Firstly, I love the author’s writing style! Most of the book was creepy, cold, and mysterious, which was perfect for spooky season; however, I found the first half of the book was slow and I wasn’t really sucked in until about 65% of the way into the book. I felt like I was doing a lot of waiting for the build up. Overall, The Sirens was an interesting read and there were some shocking twists, but I felt like I was left with so many questions. I did enjoy it though!

I enjoyed this book for a multitude of the same reasons why I also enjoyed Weyward. The multiple POVs was interesting and with their corresponding time periods that went with their stories was also fantastic. I am also always here for feminist story and any dynamic that is very like sisterhood or female friendship heavy. Something about this one didn’t hit as hard for me like Weyward did and I think it was probably just because I do really enjoy the subject matter of witches more.

To say that this book was atmospheric would be doing it in injustice. I enjoyed reading this book so much. Time lines alternate from Lucy and Jess in 2019 and Mary and twin sister Eliza in the 1800s. This story was about sisterly bonds, a mysterious water allergy, women empowerment, and the mystical sea. It was equal parts, fantasy, magical realism and mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about two sisters, Jess and Lucy, with time jumps back to the 1800s with two other sisters, Mary and Eliza. Lucy flees from college after she "accidentally" chokes the guy who took her virginity, in search of her sister, Jess. She gets to Jess's house and nobody is home. Lucy begins trying to figure out where Jess went and she stumbles across Jess's diary from when she was young. Lucy finds out that her and Jess are more alike than she previously thought. The other part of this story involves Mary and Eliza, two sisters who are aboard a prison ship.

I literally don't know what to say about this book other than it was anti-climactic. The story itself flowed nice, I think the time jumps really saved it for me and kept me going. But the title, "The Sirens", gives the whole book away. Knowing the title, I can already assume.. Someone in this book is going to be a siren, and ope, look, Lucy has scaly skin and she can't get wet. Also, it felt like every chapter that started with Lucy, she was sleepwalking or finding herself near a body of water, which ended up feeling very repetitive.

It definitely was a book I didn't want to put down until I knew what happened, but then the ending left me unsatisfied. I can definitely see how this book would be appealing to some and not to others. I think this is a "you love it or you hate it" type of read.

Emilia Hart's The Sirens is a captivating, atmospheric novel that blends elements of historical fiction with mysticism and suspense. Set across multiple timelines, the book weaves together the lives of three women, each grappling with their own truths, secrets, and connections to the mythical sirens of legend.

What sets this novel apart from others in its genre is the haunting atmosphere Hart creates. There’s an almost cinematic quality to the descriptions of the coastal settings, and the tension builds slowly, making the eventual revelations both inevitable.

Minor critique : the novel’s predictability. While the building tension and mysterious elements certainly draw the reader in, the plot's eventual turns and revelations can feel a bit too foreseeable, in my opinion.

I still find Emilia’s writing both captivating and hypnotic, with a lyrical quality that draws the reader in and keeps them fully immersed in the world she's created.

Many (MANY) thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing a digital reviewer copy of this gorgeous novel in exchange for my honest review!

once again, emilia hart beautifully encapsulates womanhood, mythology, and the pure strength of women. i identified with lucy's character throughout the story and found her to be very realistic and her circumstances with her abuser was an accurate representation of how it feels to struggle.

I love Emilia Hart, it is always I’m not sure and then she just grabs me into the world. I like how the timelines were handled (sometimes I get so confused With them but this was clear). If you like her other work this is sure to be another gem

If Emilia Hart writes it, I’m gonna read it. I love this book almost as much as Weyward. This authors writing style is “chef’s kiss”! I’ll be buying this AS soon as it’s released!

Left this book confused. Not a good feeling. I heavily enjoyed own of the storylines, but it didn’t all come together how I had hoped.

Absolutely stunning cover.

I had the privilege of reading this as an arc thanks to netgalley, and my opinions are my own.
 
As a pisces, I'm naturally drawn to water. In all aspects, I have always felt it calls to me. Like most little girls, I dreamt of being part of the sea. Naturally, I was immediately  intrigued  by the nature of this book, from only the title.

