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Emily May's Reviews > The Sirens
The Sirens
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I do not think I would have finished this book if I hadn't received an arc. Now, looking at the book page on Goodreads, I see a number of people DNFed it for a lot of the same reasons I wanted to.
Hart's Weyward was a very pleasant surprise for me last year. It was also the whole reason I couldn't wait to read this book. Strong writing; strong characters; intriguing story... but I think The Sirens can only really lay claim to the first one of those. Some beautiful description was all it really had going for it.
This was one of those books that I simply did not click with; I never experienced that moment where the book latches on and pulls you in. There was no connection with the characters, no real plot for 80% of the book, no hook, no urgency, no vibrancy… nothing that made me want to read on. The stakes felt low throughout and I think a good hundred pages of Lucy's rambling introspection could have been safely cut.
From the beginning, I felt it difficult to connect with these characters. The story starts with Lucy waking up from sleep-walking and finding her hands around the neck of this guy she slept with one time (before he shared intimate photos of her). Mortified, she flees her university and decides, for some reason, to drive out into the middle of nowhere to visit her estranged sister. I just really didn’t understand her actions from the start. It seemed a weak and weird excuse to force Lucy and Jess together, especially as the whole sleepwalking deal is kinda forgotten later.
The story, like Weyward, flits about through multiple perspectives, but here they all had the same narrative style and voice. Not only did this make it less believable, especially when we went a couple centuries back in time, but it was also boring and monotonous.
Also, there is a (view spoiler) in this book, something I feel has been explored to death and done so much better by other authors like (view spoiler).
I do feel the book picks up towards the end, but I personally don't think it's worth it. There's a lot of meandering non-story here, with characters (mainly Lucy) dithering about and doing nothing for pages on end.
Hart's Weyward was a very pleasant surprise for me last year. It was also the whole reason I couldn't wait to read this book. Strong writing; strong characters; intriguing story... but I think The Sirens can only really lay claim to the first one of those. Some beautiful description was all it really had going for it.
This was one of those books that I simply did not click with; I never experienced that moment where the book latches on and pulls you in. There was no connection with the characters, no real plot for 80% of the book, no hook, no urgency, no vibrancy… nothing that made me want to read on. The stakes felt low throughout and I think a good hundred pages of Lucy's rambling introspection could have been safely cut.
From the beginning, I felt it difficult to connect with these characters. The story starts with Lucy waking up from sleep-walking and finding her hands around the neck of this guy she slept with one time (before he shared intimate photos of her). Mortified, she flees her university and decides, for some reason, to drive out into the middle of nowhere to visit her estranged sister. I just really didn’t understand her actions from the start. It seemed a weak and weird excuse to force Lucy and Jess together, especially as the whole sleepwalking deal is kinda forgotten later.
The story, like Weyward, flits about through multiple perspectives, but here they all had the same narrative style and voice. Not only did this make it less believable, especially when we went a couple centuries back in time, but it was also boring and monotonous.
Also, there is a (view spoiler) in this book, something I feel has been explored to death and done so much better by other authors like (view spoiler).
I do feel the book picks up towards the end, but I personally don't think it's worth it. There's a lot of meandering non-story here, with characters (mainly Lucy) dithering about and doing nothing for pages on end.
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Reading Progress
March 5, 2024
– Shelved
January 3, 2025
–
Started Reading
January 5, 2025
–
Finished Reading
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Lee-Ann
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Jan 06, 2025 04:49PM
I hate to hear this because I really loved Weyward and was looking forward to this one.
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I'm currently reading Weyward and really liking it. I did consider reading The Sirens, but I think I'll skip it now.
I felt the same way about this book. I could not get into it despite my best efforts, cheers to actually finishing it!
That's so disappointing to hear because this was one of my most looked forward to books coming out this year.
Oh no! I have this arc and planned on starting it soon.
Nooo, so sad to hear! I have been looking forward to this one because I adored Weyward. Still gonna read it the second I can get my hands on it and crossing my fingers :)
I have also been anticipating this after reading Weyward last year. Sad to hear this!
No disrespect meant but you should all read it and make your own decisions.
Oh wow. I just finished it and thought it was such a beautiful story. This is more of a character study than a full plot driven novel. I would be shocked if this doesn’t make it in my favorite reads of 2025.
I’ve just finished this book and your review is word for word what I would have written. Gutted as Weyward was just incredible 😭
Which Elizabeth Stout book is about the teacher student affair?
I couldn’t agree more. I too would not have finished it if it wasn’t an arc.
You have an arc I'm hoping the actual published version is better because I really want to read it
Unfortunately, I agree with all of this
I'm still going to give it a go. Historical Fantasy/Fiction is my favorite.
Honestly I was feeling a bit bad about DNFing this book, and Weyward was one of my favs of recent years and I had been so excited about this, but this review solidifies my decision with DNF at about half through. I just didn’t see the point and wasn’t interested enough to keep going.
Emily~Your review of this book, sums up my feelings exactly. Just about to finish this and could not connect to the story or characters the entire time.
Agreed - and i was SO sad because Weyward was one of my favs of that year.
Very same opinion word by word……. So disappointed after Weyward book😭❤️🩹
So much meandering…
Jenbebookish wrote: "Which Elizabeth Stout book is about the teacher student affair?"Sorry, Goodreads has just decided not to give me comment notifications. It's Amy and Isabelle.
I don’t know if I didn’t connect with this book or if it was hard to follow. I was confused. Maybe my brain squirreled as a was reading but everything felt so disjointed.
copy and paste. my thoughts exactly.
I loved Weyward and was so sad I didn’t love this. The teenage journal entries really rubbed me the wrong way too, it didn’t seem like a teenager’s diary. It’s a DNF for me too.
These were my feelings exactly!!
Just finished and completely agree with you. What a disappointment!
I think maybe if you are not keeping the awareness of what Sirens are in mind, you might miss a big piece of what pulls it together.
Unfortunately I have to agree with many of the negative comments. As much as I loved Weyward, this novel is beginning to bore with too many words saying the same things over and over. I'm halfway through so I'll probably finish it, mostly for the respect for the author, who in my opinion, is one of the better writers.Enes
I felt the same. I loved weyward and have been waiting for this one. And ugh! It took me weeks to get through. So disappointed in this
100% I kept waiting for the big reveals and turning points, and while one was like an “Oooh!” moment, it just made me more confused. Also, did I totally miss what happened to those missing men?? Clearly the rotating narrative and nonlinear timelines added to the complexity but also left me with gaps in my understanding.
Same here. I usually can push through a book just to finish it because I started it if I’m not fully feeling the lure/latch. I think I’m going to take the loss and stop at 43%. This is the first so disappointed I really wanted to like it.
My exact thoughts thank you
Totally agree. Weyward was so good!
About to DNF it with 100 pages to go. Came to GoodReads to see what other readers were saying. I agree with what you've said. It's missing passion.
I felt exactly the same! Weyward was my top read of last year and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one- I just finished it and feel sorely disappointed. Some beautiful writing like you said, but the story never really gripped me.
I agree with all your points…ALSO…When she turns up at her sisters house, finds her car on the drive and her phone inside….and she decides NOT to raise the alarm?! For days she just sat around reading her high school diary and listening to podcasts?! Really?!
I couldn’t agree with this review more if I had written it myself. This was such a letdown compared to the magic and wonderful story telling of Weyward
Exactly! I agree that there was nothing for about 80% of the book. I never felt the connection to the characters unfortunately. I will have to read Weyward.
I slogged through, but yeah. Only the promise of mermaids kept me coming back
Ok. I came here to see how you all felt about this book. I am 44% in and I am pulling my own hair out from boredom. I thought it was just me. Thanks ladies. I think I will DNF this book now.
