As a Emilia Hart fan, I loved The Sirens. The sisterhood element intertwined with the two time periods really allows you to feel like you know the characters! I would say this is a 4/5 star read for me. I wish there were a bit more themes of magical realism .

This book was hauntingly beautiful. I really enjoyed the prose and I thought the story was well-paced.

Emilia Hart knows how to write a book for the girls. A great blend of magical realism combined with messages of female empowerment in the face of very realistic challenges. Struggled a bit with the pacing during the first quarter or so, but it was fantastic once the storylines of the multiple characters really started coming together.

The Sirens
by Emilia Hart
Pub Date: Mar 04 2025

2019: Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack—but Jess is nowhere to be found.

As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’s strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary.

1999: Jess is a lonely sixteen-year-old in a rural town in the middle of the continent. Diagnosed with a rare allergy to water, she has always felt different, until her young, charming art teacher takes an interest in her drawings, seeing a power and maturity in them—and in her—that no one else has.

1800: Twin sisters Mary and Eliza have been torn from their loving father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. For their entire lives, they’ve feared the ocean, as their mother tragically drowned when they were just girls. Yet as the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain, and they feel the sea beginning to call to them…

A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, The Sirens captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.

I was very fortunate to obtain an ARC of The Sirens, and I enjoyed it immensely! First off, I'm definitely the target audience for such a book; I adore historical fiction, magical realism, and stories told through multiple time lines.

The story follows Lucy, who is trying to find her sister Jess, who seems to have disappeared from her new home without a trace (and without her car or cell phone). The main plot is interspersed with the tale of Mary and Eliza, who are twins aboard a convict ship from Ireland to Australia in the early 1800s.

While Lucy is searching for clues about Jess's whereabouts in 2019, she also begins to investigate the shipwreck of the Naiad, which she dreams about almost nightly.

The Sirens deals with some difficult topics, much like Hart's book Weyward did, so if you disliked the themes in Weyward then you may fail to enjoy The Sirens too. I personally liked The Sirens more. I think the characters are more compelling (I really liked Lucy's story and her growth) and have more depth. A big bonus for me was the stronger use of the magical/fantastical! Overall this was a very enjoyable book and my favorite read of August 2024.

ARC Review: If you came to this book from Weyward looking for similar vibes then you’ll definitely find them with a touch more on the eerie side. Although the release currently looks like March 2025 I’d suggest saving this book for a cozy fall read.
The Australia setting was newer to me and while it’s hard to be completely immersed in a story while trying to learn things that are otherwise “common knowledge” I did still find it interesting. Keeping the author’s Historical Note in mind throughout the story proved even more interesting and my mind kept drifting back to it throughout Lucy, Mary & Jess’s stories.
Similar to Weyward, The Sirens centers around strong women spread throughout history but interconnected through the magic of the universe (speaking true magic here - in my belief). Themes focus on the beautiful yet somewhat tragic power of women, not being believed/trusted in this world simply for our gender, and the power of the natural community women form when in close proximity.
This hangs at a 3 for me just because of the eeriness of the plot. I felt it took away from the impact of the underlying message in a way Weyward was able to maintain. I typically try not to compare unrelated books by the same author but these two were so dang similar it’s hard not to and it seems as if that was the authors intention anyway.
I’m very glad to have received this ARC at just the end of summer/beginning of autumn as it set the scene for an astounding and moving story. I was surprised at how fast I read through it, too. So definitely a quicker read but no less impactful!
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this work early in exchange for my honest review.

The newest novel from Emilia Hart weaves together a brilliant story about four sisters separated by centuries and bound together by the sea and love.
This was an absolute joy to read and honestly, I can not wait to see what Emilia Hart continues to write! Easy 4.5 stars 🌟

Start to finish, an amazing read! A well paced story which keeps you wondering right up to the end. And a wee bit of where is Jess throughout the first few sections. But it's well worth the wait.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGallery for the advanced copy in return for an honest review!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this book by Emilia Hart. I also read her book Weyward and it is very noticeable how the author combines history and magic realism together. She also writes a lot about women's struggles and also their are 2 stories, one present and one ages ago. How do the connect? Well I suggest you read the book and find out.

