Sistersong — Lucy Holland

Paperback | Redhook | May 3, 2022

The Gist

Murder. Magic. Mayhem. A tale of three siblings who will decide the fate of their kingdom as they come of age.

Read if you like

• LGBTQ+ stories

• Fantasy

• Folklore

• Retellings

• Murder ballads

The Verdict: Read It, But Borrow It

At the heart of Sistersong are Riva, Keyne, and Sinne. Where their father King Cador has lost the ability to wield magic and is no longer connected with the land, the siblings are growing in power as each seizes their unique destinies and ultimately decides the fate of the ancient British kingdom of Dummonia. Riva struggles to come to terms with the trauma of a childhood accident that left her hand and foot burned and deformed. Keyne fights for his family and people to accept that he identifies as a man and that he is his father’s true heir. And Sinne dreams of adventures in far-away lands and true love. Riva and Sinne’s characters are based on the characters of the murder ballad “The Twa Sisters,” on which the novel is based. While Keyne’s character is rooted in Arthurian legend and is completely new. The novel is slow to start as it sets the table for the latter half of the book. While Riva and Sinne do act with agency, they’re less rounded out. The lack of characterization makes it difficult to fully buy into and feel the full weight of the events that transpire in the latter half of the novel. Keyne is by far the most fleshed-out character in both personality and relationships. It’s his story that really carries the plot forward.