Emilia Hart’s second novel, The Sirens, is a brilliantly written dual timeline novel following two sets of sisters as they embark on a journey of self discovery and empowerment.

In the first timeline, we follow Lucy and her sister Jess. After Lucy finds herself in a predicament at school, she flees the campus in search of a safe haven with her sister. The only problem is… where is Jess? Lucy finds herself apartment wide open and Jess’ phone still there. We toggle between Lucy and Jess’ POV as they figure out between themselves what is going on healthwise with them.

In the other timeline, we follow Mary and Eliza - twin sisters in the 1800s who have been put on a ship toward modern day Australia for the island prison. As they journey towards their new fate, they start to notice changes to their bodies and a calling towards the sea.

Just as you suspect from Hart, the novel has been extensively researched with real historical events of Ireland and Australia. These events have been effortlessly woven into a magical realism/historical fiction/fantasy novel, just like her debut novel in Weyward.

Thank you NetGalley, Emilia Hart, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy of this book! Out 4/1/25!

I loved the author's first book Weyward , and in this one, she weaves historical mystery and drama wonderfully. The bonds of sisterhood in the two timelines drew me to this title. There's lots of trauma, but these sisters are strong, especially together. The story focuses on resilient women going through challenges and facing their pasts.

I have never used the word haunting while reviewing a book, but this story is exactly that, and I found it very atmospheric. The descriptions of the Australian coastline and the haunting tales of the sea create a sense of place and really bring out the emotions. I was sucked in right away and loved both timelines equally. That's a big deal for me. In the 1800s, Mary and Eliza were aboard a convict ship that was going to Australia. In present-time Australia, we have Lucy and Jess dealing with personal issues and trying to figure out a family mystery. The author did well making me feel tense and getting me into the characters' lives and the family mysteries.

The intertwining storylines and the gradual unveiling of secrets keep readers engaged throughout. The book handles heavy themes of female trauma and does so in a way that shows the strength of the characters. The story deals with some heavy topics, and I loved the realistic and sensitive way Hart dealt with them in her writing of the story. Overall, the book is compelling and thought-provoking. Emilia Hart has once again delivered a captivating story that will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. I will be thinking of this one for a long time.

An emotional read with twists and turns! Thoroughly enjoyed the story and appreciated a glimpse into Australia in the 1800s.

I love some historical fiction. I enjoyed this book, but it was a little bit slower than I would've liked. I might give it a re-read but listen to the audio instead. Beautiful writing though! Just. not sure it was a favorite.

Thank you Netgalley & St Martins Press!

Emilia Hart crafts lyrical, atmospheric, mysterious stories. This book would be perfect for someone looking to combine historical fiction with a touch of fantasy.

Told across three timelines, this book covers a beautiful story of determination, love, and family bonds.
My biggest complaint is. the ending felt rushed compared to the rest of the book.
Overall I think if you enjoyed Weyward, you will enjoy this story.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to review this book.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart opens with a gripping, surprising start, which I found more immediately compelling than her debut novel, Weyward. Set against the dangerous and thrilling backdrop of the Australian coast, the novel weaves themes of sisterhood, adversity, and resilience into its haunting, gothic-tinged narrative. Hart’s writing is undeniably beautiful with intense imagery that makes me feel like I'm seeing the scene through the main character's eyes.

While I appreciated the writing style and intricate storytelling, the overall mood was too heavy for my taste. If you enjoy historical fiction with a darker, more mysterious tone, this may be the perfect read for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review! ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5 Stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 rounded down. An atmospheric, moody, and mysterious novel that follows 2 sets of 2 women in the early 1900s, 1999, and present day. I love how Emilia Hart weaves multiple timelines, POVs, and stories into an intricate web full of familial ties, resilience, and women empowerment (also a bit of rage). Once I picked it up, I had a hard time putting it down! I did not like this book as much as I did Weyward (her first novel), this one was somewhat lacking in the plot department. I think so much time was spent on layering the different POVs and making everything come together that the main storyline with Lucy was a bit boring and seemed to be mostly used to "discover" different pieces of the puzzle. Overall I loved this book! I want to live on a quaint cliffside cottage and be left alone to make my art! Such a vibe.

This book covers a myriad of dark topics, but the specific topics are a bit of a spoiler, so please read with caution.

Trigger Warnings: infant abandonment, self harm, suicidal ideation, grooming of a child/teen by an authority figure and satutory rape (briefly on page), imprisonment and neglect (past timeline), starvation and dehydration (past timeline), death by drowning and whipping (past timeline)

Historical fiction • Magical realism
Dual timelines • Family secrets
Female vengeance • Sisterhood

“I know people who say they’ve heard it, standing on the beach at night. Voices, coming from the waves. Women’s voices.”

