Emilia Hart could write anything, ANYTHING, and it would be poetry. Weyward and The Sirens had me sure of that, and I was excited to receive this ARC. It did not disappoint. Now I love WW2 fiction anyway, but this is more than that. Complex, human, magical. I hope this author writes for many years to come, as I’ll be first in line to buy her next book.

I devoured this in one day—I literally couldn't put it down! Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me early access.

What completely made this book for me was the characters. Emilia Hart writes female relationships in a way that feels so real, protective, and emotional. The bond between the sisters is the absolute heart of the story, and their grief, loyalty, and fierce love for each other had me completely hooked.

Every woman in this book is complex, flawed, and resilient in her own way. Watching how their dynamics played out across different timelines made everything feel so heavy and meaningful. If you love character-driven stories about sisterhood, family ties, and women fighting for each other against all odds, get this on your TBR right now!

This was my first 2027 read. I normally read my ARCs in release order, so I still had 2026 books to read but as soon as I received this I had to move it to the top of my list.

Weyward is one of my absolute favourite books, and The Sirens, whilst not at the same level in my opinion, was still an incredible book. So I have been super excited about this one. Emilia is an original talent and I can't see her ever writing a book that isn't utterly fantastic to read. So yeah, I had high hopes.

Her way of writing women, particularly sisters, is one of the best. The only person I can compare her to is Julie Owen Moylan, another of my favourite female writers.

It's not what I was expecting. In terms of storytelling ability it is, and character creation and depth of feeling etc. But this one felt more accessible plot wise, even though there is this sense of magic in it. But the previous two were very much fantasy, whereas this one felt very real but with a spark of magic. It's also set in a familiar historical period. Her previous books include scenes from a time or land that feels ancient to us, whereas a book set during WWII feels relatively recent and familiar.

And I think this means it didn't have the same feel to it. I just want to add here that's not a complaint, just an observation. If you'd given it to me and not told me who the author was, I probably wouldn't have plumped for her, but it's an interesting new angle and it's just cemented how much of an interesting writer she is.

It is told through Beatrice's POV, and her Mum Alice's POV - these are mostly when she was a young child and then young woman, and really helped flesh out the character in the more modern scenes. And I really liked it when the two POVs became intertwined.

I liked her depictions of wartime Britain. She's not glamorised it or sensationalised it, nor has she focussed on the macabre and morbid. She's been honest about it and you really get that sense. But this isn't a war novel. This is a novel about family and sisterhood and what you'd do for those you love that just so happens to be set at wartime.

I read it in two sittings because whilst it might light on action (not a criticism) it's still so addictive. And I felt really sad once I'd finished it because it meant I was no longer in this world she'd created.

I generally don't reread books because I have so many new ones to read. But this might be an exception. There are so many little things threaded through it that I imagine I missed on first read, so it would be interesting to see how much more I could get out of it a second time.

What a wonderfully haunting story. I could not put it down and read it over two nights. It brought me to tears!
I must find more stories from this author.

Emilia Hart does it again with another beautifully written book. I was gripped from the start and didn’t want it to end.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this arc.

What a hauntingly beautiful book. The Enigmas is about death, grief, second chances and the love a mother has for her daughter(s), done in such a unique way. It will stay with me for a while. Bonus points for the setting, which is one of my favorite subjects to read about.

Thanks to HarperCollins UK, The Borough Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.

What an absolutely wonderful story; I fell in love with all the characters so quickly and the ending was perfect (and heartbreaking)!

I love historical fiction and have always had an interest in WWII so I was really excited when I read the description; and the Enigmas really lived up to everything I had hoped. The relationships between mother and daughter, sister and sister, are crafted so beautifully alongside a gripping, magical story.

It’s great to read about three strong, impressive women forging ahead in spite of the constraints of the time they live in.

Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

1940 and her 28th birthday. Beatrice Bone is very despondent. Unlike her gifted and brilliant younger sister Clementine, Beatrice has never been allowed any freedom. Home schooled and smothered by her mother, Beatrice is desperate to experience ‘life’.

When Clemmie comes home to visit for Beatrice’s birthday, they come up with a plan for Beatrice to go to work with her sister. Little does Beatrice know that Clemmie is doing serious war work, and that the jobs they take on are vital in assisting the country to win the war against Germany.

I am a great admirer of Hart, but seriously considered giving this a pass due to the subject matter - I’m not a lover of war stories. How happy am I that I decided give it a go, it’s absolutely excellent.

A perfect story of the complex relationships between three strong, independent women, each flawed but totally ahead of their time.

Excellent characterisation, brilliant plot and wonderful execution. A bit of a brain baffler, but so well worth the effort. it certainly keeps the little grey cells busy.

100% recommendation, an addictive read, an absolute joy.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK.