A magical, haunting story that will stick with you. I loved this book. The mystery and the eloquence Emilia used to bring it all together was beautiful!

Highly recommend preordering this one!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

This was a tough book to get through and I find with dual timelines, if both story lines aren’t equally strong, it’s hard to keep reading when one POV story line ends and the weaker POV story line picks up again. And this book suffered from that issue. I found the historical timeline much more interesting with higher stakes and deeper characters. And then, when we switched back to Lucy, things fell flat. In the very beginning, she held her own in this novel, but as time went on, Lucy’s timeline weakened and I started to not be as invested in her character or her journey.

Without getting in to too much detail, I also feel that the end did not payoff like it should have and not all of my questions were answered.

For these two big reasons, I had to give it three stars.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the aspect of the mermaids and I always love dual POVs. One bit of feedback...goats/sheep do not neigh, they bleed. Horses neigh.

A wonderful feminist tale of an historical fiction with powerful characters. This is my first contact with this author's work. Different time lines, different narratives, relatable with strong imagery.

The cover art, the suggestion of sirens, and the mystery of the missing sister pulled me into this book immediately!

We are just dropped into it with Lucy waking up with her hands around a boys throat; we follow Lucy in her desperate fear to get away from everything that's happened at school and can only trust that her sister Jess will be able to shelter her, in spite of their distant relationship recently. We get multiple POV; mostly we follow Lucy and her modern day waiting game and Mary's who is trapped as a convict on a ship with her sister, bound for lands unknown (to her).

Its hard for me to review without spoilers. The first half of the book was great, I loved the build up, I loved the intensity of Lucy's emotions, turmoil, and eventual intrigue into her sister's life all while waiting and hoping Jess returns home soon. The explanation of WHERE Jess was for the missing time wasn't realistic or believable for me, it felt lack lustre compared to the rest of the story. Lucy was the best part of this story, and her journal through the truth of the town, what happened, the history she digs up for everything was the only part keeping me reading. Mary and Eliza's story comes to a good conclusion, their influence throughout was great.

Overall, great read. If you're thinking of reading it, Id recommend diving in (excuse the pun)!

I would give this book more of a 2.5 stars. The premise was super interesting, and I was really excited to be selected to read it. Unfortunately, the story spends a lot of time building up to a very underwhelming conclusion. I think if executed differently I would’ve really been a fan. I love the power of sisters concept and you definitely get initially sucked in, but it falls off a bit in an effort to wrap everything up.

Emilia Harts debut book, Weyward, was one of my top books of last year so The Sirens had BIG shoes to fill. It didn’t quite fill them but I still really enjoyed the book.

The Sirens follows two sisters in the 1800s as they’re taken away on a prisoner ship and modern day of a girl whose body is going through strange changes as she begins to have intense dreams of sirens.

I absolutely love the way Emilia Hart writes. Her writing has such a whimsical feel to it. The way she describes the changes the women are going through in such a way that you can feel it yourself. I think the story would’ve felt more magical if one of the POVs wasn’t in modern times. For some reason, that just took me out of the story. I also felt like the ending was wrapped up too quickly with no real satisfying resolution.

I can’t wait to read what Emilia Hart will write next. 🧜🏻‍♀️
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

This book was fantastic.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for my advanced copy of The Sirens.

Amelia Hart is a new favorite author of mine.

The Sirens was beautifully written and has something for every reader. History, mystery, adventure and fantasy.

I was a huge big of the dual timelines, multiple POVs and diary entries.

Being able to read this book prior to its release has been such a privilege. I look forward to reading more by this author and highly recommend her previous novel Weyward.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart tells 2 stories. The first is present day Lucy and her sister Jess. The second is Mary and Adelia who in 1800s get sent to Australia by ship. The stories converge at the end.

A part real part mythical story that kept me reading. All though the writing was good it was some what on the dark side. Lucy is the most relatable character. All are very strong female characters. I felt I wanted to learn more about the sirens.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Emila Hart has become one of my favorite authors. Weyward was a beautiful debut and Sirens is just as amazing and became such a favorite read of mine this fall.

