The Sirens opens with quite the scene - Lucy awakens to discover herself in a bed not her own, in the midst of committing a crime. She’s not sure what drives her, but suddenly she is filled with the need to see her sister. Following the long drive to the small seaside town her sister now lives in, Lucy is surprised to find her sister missing. Her phone is there, her keys and car, but Jess is nowhere to be found. As Lucy tries to retrace her sister’s last steps, we learn more about the town of Comber Bay and the tragedies that have taken place over the years.

It was so easy to lose myself in this audiobook. The Sirens follows two sets of sisters, Mary and Eliza in the past and Jess and Lucy in present day. The narrator did great work of distinguishing the sisters from one another and it was just a joy to listen to them. The story takes turns you would not expect and I enjoyed the bit of magical realism that is revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is just as beautiful as I expected. Her writing always has a lyrical, almost magical quality, and this story was no exception. The atmosphere was immersive, the characters deeply compelling, and the way the narrative unfolded kept me captivated. Hart has a way of weaving history, emotion, and a touch of mystery into something truly special. A stunning read!

The Sirens was a very compelling read and I think it will be a big hit for folks who loved A Sea of Unspoken Things, Outlander, or The Warbler! It tells the story of women on two different timelines and winds them together perfectly.

I found the Sirens to be thought provoking and captivating and I look forward to recommending it to others! It's also the encouragement I needed to finally read Weyward!

I could not more highly recommend reading The Sirens as an audiobook, it was so engrossing and immersive!

The Sirens offers a dual timeline story from multiple POV's. University student Lucy leaves school after a shocking sleepwalking incident and flees looking for comfort from her big sister Jess. I found Lucy and Jess's story in the present timeline to be the more developed of the two timelines, with the past story taking on a fairytale quality, albeit a dark fairytale. In 1800, sisters Mary and Eliza, get into trouble one night, defying their father's rule to stay away from the shore. They are sent to the colonies on a convict ship, and the horrors are often inserted into and as support for Lucy and Jess's story. The past and current stories are ultimately connected in a surprising way.

At its heart, The Sirens is a tale of female empowerment, believing in yourself and embracing the skin you're in. And very well done indeed. Hart writes compelling characters, and I enjoyed seeing them come to life on the page. I loved the pacing and the way the story revealed itself, with a little bit of a mystery and magical realism entwined throughout. I found it lovely and memorable. 💖

I've seen a lot of comparisons to Wayward, which has a witchy vibe. It was one of my favourite books a few years ago. They are very different, so I won't compare. I'll just say read them both!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart
Publish Date 4/1/2025
Audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik

Happy Publication Day!
This book wins the most beautiful cover of 2025 thus far - It is beautifully dreamy, and I couldn't say no to this.
Then I realized that this is a follow-up to her smash hit, "Wayward" that came a few years ago. That book cover was also beautiful with a black raven on the cover. I was tempted to pick it up many times, then I realized that it was described as a YA fantasy with a gothic kick.
Now I was a little worried about reading this without reading Wayward. Fere not, I didn't feel as though I was missing important information from the previous book. I don't think they are related... but I might be wrong. This book can be stand alone I believe.

The book has multiple female characters with multiple timelines, One in 2019, another in 1999, and twin sisters from 1800 making a dangerous passage from Ireland to Australia. It is very atmospheric and has some supernatural feel to it. As the title suggests, there are references to mysterious force calling from the sea. All these timelines converge in the story, and personally I didn't feel these connections were strong. I almost felt that they are better in separate stories. The story also deals with feminist ideas which are important but felt a bit overworked, and I felt they might worked better from different angles. I felt the presentation is simplistic, which made me feel the book is targeted to YA (and not to me). I also felt the book is too long for the contents. I did like the plot twist, but it took so long to get there - by then, I didn't care so much.

I felt this book might be enjoyed by young feminists around the college age like the main character. Also, I don't read many books set in Australia, and it was great to read a book based in Australia.

The audiobook is narrated well, and the narrator has a great singing voice.

An advance copy of this audiobook was provided courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio. My opinions herein are my own. Thank you!

I am sorry but I had to DNF this book at the half way mark. I could not connect with the plot or the characters. I thought I would enjoy it but it was not for me.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview this audiobook.
I will not share my review so that I do not taint others view of the book because it was not for me.

My Quick Takes:
- 4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 strong
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 a few instances of fade to black and vague open-door all in the past
- Content 🤔 infertility, miscarriage, assault

I really enjoyed all the different plot elements at play: historical events, mysterious family past, dual timeline, multiple points of view, missing persons case/podcast, folklore, magical realism. It all combined together to weave an alluring tale.

I listened to this on audio and absolutely loved the narrator. The book is set in Australia and Ireland and the narrator added another of interest with great accents and voices for the separate points of view. The history of how Australia came to be populated under the crown has always intrigued me and I enjoyed the history and insight into how it happened, and how bleak it all truly was.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Sirens, by Emilia Hart. Unlike her book, Weyward, this story included fantasy/magical realism elements. These are often a fail for me, but I enjoyed every aspect of this story.

Told as two timelines, the historical story is of two sisters removed to Australia for petty crimes back in Ireland. The central storyline is in the present and focuses on two sisters and the many secrets surrounding their lives. I loved the intrigue, was surprised by the surprises, and cared about the lives of both sets of sisters.
If you like stories depicting female resilience with a bit of fantasy thrown in - and especially if you are intrigued by mermaids, I'd give this book a read.
I listened to the audio version of the book, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, and the listening experience improved the book for me. The voices were wonderfully rendered, it was easy to follow, and the Aussie accent was music to my ears.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an electronic version of the book in exchange for a review.

This audiobook had me hooked from the start. The story has just the right amount of mystery, the narrative weaving between the perspectives of three women, all connected by the sea. While some of the twists were a little bit predictable, I was not disappointed. The story was not about the men, who will surprise no one with their actions. The women are strong and smart and survive so much. The narrator brings an extra something to the story that one doesn’t hear often. I’ll be recommending this book, and the audio, to anyone interested in stories about women overcoming the inevitability of men, and those who love a good mystery. I’ll definitely be checking out Emilia Hart’s previous work and looking out for Barrie Kreinik’s narration as well.

Hart is proving to be a master at crafting stories that sweep between the past and present, interweaving characters into interesting and unexpected patterns together. The Sirens is a beautiful and haunting story of women doing what women do best - look out for one another and make the most of every bad situation they are thrust into. Kreinik is a wonderful narrator, switching not only between age groups but accents swiftly. And I appreciate that she sang the songs rather than spoke them.

BIG thanks to Macmillan Audio for the widget to read this hauntingly beautiful story!

WOW. This is so incredibly descriptively written. So heartbreaking, and haunting, and atmospheric. I loved the writing and the story. The multi-timeline was done well. I found it easy enough to keep track. The narrator's different accents for each woman helped with that. Some aspects of this story were easier to unravel but overall this was a surprising read and the mysteries were all unraveled by the end.

The narration of this was FANTASTIC. The narrator used different accents for the different characters POV. She even sings (soooo beautifully) the parts where the women sing. The presentation kept me invested in the story and wanting to know what would happen.

The epilogue of this was perfection! Also that cover is gorgeous!

Two years after releasing her first novel, Emilia Hart is back with her second book, The Sirens. Set mainly in Australia in alternating timelines between 1800, 1999, and 2019, it follows pairs of sisters grappling with what makes them different and the otherworldly rumors surrounding their communities.

Why I Chose This Book:
Though I haven’t yet read Weyward, I was excited to read Emilia Hart’s new novel. As the title suggests, mermaids play a role here, and that’s a theme I’ll be reading a lot this year. (I already read one mermaid book in February, and I have several upcoming releases on my radar!) I also liked the themes of sisterhood, mothers and daughters, and the secrets that can drive us apart or unite us.

What I Liked:
- Relationships between sisters and between mothers and daughters. Feminine relationships are at the heart of The Sirens in each timeline. In 1800, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are convicted of a crime and put on a ship headed for the newly colonized Australia. They have only each other to rely on for memories of their parents. In 2019, Lucy seeks out her older sister Jess during a trying time, but upon finding Jess mysteriously vanished, she discovers how similar they are by reading Jess’s diary from 1998-1999.
- Dealing with sexual harassment. Both Jess and Lucy have their own journeys of sexuality, abuse of power, and grappling with betrayal. While their respective stories are distinct, there are clear commonalities, too.
- Community and the power of women. Tying those previous two points together, there is a strong sense of how sisterhood can give women strength in the worst of times. The way it unfolds borders between magical realism and overt fantasy, but the result nonetheless is empowerment.
- Multiple time settings and POVs: Lucy (2019); Mary (1800); Jess (1998-1999, initially as diary entries). I enjoyed reading the different characters and seeing how their stories paralleled each other. For me it was never hard to differentiate between the characters and plots.
- So many secrets! From the truth behind family ties to the rare skin condition (aquagenic urticaria) that Lucy and Jess hide, there is so much that lurks just beneath the surface. Those secrets—paired with the local mysteries, strange dreams, and sleepwalking—give this novel a haunting and unreal atmosphere, much like Jess’s paintings.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- Ending felt a bit lackluster or rushed. There is so much woven throughout The Sirens, but the ending seemed to let certain threads go without much explanation. I wish some of the themes here had carried through more fully into the end.

