Mysterious and suspenseful. As with this author's other books, the story grabs you from the start, dragging you into the odd and eerie storyline- this time-jumping tale drags a little with the inner dialogue but still delivers a great read.

Lucy and her sister Jess’s story runs alongside that of Mary and Eliza, set centuries earlier. When Lucy begins sleepwalking, she remembers Jess did the same and heads to Comber Bay to find her. The bay is cloaked in mystery, with a convict shipwreck in its past and the recent disappearance of eight men. At first, Mary and Eliza’s tale aboard the convict ship feels disconnected, but the two timelines eventually merge in a surprising twist involving sirens and generational curses. While the concept of sirens and inherited conditions like aquagenic urticaria had potential, I found this book far less captivating than Weyward.

The Sirens is a stunning, heart-wrenching allegory for the experiences and traumas of “girlhood”. Hart masterfully uses the mythology of sirens—creatures both feared and desired—to explore the complexities of growing up female. As the sirens in this story struggle with their bodily transformations, they come into their power but simultaneously fear the judgment of those around them for simply being what they naturally are. It’s a powerful metaphor for the way women grapple with their ever-changing bodies and how society views them.

Hart doesn’t shy away from the difficult, often fraught, relationships between children and their parents, particularly the complexity of a daughter’s relationship with her father. The novel delves into how the actions of fathers—sometimes loving, other times distant or harmful—shape a woman’s understanding of her own worth. These father-daughter dynamics are subtle yet potent, and they speak to the lingering impact of paternal influence as women come of age and face the world.

At its core, The Sirens examines how the treatment we receive, especially from men, but also one another, often influences the value we place on ourselves. Hart deftly weaves these emotional and physical transformations into a broader commentary on how women often internalize the judgments of others, allowing them to dictate how they let themselves be treated. The sirens' journey becomes not only a reclaiming of their autonomy but also an emotional reckoning, where they must decide what their bodies—and their lives—are truly worth.
This story is deeply emotional, haunting, and ultimately empowering as the women united care for and strengthen each other. I felt so much as I read this one, as it spoke so eloquently to the complexities of what it is to be a woman. The only qualm for me was held within the epilogue, the entire story worked for me, until that point. I needed just a bit more from it, in order for it to all come full circle from that point. With that said, this story was still brilliant and speaks honestly to the silent battles fought within many women and the invisible burdens carried upon their shoulders, making The Sirens a story that will linger, lapping like distant waves at the edges of your consciousness, long after you turn the final page.

I plan to post my review to instagram soon, but then I will repost it it within 1-2 weeks of publication and I will add a review to Amazon. I have posted it to Goodreads as well.

Another captivating book from Emilia Hart, this time sharing the stories of two sets of sisters - Lucy & Jess in present day, and Mary & Eliza in the 1800s.

Lucy flees university after a traumatic event, and runs to her sister’s home in quiet Comber Bay, known to true crime fans like Lucy as a place where men have mysteriously gone missing throughout the years.
When she arrives, her sister is missing and the only clues are in the paintings and an old journal she’s left behind. The journal opens Lucy’s eyes to the life of her enigmatic sister, and her family. The paintings start to tell the tale of an 1800s shipwreck full of women prisoners, two of whom were Mary & Eliza.

Mary & Eliza are sent to the colonies as prisoners from their small Irish village, and their history informs their present on the journey to New South Wales.

The author weaves the stories of all of the sisters together in an entrancing way, and the reader uncovers mysteries along with the characters.

I really enjoyed this book, which is no surprise as Weyward was my favourite book of the year when it was released.

Thanks very much to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Sirens is a dual-timeline tale filled with magical realism. I was invested in the characters and their outcomes. But the ending is somewhat predictable and the pacing is not consistent. There is incredible detail about some things and at other times I was left wondering how to fill the gaps. Finally, there are some incongruence between what the narrator tells you and what you’re shown… the author/narrator seems like an unreliable source. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book! 3.5 ⭐️s for me.