A historical fantasy, our history element is a prison ship filled with woman heading to New South Wales (Australia) and two sisters experience during this journey. Our present timeline is focused on Lucy as she discovers her family secrets and what happened to her sister Jess.

A time, this story felt predictable but Hart does a great job adding twists and reveals amongst the predictable. This story is beautifully written, with painful parts but also heartfelt moments.

I’m looking forward to when this one is published next year because I need to add it to my collection. The cover is stunning and I can see my self wanting to reread this one in the future.

I love Weyward, so I was SO excited to read The Sirens. It was unexpected in the most wonderful way. The book description does a great job hooking the reader. I don’t want to give anything away. The writing was lovely and haunting and beautiful and the ending was perfect.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

🎧Song Pairing: Daughter of the Sea - Eliott Tordo Erhu (I wanted a female sung sea shanty and wow look that collection up. She a MOOD)

💭What I thought would happen:

Sirens…mermaids I mean if it’s not I’ll be very sadly disappointed (note: no disappointment here)

📖What actually happens:

1800s - transportation of female prisoners from
Ireland to New South Wales. Women accused to petty crimes who said F*** you to the man.

Current Year - Lucy wakes up strangling a classmate who f*cked her then posted her naked on the internet. She decides to flee to her sister for help and is confused to find her missing.

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

This one comes out April 2025 and I’ve already read and reviewed?! Who in the hell am I 😂 lots of changes coming spring so best to do it now!

Ya’ll….need words to describe this book but woah just seems best. It’s soo atmospheric. I swear I could feel salt water on my face and a chill to my bones while reading.

It has mystery, question marks on the past, 2 very different timelines, revenge on men, magic & family ties. Need I say more?

Overall, a slow burn so maybe brace for that but I also desperately wanted to savour it. I learned a LOT about New South Wales/Australia. 🤓

Can’t wait to hear others thoughts! Especially the fans of Weyward!

This is a fantasy/historical fiction book that is told in a dual timeline. One timeline takes place in the past and follows sisters as they are forced to leave their home in Ireland and placed on a ship to a new home. As they are on the ship, they realize they are starting to change.
The present day story follows another family and to be honest, I liked this storyline better than the past. It starts with Lucy as she is fleeing from her college to visit her sister that she has been a bit estranged from. Lucy had an unfortunate event that happened with a male student at her college and she needs time away to help heal. When she arrives at her sister's home, she discovers her sister is missing and appears to have been taken.

I loved the other book by this author, but this one was pretty confusing to me. I liked the present storyline much more than the past. I feel a little more editing needs to take place in the past storyline to help it read better.

3 stars, but I will continue to read future books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Sirens by Emilia Hart in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Emilia Hart's Weyward, so I was excited to see a new book from her. The Sirens did not disappoint.
Atmospheric, and eerie- I loved the story telling. Much like Weyward, The Sirens is a book about female strength through the generations. While sharing a message, I think The Sirens offers a very different vibe.
It was weird, and perhaps predictable at times, but I couldn't put it down. I very much enjoyed the 2 timelines to unravel the story.

I especially think you'll enjoy this if you're a fan of Weyward.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for an early copy for review.

I’ve been haunted by the siren song of The Sirens ever since I closed its pages. Emilia Hart has crafted a mesmerizing tale that weaves together history, fantasy, and a deep exploration of female identity.

The story follows Lucy, a modern-day college student grappling with haunting dreams and a mysterious past. As she delves deeper into her family history, she discovers a connection to her estranged sister, Jess, and a pair of Irish twin convicts from the 1800s.

Hart's writing is a lyrical masterpiece, drawing the reader into a world both familiar and fantastical. The descriptions of the sea are evocative, capturing its power and beauty while hinting at the lurking danger beneath the surface. The characters are complex and relatable, each struggling to find their place in a world that often feels hostile.

What truly sets The Sirens apart is its exploration of female empowerment. The women at the heart of this story are fierce, resilient, and capable of extraordinary feats. They defy societal expectations, break free from their chains, and reclaim their power.

