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.

This was so unique and just so good. The story just flowed like water. I kept turning the pages because I was very curious to know more.
I definitely want to read more from this author.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this arc of The Sirens, out April 1, 2025!

📜Quick Summary: (2019) Lucy wakes up to the sound of yelling, and her hands around her boyfriend’s neck. As she comes to the realization of what’s happening, and feeling the demise of her life here at college, she runs away. How are her sleepwalking habits returning? What just happened to her? She runs to the only person she thinks that can help her; her estranged sister Jess. She hasn’t seen her in awhile, but she will help her….right? But when she arrives at her sister’s house, she’s not there…she’s vanished. Our second story line flashes back to the 1800’s, with twin sisters Mary and Eliza. As they travel with other fellow female convicts on a ship to New South Wales, things don’t exactly go as planned. Their bodies are changing too…and Mary worries they may arrive to NSW in different bodies.

❣️Initial Feels: Both story lines are interesting in their own ways… About 25% of the way in, I finally feel settled.

👀Trigger Warnings: death, sexual assault

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Throughout the unraveling of the different point of views, I found myself drawn to Jess. Her grit and determination, but also selflessness, shone brighter as the story went on. She endured so much as a child, yet made decisions for someone else.

📖Read if you want: mystery, sisterhood, strong female leads, dual point of views, multiple story lines, magical elements

💡Final Sentiments: I love historical fiction novels, because they often teach us new history lessons we were never aware of. I was unaware of the female convicts who were shipped to Australia, to then be used as wives or slaves. This novel tied together a present day pairing with a historical pair, and although it took me a bit to get into the grit of the novel, once I started piecing together the pieces, I really enjoyed it. Some of the ideas are a little far fetched, but that’s where the magical realism piece reels you back in. Overall, a well written novel that shows the strength of a woman, the heart of many women working together, and the love that transcends time and space.

🌟Overall Rating: 4 stars

I had high expectations for this book after reading Weyward. It was a darker storyline. The relationships between characters were interesting. I did not like the teacher and student thing. This read was alright.

I read and loved this author's book Weyward. I didn't know exactly what to expect from this one but I did enjoy it also. It kept me turning the pages until the very ending which I did not see coming. Not that this is a thriller but still... I did not see that part coming.

Four women from two different timelines. Two sets of sisters. Connected in a way that is almost unbelievable. Until you open your heart and "believe." Also between the chapters are some diary entries from one young woman in 1999.

In October of the year 1800 two sisters from Cove of Cork, Ireland are found guilty of a crime. While it was self-defense they were still convicted and sent to New South Wales, Australia. They were put on a boat along with many other women who were convicted and exiled to Australia. Mary and Eliza are these two young ladies. Their path already paved. Their destination mapped out for them.

In February of 2019 Lucy wakes to a scream. She has no idea how she is there doing what she is doing. She has a young man by the throat. She's strangling him. She has no memory of how she got there or how it happened. She runs. She leaves and goes to her sister Jess. Jess is not home and has no idea that Lucy is on the way. Jess is on a mission of her own. What lies ahead for these two young women is life altering.

What happens in these two sets of sister's lives is a story that you will not believe. It's a tragedy and an awakening. Lives changed forever. I knew that convicts were sent to Australia many years ago. I did not know that boats filled with women were sent and the men there allowed to take them and claim them. To do horrible things. In this story there is a little bit of justice. Just a bit though and not graphic.

This book was a fun read yet also intense in places. A story that made me believe in Mermaids again. While losing a tiny bit of faith in humans who destroyed the Aborigines like the white man did the Indians in the US to make a country a place for convicted criminals that society no longer wanted to deal with. At least in Australia that was the case back then. While this book touches on sexual abuse from a teacher it's not graphic and did not cause any problems while reading.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, and #Macmillanaudio for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five stars

There’s a lot to love about this novel, and I think if you’re a fan of Weyward, you’ll enjoy this one as well. The Sirens is a slow burn mystery with some historical fiction and magical realism mixed in. The descriptive passages and beautiful writing kept me hooked almost all the way through. It’s a definite page turner, and and really entertaining read. Emilia Hart is absolutely still an auto buy author to me.
I didn't feel a big connection to any of the characters in the story, which is one of the reasons why I didn’t give it a full five stars. I also felt as though Mary and Eliza’s story was a little bit too disconnected from the present day.

Overall definitely recommend. Really creative and beautiful storytelling.

