I'm giving this book a generous 3 stars, but it fell very flat for me. I loved Weyward, but The Sirens moved slowly and I never felt connected to the characters. If any, then probably Lucy, but the answers she finds to her many questions come so late in the story that it just feels like she drifting for most of it. There's a momentum and energy that is lacking here. I hope this author's next book is better.

Emilia Hart weaves a beautiful magical mysterious story about family and female empowerment. Told in dual timelines and POVs. It is a wonderful tale with mermaids, sisters, secrets and twists! It’s about embracing their uniqueness, their journey to self discovery and overcoming challenges. There are themes of female trauma but there is also the strength of the healing process in which the author handles really well. The timelines were told 200 years apart but were perfectly woven together.

This is my first Emilia Hart novel. I’ve heard so much about her debut Weyward. I can’t wait to read it!

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to like this book. However it just didn’t keep my interest and I had a hard time getting interested in it. I’m sure others will enjoy it but it just wasn’t for me

I had times where I got super invested, but it would quickly dampen with a plot that mostly felt like it was going nowhere. I loved the modern spin on Sirens and their feminine rage, but overall, I had trouble staying engaged. The stakes felt low (when they really shouldn't have) and the book was mostly anticlimactic. I was also left with way more questions than answers.

4.5*
The way these timelines and characters all connected and were woven together was fascinating and truly lovely. I don't tend to lean into fantasy as a genre. However, this felt as though it covered more than that. The historical fiction and the way it left me wondering how it all came together was intriguing and kept me coming back for more. The little crumbs of connection, mystery and twists throughout were just what I needed to keep my attention. I have a love for the siren folklore and am intrigued by the many versions. I think that is what made me love this book the way I did.

4.5* the only thing that I feel kept it from a 5* was at times it did feel a tad slow for a physical read. My personal preference. I think as an audiobook I would soak it up and sail right on through it! Looking forward to that opportunity.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

3.5/5 stars

The Sirens is a historical fiction mystery with elements of magical realism that alternates between the stories of Lucy and Jess in the present, and Mary and Eliza in the 1800s. Set in New South Wales, Australia, the area is known for the suspicious disappearances of men, with rumors that singing from women can be heard occasionally, the haunting remnants of a long-ago tragedy at sea. The legends of merrow and sirens rise to the forefront of the narrative, as well as the treatment of female convicts being transported from Ireland to Australia in the 1800s, and the strength and power of women.

This is a slow-burn mystery with magical realism elements tied to Irish folklore. The writing is beautiful. I enjoyed the aspect of magical realism and the historical nature of the novel. I also liked the focus on women, on their relationships and mutual determination to survive and fight back against those who seek to harm them. I struggled a bit with the pacing, as some sections felt a bit repetitive regarding the physical changes occurring, and I did predict some reveals that came later in the book. I was not a huge fan of one particular relationship in the book and the epilogue, which raised more questions for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for this gifted eARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Woven throughout this book is a visceral sense of doom and foreboding that wraps its tentacles around you and pulls you inexorably into this mesmerizing dual story of two sets of uniquely different sisters finding their way in an alien, frightening and unwelcoming world. From the time I got a few chapters in until the final pages, I almost couldn't put this book down. It held a strangely compelling and seductive hold over me that evoked mounting trepidation and existential dread. The story itself was very unusual and extremely interesting, with various threads of tragedy interspersed throughout that maintained my interest and the heightened sense of gloom. Very well written and researched, I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, and I'll definitely keep this author on my list of ones to watch.

This book flips back and forth to sisters in the 1800's on their way to Australia, to another set of sisters in present day Australia.

The story starts off in 2019, with Lucy an 18 year old journalism major in college. She's being cyber-bullied by a guy she really liked. She sent him a picture of herself in her bathrobe and he showed it to friends and they put it on social media. He claims that he didn't realize that it was supposed to be private. Lucy went to the University for help, but she was told that she would ruin his reputation, no care about her feelings or what she's going through. The following morning, Lucy wakes up to find herself choking the guy in his bed. She was sleepwalking and ended up in his dorm room. She panics, packs a bag, and drives to her sister's house to hide. Only Jess isn't home, her door not locked, her phone is plugged in and her purse is there. The following day, her sister's neighbor comes over to feed the cat, informing Lucy that Jess took a break for a few days to get rest for her big art exhibit coming up.

But inside Jess' studio is a picture she's been working on that is exactly what Lucy's been dreaming about every night. There's no way to explain how they would each have this vision. So Lucy starts snooping around and finds Jess' diary from childhood. And she unearths family secrets that will blow Lucy's whole world apart.

In 1800, 16 year old twins Mary and Eliza are forced to leave Ireland and their father on a convict ship heading for Australia. Eliza is blind, but the wiser of the two, Mary has her head up in the clouds dreaming. As they with in the belly of the ship for months at sea, they begin to notice their bodies changing. Which finally has Mary opening up her eyes to what their purpose is.

