When Lucy wakes up in the middle of the night with her hands around a man's throat, her fear takes her in one direction, to find her sister. Unfortunately, her sister, Jess, is nowhere to be found. In a search for answers in what might be happening to her, Lucy finds herself stuck in a town with a tragic history and long buried truths. Told from different narrators and timelines, The Sirens digs into sisterhood and the perils of being a woman.
While reading this book, I found myself being entirely captivated and then wanting to skip ahead to finish it. I found the content so important and told in an interesting way, but the pace felt off and the ending just didn't click for me.

3.5 stars

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy*

Another great book by Emilia Hart. It was full of mystery and spooky sea imagery.
I was hooked with the mystery aspect. I kept reading to know what was going to happen! This book is definitely more of a mystery/historical fiction than fantasy.
It did fall flat for me concerning the magical realism. It didn’t feel fleshed out as I would have liked.
I didn’t really understand why Jess did what she did at the ending.
I could tell a lot of research went into the writing of this story and I can appreciate that.

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy*

My biggest issue with this book is that the build up felt very slow. The first third dragged while the last third flew by. I do think the book did very well to tie the different timelines together and showcase how throughout history and even today, women have been treated unfairly, persecuted, and taking advantage of. Australia’s history as a penal colony is not unknown, but the stories of women who suffered exile are still somehow lost in the tale. It is that history that is the most compelling part of the book for me along with the female relationships.

4 / 5 ⭐️

Thank you St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I had not read Wayward but, given its popularity, I decided to sign up for an ARC of Sirens by Emilia Hart. Initially, I hesitated for several months after hearing mixed feedback—some readers struggled to finish it. But with the release date approaching, I decided to dive in, and I’m so glad I did.

From the start, I found myself reading when I’d usually be doing something else, which is always a great sign. The characters truly drew me in. I found each of the four main characters compelling and unique, and I loved how the story blended magical lore with the rhythms of everyday life. The Australian setting was another highlight. The author does an excellent job of immersing the reader in the history of the women prisoners sent to Australia in the 1800s, which added an enriching layer to the story.

Is the book a little dark at times? Yes. Does it weave in elements of fantasy? Absolutely. But everything feels grounded—nothing is too over-the-top, which only made the narrative all the more intriguing and enjoyable. Hart’s mix of suspense, history, and magic kept me turning the pages, and I found myself fully immersed in this world.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

When The Sirens by Emilia Hart was offered as an advanced read, I quickly requested it as I was a huge fan of her previous work, Weyward. I appreciate the authors talent for writing in different timelines and POV.
Where this book differs for me is I enjoyed one timeline far more than the other. In fact, I could have stayed with Mary and Eliza through a whole book and would have been satisfied. I found Lucy's character unbelievable early on. I mean, c'mon, a girl with a negative view of her body image sends a nude to a new boyfriend? I don't buy it. I found the book to drag for me and wasn't all that excited to pick it back up except to finish and move on to the next.

I extend my gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the electronic advance review copy. The opinions expressed herein are genuinely my own.

So I fear I have another new favorite author to add to my list!?!? Sorry bank account, we've found one more auto-buy.

I adored Emilia Hart's debut novel, "Weyward," and was so excited to get my hands on her next title. And "The Sirens" absolutely lived up to my expectations and then some!

First, Hart's characters are so layered and real. Even when they're going through hell, I enjoy the experience of being in their heads because they are so relatable and raw. She also sets a really fantastic, atmospheric scene in this book; both the past and present timelines felt appropriately eerie, and that effort really sucked me into the story itself.

There's a good bit of the supernatural/mystical here, so be prepared to buy in if you pick this up. I promise you, it's well worth it! And yessss, you will definitely also find female rage in these pages—it's tough to read at times, but there's a lot of catharsis in it too.

Five wonderful stars.

[Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader copy of this book!]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. A solid 3.5 stars for me. Emilia Hart does such a good job weaving mythical elements into her writing, and her descriptive writing knocks it out of the park. However, there is too much swearing just for the sake of it. Some of the plot twists were predictable, for example about 100 pages in I totally guessed the mother/daughter relationship between Jess and Lucy.

