Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this gifted ARC!

The Sirens is a very uniquely written novel in two separate timelines and multiple POV’s. I loved the sisterhood in each timeline as well as the character growth. I wasn’t expecting the turns and twists. I did feel like it was slightly repetitive and the story seemed long. Overall, following Lucy and Jess in today’s time and Mary and Eliza in their lives hundreds of years beforehand was intriguing. Definitely a slow burn but held many captivating elements.

Looking for a book with complicated family dynamics, a town haunted by mermaids, and women pursuing justice? The Sirens by Emilia Hart has all of the above (and more)!
I have always been a mermaid girlie more than anything else, and obviously thought that in combination with Hart’s writing style would make this an enthralling read. I inhaled Hart’s debut, Weyward, and had been anxiously awaiting another tale of myth, feminine power, and raw history. And while The Sirens has all three of those elements, they don’t have the same pull that Weyward had for me.
The book has three main characters. Lucy, an Australian university student; Jess, her older sister; and Mary, an Irish girl on a convict ship heading to Australia. We spend the majority of our time with Lucy, who left university in a rush after a sleepwalking incident. It’s mentioned in a few different ways that Lucy has a skin condition that’s affected by water. Lucy spends most of the book at Jess’s house, waiting for her to return from a trip.
Unfortunately, even though the book is 80% in Lucy’s POV, I felt like she was the least developed. Most of Jess’s character development happens as Lucy reads through Jess’s old diary and all of Mary’s development happens through Lucy’s dreams. This setup keeps Lucy front and center, but keeps her in a perpetual state of almost-knowing and never lets her do anything else.
Overall, I enjoyed the twists and turns of all three storylines, and was invested enough to finish the book. The mermaid details started to appear more frequently, and the book ended with a blend of magical realism that I was expecting. Some of the final details really threw me for a loop, but overall, the ending saved the book from its middle.
If any of this book's weirdly specific traits caught your eye, you should definitely give it a shot! I’d also recommend it if you’re really into mermaid myths!
Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the free advanced copy and audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

Three storylines featuring resilient women are the focus of this unique book. In 2019, a young Australian woman, Lucy, awakens, choking the ex-boyfriend who recently betrayed her. She flees to a remote coastal town where her older sister lives, to find her missing. Meanwhile, Lucy is plagued by intense dreams about two sisters from Ireland in 1800 who are unjustly loaded onto a prison ship destined for Australia--and judging by the art in the household, her sister has been having the same dreams for years. Lucy struggles to understand herself, and begins reading through her sister's diary, discovering deep family secrets.

This is an engaging book, but a frustrating one in some regards, as the ending doesn't deliver much in the way of surprises. The title alone is a big giveaway about what is going on, and Lucy's big revelations are transparent incredibly early, though it takes her a long time to put pieces together. The diary format didn't work well, either, as the entries were nothing like believable diary entries.

There was a lot to like, though. The characters are very well done, and the deep insights into Australia's colonial history were disturbing and enlightening. I can see this being a major book club read in the coming years.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.

When I first read the premise of this book, I was so excited and intrigued. Sirens are freaking awesome, and hell yeah I want to read about women turning into beautiful creatures to lure men to their deaths. But this book just did not deliver for me.

Strengths:
• The writing was lovely, and I enjoyed the fictional town of Comber Bay. And I especially loved Eliza and Mary’s POV chapters.

Weaknesses:
• Just about everything aside from what I listed above. I just did not care about Lucy’s POV, and tbh I think she wasn’t even that necessary to the story; it could have just been Jess and the story would have worked just as well.
• We got verrrrrryyyy little of the actual Sirens. The whole book is basically build up to characters discovering they are Sirens. I wanted to read about Sirens being Sirens, and we just did not get that, like at all.
• Hart does historical stories better than modern day. For that reason, I think the story would have been miles better if written entirely from Eliza and Mary’s POV and delved more into them once they actually become Sirens.
• The ending felt so abrupt? Like we just abandon the whole premise in the last 20 pages or so?

Overall, this gets 2.5 stars (rounded up to 3)

This was a hauntingly beautiful read. I love how the author sets the tone with her words and paints a beautiful, mythical picture. Great read.

From the very first chapter, this book gave me an eerie, haunted feeling. Weyward was one of my favorites, so as soon as I saw Emilia Hart had another book coming, it was an instant add to my TBR. This story unfolds across two interwoven timelines: Lucy & Jess’s journey and Mary & Eliza’s tale.

After experiencing a traumatic event at university, Lucy seeks refuge with her sister Jess at Cliff House, where Jess has been living and working on her art. Though the sisters have grown apart, Lucy feels Jess may be the only one who truly understands what she’s going through. But when she arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found. While waiting for her return, Lucy stumbles upon her sister’s diary, uncovering long-buried family secrets that might explain the strange events unraveling around her.

Meanwhile, in the past, Mary and Eliza’s story unfolds aboard a convict ship bound for an uncertain future. Their chapters gradually reveal how their fate connects to Lucy’s present-day struggles. As Lucy pieces together the truth, she realizes Jess may be in danger—and time is running out to save her.

This gripping tale of resilience and hidden power kept me turning the pages. Nothing and no one is quite what they seem. I can’t wait to see what Emilia Hart writes next!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for the ARC

This is the second book by Emilia Hart and WOW, it does not disappoint. It is clear that Hart ties in themes of nature, superstitions, mythology, and strong female characters to her style of writing. The females in this book look out for each other. Hart does a seamless job weaving different time periods together in a way where you want to read about both time periods. Hart adds so many traditional and mythological aspects to her writing as well. Reading this book transports you into a different world. A world where magic and myths have to be real.

Female power in spades. This really focuses on the four women’s growth and feminine power as each story unfolds. Traveling back in time to present day these females embrace their power. Loved this book thank you NetGalley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 4/5

“We will keep you safe. I promise.”

The Sirens is a devastating and beautiful tale, told from the perspective of two women with an ocean of time between them.

In Ireland, 1800, Mary and her sister Eliza have been exiled and forced aboard a female convict ship that is making the perilous journey to New South Wales. In New South Wales, 2019, Lucy is seeking the help of her sister Jessica, after awakening to find herself strangling her ex-lover.

Readers are introduced to these four women who, despite being separated by two centuries, are facing very similar struggles. Mary and Eliza have committed no crime beyond defending themselves. While Lucy and Jess are struggling to recover from placing their trust in the wrong people. Both sets of sisters find their paths shrouded in secrets, the answers to which just might set them free.

The journey of these characters highlights the resilience of women and the strength that many find in sisterhood (I found myself crying multiple times). The mythical spin on historical events added an additional layer of meaning to this story, as sirens are known for their ability to lure men to their deaths. What better way to depict women who have been wronged by a system built for men. Is this poetic justice?

Emilia Hart’s willingness to give a voice to women lost to time and history made this story much closer to my heart. I appreciate the amount of research she did to create this story and that her forward directed readers to the appropriate sources for more information on the topic.

If you enjoy feminist fiction, mythology, and sobbing over the bonds of sisterhood - this book is for you!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a book that leaps to and from different timelines. The main characters in this book, Lucy and Jess, sisters in the present, and Mary and Eliza, sisters from the 1800’s, are connected through vivid dreams. I normally enjoy a historical fiction genre, but this lacked any vibrancy. The cover of the book is beautiful, the descriptions sound lovely, but I had trouble connecting with any of the characters. The story itself was choppy, I couldn’t feel the flow of the different centuries, they really felt like different stories.

I truly struggled trying to get through this book. I was hoping for a strong, feminist fantasy of a storyline, but I found it boring.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The Sirens completely swept me away!

Told in dual timelines, we follow Lucy in 2019 as she flees to her sister’s house after a violent and unexplainable incident, only to find her missing. At the same time, we’re taken back to 1800, where Mary and Eliza, two sisters sentenced to a convict ship heading for Australia, begin to experience strange changes to their bodies. The way these timelines weave together—layering mystery, mythology, and history—was so GOOD, I couldn’t put it down.

This was my first book by Emilia Hart, and WOW, her writing is insanely immersive. When I tell you I smelled the stench of that prisoner ship, I mean it. The atmosphere, the emotion, and the slow unraveling of secrets all made for an unforgettable read.

If you love stories about sisterhood and just a dash of something otherworldly, this one’s for you.

Special thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Emilia Hart is a beautiful writer, and this novel was beautifully written, but I didn't find the storyline to be as satisfying as Weyward. I liked the alternate timelines, but connected more with Lucy and Jess's story (the modern story) than I did with Eliza and Mary's.

I found that some of the themes in the story weren't fully fleshed out. For example, Lucy sleepwalking and strangling someone was never really explained fully.

A lot of characters were introduced but not given enough development.

Still, it was a unique premise and an interesting story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. The Sirens by Emilia Hart. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this advanced reader copy. The cover art alone earned this novel a star! So pretty. This novel brings us to the 1800s on an Australia bound ship. Female prisoners are being sent from Ireland to Australia to serve their sentences. Two sisters cling to each other in fear. Then in present day we meet two other sisters who are struggling with many issues. Lucy was attacked at school, and while sleepwalking, she attempts to strangle her assailant. Lucy flees to her sister’s new home on the coast. But Jess seems to have disappeared! This village is known for spooky happenings too. Men have disappeared from this seaside locale. There’s rumored to be a hidden sea cave too. We go back and forth between the sister pairs, learning about the strength of women and what binds us all together. This had a lot of potential, but ended up just becoming too convoluted. Disappointing. #books #whatiread #bookstagram #bookgram #reading #advancedreaderscopy #netgalley #goodreads #libbyapp #thesirens #bookworm

A really dark, cold and almost folktale-like novel that focuses on four women living in different centuries, each of whom is on a journey of self-discovery. Although this is an interesting and compelling story, one that is beautifully written, parts of it dragged way too much and parts of it were wholly predictable. Moreover, the initial plot of the story (involving Lucy’s having to face the consequences of her actions) just disappeared as the story continued, and I was definitely underwhelmed by the ending. All in all this was an interesting, good read but not a great one.

3.5 stars. After reading and loving the author's first book, I was so excited to pick this one up! Alas, it did not quite live up to my expectations.

The Sirens is a beautifully written story with an interesting premise. Written in multiple timelines with multiple POVs, we have a story of sisterhood, healing, and self-discovery.

The writing and vivid description made it easy for me to visualize the setting and the storyline. While I enjoyed having different POVs, they were written very similarly and were hard to differentiate as I read, which made things feel a bit monotonous. I also struggled to understand or believe some of the characters' decisions, and I did not care much for the teacher/student relationship and its revival in the present.The book dragged in the middle, but things picked up again around the 75/80% mark to a mostly satisfying ending. We got our biggest questions answered. There are a few smaller loose ends that weren't fully resolved, but that didn't bother me as much as it did other readers.

I think readers who like beautiful prose, fantasy, female empowerment, and mermaids/the sea, and who don't mind a slower burn, will enjoy this book. But I think the author's first book is better.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Sirens is the newest release by Emilia Hart, author of Weyward. I loved Weyward and was so excited to receive an ARC of The Sirens!

This story is told in alternating timelines and points of view. In the 1800s, we have Mary and her sister Eliza. They are convicts on a prison ship from Ireland headed to the penal colonies in New South Wales. Crowded into the belly of the ship with other female prisoners, the sisters experience cruel treatments and heartache as they leave their home behind. In the present day, we have Lucy who wakes up from sleepwaking and finds herself assaulting a boy who had hurt her in the recent past. She flees university to avoid the investigation and to try to learn why she's been sleepwalking from her sister, Jess, who also sleepwalks. She arrives at her sister's house, Cliff house, but her sister is missing. Finally, we have Jess, whose POV is told through her diary in 1999. Lucy finds this diary and begins to piece the puzzle together in order to find her sister.

This story is one of resilience and kinship, feminine rage and protection. It blends mystery, historical fiction, and magical realism to create an intricate tale of sisterhood and the things that bind women together. Thanks to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book by Emilia Hart is a captivating novel that intertwines the lives of two sets of sisters across different centuries. The story alternates between 2019, where Lucy flees to her sister Jess’s house after a traumatic incident, and 1800, where Mary and Eliza are forced onto a convict ship heading to Australia. The novel explores themes of sisterhood, resilience, and the haunting power of the sea.

What I liked about the book:

Atmospheric Writing: Hart’s descriptions of the coastal setting and the eerie, sea-swept caves are hauntingly beautiful, creating a vivid backdrop for the story.
Characters: The characters are well-developed, with each sister’s journey reflecting their strength and vulnerability. The dual timelines are handled skillfully, with each era’s narrative enriching the other.
Themes: The novel delves into heavy themes such as trauma, healing, and the fight against oppression, making it a thoughtful and compassionate read

What I didn't like:

Pacing: I felt like it was a slow pace in the middle sections, as the story takes its time to build up to the climax.
Predictability: A few plot twists may be predictable for seasoned readers of the genre, which could lessen the impact of the revelations.
Conclusion: “The Sirens” is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism that celebrates the strength of women and the bonds of sisterhood.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the advanced copy.

First of all, can we all take a minute to appreciate just how gorgeous this cover is? I really love it.

I also quite enjoyed Hart’s atmospheric writing. I felt the cool slick rocks of the cave, I could smell the damp fetid walls of the ocean reclaiming Jess’s home, I could sense the foreboding of being locked in the dark hull of a ship with Mary and Eliza. The setting was masterfully put together and was my favorite part of the story.

The Sirens is dual time line—and I mostly liked the story set in the 1800s. Sisters being transported from Ireland to a penal colony in New South Wales? Survival, strength, and bonding among those being transported? Yes please! But I wanted MORE from this story. I felt like I understood a little bit of what was happening here, but not enough…

…and that brings us to the present day storyline, or as I like to call it, the major meh part. First of all, the characters were very hard to connect with—I wanted to cheer for them, but they just did nothing for me and I could not muster a rally cry. Secondly—things were happening, a metamorphosis of sorts, but I’m not sure why? Why these two sisters? What was the link with the past? HOW? I just didn’t get it.

So there you have it, a stunning cover, a brilliantly crafted atmosphere, some interesting context, but ultimately a story that fell a little short of my expectations.

I will definitely read another novel from Hart—she is a gifted writer, there is no doubt. However, Weyward far surpasses The Sirens for me.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the digital ARC.

Overall, I didn't love this one. The pacing was slow which had me struggling throughout and I just couldn’t get into the story. I did enjoy the concept of historical and magical realism. But that didn’t really save the book for me.

"The Sirens" by Emilia Hart is a captivating novel that masterfully intertwines historical fiction, magical realism, and mystery to explore themes of sisterhood, resilience, and empowerment. The story unfolds across two timelines: in 1800, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are transported to Australia as convicts; in 2019, journalist Lucy seeks solace in her sister Jess's coastal home, only to find her missing amidst eerie local legends. Hart's lyrical prose vividly brings to life the haunting atmosphere of Comber Bay, a town shrouded in mystery and whispers of the supernatural. The dual narrative structure is handled with finesse, weaving together past and present in a way that keeps readers engaged and eager to uncover the connections between the two. The novel's exploration of women's strength and solidarity in the face of adversity is both poignant and inspiring. Fans of Hart's debut, "Weyward," will find familiar themes here, but "The Sirens" stands on its own as a testament to Hart's growth as a storyteller. This book is a must-read for those who appreciate richly layered tales that celebrate the enduring bonds between women.