This book is advertised as a retelling of Arthurian legend, which isn’t entirely true as the Knights of the Round Table do also exist within the story. However, the book follows a group of strong-willed female knights and their squires who live together and protect each other. One reason to read this is that it is very atmospheric and seemingly well-researched. Another reason is sword-fighting lesbians.

You can definitely tell that the author comes from a background of feminist non-fiction through the tone and specific phrasing/language used in some scenes.

My only real negatives are that the book is very long for what is essentially a set-up for a second book. I believe that this is going to be a duology, but if I am wrong then that ending was incredibly unsatisfying. The all-important prophecy is mentioned in the prologue, and then not again until 360 pages later. This is essentially a training arc book: they train for a tournament, then they go to the tournament, they train for a ball, then they go to the ball. And then everything goes to hell and the pacing goes from 0-100 for the final fifty pages. Generally, it could have done with being a slight bit shorter, though I understand that it is probably the length that it is due to the fact that it is trying to juggle a very vast cast of characters at all times.

I waited a while to get started on reading this, and had forgotten the blurb by the time I started it. That didn't matter, it was absorbing very quickly. Cass is a good main character, she wants more than just marriage and children whilst also loving and having good relationships with her family. The community she finds herself in is an alternative court, made up solely of women, which has a realistic view of what the issues around that would be. The middle section is a little slow, but overall it's a really enjoyable book and I'm looking forward to the follow up.

It’s official, every Arthurian story needs a secret keep full of skilled female knights! This was such an interesting spin on the usual Arthurian tale, with Bates’ version featuring far less noble knights who are greedy and destructive, lacking in the honour you expect them to show. However, their female counterparts are battling the injustices of the world anonymously, under the guise of being male knights, whilst trying to protect their way of life from the outside world.

I loved the feminist take and that there were also ethics and morality brought into the story, raising questions of what we would do to protect those ourselves and those we love. In a world where men have the power, how far is too far to take some of that power back? There are plenty of secrets, with Cass caught in the middle of many, but she’s determined to gain her promotion from squire to knight - but there’s something different about Cass that she doesn’t understand, which adds a layer of intrigue to the story and a touch of magic. This was a great book and I’m interested to see where the story takes us next.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates!

The cover for this book is really beautiful and was what initially drew me to the book! A woman with a sword will always intrigue me. The summary also drew me in, a feminist Arthurian tale immediately grabbed my attention!

The female protagonists in this book were incredibly strong and I especially loved Cass' character development. She, as well as the other characters, were so empowered — and continue to be empowering — throughout the book.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves feminist fantasy!

The stunning cover grabbed my attention instantly and the premise was so promising!
The beginning was really fast paced, you don't have to wait long for the protagonist to arrive at the sisterhood. The middle part felt a bit slow and you couldn't really grasp were the story headed. In my opinion the magical elements weren't that necessary, (spoiler!) I had liked a strong female protagonist whos strongness isn't based on magic and a prophecy. The sprinkle romance was, in my opinion, also not necessary. (spoiler end) But I enjoyed the feminism throughout the book really much, for it was discussed from different point of views through different characters! I only wished it would be a bit more intersectional. I really liked Cass' character development, how she's empowered throughout the book and becomes an active participant instead of the spectator that she was at the beginning of the story.
All in all I enjoyed the book and think it's a really good autumn read!

Thank you for providing an e-ARC of this book!

It’s not you, it’s me? That’s how I’m feeling about a lot of Arthurian cycle retellings lately. Mostly this book was an enjoyable read predicated on the question of what if the knights of the round table had been women? Sounds like a cool gender bend, right? Well yeah but you should be able to do that without it being feminism by way of tearing all the male characters down. This is seriously becoming my most irritating of pet peeves. I really liked the concept of this book but that coupled with the low plot (I’m not averse to low plot as long as it’s high character – which it wasn’t – although how can you go to low plot in the Arthurian cycle I don’t know) meant that I felt I was reading something that wasn’t intended for me. Which is fine, I have my favourite retellings. Not everything is for me. So I’m conflicted. I liked it except that every so often one of those issues would raise its head like Pellinore’s Wyrm and jolt me out of the story. If you want a simple, female centric Arthurian story that asks little of you, aimed at the lower end of YA, give it a go.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is an interesting start to a fantasy duology billed as a feminist reimaging of the Arthurian legends. While it did have some great representation of different types of women, different ways they can be strong and some great moments of power, female companionship and general bad-assery, it did also feel a little dry in the delivery.

I struggled to fully connect to the FMC Cass, who came across as a bit one-dimensional - and I think some of the supporting cast were undeveloped too. The writing did feel a bit formulaic, but it was still an enjoyable read and a good start to a series.

I would say if you're looking for a very magical, high fantasy then this isn't the one - it does have some magical elements to it but feels almost more of a historical YA than a full blown fantasy.

Book Review 📚
Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates - 3.5/5 ⭐

Book 1 of the duology which is coming our way. There are some strong elements to the book, power, friendship and family.

The characters were good and descriptive but not a tonne of developing, which I'm hoping will come about it book 2. However, it is a very easy and fast paced book to read.

There are some elements of fantasy throughout and a strong female lead who is attempting to become a knight! Bates' writing throughout is massively descriptive and gives insight in to everything that is happening in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This was a very disappointing read. There was no overarching plot, the characters were flat and interchangeable, and it was very simple, almost like a first draft. The feminism consisted of ‘all men are bad’ except the love interest, whom she spoke with perhaps 2 times.
As it was advertised as being perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas, I was expecting something aimed towards older YA or even adult, however it seemed for very young readers instead.
I think younger reader would enjoy this very easy story but the advertising seems all wrong for it and I felt no empowerment for female readers. A shame, because the premise is great!

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It’s fantasy written really accessibly. If you like Arthurian legends I think you would like this book.

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

Sisters of Sword and Shadow (SoSaS) is the first installment of a fantasy duology written by Laura Bates and is Bates' debut within the genre. SoSaS is the answer to what would it have been like to have a female version of the Knights of the Round Table and how would they have managed in medieval England. SoSaS follows Cass as she abandons her homestead and everything she knows and joins the Sisterhood of the Silk Knights to learn to fight, protect the vulnerable and right the wrongs of men.

I flew through this book and think it will fit really well within the young adult market, it offers all the usual fantasy elements of power, courage and morality as well as adding in an organic mix of equality and feminism.