The Sirens by Emilia Hart is an enchanting historical fantasy that weaves together a haunting tale of sisterhood, magic, and vengeance. Set in New South Wales, the novel explores multiple timelines and introduces readers to a captivating mix of historical drama, Irish folklore, and a feminist reimagining of sirens.
The story opens in the 1800s with Mary and Eliza, two Irish sisters, who are tragically sent to Australia as convicts aboard a ship carrying criminals. Their bond is one of deep love and desperation as they navigate their harrowing journey, bringing us to a raw depiction of the brutality and hardships of transportation. The shift to 1999, where Jess’s diary recounts her experience, offers a subtle but powerful look at how the weight of the past continues to echo through the generations. The final timeline, set in 2019, focuses on Lucy, who, while grappling with the terrifying experience of sleepwalking and unknowingly attempting to harm her boyfriend, embarks on a journey to find her missing sister, Jess.
Hart’s narrative structure is one of the novel's most compelling aspects. The constant shifts between timelines allow for a deepening understanding of the interconnectedness of these two pairs of sisters, while also keeping the tension high. The way Hart balances these stories—historical and contemporary—is masterful, making each timeline feel distinct but also tightly bound together by a shared sense of mystery and magic.
The audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik enhances the story with a tone that's both haunting and intimate. The Sirens is a thoughtful , evocative novel made even more powerful in audio. I recommend the experience.

I read Weyward last year, and I couldn't wait to read Emilia's new novel, The Sirens. I love Emilia's Writing but this didn’t live up to the hype for me.

"The sea gives, but it also takes."

"The easiest way to lie to someone, she learned, is to lie to yourself."

"...sometimes, there is no choice. There is only love."

“What I’m trying to say...is that we don’t need to worry about your sister. There’s something about this place , something different. It keeps its women safe.”

With a haunting atmosphere, The Sirens, by fantastical author Emilia Hart, tells a tale of sisters, almost two hundred years apart, who brave generational trauma with the power of sisterhood and the strength that comes from being female in a man's world.

In 2019 Lucy wakes up choking her boyfriend in the middle of the night. She runs to her sister, living in New South Wales, hoping she can help her sort out her violent sleep walking. But Jess is nowhere to be found. Waiting for Jess to come back she finds her diaries that tell of the suffering Jess endured at the hands of a career manipulator and what it cost her.

In 1800 Ireland, sisters Mary and Eliza were forced onto a convict ship heading to Australia. As they fight the inhumane treatment from the crew, the sea calls to them to flee the ship.

These 4 women share pain but also physical attributes like their scaly skin, the soothing healing power of the sea and an understanding that they are not alone.

Voice actress Barrie Kreinik gives a phenomenal performance not just with all the accents and distinctions of the sisters but with a lilting voice that adds to the writer's evocative prose.

Family secrets and startling twists, along with echoing caves and not so silent seas, is the call of The Sirens you must hear or read to feel the resilience of women who share the fight to be free.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair & honest review. Opinions are my own.

3.25 ⭐️ The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a haunting ode to sisterhood, survival, and the sea. It's a deeply atmospheric novel that does a good job of weaving two haunting and gripping timelines.

After Lucy wakes up with her hands wrapped around her ex's throat with no idea of how she got there, she runs away to a remote coastline where her sister lives. Unfortunately, she quickly finds out her sister is gone, leaving no trace behind except for a diary that is filled with secrets, along with a strange fixation about a baby once found in a sea cave.

In 1800, Mary and Eliza are cast into a convict ship, and with their journey to survival, they discover something that is changing them in ways they can't even begin to comprehend.

The reader is thrown into these dual narratives, each woven together by this magical power of the sea. Along with Lucy, we start to learn about her sister's life and everything she was hiding, as well as unraveling answers of where her sister could be. While this particular storyline has more of a mystery tone, Mary and Eliza's leaves the reader breathless and on the edge, waiting to unearth what awaits them aboard the ship.

