Sistersong

This was an interesting idea, some fun twists on standard medieval/Arthurian fare (Merlin as a gender-bender is cool), the writing is not bad, but I got tired of the “Christianity Is Evil” theme and quit reading before the halfway point. It's hard to understand how people really experienced religion in the past. So much comes across as modern Wicca meets contemporary evangelicalism and it just was not like that back then. I'm not sure what it was like exactly, but not this.

What a magnificent heartbreaking story. I love how Riva and Sinne kind of trade places in a lot of ways. Riva is introduced as a high-strung and protective of the old ways, having to be the good daughter, while Sinne is boy crazy and whimsical, not understanding others' emotions. Later Sinne is the first to understand and accept Keyne and the land and Riva is head over heels sharing dangerous secrets with a stranger. The chapter with the song makes this even more clear revealing how they both hurt each other by accident. 

The parallels throughout are amazing and very well done. I loved Keyne's story the most of course, he finally came into himself and the land. The story of the old ways being erased by a Christian priest is also extremely interesting to read. The progression of which can be spotted in the language used, which goes the same for Keyne's transition. Amazingly done 

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK. 

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I literally JUST finished this book like...five minutes ago.

Oof.

That's a good oof, by the way. This book is dark, dark, dark. It's set in ancient England, and tells the tales of three princesses and how their world revolves around magic, or the lack thereof. There's a trans character, and a bi-gender character. Magic, murder, and betrayals. It feels very much like a classic, old-school fairytale, the kind that didn't shy away from violence.

The prose throughout the book is just phenomenal. Poetic and haunting. Highly recommend this one.

Of the three sisters, Keyne was my favorite.

This follows three sisters that are the daughters of a king. Their father has always protected his people and lands with his magic. But with the rise of Christianity, the magic is dying.
The sisters know they must return to the old ways or all will be lost. Especially with the Saxons on the horizon.

I loved the folklore. I loved the characters, and I loved the magic.

Thank you to Net Galley for the copy.

Arthurian fantasy is a subgenre which has been down in popularity for a while. Sistersong definitely has an Arthurian type setting without being explicitly Arthurian in content. The wizard is definitely giving Merlin vibes, the time period (dark age Britain) is Arthurian. The interesting twist here is the interactions between the titular sisters. All of them are strong character, with well defined motives. The damsel in distress type stuff is played carefully to maintain the empowerment angle.

The problem is I am not really the target audience for this. I can see it is well written, but it just did not gel for me. This is one of those cases where I can get why people like it, and I am not totally negative towards it but it was ultimately mostly forgettable for me.

Super post-Arthurian set retelling of a 19thC murder ballad with three feisty and individual sisters. The Saxons are coming, so is Christianity - and the magic is fading. Can King Cador's daughters, with the help of Myrdhin keep the magic alive? Superbly researched, the setting is just right for this historical fantasy which has swords and sorcery, love and betrayal and much more. Full review on my blog. https://annabookbel.net/the-coming-of-christianity-and-the-beginning-of-the-death-of-magic