I really enjoyed this book and found it super atmospheric, suspenseful and interesting. The setting was spot on and well described throughout the entire book - you felt the ocean in every aspect. I loved that I got to read this beachside!

The themes of sisterhood were great in this - the feeling of an unnamable bond, the way life throws you together almost subconsciously because you just know the other one needs you. How you can feel things about the other person that can’t be explained.

The book dove into the blurry nature of “right vs wrong”, especially when it comes to victims having no good choices in certain situations. The way you can view someone a certain way your whole life but never fully know who they are and what they are capable of doing to make life easier. And how you can do uncharacteristic things when you feel you’re out of options - when the laws don’t defend you, the people you trust take advantage of you, and you’re faced with problems that no one else will fix.

The intertwined storylines were well done throughout the entire book. Switching perspectives is so hard to do, add in the different timelines and many details unfolding about all of the characters, its impressive how well the book flowed together. The blend current storyline with Lucy and her family was really well done across all parts.

The historical timeline of the two sisters was really interesting and kept readers on the edge of our seat. There’s a lot to takeaway about European and Australian history, particularly in a period of time through massive mistreatment of criminals and women. I agree with other reviewers that there was a missing thread to pull through with this storyline and I could see why it falls flat.

The writing is good, But I found the story to be boring. I finished it and felt like nothing happened.

THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart
Barrie Kreinik (Narrator)
Colleen Chi-Girl on GR
**** 4 solid Stars
Bookshelves: 2024, audio, australia, contemporary, crime-mysteries, education-teaching, fairytales-fantasy, feminism, historical-fiction, ireland-irish, netgalley, read, thrillers, women-centered

This novel written by Emilia Hart is not your typical novel/audiobook and it's hard to put just 1-2 labels on it, but I will happily say it has an undercurrent of a strong-feminist theme. This story has 2 timelines, the 1st timeline being current day Australia with younger sister Jess (about 18-19 years old) and her beloved older sister, Lucy, The sisters are close, despite the age gap, although they haven't been in touch as much recently. They happen to have great parents and it feels like it'll be happy and uplifting. However, Jess is having a problem at school with her hopeful-would-be-boyfriend when a photo of her is leaked. Jess has a rare skin condition where she can't be near water and even sweating creates marks on her skin. Jess can't bare that the photo is leaked, nasty teens, social media, etc., and she decides to escape and visit Lucy, an artist living in a seaside cottage. The problem is, when Jess arrives, she can't find Lucy. Some secondary characters are introduced and Jess learns more about her own strengths and memories as time goes by. This timeline has strong, feel-good-vibes, while also leading toward a mystical theme.

The 2nd timeline in the 1800's is completely different, featuring twin sisters Eliza and Mary from Ireland. If you know anything of Ireland's tragic 1800's history, including the potato famine, losing land, farms, food, and livelihoods to the English, these starving and desperate people had a couple choices: get on a coffin ship bound for Canada, USA, or Australia, or steal food. If caught, they would be jailed, killed, or sent away as "convicts" to Australia (in this story). This era and theme also has a mystical and mythical feel, but introduces fantasy and magical realism in a deeper way. The historical aspect is always appealing to me and Emilia Hart does it in a way where it's just part of the story.

Hart also did a terrific job keeping the 4 female characters present in their own lives and time periods, yet having all these women face their own dilemmas and demons in the intriguing dual plot. Their strengths and mystique become more obvious to them as they strengthen. Sometimes dual timelines can be difficult to keep your head around, but the way Hart has it develop and unfold is enjoyable and well worth it. You'll have to discover what the 4 women have in common...

Finally, I appreciated the strong women theme and sisterhood. As a child of the 1970's watching the feminist movement begin and led by so many brave and amazing women, it became part of who I am. I learned from Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, Ms. Magazine, Saturday Night Live, the music, etc., so this feminine vibe was right up my alley. And the title and cover of this novel are gorgeous, and the narrator kept all the characters straight.

