Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of this book!

I (like so many others) looked forward to this because I absolutely love Weyward by Emilia Hart.

The Sirens fell flat for me and I DNFed about 30% into it.

At the very beginning of the story I had an inkling of annoyance at how it kept referring to "what Ben had done" rather than just saying it. Like that person you know who always hints around to something several times because they want everyone to ask them about it instead of just telling you what they obviously want to tell you but they need the satisfaction of you asking. About the third or fourth time it mentioned Ben had done something to Lucy but didn't tell me what it was it set the tone for the story for me that I couldn't shake.

The blurb of the book is also misleading: "Lucy awakens in her ex-lover’s room in the middle of the night with her hands around his throat." "Lovers" implies they had much more of a relationship than they did -- while, in reality, they had sex one random time.

Overall, I didn't find any way to connect with the characters. I didn't feel much development happening and decided to move on from this one.

3.5.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC of 'The Sirens' by Emilia Hart. I have not read Weyward yet but it is next on my book clubs list and looking forward to reading it after this one.

I enjoyed her descriptive magical realism writing style, but overall the storyline seemed pretty predictable. The prologues eventual reveal did surprise me, but the rest just felt like the Disney Channel Original Movie The Thirteenth Year, but for women (IYKYK)

I was about 85% through and kept thinking okay how are they going to tie all this together. There just seemed to be some missing information and motivation. Wanted a little more background on the fantasy aspect.

2 sad lil stars here. I adored Weyward, so I was holding the author to a pretty high standard for her second novel. The writing was gorgeous, but the story fell flat. It became predictable, with the prologue really being the only plot twist for me. It was a beautiful story of female empowerment over nearly 200 years… but I just needed a little more!! Thank you to Netgally for the ARC!

I was excited to be granted early access to this book. Multiple women throughout the years are focused on in this book, as they all are on a journey of self-discovery. The book starts with Lucy, looking to unravel why her sister has mysteriously disappeared in an area known to have had numerous men disappear by the sea. Lucy then has dreams of two sisters on a ship, discovers her sister's diary, and learns of a past she knew nothing about. The story then goes back even further in time to two sisters, ripped from their home and send across the world. At its core, the book focuses on women and their strength with a mix of fantasy.

Once again, this author does a really great job of writing with mood - she sets a scene that kind of settles into you in a darker way (but this is a good thing!).

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written, atmospheric novel. The Sirens is an ode to the sea, but also an ode to women and the struggles they face. The imagery was so immersive and well done. I love the complexity of all of the characters. This novel is historical fiction and contains two different timelines. Finding the connections between the two stories had me reading late into the night. I was eager to figure out the mystery of the women in both timelines. The female friendships are written and developed wonderfully. There are some darker themes/content, but they are handled expertly. Having experienced some of the same things as the characters, it was more therapeutic than triggering for me. This story left such an impact on me. I think the story and its’ message are so very important. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

(Content Warning: grooming, abandonment, sexual assault, child abuse, murder, post partum depression, drowning, gaslighting, misogyny)

Perfection! I loved every second of this book. I could not put it down!!! I especially loved the ending and wish there was more.

In 2019, a young woman is in crisis and runs to her sister. Her sister isn't home, but the house is full of secrets and she is ready to know the truth about her family. In the 1800's another set of sisters embark on a long boat journey to a penal colony in what is now Australia. They have a secret too.

This is a lovely book. I loved the focus on female relationships and sisters. The writing is well paced, the style is almost journalistic. There are a lot of historical facts mixed in to the fantasy. The intertwining stories were equally interesting and important to the overall story. I liked the exploration of genetic memory and shared dreams. I thought that the magical realism was done really well - it was just the right amount to feel natural to the world we live in.

I felt unsure about the front matter - I almost feel like if the author is going to put something like that there, it should be the historical information about how women were treated in the penal colonies, not a land acknowledgement. I felt that was unnecessary, although meant in kindness.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for review.

I was so excited to read this book! A blending of fantasy and historical fiction is always up my alley. If you like multiple PoVs from different periods of time this is definitely a book for you! I thought the story was engaging and it hooked me from the very first page! I was eager to see what was going to happen with all the characters and how they all tied together. All in all I highly recommend this!

Thank you to NetGalley for an Advanced Copy!

DNF at about 56%. I absolutely adored ‘Wayward’, and although unfair, I did compare this book to ‘Weyward’ and, for me, it failed. I was interested in Lucy in the beginning, her relationship with Jess but as the pages began to turn, Lucy felt like she was getting colder, distancing herself from us, the reader, as she was discovering who she was. If you want me to stay, let me in. You don't have to tell me everything, but give me just a little more. Don’t make me beg. For me it was just too slow and the characters didn't give enough of themselves.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins press for giving me the chance to read this beatifically woven story!

Sirens has many POVS that tells different stories about four different women in their journeys in different times. We start in 2019 meeting Lucy, an 18 year old college student, who has been cyber bullied by her boyfriend who scared an innate photo with all of the student body. After an incident occurs while sleepwalking, she takes off to her sister Jess’ house scared to get in trouble by what has happened. Once she gets there Jess is no where to be found. Her door is unlocked, the house is a mess, and maybe looks like a male has been there. While investigating she comes across her sisters secret diary that opens up a whole new world of discovery.