While I can't reveal too much about the plot, I can promise that the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the very end. The climax is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating, leaving a lasting impression.

If you're a fan of historical fiction, fantasy, or stories that explore the complexities of female identity, The Sirens is a must-read. Prepare to be captivated, challenged, and inspired.

Emotional, evocative, magical - if you loved Weyward for these qualities, you'll love The Sirens, too.

We mainly experience this novel through Lucy, a college student who wakes up to find her hands around the neck of the boy who betrayed her. She leaves campus in the middle of the night and drives to the remote ramshackle house her big sister Jess recently moved to on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. A strange choice given that the two share a common trait - severe skin allergies when exposed to water. Jess is missing when Lucy arrives, but she realizes the two of them have something else in common: shared sleepwalking dreams (which Jess has been documenting in haunting paintings strewn across the decaying house) about sisters on a convict ship from Ireland in the early 1800s that sank right off the shore next to the Cliff House.

I loved this book for all the reasons I loved Weyward, Emilia Hart's debut novel. The writing is gorgeous, with especially immersive descriptions of the natural world - this time, the sea instead of the earth. The magical elements were mystical and mysterious, and the way they were tied in with the sea and nature made the whole novel feel very atmospheric. And the men in this were, similar to Weyward, deserving of what they got (if men doing bad things was something you disliked about Weyward, you'll probably feel similarly here).

But for all these similarities, this is very much its own story. The characters were unique and complex, and the story highlighted some extremely emotional family dynamics, with themes of sisterhood and identity and genetic memory.

4.5 stars (would maybe have been 5, but the epilogue ended things on a weird note)

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this ARC to read and review.

3.5 rounded up to 4. The pacing of this book was odd. Dragging or breakneck but never finding its flow. Interesting premise that just needed a little bit more ironing out.

Simply loved this. I read it in a flash because I couldn’t put it down! Can’t wait to see the gorgeous cover on bookshop shelves. Bravo, Emilia!

I was so excited to get to is one because I loved Weyward! It did not disappoint. Emilia Hart is an incredible writer. This book was pretty weird, well written, had me invested in all the characters. Magical realism is such a fun genre.

Loved:
-Writing style
-Multiple timelines/POV
-Setting and description of the sea
-Magical realism elements

What I didn’t like:
-the teacher…can’t say much more without spoiling
-I wanted Mary and Eliza’s chapters to be longer
-Lucy and Jess’s parents role in the mystery
-The pacing felt off at times The middle was a bit boring and then it ramps up in the last 10% where so many things are explained.

While I didn’t love this one as much as Weyward, it’s such a creative story and well worth the read!

Lucy is away at college when she sleepwalks and almost kills a guy she was seeing who did her wrong. She leaves in a rush to get help from her older sister Jess who she believes is the only person who will know what to do. Jess and Lucy have a strained relationship. Jess has recently moved to an eerie house in a town which men have been going missing for years. When Lucy arrives, Jess isn’t there but her newest paintings for an art show depict the scary dreams Lucy has been having. Is it possible Jess also dreams about these two sisters on a convict ship? Soon Lucy finds Jess’ old diary from high school and begins to piece together the mystery of her family life and how these two women are connected to them. Jess and Lucy also have the same skin condition which causes them to avoid water by any means possible. It seems that these women of the past also have the same affliction. How are they connected?
I enjoyed this book. I liked how the timelines and view points changed from Lucy, to Jess, to Mary and Eliza with each chapter. I did feel like it dragged on a bit towards the end and some of the chapters could have been condensed. What really kept me reading was the need to know where Jess came from and how she was related to either Mary or Eliza. I loved how the ending wrapped that up. I will say, I wish there was a little more elaboration on that. Where did Mary go after birthing Jess? Did she die since Robert never saw her again? Is she immortal? She would have been around 200 years old at that point. I’m also curious to know what happened to Birdie, Sarah and Annie after they were saved and left on a raft. I feel like there could have been a little more explanation on some of these stories which were big parts of the book.
Thank you, St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book!