The Sirens is a great female rage fantasy book. You can feel the emotions coming off the page. The story flowed well between the different timelines and had likeable characters. Although something did lack for me, at first I was intrigued and then part way through some of the magic just became lost to me. I think I wanted more depth. This read like an easily accessible female rage book that I think can be enjoyed by many. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

This is a beautifully written story that weaves together historical events with the current day. I loved gradually piercing together the link between the victims of the shipwreck and Lucy, and what has happened to Lucy's sister Jess.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a captivating and atmospheric novel that intertwines the stories of two sisters across centuries, bound by a mysterious and unspoken connection.

In 2019, Lucy wakes up in the middle of the night with no memory of how she ended up in her ex-lover’s room. The horror of finding her hands around his throat sends her fleeing to her sister Jess's house on the coast of New South Wales. But when she arrives, Jess is missing. As Lucy waits for her sister's return, she starts to uncover unsettling rumours about the town—tales of missing men, a baby abandoned in a sea-swept cave, and whispers of women’s voices carried on the waves. Her vivid dreams, which seem to connect her more deeply to her sister and the town's secrets, only grow more intense as she delves deeper into the mystery.

In a parallel narrative set in the 1800s, we follow the journey of Mary and Eliza, two sisters torn from their home in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. As the journey takes them further from everything they’ve ever known, they begin to experience strange changes in their bodies, suggesting that something far more mystical is at play.

The Sirens is a haunting and lyrical tale that explores the power of sisterhood, resilience, and the unknowable forces of nature. Through its alternating timelines and the deep emotional bonds between the sisters, the novel captures a sense of both wonder and foreboding. The sea becomes a symbol of both connection and separation, a powerful backdrop for this evocative story that blends historical fiction with a touch of the supernatural. A tale of love, loss, and the deep-rooted magic of women’s experiences, The Sirens is an extraordinary read that lingers long after the final page.

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The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a captivating tale that seamlessly weaves together history, mythology, and mystery. Told across dual timelines, it follows the journeys of sisters Mary and Eliza aboard a convict ship in 1800 and Lucy and Jess in 2019, uncovering secrets that span centuries. This book is a testament to the strength and resilience of women, exploring themes of sisterhood, identity, and the enduring connection to the sea.

The historical timeline of Mary and Eliza is raw and immersive, capturing the brutal realities of their voyage while infusing it with an otherworldly transformation that binds them to the ocean's mystique. In contrast, the modern-day storyline with Lucy and Jess is gripping and suspenseful, as Lucy's search for her missing sister leads her to uncover truths about their shared past and their ties to the siren mythos.

Hart’s prose is evocative, bringing the Australian coastline and the claustrophobic atmosphere of the convict ship to life. The alternating perspectives keep the narrative engaging, while the interwoven diary entries and dream sequences add depth to the unfolding mystery. Although some twists are predictable, the journey of discovery and the richly developed characters make this a compelling read.

Fans of Weyward will appreciate Hart's signature blend of historical fiction and magical realism. The feminist themes and exploration of women’s resilience against systemic oppression are as poignant as they are inspiring. While the pacing starts slow, it builds to a satisfying conclusion that ties the timelines together beautifully.

A powerful, haunting tale that celebrates the unyielding bonds of sisterhood and the transformative power of embracing one’s true self. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy layered narratives and atmospheric storytelling.

A perfect blend of mystery, history and mythology. I was completely absorbed into this story. The truth unravelled slowly, and the writing compelled me to keep reading to uncover the secrets and connections of these women.

Set in a dual timeline and POVs we follow Mary and Eliza in the year 1800, trapped on a convict ship heading to New South Wales. And Lucy and Jess in 2019. Lucy has fled her university after sleepwalking and being haunted by the most vivid dreams, she travels to her sisters house in New South Wales but Jess is no where to be found.

I love historical fiction and this just blended so perfect with mythology. But this book was also about women. Strong brave, independent women and their bonds.
I would love to have had more of an insight to Mary and Eliza after their last chapter but I loved the ending to Lucy's and Jess's story. Highly recommend this one, such fabulous writing and storytelling.
4.5 ⭐️

Sadly for me, this just didn't have the same magic that Weyward did.

Emilia Hart's writing is still very compelling to read though, and I adore the strong feminist themes she weaves into these stories, however, this story just didn't do it for me, I couldn't connect as strongly as I did her previous novel. Which I'm so shocked at!! And I can't quite put my finger on exactly why.

I did enjoy the historical information and past timeline but... I think the pacing let it down. Plus, at times this felt too repetitive and nothing happened with the plot for a long while.

Ultimately, this isn't a bad read at all, and I know many will enjoy this.

I'll be on the look out for her next novel!

