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.

This was such an interesting take on sirens. It has 3 povs, following Lucy, Jess, and Mary(who is from the 1800s). It follows Lucy trying to figure out her nightmares and why she’s started to sleepwalk. It does get emotional and I cried a few times. I loved that the men who were killed by the sirens deserved to die, the sirens were protecting women.
Favorite quote: “There's something about this place, something different.
It keeps its women safe."

I was really excited for this book because I loved Weyward by this same author. My favorite thing about this book is the setting absolutely came to life. I love when authors make the setting feel like a character all of its own. The seaside was haunting, strong, alluring... I also appreciate this authors approach to storytelling with different character perspectives and timelines. However, I did not feel quite as connected to the characters in this story as I did with Weyward. This story did have some interesting twists and moments of suspense, but the pacing was a bit off for me. Too much happened towards the very end and the middle of the story plodded along at times. That being said, I will certainly continue to read this authors works, as I enjoy the overall writing style and the kinds of story premises she comes up with.

I have published my review to goodreads, linked below. I will post reviews to Barnes and Noble, Amazon, and Books a Million too.

THE SIRENS by Emilia Hart is a dual timeline novel blending history and fantasy in an enchanting way. The story features three young woman, Lucy, a traumatized college student, and Mary and Eliza, sisters exiled to a penal colony. Though hundreds of years separate the girls, their lives are shaped by the violence of evil men. Their tragedies will lead them to find a strength they did not know they had in the magic of the sea.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed the salty, wind-swapped atmosphere of this story, but wish it hadn't felt so one-note. The setting of the story, the rocky coast of New South Wales, was more distinctive a character than any of the narrators, whose perspectives begin to blend together despite the differences in time periods. However, I did really enjoy skin allergy representation (hotties have water based urticaria) and in general the focus on meaningful relationships between sisters. The story has the feel of a myth despite its anchor in reality, making it prime magical realism. I just wish I had been able to enjoy the characters more!

I have mixed feelings about this book. I really loved Weyward and I will definitely read Emilia’s next book. However, this one didn’t resonate with me as much. I enjoyed the magical realism elements and the alternating timeline, but I didn’t connect as much with the modern day protagonist and def that storyline dragged on at times. I’m a big fan of this author, but this book wasn’t my favorite.

The Sirens, in framing itself around two sets of sisters, obviously focuses a lot on female empowerment and how women move throughout the world, though the first set, Mary and Eliza, get a lot more in this sense than Lucy and Jess, who end up more absorbed in the mystery of just why the two of them have a rare skin disorder that leaves them unable to be near water, as well as sleepwalking and dreams of the hold of a ship.

Although there is a lot that is compelling - the mystery of what happened 30 years ago from the present-day timeline, what will happen to Mary and Eliza in the ship, the reality of female convicts sent to Australia and what was likely to be their fate - it doesn't tie together as well as I would have liked. Between the title and where each part jumps back and forth between the timelines, there's not much of a sense of tension wondering what each twist will be as a lot is very telegraphed.

I really wish the ending weren't...that. It doesn't tie up any ends, it just leaves so many more questions and not in a nice, wondering way, but in a "wait, what about this?" way. It ends up tripping over itself tying itself so strongly to the idea of a siren call as power and doesn't quite know how to actually neatly tie everything together. There's so much that is just...left.

I also don't love that as much as it touts itself to be about sisterhood, it's so focused on mother-daughter relationships that the actual sisterly bonds feel less thought-out and explored. That said, I did enjoy it at the end of it all, and the setting particularly is so vivid that it will stick with me for a while.

This was very similar in style and structure to her previous book, Weyward, but I enjoyed it more! I loved the feminism and colonization commentary, and I adore Australia and Ireland in books.

Emilia Hart's The Sirens is a poignant, haunting novel. Told from three different POVs in three separate periods, it is the story of two sets of sisters, one in the 1800s and one in modern times, and how their stories connect. Hart does a fantastic job creating nuanced characters and capturing these women's lives and struggles. The story is compelling and touching and kept me hooked until the end. I love how Hart's book captures women's empowerment, triumph over abuse, and ability to embrace who they are. I look forward to reading any books by Emilia Hart in the future!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a dark, mysterious, and fantastical tale told from multiple perspectives of four different women. As someone who lives for multiple POV’s, I ate this up! I enjoyed getting to see each character’s perspective all while being separated by hundreds of years. I do feel like the story fell a bit flat in some areas; I felt like there were very many questions that were left unanswered, however this could have been on purpose because it absolutely played into the overall feeling of eeriness. I did enjoy the strength of the each of the women and the importance that family played in this tale. Thank you to Net Galley & the publisher for this eARC!

I loved this book. It was so magical. I love the multiple people and the way all of their stories intertwined with each other. I love this authors style of writing and hope to read many more from her in the future!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

I loved the idea of this book, and love these we kinds of stories that are tinged with fantasy but anchored in the real world and around realistic characters. I really appreciated the two timelines (sometimes 3) and felt like they helped the storyline develop with the right amount of anticipation as to where it was headed. Starting out with Lucy, who is running from a traumatizing event at university, we learn more about her sister and how their two paths are connected. Plus a story of two other sisters imprisoned on a ship.

Although this one was a tad slow for me; the descriptive and atmospheric writing did win me over - but I would have loved more of a twist or something unexpected to wrap it up!

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my early copies! I did both versions, but I think I preferred the audio! Loved the narration - especially the siren songs. This one is out at the end of the month.

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