I adored this book! I listened to the audiobook and it really brought the story to life, especially the song! This is an incredible tale based around the bond of sisters, feminine vengeance, a town full of lore, and embracing who you really are! Once I started it, I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening! I can’t wait to add this to my bookshelf next to Weyward when it comes out!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautifully written, haunting story that blends historical fiction with magical realism, creating an enigmatic story. The writing is stunning—almost poetic at times—without ever feeling over-the-top. Hart’s writing evokes a deeply moody, evocative atmosphere, pulling you into the mysteries that stretches across the novel’s dual timelines.

The story follows Lucy, who arrives at her sister Jess’s remote coastal home, only to find that Jess is missing. As she searches for answers, she realizes that everyone around her—family, friends, and the town itself—knows more than they’re letting on. This creates an undercurrent of suspense that made me anxious to learn how it all would come together to help Lucy piece together the truth. And just when you think you have a grasp on where the story is headed, a plot twist lands—unexpected and brilliantly executed. I pride myself on identifying early on the plot twist will be; not here. I actually gasp “What???” in surprise.

Because I listened to the audiobook, it is necessary to mention Barrie Kreinik’s incredible narration. I usually avoid audiobooks because I often find the narrators’ voices annoying, but that wasn’t the case here. She delivers a phenomenal performance, capturing the perfect tone for the novel’s blend of mystery and melancholy. She is also a master of accents which added depth to the characters, and at one point, she even sings—an element that makes the audiobook feel even more immersive.

The only thing that left me a little disappointed was the way the book handled the dreams woven throughout the story. They felt important, but there wasn’t much explanation, and it seemed like a loose end that never really got tied up.

Overall, The Sirens is a gripping, atmospheric read that explores family secrets, sisterhood, and the mysteries of the past. While some questions are left unanswered, the gorgeous writing, strong narration, and unexpected twists make this a book worth reading. I loved it.

Rating: 4.5/5

This was my first book by Emilia Hart and it was so good! The Sirens is a mystical tale following two pairs of sisters. Part historical fiction and part mystery, it’s written in dual POV and alternating timelines.

I have long been intrigued by the lore of sirens and soak up any story centering around them. I loved that this book also had a mystery element, and a mixing of modern and historical lore.

I definitely look forward to reading more by Emilia Hart.

🎧 Barrie Kreinik was an incredible narrator! Her siren singing gave me chills.

Sirens – A Haunting and Powerful Feminist Fantasy

Sirens is an epic feminist fantasy that interweaves the lives of four women across different timelines, each on a journey of self-discovery in a world where equality is an illusion. As they confront personal and societal challenges, they must embrace their differences and brilliance to reclaim their power.

The novel opens in 2019 with Lucy, an 18-year-old journalism student whose life is upended when her secret boyfriend leaks an intimate photo of her online—though he denies any involvement. Humiliated and powerless against the influence of his wealthy parents, Lucy’s desperate attempts for justice are ignored. One night, she awakens to find herself sleepwalking and choking him in her sleep, terrified that she may ruin everything she has worked for. Seeking solace, she flees to the coastal town of Comper Bay to stay with her estranged sister, Jess. But when she arrives, she finds Jess missing, her phone abandoned, and unsettling signs of a male visitor before her disappearance.

As Lucy searches for answers, she discovers Jess’ hidden diary, revealing a past filled with secrets. The narrative shifts to 1999, where Jess, then a teenager with a rare skin condition—aquagenic urticaria, which makes water dangerous to her—struggles to fit in. Finding comfort in her art and the companionship of two outcasts, she begins to suspect that her parents are hiding the truth about her condition, setting her on a path of discovery that will redefine everything she knows.

The story then plunges into the 1800s, introducing Irish twin sisters, Mary and Eliza, who are sent to Australia as convicts. Haunted by their mother’s drowning, they fear the ocean—until the ship’s brutal conditions force them to confront an even stranger transformation. As the sea calls to them, they begin changing in ways they never imagined.

As past and present collide, these four women’s fates intertwine, leading them toward a destiny shaped by power, myth, and history. Sirens is a mesmerizing tale of resilience, identity, and the strength of women against oppressive forces. With lush prose, immersive world-building, and deeply compelling characters, this novel is an unforgettable journey that blends fantasy with real historical events in Australia. Fans of Weyward and feminist retellings will find Sirens a haunting and rewarding read.

