A tragedy upends the worldview of a handmaid to an Imperial spy in this follow-up to 2020’s The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea. . . . No one escapes the Sea’s reckoning in this searing sequel. The cast is diverse in gender identity, sexual orientation, skin color, and socioeconomic status. Together, they tell a story in which justice isn’t attained through a cycle of vengeance but with the truth laid bare, paving the way toward reconciliation. Powerful and emotionally gratifying.
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
As in the first volume, the diversity of the archipelagic world is again proudly, organically on display, with a variety of nationalities and cultural experiences shaping characters’ relationships to the Empire.. . . . Most importantly, the novel’s decolonial imagination challenges readers to re-envision received notions of power, accountability, compassion, grief, liberty, and resistance.
—The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
The narrative weaves delicate intrigues, ever-shifting allegiances, and the evolution of identities as young allies band together to forge a new world and protect the sea’s mystical inhabitants from falling prey to commercial endeavors. . . . A high-fantasy novel that will resonate with those seeking an escape that also mirrors the complex realities of colonization and war.
—School Library Journal
The Siren, the Song, and the Spy is a welcome companion to Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s ethereal The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea, and brings to a head the long-simmering conflict between the Resistance and the greedy Nipran Empire. . . . Magical prose flows smoothly and brings a sense of enchantment to the story. This strong offering about imperialist aggressions, rebels, and reprisal should effortlessly sweep readers into its realms as it makes a compelling plea for pacifism.
—Shelf Awareness
The follow-up to The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea cements Maggie Tokuda-Hall as one of the most unflinching voices in contemporary genre literature. This book contains the compassion we need alongside the reckoning we deserve.
—Sarah Gailey, author of When We Were Magic
Threaded with unconventional women and peacemaker men, ‘Siren’ imagines a world deeply imbued with Asian and Polynesian cultures, where kindness is as much of a weapon as kau.
—The Star Tribune
Emotive… compelling.
—Tor.com
QUICK VIEW