This book follows the story of two sisters, Mary and Eliza. As the story progresses, it's apparent  that we are teetering between two timelines, far in the past and  currently in the present. What I really enjoyed is how the story ties together two seemling unconnected  strangers and the bond of sisterhood and love.

This book did a phenomenal job captivating my curiousity in a suspenseful  tale. This was such a beautiful  approach to the traditional stories of these mythical  creaturs bringing them to life in the modern day. It was very refreshing  to see the creative approach  of sirens twisting every little girls fantasy of becoming a mermaid into a curse the fmc had to live with. Highly recommend  this eerie book. I was at the edge of my trying to figure out this intense mystery.

I LOVED this book!!

If you were a fan o WEYWARD, you'll love this one

Thank you so much to NetGally and St. Martin Press for the ARC of THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart

I simply love Hart's writing style, she draws me in and keeps me engaged throughout the entire novel.

SIRENS unfolds across different timelines, told through the voices of women who have endured injustices committed against them by men.

We are taken on a journey of revenge, lies, murder, and self-discovery.

A must read! This book will not disappoint.

A haunting and mysterious tale that completely captivated me! This dual-timeline narrative weaves together the stories of two sets of sisters, both highlighting the beauty of female resilience and the enchanting allure of the sea. Hart's writing is truly breathtaking, transporting me into the magical wonder of these unique stories.

Overall a good story and a tale of two sisters. I liked the timeline switch and felt like the story kept me intrigued as it unfolded the mysteries

If you loved Weyward by Emilia Hart then you will definitely love this book. It is beautifully written and the characters are one you can fall in love with.
Lucy is running from what she’s done – and what someone did to her.

There’s only one person who might understand: her sister Jess. But when Lucy arrives at her sister’s desolate cliff-top house, Jess is gone.

Lucy is now alone, in a strange town steeped in rumour. Stories of men disappearing without a trace. A foundling discovered in a sea-swept cave. And women’s voices murmuring on the waves…

As Lucy searches for her sister, those voices get ever louder. They tell of two sisters, two centuries ago, bound and transported across the world. A world where men always get their way. A world that is at once distant, and achingly familiar.

Are these voices luring Lucy closer to her sister? Or will the secrets of the past pull them both under?

Emilia Hart certainly knows how to beat the feminist drum in the creepiest, most captivating way—give me all of it! She’s an incredible writer, and The Sirens will not disappoint Weyward fans.

The Sirens dives deep into the lives of women across generations, blending eerie mystery and folklore in a haunting seaside town. Lucy’s modern-day story unfolds with sleepwalking episodes and complex sisterly bonds, keeping you hooked. I loved the mermaid lore woven throughout!

And that cover—absolutely stunning!

Story of two sets of sisters.Sisters Mary and Eliza are forced to leave Cork. Ireland on a convict ship heading to
Australia for a committed crime. The hardships the sisters and other female prisoners undergo are horrific. When
the ship sinks, their truer nature is revealed.
In 2019, Lucy has an ex-lover who has posted pictures of her on the internet. When she wakes from a sleep
walking episode, she discovers she is trying to choke him to death. To escape, she flees to her sister who lives
in a distant coastal town .In falshbacks, her sister Jess's past is revealed and the reason for keeping distance from
her family. Linda discovers Jess's old journal which reveals Jess's secrets and a shocking truth about herself.
Both sisters have been dreaming about Mary and Eliza and discover a connection to the two.
Strong resilient female characters and their connection to the sea.
#TheSirens #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

