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The Companions Quartet #1
Secret of the Sirens
When eleven-year-old Connie is sent to live with her eccentric aunt by the sea, she's not expecting anything great?not to make friends with Col, the coolest guy in town, and certainly not to discover that mythical creatures still exist, that an ancient society has protected them for centuries, and that a dark and treacherous force is lurking in their midst.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
304 people are currently reading
7510 people want to read
About the author
Julia Golding
88 books855 followersMy journey to becoming an author has been a roundabout one, taking in many other careers. I grew up on the edge of Epping Forest and was that dreamy kind of child who was always writing stories. After reading English at Cambridge, I decided to find out as much as I could about the wider world so joined the Foreign Office and served in Poland. My work as a diplomat took me from the high point of town twinning in the Tatra Mountains to the low of inspecting the bottom of a Silesian coal mine.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
On leaving Poland, I exchanged diplomacy for academia and took a doctorate in the literature of the English Romantic Period at Oxford. I then joined Oxfam as a lobbyist on conflict issues, campaigning at the UN and with governments to lessen the impact of conflict on civilians living in war zones - a cause about which I still feel very passionate.
Married with three children, I now live in Oxford between two rivers, surrounded by gargoyles, beautiful sandstone buildings and ancient trees.
My first novel, 'The Diamond of Drury Lane', won the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize 2006 and the Nestle Children's Book Prize 2006 (formerly known as the Smarties Prize). I was also chosen by Waterstone's in 2007 as one of their 'Twenty-five authors for the future'. In the US, 'Secret of the Sirens' won the honor book medal of the Green Earth Book Award.
My latest series, which starts with Mel Foster and the Demon Butler, about an intrepid Victorian orphan who lives in a household of monsters, won Bronze in the Primary Teacher awards in 2015. The next part, Mel Foster and the Time Machine, has set the time-dial to arrive in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 307 reviews
November 26, 2009
Book One of the Companions Quartet. Eco-fantasy. A sometimes overtly environmental propaganda mixed with all sorts of mythic creatures and their human companions.
Connie, aged 11, is a petite, black-haired girl who is essentially a loner and an outcast. Because of her uncanny connection to animals and her ability to communicate with them, Connie has become isolated from everyone around her, including her parents and younger brother. In fact, her parents seem to regard her as more of an inconvenient problem to be dealt with than their daughter who needs their love and support. Instead, due to the trouble that Connie's "animal problem" has caused her at schools, her parents just ship her to England to stay with her cold and distant aunt Evelyn. Once arrived in Hescombe, Connie realizes that she is not going to fit in much better here, since her aunt seems perfectly content to totally ignore her. However, Evelyn does introduce Connie to her friend's grandson, Col Clamworthy. He is the same age as Connie, but quite nearly everything she is not. He is self-assured and confident, the "coolest" kid in town and at school. Obviously loved by his grandmother. One interesting note is that Connie and Col both have mismatched eyes - one green and one brown. Big clue there. However, the two do not exactly hit it off. In fact, when school starts, Col pretty much ignores Connie, which only serves to reinforce her opinion of "How could I ever expect someone as cool as Col to want to be friends with a loser like me?" Still, she does make some friends at school, Anneena and Jane. They take her ability with the pet hamster as nothing more than being good with animals. So far, good.
Not. There is an oil refinery being built and workers are disappearing. This is where is becomes evident that something more is going on and that something happens to be the Society for the Protection of Mythic Creatures, a group that is comprised of an array of mythical creatures and their companions, humans, who can speak with them and are connected to them. Evelyn is a companion to banshees, Col to pegasi, his grandmum Mrs. Clamworthy to water sprites. Dragons and weather giants also debut here, as well as dwarf, unicorn, a storm bird, a selkie and, of course, sirens. No one but companions are supposed to know about the group, so no one lets Connie in on the secret and she feels left out as it seems that her aunt could care less about her, refusing to discuss the society meetings she attends, and Col won't answer her questions. He appears to be trying to ditch her.
It is quite slow-moving at this juncture while Connie tries to discover what this mysterious society really is to which Evelyn, Col and the others belong. Meanwhile, the Society is desperately trying to prevent the sirens from killing the oil refinery workers. And from revealing to the world the sirens' precsence, a world obviously unprepared to learn of their existence, much less coexist with them amicably.
Soon, through Dr. Brock and Col, it becomes apparent that Connie might be a companion to sirens and thus might be able to convince them to cease and desist their attacks. Only, when she has her assessment test, the oily and nasty Mr. Coddrington fails her and informs them that she has no settled gift. The truth that comes to light is that Connie does indeed have a gift, a very rare and dangerous gift. She is the only known living Universal, an individual who is companion to all species, mythic or otherwise, able to speak to them and understand them. As such, she is envied, feared, and hated by her felllow companions and eagerly sought after by the ancient creature Kullervo, a being of untold evil. And who also happens to be Connie's counterpart in the mythical world.
