Lucy is away at university when she experiences a sleepwalking episode that ends in assault of a male classmate. Fleeing the repercussions, she ends up at her sister’s cliff-side home along the Australian coast, but there’s one problem, which turns into many: her sister is not there. What unfolds is a mystery in the present which intertwines with local lore related to a ship of female “convicts” from Ireland which wrecked along the coast in the 1800s.

I thought this was propulsive and engaging! I was entertained for both timelines and cared about the characters. THE SIRENS explores themes of violence against women, family secrets, female empowerment, and overcoming trauma. To enjoy this you’ll want to make sure you’re in a headspace to read about sexual violence against women, and it might also be helpful to know that this story contains lots of magical realism bordering on some light speculative horror elements so it’s best if you enjoy that in your books too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy. St. Martin's Press continues to put out so many of my favorite books and I am here for it!

The Sirens is an engaging dual-timeline story and from the title, you will probably know that it is about mermaids! I will read anything about mermaids. They are one of those mythical creatures that when written about in fiction, run the gamut from tame to terrifying.
I loved Weyward and gave it 5 stars, and Hart captures that feeling for me again. I loved the propulsive plot, I loved the dual timeline and the ending was what sealed it for me.
The main theme here seems to be the healing power of water, but you also get some historical education about Australia, convict ships, and lore about mermaids and siren songs.
I loved the reading experience and believe Hart will be an auto-read author for me in the future.

*The Sirens* by Emilia Hart is a captivating and haunting novel that explores themes of identity, power, and the delicate balance between freedom and control. Set against a rich, atmospheric backdrop, the story unfolds as the characters grapple with personal and societal expectations, as well as the echoes of ancient myths.

The novel’s strength lies in its immersive writing style, which effortlessly blends lyrical prose with a sense of foreboding. Hart’s ability to draw readers into the emotional turmoil of her characters is exceptional. The narrative is deeply character-driven, focusing on the complexities of female relationships and the ways in which society shapes and confines women.

At the heart of the story is the interplay between the mythological siren and the lived experiences of the women in the novel. The sirens are not just mythical creatures but a metaphor for the silencing and objectification of women throughout history. This theme runs through the novel, with each character facing their own struggles with autonomy and voice.

The pacing of the story is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually, pulling readers deeper into the narrative. There’s a haunting quality to the atmosphere, and the novel’s eerie, almost dreamlike quality will keep readers intrigued, even as the plot’s twists and turns become increasingly difficult to predict.

While *The Sirens* is rich in symbolism and depth, some readers might find the pacing slow at times, particularly in the middle section where introspection overtakes action. However, this is a minor critique in the context of the novel's larger themes and emotional resonance.

Overall, *The Sirens* is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that blends mythology with contemporary issues in a way that is both poignant and unsettling. Emilia Hart has crafted a powerful narrative about the search for freedom, identity, and voice, making this book a compelling read for fans of lyrical fiction and those interested in the intersection of mythology and modern-day struggles.

This book was everything I love about Emilia Hart’s writing. She is an auto buy author for me because she just sucks you in to a story that is beautiful, hard, and changing. I could not recommend this book enough! Thank you NetGalley for a ARC of this book.

First off, thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Sirens. I’m so glad I was able to read this book, as it’s unlike anything I’ve read before.

The story here had me thinking about it even when I was not reading, just desperately wanting the answers to these mysteries. I love that we were able to get into Lucy, Mary and Jess’s heads with the differing POV’s for the chapters.

The cliffhanger at the end of part 1 was so rude! What do you mean you won’t immediately give me an answer? So of course I had to stay up late to find out more.

Of course, there are some things I didn’t quite like. To me, Lucy was a weak main character. I know that she needed to be like that for the story to unfold the way it did, but I did not resonate with her. Jess was the shining star to me, but I also loved Mary and Eliza (in fact, I wish we would’ve gotten Eliza’s POV).

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book! This is my first Emilia Hart book, but I definitely will be reading more from her.

I really enjoyed Weyward last year. I was very excited to read Sirens!

However, this book was a little slower. Took a little longer for me to get into this book. I thought this was a little slower in the middle.

Emilia Hart did a fantastic job portraying different time lines. I feel like she really put her research into 100 years ago and comparing it to the events she portrayed of modern times. This is definitely a magical realism book, and i thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Sirens. The Sirens are definitely the hero’s of this book. Very strong female characters.

There are very complicated bonds between characters. Especially Jess and Lucy, with a 20 year age difference and not seeming to be connected at first. But the “blossoming” of their connection was well worth the read.

