Comprehensive world building and enjoyable characters that swept me along for the ride. Will likely stock this title.

Content Warnings: Animal Death, Death, Gore, Child Death, Sexual Assault, Misogyny, Physical Abuse, Depersonalisation
Additionally: Incestuous feelings that aren't exactly explicit but it certainly felt like it.

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

2.75/5 stars

So, I went into this book thinking it was going to be a very gay, sapphic, arthurian tale. What I got instead was just a kinda fun romp around medieval England that was insanely loosely based on arthurian legends and a book that if you call it mainly gay you'd also have to say it's incestuous.

Normally when a book promotes itself as queer I'd expect it to either have an overwhelmingly gay cast or the main character is what's being advertised (so for this, I'd expect the main character to be sapphic).
Instead what's in the book is a single sapphic relationship between 2 side characters and the main character having the same intense relationship with Lily, the squire she meets, as she does with her own biological sister. They sleep in the same bed together cuddled up, tell each other all their secrets, Cass pines over both of them in the same way, talks about them in the same way... There's absolutely no way to say Cass and Lily have a romantic relationship without saying that Cass and Mary (her sister) where also in a romantic relationship. And it's kinda hard to just say they're friends or just sisters with just how much emphasis is put on some parts of the relationships. It just felt a bit odd throughout the whole book imo.

And then there's additionally that ending twist with a kiss... *with a man* (This isn't a spoiler, it literally changes like, nothing lmao). I literally thought I had missed out a whole chapter or 2 between the sentence before the kiss, and the kiss itself because of just how random and out of place it is. I'd imagine it has a place in the second book (I guess there's gonna be a second book?) but I can't see much other place than, she'll be in a hetero relationship. So I'm really failing to see how this is being pushed so hard as a queer, specifically *sapphic*, fantasy.

Now that rant about that point is out of the way, apologies lmao, onto my thoughts for the rest of the book. Some minor spoilers, but points that are more than worth bringing up I believe and worth knowing before reading. The book is already marketed as fantasy so it shouldn't be that big of a spoiler.

The plot is pretty thin in general. Cass runs away from home to join a secret guild of female knights - how she got there was kinda just pure randomness and kinda odd when you learn about how secretive they all are. The plot is mainly just Cass training to become a knight and working towards that goal. It's quite nice though, it's pretty fun to read a medieval knights book but with a female twist that's based in reality (.......... mainly. More on that in a bit) because I don't really think I've read something similar before. It was fun reading through the training and the contests and life battling land borders and such.

The feminist angle, while nice, was kinda just, hitting you over the head with a brick for a bit. Very much a "all men bad" but then in the final couple chapters is suddenly changes to "well, some aren't I guess". Though some people need points being so explicitly pointed out so, eh I guess. Just don't go into this expecting any message to be subtle.

Now for the fantasy vs realism point. This book is around like 90% realism and a bit of random, vague fantasy thrown in. I thought this would be a good story of a woman working her way up the ranks starting with nothing and growing in power more and more with perserverance and strength. In reality, it's another "chosen one" type story despite it starting off like that. Cass kinda just, goes into a state of depersonalisation kind of and magic takes over and makes her super powerful with no effort. No this is not explained, no this is not really making any sense, yes it does kinda just feel pushed in to be part of the Chosen One trend that still seems to exist.
IMO this is feeling like exactly what happened with Mulan's live action remake. The original Disney animated Mulan film was a fantastic film about female strength as Mulan had to use her own cunning and wits to make up for a lack of strength and training. She was on her own and had to work harder than the others to prove herself. And what did the live action remake do? Oh mulan now just has magical powers that make her a god from as young as a child. It just undermines any feminist point imo. That's exactly how this book feels to me.

I'll presume book 2 will go into the fantasy side a lot more and drop more of the realism which honestly will be a shame in my opinion. I am kind of worried about what direction it'll take. The ending of this book feels like the actual ending was entirely missing, it just kind of cuts of and feels a bit jarring so I honestly don't really know what the sequel would do.

