Take a photo of a barcode or cover
reposefulreads 's review for:
The Sirens
by Emilia Hart
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Part historical fiction and part contemporary novel, The Sirens is a beautifully written and compelling exploration of sisterhood, family and finding one’s place. There are two timelines-one set in 2019 and one set in 1800-and each details the journeys of two sets of young women as they contend with hardships and self-acceptance amidst an inexplicable yearning for something more.
Twins Mary and Eliza are prisoners in a ship traveling from Ireland to Australia, while college student Lucy flees to her older sister Jess’ home in the coastal town of Comber Bay, New South Wales after a sleepwalking episode ends with unexpected violence. With Jess inexplicably missing, Lucy finds herself delving into her sister’s old diary and unearthing new mysteries.
The Sirens is something of a slow-burn and I enjoyed witnessing the plot unfold from dual perspectives. I appreciated the research utilized to depict Mary and Eliza’s timeline-especially prior to their subjugation-and would have enjoyed even more time spent with their characters and family.
Lucy and Jess were also relatable, as a passionate young woman/woman with ambitious dreams, individuals dealing with something akin to a chronic illness and also siblings struggling with a distance that sometimes occurs with a gap in age. The trauma both women experience is also-sadly-not uncommon and while certain aspects of the plot did progesss in a predictable fashion, it never felt tedious.
The setting of the fictional Comber Bay was also excellent: with the lone house above a cliff, the isolated and sea-swept caves and the eerie mystery surrounding men sporadically going missing over the years supposedly due in part to the voices of women across the waves.
At times, I found myself yearning for the more magical and less tragic aspects of the story, as I was initially expecting more of a focus upon the unusual disappearances of Comber Bay, rather than the complex familial relationships of the characters.
I was slightly surprised by aspects of the epilogue however, as it made something that was otherwise implied-and slightly damaging to a character-more definite unnecessarily.
The narration by Barrie Kreinik is truly wonderful and she does excellent work with regular vocals, accents and even some singing.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Twins Mary and Eliza are prisoners in a ship traveling from Ireland to Australia, while college student Lucy flees to her older sister Jess’ home in the coastal town of Comber Bay, New South Wales after a sleepwalking episode ends with unexpected violence. With Jess inexplicably missing, Lucy finds herself delving into her sister’s old diary and unearthing new mysteries.
The Sirens is something of a slow-burn and I enjoyed witnessing the plot unfold from dual perspectives. I appreciated the research utilized to depict Mary and Eliza’s timeline-especially prior to their subjugation-and would have enjoyed even more time spent with their characters and family.
Lucy and Jess were also relatable, as a passionate young woman/woman with ambitious dreams, individuals dealing with something akin to a chronic illness and also siblings struggling with a distance that sometimes occurs with a gap in age. The trauma both women experience is also-sadly-not uncommon and while certain aspects of the plot did progesss in a predictable fashion, it never felt tedious.
The setting of the fictional Comber Bay was also excellent: with the lone house above a cliff, the isolated and sea-swept caves and the eerie mystery surrounding men sporadically going missing over the years supposedly due in part to the voices of women across the waves.
At times, I found myself yearning for the more magical and less tragic aspects of the story, as I was initially expecting more of a focus upon the unusual disappearances of Comber Bay, rather than the complex familial relationships of the characters.
I was slightly surprised by aspects of the epilogue however, as it made something that was otherwise implied-and slightly damaging to a character-more definite unnecessarily.
The narration by Barrie Kreinik is truly wonderful and she does excellent work with regular vocals, accents and even some singing.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing access to this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Death, Misogyny
Minor: Infertility, Infidelity