A rather intriguing dual timeline story that at times felt like a slow burn. It took about 20% into the book before I began to feel engaged. I enjoyed both the timelines however was more invested in finding out how the present day timeline would unfold. There were a few aspects of the book I would’ve liked to have seen explored more but overall, a powerful feminist tale that was haunting and atmospheric.

I was so excited to get an ARC for this novel, after wholeheartedly loving Weyward by this same author. I was intrigued by the promised magical tale of sisterhood, mermaids and mystery.

Written in dual timelines, I felt that The Sirens was a little slow in places and more predictable than I expected, I enjoyed the historical and folklore aspects of the story, the connection between the two sets of sisters almost 200 years apart, and how it all wrapped up.

I liked this book even more than Weyward!
There’s a few different timelines about sisters. Mary and Eliza are convicts on board a ship on its way to New South Wales. Lucy in 2019 has dreams about these sisters. She heads to her older sisters house at Comber Bay, but Jess has disappeared. There’s some emotional trauma in both storylines but it’s a great read that I found hard to put down. I enjoyed the writing and characters and the magical realism fits well with the story. A great read.

This is my first Emilia Hart book, and what a pleasure it was to immerse myself in this magical realism/historical fiction novel. From the beginning Hart's writing is captivating; lyrical and haunting. Hart weaves a tale of two sisters interwoven with two sisters in the past. I enjoyed the dual timelines, and the spacing of the past and present was perfect, swapping between the two at the precise moment.

Hart explores sisterly bonds, women empowerment, and the mystical pull of the sea, and examines the role of dreams.

One of my favourite quotes:
"For a moment the dream felt more solid, more real, than the bed with its lumpy pillows, the watery sunlight arcing across the duvet. The only link is the sound of the sea: the rhythmic roar and suck seems to have followed her."

I enjoyed reading as Lucy undergoes discovery and unravels the mystery of her heritage. I did find the truth quite predictable but it was well executed. I loved that it was set in Australia I felt connected to the area and drawn to the coast.

This book I believe would appeal to alot of readers, it's a perfect blend of magical realism/mystery/historical fiction and literary fiction.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Australia for this ARC.

This eerily haunting tale is a story of sisters separated by hundreds of years, but are bound to each other in unimaginable ways. In 2019, after Lucy finds herself awake in her ex-lover's room with her hands around his throat, she flees to her sister's desolate cliff-top house in a town where men have gone missing over several generations. In 1800, twins Mary and Eliza, are severed from all they know in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship heading for Australia. As they are taken further away from home, they begin to notice unexplainable changes in their bodies. 'The Sirens' captures the power of sisterhood and the indescribable magic of the sea 🧜🏼‍♀️🌊

I loved that this work transcends traditional genres. While it is hard to pinpoint how to classify it, it feels like a mix of historical fiction and mystery/thriller with fantasy/magical realism. The writing created a sinister atmosphere that was truly captivating and at times, difficult to disentangle from (the female rage was palpable). The pacing was good and the mystery unravelled well, yet unfortunately, was predictable and I was able to foresee how key plot points would play out. Additionally, I felt that some of the mysteries were left only partially explained and there wasn't enough closure for the reader - this left me feeling underwhelmed and a bit lost. I enjoyed the dual timelines and multiple POVs, however, I felt that they weren't bridged together enough to create a meaningful and cohesive connection between the past and present.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I unfortunately did. There were so many fantastic elements and while I did appreciate reading this, I felt there were a few too many questions left unanswered for my liking. If you enjoy unique mysteries and stories about female resilience, I'd recommend this 3.5⭐ read. Please check trigger warnings and practice self-care, as there are strong themes of sexual violence ❤️‍🩹

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Australia and Hemlock Press for my digital ARC 💌

This book had me captivated. Emilia Hart's writing style is beautifully descriptive and filled with rich imagery. The story weaves together the lives of several women across many years and how they are tied together. There were some twists and turns I saw coming but for the most part I was none the wiser found myself being surprised by how the story unfolded in the end. The story was confronting at times but I also found it very moving as it explored themes of healing, sisterhood, motherhood and identity. A book that I will think about for a long time and enthusiastically recommend to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review this book.