In 2019 Lucy sends intimate pictures of herself to Ben, which he then shares with friends and the pictures wind up on social media. Then, in a sleepwalking incident, Lucy awakens from a dream to find herself with her hands wrapped around Ben's neck. Lucy flees the university, fearing the fallout of the assault, and heads to her older sister Jess;s house on the Australian coast. When she gets there, she discovers the door unlocked, Jess's keys & phone inside & Jess is nowhere to be found, As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’s strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary. She discovers that in 1999, Jess, who was struggling with the same rare allergy to water that Lucy suffers with, is seduced by her young, charming art teacher takes an interest in her drawings. Every time Lucy falls asleep, she dreams about two women from 1800, twin sisters Mary & Eliza, who have been torn from their loving father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. For their entire lives, they’ve feared the ocean, as their mother tragically drowned when they were just girls. Yet as the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain, and they feel the sea beginning to call to them…

I really wanted to like this book, but it was a slow burn for almost the entire book. I did like the twist towards the end, and the book seemed to pick uo the pace a bit there. I think I enjoyed hearing the story of Mary & Eliza more than that of Lucy & Jess. I really didn't find Jess likable at all, and Lucy seemed sort of one-dimensional. I did feel bad for the two of them and the way people treated them because of the skin condition. The narrator had a very soothing voice, and did a good job with the narration. Overall, it was an interesting story, I just wish that it had a faster pace to it.

After loving Weyward, I had high hopes for The Sirens, and I’m so grateful it delivered that same immersive, atmospheric feel. Hart has a way of drawing readers into a setting with rich, evocative detail, making every scene come alive.

In 2019, Lucy flees to her sister Jess’s coastal home after a disturbing incident, only to find Jess missing and whispers of mysterious disappearances in the town. As she searches for answers, eerie dreams blur the line between past and present. Hundreds of years before, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are ripped from their home and sent to Australia on a convict ship, where they begin to experience strange transformations. Across centuries, their stories intertwine in a tale of resilience, sisterhood, and the untamed power of the sea.

This story took a turn I wasn’t expecting, and while I enjoyed the direction it went, I found myself wanting more time with the sirens; their history, their voices, and their stories. The novel unfolds in a way that slowly weaves together different perspectives and timelines, revealing its secrets chapter by chapter. Though there is an undercurrent of fury, the heart of this book leans more into feminine resilience, strength, and survival rather than outright rage.

A beautifully written and compelling read. I can't wait to read more from this author.
4.5 stars (rounded up to 5 for this review).

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for this eARC and ALC.

Dear Emilia Hart, Thank you for writing books that make me cry my face of in the best possible way.

The Sirens was a beautifully written book. Hart is able to translate the complicated dance of power, venerability and generational pain of being a woman. This story will pull the deep rooted pain out of your chest, and help you heal. Written as a complicated tapestry of history, fiction and folklore this novel was just so lush. Prose were on point as always.

Ok so now what I didn’t like. There were plot-holes that threw me out of the story. I am not going to spoil it for anyone but there were definitely parts where I couldn’t figure out why the decision was made. When you make a story so complicated and span it across hundreds of years you really want to see it all come together at the end.

Was it work the read? Yes 100%. It did leave me with questions at the end though.

I loved the mysterious vibes in this book! I actually wasn’t expecting the mystery element of this story, so that was a pleasant surprise. There were a few a-ha moments throughout the book as things were revealed. I listened to this on audio, and loved that the narrator actually sings the few songs that are in the story. This would be a great spring/summer read! Also the cover is gorgeous.

Hart’s Weyward held a dramatic charm for me I hoped would carry over to The Sirens, which I liked even better, despite it taking place on a ship for part of the book. Dual timeline novels usually don’t interest me much. They tend to aggravate me due to the nature of the style—constant interruptions do not help my brain focus on one story, but Hart’s books somehow break through that for me and seem to hit me like catnip. I can’t put them down when I start them. Perhaps the story lines carry enough mystery with them and divulge clues with each switch, or perhaps the author’s prose style helps this along. Maybe the reason belongs to both; I don’t know. I do know I loved this book, and I bought several UK copies and preordered at least one US copy. Hart may have moved over to my "probably a new favorite author list" with The Sirens.

