This is a dual timeline book, about two Irish sisters who are sent on a criminal transport to Australia, and a modern (2019) story of two sisters, and finding strength through adversity.

Both groups of sisters have had the world hand them things that it shouldn't have, and both have to find a way to get past the unfairness of their situations.

Although I could pretty early on see where the story was going with the Lucy/Jess timeline (both with their arc as sisters and the side story with the missing men in their town), it didn't diminish from my enjoyment of the book.

I thought the writing was terrific, and the sense of place was spot on. I could really see and feel the settings. I thought the story setting of the prison transport ship was engaging and I had a vested interest in what was happening with those women. In fact, I would have liked to know more about them, how they got to where they were.

On the whole I really enjoyed the book and I want to read more from this writer.

I did have one pretty large quibble, which I address in a spoiler hidden review on Goodreads.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ✨

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc of The Sirens which comes out April 1, 2025.

The Sirens is a story of female empowerment across generations that is heartbreaking, suspenseful, and can resonate with any woman. I went into this one with high expectations after reading Weyward. I didn’t like this one as much but It was still an enticing read. There were a few twists that were in the 2019 timeline that had me turning the pages (swiping since it’s an e arc??) quickly. I liked the touch of magical realism in this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I picked this book up on a whim because I thought the cover was cute. While I don’t usually condone judging a book by its cover in this instance it was well worth it!

This story is told over three separate timelines, going across generations of women. It highlights the injustices against women across history, while also allowing them to get back at those that have wronged them. This is a perfect example of how I support women’s rights and their wrongs.

This one won’t be published until April 2025 so keep an eye for it!

#netgalley #thesirens #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram

Jess flees her college campus to no see her sister Lucy. Lucy moved to a ramshackle house on the coast of New South Wales. The cove that she lives near is known for many mysterious events that led to the death of multiple victims. Jess finds the house empty and starts investigating Lucy’s disappearance as well as the men. Jess starts to have vivid dreams that mirror a shipwreck of femal convicts from the 1800s.

I feel like this book would be best enjoyed by people that like historical fiction and fantasy. Some parts were interesting to me but the plot line moved really slowly and I had a hard time staying engaged.






Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Much like Hart's debut, Wayward, The Sirens features three points of view that we follow across three different timelines. The first POV is from Lucy, who runs away to her sister Jess's house after waking up strangling her ex. Jess is missing, and during Lucy's quest to find her, she discovers Jess's journal. Most of Jess's storyline is conveyed through these journal entries, where we uncover many secrets that Jess has kept from Lucy. Both sisters are on a parallel journey of self-discovery.

As Lucy reads Jess's entries, we learn that both women have been having dreams about Mary and Eliza. This introduces us to the third POV. Mary and Eliza, with Eliza being Mary's blind sister, were transported from Ireland to Australia via prison transport, and we learn about their harrowing journey. All four women suffer from aquagenic urticaria, a water allergy that sets them apart from those around them.

As we uncover the struggles the women face, their secrets, their connection to the water, and their family lives, we are also presented with mysteries, such as why the men are disappearing from the so-called "Bermuda Triangle" of Australia, why they are sleepwalking, and why they are drawn to water despite its harmful effects on their skin.

I rated this book 3.5 stars, and I might adjust that rating upon further reflection. The pacing felt a bit slow for me; the big reveals were dragged out and felt somewhat obvious. Even the epilogue was predictable based on the story's progression. Nonetheless, I found all of the women intriguing, and their stories compelling. Although there is a minor fantasy element involving Meru, the story is primarily about self-discovery and connections across time. Hart's writing is beautiful; she is truly gifted in bringing these worlds to life in a vivid and remarkable way.

Overall, if you enjoyed Wayward, you will find The Sirens to be similarly enjoyable.

The Sirens is a story of female connection and strength, with a bit of mystery and magical realism as a bonus. The story is told in three timelines, with intriguing characters in each. Fans of the author's previous work, Weyward, will enjoy this upcoming release, as will historical fiction fans!

This is another solid historical fiction about strong women by Emilia Hart. Lucy, a college student, awakens to find herself strangling her ex-boyfriend. She flees to her sister's house, hoping she can help explain the vivid nightmares that had been plaguing her before the attack. When she arrives, Jess is missing. Lucy begins to explore her house and town, unearthing scary secrets and rumors.

This atmospheric, tense, and mysterious. It's unlike WEYWARD because the whole novel reads very dark. I liked that a lot. It wasn't as fast-paced, which is my only real complaint. Overall, I enjoyed this and I will read what she writes next.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC for review. I loved Weyward so when I saw the author had a new book releasing I had to read it!! I was not disappointed. This book is also historical fiction and jumps back and forth in time between women in the past and present and shows how the storylines are connected. This story connects women across time between a shipwreck in 1800 off the coast of Australia, and the same coast in 1999, and then again in 2019 and the bonds of sisters and the power women have in their fight for their own life and to survive. I liked the mystical element interwoven into the story. This book has similar themes as her previous book, so if you enjoyed Weyward, you will definitely enjoy this book as well. This author is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I will keep a look out for what she writes in the future!

