I mostly enjoyed my time reading this book but it was just too predictable and dragged out. I loved Weyward but this one fell a little short for me.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"The girls are like sharks. They sense it when you're weak."


My goodness. The Sirens was such a fun book to dive into. For three days, I took my time devouring this and getting to know the characters. From the very beginning, I had lots of questions but little information. Then little clues and pieces came to me, and I was starting to put the puzzle together.

In this, you will meet Lucy, Jess, Mary, and Eliza. Four girls. Two different timelines. Mary and Eliza are in the past, the 1800s to be exact. Lucy and Jess are in the present, 2019. Though you do get past views from Jess for some of this book. So, maybe, that's three different timelines.

Mary and Eliza are sisters and currently on a prison boat sailing from Ireland to Australia. Lucy is going through something and is in need of her older sister. So, she leaves school and heads for the coast in New South Wales. In a weird way, all the girls are intertwined, and it's a fascinating mystery to figure out. Trying my hardest to not spoil anything here!

Honestly, this book had so many secrets within it. I am so proud of myself for catching on to most of them. Yes, most! I will also say that the ending shocked me so much because I was not expecting any of that. My mind was blown with so many things that came to light, and I'm still trying to understand it.

In the end, I am in love with this book and all the characters. If this place truly exists, then why wouldn't women want to flock to it? Safely protected by sirens in the water from all the evil out there. Sounds dreamy. I definitely recommend the ebook and look forward to the next book Emilia writes!

This book is the epitome of, if your story is interesting enough and your writing is good enough, I won’t care that it’s kind of predictable. I thought the structure of the different POVs and the diary entries were very effective. I also appreciated how well-balanced they were - at no point was I not into any of the plot lines or wanting to get back to a different part of the story. Plus the overarching story was interesting as hell.

A slight spoiler, but I wish we got a bit more about each of the missing men. However, that’s a minor complaint. Overall I thought Hart’s writing was vastly improved compared to her last book. Which isn’t to say it was bad - I really liked Weyward, but the writing skill level is a lot better here.

And yeah, like I said, it was a bit predictable (until that last chapter, which was mindblowing). But, again, the story was so cool I didn’t care. Definitely check this out!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Pressand Netgalley for this ARC. The Sirens is out 4/1!

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

The Sirens follows Lucy a college student who gets into a bit of trouble after suffering from sleep walking and decides to visit her mysterious older sister Jess in her cabin on top of the cliffs of Comber Bay. Upon her arrival her sister is nowhere to be found but plenty of secrets from a past women’s prison ship begin to reveal themselves as Lucy stays in the cabin.

One of my favorite things to read are books about sirens and on that front this book did not disappoint. The plot felt unique compared to other siren stories that usually get a bit stale from using the same concepts over and over again but the author did a really good job of making an old tale feel fresh.

The author’s writing style is so beautiful and descriptive it felt like you were right there on the cliffs of Comber Bay or in the belly of the ship with Mary and Eliza. The way she writes about sisterhood made me want to pick up my copy of Weyward immediately and start reading it too. I’m very excited to see what Emila Hart writes in the future.

My only grievance with the book is the epilogue. It tied up all of the loose threads that had been carried throughout the book but it felt like it went against what the rest of the book was trying to say. Spoiler: Throughout the book the sea is protecting women from men by drowning them when they try to hurt them but when Jess’s dad goes to sea and has an affair with the siren named Mary he is rewarded a baby to take back to his wife who has been unable to have children despite them both wanting to have kids desperately. I have a hard time believing Jess’s mom is okay with this especially since she was the one who was the most hurt by Jess’s comments when she was starting to realize her parents were not who she thought they were. Jess’s dad is a kind and gentle man and didn’t deserve to get swallowed up by the sea for having an affair with a siren but the fact that he then had a baby with that siren and his wife took that baby with open arms just doesn’t sit right with me in comparison to the rest of the book.

