This book was my first by Emilia Hart and was really excited to get a chance to read The Sirens. I did love the writing and in particular the descriptions of the Sea. Those were lovely. I read the author’s notes and know how much the author put into this book. It really had all the elements to be great, but for me it wasn’t.

The issue was not the writing. I found that to be compelling, yet writing doesn’t carry characters that I never found a connection with. The story is broken into 2 parts with Lucy, leaving school and trying to locate her sister Jess in 2019. She goes to Comber Bay in South Wales.

The other timeline takes place in 1800’s, where a group of women are held captive on a boat since they are considered criminals and department from Ireland and will end up in South Wales. The two main characters, Mary and Eliza are just trying to Survive.

There have been Men who drowned, fell, or possibly something otherworldly was sucking them in at the cave in Comber Bay.

So, this sounds like such wonderful material to make a Beautiful Book, yet the book is mostly about Lucy wondering and pondering her thoughts about everything and anything. There wasn’t a plot or any pushing the story forward until I was 80% in. The last 20%, yes that was the book. It was too late though. I hadn’t found a connection to these characters. It didn’t matter by now. The characters melded together, nothing distinguished them and it certainly should have.

So, I will try another of Emilia Hart’s books. Find that magic and connection that is lacking here for me.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. I leave reviews of all books I read.

The Sirens by Amelia Hart is a beautiful story about acceptance belonging and the definition of real families. When Lucy wakes up choking her one time lover she freaks out and runs to her sister Jesse‘s house Despite not having spoken to her in almost a year. when she arrives at her sister’s coastal cottage Jesse isn’t there, while waiting Lucy finds her sister‘s diary. Throughout the book we get to see Lucy Jesse and twin sisters Mary and Liz who’s POV is set in the 1800s. They get sent to the penal colony in Australia for attempting to murder a not so nice man I really enjoyed this book but I must admit there was one part at the end that was confusing to me but I know if I stated here it will be a spoiler and I’m not looking to ruin the book for anyone. I love books reimagined from folklore in fairytales and I think the twist Miss heart gave to the sirens was brilliant. Giving revenge to those who deserve it is much more palatable than giving it to just anyone who is a male. I also think because I am blind my affinity was with Lizzie and as far as having a character with disabilities I also think Ms Heart did a brilliant job with that as well. This really is a great book a beautiful story and one I highly recommend. This book is full of twist, touching moments satisfying revenge and so much more. They also have a dash of paranormal fiction but it is definitely apropos to the story and doesn’t lessen it at all..#NetGalley, #SaintMartin’sPress, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #AmeliaHart, #TheSirens,’m

Emilia Hart is a fantastic storyteller! The Sirens is told in dual timelines centuries apart about sisters and the bond that secures them together. The magical realism element was addicting and fantastical. Only in the hands of a great storyteller could the world of mermaids blend with the lives of sisters, secrets of families, the pull of the sea, add a dash of historical fiction and make it all come together with a satisfying conclusion. Immediately mysterious and ultimately a deep dive into human emotion and primal instincts.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy.

I read Weyward last year, and I couldn't wait to read Emilia's new novel, The Sirens. I love Emilia's Writing but this one didn’t live up to the hype for me.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is an enchanting historical fantasy that weaves together a haunting tale of sisterhood, magic, and vengeance. Set in New South Wales, the novel explores multiple timelines and introduces readers to a captivating mix of historical drama, Irish folklore, and a feminist reimagining of sirens.
The story opens in the 1800s with Mary and Eliza, two Irish sisters, who are tragically sent to Australia as convicts aboard a ship carrying criminals. Their bond is one of deep love and desperation as they navigate their harrowing journey, bringing us to a raw depiction of the brutality and hardships of transportation. The shift to 1999, where Jess’s diary recounts her experience, offers a subtle but powerful look at how the weight of the past continues to echo through the generations. The final timeline, set in 2019, focuses on Lucy, who, while grappling with the terrifying experience of sleepwalking and unknowingly attempting to harm her boyfriend, embarks on a journey to find her missing sister, Jess.
Hart’s narrative structure is one of the novel's most compelling aspects. The constant shifts between timelines allow for a deepening understanding of the interconnectedness of these two pairs of sisters, while also keeping the tension high. The way Hart balances these stories—historical and contemporary—is masterful, making each timeline feel distinct but also tightly bound together by a shared sense of mystery and magic.
One of the most striking aspects of The Sirens is the infusion of Irish mythology and folklore. The concept of sirens is reimagined not just as mythic creatures luring sailors to their doom, but as powerful symbols of female agency and revenge. Hart’s feminist take on the siren myth challenges the conventional portrayal of women in literature, transforming them from passive victims to active, powerful forces capable of exacting justice. This aspect of the story feels both timely and timeless, resonating deeply in an era where women's voices are reclaiming space and power.
The magical realism in the book is subtle but effective, woven into the narrative in such a way that it feels like a natural extension of the world Hart has created. The blending of folklore with the gritty realism of historical and modern-day settings creates a sense of unease and wonder that keeps the reader captivated.

