Sirenz Back in Fashion

May 1, 2012
Hades' two favorite Sirens have gone Greek again, whether they like it or not. And they don't. At least not the banished-to-the-Underworld and slowly-growing-scales parts. After a careless error renews their contract as Sirens for Hades, Shar (the tall blond with an affinity for accessories) and Meg (the short brunette more likely to clutch a book than a Birkin) are once again forced to deliver an unfortunate soul to the Underworld. There's a hitch, though: Shar, in heels and a bikini, is transported to Tartarus, while Meg must work alone on the mortal plane to toss said soul (her bizarre but likable new roommate) down under. Many a mythic figure is introduced along the way--Charon, Cerberus, Hermes, Eurydice--and grave problems are solved with comedic, contemporary flare. Though the two young women rely upon above-average intelligence to escape their predicament, their focus often shifts from saving their own skins to flirting with a hunky demigod or finding a date for the Spring Fling. As with the first book (Sirenz, 2011), the double narrative device reveals the perspective of each Siren as she tries to fulfill contractual obligations. But a saturation of highbrow vocabulary detracts from the authenticity of their voices ("Oh, little purloining Paulina was sooooo lucky I wasn't there"). This frothy romp through mythology sways between tawdry teen romance and glossy chick-lit. (Fantasy. 12 & up)

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August 1, 2012
Grades 9-12 Meg and Shar barely escaped their first contract with Hades, but he wasn't finished with them yet. In the second Sirenz book, Shar finds herself trapped in the Underworld, while Meg has to finish her part of the contract in NYC alone. This will satisfy the teens who are craving more Greek deities, all in a modern, sassy package. Back in Fashion introduces a few new characters to the series, and the combination of high style and myth brings an interesting twist. Only Meg and Shar could face off with the god of the Underworld in designer stilettos.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)