In this manner, the running conflict of the series, between Connie and Kullervo for the world, is set in motion. At first, Kullervo seeks to have Connie assist him willingly in his manic quest to exterminate humanity. Connie's confrontation with him is fleeting and though she defeats him as she is rescued by Col and companions, a clear picture of Connie's nemesis is drawn and we are given the clear impression that he will be back and he will not relent in his pursuit of the Universal, of his Universal. He sees her not only as his companion, but his possession.
Throughout the book, Connie and Col become friends, Connie realizes that Evelyn does care about her. She has made good friends at school in Jane and Anneena. She is no longer a social outcast, but she is once again isolated within the society by her status as the lone Universal. This sense of aloneness in her gift will only increase with time, as will the jealousy and envy of others within the society, as well as a general fear of Connie, both of what she is and what Kullervo can do through her.
It is clearly a book setting up a story, laying the groundwork for what is to come. I liked the characters and the premise. Mostly normal dialogue. If anything, it is the environmental issues that keep this solidly at three stars.
Throughout the series, it only becomes more and more apparent that the fantasy/mythic aspect the books is simply masking Golding's blatant "Save the earth because we humans are destroying it" propoganda. If the message were more subtle, it would not bother me so, but ten year old kids rarely differentiate and ask for both sides of the issue. Furthermore, I am all for careful and responsible care of the earth, as we are all stewards of creation, but I do not buy into the global warming farce, which becomes a central issue in book three, and I imagine four. The first two focus on destruction of habitat, which was not really objectionable, but leave global warming out of it. Is there anyone left as a voice of reason and balance? We have Golding, Gore, Patterson, Carmon, all of them spouting their own opinions and couching them as truth. I really hate it when a "story" tries to mask itself as a story when it is really more propaganda for a political ideology than a story. What is the story here stands on its own, mythical creatures, evil nemesis, quest. More than enough. But what could have been far better is bogged down by the author's preoccupation with global warming. So, I recommend it for the story if you can overlook the propaganda so maladroitly inserted.
Connie, aged 11, is a petite, black-haired girl who is essentially a loner and an outcast. Because of her uncanny connection to animals and her ability to communicate with them, Connie has become isolated from everyone around her, including her parents and younger brother. In fact, her parents seem to regard her as more of an inconvenient problem to be dealt with than their daughter who needs their love and support. Instead, due to the trouble that Connie's "animal problem" has caused her at schools, her parents just ship her to England to stay with her cold and distant aunt Evelyn. Once arrived in Hescombe, Connie realizes that she is not going to fit in much better here, since her aunt seems perfectly content to totally ignore her. However, Evelyn does introduce Connie to her friend's grandson, Col Clamworthy. He is the same age as Connie, but quite nearly everything she is not. He is self-assured and confident, the "coolest" kid in town and at school. Obviously loved by his grandmother. One interesting note is that Connie and Col both have mismatched eyes - one green and one brown. Big clue there. However, the two do not exactly hit it off. In fact, when school starts, Col pretty much ignores Connie, which only serves to reinforce her opinion of "How could I ever expect someone as cool as Col to want to be friends with a loser like me?" Still, she does make some friends at school, Anneena and Jane. They take her ability with the pet hamster as nothing more than being good with animals. So far, good.
Not. There is an oil refinery being built and workers are disappearing. This is where is becomes evident that something more is going on and that something happens to be the Society for the Protection of Mythic Creatures, a group that is comprised of an array of mythical creatures and their companions, humans, who can speak with them and are connected to them. Evelyn is a companion to banshees, Col to pegasi, his grandmum Mrs. Clamworthy to water sprites. Dragons and weather giants also debut here, as well as dwarf, unicorn, a storm bird, a selkie and, of course, sirens. No one but companions are supposed to know about the group, so no one lets Connie in on the secret and she feels left out as it seems that her aunt could care less about her, refusing to discuss the society meetings she attends, and Col won't answer her questions. He appears to be trying to ditch her.
It is quite slow-moving at this juncture while Connie tries to discover what this mysterious society really is to which Evelyn, Col and the others belong. Meanwhile, the Society is desperately trying to prevent the sirens from killing the oil refinery workers. And from revealing to the world the sirens' precsence, a world obviously unprepared to learn of their existence, much less coexist with them amicably.
Soon, through Dr. Brock and Col, it becomes apparent that Connie might be a companion to sirens and thus might be able to convince them to cease and desist their attacks. Only, when she has her assessment test, the oily and nasty Mr. Coddrington fails her and informs them that she has no settled gift. The truth that comes to light is that Connie does indeed have a gift, a very rare and dangerous gift. She is the only known living Universal, an individual who is companion to all species, mythic or otherwise, able to speak to them and understand them. As such, she is envied, feared, and hated by her felllow companions and eagerly sought after by the ancient creature Kullervo, a being of untold evil. And who also happens to be Connie's counterpart in the mythical world.
