Siren Queen is both exactly what I expected and also somehow not at all what I expected. Having read The Chosen and Beautiful, I was pretty sure I was in for a fantasy world that operated mostly on very fun, magical vibes without being bothered by explanations. If you’re the sort of person who needs a detailed breakdown of the magic system every time you read a fantasy book this is not for you. If however you’re willing to say things like “okay the dolls are sentient now, sure” and go along your merry way, this will be your jam.
I waited to read this until after I read Evelyn Hugo because I thought they would be thematically similar and I was very right. For anyone whose problem with EH was the writing, this might be more your thing. The writing is beautiful and captivating and hypnotic. It doesn’t always make sense, but you’re willing to go along with it (like a siren song. Ha.). Both this and EH are the stories of women who are outsiders both for their ethnicity and their sexuality trying to make it big in old Hollywood. EH is compelling because of the well-structured plot. Siren Queen is compelling because the plot is, at times, barely there. EH is driven by characters that feel realistic. Siren Queen is driven by lush descriptions of the magic that makes up the old studio system in this world. Both main characters have chaotic friends named Harry (that’s not where the similarities end, but to say more would be a spoiler for both).
I’m giving 4 stars because I really liked it, but this book left me wanting something. I liked drifting along through the story, and old Hollywood but with binding magic is a great idea, but I could have used more solid ground to stand on. I feel like the plot didn’t really heat up until 70% of the way through. This would be best read by the pool or the beach, where you can just kind of coast on the emotions and the magic.
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