Tomi Adeyemi is giving readers a first glimpse of her highly anticipated new novel, The Siren, with an exclusive excerpt released ahead of the book’s September 29 publication. Pre-order Now

The new young adult novel marks a major new direction for the author best known for the bestselling Legacy of Orïsha series. Instead of returning to the fantasy world of Zélie and Orïsha, Adeyemi moves into a contemporary setting filled with dark academia, mysterious friendships, power, and danger.

The Siren Book Details

Detail	Information
Title	The Siren Pre-order Now
Author	Tomi Adeyemi
Publisher	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Release Date	September 29, 2026
Pages	336
Genre	Young Adult / Dark Academia / Contemporary Fantasy
Age Range	16–18
ISBN	9781250404749

What Is The Siren Tomi Adeyemi About?

The Siren follows Emery, a freshman arriving at Dartmouth College determined to keep her scholarship, stay on top of her medication, and keep her troubled past hidden.

Her plans change when she meets Roux, an alluring and mysterious student who introduces Emery to a group of girls known as the Sirens.

The Sirens appear to have everything Emery could want.

They are beautiful, wealthy, influential, and surrounded by extravagant parties and an almost dreamlike campus lifestyle.

But their glamorous existence has a darker history.

Before becoming Sirens, the girls were outsiders themselves. Under Roux’s influence, however, they have transformed their lives—and Roux eventually offers Emery the opportunity to join them.

The problem is that becoming one of them could cost Emery far more than she expects.

The publisher’s description ends with a chilling warning: “Even if it costs Emery her life.”

Tomi Adeyemi’s New Dark-Academia Era

Fans coming to The Siren from Children of Blood and Bone may be surprised by the change in setting.

Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha books are epic fantasy novels rooted in a West African-inspired world of magic, political conflict, ancestry, and oppression.

The Siren, by contrast, takes place in the recognizable world of an American university.

But the new novel still explores many of the kinds of emotional and social tensions that have been central to Adeyemi’s writing.

Macmillan describes the book as combining contemporary storytelling with a sinister dark-academic atmosphere, focusing on rage, longing, and a young woman’s darker side.

That makes The Siren an especially interesting departure for readers who have followed Adeyemi since her debut.

Who Are the Sirens?

The Sirens are a mysterious group of girls who have created an extraordinary life for themselves on campus.

They are surrounded by:

• Extravagant parties
• Wealth and luxury
• Beauty and influence
• Secrets
• A powerful social circle

At the center of the group is Roux, whose invitation draws Emery deeper into their world.

But the Sirens aren’t simply a group of popular students.

Their history as former outcasts suggests that something happened to transform them, and Emery’s desire to belong could eventually put her in serious danger.

The novel’s central question becomes whether Emery can become part of this exclusive world without losing herself in the process.

The Exclusive Excerpt Gives Readers a First Look

The new excerpt gives readers an early introduction to Emery’s encounter with the Sirens and establishes the unsettling atmosphere surrounding Roux and her group.

With the release now less than three weeks away, the excerpt arrives at an ideal time for readers who have been waiting to see how Adeyemi’s first novel outside the Legacy of Orïsha universe will feel.

Rather than revealing the major mysteries of the book, the preview gives a taste of the tension between Emery’s desire to belong and the danger surrounding the people offering her that opportunity.

When Does The Siren Come Out?

Tomi Adeyemi’s The Siren will be published on September 29, 2026, by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) in the United States and Canada.

The hardcover edition is listed at 336 pages, with the novel aimed at readers ages 16–18.

The book will also be available in audiobook format, with Adeyemi herself narrating the audiobook. PEOPLE reports that Adeyemi described recording the audiobook as one of the most fulfilling experiences of her career.

Is The Siren Part of the Legacy of Orïsha Series?

No.

The Siren is a new novel separate from Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orïsha series.

That series concluded with Children of Anguish and Anarchy, while The Siren introduces a completely new cast and setting. Macmillan lists The Siren separately from Adeyemi’s three Legacy of Orïsha novels.

For existing fans, that means this is an opportunity to experience Adeyemi’s storytelling without needing to know anything about Zélie, Amari, or Orïsha.

What Makes The Siren Different?

The biggest change is the setting.

Instead of kingdoms, magic, and revolution, Adeyemi puts her characters inside the competitive and secretive world of an elite university.

Emery arrives at Dartmouth carrying a past she desperately wants to hide. Then she encounters people who appear to have escaped the limitations that once defined them.

The Sirens offer her belonging, confidence, and access to a glamorous world.

But that offer comes with a price.

That setup gives the novel a strong psychological component while retaining the heightened atmosphere readers might expect from Adeyemi.

Tomi Adeyemi After Legacy of Orïsha

Adeyemi became an international literary sensation with 2018’s Children of Blood and Bone, which became an instant No. 1 New York Times bestseller and launched the Legacy of Orïsha series.

The series continued with Children of Virtue and Vengeance and Children of Anguish and Anarchy. Macmillan says the series has sold more than 2 million copies.

The Siren therefore represents a significant new chapter in Adeyemi’s career.

Rather than extending an established fantasy world, she is building something completely new around a contemporary heroine, an elite university, and a mysterious group whose power seems almost irresistible.

The Siren Release Date

With the September 29 release now approaching, The Siren is quickly becoming one of the notable young adult releases to watch this fall.

The new exclusive excerpt gives readers their first substantial taste of Adeyemi’s new direction, while the premise promises a darker story about power, belonging, survival, identity, and the cost of getting everything you want.

For fans of Adeyemi—and readers looking for a new dark-academia YA novel—September 29 can’t come soon enough. Pre-order Now