Thanks for the review copy. I enjoy Hart’s writing. This book is very engaging and intriguing. I liked the two timelines.

I was so excited to receive this as both an ALC and an ARC! I have heard great things about Weyward and knew I had to get my hands (and ears) on this.

Brief summary: Lucy wakes up to find herself strangling her ex, prompting her to seek sanctuary at her older sister's home. However, when she arrives, her older sister is not home. While waiting for he sister return, Lucy begins to uncover more about her sister, and herself, via her sister's diary.

Think The Lost Apothecary meets The Little Mermaid! I would love to re-read this book so I can better appreciate the foreshadowing for so many of the fairy tale elements. This has a great message of sisterhood and female empowerment.

2019: Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat. Horrified, she flees to her sister’s house on the coast of New South Wales hoping Jess can help explain the vivid dreams that preceded the attack—but her sister is missing. As Lucy waits for her return, she starts to unearth strange rumours about Jess’s town—tales of numerous missing men, spread over decades. A baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave. Whispers of women’s voices on the waves. All the while, her dreams start to feel closer than ever.

1800: Mary and Eliza are torn from their loving home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As the boat takes them farther and farther away from all they know, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies.

A breathtaking tale of female resilience, The Sirens is an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea.
Really enjoyed this story. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

This was my first book by Emilia Hart and I really wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I found the writing style and the characters difficult to connect with.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and SMP for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Sirens follows 3 POVs, the first one introduced was Lucy in 2019. Lucy is a student at university who flees to her sister after she is assaulted (yes, revenge porn is assault) by a fellow student and she wakes to herself strangling him while sleepwalking. The second is flashbacks to two sisters in 1800s Ireland who have been sent to the colony of New South Wales as a punishment for assault. Later in the book you are taken to Jess’s timeline via her journal which was an interesting change to the dynamic of the story. The Sirens follows Lucy as she tries to unravel the mystery of how these things are all connected.

I can’t understand the lukewarm reception this book is getting. It’s not the happiest read but it is a beautiful read. As the title suggests there is a mystical element to this story that I think frustrated as a lot of people wanted that to be fleshed out more, but I think that leant itself more to the actual point of the story. What is it in women’s existence that has required us to imagine or create mystical creatures that would keep us safe. This point is told in each timeline and highlights the institutions, cultures and default that are misogyny. But that flip side of that coin in the community that women create to protect ourselves from that very thing. This is a hauntingly beautiful story of womanhood and strength.


A place like Comber’s Bay where women are protected sounds like a dream.

*Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, AND Macmillan Audio for the ALC/e-Arc! All opinions are my own.*

Weyward was my favorite read of 2023 so I jumped at the chance to get this one early and I'm so glad I did! I was fortunate enough to get approved for a digital copy and an audio version of this and went back in forth on format - both were wonderful, though I found there was a slight "learning curve" with the audio as there is a decent amount of worldbuilding in this one and it can feel like a lot of information coming at you. Just worth noting as the narrator was amazing and it provided a lot of great atmosphere to the storytelling.

Emilia Hart's writing is what drew me into her debut and it's absolutely present in this one, too. Each description pulled me deeper into the story and I was so fully immersed (pun only kind of intended) that I ended up having dreams about shipwrecks afterwards! I felt so attached to each POV character, and I especially loved going back in time to Mary and Eliza's POV. The ship full of women was such a harrowing story and each character, no matter how small, felt so full. A trouble with dual timelines (personally) is that I often struggle in feeling that one or both storyline(s) are incomplete by the end. I felt satisfied by this novel and I feel confident in saying that each story feels whole and complete to me.

In other people's reviews, I've seen a lot of comparing this to Weyward. You're getting a lot of the same underlying themes, but this book is not that book. This book is deeper in the suspense subgenre, in my opinion. There's a much deeper element to the mystery plot in this novel compared to Hart's first, and you'll get much more mileage out of the fantasy in this one. You're getting a much grittier story out of the Sirens compared to Weyward. All this is to say: Do Not go into this comparing it to anything before it. It is its own narrative and it deserves to be treated as such. You'll be doing yourself and the work a much greater disservice otherwise.

