I struggled to finish "The Sirens" (and probably wouldn't have if I hadn't received an ARC). The book never managed to pull me in; there was no connection with the characters, no compelling plot for most of the story, and nothing that made me want to keep reading. The stakes felt consistently low, and Lucy's lengthy introspections could have been significantly trimmed. The multiple perspectives all shared the same narrative style, making it less believable and quite monotonous. Although the story picks up towards the end, it wasn't enough to redeem the meandering and uneventful journey. Overall, it felt like a lot of dithering with little payoff.

Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!
This is a hard book to rate for me because I did really enjoy some parts and the writing was really pretty. I just have a lot of questions. I think a few more rounds of plot centered editing would have been helpful - there were a lot of things that were touched on and then just never revisited. Also this is just me being nit picky but the author personifies nature by using the word “licks” like at least 20 times. First time I was like woah the sea foam licks the rock, amazing - but it was very oddly overused by the end.

Beautiful, lyrical novel about the power and love of sisterhood, and the resilience of women. Hart takes a kernel of truth (a prisoner ship from Ireland headed to Australia) and turns it into a gorgeous story of sisters separated in time, and the magical realism just works and is organic to the story and the resolution. I really liked how the chapters alternated between present day and the past, eventually drawing the two stories together and towards the inevitable conclusion.

"A story of sisters separated by hundreds of years but bound together in more ways than they can imagine

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack—but her sister is missing. As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town—tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever.

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat takes them farther and farther away from all they know, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies."

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

I enjoyed the multiple timelines told from the POVs of three women, which merged together in a fascinating way. Lucy, Jess, and Mary all seem to suffer from a bizarre affliction when they come into contact with water. Each woman has insecurities and a backstory tied to that condition. The storylines were unique, mysterious, and suspenseful, with a touch of mysticism and magic. Fans of historical fantasy or historical suspense will enjoy this one.

I liked Weyward okay, but wasn’t planning on picking up another book by Hart until I saw the title and cover for this one— I’m a sucker for sirens and mermaids!

The fantastical elements are understated, and though I would’ve liked more undersea action, I was pleased with the execution. I loved the setting, and the historical elements were compelling. I knew nothing about convict voyages to New South Wales and now I’m interested in learning more.

I had a hard time with the lack of loose ends tied. I am actually a fan of ambiguous endings, but there were some plot points that felt completely abandoned.

I’d recommend this one to fans of Weyward, though it might feel a bit repetitive. The structure is extremely similar and there are a lot of overlapping themes (justice, resilience, family bonds). The pacing is also similar, though I’d argue the plot in The Sirens was more engaging.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc

This story captivated me from start to finish. The intertwining timelines, Lucy in 2019, Jess in 1999, and Mary and Eliza in the 1800s, kept me hooked, blending historical fiction with magical realism beautifully. I was drawn to Lucy's journey as she unravels family secrets and her sister's mysterious past. The diary entries added depth to Jess’s character, while Mary and Eliza's struggles on a convict ship brought an eerie sense of connection to the sea. The themes of sisterhood, resilience, and retribution against abusers were powerful. The audiobook, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, was fantastic, especially with her mastery of accents and characters. This genre-bending novel is haunting, emotional, and absolutely worth the read.

The Sirens was an incredible read! The writing was captivating, and the plot was filled with unexpected twists that kept me hooked from start to finish. The storytelling was immersive, and the characters were compelling, making it impossible to put the book down. I highly recommend it!

I had a difficult time finishing this book, but I trudged through. At no time did it hook me and draw me in, it was also predictable, which is unfortunate. I found it difficult to connect to the characters, even with all the different perspectives, the voices felt the same. Overall, it was a hard read and I feel like this just wasn't my cup of tea.

Let me break down what this book is supposed to be about before diving into my thoughts!

**The Sirens** weaves together two timelines: In 2019, Lucy flees to her sister Jess's coastal home after a disturbing sleepwalking incident where she almost chokes her ex. But when she arrives, Jess is mysteriously missing, and Lucy discovers the town has a history of vanishing men stretching back decades. Meanwhile in 1800, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are forced onto a convict ship to Australia, experiencing strange bodily changes during their journey. The stories converge through dreams and folklore, exploring themes of sisterhood, transformation, and the mysterious power of the sea.

