Sistersong is the story of the three young adult children of King Cador of the ancient British kingdom of Dumnonia. Their way of life is under threat as their old gods are replaced by Christianity and they are also under constant threat of Saxon invasion. Each royal sibling must overcome their fears and find out who they really are.

I enjoyed the King Arthuresque magic of the book and thought that the magician character Myrddhin (named after Merlin?) was particularly interesting. The recurring theme of genderfluidity and trans* experience, set in a time before there were even words for those concepts, was well handled.

A recommended mixture of history and fantasy, with particular interest perhaps for the YA audience.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a review copy in exchange for honest feedback.

I really feel like me and this book just didn't gel. For starters the formatting of the e-arc is terrible, Random words and sometimes phrases were missed out and instead inserted in italics in previous sentences which made the story and my reading of it feel really choppy and slowed me down a lot. I read up until around 50% and just couldn't really see where the story was going, which I feel at 50% I should have had some inkling. I found the characters a little tropey, youngest sister who is selfish and just wants love, priest who see's pretty much everything as an abomination ( I know this was likely true at the time I just felt they could have had a little more depth.

That being said I loved Keyne and Myrddhin, they were the only two characters I really cared about and one was minor. I also loved the idea of the magic being tied to the land, and the reasoning behind it's failure, it just took far too long to get going in my opinion and for that reason I found myself almost slogging through the pages.

Sistersong is a re-telling of a British folk ballad and is a fantasy story based on three sisters Riva, Since, and Keyne. The story is well written and the plot and characters are great. I was fully immersed in the world-building and the characters were likeable, although the main story revolves around Keyne. I did find that the pacing was a little slow, especially in the beginning. It didn't grab me the way I wanted it to but it was a good read.

I knew I had to request a copy of Sistersong when I saw it compared to Katherine Arden's Winternight trilogy, also known as my favourite series of all time, and I was absolutely fascinated by its setting, sixth century Britain in the wake of the Roman occupation. This era, and eras like it, are woefully underrepresented in historical fiction and fantasy, especially when there's such a wealth of lore to choose from — and as a pagan, it made me smile to see Holland spend so much time exploring the rituals of Imbolc, Beltane, Samhain, and others.

I think what kept me from truly getting into Sistersong is the prose. It's all very staccato and written in short sentences, and this means that as well as sounding somewhat younger than their years, the characters feel as though they're kept at arms length. We spend most of our time with Keyne, the middle of King Cador's three daughters, but I was far more interested in Riva and Sinne's narratives (particularly Sinne, who is unlikeable at first but yearns for love and wild adventures) and wanted much more of them — and much more exploration of the often-taut relationship between the siblings. Sinne had a wonderful, heartwarming friendship with a mute man named Os, seeing the good in him when everyone else feared him, and I'd have loved for that to have been given more attention plot-wise!

All of that said, I enjoyed the myth and old tales woven into the story, and in some respects, it feels like it could be an old tale in itself (and I won't lie, the epilogue got me a little bit misty-eyed). Readers looking for a modern-day, fantastical twist on history with a focus on women and their stories will likely really enjoy this one!

Sistersong by Lucy Holland caught me unawares.
Last year I was invited (thank you PanMacmillian UK) to read any/all of a selection of books due for release this year and of all the ones on the list, I had recently seen an ad for Sistersong on IG and I am all about folklore, ballads and legends and their retellings. The fact that in this instance these are places I know and have visited and that are not too far from home made me want to read it more so I selected it and then it sat on my kindle, untouched.

Lockdown 1, 2, and now 3, have been strange things. I had imagined myself with all this incredible time to read, but I read no more or less than normal and it has been so easy to lose track of the days, for the hours to pass without you even realising, and though it took me a minute to get to it, for the last 10 days or so, as I slowly felt my way through the story, Sistersong has taken me away from all the confusion and chaos of the modern world, from its pandemic, from not being able to travel anywhere, or even go to work, and it led me to the past – to all our pasts – our history, to the magic of the land and the fragile and fractured arms of a family that could be almost any family even today.

Sistersong is a wholly heartfelt read, you will rise and fall, you will hurt and you will hope, and as you take this journey (over almost a year) with Keyne, Riva, and Sinne, you will ache at the pain and the humiliation, doubt at the honesty of men and their promises. You will rally and rage at the injustice suffered and you will wonder how something set in the time of the Saxon invasions can still feel so relevant today.