There has been a rise on instagram lately of the mood reader - someone who reads based on how they're feeling. In the case of the Sirens, I think it is important for readers to be in a place where they can be vulnerable and deal with such painful feelings. Trauma from gender based violence is tricky because it is just so common - which makes writing literature about it tricky, because it is dealing with such a common experience, but one which was whispered for so long.

Hart walks the line well of providing a great sense of atmosphere for the story. Set in the small Australian town of Combers Bay, protagonist Lucy flees to the home of her sister, Jess, after attacking a classmate who had betrayed her intimate trust. In Combers Bay, Lucy starts to uncover mysteries of the past, both of her own family, and of a convict ship which had sunk coming from Ireland, the Naiad. Hart conveys well the sense of superstition and open secrets which can exist in a small town - where tragedies are hinted at, never said outright, and as William Faulkner so memorably said, "the past is never dead, it's not even past."

The book covers a lot - there are three different timelines covered, with a variety of flashbacks. This does mean that the book doesn't get to explore the details of a lot of really fascinating rabbit holes. There is a mention of Lucy's interest in being an investigative journalist, but we don't get more than surface level of her investigation into the crash of the Naiad. The book also introduces us to a bunch of side characters: Jess's childhood best friend Max, local fisherman Ryan, who we only got a glimpse of, and I would have loved to see more. I know I joked about the Raven Scholar being 700 pages, but this book had enough content and plot that I think it probably could have supported that length and allowed Hart to expand on a lot of the interesting things in her book.

I loved that Hart was interested in a feminist retelling of the myth of Sirens in an Australian setting, and the book was beautifully moody and thoughtful. I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves Jodi Picoult or Anita Shreve.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a captivating blend of historical fiction and magical realism, intertwining the lives of four women across different centuries, all connected by the enigmatic force of the sea. The narrative unfolds through dual timelines:

Hart's prose is lauded for its lyrical beauty, effectively immersing readers in the atmospheric settings of both timelines. The exploration of themes such as sisterhood, female resilience, and the haunting allure of the sea adds depth to the narrative. The novel's structure, alternating between perspectives and time periods, enriches the story.

In summary, The Sirens offers a unique and enchanting take on the siren myth, combining historical depth with magical elements. It's a recommended read for those who appreciate stories of female empowerment and are drawn to atmospheric, multi-layered narratives.

I really enjoyed both the writing and the story in this book. This is my first book by the author, though Weyward has been on my TBR since it came out.

If you enjoy historical fiction, modern day themes and challenges, family mysteries, and magical realism, you will enjoy this novel by Emilia Hart.

The Sirens immediately drew me into a world of strong central female characters separated by generations with beautiful imagery.

Emilia Hart never misses on delivering a fantastical tale sprinkled with magical realism.

Each chapter posed a new question, thought provoking element, and twist.
Just like Weyward, this was truly difficult to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read and review The Sirens.

Review will be posted on 4/11/25

The Sirens follows two major timelines: one from the 1800s and one from current times. In the 1800s, two sisters are sent to a penal colony in Australia. As readers can suspect, these two Irish women were treated horribly. In modern times, sisters Lucy and Jess face similar situations. Lucy escapes college and some upsetting events that occurred and she hopes to connect with her sister who lives on the coast. Once there, she realizes that Jess is missing. Both of these women have an interesting relationship with the ocean and an allergy to water, which only adds to the role that the ocean plays in the story. Fans of Weyward will appreciate The Sirens by Emilia Hart; it's a historical tale filled with romance, mystery, and family drama.

Readers can always count on Hart to showcase sisterhood and include a feminist undertone throughout the novel, just as she did in Weyward. She highlights the power of women better than any other author I've read recently. Also, I appreciated Hart's beautiful writing style which felt poetic at times. Her ability to bring the magic of the ocean to life and the mysticism was fantastic. While I may have enjoyed Weyward a tad bit more, The Sirens is still an outstanding novel that showcases the magic of sisterhood and the sea.

"The sea gives, but it also takes."

"The easiest way to lie to someone, she learned, is to lie to yourself."

"...sometimes, there is no choice. There is only love."

“What I’m trying to say...is that we don’t need to worry about your sister. There’s something about this place , something different. It keeps its women safe.”

With a haunting atmosphere, The Sirens, by fantastical author Emilia Hart, tells a tale of sisters, almost two hundred years apart, who brave generational trauma with the power of sisterhood and the strength that comes from being female in a man's world.

In 2019 Lucy wakes up choking her boyfriend in the middle of the night. She runs to her sister, living in New South Wales, hoping she can help her sort out her violent sleep walking. But Jess is nowhere to be found. Waiting for Jess to come back she finds her diaries that tell of the suffering Jess endured at the hands of a career manipulator and what it cost her.

In 1800 Ireland, sisters Mary and Eliza were forced onto a convict ship heading to Australia. As they fight the inhumane treatment from the crew, the sea calls to them to flee the ship.

These 4 women share pain but also physical attributes like their scaly skin, the soothing healing power of the sea and an understanding that they are not alone.

Voice actress Barrie Kreinik gives a phenomenal performance not just with all the accents and distinctions of the sisters but with a lilting voice that adds to the writer's evocative prose.

