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.

Title: Sirens
Series: n/a
Author(s): Emilia Hart
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery/Historical Fiction
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Publishing Co.: St. Martins Press
Length: 352 pages/ chapters
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️ / 🌶️

Trigger Warnings:

Tropes:
🧜‍♀️ Fantasy
🧜‍♀️ Mystery
🧜‍♀️ Multiple POV’s
🧜‍♀️ Multiple timelines
🧜‍♀️ Trauma
🧜‍♀️ Family drama

Emilia Hart's Sirens is not a book genre I usually read, but the synopsis sounded fascinating. Although I don't usually read fantasy, Sirens combines historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy with a hint of family drama. Multiple points of view, timeframes, and the overall strong female character development were all masterfully written, but once more, I just struggle with the fantasy genre, and I thought that some of the story's elements were so unbelievable that I think I got lost in the story's overall basic premise.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, mermaids, strong female characters, Greek/Irish mythology you will devour the book.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martins Press for an advanced copy of Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

This was such a whimsical and eerie book full of magic and hope. I loved it so much. The dual timelines really helped to bring everything full circle, and I loved the different characters and their stories!

Emilia Hart delivers another mesmerizing tale with The Sirens, a novel that beautifully intertwines magic, sisterhood, and the haunting pull of the sea. Spanning centuries, this story follows three timelines—each one steeped in mystery, resilience, and the supernatural.

The novel's structure is one of its greatest strengths. In 2019, Lucy's desperate search for answers leads her to unsettling truths about her sister Jess and the eerie coastal town she called home. In 1999, Jess's isolated adolescence and dangerous entanglements create a slow-burning tension that keeps the pages turning. And in 1800, twin sisters Mary and Eliza's harrowing journey aboard a convict ship unravels the origins of a strange and ancient power. Each storyline is compelling in its own right, yet they weave together seamlessly, building a rich, atmospheric narrative.

Hart’s prose is as lyrical as ever, immersing readers in the raw beauty of the sea and the dark secrets it holds. The themes of trauma, autonomy, and female resilience shine through, making this more than just a historical fantasy—it’s a tale of survival and transformation.

While the novel's pacing is generally strong, some sections—especially in the modern timeline—feel slower in comparison to the more intense historical narratives. At times, Lucy’s arc lacks the urgency of Jess’s or the twins', but the eerie mystery and emotional weight keep the story engaging.

Overall, The Sirens is a spellbinding read that lingers long after the final page. With its haunting atmosphere, deeply felt characters, and a touch of mythic allure, it’s a must-read for fans of Weyward and anyone drawn to the magic of the sea.

I was thrilled to get an arc of this book because I absolutely loved Emilia Hart’s debut novel, Weyward.

While I did really enjoy this book, it didn’t have the same pull on me as Weyward. This one felt slower-paced and I found myself liking Lucy’s story more than Mary and Eliza’s. Even though I figured out the twists before they happened, I still found the myth of sirens to be interesting enough to keep reading.

The Sirens is the intriguing second novel from Emilia Hart, author of the popular debut novel, The Weyward and tells the story of two sets of sisters, about 100 years apart. Set in Australia, Lucy and Jess’ story is interwoven with Mary and Eliza’s. What I found interesting was that both Lucy and Jess dreamt about Mary and Eliza, which is how we learn of their journey from Ireland to Australia via a “convict boat”.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will surely enjoy The Sirens, with its strong stories and characters and a touch of magic realism. I found both storylines to be equally compelling and while the developments were not that surprising, the stories flowed seamlessly. I enjoyed that the author used various techniques such as dreams, Jess’ diary and Lucy’s perspective to move the stories forward.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

After loving Weyward, I had high hopes for The Sirens, and I’m so grateful it delivered that same immersive, atmospheric feel. Hart has a way of drawing readers into a setting with rich, evocative detail, making every scene come alive.