Now for my review:

This book had me swimming in circles, and not in the magical mermaid way I hoped for! As my first Emilia Hart experience, it's unfortunate it didn't deliver. The pacing was glacial - seriously, watching actual tides might have been more dramatic.

Lucy's decision-making had me constantly questioning her judgment. Who responds to a missing sister with such casual energy? "Oh, my sister's gone? Guess I'll just hang out here for a bit!" 🤷‍♀️ Make it make sense!

The sleepwalking setup initially seemed promising but then faded into background noise. And those alternating timelines? Rather than creating intrigue, they just created confusion and drag. I tried both Kindle AND audio versions hoping something would click, but this story was determined to keep me at arm's length.

I'm giving it the extra .5 stars bc the UK version is stunning, so .5 stars for packaging. At least it'll look pretty on my shelf while collecting dust!

The vibes we're tracking:
🐌 Glacial pacing energy
🧠 Questionable decision-making
💤 Sleepwalking plot that goes nowhere
🌊 Ocean metaphors beaten to death
📚 Beautiful cover hiding disappointment

Based on other reviews, Hart's debut "Weyward" seems to be where the magic actually happened. This sophomore effort unfortunately feels like a pale imitation - all the ingredients for something special, but the recipe just didn't come together.

For a book about sirens, it's ironic how it failed to lure me in with its song. Let's hope Weyward proves to be the enchanting read this one promised but couldn't deliver!

This was very enjoyable! I liked The magical aspects and the characters were solid. I had Never read this author before and am looking forward to seeing what she writes in the future. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest reviews

Hart's debut Weyward was one of my favorite reads of that year, so The Sirens was highly anticipated for me. While the magic was there for sure in this installment, I felt less connected to the story and the main character. I figured things out very early on, and the final comeuppance was less satisfactory.

4.5 ⭐️

"There’s something about this place, something different. It keeps its women safe.”

After loving Weyward, I knew I needed to read this, and it did not disappoint. I'm a sucker for multiple timelines, and Emilia does it so well. I always finish her books with a feeling of satisfaction that I rarely find with others.

When I tell you, I DEVOURED this, I read it every single second I could find. There were a few things I DID NOT see coming. I was so invested in the story and each character. I was angry with them, and for them, relating to them, happy with them, and jealous of them a bit. Because what I wouldn't give to feel that free.

This is a must-read you should all add to your TBRs.

This was quite a unique story, being told in three different timelines. I enjoyed the story itself and definitely wanted to keep reading, but boy was it difficult. The pacing is very slow and I had a very hard time connecting with any character. With that being said, I still really enjoyed the story!

I am obsessedddddd with this cover 😍

I had high expectations for this book, having really enjoyed Weyward by the same author. As I’ve said many times, expectations can make or break an experience, and unfortunately this book did not live up to my expectations.

Told in dual timelines from multiple POVs, I did like learning the stories of each set of sisters, and I appreciated the historical aspects. I loved the magical realism interwoven into the story, and I do absolutely love Hart’s lyrical writing. The message of consent was powerful and is so important, and I loved the feminism, power, and retribution.

However, I felt like it was fairly slow at the beginning, and I wasn’t gripped by the story. I finished this book still having some questions. I wish I liked it more, but perhaps you will, so give it a try.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a standalone historical fantasy, set on the coast of New South Wales. We follow multiple POVs as well as multiple timelines. We follow two sets of sisters one in the 1800s and one in 2019, they have a strange connection and you really discover what’s going on in this book as you continue reading it. In the 1800s perspective we follow Mary, who with her sister are taken captive in Ireland and put on a convict ship with other women set to take sail to New South Wales. These chapters are tense and often graphic of what the women went through on that ship. In 2019 we follow Lucy as she tries to figure out why she is dreaming of sisters Mary and Eliza, while trying to find out what happened to her missing sister Jess. I really enjoyed the mystery aspect that came with the 2019 POVs, we also get to read diary entries that help us figure out what’s going on. It made it hard for me to put down and had a couple of audible gasp moments. Honestly I don’t think I had a fav pov, they’re all great and have input to the whole storyline. This story is a feminine rage at its core and loved the elements that went into it. This is a perfect read for spring or summer as well 🌊 I’d look up triggers/ warnings before reading 📖

I’ll start by saying, I would never have finished this if it hadn’t been an ARC. I wanted to DNF so many times, but felt an obligation to finish.

After reading and enjoying Hart’s Weyward, I was so excited to snag The Sirens. I went in with high hopes, but it just didn’t land. The plot was so slow and there was no character development to make up for it. The story was written in multiple perspectives through multiple timelines, but honestly, all the voices were so similar, it just added to the bore. I needed something… anything… to keep my attention. While things finally picked up near the end (80% in or so), it was just way too late.

Hart is an eloquent writer. I enjoyed her imagery of the Australian shores, their beauty and danger, and she honored the power of sisterhood throughout, but these pieces weren’t enough to redeem the book for me.

As with all books, someone will pick this up and love it, but it just wasn’t for me and I’ll have a hard time recommending. That being said, check out Hart’s Weyward instead.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I read the first 40% of the book by ebook and thought… I’ll wait until the book releases and listen to it on audio. AND THEN when I was able to listen early (thank you Macmillan audio 😘) the book was a lot more enjoyable for me.

What you need to know:
Lucy is a university student and wakes to find her hands around the neck of the boy she thought she may have loved. She grabs her stuff and makes her way to Comber Bay, the place her older sister moved to not to long ago. Lucy hopes that the nightmares and sleepwalking can be explained and that Jess might be able to help her. Jess and Lucy’s relationship has been strained, but Lucy feels this pull to this town full a secrets where her sister has found refuge. Only when she gets to her sister’s house Jess is nowhere to be found. Are the secrets to where her sister is linked to the towns past?


My thoughts: (warning- potential spoilers ahead)

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think I preferred listening to the book over reading it with my eyeballs. I think it you liked Weyward and even The Lost Apothecary I think you might enjoy this book, but it was a slow start for me.

Now this could be a me problem but I had a hard time knowing the difference between Eliza and Mary (even though the chapter was told in third person from Mary’s pov when we jumped to the past.) I don’t think this was because of the audio performance though.

It felt like we weren’t in the past long enough for me to differentiate between the two. I don’t know if that was the third person pov, or just me needing more info in Mary’s chapters to understand the difference between the two girls- granted they are sisters joint at the hip but still.

I thought the way Emilia wove the past chapters to the present was really creative. So I understand maybe why we weren’t in the past longer at the beginning on the book.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the eArc.



SPOILER:



I don’t quite know how I feel about the epilogue… kinda wished it wasn’t there at all, but I guess it did answer some questions I had, though don’t ask questions you aren’t gonna like the answer for 🫣.

3.75 stars.

I loved Weyward so was looking forward to reading the latest (The Sirens) by the author.

This is an atmospheric and beautifully written novel about sisters, female empowerment, and resilience across the centuries. This is a slow-paced read told from three POVS and across timelines. I thought it was well-done but I did find the ending a bit unclear and to read that part a couple of times. I also thought parts of the plot were overly complex and descriptive at times. There is magical realism woven throughout and for me, that part did not fully resonate.

While I enjoyed Weyward more, I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Like most everyone else I fell in love With Emilia Hart’s novel, Weyward and eagerly waited for her follow up novel. Sirens is a tale of sisters and the sea. This is a book about all of the facets of womanhood. The evolution of the sirens evokes the changes an adolescent girl . From the changes her body goes through and all of the complexities and uncertainties that come with it. It is about how men view women and about how women treat each other. But it is mostly about relationships between mothers and daughters and sisters. A lot of ideas woven together in a lovely modern fairy tale. And always there is the sea.
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartins press for this arc.

The stunning cover and premise drew me in to this lush and breathtaking story about femininity, sisterhood, and the bonds that keep us together. I absolutely loved the split-timeline narrative and thought it added a unique element to the story that both juxtaposed and tied the women's tales together really beautifully. 10/10 would recommend.