A beautifully written and enchantingly atmospheric story of two sets of sisters, separated by 200 years of tragic history.

Hart does a wonderful job of setting the various scenes in the most vivid of details – from a small Irish home to the cramped confines of a prison transport ship to the dry and arid desert of central Australia to the salt-tang and wet-rock of an oceanside cave.

As the story weaves back and forth between three different timelines I was fully immersed in the story of the four women. And although I could feel where the mystery was going, I was still fully invested in the journey right to the end - which did not disappoint.

Two sets of sisters, two centuries separating them. Or is there? This is such a great mystery/drama. I really loved the historical time travel aspect and thought it was done so well! The characters were relatable and endearing from page one. Also, the book itself is GORGEOUS and I can’t wait for the several special editions and sub-boxes I have coming!

Instagram post will be posted & linked shortly!

4.5 stars

I was SO excited when I heard about Emilia Hart coming out with a new book because I loved Weyward by her. The Sirens was definitely not a disappointment!

Like Weyward, we’re following a few different POVs at different points in time (2019, 1999, 1800) which adds so much to the story. There’s a mystery element to this as well as some magical realism sprinkled in. I loved both mysteries and magical realism, so I rightfully assumed this would be a great fit. The pacing was perfect, the writing was *chefs kiss*, and the descriptions were so detailed.

If you liked Weyward, definitely check this one out. If you don’t normally lean towards magical realism, I’d still recommend checking this out because it’s such a well rounded plot.

Than you to St. Martins Press for my copy of this!

I was a huge fan of Weyward by Emilia Hart, and therefore was very excited to receive an arc of her next novel, The Sirens. Hart has a knack for beautiful prose and dropping readers perfectly into the scene of the story. However, the slow pace and lack of plot in this story didn’t enrapture me as much as its predecessor. I did not dread picking this book up, but I also did not itch to read more — it was simply an okay read. Though it didn’t live up to my full expectations, I still adore Hart’s writing and look forward to her future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and STM for the arc

I saw this book and immediately requested it. I was so happy to be approved. All I can say is Emilia Hart is a wonderful storyteller. This book kept me engaged from the start. The story was written so beautifully, and the cover is AMAZING!!! This is a tale of female empowerment and a touch of magical realism. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy on publication day. Thanks so much NetGalley for the ARC.

Id like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.
Like other Hart books, this one is an Historical Fiction with fantasy blend. Based on the historical note of "convicts" being sent from Ireland to Australia - mostly for the purpose of populating this new land, we meet the young women torn from their families and borded on a transport ship. The trip is brutal for all but expecially the women. Is it true that a woman on board is bad luck?
We also meet Lucy and Jess, who in more modern times are navigating their lives in Australia - but they both have a condition that makes them different.
The story reveals itself slowly and carefully as the reader moves through both timelines to see how things are connected in the end. It is this slow reveal that keeps the reader going. The characters are well liked and the story mysterious enough to keep pace. You can tell it was a labor of love for Hart.
3.75 stars.

“The Sirens,” by Weyward author Emilia Hart, is a poignantly characterized and beautifully crafted sweeping Magical Realism Historical Fiction that spans generations and continents. It is woven throughout with lore and legend alluding to gorgeous mermaids with shimmering tails; sirens of the deep seducing sailors with their songs; and Irish selkies falling in love with human men.

Sirens focuses on two sets of sisters born centuries and cultures apart. It culminates in Australia’s tiny Comber Bay at the Devil’s Lookout, the site of a deadly shipwreck 200 years before, and the current location where men are mysteriously disappearing.

Multiple mysteries are woven throughout this fascinating tale of love—the love between siblings, the love between parents and children, and the love of self.

Dive right in and enjoy the heartaches and healing journeys of twin Irish convict sisters Mary and Eliza and modern-day siblings Jess and Lucy in “The Sirens.” It is a wonderfully cathartic journey of hope and healing.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Emilia Hart, and Publisher St. Martins Press for this Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) to review.

Emilia Hart author of Weyward has written another beautiful book.A-story of sisters of the past and present timelines.so emotional so moving I was totally swept away by this story.#NetGalley #st.martins.

The Sirens is a stunning book about female strength and resilience. It's told in two timelines, that were interconnected in a thoughtful way. The story follows Mary and Eliza in the 1800s and Lucy and Jess in 2019. All of the women suffer from a skin condition when they come into contact with water, but still feel drawn to the water. I loved the strength and sisterly bond shared by Mary and Eliza. Lucy had a strained relationship with her sister, Jess and I enjoyed seeing their story play out. I absolutely loved the folklore surrounding mermaids that was included. The writing was gorgeous and lyrical. The story was a bit slow paced at times, but was full of intrigue and I found myself immersed in the story.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advance copies.

4/5 stars. Gorgeous. Hart’s second novel is part thriller, part speculative fiction, refreshingly honest yet a familiar sort of tale.

Thank you to Netgalley for the e-arc! Grab yourself a copy in April 🌊

The Sirens is a haunting and melancholy tale of sisterhood. Two sisters from the present are linked to two sisters from the past. In present day, Lucy is looking for her sister Jess after a traumatic event at her college. In the past, sisters Eliza and Mary are bound on a convict ship heading to Australia. As the story progresses, Lucy discovers that there is more to Jess than she ever knew. Can the sisters find each other in time? Will Eliza and Mary escape their fate?