This book made me forever grateful to have been raised in a family that knew me, that allowed me to grow as I wanted, and that taught me I could do anything so long as I was a kind and decent human being first. It made me grateful that I have friends and the family I have made for myself who really know me, who respect my choices and who will listen to my views and who will debate with me rather than shut down the vitally important topics that flood the news every day in relation to race, gender, sex, and a seemingly overwhelming lack of action from anyone with the power to make true changes. But as a wise woman (who is the most wonderful of characters) once said,

“Things will not always be this way,. . . But the world won’t change unless you work to change it.”

And I felt that. It’s up to us.

The re telling of an ancient British folk ballad. The re telling of history.
This book, brilliantly written by a great storyteller imagines the folk ballad, The Twa Sisters' in a more contemporary scenario. Here the three sisters Riva, Sinne and Keyne are facing up not only to their family and the power of their father as King of the land but the perceived 'rights' ingrained in their beliefs.
I have no problem with the story itself and the book is written well with a flowing plot and characterisation that brings the three female characters right up to date in their individual requirements for growth development and own position in their society. There is a folk ballad, a fairy tale and history. A reaching to the past but a longing for a change in the future - especially for the three sisters.
But in looking further into the original folk ballad I found the story of two sisters, one who was murdered by drowning and who was magically transformed into a musical instrument which gave music for life. The tale is beautifully captured by singers Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick in 'Bows of London'.
I have enjoyed the work of Madeline Miller, Pat Barker and Jenny Saint each writers conveys the bones of the ancient Greek myths (a subject I always grapple with) into a format that tells the complicated plot in an accessible manner and doesn't exclude the female characters, so often overlooked in the telling of the myths.
So in many ways Lucy Holland does just the same with the tradition of this folk ballad and I am sure the book (with its stunning cover) will do really well.
But let us not forget the past and realise the women and girls were overlooked because of what the men did not because we today would hope they behaved in ways, which in reality they would never have been allowed to.
A modern folk ballad of our times not theirs.

I recently wrote in another review that when I read historical fiction, I want to be whisked away to that time and place, to be able to see what life during that time period looked like clearly in my mind's eye. Sistersong definitely did this for me. From the beginning, I was fully immersed in King Cador's Dumnonia in Ancient Britain, a world of dying magic and traditions, and on the brink of great change.

The novel is billed as a retelling of a traditional folk ballad called 'The Two Sisters'. I had no prior knowledge of this ballad, nor did I look it up before reading Sistersong, and I'm glad I didn't. Since finishing the book and looking the ballad up, it's clear that while Lucy Hounsom took inspiration from the ballad, she's built a much larger story that moves far beyond that story. However, an understanding of the ballad would have spoiled a pretty big plot point for me so take this as a word of warning!

It's clear from the synopsis, though, that there's a pretty big difference between the ballad and Sistersong and that's the existence of a third sibling in the novel - the protagonist, Keyne. The story is told from the point of view of all three siblings - Riva, Keyne and Sinne - but really it's Keyne's story and the sisters play supporting roles. Keyne is King Cador's second child, the middle sibling between Riva, who has the power to heal, and Sinne, who can magically coerce those around her.

Keyne, like his father, has a deep connection to the land and the magic it possesses. This should make him the rightful heir to the throne but there's one problem - Keyne was assigned female at birth. Largely, Sistersong explores Keyne's gender identity journey and battle to be recognised as the man he is, a side effect of which is that he will, as Cador's only son, become the heir to the throne. He is lucky to have the support and guidance of a powerful magician, who is non-binary and gender fluid, Myrddhin/Mori. They also help Keyne to harness his own magic, vital to protect Dumnonia from a looming Saxon invasion.

Keyne is an easy character to like: kind, compassionate, ambitious and determined. His story alone is gripping and compelling. I was rooting for him all the way through and he was definitely my favourite character.

In contrast to some other readers, I really enjoyed how Riva's story played out. I realise that some people may dislike just how predictable her storyline is but, for me, the predictability heightened the tragedy of it all. Not everything has to be a surprise for it to be good story-telling. Yes, it was incredibly obvious (SPOILER) that Riva was being duped and used from the outset of her relationship with Tristan but this amplified the sense of impending doom and really made me feel terribly sorry for her.

Though she is the eldest of the siblings, initially introduced as the responsible, pragmatic one, we must also remember she still is a naïve young woman. Her childhood trauma and the resulting long-term injuries, and the way these injuries have impacted the way those around her view and treat her, have made her a very insecure and bitter young woman - understandably so. I get why some readers found her all-encompassing, borderline obsessive, love for Tristan irritating and disappointing: it is! But I also think that it's understandable and believable.

I felt that Sinne was the most neglected of the siblings in the narrative and, just as I was getting to know her and feel more invested in her development, she was gone!