Barrie Kreinik did a fantastic job with the narration! Flipping from Irish to Australian accents was absolutely seamless. And she sings beautifully as well! Loved the difference she brought to each character!

Overall, i really enjoyed this read. It’s definitely a step outside of my comfort zone. Complex characters, relationships, and jumps to the timeline. Definitely worth the read if you want to branch out a little.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED this author's debut, Weyward. Here she resurrects the theme of strong, kickass women, this time sisters, being resilient against adversity. I enjoyed the dual timelines and the fact that this one is a bit of a mashup: HF, fantasy, mystery. Mermaid-ish theme added a fresh dimension to the story. Weyward still my fav!

I love the magical realism + underlying feminist themes this author consistently publishes. While I did not love it to the extent that I loved Weyward, I still enjoyed and would recommend. Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

When I saw that the author of Weyward had written another book, I knew I had to read it. The Sirens is just as unforgettable and unique as Weyward.

The book takes place in three timelines, and the author slowly weaves them into a coherent, connected story. Two sisters are convicted of a crime in Ireland in the early 1800's, and are being transported to what is now Australia.

Two hundred years later, Jess and Lucy are sisters 16 years apart in age. Jess is the older sister, has had a lifelong allergy to water, and is an accomplished artist. In 2019, Lucy wakes up to find that she has been trying to strangle her boyfriend. Horrified, she leaves college and travels to her older sister's house to find her gone. While she is waiting for her sister's return, she studies her sister's paintings and realizes that both of them had dreamed about the images in the paintings.

I received an e-arc of this book from St. Martin's Press and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Note to publisher: this review was rejected on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca without explanation. It was originally accepted by Amazon.com. I was not able to get a reason from anyone at Amazon.

The Sirens was probably one of the top books I had been looking to reading in 2025, and I was so thrilled to get my hands on an advance copy.. Weyward was one of my favorite reads of 2024 and probably from the last few years. Emilia Hart has a way of writing magical realism that doesn't feel like you are reading something fantastical but actually buy into the magical aspects as if they are your reality. I loved the interweaving of Irish folklore with Australian history, the bond of sisters and sirens, the aspects of feminism, and how the past reached out and haunted the present. Plus, I can't remember the last time I read of mythical creatures of the sea, so it felt new to me. But, Weyward has big shoes to fill. While I enjoyed The Sirens, I did not finish feeling gutted like I did with Weyward. It felt a little slower in pace to me, and the interconnection of stories took a little more time to unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

The Sirens lived up to its name by drawing me in with mystery and a captivating setting. Lucy wakes up one morning with no recollection of how she got to an ex's dorm room. The dominoes that fall lead her to questions she didn't even know she needed to ask about her families history.

As with Hart's previous work, there is mystery and dual timelines, strong women and bad men. I was captivated by the story but then the magical realism aspects started to be too much for me. I wasn't a huge fan of how they mystery wrapped up or with the epilogue. That being said I do like Hart's writing and I'll continue to give her books a try!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sirens is a compelling, women-centered story, shining a light on the history of transporting women convicts in Ireland to Australia. Using dual timelines, a mystery slowly unfolds as we follow two pairs of sisters. I enjoyed the nod to true crime podcasts and mermaid mythology. The ending, in Emilia Hart fashion, comes full circle and is extremely satisfying. Gripping, original, and full of feeling.

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Netgalley and Emilia Hart for the eArc of The Sirens.

After reading Weyward by Emilia, I was really looking forward to reading The Sirens. This narrative is set on three timelines and from 3 perspectives. All very clearly marked out in the writing. Sometimes, with historical fiction, it can be hard to get these timelines to slot together and flow. Emilia did a wonderful job of character building throughout these timelines as well as a flowing plot line.

We flow Lucy, who after releasing she's in the wrong relationship, flees to find her sister, Jessica on the Australian coastline. Finding her sister isn't in, she makes herself at home and stumbles on her sisters diary. Lucy begins a journey of not just her sisters past, but her own too.
Emilia cleverly leads into the life of Jess, back in 1999 in which we delve into her insightful life and her allergy to water.
Our 3rd perspective is set in 1800, we follow 2 sisters who were forced onto a ship bound to Australia.

This book is so beautifully written. It's poetic, insightful and holds all kinds of mystery. Overall, the book is a slow burn, building up like a storm over the sea, The last 3rd of the book, coupled with the subtle foreshadowing gets intense and emotive.