In 2019, Lucy flees to her sister Jess’s coastal home after a disturbing incident, only to find Jess missing and whispers of mysterious disappearances in the town. As she searches for answers, eerie dreams blur the line between past and present. Hundreds of years before, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are ripped from their home and sent to Australia on a convict ship, where they begin to experience strange transformations. Across centuries, their stories intertwine in a tale of resilience, sisterhood, and the untamed power of the sea.

This story took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and while I enjoyed the direction it went, I found myself wanting more time with the sirens; their history, their voices, and their stories. The novel unfolds in a way that slowly weaves together different perspectives and timelines, revealing its secrets chapter by chapter. Though there is an undercurrent of fury, the heart of this book leans more into feminine resilience, strength, and survival rather than outright rage.

A beautifully written and compelling read. I can't wait to read more from this author.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review).

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this eARC and ALC.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a DNF for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved the writing, but I just couldn't connect to the characters. They all just made bad decisions then complained.

I’ve been (impatiently) waiting for this book since I saw the title. I loved Weyward and I love mermaids so this was right up my alley!

I LOVED this book! I love the history and mythology that is woven throughout the whole book. I can’t decide who my favourite character is because they were all so well written.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This was an interesting take on sirens. I kept wondering what happened to combine the two past and the present together and it all came together in the end.
I literally did not know that people had a disorder that would affect their skin if they got wet. So that was fun going down that rabbit hole.
I thought the way the characters became intertwined was great. At first, I couldn't understand what the past had to do with the present and why no one in her family was really talking about sleepwalking and what was going on. Though as the story unfolded it all came together. I normally don't do anything with mermaids as it is not my normal, but I will say I was highly amused by the storyline and wanted to know more.
I do wonder why this all happens now with the sleepwalking and dreams and not when our main character was younger. Is it a coming-of-age thing?

I was a big fan of Emilia Hart’s first book, Weyward, and I’m happy to say that this one lived up to my own hype!

I really loved the way that dual timelines and multiple POV’s were used throughout the book. There’s only a vague idea of how the two plots are related to one another, and as more was revealed, you slowly get a better idea of what’s going on. Some of the chapters are pretty short, which made it that much easier for me to get sucked into the story, especially with some cliffhanger chapter endings.

The mysteriousness of the plot was so intriguing to me. There’s a little bit of magical realism/fantasy at play here, but done in an easy way that people who are not usually fans of that will still enjoy. There’s also some women empowerment & sisterhood vibes, which I always love.

I wasn’t quite sure where the story was heading, but once that twist was dropped at the end of Part Two, I actually gasped. I loved where it took the story, and how everything made so much more sense. I also wasn’t expecting the epilogue, which answered a lot of questions for me.

This was a book I was picking up every chance I got, with a story that hooked me from the first page.

I honestly won't go in depth in this review because there's not really much to say. I was very excited for this book, I had not seen anything about this book, I had just heard about the author so I was excited to read one of her arcs, My main problem with this book was how I could not connect with the characters and when I don't feel any sort of connection with them, I just end up disliking the book and to be honest the only reason I did not dnf this book was because it was an ARC otherwise it would've been a dnf 20% through, I wish I could write something good about this book but it's one of those rare instances where I just have nothing good to say, It's definitely among the bottom 5 reads of this year. I also didn't enjoy the writing style of this book and usually when a book has weak characters, the writing style is what keeps me going but that wasn't the case here and honestly when these two things do not work I rely to the plot but where was the plot here? so I had nothing to rely on like I need a book to have one good think because honestly I can read a book if it has literally no plot as long as the writing is good or a book with a strong plot and bumpy writing or a book that solely relies on its characters to save it but when a book has none it's really bound to end up here.

Overall, not the best book and I wouldn't recommend!

Emilia Hart win this heart with her debut novel, Weyward, which I read over Winter Break in 2023 (#TeacherLife). Her ability to capture the tension of a woman's desire versus a society's expectations of/for her across time is remarkable.

In The Sirens, we meet two sisters in Australia, Lucy and Jess, who are running from their own demons in pursuit of their unique truths while tethered to each other and to two sisters from Ireland in 1800, Mary and Eliza. Both sets of sisters in each timeline help one another find the bravery within themselves through each other to step into the most authentic versions of themselves and believe in their voices and their experiences despite attempted silencing from those in positions of power.

