This is another solid historical fiction about strong women by Emilia Hart. Lucy, a college student, awakens to find herself strangling her ex-boyfriend. She flees to her sister's house, hoping she can help explain the vivid nightmares that had been plaguing her before the attack. When she arrives, Jess is missing. Lucy begins to explore her house and town, unearthing scary secrets and rumors.

This atmospheric, tense, and mysterious. It's unlike WEYWARD because the whole novel reads very dark. I liked that a lot. It wasn't as fast-paced, which is my only real complaint. Overall, I enjoyed this and I will read what she writes next.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC for review. I loved Weyward so when I saw the author had a new book releasing I had to read it!! I was not disappointed. This book is also historical fiction and jumps back and forth in time between women in the past and present and shows how the storylines are connected. This story connects women across time between a shipwreck in 1800 off the coast of Australia, and the same coast in 1999, and then again in 2019 and the bonds of sisters and the power women have in their fight for their own life and to survive. I liked the mystical element interwoven into the story. This book has similar themes as her previous book, so if you enjoyed Weyward, you will definitely enjoy this book as well. This author is quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I will keep a look out for what she writes in the future!

A powerful story told in three timelines through the POVs of three women and how they are connected. A touch of magical realism and strength through love and support

This is my first book read by Emilia Har and will not be my last.

After Lucy was cyberbullied, causing her to flee school, she drives to her sisters house unannounced. This visit opens up all sorts of unanswered questions about her families' past.

The storyline shifts between several different times; current, 1999, and the 1800s. It did take me a little effort to keep all the characters straight at the beginning. The ending tied all the times together beautifully.

The writing was captivating and had me guessing and wondering what exactly was happening. I love these types of books.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

When Lucy wakes up from a sleep walking episode and finds herself strangling her ex-lover, she feels she has no choice but to run away. Where else could she go but to her sister, even if they are somewhat estranged at the moment. When she gets to her sister’s house however, she finds it unlocked and empty, her sister missing. All she finds are her sister’s paintings - depicting scenes of women on a prisoner ship. Scenes Lucy has dreamed about. The mystery of how her sister Jess knows what she’s dreamed, where she’s disappeared off to, and why these dreams seem so real keeps Lucy searching for answers while she avoids her own troubles.

This was an interesting idea for a book. It’s told in multiple points of view, and in multiple timelines, to piece together a whole story that keeps you immersed until the very end. I found it was definitely more on the mystery rather than the thriller sides of things, urging me to solve the puzzle before the ending. I loved the ending and the female empowerment.

Recommended if you like: multiple timelines, mystery/thrillers, magical realism

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Sirens on April 1, 2025.

This book was gorgeously written and came together in a stunning way. I love the moment when you see dual-timeline stories intersect, and maybe it's because I read this in almost one sitting, but I thought it happened seamlessly. The twists were shocking but believable, adding depth and nuance to the story that I really appreciated.

No matter which timeline and characters you interacted with, though, you witnessed beautiful moments of female bravery and womanhood. Were there parts that were difficult to read? Absolutely. But ultimately, the story ends on a hopeful note and pays homage to the generations of women who struggled and survived before us.

Hart’s prose is lyrical and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the past and present blur, and where the consequences of decisions echo across generations. The characters are richly developed, each grappling with their own desires, limitations, and the pressures of their time. While the pacing is deliberate and introspective, the emotional depth and atmospheric tension make it a captivating read.

Beautiful. Captivating. Moving. Now I need to read Weyward. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press

I loved Weyward so much, I jumped at the chance to read this, and I was not disappointed in almost every way—I loved the present day v. historical narrative, the building connections, the twists—everything was delivered in a way that kept the action and tension at a high level the whole way though. I was immediately on edge from the first page and that unease never really went away.

This is not a lighthearted read—it's brutal, haunting, and steeped in feminine rage. Hart masterfully delivers a gripping, layered story that’s impossible to put down. However, one major plot point that drives the entire story is left unresolved by the end, which was disappointing and the reason I docked a star. Still, this is a powerful, unforgettable book that fans of Weyward will likely adore. A word of caution: the novel contains depictions of violence against women, so readers with sensitivities should tread carefully.

Wow - what a beautiful book!

This is an epic female fantasy that kept me captivated the entire way through. The Sirens follows Lucy and her Sister Jess. After becoming a victim of cyberbullying, Lucy runs away to her sisters new home located in an infamous beach town. Much to her surprise, her sister is not there. As she uncovers more secrets about her sister while trying to locate her, Lucy discovers one of their commonalities are dreams about 2 sisters from the 1800s, who after being convicted are stuck in the hull of a boat while being sent overseas to Australia.

The story of both sisters in The Sirens are beautifully interwoven. This is a story of female empowerment where the past and the present collide in which the 2 FMCs are able to discover a brighter future. The imagery in this book is so vivid I physically felt the cold, damp quarters of the ship as well as the island. Highly recommend.

Right from the get go, I had a difficult time with this book. I picked it up and set it down many times and it wasn't until I was granted access to the audiobook that I was finally able to make some progress. Weyward was one of my favorite reads of the year when it came out so I was greatly anticipating The Sirens. Unfortunately, this felt too fantasy for me to personally enjoy—where Weyward was more magical realism—and there wasn't enough plot to drive this story forward. Hart has an innate talent for beautiful, luscious prose and it shines through on the page here. Unfortunately, this plot wasn't enough to keep me interested or engaged.