THE SIRENS - EMILIA HART

You know when you read a book and it's so good that you immediately want to tell everyone to read it but can't (beyond this anyway) because A) it's not released yet and B) you're probably going to spoil the story? This is my exact predicament with The Sirens; here's a quick synopsis:

Lucy is running from what she’s done – and what someone did to her. There’s only one person who might understand: her sister Jess. But when Lucy arrives at her sister’s desolate cliff-top house, Jess is gone. Lucy is now alone, in a strange town steeped in rumour. Stories of men disappearing without a trace. A foundling discovered in a sea-swept cave. And women’s voices murmuring on the waves…

At its heart, The Sirens is a historical fiction, following the events occurring to two sets of sisters who live 200 years apart. There's great use of timeslip via dreams, allowing us to be fully immersed in multiple perspectives. All of the narratives have something in common: men act, and the women feel the effects or deal with the consequences.

While it is a historical fiction, there are strong fantasy elements, as well as a treasure trove of mysteries, mistaken identities and secrets to sort through. I feel like this book, for me, offers the perfect mix to build up the tension towards the end while also ramping up the emotional impact as we get more and more attached to the characters.

It's rare for me to want to immediately reread a book I’ve just finished, but this was the case with The Sirens. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if this is the book everyone will be talking about next year.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Release date: 16 January 2025 (Australia)

Review score: 5/5 (infinity out of 5)

TWs: s*xual assault, violence, d*ath, confinement

The Sirens is a story about understanding identity and longing to belong. It combines the stories of two sets of sisters, nearly 200 years apart. The auther weaves together the Irish merrows myths with the physical experiences of the characters, which give a magical feel to the storyline. I did feel, however that these were laboured in parts.

I feel it's inevitable the book will be compared with The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland, who explored the selkies legends, and which I did prefer. After being blown away by Emilia Hart's earlier book, Weyward, I was hoping for another magical experience to transport me. The Sirens, although enjoyable, didn't have that same impact on me but provided a different perspective on legends of the sea.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for the ARC.

This is the first book I've read of Emilia Hart's and I enjoyed it. The Sirens is a beautifully written, intriguing, dual timeline story about sisters and secrets, the pull of the ocean and the strength and resilience of women. I liked both stories, but particularly the bond between convict sisters Eliza and Mary, and how their story developed (despite the terrible turn of events).

The blending of folklore, history and modern day was very well done and I'd like to read more of this author, based on this book. It was engaging the whole way through and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for allowing me to read and review this book.

After falling in love with Emilia Hart’s Weyward, I eagerly dove into The Sirens—and it swept me away like a powerful tide. As an Australian, the premise immediately resonated with me, and the story’s depth and beauty pulled me under from the very first page.

The novel flows like the ocean, seamlessly weaving two timelines: Mary and Eliza, transported from Cork to Australia on a convict ship, and Jess and Lucy, navigating modern life while living with a rare skin condition. Hart explores themes of resilience, belonging, and the enduring strength of women in the face of adversity.

One of the most striking elements was the role of art and song, which acts like a lighthouse, illuminating women’s stories and guiding them through their darkest storms. Hart uses these as a means of expression and survival, capturing the depths of women’s relationships and their shared struggles.

Rich in history and infused with magical realism, the story immerses the reader in a sea of vivid imagery, where the past and present ripple and echo each other. The relationships between the women are the anchors of the story, showcasing their fortitude and determination to survive and thrive despite the violent tempests they face.

