Many people are familiar with stories of mermaids or selkies, women that are part fish or shed their coat on dry land. Emilia Hart weaves this fantasy element into a dual timeline of two sisters being transported on a convict ship to Australia and two sisters centuries later. The latter storyline is primarily told by Lucy, who flees college looking for her older sister Jessica after sleepwalking and attacking a classmate that shared compromising photos of her online. Only, when Lucy gets to Jess’s house she’s nowhere to be found, and she’s left her phone behind. Left alone in a house and community she feels a connection to, Lucy begins questioning everything she thought she knew about herself and her family. Clark does a great job of making the fantasy element of this feel plausible, while examining toxic male behavior in a way that reflects reality-how often it feels subtle instead of overt, with the victims questioning who’s responsible for what happened. I enjoyed this book and its unique approach to relationships and toxic behavior. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is so good. It is a story of familial love, secrets, betrayal, and forgiveness. With a little more that makes it magical. Mermaids? Shipwrecks? Mystery? Magical realism.? Resilience? Sisterly love and strength? Check. Check. Check. All the checks.

I liked these characters. I could relate to them in ways. I could empathize with them. Even when I thought I had the whole story figured out I couldn't find that last puzzle piece. That last piece did end up making me lose some respect for the person but in the end it tied everything together. That's the realism for you. All in all a good entertaining read.

From the publisher:

A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack—but her sister is missing. As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town—tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever.

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat takes them farther and farther away from all they know, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies.

A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.


I received this book from NetGalley and Macmillan. I was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions are my own. I am disclosing this per the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the free ARC eBook.

The Sirens is a story that is historical fiction, magical, realism, and mystery. It follows two sets of sisters across different timelines - Mary and Eliza in the 1800s and Lucy and Jess in 2019. The story explores sisterhood and the allure of the sea. I love a good story about mermaids and this one did not disappoint. Emilia Hart always does a great job with creating a story that leaves small hints and clues throughout and she created a great mystery with this one.

Tales of the sea and sirens or mermaids have always fascinated me and I felt this was a really interesting take on the classic siren tale. The two timelines were perfectly intertwined. Great story!

This book was amazing! I loved the way it switched back and forth between the two time periods to connect the stories. I have to admit that after reading this book before bed, I dreamed of it. If you’ve read the details of the story and know the events, you would understand the significance of the story making its way into my dreams. I’m so glad I had the opportunity to read this book through NetGalley.

I thought I was getting a fantasy book about mermaids, what I got was an atmospheric book on feminine rage, rooted in not only the fantasy genre, but historical fiction horror, and true crime as well. I was immediately drawn in, my curiosity piqued with the timeline swapping from the mid 1800’s to present day (well, 2019) and wondering how the two are intertwined. The storytelling leaves us (as Lucy and Mary our two main narrators are as well) in the dark about their origins, pasts, and what exactly has caused their bodies to desire to be in water, but having unexplained reactions. The reader is made to feel both creeped out, as well as hunger for more. My only complaints about this book are the inclusion of specific modern technology terms (iPhone, TikTok, WhatsApp, etc…) as I feel these types of things date the book and cause relevance issues for the long term. I also found issue with the pacing of the last ten percent, which felt rushed and hurried to wrap-up this story and give us a lot of info. Up until really that ninety percent completion mark, this was nearly a five star read for me.

A beautiful story of womanhood, family, and (best of all) mermaids ! 🧜🏻‍♀️

The Sirens tells the story of four women: Mary, Eliza, Lucy, and Jess. Told from two different timelines, beautifully interwoven chapter by chapter, Hart connects the lives of women across centuries.

Lucy, having trouble at school (to put it lightly) escapes to Cliff House to visit her sister, Jess. In search of answers to explain her worrying sleepwalking and incessant dreams about two women from centuries ago. But Jess is nowhere to be found. Lucy goes in search of answers—Where is her sister? Who are the women in her dreams? Why is she drawn to the water at night?

Through Lucy, Jess, Eliza, and Mary, Emilia Hart tells a haunting story of womanhood and the love that connects families. The story underlying these important themes is addicting. At about the 30% mark, I couldn't put it down. I thought there wouldn't be any twists in this book, but I was wrong—I did not see them coming!!

I did feel like a few important storylines were not closed up at the end (hence why this isn't five stars), which I found frustrating. Emilia does such a good job getting you hooked on characters and plot lines, you can't help but want closure on what happens to each and every one.

This was my first Emilia Hart book. After hearing raving review of Weyward, I couldn't wait to pick this book up. And now I'm so sad to have to put it down!

"Humans are born to storytelling." Well, Emilia Hart surely is. I can't wait to read what's next from her.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an ARC. It was an honor getting to read this book a little early :)

I recently received an ARC of Emilia Heart's new book, "The Sirens" (thanks, NetGalley and the publishers!). I was excited to dive in, especially since I absolutely loved her other book, "Weyward." "Weyward" totally blew me away (5 star rating), and I was hoping for the same magic with this one. But, spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Now, before I get into it, just a heads-up: there's a bit of a touchy storyline with a teacher/student relationship, but it's brief and not detailed.

Anyway, "The Sirens" is about more than just the mythical creatures. It dives into themes of sisterhood, family secrets, and those friendships that seem to come out of nowhere. It also reminds you that things aren't always what they seem – a classic!

The one thing that did impressed me was all the historical backgrounds woven into the story. Heart clearly did her research, bringing in details about Australia, Ireland, and England. It was enlightening how she included the origins of Australia and acknowledging the Aboriginal people and their land. Plus, there's some Irish Gaelic sprinkled in and the accurate portrayals of the history of Irish prisoners being sent to Australia.

The story kicks off with a slow introduction to Lucy, a college student dealing with the usual: figuring out who she is, struggling with self-esteem, family drama, and, of course, major boy troubles. Then the story switches to the perspectives of two sisters who lived decades before Lucy. Their stories are Lucy's dreams, and that's how the mysteries unfold. However, majority of the plot points were predictable once the reader makes the connections.

The book was a bit slow from the start and there were no connections built to any of the characters. It wasn't until the last 25% or so that things really picked up. An interesting concept that Heart used to tie the story up was having the epilogue as the very last chapter. It brings the story to a complete circle and doesn’t leave the reader with any questions (or even wanting to read more).

Overall, it was a decent read. I've definitely come across worse! But would I read it again? Probably not. I had pretty high hopes, especially after "Weyward," but it fell a bit short. That being said, the book's description was definitely captivating and lured me in!

The Sirens

It’s been almost exactly two years since I read and loved Weyward so when I saw she’d written her sophomore novel I couldn’t wait to start it!

This starts with a historical note sharing a bit of the history of convicts being shipped from England to Australia in the late 1700s. Crucial to the story and very interesting, I was impressed that this tidbit was at the front rather than the back of the book. However, this felt very far away from what I’d think of as a traditional historical fiction, yes there are some aspects but it was more focused on female characters and the mythology of mermaids. Once I wrapped my head around that change and embraced how idiosyncratic this was I really enjoyed it.

While the format and atmospheric writing felt similar to Weyward, everything else was very different. I think going into this expecting a unique story, a lot of magical realism, and richly detailed storylines rather than comparing it to her previous novel would be the way to go.

I did a combo of audio and digital. The audio really grew on me and once I was particularly impressed with the singing of Barrie Kreinik. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc and St. Martin's Press for the arc via Netgalley.

Pub day: April 1, 2025
Rating: 4/5⭐️

In 1800, Mary and Eliza have been convicted of a crime and forced to leave Ireland and their father on a convict ship headed for Australia.

In 2019, Lucy awakens from a strange dream and finds herself choking her ex-boyfriend. Fearing the repercussions, she travels to a remote coastal area of Australia to seek help from her sister, Jessica, who is mysteriously absent from her house upon Lucy’s arrival.

As Lucy starts to try to unravel her sister’s absence, she discovers there are a lot of other mysteries and secrets to solve. Told between different timelines, the author does a good job of weaving everything together.

Part historical fiction, part fantasy, and part family drama, this novel also deals with the themes of resilient women and the bonds of sisterhood and family. Descriptively written with well-developed main characters and a part of history I hadn’t thought much about, along with lots of suspense, I would recommend this book. My only downsides were that some of it was predictable and I’m not sure how I felt about the ending.

Emilia Hart does it again! This book was just a feminist and brilliant as Weyward. The Sirens touched on the magic of water to heal and transform, and the bond of sisterhood. I couldn't put it down. Hart's writing is so poetic, beautiful, and immersive. The feminist themes spoke to my soul. The allure of Comber Bay and the mystery surrounding the town, Lucy and her sister, Jess, and the timeline of Eliza and Mary. It was all slowly building to something, and it was engrossing to read. While I found the twist predictable, it did add a layer to the story that almost made the whole story more impactful. While I saw it coming, I did really enjoy it.

I can't recommend this author enough. The mystical, mysterious, and magical elements of her books are something I can't describe. You just have to experience it for yourself

thank you publisher for the e-arc!

This is the first book by Hart, and it will not be my last! I enjoyed the writing, the Irish folklore, it was atmospheric. and I really loved how the story wrapped up.

It is a slow burn, so if you're okay with that, then I would recommend picking it up!

The Sirens is a beautifully written tale of resilience, mystery, and the indefinable magic of the sea told over two timelines. I really enjoyed the audio version of this book all the additional extras made it a little extra special
Strong female characters
Historical fiction
Sisterhood
Family secrets
Family mysteries
Magical realism

Lucy has always felt different; being allergic to water would make anyone feel different. But now that her dreams and sleepwalking are making her hurt people, Lucy is terrified and there's only one person she feels would understand her. The only problem is that her older sister Jess isn't at home. Her phone is still plugged in, her car is in the driveway, and the women in the painting in her living room look shockingingly similar to the women Lucy dreams about.

I absolutely devoured this book! Lucy is just a girl who needs her big sister and ends up with more questions than she arrived with, and I live for the mystery and suspense of it all. I won't lie, one of the twists was easy to figure out after a bit of backstory was revealed. But it definitely helped keep me engaged in the story!
This was an amazing introduction to Hart's work. The writing is fantastic, and this is unlike anything I've read before. Can't wait for it to come out so I can get all my reader friends into it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC! Projected publishing date: April 1st, 2025

I absolutely loved this authors debut.

Sadly this one just didn’t hit the same for me. I found the story a bit confusing with the switching back and forth between time and characters. I really enjoyed the boat expedition and the strong female characters.
The present part of the story for me was where I was a bit underwhelmed. The story moved a bit too slow for me with not much pay off in the end sadly.

Still I appreciate this authors writing and will certainly pick up more from her in the future.

Hart is quickly becoming my new favorite author. Her debut novel Weyward was beautiful and I was so excited to be able to read her next upcoming novel! Sirens, is STUNNING.

This book is captivating. I was unable to put it down, the multiple POV and dual timeline moves at a seamless pace that draws the reader. I truly don’t have the words to describe how moving the relationships between sisters is depicted or how Hart captures women’s experiences so poignantly.

A huge plus is the audiobook is just as stunning! The narrator perfectly captures the words and tone of the story- plus does beautiful Australian and Irish accents!

Set your alarms, mark your calendar and RUN to preorder or grab this beautiful book when it releases.


✨Pub date: 4/01/25 ✨







*Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review 💌




Review has been posted to Goodreads. Review will be posted on instagram on 1/17 and shared again during pub week and pub day

📚 The Sirens 🎧
✍ Emilia Hart
📖 Fiction/Magical Realism
⭐4/5

🙏 Thank you to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and the author for the advanced copy of The Sirens. All opinions are my own.
◾
🎯 What I loved: A story of sisterhood and the unbreakable bonds of women in the throes of abuse, The Sirens is beautifully written and haunting. Like Hart's debut Weyward, the story explored the depths of women's strength and was a thought-provoking tale of multiple sets of women who share deep connections despite the distance, time and secrets pulling them apart. Also of note, the epilogue in this book strategically ties some loose ends together in a way I wasn't expecting, so make sure you stay the course on this one!

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I predicted the connections in this book early so if you're someone that wants a twist that you can't predict, be weary. But to me, this book wasn't about the twists, it was about journeys of self-discovery, reflection and growth and that's what I got in spades.
◾
Read if you love:
*alternating timelines that include references to historical events
*sisterhood and stories of female empowerment
*women overcoming obstacles and the patriarchy
◾
See also: Beautiful Ugly, The Blue Hour, Weyward, Spells for Forgetting

A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they could ever imagine. A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens follows four women as their stories, past and present, collide. This is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea through richly woven fantasy and real life events reimagined.

With vivid character development and an intriguing plot, this made for an immersive and rewarding read, especially for fans of the author’s previous work, Weyward.

This should definitely be on your list for next year! ✨Dropping March 4, 2025✨

The Sirens is a historical fiction novel that follows two sets of sisters, spanning hundreds of years apart.

One timeline the year is 2019, which follows sisters, Lucy and Jess. They're both plagued by mysteriously vivid dreams, with a strong pull to the sea. The other timeline travels back to 1800, which follows sisters, Mary and Eliza. They're forced from their small town in Ireland onto a convict ship set to sail to Australia. As the POV alternates between time, mysteries are revealed and questions are answered.

This was every bit intruiging, eerie and atmospheric. I really loved the writing syle and how it pulled me into the story. The descriptions of the sea felt powerful and important. There was the perfect amount of suspenseful mystery surrounding Comber Bay and the secrets within. The setting and characters intertwined smoothly.

I loved the dual timelines and getting to read from each sister in the story. The familial bonds was beautifully done and really showed how deeply it runs. The layers upon layers of strength, determination, and love they had for each other was my favorite part. The female empowerment was outstanding and fierce.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story and plan on reading more from this author.

—𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.—

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This story follows the lives of four women, Lucy and Jesse in 2019 and shifts back and forth to Mary and Eliza in the 1800s. The store begins with Lucy, an 18 year old journalism student, with her hands around the throat of a guy that had caused cyber bullying against her, while she had been sleep walking.
In fear of getting in trouble for her actions, Lucy runs off to seek refuge at her sisters place, in a town where it’s rumored to be haunted and men have gone missing. When she arrives at her sisters place, she finds she is missing. Jesse’s phone is still there and the door is open, but she isn’t there. There are also signs that possibly a male visitor has been there. Lucy begins to ask around if anyone has seen Jesse, but no one seems to know anything. Lucy goes back to the house to wait for her sister, and begins to have the same recurring nightmare about 2 sisters on a ship that are fighting for their lives. The nightmares become more and more intense. Lucy finds Jess’s adolescent diary and this leads her to want to start digging deeper into the past.
In 1999, Jesse was a lonely teenager that had been diagnosed with a rare allergy to water. She always felt weird and different. Her young charming art teacher takes interest in her. After reading more about Jesse’s illness, Lucy starts to suspect her parents were keeping secrets that she must uncover.
The story shifts to 1800s and follows two other sisters Mary and Eliza, twins, who are aboard a ship going from Ireland to Australia. The sisters are convicts on a ship with criminals. They are very afraid of the ocean, because their mother drowned when they were young. While they are in the ship they experience extremely harsh conditions of hunger and thirst. They begin to notice weird transformations to their bodies, like the sea is calling to them and turning them into something not human.

I really enjoyed the authors writing of the very vivid character development. This was honestly a beautifully written story, but it was a very slow start for me and it took me a while to actually get into it. It did pick up pace, but there were still parts throughout that had me struggling to keep wanting to read on. All in all the story was pretty good and that’s why I’m giving this book 3 stars. Let me also add that I’m not a big fantasy reader, so this may just be me. If you enjoy fantasy, you may really enjoy this one.

The Sirens is a hauntingly beautiful novel that weaves together dual timelines, exploring sisterhood, female empowerment, and mythological mystery. The Sirens showcase the author's talent for creating atmospheric, feminist narratives that blend historical fiction with supernatural elements.
The book follows two sets of sisters - one on a convict ship in 1800 and another in 2019 - with a compelling mystery that slowly unravels. The book creates an eerie, gothic atmosphere that kept me engaged, with subtle hints of something not quite human lurking beneath the surface.
While the pacing was slow and steady, it did not disappoint. The novel does tackle some heavy themes, making it a powerful and thought-provoking read. A must-read for fans of atmospheric, feminist storytelling with a touch of the supernatural!