Despite its quite obvious plotline, The Sirens is nonetheless an enchanting story about the lies we tell, and, like Weyward, the constraints placed upon women.

Now, I’m not sure if we were supposed to infer the entire plot from the first 30%, but at that mark I had reasonably assumed all the plot twists. There’s one thing that should be obvious to everyone from the cover and the jacket copy (and the first like ten pages), but there are a few other plot points that seemed like they should be twists (narrative-wise) but were far too obvious in their trajectory. I’m torn about whether this is a big deal or if it were somehow intentional?

Regardless, I still found the book engaging - it’s told in three different perspectives, which helped to break up Lucy’s sections which would have felt belabourous otherwise.

While I liked the characters - nothing about them was annoying or outlandish - I didn’t really connect with any of them beyond a superficial level. We are told Lucy’s main issue in passing almost as an info-dump, where it would have been harder hitting if we’d seen or been with her when she lived through it. With Jes, while I get she felt isolated and alone, one of her decisions I didn’t really understand; it felt a bit too convenient for the plot. Another aspect of the story I also think just didn't get enough attention, so the climax didn't carry a lot of heft.

I also wish we’d had more time with the sisters on the ship, as while I sort of enjoyed the slow approach towards Lucy’s story and how it was told in a drawn-out way, we didn’t get enough with the sisters before they were on the ship - much like Lucy’s issue at college and Jes’ backstory. I guess what I’m saying is that the book could have actually been longer, or Lucy’s sections could have been shortened a bit to accommodate more of the other stories.

In truth, I think Lucy’s story just had the wrong focus. There’s a bunch of lead-up to a “murder mystery” in the town where Jes lives, but aside from a few times, Lucy doesn’t really delve into it. I think if Lucy’s tale had been more of an actual murder mystery, with her sleuthing around a lot more and the reason for the murders less obvious, both her story and the twists might have worked better.

And, of course, like most magical realism novels, I found some things were not explained to my liking.

Yet, while I was reading, none of this was really an issue. The book has some excellent themes, including intergenerational trauma, and I found the writing lyrical and immersive. I loved that it was set in Australia, which isn’t a place I'm familiar with, and there are some lovely passages describing the water and the seaside. Despite the slower pace of some sections, I did find it an enjoyable read.

I do think Hart is a great writer, and while this one wasn’t a home run for me, I’d step up and take a swing at her next book.

✪✪✪✪: the vibes are secrets, sisters, and the sea

Much like Hart's debut book, Weyward, I fell in love with this story, its characters, and its setting. Borrowing heavily from Irish myth and from Australian history, Hart creates a world of female empowerment that is beautifully crafted.

There are no shortage of books out there right now that play with popular myths, and its pretty obvious from the title and so much more that this book is going to lean heavily into the myth of the siren, but how Hart does this is what makes this book so good. The rare skin disease, the dreams that both Jess and Lucy have had, connecting them to what might be ancestors or simply other women that they are connected to through time, the unknown setting of Cliff House and the mysteries that follow the residents of Comber's Bay are all incredible details.

There is a heavy emphasis on female stories. From Lucy running away from an inciting incident at college because she doesn't feel like she'll be listened to, that the reputation of the boy who hurt her is more important than how she was violated, to the sisters Mary and Eliza being exiled because they dared defend themselves against a predator, women need to look out for themselves, protect each other, and take their vengence or revenge when they can.

4.25 stars

Emilia Hart knows how to weave perspectives and timelines into a cohesive, page-turning narrative, and she absolutely succeeds in that here. I just don’t think this was done as skillfully as it was in Weyward. Despite the various POVs and even centuries spanning them, they all had almost the same personality—anything differentiating them was pretty superficial.

The modern POV characters were constantly making choices that made little sense to me, and the entire beginning felt vaguely confusing. I wish Lucy’s thoughts and motivations had been better explained (even later on in the book) but there was no mention of the initial incident until the very end, in passing. The whole timeline also felt a little too convenient, like everyone was just in the right place at the right time, with no explanation.

I also don’t think this will age well, in the sense that there are too many mentions of specific apps/devices and references to current events that will feel less relevant in a few years. She mentions AirPods and TikTok, as well as specific events that mainly took place on social media. The whole thing completely pulled me out of the story on multiple occasions. I understand the desire to cement this in a specific time, but I honestly don’t think it was necessary; the dates at the beginning of each chapter would have been enough.

Even so, I think the whole book was atmospheric and beautifully written. The author developed a series of complex, interconnected stories into something that was an absolute joy to read. It veered more into fantasy than the magical realism in Weyward, which I wasn’t expecting, but it was integrated into the story really seamlessly.

Once again, the focus was on generational strength and female familial ties, which I’ll always have a soft spot for. Emilia Hart has an unrivalled ability to write about relationships between women that completely transcend time, and just like with Weyward, I was left completely in awe by the storytelling once every facet of the narrative was laid bare.

If I read the prologue in a bookstore or library, I’d reshelf the book immediately. The opening is so disturbing, I was tempted to DNF, but I usually will try to give every book at least 20-30% before making that decision. That being said, the story picks up from there and generally, I was prepared to put in a four star rating because I did enjoy the writing and if things weren’t entirely plausible, it was easy to overlook because the storyteller is both well researched and I found her style engaging. Until I read the epilogue, and the house of cards fell hard. Without spoiling, a character’s character was brought into question — presumably to answer a mystery that did not need to be addressed for the story to resolve, and this character’s fall brought everything else into question, and I cannot with it. I’m so frustrated.

In a nutshell, this book has many pro-female themes and anti-male. And generally, this was fine because there were a couple paradigm “good” men that seem to indicate the nuance that while some men aren’t great and are ruled by sexual impulses however wrong, that judgment cannot extend to all men. The sirens, or as they are more commonly referred to in the book “merrow” are vigilante creatures of the sea who make it their mission to protect land women from the bad breed of men who would abuse, mistreat, and sexually exploit them. They do this with their singing and it lures the bad men into the ocean where they drown.

Lucy, with her journalistic ambitions and strong sense of justice, is the first to note the connection between the men’s disappearances over decades. And if it was a bit far fetched that a twenty year old can discover the connection in a single trip to the library what seemingly endless amounts of people have been trying to discover for decades— well, I was willing to overlook it because the storytelling was pretty good, and with a good story telling, you find you’re able to suspend more disbelief than in bad story telling.

In any case, a sleepwalking experience in which Lucy tries to strangle her estranged lover at college led her to run away to her sister’s home in Comber’s Bay, the dark home of seemingly random male disappearances. Unfortunately, her sister is not home, and in an effort to escape her own life and troubles, she begins to try to “get to know” her mysterious 18yr older than her sister by plundering through her dilapidated home. She finds a 20 year old journal in a rotting backpack in hidden cubby and naturally, begins to read her sister’s story in the hopes that it will… solve the mystery of her sudden disappearance 20years later. All the while, Lucy discovers that her sister, Jessica is/was having the same dreams of twin sisters Mary and Eliza who have been exiled from 1800s Ireland because they justifiably stopped a local pastor from raping Mary by cracking a rock over his head. Both Lucy and Jessica struggle with severe sleepwalking. And both sets of sisters mysteriously struggle with an allergy to water. The sleepwalking issue turns out to be only used as a plot device and was magically written out when it ceased to be helpful in moving the plot. Even Mary and Eliza seem to just vanish? We never really see how they were connected in the end, though I could make some assumptions based on some inferences.

This story explored complicated family dynamics and again, it was mostly satisfying until the epilogue. The problem with the epilogue is how much of my suspension of disbelief hinged on the general “goodness” of a character. The moment that character was revealed to be the same as all men, it brought into question the other model man, and truly, once you start really considering that one, you come to conclusion they are all of them bad- and in addition to that being wildly overstating morality, it’s just not true. And maybe the argument could be made that no one is truly good or bad and all of them are complex and have more to them than any one character trait? Maybe. But if the first fell as a philanderer, the second one’s fault was that he was unintentionally cruel to deny his girls their birthright and then intentionally dumb not to remember it when it might have saved them a horrific and traumatic boat ride across oceans to a land that couldn’t fail to be dangerous to young women.

I’m left with the conclusion that the “healing power of sisterhood” the author was trying to convey - with the plot the way that it was and the sisters being who they were - you’d want to believe the sisters needed healing from bad men, but in the end, the only thing the sisters needed healing from is maternal abandonment. We see in the finale a merrow can choose love on land versus living in the sea, so why are so many of the merrow mothers abandoning their children to a life of being ignorance of their true nature and ostracism for their differences?? It’s not the men these poor girls need healing from.

And again with the epilogue— if the merrow’s mission was to protect women from the sexual impulses of man, who the heck was she protecting in entering into a relationship with a married man and calling him “different” than the other men? And use the epilogue to try to frame his philandering as an inherently “good” thing??? Ultimately, I’m left with only one good sort of person in the whole book and that was Judith and she totally got shafted by every single character she was in relationship with.

Finally, the situation with the strangling was never addressed or resolved. And it might have been fine had the epilogue not taught me to think through the whole book with a fine tooth comb. But assault has repercussions beyond a smack on the hand and suspension from college. And it was never addressed aside from its being the catalyst that sends Lucy to Jess’s house.

95% of this book I might be tempted to read again. But man. The prologue and the epilogue really kills the whole thing for me. And the worst part is that NEITHER the prologue or the epilogue was necessary to the story AT ALL. It could have been left out and this book, even with the plot holes would have been an easy 4 star read for me.

I would like to thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved this story and audiobook! Thank you so much for giving the opportunity. I loved the dual timelines and the magic of it all.

The pace of the book was a bit slower than I was hoping and I wish we got some more background and depth into Eliza and Mary’s lives. Overall it was a good read, but did not compare to Weyward.

I think that epilogue just killed me. The entirety of this book I concluded it was just predictable but that didn’t bother me. The story of Eliza and Mary drew me in but of course everything had to be connected. But, what was that epilogue. Yes I am excited it all makes sense now but I’m low key crushed about him.
Separately, Jess and Lucy’s stories were also intriguing. Lucy was a good character to follow and more so when she tries to discover the mystery of Jess. When I finally got to read Jessica’s point of view I could not stop. Reading about their struggles to belong along with some myth or folklore element was the perfect combination for having me at the edge of my seat. Absolutely enjoyed reading this, it had so much drama, mystery and a bit of magic.

I think I liked this book more than Wayward. She created such an eerie, damp, sea-driven vibe with the way she described everything. The way the stories were intertwined was beautiful and the pacing and reveal of all the characters secrets was very well done. I don't feel like there's much character growth overall but the premise was very interesting and well-executed! I couldn't quite put my finger on it but it felt like something was missing from the story, but it was still enjoyable. Overall an enjoyable and immersive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

There is much to love and enjoy about this book! I loved the vibe and atmosphere. The bond of sisterhood, the power of female empowerment in overcoming traumas and hardships. Embracing individuality from society. Hart does a wonderful job of creating a magical and slightly historical fiction. However, I did feel some of the elements of the plot got lost along the way. Some connections not explained or maybe I didn’t catch them. I was invested to want to know the mystery and what connected the characters to each other and felt some answers lacking or not explained.

Thank you so much, NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my review!

The Sirens is an absolute masterpiece and my only sadness is that I finished it so quickly.

We all know Emilia Hart is a true master of her art but even with extremely high expectations, they were exceeded. I believe in reading books in the genre you’re in the mood for and for the longest time I just didn’t feel like reading magical historical fiction. I continually put it off and put it off and then eventually I needed to read it and she had me in a hold within the first page. There are few books that can defy the desire to read a genre and Hart has that true talent. The right time to read her books is always right now.

If you listen to Paris Paloma and loved Our Wives Under the Sea, then this book will be a must the moment it’s released. The magic is subtle but strewn throughout like a web that’s fully formed in the end. The bonds, the sisterhood, the connection of women to the sea. This book holds absolutely nothing back and I will be dreaming of all The Sirens for many moons to come.

Told from various perspectives spread over centuries, these women were so beautifully written. Each with a unique viewpoint and style. I found the story captivating.

Lucy's life is thrown for a loop when a guy decides to violate her and her dreams are suddenly overwhelmed with the experiences of women centuries ago to the point of sleep walking revenge on the guy. Panicked, Lucy flees from her college to visit her older sister, Jessica, but when she gets there her sister is no where to be found and the dreams continue.

In the dreams she sees two sisters, Eliza and Mary as they are convicted for fighting back when a man tries to hurt one of them and shipped off from Ireland to Australia as punishment. Along the journey their bodies begin to change in strange ways that they learn is tied to their mother who disappeared into the sea when they were young children.

We also get a peek into Jessica's early life through the diary Lucy finds and learns family secrets and at least on mystery still unsolved.

Overall the story is about women womening. Overcoming, protecting, persevering.

There's a lot going on in the central family to the point of improbability. I liked the way the stories intertwined and connected. It was a good read for me!

strong story and cool ideas, but the biggest flaw is we never really get enough with any of the characters to feel for them in the story, which was definitely less than ideal. still, a pretty good work. 3.5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I loved Weyward and I gave it 5 stars and constantly tell people they need to read it. So going into this, I was expecting The Sirens to be the same.

...it's fine. It's not bad, it's not good. It's just fine. I enjoy the writing; Emilia does a great job of making you feel the scene. The feeling of the sea and the feeling of claustrophobia builds tension through the story. The story is good, though more predictable than Weyward was. The characters are fine, you get why they are doing what they're doing. It's all fine. Just something I probably won't read again.

Wow, WOW! What an incredible first ARC for W&W! A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and The Book Club Cook Book for the ARC—what a gift! 💞
From the very first page, Hart weaves a stunning tapestry, setting the stage for a story that feels both surreal and deeply poignant. Her ability to craft such vivid, immersive scenes in every chapter is truly remarkable—one of my absolute favorite aspects of this read. Her talent? LIMITLESS.
The premise had me hooked from the start, and once I was in, there was no turning back. Every time I opened this book, I was there—aboard the ship, standing at Cliff House with sea mist on my face, peering over Jess’s shoulder as she unraveled the mystery. Hart seamlessly interlaces history into the narrative, making it feel alive and immediate. The way she bends genres—melding historical fiction, coming-of-age, and mystery, all while juggling multiple POVs—had me captivated until the very last page.
A story of womanhood, empowerment through the ocean, and the connections that bind us across time? Always, always for me. 🧜🏽‍♀️✨

I really enjoyed this book and have since recommended it to several others. I'm grateful St. Martens Press shared the advanced reader copy with us! Emilia Hart touched on an often forgotten part of history, with Australia being a place where "prisoners" were sent for punishment, and how the journey there was more likely a death sentence. I thought the focus on often tumultuous family relationships was spot on, and kept the storyline interesting. #galleymatch

This author has truly won my heart. I absolutely loved her last novel, *Weyward*, and this new release did not disappoint. The book explores the captivating idea of shared or genetic memory in a way that kept me turning the pages.

The story follows a girl who starts having vivid dreams and sometimes sleepwalks, doing things she cannot recall the next day. Faced with the potential of being suspended from college, she arrives at her sister's doorstep hoping for advice. However, when she gets to her sister's house only to find it abandoned, the dreams only intesnify. What is real? What is imagined? What does the history of the house have to do with everything?

*Sirens* is a beautifully written novel, and you should definitely pick it up!

This was my first Emilia Hart book and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed the multiple time lines, following the different characters, and getting to just explore different part of the world.
However, even thought I enjoyed the book, I was able to guess the “twists” as soon as they were mentioned and it kind of took me out of the book somewhat.
I will still recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a fun twist on mythological creatures and wants to escape to a another part of the world because even though I was able to guess the twists the book is still a very enjoyable read.

What started out with Lucy desperately wanting to reconnect with her sister as nightmares and sleep walking plagued her, quickly transformed into a story of healing. She finally learns so much about her older sister, whom she had always felt alienated from. From the flashbacks to Lucy’s current thoughts, the sisterhood through it was drew me in and kept me till the end. I genuinely loved this book.

Emilia Hart's second novel, similar to her debut, Weyward, emphasizes female friendships, motherhood, nature, and the mystical powers/fables long associated with women. In this novel, the focus falls on the mythology of sirens, following the historical narrative of convict women being shipped off to Australia. Again, similar to Weyward, this is a family narrative spanning generations. Beautifully crafted, the mystery surrounding Jess's disappearance and Lucy's investigative knack makes it impossible to put the novel down. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives, as well as the journal articles, podcasts, and diary entries scattered throughout Lucy's investigation into her sister's whereabouts. Hart's second novel did not disappoint. I look forward to reading more works from this author.