Her sisters diary starts in 1999 when they lived with her parents and gives insight to her love of art and the support of her teacher and an outcast named Max. Jess and Lucy suffer from a rare skin disorder that gives them a love hate relationship with water.

Lastly the POV changes to the 1800s where you meet Eliza and Mary from Ireland. They are twin sister convicts aboard a ship that fear the water. They start to learn more about themselves and what they are becoming.

I think this book is perfectly woven between these POVS and the empowerment these women possess. The is my second book by Hart and i can successfully say her writing is beautiful, and the journey through the timelines helps to connect so much to the characters and gives it a bit more mystery waiting to get back to that POV. Hart knows how to write the perfect books about self discovery!!! I always highly recommend Harts books to readers looking for a powerful woman with a strong storyline.

I loved Weyward and was so excited to see a new novel from Emilia Hart. The Sirens did not disappoint. I love the past and present mixing and how the journey of the sisters is told. With some fantasy woven in, this is an immersive tale. The stories of these four women converge as the past and present collide, much like they did in Weyward. The character development and suspense of the plot made me keep turning the pages - I couldn't put this down. You will empathize with our FMC's and I think defintiely relate to their journey of self-discovery and the bonds of sisterhood.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

If you’ve read and loved Weyward, like me, you’ll need to pick this up. If I’m being honest, I loved this one even more than Weyward. It completely captured my soul and captivated my mind. Atmospheric doesn’t even begin to describe it. And I’m all about a “justice for women” kind of book. I thought it was rather predictable until, all of a sudden, it wasn’t. The vibes, themes, characters, and plot were all meticulously cultivated. At the end, Hart discusses how difficult this was for her to write, but I’m immensely grateful that she did. I will forever read her writing.

Emilia Hart is winning my heart as a new favorite author. I loved Weyward, so I was excited to try this one as well. Some of the things I loved most about Weyward are here - the multiple timelines weaving seamlessly from past to present, the gorgeous, vivid writing, and an engrossing plot.

“The Sirens” is an eerie and dark story putting the puzzle pieces together of four women where past and present collide leading the reader to plot twists and a satisfying end. I loved this book and will recommend to other readers, especially for my book clubs.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance!

Loved it - the descriptions were gorgeous and vivid. Every scene really came to life. I loved the descriptions of the artwork and the intense portrait of the ship and the ocean . The characters were complex.

3.5 stars rounded up. I absolutely LOVED Weyward so I was very excited to get my hands on The Sirens. I also love the concept of mermaids and was very intrigued by the premise of this story. This is setup very similarly to Weyward, a character in the present's POV and a POV from the past. It combines historical fiction, magical realism, and a little bit of mystery. This was a slower paced read and I found myself immersed when reading, I just wasn't dying to pick it up once I started. I did figure almost all of the "twists" but I felt like they were very easily figured out. It was just as beautifully written as her previous and I was pleased with how it ended. I really enjoyed the past POV and I honestly could have read a whole book of just that. I think where I felt it was missing was in the present, it's very much a solo journey for Lucy trying to figure things out and I think I just wanted more characters involved. Maybe, I just couldn't connect to Lucy as much as I wanted to. Overall, this was a solid book I would definitely recommend, especially if you enjoyed Weyward.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me from the start- and it absolutely lives up to the title. I really enjoyed the mix of mystery, multiple timelines, and history. There's a fairly big twist which was deserved- it was foreshadowed and didn't feel like it came from nowhere. The writing was compelling; it was eloquent, without being too wordy or exaggerated.

I enjoyed this more than Weyward, but only towards the end. The pacing is a little weird and the first ~70% of the book almost lost me. Nothing much happens with the plot and the characters are presented with nothing beyond the words on the page—it feels like there’s no emotion or personality behind them. I also felt like the twists were very predictable. Similarly to Weyward though, I really enjoyed the premise. It just takes a little extra effort and imagination to feel like I enjoyed the book as a whole.

This review is based on an ARC received from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book! It was such an interesting concept and drew me in right away! It explores such complicated themes but in a unique and twisty way! I think I like it even more than Weyward. Will be adding to our library 100%!

I was thrilled to dive into this book, especially after loving the author’s previous novel, Weyward. Once again, Emilia delivers a wonderfully haunting tale steeped in myth and mystery. The story is a mesmerizing blend of folklore and enchantment that draws you in from the very first page. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own secrets that slowly unravel as the plot thickens. I can appreciate the complex family dynamic as well as the emphasis of strong female characters. While the pacing slows a bit in the middle, the tension builds steadily, leading to a gripping conclusion that I couldn’t put down.

I ADORED this book. It was the perfect beach read. Like Weyward, it has similar feminist themes, but I enjoyed this story so much more than that one. It was such a cool concept that completely captivated me.

There was one plot point that seemed to come out of left field, but now I understand it for the purposes of the plot. Despite wishing for a few loose ends to have been tied up in a nice little bow, I loved this book and will be thinking about it for a long time.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy!