Product Description

When Connie is sent to live with her aunt, she knows it's going to be one more place where she doesn't fit in. But soon she realises how wrong she is. The seaside town is full of adults and children who have strange links to creatures. It's the heart of the secret Society for the Protection of Mythical Creatures, a group of people sworn to ensure that mythical beasts are kept safe. Normally the creatures and their chosen humans work in harmony. But something abnormal is happening here. The Sirens, who for generations have kept their deadly song to themselves, are once again luring humans to their deaths. It doesn't take long for Connie to realise that the victims are oil workers. The Sirens are fed-up with their seas being polluted, but should the Society protect the Sirens or the oil industry? Connie doesn't think she has a role to play, until it becomes clear that she's a Universal - the first person in over a century who can communicate with every type of beast on earth and in the air. Her power is immense. It corrupted the previous Universal ...and now he's back.And he'll use any means he can - from violence to the terrifying Storm Giants - to turn Connie to the dark side.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1076350 in Books
• Published on: 2006-08-03
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

Review
Golding offers the softer side of adventure fantasy. In the lovely opening scene, Connie plays and talks with seagulls. Living with eccentric Aunt Evelyn, she learns of a secret Society charged with protecting "mythical" beings (actually real) from humanity's violence. Each Society member is companion to a particular species: water sprites, selkies, unicorns, dragons or one of many others. Might Connie be a companion to the sirens who live on nearby rocks tempting sailors to their deaths? Her destiny is far greater: She's a universal, a rare human companion to all mythical creatures. Foils include an international oil company poised to pollute the ocean, and Kullervo, a malevolent spirit in the process of taking over the world. Perspective is mostly Connie's but occasionally shifts to Col, a companion to "pegasi." Structurally epic but gentle in aura; an easily accessible tale for readers who enjoy mythical creatures. --Kirkus Reviews, March 15, 2007

The first book in the "Companions Quartet," Secret of the Sirens picks up where JK Rowling left off concerning the Society for the Preservation of Mythical Creatures fantasy enthusiasts. It's a classic hero's journey with Connie, a twelve-year-old newcomer to Hescombe, Great Britain, as the heroine. Unbeknownst to her, she is a descendant of a long line of companions to mythical creatures, but she thinks her ability to get along and communicate with animals is just another reason why she doesn't fit in to the regular school scene. She has transferred from several different schools and finally ends up living with her eccentric Aunt Evelyn, a threshold guardian, unsure of letting Connie know of the existence of the secret society. When it appears that Connie not only should be a member, but the highest ranking member as a universal companion to all mythical creatures and the only one who can save them from the exploits of modern-day business expansion, she fully supports Connie's gift, and becomes her ardent protector, as well as a loving aunt. Battling the Shapeshifter, an evil force that threatens the human world, Connie and the other companions, along with the help of the mythical creatures, save an oil tanker from crashing upon the sharp rocks and spilling black oil throughout the sea. The evil force appears to be destroyed, but Connie senses it will re-gather and confront her, the universal companion, in the future to again tempt her to help him destroy humankind. This is a great fantasy that is well written and riveting to the reader. An underlying message about saving our environment is intertwined throughout the story, and it also integrates characters of diverse ethnicities. It is a wonderful start to a series that will quickly develop a following. --Children's Literature, April 2007

About the Author
Julia Golding was shortlisted for the Ottakar's Love of Reading Prize for The Diamond of Drury Lane.

Customer Reviews

An Amazing Story
One day my library teacher was recommending a book to me, but I wasn't listening. Instead I was looking at the upper shelf at a very fat book with a cool symbol on it. By then my teacher had finished talking about the book she recommended which I didn't even know the title of. So, when she asked me if the book sounded good, I said, "It sounds pretty good to me." But when she left I looked straight at the other book. It was called "Secret of the Sirens" by Julia Golding. I decided to read it and it is one of the best books I've read in my life.

It is about a ten year old girl called Connie. She lives with her aunt because of specific problems in her past schools. She has a very special bond with animals and soon discovers that her aunt is in a secret society (for the protection of mythical creatures).

Connie is very strange girl with two mismatched eyes, one green and one blue. She also can talk to animals and claims them to be her best friends.

If you like fantasy of myths this is a good book to read, but you have to be a pretty advanced reader with a big vocabulary. I think this book will become a classic. --By Michael (a student in msdu's class)

Fast-paced adventure perfect for young adult libraries
Book one of a projected 'Companions Quartet' tells of Connie, sent to live with an eccentric aunt who lives by the sea. She's anticipating a dull life, but her encounter with a cool boy and a set of mythical sea creatures - an ancient underwater society needing help as they face a threat - leads her to explore unrealized powers in this fast-paced adventure perfect for young adult libraries reaching high school fans of fantasy.

A Great Read for Animal Lovers!
This was a fantastic read. I am an 18 year old and was desperate for a new book. I'm very picky about what I like to read but once I get hooked, I get REALLY hooked. But I am passionate about very few books and it takes a lot to draw me in.. but this book certainly did the job! It's a fabulous read for animal lovers and ties in a lot of great environmentalism ideas.

It's well-written, very enjoyable and had me begging for more! The next book - The Gorgon's Gaze - is just as good!