I initially rated it five stars but lowered it to four upon reflection - I do feel that Riva and Sinne's narratives were less developed than Keyne's, making them more supporting characters when I would expect from the title and narrative style that they should have been more equally weighted. I think the exploration of the sibling relationship could have been more nuanced but overall, this was a really interesting, gripping read.

Set in an ancient kingdom in sixth century Britain, where the Romans have departed, leaving a weaker more fractured society, vulnerable to raiders, in their wake. The old beliefs in magic and gods, are being eroded by Christianity and its priests and King Cador of Dumnonia has lost his magical bond with the land.

The story initially builds slowly, introducing the three sisters, King Cador’s daughters, who maintain their strong belief in the ancient ways and because of their heritage can each sense and connect to the magic in different ways. They each want to escape their current life arcs for different reasons- escaping from the identities they are boxed in by being a strong theme throughout the book. Riva wants people to see her strengths, not her injuries; Keyne wants to be acknowledged by others, especially King Cador, as male; Sinne wants romance and social status, but is last in line and fears she’ll never be put first and swept away by potential suitors.

As it picks up pace, the story is skilfully woven, and the magical fantasy elements fit seamlessly with the ancient realm in which they are set. I was transported to this place and time- absorbed in the story, concerned for these people , and hoping for an outcome where their threatened way of life prevailed and the kingdom’s connection to the magic was fully repaired. I completed this book in two sittings, reluctant to put it down.

Highly recommended to lovers of historical fiction and folklore, this is a crossover that works brilliantly and as a bonus has a strong LGBTQ+ protagonist grappling with identity in a historical setting.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy and offer my opinions.

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I requested this mostly because apparently fans of Circe and the Winternight Trilogy will love it and hey, that's me. If anything it reminded me a bit more of Giles Kristian's Lancelot but I digress.

The story follows three sisters living in post Roman Britain. I thought the setting was perhaps the strongest aspect of the story and an often ignored period of British history was portrayed really well, albeit with a strong supernatural element to it.

My main issue was the pacing. By 25% I was beginning to seriously wonder if anything other than the sisters feeling mildly imperilled by a horrible priest was going to happen. By the time things did begin to pick up my interest was mostly gone, never to return.

I like the idea of this book, it just didn't translate into an enjoyable read for me personally.

Lucy Holland has taken a short ballad from the 17th century, 'The Twa Sisters', and created an entire world around it, and has done it with incredible skill. Truly, the whole novel feels like a tale that would be told by Myrdhin in a great hall around a fire – which happens a few times in the story itself – and I believe that was the author’s intention, with the way the narrative is framed. ‘I will tell you a story,’ begins Keyne in the first chapter. This is the third sibling, not present in the original ballad, which Holland added in her telling and whom I absolutely fell in love with. What a dynamic character! Keyne has never felt at ease in his own skin or household, wanting to be seen as a son rather than a daughter, and I would say that though the two sisters Riva and Sinne, are the namesakes of The Twa Sisters ballad, it is Keyne that carries the plot. Also, for anyone who has read it, the bonfire scene at Beltane where he dances with fire will stay with me forever.

There is a very interesting dynamic in this novel between the old gods, and the power of the land, and the new Christian God, whose worship is slowly sweeping through the British Isles. Gildas, a priest, is the main source of this tension, as his presence has slowly pulled King Cador away from his ties to the land, so that crops fail, healing no longer works, the weather is hostile, and the kingdom is vulnerable to Saxon attacks. Even the reappearance of Myrdhin and his magic is not enough, and it is up to the heirs of the land to try and restore its magic before it is too late, but they also have their own problems going on, and time is shorter than they realise. The sisters all have their own affinity to magic, and I love the way their powers are described and move the story along.

Despite the fantastical elements, Sistersong feels so real, and so rooted in history, that I would happily recommend it to anyone who generally steers away from fantasy (which is ridiculous, because fantasy is the mother of all storytelling), and be confident that they would enjoy it. The attention to detail, the character development, the language itself, all meld together to create this perfect story. I had to keep putting the book down, because I knew that there would be sadness waiting at the end of it, and I didn’t want the tale to end, but what I did find when I finished it was a bittersweet feeling and the knowledge that this story will continue to sing to me long after I have turned the last page. This is where I have to admit that writing this review has been difficult, because the book has left me with a lot of emotions, and it’s hard to articulate much beyond “good book, go read it,” but I hope I have done that. Thank you for putting up with the fangirling I interspersed in this review, and happy reading!