This is a beautifully written, deeply moving tale of survival and sisterhood. Hart’s storytelling held me captive from start to finish. I can’t wait to see what she does next. Fans of Weyward, mystical fiction and stories of survival will not want to miss this extraordinary novel.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautifully written historical fiction novel infused with elements of magical realism, exploring the intersection of female strength, family legacies and the mystical powers that shape lives.

Although I couldn’t finish the novel, the novel’s character development and themes kept me captivated.

For readers who enjoy atmospheric, character focused stories with elements of magic and historical intrigue, The Sirens seems to be a promising read, though it may require some patience to get to the heart of its mysteries.

Like Emilia Hart’s debut novel, The Sirens holds a certain magic. It’s once again an ode to women’s power and resilience, set against the backdrop of a remote seaside town in New South Wales.

I really enjoyed reading The Sirens. I was a huge fan of Weyward when it was published last year, and Emilia Hart is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me. Set in dual timelines, The Sirens follows two sets of sisters, separated by a century but mysteriously connected.

I loved the themes of sisterhood and the differences in how the two sets of sisters were portrayed (the closeness of Mary and Eliza juxtaposed against Jess and Lucy’s faltering relationship). The setting of the book was beautifully vivid and Hart’s writing had an eeriness that added to the mystery of the storyline.

My only criticism of The Sirens would be that the ending felt rushed compared to the rest of the book. There were also elements to the story that were left unresolved which was a little frustrating. The epilogue was very unexpected and left me quite surprised (not at all the direction I had expected the ending to go!), but did provide enough resolution to redeem the finish for me.

An excellent summer read to pick up for beachside reading!

4 ⭐️

Thank you HarperCollins Australia for sending me a review copy of The Sirens in exchange for an honest review!

In 1788 twin sisters, Mary and Eliza, are convicts on board a ship transporting them from England to the colony of New South Wales. They are packed in with other female convicts under appalling conditions, fearful of what fate awaits them.

In Australia in 2019 Lucy has just graduated from high school and is going to visit her older sister, Jess, an artist who has bought back the former family home in Comber Bay on the New South Wales south coast. Famously, a convict ship sank when it hit the rocks outside Comber Bay in 1788; over the years there has also been the disappearance, presumed drowned, of a number of men.

Lucy and Jess both suffer from an allergy to water which leaves their skin tender and flakey and has brought them both anguish and vulnerability. Jess has secrets that Lucy has yet to learn and which unfold dramatically over the course of the book.

Both Jess and Lucy have strong, subconscious connections to the tragic twins, which come to them in dreams, although neither of them is aware that the other is experiencing the same thing. The story of the convict ship is woven vividly through the story and it is sad and shocking. I discovered recently that one of my ancestors was a female convict transported to Van Diemens Land (Tasmania) and it is pretty unbearable to think of what she must have suffered in order for me to exist in this beautiful country. She married a male convict and I hope they had some measure of comfort together as they or possibly their children moved to New South Wales (I’ll have to check with the family historian).

Emilia Hart’s intriguing, atmospheric story is going to stay with me for a long time, as I am sure it will for all of its readers.

Published by Harper Collins Australia

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me early access to this eARC for an honest review!

This is the first novel I've read written by Emilia Hart, and after making her debut in 2023 with 'Weyward,' I can see why she's celebrated as a talented author. 'The Sirens' follows Lucy in 2019 split with sequences of twin sisters Mary and Eliza in 1800. Lucy is experiencing odd dreams of these two sisters from over 200 years ago being sent to Australia from Ireland on a convict ship. She has no idea why, and after a startling incident of sleepwalking, Lucy decides to try and track down her older sister Jessica to see if she can get some answers.

To say this novel is drenched in atmosphere is an understatement. It was a constant looming presence over the entire duration of this novel, and I loved the uncertain, mystical energy it created. Definitely the strongest point of this novel next to Emilia's writing. Phenomenal.

