Emilia Hart has done it again!
The Sirens has (like Weyward) drawn on an historical era depicting the worst of the human condition while creating time jumps over the centuries.
Ms Hart's glorious descriptions of nature mirror the characters frights and turbulent psyches.
Suspenseful,.... surprises......great character development bring the protagonists to life as the reader becomes rapt by insights into well drawn and emotionally wrenching happenings in their respective lives .......Kafka, Dostoyevsky come to mind as the women morph into creatures of the sea......bold, terrifying, terrific ,beautifully written novel which ends quite happily for both the protagonists and the reader.

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Great story about women and the daily struggles/battles they face in their lives. I loved the development of all the characters and learning how they all connected in time was beautifully written. Overall, a mystical read.

Magical realism pieced together through podcasts, dreams, coming-of-age memories, and brooding Australian cliffs (somewhat surprisingly, my second read of the year to feature the island continent). At the center is Lucy's family history and the mystery pieced together from current events, her sister's house, and two women from the past who suffered a long voyage from Ireland on a penal ship. After a slow start, I was most invested during Jess, Lucy's sister's, flashbacks (cue teen angst), then the historical bits (compelling, but not action packed), and then the present day with Lucy and the podcasts (long stretches of italics are just not for me). While the setup is intriguing, I was craving a build up that isn't there. This is a story of identity and self-acceptance, and the pacing reflects that.

A beautiful story about sisterhood and generations of female rage!

Emilia Hart has such a gorgeous way of storytelling and I loved exploring this story and the multiple timelines that unraveled. This story and the experience it gave me will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

4.5 Stars
Genre: Women's Fiction
Descriptors: mysterious, fantasy (mer) females leads, dark, trauma, secrets.
Favorite Character: I didn't dislike any of the narrators. All of their stories were equally captivating in their own way.
Least favorite: Mr. Hennessey
Pace/Format: Alternating timeline/narrators (Lucy, Mary and Jess's Diary)
Spice: Nope
Standalone: Yes
Would I recommend? Yes!

While different than Weyward it still has the author's beautiful writing and vibes. I am not typically a reader who guesses how the book is going to unfold but I had my hunches early on and was right. It did not affect my loving the story any less. Looks like there are already mixed reviews on this book (aren't there always?) But I found it lovely and couldn't wait to keep picking it back up. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. Happy to have read and will recommend this title.

(A sincere thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.)

From the author of Weyward, comes another heart-stopping tale of family secrets & female experiences with a pinch of faery dust.

To start, let's talk about what Hart gets absolutely right:

1. Exceedingly enjoyable prose. Hart has such a beautiful way of relaying her characters innermost thoughts and feelings, it's almost like you inhabit their bodies as they move through their paper and ink world. This was where I knew this book would excel having read her debut last year and she did not disappoint.
2. Female companionship/bonds. I've never longed for a sister, or just a close female confidant, while reading a book as much as I did with this one. This story is rich with the sort of kinship and understanding that can only exist between two women, simply because the space we occupy in this world is so set-apart from how men live and experience the world. There's such power to be found in one another, and Hart's characters embody said power amazingly.
3. The fantasy element. I've read mermaid/siren books before, of course, but never quite like this. There's a bit of a horror aspect to it that takes some of the shine away, but I've found that only makes the transformation of the characters more compelling.

And now, for why this book only barely scraped by with 3 full stars:

1. The Mary POV. The bulk of Mary's chapters happen in the choking dark of a ship's hold. Aside from her first introduction and the last time we see her, she's mostly just relaying how awful the ship is, with only a few moments of any action at all occurring. Definitely dragged and made her role in the story feel superfluous---which is not great when you consider how monumentally important she is to the heart of it. I would have preferred Eliza's POV, I think, as one she's already blind so being in the dark with her wouldn't have been so boring, and because she just seemed much more interesting than her sister.
2. The "let's wait and see" trope. If that's what it can be called. This was present in Weyward, as well. When you have a main character that refuses to make what, to readers, seems to be a logical decision to go for help but doesn't. Lucy waits a very, VERY long time to do anything meaningful about the fact that her sister has gone missing without a trace. While I understand that sometimes the authorities do make things worse, her not even calling their parents for days on end was infuriating to read about and came off as wholly unrealistic.
3. Max and Jessica. I loved the little we saw of them, and really thought we'd get some sort of closure there. Very disappointed that nothing concrete came of that before the book's end.
4.. And lastly, the epilogue flashback. Can't say much without spoiling, but it felt unnecessary and out of character.

Overall, I still enjoyed this book and do recommend it for anyone who enjoyed Weyward. While this fell a little short for me, I do plan to stick with Hart's future work because I do truly feel that she, and her mind, are one-of-a-kind.

There are triggers found within this that I would suggest looking up before purchasing. They are very similar to what was in her debut.

This is such a wonderful and immersive book! Emilia’s sophomore novel, The Siren’s, follows two sisters with a mysterious past. They both start out with their own journey and converge to uncover familial and historical truths. The story unfolds with multiple perspectives, lots of history, and an amazing atmosphere. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not put it down. I LOVED this book!

"Sirens" by Emilia Hart is a powerful exploration of women's resilience across generations. The book weaves together the stories of four women - twin sisters Mary and Eliza from the 1800s, and modern-day characters Jessie and Lucy - creating a tapestry of shared experiences and unbreakable bonds.

Hart's portrayal of Mary and Eliza's journey on a convict ship is nothing short of gut-wrenching. The harsh conditions and injustices they face, having been convicted for self-defense, are vividly depicted. It's a stark reminder of the historical struggles women have endured, and at times, I found myself having to pause and take a breath before continuing.

In parallel, we follow Jessie and Lucy's story set in 1999. Their experiences of feeling ostracized due to a skin condition and navigating challenging relationships with men add a contemporary layer to the narrative. The unexpected twists in their timeline caught me off guard and added depth to the family drama, keeping me engrossed throughout.

What struck me most was Hart's ability to seamlessly connect these seemingly disparate stories. As each woman, except perhaps Eliza, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, the central theme of sisterhood emerges as a powerful force for overcoming adversity. This theme resonates across timelines, highlighting the enduring strength of women's bonds.

There were moments in "Sirens" that moved me deeply, and others that were difficult to read. The vivid descriptions of the convict ship conditions were particularly harrowing. However, it's these intense emotional moments that make the book so impactful.

Hart's storytelling is both skillful and captivating. The way she intertwines historical and contemporary narratives creates a rich, multi-layered reading experience. I found myself fully immersed in each timeline, eager to uncover how they would ultimately connect.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for my free book.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I read (and LOVED) Weyward by Emilia Hart and was so excited to get this ARC! The back and forth between past and present was executed so well. Learning of the twins as prisoners on the ship and their story and slowly piecing together how they connected to Lucy and Jess was so fascinating. The relationship between Lucy and Jess was so complex, and I was surprised at the turn that took as well. Overall, I loved this book and I'm excited to sell it to my customers.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC! Does anyone else remember playing mermaids as a kid in the pool? just me? ok. Overall this book felt like a solid mythical realism/feminism ode that I am always drawn to. However, there were many plot points I was excited to explore that felt unfinished. Weyward was a top book of 2023 for me, but this one fell a bit more flat.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the e-arc of this one! It was highly anticipated for me and lived up to the hype!

The Sirens is a beautiful story of 4 women, the ocean and all the relationships they share. The looming mystery and magic of the story was super captivating and the first word that came to me while reading was - cozy.

Although this book was highly predictable I couldn't help but wonder the path it would take to get to my predicitons. I'd deduct a half star as I would've loved the mystery of it all to be less obvious but all in all it didn't take too much away.

I'll miss my time with this one for sure and I am excited to purchase a physical copy when it's availabile.

2.5 Having really loved Emilia Hart's first book, Weyward, I was super excited to pick this up and read her second novel. I'm really glad I loved Weyward b/c this one did not do it for me at all. There were definitely parts I liked - the eerie premises of the dark waters, both on the prison ship and really throughout the novel set the tone for a dark book - that was great. The strong ode to women and their friendships and power - loved that (one of the reasons I loved Weyward so much too). But, there was just too much changing of characters and time frames and honestly I just didn't care about any of the characters in this book. Proclaiming her deep love for his sister . . . and yet they rarely talked? The whole Ben incident at the beginning and then nothing happens? The teacher aspect of this - no, just no.

Sorry this one was not for me - but I truly hope she continues her third novel with the same strong women that her first two books have.

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

I had high expectations of this book, however I think that it fell flat for me.

The narrator was excellent and the story was heading in a good direction, however I felt very dissatisfied with the ending. It seemed like we were with the story for far longer than we should've been and the whole journey felt like it was for nothing once we got down to the nitty gritty of it all.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautiful story about a woman named Lucy who flees to her sister’s house when she wakes up to discover she sleepwalked and was strangling the man who wronged her. However, once she gets there, she finds her sister is missing. She starts having strange dreams about two sisters on a convict ship from England to Australia and finds her sister’s painting match her dreams. While Livy tries to find her sister’s, she also tries to solve the mystery of her dreams and the men going missing in her sister’s small town.

I really enjoyed reading this story. It took me a few chapters to really get into it, but it really drew me in. Part way through the story, I was able to predict the majority of what was going to happen, but I still enjoyed the journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for access to an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Sirens is a novel that had all the elements to be something truly special, but in the end, it left me feeling somewhat mixed. The premise is spellbinding. A story about sisters separated by centuries but bound by the sea, and the way the narrative weaves between timelines intrigued me from the start. I was particularly drawn to the mysterious connections between Lucy, Jess, and the historical figures of Mary and Eliza, whose lives in the 1800s set the stage for much of the novel's magic and suspense.

The story shifts between Lucy’s search for answers in 2019, Jess’s past struggles in 1999, and the haunting journey of Mary and Eliza as they are transported to Australia. I loved the idea of exploring these interconnected lives across different time periods, and the mystical elements of the sea calling to them were eerie and captivating. Jess’s rare allergy to water and the mysterious disappearances of men at sea created an intriguing atmosphere, one that kept me turning pages. But, I found myself wanting more from the characters. Lucy’s pursuit of answers felt repetitive at times, and while Jess’s diary provided some insight, it didn’t fully develop the emotional weight I was hoping for.

The historical aspect, with its convict ship and the sea’s eerie pull, was the most compelling part for me. However, I struggled to fully connect with the characters, and the narrative sometimes felt drawn out. There were moments of brilliance, particularly in the exploration of sisterhood and the power of dreams, but the pace lagged at times, and the ending didn’t have the emotional punch I was anticipating.

Overall, The Sirens is a solid read, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential. It’s a book filled with intriguing ideas, but I felt it could have gone deeper into the mystical aspects and the characters’ emotional journeys. If you enjoy stories about magic, sisterhood, and the sea, this one is worth checking out, but just know that it doesn’t quite reach the heights I was hoping for.

I had such high expectations of this book, however I think that it ultimately fell flat for me.

The narrator was excellent and the story was heading in a good direction, however I felt very dissatisfied with the ending. It seemed like we were with the story for far longer than we should've been and the whole journey felt like it was for nothing once we got down to the nitty gritty of it all.

Thank you to Netgalley & The publisher for my early e-audio arc.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery 🧜‍♀️ Both the storylines were very interesting. A lot of times with the dual storylines I will prefer one over the other… but with this tale, I was eager to delve into both.

This book was beautifully written but otherwise I didn’t like much about it. It felt very slow and the plot was not driving me to want to pursue reading or finishing this book. I didn’t feel a strong connection to the characters or the storyline. I liked the idea behind this book and the multiple povs jumping through time, but it overall fell flat for me.

This book had allllll my favorite ingredients... without the recipe. Historical fiction mixed with a little crime and magical realism - intriguing, yes, but nothing felt explained in a manner that flowed with the plot. It was a little too all over the place for me and I hate that because I really wanted to love it.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review!