I really enjoyed listening to The Sirens. I loved the timeline jumps, and I am not someone who typically likes them because they can be so confusing, but Emilia Hart did a fantastic job with them. We jumped around in the years 2019, 1999, and 1800—but they combined into one beautiful story about sisterhood, secrets, and the pull of the sea. From the very first chapter, I was swept into the eerie atmosphere.

The audiobook narration was great. Each time period and character felt distinct, and the narrator captured both the intimacy of whispered diary entries and the epic scale of ocean myths. The pacing was immersive, gradually tightening as the mysteries unraveled, and I found myself tuning out the things around me so I could listen more intently.

What stood out most was the way the author entwined themes of resilience, desire, and danger with the sea’s dual nature. The sea is both a place of loss and of power. Give and take. The historical chapters with Mary and Eliza were so vivid, I loved following along with their haunting story.

My only critique, is that certain threads in the modern storyline wrapped up a touch too quickly compared to the very developed historical sections. Still, that hardly affected my enjoyment.

Listening to The Sirens felt like being pulled into waves that whisper secrets no one asked for and still feel urgent. The story splits across centuries and places and yet the tension never lets go. Barrie Kreinik’s voice carries the salty tang of the sea, the ache of longing, the fear of what might lie beneath.

Lucy wakes up in a panic one night with her hands around the throat of someone she once loved and flees to the Australian coast hoping her sister Jess can make sense of what is happening. Her dreams bleed into Jess’s history through a diary from the 1990s and also into the hidden pasts of Mary and Eliza aboard a convict ship in 1800. The rare condition that makes all four women feel out of place under the sun and water binds their stories, each sister grappling with identity, shame, desire, and fear.

The ending pulls many threads together courageously. It does not erase the distance between the different lives but it lets you feel that even when separated by centuries one sister can reach another.

The Sirens as audiobook is haunting lyrical and deeply atmospheric.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Emilia Hart's previous book Weyward, so I was so excited for the chance to read "The Sirens". This book was beautifully done and I really enjoyed it. The story line wasn't like anything I had read before!

I had this one on my shelf for a while and finally picked it up, and I wasn’t prepared for such a powerful story.
This story is atmospheric, eerie, and moving all at once.
A tale of resilience, mystery, and the unshakable bond of sisterhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was a little difficult to follow as it moved between present time and the 1800s and I do love the dual timelines when reading but for some reason I just could not figure out the connection until the very end of the book. As a result, I was starting to lose interest in the 1800 story line which probably should have been easier if I could grasp what was actually going on in that timeline.

In the present timeline, Jess is a college student who takes a trip to her sister's house out on the coast but when she gets there, Lucy is no where to be found. Jess gives it a day or two and then she starts to get worried about Lucy disappearing and Jess starts to have some very vivid dreams that seem to mimic the 1800 timeline story.....what??? Enjoy!!!

Wow. This one truly surprised me! It blended elements of woman’s fiction, historical folklore, and dark mystery for a truly compelling story that kept me enthralled. I really enjoyed it and I think reading this at the end of summer/start of fall was just the right time to enjoy the book’s spooky ocean town setting.

Dual timelines can be a bit of a hit or a miss for me but, they really worked well here and tied the storylines together! This story definitely shocked me at times in a good way and it wasn’t predictable. If you look for books that include spooky, atmospheric or eerie settings, this may be a good addition to your TBR!

I highly recommend listening to this one. The audiobook narrator did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life and the accents really helped me get into the story!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Perfect for listening while in a bubble bath, The Sirens explores the lives of women separated by time but joined in spirit. It has a captivating story with characters that feel real.

I was given the opportunity to this ebook to read in exchange for an honest review by the publisher.

The last half of the book was WILD. There was mystery, drama, and the vibes were woven perfectly throughout. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen in exchange for a review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5)

Sirens was a really enjoyable read that gave me strong Weyward vibes. The story weaves together different timelines, and I absolutely loved seeing how everything connected in the end—this author has such a talent for pulling threads together seamlessly. The Gothic fantasy atmosphere was steady and immersive, almost cozy in its tone.

That said, the pacing is definitely on the slower side. There weren’t any big moments that shocked me or made me super excited, and the fantasy elements stayed at a steady hum rather than spiking with action or intensity. Still, I appreciated the way the timelines unfolded and the way the narrative eventually tied everything together.

Overall, this felt like a cozy Gothic fantasy with a unique rhythm. While it wasn’t the most thrilling read, I’d still recommend it to readers who enjoy layered timelines, Gothic vibes, and slower, atmospheric storytelling.

This book follows women overcoming impossible odds, and transforming the remains of trauma into a personal Renaissance. Lucy and Jessica—sisters living in present day Australia—are dreaming of twin sisters, Eliza and Mary, who both lived over 200 hundred years ago. The twins were forced to travel to Australia on a British convict ship with other women and their story is one of sadness and transformation. Each time Lucy and Jessica dream, they learn more about the twins’ story, but they also begin to sleepwalk, dangerously being guided to the water. Both stories lead us to a seaside town called Comer Bay, where men have gone missing without a trace so many times over the years, it’s called the “Bermuda Triangle.” It is here that Jessica, Lucy, Eliza, and Mary’s stories converge to provide answers about their heritages and identities; more excitingly, this is where each character undergoes quite the shocking transformation. This deep-sea saga is salted through with magical realism and a generous helping of decadently dark and rich Irish folklore. The story connects generations of women across time. It was a moving read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the audio ARC to preview.

My issue with The Sirens was mainly the simple fact that the book slogged for 75%. And then in the last 50 pages of the book, the plot picked up pace and wrapped everything up…but not in a way that really reflected the journey it took to get there. There were a lot of pieces to the story that just didn't work for me and felt cliche. I do think the audio was done beautifully and engaging, but unfortunately, the story was flat and the characters were surface level.

