I had the fortunate experience of reading this book while on a cruise, which made it all the better for the sense of place in the story.

The Sirens is a dual timeline story that focuses on two sisters during each timeline. These sisters share a certain genetic makeup that links them together and one that also sets them apart from other women.

In the present day timeline, Lucy and Jess learn who they are through dreams that link them to the sisters Mary and Eliza, from the 1800 timeline. Set in Australia, the story takes place in a small coastal town that becomes known as a place where men disappear.

Lucy, a journalist, sets out to find a link between the men who have disappeared. With limited information, she concludes that it is highly likely the men share cruelty and sexual deviancy as a trait that may make them a target.

As the story places out, readers will see if Lucy’s theory is true. I was intrigued by the mystery of the story, but expected it to be a bit more murder filled. At any rate, it was a good read for cruising the seas.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to offer my honest review and to recommend this to other readers who enjoy mermaids and mysteries.

I was blessed enough to receive this as an ARC! I truly could not believe it, as this was one of my top 5 anticipated books of the year!! *********MILD SPOILERS AHEAD*********

I really enjoyed this book. I already love anything to do with mermaids, the ocean, and mystery, so the fact that this book had it all was intriguing to me. I really loved that at the end of the day, this book is about sisterhood/family, and trusting your own self and power.

Things I loved:
- Mystical elements
- The HUGE plot twist about Jess in regard to Lucy!!! Did not see it coming.
- Justice done to one of the less savory characters
- The coastal setting
- The twist at the end!! It was hinted at throughout the book, but awesome to see play out (who the girls really are, etc)

Things I wish:
- I wish Max had been more fleshed out as a character, I would have loved to see more of him and how he interacted with Jess
- More background with Mary and Eliza, we did not see all of their story I felt like
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- I really wish when the girls actually became sirens that we saw more of the underwater world. How long did they live (it seems implied Mary had lived an age?), can they move freely from land to see? I felt like I was left with questions
- How did the family dynamics work out after they saved their dad? I mean how do you even move on from so many major revelations?
- Wish we had seen more of a resolution between Lucy and Ben

Overall, I really loved this book and I'm ordering the beautiful special edition copy. I just wish a few things had been touched on, but the story was fun to follow and once I started I finished it quick!!!!!

For how much I love Weyward, I was a bit worried about the sophomore slump, but fans of Hart will find her strength in being able to weave in the magic and lore of witches is just as strong with sirens. I felt drawn to the characters and couldn't stop reading because of the craft Hart possesses.

I SOO appreciate the ARC, but me and this book just didn't click... I DNFed it and I tried and tried but couldn't connect with the characters or the storyline. It was too hard to keep up with the changing timeline(s) as well

I received this e-arc from the publisher so let me start by saying thank you!
Something quite different. It definitely won’t be for everyone. I must say though that it seemed a bit of a stretch. I just couldn’t get past the “skin condition”.
Let me just say it was a weird concept

This is a great time slip novel about two sisters and their determination. It was a little slow in the beginning but then picked up the pace. Once I got into it, I couldn't wait to see how the story played out. I look forward to more books by Emilia Hart. Many thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I had both the audiobook as well as the ebook arc's so I listened to the audiobook on a car trip. This book was really good I loved the magical realism mixed with the historical fiction. This is a very dark and creepy book that reminds me a lot of what I love about Gothic fiction. Over all I was very pleased with it and would love to get a copy for my shelves!

The one thing I love about Hart's writing is how atmospheric it is. She fully transports you with her vivid descriptions and imagery. I loved her previous book, Weyward, so I had very high hopes for this one. While I enjoyed it, I didn't love it as much as I expected to. I think that came down to it feeling very similar to the previous book. Hart once again utilizes a dual timeline/POV scenario following two women separated by hundreds of years yet who find themselves linked in some way. I thought the premise was intriguing, and I did enjoy getting to know Lucy and Mary, but since nothing felt new, I could feel my attention waning as the story progressed. Even though it didn't fully work for me, I would still recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with dashes of magical realism.

I will be honest and say this was not for me. I found the pacing to be slow, the characters hard to connect with, and the subject matter heavier than I was looking for at this moment. I believe it will find its audience. Trigger warnings at the start of the book would be much appreciated as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. The Sirens comes out April 1st.

