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The Syrena Legacy #0.4
The Stranger
Free online fiction. Novelette.
The Syrena don’t trust many humans. Rachel is one of them. The story of how Galen met her – and how they bonded -- is both exciting and heartbreaking.
The Syrena don’t trust many humans. Rachel is one of them. The story of how Galen met her – and how they bonded -- is both exciting and heartbreaking.
32 pages, ebook
First published June 18, 2013
17 people are currently reading
2711 people want to read
About the author
Anna Banks
31 books3,669 followersNew York Times Bestselling author of The Syrena Legacy series.
Grew up in a town called Niceville. No, seriously. And yes, everyone from Niceville is generally nice.
Let's see, things about me....My writer's cat is a mini wiener dog named Puckdoo. I can't walk in high heels, but I'm amazing at standing still in them. I'm the only person in Florida without a tan. I stole a car when I was 12 years old and drove across three state lines with it. Yeah. That's about it.
My books:
Of Poseidon
Of Triton
Of Neptune
Joyride
How To Lose A Bachelor
Degrees of Wrong (Pen name Anna Scarlett)
Nemesis (Coming soon!)
Grew up in a town called Niceville. No, seriously. And yes, everyone from Niceville is generally nice.
Let's see, things about me....My writer's cat is a mini wiener dog named Puckdoo. I can't walk in high heels, but I'm amazing at standing still in them. I'm the only person in Florida without a tan. I stole a car when I was 12 years old and drove across three state lines with it. Yeah. That's about it.
My books:
Of Poseidon
Of Triton
Of Neptune
Joyride
How To Lose A Bachelor
Degrees of Wrong (Pen name Anna Scarlett)
Nemesis (Coming soon!)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
February 3, 2018
I total got The Little Mermaid vibes while reading this book.
First, Syrena's and humans don't mix.
Second, Syrena's don't save humans.
Third, Syrena's don't go up to the surface - ever.
SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE LITTLE MERMAID GUYS!
Good thing too because I loved that god damn movie.
The Stranger is one of the two prequels to the first book, Of Poseidon, within the Syrena Legacy Series. It features Galen and Rayan, who are twin Syrenas, their best friend Tarof, and the human girl named Rachel.
Galen and Rayan were so freaking relatable to me because that is exactly how me and my older siblings fought. Especially over friends (like Tarof). Then there's the whole I don't have a twin thing like they do but I still really enjoyed the two of them.
Speaking of Tarof, man is he funny. Oh, and he's in love with Rayan which I found adorable but he was so easily influence by her it wasn't even funny. Talk about being whipped. Back to him being funny, I almost peed my pants laughing so hard because he completely believed that humans eat sand. Like dead panned straight face said it. If I was there I would be rolling on the floor laughing my ass off and then calling a dumb ass.
Last but not least, Rachel. Right now I have no idea what to think of her. I didn't really like her at first because I thought at the end she was using both Galen and Tarof, So, I'm just going to watch out for her right now. Plus, the whole getting thrown into the ocean off of a boat with her all tied up seemed highly suspicious.
Maybe I'm all wrong about her but I will have to figure that out on my own.
First, Syrena's and humans don't mix.
Second, Syrena's don't save humans.
Third, Syrena's don't go up to the surface - ever.
SOUNDS A LOT LIKE THE LITTLE MERMAID GUYS!
Good thing too because I loved that god damn movie.
The Stranger is one of the two prequels to the first book, Of Poseidon, within the Syrena Legacy Series. It features Galen and Rayan, who are twin Syrenas, their best friend Tarof, and the human girl named Rachel.
Galen and Rayan were so freaking relatable to me because that is exactly how me and my older siblings fought. Especially over friends (like Tarof). Then there's the whole I don't have a twin thing like they do but I still really enjoyed the two of them.
Speaking of Tarof, man is he funny. Oh, and he's in love with Rayan which I found adorable but he was so easily influence by her it wasn't even funny. Talk about being whipped. Back to him being funny, I almost peed my pants laughing so hard because he completely believed that humans eat sand. Like dead panned straight face said it. If I was there I would be rolling on the floor laughing my ass off and then calling a dumb ass.
Last but not least, Rachel. Right now I have no idea what to think of her. I didn't really like her at first because I thought at the end she was using both Galen and Tarof, So, I'm just going to watch out for her right now. Plus, the whole getting thrown into the ocean off of a boat with her all tied up seemed highly suspicious.
