Reviews with content warning for Transphobia - Sistersong

I feel very conflicted about this book because the things it did well, it did exceptionally, but overall, I feel like a lot of areas were underdeveloped.
I want to start with the things I felt the book did exceptionally. To begin, it carries a plot about a transgender boy, Kenye, throughout the novel which is moving and has a happy ending. I find this rare, especially in a historical fiction novel, and I enjoyed the representation in a way that made sense. For people that think this is unrealistic for the time period, I would look into the thirteenth century text Le Roman de Silence by Heldris.
The book also does a great job showing Riva's insecurity with her disability (she is a burn victim) and the pressure she feels from having to be the older, more responsible sister. Dealing with her insecurities gives Riva's character depth, though I will admit she may be the most frustrating character in the book.
This novel is also great at drawing emotion. At the emotional peak,

when Sinne dies and is turned into a harp,

I simultaneously felt like crying and vomiting. Without Lucy Holland's ability to write such sympathetic characters, I doubt this emotion would hit as hard.
Now, I want to touch on the things that just generally confused me about the novel, Sistersong. I think my biggest issue with this novel is the fact that there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the magic in it. The novel began with the sisters having specific powers, but by the end, they blurred together and you could also half raise the dead. This is very frustrating.
Additionally, the driver of the main event

,Sinne's death during her fight with Riva,

is jealousy. However, at the time this occurs, there is no reason for Sinne to be jealous as she doesn't trust Tristian and had a major revelation that Tristian had always favored her sister. Honestly, everyone's feelings about Tristian and infatuation with him was very confusing by the end of the novel.

For the majority of the novel, Riva chose to be ignorant that Tristian was the villain despite everyone else suspecting him. This girl was shocked when he was revealed to be a Saxon and it made zero sense how shocked she was.

Overall, I wouldn't say that I am disappointed with the book. I am mostly just left confused. It was a beautiful adaptation of the Ballad of the Twa Sisters, but at times, it was doing too much.

Content Warnings

picaresquedreamer's review

Go to review page

Boring, most characters were kinda irritating

Content Warnings

musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

In this retelling of a gruesome old song, a magical world on the brink of destruction needs saving, but who will be the one to protect it?

This was quite the story. I’m glad I looked up the Twa Sisters beforehand otherwise I think I would have had a massive shock about 3/4 of the way in. The book definitely takes a sharp turn.

I wasn’t all that interested in it to begin with. I didn’t find the story grabbed me, but once it took a darker turn, I definitely felt more inclined to see how it ended.

Interesting idea, so-so execution.

Content Warnings

claire_riach's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

thecourtface's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Content Warnings

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

4.0

I was sure I'd like this trans-affirming early middle ages feminist retelling of one of Child's murder ballads and I did 😌
Didn't expect so much to feel like an honouring of Hild by Nicola Griffith, one of my all-time favourite historical fiction epics. Although Hild takes place in this book's future, it feels like they are referencing the same texts, worldviews, problems, and imaginings of the land. Even the references to the patterns that connect us all to the land felt very Griffith and very Hild! Love it.

Content Warnings

ginalucia's review

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book blew me away.

It took a while for me to grasp each character as an individual, but I think that's the point because they, fairly quickly, start to become completely different beings, all going in multiple directions but barging into one another.

I love the way the book handles the trans character. Showing us the internal and external struggle but moving it forward in a gentle and pleasing way. It's part of the story, but it doesn't overshadow or undershadow it.

So unexpected, emotional, gripping, and thoughtful. A tense but enjoyable ride.

For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt

Content Warnings

charlottereadshistory's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

After reading probably too many Roman and Greek retellings over the last few years I was excited to read what I knew was an Ancient British/Saxon story based on the Twa sisters ballad.

I really enjoyed the storytelling that built up the complexities and relationships of the three siblings, and thought that the portrayal of Keyne, the middle sibling whose struggle to gain acceptance of their trans identity was sensitive and developed.

The addition of magic and that fantasy element didn't seem contrived or forced. Holland really built well trodden ideas in myth and folklore about the power of nature and the importance of being attuned to the land in this book - all important tenets of Paganism, which was the main religion at the time, despite the spread of Christianity.

I got a YA vibe from this book which I didn't mind at all - the characters definitely had fairly modern sensibilities and this isn't a book to read if you want a full understanding of life at the time with a bibliography of source matter at the back. However I really enjoyed the setting, and the ending was actually very dark and dramatic, which was a surprise.

Content Warnings

More...