Reading some bits about the book, it seems like it'll be a duology. I'm not sure how well the story will be wrapped up in just 1 more book. There's a lot of *major* plot threads that got started here and barely progressed at all, so I'm concerned the sequel will feel a bit too packed to try and establish, and then wrap up everything. I don't think I'd currently recommend the book, I'll be reading the sequel and then based on that I might come back to this review.

When I tell you I devoured this in one day would you believe me? Well, if you know me you probably would, but despite me logging this as a current read I didn't have time to start it until today and then it gripped me, I kept thinking about it during reading breaks, it occupied my every thought until I could go back and finish it.

I did not expect to be so sucked in, but in a way I also did, because the way to my heart is Arthurian stories/retellings.

The writing is very dreamy at the start, we follow Cass who takes charge of her own destiny, and as we accompany her on her quest to freedom, the dreamy-ness melts into breathtaking tension with each enemy encounter she and the sisterhood face.

I swear I wasn't breathing during any battle scenes, but especially at the end, I didn't want anything bad to happen to Cass. I was also worried about the rest of the girls/women, how they would fare and how the story would conclude because it just didn't seem like there were enough pages left.

LUCKILY, this seems to be a duology, but I didn't know that until I finished it. My breath of relief was probably heard far and wide because I have not had enough of this story.

The build up was so strong, the characters too. I fell in love with them instantly and hated seeing any of them get hurt, Lily most of all. She was my favourite, alongside Cass and Sir Gamelin.

Speaking of Sir Gamelin, I shipped him and Cass from their first meeting. Originally I thought this would be a sapphic story with Lily as the love interest, but it kind of became obvious when Gamelin was introduced that it wouldn't be. We still have a sapphic couple among the main characters though.

In terms of plot not thaaat much happened, basically Cass ran away from home, trained, went to some tournaments and discovered a few things about her past along the way, but this didn't bother me. I really enjoyed reading about her journey, and I'm anticipating I'll be enjoying the sequel just as much because of all the answers we'll get.

If you like stories about strong women, then I recommend this book. I can't wait to get a physical copy to add to my collection while I wait in quiet suffering for the next one.

*Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I have read all of Laura Bates non fiction books. This is the first time I've read a peice of fiction from her. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for the advanced copy.

This was another hybrid read for me and the audiobook was brilliant at capturing all different accents and made me feel like I was there with the sisterhood.

In this book we follow the protagonist Cass who crosses paths with one of the Knights of the sisterhood. Once at the Manor of Sword and Shadow she trains as a squire along with other women and girls who are escaping various situations and want to forge their own paths.

I wont go into too much detail as I dont want to give spoilers but I enjoyed this book. The pacing was perfect and I cared about the characters and their stories. This book is a book I needed when I was younger. I think this would be the perfect for the young ladies in your life! (14 and above there is death, graphic fighting, murder, grief and sexual assult)

✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️

About the book 'An interesting thing happens, when a man is defeated in combat by a woman . . . He tells nobody.'

Destined for an arranged marriage, Cass dreams of freedom. So when a fierce and beautiful leather‑clad woman rides up and offers to take her away, Cass doesn’t hesitate to join her. She is introduced to the Sisters of Sword and Shadow - a group of female knights training to fight, protect their community and right the wrongs of men. Drawn into a world of ancient feuds, glorious battles, and deadly intrigue, Cass soon discovers she holds a power that could change not only her own fate but that of her entire sisterhood.

✨️ Sisterhood
✨️ Found family
✨️ Knights
✨️Queer Representation
✨️ Fantasy

3.5 stars
I was very happy to stumble upon a book with a feminist arthurian story, but I'm a bit disappointed. I understand the author usually writes non-fiction, and I could see fiction is not her forte. I think the idea behind the story was interesting, but the execution could be better. A majority of the book is spent in training and waiting for something to happen, and the last 15-20% felt very rushed, packed with action. I do not understand the appearance or role of some characters, and I would not really consider this fantasy, but historical fiction. We get no answers as to what the prologue was about or even the pond scene. I'm a bit frustrated. I can see this getting a second book, but I think some things still needed to be explained or resolved in this first book. It was still an entertaining read.