Maybe I'm all wrong about her but I will have to figure that out on my own.
May 28, 2017
"La humana de la que se estaban deshaciendo".
Este me gustó muchísimo más, más emotivo, más lento. Muestran, como Galen simplemente eligió salvarla, porque no todos los humanos podían ser malo. Y es graciosa su interacción, porque ella era una luz entre tantas costumbres que él no conocía. HAHAHA morí con lo de ponerse las palmas para que ella no confundiera lo de hacer una fogata con que él quisiese aparearse con ella xD
Este me gustó muchísimo más, más emotivo, más lento. Muestran, como Galen simplemente eligió salvarla, porque no todos los humanos podían ser malo. Y es graciosa su interacción, porque ella era una luz entre tantas costumbres que él no conocía. HAHAHA morí con lo de ponerse las palmas para que ella no confundiera lo de hacer una fogata con que él quisiese aparearse con ella xD
July 16, 2013
The Stranger is for people who...
...have read Of Poseidon and want more
...don't mind a little third person present tense (it still sounds weird to me)
...want to see Galen, Rayna, and Toraf as kids
...would like to know how Galen met Rachel
...don't mind not having Emma in the story
...can't get enough of the Of Poseidon world
The Stranger was a free story I read on Tor's website on July 16, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
...have read Of Poseidon and want more
...don't mind a little third person present tense (it still sounds weird to me)
...want to see Galen, Rayna, and Toraf as kids
...would like to know how Galen met Rachel
...don't mind not having Emma in the story
...can't get enough of the Of Poseidon world
The Stranger was a free story I read on Tor's website on July 16, 2013 for the Why Buy the Cow? reading challenge.
January 1, 2018
3.5 stars
This was really cute, but I was expecting a little more of Galen and Rachel trying to get to know each other and of Rachel answering Galen's questions about the human world.
This was really cute, but I was expecting a little more of Galen and Rachel trying to get to know each other and of Rachel answering Galen's questions about the human world.
June 25, 2013
The Stranger tells the story of how Galen and Rachel first met.
The story takes place when Galen is 13 year old. He saves Rachel from drowning and helps her out. His sister, Rayna and Toraf also come upon them and though they all have a distrustful start, they soon become good friends. Rachel gradually familiarizes them with human life and things.
As always, we see Galen and Rayna's hilarious bickering and Toraf's attempts to pacify them. Rachel always struck me as a great character and here we see how they all, in spite of Galen's initial suspicions, become fast friends. And she didn't even blink at them being Syrena! I love that she is so loyal and protective about them.
The story takes place when Galen is 13 year old. He saves Rachel from drowning and helps her out. His sister, Rayna and Toraf also come upon them and though they all have a distrustful start, they soon become good friends. Rachel gradually familiarizes them with human life and things.
As always, we see Galen and Rayna's hilarious bickering and Toraf's attempts to pacify them. Rachel always struck me as a great character and here we see how they all, in spite of Galen's initial suspicions, become fast friends. And she didn't even blink at them being Syrena! I love that she is so loyal and protective about them.
August 11, 2016
"Ella dice que los humanos tienen un dicho: "La basura de un hombre es el tesoro de otro". Cuando ella le dijo eso, se refería a algunas latas que tenía la intención de reciclar-lo que sea que signifique eso- pero Galen siempre ha aplicado ese dicho a la misma Rachel. Lo que los humanos tiraron resultó ser un tesoro invaluable para él".
July 13, 2013
I liked this short story a lot
as we see everyone we love as little youngsters ^^
More to who Rayna is beyond a hard-ass
And the beginning of the relationship between Rachel and Galen.
I've always liked Rachel and I think in some way her strong, independent, and witty personality has ... made my mind draw up my own image of her. And whenever she's talking or Emma/Galen are describing her in whatever scene, I always imagine this short feisty chick, with rockin red hair, red lipstick to match, and a splotch of freckles.
I'm not sure how that image came to be, but I always associated it with Rachel. And beyond how awesome I think this cover is, I also liked how Rachel's hair is more animated to be feiry and ablaze like flames instead of her real hair that's black. Instead of portraying who she is on a physical level, the spread of the flames that looks like hair stresses more who Rachel is on a personality-wise level. Also it creates the sense of distress very well along with Rachel's expression and her tied hands and all dat c:
I never really got into reading short stories to series, until I read Marissa Meyer's Glitches and The Queen's Army. I always thought "well... If I have time, I'll read them, but they're not that important right?"