Audiobook:
Barrie Kreinik does an excellent job of narrating The Sirens. She easily navigates both Australian and Irish accents for the different characters. I also loved her singing! There’s a repeated refrain of an Irish-sounding folk song, and her voice is at once beautiful and suitably haunting. Her narration serves this novel well across POVs and timelines.

Final Thoughts
I greatly enjoyed The Sirens for its many themes surrounding sisterhood, empowerment, and the magic we hold. It tackles some harder themes (sexual harassment; family secrets), but also infuses it all with a rich atmosphere. I only wish the ending had a bit more power to it, too. Overall this was a wonderful read, and I look forward to reading more from Emilia Hart.

Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: women’s fiction, magical realism
Themes: sisterhood, resilience, family secrets, being different
📖 Read if you like: The Mercies, Weyward

A genre melding narrative with elements of historical fiction, folklore, magic and contemporary women’s fiction. It sheds lights on all the ways society condemns women from past to present, the ways in which they are made to feel small or less important than their male counterparts. From a young impressionable girl getting used in vulnerable moments or a teen being told to stay silent to those imprisoned for saying no or stealing bread to avoid starvation. An ode to female resilience tied to the magic of the sea and the bonds between women.

Once again Emilia Hart displays the power of immersive writing. A slower pace with descriptions full of magic and emotion in equal measure. The mystery in this novel was a little more predictable than Weyward, so the story seemed to be playing catch up to my own knowing. Using dreams and a journal to unveil all the secrets in this family can be a dangerous technique to drive a storyline, but it worked here. Overall, I thought the novel could have used more suspense or tension. Most of the revealing moments were a little anti-climactic and if I wasn’t listening to this as an audiobook or in the right mood I may have found it a little too slow. Like the sea it ebbs and flows. Part family drama, part exploitation this managed to be modern and historical all at once.

Shout out for the inclusion of art in the story and the rather sweet father-daughter relationships. In a story about all the big and small ways men can abuse power, it was a silver lining to have these male figures that genuinely cared and sought to protect.

Synopsis: In 2019 Lucy has always felt different with an unusual skin disorder. When sleepwalking finds her hands wrapped around an ex-lovers throat, her life begins to unravel. She searches for her estranged sister Jess who used to suffer from a similar affliction. Jess is an artist that has moved to a remote town made famous with a series of cold cases. When Jess goes missing and Lucy’s dreams of two girls on the sea continues, two girls who Jess has also been painting, the story between all these women unravels. It vacillates between 2019, Jess as a self-conscious 16-year old diagnosed with an allergy to water and an art teacher who finally sees something special in her in 1999 to twin sisters Mary and Eliza who have been banished to the colonies after an encounter with unwanted attention in the 1800s. As each of the women begin to notice changes in their bodies, their fear of water turns into something else entirely, the legacy of their people.

🎧 Thank you to Netgalley and @Macmillan.Audio for a copy of this audiobook. The seamless narration by Barrie Kreinik between an Aussie and Irish accent was perfect in this story. It really brought this story to life and took me to the places where this novel takes place.

happy pub day to this HAUNTINGLY beautiful book

I was lucky enough to get my hands on this a few months ago (thank you @netgalley) & I was completely enthralled by the eerie Australian setting, complex characters, & mix of historical fiction + “magical realism/folklore” connections

The audiobook was fantastic! Completely immersed me in the story

IMO this book did have a few flaws with its pacing & some parts of the plot (esp the ending 🤔 🤔 🤔)

but I still think it’s worth a read if you enjoy
🧜‍♀️ nautical Australian setting
🧜‍♀️ genre-bending stories (historical fiction + “magical realism” + mystery)
🧜‍♀️ multiple POVs including different time frames (2019, 1999, & 1800)
🧜‍♀️ stories that tackle the female experience, particularly trauma & the healing process, ultimately providing a story of empowerment

is this book on your radar? if you’ve read, tell me your thoughts! 🧜‍♀️ 🌊 🐟

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC Audio Copy!

I had previously read Weyward by this author and I was really hoping that this story would follow the same type of format because they do such a great job with making you fall in love with multiple different characters as the stories span over multiple generations. I was definitely not disappointed in this story. Following multiple character through the course of their lives and traumas causes you to go so deeply invested in each of their stories and then when you finally see how their stories actually fit together it has such a sound impact on the overall story.

Although this novel was not exactly what I expected, I really enjoyed the story! The Sirens is very well written and captured my attention from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of a rugged coastal landscape, the novel follows multiple women across different timelines, each drawn to the sea and its dark, otherworldly secrets. As they uncover hidden truths about their pasts, they must confront the power of fate, love, and the siren song that calls to them. The characters, particularly the female protagonists, are strong and compelling, with their struggles and resilience adding depth to the narrative.

What I loved most was the way the novel captured the eerie beauty of the ocean and its connection to fate. The pacing, however, was a bit uneven. Some sections felt rushed, while others lingered too long on description. Additionally, while the ending was satisfying, it left a few threads unresolved.

