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For eight years Evadne’s sister, Halcyon, has been far away serving in the queen’s army, but now she’s finally coming home. When Halcyon appears earlier than expected, however, Eva knows something has gone dreadfully wrong. Her sister won’t say what’s happened, only that it was a mistake and that she cannot stay. When Halcyon’s commander arrives at their small olive-grove home shortly after, Eva learns the hard truth: He’s hunting her sister. Halcyon has been charged with murder.
But Halcyon cannot run forever, and when she is caught, she’s immediately put on trial. The punishment is severe. Eva knows her sister won’t survive it, and she can’t let her sister die, so she volunteers to serve part of Halcyon’s sentence as a servant in the Commander’s house. Eva is determined to prove that Halcyon’s sentence is unjust, but she soon learns of a greater plot. The commander has been keeping a dangerous secret, and if Eva is to save her sister, she’ll have to team up with the commander’s son, risk her own life, and embark on an impossible quest.
Sisters of Sword and Song is a beautifully written stand-alone, full of self-sacrifice and heart, that takes place in an alternate, ancient Greek world with its own unique mythology reminiscent of Megan Whalen’s The Thief. I quickly fell in love with the simplicity and originality of the story. Even though there is a bit of romance (which is gentle and sweet and slow to unfold), it never took away from the main plot and only added to the magic of the story.
Which leads me to another thing I really enjoyed about this book: the magic! While this world is full of mages, their magic is based on enchantments and spells fueled by song and lyrics unique to each mage. I’m not familiar with music magic, so I found it to be a fun twist.
Overall, this story surprised me and swept me away. At its heart, this book is centered on family and the unshakable bond between two sisters. The message it portrays is a strong one of forgiveness, healing, and courage, and that strength doesn’t just come in the physical sense.
Rated: Mild, for violence. There are several moments of peril, battle, torture, and bloodshed, but details remain vague. Characters kiss.
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