While "Sistersong" is a great story with some brilliant writing, it just didn't grab me the way I thought it would. There's a hazy, almost dream-like, feel to this book, where I was hoping, in parts at least, for something much harsher. I did enjoy the three main characters and thought their voices came through very well.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Three sisters, Riva, Keyne and Sinne are the daughters of Cador an early English king whose land is under threat from the Saxons. Like any girls they have hopes and dreams that lie beyond the confines of the hold in which they live. There is treachery, deceit, magic and love in this book which I ultimately enjoyed.
For me, this was a book of two halves. I found the first half a bit dull if I'm honest and I was left wondering where the story might be going. However the second half was a real page turner and I am so glad that I stuck with it.
To be fair to the author my enjoyment of the first half might be down in part to the fact that that copy I received was very badly formatted and it took me a while to get used to it. A solid 4 from me.
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Having read both Circe and the Mercies, I was keen to explore this book, and it didn't disappoint. Set in a time when anything could happen, three sisters each tell their story. Although it took me while to get into it properly, I soon became immersed in their lives. It’s not a vast, complicated saga of the early dark ages, rather a fascinating tale of lives from that period that ultimately culminating in events that have shaped all our lives. The characters are still with me after the book is finished, which is always a sign that the story worked for me.

'Sistersong’ is the story of three siblings – Keyne, Riva, and Sinne – born to the King of Dumnonia in the early 5th century AD. It’s a very classic historical fantasy, creating a wonderful sense of time and place whilst also spinning an engaging tale of magic and identity. It starts slowly, but the second half is a fast-moving adventure that’s difficult to put down.

Dumnonia in 535 AD was an area of South-West Britain covering most of modern Devon and parts of Cornwall and Somerset. The Kingdom was created by the departure of the Romans – but they left a fragmented and divided land. In ‘Sistersong’, King Cador of Dumnonia has turned away from his peoples traditional gods and magics and instead towards Roman Christianity, weakening their natural defences. The result is famine, and growing terror at the threat of the Wessex Saxons on their borders. Amidst this uncertainty, Keyne tries to navigate a world in which he is persistently forced to be a woman, rather than the man he knows he is. Riva, badly burnt and disfigured in a terrible fire, worries that she will never heal. And Sinne, the youngest daughter, yearns for a romantic tale of adventure and love, willing to sacrifice anything for her own desires. As new faces and old friends gather at the Dumnonian stronghold, the siblings clash, grappling with their warring desires – and with the Dumnonian magic, their bloodline and birthright, perhaps the only way they can save their people from Saxon rule.

Keyne is by far the strongest character in the book. His struggles with his identity are powerful to read about, and he’s a determined, feisty character, always fighting against perceived injustice and mistakes. His actions can be selfish, but his intentions are always good, and he deeply cares about his land and his people. His relationship with Myrddhin, his mentor, is absolutely fantastic, and later on he has the sweetest friendship-to-romance arc – lovely to read about, especially for a transgender character in historical fiction.

Riva’s journey also starts strongly. Her place in society, as a woman and the daughter of the king, has always been to marry well and carry children – but thanks to being badly burnt by wildfire, she no longer believes herself desirable enough to do her duty. She’s also a healer, saving many of her people from death – yet she cannot heal herself. Her grapples with identity, whilst very different to Keyne’s, are equally moving. However, her story becomes very predictable, and she has the weakest ending of any of the siblings tales.

Sinne starts off an incredibly difficult character to like. She’s selfish, caring only about herself and her own desirability, and she toys with others and their emotions. She’s mean and catty to her siblings, especially Keyne, and tries to spin every situation to see how she could get more social power from it. However, as the story goes on, she grows greatly. Like her siblings, Sinne possesses powerful magic – but hers is fickle and hard to control, and she starts to grapple with how much she actually knows herself, and how much is her magic leading her astray. She’s also one of the first to accept Keyne as he is, and she develops a beautiful and powerful friendship with a man called Os, a mysterious mute who most people hate or fear for his outsider status. Sinne is a woman covered in thorns, but beneath them there’s a good heart buried deep.

The plot is uncomplicated – there are a few surprises, but the overall arcs and biggest twists are relatively predictable. However, the exploration of a period of British history less commonly seen in historical fiction is fascinating, and the different pagan magics are beautifully explored. The difficult relationship between the spreading influence of the Roman Catholic church and the traditional worship of gods and the land is also well-written, with some great fantasy twists thrown in.

The ending is clear folktale and will likely be divisive – while the rest of the novel can be read as solid historical fiction with some fantasy elements, there are twists at the end which are pure fantasy. It’s slightly jarring, given the relative realism of everything else, but overall works well. The epilogue, with its ambiguous nature, is a poignant way to end, adding an element of mystery to an otherwise neatly concluded story.

