This book was really interesting and a way to link in some historical fiction with modern day times. I loved the connection with the sisters from the past and the modern day girls. It has some dark concept of female suppression in it and may be a trigger for some. But overall it’s a great story. The narrator was also great to listen to.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 4/1
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The Sirens was an interesting read. This story spans between three different time periods and form the POV of three different characters; Mary in the 1800s, Jess in 1999 and Lucy in 2019.
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The story starts in 2019 where Lucy wakes to find herself hurting her ex lover. She then runs to her estranged sister Jess’s house to find that she is missing which then forces her to take a deep dive into Jess’s past. My favorites parts of this story were the 2019 and 1999 timelines. I didn’t really care much for the 1800 timeline if I am being honest. Hart does eventually fuse all of the timelines together to create a cohesive ending but again, I could have done without the 1800 timeline.
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This has a mystery, mystical, folkloreish, historical fiction feel which made this one even more appealing. It’s a slow burn in the beginning but towards the end when the mystery is unraveling the pace picks up.
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I listened to this via audiobook while reading the ebook. It was narrated by Barrie Kreinik and I think that it was a great performance. I think that if I didn’t have the audiobook I wouldn’t have wanted to finish this one. If you want to read this one - check out the audio for sure.
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Overall, this wasn’t necessarily my favorite but this was a good read!! I think that people will love this one! Give this a shot! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Emilia Hart, St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

**Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for both the eARC and thank you Macmillan Audio for the audiobook.**

4.5 stars (rounded up). I really enjoyed this book. I had the privilege of reading an eARC and the audiobook and I highly recommend the audiobook. I read The Sirens but also listened to the audiobook and the audiobook was helpful when it came to the pronouncing names/unfamiliar words. I also enjoyed the narrators soothing voice and the change of her accent (Irish/Australian accents) when appropriate.

For the story itself, I loved the magical realism within this book and the beautiful writing. Emilia Hart has a special way of storytelling and I love how she brings together historical aspects with magical realism in such a unique way. The bond between sisters was nice and the sisterhood element was refreshing to see amongst the women throughout this story. I also liked the analysis of the unique bond between parents and their children. This was a heartbreaking story at times but it had a beautiful ending and is one that will remain with me.

This book had such an intense atmosphere, I felt completely pulled into its world. I was so invested in uncovering what happened in the 1700s and how it all connected to more recent events. The journey from Europe to Australia must have been brutal at the time, and the way the book captured that struggle really stuck with me.

Some details felt a bit unclear, and I wanted certain things to make more sense, but I decided to just let it go and enjoy the experience. The mix of audiobook and Kindle made it even better—I loved being able to switch between the two.

It’s the kind of story that lingers, one that leaves you thinking about it long after it’s over. If you love historical fiction with mystery woven through it, this is definitely worth reading.

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars. Usually, I am not a fan of magical realism, but I really enjoyed the story, the dual timelines, the mystery of the missing sister, and the representation of female resilience. This book contained enough twists and turns to keep my interest. I also loved the representation of aquagenic urticaria, I first learned about this in my teens and have been fascinated by this allergy. The one thing that I really missed was closure on the whole Lucy and Ben situation. Barrie Kreinik did an amazing job as the audio narrator, really liked the singing of the sea shanty.

Format: audiobook and ebook (started on ebook and then toggled back and forth)

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the advance audiobook and arc!!

The Sirens tells the interconnected stories of Lucy in 2019, Jess in 1999, and sisters Mary and Eliza in 1800. The novel starts with Lucy finding herself in some trouble. She decides to seek out her sister, Jess, for help and ends up learning more about herself than she expected. In a very different time, Mary and Eliza are sent from Ireland on a convict ship to Australia.

I enjoy the way Emilia Hart weaves stories together and her writing style is lyrical and interesting but in the way I felt that Weyward could’ve used more witchiness, I wanted this to have MORE mermaids. There’s something that might be considered a twist in this book but if it is, it was easily figureoutable almost immediately. I also would’ve liked more about Mary and Eliza.

Overall, it’s a pretty story. And boys go missing which is always nice.

Thanks so much NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced audiobook!

After reading (and being really impressed with) Weyward, I was so happy to receive an invitation to read and early copy of Emilia Hart’s new novel.

I started both reading and listening to an audiobook of The Sirens (the audiobook won out ) and Barrie Kreinik’s narration of this beautifully written novel is wonderful; she voiced each character uniquely, making them easy to differentiate and I found her performance really elevated the story.

Listen (or read) this one for

*well researched historical fiction
*strong female characters
*sisters
*secrets and mystery
*magical realism
*dual timeline



Thank you to Macmillan Audio & St. Martin’s Press along with NetGalley for the ALC and DRC

This is only my second book by this author and I love her. Her first book was so powerful and this one was too, but quieter. The story wove the stories of two sets of sisters, and we learn more about them as we watch them face hardship.
There are family secrets and heartache, with tension throughout. I kept thinking how unfair everything was. Lucy can't find her sister Jess, right when she needs her most. The sisters from the past, Mary and Eliza,go to Australia on an 1800s convict ship.
The narration was wonderful and I was fully invested in their lives. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Pub Date: April 1, 2025

4.75 stars
Emilia Hart's writing really draws you in and makes you feel for the characters. There are a few time-lines in this book that you follow and it deals with some of the struggles of being a woman. There is a historical fiction aspect with the sinking of a prison ship full of women as well.