The Sirens review:
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martin Press for allowing me to review the Emilia Hart’s newest novel, the Sirens! I want to start off by mentioning that I applied for this ARC after falling head-over-heels in love with Hart’s writing in Weyward - her debut novel. Weyward drew me in initially by the artistic way that Hart was able to seamlessly switch between the timelines of her three heroines; Altha, Kate, and Violet. I also loved her underlying themes of righteous feminine rage and the supernatural.
The Sirens also hooked me from the very first page. It starts with a young woman in distress after a series of dreams leads her to unconsciously commit a violent act. Immediately, the young woman (Lucy) realizes that she needs the help of her older sister to work through what is happening to her.
Through the dreams of Lucy and her older sister Jess, the Sirens depicts the story of Mary and Eliza, two Irish girls living in 1801 who are sentenced to exile and placed aboard a convict ship destined for New South Wales.
Throughout The Sirens, readers will learn that something powerful connects Lucy, Jess, Mary, and Eliza - something more powerful than the time that separates them.
Emilia Hart - holy crap I could not put this book down! Your writing is absolutely gorgeous, and you do your characters justice every time. I can’t wait to read your next novel!

I loved the writing style of this book and the way the different timelines went together. The imagery of the ocean & the story of the shipwreck were probably my favorite part. I will say the characters are complicated and not easily likeable for the most part, I understand why she did it as their complexity lends itself well to the story. The book drew me in and kept me there and for that it gets 4 stars.

This came close to being a 4 for me, but while I liked the book, I didn't love it, and the Epilogue felt a bit like it contrasted with some of the book's themes, which lost a lot of points.

The story is primarily a magical realism mystery that follows Lucy as she tries to figure out how her story overlaps with that of other female characters in the past. It is told through three perspectives at different points in time. There are strong feminist themes and a very well-visualized setting.

What did I like?
The mystery element was very well done. I was genuinely invested in the answers, and I didn't see it coming far in advance, though I should have.

What didn't I like? It was, for me, a bit slowly paced, with almost all of the 'action" at the very end. And while I enjoyed the detailed descriptions of the setting at the beginning, it began to feel repetitive and unnecessary by mid-way through the book.

Who's it for? The fans of mysteries and vibes. What this book did excellently was create a very immersive setting. Who isn't it for? Anyone who wants more action than setting.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy.

"Sirens" unfolds as a captivating and grand feminist fantasy story centered on four women embarking on a quest to uncover their individuality in a realm where equality is merely an illusion. They must navigate a landscape of chauvinism, learning to celebrate their differences and brilliance to carve out their own identities.

The tale kicks off in 2019, introducing Lucy, an 18-year-old journalism student who has fallen victim to cyberbullying at the hands of her secret boyfriend, who maliciously shared an intimate photo of her online, turning her into the target of ridicule at school. One fateful morning, Lucy finds herself sleepwalking and, in a fit of rage, choking him in her sleep, igniting a fear that she might ruin everything she has fought to achieve. In search of solace, she drives to the home of her estranged older sister Jess in Comper Bay, a coastal town in Australia shrouded in mystery, where countless men have vanished at sea over the years. Upon her arrival, Lucy discovers the door ajar, her sister's hasty departure evident, her phone left behind, and signs of a male visitor lingering in the air.

As Lucy waits for Jess to return, she is plagued by recurring nightmares of two sisters aboard a ship, battling for survival, and her sleepwalking episodes intensify.

When Lucy stumbles upon Jess's diary concealed within the house, she is unaware that her life is on the brink of a profound transformation. The diary transports back to 1999, when Jess lived with their parents in a rural community. Isolated due to a rare skin condition known as aquagenic urticaria, which renders water perilous, Jess finds refuge in her artistic pursuits. As Jess delves deeper into her condition, she begins to suspect that her parents are concealing dark secrets about her illness that she is determined to uncover.

The scene transitions to the 1800s, where we meet Mary and Eliza, twin sisters hailing from Ireland, who endure torments from the fate of their own.

The stories of these four women intertwine, bridging the gap between past and present, guiding them toward a shared future. "Sirens" unfolds as a compelling story of female empowerment, intricately laced with elements of fantasy and a fresh perspective on historical events.

The character arcs and the captivating storyline created an engaging and fulfilling experience for me, and I definitely feel like those who have enjoyed the author's earlier work, "Weyward.", is gonna like this one as well! It’s a mesmerizing odyssey through various eras, and of self-discovery!

On an enjoyment scale though, it was moderate for me. I loved the premise of this book but my feelings towards this book fluctuated while reading it, but i still do recommend this!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!.