Audiobook cover of 'The Siren Sea' with a woman in a cloak and gold text on a dark background.

The Siren Sea [Audiobook]

👑 Epic adventure, court intrigue, and fairytale magic - the perfect next read for fans of Naomi Novik and Megan Whalen Turner.
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  • Listen. Escape. Repeat.
  • High Stakes & Fey Intrigue
  • Sibling Loyalty + Found Family
  • Atmospheric & Rooted
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"Before the end of the first page, I knew I was in safe hands. It was just like slipping into a favourite dressing gown with a steaming mug of hot chocolate." - Monty's Book Reviews
  • Print copies ship to US - eBooks & audiobooks delivered Worldwide

LISTEN TO A SAMPLE:

"A charming tale brimming with magic, beauty, action, and memorable characters... Swanson ably juggles everything and everyone, delivering both an intriguing plot and lyrical prose...

Our verdict: get it."

Kirkus Review

👑 The law is clear. No one may traffick in the bones of the fey. The punishment is death.

But when sixteen-year-old Cyril is tricked into carrying forbidden siren relics into the Tsar's great city, he's thrown into a prison where survival means alliances with strangers and sleeping beside goats. His only hope? The sister he betrayed. The girl who hasn't spoken to him in a year. Katrin, an herb-woman and reluctant scholar, must choose between the vow she swore at their father's grave and her brother's freedom. Because the one thing that can bargain for Cyril's release is the one thing Katrin swore she'd never do again. Sing.

Inside you'll find: 

🌊 Reluctant Heroine
🗝️ Found Family
🪶 Sibling Loyalty & Rivalry
⚖️ Unique Magic System
🕯️ Good vs. Evil
👑 Court Intrigue
🌿 Redemption and Forgiveness

Start reading today and discover a world where family is worth fighting for.

Click below for more...

🐉 Enchanting Slavic‑inspired tropes: Dragons, sirens, forbidden magic, and folklore-meets-fairy-tale feels (think Narnia meets Baba Yaga). This epic fantasy debut weaves enchanting world‑building and multi‑POV storytelling around a quest teeming with danger, loyalty, and self‑discovery.

🌟 What readers will experience:

  • A courageous orphaned scholar, her fiercely loyal younger brother, a haunted woodsman, and a secretive young tsarina—four teens from opposite worlds bound together as they face a wicked adversary, dangerous magic, and a perilous journey home.
  • Enchanting prose and vivid scenes: shimmering sirens, an original magic system, lore-filled libraries, and perilous sea crossings.
  • Emotional themes perfect for teen homeschoolers: resilience in the face of betrayal, sibling loyalty, and the cost of choosing what’s right over what’s easy.

Praised by Kirkus Reviews—the premier review source trusted by librarians and educators—this magical debut delivers both heart and high-stakes adventure.

⭐ Critical Acclaim:

“A charming tale brimming with magic, beauty, action, and memorable characters … Intriguing and lyrical” — Kirkus Reviews

✅ Why Homeschooling Families Love It:

  • Rich, multilayered storytelling encourages thoughtful discussion
  • Myth-inspired worldbuilding blends culture and lessons seamlessly
  • Strong, relatable teen characters foster emotional connection and growth

Perfect For:

Readers aged 12 and up who love multi-POV quests, epic fantasy, stories with unexpected twists and turns, and relatable, courageous characters. Also ideal for parents and teachers looking for a read-aloud or independent study option that captivates and inspires.

Order The Siren Sea today—a sweeping, spellbound journey filled with danger, loyalty, and hope.

1. Complete Your Purchase.

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4. Start reading!

Genre: Historical fantasy, action & adventure, coming of age, mythological creatures and folklore

Audience: Middle schoolers, teens, young adults, adults

Recommended Reader Age: 12+

Explicit Language: None

Explicit Content: None. Later books in series contain sweet romance.

Violence:  Action-packed battles that may include death, but without gore or graphic violence

"This fairy-tale-like story follows a pair of down-on-their-luck siblings as they try to outsmart a villainous duke.

In this book set in the fantasy world of Talisfarne (which sometimes resembles a bygone Russia), Katrin and her younger brother, Cyril, live by themselves on a small island. They were orphaned after their mother died of an illness, and their father was murdered by marauders who broke the government’s peace treaty not long after. Magic, or “magia,” abounds—alongside plenty of enchanted creatures like fey and even sirens: “Her silver tail [splashed] a shower of dazzling brightness so that Cyril felt he’d been sprinkled with the shards of fallen stars.” After losing their house (and everything in it) in a contest, Cyril makes a deal with Ilya, the contest’s winner: Deliver a mysterious package to Ilya’s father, and Ilya will return the property to Katrin. This seemingly simple task leads to wild twists and turns. Cyril winds up in jail, and Katrin discovers the power behind her exceptionally beautiful singing voice. Along the way, readers meet a colorful cast, including the Princess Astrid, Diogenes the woodsman, and an evil duke. Stuffed with traditional fairy-tale references, such as clever disguises and an old woman with mysterious gifts, the novel tackles multiple storylines and characters. Swanson ably juggles everything and everyone, delivering both an intriguing plot and lyrical prose that may remind some readers of Erin Morgenstern’s The Starless Sea, from 2019. (“Cyril huffed and grumbled and shrugged into his cloak. His gait looked stiffer than usual as he departed the cottage for tutors or prayers or whatever it was he did these days between sun-up and midnight.”) The author conjures a vivid world where her characters discover themselves in endlessly surprising ways, melding ancient folklore with politics and enchantment.

A charming tale brimming with magic, beauty, action, and memorable characters."

OUR VERDICT: GET IT

(Publishers note: this book was originally published as TSARINA SCHOLAR WOODSMAN THIEF)

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Testimonials

★★★★★

"Before I finished the first page, I knew I was in safe hands."

Kevin Cannon
UK Reviewer, Monty's Book Cave

"Brimming with magic, beauty, action, and memorable characters."

KIRKUS REVIEWS
★★★★★
"A truly joyous read!"
James W.
Amazon review

"Our verdict: get it."

KIRKUS REVIEWS
  • 5 stars: 6 (86%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (14%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
This product has no reviews of its own. The merchant grouped it with related products, so the reviews shown are from across that group.
A
Anonymous

Intriguing story that weaves fantasy into a fairytale-like telling. Worth the read.

K
Kevin

I always start a new series with a little trepidation. Will it be as good as the author's previous work? Will I enjoy it? Have I got to get used to a whole roster of new characters and relationships? Before the end of the first page I knew I was in safe hands. It was just like slipping into a favourite dressing gown with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. The story was engrossing, the title characters were endearing and the villains were suitably mustache twistingly bad. I, for one, can't wait for book 2, safe in the knowledge that Cidney has got this and it's going to be another cracking series.

J
Jan

The book was a lovely story about four different youths who must find courage and heart amidst the evil in the world. I didn't really know what to expect when I was given this book, but did enjoy it and wanted to leave a review. It starts a bit slow and the story jumps perspective a lot at first but became easy to follow. It surprised me several times. I thought I had figured out how the story would go and instead it turned a different way. I enjoyed being surprised.

A
Anonymous

It was hard to put this book down! The characters have depth and the story line is unpredictable so you can't stop reading ... you want to find out what is going to happen. The dialogue is entertaining and the fantasy world is believable. I can't wait for more in the series!

K
Kitty

This is quite a different genre from my favorite Cidney Swanson books, the Mars series. It's a fairytale with a heart. It was fun trying to figure out exactly where and when the book took place. The writing is graceful and the characters memorable. One thing that can absolutely ruin a good story for me is poor editing. This was nearly perfect. I am very much looking forward to the next book!

F
Faye

I'm not going to summarize this book but I will say that there isn't a book written by Cidney Swanson that I haven't enjoyed. They always have great characters and humanity. This story is no different except it does have that fairytale feel to it. The multiple POV was a bit different for me with my reading styles but I got used to it after a few chapters. It's one of those slow build stories, but once you get attached to the characters and get the rhythm to the story it ends too quickly! I would love read more in this world. The story stayed with me for a long time after I read it. If you like The Woodsman and Uprooted, you should love this one!

P
Persephone

This new book from Cidney Swanson is stunning, terrifying and exciting! It is a unique world of magic and terror and friendships all at the same time. All of her series have been exceptional but this one, WOW. I can't wait for the next book.

Hi, I'm cidney.

I'm a former homeschool-mom of three who was always on the look-out for age-appropriate books my kids would love....

  • 5 stars: 6 (86%)
  • 4 stars: 1 (14%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
This product has no reviews of its own. The merchant grouped it with related products, so the reviews shown are from across that group.
A
Anonymous

Intriguing story that weaves fantasy into a fairytale-like telling. Worth the read.

K
Kevin

I always start a new series with a little trepidation. Will it be as good as the author's previous work? Will I enjoy it? Have I got to get used to a whole roster of new characters and relationships? Before the end of the first page I knew I was in safe hands. It was just like slipping into a favourite dressing gown with a steaming mug of hot chocolate. The story was engrossing, the title characters were endearing and the villains were suitably mustache twistingly bad. I, for one, can't wait for book 2, safe in the knowledge that Cidney has got this and it's going to be another cracking series.

J
Jan

The book was a lovely story about four different youths who must find courage and heart amidst the evil in the world. I didn't really know what to expect when I was given this book, but did enjoy it and wanted to leave a review. It starts a bit slow and the story jumps perspective a lot at first but became easy to follow. It surprised me several times. I thought I had figured out how the story would go and instead it turned a different way. I enjoyed being surprised.

A
Anonymous

It was hard to put this book down! The characters have depth and the story line is unpredictable so you can't stop reading ... you want to find out what is going to happen. The dialogue is entertaining and the fantasy world is believable. I can't wait for more in the series!

K
Kitty

This is quite a different genre from my favorite Cidney Swanson books, the Mars series. It's a fairytale with a heart. It was fun trying to figure out exactly where and when the book took place. The writing is graceful and the characters memorable. One thing that can absolutely ruin a good story for me is poor editing. This was nearly perfect. I am very much looking forward to the next book!

F
Faye

I'm not going to summarize this book but I will say that there isn't a book written by Cidney Swanson that I haven't enjoyed. They always have great characters and humanity. This story is no different except it does have that fairytale feel to it. The multiple POV was a bit different for me with my reading styles but I got used to it after a few chapters. It's one of those slow build stories, but once you get attached to the characters and get the rhythm to the story it ends too quickly! I would love read more in this world. The story stayed with me for a long time after I read it. If you like The Woodsman and Uprooted, you should love this one!

P
Persephone

This new book from Cidney Swanson is stunning, terrifying and exciting! It is a unique world of magic and terror and friendships all at the same time. All of her series have been exceptional but this one, WOW. I can't wait for the next book.

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Open page of The Siren Sea by Cidney Swanson | lyrical YA fantasy for ages 12–17, part of the Five Kingdoms Chronicles.

Cidney Swanson

writes books for readers craving wholesome adventures where heroes and heroines overcome impossible odds.


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