A magical , beautiful book full of wonder..and a bit of family mystery. There were some predictable parts but for the most part it was unique.
Thankful to have read this and also to have had the audio version. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Sirens is an enticing story about two sisters finding their way back to each other, and discovering who they really are and their place in the world.

Emilia's writing is beautiful, with dark and moody vivid imagery that had me captivated from the first page. It did start off a little slow, but then quickly picked up.

I loved following the different POV's and getting to know each character. I was a little disappointed in the ending, since I expected more from the buildup, and there were a couple loose ends where I would have liked some more closure. However, this book is perfect if you are looking for a rainy day read with a focus on female resistance, mystery, and fantasy.

The Sirens is a dual POV, multi-timeline story about two sets of sisters, told nearly 200 years apart. In 2019, Lucy is having nightmares about two sisters & finding herself sleepwalking into dangerous situations. She goes to her older sister, Jess, for help, only to find Jess has disappeared. Lucy realizes that Jess has been painting the two sisters that Lucy has been dreaming about, and Lucy starts to investigate where her sister has gone, and who are the women they seem to both be dreaming about. In 1800, sisters Mary and Eliza are shackled aboard a prison ship meant for New South Wales from Ireland, desperate to survive the perilous journey.
This was a slow burn of a book, I did feel like parts of Lucy's story dragged a little, but by the end when it all came together, I thought the wait was worth it. I really enjoyed the mystery and magic interspersed throughout the book, and I was rooting for each one of the women at the center of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Sirens in exchange for my honest review.

Without having read "Weyward", I went into "The Sirens" with an open mind, ready to be swept off my feet. I was pleasantly surprised with the writing and characters. The way Emilia Hart weaves all of her characters together felt like a quilt of time. Everyone felt like a family, knitted together by a golden thread. It was pleasant and magical.

The plot was neatly done, and I wish I could say the ending was more surprising or better. I wish the reveal was done in a way that was more shocking or put a better bow on the story and made me feel more complete instead of let down. My final rating for the book would be closer to 3.5/5 rather than 4.

It's whimsical and magical -- a great October read that is perfect for the siren or mermaid in your life. The story starts off strong and weakens towards the end, which was my biggest gripe with the book. It simply left me wanting more.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a story about love and loss and the watery depths where the truth sometimes hides.

The story is a dual timeliness that follows two sisters centuries apart. Lucy searches for her estranged sister after she suffers a personal crisis and is plunged back into the past where local legends and tragedies at sea may explain their difficult relationship. Mary and Eliza are transported by convict ship from 1800s Ireland to Australia after an innocent crime forces them into exile. On their journey they are forced to confront the haunting memories of the sea and their mother which may explain their difficult predicament. Secrets and sirens interweave like seaweed in this harrowing tale about vengeance, women, and identity.

This story explored the 'merrow' mythos from Ireland, using it to tell a story about revenge and justice and the plight of women living in a "man's world." The descriptions of water were beautiful, adding a visceral feeling as I was reading it. The mystery in the contemporary timeline was a page turner, while the 19th century plot was educational as I did not know much about the history of convict ships. I have read a few novels about selkies/mermaids over the years, but The Sirens was more original and not simply fantastical, as the folklore was used to tell a heartbreaking story about sisterhood and healing.

With that being said, aspects of the story did remind me of The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland, but in the best ways possible. I love that The Sirens also explored the water creature mythos, and I do think Australian authors are the best at making the sea/ocean come alive. Also,since I was a fan of 'Weyward' I can't help but feel that this book lacked the subtle magical writing that the previous book had.

Overall The Sirens is an enchanting story about the magical ability of water to heal, cleanse, and protect.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart completely swept me away. It’s one of those stories that lingers long after you finish it—a stunning mix of historical fiction, magical realism, and deeply emotional storytelling about sisterhood and self-discovery.

The book follows four women across different timelines. In 2019, Lucy is dealing with the fallout of a horrible betrayal when she runs to her estranged sister Jess for help. But Jess is missing, and the house she left behind is full of questions. As Lucy searches for answers, she starts having vivid, unsettling dreams about two sisters from centuries ago. In 1999, Jess struggles with a rare condition that makes her allergic to water, isolating her from the world and forcing her to confront her family’s secrets. Then there’s Mary and Eliza, twin sisters from the 1800s, who are sent to Australia as convicts.

Their journey to Australia, on the prison ship forces them to confront the sea in ways they never imagined, uncovering something strange and deeply unsettling about themselves.

What I really loved the most was how beautifully everything came together. The connections between the women, the haunting seaside setting, and the way the past and present intertwined. I thought it all felt so seamless and powerful. I was completely hooked from start to finish.

