The Sirens
Emilia Hart || Publication Date - 29.01.2025
A haunting and atmospheric tale of magical realism.
Fiction | Fantasy | Historical | Magical Realism
Affiliate Link - https://bookshop.org/a/110173/9781250280824
'The Sirens' follows a young woman named Lucy, set in 2019. While at University housing she attacks a boy as she was sleepwalking and, terrified of the consequences, she flees.
Twin sisters Mary and Eliza, set in 1800, are being sent to Australia from Ireland on a convict ship. They have also committed a similar crime and have been sentenced to the New World.
Lucy is experiencing odd dreams of these two sisters from over 200 years ago, she has no idea why, and decides to try and track down her older sister Jessica to see if she can get some answers.
When Lucy arrives at Jessica's house, she finds it practically abandoned. It's almost as if her sister has disappeared, the same as a dozen men off the coast of this clifftop town have done... without a trace.
The Review (May Contain Spoilers)
This is the first novel I have read that's been written by Emilia Hart, and after making her debut in 2023 with 'Weyward,' I can see why she's celebrated as a talented author. That being said, this novel had all the parts I would need to piece together an amazing story. Mysteries that are interconnected with Historical events which shape the lives of modern day characters. Eerie and captivating folktales which may or may not actually be true. And I cannot forget the underlying narrative of empowering women, especially those who have suffered at the hands of someone else. Putting this all together in 'The Sirens' however, left me underwhelmed towards the end of the novel.
To say this novel is drenched in atmosphere is an understatement. It was a constant looming presence over the entire duration of the novel. I loved the uncertain, mystical energy it created. Definitely the strongest point of this novel next to Emilia's writing. Phenomenal. Emilia's descriptions of events, especially during the voyage of Mary and Eliza, were haunting to say the least. It was cruel, callous and full of wavering despair as the girls and their fellow convicts were hauled to Australia.
I had hoped that the weaving storyline of Mary and Eliza didn't abruptly finish when Lucy and Jessica end up together, unfortunately this was the case. It made their involvement and story almost meaningless as this novel could be told entirely without their perspectives and still make sense. There was a huge emphasis on these two girls, and for them to get pushed aside made them seem almost trivial, or an afterthought, to make the story fantastical. I would have liked to have seen them integrated properly into Lucy and Jess's discovery solidifying their linked storylines.
To say this novel is drenched in atmosphere is an understatement. It was a constant looming presence over the entire duration of the novel. I loved the uncertain, mystical energy it created. Definitely the strongest point of this novel next to Emilia's writing. Phenomenal. Emilia's descriptions of events, especially during the voyage of Mary and Eliza, were haunting to say the least. It was cruel, callous and full of wavering despair as the girls and their fellow convicts were hauled to Australia.
I had hoped that the weaving storyline of Mary and Eliza didn't abruptly finish when Lucy and Jessica end up together, unfortunately this was the case. It made their involvement and story almost meaningless as this novel could be told entirely without their perspectives and still make sense. There was a huge emphasis on these two girls, and for them to get pushed aside made them seem almost trivial, or an afterthought, to make the story fantastical. I would have liked to have seen them integrated properly into Lucy and Jess's discovery solidifying their linked storylines.
Overall Thoughts
I cannot speak for those who have read Emilia's first novel 'Weyward', however, as a stand alone novel it was a solid story. As I had described above, for me personally, it had all the elements I love when it comes to magical realism and enriching a modern story with it. The premise was interesting and the mixed media components of the novel made it engaging. I do wish, wholeheartedly, that the novel leaned into the fantastical more than it did. I feel it could have raised the potential of this novel, but instead it felt like an afterthought.
If you enjoy stories around magical realism, especially when it influences modern characters, magic and eerie associations with disappearances and the ocean, I could recommend this to you. I would double down on this recommendation if you have read and enjoyed 'The Lost Apothecary' by Sarah Penner. Although the premise is quite different, it has very similar themes and both stories embrace the empowerment of women's voices giving justice to those who have been harmed.