If you enjoyed and read Weyward, you will most definitely probably like this book. 2 very different books, but the style of writing is there.

I was rooting for all three women in this tale and I think you will too.

Lucy has always felt different. Suffering from an allergy to water called aquagenic urticaria, Lucy can’t go swimming with her friends, take a shower, or get caught in a rainstorm. The only one who has ever seemed to truly understand her is her older sister, Jess. So, when Lucy wakes up after a strange dream with her hands wrapped around her ex-boyfriend’s neck, it is to Jess she runs. But when Lucy arrives at Jess’ house, Jess is missing…leading Lucy on a wild journey of discovery as she unwraps Jess’ disappearance. Does Jess’ disappearance have anything to do with the 8 missing men that have vanished over the past 40 years in the same seaside town? 200 years earlier, sisters Mary and Eliza are imprisoned on a convict ship bound from Dublin to New South Wales, Australia. Trapped in a prison hold below deck with 80 other female prisoners, the sisters fight to survive and learn all they need to know about injustice from their fellow prisoners. How do these stories intertwine? Guess you will have to read The Sirens by Emilia Hart when it releases in February 2025. Emilia Hart burst on the scene with her celebrated debut novel, Weyward, which was one of my favorite reads of last year. Hart has a gift for using historical fiction and magical realism to paint the injustices that women have faced in history and those we face today in a way that is empowering. The Sirens focuses on sisterhood; both chosen and genetic. It was the central aspect of the story, but was never too heavy-handed. I was always rooting for each of these women individually. I wanted them to survive, to fight, to make their own choices, to determine for themselves what they wanted out of life. However, the end left me wanting more. The story just feels unfinished for me. I wanted more for Jess, Lucy, Eliza, and Mary. The epilogue left me with more questions than answers and worsened the feeling of a story left unfinished. I will say that the story I did get was powerful. Hart did her research and honored the countless women torn from their homeland and shipped across the sea to Australia where they were sold as wives, concubines, and slaves to men in a foreign land as punishment for petty crimes like stealing food, self defense, or failing to meet the standards of society in some other fashion. These women were treated as less than human and Hart gave them their revenge, in spirit. She also drew comparisons to the awful things modern women face today. Different songs, but the same album. Hart was able to seamlessly jump between timelines and I never was more or less interested in one timeline over the other. Was it a perfectly happy ending for each character? No. Bittersweet is what comes to mind. I just wanted more. It felt like the story was not over. A special thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book early! 3.5/5 stars

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a mesmerizing novel that intertwines the lives of sisters across centuries, bound by the haunting allure of the sea. This is a richly layered novel that captures the strength of women and the enduring bonds of sisterhood. Set across three timelines, 2019, 1999, and 1800, this book delves into the lives of Lucy, Jess, and the twin sisters Mary and Eliza. The author weaves their stories together, each thread revealing a deeper connection to the mysterious power of the ocean. The suspense builds as Lucy unravels the eerie mysteries of her sister Jess's small town, while the historical narrative of Mary and Eliza’s journey on a convict ship adds a poignant and mystical depth. The writing is both lyrical and atmospheric, creating an immersive experience that pulls readers into the turbulent waters of these women’s lives. The novel explores themes of trauma, transformation, and the unbreakable ties that connect women across time and space.

Wow! This was one of the best books I’ve read. I enjoyed the unique story reflecting two sisters from 1801 and currently with two others. The characters came alive in the well written story. I couldn’t put it down, it was that good.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystical, magical, sisterly story by the author of Weyward. Set in a dual timeline, we find a pair of sisters on a convict ship leaving Ireland in the 1800s, and a pair of sisters sharing dreams and sleepwalking. All are drawn to the sea, despite a rare skin condition that causes their skin to itch, burn, and scale.

It isn’t too difficult to figure out where the story is going, especially considering the title, but it was just enough of a puzzle to add to the interest. The true pleasure of the book is in the relationship studies, the description of Cliff House and the surrounding area, and (well done but not pleasurable) the horrors of the convict ship.

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