The Siren Depths by Martha Wells

The Siren Depths is the third book in Martha Wells’ Books of the Raksura series. The novel brings an interesting story and compelling characters together for a fitting end to the trilogy. But is it the end?

One thing I liked about the story was how it tells a tale on two fronts. One one hand there’s the immediate story of what Moon is doing and where he’s being forced to go. On the other hand, The Siren Depths ties in with the previous novels to finally reveal Moon’s full backstory. Readers finally get to find out what happened to him as a kid, how he was separated from his court, the identity of his parents, and more. By the end, all of the loose ends are tied up which gives the book a feeling of completeness. However, the future is kept wide open and there are plenty of major stories that could be explored in future novels.

On its own, The Siren Depths is an enjoyable book. It’s certainly not something you would want to dive into without reading the other two books first. A lot of world building and character building is accomplished before hand. While you probably could jump straight into this book and enjoy it, you would be missing out on a lot. Regardless, this book fits in perfectly with the series. As part of the greater whole, it continues the fun, but it also ties things together nicely, answers lingering questions, and pushes the characters in intriguing directions.

Like the previous stories, there is a good mix of various story elements. It explores new, strange places and creatures. There’s a new villain who turns out to be the driving force behind the Fell and their desire to crossbreed with the Raksura. There’s a new groundling city discovered on the side of a cliff, built into a gigantic statue. It has harbors for flying boats and its citizens are armed with projectile weaponry. There’s also a mysterious  underwater city full of secrets that’s explored. There’s a lot of court intrigue as Moon ventures to a new Raksuran court on the edge of the Reaches. Meanwhile the story of Moon and Jade’s relationship continues into new territory. The only thing that’s not really explored yet is the raising of the Sky Copper royal clutch.

If you’re thinking about investing in the series, it’s worthwhile. The second and third books are on par with the first. It’s also a good way for Star Wars readers to see what Martha Wells’ storytelling is like. She does a good job of balancing between characters and plot. The dialog and character development is excellent. She’s very imaginative and comes up with some really strange races, creatures, and places. Action is spread throughout the novel with various trigger points and mission points, but it’s never drawn out to the point of being tiresome. There also isn’t any graphic sex, and while there is violence, she doesn’t dwell on it. All in all, it’s a great mix for good storytelling that makes for addictive reading.

I give The Siren Depths a five out of five metal bikinis.

Reviewed By: Skuldren for Roqoo Depot.