The Sirens is an epic tale of women, sisters, mothers, friendship, and family bonds. Just as in Homer’s Odyssey, the sea is an integral character—its pervasive presence is sometimes menacing, other times comforting—and always powerful and symbolic.
The story unfolds in 2 main timelines. In February, 2019, Lucy, a college student, is in a jam and seeks solace with her older sister Jess, who lives in the fishing village Comber Bay.
Conversely, in 1800, Irish sisters Eliza and Mary are sent to Australia on a convict ship, sailing for months under horrible conditions, as it heads for disaster on the reefs of Comber Bay.
The intersection of their stories is masterfully told and mesmerizing in a dream-like way. I found the storytelling well-paced, slowly revealing the layers of the story in beautiful evocative prose. The descriptions of sounds, smells, and tactile sensations envelop the reader in a multi-sense experience.
Both sets of sisters are engaging characters, in their own historical time, but the present day siblings Lucy and Jess were most developed. The drama of their relationships, including with parents and predators, really added depth to the story.
There is much magical realism here, so prepare to suspend the confines of time and place, and make room for mermaids and sirens as you give over to this artful tale.
If you read and enjoyed Hart’s previous novel Weyward, you will again enjoy the opportunity to become immersed in her magical, ethereal story world.

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

My book club read and loved Weyward but I didn't read it since I couldn't make the meeting. Regrets, I have a few. By many of the reviews I've read, this story is not as great, but if that is the case, I'm sure I will absolutely LOVE Weyward. This book has an otherworldly, dreamy quality that I love in stories that have magical realism in them. I devoured the amazing history that this story wove through the story, the connection between the fated sisters and Jess and Lucy. The way the story was told with multiple timelines and POVs only added to the mystery and the suspense in seeing how the story would all tie together. While I figured out some parts early on, I loved seeing how the characters figured it out and the epilogue was the cherry on the cake for me.

Do you ever feel like you don’t belong? You feel the pull of something but you don’t know what it is. Dreams of the past, what do they mean? If you liked Weyward then you will love The Sirens. Beautifully written, mesmerizing story, so immersive and detailed. Multiple timelines, multiple POVs, mysterious and emotional. I loved the writing style. Highly recommend.

Solid 4 star read!

"The Sirens" is an emotional and explorative novel about the relationships between women. Sisterhood, motherhood, friendships.
The flipping between timelines is done incredibly well--I didn't find myself lost or confused, despite the changes between "present" day, the past, and some journal entries.

The plot twist (twists??) towards the end completely catch you off guard and provide a satisfying ending.

This was my first time reading an Emilia Hart book and it certainly won’t be my last. I truly loved this book the writing was beautiful the different time lines connecting the past to the present was so nice! I’m a sucker for a story involving siblings bonds and this tugged at my heart a bit.
I did find the beginning to be a little slow but it did pick up quickly. Looking forward to reading more from this author
Rating: 4⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this Advanced Copy in exchange for my honest review

After falling in love with Wayward, I was so looking forward to this story.
The Sirens is an interesting story that blends together lore, fantasy, and a modern story to create interwoven connections between characters. While I appreciate the complexity of these connections, I found myself wanting more with regards to the execution of the story.
I enjoyed the development of the sibling relationship in the past timeline that was included in this story, but feel that it could have been condensed while still holding the same weight. Time spent with these characters would have been better used exploring the heavy subject matter that was presented in the present day timeline. A topic that's incredibly prevalent and that warrants and is owed appropriate discussion is unfortunately not given the time needed to explore it in the detailed and nuanced way it requires, which leaves the reader wanting for more.
While this book does reveal a number of familial secrets involving our main characters, they're not all explored to provide the reader with insight or understanding. I found myself wishing for additional conversations between parents and children in order to have a clear understanding of these relationships as they stand within the story, but also when looking towards the future for these characters. The epilogue does attempt to provide some clarity, but in doing so also stirs up additional questions.
I did enjoy the inclusion of singing in the audiobook. That was a great decision and allows for an immersive listening experience at those moments in the story.
I think Hart created a very interesting story in The Sirens, I just wish it wasn't lost to pacing issues and muddled explanations.

“A prickle starts at the base of Lucy's spine. Maybe it's the knowledge of what the water would do to her skin. She imagines the waves lapping at her like tongues, stripping her of flesh until she is nothing but bone, gleaming white.”

Book Review
The Sirens- Emilia Hart
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Firstly, I want to thank Emilia Hart for providing me an ARC &ALC via Netgalley! I want to shoutout the narrator Barrie Kreinik for flawlessly embracing an Australian &Irish accent. I also love how Emilia switched timelines from the 1990s to the 1800s gracefully with dreams and through diary entries. I truly adored the sisterhood dynamic they were truly the heart of the book! I have a sister myself and I cried during scenes were they were emotionally seperated.

