Emilia Hart has found her voice in the siren’s song.

Mysterious magical realism combines with Australian folklore in this dual-timeline story of sisters: Mary and Eliza aboard the convict ship, the Naiad, and Lucy and Jess, living in modern day New South Wales.

Hart’s characters are superbly well-developed; her historical settings are immersive. She transports you to the lower deck of the ship where Irish women jailed for petty theft wonder if they’ll reach the other shore of this voyage - and if it’s worth staying alive for the horrors which await them.

Far away from the sea, investigative journalist college undergrad Lucy runs away to visit her big sister Jess when she needs her advice most. But Lucy may find more answers than she bargained for when stories of strangers hit too close to home.

I’m sticking with four stars out of five because of a few chinks in the plot armor that left me unsatisfied at its ending, but I would still very much recommend it to lovers of historical fiction - especially for fans of The Unmaking of June Farrow.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Emilia Hart for an ARC of The Sirens.

Part historical fiction, part folklore, The Sirens takes these two elements and mixes them together with magical realism to create an unusual mystery. In a dual narrative, the historical fiction focuses on the fact that female convicts from Ireland and Britain were transported to Australia. The novel focuses on two specific female convicts from Ireland, sisters Mary and Eliza, and tells their story from 1801. Their story alternates with the present day narrative wherein Lucy and her sister Jess are each facing personal conflicts that resolve in rather unusual ways. They discover the unbreakable bond they have to each other as well as to their parents and also their strange connection to Mary and Eliza. I found the Epilogue a fascinating way of bringing the story full circle.

At times I felt that the tale was moving too slowly and in too much detail. But by the time I got to Part Two, the narrative picked up the pace and started to bring into play all sorts of unique details for both Mary and Eliza as well as for Jess and Lucy. While I ultimately enjoyed the way this novel played out, I much preferred Emilia Hart's first novel, Weyward.

Weyward is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was really excited to pick up The Sirens. It’s a historical mystery with fantasy elements, and it definitely has Emilia Hart’s signature style—blending past and present timelines while exploring the struggles women have faced across history. Like in Weyward, the female protagonists grow stronger through these hardships, discovering their power and pushing back against oppression.

One thing I really loved was the setting—mostly Australia, with a few scenes in Ireland—which gave the story a fresh and unique feel. Both timelines were compelling, though some parts got pretty dark and twisted. The main themes—familial love, resilience, and a long-overdue reckoning for certain men—were strong and well-developed.

That said, The Sirens didn’t quite hit the same level as Weyward for me. The dual timeline structure felt a bit too familiar. And while I love a good story about female empowerment, some parts felt a little repetitive rather than bringing a new take to the theme. There were a few twists that left me scratching my head and honestly I still don’t know how I feel about them.

Overall, though, Hart’s writing is as sharp as ever, and this is still a solid read. Just a heads-up—some of the content might be tough for certain readers, so checking content warnings is a good idea. I’d give it a solid 3.75, rounded up to 4 stars.

I found the book to be predictable - meaning I knew what was going to happen. There were no surprises in the book for me. I finished it, but it isn't something I would recommend to most people. I actually found it boring in so many places. It just didn't hold my interest like I was hoping. I would read more books by the author as I think she has some real skill. This book just wasn't for me.

When I saw that Emilia Hart’s next book was entitled The Sirens, I knew I had to read it! The Sirens- a blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and mystery- tells the stories of two sets of sisters in two different time periods. It’s a haunting and atmospheric story of female empowerment and resilience, as these women learn to embrace who they are and find the power to change their destinies.

The Sirens was unique, though the format reminded me a lot of her previous book, Weyward (which is also really good!) As someone who’s obsessed with mermaids, though, I felt more drawn to this story (maybe it was the sirens’ call?)

These four women- Mary and Eliza, Lucy and Jess- were separated by hundreds of years but connected by dreams and circumstances. And they were all drawn to the one thing they were told would hurt them: water. Each of the four women had mysterious changes in their bodies when they came into contact with water and I couldn’t wait for each of them to brave their fears and actually dive in.

