dead. But Dana's father tells Dana that she will be safe, that no harm will come to her, and he really doesn't believe that Queen Titania is the one behind the attacks on Dana's life.

Dana goes, under the guardianship of Prince Henry's entourage, but she takes her boyfriend Ethan with her, along with her best friend Kimber and her defense coach, Keane. She worries about her friends, especially Ethan and Keane, as they despise one another. Also, Kimber has a big crush on Keane.

Dana is attacked once on the journey to the palace, but the Erkling, leader of the Wild Hunt, comes to her aid. He takes her back to her father and friends, unscathed. But when they arrive at the palace, exhausted and hungry, there is no time to rest. They are to have dinner with one of the princesses. However, immediately upon entering the dining area, a bomb goes off. Dana is quickly rushed away by her father and friends and as she is told, runs as fast as she can.

At first, she is confused, but then she realizes that only a Faeriewalker could bring a bomb, a human made weapon, into faerie, and that she will be the first person accused. Dana, Ethan, Kimber and Keane begin a long journey back home to Avalon, but the dogs are quickly hunting them. Will they make it in time, or will they find out who really murdered the princess to clear Dana's name?

SIRENSONG is another great action-packed adventure filled with faeries, immortal creatures, romance and mystery. Dana is a superb character trying to find her path in the world, although she belongs to both faerie and human. Juggling her alcoholic mother, the person out to kill her, the Erkling who has marked her and her blossoming relationship with Ethan merge together into a thrilling and magical read. Unfortunately, to this disappointed reader, SIRENSONG is the last in the series. I will miss this wonderful world and its charming and complex characters. If you haven't read the first two books in the series, they are GLIMMERGLASS and SHADOWSPELL.

*courtesy of Romance Junkies

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