“An interesting thing happens, when a man is defeated in combat by a woman . . . He tells nobody.”

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's UK for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Sisters of Sword and Shadow’ by Laura Bates. This is the first in a fantasy duology. I was aware before starting it that it was written for a Teen/YA readership and kept this in mind while reading.

In the time of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, Cass is a young woman who on the day of her sister’s wedding dreams of freedom rather than an arranged marriage. When out walking, she is attacked by a mounted brigand who snatches her mother’s locket and rides off. Then a beautiful leather‑clad woman on horseback rides up to her, extends her hand and asks: “are you coming?”

Cass doesn’t hesitate and stays with the mysterious woman even after the locket is successfully retrieved. They travel north and the woman, Sigrid, brings her to the Northumbrian estate of Lady Angharad, the widow of a wealthy merchant. There Cass is introduced to the Sisters of Sword and Shadow, a group of female knights who are training to fight, protect their community, and right the wrongs of men.

Cass is quickly drawn into their world, finding a sense of belonging. Due to the need for secrecy, Lady Angharad resorts to subterfuge so that the larger world believes that her husband is always conveniently away on business. When the Sisters do ride out or take part in tournaments, they conceal their identities and so are believed to be men. The chief baddie is Sir Mordaunt, who is taking a lot of interest in Lady Angharad’s status and therefore threatens the future of the Sisterhood and the women and girls who have found sanctuary there. No further details to avoid spoilers.

Laura Bates is a feminist activist who has written a number of nonfiction books on the subject and is engaged in projects that assists girls and young women to find their voices. According to her Acknowledgments, this was a very personal project as she wrote “there is also an urgent need for feminist joy and that is what this book represents for me.”

Clearly this novel was written with a feminist agenda and while I appreciated Laura Bates desire to write an Arthurian novel that explored different roles for its female characters than what she describes as either the wife/love interest (Guinevere) or the witch/enchantress (Morgan le Fey), I felt that she ignored that there have been other Arthurian retellings as well as nonfiction works that highlighted lesser known female characters.

Here it seems that the women are basically dressing up as blokes and it took some considerable suspension of disbelief to imagine they carried this off successfully.

Also, I was disappointed that there was hardly any fantasy elements in the novel; while there were plenty of fights, jousts, and melees; plus armour and chain mail. Yet these elements were anachronistic when added to concerns about Picts and Saxon invaders. So, it wasn’t particularly faithful to any historical period and just a bit of a mishmash in that respect.

I also found it rather hard to feel much connection with Cass as she seemed to have turned her back on her family without a backward glance. Some of the supporting characters made more of an impression even though they felt underdeveloped. The attitude towards men seemed very reductive with all, apart from one, being misogynistic and even the far away knights of Arthur’s court being rotters.

Overall, I found ‘Sisters of Sword and Shadow’ an okay read, which will probably appeal to many but didn’t really work for me. The cover is quite lovely.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars for this book until I read the authors note at the back.

This book is a must read for teen girls. A YA Arthurian fantasy where our heroine Cass runs away from the expectations of her birth (getting married, having babies) and joins a sisterhood of knights where she finds love and friendship. She faces heartache, pain and betrayal as well as a war that could change the face of the kingdom.

Thank you NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and Laura Baited for allowing me the opportunity to read this ARC. All reviews are my own honest opinion

Sisters of Sword and Shadow is a fantastic beginning to a new YA fantasy series focused on female empowerment through a fresh retelling of the Arthurian myths.

This was a quieter and slower building YA fantasy that I really enjoyed.Bates really spends time creating these three-dimensional characters and making you so invested in their story. Doing this allows you to lose your heart gradually to the Sisterhood of Silk Knights and feel yourself align with their cause. This is such an epic and empowering take on knighthood, while also meaning every moment is fraught with tension. Their discovery would be disastrous. Bates also ensures that this danger is prevalent, with extreme measures having to be taken to protect the group. There are some impactful political and social throughlines that are as relevant today as they have ever been.