In this manner, the running conflict of the series, between Connie and Kullervo for the world, is set in motion. At first, Kullervo seeks to have Connie assist him willingly in his manic quest to exterminate humanity. Connie's confrontation with him is fleeting and though she defeats him as she is rescued by Col and companions, a clear picture of Connie's nemesis is drawn and we are given the clear impression that he will be back and he will not relent in his pursuit of the Universal, of his Universal. He sees her not only as his companion, but his possession.
Throughout the book, Connie and Col become friends, Connie realizes that Evelyn does care about her. She has made good friends at school in Jane and Anneena. She is no longer a social outcast, but she is once again isolated within the society by her status as the lone Universal. This sense of aloneness in her gift will only increase with time, as will the jealousy and envy of others within the society, as well as a general fear of Connie, both of what she is and what Kullervo can do through her.
It is clearly a book setting up a story, laying the groundwork for what is to come. I liked the characters and the premise. Mostly normal dialogue. If anything, it is the environmental issues that keep this solidly at three stars.
Throughout the series, it only becomes more and more apparent that the fantasy/mythic aspect the books is simply masking Golding's blatant "Save the earth because we humans are destroying it" propoganda. If the message were more subtle, it would not bother me so, but ten year old kids rarely differentiate and ask for both sides of the issue. Furthermore, I am all for careful and responsible care of the earth, as we are all stewards of creation, but I do not buy into the global warming farce, which becomes a central issue in book three, and I imagine four. The first two focus on destruction of habitat, which was not really objectionable, but leave global warming out of it. Is there anyone left as a voice of reason and balance? We have Golding, Gore, Patterson, Carmon, all of them spouting their own opinions and couching them as truth. I really hate it when a "story" tries to mask itself as a story when it is really more propaganda for a political ideology than a story. What is the story here stands on its own, mythical creatures, evil nemesis, quest. More than enough. But what could have been far better is bogged down by the author's preoccupation with global warming. So, I recommend it for the story if you can overlook the propaganda so maladroitly inserted.
May 30, 2014
Slow paced, but very enjoyable to read! I LOVE reading books about mythical creatures, and how they're displayed in each story.
...And I REALLY loved how they were displayed in Secret of the Sirens! If you got this book thinking you're going to be reading about 'mermaids' ('cuz of the title, 'sirens') I SHALL HAPPILY DISAPPOINT YOU BY SAYING THIS: THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT MERMAIDS! It's about Sirens! REAL Sirens! Bird women! HECK YEAH! It's about time someone writes about these awesome creatures. That alone has earned this book many happy feelings from me. (Now this story isn't exactly aboutSirens in general, but about many different mythical creatures. It's centered around Sirens a lot though. ^_^)
I don't have a favorite character, but I thought Connie was very interesting. (AND HER AUNT! I wish I could have seen her in action more.)
I'll be reading the second book in the series for sure. (It's kinda scary how similar this story is to my own I've written, but not yet edited and published. O___O; Julia Golding has a lovely sense of story telling! *laughs*)
...And I REALLY loved how they were displayed in Secret of the Sirens! If you got this book thinking you're going to be reading about 'mermaids' ('cuz of the title, 'sirens') I SHALL HAPPILY DISAPPOINT YOU BY SAYING THIS: THIS BOOK IS NOT ABOUT MERMAIDS! It's about Sirens! REAL Sirens! Bird women! HECK YEAH! It's about time someone writes about these awesome creatures. That alone has earned this book many happy feelings from me. (Now this story isn't exactly aboutSirens in general, but about many different mythical creatures. It's centered around Sirens a lot though. ^_^)
I don't have a favorite character, but I thought Connie was very interesting. (AND HER AUNT! I wish I could have seen her in action more.)
I'll be reading the second book in the series for sure. (It's kinda scary how similar this story is to my own I've written, but not yet edited and published. O___O; Julia Golding has a lovely sense of story telling! *laughs*)
December 22, 2015
Awesome
This is one of my favorite books, if you like books like harry potter, or Fablehaven , then you will like this book, if you have read this book and liked it, and haven't read fablehaven , or harry potter, then I recommend those books. Read the rest of this series they are all great
This is one of my favorite books, if you like books like harry potter, or Fablehaven , then you will like this book, if you have read this book and liked it, and haven't read fablehaven , or harry potter, then I recommend those books. Read the rest of this series they are all great
February 23, 2024
Really liked this! Feels a little like Percy Jackson meets Harry Potter. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series
June 27, 2018
No me acordaba prácticamente de casi nada desde que leí el Secreto de las Sirenas por primera vez y puedo decir, que ha sido realmente divertido adentrarme en este mundo lleno de criaturas míticas de nuevo.
