Wow. I knew reading the description that this would be a good read, but I was not prepared for the way that this book reeled me in and held my attention- it was hard to put down! The stories unfold across three timelines, each equally captivating and heartbreaking. The central mysteries (are mermaids real, and where is Jess) come together in a fully satisfying conclusion. This will be a top contender for my favorite book of the year!

Hart has a way with words that captures my attention from the very start, Weyward was one of my favorite books of all time, and I knew Sirens would not let me down.

I loved following each different timeline, and I love how empowering each story is,

Thank you to the publisher and author for the free ebook and audiobook of Emilia Hart's newest book, The Sirens. I loved her previous novel, Weyward, and this one was just as good.

The premise is fantastic, in that it has characters who are merrows (mermaids, sirens), but this sits better in the family drama genre than fantasy. It's less about world-building and more about relationships between women, sisters, especially those harmed by men, and their resilience and connection. The writing is gorgeous, and the author deals with dark subjects with kindness and skill.

Alternating timelines between 2019, 1800, and 1999, the story includes convicts unlawfully brought to Australia, family secrets, love in many forms, and the power of sisterhood. I was bewitched to the siren song of this story and highly recommend it!

#macaudio2024 #TheSirensNovel #EmiliaHart @emiliahwriter @stmartinspress

Another magical book from Emilia Hart!
Instead of a forest cottage, we are taken to the coast of Australia, with different points of view and timeliness, all woven wonderfully together.
Different from Weyward, and yet similar in that the main character(s) are wronged women. One of which escapes to the solitude of a small coastal town.
Dealing with the history of Australia as a penal colony for Britain's criminals, this story was historically tragic and yet hopeful.
The characters were complex and relatable. Brimming with magic and emotion, this was a wonderful book!
4.25 stars rounded up.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this wonderful ARC!

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!**

I reeeeeally wanted to love this but ultimately just thought it was fine. I loved Weyward and hoped it would be a similar vibe, but aside from the strong women, it didn’t really resemble that story much.

We follow two storylines, one of sisters Lucy and Jess in 2019, the other of sisters Mary and Eliza in the 1800s.

Lucy flees university, running away to her sister’s home in the mysterious Comber Beach, where eight men have mysteriously vanished in the last century. When she arrives though, Jess is not there and the circumstances behind her disappearance are suspicious. Lucy discovers an old diary that belonged to Jess and begins to piece things together. Mary and Eliza are on a convict ship from Ireland to Australia and begin to experience strange changes to their bodies.

Of course our stories will converge and resolve, etc. Overall, the general vibe (is grey a vibe? Because that’s what it was) was just not my cup of tea and I wasn’t particularly invested in any of the stories/plot points. I love a good resolution but this one felt TOO easy.

I really appreciated how the story intertwined the lives of sisters across different time periods, using this structure to great effect. The characters were so well-developed that they felt like real people, and their stories were both engaging and relatable. The overall plot was captivating, and the writing kept me eager to turn the pages. Emilia Hart masterfully blended elements of magic with a sense of realism, creating a narrative that was both enchanting and believable.
4.5 stars!! Thank you, Emilia Hart, the publisher and Netgalley.

