Submerged (The Clockwork Siren #2)
by Katie Hayoz
Blurb:
Lure it out. Catch it. Kill it.Melusine Doré knows exactly how to handle monsters. Love, however, is another matter. Though she is doing her best to live her happily ever after, Melusine begins to doubt Levi’s devotion and worries the curse that once made her a siren will return.
When Melusine and Levi go hunt a beast down South, Melusine’s deepest fear becomes a reality as she finds herself in exactly the place where all her troubles began: home. There, Melusine must face the dark secrets and lies of her family’s past—and the very real possibility that she is more monster than maiden.
Novella number two in the Immersed series, Submerged by Katie Hayoz takes us from the muddy trenches of steampunk Chicago to the sticky swamps of Louisiana to the slippery side of love.
My Review:
I really enjoyed the first book in this series, so once I heard about the sequel it didn’t take me long to grab my copy. Submerged is a great sequel, although it doesn’t quite live up the awesomeness that was the first book. It continues the story of Mel and Levi and a new adventure. They have to kill a creature in the swamps where Melusine grew up which means facing her past.
The story was interesting, we find some answers about Melusine her past and we learn more about the characters. The pace was done well and there are more new monsters to find, but it just lacked something that the first book did have. It was still a great book, don’t get me wrong and definitely worth the read, but I enjoyed it less than the first book. The book did keep my attention and flowed well and the plot was interesting. I liked the tidbits we learned of Melusine her past and her family and it all made more sense in this book as we learn the pieces we still missed after the first book.
One of the things that bothered me a bit was Melusine her jealousy and the added drama, yeah I understand why that played a part and Levi was being charming and nice to the other female, but it just got a bit too much focus. It felt like there were quite some scenes around that and while I know it had a purpose, I still wasn’t a fan of it. There is a bit of competition and animosity between the two females and I didn’t quite like it.
Melusine and Levi are still their awesome fighting selves, taking down monsters, but also being considerate about which monsters they killed. They aren’t heartless killer and only kill when they have to. I did feel their connection and romance a bit less in this book, which was a shame. Probably in part due to the whole jealousy issue that plays a role in this book. Some jumping to conclusions and that leaving less space for them to just be together.
This book definitely adds some interesting pieces of world building, some about the monsters they encounter n this book and some about Melusine her past and it added something to the series in those terms. We also get a new setting in this book namely the swamp instead of muddy Chicago. While I liked seeing a different setting I thought the Chicago history and setting was more interesting. In this book there is less focus on the setting.
To summarize: Submerged was a great sequel, although not as good as the first book. It continues the plot and we learn new things, mainly about Melusine and her past. However there was some more focus on another female and Melusine being jealous and it just didn’t quite do it for me. I did understand why the author put that part in the story, but I just didn’t like that part. I also felt the romance less as there is less focus on the romance and having them spent time together in this book. The world building adds some interesting pieces, but wasn’t as exciting as in the first book when we just got introduced to this world.
Previous book in the series:
– Katie Hayoz – Immersed (The Clockwork Siren #1) – 4 stars
Ooh, I haven’t actually read the first book in this series (please don’t hate me, I didn’t read the whole review in case of spoilers!), but you’ve got me interested in possibly reading the first book since, oddly enough, I recently decided I want to try a book about sirens.
I think the first book does influence how I feel about the other books though because it gives me certain expectations, like you said. And of course if the first book was AMAZING, there’s, like, never any hope of the second book living up to it lol.
Kristen Burns recently posted…Cover Characteristics: Book Covers featuring Butterflies
I usually try to avoid spoilers in my reviews, but just like you I usualy don’t read reviews of later books in a series if I plan to read the series as sometimes spoilers for the first book slip in. So I can understand why you didn’t read the whole review. It’s a great series! Although the full focus isn’t on the sirens, there’s also focus on the historical, romance and steampunk elements, so there’s more than the sirens to the story. I do really like how the siren element is handled in this series and how it’s a bit darker than most mermaid/ siren stories.
I enjoyed the first book a lot, so it just felt the sequel didn’t quite live up to my expectations, which is probably because my expectations were so high. That happens more often with sequels sadly.
I’m so excited to get more back story on Melusine and to see her and Levi in action once again, Lola. And I’m excited about the further world building since I enjoyed that part so much in book 1. I’m sorry this one wasn’t quite all you were hoping it’d be. But I’m happy you enjoyed it overall. Nice review!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…#ShelfLove ~ Why I’m Grateful for This Challenge
It definitely was fun to see them in action again and get mroe back story about Melusine. And I liked how this book builds upon the world building and gives us more info. It was a great sequel, just not as good as the first book in my opinion. I hope you’ll enjoy this one!