Se trata de un libro al que no se le ha dado la importancia que se merece y el cual presenta una clara crítica hacia como los humanos nos estamos cargando el planeta: destruyendo hábitats y con ello provocando la extinción de muchas especies, usando masivamente combustibles fósiles y así aumentando el calentamiento global, causando deforestación, contaminación del aire, agotamiento de los recursos hídricos, etc. etc. Y con ello nos quiere concienciar de las terribles acciones que estamos llevando a cabo y como hemos de luchar por reducirlas y evitarlas.
Todo esto se nos muestra en el contexto de una Sociedad de protección de criaturas míticas que intenta evitar la construcción de una planta petrolífera, ya que supone una amenaza para el hábitat de las sirenas. Estas como venganza están causando la muerte de los trabajadores de la planta, a la vez que se alían con Kullervo, una entidad maligna que quiere erradicar a la humanidad. Para ello Connie, sus amigos y los miembros de la Sociedad, junto con la ayuda de las criaturas míticas intentarán acabar con Kullervo, mantener a salvo el hábitat de las sirenas, provocar la ruina de la planta petrolífera y a su vez, concienciar a la población de los efectos de esta tanto para el medio ambiente como para el resto de las especies.
La ambientación es un punto a favor y la introducción de todas las criaturas míticas en un mundo moderno donde se pensaba que estaban extintas o eran leyendas, es una idea muy bien llevada a cabo. En cuanto a los personajes he de decir que están bien descritos tanto física como psicológicamente, pero el hecho de que los protagonistas sean niños en edad de ir al colegio, no me ha acabado de convencer, pues la toma de decisiones y su manera de pensar hacía creer que fueran, como mínimo, al instituto. Por lo demás, creo que es una historia muy original, bien planteada y con un mensaje clave y directo hacia sus lectores. Lo recomiendo mucho💙
Se trata de un libro al que no se le ha dado la importancia que se merece y el cual presenta una clara crítica hacia como los humanos nos estamos cargando el planeta: destruyendo hábitats y con ello provocando la extinción de muchas especies, usando masivamente combustibles fósiles y así aumentando el calentamiento global, causando deforestación, contaminación del aire, agotamiento de los recursos hídricos, etc. etc. Y con ello nos quiere concienciar de las terribles acciones que estamos llevando a cabo y como hemos de luchar por reducirlas y evitarlas.
Todo esto se nos muestra en el contexto de una Sociedad de protección de criaturas míticas que intenta evitar la construcción de una planta petrolífera, ya que supone una amenaza para el hábitat de las sirenas. Estas como venganza están causando la muerte de los trabajadores de la planta, a la vez que se alían con Kullervo, una entidad maligna que quiere erradicar a la humanidad. Para ello Connie, sus amigos y los miembros de la Sociedad, junto con la ayuda de las criaturas míticas intentarán acabar con Kullervo, mantener a salvo el hábitat de las sirenas, provocar la ruina de la planta petrolífera y a su vez, concienciar a la población de los efectos de esta tanto para el medio ambiente como para el resto de las especies.
La ambientación es un punto a favor y la introducción de todas las criaturas míticas en un mundo moderno donde se pensaba que estaban extintas o eran leyendas, es una idea muy bien llevada a cabo. En cuanto a los personajes he de decir que están bien descritos tanto física como psicológicamente, pero el hecho de que los protagonistas sean niños en edad de ir al colegio, no me ha acabado de convencer, pues la toma de decisiones y su manera de pensar hacía creer que fueran, como mínimo, al instituto. Por lo demás, creo que es una historia muy original, bien planteada y con un mensaje clave y directo hacia sus lectores. Lo recomiendo mucho💙
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2017
Terrific fantasy for grades 5 and up!
Connie Lionheart has a way with animals that is so unique that she just can't seem to fit in anywhere! As a last resort, her parents send her to a little nowhere seaside town to live with her cranky and eccentric Aunt Evelyn. It is here that Connie discovers that her ability to communicate with cats and seagulls extends to more exotic creatures like unicorns, dragons and sirens! Along with a wide variety of fantastic beings from myth and legend, Connie also has to maneuver more normal things like school, boys and friendship. Author Julia Golding weaves an entertaining fantasy with obvious environmental overtones, but as harm to habitats would naturally be of concern to all life, including more unusual life forms, it does not feel forced. Readers of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series or Katie O'Hearn's Pegasus will love this opening book in a series of four.
Connie Lionheart has a way with animals that is so unique that she just can't seem to fit in anywhere! As a last resort, her parents send her to a little nowhere seaside town to live with her cranky and eccentric Aunt Evelyn. It is here that Connie discovers that her ability to communicate with cats and seagulls extends to more exotic creatures like unicorns, dragons and sirens! Along with a wide variety of fantastic beings from myth and legend, Connie also has to maneuver more normal things like school, boys and friendship. Author Julia Golding weaves an entertaining fantasy with obvious environmental overtones, but as harm to habitats would naturally be of concern to all life, including more unusual life forms, it does not feel forced. Readers of Brandon Mull's Fablehaven series or Katie O'Hearn's Pegasus will love this opening book in a series of four.