I'd like to thank the publisher, St. Martin's Press, NetGalley, and the author for my ARC copy. My reviews and opinions are strictly my own.

4 ⭐️ I loved this book!

On the run from a crazy sleepwalking episode where she nearly strangled someone on her sleep, Lucy runs to the coast to seek her sister Jess’ help. Except Jess is nowhere to be found. The small town she’s ended up in is steeped in mystery & magic and soon it starts to creep into her dreams.

Told from the POV of two sets of women across three timelines, their stories are beautifully intricate and are irrevocably linked. Their stories are one of love, determination and the power of women overcoming. This was magical and mysterious, the audio was incredibly done and had me sucked in. I couldn’t wait to keep listening.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this early audiobook!

3 stars

I dunno, I wasn’t a huge fan. I think there’s already so many mermaid/selkie stories out there, it just felt like this was another one to add to the list. It didn’t stand out for any good or bad reason. I haven’t read “Weyward” yet, but might give it and the author another chance.

Would moderately recommend this for readers of historical fiction or non-fiction, and lovers of the ocean and small towns.

(I received this ALC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. Thank you.)

The Sirens was such an enchanting read! I absolutely loved the alternating points of view between Lucy’s tense present-day search, Jess’s diary entries, and the gripping 1800s storyline with Mary and Eliza. The mystery had me hooked from the start, especially with the strange rumors about Lucy’s sister’s town and the eerie whispers on the waves. The way the timelines connected was so well done!

If you love atmospheric historical magical realism, you will love this!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my review.

A follow up to Weyward, which I had adored, this one centers around a girl as she finds herself fleeing to her sister’s home after a situation at university. But when she arrives, her sister is nowhere to be found. Between trying to unravel where her sister went, she finds out things about herself and her family that she wasn’t expecting.

Following three unique timelines, The Sirens is written in a similar voice as what made Weyward so captivating. If you enjoyed her previous book, I think one will enjoy this one.

The audiobook did a great job capturing all of the different accents of the various characters and I really enjoyed it!

The Sirens is a captivating story about two pairs of sisters: Mary and Eliza, who travel on a convict ship from Ireland in 1800, and Jess and Lucy, in 2019 Australia. Hart effectively combines history and magical realism to create a tale that links these sisters in interesting ways. Their lives are filled with inexplicable moments and challenges, and they struggle to fully understand them. The theme of escape is present throughout the book and, while it is an interesting concept, it leaves a few unresolved threads. Overall, I enjoyed this book as much as Hart’s Weyward, and I look forward to reading future books by her. One particular push for the audiobook: it is beautifully narrated by Barrie Kreinik, one of my favorite narrators, and her voice is perfect for this story. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review of this audiobook.

I was excited to pick up this title because of how much I liked Weyward. There are a lot of ways that this one feels similar to Weyward- the mysterious, suspenseful mood and the inclusion of mythical elements. But this one fell a little bit flatter for me. I found the competing timelines and switch in point of view to be a little disorienting and the ending a little unsatisfying. But it is unique and creative novel!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sirens is a powerful woman story that spans across two timelines and the story of four different woman (Lucy/Jess 2019 and Mary/Eliza 1800s). The character growth in this novel is one that I really enjoyed as well as the bonds shared between sisters. I was intrigued the whole time, the story was really captivating. I do recommend this book!

The Sirens
Emilia Hart

The Sirens is Emilia Hart’s second novel, coming at the heels of her debut success with Weyward. This is a story of four women, told across two timelines – sisters Lucy and Jesse in the 21st century and twins Mary and Eliza in the 1800’s. The start is a bit slow, but quickly picks up. The novel is quite enjoyable, with an intricate plot and intriguing, well developed characters. That being said, it suffers from being a “second novel,” in the sense that the author seems to have deliberately played it safe, sticking to the formula of her first novel, and not trying something new or overly ambitious.

