I read "The Sirens" by Emilia Hart on NetGalley. This book kept me on edge the entire time! I wanted to know the outcomes so badly for Mary & Eliza and Lucy & Jess. Their stories were intertwined and I wanted more details the entire book. In 1800 Mary & Eliza are sent on a convict ship full of women to New South Wales from Ireland. And in 2019 Lucy runs to her sister, Jess, for help. I enjoyed this book so much that I immediately requested Hart's first book.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

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⁣Much like Wayward, The Sirens in an epic feminist fantasy that discusses sisterhood and the power of female resilience. Told in two timelines, this is a very atmospheric and quite creepy novel. I found it immersive and lots of fun! The characters were a bit different for me, when comparing them to Weyward and it took me a bit longer to get into the story for that reason, which left the reading experience a little flat.

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this ebook!

This was another beautiful book by Emilia Hart filled with feminine rage, connection, and justice, and it did not disappoint. The way that she interweaves different generations of women together, connected by blood and the violence they’ve experienced, is truly so beautiful. There is such a powerful message of hope and protection, and I loved the twists and turns that kept me on my toes and looking for the pieces of the puzzle.

I absolutely loved it and could not out it down! Highly recommended read for really any woman, but especially those who look out for each other and keep each other safe.

I loved Weyward and I can tell you all that I’m utterly bewitched by The Sirens.

Historical, atmospheric, gothic, and feminism at its most divine.

The past clashes like waves upon the future. How the tragic history of two Irish sisters become intwined with two contemporary Australian women made for a storyline that utterly enchanted me.

Emilia Hart has such a masterful way of storytelling, and I hope everyone gets to experience this beautiful new novel from her

I absolutely love Emilia's writing. She always has a way of captivating me into the story. She can always bring history and meaning to a full circle that leaves you feeling like the book was a warm hug.

We are set in three different time periods with three different POVs. Sometimes Emilia’s stories take me a few chapters to really get into, but then I’m on a beautiful ride.

Such a wonderful story!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin for the e arc.
Be on the lookout-PUB DATE: 04/01/25

In present-day Australia, Lucy flees to her older sister Jess’s house after a disturbing incident at university, only to find Jess missing and the town shrouded in mysterious rumors about disappearing men and strange occurrences at sea. As Lucy delves into Jess's diary, she uncovers secrets about her sister’s past, including their shared water allergy and a connection to a mysterious art teacher. The novel weaves together three timelines, including the tragic story of Irish twin sisters, Mary and Eliza, who are bound for Australia on a convict ship in the 1800s, uncovering a powerful tale of sisterhood, dreams, and the supernatural pull of the ocean.

Hart’s writing made me feel like I was caught in a haunting dream–supernatural, but not scary, with tinges of Irish folklore. The mysteries in each timeline made me want to keep reading to figure out how it was all connected. I did guess one of the major plot twists early on, but it didn’t detract from the story at all, as I still wanted to see how it was all going to unfold. Having also read Weyward, I enjoyed this story much more!

The Sirens
3.5 ⭐️

I loved Weyward and was so excited when I got a copy of The Sirens on @netgalley!

Lucy is running away from her university where she’s had a whole host of problems and toward her sister. But when she turns up at her sister’s she finds her missing with only a few very old clues as to where she might have gone.

This book felt like Literary Fiction, Mystery, and Fantasy all rolled into one. While the first half of the book was extremely slow, the ending did make up for some of it. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I’d hoped, but if you’re looking for slower paced book that has a unique story, check it out!

ARC Review!