The Sirens really gives readers a saga from the perspective of two sets of sisters: Mary and Eliza in the 19th Century and Lucy and Jess in the 21st. Despite the gap in time, the issues remain remarkably the same in regard to women, namely the loss of agency at the hands of someone with more power and the strength women have within themselves and through their connection with other women that overcomes and counteracts that loss. Characters and their relationships always make or break a story for me, and I loved them in this one.

Additionally, books that make me want to explore history more always end up being some of my favorites. The Sirens highlights a part of history I’m not overly familiar with, particularly forced emigration and “convict” transportation to places such as Australia (though I know a tiny bit about some of the folks who came to the US that way). I’ve read a few titles about it, such as Avi’s The End of the World and Beyond, though the plot and prose of The Sirens piqued my interest a bit more than the others. Hart also manages in her writing style to keep me from boredom while reading about people stuck in one setting—particularly a confined space on a ship.

Kreinik’s narration only added to the story and bolstered the magic with clear enunciation, melodic tones, and wonderful cadence. Some narrators can heighten drama too much, but Kreinik manages a perfect balance that kept me on the edge of my seat and anxiously awaiting the next word of the story without making me overly anxious with melodrama.

Overall, 4/5 for the book and 5/5 for the narration. Ratings may be a bit all over the place for this one, but I really loved it. I recommend at least picking it up and giving it a try, and make sure to give the audio copy—even just a sample—a spin. I think the audio was a better experience of the book for me.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ALC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me an audio ARC of this intriguing book by Emilia Hart, beautifully narrated by Barrie Kreinik. All opinions expressed in this review are my own – 4 stars!

In 2019, Lucy is being cyber-bullied by a secret boyfriend who shared pictures of her without her knowledge, and the authorities don’t believe her. When she awakens in his room in the middle of the night with her hands wrapped around his throat, she flees to her sister’s house. Jess isn’t there, but Lucy stays in her house awaiting her return. In 1999, we learn Jess’ story of always feeling different, until a teacher takes a special interest in her. In 1800, Mary and Eliza are forced onto a convict ship from Ireland to Australia, taking them away from all they know. Trapped, they begin to notice changes in their bodies.

This is a wonderful magical realism book, highlighting sisterhood, women’s strength and resilience, as well as generational trauma and family secrets. That’s a lot to wrap your head around in these different timelines, and the book was a bit slow for me at times. But the beautiful writing will transport you to another world and the power of water and the sea to transform. The narration was gorgeous too and pulled me into the stories of these sisters.

Lucy and Jess are sisters, Jess has an allergy to water and is a very lonely teen who finds comfort in an art teacher who sees something special in her. After years of estrangement Lucy needs her now adult sister and runs to her house only to find it abandoned. Two other sisters, Mary and Eliza lived in the 1800s and were sent to the criminal colony Australia after they broke the law and for some reason Lucy continues to dream of them. All of these stories intertwine and tell a tale of sisterhood through the ages.

I love a good female focused story but this one just missed the mark for me. I take a certain amount of responsibility because I listened to much of it and I think I would have been less confused with the three timelines and multiple POVs if I had read more rather than listened. That being said I still couldn’t connect with any of the characters or the story. I think this author may be an acquired taste because I know so many people who loved this one as well as Weyward, her last book, while neither really worked for me. I think this one is a matter of taste.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC to review

Historical fantasy is a subgenre I love, because we not only get fictionalized stories based on real types of events that can lead to some great research deep dives after reading, but the bits of magic bring the stories alive that much more. This book has two (plus another through diary entries) timelines and perspectives. One tells the story of female convicts, most of whom committed crimes of necessity to survive, being transported to Australia from Ireland in the year 1800. One tells the story of a journalism student in 2019, who flees to her sister’s remote coastal home after a series of events that rock her life. The third is a series of diary entries from around the year 2000. All three of the timelines deal with women whose lives have been dramatically impacted by awful men, and the stories weave together as the stories progress.

The setting is very atmospheric in the past and present timelines. The reader can feel the exhaustion and confusion and fear of the women trapped in the darkness of the ship’s prisoner deck. The wildness of the sea. The pangs of hunger and constant thirst. The worry about whether they will make it through the journey and the anxiety about what will happen after that if they do.

