3.5 stars, rounding up to 4.

This was a really interesting read! It was a little spooky, had a lot of mystery, and complex characters that demanded respect and an epic conclusion to their stories. I overall enjoyed it.

One of my favorite things about this story was the theme of women’s empowerment. All four of our lead characters learned how they hold power as women throughout history and I really enjoyed watching them grow into this power as the story went on. Everything they needed they found in each other. There were themes of sisterhood woven throughout both Eliza and Mary’s and Jess and Lucy’s stories which were touching and beautiful. Women hold power in community and that was really prevalent in this book.

The connections between each of the stories and the unraveling of the mystery was done really well. I constantly wanted to keep reading to figure out what was going to happen! I did like how all of the characters ended up connecting. Little pieces of each story were given throughout which had you really thinking about how it would all go down in the end. Some of it I guessed, some of it I didn't, which was intoxicating in its own way!

The timeline jumps did get confusing at times. I had to backtrack a lot to remember who was in which story and what they did to earn a spot there. I also felt like the plot twist in the epilogue was way too late and I needed a lot more information about it to make it make sense. This honestly made me rethink a lot about the book and I had a hard time stomaching the ending.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves mystery with some dark twists!

I will definitely read more from this author as I thought both Weyward (though, I did like Weyward more) and The Sirens were haunting and complex stories. Something out of the ordinary from what I typically read!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.5⭐️ This book is mainly just vibes. It’s very dark and eerie! Hart’s writing is truly beautiful. Her descriptions have a beautiful eeriness to them. My main issue with this book was the pacing. The book didn’t really pick up until 70%. Once it did I started to enjoy it so much more! I do have some questions that don’t feel fully answered. Overall I did enjoy this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I was really eager to give Emilia Hart another chance since Weyward didn’t resonate with me the way it did for so many others. Sadly, The Sirens didn’t quite hit the mark for me either.

The multigenerational storyline and the family secrets were definitely intriguing, and I enjoyed the sprinkle of magical realism throughout. However, I felt the plot was a bit lacking, leaving too many loose ends by the time I reached the conclusion. I craved more depth and a stronger connection between the characters—just more substance, really.

I also found myself disappointed with how the book approached its themes. Given that it touches on the colonization of Australia, the absence of meaningful Indigenous representation felt like a significant missed opportunity.

I loved the idea behind it, but the execution just didn’t do it for me. I’d give it a solid 3 stars.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me the chance to read this one.

I want to start by saying I absolutely love the cover. This was one of the reasons I got drawn to this book and an idea of a story about sirens but unfortunately this turned into DNF for me. Right from the beginning I couldn’t get into the story. I am not sure if it was because of a lack of plot or unrelatable characters. There was just something about this book that didn’t speak to me. Many readers will find it interesting; I was just not the right audience for it.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was more interested in Mary and Eliza's story than Lucy and Jess, I probably could read an entire book around the events they endured and why. It is on the slower end in terms of pacing, but the mystery behind the strange events continued to be captivating enough, pulling you further and further into the book as you read.

The book was slow to get into, then sweet you in , but I wasn't entirely thrilled with the ending. It felt like we just put a bow on something that wasn't finished thoroughly in order to get to an ending.

If you enjoy feminist historical fiction or multi-generational sagas, you will love the sirens. this 2025 release is Emilia Hart’s second novel, following her debut Weyward that was published in 2023. beginning in present day Australia, it alternates between sisters Lucy and Jess in the present, and sisters Mary and Eliza over 200 years in the past who are being forcibly torn from their home in Ireland and placed on an convict boat set for Australia. i love the magical realism elements that are infused into her novels, making a witchy ambience, threading the stories of women and nature across time and space.

Honestly I loved Weyward so much but was completely let down by this one! Unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I loved the theory in concept but i wasn’t captivated by the characters.