Mary’s point of view pulled me in quicker than Lucy’s, as her vividly described circumstances drew such a visceral reaction. I could picture Mary, Eliza, and the other women in the deplorable conditions of the convict ship, feel their hurt, fear, discomfort, and pain. And it made me so angry. Of course, Lucy’s situation made me so angry as well. And Jess’ situation made me BAWL my eyes out. In each of these scenarios, they were wronged by men and yet faced the punishments those men deserved.

This book was so close to a five star read- the strong storytelling was compelling and the sisters were lovable and well-developed- but I needed MORE from the ending. With a book entitled The *Sirens*, I had expected and hoped to dive deeper into that world. There was also a twist that connected the two timelines even further but didn’t sit right with me at all.

But don’t let my feelings on the ending deter you- The Sirens is a story you’ll want to let wash over you and consume you.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press for a NetGalley copy of Emilia Hart’s upcoming novel, The Sirens- out April 1, 2025. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4 out of 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just like Weyward the cover is excellent! Great use of font and artwork. However, I read the first two chapters, and checked some quick reviews on goodreads and it seems to be in the same vibe as Weyward. I find her work well written but this is the second book (possibly) to be about domestic abuse and its just not a subject I want to go down again, was hoping for something more magical and mysterious. I also do not enjoy dual timelines and that seems to be another calling card of hers. Thank you for the ARC!

2.5
I hate to leave negative reviews, but this book was a big disappointment for me. I absolutely loved Weyward and couldn’t wait to read Emilia Hart’s second book. Unfortunately, this novel was not as enjoyable and was hard for me to finish. The storylines are not well developed and relationships were hard to believe. The characters aren’t brought to life. This was an ambitious undertaking, spanning different time periods and complex situations but the novel falls short….

"The Sirens" is my first read by Emilia Hart, even though I have had "Weyward" on my TBR shelf. But who doesn't love a book about the dark mysteries of sirens and mermaids? This story is of two sisters in two different timelines set over 200 years apart. Lucy finds herself in trouble after a sleepwalking event ends her hands around her ex-lover throat. Frightened and unable to face the situation, she flees to her sister's place in South Wales, only to realize she is missing. While waiting for her return, she hears of a baby found abandoned in a sea-swept cave, whispers of men gone missing over decades, with the sound of women's voices across the waves. The second timeline is set in the 1800s when and Eliza and Mary are torn from their home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As they are dragged away from all they know and love, they begin noticing strange and unusual changes in their bodies. Both timelines show the strength of sisterhood and the secret magic of the sea.
Clearly evident in the title, it was obvious where this story was headed, but throughout, I struggled to see where these two timelines would connect. I found myself less interested in the second storyline as not many details were given. I loved the mysteries of the sea, the sirens, and how the story come together, but I wish we would have delved more into the sirens and less into the weird and abusive relationships of both sisters. Perhaps I was just thrown off by the current timeline and issues surrounding today, combined with the sirens which didn't resonate as well with me. All in all, it was an enjoyable and quick read that I found even more lovely as I was able to read it while traveling through South Wales.

This had a lot of things I really liked going for it. Two timelines that I was interested in reading about and enjoyed uncovering the connection between them and the characters. But there were also things that annoyed me. I knew the entire layout of the book at 28%. My son suggested it was foreshadowing, but I didn't feel that the author had intended to give that much away. It was disappointing to be right about so many things so early on in the book. There were also a few other things in the book that didn't quite click for me and I could have used a bit better pacing and editing. It felt rather dragged out for no reason at all. So overall, it was a good but not extraordinary read.

I was very excited to listen to this Arc as I enjoyed Emilia Hart's Weyward. Hart is great about telling tragic historical tales that women experienced firsthand and how that pain transcends generations. I had no idea that there were Irish prisoners taken to Australia, especially boats full of women. This was a very atmospheric, but depressing at times novel.

This is one of my favourite books I’ve read this year, it was absolutely captivating. The back and forth elements for the plot were unsettling and I was so nervous reading. I mean, the SUSPENSE. What a beautifully written story. From characters, to plot, to execution with the writing itself. The pacing is a little slower than I expected, but I didn’t mind it after a while, since it really helped set the stage and atmosphere to the story.

