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careinthelibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I was sure I'd like this trans-affirming early middle ages feminist retelling of one of Child's murder ballads and I did š
Didn't expect so much to feel like an honouring of <i>Hild</i> by Nicola Griffith, one of my all-time favourite historical fiction epics. Although <i>Hild</i> takes place in this book's future, it feels like they are referencing the same texts, worldviews, problems, and imaginings of the land. Even the references to the patterns that connect us all to the land felt very Griffith and very <i>Hild</i>! Love it.
Didn't expect so much to feel like an honouring of <i>Hild</i> by Nicola Griffith, one of my all-time favourite historical fiction epics. Although <i>Hild</i> takes place in this book's future, it feels like they are referencing the same texts, worldviews, problems, and imaginings of the land. Even the references to the patterns that connect us all to the land felt very Griffith and very <i>Hild</i>! Love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexism, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Dysphoria, and War
ginalucia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This book blew me away.
It took a while for me to grasp each character as an individual, but I think that's the point because they, fairly quickly, start to become completely different beings, all going in multiple directions but barging into one another.
I love the way the book handles the trans character. Showing us the internal and external struggle but moving it forward in a gentle and pleasing way. It's part of the story, but it doesn't overshadow or undershadow it.
So unexpected, emotional, gripping, and thoughtful. A tense but enjoyable ride.
For more reviews and book recommendations, check out my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ginaluciayt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Transphobia, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and War
nightstitch96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
caelfind's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Transphobia, Violence, and War
simonlorden's review against another edition
challenging
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
me: I don't see how this is a retelling of the ballad
me, later: oh shit
also yay for trans character who ends up being recognized as his true gender <3
me, later: oh shit
also yay for trans character who ends up being recognized as his true gender <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Transphobia, Death of parent, Murder, and War
kaleidoscope_heart's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, War, and Injury/Injury detail
aliciae08's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I read Sistersong as a book club read, and it took me a little bit to get into it as itās very different from most of the books I have read this year.
Sistersong is inspired by the Twa Sisters, a traditional murder ballad from as far back as the 17th century (according to Youtube). The ballad itself is gorgeous, and having very little prior knowledge of it, I was excited to get into Sistersong and take on itās interpretation.
Sistersong follows three siblings and we get alternating chapters through each point of view: Riva, the oldest, Keyne (later called Constantine) and Sinne. The story itself is set on the backdrop of war, growing Christian/Pagan resentments, and their own internal struggles. Thereās love and betrayal and an air of mystery, along with gender-queer and trans representation. Despite there being transphobia, this is not a trans trauma story, rather a becoming fully and confidently myself story.
A massive portion of the first two thirds felt extremely slow, with a whole lot of nothing happening. I found myself getting frustrated because some of the inner turmoil presented felt repetitive (particularly around Riva and Keyne). I also think that because of the length of the set up, I was able to work out who was doing what.
I also thought that some of the relationships were unrealistic in their executions. Weāre made to think through the book synopsis that these siblings are really close, and even though a past closeness is alluded to, that is not what we see. They donāt know or recognize each other at all until the end.
I also felt that there wasnāt really any closure around certain betrayals. It was kind of āoh these things happened and itās fineā. We spent so long in the build up that this felt really unsatisfying to me.
It was well-written and there were parts that I found to be gorgeous.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, and War
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
maeverose's review
medium-paced
3.0
TL;DR: Has similar themes to the winternight trilogy (old religion vs christianity, war, evil priest, similar tho different time period and setting). If you liked that, maybe you would like this. Though for me, I loved that and was ultimately bored for most of this book. It just didnāt hook me, and it didnāt help that I only really cared for one pov.
That being Keyneās. As a genderqueer person Iām always interested in books with trans rep, and even though I donāt believe this is own voices I thought it was done really well. There is misgendering and transphobia from certain characters throughout, but itās not a trans trauma story, and there are many characters who accept his identity (tho it does take them a minute to catch on), and his transness isnāt his whole character. It is a bit binary though, feeding into stereotypes of what a man should be, but given the time period it makes sense? So idk. Overall decent rep. (Loved chapter 23)
I didnāt care for Rivaās pov because it was primarily focused on the romance, which I didnāt like, and I didnāt like Sinneās pov because of the jealousy plotline between her and Riva. I did appreciate that the author didnāt go full on āIām gonna steal your manā with that plotline but it still annoyed me. Especially because this is trying to be a feminist book but the two womenās povs we get are so tied to this one man and their feelings for him and their new dislike of each other because of it.
Iām also both disabled and disfigured (though in different ways than Riva or Os), and I found the rep in this book was neutral overall. Not offensive but not exactly empowering either. Anytime Revaās scars were mentioned it was often in a negative context, but we were shown through Rivaās pov her struggles with it and how much it hurt when people did say negative things about it, and there were characters who didnāt treat her any differently because of it. Osās mutism was handled the same I would say. I did like to see Sinne learn to communicate with him, and I thought their friendship was really sweet. I would just like to see a disfigured/disabled character be confident in their body rather than focusing solely on the negatives of it. My scoliosis has negatives; pain and physical limitations, but I also genuinely like how my body looks, and that seems to be a hard concept for some people to grasp.
That being Keyneās. As a genderqueer person Iām always interested in books with trans rep, and even though I donāt believe this is own voices I thought it was done really well. There is misgendering and transphobia from certain characters throughout, but itās not a trans trauma story, and there are many characters who accept his identity (tho it does take them a minute to catch on), and his transness isnāt his whole character. It is a bit binary though, feeding into stereotypes of what a man should be, but given the time period it makes sense? So idk. Overall decent rep. (Loved chapter 23)
I didnāt care for Rivaās pov because it was primarily focused on the romance, which I didnāt like, and I didnāt like Sinneās pov because of the jealousy plotline between her and Riva. I did appreciate that the author didnāt go full on āIām gonna steal your manā with that plotline but it still annoyed me. Especially because this is trying to be a feminist book but the two womenās povs we get are so tied to this one man and their feelings for him and their new dislike of each other because of it.
Iām also both disabled and disfigured (though in different ways than Riva or Os), and I found the rep in this book was neutral overall. Not offensive but not exactly empowering either. Anytime Revaās scars were mentioned it was often in a negative context, but we were shown through Rivaās pov her struggles with it and how much it hurt when people did say negative things about it, and there were characters who didnāt treat her any differently because of it. Osās mutism was handled the same I would say. I did like to see Sinne learn to communicate with him, and I thought their friendship was really sweet. I would just like to see a disfigured/disabled character be confident in their body rather than focusing solely on the negatives of it. My scoliosis has negatives; pain and physical limitations, but I also genuinely like how my body looks, and that seems to be a hard concept for some people to grasp.
As for the story, it didnāt feel like a lot happened even though things were happening. It felt slow to me. It focused more on character development and their thoughts and feelings than it did plot, which normally I like but because I only cared for Keyne and a few side characters it didnāt work for me this time.
The endingā¦ Riva and Cynricās ending. On one hand I liked that it was so unexpected and atypical for most stories like this, on the other handā¦ he was never redeemed in any way. And he lied to her, the whole time planning on killing her father and her people, then nearly succeeded at thatā¦ so he doesnāt deserve a happy ending at all, and I donāt get why she still loved him through all that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content, Vomit, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Dysphoria, and Classism
Minor: Rape and Excrement
The worst of the gore is in chapter 40, but itās moderate here and there throughout the book.lamricke's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry
alexsartifacts's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and War