The present timeline takes place in a rundown house on the cliff in a town known for people going missing, lost to the sea. Our protagonist arrives to find the house empty, having no idea where her sister has gone and whether she’s okay. There is a sense of urgency as the timelines start to converge, as she tries to solve the mystery of her sister’s whereabouts and figure out what secrets her family has been keeping.

The book feels like a blend of historical fantasy and contemporary mystery, with a dash of magical realism and true crime. I loved the complicated family dynamics in all of the storylines, as well as the female empowerment in the face of terrible patriarchal elements. Overall I enjoyed this one and will continue to look forward to other books by this author.

I went back and forth between the ebook and the audio for this one, and I enjoyed both! The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did both the Australian and the Irish accents. To an untrained ear, I was so impressed with her ability to do both accents - I can’t speak from the perspective of someone who naturally speaks either, though. Thanks so much to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the advanced book!

Emilia Hart’s The Sirens captivated me from start to finish and made me a lifelong fan of her writing. This was my first book by Hart, and I now understand why everyone recommends her. The intertwining stories of strong, complex women across centuries were beautifully told, and I couldn’t stop listening.

The audiobook, which I highly recommend, was expertly narrated, with each character’s voice and emotions vividly brought to life. The transitions between the different time periods—2019, 1999, and 1800—were seamless, making it easy to stay immersed in the story even as the setting and characters shifted.

The plot itself was spellbinding. The mystery of Lucy’s nightmare and her search for answers in her sister Jess’s diary kept me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was expertly woven into the narrative, especially as the eerie and haunting connection to the sea unfolded.

What really stood out to me was the powerful theme of sisterhood and the resilience of these women across different time periods. The sea, almost a character in itself, calls to them in ways that are both mysterious and magical. Hart’s writing beautifully explores the strength of bonds that can transcend time and space, creating an unforgettable narrative.

Overall, The Sirens is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and magical realism, and I’m so glad I got the chance to experience this audiobook. I’ll definitely be seeking out more of Hart’s work in the future.

ARC REVIEW: the sirens by emilia hart 🧜🏻‍♀️ an extraordinary novel that captures the sheer power of sisterhood and the indefinable magic of the sea 🌊

despite everything going on in both timelines & pov’s, I can comfortably call this a character driven novel ⚓ the sirens takes awhile to get going but it very much falls into the 'finding out who you are' trope while navigating the relationships and themes of family, family secrets, female friendships and sisterhood.

I really enjoyed the imaginative writing, immersing me as if I was the one listening for singing sirens off of my cliffside home. this book combines mystery, fantasy, magical realism, and history, making this a story for many people 🪸

I wish the ending left us with a sense of purpose- perhaps more emotional value or depth would have benefited the story. I just had a hard time connecting with any of the four sisters so nothing truly *hit home* for me! 🐠 can’t end this review without saying that this cover is everything!!

thank you macmillan audio for the advanced audio 🐚 3 stars!

This felt a bit long to me and I don't know that I would have finished the ARC without also having the ALC. Switching up to the audio helped a lot, as I loved the narrator.
I did think the stories of Lucy and Jess and Comer Bay were interesting and mysterious, but since I'm not a huge historical fiction fan, I could have done without the Mary and Eliza parts. That's probably just me, and I think people who do like historical fiction will enjoy it.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced review copy of this audiobook.

This dual timeline story has a narrative richness enhanced by mythic and historical elements. In the 21st century, despite an age gap of 14 years, sisters Jess and Lucy are very close. Jess is an artist, while Lucy is studying criminology in university. In the late 19th century, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are being raised by their father in a starving and oppressed Ireland. They are among the many unfortunate and unlucky women, usually driven by hunger, ‘transported’ to the penal colonies of their English overlords. The women, many just girls, are crowded onto unsafe and unsanitary prison boats, forced to work like slaves, scarcely fed, frequently beaten and just as frequently raped. Many die on route, from illness, starvation or beatings.

The stories of these four sisters continue in parallel lines through the book’s first half. Both stories are beautifully told, both with the younger sisters’ point of view dominating. There is no comparison between the privileged lives of Jess and Lucy and the wretched suffering of Eliza and Mary. But the contemporary sisters’ lives have also been scarred by sexual abuse and dark family secrets that sustain intergenerational trauma.

