The Sirens

Hart follows her sophomore novel, Weyward, with another spellbindingly atmospheric multi-timeline story about the bonds of sisterhood and the magical lure of the sea. Spanning centuries, the book begins with two Irish sisters in the 1800s who are sent to a penal colony in Australia and endure horrific treatment at the hands of the cargo ship’s crew. A parallel storyline follows two sisters in 2019 Australia, as younger sister Lucy travels to the coast to visit her older sister Jess, only to find her missing. Both sets of sisters have a link with the sea and a severe allergy that causes their skin to react horribly to water; additionally, both are mistreated by men who take advantage of their situations. Narrator Barrie Kreinik offers a first-rate performance, embodying the characters with distinctive voices and delivering Hart’s prose with graceful lyricism. The author interview included at the end is a delightful bonus, providing insight into how the story evolved.