3.5 stars rounded up

What to expect in this book:

-Multiple timelines
-Coastal Australian setting
-Magical realism/fantasy elements
-Sisterhood and family ties
-Atmospheric
-Multiple POV

Thoughts

This author's debut novel, Weyward, was haunting, memorable, and is one of my top reads of 2024. I am so thankful to #NetGalley for the advanced copy of her sophomore novel and enjoyed seeing how she expanded on her ability to create atmospheric and interesting characters. In 2019, Lucy wakes in her ex's dorm room with her hands around his neck. Horrified by her own actions, she flees to her sister's house in New South Wales, hoping she can provide some clarity on the mysterious and fear-inducing dreams that she has been having. When Lucy arrives, she finds that her sister, Jess, is no where to be found. As she begins to explore this town where Lucy lives, a place as mysterious and elusive as the Bermuda Triangle, Lucy discovers that her dreams might be more connected to reality than she realizes. In 1800, sisters Mary and Eliza are taken on a prisoner ship from their home in Ireland heading to Australia. The sisters begin to notice strange changes and an intense connection to the sea.

Whether you can suspend belief and connect with mythology and mysticism or not, this is ultimately the story of the bonds of sisterhood throughout the ages. A historical/contemporary tale of self-discovery and family secrets and the ties that bind us to who we are and where we come from. I really enjoyed the contemporary storyline of Jess and Lucy and was surprised at the elements of mystery as the storyline unfolded. Despite this not being a very long book, it took me a while to get into the story and at times was confused as to the historical narrative's connection with the contemporary story. While I enjoyed Weyward more, I do think this was a strong sophomore book and hope that the right audience finds this story.

If you are a fan of Greek mythology, folklore, and magical realism, be sure to check this one out!

This is a dual timeline book, about two Irish sisters who are sent on a criminal transport to Australia, and a modern (2019) story of two sisters, and finding strength through adversity.

Both groups of sisters have had the world hand them things that it shouldn't have, and both have to find a way to get past the unfairness of their situations.

Although I could pretty early on see where the story was going with the Lucy/Jess timeline (both with their arc as sisters and the side story with the missing men in their town), it didn't diminish from my enjoyment of the book.

I thought the writing was terrific, and the sense of place was spot on. I could really see and feel the settings. I thought the story setting of the prison transport ship was engaging and I had a vested interest in what was happening with those women. In fact, I would have liked to know more about them, how they got to where they were.

On the whole I really enjoyed the book and I want to read more from this writer.

I did have one pretty large quibble, which I address in a spoiler hidden review on Goodreads.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ✨

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc of The Sirens which comes out April 1, 2025.

The Sirens is a story of female empowerment across generations that is heartbreaking, suspenseful, and can resonate with any woman. I went into this one with high expectations after reading Weyward. I didn’t like this one as much but It was still an enticing read. There were a few twists that were in the 2019 timeline that had me turning the pages (swiping since it’s an e arc??) quickly. I liked the touch of magical realism in this book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I picked this book up on a whim because I thought the cover was cute. While I don’t usually condone judging a book by its cover in this instance it was well worth it!

This story is told over three separate timelines, going across generations of women. It highlights the injustices against women across history, while also allowing them to get back at those that have wronged them. This is a perfect example of how I support women’s rights and their wrongs.

This one won’t be published until April 2025 so keep an eye for it!

#netgalley #thesirens #bookreview #bookrecommendations #bookstagram

Jess flees her college campus to no see her sister Lucy. Lucy moved to a ramshackle house on the coast of New South Wales. The cove that she lives near is known for many mysterious events that led to the death of multiple victims. Jess finds the house empty and starts investigating Lucy’s disappearance as well as the men. Jess starts to have vivid dreams that mirror a shipwreck of femal convicts from the 1800s.

I feel like this book would be best enjoyed by people that like historical fiction and fantasy. Some parts were interesting to me but the plot line moved really slowly and I had a hard time staying engaged.






Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book.

Much like Hart's debut, Wayward, The Sirens features three points of view that we follow across three different timelines. The first POV is from Lucy, who runs away to her sister Jess's house after waking up strangling her ex. Jess is missing, and during Lucy's quest to find her, she discovers Jess's journal. Most of Jess's storyline is conveyed through these journal entries, where we uncover many secrets that Jess has kept from Lucy. Both sisters are on a parallel journey of self-discovery.

As Lucy reads Jess's entries, we learn that both women have been having dreams about Mary and Eliza. This introduces us to the third POV. Mary and Eliza, with Eliza being Mary's blind sister, were transported from Ireland to Australia via prison transport, and we learn about their harrowing journey. All four women suffer from aquagenic urticaria, a water allergy that sets them apart from those around them.