It is a feminist novel, dealing with women who have suffered abuse and violence at the hands of men, and their eventual comeuppance. Just like Weyward, it blends fantasy and magical realism with elements of historical fiction. I am sure fans of Weyward will similarly enjoy The Sirens. I look forward to the author hopefully stepping out of her comfort zone and expanding her horizons with her future work as she is obviously a very talented storyteller.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of The Sirens by Emilia Hart in exchange for an honest review. This book was so beautiful. I loved the new take on mermaid lore, the dual timelines and the characters. Plus, I wish that Bay was real in Australia as I really want to visit it.

Earlier this year I read Weyward from this author and liked it.

So of course I wanted to also read this book.
“Sirens” tells the story of sisterhood across time and space and their connection to the magic of the sea. In the present (2019), Lucy goes to Australia to find her sister Jess, after waking up from a dream with her hands around her ex’s throat. But Jess is missing.

Through her diary from 20 years ago we find about her past and what secrets she kept. Both Lucy and Jess have a rare allergy to water.

In another timeline (in 1800) we find the story of twin sisters Mary and Eliza, that were taken from their home in Ireland and forced onto a ship heading to Australia. During the journey they begin to notice changes to their bodies.
The beginning of the story is a bit slow, but I was intrigued but the plot and listened to the audiobook in one day.

Even if there is only one narrator, you can easily differentiate the perspectives. Barrie Kreinik did a good job with all the characters and the accents. With multiple perspectives and timelines I was expecting to have a harder time following the plot, but I had no issues.

There atmosphere during the book is dark and there is tension and suspense. The plot has some twists, Lucy and Jess’s past is full of secrets. Even if I predicted part of the revelations, there is enough magic and mystery to keep me interested about the ending. I would have liked to know more about Eliza and Mary and the connection they have with Lucy and Jess. Overall I liked the story and the writing.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC and ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wasn't sure about this but was given a widget so I decided to try it - and boy am I glad. This was a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about the wrongs done to women and the ways they... deal with those wrongs, and dealing with it doesn't always work out well for them.

Set in two time periods, the 'present' (2019), and the past, 1999 and 1800, following two sets of sisters and the strange mutation that unites them. I would have read an entire book set in either the present or the past of this book, honestly, as Hart does a great job making both sister sets' stories engrossing and full.

This is an Australia-set story as well so it takes place partially on a prison ship set for New South Wales (the present day takes place in Australia as well, of course). While I am American, I am familiar with the history of the UK and Ireland sending their convicts to the Australian continent as their punishment but I honestly didn't know much about what happened to the women convicts, so I learned some heart-breaking facts and went down a internet hole reading more and just about crying at what these women went through. Not that present-day women don't go through similarly horrible situations, as Hart shows through the present-day sections.

It was hard to listen to at times because the content can be so upsetting. I don't tend to read women's lit because of that, the anxiety of real life horror can be too much for me sometimes - I prefer haunted houses and monsters lol But Hart weaves beauty into her story as well, through the relationships between the women. Not just the sisters, but their friends and families as well.

I just can't get over how beautiful and moving and wonderful The Sirens was, and I think part of that is absolutely to do with the excellent narration by Barrie Kreinik. Her abilities with accents is marvelous, but she really brings each of the characters to life in such a way that I sometimes forgot I was listening to a story, feeling more like I was listening to the inside of someone's head or overhearing conversations. It really lends to the intimate feel of the novel, even as it moves across large distances.

I think the only thing I don't like is we don't learn what happened with Lucy's troubles. We get closure on everything except that and while it doesn't matter in the end, which is why I'm not taking stars for it, it would have still been nice to get. There are some mysteries better left unknown, I guess, to let you think of the best outcome and imagine that's what happened, truly. At least, that's what I'll think of.

I'm sure Hart's The Sirens makes for great reading but I truly recommend the audiobook for this experience.

Recommended for: anyone who wants to feel something!