Both sets of sisters are bound together by the magic of the sea.


*I received a complimentary copy of this ARC via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Sirens is an epic tale of women, sisters, mothers, friendship, and family bonds. Just as in Homer’s Odyssey, the sea is an integral character—its pervasive presence is sometimes menacing, other times comforting—and always powerful and symbolic.
The story unfolds in 2 main timelines. In February, 2019, Lucy, a college student, is in a jam and seeks solace with her older sister Jess, who lives in the fishing village Comber Bay.
Conversely, in 1800, Irish sisters Eliza and Mary are sent to Australia on a convict ship, sailing for months under horrible conditions, as it heads for disaster on the reefs of Comber Bay.
The intersection of their stories is masterfully told and mesmerizing in a dream-like way. I found the storytelling well-paced, slowly revealing the layers of the story in beautiful evocative prose. The descriptions of sounds, smells, and tactile sensations envelop the reader in a multi-sense experience.
Both sets of sisters are engaging characters, in their own historical time, but the present day siblings Lucy and Jess were most developed. The drama of their relationships, including with parents and predators, really added depth to the story.
There is much magical realism here, so prepare to suspend the confines of time and place, and make room for mermaids and sirens as you give over to this artful tale.
If you read and enjoyed Hart’s previous novel Weyward, you will again enjoy the opportunity to become immersed in her magical, ethereal story world.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

My book club read and loved Weyward but I didn't read it since I couldn't make the meeting. Regrets, I have a few. By many of the reviews I've read, this story is not as great, but if that is the case, I'm sure I will absolutely LOVE Weyward. This book has an otherworldly, dreamy quality that I love in stories that have magical realism in them. I devoured the amazing history that this story wove through the story, the connection between the fated sisters and Jess and Lucy. The way the story was told with multiple timelines and POVs only added to the mystery and the suspense in seeing how the story would all tie together. While I figured out some parts early on, I loved seeing how the characters figured it out and the epilogue was the cherry on the cake for me.

Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? You feel the pull of something but you don’t know what it is. Dreams of the past, what do they mean? If you liked Weyward then you will love The Sirens. Beautifully written, mesmerizing story, so immersive and detailed. Multiple timelines, multiple POVs, mysterious and emotional. I loved the writing style. Highly recommend.

Solid 4 star read!

"The Sirens" is an emotional and explorative novel about the relationships between women. Sisterhood, motherhood, friendships.
The flipping between timelines is done incredibly well--I didn't find myself lost or confused, despite the changes between "present" day, the past, and some journal entries.

The plot twist (twists??) towards the end completely catch you off guard and provide a satisfying ending.

This was my first time reading an Emilia Hart book and it certainly won’t be my last. I truly loved this book the writing was beautiful the different time lines connecting the past to the present was so nice! I’m a sucker for a story involving siblings bonds and this tugged at my heart a bit.
I did find the beginning to be a little slow but it did pick up quickly. Looking forward to reading more from this author
Rating: 4⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest review

After falling in love with Wayward, I was so looking forward to this story.
The Sirens is an interesting story that blends together lore, fantasy, and a modern story to create interwoven connections between characters. While I appreciate the complexity of these connections, I found myself wanting more with regards to the execution of the story.
I enjoyed the development of the sibling relationship in the past timeline that was included in this story, but feel that it could have been condensed while still holding the same weight. Time spent with these characters would have been better used exploring the heavy subject matter that was presented in the present day timeline. A topic that's incredibly prevalent and that warrants and is owed appropriate discussion is unfortunately not given the time needed to explore it in the detailed and nuanced way it requires, which leaves the reader wanting for more.
While this book does reveal a number of familial secrets involving our main characters, they're not all explored to provide the reader with insight or understanding. I found myself wishing for additional conversations between parents and children in order to have a clear understanding of these relationships as they stand within the story, but also when looking towards the future for these characters. The epilogue does attempt to provide some clarity, but in doing so also stirs up additional questions.
I did enjoy the inclusion of singing in the audiobook. That was a great decision and allows for an immersive listening experience at those moments in the story.
I think Hart created a very interesting story in The Sirens, I just wish it wasn't lost to pacing issues and muddled explanations.

“A prickle starts at the base of Lucy's spine. Maybe it's the knowledge of what the water would do to her skin. She imagines the waves lapping at her like tongues, stripping her of flesh until she is nothing but bone, gleaming white.”

Book Review
The Sirens- Emilia Hart
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Firstly, I want to thank Emilia Hart for providing me an ARC &ALC via Netgalley! I want to shoutout the narrator Barrie Kreinik for flawlessly embracing an Australian &Irish accent. I also love how Emilia switched timelines from the 1990s to the 1800s gracefully with dreams and through diary entries. I truly adored the sisterhood dynamic they were truly the heart of the book! I have a sister myself and I cried during scenes were they were emotionally seperated.

In the first time line 2019, Lucy who attends University is having sleepwalking episodes with nightmares about the ocean. She awakes assaulting her boyfriend and has to run-away to her eldest sister Jess’ beach house in Australia. When she arrives her sister is gone, yet jess phone and car are still in the house. She fears her sister is in trouble so finds her sisters diary which takes us to 1999 seamlessly through Jess’ eyes. We get to see Jess’ life as a teenager and why they have so much in common such as their rare allergy to water resulting in their family never letting them get wet and vivid dreams. We then transfer to the 1800’s via both Jess’ and Lucy’s dreams which follows sisters Eliza and Mary born and raised in Ireland. They are both boarding a ship for convicts being stuck in the under carriage hands bound for New Whales they both have the same water allergy and the longer they are on board their skin starts shedding. This nautical fiction, Mystery, Thriller has themes of family resilience, self acceptance, and bonds of sisterhood across time and space.

Will the past impact the present?

This book has many moving pieces and covers multiple timeframes. Jess and Lucy, sisters, have an issue with water. The sisters, Mary and Eliza, were sent from Ireland to Australia on a convict ship. Within these stories, there are multiple more dimensions that cover more than just the current day, especially with Jess and Lucy. There are diary entries that broaden the scope of the story for Jess and confirm some of my suspicions about these two women. 

I did enjoy the book, but I feel that there are many unanswered questions. There really isn't an answer regarding the sleepwalking, what happened to the missing men who were featured in a podcast, and Mary and Eliza's fate. While we can make some educated guesses, who is to say those are the correct assumptions?

While this book has some amazing parts, others fell a little short. It is still a worthy read, especially if you enjoy magical realism.

We give the book 3 paws up.

Emilia Hart’s The Sirens is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and magical realism that is about sisterhood, resilience, and the powerful call of the sea. It jumps through different timelines connecting the lives of four women who are drawn to the ocean in ways they can’t explain.
In 2019, Lucy wakes up from a nightmare to find that she has sleepwalked into the dorm room of her ex. Unable to explain the situation, she seeks out her older sister Jess, who has recently moved to a small coastal town that has its mysteries. When she arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found and the house is in disarray. Driven by her love of journalism and seeking the truth, Lucy searches for answer and discovers that Comber Bay has a history of men disappearing, a baby being found in a cave by the ocean, and women’s voices singing from the waves.
Readers are taken back in time to the 1800s to follow Irish twin sisters Mary and Eliza, who are taken from their home and placed on a women’s convict ship heading to New South Wales. During the months long voyage, the women suffer brutal conditions in the overcrowded, damp, dark prison deck where they are given scarce rations. While on the sea, Mary and Eliza begin to transform in ways unimaginable and are called by the ocean.

I absolutely loved The Sirens. It was so magical and I was immediately sucked into the story. Hart’s writing is very immersive and made me feel like I was right there alongside Lucy, Jess, Mary, and Eliza and feeling the shared draw to the sea. Each turn the story took had me excited to continue reading and find out what would happen next. This was such a captivating and haunting read that I will be recommending to all my friends!

I will say, the epilogue was not my favorite. While it did provide some explanation, I almost wish the story ended without it. I would have been content with not knowing and keeping the mystery.

This haunting story weaves together the lives of four women, Lucy, Jess, and twin sisters Mary and Eliza, across three timelines marked by secrets and betrayal. Bound by a mysterious connection to an island, they face their own demons while grappling with an eerie force that shapes their fates. The characters’ emotional journeys and the chilling atmosphere create a beautifully unsettling read. For fans of generational mysteries, The Sirens is a must-read.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

This started out a bit slow for me but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. I read it, then reread it a second time because it is just that good.

Moral of the story? Women are unstoppable!

I was very excited to read The Sirens after loving Emilia Hart’s previous feminist literature novel, Weyward. I was happily rewarded with a great exploration of themes I loved from before - multiple POVs, the strength of women when connected, and stories told throughout time.

The addition of women drawing strength from water, despite being “allergic” to it, was particularly insightful to me. I also really enjoyed learning about the tragic story of the women aboard the Naiad, and the acknowledgment of First Nations people in Australia.

Unfortunately, this experience fell slightly flat for me. There seemed to be a lot of different elements to this story, potentially too many, and I didn’t feel super connected to any single one of them. I guessed every single “twist” that took place, and felt like a lot of the pieces here - the affair with the teacher, the turning into mermaids thing - were strange and unnecessary.

I also REALLY didn’t like the epilogue, or “wrap up”. Not only was it rushed, but I was greatly disappointed in the character assassination of the father. It ruined the entire marriage of the parents for me, especially when we were reassured it was sound.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Emilia Hart, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.