Overall, Sistersong is a strong historical fantasy novel inspired by ancient British folk tales, with its strengths lying in the exploration of identity and pagan magic. Recommended for fans of historical fiction, folklore, and complex family relationships.

‘Someone once told me that the only names that matter are the ones we take for ourselves.’

There was a time, long ago, when ancient Britain was filled with magic. But then the magic started failing: crushed by the weight of the acolytes of the Christian God. Long ago the Romans abandoned the land, warring tribes are their successors and now the Saxons are invading.

In King Cador’s hold, the last bastion against the Saxons, are three sisters. Riva can cure others but is unable to heal her own scars. Keyne, born female, longs to be seen as King Cador’s son. Sinne, longs for adventure and dreams of love.

All three sisters fear confinement within King Cador’s hold. But, on a day that ash falls from the sky, Myrdhin the magician arrives. The siblings will discover their own power but will also become entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak. Each of the siblings has a story to tell, each is fighting for the right to determine their own future.

The time has passed now, the magic often forgotten.

This is a retelling of ‘The Two Sisters’ folk ballad with its themes of love, loss and betrayal. It is a beautifully written, complex story that had me wanting to enter it, to experience the magic and to somehow influence the outcome.

Highly recommended for lovers of fantasy.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

In 535 AD in an ancient kingdom, the last bastion against the Saxons; three sisters long for freedom from their father’s fortress- Riva (a healer, scarred by fire and afraid she’ll never heal), Keyne (a warrior, who desperately wishes to be acknowledged as a boy) and Sinne (the youngest who dreams of romance).

They’re soon given a chance to take fate into their own hands when a magician and a soldier arrive at the hold. For the magic of the land is dying and with Saxon invasion edging closer;Riva,Keyne and Sinne will discover secrets that just might tear them apart.

This is a retelling of the folk ballad ‘The Two Sisters’ and when I saw it recommended to fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale, I knew I had to read it.

I loved Lucy Holland’s writing style and thought she weaved a wonderfully complex tale of love,loss and betrayal but, it’s her subtlety in the inclusion of gender identity and a strong LGBTQ+ main character (Keyne), that make this a standout of 2021 -proving powerful tales of diversity can exist in historical retellings/settings.

The story was as beautiful as it’s cover, it was an incredibly addictive read and I urge everyone who loves historical fiction or historical fantasy to check this out.

I also wanted to thank Pan Macmillan and Net Galley for ARC.

I really enjoyed this book as it mixed some of my favourite things history, myth and magic. The story is told by three very strong sisters all completely different and all trying to find their own way in an ever changing World. All the supporting characters and their relationships with the sisters play a very strong role too helping to bring the story to life. I just wish I could have had more time with each character to get to know them better,

I didn’t want to put this down - I felt completely consumed by the stories of Riva, Keyne and Sinne. I really liked the theme of coming to terms with identity that ran through the book, which made me think that this would be good for YA readers as well as adults. I finished wanting it to continue and curious to find out more about the Ballad of the Twa Sisters and Constantine. Perfect for fans of Circe or The Mercies.

I loved this story about the Dumnonii people. I was born on Vectis and live in Isca so it felt like I was reading my history. It is a beautifully written mix of fable, fact and fiction and a delight to read. I just hope that the final proof doesn't have as many italicised words as the e-ARC which was kindly provided by Netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Italicised words irritate me.

An unusual blend of historical fiction and fantasy, this is a spellbinding mythical read, set in a sixth century Britain which has been abandoned by the Romans. There is plenty of pagan magic and superstition, as the tribesmen war against the encroaching Saxons, and rebel against the Christian church, who are trying to convert them from their belief in the goddess Brigid. A strong feminist cast lead the plot in three sisters, daughters of a King: Riva, a healer; Keane, a warrior; Sinne, a dreamer. They all three believe in the old ways despite their Roman mother, and are trying to find their way in a world that doesn’t understand them. I can see this being the next Circe (Madeleine Miller) or A Thousand Ships (Natalie Haynes) because while it’s a fictional version of the past, this story very much set within the historical record of ancient Britain and the beliefs of its people, and the beautiful writing gives this a similar feel; particularly to Circe which has some mythical and magical elements too. I liked the characters, they have some good learning arcs although Riva and Sinne are annoying at different times. Keyne was fantastic throughout. I struggled through some of the section just before ending but the resolution was good, and overall I can say that I enjoyed this read - and I loved that it was set at Sidmouth, which I visited last year - the dramatic red cliffs are something special and lent their atmosphere to this spellbinding tale.

This could equally be read and loved by a fantasy reader with no interest in the historical side, as this is only a backdrop to a land full of magic.

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher, Pan Macmillan, for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.