My only gripe with the story was the implementation of Mary and Eliza abruptly ending when Lucy and Jessica end up together. It made their involvement and story almost meaningless as this novel could be told entirely without their perspectives and still make sense. There was a huge emphasis on these two girls, and for them to get shafted made them seem almost trivial or an afterthought to make the story fantastical. I would have liked to have seen them integrated into Lucy and Jess's discovery solidifying their linked storylines.

Enjoyed this read …. Contemporary story that also switches back to women convicts sent over to NSW. I won’t add any spoilers…
I enjoyed the twists and turns. Thanks to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I loved this book!! I really enjoyed her first book Wayward and this was just a great! The writing is beautiful and the story really was captivating
Definitely recommend this to anyone

Thanks to Emilia Hart and Netgalley for an electronic pre release copy of the Sirens.
Moving between multiple timelines and set in Ireland and Australia we are drawn into multiple mysteries- mermaids and secretive sisters.
When Lucy is confronted with a harrowing experience at university she flees to her sister Jess's crumbling clifftop home in a small country town. However Jess is missing and Lucy can't find many clues to where she has gone or when she will be back. Lucy has always suffered from nightmares around two mysterious sisters on a ship. How do they fit into the current day and Jess's paintings?
Lots of twists make this a haunting tale and most enjoyable.
I enjoyed Weyward and this is a great second effort from Emilia. Four and a half stars from me.

Firstly, hello from the future! This book is published in 2025. Just kidding! Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
This is my first Emilia Hart book, and probably not my last. She evokes rich imagery. I was drawn in by the beautiful cover, but I am a sucker for all things marine. I loved the story from two different timelines. Some heavy themes along the way, but I was hooked from the start.

I received an Advanced Reading Copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own, many thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers.

Emilia Hart has created a fascinating novel that blends historical fiction with elements of folklore and the supernatural. The book alternates between two timelines, one of the 1800s and modern times, connecting the lives of two Irish convict women, twin sisters, Mary and Eliza; Jess and Lucy, in modern times. This structure allows the novel to explore themes of survival, resilience, and the power of sisterhood across centuries.

In the 1800s, Mary and Eliza are subjected to a brutal life as prisoners, but they share a mysterious connection that manifests through certain physical characteristics and an innate resilience. These women possess features reminiscent of mythical sirens or mermaids, especially their captivating voices and pale, ichthyosis-like skin. The story draws parallels between their experiences of entrapment and hardship with the lives of Jess and Lucy, who share Mary's and Eliza's similar physical conditions. They have their own demons, suggesting that the bonds and struggles of these women transcend time.

The suffering of Mary and Eliza and their fellow women convicts being held in the hold of the ship, live in hell. This area below deck, in the lower part of the vessel, is cramped, dark, and poorly ventilated. Conditions are harsh, with this section of the ship designed to keep the women confined for the duration of the long journey. Food and water are a scarce commodity, starvation is imminent.

2019, Jess has become distant to Lucy for which is a mystery to her. She tries to puzzle through her past reactions to her much older sister to try and understand how this attitude has come about. Unbeknown to her Jess is dealing with emotional stress and her own dark secret which has recently loomed at her head on. Lucy heads out to where Jess had moved to, their parents' old home, a clifftop ramshackled house. She has panicked at a recent event when she was discovered involuntarily trying to do harm to her former boyfriend. She has lost her anchor in life, finding Jess may help in restoring her well being while at the same time hopefully answer some of her questions regarding their physicality so different from their parents.

The novel delves into European folklore, particularly the myth of the sirens or mermaids, beings that are magical, beautiful, and often tragic. These mythical creatures are known for their prophetic powers, connection to music, and alluring, sometimes dangerous, nature. In Sirens, the folklore of these beings serves as a metaphor for the power and danger inherent in women's voices and the consequences of being misunderstood or demonised in patriarchal societies. The book is both an historical adventure and a meditation on identity, oppression, and the magic that lies within.

This book was truly captivating and immersive, set in different timelines. The story was enchanting and mysterious with several twists that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.