Sound of Sirens by Jen Minkman--A Review

SYNOPSIS:

An ancient land protected by a Tower of Light,
its people ever tempted by Siren song,
and a girl who falls for the wrong boy.

On the island of Skylge, electricity is only for the Currents – the rich ruling class who once came from across the sea and brought the holy fire of St. Brandan to Skylge. Ever since, the light in the Brandaris Tower has protected the islanders. Heeding the Siren's call will drown your body and steal your soul, but the sacred light in the Tower will chase the merfolk away.

When Skylger girl Enna welcomes her brother back from a long sea voyage, he gives her a special present from the mainland – an electronic record only playable on a Current device. The problem is that Royce Bolton, Current heartthrob and the town’s most gifted pianist, wants it too. After she stubbornly refuses to sell the LP featuring his favorite artist, he suggests sharing the record by secretly meeting up in his private summer house. Taken aback yet thrilled, Enna agrees – and discovers that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to Current society and the history of Skylge. Why do the Sirens tempt the islanders to give themselves up to the sea? And where does the Currents’ monopoly on electricity really come from? 

While struggling with these questions, Enna begins to fall for Royce, risking everything to be with a guy who is clearly wrong for her. She will learn that the sound of Sirens isn’t the most treacherous thing out there to haunt her dreams.

(The setting of Tales of Skylge is loosely based on the Dutch island of Terschelling, or Schylge in the island’s dialect. Although the names and places in this book will sound very familiar to people living on the island, the characters and events are, of course, entirely fictitious in nature.)

FROM MY PERSPECTIVE:

Jen Minkman's  Sound of Sirens, is the prequel to the Tales of Skylge series and once again, Jen presents the reader with a thought provoking tale about our perception of history and how much is really as it has been recorded for us.    Jen is a master at character development and Enna is the female protagonist.    She is young and lives with her father and a brother who travels the seas.   She is of course envious of his travels and she loves the music he returns to their island with---for her.   But how can she play it and hear it when she is of the skylge culture and has no access to electricity?

Enter the male protagonist, Royce.   He is of the upper class known as the Currents and he has access to electricity, but he doesn't have a copy of the lp she has and he also wants to listen to it.   With very little in common, these two youngsters into an agreement that will achieve both of their goals.   And with their strange agreement comes information, a threat of repercussions and the finding of a lost book which depicts history has been changed  and recorded as something it was not.    So how will they reach a truth?   And how will history be corrected?   One night of celebration breaks into a cultural revolt and all heck breaks loose.   Young hearts are broken as is trust.

I love Jen's remarkable skill at storytelling and endearing the characters to the reader.    I look forward to more from this young Dutch author....I am hooked!

I rated this read a 4 wink read.

Disclaimer:  I read for my pleasure.   I may receive ARC copies for review purposes, but I am not compensated for my reviews .  I like to read and I like to share my reviews.   I post my thoughts without prejudice or bias.  The words are mine and I write reviews based on my humble opinion.  I will admit, I seldom meet a book I don't like. I received a complimentary copy from the author or the author’s representatives in exchange for an honest review.