This is a beautifully written novel that blends mythology and human emotion in a captivating way. Hart’s prose is lyrical and atmospheric, pulling the reader into a world where the mythical meets the real. The sirens, both ethereal and dangerous, are portrayed with depth, making them fascinating characters in their own right.
The story weaves themes of power, desire, and freedom, which adds layers of complexity to the narrative. While the pacing can feel slow at times, it allows for a deep exploration of the characters and their motivations. The balance between mythology and the human struggles is well done, though some may find certain sections a bit dense.
It is an evocative and haunting read that lingers in your mind long after you’ve finished it. A perfect choice for readers who enjoy myth retellings with a strong emotional core.

If you’ve read Emilia Hart previously and enjoyed Weyward, you’ll love this one too. Lovely narrative, the author successfully portrays the feeling of an eerie, cold atmosphere that draws you in. It felt a little slow at times whilst reading, but that seems to be the authors style. I don’t find this off putting as the story is enough to keep me interested and reading. Overall, another solid read.

This novel left me more frustrated than fulfilled. Much like my experience with Weyward (which I abandoned halfway through), I found myself slogging through page after page, hoping for something to spark—only to be met with endless overthinking. The plot barely moved, buried under layers of introspection that left the characters feeling distant and hard to connect with. I wanted vibrancy, action, and emotional stakes that felt real. Instead, the story dragged, and the protagonists’ struggles felt empty, lacking the spark needed to pull me in. By the end, I was left wondering why I kept reading. A missed opportunity for what could have been a far more compelling story.

20 pages in, I felt a sense of déjà vu, realizing it wasn’t because I had read this before, but because I had read Weyward, Emilia Hart's previous novel. It seems Hart used a similar blueprint for Sirens, though this time it didn’t resonate with me as much as Weyward did. That said, Sirens is still a strong read, earning 4 stars from me (rounded up from 3.5).

Hart’s language is beautifully eerie, dark, and cold, drawing you into the story from the start. Her writing is undeniably captivating. What I particularly enjoyed was how she merged a very contemporary issue—cyberbullying, which anyone can relate to in today's world—with myths, legends, and a magical world. The seamless intertwining of stories across centuries creates a fascinating and layered narrative.

While Sirens didn't quite hit the mark for me like Weyward, it is still a compelling tale of women's empowerment. Hart excels at weaving together different timelines and crafting heroines whose journeys of self-discovery feel deeply relatable. Fans of her work will appreciate the familiar yet fresh approach.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! I will definitely continue following Hart's work.

Emilia Hart’s The Sirens is a haunting and atmospheric tale that blends myth, mystery, and modern storytelling. Set in a coastal town, the novel follows three generations of women linked by an ancient, seductive power tied to the sea. Hart’s lyrical prose transports readers into a world where the boundaries between reality and legend blur. The characters are vividly drawn, each grappling with their own secrets and desires. Themes of womanhood, inheritance, and self-discovery are woven seamlessly into the plot. With its lush descriptions and poignant narrative, The Sirens is an enchanting and unforgettable read.

Weyward was one of my absolute favourite reads last year, so when I got approved for the ARC of The Sirens, I was beyond excited. While I didn’t love it quite as much as Weyward, The Sirens still swept me away with its richly woven narrative, stunning descriptions, and powerful exploration of sisterhood, dreams, and self-discovery.

At its heart, The Sirens tells the stories of sisters separated by time yet bound by something much deeper. In 2019, Lucy finds herself sleepwalking and nearly strangling her ex-lover in the night. Terrified, she flees to her sister Jess’s house on the Australian coast. But Jess is missing, and the eerie town whispers with rumours of vanished men and voices on the wind. Meanwhile, back in 1800, we follow Irish sisters Mary and Eliza, torn from their home and sent as convicts to Australia. As they sail further from all they know, they begin to notice strange and unexplainable changes within themselves.

Hart’s ability to create atmosphere is nothing short of breathtaking. The descriptions of the Australian coast, the haunting presence of the sea, and the art that threads through the narrative are all vivid and captivating. The brutality of life is palpable, yet so too is the tenderness of sisterhood—the lifeline that saves these women from despair. The book is also deeply introspective, with a focus on the power of dreams and the subconscious as tools for self-discovery. I loved how it weaved this theme throughout the story, creating a sense of mystery and introspection that felt deeply personal.

While I figured out the twist about 30% into the book, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment. In fact, knowing what was coming almost heightened the experience, allowing me to focus more on the characters' emotional journeys and the rich, feminist themes running through the book.