I've heard great things about this author's previous book, so when I saw a chance to listen to the audiobook in advance, I was quick to request it. The narration was great. The variation of accents helped me to track the two timeliness more easily. The story was haunting and intriguing at the same time. I've always loved tales of sirens from various mythologies.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart weaves together the stories of two sets of sisters, separated by time yet connected by shared struggles. In the early 1800s, twin sisters Mary and Eliza are transported to Australia as convicts, enduring hardship and suffering on a prison ship. In 2019, sisters Jess and Lucy struggle with family secrets, a rare skin disease, and emotional turmoil. As Lucy faces the aftermath of cyberbullying, she is drawn to her sister’s mysterious disappearance. The novel blends magical realism with a haunting narrative about sisterhood, survival, and the power of the sea. A captivating, atmospheric read.

The way Emilia Hart captures the connection of women through time, hardship, and courage breaks my heart once again and I couldn’t be more grateful. I had high hopes after Weyward and The Sirens absolutely exceeded those expectations. I simply can’t wait for the next world she builds.

Emilia Hart does it once again with this captivating, magical-realism story focusing on finding yourself, sisterhood, complicated family relationships and more. The story is told through three perspectives: an 1800 story about twin sisters Mary and Eliza, convicts being sent from Ireland to Australia; journal entries from Jess detailing her complicated teenage years; and present-day Lucy waking up from a horrifying sleep-walking episode, only to flee to her older sister's and realize her sister is nowhere to be found.

This story was a little creepier than what I usually read/listen to, but I was sucked in from the opening lines. The book title definitely gives a little away when it comes to the "skin condition" plaguing the girls, but there were so many other aspects of the story that kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had figured something out, something else would occur, throwing a wrench in my thinking.

Hart weaves together real-life experiences and the history of Australia with the mythical stories of sirens and the women of the ocean. If you loved Weyward, you will most certainly love the latest work from Emilia Hart as well. This would be a great book club pick and touches on a lot of very tough topics; all demonstrated through the beautifully written character development.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Harper Collins UK/The Borough Press and NetGalley, which provided me with an advanced listener copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: The Sirens
Author: Emilia Hart
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction , Women’s Fiction
Pub Date April 1, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 352

Although listed as Historical Fiction – Women’s Fiction but it is a lot more. – It was a different read for me but there is enough mystery (I read a lot of mystery/thrillers) that I couldn’t put it down!
Story of four sisters – then -1800: Mary and Eliza and now -2019: Jess and Lucy

2019: Eighteen year old Lucy a Journalism student was cyberbullied by her boyfriend. When he posted intimate photos of her on social media (he insists he didn’t).
Then one night she is awakens and finds she is in her ex-boyfriend’s room and she has her hands around his throat. She flees to her sister Jess’ home at Cliff House in Comper Bay, along the Australian coast - only Jess is missing.

1800 ~ was a time when England shipped female prisoners to Australia as a penal colony.
Mary and Eliza are 16 year old twin sisters and placed on one of the prisoner ships, their experience was horrible. They had to defend themselves against being attacked additionally forced to leave the home of their father in Ireland.

2019 - Jess and Lucy often find themselves dreaming of Mary and Eliza and their time on the prisoner ship. They too are struggling with their own problems stemming from lies told by their parents and a diagnosis of Aquagenic Urticaria- a rare skin disease believed to be inherited.

.Most of the 2019 timeline is told through Lucy’s POV, but we learn more about Jess via her diary entries.

Story is magical realism which gave the women power over their abusers.
I mentioned this was a different read for me but, I believe in the magic of the sea so was glued to this story!
Additionally ~ the reveals were surprises!!

Narrator Barrie Kreinik was fabulous – has a beautiful voice. Hearing her sing was a bonus!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 1, 2025.

This is an atmospheric, folktale story that is full of mystery and melancholy. The pace of the story is a bit slow but if you are in the mood for a slower book, this one will be perfect. I have always been interested in mermaids and I love the lore behind them so this was a fun, interesting read. Haunting, mysterious, sorrowful and hopeful. Great read.

I am happy that I listened to the audio version of this book because the narrator, Barrie Kreinik does a wonderful job of narrating. I do wish this one had multiple narrators so that we could have had more than one voice, but still, job well done.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to the ALC in exchange for an honest review.