A powerful story told in three timelines through the POVs of three women and how they are connected. A touch of magical realism and strength through love and support

This is my first book read by Emilia Har and will not be my last.

After Lucy was cyberbullied, causing her to flee school, she drives to her sisters house unannounced. This visit opens up all sorts of unanswered questions about her families' past.

The storyline shifts between several different times; current, 1999, and the 1800s. It did take me a little effort to keep all the characters straight at the beginning. The ending tied all the times together beautifully.

The writing was captivating and had me guessing and wondering what exactly was happening. I love these types of books.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

When Lucy wakes up from a sleep walking episode and finds herself strangling her ex-lover, she feels she has no choice but to run away. Where else could she go but to her sister, even if they are somewhat estranged at the moment. When she gets to her sister’s house however, she finds it unlocked and empty, her sister missing. All she finds are her sister’s paintings - depicting scenes of women on a prisoner ship. Scenes Lucy has dreamed about. The mystery of how her sister Jess knows what she’s dreamed, where she’s disappeared off to, and why these dreams seem so real keeps Lucy searching for answers while she avoids her own troubles.

This was an interesting idea for a book. It’s told in multiple points of view, and in multiple timelines, to piece together a whole story that keeps you immersed until the very end. I found it was definitely more on the mystery rather than the thriller sides of things, urging me to solve the puzzle before the ending. I loved the ending and the female empowerment.

Recommended if you like: multiple timelines, mystery/thrillers, magical realism

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Sirens on April 1, 2025.

This book was gorgeously written and came together in a stunning way. I love the moment when you see dual-timeline stories intersect, and maybe it's because I read this in almost one sitting, but I thought it happened seamlessly. The twists were shocking but believable, adding depth and nuance to the story that I really appreciated.

No matter which timeline and characters you interacted with, though, you witnessed beautiful moments of female bravery and womanhood. Were there parts that were difficult to read? Absolutely. But ultimately, the story ends on a hopeful note and pays homage to the generations of women who struggled and survived before us.

Hart’s prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the past and present blur, and where the consequences of decisions echo across generations. The characters are richly developed, each grappling with their own desires, limitations, and the pressures of their time. While the pacing is deliberate and introspective, the emotional depth and atmospheric tension make it a captivating read.

Beautiful. Captivating. Moving. Now I need to read Weyward. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press

I loved Weyward so much, I jumped at the chance to read this, and I was not disappointed in almost every way—I loved the present day v. historical narrative, the building connections, the twists—everything was delivered in a way that kept the action and tension at a high level the whole way though. I was immediately on edge from the first page and that unease never really went away.

This is not a lighthearted read—it's brutal, haunting, and steeped in feminine rage. Hart masterfully delivers a gripping, layered story that’s impossible to put down. However, one major plot point that drives the entire story is left unresolved by the end, which was disappointing and the reason I docked a star. Still, this is a powerful, unforgettable book that fans of Weyward will likely adore. A word of caution: the novel contains depictions of violence against women, so readers with sensitivities should tread carefully.

Wow - what a beautiful book!

This is an epic female fantasy that kept me captivated the entire way through. The Sirens follows Lucy and her Sister Jess. After becoming a victim of cyberbullying, Lucy runs away to her sisters new home located in an infamous beach town. Much to her surprise, her sister is not there. As she uncovers more secrets about her sister while trying to locate her, Lucy discovers one of their commonalities are dreams about 2 sisters from the 1800s, who after being convicted are stuck in the hull of a boat while being sent overseas to Australia.

The story of both sisters in The Sirens are beautifully interwoven. This is a story of female empowerment where the past and the present collide in which the 2 FMCs are able to discover a brighter future. The imagery in this book is so vivid I physically felt the cold, damp quarters of the ship as well as the island. Highly recommend.

Right from the get go, I had a difficult time with this book. I picked it up and set it down many times and it wasn't until I was granted access to the audiobook that I was finally able to make some progress. Weyward was one of my favorite reads of the year when it came out so I was greatly anticipating The Sirens. Unfortunately, this felt too fantasy for me to personally enjoy—where Weyward was more magical realism—and there wasn't enough plot to drive this story forward. Hart has an innate talent for beautiful, luscious prose and it shines through on the page here. Unfortunately, this plot wasn't enough to keep me interested or engaged.

Still, I am immensely grateful to St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Rating is a SOLID 3 Stars! I am not usually a historical fiction girly, however this one was right up my alley. The first half of this book laid a great foundation for the rest of my reading adventure. I loved how the chapters of past and present tie in so beautifully to enhance the overall plot. If you loved Weyward by Emilia Hart, you will love this! Also, how beautiful is this cover?!

I ended up DNFing this one about half way through. It felt like it was going in circles and my interest could not be kept. I didn't feel like the alternating POVs had separate voices or characters and it felt repetitive at times. I was hoping for more action and mermaids and atmosphere. The author does have some lovely prose at points but the story wasn't coming together for me. The narrator was good though.

Overall, this book was highly enjoyable and kept me interested the entire way through. I did find the reveals/twists to be predictable, but it wasn't in a bad way. I wish there was more mythology discussed and included in the book. I got a little confused at the end because so much was happening, but overall, the pace was good.