The Sirens is an empowering story of female strength and resilience.
We follow two sets of sisters. In 1800, twins Mary and Eliza are sent to Australia on a ship for convicts.
In 2019, Lucy seeks out her sister Jess after running into some trouble - only to find Jess missing when she arrives at her house.

This was my first book by Emilia Hart and I really enjoyed it. The story of sisters across time was thought-provoking and emotional.
I like when characters are inexplicably drawn to something - whether it’s another person, item, or place. In this book, our girls are drawn to a place, the sea.
From disappearing men to voices in the water, there are multiple mysteries throughout that make it eerie and haunting.

“The sea gives, but it also takes.”

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my eARC

3.5/4 This is an interesting story about two pairs of sisters and their strange relationships with the sea. Overall, I thought there were some beautiful descriptions throughout, but I struggled to fully connect with the characters or see a real emotional connection between them.

In 2019, the primary setting is on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, where two sisters, Lucy and Jess, are searching for answers from the past...
In 1800, the secondary setting is on a convict ship traveling from Ireland to Australia, where twin sisters Mary and Eliza begin to notice unexplainable changes to their bodies as they get further and further out to sea...
The Sirens is a genre blend of Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, and Mystery, and Hart takes it up a notch by sprinkling in a fair amount of Family Drama to tie everything together.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this digital e-arc.*

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This s not my normal genre that i would read. I can say I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I would definitely
recommend this book.

I enjoyed this author's debut novel, Weyward, so I was very excited to read this! The premise is intriguing, with elements of historical fiction, mystery, family drama, folklore, and magical realism, all in a multiple-timeline format. I also enjoyed the feminist themes woven throughout and the exploration of the bonds between each set of sisters. The characters were well-developed, and the women were likable and resilient.

The book is atmospheric, and the writing is lovely. However, the pacing was uneven. It was slow, mainly through the book's first half, and it took me a while to become invested, and other parts felt rushed. While this one wasn't for me, I can see it appealing to others, especially those who enjoy mermaid lore.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the gifted ARC.

Women of the Sea and Women of the Land

Emilia Hart is a superb storyteller. It's part of what makes up her very fiber. Nothing is more evident than in her previous novel, Weyward (2023), that gripped me with two hands before this one. Hart has done her steadfast research here as it threads its way through this storyline. We'll stand steadily on terra firma while feeling the brisk winds coming off the raging sea.

The Sirens bows gently from the years of 2019 to the long stretches back to 1800. And at its core are women who are evasive by their nature but bound by a particular sisterhood. We'll visit their existence in certain times and in certain eras with the impact heavily resting upon them due to their strange circumstances.

The Sirens is an intricate read with Emilia Hart bringing her female characters to the surface. She carves them out with their apparent strengths and weaknesses. There's plenty to set aside to revisit later. It all plays into this magical storyline of women caught into the throes of life and the wavering inborn gifts that rise to the ready.

We'll meet Lucy who is on the run from a shocking incident that involved her at her university. Lucy sleepwalks. Hardly something that she can control, but what she can control is an immediate trip to the safe haven of her sister, Jess, who lives in Comper Bay. But when she arrives, Jess is not there even though her car and phone are. Lucy decides to wait it out.

Hart then takes us to 1800 aboard an Irish prisoner ship headed to New South Wales, Australia. There are over 80 women prisoners eventually meeting their fate. But not all of them will reach the shores. Two sisters await us, Mary and Eliza. We will tumble into their story as it comes full circle into 2019.

The Sirens is a very detailed story wrapped in magical circumstances. Prepare for an abandoned baby within a dark cave and 8 missing men who disappeared into thin air. Not all questions will be answered. The possible truth lies in the mist. But it will certainly keep you engaged with possibilities. Those possibilities are as elusive as a woman's smile.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to St. Martin's Press and to the talented Emilia Hart for the opportunity.

3.75 🌟

I'm not sure the dual time-line fully worked for me in this book. 😬

Augh, after loving Weyward I had high hopes for this book and it just fell a little short. The beginning was sloooow and I found myself struggling to get engaged. The ending surprised me and (most of it) I actually loved - I just wish there had been more in the first part of the book.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

In the 1800's Mary and Eliza have been banished by the British court system and are aboard a convict ship bound for New South Wales. Meanwhile, in 2019, Lucy discovers that she's begun to sleepwalk when she awakens in her former boyfriend's dorm room with her hands around his neck. She flees campus to Jess, her estranged sister's, house. There she finds Jess's house in messy disrepair - but no sign of Jess herself. Where is Jess? Who is the girl that has been haunting Lucy's dreams before she awakens in the strangest places? And how in the world did Jess paint a series of scenes and faces from Lucy's dreams?