July 3, 2021
“Universal he may be, but companionship is far from his mind. I think he is more like a whirlpool—or black hole—pulling all who venture near him inexorably into his wicked schemes."
I fell in love with this series when i was younger, and I decided to pick it up again for a quick, nostalgic reread. The concept of the book is so interesting-mythical creatures (from a variety of mythologies) exist and find "companions" in certain gifted humans. I especially liked the way that the companions function as partners rather than the master and servant dynamic that a lot of other stories with such mythical creatures have. I remember absolutely adoring Connie, and I'm happy to report she still holds up all these year later (I just checked and apparently I read this series for the first time EIGHT YEARS AGO???? That's insane).
February 11, 2017
I read this series when I was about twelve or thirteen. And let me tell you: It. Is. Amazing. The worldbuilding is epic. The characters are fantastic. The fantasy elements are handled so well.
I've read this book multiple times over, and each time I finished a book in the series, I immediately rushed off to buy the next. I highly recommend this!! It's an outstanding read for all ages, but particularly for middle-school girls. :)
I've read this book multiple times over, and each time I finished a book in the series, I immediately rushed off to buy the next. I highly recommend this!! It's an outstanding read for all ages, but particularly for middle-school girls. :)
June 30, 2018
I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I loved how the characters clashed and highlighted not only the positive aspects of themselves but they helped to improve their negative aspects. This story really showed what it ment to live in a close nit family.
February 6, 2017
Read this back in 5th grade. Good.
September 1, 2023
A good old nostalgia read with this series
January 10, 2021
-Truly original idea. I have never heard of a "companion" to mythological creatures and I appreciate the creativity.
-This story makes the audience aware of environmental issues that we face today. The line that mythological creatures are endangered because of human interference will make readers think about how our actions are affecting real animals now.
-The antagonist is well set up by the second half of the book, which would be late if there weren't three more books in this series.
-There is such a great variety of characters throughout the story from stodgy Corrington to fun, eccentric Aunt Evelyn, whom I wouldn't mind staying the summer with either.
-Envirmental Awareness
-The greater good: Col has to put his own jealousies aside to help Connie for the good of the Society as well as the creatures
February 20, 2019
Secret of the Sirens is book 1 in The Companions Quartet.
I had this book for some time and never got round to reading it. But now I have and it was pretty good. I love to read about mythical creatures. Although at times, it didn't feel like the kids in the stories were that young.
Overall, a good beginning to the series.
I had this book for some time and never got round to reading it. But now I have and it was pretty good. I love to read about mythical creatures. Although at times, it didn't feel like the kids in the stories were that young.
Overall, a good beginning to the series.
May 29, 2025
Very easily digestible fantasy. Great for introducing young readers into the fantasy genre, especially if they have an interest in mythological creatures. Although the ecological message of the book was a bit too on the nose for me, but regardless, I think it might be more enjoyable for younger readers.
November 11, 2019
"Secret of the Sirens" Complementrary
This book shows the innocence and creative power of a child. The lessons learned are vital to a child's mental growth, and tells the story of a changing, magical world that we must preserve- it teaches the reader about the environment and how important it is to keep it safe, secure, and completely natural. If we meddle with nature, nature will meddle back, something I doubt anyone would like. I recommend this book for an upper elementary or early middle school reader. I fully recommend reading the rest of the series, too, as it also explains the importance of a purely good heart of a child and doing the right thing, however dangerous it may be.
This book shows the innocence and creative power of a child. The lessons learned are vital to a child's mental growth, and tells the story of a changing, magical world that we must preserve- it teaches the reader about the environment and how important it is to keep it safe, secure, and completely natural. If we meddle with nature, nature will meddle back, something I doubt anyone would like. I recommend this book for an upper elementary or early middle school reader. I fully recommend reading the rest of the series, too, as it also explains the importance of a purely good heart of a child and doing the right thing, however dangerous it may be.
August 16, 2018
2.75 stars
I LOVED the idea of this book- talking with mythical creatures? Well, I'm on board. But... it has it's issues. All the mythical creatures in the book are sorted into these groups, sadly where each creature would go was never very clear to me. I also have a problem with it's pace, it slow thoughout most of the book untill I was thrown in at the deep end in the last 50 or so pages.
Anyway, I enjoyed the book and maybe, just maybe, I'll continue on with the series.
I LOVED the idea of this book- talking with mythical creatures? Well, I'm on board. But... it has it's issues. All the mythical creatures in the book are sorted into these groups, sadly where each creature would go was never very clear to me. I also have a problem with it's pace, it slow thoughout most of the book untill I was thrown in at the deep end in the last 50 or so pages.
