Title: Beautifully Written but a Bit Slow at Times

Review:
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC. I enjoyed The Sirens! The dual timeline was well done, and I liked how the past and present connected. The imagery was gorgeous—Emilia Hart’s descriptions of the ocean and landscape really brought the setting to life.

The story was interesting, especially the historical parts, but the pacing felt slow at times, and certain sections dragged. While I liked it overall, it didn’t fully pull me in the way I hoped.

If you enjoy atmospheric historical fiction with a touch of mystery, it’s worth a read!.

Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary DRC & ALC.

2.5 stars

I was lucky enough to receive both the ebook and the audiobook. However, when I saw that Barrie Kreinik was the narrator, audio was the only option. Kreinik is one of my favourite narrators, nailing accents and emotions flawlessly every single time.

After thoroughly enjoying Emilia Hart’s Wayward, I was excited to dive into The Sirens. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

🧜‍♀️What I Loved:
Hart’s writing is amazing. She brings characters and settings to life in such a way that you can almost feel and see what the characters do. I always enjoy multiple timelines, and I appreciated how the past and present were connected. The historical elements were particularly fascinating. I recommend listening to the author’s interview at the end if you have the audio.

🧜‍♀️What Didn’t Work for Me:
Unfortunately, the pace of the novel was far too slow. While the beginning was engaging, the middle section felt bogged down in long stretches of storytelling without much forward momentum. Had I not been listening to the audiobook, I’m not sure I would have made it to the end. That said, the conclusion was satisfying— with no loose ends —but I felt the journey there was too slow.

I was so excited to read this book and thrilled when I was approved for an ARC. I was drawn to the cover, the title, and the description. I really liked Weyward and was hoping for another good book from Emilia Hart. However, I found this new novel very difficult to read. The pacing was slow and I just couldn't connect with the characters. Unfortunately the book was a DNF for me at about 65%, but I did push through on the audiobook to see how it ended. The narration helped a bit, but I still struggled to finish the book.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for honest thoughts.

I gave this book 2 Stars

After really enjoying Weyward I was looking forward to getting another look into a world of Hart’s creation. With that being said, while this did provide what I have come to expect from Hart: a slow burn plot, really vivid descriptions, and characterization that brings these 2D characters to life… the overall story start to finish fell flat in comparison to Weyward. The pacing felt off and I didn’t connect as well with the world as I would’ve liked to.

Immediately, I was drawn to this book. I enjoyed the ocean and mermaid aspects of this story, and the writing style was beautiful yet easy to read. Unfortunately, it got bogged down by the shifting perspectives, which took me out of the story a little. It was a good book though and I look forward to reading more of Emilia Hart's work in the future! Thank you for the arc!

I loved "Weyward", I love oceans and mermaid lore and I was so excited for this one. Unfortunately, the story felt disjointed and a bit violent - I lost interest, put it down and did not pick it back up. I will give Hart another chance but this one disappointed me.

I really enjoyed the POV of the sister and hearing everything about that, it kept me engaged and interested. I will say though that the switching points of view made it hard to enjoy the story overall, I'm not sure why it took me out every time but it did and I'm sad about that. Overall, it's a good story!

I unfortunately DNF’s this book. While I am very grateful to have had the chance to read this ARC, I just really struggled to connect and immerse myself. And the differing timelines didn’t feel very cohesive. It has potential, just maybe not for my preference.

When Lucy wakes up in the middle of the night with her hands around a man's throat, her fear takes her in one direction, to find her sister. Unfortunately, her sister, Jess, is nowhere to be found. In a search for answers in what might be happening to her, Lucy finds herself stuck in a town with a tragic history and long buried truths. Told from different narrators and timelines, The Sirens digs into sisterhood and the perils of being a woman.
While reading this book, I found myself being entirely captivated and then wanting to skip ahead to finish it. I found the content so important and told in an interesting way, but the pace felt off and the ending just didn't click for me.

3.5 stars

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy*

Another great book by Emilia Hart. It was full of mystery and spooky sea imagery.
I was hooked with the mystery aspect. I kept reading to know what was going to happen! This book is definitely more of a mystery/historical fiction than fantasy.
It did fall flat for me concerning the magical realism. It didn’t feel fleshed out as I would have liked.
I didn’t really understand why Jess did what she did at the ending.
I could tell a lot of research went into the writing of this story and I can appreciate that.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy*

My biggest issue with this book is that the build up felt very slow. The first third dragged while the last third flew by. I do think the book did very well to tie the different timelines together and showcase how throughout history and even today, women have been treated unfairly, persecuted, and taking advantage of. Australia’s history as a penal colony is not unknown, but the stories of women who suffered exile are still somehow lost in the tale. It is that history that is the most compelling part of the book for me along with the female relationships.

4 / 5 ⭐️

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

I had not read Wayward but, given its popularity, I decided to sign up for an ARC of Sirens by Emilia Hart. Initially, I hesitated for several months after hearing mixed feedback—some readers struggled to finish it. But with the release date approaching, I decided to dive in, and I’m so glad I did.

From the start, I found myself reading when I’d usually be doing something else, which is always a great sign. The characters truly drew me in. I found each of the four main characters compelling and unique, and I loved how the story blended magical lore with the rhythms of everyday life. The Australian setting was another highlight. The author does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the history of the women prisoners sent to Australia in the 1800s, which added an enriching layer to the story.

Is the book a little dark at times? Yes. Does it weave in elements of fantasy? Absolutely. But everything feels grounded—nothing is too over-the-top, which only made the narrative all the more intriguing and enjoyable. Hart’s mix of suspense, history, and magic kept me turning the pages, and I found myself fully immersed in this world.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When The Sirens by Emilia Hart was offered as an advanced read, I quickly requested it as I was a huge fan of her previous work, Weyward. I appreciate the authors talent for writing in different timelines and POV.
Where this book differs for me is I enjoyed one timeline far more than the other. In fact, I could have stayed with Mary and Eliza through a whole book and would have been satisfied. I found Lucy's character unbelievable early on. I mean, c'mon, a girl with a negative view of her body image sends a nude to a new boyfriend? I don't buy it. I found the book to drag for me and wasn't all that excited to pick it back up except to finish and move on to the next.

I extend my gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the electronic advance review copy. The opinions expressed herein are genuinely my own.

So I fear I have another new favorite author to add to my list!?!? Sorry bank account, we've found one more auto-buy.

I adored Emilia Hart's debut novel, "Weyward," and was so excited to get my hands on her next title. And "The Sirens" absolutely lived up to my expectations and then some!

First, Hart's characters are so layered and real. Even when they're going through hell, I enjoy the experience of being in their heads because they are so relatable and raw. She also sets a really fantastic, atmospheric scene in this book; both the past and present timelines felt appropriately eerie, and that effort really sucked me into the story itself.

There's a good bit of the supernatural/mystical here, so be prepared to buy in if you pick this up. I promise you, it's well worth it! And yessss, you will definitely also find female rage in these pages—it's tough to read at times, but there's a lot of catharsis in it too.

Five wonderful stars.

[Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy of this book!]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. A solid 3.5 stars for me. Emilia Hart does such a good job weaving mythical elements into her writing, and her descriptive writing knocks it out of the park. However, there is too much swearing just for the sake of it. Some of the plot twists were predictable, for example about 100 pages in I totally guessed the mother/daughter relationship between Jess and Lucy.

Spoiler alert: I'm not sure how I feel about the epilogue. It was nice to get some closure to Jess's full parentage, but I found it a little weird that the dad ends up having an affair with Mary. Mostly I find it hard to believe that after all those years of men being punished for their sins that they would basically call him to the cave on purpose. Was it just because they needed an offspring? I don't know. I found it a bit odd.

A huge thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of The Sirens!

Emilia is a mastermind when it comes to her writing. Set against the backdrop of two compelling timelines, we follow the lives of two sisters from the 1800s who are thrust onto a convict ship bound for Australia. Fast-forward to 2019, where we meet Lucy and her older sister—a pair who, though vastly different, are connected in unexpected ways.

The alternating timelines and dual sisterly perspectives were a great choice, giving us a rich, layered narrative as the stories of the past and present weave together in a way that feels both eerie and magical.

This book is not just a historical fantasy; it’s a beautifully crafted tale of transformation and the deep, sometimes haunting connections between women. As a lover of siren mythology (I’m a firm believer in their existence, by the way :] !), this story had me completely captivated. The sirens here are as enchanting as they are mysterious, adding an intriguing layer to the plot.

That said, my one critique would be that the action doesn't really pick up until around the 60%-70% mark. While I appreciated the time spent unraveling the backstories of the characters, I personally would have loved a bit more momentum earlier on.

And I definitely did not see that coming in the ending!!

Thank you once again to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the early access. The Sirens will be available on April 1, 2025—mark your calendars and add it to your TBR shelf!

Weyward was one of my favorite books of 2023, so naturally I had to get my hands on this one as soon as I saw it.

Hart always has a way of writing the natural landscape within her novels that feels like they are coming to life. I really feel like I am wherever she is writing in that moment. She has a gift for writing the female experience, specifically relating to trauma and the healing process and transforming it into resilience and strength within a layer of magical realism.

This was wonderful take on a classic siren tale, weaving together storylines over 200 years apart masterfully. If you have read Hart's previous work or simply enjoy losing yourself within a story that allows you to shift between reality and magic, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for both the digital and audio ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those novels that finds its way into your thoughts after you finish reading. I enjoyed the story and I also feel like it left me a little haunted by its events. Told from two different times periods we get the story of two sets of sisters. Both have a rare condition that makes them unable to be around water yet both sets of sisters crave the water.

The first set of sisters are convicted of a crime and forced to leave Ireland for Australia in the 1800s. The second story is about Lucy, who almost strangles someone while sleeping, and flees to her sister's house to try and find answers. Once there she discovers her sister is missing but finds her old diary. Searching for answers, Lucy discovers that there are so many more secrets than she could ever imagine.

I loved the magical elements to this story as well as the message it delivered. The dual timeline format kept the stories fresh and made me want to keep reading. This novel is unique, mysterious, and absorbing. This was my second novel by Emilia Hart and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am drawn to anything ocean/mermaid/folklore themed and this novel delivered in the most beautiful way. I loved Wayward and was looking forward to see how Emilia Hart would weave in her tidbits of magic with her emotional storytelling. This book delivered. I will say it was a slow burn and at times I'm was eager for anything/something to happen. But, it kept me on the edge enough that I couldn't put it down. I had no idea where the novel was going and didn't see the twists! I gasped at the revelations and enjoyed the dynmaics of multiple POV's and timelines. This is also how we should spark events in history that retains, and leaves you with curious questions to dig deeper. Such a gorgeous book and cover! Thank you for the ARC copy!

This was my first ever DNF. I just could not get into the story. I could see aspects of the story that could be engaging but to me, the characters where hard to connect with and the time jumps were choppy.