In a land abandoned by the Romans and at the mercy of the invading Saxon armies Dumnonia sits alone. The King, once powerful, has turned to the new Christian religion but his three daughters are aware of the power and magic associated with their land. As spiritual and physical conflict threaten their lives a stranger arrives and through him their destinies are determined.
At first I found this story very slow but then it got into my head and I realised that the tempo is part of the joy of reading it. The characters are all carefully drawn but with a degree of mystery that fits the premise of the clash of cultures. Based on an ancient folk song the story is tragic but the writing is stunning in places and this was a great read.

Although i was unsure of this book to begin with mistaken it as slow this is not the case. Once i settled down to read it properly and got stuck in. Stuck in it i was and unable to put it down. Not my usual kind of read but a thoroughly enjoying read all the same and it draws you in at a nice steady pace introducing you to all 3 siblings Riva, Keyne and Sinne 3 celtic princesses all trying to find their own place in the world.

I was really looking forward to reading this this book, but I found it to be slow going initially. When I did get into it I found it to be an interesting read, but not one that I could really say I loved. I found the story of the three sisters intriguing but didn't particularly care for any of them as characters in their own right and I think this clouded my judgement of the book, For me it was probably less a historical fiction book and more of a fantasy one.

This was unexpectedly a hard read for me, I don't mean in that it wasn't a good one, I mean that I didn't expect to be so distraught lol

Three sisters. Or at least that’s what they are presented as but Keyne is no daughter, and the journey Keyne has is really the main connecting one of him and his sisters.

Keyne’s story is probably also the most interesting. I do adore Riva and Sinne’s stories as well, and though the siblings seem close, this is a story of transitions and not just of the land or religion but the siblings as well.

Riva is the dutiful one, Keyne the one that doesn’t ‘fit in,’ and Sinne is the young carefree one. The three are all so different but I loved seeing how they all drastically changed from beginning to end.

Fate is not always kind though, and this story showed the struggles each sibling dealt with. There was so much pain and it made it a heavy read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"In a world full of people who see what they expect or wish to see, suggestion is sometimes more powerful than any magic."

Set in ancient Britain when the threads of magic binding the land are fraying, and the threat of war looms, Sistersong follows the narratives of three sisters and the ultimately devastating rifts between them...

An immersive, unsettling and compelling read inspired by the traditional folk ballad ‘The Two Sisters’.

I loved the inspiration of ancient Britain and the deep rooted magic of songs and stories. Despite their flaws I found myself rooting for all the sisters and could hardly put it down!

Perfect for fans of mythology, historical fiction and fantasy - Lucy skilfully embraces all three, meaning there is something for everyone.

Engaging yet ultimately dispiriting tale of Ancient Britain

In Dumnonia in the 6th century AD there live three sisters. Riva, Keyne and Sinne are Celtic princesses, the daughters of King Cador and Queen Enica. Riva, the eldest, was injured in a terrible fire when she was younger, leaving her with permanent scars and a disability, but, by the same token, she is gifted with an extraordinary power to heal. The only person she cannot heal is herself. Keyne, the middle sister, loathes all that being female and being forced to do the “feminine” things required of women and girls in a rigidly patriarchal society entail. Such is her antipathy towards her female body and what is expected of her that she longs to be seen by her father as his son. Sinne, the youngest sister and the most carefree, is a dreamer whose dreams often seem so real as to be perilously prophetic. Her rebelliousness and free-spirited nature tend to get her into trouble but, at the same time, make her loved by all.

As the three sisters grow into young women, their lives in their father’s hold of Dunbriga begin to change. King Cador is abandoning the old gods and their land-bound magic as a new religion, Christianity, sweeps across the land, entering Dunbriga in the figure of the zealous priest Gildas. When the wise man and storyteller Myrdhin returns after years away, a chain of events is set in motion which lead to the arrival of the mysterious stranger Tristan and his mute servant Os into their midst. Initially welcomed as an emissary from the kingdom of Dyfed, Tristan’s presence causes tensions among the sisters that eventually reach breaking point…

Based on the ballad “The Twa Sisters” to which a third sister has been added, told from the POV of each of the three sisters, and with a fascinating premise blending history and fairy tale, Sistersong has all the elements of a riveting read. Set in post-Roman Dark Ages Britain, a period about which few records exist, the novel does a good job evoking the atmosphere, grimness, and harsh nature of life as it would have been back then, particularly for women. The grind of everyday living, chores, hardship, and tedium are vividly portrayed, as are the wonders of telling stories by firelight, the joys of singing songs, the terrors of being lost in the wild outside the safety of the hold, and the horrors of battle. Slow burning to begin with, the plot builds to an action-packed final act.

