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The Sirens: A Novel

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • #1 LibraryReads Pick • Indie Next Pick

A
spellbinding novel about sisters separated by centuries, but bound together by the sea, from the author of the runaway New York Times bestseller Weyward

2019:
Lucy awakens from a dream to find her hands around her ex-lover’s throat. Horrified, she flees to her older sister’s house on the Australian coast, hoping she can help explain the strangely vivid nightmare that preceded the attack—but Jess is nowhere to be found.

As Lucy awaits her return, the rumors surrounding Jess’s strange small town start to emerge. Numerous men have gone missing at sea, spread over decades. A tiny baby was found hidden in a cave. And sailors tell of hearing women’s voices on the waves. Desperate for answers, Lucy finds and begins to read her sister’s adolescent diary.

1999: Jess is a lonely sixteen-year-old in a rural town in the middle of the continent. Diagnosed with a rare allergy to water, she has always felt different, until her young, charming art teacher takes an interest in her drawings, seeing a power and maturity in them—and in her—that no one else has.

1800: Twin sisters Mary and Eliza have been torn from their loving father in Ireland and forced onto a convict ship bound for Australia. For their entire lives, they’ve feared the ocean, as their mother tragically drowned when they were just girls. Yet as the boat bears them further and further from all they know, they begin to notice changes in their bodies that they can’t explain, and they feel the sea beginning to call to them…

A breathtaking tale of female resilience and the bonds of sisterhood across time and space, The Sirens captures the power of dreams, and the mystery and magic of the sea.

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Published Apr 1, 2025

352 pages

Average rating: 7.16

56 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Andrea-The Shelf Life Books
Jul 03, 2025
8/10 stars
Emilia Hart crafts a tale of women’s fiction with mysterious mermaids, resilience, and overcoming trauma. Lucy and Jessica dream of Eliza and Mary, twin sisters from 200 years ago forced to Australia on a convict ship. As they dream, Lucy and Jessica sleepwalk towards the water.
Their stories converge in Comer Bay, known as the “Bermuda Triangle” for missing men, revealing heritage and identity. The Sirens, called Merrow, are vengeful protectors of women, a feminist twist on Greek mythology. They switch between mermaid and human forms and use a fatal siren song.
Hart's books focus on female experiences, trauma, and healing. While beautifully written, the characters are flawed, highlighting themes of change and acceptance. Despite this, the pacing suffers from alternating points of view and shifting timelines, sometimes causing important moments to be overlooked. Overall, I did enjoy the book and cannot wait to see what else Emilia Hart has in store for us.
Tanja
Jun 25, 2025
8/10 stars
ARC Review!

First off, I love the cover! I truly enjoyed the eerie and mysterious vibes. I loved the dual timelines and how the author tied the 2 stories together at the end. The writing is beautiful. However, I wasn't able to connect with any of the characters, and I really wanted to love them, but unfortunately I did not :(. I would still recommend this book to anyone who enjoys elements of magic, folklore, and the supernatural.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
sneed
Jun 18, 2025
9/10 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Gail_71
May 13, 2025
7/10 stars
Emilia Hart's "The Sirens" is a captivating tale of sisterhood, featuring two sets of sisters separated by centuries yet connected by magic. In the present day, Lucy, a journalism student, wakes up to find herself in a shocking confrontation with her ex-lover. Fleeing to her sister Jess's home, she discovers Jess is missing. Meanwhile, in the past, Irish sisters Eliza and Mary are aboard a convict ship to Australia after defending themselves against an assault. The connection between the timelines unfolds gradually, and while the feminist themes are strong, the mystery of Jess’s disappearance feels somewhat forced. Nevertheless, Hart’s vivid descriptions of the sea and life on the ship bring the story to life. I recommend this book for those who enjoy stories of complex family dynamics, strong women, and a hint of fantasy.
Monkus Readus
Jun 08, 2025
10/10 stars
Loved this book!

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