A tale about two sets of sisters, across two lifetimes both trying to navigate the unfair world around them. This was so eerie and atmospheric. I was completely immersed in this story from start to finish. Fantastic book! Cant wait to buy a physical copy for my shelf.

I had a hard time getting pulled into this one initially. The characters had an eerie edge to them that kept me feeling unsettled throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the dual timeline and trying to piece it together, but it left me confused at times with how certain plot threads were left/unresolved. There were a few twists to the story at the very end that I did not see coming - especially with the epilogue!

I loved Emilia Hart’s first book Weyward so much, so I was very excited to read this book. Her writing is still just as beautiful as ever. Ms. Hart’s descriptions are soul capturing. This is a tale of female driven power and the lengths they’ll go thru to protect their own. It’s a fast read with an exceptionally awesome ending. The story alternates between different timelines and between 2 sets of women. And you even get a twist towards the end! Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for this advanced copy.

One things for certain two things for sure, Emilia Hart can do a story in a story in a story! Coming from an avid lover of Weyward, this was VERY good. Not at all what I was expecting in a good way! Coming from a girl who was a full-time mermaid in the pool growing up I was in love with this. It was beautiful and sad and happy all in one go and I ate it up!

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the arc!

I think this is a book that will appeal to some and not others, for a variety of reasons.

I really enjoyed the dual timelines, and the way layers were peeled back to reveal things clicking into place. I found the writing as beautiful and compelling as I did in Weyward and I bet it would be lovely on audio.

Like Weyward, the main female characters are strong women, often wronged by the men in their lives. Emilia has a “not all men, but always a man” vibe that she brings to the table and I love it so much.

“A man might be kind, like Da. But he might be like the sailors, or like Byrne. That was the problem. There seemed to be no way of telling the difference”

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

Much like her previous book, The Sirens, alternates through multiple POV's. Unfortunately, it was challenging to distinguish between the timelines.. The story was incredibly boring and dragging at points.

Thank you St. Martin's Press

Ok, I am going to start by saying her first book, Weyward, was one of my favorite books of 2022 (I also had an arc of that one). So I was very excited to get the arc audio for The Sirens. While I enjoyed the story, it just did not live up to Weyward for me. It's my first novel surrounding mermaids and it did jumpstart an intrigue to find more though.

I figured out what was going on and the family connections pretty early on, so that was not a surprise, but I enjoyed it. I wish there was more of a focus on what happened with Lucy and her school experience. I know that wasn't the focus, and the driving factor that led to her leaving and heading to Jess's house, but I felt jipped in that aspect. I also just couldn't connect with Mary and Eliza's story/timeframe for some reason. I can't put my finger on it, but there was something missing to draw me in.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it didn't have my blood boiling and mind racing like Weyward did.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the audio arc in exchange for my honest review.

When Lucy runs away from school, she can only think of one place to go- her sisters house. But when she arrives, her sister is missing, having left her phone behind. Lucy, having a high value for truth, begins to search for clues as to where Jess might have disappeared to. Does her disappearance have anything to do with the other disappearances over the years near her home? During her search, Lucy finds answers to questions she has asked for years, along with answers to questions she didn’t know she had.

This book is written in alternating perspectives as well as time periods. Sometimes, I find this confusing. But the setting of each time period is so starkly different that it wasn’t hard to keep track of. The story is incredibly well written and I couldn’t put it down. The imagery is beautiful and gripping.

Content warnings: mild sexual content (encounters are mentioned briefly but not described in detail), cursing (multiple f words and a couple others), sexual assault (mentioned, not described), childbirth, drowning, adoption

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I love the idea of sirens, and I love all the excitement that comes with it, however, this book was far from exciting for me. It felt like it took a long time to get going, about 75% in. For the most part, it felt like a drag. I wanted to love it, but sadly, it was not my favorite.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's, and Emilia Hart for this ARC.

The Sirens tells the story of two sets of sisters in different time periods. In 2019 we meet Lucy who, after a horrific dream, leaves to seek solace with her estranged sister, Jess. Only when Lucy arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found. As she anxiously awaits to be reunited with her sister, Lucy finds herself becoming embroiled in the town where Jess lives- its history and tales of others who have gone missing over the years.

Then, through Lucy’s dreams, we journey to the year 1800. This is where we meet Mary and Eliza, sisters who have to flee Ireland on boat after they are pegged as criminals in their homeland. But with each day that the women get further from home, inexplicable changes begin to take place in their bodies. Suddenly, even a lifelong fear of the water can’t keep these siblings from being oddly drawn to the sea.

The Sirens is a slow burn novel that, unfortunately, never burns bright enough to keep this reader entertained. With its odd pacing and confusing timelines, it was hard to grow invested in the story. While there are powerful storyline undercurrents highlighting themes such as feminism, friendship, and sisterhood, none of them really rise to the surface-the story’s focus as murky as the sea it sails on.

Unfortunately, I think this book was beautiful writing for the sake of writing. Emilia Hart certainly has a way with words when is come to descriptions - particularly of scenery and atmosphere; you definitely got the eerie, cold sense of many of the scenes and the feminist rage of some of the characters.

However, the actual plot and characters were a struggle for me to get through. The beginning was so strong, that I was excited to see where the novel led - but it unfortunately did not keep my interest after the initial conflict and opening. I think overall I was just confused more than anything? Some points of the climax were heavily foreshadowed, so when they were revealed, it didn't pack a true punch. But there were other aspects of the plot - with the multiple POV and timelines - where I was like...wait, what - did I miss something?

Overall, this novel was just simply not for me.

A beautifully written book! The settling this book gives is breathtaking! Two sisters who find themselves being pulled to the same dream but aware of it. A journey with multiple layers and timelines.

I usually won't give a book the full five stars if I figure out the twist before it's revealed, but there are several twists and I only figured out one ahead of the reveal. The rest of the book is beautifully written and captivating- I read the entire thing in one day! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The story of women's resilience across time is masterfully told. It was a good blend of genres with the folklore tie-in. I really enjoy reading books about complex family dynamics, and this one was no exception. I became engrossed when the historical viewpoints and magical/folklore elements were added.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Emilia Hart for providing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Set against a richly woven backdrop, the story follows the lives of three women across generations, each experiencing their own struggles and triumphs connected by a mystical bond with the sea.

The writing in this book is both lyrical and immersive, I was immediately drawn into the atmospheric world. The characters are well-developed, showcasing their vulnerabilities and strengths as they navigate love and loss. The interplay between the supernatural elements of the story and the very raw emotions of the characters adds depth and intrigue.

This is a story of women, family bonds, fierce friendships and the power of the sea.

Emilia Hart writes the most beautiful, haunting reads. I was a huge fan of weyward & the sirens did not disappoint. I love the perspectives of so many different women connected through time and history. another amazing book!

The story takes place in two timelines-1800s and 2019. Mary and Emilia are Irish women being transported on a convict ship to the Australian penal colony. Jess and Lucy live in the present day. They are all women who have a hard time fitting into society, partly because they all have a skin condition (Aquagenic Urticaria) that makes them allergic to water. I have to say that I thought this was made up, but when I did a little research I found that it is a very real, rare condition. To be honest, for much of the book, I thought it was a three star read, but I absolutely loved the ending enough to raise it to four stars.

I’m always looking for the next female revenge story and I love to see it here. I loved Weyward so I was excited to get to her new novel! This had all of the elements I loved from her last novel, including multiple POVS, revenge, and interconnected perspectives across time. I enjoyed the plot and pacing and was ultimately satisfied with how the story concluded. I also enjoyed that the author chose to lean into a version of sirens that is more aligned with folklore and ferociousness and less dainty and pretty. Overall, really enjoyed it! Go women!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a masterful narrative that entwines three separate timelines, each brimming with suspense, mystery, and the strength of sisterly bonds. In 2019, Lucy's story starts with an unsettling dream that drives her to seek refuge at her sister Jess's coastal home. The eerie rumors of missing men, mysterious findings, and haunting voices set the perfect stage for a thrilling investigation. Lucy's journey through Jess's diary and her quest for answers keep the suspense alive. The 1999 timeline offers a deeply emotional glimpse into Jess's life as a sixteen-year-old grappling with a unique water allergy. Her sense of isolation and the budding connection with her art teacher add layers of complexity and poignancy to her character. Going further back to 1800, we meet twin sisters Mary and Eliza, who are forcefully taken from their father and transported to Australia. Their fear of the ocean and the mystical changes they experience aboard the convict ship bring a supernatural element to the story, captivating the reader's imagination. Hart's storytelling seamlessly weaves these timelines together, exploring themes of resilience, identity, and the enduring bonds between sisters. The sea itself becomes a character, adding to the novel's enchanting and mysterious aura.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Weaving together the current story of Lucy & Jess and the past story of Mary & Eliza, Emilia Hart took us on another emotional journey. It took a little bit for me to become invested in the Lucy/Jess chapters. I really felt like things started to intrigue me after the addition of the diary. My mind was trying to piece together all the little details. I tend to enjoy stories about sisters (as an eldest sister myself) and strong women standing together. I enjoyed the tying in and wrapping up of the 2 stories together, but it seemed a little odd that one of the main plot points through like 99% of the book just went away at the end. It left me wondering why until the very end it seemed so critical to the entire story, but it didn’t cause me to enjoy the journey any less. I think this will be a hit, just like Weyward!