DNF at 34%. Ugh it pains me to write this because this cover is STUNNING and the writing is beautiful and so atmospheric. But this is just not the story for me.

The audiobook seems like it would be wonderful for someone who would enjoy this story. The accent of the narrator is so calming and really fits the magic of the story.

Unfortunately, though, I just could not get my mind into the story. It was not holding my interest despite multiple attempts to restart it. I do believe those that love mermaids, magical stories, and the ocean may enjoy this much more than I did.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and the author for the complimentary ARC and ALC.

4.5 stars
This book was such a gem! I love feminist retellings of Greek myths. This was a modern day tale of Scylla & Charybdis, with a glimpse back to a previous time that tied things all together. I liked the contemporary timeline as we learn about Lucy’s situation, past and present, after she flees to find her sister after disturbing events at university. What’s going on with their family’s weird situations? How is this connected to the Irish family transported to Australia in the 1800s? When Lucy finds her missing sister’s journal, more questions arise but many answers are found. Everything ties together so well in the end that I rank this among the top of the modern day retellings I’ve read!
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance audiobook copy

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listener copy of The Sirens by Emilia Hart in exchange for my honest review. This audiobook, set to be released on April 1st, held significant anticipation for me as a reader who greatly enjoyed Hart's previous work, Weyward, and I was particularly intrigued by the novel's exploration of mermaid lore.

The Sirens intricately weaves together the stories of two sets of sisters across time: Lucy and Jess in 2019, and Mary and Eliza in the 1800s. The present-day sisters embark on a journey to uncover the mysteries surrounding their historical counterparts.

I must commend the author on the evident depth of research undertaken for this novel. The thoughtful acknowledgement at the beginning, expressing respect for the Indigenous Aboriginal peoples, was particularly impactful and contributed to a broader learning experience within the narrative. Additionally, Barrie Kreinik's narration was truly impressive, showcasing a remarkable ability to deliver a diverse range of authentic-sounding accents.

The initial portion of the book established a surprisingly eerie atmosphere, and the novel's unique and fascinating reimagining of the traditional siren narrative left me with a palpable sense of unease and anxiety. This flip on familiar tropes was a compelling aspect of the reading experience.

Ultimately, while the book offered many engaging elements, the central plot twist prompted a reevaluation of the novel's overall purpose, which proved somewhat frustrating. However, readers who appreciated the atmospheric storytelling of Weyward or the emotionally resonant narratives of Kristin Hannah will likely find themselves captivated by The Sirens. Overall, I am rating this book four out of five stars

This is my second Emilia Hart book and again she does a great job of showing the strength of women. The story felt a bit rushed and made it a little more difficult to relate to all the characters unlike in her other novel, but I did enjoy the writing.

🎧Barrie Kreinik did a great job narrating this story. She really captures each character perfectly.

Thanks to the author @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book. Emilia Hart knows how to write strong and complicated characters and vivid imagery. I have no problems imagining the scenes playing out before me, even when they are set in a time and place that I’ve never been. I absolutely love that about her story telling.

There are multiple timelines and POV’s going on in this book and I liked all of them equally, which is a big plus for me. I think my only real complaint with this one was the pacing did seem off at times, there were moments during Lucy’s POV that felt like they dragged a bit in the beginning. Somewhere around the half way mark things picked up and I ended up zooming through it.

🎧Barrie Kreinik did a great job narrating this story. She transitions beautifully between characters and really captured each character perfectly. I could honestly listen to her talk all day!

Hart has again given me characters and a story to love and ponder over. The historical part of this book is one I have not read about before and intrigues me. The fictional part is captivating with the duel timelines being seamlessly knit together.
The trauma and feminist aspects might turn many off. Please research trigger warnings before reading. Life is messy and hard in so many ways. The ending isn’t necessarily ‘happily ever after’ but still satisfying.

Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Adult, Fantasy

I loved listening to this book, the music in the intro was a nice touch, and adding the historical note learning about Australia was great.

It started off strong, a baby was being born in a weird cave area?? too the main character chocking her ex lover?? like how awesome is that.. i mean not awesome but the meaning behind it sends off “what the heck is happening vibes”

This storyline the author was trying to share was heartaching with how men treated and still treat woman to this day.

I think though i got lost along the way with the two timelines as it felt like the past timeline had nothing to really connect the present timeline with.

Overall i did enjoy my time with this and i feel if you love mermaids and two timeline stories you will love this.