Lucy has always felt different. Suffering from an allergy to water called aquagenic urticaria, Lucy can’t go swimming with her friends, take a shower, or get caught in a rainstorm. The only one who has ever seemed to truly understand her is her older sister, Jess. So, when Lucy wakes up after a strange dream with her hands wrapped around her ex-boyfriend’s neck, it is to Jess she runs. But when Lucy arrives at Jess’ house, Jess is missing…leading Lucy on a wild journey of discovery as she unwraps Jess’ disappearance. Does Jess’ disappearance have anything to do with the 8 missing men that have vanished over the past 40 years in the same seaside town? 200 years earlier, sisters Mary and Eliza are imprisoned on a convict ship bound from Dublin to New South Wales, Australia. Trapped in a prison hold below deck with 80 other female prisoners, the sisters fight to survive and learn all they need to know about injustice from their fellow prisoners. How do these stories intertwine? Guess you will have to read The Sirens by Emilia Hart when it releases in February 2025. Emilia Hart burst on the scene with her celebrated debut novel, Weyward, which was one of my favorite reads of last year. Hart has a gift for using historical fiction and magical realism to paint the injustices that women have faced in history and those we face today in a way that is empowering. The Sirens focuses on sisterhood; both chosen and genetic. It was the central aspect of the story, but was never too heavy-handed. I was always rooting for each of these women individually. I wanted them to survive, to fight, to make their own choices, to determine for themselves what they wanted out of life. However, the end left me wanting more. The story just feels unfinished for me. I wanted more for Jess, Lucy, Eliza, and Mary. The epilogue left me with more questions than answers and worsened the feeling of a story left unfinished. I will say that the story I did get was powerful. Hart did her research and honored the countless women torn from their homeland and shipped across the sea to Australia where they were sold as wives, concubines, and slaves to men in a foreign land as punishment for petty crimes like stealing food, self defense, or failing to meet the standards of society in some other fashion. These women were treated as less than human and Hart gave them their revenge, in spirit. She also drew comparisons to the awful things modern women face today. Different songs, but the same album. Hart was able to seamlessly jump between timelines and I never was more or less interested in one timeline over the other. Was it a perfectly happy ending for each character? No. Bittersweet is what comes to mind. I just wanted more. It felt like the story was not over. A special thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book early!

A highly original story, unlike one I’ve ever read (or am likely to read). The writing itself is top-notch, beautiful writing—almost poetic at times. I found it oddly peaceful despite tackling very unpeaceful topics. That said, it didn’t always hold my attention. I found this to be one of those reads where I frequently had to go back and re-read parts after realizing my mind must’ve wandered and I missed something important to the plot. (Though, this may speak more to the narration of the audiobook, as I alternated reading platforms, but primarily listened to this one.)

I really wanted to fall in love with this story and these characters, but I just never got there. For me, it is a bit too slow, sorrowful, and mysterious (in that I feel like a lot of things are never explained, leaving a reader potentially frustrated). But I think others will be fascinated by the unique mermaid-esque lore told through alternating perspectives that almost feels like a historical fiction.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I loved this book! The sisters relationships felt so real and I was very connected to everyone in this book. The overarching theme of how society lets women down felt especially relevant with todays political climate and overall I loved it

4.75 stars

Overview:
Sisterhood, sisterhood, sisterhood.

The Sirens highlights, through the course of the novel, the divide in power and understanding between men and women. However, instead of focusing (as many books do) on the crimes men commit against women, The Sirens focuses more intently on sisterhood, both literal and figurative: the bond between girls raised as two halves of a whole, but also the bond between all women that exists purely because of our shared gender. It also does this without ever being corny or overemphasizing it.

From beneath the decks of a ship carrying exiled women from Ireland to Australia in the 1800s to a teenager struggling with identity in 1999 to the young woman who struggles to put all of their stories together, the one thing that persists is that women are at their strongest when they stand together.

I enjoyed this book. It was more driven by character than plot, which is what I generally prefer. There was a mystery (or several) that slowly unwound, but the more interesting aspect was the slow-burning development of the three POV characters. The prose was gorgeous. The one place where it lost a quarter of a star for me was that the beginning dragged a little as I waited for Lucy to catch up with me. The second half of the book was much more compelling.

Further breakdowns of character, plot, and prose continue below, but in summary, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys character-drive stories, who appreciates painterly writing, or who likes seeing women who well and truly do not need a man. I think this would be a great read for anyone who is a fan of Erin Morgenstern or who enjoyed Kim Liggett’s “The Grace Year”.

