The Sirens is a hauntingly beautiful exploration of sisterhood, trauma, and the deep, mysterious pull of the sea. Through dual timelines—one set in contemporary Australia and the other in early 19th-century Ireland—the novel weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and the enduring bonds between sisters. Hart’s lyrical prose and atmospheric storytelling create a world that is both enchanting and eerie, drawing readers into its depths. The integration of magical realism adds a layer of intrigue, blurring the lines between myth and reality. While the pacing may feel deliberate at times, the emotional payoff is profound, leaving a lasting impression.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Weyward, the first book by this author, and have been looking forward to the release The Sirens. I enjoyed her writing equally as much in this book. The story is set on the coast of Australia and is a haunting and atmospheric tale told in dual time lines. In the 1800s, sisters Mary and Eliza spent months aboard an ill-fated convict ship destined for Australia. In present-time Australia, we have Lucy and her sister Jess dealing with personal challenges, family secrets and an eerily strong shared connection to the sea.
Overall, the book is compelling and thought-provoking. Although a bit slow in the beginning, the intertwining storylines and the gradual unveiling of secrets build engagement as the story progresses. The book includes heavy themes of female trauma, but I thought the author portrayed them in a sensitive way. This book combines mystery, fantasy, magical realism, and history into a lovely and haunting read.

I was so looking forward to this book, as I absolutely loved Weyward and could not put it down. However, I still only 52% through this book, and bored to tears. I will probably finish it at some point, but I cannot say I recommend this book.

Emilia Hart is a prolific author! i read Weyward after reading this gem! i absolutely loved it! cant wait to read more from her

thank you Netgalley for this opportunity

I love the premise of this book. I'm always down for a female rage story. I did wish that this story had more bite to it though. The meandering pace watered down any feelings that came up so it made it hard for me to stay invested. However there were some plot points towards the end that pulled me back in and got me invested again. If you enjoy mysteries that simmer for most of the book then you might enjoy this book.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. Nothing against the author or her writing but I just wasn't able to connect with this story the way I was hoping to.

I really enjoyed this spellbinding historical fiction novel! Thank you so, so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title!

Blurb:
2019: Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack—but Jess is nowhere to be found.

As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’s strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary.

1999: Jess is a lonely sixteen-year-old in a rural town in the middle of the continent. Diagnosed with a rare allergy to water, she has always felt different, until her young, charming art teacher takes an interest in her drawings, seeing a power and maturity in them—and in her—that no one else has.

1800: Twin sisters Mary and Eliza have been torn from their loving father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. For their entire lives, they’ve feared the ocean, as their mother tragically drowned when they were just girls. Yet as the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain, and they feel the sea beginning to call to them…

A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, The Sirens captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.

I love the way Emilia Hart does feminist historical fiction with a touch of magic. This kind of story will always be a win for me, but the way Hart really immerses you in the setting and the atmosphere really makes you feel the story. The characters at times felt flat, some parts of story felt forced, and some resolutions were not satisfying. Overall however, these issues did not detract all that much from my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart gripped me from the first page. Lucy’s story, set in modern day, was interesting and compelling. The mystery around her condition was enough to keep me turning pages. Then, we switch timelines to Mary and Eliza, set in the 1800’s. I found this second timeline much less engaging. It took more than halfway into the novel before I became engaged in Mary and Eliza’s narrative.
Overall, I enjoyed the magical realism woven with modern day. A slow burn story of sisters, family, secrets and lore.

I preferred The Sirens over Hart’s debut novel, Weyward. Noting this as many readers are stating the opposite in their reviews.

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC via NetGalley.

this book was incredible! what a beautiful homage to the strength and resiliency of sisterhood, feminine spirit, and friendship.

am deeply impressed by how much the author has grown as a writer. Her first book was sweet and very accomplished but reminded me too much of too many things. Here, she has developed a unique style and voice that entrance and enthrall her readers in her own Siren Song.

I couldn't put it down and the stories within called me back until it was complete.

well done

This is an interesting story about two sets of sisters in New South Wales, Australia, that spans generations. It's a mix of mystery, historical fiction, and magical realism. It's a layered story that has details from the period and region of the world. It builds an intriguing world in 2019 where the two sisters look for their past and weaves the 1800 journey in the convict ship traveling from Ireland to Australia. As they cross the vast sea, Mary and Eliza's bodies begin to change.

Emilia is an up-and-coming author who writes intricate books. I recommend you read her debut novel as well.

I loved Wayward so much. I was so excited for this one. I enjoyed it for the most part. But honestly it was kinda hard to follow along with. I was confused for the majority of the book. But then the last 20% made up for the rest of the book.