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

The Sirens by Emilia Hart
Publishing: 01/04

3.5⭐️

I was immediately drawn in by this story about two sets of sisters, their eerie connection to the sea and the mysterious disappearances that surround them.

The Sirens rotates between three timelines and POV’s, each of them were very well developed and contained a vital piece of this entangled story. I found the present day timelines to be a bit more interesting, however by the end of the book I fully understood the significance of the past timeline and the approach that was taken. It is kind of a “trust the process” plot.

The writing was phenomenal! I felt the sense of uneasiness and eeriness in my bones, just so so good and I would argue that the audio made this even better! 😍

Where this book lost me a little was at the very end… SO DEVASTATING! I felt confused by the last few scenes and I don’t think this was just an audiobook issue. I was really hoping for a sound conclusion to tie all of these fascinating components together but ultimately was left feeling dissatisfied by the amount of assumptions that had to be made to explain what (potentially???) happened here… I’m still not 100% sure!

Nonetheless, an engaging read that had me on the edge of my seat for 90% of the book - perhaps one of you will read it and be able to explain the ending to me?? Please?? 😂

Thanks to the author @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

The Sirens follows three timelines from 1800's Ireland to the current day in 2019 telling the tales of four young women who discover their strengths and unity to overcome those who harm them and other females who live near them. The youngest in the present-day story seeks her older sister to help and confide in her with issues she is struggling with only to find her missing. Her disappearance is strange and her sister starts to grow concerned that something terrible may have happened to her. As she stays in her home waiting for her sister's return, she discovers her journal, and things she has been questioning slowly start to make more sense. A long-time mystery about missing people is resolved, and the women eventually understand their roles in this life and why they never quite fit in.

Although the story was slow-paced, it unfolded to answer the questions these women have in common. They discover their self-worth and importance in helping keep women safe from true monsters in their and other women’s lives. It touches on how hard it can be for young women who don't look perfect and may have some physical differences to be treated poorly and the impact it has on them mentally. It also touches on how sometimes women are treated lesser than boys/men as if they are more important due to their gender which historically has been and in many cases still is an issue.

The ending wrapped up the story well with a satisfying outcome.

I received an audiobook from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

It’s probably not fair to compare The Sirens to Weyward, but I also can’t help thinking about the latter book while writing this review. Hart masterfully wove together three different timelines in Weyward in a way that was poignant and compelling. Her character work was fantastic, and the storytelling was brilliant. I was fully immersed in that story and those characters. Unfortunately I feel like The Sirens fell short of my expectations because I was expecting the same level of investment and it just wasn’t there for me. The book had an interesting concept, weaving two separate timelines together, something I know Hart can do really well. But it felt a bit disjointed and rushed, and as a reader I wasn’t as invested in the big reveal(s). The character work wasn’t as strong as it was in her previous book either.

On the plus side, Hart does have beautiful prose. Her writing is interesting and she sets up the mystery in a way that holds you and makes you want to continue reading. I also think that the exploration of the abuse and oppression women have faced throughout history was really well done. Be sure to check content warnings before reading this book. The audiobook narrator was also fantastic. I definitely recommend reading the book that way. Ultimately not a new favorite, but I do still love Hart’s writing and will be picking up her future releases.

If you like magical realism, women getting their revenge, or mermaids, I recommend this one. As an audiobook, I loved Barrie Kreinik’s narration, and she sings in this book, just as she did with SLEWFOOT, and it is perfection. I definitely enjoyed the book more because I listened to it, and I’m grateful to Macmillian Audio for the Advance Listening Copy; this book releases on April 1st.

Emilia Hart did it again! Another book about the strength and power of WOMEN! The bond between sisters (both blood and in spirit) is shown so beautifully here. The boat disaster and the truth about what happened in the cave (past and distant past) and about the mother that left but never truly left them. So many stories spun together and I worried they may get tangled and I may get lost but as always Emilia has us and it was perfection! The fact that I got this as an ARC is an absolute honor and I hope to consume every single thing that this beautiful woman writes in the future!

Thank you again NetGalley and Macmillan audio for this early copy!

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Emilia Hart for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a fantastic sophomore novel and really lived up to the hype surrounding her first novel, Weyward, which was beloved by readers and hailed as the best debut novel of the year on Goodreads. The Sirens blends all of my favorite things, historical fiction, magical realism, women’s fiction and feminism.

The Sirens is a book about the journeys of two sets of sisters separated by 2 centuries who are struggling to deal with some pretty egregious crimes committed by men against their bodies. We start in the 2019 timeline with the youngest sister Lucy who is seeking refuge with her older sister Jess after she trusted the wrong man and now has photos of her body spread around on the internet that she never intended anyone to see. This event triggers her to travel to see her sister and start to uncover the secrets of all 4 women who are featured in this novel. And there are many secrets and many twists, turns, and jaw-dropping reveals.

In the 1800s timeline, twin sisters Eliza and Mary are traveling on a prisoner’s cargo ship from Ireland to Australia and are suffering at the hands of men in their timeline as well. However, they start to notice changes to their bodies and these changes are the thing that ultimately links the 4 women featured in the book.

I really enjoyed both timelines, but enjoyed Lucy and Jess’ story the most, whereas in Weyward, I enjoyed the historical time period more.

The narration by Barrie Kreinik for this audiobook was 5 stars with the narrator seamlessly switching accents and genders and guiding us through the story with a truly phenomenal performance.

I do not think I would have finished this book if I hadn't received an arc. The book felt extremely detailed, boring, and it dragged on and on and on. This book started off with a great hook, Lucy waking up from sleep-walking and finding her hands around the neck of this guy she slept with one time. She then takes off to her estranged sister who lives miles and miles away. It could have been so exciting, but instead it followed Lucy (who I did not connect with) as she just drags her feet trying to find her sister. I was very excited to try this ARC after hearing that Weyward was so well done, but this book falls very flat for me. Thank you to MacMillian Audio and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

@emiliahartbooks, the author of Weyward, has a new book publishing next week on 01 April 2025. I really enjoyed The Sirens and the use of folklore in the story. Sea folk can be found by many different names throughout history such as Sirens, Mermaids, & Selkies. This story weaves together that folklore with a mystery. The story is told from multiple POVs and multiple time points. I recommend reading this book if you like mysteries based on folklore and if you loved Weyward.

The plot of this book was great. But for me the narration was challenging to make it through. I would suggest people perhaps try it on paper!

The premise of this book was very interesting.

Two different timelines give us the lives of 2 sets of sisters. In the 1800s Eliza and Mary fight to stay alive as they are transported on a British convict ship to Australia. The further they travel the more they notice changes to their bodies as they are called by the sea.

In 2019, Lucy leaves home after a cyberbullying incident to visit her sister Jess in Comper Bay on the Australian coast. When she arrives, her sister is not there, and her neighbors don't know where she went. Lucy starts sleepwalking and dreaming of the 1800's sisters as she tries to find Jess. Lucy starts unravelling the family history after she finds Jess's diary, and her perception of family changes forever.

The two storylines weave their way together as the women struggle with chauvinism.

The characters were strong, resilient women, but unfortunately, I didn't find them very likeable. The plot moved very slowly in the middle and I almost gave up. There was a major plot twist I didn't expect, but even that didn't really save the book for me. I wanted to enjoy it more than I actually did.

The narrator did a lovely job with the multiple voices, and helped immensely with the constant changes in point of view. Even then, I got lost a few times determining who's story we were listening to.

I was a massive fan of Emilia Hart’s Weyard and have been looking very much forward to reading The Sirens. It is another beautiful exploration into the way that women are treated, disbelieved, and disregarded throughout time as well as the beauty and strength in reclaiming your power. I was incredibly moved by The Sirens and will be telling all my girlfriends to read it. Thank you for my gifted copy!

Really enjoyed this audiobook. Interesting mix of historical information and fantasy. Current suspense as well. Recommended.

I listened to the audiobook version, narrated by Barrie Kreinik, and her performance was excellent. She used varying voices and accents for the different characters, which made it easier to connect with each one. What really stood out to me, though, was the singing in the audiobook. It was such a unique touch that added so much emotion and depth to the scenes. It wasn’t something I expected, but it really enhanced the overall experience. I also really appreciated the music at the beginning and end of the audiobook, it set the tone perfectly, making me feel even more immersed in the story.

One of the things I really loved was how the story alternated between multiple points of view. Each character had such a distinct voice, and watching their stories weave together felt so natural and satisfying. It kept me hooked the entire time.

The twist with Lucy and Jess! I did not see that coming, and I loved how it completely surprised me. It was one of those reveals that made me appreciate how cleverly the story was put together.

What made this book special for me were the themes of womanhood, trauma, and resilience. It was so empowering, shedding light on the complexities and strength that come with being a woman. The book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, but it also shows how women can rise above adversity and find strength in the most unexpected places.