Still, I am immensely grateful to St. Martin's Press for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Rating is a SOLID 3 Stars! I am not usually a historical fiction girly, however this one was right up my alley. The first half of this book laid a great foundation for the rest of my reading adventure. I loved how the chapters of past and present tie in so beautifully to enhance the overall plot. If you loved Weyward by Emilia Hart, you will love this! Also, how beautiful is this cover?!

I ended up DNFing this one about half way through. It felt like it was going in circles and my interest could not be kept. I didn't feel like the alternating POVs had separate voices or characters and it felt repetitive at times. I was hoping for more action and mermaids and atmosphere. The author does have some lovely prose at points but the story wasn't coming together for me. The narrator was good though.

Overall, this book was highly enjoyable and kept me interested the entire way through. I did find the reveals/twists to be predictable, but it wasn't in a bad way. I wish there was more mythology discussed and included in the book. I got a little confused at the end because so much was happening, but overall, the pace was good.

This was so unique and just so good. The story just flowed like water. I kept turning the pages because I was very curious to know more.
I definitely want to read more from this author.

Thank you to Emilia Hart, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for this arc of The Sirens, out April 1, 2025!

📜Quick Summary: (2019) Lucy wakes up to the sound of yelling, and her hands around her boyfriend’s neck. As she comes to the realization of what’s happening, and feeling the demise of her life here at college, she runs away. How are her sleepwalking habits returning? What just happened to her? She runs to the only person she thinks that can help her; her estranged sister Jess. She hasn’t seen her in awhile, but she will help her….right? But when she arrives at her sister’s house, she’s not there…she’s vanished. Our second story line flashes back to the 1800’s, with twin sisters Mary and Eliza. As they travel with other fellow female convicts on a ship to New South Wales, things don’t exactly go as planned. Their bodies are changing too…and Mary worries they may arrive to NSW in different bodies.

❣️Initial Feels: Both story lines are interesting in their own ways… About 25% of the way in, I finally feel settled.

👀Trigger Warnings: death, sexual assault

🙋🏼‍♀️Moving Character: Throughout the unraveling of the different point of views, I found myself drawn to Jess. Her grit and determination, but also selflessness, shone brighter as the story went on. She endured so much as a child, yet made decisions for someone else.

📖Read if you want: mystery, sisterhood, strong female leads, dual point of views, multiple story lines, magical elements

💡Final Sentiments: I love historical fiction novels, because they often teach us new history lessons we were never aware of. I was unaware of the female convicts who were shipped to Australia, to then be used as wives or slaves. This novel tied together a present day pairing with a historical pair, and although it took me a bit to get into the grit of the novel, once I started piecing together the pieces, I really enjoyed it. Some of the ideas are a little far fetched, but that’s where the magical realism piece reels you back in. Overall, a well written novel that shows the strength of a woman, the heart of many women working together, and the love that transcends time and space.

🌟Overall Rating: 4 stars

I had high expectations for this book after reading Weyward. It was a darker storyline. The relationships between characters were interesting. I did not like the teacher and student thing. This read was alright.

I read and loved this author's book Weyward. I didn't know exactly what to expect from this one but I did enjoy it also. It kept me turning the pages until the very ending which I did not see coming. Not that this is a thriller but still... I did not see that part coming.

Four women from two different timelines. Two sets of sisters. Connected in a way that is almost unbelievable. Until you open your heart and "believe." Also between the chapters are some diary entries from one young woman in 1999.

In October of the year 1800 two sisters from Cove of Cork, Ireland are found guilty of a crime. While it was self-defense they were still convicted and sent to New South Wales, Australia. They were put on a boat along with many other women who were convicted and exiled to Australia. Mary and Eliza are these two young ladies. Their path already paved. Their destination mapped out for them.

In February of 2019 Lucy wakes to a scream. She has no idea how she is there doing what she is doing. She has a young man by the throat. She's strangling him. She has no memory of how she got there or how it happened. She runs. She leaves and goes to her sister Jess. Jess is not home and has no idea that Lucy is on the way. Jess is on a mission of her own. What lies ahead for these two young women is life altering.

What happens in these two sets of sister's lives is a story that you will not believe. It's a tragedy and an awakening. Lives changed forever. I knew that convicts were sent to Australia many years ago. I did not know that boats filled with women were sent and the men there allowed to take them and claim them. To do horrible things. In this story there is a little bit of justice. Just a bit though and not graphic.

This book was a fun read yet also intense in places. A story that made me believe in Mermaids again. While losing a tiny bit of faith in humans who destroyed the Aborigines like the white man did the Indians in the US to make a country a place for convicted criminals that society no longer wanted to deal with. At least in Australia that was the case back then. While this book touches on sexual abuse from a teacher it's not graphic and did not cause any problems while reading.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, and #Macmillanaudio for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five stars

There’s a lot to love about this novel, and I think if you’re a fan of Weyward, you’ll enjoy this one as well. The Sirens is a slow burn mystery with some historical fiction and magical realism mixed in. The descriptive passages and beautiful writing kept me hooked almost all the way through. It’s a definite page turner, and and really entertaining read. Emilia Hart is absolutely still an auto buy author to me.
I didn't feel a big connection to any of the characters in the story, which is one of the reasons why I didn’t give it a full five stars. I also felt as though Mary and Eliza’s story was a little bit too disconnected from the present day.

Overall definitely recommend. Really creative and beautiful storytelling.

A magical , beautiful book full of wonder..and a bit of family mystery. There were some predictable parts but for the most part it was unique.
Thankful to have read this and also to have had the audio version. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.