3.5 Stars

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s probably not fair to compare The Sirens to Weyward, but I also can’t help thinking about the latter book while writing this review. Hart masterfully wove together three different timelines in Weyward in a way that was poignant and compelling. Her character work was fantastic, and the storytelling was brilliant. I was fully immersed in that story and those characters. Unfortunately I feel like The Sirens fell short of my expectations because I was expecting the same level of investment and it just wasn’t there for me. The book had an interesting concept, weaving two separate timelines together, something I know Hart can do really well. But it felt a bit disjointed and rushed, and as a reader I wasn’t as invested in the big reveal(s). The character work wasn’t as strong as it was in her previous book either.

On the plus side, Hart does have beautiful prose. Her writing is interesting and she sets up the mystery in a way that holds you and makes you want to continue reading. I also think that the exploration of the abuse and oppression women have faced throughout history was really well done. Be sure to check content warnings before reading this book. The audiobook narrator was also fantastic. I definitely recommend reading the book that way. Ultimately not a new favorite, but I do still love Hart’s writing and will be picking up her future releases.

DNF at 15% for me. I think I may just not be the target audience for this book--I wasn't pulled in by the past POV, and I found myself wanting to skim to get back to the present. Overall was just not vibing with the writing style so decided to let it go. May be a great read for others though!

I’d really give this book 4.5 stars if I could. The feel of the book makes it seem like you are in the sea mist on a cliff. It’s beautifully written and suspenseful enough to keep anyone hooked and includes strong feminist themes.

I loved her first book and looked forward to this one. I thought the plot was a good premise but I was somewhat confused in many parts of the dual storyline. I needed to continually reference to parts previously read, not sure if it was me or the writing style. While I finished reading it I would recommend it with a caveat.

The Sirens was an absolutely captivating and haunting story that follows women through different time periods and the author weaves these stories together beautifully. This book was eerie, it was powerful, and it was a love letter to feminine power. There were mysteries, sirens, gorgeous and haunting imagery, plenty of emotions and historical fiction all woven together. Fans of Weyward and the writing style will absolutely adore The Sirens.

The Sirens was an eagerly anticipated follow up after reading Weyward last year.

What I loved: MERMAIDS? Obviously. I liked this ethereal, slightly terrifying take. It felt like a call back to a Grimms Brothers fairy tale in some spots. The light mystery around Baby Hope and Jess/Lucy's relationship is what kept me compelled in moving forward. Was it unpredictable? No. But it was compelling enough to turn the page. I did find Mary and Eliza's narrative a little more compelling than the present day.

What I didn't love: The pacing was slower in some places than it needed to be in ways that didn't add to the overall narrative. I wanted the lore of the mermaids and the drowning of terrible men to be a little more fleshed out after the reveal. The ending felt a bit rushed after so much build up, and i found the characters to be a bit less dynamic than they were in Weyward. I didn't really care much about what was happening with Jess and Lucy for the first half of the book.

Overall this was a perfectly entertaining book with some great elements. I'm just not sure it was doing anything revolutionary.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC copy in exchange for my review.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart was able to weave together three different timelines almost seamlessly. At first I wasn't sure if I'd be able to follow the different stories but the writing was able to easily take you between the different times and keep you engaged throughout. This was a slow burn mystery with historical fiction weaved in. I really enjoyed this book and will look forward to more from this author. I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emilia Hart has done it again - easily matching or topping her brilliance in Weyward. Just like that book, Sirens evokes the powerful magic of sisterhood and female bonds, even across generations. Hart wields magical realism like a sword, giving women their power back. This book is both haunting and sinister, mysterious and magical, and ultimately redemptive and beautiful. There's a touch of mystery and romance. But themes around women reclaiming their power, trusting their intuition, ceasing to deny their true nature, and coming into their own as they look out for one another shine through. Mermaids as metaphor and symbol of women's freedom and uninhibited nature.

Told in an alternating timeline between modern day and the historical era where women were exiled for even petty crimes on prison ships to populate Australia, the stories ultimately converge with plot twists and a satisfying (if shocking) reveal to the mysteries, as well as karmic justice for the men who did them wrong.