This book fell really flat for me. I was hoping to love it as much as I loved Weyward. Unfortunately that didn’t happen for me.


I felt as if they book dragged to get to what was happening and once it got going you can figure out the what’s going to possibly happen.
The pacing of this was a little weird and felt like sometimes it was fast paced but then would slow right down.


What I did enjoy about this was that there was spooky aspect to this. And the two different time lines one of the time lines is from. The 1800s and 2019.
The setting of the book was set up nicely. I could picture both times lines. I also really enjoyed the magical realism that it set.

Thank you to Netgally and St Martins Press for a copy of this ARC for an honest review

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautifully written book about relationships between sisters and is a wonderful adult fairy tale-like story involving the sea.
The tale is told by three different characters, Lucy and Jess who are sisters in 2019 and Mary who is from Ireland 1800s and on a convict ship headed to Australia. Lucy finds herself in a situation where she is compelled to get to her sister, Jess in Australia. When Lucy gets there, she cannot find Jess, but she finds her journal. The journal is more than eye opening, and Lucy needs to find Jess more than ever. Mary’s story mostly takes place with her twin sister Eliza onboard a disgusting convict ship. The ending of this story binds it all together in an amazing way!
I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy. I would only say that you have to really comprehend what is going on to appreciate the ending! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

The Sirens is a solid follow up novel to Emilia Clarke’s fantastic debut, Wayward. I found some of the major plot points to be predictable, and it didn’t build quite like Wayward did. However, I still enjoyed the book’s spooky atmosphere and enjoyed popping between each woman’s perspective.

he Sirens by Emilia Hart is a captivating exploration of love, deception, and healing. Hart's writing style brings to mind a seamless blend of Paula Hawkins and Evie Woods, creating a narrative that's both suspenseful and richly emotive. This was my first Emilia Hart novel, but it certainly won’t be my last. Her ability to intertwine a poignant love story with layers of mystery is nothing short of beautiful. Highly recommended for fans of evocative storytelling with a touch of fantasy!

I absolutely adored Weyward and was hoping the author had another winner story, but Im sad to say this book just wasnt for me. There really was only one plot line for me, and it was fully predictable. I kept reading in the hopes that it would pick up and change my outcome, but it sadly did not. The writing was beautiful though! This feels more like a cozy read, but even then, thats been cautious. Im not sure if this is a book I would recommend.

THANK YOU to NetGalley for the ARC! ✨

I’ve just finished The Sirens by Emilia Hart, and I’m still caught in its spell. 🌊 This book masterfully intertwines myth, mystery, and the deep emotional journeys of three women connected by an ancient curse. Emilia Hart’s writing brings the magical allure of the sea to life, exploring themes of identity, destiny, and the haunting power of the past.

The way Hart brings Tír fo thuinn—“the land beneath the waves”—into the story felt so mystical and captivating. It’s as if the characters’ lives were submerged beneath their own personal waves, each of them seeking the strength to rise above and break free. Their connection to the ocean felt tangible, almost like the sea was its own character in the novel.

While the story left me enchanted, I walked away wanting to know more about the curse itself—how it truly came to be and its full depth. The mystery behind it was so gripping, but I found myself yearning for just a bit more history and explanation to fully understand its origins.

The ending left me with a sense of slán abhaile—a bittersweet goodbye, as if saying farewell to characters I had come to care for deeply. Though a few moments felt slower, this book’s beauty lies in its emotional richness and powerful connections.

This book centers around four distinct women. They would each have lives that revolve around the sea. It also takes place in 2019, 1999, and 1800. Across time and space, there comes a moment where sisterhood is tested. The book captures a lot of the moments of these women. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read the book and write a review.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. I loved the alternating perspectives and the imagery Emilia was able to develop throughout the story. I felt the pacing was slow at times and I struggled with wanting to stay with the story. I appreciate how the story handles and outlines the struggles of women over time. I also enjoyed the mix of historical fiction and magical/fantastical elements. I would rate the story overall a 3.5 rounded here to a 4.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book!