Spoiler alert: I'm not sure how I feel about the epilogue. It was nice to get some closure to Jess's full parentage, but I found it a little weird that the dad ends up having an affair with Mary. Mostly I find it hard to believe that after all those years of men being punished for their sins that they would basically call him to the cave on purpose. Was it just because they needed an offspring? I don't know. I found it a bit odd.

A huge thank you to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of The Sirens!

Emilia is a mastermind when it comes to her writing. Set against the backdrop of two compelling timelines, we follow the lives of two sisters from the 1800s who are thrust onto a convict ship bound for Australia. Fast-forward to 2019, where we meet Lucy and her older sister—a pair who, though vastly different, are connected in unexpected ways.

The alternating timelines and dual sisterly perspectives were a great choice, giving us a rich, layered narrative as the stories of the past and present weave together in a way that feels both eerie and magical.

This book is not just a historical fantasy; it’s a beautifully crafted tale of transformation and the deep, sometimes haunting connections between women. As a lover of siren mythology (I’m a firm believer in their existence, by the way :] !), this story had me completely captivated. The sirens here are as enchanting as they are mysterious, adding an intriguing layer to the plot.

That said, my one critique would be that the action doesn't really pick up until around the 60%-70% mark. While I appreciated the time spent unraveling the backstories of the characters, I personally would have loved a bit more momentum earlier on.

And I definitely did not see that coming in the ending!!

Thank you once again to Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the early access. The Sirens will be available on April 1, 2025—mark your calendars and add it to your TBR shelf!

Weyward was one of my favorite books of 2023, so naturally I had to get my hands on this one as soon as I saw it.

Hart always has a way of writing the natural landscape within her novels that feels like they are coming to life. I really feel like I am wherever she is writing in that moment. She has a gift for writing the female experience, specifically relating to trauma and the healing process and transforming it into resilience and strength within a layer of magical realism.

This was wonderful take on a classic siren tale, weaving together storylines over 200 years apart masterfully. If you have read Hart's previous work or simply enjoy losing yourself within a story that allows you to shift between reality and magic, I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for both the digital and audio ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

This is one of those novels that finds its way into your thoughts after you finish reading. I enjoyed the story and I also feel like it left me a little haunted by its events. Told from two different times periods we get the story of two sets of sisters. Both have a rare condition that makes them unable to be around water yet both sets of sisters crave the water.

The first set of sisters are convicted of a crime and forced to leave Ireland for Australia in the 1800s. The second story is about Lucy, who almost strangles someone while sleeping, and flees to her sister's house to try and find answers. Once there she discovers her sister is missing but finds her old diary. Searching for answers, Lucy discovers that there are so many more secrets than she could ever imagine.

I loved the magical elements to this story as well as the message it delivered. The dual timeline format kept the stories fresh and made me want to keep reading. This novel is unique, mysterious, and absorbing. This was my second novel by Emilia Hart and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

I am drawn to anything ocean/mermaid/folklore themed and this novel delivered in the most beautiful way. I loved Wayward and was looking forward to see how Emilia Hart would weave in her tidbits of magic with her emotional storytelling. This book delivered. I will say it was a slow burn and at times I'm was eager for anything/something to happen. But, it kept me on the edge enough that I couldn't put it down. I had no idea where the novel was going and didn't see the twists! I gasped at the revelations and enjoyed the dynmaics of multiple POV's and timelines. This is also how we should spark events in history that retains, and leaves you with curious questions to dig deeper. Such a gorgeous book and cover! Thank you for the ARC copy!

This was my first ever DNF. I just could not get into the story. I could see aspects of the story that could be engaging but to me, the characters where hard to connect with and the time jumps were choppy.

A beautifully written and enchantingly atmospheric story of two sets of sisters, separated by 200 years of tragic history.