Comparing it to Weyward, I’d say The Sirens carries the same magic of female resilience and connection with nature, but the pacing felt a little slower here, which worked beautifully with the more introspective tone of the story. However, for me, Weyward had a stronger emotional punch overall.

What stands out most about The Sirens is its exploration of sisterhood across time. The dual timelines worked well, and I loved how Hart contrasted the struggles of Lucy, Jess, Mary, and Eliza, yet tied them together with threads of magic, mystery, and the power of women’s connections to each other. The siren folklore was a brilliant touch, adding layers of myth and mysticism that heightened the tension and intrigue.

The Sirens is a beautifully written, atmospheric novel that examines the bonds of sisterhood, the brutality of life, and the power of dreams. While I managed to predict parts of the story, this didn’t lessen my love for the book—it’s an absorbing, lyrical journey that fans of Weyward will certainly appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is one of those rare novels that leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve turned the final page. Upon finishing it, I found myself needing to step away to fully process the depth and complexity of both the storyline and its overarching themes. This enthralling, multi-layered feminist fantasy effortlessly weaves together the stories of four women, each on a transformative quest to discover and embrace their uniqueness in a world where equality is more illusion than reality.
Set against the backdrop of two interwoven timelines—the 1800s and 2019—the novel masterfully explores the complex challenges that women have faced across history, and continue to face today. By juxtaposing historical and contemporary settings, Emilia Hart creates a fascinating interplay between the past and present, showing how these seemingly distant stories converge to illuminate a shared struggle. This collision of eras is more than a narrative device; it’s a profound reflection on how far society has come in terms of women’s rights—and how far we still have to go.
At its core, The Sirens is not merely a fantasy tale or a personal journey for each of the four women; it is a powerful and deliberate exploration of women’s empowerment. Every one of the female protagonists represents a different facet of womanhood, embodying distinct perspectives on strength, resilience, and identity in a world shaped by patriarchal dominance. Their lives are a testament to the systemic oppression that has dictated their worth and confined them to restrictive roles based on their gender. But what makes the novel so compelling is the way each woman navigates these constraints, discovering their inherent power, and ultimately shattering the boundaries imposed upon them.
The dual timeline structure is a standout feature of the book, adding not only complexity but also richness to the narrative. The story set in the 1800s reads like a reimagined historical epic, brimming with detail about a time when women had even fewer rights and opportunities, particularly in the harsh colonial setting of Australia. The rawness of this era contrasts sharply with the modern-day timeline, set in 2019, which brings into focus how some societal challenges have evolved while others remain strikingly similar. The way Emilia Hart moves between these two periods highlights the recurring themes of oppression and defiance, making readers reflect on the enduring relevance of women’s struggles. Despite the passage of time, the novel underscores how deeply entrenched gender inequality remains, subtly challenging the reader to consider how much has truly changed.
What truly brings The Sirens to life are its characters. Emilia Hart’s writing is so rich and vivid that each woman’s journey feels deeply personal, almost intimate. The emotional depth of their struggles—whether through heartache, bravery, or self-realization—forms the backbone of the story. These are not merely women fighting for survival; they are on a profound path toward self-discovery, and it’s this internal journey that makes them so relatable. Their evolution from constrained individuals into powerful, self-actualized women is beautifully written, and watching them embrace their uniqueness in the face of systemic chauvinism is nothing short of inspiring. The way they each find their place in a world designed to oppress them is a key strength of the novel, offering readers both hope and empowerment.
One of the most impressive aspects of The Sirens is how seamlessly the fantasy elements are woven into the broader narrative. Emilia Hart uses magic and myth not as a distraction, but as a powerful enhancer of the story’s feminist themes. The fantastical aspects elevate the women’s journeys, turning their defiance into something almost mythic, and their strength into a force of nature. Emilia Hart also skilfully reimagines real historical events through a fantastical lens, blending fact and fiction in a way that feels both grounded and otherworldly. This balance adds another layer of intrigue to the story, and fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike will find themselves fully immersed in the book’s world.
Readers who loved Emilia Hart’s previous work, Weyward, will not be disappointed. The Sirens builds on the strengths that made Weyward such a compelling read—the meticulous attention to detail, the focus on strong female characters, and the immersive world-building—but here, Emilia Hart’s ambitions feel even greater. The Sirens tackles larger societal themes of oppression, historical trauma, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood in a way that feels bold and timely. The scope of the novel is more expansive, the stakes higher, and the impact all the more profound.
Ultimately, The Sirens is much more than just a feminist novel. It’s a reminder of how far women have come and a call to action for how much further we still need to go. Emilia Hart has crafted a story that not only invites empathy for its powerful heroines but also encourages readers to reflect on the broader societal issues that women continue to face today. The characters’ journey toward self-discovery is not only moving but deeply inspiring, making The Sirens a thought-provoking and rewarding read for anyone interested in the themes of identity, empowerment, and resilience.
In conclusion, The Sirens is a beautifully written epic that artfully merges history, fantasy, and feminist empowerment in a way that feels both timeless and deeply relevant. This is a novel that celebrates courage, resilience, and the indomitable power of women to shape their own futures, no matter the obstacles. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy rich character development, complex timelines, and a narrative that resonates with meaning and relevance.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So pleased to be granted an advanced copy of this via Netgalley! I loved Weyward and couldn’t wait to explore another of Emilia’s immersive worlds. It was even better than expected-always a dark edge and there’s just something about the way she writes that really draws me in. Wholeheartedly recommend, 5 stars!

Having read Weyward, which I enjoyed, I was looking forward to reading Emilia Hart's new novel.

Set in Australia, Lucy flees a difficult situation and makes her way to her sister Jess's home in Comber bay. Jess is nowhere to be found on arrival, and Lucy has been having vivid dreams which are reflected in her sister's paintings.
Research in the local library unearths a mystery concerning disappearing men and a connection to two sisters, Mary and Eliza, who were transported as convicts to Australia from Ireland hundreds of years ago.
The chapters set in the past were evocative and captivating. The conditions that the sisters endured were convincing. Based on real life experiences, it was clear that women's lives had little if any value.
I was less convinced by the narrative set in the present. It didn't capture my interest and I struggled to focus my attention to the storyline.
The characterisation was slightly weak and I wasn't drawn to Lucy.
Overall, I enjoyed the historical aspect but was slightly disappointed in the novel as a whole.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the proof copy.

I loved Weyward and so intrigued to see what Hart wrote next - this absolutely did not disappoint and I loved the multiple POV and timeline set up, the magical realism and the very sudden twisty ending after a lag to lull the reader into false sense of security. Fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and the publishers for this fantastic ARC.

Well, what can I say, I’m obsessed! Could Emilia Hart be a new autobuy author? I think so!
When I saw The Sirens was available for an ARC I absolutely jumped at the chance, and was so excited when it was approved! I absolutely loved reading Weyward last year and was totally drawn into the story, and The Sirens is no different.

From start to finish I was fully immersed into the story and following the characters on each of their journeys. The author writes in such a way that totally draws you in and you become captivated by the story.

I loved how the book was split between three separate POV’s in three different time frames, spanning from the 1800’s, the 1990’s to present day 2019, as you get a feel for each of the characters as their stories play out and bring you closer to answers.

I think one of my favourite parts was the undercurrent of something going on in the background and is hinted at throughout the book, but isn’t fully explored until the very end. It was really clever and left you turning the pages from the very beginning to find out more.

Is this an excellent, magical, surreal and beautiful story that will keep you hooked the whole way through, and I would definitely recommend it.

I think Emilia Hart might be a new autobuy author for me. Following a similar style to Weyward, this tale is well written with characters you care about. It's not always surprising - many of the plot points are predicable- but it is so, so enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley and Emilia Hart for this ARC of The Sirens.

If you liked Weyward, you will love this!

This book was beautifully written and clearly well-researched. I loved the 3 different timelines/POVs and I am a sucker for diary entries.

I honestly didn’t want to put this book down. It was engaging, interesting, and definitely dark in parts. It was feminist and magical and very powerful.

Highly recommend.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

The Sirens (Emelia Hart, January 2025) examines the consequences of men’s predatory sexual behaviours, and the power of the sisterhoods within which women can find strength to heal, grow, and throw off everything preventing their freedom.
1801. Sisters Mary and Eliza are aboard the Naiad, a convict ship on its way to Australia. Scared and packed aboard the filthy ship, they have months of perilous sea travel ahead.
2019, Sidney, Australia. Lucy awakes from a dream of Mary and Eliza to find her hands gripping the throat of Ben, a fellow student. She flees his room and the university. After they’d had sex, Lucy – feeling safe and desired - had sent a naked picture of herself to Ben, who shared it with his friends. Devastated Lucy feels unable to go home, and instead drives cross country to visit her older, somewhat estranged, sister Jess in the small, mysterious, seaside town of Comber Bay.
A fixture in true-crime podcasts, Comber Bay has a history of unexplained disappearances since the 1960s. Eight very different men, a mix of locals and visitors, have simply vanished.
When Lucy arrives she find the front door of her sister’s house open. There is no sign of Jess, though her car and her phone are still there…
Hart’s writing is just wonderful, evocative and lyrical it brings to vivid life the span of times, people and places in the novel. It’s shocking and moving at times, with moments of great beauty and terror, and builds to a wonderfully realised conclusion.
Given how beautiful the writing can be, evoking an atmosphere of mystery and otherness, some elements clanged a bit dully – calling the ship the Naiad, for example - and I found the “labour saving” expositional device of having an absent character just happening to leave a novelistically-written journal behind quite hard to take.
Picky things I know, but they did impede my full enjoyment of an otherwise exceptionally satisfying book which is so very well written, saying important things in a fascinating context with a lovely dark twist of magic.

Book review || The sirens by Emilia Hart
Edition : ARC
Rating : 3.5/5⭐️
⚠️Spoiler free review⚠️

Key words : women, mystery, unreliable timeline, mermaids

Thank you to Emilia Hart and NetGalley, for the amazing opportunity to read : The sirens as an ARC.

This book is scooby doo x mermaids of mako x diverse timelines
I liked the mystery part of trying to decipher everything between the journals to real people, who all the other persons on the boats were and what let to Mary and Eliza being together on the way to Australia. Everyone having (somewhat) stories to tell and were just not categorized as secondary character.
However it is VERY slow, around 1/3 of the book in I was so close to DNFing it.
And in the first 2-3 chapters I knew were this was going. Anyways I liked that it tackled deep subject such as family issues, manipulation and abuse.

Book review 📚
The Sirens by Emilia Hart
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

I was introduced to Emilia when I was kindly sent the ARC for Weyward, and I absolutely fell in love with her writing. Emilia has such a beautiful way of writing, to the point you find yourself crying over scenes that are not necessarily sad but the way Hart writes them, that’s what makes them sad. It’s becoming very clear that Emilia Hart has become an auto buy author for me because Sirens did not let her down.

Sirens is a story that involves three sisters, who are separated by hundreds of years. You shift from current day to 1800s within the book and have multiple POVs from various women along the way. Hart truly opened up the story with the timeline and POVs. From the timeline and POVs you get an insight into a women’s role within society, both past and present.
The story itself is truly unique and I have not seen anything like it from any other authors. It was eerie, magical and surreal. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and this will easily be joined on my shelf along with Weyward.

The Sirens, Emilia Hart's evocative story, seamlessly combines past and present, myth and reality. After a terrible breakup, Lucy goes to her sister's isolated seaside village. The uncanny disappearance of men, whispered stories of angry women, and Lucy's developing connection to two sisters from ages before await her when her sister Jess goes gone.

The book's evocative writing is its strength. With its dark secrets and otherworldly elements, the beach scene feels alive. Hart brilliantly integrates feminist themes, addressing women's fury and perseverance across time, giving voice to the voiceless.

The Sirens will appeal to gothic fiction fans of The Essex Serpent, The Mermaid,. Slow-burning mystery with rich, lyrical prose that leaves you uneasy after the last page. A disturbing, thought-provoking read.

The sirens

After having read Weyward by this author I honestly couldn’t contain my excitement when I saw her announcing this next novel which would include freaking sirens! I’m both fascinated and intrigued by the sea and everything that lives in it (yes, I believe in mermaids. Fight me) and I feel like this vibe was perfectly transferred to Hart’s new novel. It was a pretty dark read but honestly it was so good, the darkness was necessary for this story although I get that it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Again, sister- and womanhood is one, if not the biggest, main topic in The sirens and I feel like writing these strong bonds between women while captivating those eerie vibes is one of this author’s strong suits. Her books are just very different from anything else i’ve ever read and I mean that in the best way possible . Emilia Hart is becoming one of my auto buy authors and I cannot wait to see what she’s got next up on her sleeve.

Wow what a book! was so looking forward to reading this one as I really enjoyed Weyward and I would say I liked this one even better! We begin with an intro to how convicts from the UK were sent to New South Wales in Australia in the 18th century. We then start the story with us meeting Lucy who is sleepwalking and after an incident causes her to leave her uni to go and visit her sister Jess, 100s of miles away on the coast the book flips between now and then - being back in the 1800s where Mary and her sister Eliza are being shipped over after being imprisoned.
I loved how atmospheric the writing style was, the sisterhood between both sisters and also the magic ability of water. I will be recommending to others