However, the depiction of the spirituality and religious beliefs of the era feels at times too contemporary and jarring in its historical context, as well as lacking nuance. The stock character of the priest Gildas is such an exaggeratedly over-the-top villain that he is reduced almost to a pantomime figure. The medieval priest with no redeeming features whatsoever is an unoriginal standard trope at this point; it would have been more interesting and believable had there been more complexity in his character. Based, it would seem, on the historical Gildas, who in his De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae wrote an excoriating account of King Constantine of Dumnonia (a significant figure in this novel), the priest comes across as so dour, unpleasant, and socially inept, it is hard to believe that anyone would have given him the time of day, let alone granted him any power. There is a hint that it is Gildas’ self-loathing and rejection of who he really is that drive him, but, unfortunately, this is not explored in any detail or depth.

This is the case with other characters as well, including the sisters themselves, who, having been so promising at the start, sadly decline into stereotypes by the end: the lovelorn romantic dupe whose emotions cloud her judgement; the nonconformist who ends up adopting and submitting completely to patriarchal norms of leadership and power; and the transgressor who is cruelly and unjustly punished with a terrible fate. Of course, fairy tales don’t have to have happy endings. And many historical tales, particularly (again) those of women, certainly don’t. But it is disappointing that a story about sisterhood fails to offer young women readers who would see themselves in one of the sisters any glimmer of solidarity, positivity or hope for what it means to be female - either in the Ancient Britons’ world or their own.

Jo-Anne Blanco / Arwen Evenstar
Elite Group received a copy of the book to review.

Beautifully written, lyrical and atmospheric, Sistersong is an unmissable character-driven novel.

War is coming, magic is dying and three royal siblings find themselves at a crossroads of love, identity and family. With the land weakening alongside the spread of Christianity, and the threat of the Saxons drawing ever closer, all three will have to make difficult choices about how they live their lives and how they see themselves.

Sistersong's trio of protagonists were wonderful, intricate and complex. I loved their individual journeys, their growth and the bond between them. All three brought something different to the narrative and I was never disappointed when the viewpoint shifted (which is always a sign all the characters are strong!)

Holland uses pagan festivals to mark the passage of time through the novel, linking its events with the changing of the seasons and dwindling festivities, as once crucial rites are replaced with Christian sermons.

I loved how storytelling was also woven throughout, as well as the magical interludes. Each of these narrative threads provided intrigue and relief as Sistersong built towards its heartbreaking final act. It is a novel that will stay with me long after the final page, and I'm looking forward to whatever Holland writes next.

I was provided with an advanced copy of Sistersong for review on NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book. the relationship between the sisters and the historic setting was great. Didn't know much about pre-Saxon, post-Roman Britain. It was original in that sense, as I haven't seen much of that period in books.

Great one.
Thanks a lot to NG nad the publisher for this copy.

In Sistersong, Lucy Holland tackles themes ranging from gender identity in an increasingly binary world to family, loyalty, and love, to the encroachment of a religion whose values are at odds with those of the majority of Brittons. What I didn’t know (and learned from fellow contributor Jonathan Thornton’s review) is that elements of Sistersong are also based on a ballad, “The Twa Sisters”. That Holland does justice to all these themes while incorporating the narrative thread of the ballad is commendable. The spirit of this older tale lives on in Sistersong, its elements seamlessly interwoven with the structure of a compelling tale about identity denied and reaffirmed.

I cannot speak to the veracity of the world from a historical perspective—unfortunately, my knowledge of sixth century Britain and Dumnonia in particular is not up to snuff. The big strokes, I’m familiar with—Saxons encroaching on Briton lands, pillaging and raping and making themselves at home; as an aside, if you want to entertain yourselves, you’re welcome to look at the way older English history textbooks talk about this settlement process as opposed to newer ones, there’s quite the linguistic difference. Back to Sistersong: What I can attest to is that this text offers the reader a feeling of verisimilitude in the way the world is portrayed, as well as in the dual conflicts at display here.