Hart does a wonderful job of setting the various scenes in the most vivid of details – from a small Irish home to the cramped confines of a prison transport ship to the dry and arid desert of central Australia to the salt-tang and wet-rock of an oceanside cave.

As the story weaves back and forth between three different timelines I was fully immersed in the story of the four women. And although I could feel where the mystery was going, I was still fully invested in the journey right to the end - which did not disappoint.

Two sets of sisters, two centuries separating them. Or is there? This is such a great mystery/drama. I really loved the historical time travel aspect and thought it was done so well! The characters were relatable and endearing from page one. Also, the book itself is GORGEOUS and I can’t wait for the several special editions and sub-boxes I have coming!

Instagram post will be posted & linked shortly!

4.5 stars

I was SO excited when I heard about Emilia Hart coming out with a new book because I loved Weyward by her. The Sirens was definitely not a disappointment!

Like Weyward, we’re following a few different POVs at different points in time (2019, 1999, 1800) which adds so much to the story. There’s a mystery element to this as well as some magical realism sprinkled in. I loved both mysteries and magical realism, so I rightfully assumed this would be a great fit. The pacing was perfect, the writing was *chefs kiss*, and the descriptions were so detailed.

If you liked Weyward, definitely check this one out. If you don’t normally lean towards magical realism, I’d still recommend checking this out because it’s such a well rounded plot.

Than you to St. Martins Press for my copy of this!

I was a huge fan of Weyward by Emilia Hart, and therefore was very excited to receive an arc of her next novel, The Sirens. Hart has a knack for beautiful prose and dropping readers perfectly into the scene of the story. However, the slow pace and lack of plot in this story didn’t enrapture me as much as its predecessor. I did not dread picking this book up, but I also did not itch to read more — it was simply an okay read. Though it didn’t live up to my full expectations, I still adore Hart’s writing and look forward to her future works.

Thank you to NetGalley and STM for the arc

I saw this book and immediately requested it. I was so happy to be approved. All I can say is Emilia Hart is a wonderful storyteller. This book kept me engaged from the start. The story was written so beautifully, and the cover is AMAZING!!! This is a tale of female empowerment and a touch of magical realism. I cannot wait to purchase a physical copy on publication day. Thanks so much NetGalley for the ARC.

Id like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. All opinions are my own.
Like other Hart books, this one is an Historical Fiction with fantasy blend. Based on the historical note of "convicts" being sent from Ireland to Australia - mostly for the purpose of populating this new land, we meet the young women torn from their families and borded on a transport ship. The trip is brutal for all but expecially the women. Is it true that a woman on board is bad luck?
We also meet Lucy and Jess, who in more modern times are navigating their lives in Australia - but they both have a condition that makes them different.
The story reveals itself slowly and carefully as the reader moves through both timelines to see how things are connected in the end. It is this slow reveal that keeps the reader going. The characters are well liked and the story mysterious enough to keep pace. You can tell it was a labor of love for Hart.
3.75 stars.

“The Sirens,” by Weyward author Emilia Hart, is a poignantly characterized and beautifully crafted sweeping Magical Realism Historical Fiction that spans generations and continents. It is woven throughout with lore and legend alluding to gorgeous mermaids with shimmering tails; sirens of the deep seducing sailors with their songs; and Irish selkies falling in love with human men.

Sirens focuses on two sets of sisters born centuries and cultures apart. It culminates in Australia’s tiny Comber Bay at the Devil’s Lookout, the site of a deadly shipwreck 200 years before, and the current location where men are mysteriously disappearing.

Multiple mysteries are woven throughout this fascinating tale of love—the love between siblings, the love between parents and children, and the love of self.

Dive right in and enjoy the heartaches and healing journeys of twin Irish convict sisters Mary and Eliza and modern-day siblings Jess and Lucy in “The Sirens.” It is a wonderfully cathartic journey of hope and healing.

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Emilia Hart, and Publisher St. Martins Press for this Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) to review.

Emilia Hart author of Weyward has written another beautiful book.A-story of sisters of the past and present timelines.so emotional so moving I was totally swept away by this story.#NetGalley #st.martins.