The narrator for the audiobook is excellent and helps to separate the characters by having different accents.

This book was so interesting, it had many twists and such well developed and interesting characters, I listened to the audiobook in one sitting! At first the time jumps made it somewhat hard to keep up with what was happening, but you get used to it. There’s a lot of things I wish I could say about this book but I want to keep this spoiler free, so to make this short, definetly give this book a read or listen!!!

With lyrical prose, The Sirens tells a tale of two sets of sisters bound by family secrets and by the sea. This folkloric coming-of-age story is a stunning meditation on female beauty and power that carefully examines the nuance of violences that women face—that women have always faced—and rejects notions of "good/bad girls" and "boys will be boys" that continue to dominate society's treatment of survivors.

Although it is not a novel that all readers will enjoy, the complex characters, dual timelines, atmospheric setting, and themes of agency and consequences makes The Sirens an excellent book for discussion—a perfect book club pick.

For an extra treat, grab this one as an audiobook. Barrie Kreinik's performance elevates the storytelling, enhances characterization, and creates wonderful distinctions between the timelines. I will definitely seek out other titles read by this narrator.

4.5 stars

This was my first audiobook from NetGalley and it did not disappoint. The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, did such a beautiful job telling the story and switched seamlessly from Australian to Scottish accents.

This book itself was a beautiful mix of genres - fantasy, magical realism, historical fiction - and switched between multiple timelines and POVs. We hear from modern-day Lucy, who has recently begun sleep walking and having odd dreams. We hear from Mary, a woman aboard a female convict ship in the 1800s. And we hear from Jess, Lucy’s older sister, who has gone missing. All three women possess a unique allergy to water and a unique connection with one another. The way the three stories intertwine is incredible and beautiful.

This book features a lot of trauma but ultimately allows these women to triumph in fantastical ways. While the subjects tackled in the book are difficult ones, I finished the book with a sense of hope.

I really loved this story and this audiobook and I highly recommend it. This audiobook releases on 1 April 2025. A giant thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I think the author is a phenomenal writer but I didn't quite enjoy this one.

I loved 'Weyward' and so I was so excited when I got approved for this audiobook. Unfortunately, I did not quite love it. I didn't get sucked into the story at any point, and I did not feel any connection to the characters whatsoever. I also feel like the narrative style was pretty monotone.

The sleepwalking ordeal also seemed to have been completely forgotten towards the end, which I thought was strange. I felt like things that needed to be addressed, weren't.

Thank you so much to the publisher and author for my ALC. This one didn't quite work for me but that doesn't mean YOU won't enjoy it.

Emilia Hart's Weyward was a smash hit. Atmospheric and thrilling, readers could not get enough of it.

The Sirens is Emilia Hart's follow-up. It's very different from Weyward. It's still dark and mysterious but it goes in a different direction. Jumping around in different POVs and different timelines, The Sirens tells the stories of women who find themselves in the grip of a mysterious power. Both timelines revolve around a set of sisters. The reader is kept in the dark and begins to understand little by little as the book progresses. I found this effective and I think Hart has a great knack for building intriguing characters. The pacing is a little bit off in this one, compared with Weyward. The story takes a while to get going but once it does, I was really reeled in. A dark, powerful story for our complicated times.

I really enjoyed the narration and I'm glad that I chose to read it in the format. The narration was good and the story was very easy to follow.

I absolutely devoured this book. I did have to listen to the narrator sped up a little bit but I have to do that with most narrators.
I really like how the dream/nightmares that caused the sleep walking is what gave us a glimpse to the past. The narrator singing in some of the chapters was really enjoyable and it would be unique to have the full song released as a companion.
I will say it was very hard to connect with the characters. I was not invested in the story until about 60% of the way through. There was a lot of build up with the traveling, the journal and with Jess that it kind of slow down the story.
Overall this was a quick listen and I really like the choice of narrator. I think the pacing of the story could use work. I really enjoyed Weyward but realoze how similar these two books are with time periods and connections it's hard to separate the stories.

The Sirens 🐚
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The Sirens is a dual timeline story following two different sets of sisters. Sisters in exile on a ship to Australia in the 1800s, and sisters in current day, both with a strange connection.
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🐚magical realism
🐚strong female characters
🐚family secrets
🐚sisterhood
🐚mystery
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I really wanted to love this book. A siren story, mysterious deaths, dual timeline, and family secrets?? I was sold. Although the premise was exciting, I think the execution fell a bit short. The plot was unfortunately confusing.
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I did enjoy the audiobook and thought it was well done!

Thank you netgalley and Macmillan audio for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found this one tough to get into and just didn’t really enjoy the story. I thought the mystery of it was intriguing but overall not enough to win me over.

