I wasn't sure about this but was given a widget so I decided to try it - and boy am I glad. This was a beautiful, heart-wrenching story about the wrongs done to women and the ways they... deal with those wrongs, and dealing with it doesn't always work out well for them.

Set in two time periods, the 'present' (2019), and the past, 1999 and 1800, following two sets of sisters and the strange mutation that unites them. I would have read an entire book set in either the present or the past of this book, honestly, as Hart does a great job making both sister sets' stories engrossing and full.

This is an Australia-set story as well so it takes place partially on a prison ship set for New South Wales (the present day takes place in Australia as well, of course). While I am American, I am familiar with the history of the UK and Ireland sending their convicts to the Australian continent as their punishment but I honestly didn't know much about what happened to the women convicts, so I learned some heart-breaking facts and went down a internet hole reading more and just about crying at what these women went through. Not that present-day women don't go through similarly horrible situations, as Hart shows through the present-day sections.

It was hard to listen to at times because the content can be so upsetting. I don't tend to read women's lit because of that, the anxiety of real life horror can be too much for me sometimes - I prefer haunted houses and monsters lol But Hart weaves beauty into her story as well, through the relationships between the women. Not just the sisters, but their friends and families as well.

I just can't get over how beautiful and moving and wonderful The Sirens was, and I think part of that is absolutely to do with the excellent narration by Barrie Kreinik. Her abilities with accents is marvelous, but she really brings each of the characters to life in such a way that I sometimes forgot I was listening to a story, feeling more like I was listening to the inside of someone's head or overhearing conversations. It really lends to the intimate feel of the novel, even as it moves across large distances.

I think the only thing I don't like is we don't learn what happened with Lucy's troubles. We get closure on everything except that and while it doesn't matter in the end, which is why I'm not taking stars for it, it would have still been nice to get. There are some mysteries better left unknown, I guess, to let you think of the best outcome and imagine that's what happened, truly. At least, that's what I'll think of.

I'm sure Hart's The Sirens makes for great reading but I truly recommend the audiobook for this experience.

Recommended for: anyone who wants to feel something!

I've heard great things about this author's previous book, so when I saw a chance to listen to the audiobook in advance, I was quick to request it. The narration was great. The variation of accents helped me to track the two timeliness more easily. The story was haunting and intriguing at the same time. I've always loved tales of sirens from various mythologies.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart weaves together the stories of two sets of sisters, separated by time yet connected by shared struggles. In the early 1800s, twin sisters Mary and Eliza are transported to Australia as convicts, enduring hardship and suffering on a prison ship. In 2019, sisters Jess and Lucy struggle with family secrets, a rare skin disease, and emotional turmoil. As Lucy faces the aftermath of cyberbullying, she is drawn to her sister’s mysterious disappearance. The novel blends magical realism with a haunting narrative about sisterhood, survival, and the power of the sea. A captivating, atmospheric read.

The way Emilia Hart captures the connection of women through time, hardship, and courage breaks my heart once again and I couldn’t be more grateful. I had high hopes after Weyward and The Sirens absolutely exceeded those expectations. I simply can’t wait for the next world she builds.

Emilia Hart does it once again with this captivating, magical-realism story focusing on finding yourself, sisterhood, complicated family relationships and more. The story is told through three perspectives: an 1800 story about twin sisters Mary and Eliza, convicts being sent from Ireland to Australia; journal entries from Jess detailing her complicated teenage years; and present-day Lucy waking up from a horrifying sleep-walking episode, only to flee to her older sister's and realize her sister is nowhere to be found.

This story was a little creepier than what I usually read/listen to, but I was sucked in from the opening lines. The book title definitely gives a little away when it comes to the "skin condition" plaguing the girls, but there were so many other aspects of the story that kept me on my toes. Just when I thought I had figured something out, something else would occur, throwing a wrench in my thinking.