This was probably my most anticipated read going into 2025 because I LOVED Emilia's debut novel, Weyward. The premise was interesting and I was particularly drawn to the older timeline in the 1800's about the two sisters aboard the convict ship from Ireland to Australia.

The Sirens didn't capture my attention as much as Weyward did. Perhaps it's the sophomore slump or the consequence of my own expectations. I did enjoy parts of the story, but felt certain aspects were drawn out too much and others weren't detailed enough. I would've loved the 1800 storyline to be explored more because the history of the convict ships sounds fascinating.

A common theme between both Weyward and The Sirens is female rage and empowerment. I love how Emilia portrays these through her female characters by initially showing them at their lowest, but then coming into their strength. She does an amazing job writing beautiful, haunting, atmospheric novels with magical realism woven in and remains an auto-buy author for me.

This book was so unique and unlike anything else I’ve read. Part family drama, part historical fiction, part mystery, with just a touch of magical realism and themes of female empowerment, this book was absolutely delightful.

If you’re looking for a compelling, magical (without being fantasy) summer read, I definitely recommend picking this one up!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The cover of this book is so beautiful. I like this author's writing. very magical in feeling.

I really like the blend of otherworldly and contemporary that Emilia Hart writes. I also think she writes feminist stories about generations of women very well. This was engaging and thought provoking, as a woman myself. Also, what a gorgeous book!

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⋆
I picked this one up for author alone, and I wasn’t disappointed. Her other book, ‘Weyward’, had me from the first chapter, and this was no different - I was hooked from the start.

I think I just really enjoy her writing style - the content, the format, the magical realism and folklore, and the combination of dual timelines and POVs, all of it lends itself to a great read. Additionally, the plethora of strong female characters within both of the books she has written are inspiring, unique, and admirable. She reminds me a bit of another author, Kate Morton, with their propensity to write fantastic female protagonists, multiple POVs, immersive settings, and strong storylines.

This story was laid out in an interesting manner, blending history, fiction, and folklore. I don’t often read historical fiction, and while this is more lite on the historical part, I always learn something when reading this genre. I was particularly drawn to Mary and Eliza in this novel - their story and bond had me *almost* wishing the timeline and POV would stick with them.

And in a dramatic twist of fate, I actually loved the epilogue. Normally, I find them to rarely add anything of value to the story, but this epilogue was set in the past - it offered up a tiny bit of insight, while still leaving some things to mystery and imagination, just how I like it.

Between this book and her last, Emilia Hart’s novels are worth making room for - both in your reading schedule, and on your shelves.

~ 👩🏻‍🦰

This book is told in multiple timelines including 1800, 1998, and 2018. The 1800 portion features twin sisters Mary and Eliza. They were transported from Ireland to Australia on a convict ship. The part set in 1998 is about Jess as a young student and her relationship with her art teacher. In 2018 we meet Lucy the younger sister of Jess as she leaves school to visit Jess during a tumultuous time in her life. When she arrives Jess is gone. Lucy finds journals written by Jess and starts reading them to find clues to where she might be. She discovers something that changes everything she thought she knew about her family and herself.

Once again Emilia Hart delivers a beautifully written novel filled with feminine rage, myth, and sisterhood. I loved this magical story and couldn't put it down. I'm eagerly anticipating what Emilia Hart delivers next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Sirens....what can I say but this is another book that I expected to love due to reading and loving the authors first book. This book was simply boring to me and I had to slog my way through it. I wanted more of THE SIRENS, you know, like the title suggested. And maybe less predictability?

This story focuses on Lucy who leaves college unexpectedly after an incident and travels to her sisters home only to find her sister missing. We then receive and alternate timeline and account of her sister Jess and her past and what led her to a life away from her family. I think if you go into this story and know that it will be a slower novel you may do better.

This cover is one of the most beautiful I have seen. I will give the book that.

The Sirens follows modern-day sisters, Lucy and Jess. It juxtaposes their story with the story of sisters Mary and Eliza, who were shipped to New South Wales from Ireland with a ship-ful of women after being convicted of a crime. Ultimately, the Sirens is a story of discovery, new beginnings, and finding your true self.

I got very wrapped up in this novel, and just NEEDED TO KNOW HOW IT ENDED, which I alway take as a good sign. I actually listened to the audiobook copy of this book, which I think helped me get in the character's heads, with the various accents, etc.

This was a surprising find, but overall I really enjoyed it. I'd recommend if you are looking for something different, and enjoy both historical fiction and fantasy (SIRENs etc.)

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy for review