I enjoyed listening to this novel. It was interesting with the two timelines and multiple perspectives. The story was mysterious with trying to find out who these women were/are, and what happened to all those men who went missing. The whole story was interesting and kept me listening intently until the very end.

The narration was well done and the little songs flowed well.

This audiobook is FANTASTIC!! The narrator has such a beautiful voice. Barrie Kreinik is so incredibly talented. Going back and forth between an Irish and and Australian accent would prove to be challenging for me, but Kreinik did it seamlessly. This story is so incredible, and the amazing narration only added to it. If you are going to read The Sirens, I highly recommend adding the audiobook. You will not be disappointed.

“The sea gives, but it also takes” - The Sirens

Prior to reading the Sirens, I read Weyward last year, and it was one of my favorite books of the year. I was super excited to have the opportunity to read an advanced reader copy of the Sirens. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.

The sirens alternates point of view between Lucy who is a college student in Australia in 2019 and Mary in Ireland in 1800. A third POV, Jess’ childhood diary entries are introduced 1/4 into the book. Eventually, about 80% into the story, a fourth POV is introduced - Jess in modern time. The alternating POVs and alternating timelines made it difficult to follow at times, which wasn’t a problem when reading Weyward.

After having nude photos leaked by a male student, Ben, Lucy sleepwalks and attacks Ben in the middle of the night in their college dorm. The story begins with Lucy running from the authorities, on her way to her sister’s house in Comber Bay. When Lucy arrives, she discovers her sister‘s car in the driveway, finds her keys and phone inside her house, but quickly discovers that her sister is nowhere to be found.

Lucy’s sister Jess is introduced in the first chapter of the book, and later through Jess’s diary entries that we get to read snippets of throughout the story. Lucy finds a painting in Jess house of a mermaid and ship she dreamed of. Lucy discovers several more paintings of the ship, all featuring the same two sisters. Throughout the story, Lucy slowly learns the truth of her and Jess’ history.

Lucy listens to a podcast about the unsolved disappearance of several men in Comber Bay over 30 years. Comber Bay/Devils lookout is a coastal town miles from Sydney where Jess lives. The story is of the unsolved mysterious disappearance of 8 men between 1960 and 1997. No trace of any of them ever found. Some towns people believe there is some kind of supernatural explaniation for the disapperancea and claim to hear womens voices coming from the waves.

There is also the mystery of Baby Hope found abandoned at the Devil’s Lookout in 1982. Baby Hope was adopted by a family that later underwent scrutiny and was accused of abandoning Hope and staging the rescue for their own benefit.

Mary and Eliza are imprisoned in Ireland in 1800 after the failed Irish rebellion where England maintained their power over the Irish. They are being forcibly transported by boat to New South Wales, Australia. Eliza is called “the girl who sings but does not see.” Mary and Eliza struggle with being separated from their Da, and we learn that their Mam died from drowning in the sea despite Da begging her not to go near the water.

Lucy is having dreams about being on being in the dark with women crying and praying. She can feel herself holding hands with another woman in these dreams. Lucy was diagnosed with a skin condition that makes water dangerous for her skin. Lucy finds an invitation to an art show called The Sirens for her sister, schedule to take place later in the week.


A third POV, Jess’ childhood diary entries are introduced 1/4 into the book. Jess believes that her parents aren’t really her biological parents and believes they are hiding something from her. Lucy learns that Jess shares her skin condition, aquagenic urticaria, and that their parents hid this from her. Lucy also learns that Jess sleepwalks and was having an inappropriate relationship with her art teacher. Jess believes that their parents moved them as far away from the sea to keep the truth hidden. We later learn the truth - that Lucy was actually Jess daughter, conceived in secret with her art teacher who left the school after finding out Jess was pregnant. Eventually, the story switches from old diary entries and we get Jess POV from modern time. We learn that Jess teacher is on the run from authorities for sexually assaulting a student, and shows up at Jess house in Comber Bay for help. We also learn that Jess is Baby Hope, their parents are Robert and Judith Wilson, and Lucy is actually Jess daughter. I struggled with this plot twist and with the changing dynamic of the relationship. I also struggled to like Jess as a character, knowing she had abandoned her responsibilities as a mom and hid the truth from Lucy for so long.

As the story of Mary and Eliza unfolds, we slowly see their lives intertwine with Lucy and Jess. The connection between the sirens and the missing men unfolds, and Lucy learns that the missing men all had dark pasts involving hurting women or children. Melody, Jess neighbor, assures Lucy that she doesnt need to worry about Jess because Comber Bay “keeps its women safe.” By the end of the story, the connection has come full circle and all of the uncertainty about their connection is resolved.

I appreciate the opportunity to read that book early and was so excited to have the chance to. I absolutely loved Weyward and because of that my expectations were pretty high. Unfortunately, the Sirens just did not compare to my love for Weyward and I didn’t feel a connection with the character like I wanted to. I recommend giving this book a chance, but do not make the mistake I made of expecting it to compare to Weyward because it didn’t even come close for me.