Having said that, I do have to admit this story could've been explored better with a fleshed out plot. I'm not quite sure why we were left with plot-holes that made the story feel incomplete. Additionally, the pacing was certainly slow, which wouldn't have been something to note if it weren't for the fact that the shifting of timelines and point of views prevented the story from having a natural flow.

I do believe if it hadn't been for the audiobook, I wouldn't have cared much for the narrative. Listening to The Sirens on audiobook is an experience in itself. The narrator does a brilliant job of evoking emotion. I was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of actual singing. While brief, these snippets are beautifully performed and add a layer of depth to the 1800 storyline and its characters.

What hooked me the most was the tale of these women, exploring their history, silence, and resilience. Overall, it's a story of myths that aren't quite fictional and of women reclaiming their power.

4.25 stars
I read Weyward last year, and I couldn't wait to read Emilia's new novel, The Sirens. I love Emilia's storytelling; I enjoy her interwoven stories, multiple POVs, nonlinear timelines, and her themes centered around women.

The story consists of two sets of sisters from two different timelines- 2019 and 1800 who are drawn to the sea. Hart uses eerie sea vibes to tell this story to emphasize a bit of mystery and fantasy. Hart creates a dynamic story about trauma and family secrets to help the women figure out who they are.

The audiobook was well-done by Barrie Kreinik. Kreinik made it easy to decipher the two timelines with different accents. I really enjoyed the audiobook, and I would highly recommend it.

I was given this audiobook by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. The first few chapters I kind of felt like this book was not going to be for me. I am glad I kept reading it as I really ended up liking it. Very different than anything I have ever listened to. The book bounces back between timelines of two sets of sisters. In the beginning they do not seem related at all but as you continue the book you keep learning more about each timeline and they start to merge together. The author did a good job in the descriptions as I could picture the setting really well in my head. It was a good read and I would recommend.

As I read reviews for this book, I see that a lot of people DNF. I feel like the ending was strong, so I wish they would have held on a little longer.

This was a great book. I loved the magic and mystery and the sisterhood and the women who stood together in this book. I liked all the timelines and voices. I'm so glad I listened to this one so really hear all the women's voices. I loved how when there was a song in this book that they sang it. The narrator did a wonderful job.

I read this book because I enjoyed Emilia Hart’s novel Weyward. I received an ARC of the audiobook from NetGalley for review. I thought this story was interesting and atmospheric. The reading experience was like looking through fog just after dusk as ocean waves crash against a rocky cliff shore. Images start to come into focus and fade away as the story switches perspectives and timelines. The main near present day story involves Lucy awakening from a dream to find she’s assaulting a guy she’s known intimately much to her horror and shock. She is also in search of her missing sister Jess who we get to know from her found teenage diary entries. In the distant past (200 years ago) another pair of sisters cling to their bond despite adversity and displacement. The stories weave together through a kind of magical realism connected to the sea. I liked the overall idea of the book but wasn’t swept away.

This touching tale is about resilience, love, and the female bond. Emilia Hart’s ability to capture women’s voices across decades of time, let alone her ability to layer these timelines and stories in parallel universes, is completely unmatched. I 100% recommend The Sirens, especially if you were captivated by Hart’s previous novel Weyward.

The Sirens focuses on four young women in three different timelines:
-Twin sisters Mary and Eliza who are torn from their father and are restrained in a convict ship headed to Australia in the 1800s;
-Jess a lonely teen in a rural community with a rare water allergy who finds herself drawn to her young art teacher in 1999; and
-Lucy a college student who wakes up one day in 2019 with her hands around the throat of a boy she once thought she loved who flees to her sister Jess in hopes of getting answers about a vivid nightmare that she found herself in before the attack.

Four women are locked in uniquely trying situations spanning decades, and one thing ties them together: a strange call to the sea.

For audiobook fans, this one is particularly well done and completely matches the novel's tone. Would recommend.

Sisterhood. Motherhood. Womanhood. So many of my favorite books explore all the facets of these things and this one did not disappoint. Atmospheric and moody and filled with a slow burn tension, The Sirens follows several women separated by time and distance but deeply and irrevocably connected in ways unbroken by mere circumstance. While slow and lulling at times, I loved the journey this story took me on, especially as aspects of the mystery I could tell was brewing started to unfold. Emilia Hart writes in a way that never leaves me disappointed and if this and Weyward are any indication, I believe she will have several more phenomenal stories to share.