I really need to start this series. Sorry the second book wasn’t as good as the first.
Angela @Simply Angela recently posted…Lost Ocean & Secret Garden by Johanna Basford and Staedtler Pens & Colored Pencils
It’s still a great series, alhough I thought the first book was better than this one I would still recommend it and am curious how the series continues.
I have this one, Lola, but I haven’t read it yet. Does it suffer from second book syndrome? I’m sad it wasn’t as good as Immersed…
Lexxie @ (un)Conventional Bookviews recently posted…Review: Base Instincts – Larissa Ione
I wouldn’t say it suffers from second book syndrome as it still is a good story and a good sequel, but it’s more like I had too high expectations I think. And it lacked a few of the things that I enjoyed about the first book like the budding romance, the awesome setting and finding out what Melusine is and why. I am looking forward to hear what you think of this one!
Lola recently posted…Review: Submerged by Katie Hayoz
I hate when book 1 in a series is better than book 2. It sucks when it doesn’t seem to be getting better, but it sounds like the jealousy aspect killed it for you a little. :/
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It just felt that the first book was so amazing the second book couldn’t live up. I did enjoy this one, but I could’ve done without the jealousy aspect. I think I would’ve enjoyed it more then.
Ii’ve read several books where the first book in the series is better than the second. I usually still pick up the third to see how that one goes. I do have a book where I haven’t read book four because the books continue to go down. The author doesn’t seem to be able to recreate the magic of book one.
Melanie Simmons @mlsimmons recently posted…Dark Heart of Magic Audiobook by Jennifer Estep (REVIEW)
It’s a shame when that happens and the first book is so good and the later books don’t live up to it. I will continue this series as the second book was still good, but I had hoped it would’ve been as good as the first book.
There aren’t many books about sirens out there. I think I’ll pass on this one though.
A Voracious Reader recently posted…Fearless
I’ve been trying to read a few more books about Sirens and mermaids lately. I would recommend this series if you’re looking for a great siren series, I really liked how the author handled that aspct, although it isn’t the only focus in this book.
Lola recently posted…Review: Submerged by Katie Hayoz
OMG, book 2 is out already?!?!?!
Thanks for reviewing this, Lola. must get my hands on this even if it’s not as strong as the first book. I want to know more of Melusine, she has an interesting past.
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Loved It: The Geomancer by Clay and Susan Griffith + Series Gossip
Yes it’s been released a few weeks ago. It’s still a good sequel, even though it isn’t as strong as the first book. And I liked learning more about Melusine her past. I hope you’ll enjoy this one!
I always expect sequels to be better, but unfortunately I feel like a lot of books seem to uh… fail in that department. Not all, but quite a few. I don’t know if it ends up being too much pressure? but yea
Lily B recently posted…Review: Fear the Dark by Kay Hooper
Maybe it was my own expectations that ruined it, the book takes place in a different seting and has a different focus than the previous one. There were things I still enjoyed, bit also some that I didn’t or that were in the first book and not here. I always hope sequel are as good as the first book, but am also hesistant that will like them less.
It’s so hard for a second book to live up to the wonder of a reader’s first encounter to a lovely setting and creative worldbuilding of a first book. But glad it was still good particularly as it gave you something more of the heroine’s past.
I want to read this series.
Sophia Rose recently posted…Forever Buckhorn by Lori Foster #Review
I hope you give this series a try! It’s a great series although the first encounter with this world was just so amazing, the seocnd book couldn’t replicate that feeling. I did enjoy learning more about the heroine’s past, it’s fun how we leanr more about her and her past in this book.
This sounds like a good series. Glad to hear you liked this one and the previous book. Thanks for the review.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Favorite Picture of the Week
It’s a great series! Even though this one wans’t as good as the first book, I would still recommend the series.
I hadn’t heard of these. I love the cover for this one! I’m sorry the sequel wasn’t as good as the first in the series. That’s always a bit if a let-down. Thanks for your honest thoughts though. 🙂
-Lauren
Let’s Get Beyond Tolerance recently posted…Waiting on Wednesday: If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo
It’s a shame when a sequel isn’t as good as the first book, although I am still happy I read it. And the covers for this series are pretty indeed!