The siblings’ relationship is at the core of the emotional impact this book will have on you. This is the story mainly of Keyne, whose struggle to be seen as a man despite being born in a woman’s body is a rewarding tale of hardship, growth, and self-assertion. Keyne is the middle sibling to Riva and Sinne, who each struggle with the changing world around them in their own way. Riva’s natural abilities as healer are great; but when she falls in love with a handsome stranger, her loyalties are tested to the breaking point. Sinne, the youngest of the three, has talents of her own—and finds a friend unlike any she thought she would. The dynamics between the three make for some excellent twists, especially in the last third of the novel. I wasn’t as emotionally entangled in this story as I would have liked – the characters, though I enjoyed the writing behind them, did not connect with me the way those in, say, A Wind from the Wilderness did (another great historical fantasy). That’s a purely subjective issue, however, and it should not take away from your willingness to give Sistersong a chance—it’s a remarkable novel whose multitude of moving parts takes the breath away.

Without introducing spoilers, I’ll say also, I find the choice of the name “Constantine” to be of particular interest, as it was Constantine the Great who officially adopted Christianity as state religion. To have another Constantine to stand in the path of a Christian priest is a stroke of irony I appreciate. There’s plenty more I appreciate about Sistersong, despite my inability to connect with the main characters; I thought the pacing was very well done, and the stakes were at just the right level through the different parts of the novel, going from the intimate and personal to the overarching theme of a socio-cultural encroachment. It’s well-worth reading for yourselves!

I’m a keen student of Anglo-Saxon history and language, so this gave me a real insight into the transition from Roman rule to Ancient Briton culture, and from paganism to newly arrived Christianity (not an overnight, black and white transition as the later Sutton Hoo burial shows us).

I read it on a Kindle and it was fun to quickly look up the modern equivalent of some of the Brythonic place names and the names of the festivals and even to read about Gildas as an historical figure. The sense of impending danger from the invaders is palpable and one of the best parts of the book.

Less rewarding for me were the fantasy elements, especially the fate of Sinne, though I came to accept these and suspend my disbelief. I appreciate that what happens to Sinne is a nod to the traditional murder ballad. In some ways, it felt more like a young adult novel.

I found the story told from the point of perspective of the three sisters quite complex, particularly if the viewpoint switched suddenly from one sister at the end of a chapter to her collocutor at the beginning of the next. Keyne’s story as a non-binary person in an aggressively male world and Riva’s story as a maimed woman when all that women were good for was marriage and babies were very well depicted. Perhaps because she is less ‘flawed’, Sinne seemed less interesting.

So, to sum up, this was a bit of a mixed bag for me, but overall I did enjoy it and it certainly put my Anglo-Saxon studies into context.

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and was ecstatic when Netgalley approved my request. This book did not disappoint. The story is based on the ballad of the Twa sisters. I'd not heard of this ballad before but is about two jealous sisters, one murdering the other who's bones are turned into a harp and her song of the event is sung eternally.
Sistersong is lyrical story set in Cornwall, known as Dumnonia. The Romans have left and now the kingdom is not only warring against the invading Saxons but also against a the new religion of Christianity in a land where magic has always ruled. The story follows three points of view which are from the three sisters. Keyne, the eldest is not only trying to hold the kingdom together, she is also trying to assert her identity. Keyne is a boy at heart, a soul who is trapped in a body that doesn't belong to him and as the story progresses his identity becomes more solid.
Riva and Sinne have battles of their own. Love, betrayal and jealousy.
I really enjoyed the pace, the setting and the folklore within this book. The use of magic through the land was well done and the appearance of Merlin as Myrdhin was the perfect addition to an ancient magical tale.
One of my favourite reads of the year.

In war torn Britain, King Cador fights to protect his people from invading Saxons and looming famine. Dunbriga was once a land filled with magic, peace, and powerful Gods bestowed fine weather, plentiful harvests and prosperity. But now the Gods have abandoned King Cador. Magic is vanishing from the land and from the people. All except the king’s three daughters.

