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A review by elementarymydear
Sistersong by Lucy Holland
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
5.0
What a fantastic read this was! Very rarely does a book make it onto the favourites list so quickly but this one managed it.
Find this and other reviews on my blog!
Sistersong, based on a British folk ballad ‘The Two Sisters’, is set in the years following Roman retreat from Britain, as the Saxons are invading across the South West. The story follows three siblings, Riva, Keyne, and Sinne, whose father is one of the last Roman kings defending his stronghold from the Saxons.
Riva and Sinne are the two sisters from the ballad; Riva, the eldest, is desperate to heal wounds from a years-old injury, while Sinne, the youngest, wants love and adventure. When Riva finds romance it sparks a jealousy in Sinne which has disastrous consequences. While this is the story of the original ballad, it is just a small part of the incredible tale Lucy Holland has woven.
The true main character is Keyne, the middle child, who is desperate to be seen as the man he knows he is, rather than the woman his family see him as. His arc is so beautifully written, incredibly powerful, and is the driving force of the story. His mentor and guide is the shape-shifting Myrdhin, who teaches Keyne the old ways of magic as well as giving him the confidence and means to present as male. I loved the depiction of Myrdhin here, not only were they a fantastic character but they added so much to the atmosphere of the book. One of the biggest conflicts in the book is that between Christianity from Rome and the traditional Pagan beliefs, and through characters like Myrdhin and Keyne we were able to explore not just the cultural changes but the moral ones, in particular Christian attitudes towards women and gender.
Speaking of atmosphere! This was a book you could get completely lost in. I would start reading, lost myself in the story, and look up an hour later wondering where the time had gone. It’s the sort of book that makes you want to go to Cornwall and become a mage on a cliff edge somewhere. It’s stunningly written and transports you right into the middle of the action.
The one minor criticism – or rather, comment – I have, is I would encourage you to read the ballad first, or at least look up the story. I came across it on the author’s twitter page and I’m glad I did, as some of the plot points that are lifted from the source material are not what you would expect and, at times, quite gruesome.
I am so glad I read this book. It was unlike anything I’ve read in a long time, but reading it felt like coming home. There were moments I couldn’t put it down, there were moments I had to put it down just to pause and take a few deep breaths. Now to resist the temptation to read it all over again...
Find this and other reviews on my blog!
Sistersong, based on a British folk ballad ‘The Two Sisters’, is set in the years following Roman retreat from Britain, as the Saxons are invading across the South West. The story follows three siblings, Riva, Keyne, and Sinne, whose father is one of the last Roman kings defending his stronghold from the Saxons.
Riva and Sinne are the two sisters from the ballad; Riva, the eldest, is desperate to heal wounds from a years-old injury, while Sinne, the youngest, wants love and adventure. When Riva finds romance it sparks a jealousy in Sinne which has disastrous consequences. While this is the story of the original ballad, it is just a small part of the incredible tale Lucy Holland has woven.
The true main character is Keyne, the middle child, who is desperate to be seen as the man he knows he is, rather than the woman his family see him as. His arc is so beautifully written, incredibly powerful, and is the driving force of the story. His mentor and guide is the shape-shifting Myrdhin, who teaches Keyne the old ways of magic as well as giving him the confidence and means to present as male. I loved the depiction of Myrdhin here, not only were they a fantastic character but they added so much to the atmosphere of the book. One of the biggest conflicts in the book is that between Christianity from Rome and the traditional Pagan beliefs, and through characters like Myrdhin and Keyne we were able to explore not just the cultural changes but the moral ones, in particular Christian attitudes towards women and gender.
Speaking of atmosphere! This was a book you could get completely lost in. I would start reading, lost myself in the story, and look up an hour later wondering where the time had gone. It’s the sort of book that makes you want to go to Cornwall and become a mage on a cliff edge somewhere. It’s stunningly written and transports you right into the middle of the action.
The one minor criticism – or rather, comment – I have, is I would encourage you to read the ballad first, or at least look up the story. I came across it on the author’s twitter page and I’m glad I did, as some of the plot points that are lifted from the source material are not what you would expect and, at times, quite gruesome.
I am so glad I read this book. It was unlike anything I’ve read in a long time, but reading it felt like coming home. There were moments I couldn’t put it down, there were moments I had to put it down just to pause and take a few deep breaths. Now to resist the temptation to read it all over again...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Transphobia