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pondareplay's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
honeypunk's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
A book that had lots of potential but unfortunately fell flat.
The main characters Keyne/ Constantine Riva and Sinne unfortunately felt very shallow in the manner they were written.
I found it painfully obvious how Keyne was written by someone who is not a trans man. The first few chapters from his perspective were repeating how he felt different on the inside, noone understands what it's like to be perceived as someone you're not, dresses make him uncomfortable etc. All valid trans experiences but executed in a very shallow manner because there was nothing else to him. Trans people have personalities and not every single waking moment is spent thinking about how being trans is different or hard.
Similarly the portrayal of the disabled character Riva also felt shallow to me initially. Much like Keyne she kept repeating how hard it was to be a burn victim and for others to look at her differently. One guy appears and says he thinks she's strong for living with a disability, not weak, and suddenlyshe's anamoured with him.
It annoyed me as a disabled trans person how heavily these characters relied on tropes / stereotypes of what it's like to be disabled or trans. They didn't feel human a lot of the time as they hugely lacked in depth. Therefore when events happened that were intended to be emotional I just felt..meh.
But on the other hand, the premise for this story was a wonderful idea. The setting, the magic, the culture.. all made me so happy. It is lovely to see traditional British culture celebrated through story. I just wish it had been executed better , so I would have cared more about the plot.
The main characters Keyne
I found it painfully obvious how Keyne was written by someone who is not a trans man. The first few chapters from his perspective were repeating how he felt different on the inside, noone understands what it's like to be perceived as someone you're not, dresses make him uncomfortable etc. All valid trans experiences but executed in a very shallow manner because there was nothing else to him. Trans people have personalities and not every single waking moment is spent thinking about how being trans is different or hard.
Similarly the portrayal of the disabled character Riva also felt shallow to me initially. Much like Keyne she kept repeating how hard it was to be a burn victim and for others to look at her differently. One guy appears and says he thinks she's strong for living with a disability, not weak, and suddenly
It annoyed me as a disabled trans person how heavily these characters relied on tropes / stereotypes of what it's like to be disabled or trans. They didn't feel human a lot of the time as they hugely lacked in depth. Therefore when events happened that were intended to be emotional I just felt..meh.
But on the other hand, the premise for this story was a wonderful idea. The setting, the magic, the culture.. all made me so happy. It is lovely to see traditional British culture celebrated through story. I just wish it had been executed better , so I would have cared more about the plot.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Transphobia, and Violence
agooding's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Transphobia, Vomit, and Pregnancy
Minor: Deadnaming
bluejay21's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and War
abbeyroad1410's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-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
I feel very conflicted about this book because the things it did well, it did exceptionally, but overall, I feel like a lot of areas were underdeveloped.
I want to start with the things I felt the book did exceptionally. To begin, it carries a plot about a transgender boy, Kenye, throughout the novel which is moving and has a happy ending. I find this rare, especially in a historical fiction novel, and I enjoyed the representation in a way that made sense. For people that think this is unrealistic for the time period, I would look into the thirteenth century text Le Roman de Silence by Heldris.
The book also does a great job showing Riva's insecurity with her disability (she is a burn victim) and the pressure she feels from having to be the older, more responsible sister. Dealing with her insecurities gives Riva's character depth, though I will admit she may be the most frustrating character in the book.
This novel is also great at drawing emotion. At the emotional peak, when Sinne dies and is turned into a harp, I simultaneously felt like crying and vomiting. Without Lucy Holland's ability to write such sympathetic characters, I doubt this emotion would hit as hard.
Now, I want to touch on the things that just generally confused me about the novel, Sistersong. I think my biggest issue with this novel is the fact that there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the magic in it. The novel began with the sisters having specific powers, but by the end, they blurred together and you could also half raise the dead. This is very frustrating.
Additionally, the driver of the main event ,Sinne's death during her fight with Riva, is jealousy. However, at the time this occurs, there is no reason for Sinne to be jealous as she doesn't trust Tristian and had a major revelation that Tristian had always favored her sister. Honestly, everyone's feelings about Tristian and infatuation with him was very confusing by the end of the novel. For the majority of the novel, Riva chose to be ignorant that Tristian was the villain despite everyone else suspecting him. This girl was shocked when he was revealed to be a Saxon and it made zero sense how shocked she was.
Overall, I wouldn't say that I am disappointed with the book. I am mostly just left confused. It was a beautiful adaptation of the Ballad of the Twa Sisters, but at times, it was doing too much.
I want to start with the things I felt the book did exceptionally. To begin, it carries a plot about a transgender boy, Kenye, throughout the novel which is moving and has a happy ending. I find this rare, especially in a historical fiction novel, and I enjoyed the representation in a way that made sense. For people that think this is unrealistic for the time period, I would look into the thirteenth century text Le Roman de Silence by Heldris.
The book also does a great job showing Riva's insecurity with her disability (she is a burn victim) and the pressure she feels from having to be the older, more responsible sister. Dealing with her insecurities gives Riva's character depth, though I will admit she may be the most frustrating character in the book.
This novel is also great at drawing emotion. At the emotional peak,
Now, I want to touch on the things that just generally confused me about the novel, Sistersong. I think my biggest issue with this novel is the fact that there seems to be no rhyme or reason for the magic in it. The novel began with the sisters having specific powers, but by the end, they blurred together and you could also half raise the dead. This is very frustrating.
Additionally, the driver of the main event
Overall, I wouldn't say that I am disappointed with the book. I am mostly just left confused. It was a beautiful adaptation of the Ballad of the Twa Sisters, but at times, it was doing too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Fire/Fire injury, and War
picaresquedreamer's review against another edition
Boring, most characters were kinda irritating
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
musicalpopcorn's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
This was quite the story. I’m glad I looked up the Twa Sisters beforehand otherwise I think I would have had a massive shock about 3/4 of the way in. The book definitely takes a sharp turn.
I wasn’t all that interested in it to begin with. I didn’t find the story grabbed me, but once it took a darker turn, I definitely felt more inclined to see how it ended.
Interesting idea, so-so execution.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Confinement, Deadnaming, Misogyny, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
claire_riach's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming and Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury
thecourtface's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
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 😌
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