-Sarah

Loved this! Such a fun fantasy for the winter time. Really well written, look forward to reading more from this author in the furure

Earlier this year I read Weyward from this author and liked it.

So of course I wanted to also read this book.
“Sirens” tells the story of sisterhood across time and space and their connection to the magic of the sea. In the present (2019), Lucy goes to Australia to find her sister Jess, after waking up from a dream with her hands around her ex’s throat. But Jess is missing.

Through her diary from 20 years ago we find about her past and what secrets she kept. Both Lucy and Jess have a rare allergy to water.

In another timeline (in 1800) we find the story of twin sisters Mary and Eliza, that were taken from their home in Ireland and forced onto a ship heading to Australia. During the journey they begin to notice changes to their bodies.
The beginning of the story is a bit slow, but I was intrigued but the plot and read it in one day.

There atmosphere during the book is dark and there is tension and suspense. The plot has some twists, Lucy and Jess’s past is full of secrets. Even if I predicted part of the revelations, there is enough magic and mystery to keep me interested about the ending. I would have liked to know more about Eliza and Mary and the connection they have with Lucy and Jess. Overall I liked the story and the writing.

Thank you HarperCollins and Netgalley for the ARC and ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A compelling and lyrical story of sisterhood, family and loss. Written over two time!ines, the narrative weaves between past and present. I enjoyed Wayward and this novel captured my imagination too.

I'm trying to finish this book for over 3 months now but I can't seem to get through it. I made it to 55%. It's definitely intriguing and well written but I'm just not in a good mood to finish this kind of book.

I really enjoyed Weyward so I was excited to read this. The writing is captivating and clever and the story kept me reading even if some parts were a little predictable

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the e-arc. I was really excited to dive into (pun-intended) this new book by Emilia Hart since I absolutely loved Weyward and let me tell you; it did not disappoint. Everything I loved about Weyward I could find it in this whole other story!

The Sirens follows several women on a dual timeline, all intertwined somehow. Once again the storytelling was so intriguing, the mystery part super entertaining and the writing was just as poetic and beautiful. I think Hart writes historical fiction with a twist of magic realism and folklore like no other. Very atmospherical, about women and sisterhood.
I absolutely loved Jess’s diary entries, it gave such a great rhythm to the whole discovery of the plot and well, she was also my favorite character of them all. I will definitely be there for the next book!

Now once again, be mindful of the trigger warning (always!).

Interesting read with a good twist, I liked the historical link, although at some points it felt a little disjointed

. An emotional and thought provoking read. I found the timelines and book structure beautifully constructed and helped me fly through the pages. Highly recommend.

I was so excited to read this because I quite enjoyed Emilia Hart's debut novel Weyward. Unfortunately, I struggled with the PDF format because I use darkmode to read ebooks and PDF doesn't show in dark mode on the Netgalley app. For that reason, I couldn't finish the story, but I look forward to hearing the audiobook in 2025

I felt so on edge with reading this - it was great! Really enjoyed the structure of the book with the different timelines and the use of Jess’s diary to tell the story of her character. It did take me a while to get stuck into the story but I loved the ending and overall it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

I was so anxious to read this after how much I LOVED Weyward. I just love Emilia Hart’s writing so much. She has the most incredible ability to weave a story centuries apart and have all the characters still be so rich and detailed and important to the story, it’s truely something beautiful.
Perfectly blended feminine rage and colonialism topics that left me angry and shocked and sad for the real life history of it.
Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read this early💕

A beautifully crafted dual timeline story centred around sisterhood, family trauma, revenge and mythology.

The Sirens is a tale of identity, belonging, and coming into your power. Told in three intertwined timelines, the book highlights the experiences of four different women across time.

I enjoyed reading The Sirens, but I did have to go at a slower pace. It took a while for me to connect with the story and the characters, but eventually, I was so invested in the mystery surrounding Lucy. Her sections were so vivid and rich that I felt I could see everything she saw.

It was an atmospheric read, with the majestic ocean tying everything together. And the fantasy elements build up slowly into this big reveal that worked well.

And that ending! So beautiful and tender.

This is my first read from Emilia Hart, and I definitely plan to pick up Weyward soon.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for letting me read an advanced copy!

I will post my review on Goodreads, StoryGraph, and Instagram on publication day.

*The Sirens* by Emilia Hart is a feminist tale wrapped in history and magical realism. The writing is sharp and well-paced, and the sirens serve as a powerful metaphor.

Its portrayal of men is brutally unforgiving, almost to a fault.. I found some of the reveals predictable, and a bit more nuance would have made them less obvious. Still, it’s a gripping, timely story and read it if you enjoyed the mercies or matrix by Lauren Groff.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc to review!