5 stars

4.25 STARS

This book took me on quite the wild ride, but I loved every second of it! The back and forth between povs was a bit confusing, but the way everything pieces together in the end was *chefs kiss*

I hardly know where to start, but this novel is truly an exhilarating adventure! It weaves between three timelines: Lucy in 2019, Jess in 1999, and Mary and Eliza in the 1800s. Each character offers a unique perspective and story, and I genuinely enjoyed how all their narratives intertwined seamlessly. They are all connected by the sea, specifically one particular side of it, creating a rich tapestry of experiences that draws you in!
Jess is the baby who was saved from the Cove in 1982 and later adopted by her parents. Although her origins remained a mystery, there was much speculation. Growing up, she always felt different, and an older teacher eventually groomed her, marking the beginning of her troubles. Lucy, on the other hand, is at university and has found a guy she likes. They slept together and kept in touch over the summer holiday. Eventually, she sent him a picture, which he shared with a group of friends, causing it to go viral with some nasty comments. Lucy then sleepwalked to his room and began choking him in her sleep, which led her to seek help from her sister Jess, as she had never sleepwalked before.
Meanwhile, someone places Mary and Eliza on a prisoner ship, where they face a grim future of working on a farm, becoming a stranger's wife, or worse, being forced to sell their bodies. All the girls share similar experiences of being taken advantage of by men in power, with their fates largely out of their control. This story, with its multiple timelines, is definitely worth the read. I loved the ending a lot! Thank you, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this one. It has been an adventure.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart tells the tale of two sisters who are separated by centuries but connected in ways they never could have imagined. This evocative and compelling novel delves into a deeply layered mystery, serving as a luminous tribute to the sea and the bond of sisterhood. With Emilia Hart's assured and shimmering prose, the story is both hopeful and heart-wrenching, leaving readers captivated until the very end.

This was fine! Totally different vibes from Weyward. Really liked the mystery aspect but the rest 😵‍💫 also got a little bit of Shark Heart vibes in this one (which I did not like lol). I enjoyed Weyward much better from Emilia.

****Spoilers below****

I felt like the resolution was weak. The family reveal was ugh. Was hoping for something a little different. For Jess to be missing but just in the cave the entire time? Please.

After how much I loved Weyward, I was optimistic but fearful about The Sirens measuring up. I need not have worried.

I'm going to keep this review spoiler-free and talk about the things I loved about this:

1. Emilia Hart put the research time in for this book. It was clear to me that she had immersed herself in the history and lore, and through that I ended up learning a lot about Irish myth and the history of shipping prisoners to Australia. I also deeply appreciated the historical note and acknowledgement of country at the beginning of the book that called attention to Australia's First Nations People.

2. The characters are well-developed, and the relationships they form are strong and sometimes devastating. From Mary and Eliza to Jess and Lucy, I was invested in all their lives and how they were connected.

3. I'm not sure it can be called a magic system, but I thought the connection of an incurable skin disease to literal scales/aquatic features was pretty brilliant. I also loved that the sirens weren't classically beautiful. They're beautiful in an ethereal way, but they've got scales, fins, gills, and all the things you'd expect to have to survive underwater.

4. I think this one's my favorite: community and how we protect that community. This theme is present in every aspect of the book and drives all the characters motivations. From the family Jess and Lucy's parents created to the bond formed by the female prisoners on the ship to the small community Jess found in Comber Beach, this book is about love, protection, safety, and family - the ones you're born into and the ones you create.

5. Who doesn't love a little "good for her" retribution. These men f*cked around. And they found out.

Can't wait to see what Emilia Hart does next.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review - its easy to provide one when I loved about book this much.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed how this book felt like a mixture of the past and present! It takes place in current times but has so many glimpses into the past via stories, dreams, and memories. It’s was an interesting setup into the main plot, and I appreciated how real it all felt before diving into the fantasy world. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys science fiction about sirens, set in current times and diving into the past!

3.5 stars. I think I liked The Sirens a bit more than Weyward but neither one was entirely enthralling. I liked the descriptive setting a lot in this one; the description of the sea and the Australian coast was vivid and atmospheric. The story itself feels like a folk tale and I enjoyed that also. I loved Christina Baker Cline’s book The Exiles so the 19th century timeline with female convicts was interesting here as well. My main criticism is that the plot felt very slow and uneventful for the majority of the book. There was a good portion of the plot that felt like repetitive angst with no momentum. Also, the main conflicts (beginning sleepwalking incident, their skin issues and the ending) either happen off page or are just completely abandoned or explained away in unbelievable ways. Overall, I did mostly enjoy this and would recommend it particularly for anyone who enjoys modernized folk tales.