Anyway, I enjoyed the book and maybe, just maybe, I'll continue on with the series.
October 3, 2022
For three years my daughter has been urging me to read the series (more so since Finding sky by Joss Stirling [alias pen name] became a hot favourite of mine) and I finally agreed. After the very first chapter I went to her and asked, 'Are you sure I'm going to enjoy this? I mean, the main characters are in Year 6!'
Her reply: 'Mum, you're always asking me to give things a go, so please do the same. Go away, read and don't come back until you've got to chapter 8. Anyway, the kids grow up!' She didn't see me for the rest of the evening.
I whizzed through those books, one straight after the other (the companions quartet is a series of 4 books) and am pleased to say they enthralled me to the point where I was very sad to read the last word.
The series covers everything I like in a teen book: paranormal, mythical beasts, magic (sort of), suspense, misunderstood teens, friendship struggles and, of course, the teeniest hint of romance (teeny because the hero and heroine are in their early teens and anything else would be inappropriate).
I'm now reading Dragonfly and after that The Ship Between Worlds.
Her reply: 'Mum, you're always asking me to give things a go, so please do the same. Go away, read and don't come back until you've got to chapter 8. Anyway, the kids grow up!' She didn't see me for the rest of the evening.
I whizzed through those books, one straight after the other (the companions quartet is a series of 4 books) and am pleased to say they enthralled me to the point where I was very sad to read the last word.
The series covers everything I like in a teen book: paranormal, mythical beasts, magic (sort of), suspense, misunderstood teens, friendship struggles and, of course, the teeniest hint of romance (teeny because the hero and heroine are in their early teens and anything else would be inappropriate).
I'm now reading Dragonfly and after that The Ship Between Worlds.
November 2, 2009
Secret of the Sirens by Julia Golding is a book about a young girl named Connie Lionheart who is sent to live with her eccentric Aunt Evelyn in Hescombe. When she arrives she learns of the mysterious Society, a group that her aunt has joined that seems extremely involved with animals and the environment. When Connie tries to take the test to enter, everything gets rather crazy and she learns she has powers she never would have dreamed of. Now Connie is a unique member of the Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures...and she has a problem. Men working at the new oil refinery are disappearing beacause of sirens, and Connie is the only one who can stop the chaos. Meanwhile, a dark shapeshifter named Kullervo is gathering forces and drawing nearer to hescombe, and Connie makes new friends with the outgoing Anneena, quiet and friendly Jane, and the ever popular companion to Pegasi Col. Now Connie must prepare herself for a battle that she cannot imagine. It is humanity's only hope.
May 21, 2012
Kind of dumb. I'm barely staggering to finish at this point. A couple of issues:
A) It's a FREAKING SEAGULL!!! Get over it!
B) Hardly any charecterization past the initial labels she manufactured for all her characters.
C) almost no physical description of the human characters, though the imagery on the mythical creatures is very nice.
D) She is missing something obvious. Kullervo is a shapeshifter. This is not usually just used for impressing people. it is the ultimate spy power. Kullervo could be Mr Coddrington, Scark, any of the creatures or humans or Jane, or Jane's dad. Duh. The author is completely ignoring this possibility. This is the element of shapeshifters that makes them so scary, and she is ignoring it. bah.
E) The different-colored eyes thing is stupid. It only worked in Graceling, and hasn't since. If you are going to put it in, use it! Don't mention it once and then ignore it.
I really wanted to like this book. Cat Royal and Dragonfly/Glass Swallow were sooooo good, and this was ehh.
A) It's a FREAKING SEAGULL!!! Get over it!
B) Hardly any charecterization past the initial labels she manufactured for all her characters.
C) almost no physical description of the human characters, though the imagery on the mythical creatures is very nice.
D) She is missing something obvious. Kullervo is a shapeshifter. This is not usually just used for impressing people. it is the ultimate spy power. Kullervo could be Mr Coddrington, Scark, any of the creatures or humans or Jane, or Jane's dad. Duh. The author is completely ignoring this possibility. This is the element of shapeshifters that makes them so scary, and she is ignoring it. bah.
E) The different-colored eyes thing is stupid. It only worked in Graceling, and hasn't since. If you are going to put it in, use it! Don't mention it once and then ignore it.
I really wanted to like this book. Cat Royal and Dragonfly/Glass Swallow were sooooo good, and this was ehh.
March 29, 2013
There are middle-grade books and there are middle-grade books. By which I mean the SECRET OF THE SIRENS is a book I would NOT suggest for adults to pick up as a read for themselves. It's simply not got a plot line nor characters that are going to engage our jaded 'been there, done that' tastes.
I know that I could certainly foretell what was apt to happen in the next few chapters. But then again I've been reading for decades and decades, and to a more nascent reader this fantasy is going to be just right.
