Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Sistersong by Lucy Holland

26 reviews

musicalpopcorn's review against another edition

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. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Gore, Fire/Fire injury, and Body horror

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Violence, Confinement, Deadnaming, Pregnancy, Grief, Transphobia, Murder, and Misogyny

claire_riach's review against another edition

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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Pregnancy, and Sexism

careinthelibrary's review against another edition

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 <i>Hild</i> by Nicola Griffith, one of my all-time favourite historical fiction epics. Although <i>Hild</i> 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 <i>Hild</i>! Love it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Sexism

Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Grief, Ableism, Violence, War, and Toxic relationship

nightstitch96's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Transphobia, Death, and War

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, and Death of parent

simonlorden's review

challenging medium-paced

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

4.5

me: I don't see how this is a retelling of the ballad
me, later: oh shit 

also yay for trans character who ends up being recognized as his true gender <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Misogyny, Murder, Transphobia, Death, and Death of parent

alexsartifacts's review

dark tense medium-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gore, Sexism, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and War

20sidedbi's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, War, and Transphobia

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Dysphoria, and Death

Minor: Confinement and Sexism

zghutcheson01's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

While I wasn't really interested in Riva or Sinne in the first 150 pages, by the middle and throughout the end all of the siblings had compelling stories and beautiful character arcs. I eas very wary when I recognized the Aurthurian references but it seems to be more references and I wouldn't call it an Arthurian story. I also was very familiar with the ballad "The Twa Sisters" before reading and I think it gave the whole thing a much more tragic lens considering the first few chapters bear little to no resemblance to the song.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Transphobia, Death of parent, Child death, Pregnancy, Grief, Death, and Sexual content

Moderate: Biphobia, Physical abuse, Ableism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Religious bigotry

poetsofsweetpea's review against another edition

adventurous tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I enjoyed listening to this book. It had an interesting magic system and I liked the contrast between it and religion.  There were three distinct voices in the siblings whose perspectives the story was told.   There were a few technical snafus in the audio version and editing and not narration was to blame.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Medical trauma, Grief, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Murder

tashtasher's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, War, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Religious bigotry

Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, and Transphobia

Minor: Chronic illness, Murder, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Sexism, Medical trauma, and Misogyny