'Sistersong' by Lucy Holland, is a reimagining of 'The Twa Sisters', an old English murder ballad that tells of a young girl drowned by her older sister in a song of jealousy, betrayal and tragedy. It also has it's roots in ancient folklore and the old pagan magic of the land, as well as exploring the identity of gender, and accepting oneself for who they truly are, in a world that is on the cusp of change and on the brink of war.
The book follows Riva, Keyne and Sinne, the daughters of King Cador, king of the post-Roman era kingdom of Dumnonia (now Cornwall, Devon and parts of west Somerset in the south-western corner of England), and although the King has turned away from the old magic in favour of Christianity, which is starting to sweep the land, the sisters still retain their link to the old ways and traditions. Each fighting for their own futures and the right to choose it.
The relationship between the sisters is the heart of the book, highlighting the strong bond of sisterhood between them and giving them each a sense of realism and depth, each chapter told through each sister as their personalities become intwined in the narrative. Riva, the introverted yet prideful eldest daughter that is a natural healer but is unable to heal her own scars; Keyne, born a daughter but has never truly felt comfortable in that role and longs to be seen and accepted as who they feel they truly are; and Sinne, the youngest sister, beautiful and carefree, longing for love and adventure. The narrative is driven by the threads of duty, identity and sibling rivalry between the sisters. But those threads begin to fray, unravel and eventually come apart when the 'magician' Myrddhin arrives back in the kingdom, as well as the appearance of the mysterious Tristan.
'Sistersong' is a slow paced, but immensely enthralling and immersive experience that captivated me from beginning to end. An emotional character driven narrative, told through three distinct voices, and rich, absorbing world building that blends magic and history together with a prose that felt lyrical and poetic. I've seen reviews where 'Sistersong' is compared to Madeline Miller's 'Circe', while yes it felt similiar in its narrative style, I felt it more reminiscent of the excellent 'Lancelot' by Giles Kristian, in its style of prose, magic and world building, which I also really enjoyed.
This was a powerful, emotional and compelling read that, from when I first saw the gorgeous cover art by Mel Four, captured my interest straight away. One of my favourites of the year and totally recommended!
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