I was very excited to dive in to The Sirens by Emilia Hart. I loved Wayward and The Sirens was just as atmospheric. I liked the alternating timelines and was drawn in the setting. I will be recommending The Sirens to those who enjoyed Wayward. I can’t wait to read what Hart writes next. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy.

The Sirens is my first Emilia Hart novel. The story takes place in two timelines with one in 2019 and the other in 1800. In the present timeline of 2019, Lucy wakes up with her hands around the throat of her ex-lover and she ends up fleeing to New South Wales, Australia to the home of her estranged sister Jess. When Lucy arrives, she is unable to find Jess, but she does eventually find her diary. This leads Lucy to investigate secrets about her family. Meanwhile, she dreams of a woman named Mary and her sister Eliza in 1800 who are sent on a convict ship from Ireland to Australia. The reader follows in the POV of Lucy, Jess, and Mary where all the stories and plots seem initially separate, but they eventually all come together like pieces of a puzzle.
The story itself sort of forces the reader to originally suspend logic, in a way, as there are more questions than answers for the initial set up of Lucy and the man before she ends up in the small coast town to try and meet Jess. For me, I think the set-up was meant to add to the mystery and to start the reader in the middle of the action; however, there was not enough established yet about Lucy and her relationship with Jess to make sense of why Lucy would go to Jess after the incident. For me, this relationship needed more exploration, especially because the family drama played a large role in the story. There are disappearances of men in the town where Lucy lives yet this plot is put in the background when the focus shifts to the family drama. The focus does re-shift to this mystery as it does tie into the main story, however, there is a lot of shifting throughout the novel. As the story from the 1800s is based on a true story and the present day one is completely a work of fiction, I enjoyed the idea of bringing the two pieces together. This entire story had great potential, but, for me, it tried to accomplish too much without enough exploration of the details that would help me, as a reader, connect to each element. Overall, this story was not for me, and I don’t see myself re-reading it; however, I can see potential with the author and may try her again in the future.

Just finished The Sirens by Emilia Hart and wow — a hypnotic blend of myth, love, and grief that lingers like salt on your skin. 5/5 stars!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

After reading and absolutely adoring Weyward, her next novel The Sirens became one of the highest book on my anticipated reads or TBR. This book truly lived up to the fame and glory of her first novel and I cannot wait to see how the public receives it. Mary and Eliza’s sisterhood followed by Lucy and Jessie’s relationship left me a wreck! The character growth we see with Lucy, no longer shying from hardship or trouble, but embracing this inner strength and bravery in herself. Jessie finally being freed from his childhood traumas. Mary and Eliza rescuing those women - all of this novel was so well done. I cannot wait to read more of this author. Thank you truly for letting me read an arc of this novel.

Emilia Hart delivered another gorgeous & haunting novel with The Sirens, but I think it lacked some of the depth & heart that made me fall in love with Weyward.

The Sirens blends Women’s Fiction, Magical Realism, & Historical Fiction. The story follows 2 pairs of sisters across multiple POVs, timelines, and continents. As always, Emilia delivered absolutely beautiful prose in this novel. I also loved seeing a book about Sirens, which feels like a criminally underutilized mythical creature!

Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel as connected to the characters or as invested in the plot as I would have wished. The pacing dragged in some places & ultimately left me wanting more.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and St Martin's for inviting me to review The Sirens from Emilia Hart. I loved the storytelling here, Hart's signature sense of hidden worlds/identities, of mysticism and layered interconnecting stories, is the star of this story as is the excellent narration from Barrie Kreinik. I loved how the story came together and explored a variation of coming of age, the emergence of the Siren and the Siren's call, and the way the plot remained complex but easy to follow as twists and shifts in story were revealed.

The premise for this book is good. The execution ... left a lot to be desired. I think. The main flaw is that the reader, based on the title, already knows the big twist at the end. Because of this, the book feels long and drawn out - since you just want the characters to get in the water already and be their perfect mermaid selves. Hart also just kept "dropping hints" that the girls were all mermaids- but it was just frustrating and repetitive.