Emilia Hart's The Sirens unfurls across two timelines, interweaving stories separated by more than two centuries yet bound by uncanny echoes. In 1800, twin sisters Mary and Eliza are ripped from their Irish home and placed aboard a convict ship destined for New South Wales—where strange bodily transformations begin as the ocean grows closer. Meanwhile, in 2019, sisters Lucy and Jess grapple with haunting sleepwalking episodes and vivid dreams. Lucy, after a troubling incident, seeks Jess in remote Comber Bay and uncovers not only her sister's disappearance but also buried truths about their lineage and the uncanny pull of the sea. At its core, The Sirens is a feminist fable, meditating on sisterhood, female resilience, and resistance across time and trauma.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart

📖 About the book:

In 2019, Lucy wakes up one night with her hands around her ex’s throat and no idea how she got there. She runs to her sister’s home on the coast of New South Wales, only to find Jess missing and rumors about men vanishing and voices on the waves. In 1800s, sisters Mary and Eliza are torn from their home in Ireland and sent on a convict ship to Australia, where something begins to change in them.

💭 Thoughts:

This was such an atmospheric and immersive read. I loved how Emilia Hart wove together history and folklore. It’s eerie and captivating, with a strong focus on women, survival, and the bond between sisters. Both timelines were interesting, but I especially wanted to keep reading about Lucy and what had happened with her sister. This was my second book by Emilia Hart, and I really enjoy her writing style. I’m already looking forward to whatever she writes next.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Barrie Kreinik, and she was wonderful. Her performance made the story feel even more immersive and brought each timeline to life. Thank you @macmillan and @netgalley for the gifted audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this audiobook for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Much like Hart's previous novel, this novel focuses on intergenerational trauma, female empowerment, and living in the aftermath of sexual violence.

This novel created such a vivid sense of place and the interconnected nature of the characters. It was interesting to piece together the mystery of the Martin family through various points of view.

I found the pace to be slower than Wayward, and this hindered my enjoyment a bit. Some portions of the novel felt a little repetitive as well. However, I enjoyed this one overall.

The Sirens is beautifully written. With an atmospheric story blending myth, feminism, and generational trauma to through lyrical prose and gothic undertones. Emilia Hart crafts a narrative that haunts the reader, giving a voice to women silenced by history. Weaving their pain, power, and perseverance into a spellbinding story.

Perfect for readers who enjoy dark fairytales, coastal magic towns, and slow-burn revelations. A gripping and poignant read that sticks with you long after the final page.

When I delved into Weyward a few years ago, I was immediately drawn into its immersive and atmospheric world, a testament to the author's storytelling prowess. I found that here once again.

I’ll admit I was drawn to the story because of the mermaids. But I should have known that this would not be some fairytale-like story. Instead, it is a tale of sisters, separated by time, one with a mysterious skin condition, and the secrets the past and the sea hold.

Hart does her research and incorporates historical accounts, plus there are diary entries, which give this a complex and rich narrative. I sometimes got a little lost and had to focus on what and where I was in the story. But I loved the mermaid lore and the strong feminine voice.

Despite its slower pace, The Siren’s setting and mood are shrouded in mystery, creating a haunting atmosphere that captivated me.

🎧 Barrie Kreinik's narration of the audiobook is exceptional, adding depth and emotion to the story. While I would have preferred a separate narrator for each point of view or timeline, Kreinik's performance is exceptional. The interview with the author at the end of the audiobook is a fascinating addition that I highly recommend you stay for.


Thank you @MacmillanAudio for the #gifted audiobook via #NetGalley. #MacAudio2025

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an advanced copy of this audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Over 200 years apart, two sets of sisters uncover family secrets and the sea’s magic.

Part contemporary, part historical, this novel mixes fantasy and mystery for a unique piece of fiction. This is a stand-alone.

The plot for this is so interesting but I struggled with the pace. I liked the underlying focus on trauma and healing. Overall I think the book needed smoother transitions when shifting between the two time periods.

Barrie Kreinik does a great job with this solo narration. The audio really captures the mysterious almost spooky mood of the book.

Liked didn't love this one. Preferred it on audio over reading it. Would recommend to a friend as I did enjoy the plot

After falling in love with Emilia Hart’s Weyward—with its beautifully woven triple timeline—I was eager to see where she’d take readers next. The Sirens narrows its focus to a dual timeline, but the result is just as immersive: a haunting blend of magical realism, historical fiction, and mystery that explores sisterhood, transformation, and the ancient power of women.

In 2019, Lucy flees to a coastal town after a terrifying sleepwalking incident involving her ex—only to find her sister Jess missing and the town full of strange whispers about disappearing men and eerie voices on the waves. In 1800, Irish twins Mary and Eliza are unjustly sent to Australia aboard a convict ship, where something magical begins to stir within them.

The threads connecting past and present slowly tighten, revealing secrets and unexpected bonds. Hart’s prose is lush and lyrical, and she masterfully blends suspense with the supernatural, leaving just enough mystery to linger after the last page.

Barrie Kreinik’s audiobook narration was phenomenal, giving voice to each woman with clarity and emotional depth. Her performance brought an already spellbinding story to life.

The Sirens is a bewitching, atmospheric tale of female resilience, legacy, and the unspoken strength passed down through generations. Emilia Hart is now firmly on my auto-read list.

I’d give The Sirens 3 out of 5 stars. It was well written and the narration was solid, but the story just didn’t quite hook me on a personal level. While the concept had potential and the writing style was strong, it lacked the spark or emotional pull to make it truly memorable for me. Overall, a decent listen, just not one I’d rush to recommend.