I loved Weyward, and this one was just as successful for me. The two books share some traits - female empowerment, an interesting house that's its own character, family secrets, and magical elements. We follow Mary and Eliza as they're held in bondage on a convict ship from Ireland to Australia, and we follow Jess and Lucy in present day Australia. I felt connected to each woman thanks to the evocative writing. I also looked forward to each new discovery about the house and the treacherous coastline below it - I could easily picture the damp and dilapidated rooms and the steep, slippery steps down to the sea. The reveals of the family secrets kept going right to the last page, and the ending was very satisfying. There's something about Emilia Hart's writing that really works for me, so I'll definitely be picking up whatever she writes next. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this digital arc.

I loved this author's debut, Weyward, and I loved this one EVEN MORE.

Mermaids and Sisterhood and Vigilante Justice and PUT THAT ISH IN MY VEINS.

I loved the multiple timelines, the distinct voices of each complex character, the interwoven Irish folklore, and the feminine rage.

THE FEMININE RAGE

Was I disappointed Ben didn't go for a final swim? Yes, but I'll content myself with the other nine (+) bits of retribution.

Here’s to many more.

Lucy has just had a terrible experience. She is awakened and she has her hands around her boyfriend’s neck. She has been dreaming. She knows she cannot stay at school, so she heads to her sister’s new house, The Cliff House. Her sister, Jess, is not there. And then strange things begin to happen and Lucy needs answers.

Of course, this tale starts with a female, convict ship in the 1800s headed to New South Wales. So, this hooked me right from the start. Then it rotates from present day to 1999 and back around to the 1800s. Trust this author to tie it all together, because she does and she does it in a grand fashion. Believe me, you will be questioning what actually just happened.

Now y’all…this is not really my genre. And it did not get weird until the end of the story when the strange twist occurred. It hinted at a few things but I was already invested. Did I like it…yep, yep I did!

Talk about a bit twisted but y’all, this novel is definitely worth your time!

Need a unique tale which will have you guessing and has a great twist at the end…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

In The Sirens, Emilia Hart crafts a beautiful story, that at its very heart, is about family love and all the things we do because of it. This was one of those books that grabbed me right from the beginning. Maybe it was the history of the prison ships and thinking about all the different types of women who would have been aboard, represented in the book. I enjoyed getting to know the main characters and sticking with them right to the end of the story.

The writing was very beautiful in this book. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the detail of the setting. The mystery got me hooked and wanted to know more throughout. I enjoyed reading about both of the different timelines woven for the different set of characters interesting. I loved the strong bonds and relationships with the characters.

this was my first book by emilia hart and I wasn’t sure if I am her intended audience. it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t great or kept me intrigued.

This story was such a slow burn that I found myself really struggling through, hoping that it would pick up or get better- and it didn’t.

although at times I was intrigued the story never really captured me. if you love historical fiction with a generational tie-in and a complex familial story with a slow burn, then you’d enjoy this one.

I typically do like a slow burn but this one wasn’t it for me. None of the plot lines really kept me interested. However I would recommend giving this one a shot if you’re a fan of Emilia hart!

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Emilia Hart is back with another tale featuring magical realism, strong heroines, and themes of fellowship and resiliance. This time, rather than witches and nature, we get the sea and sisterhood as four women across 3 timelines attempt to uncover truths about their lineage and overcome injustice.

The plot spans 1800, 1999, and 2019 as two sets of sisters find their lives linked by various mysteries, from visceral dreams and hidden adoptions to missing persons and a strange allergy to water. This multi-timeline approach made the pages fly by. However, I was distracted by the 1999 timeline, which took the form of diary entries that felt too convenient and not like something a teenager would write. Still, the author’s atmospheric writing style shines bright. At times, I swore I could smell the ocean breeze and hear the cawing gulls!

While this book had a lot going for it, I didn’t find it as captivating as Weyward. It kept my interest, but the late-breaking reveals and rushed epilogue made it difficult to bond with the characters. Though, bonus points for the big plot twist, which I did not see coming. I also appreciated learning about the late 18th-century convict transports that shuttled thousands of people, many of them women, from Europe to New South Wales. Those passages were heartbreaking and emphasized the plight of women caught in the crosshairs of an unfair justice system.

Even though this book didn’t hit like Weyward, I still enjoyed it and think fans of magical realism will, too! 3.5 "I really liked it!" stars on StoryGraph, rounded down here on NetGalley.