There is also literally an elemental connection that links them with the sea, both life giving and life destroying. They have a rare, incurable condition that is essentially an allergy to water, giving them an iridescent rash that resembles fish scales and leaves parts of their bodies permanently marked. Meanwhile, on the ship, the women’s bodies are also mysteriously transforming. Their dreams seemingly bleed into each other’s.

I won’t go any further into the various mysteries, except to say that the two stories, and the long-held secrets of Jess and Lucy’s family, do eventually come together. And the men who have hurt them get what they deserve.

Emilia Hart’s brilliant writing goes a long way toward appeasing my occasional frustration in trying to understand the hints and clues, which I often didn’t see on first reference. The audiobook I listened to benefited from the narration of Barrie Kreinik, who capably captured both the Australian and the Irish voices of the past.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audiobook.

Emilia Hart writes beautiful haunting novels. I loved the dual timeline. The narrator was lovely to listen to. Not as good as Weyward, but still enjoyable.

Haunting. Dual timeline, full of lore and unexplained circumstances, this story is worthy of a read/listen! Two sisters on a prison ship bound for New South Wales are connected through time and dreams to two sisters in 2019. Shipwrecks, disappearances, abuse, and redemption all play a part in twining their stories together. This is women’s fiction combined with speculative fiction and I loved it,

Emilia Hart follows her extraordinary debut with a story just as beautiful and haunting. The Sirens captured the vibrancy of women and the incredible strength we find within ourselves. Lucy, Jess, and Mary are all women who have been wronged by men, but they fight for themselves and learn to harness the injustice to build themselves into strong women. I loved the different female relationships Emilia demonstrated in this story, from motherhood and sisterhood in various forms, and--to a lesser extent--female friendships. And her use of the mythology of the sirens was a perfect representation of women coming into their own, transforming into what they were always meant to be outside the constraints of male domination. I also appreciated that she used mythology drawn more from Irish lore than Greek. It was refreshing.

Throughout the book, Emilia presents many different types of men, some worse than others, and others good, decent men. At the same time, she gives us strong women that are still flawed. They are not perfect, not infallible. What I appreciate most, though, is that even with good men and flawed women, it is the women who are the heroes. They save each other and save themselves.

As far as Emilia's writing goes, I find it absolutely lovely. It is lyrical and vivid. She paints a picture of sights and sounds and smells that takes the reader straight on board the Naiad ship and to the cliffs of New South Wales.

So why didn't I give this five stars? The epilogue. I was wildly disappointed by the epilogue. It answered a very important question that I needed answered, but I hated the way in which it was answered. It changed my views entirely of two of the characters. I think, though, this is probably a very strong opinion of mine, and I am sure most people will not care, so take my words with a grain of salt. Overall, it was a fantastic book that I definitely recommend!

Suspended from university for an assault she committed while sleepwalking, Lucy has nowhere to turn—except to her estranged sister, Jess. Once close, the two have drifted apart, but now Lucy arrives at Jess’s home hoping to reconnect and get away from school without letting her parents know what she did. Instead, she finds an empty house, a cat left behind, and signs of a hasty departure. Jess is missing, her belongings abandoned just days before a major art exhibition, and Lucy senses the lingering presence of an unknown man. As days pass with no sign of Jess, Lucy searches for clues and stumbles upon her sister’s diary from 20 years earlier. Through its pages, she discovers that she and Jess share more than just blood—they both have a rare skin condition, an allergy to water, and a recurring dream that seems to hold deeper meaning.

Spanning hundreds of years, The Sirens weaves together three perspectives: Lucy in the present, Jess in the past, and two Irish sisters aboard a convict ship bound for Australia in the 1800s. The novel is steeped in folklore and magic, with an eerie undercurrent of mystery. At its core, it is a story of female resilience and strength—women protecting one another in a world where men are the ones who go missing.

Having never read this author before, I can’t compare The Sirens to her previous work, but I found it to be a compelling and atmospheric read. I also appreciated the historical context woven into the narrative. However, too many loose ends were left unresolved, which left me feeling unsatisfied. Additionally, while the audiobook narrator did a spectacular job, the siren song was haunting—almost too unsettling for my liking.

Overall, The Sirens is beautifully written, with chilling prose that lingers long after the final page. Though it left me with lingering questions, its eerie atmosphere and powerful themes will stay with me for a while.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for a chance to review this book.