If Emilia Hart keeps producing books like this, she will continue to be an instant buy and a 5-star read for me.

This early review is a product of an ARC provided by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. I'm immensely grateful for their generosity.

I was immediately engaged by The Sirens and couldn't wait to keep picking it up. The themes of sisterhood, family and female rage/revenge are some of my favorites and they were done very well. I also loved the vivid Australian setting. I didn't know much about the women's convict boats, and this aspect was eye-opening. There were a few parts that I thought should have been explored more, but overall I still loved this. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

This book intertwines two sisters from different time periods and shines a light on the centuries old plight of women’s suffering and survival. In Greek mythology, sirens lured sailors to their doom with their haunting songs. In this story, they call to dangerous men instead.

Lucy, traumatized by a betrayal and in danger of losing her spot in her journalism program, seeks out her sister, Jess, at her home in rural Australia. Only, when she arrives, she finds the place abandoned. Desperate to find her sister, she uncovers some unsettling truths she never could have envisioned.

In the second storyline, sisters Mary and Eliza are transported to Australia on a convict ship and away from the only home they have ever known.

It’s a very atmospheric and enlightening tale about resilience in the face of adversity and the power of familial bonds. There is definitely something for everyone here given that the story is part historical fiction, part mystery and part magical realism.

While it’s an engaging read, it doesn’t quite live up to Weyward for me. Still, it’s an intriguing and beautifully written novel. 3.75 Stars


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

3.5 stars

Thank you to SMP for the e-ARC

this book was a good reading experience, but a frustrating story with some elements that I felt were missing.

the writing itself is probably the highlight: whimsical, lush, emotive prose that carries you through the book and keeps you anticipating what will happen. I think the POV and time switches were highly effective for telling the story and keeping the reader interested.

the relationships between the sisters in this story were very well written. I get frustrated when all of the complexity of female relationships gets collapsed into a one-size-fits-all “we love each other through everything” bond. these characters had conflict and love and hurt between them, and it made the story much more moving.

I do think the plot was lacking. so many details were left unresolved by the end, which made me feel like pages were wasted on something eventually irrelevant. the ending was also just out of left field and felt cheap.

my other gripe is that for a story that’s in part about the process of colonization of Australia, the indigenous people were barely included. we get one fairly tokenized character, but the centered characters are European. obviously the author wanted to tell one sort of story, but it felt like there were copious story opportunities for the Aboriginal people to have a voice or role. so that felt mishandled to me.

3.25/5

This is a wonderful story but I got bored. The multigenerational story line is very interesting and the family secrets make the story flow. But there isn't much happening in the story to keep interest. It's more self realization and focuses more on Lucy's story and her life. It has the perfect amount of magical realism into the story that makes it unique. I just wanted more to the story more interactions more connection. I loved the premise but it was meh to me

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's press for the opportunity to read this story

I really liked Weyward so I was excited to read this. Its hauntingly beautiful. I thought the dual timelines were done well.

A magical realism book about 2 sisters from 2 different time periods bound together by the wonders of dreams and the allure of the sea.
I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lucy and Jess are sisters, Jess has an allergy to water and is a very lonely teen who finds comfort in an art teacher who sees something special in her. After years of estrangement Lucy needs her now adult sister and runs to her house only to find it abandoned. Two other sisters, Mary and Eliza lived in the 1800s and were sent to the criminal colony Australia after they broke the law and for some reason Lucy continues to dream of them. All of these stories intertwine and tell a tale of sisterhood through the ages.

I love a good female focused story but this one just missed the mark for me. I take a certain amount of responsibility because I listened to much of it and I think I would have been less confused with the three timelines and multiple POVs if I had read more rather than listened. That being said I still couldn’t connect with any of the characters or the story. I think this author may be an acquired taste because I know so many people who loved this one as well as Weyward, her last book, while neither really worked for me. I think this one is a matter of taste.

3.5 stars

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC to review