After really enjoying Emilia Hart's first novel, Weyward, I was super excited to receive this ARC! I enjoyed this novel as well, but I didn't like it as much as Weyward for a couple reasons.
Firstly, what I enjoyed about The Sirens: I loved the characters in our modern timeline! I loved Jess especially, and the diary snippets we got from her were super interesting. I also loved the worldbuilding with Hart's signature touch of magical realism. I also enjoyed the writing style, and it does feel upgraded from Weyward, though not a whole lot (but that's not a bad thing, since Weyward's writing was gorgeous!)
Now, let's talk about some of the things I didn't like as much. I didn't feel connected to our historical timeline, almost at all. Mary felt much more flat to me, and I didn't find myself enjoying her chapters. I also felt like we could have gotten more explanation on the siren lore and backstory. Again comparing to Weyward, we got a whole lot less of a 'origin' story for the sirens and why they exist. It was also relatively easy to guess the plot twists, but I don't mind being able to guess them, so that's not as big a deal.
Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend you to pick it up if you liked Weyward and are interested in reading another of her books! I look forward to her next release, but this one was kind of a miss for me. (3.25/5)

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this E-Arc.

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“Most people just want an easy life. It’s unsettling when someone starts pulling apart the stories we’ve stitched together, the things we tell ourselves for comfort.”
-The Sirens

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This novel was not what I expected at all. I think it was longer than it needed to be as well.

A few months ago, I tried to read Weyward by this author, and I DNF’d it.

In my opinion this book was boring due to its predictable nature.

This book did not excite me or give me the desire to continue reading.
I kept waiting for something unpredictable to happen. In the end, it was overall unsatisfying, predictable,and had an anti-climactic ending.

This story was not quite what I had expected from the summary.

The fantasy aspects did let me down. I thought there would be far more fantasy.

Mostly the story is a blend of realistic and historical fiction.

Great idea, poor execution.

After letting some days pass after reading this book, I can honestly say I wholeheartedly regret using my time to read this over something else.

Thank you to St. Marten's Press for my copy of THE SIRENS. This one is out April 1.

I really loved Emilia Hart's previous novel, WEYWARD, and was super excited to get my hands on THE SIRENS. This one just didn't meet my expectations after her previous novel. I didn't really enjoy the characters and I felt myself dreading reading this one. I do not recommend it.

This book had its moments, it was interesting at times. Overall, felt like it kept circling the same themes without gaining much traction. The multiple timelines should have added richness, but instead, it felt repetitive, stuck in a loop of flashbacks and flash-forwards without enough new things happening. There were eventually some satisfying reveals, but getting there felt more like a slow trudge than an exciting unraveling. I hoped to connect with at least one of the characters across the three timelines, but it never clicked. There were some immersive, descriptive moments, but the plot and character depth didn’t go far enough for me. Not bad, just… not enough.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this book.

Beautifully written, haunting story of two sets of sisters, connected across time. This book is lovely, with terrific character development, compelling plotlines, and gorgeous imagery. The magical elements are woven into a realistic story in a way that feels natural, and the book as a whole is an immersive reading experience.

Yesss! I loved this like I loved Weyward. Sirens are so interesting & I loved this take on them. The alternating timelines really helped me fly through the book because I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next in both stories. I do wish we got to see more of underwater life & I had a couple questions at the end that I would’ve liked to be answered, but I still really enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it. Emilia’s writing always sucks me right in & it’s so beautiful. Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martins Press for the arc.

Lucy is away at university when she experiences a sleepwalking episode that ends in assault of a male classmate. Fleeing the repercussions, she ends up at her sister’s cliff-side home along the Australian coast, but there’s one problem, which turns into many: her sister is not there. What unfolds is a mystery in the present which intertwines with local lore related to a ship of female “convicts” from Ireland which wrecked along the coast in the 1800s.

I thought this was propulsive and engaging! I was entertained for both timelines and cared about the characters. THE SIRENS explores themes of violence against women, family secrets, female empowerment, and overcoming trauma. To enjoy this you’ll want to make sure you’re in a headspace to read about sexual violence against women, and it might also be helpful to know that this story contains lots of magical realism bordering on some light speculative horror elements so it’s best if you enjoy that in your books too.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the advanced reader copy. St. Martin's Press continues to put out so many of my favorite books and I am here for it!