First off, I love the cover! I truly enjoyed the eerie and mysterious vibes. I loved the dual timelines and how the author tied the 2 stories together at the end. The writing is beautiful. However, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters and really wanted to love them, but unfortunately I did not :(, I really wanted to. I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys elements of magic, folklore, and the supernatural.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Sirens is a haunting, empowering, un-put-down-able mystery that kept me up way past my bedtime. While I guessed some of the plot points, one of the twists made me audibly gasp. My one complaint is that I wanted more - I could have read a duology or 500 page novel just more for depth to the stories of Mary and Eliza and Jess. I understand that Lucy's POV is essential to the mysterious element of the story, and I could see how some might find it too unwieldy if the author had dwelt more in the past timelines, but I just wanted more by the end. However, this doesn't affect the beauty of the writing or the emotional swell that keeps me thinking of the story long after I've finished.

Thanks to the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my review.

A fun romp of science fiction, feminism, fantasy and young adult reading. In 1800, Mary and Eliza, sisters convicted and sentenced to Australia, have unknown special powers and long memories. The Sirens refer to the sirens of the epic story of Odysseus.: women who lived in the sea and tempted men to their deaths.
As a older female, I could still relate to the anger and outrage conjured by this story of two small children and how they felt on their journey: that misognistism that fuels many feminists to this day. I found myself cheering the very specific deaths in the cove area where in 1800, the sisters were suspected of drowning in their prison ship.
I read through the night wanting the sisters in 2019 to find rescue and vengeance in their lives and others.
A thriller, murders most foul, and heart thumping action: this story has it all.

3.5 stars!

Emilia really shines in writing stories about the female experience, leaving me stunned, enraged, and pondering about women in history who were persecuted and wrongly accused. Weyward was one of my favorite books last year, and I still think about it daily, so I was excited to get the ARC for The Sirens.

The writing was fantastic and engaging. I enjoyed all the point of views and living through the lives of Jess, Lucy, Mary, and Eliza. I found myself reading constantly because I needed to get to the end. Some parts dragged for me, but I was invested enough in the characters' lives to keep me going.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning all about the history of NSW and Australia. The magical realism/fantasy aspect of the book really surprised me, and I wish we got more of it in the end.

I really enjoy Emilia's writing and her stories about women. Overall, this is a story about resilience, family, and coming into your own.

I loved Hart’s first book and was so excited to dive into this one. I was hooked on the mystery portion and felt a slight creepiness throughout. This book flips between the distant past and present, following two sets of sisters, similarly to the multiple storylines in Weyward, something I enjoy.
I admit that I was shocked at some of the twists, and was so excited when I figured one out that I couldn’t put the book down.

Firstly the cover and title are very intriguing. Upon picking up the book The Sirens, I was left with not wanting to put it down. This book switches between three different point of veiws. Lucy, Mary. And Jessica.
I was interested in what is going on with Lucy and where her sister was. Reading about what happened with Jessica(Jess) was difficult but I felt like it was good representation about people that were groomed. I was also invested on what happens with Mary and her sister on the ship and journey towards a different land. The book showed how they lived on the boat for months in inhumane conditions which definitely hurt my heart.
Overall, I loved The Sirens. The writing is amazing and I was invested!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Told from the past and present, The Sirens is an atmospheric fantasy thriller that blends Irish folklore, mermaids, and the complicated history of Australia with hard hitting topics like feminism, abuse, and family trauma. It was a lot to unpack, but Emilia Hart is an amazing writer and somehow, pulls it all off. She really has a wonderful way of composing original and meaningful stories. I especially enjoyed the imaginative premise and the dark spooky vibes. I loved our “past” FMCs narrative. Their arcs were heartbreaking but written with a gorgeous diaphanous layer. Even in their scariest moments, there was a dream-like quality to their experience. For our present day characters, I was left feeling a bit less fulfilled. I wanted more depth, a little more detail and honestly, wanted to care more about their journey. I will also say the pacing was pretty slow at times. It felt like it took a long time for the point of the story to reveal itself, which made portions a bit hard to muster through. However, in the end, it picked up speed, all made sense and concluded in a satisfying way. The Sirens would be an excellent selection for anyone who loves mermaids, eerie folklore, a mysterious plot, or sailing tales. 3.5 stars

“The Sirens” by Emilia Hart is a captivating and haunting mystery. The story moves between three different time lines 2019, 1999 and 1800 and never feels overwhelming or hard to read. The novel hooked me from the opening where a young woman wakes up from sleepwalking with her hands around her ex-lovers throat and no memory of why. The Sirens masterfully weaves together the story of four woman each facing their own struggles but bound together by the sea, mythical mermaids and the limitless resilience of sisterhood. This book is beautifully written and is a bit historical fiction, fantasy and creepy mystery. I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre!


Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

THE SIRENS was my first introduction to Emilia Hart's work, and now I can finally say that I understand the excitement. This was such an emotional and almost ethereal read. I absolutely loved this story so much. I haven't read anything quite like it before, but it somehow still felt familiar in a way (if that makes sense). I was hooked instantly.

One of my most favorite parts of this historical fiction novel was how the narrative was told -- through multiple points of view and timelines that span more than two centuries. I also enjoyed the melding of Australian culture and Irish folklore surrounding the merrow (or mermaid). The writing and plot were so well thought out and incredibly poignant with the incorporation of these and other themes.

But there were some elements of the book that I didn't like as much, which contributed to my slightly lower rating. For instance, there was a dramatic shift from first to third person towards the end that was slightly jarring. It did make sense in some chapters, but others it didn't. I also have to admit that at one point, I felt the exposition slowed down and even dragged on a bit. Plus, there was a little too much repetition for my tastes.

However, the emotional depths this story will take you on, spanning across oceans of time, was more than captivating despite my personal "grievances." I emphatically give this one 4.5⭐️ (rounded up to 5)! If you enjoy historical fiction, nautical tales, Irish folklore, mermaids, mystery & thrillers, the female experience & empowerment, and stories about family secrets and (generational) trauma then this one is for you.

I would like to extend a big thank you to NetGalley and Author, Emilia Hart for gifting me an ARC of "Sirens".

The cover is absolutely gorgeous and I was intrigued by the title of the book. I can’t say that I’ve read many mermaid stories but I was still ready to dive in.

The writing style itself was clear and easy to follow. Unfortunately, this was a book that I could not fully get into. It was a very slow burn and I didn't feel a real connection with any of the characters. I'm not a fan of loose ends or plot lines wrapped up too quickly. It took me a really long time to read so that's how I know I didn't fully get immersed in the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc and advanced listening copy.

3 POVs from different points in time intertwine in a beautiful story about women who are strong, resilient, and unrelenting. At first, I didn’t really care for the present day POV but as the stories grew more entangled in each other, the more I grew to enjoy it. The audiobook is well-narrated, though I did think the narrator was a bit monotonous outside of dialogue.

If you like Sarah Penner’s The Lost Apothecary, you might like this book.

Although this book is described as a tale of devoted sisters, having finished it, I wouldn’t describe it that way. THE SIRENS is a tale with multiple timelines and the sense of foreboding that accompanies learning of the bad treatment of women through the ages. But, still, I’m not sure that would fully describe the plot either. There is some magic involved and I wish there had been more. The title describes well enough what the underlying secret may be, and sadly, the book’s secrets are delivered well after a reader will have figured them out. This is a quickly read book with multiple plot lines that do not quite coalesce at the end. There is a sluggishness about the book that makes sense upon completion, but is mildly frustrating while reading. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

4.25 stars
I loved this book from the first page. The Sirens is a story about the strength and intuition of women. It jumps back and forth between two sisters in 2019 Australia, and two sisters in the same area over 200 years earlier. All four women have a unique skin condition that socially isolates them. Emilia Hart has an ability to write words that paint vivid paintings in your mind. My 7 year old daughter has an obsession with mermaids, and now I get it. I do too. I personally liked this book even more than Weyward, but I think both are beautiful, whimsical stories of feminine self discovery and triumph. I will read everything this author creates.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.