In the first time line 2019, Lucy who attends University is having sleepwalking episodes with nightmares about the ocean. She awakes assaulting her boyfriend and has to run-away to her eldest sister Jess’ beach house in Australia. When she arrives her sister is gone, yet jess phone and car are still in the house. She fears her sister is in trouble so finds her sisters diary which takes us to 1999 seamlessly through Jess’ eyes. We get to see Jess’ life as a teenager and why they have so much in common such as their rare allergy to water resulting in their family never letting them get wet and vivid dreams. We then transfer to the 1800’s via both Jess’ and Lucy’s dreams which follows sisters Eliza and Mary born and raised in Ireland. They are both boarding a ship for convicts being stuck in the under carriage hands bound for New Whales they both have the same water allergy and the longer they are on board their skin starts shedding. This nautical fiction, Mystery, Thriller has themes of family resilience, self acceptance, and bonds of sisterhood across time and space.

Will the past impact the present?

This book has many moving pieces and covers multiple timeframes. Jess and Lucy, sisters, have an issue with water. The sisters, Mary and Eliza, were sent from Ireland to Australia on a convict ship. Within these stories, there are multiple more dimensions that cover more than just the current day, especially with Jess and Lucy. There are diary entries that broaden the scope of the story for Jess and confirm some of my suspicions about these two women. 

I did enjoy the book, but I feel that there are many unanswered questions. There really isn't an answer regarding the sleepwalking, what happened to the missing men who were featured in a podcast, and Mary and Eliza's fate. While we can make some educated guesses, who is to say those are the correct assumptions?

While this book has some amazing parts, others fell a little short. It is still a worthy read, especially if you enjoy magical realism.

We give the book 3 paws up.

Emilia Hart’s The Sirens is a beautiful blend of historical fiction and magical realism that is about sisterhood, resilience, and the powerful call of the sea. It jumps through different timelines connecting the lives of four women who are drawn to the ocean in ways they can’t explain.
In 2019, Lucy wakes up from a nightmare to find that she has sleepwalked into the dorm room of her ex. Unable to explain the situation, she seeks out her older sister Jess, who has recently moved to a small coastal town that has its mysteries. When she arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found and the house is in disarray. Driven by her love of journalism and seeking the truth, Lucy searches for answer and discovers that Comber Bay has a history of men disappearing, a baby being found in a cave by the ocean, and women’s voices singing from the waves.
Readers are taken back in time to the 1800s to follow Irish twin sisters Mary and Eliza, who are taken from their home and placed on a women’s convict ship heading to New South Wales. During the months long voyage, the women suffer brutal conditions in the overcrowded, damp, dark prison deck where they are given scarce rations. While on the sea, Mary and Eliza begin to transform in ways unimaginable and are called by the ocean.

I absolutely loved The Sirens. It was so magical and I was immediately sucked into the story. Hart’s writing is very immersive and made me feel like I was right there alongside Lucy, Jess, Mary, and Eliza and feeling the shared draw to the sea. Each turn the story took had me excited to continue reading and find out what would happen next. This was such a captivating and haunting read that I will be recommending to all my friends!

I will say, the epilogue was not my favorite. While it did provide some explanation, I almost wish the story ended without it. I would have been content with not knowing and keeping the mystery.

This haunting story weaves together the lives of four women, Lucy, Jess, and twin sisters Mary and Eliza, across three timelines marked by secrets and betrayal. Bound by a mysterious connection to an island, they face their own demons while grappling with an eerie force that shapes their fates. The characters’ emotional journeys and the chilling atmosphere create a beautifully unsettling read. For fans of generational mysteries, The Sirens is a must-read.

Thank you to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.

This started out a bit slow for me but once I got into it I couldn’t put it down. I read it, then reread it a second time because it is just that good.

Moral of the story? Women are unstoppable!

I was very excited to read The Sirens after loving Emilia Hart’s previous feminist literature novel, Weyward. I was happily rewarded with a great exploration of themes I loved from before - multiple POVs, the strength of women when connected, and stories told throughout time.

The addition of women drawing strength from water, despite being “allergic” to it, was particularly insightful to me. I also really enjoyed learning about the tragic story of the women aboard the Naiad, and the acknowledgment of First Nations people in Australia.

Unfortunately, this experience fell slightly flat for me. There seemed to be a lot of different elements to this story, potentially too many, and I didn’t feel super connected to any single one of them. I guessed every single “twist” that took place, and felt like a lot of the pieces here - the affair with the teacher, the turning into mermaids thing - were strange and unnecessary.

I also REALLY didn’t like the epilogue, or “wrap up”. Not only was it rushed, but I was greatly disappointed in the character assassination of the father. It ruined the entire marriage of the parents for me, especially when we were reassured it was sound.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Emilia Hart, and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Title: Sirens
Series: n/a
Author(s): Emilia Hart
Genre: Fantasy/Mystery/Historical Fiction
Publication Date: April 1, 2025
Publishing Co.: St. Martins Press
Length: 352 pages/ chapters
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️ / 🌶️

Trigger Warnings:

Tropes:
🧜‍♀️ Fantasy
🧜‍♀️ Mystery
🧜‍♀️ Multiple POV’s
🧜‍♀️ Multiple timelines
🧜‍♀️ Trauma
🧜‍♀️ Family drama

Emilia Hart's Sirens is not a book genre I usually read, but the synopsis sounded fascinating. Although I don't usually read fantasy, Sirens combines historical fiction, mystery, and fantasy with a hint of family drama. Multiple points of view, timeframes, and the overall strong female character development were all masterfully written, but once more, I just struggle with the fantasy genre, and I thought that some of the story's elements were so unbelievable that I think I got lost in the story's overall basic premise.

If you’re a fan of fantasy, mermaids, strong female characters, Greek/Irish mythology you will devour the book.

I'd like to thank Netgalley, St. Martins Press for an advanced copy of Sirens in exchange for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

This was such a whimsical and eerie book full of magic and hope. I loved it so much. The dual timelines really helped to bring everything full circle, and I loved the different characters and their stories!

Emilia Hart delivers another mesmerizing tale with The Sirens, a novel that beautifully intertwines magic, sisterhood, and the haunting pull of the sea. Spanning centuries, this story follows three timelines—each one steeped in mystery, resilience, and the supernatural.

The novel's structure is one of its greatest strengths. In 2019, Lucy's desperate search for answers leads her to unsettling truths about her sister Jess and the eerie coastal town she called home. In 1999, Jess's isolated adolescence and dangerous entanglements create a slow-burning tension that keeps the pages turning. And in 1800, twin sisters Mary and Eliza's harrowing journey aboard a convict ship unravels the origins of a strange and ancient power. Each storyline is compelling in its own right, yet they weave together seamlessly, building a rich, atmospheric narrative.

Hart’s prose is as lyrical as ever, immersing readers in the raw beauty of the sea and the dark secrets it holds. The themes of trauma, autonomy, and female resilience shine through, making this more than just a historical fantasy—it’s a tale of survival and transformation.

While the novel's pacing is generally strong, some sections—especially in the modern timeline—feel slower in comparison to the more intense historical narratives. At times, Lucy’s arc lacks the urgency of Jess’s or the twins', but the eerie mystery and emotional weight keep the story engaging.

Overall, The Sirens is a spellbinding read that lingers long after the final page. With its haunting atmosphere, deeply felt characters, and a touch of mythic allure, it’s a must-read for fans of Weyward and anyone drawn to the magic of the sea.

I was thrilled to get an arc of this book because I absolutely loved Emilia Hart’s debut novel, Weyward.

While I did really enjoy this book, it didn’t have the same pull on me as Weyward. This one felt slower-paced and I found myself liking Lucy’s story more than Mary and Eliza’s. Even though I figured out the twists before they happened, I still found the myth of sirens to be interesting enough to keep reading.

The Sirens is the intriguing second novel from Emilia Hart, author of the popular debut novel, The Weyward and tells the story of two sets of sisters, about 100 years apart. Set in Australia, Lucy and Jess’ story is interwoven with Mary and Eliza’s. What I found interesting was that both Lucy and Jess dreamt about Mary and Eliza, which is how we learn of their journey from Ireland to Australia via a “convict boat”.

Fans of Sarah Addison Allen will surely enjoy The Sirens, with its strong stories and characters and a touch of magic realism. I found both storylines to be equally compelling and while the developments were not that surprising, the stories flowed seamlessly. I enjoyed that the author used various techniques such as dreams, Jess’ diary and Lucy’s perspective to move the stories forward.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

After loving Weyward, I had high hopes for The Sirens, and I’m so grateful it delivered that same immersive, atmospheric feel. Hart has a way of drawing readers into a setting with rich, evocative detail, making every scene come alive.

In 2019, Lucy flees to her sister Jess’s coastal home after a disturbing incident, only to find Jess missing and whispers of mysterious disappearances in the town. As she searches for answers, eerie dreams blur the line between past and present. Hundreds of years before, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are ripped from their home and sent to Australia on a convict ship, where they begin to experience strange transformations. Across centuries, their stories intertwine in a tale of resilience, sisterhood, and the untamed power of the sea.

This story took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and while I enjoyed the direction it went, I found myself wanting more time with the sirens; their history, their voices, and their stories. The novel unfolds in a way that slowly weaves together different perspectives and timelines, revealing its secrets chapter by chapter. Though there is an undercurrent of fury, the heart of this book leans more into feminine resilience, strength, and survival rather than outright rage.

A beautifully written and compelling read. I can't wait to read more from this author.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review).

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this eARC and ALC.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a DNF for me. Don't get me wrong, I loved the writing, but I just couldn't connect to the characters. They all just made bad decisions then complained.

I’ve been (impatiently) waiting for this book since I saw the title. I loved Weyward and I love mermaids so this was right up my alley!

I LOVED this book! I love the history and mythology that is woven throughout the whole book. I can’t decide who my favourite character is because they were all so well written.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️