Riva is a healer. She can cure maladies, ease labouring mothers, save dying men. But in spite of her power, she struggles with her own injuries and can do little to heal them.

Sinne’s future is one of closure, of a cage, of being wedded, bedded, then forced into motherhood. She dreams of something beyond ‘female’ duty, she dreams of honest love and of far-away adventure.

Keyne, who is tied to the land in ways she cannot yet understand, wishes to be a son, rather than a daughter. Who fights everyday for her identity, her truth.

The three sisters are soon faced with unparalleled tragedy and betrayal, a destiny which will test their power – their magic and the steel of their hearts.

With modern day sensibilities, strong LGBTQ+ representation, this novel explores themes of identity, love, betrayal, murder, religion and acceptance. It has power in every page. And I could not tear my eyes away; it casts a fine spell on the reader.

My favourite character was, without a doubt, Keyne. His story touched me deeply. I fell in love with him for his valour and courage, his unyielding determination to be his true-self in the face of rebuttal, judgment and alienation. He’s an inspiring character. One I will be thinking about for a long time. This, for me, was predominantly his story. I just adored him.

This book is inspired by The Two Sisters folk ballad, from the 1700s. If you’re not familiar with the ballad, I wouldn’t recommend looking it up – spoilers. Wait until you finish reading this book. I found it awe-inspiring how the author has spun such a rich, atmospheric and emotional novel from this centuries-old piece of music. It is a book of rich, thought-provoking characters, beautiful prose and glorious magic.

I loved this book! I adored the relationship between the sisters and the atmosphere of pre-Saxon, post Roman Britain. It’s a historic period I know a lot about academically but have never read about in fiction and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I have read a number of books this year focusing on ancient Britain and the various groups who ruled our shores in times gone by. This novel focuses on the struggles of pagans at a time when Christianity was taking hold thus weakening the magical powers and faith in nature.

I was not aware of the ancient murder ballad this story is based on. What a lovely, though tragic tale beautiful retold, here. A good novel for anyone who has an interest in ancient Britain.

Song is important because it can transmit beliefs, values and history over many centuries; neither is it the privilege of the wealthy and powerful. Most of us have sisters and that is a relationship that we carry throughout our lives, experiences and memories of both the good and the bad times and frankly so much of the everyday normal. Holland’s tale is told through three sisters although one, Keyne, will be fighting to deny herself as a woman and gain acceptance in a more masculine role and persona. All are daughters of a king of western England so all have powers vested in the traditional land and other magic. Riva has the “sight”, Sinne the youngest has the power when aroused to call up strong energies and fire. But this is the new decades after the Roman armies have left. Things are changing and their mother believes in the new religion, Christianity, and her priest, Gildas, is trying to stamp out the old ways and beliefs.
So this novel is about the transitional times as “Roman” rule and traditions break down into the older more localised tribal cultures and older beliefs can take more prominence. But the Saxon invaders are moving into Britain killing and destroying, but bringing a deep essential change to the way that Britain was and will be. The practical issues of this are that old certainties are no more, new alliances will need to be forged and war is not pleasant. But the tenor of this novel is that the King – and his community - will not be able to hold off the invaders because he has started to move away from the old magic that ties the people to their land. Christian belief will not be enough to save them. So this novel will talk of the increasing threat and then the reality of war that the family will have to pass through. But as this threat grows they will also have to deal with failure of the weather and crops that make everybody so much more vulnerable from shortages, starvation and illness. The ability of the family to halt or finally hold off these threats, at a tribal or personal level is limited. The sisters are just teenagers in this critical year and so are having to learn about change and their strengths and ability to act very fast.
But another underlying theme is older religions and belief – tied to various types of “magic” – with powers to see the future, to heal and use deeper powers to change weather and places and influence people. So we are introduced to Myrdhin – that sorcerer of deep traditional memory, standing beside the family at times to prevent the worse aspects of destruction and loss. Myrdhin will come quietly to the princesses and help them to grow towards adulthood encouraging their natural skills as healers or seers. He is here a shape shifter or able to present himself in a female persona too. We are talking too of an essentially rural life where people are dependent on and live closer to the land, the crops, the trees, animals and birds. Holland revels in creating the feel of this deep involvement with nature and landscape. But the reader will know that there will be change.
Holland merges traditions, history older religious beliefs and “her” people to create a vibrant and moving novel. It is fast paced, as it heads towards the inevitable changes that we know happened. It pulls no punches over the nature of invasion violence and has a deep visceral feel of the emotions that would have been created. But it also speaks to the quieter moments of family life, the mixing, the normalities and the chat and care. It is this latter that has the power to draw the reader deep into the tale, because it speaks to normal, recognisable day to day life. So this becomes a powerful and moving tale, a clever re-working of older “myths” in the hands of a skilled storyteller.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started this book, but overall, I found it engaging and different. I was swept into a different world and immersed in an almost mythical country. There’s a strong sense of time and place and Lucy Holland creates this world with ease. The narrative switches between central characters and also follows the seasons through the year.. Although the pace is relatively slow, I enjoyed the way the author explored the tensions and differences between the three characters. The emotional conflicts are well depicted and this is a tale which is very much character driven.

