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

The way Hart presents women’s struggles in both the past and three present continue to blow me away. Her stories are the perfect blend of fantasy and truth and always leave me feeling warm and fuzzy on the inside. Although at some points predictable, this book was so enthralling I read it in one sitting and can’t wait to recommend it.

I loved this book. A story of two separate sisters, in two different times. And the thread that brings them together. The author made it very easy to read going from one time to another. . I will be definitely recommending this book to my book club. And I will definitely read her first book.

Another intriguing, captivating mystery by Hart that readers won't want to miss! A powerful story that embraces the mythical spirit of female reckoning. It was so well written. The author's descriptions were so vivid that I could see and feel with a startling clarity every ounce of forlorn desperation emitted from the characters. It was like I was wrapped in a dark cloak weighed down by this ominous sense of foreboding. Lucy's sleep-walking dreams, the missing men, the disappearance of Jess, Mary and Eliza being trapped on a convict ship. This is not a happy story. It is rife with injustice that females have had to endure for centuries. The story took time to unfold, mostly alternating in the different timelines of Lucy and Mary, but I still flew through the pages and finished in less than a day. It was definitely a tale meant to be savored. I don't think my review will do this book enough justice, but I absolutely loved it! It will definitely stick with me for a long time. I highly recommend! I think fans of Weyward and other magical mysteries are going to love The Sirens.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for granting me early digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

The Sirens opens with journalism student Lucy coming out of a violent dream to find that she has sleepwalked over to her ex lover’s dorm room and was choking him to death. She stops herself and flees to coastal town Comber Bay to her sister Jess’ apartment. Jess is missing however and Lucy has to piece together several mysteries. She uncovers the town’s dark history while dealing with her own water allergy and still having dreams of two girls, Mary and Eliza, in the 1800s. The story oscillates between the two time periods.

Emilia Hart interweaves the two storylines together beautifully. I felt so much for these women who are so resilient, but personally and especially felt for Lucy who is so isolated physically/mentally and struggling to find real connection. Five stars from me for the journey. Don’t skip the beginning historical note - it provides some valuable context on what happened in the 1800s. Thank you Emilia Hart for this amazing story and Netgalley for providing the e-arc.

Ever wake up from a nightmare, only to realize it’s just getting started?

Lucy woke up with her hands around her ex’s throat and is forced to bolt to her sister Jess’s coastal home in Australia!

As she digs into the town’s weird history—disappearing men, ghostly voices, and a baby found in a cave—she discovers secrets that stretch back centuries.

Jess’s teenage diary, set in 1999, offers some clues! Oh, and did I mention the twin sisters from 1800 who might be tied to it all?

I was hooked on this book, it blew me away.

I got completely lost in the world and couldn’t stop reading. The characters, the eerie setting, the connections across time—it all came together in the best way

If you love getting lost in a story where every chapter adds a new layer of intrigue, grab this book—you won’t be disappointed!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.