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A review by foxonabook
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m not a stranger to retellings, but this is the first retelling I’ve read that’s not about a Greek myth and is instead inspired by a folk ballad. It’s actually the first book I’ve read that’s set in the early days of Britain’s history, at a time when the Romans are no longer ruling over the country, the Saxons are conquering over the Celtic tribes and Christianity is spreading across Europe. Personally, I couldn’t have read this book at a better time because it coincided with my own revision of Britain’s early history. Anyway, moving on to the actual review…
Sistersong is the story of three sisters, Keyne, Sinne and Riva, daughters of the King of Dumnonia who once heralded so much magical power, but now it seems that the gods and magic have forsaken Dumnonia and its people just as the threat of a Saxon invasion looms ever nearer.
The story unfolds across each sister’s point of view, allowing us to better understand the sisters’ relationship with one another and with the world around them. The bond between the three feels very realistic in terms of the teasing, jealousy, heated arguments and, most importantly, unwavering love. Not all three are equally as likeable, in my opinion, with Riva quickly becoming my least favourite of the three.
An important underlying theme in the story is exploration of self-identity and the courage it takes to defy society’s gender stereotypes in order to be true to yourself. Although a certain character’s development was clear from very early on, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading how the character came into their own.
I wish I could say that that was the only predictable aspect of the story; I felt the foreshadowing was laid on a little thick at some points, making it hard not to guess what would happen. With that said, I was never bored with the story because the writing and pacing were enthralling and spot-on.
I also liked that none of the main characters has fully mastered their relatively new craft by the end of the story. Despite this being a work of fiction, you got a sense that Lucy Holland was being realistic in terms of what the characters could have achieved over the course of the book. It’s actually a pet peeve of mine when characters suddenly, with both minimal effort and raining, have full mastery over their powers.
So, to wrap this up, Sistersong was a delightful read, set at a time in history I don’t think we often come across. It’s definitely a book I would recommend to fans of historical fiction and fantasy.
Sistersong is the story of three sisters, Keyne, Sinne and Riva, daughters of the King of Dumnonia who once heralded so much magical power, but now it seems that the gods and magic have forsaken Dumnonia and its people just as the threat of a Saxon invasion looms ever nearer.
The story unfolds across each sister’s point of view, allowing us to better understand the sisters’ relationship with one another and with the world around them. The bond between the three feels very realistic in terms of the teasing, jealousy, heated arguments and, most importantly, unwavering love. Not all three are equally as likeable, in my opinion, with Riva quickly becoming my least favourite of the three.
An important underlying theme in the story is exploration of self-identity and the courage it takes to defy society’s gender stereotypes in order to be true to yourself. Although a certain character’s development was clear from very early on, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading how the character came into their own.
I wish I could say that that was the only predictable aspect of the story; I felt the foreshadowing was laid on a little thick at some points, making it hard not to guess what would happen. With that said, I was never bored with the story because the writing and pacing were enthralling and spot-on.
I also liked that none of the main characters has fully mastered their relatively new craft by the end of the story. Despite this being a work of fiction, you got a sense that Lucy Holland was being realistic in terms of what the characters could have achieved over the course of the book. It’s actually a pet peeve of mine when characters suddenly, with both minimal effort and raining, have full mastery over their powers.
So, to wrap this up, Sistersong was a delightful read, set at a time in history I don’t think we often come across. It’s definitely a book I would recommend to fans of historical fiction and fantasy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, and Blood
Moderate: Ableism and Deadnaming
Minor: Sexual content