If you loved Weyward, (as I did) you should pick this up. Emilia Hart writes women’s stories with so much heart and strength, and this one is no exception. A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

I got this from netgalley and the description def drew me with nightmares preceding a “sleep walk” attack on an ex-lover and the description to quote “A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, The Sirens captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.”

It is def a more feminist story of resilience and sisterhood but there were to many story lines and I feel like the nightmares and the true start of the story were just kind of dismissed- that part didn’t fully connect for me
I get that this is about getting back at men who target women or who are predators but there were still holes or drops in the story that threw me a bit and especially the prologue! That really messed it up because it is supposed to be about sisterhood and all that but essentially then says the man cheated because his wife withdrew after losing babies and not being able to have their own child … how is that a god man or indicating he is good or different than than the others he was out being unfaithful at sea … and how is she helping sisterhood or women by being with a married man?!?
That aside the story was original and kept me reading I just think they tried to do too much and dropped a lot because it was just too much so it leaves holes - but that could just be me and my preferences
In no way was it horrible I still finished it and found it to be entertaining

I am such a big fan of Emilia's writing. Her way of bringing history and weave it with generations is wonderful. I loved Weyward so when I seen The Sirens I knew I had to get my hands on it! Again we are set in three different time periods with three different POVs. I was gripped from the very first chapter. The little twist had me gasping in the end. A beautiful story of sisterhood and love. I was also fortunate to get an audio arc for this too and the narration was done beautifully.

Thank you to Macmillan audio for the gifted audio arc and St. Martin for the ebook arc.

4 stars

This book is a dash of historical fiction, a dash of fantasy, a solid dose of feminism, and overall a fun read (or listen - audiobook recommended when and where accessible).

Because the narrative happens over the course of three distinct timelines, readers need to pay attention to make sure they're keeping up with the events of each moment and the connections between them. While this structure could become overly complicated quickly, it doesn't. I'll admit that I found myself least interested in the earliest timeline (which is the opposite of how these things tend to fall out for me), but even that dip in interest was slight and periodic.

The main activity of the novel begins in 2019 with Lucy, who is attempting to process a horrible event she has experienced (and readers in any kind of know about how these situations CAN be handled on university campuses will want to run right over and punch an admin or two of Lucy's. Yuck). Lucy scoots away from these troubles to go visit her sister, who is suspiciously and inexplicably absent. From here, readers jump between timelines, learn about a peculiar skin condition, and ultimately discover how all of these characters and events connect.

My vagueness is intentional. This is not a thriller, and the connections are not particularly surprising, but part of the joy of this particular narrative is in watching those ties come to light.

This is my second book by this author, and so far, it's my favorite. I recommend this to folks looking for an intriguing approach to an unfortunately age-old situation.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book

Could not ask for a better book.

Didn't know if I would like it based on the description and limited feedback, but wow it was so good.

NetGalley has come out with so great books lately. Wish I could read them all. I added Emelia Hart to my author list!

Recommend.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is though provoking historical fiction and fantasy mashup that will grab your attention from page one and refuse to let go. I loved Weyward so I was thinking incredibly excited for this one. And it did not disappoint. From the beginning the story is full of eerie and dark undertones that left me feeling unnerved. That atmospheric vibe continued throughout the story. I really loved the use of multiple povs and timelines to tell the stories. The folklore and history that surrounded the mermaids made them feel so realistic. This was a truly wonderful work of fiction that makes you think and feel so much. I highly recommend if you're looking for an eerie story full of magical realism and secrets.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Such an interesting plot! I really enjoy reading books that don’t slot easily into genres. Was this fantasy or historical? Family drama or psychological thriller? It was all and more.
Lucy always knew she was different because of her skin condition. And when she wakes one morning strangling a fellow student at her college she knows there is only one person who can help, her sister Jess. Yet when she arrives at her sister’s new house on the cliffs, her sister is nowhere to be found and Lucy worries something has happened. And her nightmares are getting more insistent in telling the tale of Mary and Eliza and her sleepwalking is getting more out of hand. Will she walk over the cliff? And why has her sister painted the women from her dreams?
Original, sharply written and atmospheric. This is definitely worth the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

The Sirens intertwines POVs of two sets of sisters in present day, 20 years prior, and 1800. I was entranced from the beginning and cared about all POVs equally. This novel is the perfect blend of magical realism, mystery, and historical fiction. I deeply hated part of the epilogue, but that is my personal opinion.

Narration performed by Barrie Kreinik was outstanding as always.

I received an ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.