This is a book where every action has an eventual consequence and that reckoning is often deadly. It is dirty and gritty, but also so character focused and weaving in some thought provoking discussions around morality, the ability to change and the idea of legacy. Also, the fighting sequences in this were amazing. From the training fights to the real battlefield, they were brutal and you could practically feel the dirt spray from the ground. I loved that Cass had to slog and work to get better, rather than instinctively know everything. She is a great protagonist, with that youthful hopefulness and desire to be something other than the preconceived notion of what a woman is. Bates gives you some intriguing hints about where she might be heading next in her development. When I first picked this up, I didn’t know this was the start of a series but boy am I hooked and excited to see where Bates takes this next. That ending certainly allows for some interesting possibilities.

Sisters of Sword and Shadow is an excellent balance of action-packed sequences and quieter, more character focused moments.

Unfortunately Sisters of Sword and Shadow was not at all what I expected. I will readily admit I didn't finish. I got about a quarter of the way in and realised I was still as bored with it as when I started. Nothing exciting happened, nothing that made me feel drawn into the book. And alas, that meant I could not force myself to finish.

Sisters of Sword and Shadow follows the story of Cass as she encounters a mysterious sisterhood of knights she never knew existed, and realises that there is a life for her beyond the expectations for her to get married and have children. I loved the relationships between Cass and her fellow knights, especially the bond she shared with Lily. There were a lot of twists towards the end and I couldn’t put the book down as I was mesmerised by the author’s beautiful writing style, and I really enjoyed how the story played out in the end. I’m hoping for more either in this universe or other books by the author, and I would definitely recommend this to any fans of Arthurian legend, particularly those looking for a more feminist approach. I loved this book!

2.5 stars, rounded UP because female knights!

This book had a lot of potential, but didn't eventually deliver. My sense is, there is no single plot, just things happening one after the other. Which wouldn't be so bad except that the pace falls off so much in the middle that I was tempted to DNF. Also, while I'm all for a feminist take on the Knights of the Round Table, this was seemed way too simplistic—far more MG than YA (not that MG fiction cannot have age-appropriate subtlety either). Perhaps this was a deliberate tactic of the author, but this could have been a 5-star book with a little more depth.

I'd still be interested if there's a sequel.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

"Sisters of Sword and Shadow" by Laura Bates is a captivating journey into a world where courage and sisterhood triumph over adversity. From the first page to the last, Bates weaves a tale that seamlessly blends fantasy, adventure, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters.

The world-building in this novel is nothing short of impressive. Bates crafts a rich and immersive setting that feels both familiar and fantastical, complete with intricate details that bring the world to life. The author's ability to create a vivid and engaging backdrop for the story adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.

The characters are the heart and soul of "Sisters of Sword and Shadow." The protagonists, with their distinct personalities and well-defined arcs, are easy to root for. The dynamic between the sisters is beautifully portrayed, and the evolution of their relationship throughout the story is both heartwarming and empowering. Bates excels at giving her characters emotional depth, making them relatable and endearing.

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with a perfect blend of action, intrigue, and character development. The plot is full of twists and turns that add layers to the story, preventing predictability and maintaining a high level of excitement. The narrative unfolds with a natural flow, making it easy to get lost in the world of the book.

Bates tackles themes of resilience, empowerment, and the strength found in familial bonds with finesse. The novel goes beyond a mere adventure story, offering readers a thoughtful exploration of the complexities of sisterhood and the power that comes from embracing one's true self.

While the book stands strong on its own, leaving room for potential sequels, the ending provides a satisfying resolution to the central conflicts. Bates manages to tie up loose ends while leaving just enough open for readers to ponder the characters' futures.

In conclusion, "Sisters of Sword and Shadow" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and those who appreciate strong, well-developed characters. Laura Bates has delivered a compelling narrative filled with magic, sisterhood, and a powerful message about finding strength in the face of adversity. This book is a testament to the author's storytelling prowess and is sure to leave a lasting impression on its readers.

