3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Sirens by Emilia Hart is a beautifully written historical fantasy with strong themes of sisterhood, resilience, and transformation. The story moves between two timelines: in 1800, Irish sisters Mary and Eliza are sentenced to transportation to Australia aboard a harrowing convict ship, and in 2019, Lucy returns to a coastal town searching for answers after her sister Jess disappears.
The dual timeline format is a strength, with the historical narrative standing out as the most compelling. The atmosphere is immersive, especially around the sea, the coastal setting, and the eerie small-town mysteries. Hart’s writing style remains lyrical and evocative, with clear echoes of her debut Weyward.
Where the book faltered for me was in the pacing and emotional engagement. Lucy’s chapters, written in third person, felt distant and repetitive, slowing the pacing and making it harder to connect. Although the themes of transformation and inherited trauma were interesting, many of the major revelations came too late to be satisfying. I also found the student-teacher subplot in Jess’s arc unnecessary and distracting.
While the concept was strong and the writing lovely, I didn’t feel as gripped or emotionally invested as I hoped. Readers who loved Weyward may still enjoy the lyrical style and themes, but The Sirens never fully hooked me.
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