The story starts with Lucy who wakes up mid-strangling of her ex. Mortified by her own actions, she runs off to find her estranged sister who lives on a house on a cliff in a very small town. But her sister is missing?? This journalist wanna-be knows what to do! Meanwhile, she starts having mysterious dreams about two other sisters 200 years ago. Her skin starts to split (oh no, it's a medical skin condition that means she needs to avoid water) and she starts waking up closer and closer to the water.

With the Sirens, Hart ties together a bit of magical realism, historical fiction, and mystery. And if that interests you, than this book is going to be a good fit. Unfortunately, the main characters were not really that likeable for me and I wanted more mermaid action and less mystery. Tell me more about how sirens lured bad men into the sea please. Ultimately, the writing for the book was hauntingly beautiful. The descriptions were like paintings come to life with texture, color, and vibrancy. I did enjoy the read- but it was lacking.

The book was ok definitely not my cup of tea but there's nothing against the story or the writing.

Gave it three stars only because I just wasn't into the book.

Thought I'd give it a shot since the premise of the book sounded intriguing.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press for this arc opportunity.

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book! I had my hopes set a bit high for this one, as Weyward is one of my favorite books from a few years ago. I was so excited for another story of female empowerment mixed with some mythical themes and a bit of historical fiction. This one certainly ticked those boxes, but it wasn’t as compelling or fulfilling as I’d hoped. I gave it four stars, which I think might be generous.

What worked for me: Like Weyward, the writing is atmospheric and immersive, and this greatly contributed to my higher rating. Hart is such a talented writer, and it’s hard to believe this is only her second novel. Her setting descriptions are so lush – you can practically taste the sea while reading (also, I’m a Pisces, so, of course, I love water). I’m also a huge fan of fiction that sparks an interest in historical events. I know so little about the history of Australia, and this was a great catalyst for my curiosity.

What didn’t work for me: The plot became somewhat predictable about a quarter into the story, and I was able to correctly guess the twist pretty early on. I found myself disconnected from the characters, which made it hard to sustain my motivation to read at times. The last third of the book picked up quite a bit, but the ending ultimately left me unsatisfied – too many resolutions happened behind closed doors, and I felt we were rushed to a tidy conclusion.

I will definitely continue to read whatever Emilia Hart writes. I would recommend this to those who enjoy stories about strong women with a witchy or mythical twist.

Emilia Hart's latest novel, The Sirens, is an eerie contemporary/historic fantasy exploring the importance of sisterhood and female resilience. The tale of Irish sisters bound for Australia, missing men, haunting songs, and vivid dreams intertwine.

While I really enjoy the magic Hart writes across multiple points of view, it was journey of the Irish sisters that really pulled me into The Sirens. The claustrophobic, dirty, and dismal boat conditions were so vividly described, and the sisterhood among the travelers really came to life. In the contemporary POV, I often questioned some of the decisions Lucy made, and I didn't necessarily connect with her as much as the other characters.

Admittedly, I think the pacing is a little off in the first part, the first 45-ish percent, of the book, and it felt a bit flat. Nevertheless, it picked up in the remainder of the book, and I inhaled the second half. It was always going to be hard to follow up the amazing debut that was Weyward. But I think The Sirens is deserving of a read and cements Hart as an author focusing on tales exploring female empowerment. Hart remains for sure an insta-read author for me.

The Sirens is a stunning, atmospheric novel that completely swept me away. From the very first page, I was drawn into its eerie and mysterious world, where dreams, memories, and unexplained phenomena collide. Lucy’s haunting dream, and the terrifying realization that it might be tied to her ex-lover’s attack, set the tone for a suspenseful journey. As she delves deeper into the strange history of her sister Jess’s town, the chilling stories of men disappearing at sea and the eerie voices heard by sailors kept me on edge. I loved how the narrative weaves together three distinct timelines—Lucy in 2019, Jess in 1999, and the twin sisters Mary and Eliza in 1800—all of which were intricately connected by the sea’s mysterious power. The bonds between the women, their resilience, and the sense of something otherworldly calling to them were beautifully depicted. This book captivated me from start to finish, and I can’t recommend it enough. Five stars for its immersive storytelling and unforgettable atmosphere.