Scan barcode
A review by lines__lines
The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner
3.5
I loved how many elements were woven into this story from folk tales and history to, of course, Rossetti's "Goblin Market." At times, I think it made for a little bit of a chaotic narrative, but the through thread of the sisters' relationship really pulls the story along. I loved that Laya's sections were in free verse; it fit her more ethereal persona and gave a nod to the original poem format. I can see where anything in poem form gives some readers hesitation, but I think Rossner really did a good job at making these sections simple and readable. Liba has traditional prose. Both sisters' sections are first person and really allow the reader to understand their interior feelings and motivations.
A couple things held this book back for me a little bit. One the confusing sense of the passage of time. It would seem as though events happened in one day, but somehow then it would be mentioned that a week had passed; I'm still not entirely sure if the book happened over a couple weeks or a month or more? The other thing was the parents, which I get that the parents needed to be absent for this story to happen, but I did think it stretched believe-ability that they'd both ditch their kids and re-appear at just the right moment. I think that was an instance of the historical aspects conflicting a bit with the fantasy aspects. The parents aren't the focus, obviously, and it's the sisters and their growing up, confronting who they are and their heritage that really make this story both beautiful and heart-wrenching.
A couple things held this book back for me a little bit. One the confusing sense of the passage of time. It would seem as though events happened in one day, but somehow then it would be mentioned that a week had passed; I'm still not entirely sure if the book happened over a couple weeks or a month or more? The other thing was the parents, which I get that the parents needed to be absent for this story to happen, but I did think it stretched believe-ability that they'd both ditch their kids and re-appear at just the right moment. I think that was an instance of the historical aspects conflicting a bit with the fantasy aspects. The parents aren't the focus, obviously, and it's the sisters and their growing up, confronting who they are and their heritage that really make this story both beautiful and heart-wrenching.