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iamlaura's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book enough to look into reading the second book. I didn't say it was amazing literature. I just liked it 😁
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book. Lots of conflict between sisters and good vs. evil.
princess_buttercup's review against another edition
3.0
I probably would have enjoyed this more when I was younger, but I did like it nonetheless. The only downside was the predictability of many parts in the plot. Still looking forward to reading the other books though!
bookgirl4ever's review against another edition
2.0
Lia is the good twin, Alice the evil. After their father dies, Lia finds that she and her sister are part of a prophecy of sisters where each plays a vital role in the future of the world--will it be ruled by demons or the demons cast out?
There are problems with the story that kept me from enjoying it more (although I did read it in one day). Lia's allies have so much more knowledge than she but they are stingy on passing on that knowledge to her, even though they know here life is in danger without it--until she must take action and then all of a sudden they decide to give her the info--why not have prepared her earlier before such a critical time? Then the book ends with not much having happened. Really, if Lia's friends had been more forthcoming, she'd be a lot further along in the end.
Still I want to know what happens.
There are problems with the story that kept me from enjoying it more (although I did read it in one day). Lia's allies have so much more knowledge than she but they are stingy on passing on that knowledge to her, even though they know here life is in danger without it--until she must take action and then all of a sudden they decide to give her the info--why not have prepared her earlier before such a critical time? Then the book ends with not much having happened. Really, if Lia's friends had been more forthcoming, she'd be a lot further along in the end.
Still I want to know what happens.
papalbina's review against another edition
1.0
Ok, it is a f******* trilogy and one quite bad. This first book was one predictable event after another, . But first being the Gate, being the Angel, the One, finding out who are the keys and who was guarding the list... Please!! I was bored to death. I forced myself to finish it quickly to begin with another book that urges me more, but in other moment it would have taken me weeks to finish such a boredom.
There are two mayor problems in the book: one, the main character is not appealing at all. I couldn't see her as the heroine, although she is a Mary Sue in big letters, and I couldn't connect with her. She left me completely cold. I felt more close to the bad sister than to her.
The second problem is how the story is told. First person is tricky and I think it was not the correct decision for this kind of story. It is not fluid and stops in completely unneccesary details (descriptions, thoughts), boring the reader. And sometimes I have the impression I was reading a movie, not a script, a movie. When something, say a room, is shown in a movie, it is for a reason who spoils a bit the surprise the room's role itself. Well, in the book it happens exactly the same again and again and again, for example how they happen to find the information. In the moment Sonia tells her birthday is on the first I knew that Louisa's was on the same day and that they were the keys about 50 pages before the one telling the story knows it, hello!?
It isn't a good book and I don't have any intention of getting the rest of the books when they're out. I will try to get rid of trilogies for some time...
Spoiler
except perhaps for Henry's death towards the endThere are two mayor problems in the book: one, the main character is not appealing at all. I couldn't see her as the heroine, although she is a Mary Sue in big letters, and I couldn't connect with her. She left me completely cold. I felt more close to the bad sister than to her.
The second problem is how the story is told. First person is tricky and I think it was not the correct decision for this kind of story. It is not fluid and stops in completely unneccesary details (descriptions, thoughts), boring the reader. And sometimes I have the impression I was reading a movie, not a script, a movie. When something, say a room, is shown in a movie, it is for a reason who spoils a bit the surprise the room's role itself. Well, in the book it happens exactly the same again and again and again, for example how they happen to find the information. In the moment Sonia tells her birthday is on the first I knew that Louisa's was on the same day and that they were the keys about 50 pages before the one telling the story knows it, hello!?
It isn't a good book and I don't have any intention of getting the rest of the books when they're out. I will try to get rid of trilogies for some time...
mari_escapeinabook's review against another edition
4.0
My tears have dried and I'm finally able to write a review. I cried through the last 30 pages of the book, and that ladies and gentlemen was not because the book was poorly written. Why I didn't give this book a five star rating? I'm saving it for Guardian of the Gate ;)
And so the Prophecy begins :
"Perhaps because it seems so appropriate, I don't notice the rain. It falls in sheets, a blanket of silvery thread rushing to the hard almost-winter ground. Still, I stand without moving at the side of the coffin."
What's the book about?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice and their little brother Henry have recently become orphans. The day their father is buried one of the sisters discovers a strange mark on the underside of her wrist. The mark is the beginning to a revelation of a dark prophecy that takes rivalry between sisters to a whole new level(and has done so for ages). The prophecy is old and hard to interpret, it's like a riddle, to understand the meaning of it all help is needed. But where can one turn for help, who to trust?
My thoughts on Prophecy of the Sisters:
I loved it and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book, Guardian of the Gate! It is hard to believe that Prophecy of the Sisters is Michelle Zink's debut novel. This is a skilfully crafted novel with three dimensional characters. This book was a treat and extremely hard to put down, it might not have been such a good idea to start this book less than a week before my exam.
If you read the first paragraph you noticed the gloomy beginning, this novel has a very Gothic feel all the way through. It fits perfect to a story based on a prophecy set in New York in the Victorian era. I could just about feel the rain and the wind seeping off the pages. Zink never bores the reader with tedious descriptions of things and places. See I kind of have an issue with overly detailed descriptions *blush* If there's one thing I might put my finger on it must be the character Henry, I so wish we'd get to know him a bit better, that he was a bigger part of the plot. Perhaps we will see more of him in the future?
If the second book, Guardian of the Gate is 10 times better I need to be alone once I get my hands on it. Lock myself up in a room and stay there with my book.
And so the Prophecy begins :
"Perhaps because it seems so appropriate, I don't notice the rain. It falls in sheets, a blanket of silvery thread rushing to the hard almost-winter ground. Still, I stand without moving at the side of the coffin."
What's the book about?
Twin sisters Lia and Alice and their little brother Henry have recently become orphans. The day their father is buried one of the sisters discovers a strange mark on the underside of her wrist. The mark is the beginning to a revelation of a dark prophecy that takes rivalry between sisters to a whole new level(and has done so for ages). The prophecy is old and hard to interpret, it's like a riddle, to understand the meaning of it all help is needed. But where can one turn for help, who to trust?
My thoughts on Prophecy of the Sisters:
I loved it and cannot wait to get my hands on the next book, Guardian of the Gate! It is hard to believe that Prophecy of the Sisters is Michelle Zink's debut novel. This is a skilfully crafted novel with three dimensional characters. This book was a treat and extremely hard to put down, it might not have been such a good idea to start this book less than a week before my exam.
If you read the first paragraph you noticed the gloomy beginning, this novel has a very Gothic feel all the way through. It fits perfect to a story based on a prophecy set in New York in the Victorian era. I could just about feel the rain and the wind seeping off the pages. Zink never bores the reader with tedious descriptions of things and places. See I kind of have an issue with overly detailed descriptions *blush* If there's one thing I might put my finger on it must be the character Henry, I so wish we'd get to know him a bit better, that he was a bigger part of the plot. Perhaps we will see more of him in the future?
If the second book, Guardian of the Gate is 10 times better I need to be alone once I get my hands on it. Lock myself up in a room and stay there with my book.
channywax's review against another edition
4.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was beautifully written. The language of the time period was really well done. The details were really good, and I liked most of the characters.
On the other, the book was a lot darker than what I'm used to. It wasn't scary by any means, just a little more sad, and had darker themes about it, like ghosts, and devils and such.
I really enjoyed Lia's character. Her coming to terms with who and what she was, seemed normal to me. I would have freaked out too. She is a good girl, and doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone. She was fiercely protective of her little brother and her friends. Nothing like her sister Alice, who basically wants to destroy the world. Alice was actually really interesting. I enjoyed reading about her, probably because she was so mysterious, and downright evil. She did a few things that made me think, "Are you serious?". I like a good villain, and she was definitely not a nice girl. It made me want to read the sequel even more to find out what she thinks of next.
I wish James would have been in it a little more. He could have used more fleshing out, and I wish I could have gotten to know him a little more. He does love Lia, that is obvious, but I think he could have been in the story a little more. Probably because I missed having more romance!:)
The plot was intriguing, and a little confusing. I liked where the story went, but it was a little too dark for my taste. I will most definitely read the sequel, since I'm a little obsessive like that, and I'm curious to see where the author takes the story from here.
Content: It was actually a pretty clean read. I don't remember any swearing, sex, or violence even. There was some kissing, and a few supernatural elements, like ghosts, and demons, and they talked about the Devil a little bit as well.
On the other, the book was a lot darker than what I'm used to. It wasn't scary by any means, just a little more sad, and had darker themes about it, like ghosts, and devils and such.
I really enjoyed Lia's character. Her coming to terms with who and what she was, seemed normal to me. I would have freaked out too. She is a good girl, and doesn't want anything bad to happen to anyone. She was fiercely protective of her little brother and her friends. Nothing like her sister Alice, who basically wants to destroy the world. Alice was actually really interesting. I enjoyed reading about her, probably because she was so mysterious, and downright evil. She did a few things that made me think, "Are you serious?". I like a good villain, and she was definitely not a nice girl. It made me want to read the sequel even more to find out what she thinks of next.
I wish James would have been in it a little more. He could have used more fleshing out, and I wish I could have gotten to know him a little more. He does love Lia, that is obvious, but I think he could have been in the story a little more. Probably because I missed having more romance!:)
The plot was intriguing, and a little confusing. I liked where the story went, but it was a little too dark for my taste. I will most definitely read the sequel, since I'm a little obsessive like that, and I'm curious to see where the author takes the story from here.
Content: It was actually a pretty clean read. I don't remember any swearing, sex, or violence even. There was some kissing, and a few supernatural elements, like ghosts, and demons, and they talked about the Devil a little bit as well.
kristid's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure why I waited so long to read this book. But for some reason I was apprehensive to do so... I mean this book has been sitting on my bookshelf for ever! Probably a year... oops. And I am kicking myself for not picking it up earlier!
It was a little slow for me at first... there wasn't much happening, I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on. But the beautiful writing and the richly descriptive details of the era kept me engaged. Lia's story was so passionately told in the first person narrative, I couldn't help but contemplate and solve this mystery along with her. Just wow.... characterization was just awesome. Lia is what really drew me to the story, the mystery is probably what kept me reading, but Lia was the catalyst.
The premise of the story was something completely unique... to me at least. I haven't read anything quite like it. I've read novels about prophecies before but nothing that tied two sisters together in this sort of situation. It seems as though we still have a lot to learn about the Prophecy.... but the things we did discover are enough to hold the reader over until the next installment.
This novel is just gorgeous! The writing, the setting... the characters. It just works to well. The plot might have been a little slow, but the other elements of the story far outweigh that. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series! (And I won't have to wait long... Guardian of the Gate hits shelves Aug. 1!!!)
It was a little slow for me at first... there wasn't much happening, I was trying to figure out exactly what was going on. But the beautiful writing and the richly descriptive details of the era kept me engaged. Lia's story was so passionately told in the first person narrative, I couldn't help but contemplate and solve this mystery along with her. Just wow.... characterization was just awesome. Lia is what really drew me to the story, the mystery is probably what kept me reading, but Lia was the catalyst.
The premise of the story was something completely unique... to me at least. I haven't read anything quite like it. I've read novels about prophecies before but nothing that tied two sisters together in this sort of situation. It seems as though we still have a lot to learn about the Prophecy.... but the things we did discover are enough to hold the reader over until the next installment.
This novel is just gorgeous! The writing, the setting... the characters. It just works to well. The plot might have been a little slow, but the other elements of the story far outweigh that. I can't wait to read the next installment of this series! (And I won't have to wait long... Guardian of the Gate hits shelves Aug. 1!!!)
mirable's review against another edition
4.0
SLJ review:
Gr 8 Up-This tale about orphaned sisters in 1890s New York strikes a gothic chord in Michelle Zink's first book (Little, Brown, 2009) in a planned trilogy. Lia and Alice Milthorpe are the latest in a long line of twins central to a centuries-old prophecy. They have become enemies and are turned against each other. One girl seeks to open the gate to the Otherworld, while the other does her best to keep the status quo. A veritable bounty of the supernatural, including angels, seances, and astral projection, adds to the period detail and just a touch of romance to make this an intriguing first volume. Although this title has a conclusion of sorts, secondary characters are not yet fully developed and many plot lines are left dangling awaiting the next volume. Occasional atmospheric music adds an otherworldly edge to the telling. Without providing distinct voices for the characters, narrator Eliza Dushku still manages to convey their individual personalities, such as Lia's earnest innocence and Alice's growing malevolence. For fans of paranormal romance and historical fiction.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
Gr 8 Up-This tale about orphaned sisters in 1890s New York strikes a gothic chord in Michelle Zink's first book (Little, Brown, 2009) in a planned trilogy. Lia and Alice Milthorpe are the latest in a long line of twins central to a centuries-old prophecy. They have become enemies and are turned against each other. One girl seeks to open the gate to the Otherworld, while the other does her best to keep the status quo. A veritable bounty of the supernatural, including angels, seances, and astral projection, adds to the period detail and just a touch of romance to make this an intriguing first volume. Although this title has a conclusion of sorts, secondary characters are not yet fully developed and many plot lines are left dangling awaiting the next volume. Occasional atmospheric music adds an otherworldly edge to the telling. Without providing distinct voices for the characters, narrator Eliza Dushku still manages to convey their individual personalities, such as Lia's earnest innocence and Alice's growing malevolence. For fans of paranormal romance and historical fiction.-Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
2.0
I feel kind of bad giving this book only 2/5 stars. It's not a bad book, or at least I didn't find it bad. It's somewhat engaging, and [a:Michelle Zink|2232265|Michelle Zink|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1233168598p2/2232265.jpg] does her best to weave a delicately balanced Victorian world where the main female characters are strangely empowered and knowledgeable. A part of me (the part without the history degree) can accept that. I know young adult authors want the girls reading their books to have feminist role models. But it didn't quite work when Lia, the main character, is rather drab and flops around in her role like Magikarp's main attack.
Someone on here said that this novel repeats itself. Story is told, characters talk about it, they find someone else to tell it to and repeat. Nothing really happened beyond that- the story didn't particularly move along. I wound up getting the impression that everything was just being rehashed and there was no real progression or climax. It was easy to figure out what (or who) they keys were. It's unlikely that real keys would need to be inserted into Lia, being the Gate and all. And in most stories such as this one, keys are people.
And what of Alice? If their mother and father knew that Alice was going to be the one to guard the gate, shouldn't they have shown her more affection, instead of allowing her to grow up to become a bitter, cruel woman? Even then, it's important to let your children know you love them, prophecy aside.
I'm nitpicking here, but I just kept thinking of these things as I read along. It's a fine story, but in my opinion it's only really okay.
Someone on here said that this novel repeats itself. Story is told, characters talk about it, they find someone else to tell it to and repeat. Nothing really happened beyond that- the story didn't particularly move along. I wound up getting the impression that everything was just being rehashed and there was no real progression or climax. It was easy to figure out what (or who) they keys were. It's unlikely that real keys would need to be inserted into Lia, being the Gate and all. And in most stories such as this one, keys are people.
And what of Alice? If their mother and father knew that Alice was going to be the one to guard the gate, shouldn't they have shown her more affection, instead of allowing her to grow up to become a bitter, cruel woman? Even then, it's important to let your children know you love them, prophecy aside.
I'm nitpicking here, but I just kept thinking of these things as I read along. It's a fine story, but in my opinion it's only really okay.