Absolutely loved the audio. The accents were impeccable and the singing! The narrator truly brought this story to life.

Emilia Hart done it again with this book! I found this an engaging and easy historical fiction read. This story is about myths, and finding equality. The story links 4 women, and sisterhood across two timelines/ POVs. As well as embracing individuality. woven with empowerment, fantasy, and real historical myths in Australia.

1999 timeline: Lucy discovers her sister Jess' diary, and then recognizes sister is missing which stirs fears of her sisters allergy to water, and their parents worry as to the secrets will come out. This ties the timelines of the 1800s either Mary and Eliza bringing up the lost of their mother, suffering ship life, opression of men on the ship, and the sea calling them.

I absolutely loved The Sirens. While it was a bit of a slow start, once I got into the plot I was completely consumed. Emilia Hart has combined so many genres to make this story -- magical realism, historical fiction, family drama, mystery/suspense -- and she writes them all beautifully. Told in the story of two sets of sisters, one in 2019 and one in 1801, The Sirens explores what it means to be family and what it means to be human. The descriptive writing is so lush and vibrant, and you can feel the emotions of the characters popping right off of the page. This is one of those books that I will recommend endlessly in years to come, as it has something for everyone. Also, THAT EPILOGUE!! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my eALC of The Sirens!

The Sirens unfurls like a tapestry of mysteries, whispered through time and tied together by the delicate yet unbreakable threads of sisterhood. This novel is an exquisite dance between the contemporary and the historical, blending haunting folklore, enigmatic dreams, and the elemental forces of the sea to create a tale that is both strikingly original and deeply moving.

The true magic of The Sirens lies in the way these two stories — one contemporary, one historical — converge and intertwine. As Lucy unearths the buried truths of her family’s past, she discovers that the bond between sisters transcends time and space. It is a force both tender and unbreakable, forged in the face of isolation, difference, and the quiet strength that comes with accepting one’s own uniqueness.

The novel is steeped in an atmosphere so rich and vivid that the cliffs, the sea, and the house itself seem to breathe alongside the characters. The fog of mystery and folklore wraps the narrative in a spell, inviting readers to venture deeper with every turning page. There is a lyrical quality to the prose, a rhythm that mirrors the ebb and flow of the tides, carrying the reader through the hearts of these women — each fighting for survival, for identity, and ultimately for acceptance.

In its heart, The Sirens is a story of transformation — of women who, across generations, find beauty in their differences, strength in their struggles, and power in the unbreakable bond of sisterhood. It is a reminder that we are not defined by the things that make us feel other, but by the love we offer and receive, and the quiet courage to embrace all that we are.

The Sirens is a symphony of emotion, mystery, and poetic grace. It is a tale that lingers in the mind long after the last page is turned, a testament to the enduring power of family, the sea, and the timeless song of women who dare to live fully, bravely, and with a love that transcends all bounds.

I am grateful I picked this up on audio because I am not confident I would have finished it in print. I really enjoyed Emilia Hart's debut, Weyward. This book has some similar themes about women being empowered to stand up to men with too much power and shares a little of the dual timeline we saw there. However, in this case the characters were not as engaging for me and it leaned a little further into the mystical. I found it very promising at that start, but it just didn't pack the emotional punch I was anticipating. What saved it for me was the excellent narration by Barrie Kreinik.

Review: The Sirens by Emelia Hart
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Format: Audiobook (Advanced Reader Copy)
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

The Sirens by Emelia Hart was absolutely enchanting—I could not stop listening! 🎧 This beautifully layered dual timeline story weaves magic, mystery, and feminism together in a way that felt powerful and deeply moving. ✨

I was especially captivated by Mary and Eliza’s story. Their strength, secrets, and the bond they share across time had me fully hooked. 🕰️ While all the storylines were compelling, theirs was the emotional heart for me. And the twists? I didn’t see some of them coming, which made the experience even better!