Characters:
I loved all 3 of our POV characters, and I enjoyed the way Mary and Jess’ POVs were integrated through the book as things Lucy was experiencing. It was also a very clever way for Hart to use POV-switching, which is often so jarring, to the advantage of the story. All three were easy to root for, even if some times they did enraging things.

I was most impressed that we were able to repeatedly return to Mary’s POV, where realistically very little was happening as she was stuck belowdecks, yet there was always new light for her to shed on Lucy’s life and their shared story.

Plot:
I struggled a bit with the plot at the beginning of the story. So much of what Lucy is trying to puzzle out is known immediately to the reader by the title of the book, so it feels for a long time like we’re waiting for her to catch up. I admit, I can be impatient, so maybe this is a “me” problem. Once I realized that this is a sotry more about the journey than the destination, I relaxed into it better. That, and the fact that things got more complex as we went, made the second half much more compelling.

Prose:
The prose is stunning. I am amazed that Hart managed to use so much imagery of the ocean without it ever feeling overwrought or repetitive. EVERYTHING comes back to the ocean, and I really marveled at that. Similarly, she described the characters skin probably hundreds of times, and that, too, never felt like too much. The descriptions of their transformations, slow and baffling, were evocative and enthralling without ever crossing the line into body horror, though it totally could have. The transformation remained beautiful, even as it was frightening. Completely gorgeous writing — I would go on, but I want to avoid spoilers.

OMG, this book was like, seriously a whole mood—spooky, mysterious, and dripping with salty sea vibes! The dual timelines totally had me hooked. I mean, we’re talking sisters separated by centuries but still somehow connected through these eerie dreams and, like, ocean magic? Uh, yes, please! It’s all so haunting and feminist, with resilient women fighting for their truths while wrapped up in secrets tied to the water. 🌊

Lucy in 2019? She’s out here waking up mid-chokehold on her ex (like, girl, yikes!) and running off to her sister’s coastal house, only to find Jess missing and this whole town full of weird vibes. Then we’ve got Mary and Eliza on this brutal convict ship in the 1800s, discovering their own spooky, transformative connection to the sea. Both stories are, like, dripping with suspense, and I was flipping pages like crazy to figure out how it all tied together. And spoiler (but not really): when it clicks? So. Good. 👏

What really worked for me was the balance between the mystery, the magical realism, and the deep dive into family and sisterhood. The bond here felt super relatable but also kind of mythical and larger-than-life. It’s like the ocean was its own character, pulling everyone into its secrets, and honestly, I couldn’t get enough.

Now, let’s spill some tea. The ending? Felt way too rushed. Like, we were riding this wild wave of tension and build-up, only for the last few pages to just… fizzle out. Not a dealbreaker, but still, give me more closure, ya know? And that one subplot with the teacher? Major cringe. 🚩 Hard to overlook, even though it didn’t totally ruin the book for me.

Still, the writing was gorgeously atmospheric, and the story was equal parts haunting and empowering. If you’re into sister stories, ocean magic, and a feminist twist on sirens, this one’s calling your name. Four stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. 💖

The Sirens is an intense and brilliant book about so many things, but mainly the power of women. There are so many stories within: a story of women in a criminal transport ship in 1800; a story of siblings and their intricate relationship; a story old as time of the mysterious sirens who lead men to their deaths, just to name a few. This is not a quick read, nor an easy one. It took be three times longer to read than the average book, but I felt so full after reading it. The writing is intelligent and the stories well-developed. This author is wonderful, judging by this book. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is like peeling an onion, Layers of stories within a story that lead you to a mystery full of sadness, legends, and hopefulness. I am drawn toward stories and legends just like this one, so it was a pleasure reading The Sirens. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

3.5 stars. I enjoyed the magical realism to a degree but think I was perhaps not in the right mood for it. I did like the eerie vibe that made you keep second guessing the connections between the characters and why they had certain threads linking them together. I think Emilia Hart did a great job w/ the pacing after a slow start and the multiple timelines worked well in telling the story. I found the characters to be compelling and enjoyed the bonds between the sisters.

