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wasauthor's review
5.0
I received an advance reader copy of Sister of the Dead for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
[b:Daughter of the Beast|60129056|Daughter of the Beast (The Vyshivka Trilogy, #1)|E. C. Greaves|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642246136l/60129056._SX50_.jpg|94822302] totally absorbed me, full of prose that drew me in from the opening line and kept me immersed in its world until the very end. When embarking on the next book, there’s a niggling worry about what’s to come. When the first book is as spectacular as that, anything less is sure to disappoint. That niggling feeling was soon allayed. Like its predecessor, Sister of the Dead drew me in from the opening line and kept me immersed its world until the very end.
Sister of the Dead immediately brings the reader back into the world, creating a nostalgic feeling for all that came before. While it starts innocuously enough, the prose is a thing of beauty. For those familiar with the series, the voice is unmistakable. The words flow together wonderfully, creating an inescapable sense of joyous whimsy. While the story has its darker elements, the prose conveys all the wonder that comes with its setting. The wordplay is poetic, both through the general writing to protagonist Zyntael’s dreams, which, on their own, feel like literal poems.
The perfect accompaniment to the prose is the book's dialogue. There's a healthy amount of it, and it works as well as the prose. The elements work hand-in-hand, complementing each other wonderfully. With a large cast of characters, the author has found a way of making all of them sound distinct from one another, while fitting it in with the prose.
Although slightly shorter than Daughter of the Beast, the book remains substantial. It’s on the shorter side for an epic fantasy, but it feels perfect for both the story and its imagery. The book feels shorter than its page count suggests, thanks to the prose and dialogue being as smooth as they are.
The author weaves an entertaining and engrossing story. The plot moves slowly and deliberately, gradually unfolding. While it takes a slower pace than most of its contemporaries, it never feels too slow. Plot points crop up naturally and include various turns, some of them unexpected, especially during the third act. They all all feel believable, yet surprising.
The true joy comes from the characters. The book features a character-first mentality, and although not a single character human, humanity shines through. Underpinning this is Zyntael, who narrates in the first person. She's a layered, realistic character and a delight to follow. The other characters are multi-faceted rather than included to serve the plot or Zyntael’s arc.
The author has expanded upon what was already a living, breathing world. The scope has increased, as has its cast of mythological figures. It is a fantastic setting that fans of the genre will love. The fantastical and mythological elements have been amped up from its predecessor, but never interfere with the personal story.
As the second book in the Vyshivka Trilogy, the was never going to fully stand alone. New readers will be able to jump in, but I'd recommend reading the first book first. While it leads into the final book, the story feels complete.
Sister of the Dead takes everything Daughter of the Beast did and expands upon it, creating a sequel that's even better than the original.
My full review is available on my website. To read it, and a host of other reviews, including the other books in the trilogy, click here.
[b:Daughter of the Beast|60129056|Daughter of the Beast (The Vyshivka Trilogy, #1)|E. C. Greaves|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1642246136l/60129056._SX50_.jpg|94822302] totally absorbed me, full of prose that drew me in from the opening line and kept me immersed in its world until the very end. When embarking on the next book, there’s a niggling worry about what’s to come. When the first book is as spectacular as that, anything less is sure to disappoint. That niggling feeling was soon allayed. Like its predecessor, Sister of the Dead drew me in from the opening line and kept me immersed its world until the very end.
Sister of the Dead immediately brings the reader back into the world, creating a nostalgic feeling for all that came before. While it starts innocuously enough, the prose is a thing of beauty. For those familiar with the series, the voice is unmistakable. The words flow together wonderfully, creating an inescapable sense of joyous whimsy. While the story has its darker elements, the prose conveys all the wonder that comes with its setting. The wordplay is poetic, both through the general writing to protagonist Zyntael’s dreams, which, on their own, feel like literal poems.
The perfect accompaniment to the prose is the book's dialogue. There's a healthy amount of it, and it works as well as the prose. The elements work hand-in-hand, complementing each other wonderfully. With a large cast of characters, the author has found a way of making all of them sound distinct from one another, while fitting it in with the prose.
Although slightly shorter than Daughter of the Beast, the book remains substantial. It’s on the shorter side for an epic fantasy, but it feels perfect for both the story and its imagery. The book feels shorter than its page count suggests, thanks to the prose and dialogue being as smooth as they are.
The author weaves an entertaining and engrossing story. The plot moves slowly and deliberately, gradually unfolding. While it takes a slower pace than most of its contemporaries, it never feels too slow. Plot points crop up naturally and include various turns, some of them unexpected, especially during the third act. They all all feel believable, yet surprising.
The true joy comes from the characters. The book features a character-first mentality, and although not a single character human, humanity shines through. Underpinning this is Zyntael, who narrates in the first person. She's a layered, realistic character and a delight to follow. The other characters are multi-faceted rather than included to serve the plot or Zyntael’s arc.
The author has expanded upon what was already a living, breathing world. The scope has increased, as has its cast of mythological figures. It is a fantastic setting that fans of the genre will love. The fantastical and mythological elements have been amped up from its predecessor, but never interfere with the personal story.
As the second book in the Vyshivka Trilogy, the was never going to fully stand alone. New readers will be able to jump in, but I'd recommend reading the first book first. While it leads into the final book, the story feels complete.
Sister of the Dead takes everything Daughter of the Beast did and expands upon it, creating a sequel that's even better than the original.
My full review is available on my website. To read it, and a host of other reviews, including the other books in the trilogy, click here.
nina_bloodsworn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.5
Starting nearly where we left off, we are back with our fav characters.
Stitch 1 already brought tears to my eyes.
Throughout the journey our friends are on, there is sooo much more world-building and clash of different cultures. We meet new characters, in their own way very interesting.
All-in-all a really well thought through book 2 to set up for the final book 3.
Love me some more Anra and Lleyden! Love those two boys/men! Ed's writing sparks so much love for these characters and the world they live in.
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