Overall, The Sirens is a captivating read, perfect for those who enjoy myth-infused fiction with a touch of gothic mystery. Highly recommended!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC.

The Sirens is a dual timeline story that follows two sets of sisters. Mary and Eliza are twin sisters living in the 1800s who are taken from Ireland on a convict ship bound for Australia. The further out to sea they travel, the more their bodies inexplicably begin to change. After enduring unimaginable hardships aboard the Naiad, the sisters vow to make cruel, abusive men pay, and they embrace their newfound freedom and identities to do so. In 2019, Lucy has a bizarre dream and awakens to find herself in the middle of attacking an ex-lover. Remembering that her sister, Jess, was also prone to sleepwalking, Lucy flees to Jess's house in hopes that she can explain what is going on. When Lucy arrives in the small coastal town, she discovers that her sister is missing. As she awaits her sister's return, Lucy learns that this town holds many secrets, including mysterious deaths, strange voices from the sea, and the truth of the sisters' past.

The Sirens contains the wonderful writing, atmospheric setting, and female empowerment that I expected from Emilia Hart. I love the idea of women banding together to overcome abuse and injustice, and this story definitely checked that box for me. I also enjoyed the dual timeline and learning how the main characters' lives were all intertwined. I did feel like parts of the story were slow and didn't hold my interest as well, but things picked up a bit at the end.

I had the privilege of reviewing both the digital and audio versions of this book. While they were both good, I really enjoyed the audio narrator, Barrie Kreinik, and found the audio version to be more entertaining than the eBook version. I had a much harder time getting into the eBook than I did the audiobook.

This is a story that unfolds over hundreds of years, but is so intertwined.

Lucy is at university to study to become a journalist with the goal of helping women when a photo she sent to a boy she’s interested in gets leaked for the entire campus to see. Having grown up with an allergy to water, Lucy’s skin is scarred and “hideous”.

After waking to find her hands clutched around the throat of the boy, and haunted by dreams of two sisters on a boat hundreds of years before, Lucy escapes to her older sister Jess‘ home off the coast of Australia. However, when she arrives, she finds detailed paintings of sirens and her sister is nowhere to be found. Lucy discovers Jess’s diary and tries to use this for clues to find where her sister is only to discover startling truths about Jess and herself.

This story is a masterful blend of mythical with realism while highlighting the resilience of women and a glimpse into the history of Irish convicts who were brought to Australia in the 1800s. I listened to the audiobook and was so impressed with the narrator’s ability to go back-and-forth between the different characters, including adopting three different accents and even singing at one point. I was immediately drawn into this story and I could not stop listening.

Highly recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction, thought provoking characters with inner dialogue as well as a touch of the mythical.

Author: Emilia Hart
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Release Date: April 1, 2025

4⭐️
1🌶️

Emilia Hart crafts a tale of women’s fiction with mysterious mermaids, resilience, and overcoming trauma. Lucy and Jessica dream of Eliza and Mary, twin sisters from 200 years ago forced to Australia on a convict ship. As they dream, Lucy and Jessica sleepwalk towards the water.
Their stories converge in Comer Bay, known as the “Bermuda Triangle” for missing men, revealing heritage and identity. The Sirens, called Merrow, are vengeful protectors of women, a feminist twist on Greek mythology. They switch between mermaid and human forms and use a fatal siren song.
Hart's books focus on female experiences, trauma, and healing. While beautifully written, the characters are flawed, highlighting themes of change and acceptance. Despite this, the pacing suffers from alternating points of view and shifting timelines, sometimes causing important moments to be overlooked. Overall, I did enjoy the book and cannot wait to see what else Emilia Hart has in store for us.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. Additionally, I applaud Emilia Hart for crafting an outstanding story.

I knew when I picked up this book there was going to be something about it which tugged at my heart strings. I also knew we would encounter some magical realism as well as emotional bonding or loss between some of the characters.

Within The Sirens, we have two parallel stories, one of two sisters who have been ripped away from their home and being shipped to Australia for crimes (though justified) categorized them as a criminal. The second story is about Lucy fleeing to her sister's house after an incident at college. Though Jess is not home, Lucy waits for her return and starts to uncover a lifelong mystery about her sister and her own family.

The content does feel heavy with theming. The writing is fairly well done but I do think the author's novel Weyward was a bit stronger with regards to character development and story. There are points where it does not feel we are moving forward and we are spinning our wheels as we wait for something to happen.

I don't think the twist was as intense as I expected and I did figure out some of the "reveal" about halfway through. It wasn't as captivating as the other book and I think my overall critique is that not much happens as we wander through this book so we don't see a great deal of growth from the characters and the all of a sudden we are at the end with a reveal which wasn't incredibly surprising. However, the story has it's perks and I was fairly engaged through the ending.