Songs from the Deep by Kelly Powell #bookreview #fantasy #YA #mystery #historical

Title: Songs from the Deep

Author: Kelly Powell

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Publication Date: November 5, 2019

Page Count: 303

My rating: 4 stars

About the book:

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 by Kelly Powell is a young adult fantasy that has entwined itself with a historical mystery. This book is actually the author’s debut novel and just from the description alone you can imagine the creativity behind it was definitely a thumbs up and hard to imagine it being a first.

Moira Alexander is a young woman who lives in a town upon an island the is often surrounded by deadly sirens. Moira has always found the sirens quite fascinating and would often come as close as she can with precaution to study the deadly creatures even boldly serenading them with her own violin.

One night Moira is out with a companion when they come across the body of a young boy. Before sending for help Moira couldn’t help her curiosity as she takes a closer look at the body and determines this was murder and not a siren attack. However, Moira seems to be the only one not willing to blame the sirens so she enlists her friend,  Jude Osric, to help her find the real killer.

Songs from the Deep felt very atmospheric in the world building with this one taking a reader not only back in time but to this small island with mythical creatures. It was actually quite a twist to find that the sirens making this a fantasy somewhat take a backseat to a mystery. Certainly and entertaining and impressive debut overall.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Find this book online: 

Goodreads  /   Amazon

About the author: