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!

I’m a big fan of Emilia Hart’s first novel, Wayward so I couldn’t wait for her newest Historical Fiction The Sirens.

Told over three time periods, 2019, 1999 and 1800, about sisters bound by the sea but separated by centuries. In 2019, we learn about Lucy whose wild nightmares send her fleeing to her sister Jess's home on the coast of Australia. In 1999, we read about Jess as a young teenager who has been diagnosed with a rare water allergy making her always feel like an outcast until her art teacher takes a special interest in her. In 1800, a convict ship transports sisters Mary and Eliza along with hundreds of female prisoners to Australia. Covering miles of open water and heightening the sister’s fears since their mother’s drowning, Mary and Eliza begin to feel the call of the sea. All the women in the three time periods feel a connection to the water - the fear, the solace and the power.

Hart excels in her ability to describe the themes of female resistance and sisterhood. The magic and wonder of the sea is captured by the author’s vivid descriptions throughout the novel. I particularly loved the artwork created by Jess in the novel and its representation of the dreams and history connecting the women in the story. The author is an expert at describing the challenges facing women both today and historically. Clearly alot of research went into the writing of this novel. .

While a historical fiction, The Sirens is also a mystery that unravels keeping the reader engaged and unable to book the book down. Another success for Emilia Hart!

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

I enjoyed Hart's first book, Weyward, because of its strong female characters and their connection to nature. The Sirens also features both of these themes and a compelling story. I was instantly engaged in the novel and stayed that way throughout.

The story covers three time periods and two sets of women who share an odd malady: their reaction to the ocean. All suffer an affliction when coming in contact with water, yet they are all drawn to the sea.

In 2019, Lucy, a sleepwalker, awakens to herself trying to strangle her ex-lover. She flees to her sister Jess's house on the Australian coast. Upon arriving, Lucy finds the house unlocked, but no Jess. As the days pass, Lucy becomes aware of the disappearance of eight men over the years on a stretch of coast near Jess's house. With her attraction to the ocean increasing, Lucy tries to find Jess and solve the mystery of the disappearances.

Flashback to 1999. Sixteen-year-old Jess is an odd duck in her small town when her art teacher offers to tutor the budding artist. It becomes apparent that his interest is not just in her drawings, and Jess is also attracted to him.

Both Lucy and Jess are vivid dreamers. Unbeknownst to each other, they dream about twin sisters on a prisoner transport ship in the 1800s. Strangely, these sisters also suffer from the same reaction to water as Jess and Lucy.

Hart does an excellent job of tying together each timeline. The writing is terrific, and the pacing and plotting are good. I loved discovering why the four women have a love/hate relationship with the ocean and their relationship with each other. I saw a twist toward the end coming, but for the most part, I was surprised at how the story unfolded. I highly recommend this book. 4.5/5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is April 1, 2025.

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to read this beautiful book. I loved WEYWARD and I was similarly taken in by Emilia Hart's newest. The convergence of legend and present-day stakes is gorgeously wrought. Deeply moving, carefully rendered, and overall, the sort of read that celebrates women's resilience and agency. I can't wait to spread the word about this original and compelling novel!

Emilia Hart weaves timelines and relationships in some of the most magical ways. I loved her unique approach to the Sirens myth, and how she describes a scene in a way that engages all of your senses. This is a lovely read for any person that loves a magical realism story with strong female protagonists.

I wish there had been more follow up on what happened with Mary and Eliza, I was left with so many questions. However, I loved their relationship and how the author used Eliza's blindness to describe so much more of the scene through taste and smell.

Overall, this was a great read about female strength and family relationships that impact us all. Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC of this book.

This story is well written but maybe just wasn’t for me. When I accepted this advanced copy I was under the impression. It was more of a fantasy novel, but this is more of a mystery with magical realism. While promising for lovers of that genre, I do not care for mystery.

The Sirens is a moody, dark and descriptive historical fantasy by Emilia Hart. This book was told from two points of view, with the majority of the story taking place with Lucy in 2019. Lucy’s a university student who suffers from a disfiguring and mysterious skin condition that really affects her self-esteem. After a humiliating betrayal by a young man she’d became involved with, she flees to her sister’s seaside home. Her sister is inexplicably absent, and as Lucy looks for clues to her whereabouts, she uncovers family secrets that will change everything. All the while she’s being disturbed by nightmares of sirens and a prison ship that are becoming more and more real.

The rest of the story takes place in the 1800s. Told from the point of view of Eliza, one of two sisters en route from Ireland to Australia on a prison ship, I found this my least favourite part of the story, filled with hopelessness and everything you would expect when many bodies are crammed together in a ship’s hold for a long journey.

I felt like the connection between the two timelines was pretty obvious from the start and might have preferred there to be more twists. I didn’t feel particularly pulled in by either narrative and both moved very slowly for a while. Thankfully things picked up in the second half, and there were some pretty cool elements that pulled things together at the end.

If you like mermaids, historical fiction and strong female characters, you should check out this book. I give it 3-1/2 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved Weyward and was really excited to see the new of Sirens—even more thrilled when I got my hands on an ARC!

A feminist story that touches on magical realism, featuring two sets of sisters. In 2019, we meet Lucy and Jess; Lucy finds herself a victim in a cyberbullying event and awakes with her hands around her ex-boyfriends neck. She flees to her sister, Jess, who she comes to find is nowhere to be found.

Alternatively, we go back to 1800s abroad a convict ship from Ireland to Australia and meet Mary and Eliza. Having a fear of the ocean due to their mother’s death, they sense a transformation within themselves as they travel the seas. Seems to be a sense of calling...

The stories of these sisters intertwine as the past and present collide, guiding them toward embracing the future. There are themes of womenhood, empowerment and self discovery. Great character development and the historical events between Ireland and Australia are depicted with great detail and depth.

“After all, there is more than one way to tell the truth.”

Weyward was one of my favorite books of 2023, so when I had the chance to get an ARC of Emilia Hart’s second book I jumped right on it! This book has a similar structure to Weyward, in that it uses plot lines of women from different centuries to tell a unique story. Here, we have two pairs of sisters linked in mysterious ways, with the sea and a coastal town in New South Wales as the connection points. I really enjoyed how it all weaved together at the end. If you were a fan of Weyward, I would definitely encourage you to pick this one up (and if you haven’t read Weyward - you should!). Also great for fans of magical realism with a bit of history (in this case, British convict ships to Australia) and mystery. Many thanks to @Netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advance copy! Pub date: April 1, 2025

TW: sexual assault

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This book was so moving and intriguing! I loved the small mystery element and the fantastical parts. I especially loved the feminist view of the story. I couldn’t put the book down!

A traumatic sleepwalking incident sends Lucy in search of her sister, only to discover Jess has disappeared and her family has been keeping secrets.