The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren is a satisfying blend of laugh aloud humour, magic, and social commentary. Blaze Trailes is an unlikely hero and an utterly lovable character. The plot moves a little slowly initially as Blaze tries to balance his sense of duty towards fighting the Siren against battling the school bullies and navigating a new crush. The latter part of the book is thrilling as Blaze, Roze, and Cassie follow clues that lead them to the mind-blowing revelation of the Siren’s identity. Wagner injects many humorous moments into The Gay Teen’s Guide to Defeating a Siren without glossing over the devastating reality that none of the students would be at Sanctuary if their parents accepted them for who they are. The horrors of ‘conversion therapy’ are a real threat to many young members of the LGBT community and the concept that one of these institutions is a secret haven for gay teens is highly effective. You want to believe it far more than the whimsical idea of magic being real.
Reviewed for Reader's Favorite