Sisters of Sword and Shadow is a YA feminist reimaging of the Arthurian legend - offering a new twist to the knights of the round table tale we all know.

The book follows Cass, a young girl who wants nothing more than to be free, climb trees and experience all that the world has to offer - but her family has more traditional plans for her, marriage and children. So one day when a mysterious hooded rider helps her and whisks her away, she doesn't hesitate and jumps at the chance of adventure and the path less walked for woman of her time. From here she enters into a world of sword play, tourneys and woman taking back their power.

It was an easy read and pretty enjoyable! I think I may have went in expecting a lot more from it so that's on me, however, there is the set up of something much bigger so I will assume there will be a future sequel (?) although I had assumed it was a stand alone originally.

Cass is a seventeen year old girl living in the world of King Arthur and his knights, and she is unwilling to live a life of passive servitude as a wife. Her wish becomes reality when a knight comes to her aid one day and offers her the chance at adventure and freedom - this knight is a woman in disguise, and introduces Cass to a secret group of women and girls at Lady Angharad’s manor, women and girls who are knights and squires, strong, happy, and free. But Lady Angharad’s household must keep their sword skills and independence a secret from the rest of the world, lest they attract the attention of cruel yet powerful (male) lords and knights. And whilst Cass finds true happiness and freedom with the sisters of sword and shadow, something strange (even otherworldly) begins to unfold inside her when she faces an opponent in battle, sword in hand, for the very first time…

There is so much to love about this book, but here are just a few of my favourite features:
-authentic female characters and voices in a world of previously-male-dominated Arthurian myths and legends
-LGBTQIA+ representation
-beautiful female friendships/sisterly bonds
-great attention to detail with descriptions of swords/armour/tournament settings (seriously made me gain a new appreciation for the intricacies, and beauty, of swords)

All in all I think Sisters Of Sword and Shadow is such an important book, especially for young girls growing up in a world that can be cruel, unfair, and confusing. This book is a wonderful exploration of freedom, independence, claiming your own power and strength, and forging your own path to happiness. Plus, the cover is stunning, as is Laura Bates’ writing. Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the ARC!

SISTERS OF SWORD AND SHADOW is the first in an epic, feminist reimagining of the Arthuriana body of tales that asks "what if a body of female knights were opposing all the toxic masculinity and casual violence that are core the knights of the round table?"

This tale follows a lot of the classic hero tropes, with a feminist twist. A young girl from a poor background chooses to join a group of knights and begins a journey towards learning their skills and fighting injustice. I grew up on classic fantasy so it holds a special place in my heart. I really enjoyed seeing that "zero to hero" journey start here, but centred around women and exploring the double standards and what is praised in women and in men.

The book weaves in Arthuriana elements (sword in the stone!), but they are more in the background, instead being a "meanwhile, the women were sorting out the issues as the men are on quests." I enjoyed the way Elaine of Shalott was brought in and I am excited to see how her plot resolves later in the series. I hope there are more Arthuriana elements to come.

The one major difficulty I had was that I know the two eras that had a big impact on the creation of the Arthuriana body of myths well - the fall of the Roman empire/arrival of the Saxons (etc) and the High Medieval Era. Which meant I was picking apart the world building somewhat as this book goes down the typical route of a high medieval culture (knights, tournaments etc) but in a much earlier setting (Saxons and Picts and the various kingdoms of that time.)

It's one of the things where trying to switch off research-Sifa is hard. (I know, for example, that Eboracum as the name for present day York doesn't really overlap with the kingdom of Northumbria, it's Eofwic.) It's details like this that most people don't notice but I do and I had to work really hard to stop doing that in order to enjoy the book.

This is the first in a series, and I look forward to the next book as it looks like more fantastical elements (prophecy!!!!) will be brought in, and the consequences of the finale (and a certain knight's actions) are going to come around to bite!