But I guess I just never realized that they can be just as telling as the main books and just as cute and great-- in a more compact form. xD
as we see everyone we love as little youngsters ^^
More to who Rayna is beyond a hard-ass
And the beginning of the relationship between Rachel and Galen.
I've always liked Rachel and I think in some way her strong, independent, and witty personality has ... made my mind draw up my own image of her. And whenever she's talking or Emma/Galen are describing her in whatever scene, I always imagine this short feisty chick, with rockin red hair, red lipstick to match, and a splotch of freckles.
I'm not sure how that image came to be, but I always associated it with Rachel. And beyond how awesome I think this cover is, I also liked how Rachel's hair is more animated to be feiry and ablaze like flames instead of her real hair that's black. Instead of portraying who she is on a physical level, the spread of the flames that looks like hair stresses more who Rachel is on a personality-wise level. Also it creates the sense of distress very well along with Rachel's expression and her tied hands and all dat c:
I never really got into reading short stories to series, until I read Marissa Meyer's Glitches and The Queen's Army. I always thought "well... If I have time, I'll read them, but they're not that important right?"
But I guess I just never realized that they can be just as telling as the main books and just as cute and great-- in a more compact form. xD
October 20, 2014
Bell, Book & Candle | The Stranger Review
This is a novella so don't expect a long review. Although it is a novella, I do wish it was a bit longer than the measly 30 pages it was. Why am I reviewing a super short book? Well, that is quite simple. I'm not sure if I have already said this, but I enjoy reading about each characters' past and background. How did they meet this person? Why did this happen? What were the events that led to the start of the first book? These are all questions I ask while reading a series, so naturally, reading the novellas are like icing on the cake for me.
In this short story, it is revealed how Galen and Rachel had come to meet and become allies; Rachel being one of Galen's first human friends. Galen is younger in this book, as well as his unpredictable sister, Rayna, so this is most definitely in the past-- unlike the other novella Girls Day Out. I have always thought Rachel was so kick-a** and tough, especially with her being former mafia. No, not mafia but Mafia with a capital "M".
Anyways, this is a nice little short read to tie you over if you're impatiently awaiting the arrival of book two in the series. Check it out!
This is a novella so don't expect a long review. Although it is a novella, I do wish it was a bit longer than the measly 30 pages it was. Why am I reviewing a super short book? Well, that is quite simple. I'm not sure if I have already said this, but I enjoy reading about each characters' past and background. How did they meet this person? Why did this happen? What were the events that led to the start of the first book? These are all questions I ask while reading a series, so naturally, reading the novellas are like icing on the cake for me.
In this short story, it is revealed how Galen and Rachel had come to meet and become allies; Rachel being one of Galen's first human friends. Galen is younger in this book, as well as his unpredictable sister, Rayna, so this is most definitely in the past-- unlike the other novella Girls Day Out. I have always thought Rachel was so kick-a** and tough, especially with her being former mafia. No, not mafia but Mafia with a capital "M".
Anyways, this is a nice little short read to tie you over if you're impatiently awaiting the arrival of book two in the series. Check it out!
January 5, 2017
It's just a nice addition to the story but not necessary!
January 6, 2020
#16 of 2020
Cute little prequel to the series.
Cute little prequel to the series.
August 8, 2020
It was nice to read about how Galen met Rachel, especially considering how book 2 ended.
September 1, 2024
This gave me Little Mermaid vibes particularly with the treasure cave of human relics. I liked that he found a human, but I am so intrigued why Rachel was thrown off the boat tied up in the first place. I am interested to see what happens with his money and car...
February 14, 2016
Short Review:
This was a fun and interesting book. I am planning to read the first book in this series soon, so I decided to check the last prequel I still had left.
What can I say, it was pretty boring, and also at times it was highly confusing. Will we ever find out why Rachel was thrown into the water? What did she do wrong? Why is she so dedicated to the mermaid stuff? So nobody tries to kill her now? Will she ever betray them?
All in all, nice prequel, but I had hoped better. At least the cover is very very pretty. :)
Review first posted at: http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
This was a fun and interesting book. I am planning to read the first book in this series soon, so I decided to check the last prequel I still had left.