As soon as I finished I wanted to buy a copy to gift to every one of the women in my life.

Just like Weyward, this book handles some very heavy topics and I encourage anyone reading it to seek out content warnings.

4/4.5 ⭐️

This was my first Emilia Hart novel and I loved it. The writing was beautiful and moving, and the way the story was told seemed effortless, in the very best way.

You follow 3 timelines in this book, which sounds confusing but it was actually really easy to follow (in my opinion). Lucy - current time 2019, Jess - her diary from 1999 and current time, and Mary - the past. I love when stories jump timelines, as long as they’re easy to follow!!

This was mystical, historical, feminist, and a gorgeous read. There was also a little family drama throw in, some plot twists that were SO good, and a bit of mystery trying to figure out what’s going on.

I couldn’t put this book down. I was so sucked in and invested in the story.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the early read!

Pub Date: 4/1/25

I do not think I would have finished this book if I hadn't received an arc. The book felt extremely detailed, boring, and it dragged on and on and on. This book started off with a great hook, Lucy waking up from sleep-walking and finding her hands around the neck of this guy she slept with one time. She then takes off to her estranged sister who lives miles and miles away. It could have been so exciting, but instead it followed Lucy (who I did not connect with) as she just drags her feet trying to find her sister. I was very excited to try this ARC after hearing that Weyward was so well done, but this book falls very flat for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was beyond excited for an arc of this book after reading, and loving, Weyward last year. This was absolutely incredible.

Emilia does a unique and beautiful job of weaving together different stories and timelines into an unputdownable story. I adored the way everything came together in the end and the pace in which certain plot twists and connections were revealed.

A beautiful blend of past and present, horrific history, folklore, and love.

@emiliahartbooks, the author of Weyward, has a new book publishing next week on 01 April 2025. I really enjoyed The Sirens and the use of folklore in the story. Sea folk can be found by many different names throughout history such as Sirens, Mermaids, & Selkies. This story weaves together that folklore with a mystery. The story is told from multiple POVs and multiple time points. I recommend reading this book if you like mysteries based on folklore and if you loved Weyward.

This was so good! I enjoyed Weyward and this one is even better. Magical realism and I love how the story went back and forth between the past and present.

Sisters, secrets, and sirens.. what more could you ask for in a novel? Emilia Hart’s newest hit all the right notes as it navigated one young woman’s journey to locate her estranged sister. Through her searching, she uncovers mysteries and secrets that have been long buried but that completely reshape her view of the world.

I enjoyed the multiple POV and non-linear timeline of this book. It always keeps it fresh when the vantage point changes throughout. The writing was well executed and threw a few surprised my way. If you enjoy a domestic suspense/mystery with supernatural elements, I would recommend this to you!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this ebook!

Thank you NetGalley, Emilia Hart and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

After reading Weyward, I was very excited to read Emilia Hart's next book! The fact that it had to do with sirens-even more so!

This book follows three timelines with the first being a Mary as she and her twin sail to South New Wales aboard a ship filled with female criminals. The second follows Lucy who after assaulting a former lover while sleepwalking, escapes to her sister Jess's house but discovers her missing. The third is following Jess as a young sixteen-year-old who begins developing a close relationship with her art teacher.

The three timelines intertwine creating a unique story about sisterhood, safety and discovering who you were meant to be. I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the story and Mary's story was my favorite to read about. I enjoy that this book, like Weyward, have a sense of supernaturalness to them. While I did guess the big reveal, I still enjoyed reading all about the girl's lives and how they each dealt with the difficult situations they faced.

I can't wait to see what's next for Emilia Hart!

I was a massive fan of Emilia Hart’s Weyard and have been looking very much forward to reading The Sirens. It is another beautiful exploration into the way that women are treated, disbelieved, and disregarded throughout time as well as the beauty and strength in reclaiming your power. I was incredibly moved by The Sirens and will be telling all my girlfriends to read it. Thank you for my gifted copy!