I (like so many others) looked forward to this because I absolutely love Weyward by Emilia Hart.

The Sirens fell flat for me and I DNFed about 30% into it.

At the very beginning of the story I had an inkling of annoyance at how it kept referring to "what Ben had done" rather than just saying it. Like that person you know who always hints around to something several times because they want everyone to ask them about it instead of just telling you what they obviously want to tell you but they need the satisfaction of you asking. About the third or fourth time it mentioned Ben had done something to Lucy but didn't tell me what it was it set the tone for the story for me that I couldn't shake.

The blurb of the book is also misleading: "Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat." "Lovers" implies they had much more of a relationship than they did -- while, in reality, they had sex one random time.

Overall, I didn't find any way to connect with the characters. I didn't feel much development happening and decided to move on from this one.

3.5.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC of 'The Sirens' by Emilia Hart. I have not read Weyward yet but it is next on my book clubs list and looking forward to reading it after this one.

I enjoyed her descriptive magical realism writing style, but overall the storyline seemed pretty predictable. The prologues eventual reveal did surprise me, but the rest just felt like the Disney Channel Original Movie The Thirteenth Year, but for women (IYKYK)

I was about 85% through and kept thinking okay how are they going to tie all this together. There just seemed to be some missing information and motivation. Wanted a little more background on the fantasy aspect.

2 sad lil stars here. I adored Weyward, so I was holding the author to a pretty high standard for her second novel. The writing was gorgeous, but the story fell flat. It became predictable, with the prologue really being the only plot twist for me. It was a beautiful story of female empowerment over nearly 200 years… but I just needed a little more!! Thank you to Netgally for the ARC!

I was excited to be granted early access to this book. Multiple women throughout the years are focused on in this book, as they all are on a journey of self-discovery. The book starts with Lucy, looking to unravel why her sister has mysteriously disappeared in an area known to have had numerous men disappear by the sea. Lucy then has dreams of two sisters on a ship, discovers her sister's diary, and learns of a past she knew nothing about. The story then goes back even further in time to two sisters, ripped from their home and send across the world. At its core, the book focuses on women and their strength with a mix of fantasy.

Once again, this author does a really great job of writing with mood - she sets a scene that kind of settles into you in a darker way (but this is a good thing!).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written, atmospheric novel. The Sirens is an ode to the sea, but also an ode to women and the struggles they face. The imagery was so immersive and well done. I love the complexity of all of the characters. This novel is historical fiction and contains two different timelines. Finding the connections between the two stories had me reading late into the night. I was eager to figure out the mystery of the women in both timelines. The female friendships are written and developed wonderfully. There are some darker themes/content, but they are handled expertly. Having experienced some of the same things as the characters, it was more therapeutic than triggering for me. This story left such an impact on me. I think the story and its’ message are so very important. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

(Content Warning: grooming, abandonment, sexual assault, child abuse, murder, post partum depression, drowning, gaslighting, misogyny)

Perfection! I loved every second of this book. I could not put it down!!! I especially loved the ending and wish there was more.

In 2019, a young woman is in crisis and runs to her sister. Her sister isn't home, but the house is full of secrets and she is ready to know the truth about her family. In the 1800's another set of sisters embark on a long boat journey to a penal colony in what is now Australia. They have a secret too.

This is a lovely book. I loved the focus on female relationships and sisters. The writing is well paced, the style is almost journalistic. There are a lot of historical facts mixed in to the fantasy. The intertwining stories were equally interesting and important to the overall story. I liked the exploration of genetic memory and shared dreams. I thought that the magical realism was done really well - it was just the right amount to feel natural to the world we live in.

I felt unsure about the front matter - I almost feel like if the author is going to put something like that there, it should be the historical information about how women were treated in the penal colonies, not a land acknowledgement. I felt that was unnecessary, although meant in kindness.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.