As we uncover the struggles the women face, their secrets, their connection to the water, and their family lives, we are also presented with mysteries, such as why the men are disappearing from the so-called "Bermuda Triangle" of Australia, why they are sleepwalking, and why they are drawn to water despite its harmful effects on their skin.

I rated this book 3.5 stars, and I might adjust that rating upon further reflection. The pacing felt a bit slow for me; the big reveals were dragged out and felt somewhat obvious. Even the epilogue was predictable based on the story's progression. Nonetheless, I found all of the women intriguing, and their stories compelling. Although there is a minor fantasy element involving Meru, the story is primarily about self-discovery and connections across time. Hart's writing is beautiful; she is truly gifted in bringing these worlds to life in a vivid and remarkable way.

Overall, if you enjoyed Wayward, you will find The Sirens to be similarly enjoyable.

The Sirens is a story of female connection and strength, with a bit of mystery and magical realism as a bonus. The story is told in three timelines, with intriguing characters in each. Fans of the author's previous work, Weyward, will enjoy this upcoming release, as will historical fiction fans!

This is another solid historical fiction about strong women by Emilia Hart. Lucy, a college student, awakens to find herself strangling her ex-boyfriend. She flees to her sister's house, hoping she can help explain the vivid nightmares that had been plaguing her before the attack. When she arrives, Jess is missing. Lucy begins to explore her house and town, unearthing scary secrets and rumors.

This atmospheric, tense, and mysterious. It's unlike WEYWARD because the whole novel reads very dark. I liked that a lot. It wasn't as fast-paced, which is my only real complaint. Overall, I enjoyed this and I will read what she writes next.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC for review. I loved Weyward so when I saw the author had a new book releasing I had to read it!! I was not disappointed. This book is also historical fiction and jumps back and forth in time between women in the past and present and shows how the storylines are connected. This story connects women across time between a shipwreck in 1800 off the coast of Australia, and the same coast in 1999, and then again in 2019 and the bonds of sisters and the power women have in their fight for their own life and to survive. I liked the mystical element interwoven into the story. This book has similar themes as her previous book, so if you enjoyed Weyward, you will definitely enjoy this book as well. This author is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I will keep a look out for what she writes in the future!

A powerful story told in three timelines through the POVs of three women and how they are connected. A touch of magical realism and strength through love and support

This is my first book read by Emilia Har and will not be my last.

After Lucy was cyberbullied, causing her to flee school, she drives to her sisters house unannounced. This visit opens up all sorts of unanswered questions about her families' past.

The storyline shifts between several different times; current, 1999, and the 1800s. It did take me a little effort to keep all the characters straight at the beginning. The ending tied all the times together beautifully.

The writing was captivating and had me guessing and wondering what exactly was happening. I love these types of books.

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

When Lucy wakes up from a sleep walking episode and finds herself strangling her ex-lover, she feels she has no choice but to run away. Where else could she go but to her sister, even if they are somewhat estranged at the moment. When she gets to her sister’s house however, she finds it unlocked and empty, her sister missing. All she finds are her sister’s paintings - depicting scenes of women on a prisoner ship. Scenes Lucy has dreamed about. The mystery of how her sister Jess knows what she’s dreamed, where she’s disappeared off to, and why these dreams seem so real keeps Lucy searching for answers while she avoids her own troubles.

This was an interesting idea for a book. It’s told in multiple points of view, and in multiple timelines, to piece together a whole story that keeps you immersed until the very end. I found it was definitely more on the mystery rather than the thriller sides of things, urging me to solve the puzzle before the ending. I loved the ending and the female empowerment.

Recommended if you like: multiple timelines, mystery/thrillers, magical realism

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Sirens on April 1, 2025.

This book was gorgeously written and came together in a stunning way. I love the moment when you see dual-timeline stories intersect, and maybe it's because I read this in almost one sitting, but I thought it happened seamlessly. The twists were shocking but believable, adding depth and nuance to the story that I really appreciated.

No matter which timeline and characters you interacted with, though, you witnessed beautiful moments of female bravery and womanhood. Were there parts that were difficult to read? Absolutely. But ultimately, the story ends on a hopeful note and pays homage to the generations of women who struggled and survived before us.

Hart’s prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the past and present blur, and where the consequences of decisions echo across generations. The characters are richly developed, each grappling with their own desires, limitations, and the pressures of their time. While the pacing is deliberate and introspective, the emotional depth and atmospheric tension make it a captivating read.