What can I say, it was pretty boring, and also at times it was highly confusing. Will we ever find out why Rachel was thrown into the water? What did she do wrong? Why is she so dedicated to the mermaid stuff? So nobody tries to kill her now? Will she ever betray them?
All in all, nice prequel, but I had hoped better. At least the cover is very very pretty. :)
Review first posted at: http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
June 25, 2013
**4.5 Stars**
Finally! We learn how Galen meets Rachel. It is actually pretty funny seeing Galen this young and this unaware of how the human world works. It just really goes to show how much Rachel really taught him.
Of course it is great that Rayna was in there too. And we get to see a little more of her younger personality and her meeting Rachel as well.
Fantastic read for Of Poseidon fans. Actually, it is a must read.
Finally! We learn how Galen meets Rachel. It is actually pretty funny seeing Galen this young and this unaware of how the human world works. It just really goes to show how much Rachel really taught him.
Of course it is great that Rayna was in there too. And we get to see a little more of her younger personality and her meeting Rachel as well.
Fantastic read for Of Poseidon fans. Actually, it is a must read.
December 8, 2014
Oh my gosh I loved this one!
At first I couldn't remember who Rachel was from Of Poseidon but she was totally my favorite character. This book was the story of Rachel and how she became Galen's human.
She's funny and down to earth. She's not freaked out by the crazy mermaid people and has helped them make tons of money. I'm so glad we got to see a peak into her story.
At first I couldn't remember who Rachel was from Of Poseidon but she was totally my favorite character. This book was the story of Rachel and how she became Galen's human.
She's funny and down to earth. She's not freaked out by the crazy mermaid people and has helped them make tons of money. I'm so glad we got to see a peak into her story.
December 23, 2014
This is hilarious. Reading the comical banter of the syrenas, I couldn't help but wonder, I've found the perfect author (for me, anyway) . And gosh the syrenas are indeed clueless in the language and culture of humans. It was endearing to know more about the characters of the book.
December 31, 2014
http://www.tor.com/stories/2013/06/th...#
This was a cute story about how Galen first met Rachel, I found it a bit difficult to trust her to start with though so I'm not surprised he had issues!
This was a cute story about how Galen first met Rachel, I found it a bit difficult to trust her to start with though so I'm not surprised he had issues!
Want to read
May 14, 2013omg omg OH MY GOD!!!
April 13, 2014
That cover is mind boggling.
The story's pretty straight forward.
The story's pretty straight forward.
April 19, 2015
Rating: 3.75/5
Review coming soon!
Review coming soon!
August 4, 2015
I enjoyed learning more about how Rachel became like family to Galen, Rayna and Toraf. Great novella, but why the heck did they try to kill Rachel?
June 10, 2016
Eh...a little too forced if you ask me. After all those years of being a Mob and she just goes and trusts Galen??? Obviously the character was made first and then the background story.
May 25, 2014
Awwwwwwwww, I will mis Rachel A LOT!! :'(
August 2, 2014
Nada del otro mundo e.e
September 10, 2014
Rachel I LOVE YOU and you are WONDERFUL.
Thank you Anna Banks for writing such a FANTASTIC friend for Galen <3
Thank you Anna Banks for writing such a FANTASTIC friend for Galen <3
December 1, 2021
I do not trust this Rachel lady...at all.
*3-11-15 edit: Well now I feel like a stupid jerk...
*3-11-15 edit: Well now I feel like a stupid jerk...
September 22, 2015
This was so good, I loved figuring out how Rachel and Galen met! Such a cute little novella.
July 4, 2016
Loved finally knowing how Galen met Rachel
June 29, 2023
Courte nouvelle, rapide à lire, qui donne un peu plus de contexte à la relation entre Galen et Rachel. Of Poseidon donne déjà les grandes lignes sur leur relation, mais ici on voit concrètement leur rencontre et le début de la construction de la confiance entre eux deux, et avec Rayna et Toraf aussi. Cependant, je n'ai pas trouvé que c'était des informations si intéressantes que ça pour mieux apprécier la trilogie.
February 4, 2023
Este libro de la "Trilogía The Syrena legacy" es una historia corta que narra desde la perspectiva de valen y de como el conoció a Rachel y se conocieron y de como le salvó la vida haciéndose amigo de ella después, también me pareció un historia corta y un poco divertida cuando al grupo se les une también rayna y toraf al grupo.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews