The Sirens enchants with its lyrical prose and captivating blend of past and present. The author’s evocative writing immerses readers in a world where the sea’s mystery and the bonds of sisterhood shine. The shifting timelines create a rich, emotional tapestry, and the subtle romance adds depth and intensity. This novel is a beautifully crafted exploration of resilience and the haunting allure of the ocean.

Unfortunately this writing style did not work for me, I didn’t really connect with the story. I hope others are enjoying it more.

Thank you Netgalley for providing an ARC for review.

First, thank you NetGalley for the Advanced Read Copy free of charge for my honest review. I’d like to start by saying this book is THE book for the little girls that played mermaid in their pools, lakes, and ponds.
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Holy moly was this magical, heart breaking, thought provoking, and a beautiful historical tale. From the accuracy all the way the imagined, Emilia once again has swept me away to a magical place.
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I loved the time period shifts and that we got to see perspective of three different timelines. This story center around women; the ferocity of women, the blind judgement and betrayal of women, and most of all, the magic of women. A story of who we are and where we come from wrapped up in a little fantasy had me hooked from the first few chapters.
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Emilia will forever be an “instant buy” for me!

Emilia Hart does it again. She has a wonderful way of intertwining stories across centuries and playing out a beautiful story that has just enough guessing involved to keep the reader invested in the story.

Mary and Eliza’s story was one that gripped in the most heartbreaking way. Jess and Lucy’s struggles as modern women attempting to right wrongs and find themselves was played out beautifully.

The Sirens is the next magical realism by Emilia Hart. Following a few different perspectives, this story focuses on Lucy and her mysterious life.

This book was good, but it didn’t give me the same passion or feeling that I felt from Weyward. Lucy, Jessica and Mary were all fantastic characters, and I loved navigating through their different perspectives. The dialogue, the mystery and the setting was all very well done. I felt like Emilia Hart really gave us great descriptions, which was similar to Weyward.

What lost me in this book was that the story felt very dull and slow in parts. Then it would be fine and speed up, which made me think the pacing was just off. Additionally, I felt like some questions/mysteries were not fully explained. One major thing I kept wondering about was Max and his life/where he went.

I also wanted to know the why/how the Siren plot developed with these characters. I’m not sure that was answered well enough for me.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. Emilia Hart has a way of storytelling that I really love and appreciate.

I just didn't connect with this book at all. The one thing I didn't see coming bumped it up from 1 star...I probably should've DNF'd.

*Thanks NetGalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

I loved this story. It did take me a bit to figure out the time dual time and characters, but once I did this was such a magical story.

In New South Wales, Lucy has woken up on top of her former lover, choking the life out of him. Horrified, Lucy takes off for her sister, Jess, and their old family home on a cliff over a rocky beach where in the 1800’s, a convict ship with 80 women and a male crew, crashed and sank, killing all aboard. Supposedly.

We hear the story of Mary and Eliza in 1800 and Jess and Lucy in 2019.

Mary and Eliza forced from their Irish home and put on a ship bound for Australia. It’s not pleasant and most of them will die.

This will all come together in the most magical way.


NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press March 04, 2025

The way Hart presents women’s struggles in both the past and three present continue to blow me away. Her stories are the perfect blend of fantasy and truth and always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. Although at some points predictable, this book was so enthralling I read it in one sitting and can’t wait to recommend it.

I loved this book. A story of two separate sisters, in two different times. And the thread that brings them together. The author made it very easy to read going from one time to another. . I will be definitely recommending this book to my book club. And I will definitely read her first book.

Another intriguing, captivating mystery by Hart that readers won't want to miss! A powerful story that embraces the mythical spirit of female reckoning. It was so well written. The author's descriptions were so vivid that I could see and feel with a startling clarity every ounce of forlorn desperation emitted from the characters. It was like I was wrapped in a dark cloak weighed down by this ominous sense of foreboding. Lucy's sleep-walking dreams, the missing men, the disappearance of Jess, Mary and Eliza being trapped on a convict ship. This is not a happy story. It is rife with injustice that females have had to endure for centuries. The story took time to unfold, mostly alternating in the different timelines of Lucy and Mary, but I still flew through the pages and finished in less than a day. It was definitely a tale meant to be savored. I don't think my review will do this book enough justice, but I absolutely loved it! It will definitely stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend! I think fans of Weyward and other magical mysteries are going to love The Sirens.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting me early digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

The Sirens opens with journalism student Lucy coming out of a violent dream to find that she has sleepwalked over to her ex lover’s dorm room and was choking him to death. She stops herself and flees to coastal town Comber Bay to her sister Jess’ apartment. Jess is missing however and Lucy has to piece together several mysteries. She uncovers the town’s dark history while dealing with her own water allergy and still having dreams of two girls, Mary and Eliza, in the 1800s. The story oscillates between the two time periods.

Emilia Hart interweaves the two storylines together beautifully. I felt so much for these women who are so resilient, but personally and especially felt for Lucy who is so isolated physically/mentally and struggling to find real connection. Five stars from me for the journey. Don’t skip the beginning historical note - it provides some valuable context on what happened in the 1800s. Thank you Emilia Hart for this amazing story and Netgalley for providing the e-arc.

Ever wake up from a nightmare, only to realize it’s just getting started?

Lucy woke up with her hands around her ex’s throat and is forced to bolt to her sister Jess’s coastal home in Australia!

As she digs into the town’s weird history—disappearing men, ghostly voices, and a baby found in a cave—she discovers secrets that stretch back centuries.

Jess’s teenage diary, set in 1999, offers some clues! Oh, and did I mention the twin sisters from 1800 who might be tied to it all?

I was hooked on this book, it blew me away.

I got completely lost in the world and couldn’t stop reading. The characters, the eerie setting, the connections across time—it all came together in the best way

If you love getting lost in a story where every chapter adds a new layer of intrigue, grab this book—you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly easy to get sucked into. Loved the multiple point of views and timelines. I can’t wait to add this one to my library.

This was AMAZING. As a huge fan of Louisa Morgan books, this gave me that exact vibe. I love all the magical aspects, the timeline jumps and the multigenerational women stories always intrigue me. This was truly fantastic.

What a phenomenal book! This book just grabbed at all my heartstrings from the minute I started, and even my husband wanted to know the ending. It was so good!

IM OBSESSED. Sirens? Undersea lore? Mythology? Count me IN. Every time. Emilia Hart has solidified herself as an auto buy author for me after this book. I REALLY liked Weyward, but I LOVED The Sirens. Fans of Adrienne young and CJ Cooke will want to pick this up immediately.

I love everything Emilia writes! This book was amazing, loved all the characters! The plot of the book was so good- eager to keep reading!

I’ve been waiting for Emilia Hart’s next novel since I first read her stunning debut with Weyward (which is probably my most-recommended book).

Weyward aficionados will appreciate that Hart weaves together threads of stories from three generations of women and the mystery that binds them.

The elements of fantasy are enticing enough for lovers of the genre while not diving too deep into the (sea)weeds for non-fantasy readers.

Great book. Loved the multi person chapters and different time periods. Learning more about the convict ships that went to Australia was fun. Saw some of the “big reveals” coming but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.

This book was truly amazing. My heart ached and I had so many feelings. I truly hope this book finds its people. It’s a unique one.

Unfortunately, due to the lack of response from St. Martin's Press for the racist, Islamophobic, and queerphobic comments made by one of their employees I cannot review this title