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Rena Rossner has crafted an enchanting fairy tale in The Sisters of the Winter Wood, drawing the reader into the wintry landscape of a town on the border of Moldova and Ukraine in the early 20th century. Sisters Liba and Laya are forced to become more independent when their parents leave them to visit their dying grandfather. The girls must also come to terms with their true identities, as they have recently discovered that their father can transform into a bear and their mother into a swan. Liba takes after her father and finds herself struggling as her bear-like tendencies become apparent. Laya takes after her mother and also struggles against the limitations of her life when she wants to fly like a swan.
The girls come from a Jewish family, and their culture ties in seamlessly with the relationships among the characters and the issues they face. Terms from the Yiddish language for customs and dishes are used throughout the story, and although I wasn’t familiar with many of them, I took the time to look some up and found it an interesting opportunity to learn more. We learn in the author’s note that the story is based on events that happened in 1903 in the Moldovian village of Dubossary. It was also inspired by Christina Rossetti’s poem Goblin Market and Russian and Ukrainian folklore.
Each chapter of The Sisters of the Winter Wood is told from either Liba or Laya’s point of view, alternating between them. Overall, I felt that many chapters were too short, especially those with Laya, and that it interrupted the narrative flow to have so many point-of-view switches. There were 91 chapters, which goes to show just how often we switch from Liba’s to Laya’s story and back again. We are very immersed in the girls’ lives in each chapter, so although I would have preferred fewer and longer chapters, Rossner was skilled in delving into the emotions and thoughts of each girl, even in a brief time.
Both sisters are on journeys of self-discovery as they transition to become women and members of their society. Their relationship with each other, although touched on throughout the story, is not the focus. I would have liked to have more scenes with the girls together that directly focused on their relationship.
Overall, Rossner’s blend of history, folklore, and a tale of love and family makes for a memorable story that had me immersed in the world of the winter wood. The descriptions and the author’s style of writing really transport you there, and the setting provides a captivating backdrop for discovering the secrets of Liba and Leya’s history and the strange occurrences that are happening in Dubossary.
Rated: Moderate. There are references to sexual temptation, and sharing and eating of fruit is portrayed in a sexually suggestive manner. Firearm violence, blood, and physical torture also appear in the story, though the details are not graphic. There is some kissing, most of which is brief, but there are a couple of instances where it is longer and more descriptive. The main characters are Jewish and there are some instances of prejudice against their culture and racial slurs from antagonistic characters.
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