The Sirens swept me away! The story is atmospheric and I felt like I was walking along the coast with Lucy as she followed in Jess’ footsteps. Lucy and Jess have a complicated relationship with a major twist, which I thought was written well. As the sisters from the past dealt with their secrets on the ship and made connections with the other prisoners, I also learned about the real life bloody history of the convict ships. Emilia Hart writes beautifully about the danger and lure of the ocean. Water is something that connects us across generations and I loved how all of the women found safety in some way in the water. Readers who enjoy stories about sisterhood, the power of water, and atmospheric writing will love The Sirens.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

4 ⭐️ Engrossing fantasy/mystery by Emelia Hart author of Weyward. Two sets of sisters in NSW, in multiple timelines, 1819 and 1999 and 2019, share a rare skin condition. They all have a “water allergy” that stings and turns their skin scaly.

In Ireland 1819 twins Mary and Eliza are sent on a prison ship bound for NSW. Sisters Jess and Lucy in 2019 are each haunted by nightmares of shipwreck, drowning, and Mary and Eliza.

The unfolding story has many twists, mysteries, murder and family secrets. I enjoyed the alternating character chapters of Mary, Jess and Lucy. Great plot, writing, strong female characters! Surprise ending ties it all together!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced review copy!
Weyward was one of my top reads last year. I loved the shifting persepctive throughout time and seeing how all of the characters slowly became connected to each other. The Sirens uses a similar structure, with chapters that shift between Lucy in the present and Eliza and Mary in the past.


In the present, we are introduced to Lucy, who is having some problems in college. After making a terrible mistake, Lucy flees from her dorm and goes running to her estranged sister Jessica. However, upon her arrival at Jessica's run-down home in Comer Bay, Lucy is startled to find that her sister has also recently run off to places unknown. With a house that overlooks the crashing ocean and stories of men having gone missing, Lucy is terrified of what may have become of her sister.


In the past, readers experience the lives of twins Eliza and Mary, who have also commited their own terrible mistake. Unlike Lucy, however, they are unable to run away from their problems. Instead, they are sentenced to be exhiled and sent aboard a ship to travel to - you guessed it - Comer Bay.


While I still enjoyed traveling between the worlds of these characters and seeing how their stories unfolded and slowly c0nnected, I just didn't find this storyline to be as driving and intriguing as Weyward. Perhaps it was the "plot twist" that was easy to predict far too early, or that it is marked as fantasy but really doesn't fit that genre until you are quite far in the book. Overall, this felt like a near twin of Weyward in a lot of ways - put these two books together and you can definitely start to get a good feel for Emilia Hart's writing patterns and styles. As someone who likes her writing, that was great! Unfortunately, it also meant that the storyline felt a little too familiar. I'm a fan of Hart and will continue to follow and read her future books, but I hope that she takes some bigger risks with her next novel.

This book was amazing. . The family, the ocean calling, the mystery, dual timelines, All of it!
I loved it. I felt like I was standing at Cliff House gazing out over the sea.

This book was my first Emelia Hart, and I'll definitely be checking out her backlog.

This book started off much darker than I thought. The dual POV’s were a little confusing because I wasn’t sure how they were connected at first, but I liked the mystery and suspense of it. The story itself came together a little slower than my usual picks, but I enjoyed it! The Australian setting and history really kept my attention.

This book was so beautifully written. To me, it gave off the same vibes as Circe by Madeline Miller. The past and present POVs really gave this story momentum and gave the little bread crumbs to fit all the puzzle pieces into place.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I struggled with this book. Part of it might be that I didn't read Weyward, but after so many loved it, my expectations here were high. Also, I thought this was a dual timeline historical fiction and it was more like a suspense/thriller, so not only a genre I don't love, but my expectations where something else. The tone was melancholy, pace was slow, and the characters rather unlikeable until the very end, but at that point I just wanted to finish the book. The ending was good, and questions were answered, but it was just too little too late for me.

Such an interesting premise but meandered a bit too much for me to feel fully immersed in the story. I really appreciated the novel’s focus on processing intergenerational trauma, thoughtful exploration of female safety and autonomy, as well as the elements of historical fiction and magical realism.

A large chunk of this book dives into a really interesting period of time I knew nothing about previously. It was interesting to learn about Irish women being sent to current day Australia for petty crimes and hear about the journey from their perspectives. This book inspired me to want to learn more about this chapter of Irish history.

However, the novel’s constantly shifting perspectives made my reading experience feel disjointed. It took me a while to become invested in the characters and story.

Lucy was my favorite character due to Hart’s strong writing in her sections. I wish there was less focus on Mary’s perspective, especially at the beginning. I found myself struggling to get through most of Mary’s parts and wanting to get back to the writing in Lucy section because she was a much stronger narrator.

It was interesting to see the twists develop in each part. Yet, by the time they were revealed they felt a bit obvious to me and the pacing felt a bit inconsistent. I also felt disappointed by the ending.

My favorite parts of the book happened when the focus was on Lucy and Jess. I wish there had been more focus on their relationship in the same timeline, especially at the end. There were some really interesting dynamics between them that got introduced but didn’t feel fully developed.

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

Emilia truly knows how to draw you in! I fell in love with this story line and characters. And I never knew I needed a story told in different timelines. Everything about this book was soooo amazing.

Wow, wow, what a beautiful, mysterious ride The Sirens was!
I alternated between my kindle and audio and I felt the kindle narration aged up the characters a bit, but was still excellent. This book takes on some tough topics - sexual assault, grooming, cyber-bullying, the historical mistreatment of female “prisoners”(TW) while incorporating beautiful views in a coastal town full of mysteries, flashbacks, and a podcast tackling cold cases.
There were some twists I definitely didn’t see coming and I genuinely couldn’t put this down. It’s real-world mixed with mythology and historical context in a deep, fast-paced entirely important book.