Wow this was great! Told in different timelines, I loved all of it. The origin story with Mary and Eliza was both terrifying and fascinating. And Jess and Lucy's story was equally captivating. The Sirens was even better than Hart's Weyward, which I loved also. Highly recommend!

Another stellar book by Emilia Hart. I love her writing style and how she intricately weaves the stories of the sisters together.

4.5 stars. There were some spots that felt like holes especially for the ending and the grandparents, uncles, aunts situation.

Emilia Hart’s writing is absolutely amazing - so captivating and compelling, which made putting the book down hard. She did a great job intertwining the different perspectives and also exploring the theme of women empowerment. While there were difficult parts of the book that may be triggering, it was handled delicately. Absolutely recommend this book, especially if you are fascinated with stories about sirens.

I enjoyed Weyward by Emilia Hart so I was very excited when her newest was a read now on NetGalley. I was really intrigued by the idea of a missing sister and mermaid lore mashed into one book. Weyward had a beautiful writing style and really brought the feminine rage so I had high expectations for this.

Overall, though, I was underwhelmed by this one. I really enjoyed the unraveling family secrets of Jess & Lucy’s family. Things got predictable though as the story went on so I was able to guess the answers to the many mysteries. I was disappointed there wasn’t many explanations to the mermaid lore that was introduced. I still had so many questions after finishing. If there was a little less focus on the current day timeline and more on the 1800s timeline, I feel it would’ve been more enjoyable.

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…

This was a fascinating read for me. I don't read a lot of magical realism, and the convergence of the fantastical and the feminist was refreshing for me. Looking at the world through the eyes of women in different time periods was interesting, and all four women's stories were interesting and compelling. Together, they weave a beautiful tale. 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

A hauntingly beautiful blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and mystery, The Sirens completely captivated me from the very first page. Emilia Hart masterfully weaves together the lives of four women across three timelines—each facing their own struggles, yet bound together by the sea and a legacy of resilience.

From Lucy in 2019, searching for her missing sister in a coastal town full of secrets, to Jess in 1999, navigating a rare illness and an unsettling past, to Mary and Eliza in the 1800s, torn from their home and sent across the ocean as convicts—each story is immersive, emotional, and laced with an eerie, almost mythic quality. The novel balances the supernatural with real historical depth, making it feel both whimsical and heartbreakingly poignant.

This is a story about sisterhood, survival, and the undeniable pull of the past. If you loved Weyward or The Once and Future Witches, you need this book on your TBR. Highly recommend!

I immediately signed up for this arc based on the premise: A twisty, dark mystery told in multiple POVs about two sets of sisters, the sea and Australia's prisoner history.

Both 2019 and 1800 sisters are grappling with some complicated family dynamics. In 2019, college student Lucy is reeling with the aftershock of her sleepwalk attack on her sleazy ex boyfriend. She flees campus to see her older sister, Jess, at her new home in Comber Bay. But Jess is missing.

In 1800, twin sisters Mary and Eliza were prisoners on a ship heading to Australia for their exile. Their memories are somehow built into present day Jess and Lucy's memories.

I used to read strictly mystery and thrillers and this reminded me a lot of Tana French's storytelling. It has historical fiction, gothic, and magical realism vibes. The slow pacing to start lends to the eeriness of the story. I loved the creepy setting of Comber Bay, and the twists. This is dark and gritty in parts though, and there are heavy emotional scenes around sexual assault, and sharing images without consent. I thought the writing was really strong and handled all of the rage and sexism around this really well. I binged this pretty quickly, and had to reread that ending! Whew.

I can't wait to get my hands on more from this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

Rating: 4.5⭐

I loved Weyward and I was super excited to receive this arc of The Sirens.

For fans of women empowerment, mermaids, deep themes, and sisterly connections. I enjoyed the dual POV.

Wowie. Jess, Lucy, Melody, Mary, Eliza, Birdie, Sarah. So many strong women, so many different life paths, and one incredible story. We need each other to share experiences, grow and live.