The Sirens is written by Emilia Hart. Emilia wrote Weyward, a book I read and loved in 2023. This book, will share shelf space with Weyward and I will treasure it. It is a story told in three different timelines. In 1801 two Irish sisters, twins, are being deported to New South Wales, Australia for their crimes. They are boarding a ship that consists of all female prisoners (83) and 22 crewman. In 2019, Jess and Lucy are sisters - born 17 years apart. They both suffer from a skin condition that keeps them covering themselves. They both sleepwalk and feel themselves drawn to water even though water makes their condition worsen. Lucy, the younger sister, at the start of the story, awakens to find herself strangling a boy that shared an intimate photo of her on TikTok. Lucy flees her college campus to go visit her sister who lives more than 12 hours away in the seaside village. Lucy arrives and she sees Jess's paintings but Jess is not home, yet her car, house keys and phone are there. Lucy begins looking around the place for information and she finds her sisters journal from 1998. Lucy is hungry for information about her big sister and begins reading the journal and realizes that her sister had difficulties too - and she is more worried about her than ever. Lucy finally breaks down and tells her parents where she is and that Jess is missing. In the 19th century the sisters, Eliza and Mary, suffer during the voyage as there isn't much food, and they are treated poorly, and the constant fear of the water. Both, Jess and Lucy dream of the sisters. I found this to be a strong feminist story of myth and rage. It's beautifully written, and I loved the characters. This is my 99th advanced reader copy - I had the ALC and the ARC - and I thoroughly enjoyed immersively reading The Sirens. The narration by Barrie Kreinik is stellar. I would listen to her read her grocery list. 4.25 stars. Thank you to #NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and MacMillan Audio for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Sirens is a captivating slow burn historical mystery with elements of magical realism mixed in. I wasn’t sure what to expect jumping into this, but it turned out to be an absolute page turner for me. I adored it.
Told in a dual timeline about two sets of sisters, both haunted by the eerie pull of the sea, Emilia Hart uncovers the secrets of the New South Wales coastal town of Comber Bay and its strange mystery of missing men.
I really loved the feminist undertone as these women navigate a world separated by hundreds of years, where justice doesn’t necessarily exist for people like them.
As the woman all start to notice unusual changes in their bodies, and the storylines come together with past and present colliding, they find a way for past and future to harmonize in a beautiful tale of empowerment.
There were twists I didn’t see coming intertwined with a reimagined version of real events of Australia’s history, which I thought developed a very spellbinding read. I haven’t read Weyward yet, but I’ve seen it said that if you liked that one, this one is also for you!

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
Publication date 4/1/25

I loved Weyward by Emilia Hart and perhaps my expectations for this new novel. While Hart delivers the beautiful descriptions I really enjoyed from her first novel, this book was lacking in all other aspects for me.

Maybe this just was not the book for me and others will feel differently about it. I almost stopped reading it several times.

In the future, I will still read books by this author because I Ioved Weyward so much.

Thank you so much to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC of The Sirens!

As a huge fan of Weyward, I was excited for The Sirens. Ultimately, while I enjoyed aspects of the novel, I was left feeling a little unsatisfied.

I was intrigued by the premise and loved how the element of mermaids was explored so subtly and in such a unique way. The writing was wonderful and it felt like it was really thoroughly researched and grounded in historical accuracies. My favorite aspect by far, was the theme of female empowerment and sisterhood. Emilia is wonderful at weaving these powerful themes throughout her books!

I found I struggled to connect to the characters and with the pacing, which at times moved a bit too slowly and lost my interest. I also found that the diary entries were written in a way that didn’t feel like an actual diary/journal. I think it would have made more sense if it had just been a pov/time jump rather than labeled a diary but then written in normal prose.

Overall, I liked the unique take of Sirens/Mermaids and the themes of the book, and the writing. While it didn’t quite live up to my hopes, I am still a big fan of Emilia Hart and look forward to her next book!

My first Emilia Hart book and I was not disappointed.

The Sirens is a magical realism novel inspired by historical folklore. It follows two different POVs from two separate pairs of sisters, Lucy and Jess in 2019 and Mary and Eliza in 1800. It was super captivating to read about the hardships the pair of sisters faced in different time periods but seeing familiar themes amongst them all the same.

