Kaitlyn Herrera's Reviews > The Sirens

Emilia Hart has lovingly crafted a tale of women’s fiction involving mysterious mermaids, women overcoming impossible odds, and transforming the remains of trauma into a personal Renaissance. Lucy and Jessica—sisters living in present day Australia—are dreaming of twin sisters, Eliza and Mary, who both lived over 200 hundred years ago. The twins were forced to travel to Australia on a British convict ship with other women and their story is one of sadness and transformation. Each time Lucy and Jessica dream, they learn more about the twins’ story, but they also begin to sleepwalk, dangerously being guided to the water. Both stories lead us to a seaside town called Comer Bay, where men have gone missing without a trace so many times over the years, it’s called the “Bermuda Triangle.” It is here that Jessica, Lucy, Eliza, and Mary’s stories converge to provide answers about their heritages and identities; more excitingly, this is where each character undergoes quite the shocking transformation.

This deep-sea saga is salted through with magical realism and a generous helping of decadently dark and rich Irish folklore. In traditional Greek mythology, Sirens are typically portrayed as rather villainous. They are beguiling temptresses, luring men to their watery graves with beautiful enchantments woven into song, as depicted in ancient tales such as The Odyssey. The sirens in this story have a vengeful protectiveness over women, which is a refreshing, feminist variation on the lore. They are called Merrow, and similarly, they are also known for their mercurial natures, fluidity between mermaid and human forms, and having the ability to use that fatal siren song. Of course, this was super exciting to read about, and I was all too eager to go swimming with the Sirens!

After reading both of Emilia Hart’s books, I have noticed a strong thematic presence involving the female experience, specifically as it relates to trauma and the healing process. The story was beautifully written, so when I felt like my soul was being broken apart yet again, the author at least painted a painfully exquisite picture. I honestly struggled with disliking the female main characters as much as I did. However, I am also able to see how each woman being written as a considerably flawed individual as integral to a story hooking together the intricacies of change, self-enlightenment, and acceptance in the face of hard truths. While cognitively complex, it can also make it challenging to prevent the characters from becoming wholly unlikable. There are several characters to navigate and multiple story lines to simultaneously weave together; in this, the author was brilliantly successful at showcasing female tenacity and resilience across the shores of time. However, I concluded that the pacing was pretty bogged down by these alternating points of view and shifting timelines. Significant moments for characters also seemed to be forgotten altogether as we progressed between the various viewpoints.

This nautical tale is one of female empowerment, embracing the tides of transformation, and a sisterhood so powerful it connects generations of women across time. I recommend embarking upon this seafaring, feminist odyssey if you enjoyed Hart’s previous book or enjoy works comparable to those from Kristin Hannah.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. Pub day is April 1st!