SIRENZ BACK IN FASHION

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.