The Sirens has such a beautiful writing style, and there were definitely moments where the story picked up and pulled me in. I can usually appreciate a slower-paced book, but I struggled to connect with the characters, which made it harder to stay engaged. While I loved the idea of weaving together these three timelines and exploring themes of sisterhood and the power of the sea, I just found myself losing interest a bit. That said, there were flashes of intrigue that kept me curious enough to see it through.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I absolutely loved Emilia Hart’s book Weyard and was looking forward to her next piece of work!
This book was just okay to me. I really wanted to love it but I just didn’t connect with any of the characters.

I’m a plot-driven reader and knew going in that this wasn’t what The Sirens was trying to do. In some sense, that helped, because I was looking for moody and atmospheric and it delivered. This is probably best for lovers of beautiful writing and the feeling of being immersed in a story. It was easy to disappear into the book and feel like you’re at sea. Wait until you're in the perfect mood for a melancholy book to pick it up.

I love a book with an interesting plot, and this one definitely delivered. Historically, I haven’t had much success with magical realism or fantasy, but the blend of mystery and historical fiction made this one work for me. I also appreciated the insight into convict ships, a topic I wasn’t familiar with before reading.

The strong female focus was another highlight. While themes of male chauvinism and trauma were present, the resilience of the women stood out. The dual timeline and multiple points of view wove the story together seamlessly, making it all the more engaging.

The recurring water motif was especially striking—whether through a character’s visceral reactions to water, the convict ships crossing the sea, or the many men who lost their lives to it. The writing was beautiful, and the pacing was acceptable.

Despite having enjoyed Weyward by the same author and generally being drawn to tales of Sirens, this one sadly fell flat for me. Perhaps it was a matter of time and place and it will be worth giving another shot down the line, but I am left disappointed.

The novel is set across two time periods. I follow two sets of sisters – Jess and Lucy in 2019 and Mary and Eliza in 1800. Mary and Eliza have been condemned to sail from Ireland to New South Wales on a prison ship. Lucy struggles with a romance which ends in public humiliation and a broken relationship with her beloved sister Jess. The writing is haunting and atmospheric with an irresistible beginning. Comber Bay has haunting caves and shipwrecks. The bay is known as a place where men go missing, with no link between their disappearances from the cave known as Devil’s Lookout. The book deals with themes of female trauma related to sexual violence. It is thoughtful and compassionate.

The author has written a complex novel with several threads moving it along. At times the pace slows down. There is a family mystery which was intriguing to me.. It is a tale of motherhood, womanhood, and sisterhood.

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! Everything I wanted to be bettered from Weyward, Hart did in The Sirens. The POV shifts were there but they weren't as jarring, the story eased its way out better and less forcefully, it was just as predictable in how the two timelines connected and some of the mysteries of the modern day timeline for sure telegraphed themselves way out there, but it was still incredibly enjoyable and a well told story overall. I really think this was a top tier 2nd novel from an author I hope continues to produce more and more stories like this. Well done!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press
For this ARC of The Sirens

Rating: 3.5⭐️

If you liked the mystery ghost vibes of Sisters of the Salt you will really enjoy this book.

It took me a little bit longer than I’d liked to get into this book but once I was in it the twists and turns didn’t stop.
I absolutely adored the ending.
Lucy and Jess finally feel at home and at peace together for the happy ending they deserved.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Emilia Hart for the ARC of this wonderful book.

Lucy is a modern-day student in a prominent Australian journalism university, who has recently been humiliated by a man she thought she may have grown to love. After waking up with her hands around his neck, she knows will understand: her much older sister Jess. Intertwined with a story of two sisters on an Irish convict ship bound for Australia, this novel touched on all that is female, including the men who tend to treat us horribly.

Wow, this touching novel of feminine anguish, rage, and sisterhood made me feel so many things. I really can't say enough how much I loved this. With its haunting prose, almost mystery-esque plotlines, and imaginative magical realism features, this book is just right up my alley. It was a quick read for me because I was entranced with the subject matter and couldn't stop trying to figure out what exactly was happening. When I got to one of the big reveals I was stunned and surprised I hadn't even thought of it as an option.

I loved the characters in this novel. Lucy is a perfect characterization of a nineteen-year-old, self-conscious as teenagers tend to be. She is thoughtful, and smart and unwilling to let the truth go. Jess, while absent most of the book, comes through so well in the diary entries, and I LOVED how her realization about Hennessey came out and showed her that some men are really just looking for a girl or woman who will make THEM feel good instead of really caring about the or woman herself. Mary and Eliza were also extremely interesting, and I loved how at the end Jess realizes that she is the one who has to do the singing now.

Overall, I loved this book. I'm going to go check out Weyward now.

I have to admit … I am probably not the right reviewer for this book because I was not blown away by the author’s previous novel, Weyward. But this cover is so gorgeous, I had to read it!

Lucy is a college student who finds herself in trouble and escapes to a remote town where her sister lives in hopes that her sister, Jess, can help her. But when she arrives, Jess is missing, and the more Lucy looks for her, the deeper she wanders into a bigger mystery than her vivid dreams.

Overall … this was fine. Readers who liked Weyward will probably enjoy it. I personally didn’t connect with any of the characters and found the plot too slow moving.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the free ebook.

First and foremost, thank you to #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheSirens by #EmiliaHart!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Sirens, but from the first page, I was completely swept away. Emilia Hart's words pull you under much like that of a Siren's song.

This book follows three-ish timelines and POV's, and I was equally invested in each of them. In 2019, Lucy flees to her sister’s coastal home—only to find Jess missing. In 1999, looking back on teenage Jess, who suffers from a rare water allergy, is drawn into a dangerous relationship. In 1800, twins Mary and Eliza, exiled to Australia, uncover a mysterious connection to the ocean. The way Hart weaves these timelines together with mythology, history, and magic is masterful. The overall atmosphere in this book is pretty incredible - it's dark, yet full of hope at the same time.