That said, I wouldn't give this book more than 4-Stars as I found it slow to start. Generally written in an older style it's at a whopping AR 6.6 reading level (mid sixth-grade reading level) with 14.0 points.
And given that reading level and the fact that there is not a flow of constant action, that many readers are used to having, I'd say this book is going to appeal to younger readers who are patient and willing to let the story take it's time as it unfolds. This is a book where people stare out windows and wonder what the heck is going on.
I know that I could certainly foretell what was apt to happen in the next few chapters. But then again I've been reading for decades and decades, and to a more nascent reader this fantasy is going to be just right.
That said, I wouldn't give this book more than 4-Stars as I found it slow to start. Generally written in an older style it's at a whopping AR 6.6 reading level (mid sixth-grade reading level) with 14.0 points.
And given that reading level and the fact that there is not a flow of constant action, that many readers are used to having, I'd say this book is going to appeal to younger readers who are patient and willing to let the story take it's time as it unfolds. This is a book where people stare out windows and wonder what the heck is going on.
June 19, 2018
I loved this book when I was younger, and to an extent I still do. The premise is really cool, the overall plot is interesting, but there were a few snags for me. I realise I'm a lot older than the intended audience of this book, but I think my criticisms are fair and general. The prose is a little adverb heavy at times, which is something that annoys me as a reader for a plethora of reasons that other people have documented well. Also the main characters felt odd to me - eleven year olds (the age they're supposed to be) would not speak or act in the way Connie, Col, and their friends speak, nor would they think in the mature way that they are said to. At least, none of the eleven year olds I've met would, and neither would I have at that age. There were a few jumps in perspective that felt disjointed to me, as the book was mainly focused on Connie, but occasionally features Col and Evelyn's perspectives, which took me out of the story a bit as they weren't separated in any way. But nevertheless, the plot and the concept holds up, and I still did enjoy reading this book.
September 21, 2009
I was utterly charmed by this very fascinating first book in a new quartet by Julia Golding. I only "discovered" Julia Golding about a year ago, but if she continues in this fashion, she'll soon become a new favourite fantasy author.
What I really loved about Secret of the Sirens is that it's not as much about magic as about special abilities, and it takes place in our world. Too many fantasy authors invite new worlds, and that is occasionally necessary, but I think it takes a special talent to write a believable fantasy novel in our own universe.
Though the first book in a series, Secret of the Sirens can also mostly stand on its own. The complication of the book is resolved, while still leaving threads open to pick up in later books - rather similarly to Harry Potter actually.
I read it in a day - simply couldn't put it down.
What I really loved about Secret of the Sirens is that it's not as much about magic as about special abilities, and it takes place in our world. Too many fantasy authors invite new worlds, and that is occasionally necessary, but I think it takes a special talent to write a believable fantasy novel in our own universe.
Though the first book in a series, Secret of the Sirens can also mostly stand on its own. The complication of the book is resolved, while still leaving threads open to pick up in later books - rather similarly to Harry Potter actually.
I read it in a day - simply couldn't put it down.
Read
April 20, 2015I have to say, the characters in this world were an odd bunch! Picking on someone just for having two different coloured eyes. Where I come from, people would probably think that was brilliant. Shame on them for calling someone a freak just because they like animals. I'm certainly glad I don't live where ever Connie was from. It sounds quite strange. I'm glad people in real life are much more appreciative of odd things usually, and not that demented. It seemed like Connie was the only ordinary person in the whole story. On that note, I don't remember much about her actually, or the story. That might be because I had to read this in the back of my neighbour's car, because my brother was trying to rip up my books again.
What really stood out though were all those unique, interesting nosy bullies.
What really stood out though were all those unique, interesting nosy bullies.
June 12, 2018
I finished reading this a while ago, it was a pretty enjoyable read. It was about a girl named Connie who found out that she was a Universal Companion, someone who could bond with all mythical creatures out there (dragons, pegasi, regular animals etc...)
I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. They weren't very well fleshed-out. Very 2-Dimensional. Col, in particular, annoyed the hell out of me.
The mythical creatures though, the author did a really good job at fleshing out their characters. It was almost as though I could feel what they felt; the way Julia Golding described things was very magical. Even a fleeting character, the Kraken, left a deep impression even though he was only featured in the last couple of pages.
All in all, an enjoyable read. Wouldn't mind reading the next book after this!
I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. They weren't very well fleshed-out. Very 2-Dimensional. Col, in particular, annoyed the hell out of me.
The mythical creatures though, the author did a really good job at fleshing out their characters. It was almost as though I could feel what they felt; the way Julia Golding described things was very magical. Even a fleeting character, the Kraken, left a deep impression even though he was only featured in the last couple of pages.
All in all, an enjoyable read. Wouldn't mind reading the next book after this!