The narration was phenomenal. The narrator’s voice was soothing and engaging, and when she sang? Literal chills. 🖤 Her performance added such a haunting, magical quality to the book.

If I had one small critique, it’s that the modern-day storyline occasionally felt slower—but it ultimately tied everything together in a satisfying and emotional way.

The Sirens is perfect for fans of The Lost Apothecary or The Witch’s Daughter. A spellbinding tale of women, power, and resilience through the ages. 🌊

Highly recommend!

#TheSirens #EmeliaHart #ARCReview #NetGalley #StMartinsPress #AudiobookLove #HistoricalFiction #WitchyReads #DualTimeline #BookRecommendation #5StarRead #BookReview #FeministFiction #WitchesThroughTime #SpookySeasonReads

Thank you Netgalley for the ALC. I loved this book so much and the Audiobook was even better. I loved the story so much.

This book was atmospheric, moody, eerie, and absolutely mesmerizing. It alternates between the stories Mary and Eliza, who were captives aboard a convict ship sailing to Australia in the 1800s, and Lucy and Jess, sisters who live in current day Australia and are grappling with nightmares, sleepwalking, and unsolved disappearances in their small coastal town. This book is filled with magical realism, lyrical prose, and the unbreakable bonds between sisters. It’s gripping, filled with twists, and will hold your attention until the very end. I was lucky enough to receive an advanced listener’s copy as well as an advanced reader’s copy, and the audio is absolutely fantastic!!! Barrie Kreinik does a beautiful job with the narration. She’s able to do multiple different accents, and she uses them to switch between characters and it truly brought each character to life. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and hope to read more from Emilia Hart.
🌊
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Read if you like:
▫️female rage
▫️sisterhood
▫️magic of the sea
▫️historical mystery
▫️dual timeline
▫️multi POV
🌊
Thank you to St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, Emilia Hart, and NetGalley for the ALC and ARC. I received advanced copies for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was different than anything I’ve ever read before and I loved it! I was at the edge of my seat for all of it to come together and to understand the chain of events. And when it did - it did not disappoint! I mean wow. The book was so atmospheric. I felt that the feminist themes in the book were well-written. I need to read “Weyward” soon because her writing is so addictive. I simply couldn’t put this down. The twists! I didn’t see it coming. The mystery and secrets had me hooked. A must read if you’re a fan of magical realism and stories of sisterhood.

I bounced between the audio and physical book. And I really enjoyed the audio. Especially the singing scenes. I was captivated and thought the narration was great.

4.5 stars!

"The Sirens" is a story of two sisters, Lucy and Jess, separated by hundreds of years but connected in mysterious ways. In 2019, Lucy wakes up to find herself in her ex-lover's room with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she seeks out her sister Jess for help, only to discover that Jess is missing. While waiting for her sister's return, Lucy uncovers strange rumors about Jess's town, including tales of missing men and voices on the waves. Meanwhile, in 1800, sisters Mary and Eliza are forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia, experiencing strange changes in their bodies along the way.

I have to admit, this book was a bit out of my usual thriller-filled comfort zone. But hey, trying new things is what keeps life interesting, right? And let me tell you, diving into some magical realism, historical fiction, and a sprinkle of fantasy was definitely worth it!

The cover of the book caught my eye, and I couldn't resist getting my hands on the audiobook version. I mean, who doesn't love a good accent and some singing thrown in? The narrator did an amazing job of bringing the story to life, keeping me hooked from start to finish. The way they portrayed different characters and emotions was spot on - I was engrossed the whole time!

The main character was so likable and well-developed, and her big secret reveal had me gasping. Even though this genre isn't my usual go-to, I found myself completely drawn into the story. The setting was just as I imagined, and the way the plot jumped between timelines kept me on my toes. For my first foray into fantasy, I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised!

If you're into stories of women's resilience, sisterhood, and tales of the sea, this book is must-read. Trust me, it'll warm your heart and open your mind to something new. So, add it to your TBR list and prepare to be swept away on a magical adventure. Well done, indeed!

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.