This was my first time reading Emilia Hart. It won't be my last! This story was amazing! I loved it! It had me from the first page to the last.

I loved Weyward so immediately I was itching for more by Emilia Hart. I was a bit worried that the premise of the book was too similar to Weyward, and that the book would not provide anything new or different, but that was not the case! Although there are similarities between the books, the plots and characters are quite different. I was intrigued and wanted to keep reading. I was able to guess a couple of the “plot twists” very early on, but that did not deter me from wanting to find out what was going to happen or from continuing to read. I really liked how the epilogue tied together the whole story, and every loose end was answered and you were not left questioning anything.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I believe Emilia Hart did a great job on writing a book that was just as good as Weyward. I look forward to reading future books by Emilia and would recommend both The Sirens and Weyward to anyone looking for feminist stories with elements of magical realism and really great, descriptive writing!

This was a unique and interesting read that incorporates elements of fantasy, literary fiction, mystery, historical fiction, mythology, and more. The book is told from the perspectives of different characters throughout different periods of time and as the novel progresses, you learn how these characters and their stories are connected. I think this is the perfect read for fall/winter time because of the eerie elements and mystery. Definitely interested in picking up more of Emilia Hart's books.

This novel was a slow burn with detailed storytelling and vivid imagery. It was a little too long for me but the story was well written; a haunting mystery of women and motherhood.

The Sirens is part historical mystery and part magical realism. Hart does such a beautiful job blending the two. It leans much more as a reimagining of historical events than a fantasy novel. In present day, Lucy runs away from college after sleepwalking and strangling her lover. She drives to Comber Bay to stay with her estranged sister, Jess, only to find that Jess is missing. In the 1800’s, Mary and Eliza are twin sisters being transported in Comber Bay on a convict ship. Lucy staying alone at Jess’s dank and messy Cliff House in haunted Comber Bay made for an eerie setting.
The Epilogue was tough for me. I understand why it was included, but I wish the story had ended without it. It didn’t ruin my overall enjoyment of the mystery, but it left me feeling sad. This book is jam-packed with gorgeous prose. I highlighted so many thought-provoking quotes. I will still pick up anything Emilia Hart writes, and I would absolutely recommend if you read and loved Hart's debut novel, Wayward.

I am SUCH a fan of Emilia Hart. Her debut novel, Wayward, was my favorite read of 2023 and I have since been singing its praises to anyone who will listen. When I heard about her new novel, The Sirens, I knew I had to read it ASAP! Thank you to Netgalley and St, Martin's Press for this ARC. This was another "stay up until 2am reading with one eye open because it's so good and I can't stop" read! The beautiful and descriptive landscapes Hart is so good at painting are really on display here. We once again follow different women at different times in history with unique stories that make you love them and hurt for them at times. On top of the rich story telling, I was also pleasantly surprised at the mystery(ies) that unfolded as the story progressed. If you like magic realism, and if you love reading stories of women finding their way in this messy world, Emilia Hart and The Sirens is for you! This is an author who's books I will always look forward to!

*The Sirens* is a haunting, multi-generational tale that weaves together themes of resilience, womanhood, and mystery against the backdrop of eerie folklore and secrets buried in a small seaside town. The story follows a cast of female characters, mostly sisters, across different eras, exploring their unique struggles and perspectives. The alternating timelines give a rich view of the evolving challenges these women face, from the weight of historical expectations to the complexities of modern relationships.

Among the characters, Lucy—set in present-day 2019—stands out as particularly relatable and compelling. Her strained relationship with her sister and unsettling experiences with sleepwalking add an air of suspense and mystery that drives much of the story’s tension. The atmospheric writing does wonders to convey a sense of coldness and dread that keeps you on edge for a good portion of the book. It’s a dark, chilling read that balances historical and contemporary issues with a powerful feminist undertone, celebrating resilient women across generations.

However, the plot’s conclusion might leave some readers wanting more. After a buildup that leans heavily into the mysterious and supernatural, the resolution feels a bit abrupt, skimming over some of the key elements introduced earlier. For readers invested in the more eerie aspects, this might feel unsatisfying, and the unresolved threads around Lucy's nightmares and sleepwalking feel almost sidelined. Additionally, certain relationships are handled in a way that feels jarring, particularly due to an early prologue that casts a bittersweet shadow over the story.

Nonetheless, the author’s storytelling shines through in the way she artfully blends historical folklore with modern themes. Her knack for centering stories around womanhood and resilience is evident, and for readers who love a dark, atmospheric story about complex women, this one offers plenty to appreciate. With the author’s unique style, I’m looking forward to her future works.

A powerful story of feminine strength and courage with a seaside setting. Hart is masterful with words and it is borderline hypnotic. Haunting and beautiful.

The Sirens follows a similar narrative style as Weyward – we follow women in two different timelines, weaving back and forth between them to build the story. In this case Mary and Eliza are sisters in 1800, on a convict ship bound for Australia. And in 2019, Lucy has been having strange dreams and flees to her sister’s home in New South Wales, only to find her missing. As Mary and Eliza draw closer to Australia, and Lucy’s dreams get stranger, the story pulls them tighter together and they find themselves changing in unexpected ways.

Sirens delves into generational trauma like Weyward did, but it doesn’t feel quite as traumatic which was, for me, a good thing. (Although it’s still heavy – don’t come here looking for fluffy Disney mermaids, trust me.) I don’t want to give away the plot because I really want you to experience it for yourself, but this was a 4.5 star read for me, easily. Magical realism can be really hard for me to vibe with, but The Sirens had the perfect blend of that, historical fiction, and mystery. There’s a lot here to unpack about family and sisterhood, the struggles women have faced throughout the centuries, transformation and survival. The author stated “this novel is about the ability of water - and sisterhood - to heal and transform” and I can’t think of a better description.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This was a hauntingly beautiful read and I recommend for anyone who enjoyed Weyward. The Sirens will be available on April 1, 2025!

OBSESSED with this book. I thought about it for weeks afterwards. After I read weyward, I loved this author. When I saw her new book on NetGalley I had to read it! This book is haunting, full of feminine rage and charm, and beautifully written. I couldn’t stop reading! Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher.

Ever wanted to read a dark book version of the show "H20: Just Add Water"? I did too! Sadly, this isn't really it.

As someone who unironically believes in mermaids, this book had the potential to fulfill my dreams. Sadly, the mermaid bits don't even start until around the 85% mark (I wanted the mermaid bits to start at the 0% mark). Maybe my expectations were so high for a mermaid mystery that nothing could've satiated the desire. The writing was descriptive, but was overshadowed by some underwhelming untied loose ends.

Overall I've never read a book like it, but I wanted more.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my review.

As a huge fan of "Weyward", I was highly anticipating reading this book, and I can say that it did not disappoint. I will say that I was surprised at how similar the structure of this story is to "Weyward" in that it follows women over several generations with magical realism and generational trauma linking them all. With that being said, "The Sirens" tells its own story with different themes and having a narrative that reminds me more of a mystery. Overall I think this was another wonderful story by Emilia Hart and I look forward to reading anything she writes in the future.

This is one of my most anticipated of 2025. It was definitely eerie but struck a chord with me when it came to following our characters through their epic journey to find their place in the world. The descriptive writing and immersiveness I felt was really great, and I enjoyed how gripping this tale was.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC. I have always wanted to go to Australia, and it was interesting to learn about the history of it. I enjoyed reading about the sisterhood of the girls and how that led up to the secret. I definitely recommend this book if you like mermaids and the historical aspects of it.

"The Sirens" is a beautiful and haunting fantasy tale about four sisters connected across the centuries desperate to find answers and connection. This novel is a story about women's empowerment and societies oppression of women, richly women with fantasy and a reimagining of real historical events in Australia.

Told across 3 timelines (2019, 1999 and 1800), the stories of the four women converge as the past and present collide. The chapters are clearly labeled with POV and timeline, so I found it easy as the reader to follow the tale.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

I normally love a mermaid siren story, but this just didn’t do it for me. I had a few issues with this book and one being the whole plot with the teacher, I won’t spoil anything, but it just wasn’t for me and I couldn’t look past it. I also felt like the last 10% of the book was incredibly rushed and jammed packed in a way that made the rest of the story’s plot feel like it wasn’t as valuable. The plot itself didn’t have enough fantasy backstory for me and at times seemed predictable.

Others might enjoy this more than me, but sadly this wasn’t my cup of tea.

This book was eerie, and dark , and my spooky season loving heart ATE IT UP. It was everything I wanted and more.

Solid 4 for me. Following sisters across multiple generations this is a writing style we often see. But the other kept me engaged and on my toes. There were parts of the book that I felt dragged but I always came right back.


Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the e arc

As a fan of "Weyward", I was thrilled when Hart announced her second book, "The Sirens". This novel felt like such a natural step from "Weyward" even though it is an entirely different tale. This gripped me from the first page- mysterious drama with empowering themes of feminism and sisterhood. Hart is a skilled writer and proves yet again how well she can weave an intricate storyline and connect the trials and tribulations of women across centuries, forcing reflection over how much yet how little has changed. I found myself rereading paragraphs that were so beautifully and carefully written. Her ability to create atmosphere and pull me right into the scene whether it was at the Cliff House, on the beach, on the convict ship, etc., is so impressive. I could hear the eerie singing, and I could feel the rush of the ocean to the point of shivering. I really enjoyed the direction the plot went as I did not necessarily see it coming! I am so grateful for writers like Hart and I look forward to what may come next. I highly recommend this book and look forward to purchasing a copy when it is available.

Not for me. I requested this to read in October, as I always like to stock up on "spooky stories" to get me in the Halloween mood. This wasn't quite what I expected, and not my favorite.