Jaelyn reviewed Sistersong by Lucy Holland
Review of 'Sistersong' from 'Storygraph'
5 stars
Set in ancient Briton as the Saxons advanced across the island, the kingdom of Dumnonia has begun to abandon the old gods and their magic to favour a Christian missionary and the promise of alliances and trade deals which would follow. As the king's ties to the land's magic fade, so do the kingdom's prospects and defences.
The king's three daughters possess some latent magic still, as forbidden as it is to acknowledge it. But enter Myrdhin, a magician/witch who works to restore the kingdom's connection to it's magic through the children before the Saxon's overrun them. As well as reconnecting the children to the land, they help the eldest daughter, Keyne, be see as he truly is: as the king's son and heir.
The story twists between the perspectives of the king's three children as the kingdom teeters on the edge of invasion, and the rifts that emerge between …
Set in ancient Briton as the Saxons advanced across the island, the kingdom of Dumnonia has begun to abandon the old gods and their magic to favour a Christian missionary and the promise of alliances and trade deals which would follow. As the king's ties to the land's magic fade, so do the kingdom's prospects and defences.
The king's three daughters possess some latent magic still, as forbidden as it is to acknowledge it. But enter Myrdhin, a magician/witch who works to restore the kingdom's connection to it's magic through the children before the Saxon's overrun them. As well as reconnecting the children to the land, they help the eldest daughter, Keyne, be see as he truly is: as the king's son and heir.
The story twists between the perspectives of the king's three children as the kingdom teeters on the edge of invasion, and the rifts that emerge between them over a stranger and their pasts. I really enjoyed all their stories but obviously Keyne is who grabbed my attention in a really thoughtful portrayal of their struggles to be taken seriously by their family and the men in power. Their bonding with Myrdhin, who's pretty genderbending themself, was a great conduit to explore our ancient ties to the earth vs a faith that demands we look away from it to the heavens.