Family secrets and startling twists, along with echoing caves and not so silent seas, is the call of The Sirens you must hear or read to feel the resilience of women who share the fight to be free.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. Opinions are my own.

Judging from the many wonderful reviews I have read, I believe my reaction to The Sirens by Emilia Hart is definitely a minority reaction. I had trouble right from the beginning and as I read on, I liked it even less. I am not generally fond of books jumping from the present to the past and back again. Ms. Hart's writing was at times lyrical and beautifully descriptive, yet it was an extremely slow read for me. From the first chapter I was impatient with Mary; that impatience eventually grew to indifference. While I didn't enjoy The Sirens personally, I would recommend it to friends that I am confident would like the genre and narrative very much. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of the novel; my review reflects my honest opinion. 3 stars.

The year is 1800: Twin sisters Mary and Eliza have been wrenched from their father's care in Ireland and sent on a voyage to Australia across the ocean they've come to fear more than anything after their mother's tragic death.

The year is 1999: Jess is an isolated teenager with a bafflingly-rare allergy to water. She finds little connection in the world around her until a most unexpected encounter with an art teacher opens her world to the possibility of more.

The year is 2019: Lucy has just awoken from a sleepwalking spell that nearly drove her to kill someone. She flees in terror to her sister Jess's small town only to find that she's vanished. And with Jess's disappearances, stories that resemble folklore more than anything begin to emerge about the sea and its sirens.

"Sirens" bears a lovely likeness to Hart's novel "Weyward" in its multi-layered timeline and strong theme of sisterhood. On description alone, I thought I would love "Sirens" even more than its predecessor and held high hopes for its atmosphere and plot; unfortunately, something about this book felt detached and never fully pulled me in. Whereas "Weyward" marches forward with a suspenseful storyline that wove its separate timelines together beautifully, "Sirens" felt as though it had no real, substantial plot for about 75% of the book, and I found myself slugging through the end out of obligation more than anything.

Undoubtedly a beautiful premise and a promising foundation, "Sirens" fell short due to its meandering non-story line that simply took up far too many of its pages.

I enjoy Emilia Hart’s writing. She’s thorough in her research and blends it fluidly into stories that dip a toe into the fantastical. I especially love how her books play with multiple timelines and POVs, and how everything weaves together.
That being said, The Sirens was a slow read for me. It took a couple of tries to get through the early chapters, and even then, I wasn’t racing back to it—at least not until I finished Part One. After that, I was hooked. Something shifted, and I was now more than curious enough to want to know how it would all come together. As if the sirens themselves were luring me back to the pages.
The characters are likable, and I enjoyed the moody, small seaside town of Combers’ Bay—it gave the story an eerie, salt-tinged charm.
I’d recommend this book in a heartbeat. It’s not a lightning-paced read, but it is worth the journey. If you’re in the mood for something that’s part myth, part mystery, and full of quiet, powerful women—The Sirens might just be calling for you.

I loved this book. The multiple timelines and all the women's perspectives really added to all the magic and mystery. I loved how all the women's stories came together and all the sisterhood. This was such a lovely book. Will definitely read this author again.

Mermaid lore, history, and strange disappearances, I was intrigued.

The Sirens by Amelia Hart
3.75⭐️
Out April 1st

I’m going to preface this one by saying if you have read Weyward you may want to temper your expectations with this one. I’m seeing a lot of people who read Weyward that were disappointed in this. I haven’t read that one and I found this quite interesting.

This is out of my norm but I enjoyed the audio on this one. It does tell the story from different timelines and I did find the present timeline much more interesting than the one in the past. There was one plot point that was very obvious so I was a little grumpy in the beginning thinking I had the whole book figured out but there were still surprises to keep my interest

Thanks to @macmillan.audio for this #gifted ALC. All opinions are my own.

This author is so good at weaving stories of feminine power. I loved seeing the themes of reclamation throughout all of the POVs!

Sisterhood. Motherhood. Womanhood. So many of my favorite books explore all the facets of these things and this one did not disappoint. Atmospheric and moody and filled with a slow burn tension, The Sirens follows several women separated by time and distance but deeply and irrevocably connected in ways unbroken by mere circumstance. While slow and lulling at times, I loved the journey this story took me on, especially as aspects of the mystery I could tell was brewing started to unfold. Emilia Hart writes in a way that never leaves me disappointed and if this and Weyward are any indication, I believe she will have several more phenomenal stories to share.

Multiple timelines that tie up in the end with a nice bow. It took me a while to get into this one but once I was hooked (like a fish? 👀) I couldn’t stop. While there were a couple of parts that fell flat for me, overall this was a solid 3.5.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Emilia Hart does it again!
As a huge fan of Weyward, I was hoping for a similar reading experience with The Sirens—and I was not disappointed. I loved the shifting time periods, the strong thread of feminism, and the magical elements woven throughout the story. Sisterhood was a major theme, and it was powerful to see those bonds echoed across generations.

The pacing lagged a bit in a few places, and the twist was somewhat predictable, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I loved this book nonetheless.