Hart weaves together real-life experiences and the history of Australia with the mythical stories of sirens and the women of the ocean. If you loved Weyward, you will most certainly love the latest work from Emilia Hart as well. This would be a great book club pick and touches on a lot of very tough topics; all demonstrated through the beautifully written character development.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Harper Collins UK/The Borough Press and NetGalley, which provided me with an advanced listener copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Title: The Sirens
Author: Emilia Hart
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Barrie Kreinik
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Historical Fiction , Women’s Fiction
Pub Date April 1, 2025
My Rating: 4.2 Stars
Pages: 352

Although listed as Historical Fiction – Women’s Fiction but it is a lot more. – It was a different read for me but there is enough mystery (I read a lot of mystery/thrillers) that I couldn’t put it down!
Story of four sisters – then -1800: Mary and Eliza and now -2019: Jess and Lucy

2019: Eighteen year old Lucy a Journalism student was cyberbullied by her boyfriend. When he posted intimate photos of her on social media (he insists he didn’t).
Then one night she is awakens and finds she is in her ex-boyfriend’s room and she has her hands around his throat. She flees to her sister Jess’ home at Cliff House in Comper Bay, along the Australian coast - only Jess is missing.

1800 ~ was a time when England shipped female prisoners to Australia as a penal colony.
Mary and Eliza are 16 year old twin sisters and placed on one of the prisoner ships, their experience was horrible. They had to defend themselves against being attacked additionally forced to leave the home of their father in Ireland.

2019 - Jess and Lucy often find themselves dreaming of Mary and Eliza and their time on the prisoner ship. They too are struggling with their own problems stemming from lies told by their parents and a diagnosis of Aquagenic Urticaria- a rare skin disease believed to be inherited.

.Most of the 2019 timeline is told through Lucy’s POV, but we learn more about Jess via her diary entries.

Story is magical realism which gave the women power over their abusers.
I mentioned this was a different read for me but, I believe in the magic of the sea so was glued to this story!
Additionally ~ the reveals were surprises!!

Narrator Barrie Kreinik was fabulous – has a beautiful voice. Hearing her sing was a bonus!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me this early audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 1, 2025.

This is an atmospheric, folktale story that is full of mystery and melancholy. The pace of the story is a bit slow but if you are in the mood for a slower book, this one will be perfect. I have always been interested in mermaids and I love the lore behind them so this was a fun, interesting read. Haunting, mysterious, sorrowful and hopeful. Great read.

I am happy that I listened to the audio version of this book because the narrator, Barrie Kreinik does a wonderful job of narrating. I do wish this one had multiple narrators so that we could have had more than one voice, but still, job well done.

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

Emilia Hart is a master at writing stories set in multiple timelines. The Sirens follows two sets of sisters, one set trapped on a prisoner’s ship in the early 1800s and one set struggling through obstacles in present day. Both storylines were captivating and intriguing and extremely well-written.

The narrator, Barrie Kreinik, was amazing and truly brought the story to life for me. I enjoyed listening to this beautifully written story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

up until 50% i was certain that i knew what was going to happen and then all of a sudden i had no idea, so many twists and turns i didn’t see coming!! really enjoyed this book, it took me a bit to get into but so glad i did. beautifully written!

In Emilia Hart’s riveting tale The Sirens, I was immediately drawn by the spell of the sirens in this poignant tribute to women, sisterhood, family, and love.

Barrie Kreinik’s narration was beautiful, and at times, haunting. She even sings lines from the folk song “The Maiden Who Dwelt By The Shore” - lines that are interwoven into Hart’s enchanting novel.

Born of a rich tapestry of characters, I was spellbound by Hart’s prose, lyrical as the sirens’ song in this compassionate homage to the Irish women who suffered the horrific conditions of the convict ships that sailed from the British colonies to Australia.

The way the sisters found their inner and outer beauty from the lure of the sea was mesmerizing, and I enjoyed the magic realism aspect.

Like Weyward, The Sirens spans three time periods; however, The Sirens is different because Jess’ inner thoughts via her diary comprise the third time period rather than another set of connected characters as in Weyward.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio version of this title for an honest review.

Another spellbindingly atmospheric multi-timeline novel about the bonds of sisterhood and the magical lure of the sea. Spanning centuries, this newest novel from Emilia Hart follows two Irish sisters in the 1800s who are sent to the penal colony in Australia and their terrible experience aboard the cargo ship at the hands of the crew.

It also follows two sisters in modern day Australia as younger sister Lucy travels to the coast to visit her older sister Jess only to find her missing. Both sets of sisters have a link with the sea and a severe allergy to water that causes their skin to react horribly and both are treated badly by men who take advantage of their situations.

Amazing on audio narrated by one of my favs, Barrie Kreinik, with an interesting author interview included at the end. Highly recommended for fans of books like The exiles by Christina Baker Kline or The museum of extraordinary things by Alice Hoffman. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

I just finished this one. I had to sit with it for a while and just feel it all. I loved it! I loved the history and I loved the modern girls. I loved their dad too!
It was just very much a book about being a woman. love, and sirens.
The narration was so perfect!

Emilia Hart's Weyward was one of my favorite audiobooks last year so I had high hopes for The Sirens and I was not disappointed! I love a time-dash, duology of female heroines. Hart expertly weaves these women together with a dash of magical realism and vivid characters. Ethereal, mysterious and empowering.

This story gave me all the feels. There’s folklore, mystery, all the emotions. Such a great story and such great writing. I loved the narrator.

The novel that gave me the mermaid story I didn’t know I needed in my life!

I absolutely was haunted and mystified by Sirens!!! Jess and Lucy are family and riddled with a life of mystery until Lucy decides she needs answers and takes drastic measures to find them.

The artistry of writing is alive in the somber details and descriptions supplemented by the wonder of why the girls have struggled with water yet are drawn by it constantly.

This is a dark, melancholic book full of women and girls being abused by men, and the bonds between them, which are strengthened by their need to escape and their desire for revenge against the men who hurt them. Dual timeline, SA trigger warnings, and disturbing imagery.

I found the book compelling, I ached for the people harmed by horrible men, and I wanted desperately to feel a sense of rebirth at the end as a kind of reward for so much darkness, but that was not really to be. The end is satisfying, but the mood was so dank and hopeless that I had to do different things while listening so I wouldn't fall into a somber state myself. Maybe it's the timing, a week before Christmas, the darkest days of the year, really not the time I want to read dismal stories, but if you're in the mood for gloomy, this story is interesting and evocative, with female-centric empowerment after being victims.

This book started off promising. The dual timeline was not my favorite and neither was the mermaid part. But overall a decent book.

Eliza and Mary are considered criminals in Ireland and forced on a convict ship for Australia. They are packed like sardines with other women. We learn of their time in Ireland and what led to their arrest. Then we learn of Jess and Lucy in 2019 and their life. What a hauntingly poignant story of sisters and history. I listened to the audiobook and adored the narrator and the songs. This story will sit with me for quite some time.

I really enjoyed Emilia Hart's Weyward. It was so engrossing and magical. However, The Sirens did not captivate me. I listened to 20 percent of the novel before deciding to call a quits. The story is very slow moving. Little to nothing happened in the amount I listened to. I wasn't interested whatsoever in the characters (past or present) or what was going to happen next. I'm sure this book is for someone, but not for me.

Weyward has been on my TBR for a while and this sounded interesting, so I picked it up. First and foremost, this narrator is fantastic. How she manages to switch effortlessly between an Irish and Australian accent is incredible. I really enjoyed her flow and this is one of those where narration actually made a huge difference.

The plot is a split timeline, between two current day Aussies and two very much in the past Irish sisters. It can be a bit confusing for people who don’t usually do split timelines, but I personally love them. Adds to suspense and gives much more insight to the story. I did pick up on the “twist” far before it happens, but it was still a wonderful moment when everything is all laid out. The epilogue… I didn’t love. I was a bit confused by the ending (there are two children? Both women pregnant?) and it did kind of fall flat against the rest of the book. Literally contradicted the entire moral of the story. My only complaint about the book, if she had ended it differently I would’ve probably enjoyed this more.

The writing is just beautiful. I don’t mind women’s fiction when the writing is lyrical and flows well, and this definitely meets the mark. I didn’t feel as though it was too flowery or descriptive in ways it didn’t need to be.

This sucked me in and I finished it in two sittings. I highly recommend this to anyone who occasionally enjoys a women’s fiction novel but primarily reads Greek retellings, fantasy, or magical realism.

There are a few TW, mostly grooming and non graphic SA on minors.


Also seriously if anyone can explain the ending I’d be forever grateful.