Overall, it was a good story - it just didn't fully grip me the way I had hoped. I still look forward to reading whatever Emilia Hart writes next!

Thank you to #Netgally, Emilia Hart, and St. Martin's Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cool concept and I had such high expectations, but I called every twist from across the sea. There were no surprises, and I felt like I was spoon fed a lot of things.

I did, however, like the multiple POVs/timelines and the siren element, but overall this was just okay for me personally. As a huge mermaid/siren fan, I wanted so much more than what I got.

3.75 stars // This was a beautiful book full of magical realism with one foot in the past and the other in the present. The women in this story are strong and beautiful and overcome all that life throws at them. The sea calls to them and they listen.

Thank you for providing me a free electronic copy. I enjoyed Wayword so I just knew I will love this book. The Sirens has dual timeline and tells a story of two sets of sisters centuries apart. There's longing, complicated relationships, and family secrets. I don't feel the sleepwalking episodes were explained to my satisfaction but I absolutely loved the feminist narrative. I definitely enjoyed this read and gave it 4 out of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Jess and Lucy's relationship is beautifully done and perfectly complements the myth of the sirens, a tale that has always captivated me with its exploration of power and desire. The dual timelines flow effortlessly, keeping the pacing spot-on and leading to a fantastic twist at the end. The vivid water imagery adds a magical, atmospheric vibe that makes the whole story a captivating, haunting read.

I knew I had to read this as someone who has always felt pulled to the water. It did not disappoint! Read this if you like: multi-generational stories that weave together mystery, folklore, strong female relationships, themes of resilience, sisterhood, the power of nature, and magical realism.

I really love Emilia Hart's writing. This is her second book, and like the first one, I found it compelling and engaging. I really had a hard time putting it down for the first half.

It follows Lucy as she grapples with strange nightmares and sleepwalking...plus things she doesn't remember in the morning that get her into big trouble. She is still feeling from being hurt by Ben, and she needs a place to escape to. She goes to her sister, Jess, who lives in a beach town where there have been several disappearances over the years, and she discovers that things aren't quite as they seem. This sends her whole world upside down until she figures out what's actually going on..

I enjoyed the author's first work, Weyward, and this is almost a retelling of that book with a completely different theme and characters. It's about feminine power with a supernatural bent. There is a twist in the middle that I did not see coming, but otherwise most of it was fairly obvious.

Also, Weyward really kept more to magical realism, where The Sirens veers into fantasy. I have seen more of these types of books lately, where it starts out feeling like there's going to be some incredible secret that makes it all make sense in a satisfying way. But then it relies on pure fantasy, which isn't in line with the feel of the book and feels more like a deus ex machina, even though it is foreshadowed. Because the first half of the book was so gripping, it was a letdown.

Next, I didn't love the two main characters. They did some unsavory things themselves, making it harder to root for them even as they were victims.

Just a tiny pet peeve, but at some point toward the end, everything started blooming. Blood stains, courage, power. We need a new verb, as powerful as blooming is.

I was leaning toward giving this a 3,5 rounded to 4 for most of the book, but I didn't love the ending. Weyward was much more powerful; this ending was weaker. The very end, where we go back to the prologue and get the backstory, was unappealing. It really soured me on the story. I basically knew what happened; there really wasn't another way for things to have played out, but the way it happened was...unpleasant, I guess. Not in line with what I would have expected, given what we know about the characters. Perhaps more explanation would have helped.

I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

The Sirens is a creative story. I was very intrigued by the premise of sisters and the mystery of the sea and dual timelines. There are multiple stories being woven together and while I appreciated everyone’s point of view, in the end, I was slightly confused by it all. It reads as a young adult novel and there are some heavy social issues throughout. I felt there were some points in the story not well explained or wrapped up.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.