In Review: The Siren's Realm (The Tethering Series Book 2) by Megan O'Russell
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Silence in the Library, LLC
ASIN: B00V8RYJKQ
I received an early copy for review for the Xpresso Book Tour. The book is available now in e-formats. It's the second installment in the series and not a standalone book. If you haven't already read the first book, The Tethering, you'll be lost as events of the first book are merely skimmed over.
So let's review. Jacob Evans was a normal kid who fell for an extraordinary girl, Emilia Gray, but it turns out that Jacob was pretty extraordinary himself, and after the death of his father he took his rightful place among magic kind. But the girl wasn't his, and his training couldn't fully prepare him for her kidnapping. He risked everything to save Emilia, and he did save her, but ended up tethered to her for life. He bound his life to hers forever to save her, even though she wasn't in love with him.
Now, for Jacob, though, he wouldn't have it any other way. All he ever wanted was to be with Emilia. He's always had a connection to her, the tethering merely brought them closer together, making it the least of their worries.
Magickind is at war, and the opposing faction, the Dragons, are gaining power with the Gray Clan standing alone. And maybe worse of all, Emilia's long lost father is the dreaded leader of the Dragons, their Pendragon.
Desperate to find a way to stop the Pendragon, Emilia is forced to seek answers from someone who hasn’t been seen in seventeen years… Her mother. Embarking on a magical journey filled with witches, wizards, centaurs and a dangerous and powerful Siren, Jacob and Emilia must take a leap of faith to a land neither could have ever imagined… and hope they can then find their way home.
This is another solid outing for Megan O'Russell. The pacing is much quicker than the previous one, which is a good thing. The better thing is the evolution of the relationship between Emilia and Jacob. The only thing missing is the brooding and bickering that's normally found in a YA novel, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
As Emilia and Jacob learn the depth of her father's depravity, they realize the only way to ensure the safety of the family they know is to leave them. With the world building done in The Tethering O'Russell is really able to focus on the story, building more twists with plenty of character development.
From the beginning, Jacob's life has been that of ridicule, shunning and abandonment. Yet somehow, Jacob has grown into a strong and caring young man. He continues it show his dependability, especially for Emilia. Not only has his character grown, but so has his abilities, which will be interesting to see where it goes as the series continues.
But this story is really about Emilia this time around. After the events of the Tethering, she's left battered and broken by the betrayals of her boyfriend, Dexter, and the father she never knew. Emilia had always been the strong confident one, but this time around she's weakened by fear, one that she has to overcome, to find her way again. With Jacob by her side, you know she'll find her way back to herself. Their relationship really is brilliant, and it's evolution is really a highlight.
The biggest complaint is how unfriendly the novel is to new readers and the heavy use of magical terms. While there is little explaining of backstory, there is a lot pausing in storytelling to explain spells. the use of magic bogs down the story at times, rather than propelling it forward, but once book reaches midpoint, it really picks up and doesn't stop until the finale.
The Siren's Realm is a great follow-up to The Tethering. The characters and world are expanded, and O'Russell has really hit her stride with this one. The Siren's Realm is available now.
Purchase:
AUTHOR BIO:
Megan O’Russell is thrilled to have published her premier novel The Tethering with Silence in the Library Publishing. Originally from New York, Megan is a professional actress who spends her time traveling the country for different shows. When not on stage or writing, Megan spends time with her beloved ukulele and her wonderful husband. To follow Megan’s writing adventures, you can visit her website atmeganorussell.com.
Author links:
http://meganorussell.com/
Great review! This sounds like a great fantasy/magical read and I like how well developed it seems overall! Glad you liked it! :)
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