The Siren (Audiobook Review)

Audiobook Review

By: Tiffany Reisz

Narrated by: Aeron James

Published by: Harlequin  Enterprises 08/2012

Strong adult content

The Original  Sinners series # 1

12 hrs and 43 mins

Sample

 Notorious Nora Sutherlin is famous for her delicious works of erotica, each one more popular with readers than the last. But her latest manuscript is different—more serious, more personal—and she's sure it'll be her breakout book...if it ever sees the light of day.

Zachary Easton holds Nora's fate in his well-manicured hands. The demanding British editor agrees to handle the book on one condition: he wants complete control. Nora must rewrite the entire novel to his exacting standards—in six weeks—or it's no deal.

Nora's grueling writing sessions with Zach are draining…and shockingly arousing. And a dangerous former lover has her wondering which is more torturous—staying away from him...or returning to his bed?

Nora thought she knew everything about being pushed to your limits. But in a world where passion is pain, nothing is ever that simple.

My Thoughts

In 2011 my favorite audiobook of the year was the YA novel, Anna and the French Kiss - a sweet, lovely, and make you feel good-all- around story, but it looks like for 2012, I’m going with a complete different choice, because The Siren, with all its darkness, pain, uneasiness and totally uncharacteristic elements in a romance (erotic) novel, it's the best book I have read/listened to this year thus far.

“Not two persons ever read the same book - Edmund Wilson”

For me, this was a psychological thriller; an enthralling but foreboding and uncomfortable ride to a place where I was happy to be on the outside looking in, nevertheless while reading/listening, Tiffany Reisz brilliantly makes you experience this world without holding back, and skillfully manipulates the reader into getting a closer look inside this world and its characters - masterfully created, I might add.

This is not your usual erotica, romance or happy ending; these characters are dark, unconventional and complicated, yet, at total ease with their convictions.

This is the most artfully attempt to empathize what really goes on in the minds and in the world of BDSM, that along right there should give you caution; this novel is not for everyone, I would have never thought it was for me either, but the writing voice and style immediately captured my attention and I couldn’t put it down. I was captivated and drawn until I reached the last page. With trepidation and a morbid curiosity  I read it with one eye closed.

 There’s no romanticizing of the BDSM world here; this is  a crude and in your face story about Nora, an erotic writer-part time Dominatrix and how she juggles her relationships with her intellectual editor Zach, her innocent (virgin) intern Wesley and her ex lover the “sadist” Zøren.
Each of these characters brings a different point of view and feeling to the novel, but each utterly enriched the story.

I can honestly say, I never read less about sex in the traditional way in this genre, however; pain, physical and emotional was another brilliantly developed  character in the novel.

If you are a regular “vanilla” person like yours truly, this book will test your limits in so many ways, starting with the religious undertone to the borderline illegal age of some of the characters, yet, I  find myself placing it among my favorite books I’ve read/listened to this year, proof of how extraordinarily I thought it was written.

The Author mentioned how a good erotica novel should almost be a horror story, and I couldn’t agree with her more.

  4.31  ·  rating details  ·  559 ratings  ·  310 reviews on Goodreads 

 

Great reviews from my fellow bloggers:

The Bookaholic Cat

UTC

Smexy

The Author

Tiffany Reisz

Narration

 

Not even a week later after reading this book I saw it released on audible.com, and of course, I downloaded it immediately. My first thought when I  first heard Aeron James (new- to- me  narrator) was, “ not sure about this”, but within minutes I changed my mind, and began to get caught once again in  the story,  only this time with a little less shock and more admiration.

In my opinion, he did a terrific job bringing the story to life, even though, I don’t think his voice for Nora and Wesley was ideal; I’m giving him a pass because the overall result of his narration.

His clear British accent was excellent for Zach, in a way the audio almost comes across as it was entirely in his point of view, not a bad thing, I thought.

I can’t give my opinion on how this novel would be experienced just on audio, but I was very happy with the result after having read the story, normally I’m more critical of the narration in these cases.

I did feel the interpretation of the novel by Mr. James, pushed the story farther away from the erotica genre, and closer to a psychological thriller with very adult content.

All in all, I loved it!

Voices behind the books

Aeron James

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