So fantastic! I loved the dual pov & timelines. & the diary entries. Such a beautiful story of love, family & I absolutely LOVED the lore of the sirens.
Lucy goes to the coast to find her sister is missing. She finds her diaries and learns the true origin of there skin condition….they cannot touch water! Such a great story! I cannot wait to recommend to everyone.

Rounded up from 3.75 ⭐️'s

Emilia Hart's writing is phenomenal, and I love the way she anchors her plots in a historical event. Because of this, I am trying to be as objective as possible in my review of this book.

The Sirens follows three timelines, representing three generations of women - just like in Emilia Hart's first book, Weyward.

The plot incorporates folklore/mystical characters as a representation of female persecution and misogyny over centuries - just like Weyward.

Do you see where I am going with this critique?

It felt like the author was following a formula, which made The Sirens predictable and somewhat lackluster. There were so many similarities that I would suggest reading either/or not both. If you like witches, read Weyward, and if you like mermaids, read The Sirens.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

The Sirens has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. I am so grateful have received an eARC of this book. If you enjoyed Weyward or you like emotional, sweeping, magical, multi-generational stories, you will enjoy The Sirens. The epilogue absolutely got me and I am not often surprised by book endings. Lucy and Jess are both complicated characters and I really loved the way that events of 1999 and 2019 were revealed gradually over time. While I appreciated the 1800s storyline for Mary and Eliza, it was not an intrical part of the story for me. I love historical context, but their POV did not enhance my reading experience. However, I didn't know anything about female prisoners sent to New South Wales before reading this book.

Review to be shared on 3/21/25 on Instagram @anythingnovelgoes

The Sirens was so good! I loved Weyward so I had high expectations which this book exceeded. It had bounds of sisterhood, a love of water, moody vibes, and intrigue (to keep me hooked)!

We focus on two separate sets of sisters. Lucy & Jess and Mary & Eliza.

After Lucy wakes up with her hands around her ex's throat, she runs away to her sister's house. When she arrives at her cliffside house, she can't find Jess anywhere, but she does find a number of mysteries. Jess is gone, but her phone & car are there, plus her front door is unlocked. Inside the house, she finds Jess's paintings which capture the two sisters who haunt Lucy's dreams, Mary & Eliza.

Almost two hundred years before Lucy, two sisters are forced to travel to Australia on a convict ship. While the holding area where the women are kept is horrendous, the sisters have greater fears- what awaits them in Australia and the water surrounding them. In Australia, they'll either be sold as a wife or a mistress. And, they were taught to fear the water from a young age by their father after their mother drowned. Yet, as their bodies begin to change in the darkness at the bottom of the ship, they find themselves being called to the sea.

There were many twists, one of which completely surprised me, and each of the different plotlines were totally gripping. I enjoyed learning a little bit about the history of these horrible convict ships- it encouraged me to do additional research. I had a slight issue with the epilogue, but otherwise, I found this book to be perfect!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of The Sirens! I loved Weyward by Emilia Hart a couple of years ago so I was excited to check this one out. I'm a sucker for multiple timelines and loved how the mysteries in this one revealed themselves through the different storylines. The balance between the timelines occasionally felt a bit off - I found myself hoping for more of Mary and Eliza throughout the book - but the mix of plots worked well for the most part. I also expected it to be more fantasy-heavy, but as I got into the story the fact that it often just hinted at the supernatural rather than leaning all the way into fantasy actually seemed to work well too. I'm still mulling over what I think of the ending - I think I wanted a bit more detail there as well. But just as in Weyward, Emilia Hart's writing is so descriptive and immersive and beautiful that even with my complicated thoughts on the ending, I still loved this book. Overall I really enjoyed this one and am excited to read whatever she writes next!

This book starts out a little slow but the mystery of the sea really takes root and gets faster paced in the second half of the book. Interesting characters and the back and forth of the narrator’s who span different centuries is really interesting. Some mature themes present. I loved the sisterhood and female friendships spanning different time periods and circumstances. 3.75 stars!

Set against the backdrop of Australia and spanning multiple POVs across two centuries, The Sirens is a mesmerizing blend of fantasy and feminist storytelling filled with melancholy, magic, and the enduring strength of women. Following four women whose lives are interconnected, the novel explores themes of resilience, mystery, and the unbreakable tether of the sea.

Emilia’s prose is absolutely stunning. From the very first page, I was hooked, drawn in by the writing and the layers of myth and lore. The blend of magical realism and historical fiction creates an eerie yet captivating story.

While I enjoyed the womens’ journeys and mysteries, I found myself with more questions than answers by the end. And that epilogue… I might be the only one who feels this way, but I almost wish that portion of the story would have remained a mystery. I would have much rather seen a glimpse into the future rather than that particular flashback.

Still, the premise was unique and interesting and the writing kept me engaged. If you’re drawn to magical realism interwoven with history, myth, and the unshakable bonds between women, The Sirens is a must-read when it releases on April 1st!

And finally - thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I enjoyed this book.. I liked the duo timeline and the strong female characters.. As always though I enjoyed the historical timeline better than the modern.

Pub date: 4/1/25

*no spoilers*

If you liked Weyward, you’ll definitely need to add this one to your tbr!

This is such an amazing story about strong women taking care of each other in a world where men all too often take what they want.

The story is told through multiple timelines with the addition of dreams and journal entries to allow things to slowly unfold throughout the book.
I’m not sure what genre this technically falls under, but it felt like a mix of historical fiction, women’s lit, and mystery….mixed with a little magical realism.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!