The Sirens is an engaging dual-timeline story and from the title, you will probably know that it is about mermaids! I will read anything about mermaids. They are one of those mythical creatures that when written about in fiction, run the gamut from tame to terrifying.
I loved Weyward and gave it 5 stars, and Hart captures that feeling for me again. I loved the propulsive plot, I loved the dual timeline and the ending was what sealed it for me.
The main theme here seems to be the healing power of water, but you also get some historical education about Australia, convict ships, and lore about mermaids and siren songs.
I loved the reading experience and believe Hart will be an auto-read author for me in the future.

*The Sirens* by Emilia Hart is a captivating and haunting novel that explores themes of identity, power, and the delicate balance between freedom and control. Set against a rich, atmospheric backdrop, the story unfolds as the characters grapple with personal and societal expectations, as well as the echoes of ancient myths.

The novel’s strength lies in its immersive writing style, which effortlessly blends lyrical prose with a sense of foreboding. Hart’s ability to draw readers into the emotional turmoil of her characters is exceptional. The narrative is deeply character-driven, focusing on the complexities of female relationships and the ways in which society shapes and confines women.

At the heart of the story is the interplay between the mythological siren and the lived experiences of the women in the novel. The sirens are not just mythical creatures but a metaphor for the silencing and objectification of women throughout history. This theme runs through the novel, with each character facing their own struggles with autonomy and voice.

The pacing of the story is deliberate, allowing the tension to build gradually, pulling readers deeper into the narrative. There’s a haunting quality to the atmosphere, and the novel’s eerie, almost dreamlike quality will keep readers intrigued, even as the plot’s twists and turns become increasingly difficult to predict.

While *The Sirens* is rich in symbolism and depth, some readers might find the pacing slow at times, particularly in the middle section where introspection overtakes action. However, this is a minor critique in the context of the novel's larger themes and emotional resonance.

Overall, *The Sirens* is a beautifully written and thought-provoking novel that blends mythology with contemporary issues in a way that is both poignant and unsettling. Emilia Hart has crafted a powerful narrative about the search for freedom, identity, and voice, making this book a compelling read for fans of lyrical fiction and those interested in the intersection of mythology and modern-day struggles.

This book was everything I love about Emilia Hart’s writing. She is an auto buy author for me because she just sucks you in to a story that is beautiful, hard, and changing. I could not recommend this book enough! Thank you NetGalley for a ARC of this book.

First off, thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Sirens. I’m so glad I was able to read this book, as it’s unlike anything I’ve read before.

The story here had me thinking about it even when I was not reading, just desperately wanting the answers to these mysteries. I love that we were able to get into Lucy, Mary and Jess’s heads with the differing POV’s for the chapters.

The cliffhanger at the end of part 1 was so rude! What do you mean you won’t immediately give me an answer? So of course I had to stay up late to find out more.

Of course, there are some things I didn’t quite like. To me, Lucy was a weak main character. I know that she needed to be like that for the story to unfold the way it did, but I did not resonate with her. Jess was the shining star to me, but I also loved Mary and Eliza (in fact, I wish we would’ve gotten Eliza’s POV).

Overall, though, I really enjoyed this book! This is my first Emilia Hart book, but I definitely will be reading more from her.

I really enjoyed Weyward last year. I was very excited to read Sirens!

However, this book was a little slower. Took a little longer for me to get into this book. I thought this was a little slower in the middle.

Emilia Hart did a fantastic job portraying different time lines. I feel like she really put her research into 100 years ago and comparing it to the events she portrayed of modern times. This is definitely a magical realism book, and i thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Sirens. The Sirens are definitely the hero’s of this book. Very strong female characters.

There are very complicated bonds between characters. Especially Jess and Lucy, with a 20 year age difference and not seeming to be connected at first. But the “blossoming” of their connection was well worth the read.

Barrie Kreinik did a fantastic job with the narration! Flipping from Irish to Australian accents was absolutely seamless. And she sings beautifully as well! Loved the difference she brought to each character!

Overall, i really enjoyed this read. It’s definitely a step outside of my comfort zone. Complex characters, relationships, and jumps to the timeline. Definitely worth the read if you want to branch out a little.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I LOVED this author's debut, Weyward. Here she resurrects the theme of strong, kickass women, this time sisters, being resilient against adversity. I enjoyed the dual timelines and the fact that this one is a bit of a mashup: HF, fantasy, mystery. Mermaid-ish theme added a fresh dimension to the story. Weyward still my fav!