Title: Songs From the Deep
Author: Kelly Powell
Publication Date: November 5, 2019
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Pages: 304
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//I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review//
A girl searches for a killer on an island where deadly sirens lurk just beneath the waves in this gripping, atmospheric debut novel.
The sea holds many secrets.
Moira Alexander has always been fascinated by the deadly sirens who lurk along the shores of her island town. Even though their haunting songs can lure anyone to a swift and watery grave, she gets as close to them as she can, playing her violin on the edge of the enchanted sea. When a young boy is found dead on the beach, the islanders assume that he’s one of the sirens’ victims. Moira isn’t so sure.
Certain that someone has framed the boy’s death as a siren attack, Moira convinces her childhood friend, the lighthouse keeper Jude Osric, to help her find the real killer, rekindling their friendship in the process. With townspeople itching to hunt the sirens down, and their own secrets threatening to unravel their fragile new alliance, Moira and Jude must race against time to stop the killer before it’s too late—for humans and sirens alike.
Songs from the Deep caught my eye with its gorgeous cover and the promise of sirens pulled me in completely. This book is a fascinating combination of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I loved the way the author wove sirens into a story that seems so firmly rooted in reality without going fully into the world of magical fantasy. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book entirely like it.
Moira is the heroine of this story. She prefers to play her violin on the cliffside where she can see the sirens so many others fear. When one of her students is found dead, supposedly at the hands of the sirens, she is the only one who feels something isn’t quite right. Moira was such an interesting, strong character. I loved how she stood up to the authorities to fight for what she believed was right.
Jude is the keeper of the lighthouse and an old friend of Moira’s. The death of Moira’s student brings them back together and their relationship begins to grow into something a bit more and I was here for all of it! I loved the dynamic between these two. Moira was definitely the more headstrong of the two, while Jude was a bit more calm and collected. Their relationship was so organic and sweet, although not always easy, and I loved them.
The atmosphere of Songs from the Deep was wonderfully crafted and made me feel like I was on this little island that’s haunted by sirens right along with the characters. The writing is lyrical and, while it was a bit slow at times, it did grow on me and I loved the mood the author brought to the story. It was the perfect environment for a murder mystery.
Speaking of mystery, this one certainly kept me guessing! I had some suspicions right away, but there were plenty of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I loved that the sirens were not automatically the big bad in this book. Still, I did wish there had been a bit more of the murdery sirens that are mentioned so often on the page.
Overall, I really liked Songs from the Deep! I loved the characters and their romance and the mystery kept me guessing. I did wish there had been a bit more sirens and it was a bit more slow-paced than I’m used to, but that wasn’t enough to detract from my enjoyment! I’ll definitely be watching for what this author does next.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelly Powell writes fantasy for young adults and currently lives in Ontario, Canada. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and book & media studies from the University of Toronto.
Her YA debut, SONGS FROM THE DEEP, will release from Simon & Schuster in November 2019.