Emilia Hart has a talent for writing strong characters and an intriguing story told from multiple perspectives across time. The Sirens comes to us from Mary in the 1800's, Jess' diary (written in 1999), and Lucy in 2019. Despite the years between these women, the past and present collide during this story.

Hart's writing is beautiful and enabled me to feel like I was present in the vivid scenes that she created. This is lovely while we're visiting Jess's seaside cottage, but a bit unnerving when the scene is a ship's cargo hold crammed full of 80 women. I was completely unaware of Australia's founding history and this story sent me to the internet to learn more. How fascinating!

At times I felt that the pacing was slowed down by the changing points of view, and several scenes felt extraneous until the story came more fully together towards the end. Overall, this felt like a wholly unique story, full of richly drawn, flawed characters, set in a haunting and atmospheric environment.

I fell in love with Hart's creativity after reading Weyward and I was so pleased that NetGalley and St. Martin's Press gave me the opportunity to dive into Hart's sophomore novel in exchange for my honest review.

Absolutely beautiful, thank you for the book. Feminism and sirens? Sign me up! The merrows keeping women safe? We, as women, never feel safe in any community. There is always something hurting us somehow, mainly the patriarchy but it's always unsafe. Seeing safety from this book was a gift.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a complimentary copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own. This novel takes place as two separate timelines. The 1800's Ireland where Mary and Eliza are put aboard a convict ship and sent to
Australia with other women. Then in 2019, there is Lucy and Jessica. Lucy suffers . from sleepwalking and one night she wakes up with her hands around her ex-boyfriend's throat. Scared and not remembering how she got there, Lucy decides to go visit her sister Jessica in a small town in South Wales called Comber Bay. But. when she arrives, Jessica is nowhere to be found. Her phone and car are still there, but she’s not. Comber Bay is full of secrets. Men have mysteriously gone missing from there. As Lucy researches and tries to figure out where Jessica is and what's happening, the secrets of their past and present come crashing together like waves
in the sea!
How are these two sets of sisters related? What secrets of the past will be
revealed? This novel is a historical fiction that is both beautifully haunting and mysterious. There is also elements of magical realism. I truly enjoyed reading this novel. The first part did seem a bit slow, but it quickly picked up and I didn't want to put it down! This is my second novel I have read by this author. The first was Weyward. I'm already looking forward to more books by this author! You can find the Sirens when it's available April 1, 2025! 5 stars

Emilia Hart’s The Sirens is an exquisitely written novel, filled with hauntingly beautiful prose and an atmosphere that completely pulls you in. Much like Weyward, it has a lyrical quality that makes every page feel immersive and alive. The way the author crafts setting and emotion is nothing short of stunning, making the world of the book feel tangible and deeply felt.

That being said, while I loved her writing, the story itself left me with some lingering frustration. The book begins with the main character running away from something ominous, setting up an intriguing mystery, but that thread never fully comes together. The lack of resolution around why she fled or if it would come back to haunt her felt like a missing puzzle piece in an otherwise compelling narrative.

Despite this, The Sirens is a novel I would still recommend for its breathtaking atmosphere and Emilia Hart’s undeniable talent as a writer. Even with its shortcomings, it’s the kind of book that stays with you, carried by its poetic storytelling and rich, evocative details.

I loved Weyward, and when I saw The Sirens was available, I was excited to get started on it. The magical realism is woven through this novel which has a gothic vibe as well as themes of the bond of sisters and female empowerment. Told in dual timelines, this is the story of two pairs of sisters, one set is on a doomed female prison ship set for Australia, and in the present day, Lucy sets out to visit her sister, Jess, who lives in a house on the cliffs of Comber Bay where the ship sank. Lucy and Jess both suffer from a medical condition that causes their skin to become terribly inflamed/irritated when it comes in contact with water, and Lucy has questions about her genetic history in light of the condition. When she arrives at her sister's home, Jess is missing, and Lucy finds a diary which answers some as it raises even more questions.

The novel is atmospheric and slow paced, almost painfully slow at times, but the pacing is important to the story, when all is finally revealed. There were a lot of aspects that needed to be brought together, and I am happy to say that the author did a great job of wrapping things up in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of The Sirens by Emilia Hart. The opinions in this review are my own.

Really enjoyed this story of women across time. Stories that involve the magic and mysteriousness of the sea are usually something I like, so it's really no surprise that I found this one a good read.