July 21, 2008
Secret of the Sirens is an enjoyable environmental fantasy for young readers. What happens when Connie Lionheart realizes that she has a unique talent? She finds herself in danger because she is a rare Universal Companion to animals—she can communicate with all animals, real and mythical. The reader will encounter mythical animals such as sirens, weather giants, dragons, dwarfs, unicorns, pegasi, and more. Because Connie is so unique, a powerful enemy takes an interest in her and is trying to get her to come join his side. Will Connie learn enough from the members of the society for protection of mythical animals in such a short time to resist the evil Kullervo? Young fantasy readers will find this a good read!
September 11, 2016
El secreto de las sirenas , primera parte de la tetralogía me ha gustado mucho! Si es verdad que tengo que decir que al principio se me hizo un pelin pesado por el hecho de que explicaba mucho. Que eso no quiere decir nada porque luego ha ido mejorando de tal forma que me ha enganchado muchísimo y me ha hecho ponerme en el papel de los personajes. En sus situaciones más difíciles de no poder contar algo a alguien que quieres. Me ha parecido una historia brillante llena de aventuras, fantasía y de emoción que incluye las criaturas míticas necesarias y que está escrito y explicado muy bien! 5 estrellas
July 9, 2015
دومین مجموعه ی جولیا گلدینگ عزیز که تو ایران ترجمه و چاپ شد.
اگرچه کتاب از سنم گذشته بود :دی ولی ازش لذت بردم. داستان خیلی ساده ست، رمان کودکه نهایتا. منو خیلی یاد آشیانه افسانه براندون مول انداخت که من یقینا فضای اون رو بیشتر دوست داشتم.
ایده خیلی نویی نداشت، موجودات طبیعی در حال خطر و انجنمی که برای نجاتت اونها تلاش می کنه. اگر می خواین بخونین، حتما قبل از دبیرستان بخونین. و البته، قبلش کتاب های خفن تری مثل عطش مبارزه نخونده باشین! وگرنه اصلا داستان بهتون نمی چسبه.
چهار ستاره می دم چون شروعش رو دوست نداشتم؛ بیشتر از اون که خواننده رو کنجکاو کنه عصبی می کرد.
اگرچه کتاب از سنم گذشته بود :دی ولی ازش لذت بردم. داستان خیلی ساده ست، رمان کودکه نهایتا. منو خیلی یاد آشیانه افسانه براندون مول انداخت که من یقینا فضای اون رو بیشتر دوست داشتم.
ایده خیلی نویی نداشت، موجودات طبیعی در حال خطر و انجنمی که برای نجاتت اونها تلاش می کنه. اگر می خواین بخونین، حتما قبل از دبیرستان بخونین. و البته، قبلش کتاب های خفن تری مثل عطش مبارزه نخونده باشین! وگرنه اصلا داستان بهتون نمی چسبه.
چهار ستاره می دم چون شروعش رو دوست نداشتم؛ بیشتر از اون که خواننده رو کنجکاو کنه عصبی می کرد.
May 4, 2018
I think that I was a great book with lots of action and secrets you want to know what comes next. Although I wish that there was more suspense in the story. I would suggest this to anyone who absolutely adores fantasy because this book has it's full of it combining almost every "mythical" creature we have ever known, from Dragons to Krakens and Pegasus to Sirens, this book has it all. I just hope in the sequel that there's a big plot twist. Oh and Kyra definitely not equal to Cinder or Keeper of the lost Cities, but you would still enjoy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2023
Connie Lionheart - what a name! She’s a young girl who’s just discovered something incredible about herself and she seems determined to live up to the name.
The book itself isn’t bad on the whole. It does take a while with the main antagonist, Kullervo not making his appearance until the penultimate chapter. Up until now it all seems like character development which like I said takes up most of the first book.
That being said, as it is just the first book in a series I wasn’t expecting much to happen and so I will read the rest to see how the rest of the story pans out.
The book itself isn’t bad on the whole. It does take a while with the main antagonist, Kullervo not making his appearance until the penultimate chapter. Up until now it all seems like character development which like I said takes up most of the first book.
That being said, as it is just the first book in a series I wasn’t expecting much to happen and so I will read the rest to see how the rest of the story pans out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 1, 2017
Λοιπον αυτο το βιβλιο το λατρεψα!Καταρχήν ειναι το ειδος που λατρευω περισσοτερο απο καθε άλλο,σε μαγνητιζει ,σε ιντριγκαρει και σε μαγεύει!!Ερωτεύτηκα τους χαρακτήρες ,την όλη υποθεση,τα πάντα!! Το μονο που δεν μου αρεσε ητανε η ....παιδικοτητα οσον αφορα τις μαχες με τον Κουλλερβο-δεν μπορει να λυποθημησε ετσι απλα ?Τεσπα κατα τα αλλα η ιδεα ειναι πολυ γιο και θα ηθελα πολυ να διαβασω το επομενο βιβλιο!! Το προτεινω ανεπυφιλακτα!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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