I was more interested in Mary and Eliza's story than Lucy and Jess, I probably could read an entire book around the events they endured and why. It is on the slower end in terms of pacing, but the mystery behind the strange events continued to be captivating enough, pulling you further and further into the book as you read.

My only caveat is that I wasn't entirely thrilled with the ending. It felt like we just put a bow on something that wasn't finished thoroughly in order to get to an ending.

I really enjoyed The Sirens and can't wait to finally get my hands on Weyward.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Emilia Hart and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

DNF here. I just couldn't get into it. Too slow and too frustrating of characters. I really liked Weywood but this is a no for me.

A feminist tale revolving around 4 women—two sets of sisters. This one had elements of magic but also symbolic with how women can be mistreated and silenced. I felt there was more of a story in the epilogue and would’ve loved a third timeline with that character. Great read — I did a mix of reading with my eyes and listening to the audio with my ears. Many thanks to St Martins Press, Netgalley, and Macmillan Audio!

I'm giving this book a generous 3 stars, but it fell very flat for me. I loved Weyward, but The Sirens moved slowly and I never felt connected to the characters. If any, then probably Lucy, but the answers she finds to her many questions come so late in the story that it just feels like she drifting for most of it. There's a momentum and energy that is lacking here. I hope this author's next book is better.

Emilia Hart weaves a beautiful magical mysterious story about family and female empowerment. Told in dual timelines and POVs. It is a wonderful tale with mermaids, sisters, secrets and twists! It’s about embracing their uniqueness, their journey to self discovery and overcoming challenges. There are themes of female trauma but there is also the strength of the healing process in which the author handles really well. The timelines were told 200 years apart but were perfectly woven together.

This is my first Emilia Hart novel. I’ve heard so much about her debut Weyward. I can’t wait to read it!

4 stars!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to like this book. However it just didn’t keep my interest and I had a hard time getting interested in it. I’m sure others will enjoy it but it just wasn’t for me

I had times where I got super invested, but it would quickly dampen with a plot that mostly felt like it was going nowhere. I loved the modern spin on Sirens and their feminine rage, but overall, I had trouble staying engaged. The stakes felt low (when they really shouldn't have) and the book was mostly anticlimactic. I was also left with way more questions than answers.

4.5*
The way these timelines and characters all connected and were woven together was fascinating and truly lovely. I don't tend to lean into fantasy as a genre. However, this felt as though it covered more than that. The historical fiction and the way it left me wondering how it all came together was intriguing and kept me coming back for more. The little crumbs of connection, mystery and twists throughout were just what I needed to keep my attention. I have a love for the siren folklore and am intrigued by the many versions. I think that is what made me love this book the way I did.

4.5* the only thing that I feel kept it from a 5* was at times it did feel a tad slow for a physical read. My personal preference. I think as an audiobook I would soak it up and sail right on through it! Looking forward to that opportunity.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy.

3.5/5 stars

The Sirens is a historical fiction mystery with elements of magical realism that alternates between the stories of Lucy and Jess in the present, and Mary and Eliza in the 1800s. Set in New South Wales, Australia, the area is known for the suspicious disappearances of men, with rumors that singing from women can be heard occasionally, the haunting remnants of a long-ago tragedy at sea. The legends of merrow and sirens rise to the forefront of the narrative, as well as the treatment of female convicts being transported from Ireland to Australia in the 1800s, and the strength and power of women.

This is a slow-burn mystery with magical realism elements tied to Irish folklore. The writing is beautiful. I enjoyed the aspect of magical realism and the historical nature of the novel. I also liked the focus on women, on their relationships and mutual determination to survive and fight back against those who seek to harm them. I struggled a bit with the pacing, as some sections felt a bit repetitive regarding the physical changes occurring, and I did predict some reveals that came later in the book. I was not a huge fan of one particular relationship in the book and the epilogue, which raised more questions for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St, Martin’s Press for this gifted eARC, in exchange for my honest review.