Silent Echo: A Siren's Tale by Elisa Freilich

Haunted by silence, a mute teenage girl is mysteriously given back her voice ... and it is divine.

Rendered mute at birth, Portia Griffin has been silent for 16 years. Music is her constant companion, along with Felix, her deaf best friend who couldn’t care less whether or not she can speak. If only he were as nonchalant about her newfound interest in the musically gifted Max Hunter.

But Portia’s silence is about to be broken with the abrupt discovery of her voice, unparalleled in its purity and the power it affords to control those around her. Able to persuade, seduce and destroy using only her voice, Portia embarks on a search for answers about who she really is, and what she is destined to become.

Inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, SILENT ECHO: A Siren's Tale is an epic story filled with fantasy, romance and original music

My Review:

This is the first book I have read that involves deaf/mute characters. Although the main character Portia does find her voice in the story. She decides to keep it hidden for awhile, leaving the first portion of the book sign language and body expressions.

Although her relationship with Max is pretty sudden and a love at first sight kind of relationship. I thought that the struggle she felt between Max and Felix was very understandable and relatable. Max and Portia have a bond with music and poetry. I suppose one of my favorite things about the story was the serenading that Max does to win Portia's heart. It was refreshing and unique from anything else I have read this year. A very romantic read.

When Portia begins to notice the physical changes happening to her, it scares her. She doesn't want to open up to anybody about the changes she is going through but finds a special bond with the school nurse. It also reunites a relationship with her neighbor that had fallen apart years ago. But is also hinders her relationship with Felix, her deaf best friend who they have shared everything with for years. This struggle between the characters relationships and how to relate to each other as they are all experiencing the events together really spoke to me and I think all the elements of the story are balanced well.

The novel is a mixture of these relationships alongside the music, poetry and connection of Portia's story to The Odyssey. It was very intriguing the connection the author weaves between the two and I now have the desire to read The Odyssey for myself.

Portia shows different sides of herself as she's is going through this major change in her life. She has to fight a battle within herself, does she want to stay good or let the evil overtake her? This inner struggle leads to a physical confrontation at the climax.

I found myself not wanting to put this book down. The combination of elements made for a very entertaining read. There is poetry, romance, music, fighting and a connection to the Sirens of The Odyssey.

About Elisa Freilich:

Raised in rural Monsey, New York, Elisa spent her days reading whatever crossed her path and developing a keen appreciation for the ever-present music in her home – from classical to rock.

After her college years at Boston University, Elisa continued her creative pursuits, working as a junior VP of Marketing at a corporate graphic design agency and, later, as an interior decorator. Eventually, Elisa left the workforce to raise her family, in her now hometown of Englewood, NJ.

When Elisa is not writing, her creative outlets still abound. She is fierce with a set of knitting needles, a hot glue gun and any ingredients that can somehow be fashioned into a sinful and highly caloric babka.

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