I managed 20% of this but just couldn’t continue. There’s nothing wrong with the writing and I’m sure plenty of readers will enjoy this but for me it fell flat. Not enough excitement to keep me reading and the characters felt predictable.

I very much enjoyed this novel by the founder of the Everyday Sexism project. It follows the story of Cass, rescued from her likely destiny as a wife and mother by a group of female knights, living in an an all-female community, and with a mission to protect others from the local feudal Lord Mordaunt.
This is a clever reimagining of Arthurian tales, where Cass has a hidden destiny, hinted at through the book and revealed in a way which makes me hopeful of a sequel.
As a YA book I think this works well. It explores female friendship, the chances of success in a very patriarchal world, and has a touch of romance I would have loved this at 15, and still enjoyed it a lot at 50!
Thanks to Net Galley.

Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates

3 STARS

Sold as a female version of Arthurian legend, this book isn't quite that. What it is, is an enjoyable female-led historical story about one girls life changing discovery.

I love Laura Bates' non-fiction work but this feels like first novel territory. Whilst the premise feels interesting, something is missing - the pacing is uneven at times and things feel like they're building towards the second novel. Worth a read.

"An interesting thing happens, when a man is defeated in combat by a woman... He tells nobody."

Laura Bates' Sisters of Sword and Shadow is the first book in a duology and was advertised as a feminist take on the Arthurian Legend. This didn't feel quite true for the fist book because the Arthurian element was hinted at early, but didn't properly figure until the very end. So in a way, it felt like a lot of the plot was geared towards setting up for the second book.

That said, I enjoyed this novel for what it was: a historical fantasy about a group of women who break the mold of their time. In the opening chapter of the novel, Cass, our protagonist, takes the opportunity to escape the prospect of marriage and children. She joins a secret sisterhood of knights, where she takes up training as a squire. Sisters of Sword and Shadow has strong 'Knight's Tale' vibes: there is the element of the hidden identity, a focus on learning the craft of a knight, there are tournaments and balls, and learning to blend into noble society.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, and I think the story will appeal to readers who enjoy a feminist take on traditional tales. I look forward to the second book, where I hope the Arthurian storyline will properly take off. 3.5 stars from me - thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this ahead of publication. All opinions are my own and given freely.

A most intriguing read, this is not my usual genre of choice, but as my grandchildren get older, I have become curious about the books they will be introduced to. This debut novel turns the Arthurian legends upside down, why shouldn’t there have been an organisation of brave, strong women who desired to right the wrongs done by men?
This is a mix of Arthurian legend meeting Robin Hood and the best elements are combined.
Cass is a young girl, who doesn’t want the traditional role of marriage and children, she feels called to a different purpose, but has no idea how that will manifest itself. When a locket is taken by force from Cass, another rider is in swift pursuit and invites Cass to join her. With almost no hesitation she gets on the horse and they chase the thief down and he is shot with an arrow. Cass realises she wants to be a part of this new world, and she begins her training to be a squire, and hopefully become a fully trained knight.
The band of females must keep up the pretence that they are subject to an absent Lord, when curious visitors arrive, if their deception is realised, the group will be in danger. They also defend and protect the poor villages held by a neighbouring knight, with gifts of food and emotional support. To gain money, there are tournaments to participate in or plain highway robbery is committed to support the sisterhood. If that fails, there is always the option of using feminine wiles and seduction ,otherwise murder will do very nicely, thank you.
There is a hint of romance for Cass towards the end of this first instalment, and I am greatly looking forward to book 2.
There are characters that are greatly flawed that might gain redemption, there are deaths and a prophecy running throughout this novel, that we can only guess at the ending, but there are definitely heroes and villains on show.
This novel is aimed at middle grade readers, I had to check up the age group reference, it’s been decades since I was at school, apparently 8-12 year olds. I think teens and young adults would be a better recommendation.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Simon and Schuster UK, for my advanced digital read, freely given in exchange for my honest review. I have given 5 star rating. I will leave a review to Goodreads and Amazon UK.