It’s a skilful blend of historical fact, fiction and fantasy and for me, made a relaxing and thought provoking read. I’m going to look out for more from Lucy Holland.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

5/5 stars.
I loved this book. This is one of my favourites of the year. The writing was brilliant and the store was beauitufl, magical and completely captivating.
I connected with all of the characters and devoured this book in a day. I particularly loved Keyne and the way she/he was portrayed. I think it was done extremely well and I think more books need characters like this in them.

I ordered multiple stacks of this for the store and plan to hand sell it like crazy as soon as it is out! I've also already told everyone I know how amazing it is!

I am a huge fan of Manda Scott's Boudica so I thought I might find a little bit of it in Sistersong. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed. It is fair to say that Lucy Holland has undoubtable writing skills (although the novel can be a little slow-paced at times and could have done with further editing in my view) but while Manda Scott's Boudica is as spiritual as it is epic, I thought Sistersong was lacking in subtlety. I guessed the crux of the plot long before it was revealed, and certain aspects of the story bothered me slightly, like the fact that the heir to the kingdom had to call himself a man - I'd much rather have had a warrior queen. I think those shortcomings are mainly a question of maturity though, and maybe I would have enjoyed this novel more if I'd read it as a young adult. Still, I will be keeping an eye on what Lucy Holland writes in the future.

I just loved this book, which portrays a complex historical situation without giving way to the tendency to paint heroes and villains (if there were a villain in this book, it might be Gildas who perhaps appears at times as a slightly monomaniacal person - though once the full truth about him is made known, the reader may slightly revise this point of view). There are nods to what people will recall of the Arthurian stories (especially with one character) but this isn't an attempt to "retell" those - Holland instead creates a world here with echoes in history and in other sources, but which is fully her own.

Overall, a compelling story filled with magic, romance, and adventure and with some contemporary resonances.

One of my favourite books of the year so far has been SISTERSONG by Lucy Holland. A retelling of an old folk ballad set in 535 AD, the story revolves around the three children of King Cador of Dumnonia: Riva, Keyne, and Sinne. Their relationship anchors the book and each character is beautifully complex and engaging. Twenty-year-old Riva is a healer who feels helpless at being unable to heal her own scars, seventeen-year-old Keyne identifies as a man but lives in a world trying to force him to conform to strict gender expectations, and fifteen-year-old Sinne feels trapped in her stultifying life.

The narrative switches between the points of view of Riva, Keyne and Sinne. In a time of rigid gender norms and societal expectations, all three chafe against their prescribed roles and long to find freedom. The push and pull of the sibling bond is poignantly portrayed and it’s the connection between these three characters that is so special - together they just might change the future of magic. All three siblings are exquisitely presented but Keyne’s journey of self-discovery and acceptance was my favourite.

The story is told over the course of one year and the sections are very almanac-like, with their exploration of the seasons and religious festivals. The action takes place against the threat of invading Saxons, with a sense of worry gnawing at the edges of the narrative. As the old magic that infuses those born in Dumnonia begins to clash with the Christianity left behind by the Romans, it is left to these three siblings to restore the fast-dwindling magic of the land.

Those that know the ballad it is based on will appreciate the sense of tragic inevitability that permeates the story, enhancing every moment. Told with lyrical and descriptive prose, SISTERSONG is a historical fantasy I’d definitely recommend.