After an incident at her university, Lucy Martin makes the long trip to Comber Bay to see her sister, Jess, but when she finally arrives, Jess is nowhere to be found. While trying to understand where her sister might have gone, Lucy begins to piece together the haunting history of the town she finds herself in; notorious for an 18th century shipwreck and of men disappearing without a trace.

It took me a little while to get into ‘The Sirens’ - I found I didn’t immediately warm to Lucy - but once immersed into the mysteries of Comber Bay, I could barely put this down. I thought the scene setting was extremely evocative; I could practically smell the sea and hear the crash of the waves! The characters, too, once further into the book, felt very vivid. In novels with more than one timeline, I often find myself drawn more heavily to one over the other(s), but here I felt equally compelled by the stories of Mary and Eliza, of Lucy, and of Jess. There were times when I had to pause because would get myself confused between Lucy and Jess, probably because they both have short names, but this didn’t detract from my enjoyment overall. It is clear that the author put a lot of thought and research into the historical parts of the story, and this really comes through on the page.

Fans of Emilia Hart’s debut novel ‘Weyward’ will not be disappointed by ‘The Sirens’ and I can highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a touch of the mythical and mysterious.

I’m extremely grateful to the publishers and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book, on which this review is based.

The Sirens is an incredibly gripping and atmospheric story told over dual timelines. It pulled me in from the start and help me captive til the very end.

Thank you so much to Emilia Hart and Netgalley for this ARC!
Similarly to Weyward, The Sirens follows women in two different time periods connected by a secret that sets them apart from the women around them. The pacing and switching between POVs was engaging and well done. The plot unfolded in an unexpected way and kept me hooked right from the first chapter.

One thing that stands out for me in Emilia Hart's work is how incredibly well researched it is- it is obvious that she cares deeply about doing the women who suffered justice while effortlessly weaving in fantasy elements. She portrays the complexities of womanhood and sisterhood expertly and I feel truly privileged to have read this book early.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

There are enough twists and turns in this book that even if you think you've figured them all out, you're probably wrong! It masquerades as a piece of historical fiction connecting with the present, so it's the kind of novel that will probably appeal to more literary fiction readers rather than fantasy purists. But the mystery and suspense that Hart imbues into the narrative draws you along and drags you into her watery world.

After Weyward, Emilia Hart has established herself as one of my autobuy authors. The Sirens, however good didn’t tip Weyward but the female empowerment aspect of it blew my mind again. I settled into the story quickly and was hooked from the start. I cannot pinpoint anything that I didn’t like, but it wasn’t as gripping as Weyward. However, I think this book is important and needs to be read. Absolutely fantastic.

In this book, we follow Lucy who, after waking up with her hands around her ex's throat, runs away from university to seek refuge in her sister's house in Comber Bay. But when she arrives, her sister Jess is nowhere to be found. As Lucy learns more about the history of the town, she finds herself experiencing strange dreams and uncovering secrets that will impact her on a personal level.

The story is told through 2 POVs: Lucy in present day and convict Mary in the 1800s. As with Emilia Hart's previous book, Weyward, both timelines feature the themes of womanhood/sisterhood, resilience, female rage, and generational trauma. The novel is beautifully written with a slow, introspective plot progression. I would not classify it as fantasy, but rather as historical/contemporary fiction with magic realism elements.

A recommended read for fans of Weyward, When Women Were Dragons, and narratives centered on female empowerment.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

From the first chapter of this book I was hooked. Lucy was caught sleep walking with her hands around the throat of her ex so she skips university and heads to her sister’s home in Comber Bay. Lucy hasn’t made her sister Jess aware so when she turns up unannounced she is concerned to find Jess’s car and phone at the house but no sign of Jess.

The town has a strange history with men disappearing without a trace and the sounds of women appearing to come from the waves. A baby was found in a cave that is sea swept and the rumours that followed destroyed the family that took the abandoned baby in.

Lucy starts to dream of 2 sisters with a dark past from 200 years ago. Can Lucy find out the truth of Comber Bay and more importantly can she find her sister safe and sound.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. I did guess part of the storyline but that didn’t matter as it didn’t take away from the story. I enjoyed the way it split between a dual timeline as you got to know both sets of sisters. Part historical fiction and part fantasy is how I would describe this book and I highly recommend reading it.

I went into The Sirens with high expectations, particularly after hearing such praise for Emilia Hart’s previous work, Weyward (which I still need to read). The buzz surrounding the author’s storytelling abilities had me eagerly awaiting the chance to dive into this advanced reading copy. Unfortunately, despite the promising premise, The Sirens never really resonated with me.

From the very beginning, I struggled to get into the story. It’s not that the book was poorly written; Hart’s prose is certainly competent, but the narrative simply didn’t click. I found myself disconnected from the characters, which is a huge barrier for me in any book. When you don’t care about the people whose lives are at the center of the plot, it’s hard to feel invested in the outcome.

The story itself didn’t seem to capture my attention either. While it had potential, there were moments where I just felt like I was trudging through, hoping for a spark that never quite came. Perhaps the themes or character arcs didn’t speak to me personally, but in the end, I was left feeling indifferent.

In summary, The Sirens just didn’t tickle my pickle. A book can have beautiful prose and an intriguing premise, but if the emotional connection isn’t there, it falls short. Unfortunately, this one didn’t meet my expectations. However, I can see how it might appeal to others, especially those who enjoyed Weyward, so I wouldn’t completely dismiss Hart’s writing. It just wasn’t the right fit for me.

The allure of mermaids alone had me begging netgalley for a chance to read an ARC of this highly anticipated new offer from Emilia Hart.

Lucy wakes to the horror of finding her hands squeezed around her ex-lover’s neck. What ensues is a soul searching journey where she seeks comfort and strength in her family...but her sister is missing and Lucy is haunted by disturbing dreams of a treacherous seafaring voyage. There is a lot to unpack here but the plot’s layers are unravelled in an evocative tale of love and sisterhood.

I was immediately swept up in the mystery and intrigue from the first page. The beautiful writing had me delving into the historical and contemporary POVs. I found the jump between the settings sometimes jarring as the timelines could switch mid chapter and there were so many storylines, I felt that one or two just didn’t tie up as well as the others. Overall though, I found this a powerful and emotional read that raises feminist issues both historically and in the present.

3.75🌟

The Sirens is a story of sisterhood, of the power of women, of the strength and resilience of women, and of individuality and differences. It spans various timelines: two sisters on board a convict ship from Ireland to the colonies of Australia; Lucy, a young student escaping after waking up in her ex’s university bedroom attempting to strangle him; and Jess, Lucy’s sister, who has mysteriously disappeared days before her art exhibition. Full of folklore and mythology, this story allows the young women to shine and develop as their stories unravel, intertwining across the centuries. Emilia Hart is a great storyteller and champion of women’s fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Harper Collins for a copy in exchange for a review.

The Sirens is my first book by this author, but I was immediately swept away by Hart’s stunning prose.

We follow two sisters in the present timeline, both haunted by dreams of another two sisters in the past. I found both of the storylines gripping, frantically turning the pages to solve the mystery at the centre of the story.

There is an eerie sense of foreboding throughout which I really appreciated. I was completely transported to the rocky cliffs, the crashing waves and the dark caves.

I thoroughly enjoyed the themes of female rage, sisterhood and generational trauma. There were a couple of unexpected twists, and I found the ending very satisfying.

Really looking forward to finally picking up Weyward!

Rating: 3.5/5, great.
Publishing date: 13/02/2025
Thank you Emilia Hart and HapperCollinsUK for the advanced copy.

The Sirens by Emilia Hart is an alluring novel that intertwines the lives of four sisters, separated by the tides of time and space yet mysteriously bound together in this dual-timeline narrative. The novel explores female-centric themes such as sisterhood, body dysmorphia, and sexuality. Hart has crafted a multilayered story blending fantasy, historical fiction, mystery, romance, and contemporary fiction. It is truly a well-constructed book.

The story begins in 2019, when Lucy wakes up to find herself strangling her boyfriend in the aftermath of a fight. Horrified, she flees to Comber Bay (a fictitious location) to seek help from her estranged sister. Meanwhile, in 1800s Ireland, Mary and Eliza commit a crime and are sentenced to exile, sent to the New South Wales colony.

To give context, Hart explains, in a historical note, in the early 1800s a British fleet transporting female convicts to the colony of New South Wales in modern Australia sank when arriving at its destination, bringing death upon all the crew members and convicts, or so they say. Hart intelligently weaves the stories of the sisters' narratives around this historical context, shedding some, but not enough, light on the history of the First Nation peoples. Although the narrative is rich, I found it difficult to differentiate the sister's voices, and more frequently than not, I would go back one sentence to identify the character.

Comber Bay itself becomes an eerie, almost sentient presence in the novel—a small, isolated town where men have mysteriously disappeared for decades, turning it into a tourist attraction for true crime aficionados. Lucy is introduced to Comber Bay while listening to a crime podcast, learning about its long history of disappearances and the unsettling discovery of a newborn baby at the mouth of a cave system called Devil’s Lookout. When Lucy arrives, she finds her sister's car parked and her cell phone still charging - but her sister is nowhere to be found. From this point, Lucy reflects deeply on her past while desperately trying to contact her sister.

This is a slow-paced novel, which is not a synonym for dullness, with vivid and evocative prose.

"Her eyes well with tears, blurring the landscape in front of her."

Despite its mythological title and supposed theme, I would not classify The Sirens as a fantasy novel. While it contains elements of magic and folklore, its core themes revolve around family and female oppression. It is a contemporary history with magical realism elements. One particularly brilliant passage captures the nature of male gaslighting and I wonder if you have ever seen yourself in this situation.

A brief take on sirens: Naiad, mermaid, siren. The children of Poseidon, often depicted as naked women with two legs - and sometimes fishtails - originated from Greek mythology, being further disseminated into other cultures. They are connected to music and are perceived as seductresses of men. "The sweetness of the sound enchants their ears and senses and lulls them to sleep. As soon as they fast asleep, the sirens attack them and devour their flesh, and so the lure of their voices brings ignorant and imprudent men to their deaths. In the same way, all those who delight in the pomp and vanity and delights of this world, and lose the vigour of their minds by listening to comedies, tragedies and various musical melodies." (Sasha Coward, Queer as Folklore)

Overall, The Sirens is a beautifully written, thought-provoking and thematically rich novel, but it may not resonate with readers expecting a fast-paced, deeply historical novel or feminist rage. The slow burn and introspective nature of the story require patience to savour every word and meaning, but those willing to immerse themselves will find a compelling tale of resilience, womanhood, and the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. It’s a book that lingers, much like the haunting echoes of a siren’s song. Beware not to drown!

4 stars - Dual timeline historical fiction combined with a missing person and a paranormal theme.

Modern day Lucy escapes to her sister Jess’s cottage, after an incident at school. Jess, however, is not there but Lucy finds a painting that reflects her current dreams of two sisters. The story flickers to the past tense of the sisters harrowing journey across the sea from Ireland to Australia, on board a convicts boat in the 1800s. Where is Jess and why do they share the dreams of the sisters?

The author has a way of truly captivating the reader and I was hooked from the very start of the story. As with Weyward, the story has themes of family, feminism and a slight paranormal aspect to the story. The Sirens has a chilling sense of foreboding as the mystery deepens in both timelines.

I enjoyed each timeline and couldn’t wait to read the other one once they changed over. Mary and Eliza’s story was heartbreaking, based on true events, the conditions of their exile and their time on the ship are horrendous. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding Jess’s disappearance and Lucy discovering more about her and her sisters past.

I was slightly confused with the ending and epilogue and think I either missed something or it was kept vague on purpose but I still have questions.

Would recommend to those who like dual timelines and a slight paranormal aspect. You may also enjoy the works of CJ Cooke or vice versa.

Thanks to Net galley for this free read. I enjoyed this book. It started off a little slow - building up the characters and back story. However it soon became a page turner and I kept guessing what might happen in the end and how/where all the pieces of information fitted together. The audience follows two stories which intertwine both in the past and present through the lives of two sisters. We are led into a world where convicts could be transported to Australia just for stealing a loaf of bread. One of the sisters is attending University however this comes to an abrupt end following an episode of sleep walking as a result of a stressful situation. I will say no more other than it is well worth the read even when at first it may feel like the story is unfolding a little slowly. Enjoy!

I loved Weyward so I was excited for this one. It was definitely different but I enjoyed the mystery and magical elements throughout.

"All her life, she'd taken for granted that doing the right thing - being conscientious and kind and considerate - would be rewarded; that official procedures and process could be relied upon...Thay facts would always, inevitably, prevail. But she'd been wrong. When she sought help...They wanted her to go away."

Another ensconsing read from one of my favourite authors who blends mystery, history, true crime and magical realism in this feminist tale of belonging and survival. With multiple narratives from present day Lucy in coastal New South Wales, Australia searching for her sister Jess and twin sisters Eliza and Mary on board a convict ship in 1800 on its perilous and inhumane journey from Ireland to Australia, it becomes clear how their stories are connected over the centuries. As secrets are revealed I longed for the women to survive and thrive.

TWs: misogyny, predatory male, sexual assualt.

I love the cover, the idea, and the writing style.
The essence, however, is almost non-existent.
A small family, two girls, and their parents live in their own closed world for years. When the older sister starts asking questions she instantly senses that something isn`t right, that their parents are hiding something. Fast forward to the future and we now know that Jessica (the older sister) lives elsewhere. When Lucy (the younger sister) needs a quiet place to calm her head she decides to visit Jess. But Jess is not there, the door is open. So Lucy settles herself as if in her own home and does very little for many pages to follow. She dreams, she looks through the window, and she reads Jess's diary. Then bam! The mystery is solved and the book ends.
Oh, and the narrative is intertwined with a retrospective story from the past about the journey ship full of women convicts. That ship tragically sunk in 1801. What does this story have to do with our sisters? Apart from magical spiritual connection absolutely nothing.
I found the story very predictable, I knew what's the secret early on. Lucy's behavior does not make me like her or feel sorry for her, she irritates me. The pages are filled with nicely written text about nothing. Long stretches are devoid of any development whatsoever.
I can see why so many people dnf-ed this book.

Fleeing a violent act of which she has no memory of committing Lucy leaves her university and seeks safety with her sister Jess. But Jess is missing and whilst searching for her Lucy begins to feel connected to two sisters on a convict ship in the 1800’s. A novel told over two time periods this novel is extremely well researched and is a story of betrayal and revenge. A book full of magical realism and the strength of sisterhood and family. Although initially a slow burn the author’s writing pulls you into the story so that you can almost feel you are dipping your toes into the water. Now a favourite author of mine I will be looking out for her next book Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this novel in return for a honest review.

Having loved ‘Weyward’ I jumped at the chance to read this and I wasn’t disappointed. This is a story of four women and different timelines. A tale of a struggle to accept their own unique qualities and a a tale of myth and legend. We start with Lucy in 2019, a girl who suffers from aquagenic urticaria, a condition where contact with water causes rashes. She has been shamed as an intimate photo that she sent a person she believed cared for her has been sent across the internet. One night she sleepwalks and when she wakes she finds herself trying the strangle the guy who sent out the photo and so she flees to Comper Bay where her sister, Jess, lives only to find that she has disappeared. There is also the thread that Comper Bay is the place where 8 men have mysteriously vanished. Comper Bay is also the place wherein the 1800s a convict ship carrying women was wrecked and there is the myth that these lost women’s voices can be heard singing. Other timelines are those of Mary and Eliza, two sisters who were on the convict ship and Jess’ diary, which Lucy finds and reads, from 1999. Lucy also has vivid dreams about Mary and Eliza. There is lush magical realism in with the descriptions and the idea of the women’s voices harks back to Greek mythology and the Sirens who lured sailors to their deaths. But rather than being evil, the sirens in this novel have a very different role, we see a strong protectiveness. A wonderful read with super imagery. Rounded up to 5*

Atmospheric and eerie. In 2019, Lucy has bad dreams about the two sisters, Mary and Eliza,convicts travelling to Australia whom we follow in the earlier timeframe of the novel. Lucy goes to visit her sister, but finds her missing. A mystery! Not sure about the magical realism aspect but it was beautifully written and a satisfying read on the whole.