Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera:

4 Stars

The William Morris-inspired cover is gorgeous—I want to wallpaper my house with this pattern!

Raven Wynn hasn’t always known it, but she’s on a journey of discovery and sacrifice. It takes her to some dark places, and it isn’t always clear who’s a friend and who’s an enemy. With the limited knowledge she’s been given, Raven must rely on instinct to see her through.

Siren Says weaves Welsh folklore into the modern world in a fascinating tale of familial atonement. Jennifer Herrera includes a helpful guide to the Welsh vocabulary used in the story, as well as plenty of embedded descriptions, so it never becomes confusing.

A distinct cast is introduced—sweet Ash, narcissistic Striker, elusive Cherry, mysterious Delilah, and talented Idris. At one point or another, I suspected every one of them of having a nefarious agenda, which kept me guessing. That said, the pacing of the romantic thread felt slightly off to me; feelings were sometimes developed and then forgotten too quickly. Raven occasionally decided to trust, not always logically, but because it was convenient.

The story as a whole, however, maintains a consistent style: a little dark, a little moody, a little ruthless. I loved the interwoven plant lore and how Herrera doesn’t shy away from life, death, and mourning, presenting them as part of the same cycle.

If you enjoy stories with an interesting magic structure rooted in folklore, self-discovery leading to self-acceptance, and a dash of spice, Siren Says is for you!

Thank you to Putnam for the opportunity to read Siren Says. I received a complimentary copy through NetGalley and am writing this review voluntarily.