Customer Reviews

Prophecy of the Sisters (Prophecy of the Sisters Trilogy, Book I)

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Lia Milthorpe has always had a quiet, predictable, and happy life. But when her father dies unexpectedly, leaving her, her twin sister Alice, and her younger brother Henry orphans, strange things begin to occur. A peculiar mark appears on Lia's wrist, and Alice begins acting secretive. Lia's dreams become scarily real and threatening. It's not long before she discovers that she and Alice are a part of a dark prophecy that will firmly plant each sister on opposing sides and challenge every bit of loyalty, strength, and courage that Lia possesses in order to bring an end to the prophecy--before her sister can wreak havoc on the world.

From the very beginning of Prophecy of the Sisters, Lia is a convincing character; her hesitance to bring the strange circumstances that affect her to light and her motivations are true. Michelle Zink writes with startling clarity and vivid descriptions that establish a dark, mysterious, and brooding air that rivals that of the classics Rebecca and Jane Eyre. Her keen eye for detail and talent for revealing multitudes of aspects of the book without seeming didactic builds steady suspense throughout the entirety of the novel.

Lia's relationship with Alice is very fascinating, especially since many readers of the Young Adult genre are so accustomed to twin characters who are extremely close (as in Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Midnight Twins or Marissa Doyle's The Bewitching Season). It is complex and intriguing relationship, made even more so by the fact that Lia openly admits that she and Alice aren't especially close, but still she struggles with the idea that Alice may be evil and intent on doing her harm. It is the idea of one of nature's closest entities--twins--pitted against each other that really draw the readers in.

Another interesting aspect of Prophecy of the Sisters is Lia's romance with James, which is a real nice touch that adds a little light-heartedness to the story. At the same time, it would have been nice to know a little more about the beginning of their courtship, and it does seem that once Lia decides that if James knows the truth about her, he'll be in unnecessary danger, he does stay out of the picture, only to pop up once again towards the end. It will be interesting to discover his role in future books.

All in all, Zink has created an intense and riveting work brimming with myths, knowledge, and plenty of chills. Her characters are charming and strong, her otherworldly realms dangerous and eerie, and her plot entirely engrossing. Prophecy of the Sisters is overwhelmingly enthralling and engaging, with much of the same appeal as Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty. Readers shall rejoice at the debut of a stellar new voice with a very persuasive and unique point of view.

Cover Comments: I love this cover. I love the colors, and the statues and the eerie air that they exude--it sets the mood for the book perfectly. I think that this is the perfect cover for this book.

Trying to be the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. I was really excited for this book when I bought it. It had a strong beginning that had me wanting more but the middle part was just not that good. I felt that the plot of 'the prophecy' was weak. Things were there 'just because'. No further explanation and nothing wanting me to be more interested in the prophecy or Lia's friends. Weak characters. The evil twin was hardly in it. There were events that happened in the family where the emotions did not match the situation. I'm sorry to be harsh but I am giving it three stars to be nice. I was finally getting somewhat pulled back in around page 315. I'm sure there will be a sequel and I most likely will not read it.

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS
MICHELLE ZINK
YA Fantasy

Rating: 5 Enchantments

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS really has two major players in the story. Alice and Lia are twin sisters living in the times of corset and petticoats. Lia, from whose point-of-view the story is told, is the more awkward of the sisters but has a kind heart and a gentle soul. Her sister, on the other hand, exudes confidence and ambition. If the clash in personalities wasn't enough to separate these two sisters, the recent death of their father brings to light a truth that could put the girls on opposite sides of an age-old battle.

Since childhood, James has owned Lia's heart. A charming young man who works with his father in the family bookstore, James makes frequent trips to Lia's home to catalogue her father's expansive book collection. A happy side effect of these trips is the time that James and Lia get to spend together. Whether it's secret visits to cuddle under their favorite tree or a stroll along the water, these two lovebirds seem to have a fairly strong bond. When the darkness starts to encroach on the light, however, it will be a challenge to see if the strength of their love can keep the two together.

The Prophecy of the Sisters is an ancient tale, often thought of as myth, of two sisters destined to serve as the line between good and evil. At first Lia doesn't want to believe to the story; in the prophecy, one sister shall act as the guardian of peace while the other acts as the gateway to the Apocalypse. When Lia discovers a strange mark bloom on her skin shortly after her father's death, she'll be led on a journey of discovery. With this prophecy potentially at play, she may not like what she discovers.

I absolutely loved PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS. In my opinion, Ms. Zink did an amazing job taking an old myth and giving it her own special twist to create this compelling story. If it makes any sense, part of what made this book so great was the simplicity of the story while keeping the complexity of the layers at the same time. With the multiple twists and turns throughout the story, I expected to get bogged down at some point, but Ms. Zink's writing remained very fluid and easy to follow. Even though there was quite a bit of devious scheming and some side story, this maintained a natural progression. Meanwhile, Ms. Zink instilled quite a bit of elaboration within the story. Twists and turns combined with quite a few unexpected events made for a story that was unpredictable yet comfortable.

The other part of this book that made it a winner to me is the romance within the story. As we proceed through the story we learn more about the love between James and Lia. There is definitely a tender feel to the characters; at the same time there is also something you can't quite put your finger on. There is something different in the relationship that will be exciting to explore in Ms. Zink's future books.

Admittedly, I am an easily spooked person. When I first started reading PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS I did so in bed, in the middle of the night by myself. I would probably not recommend that. Once I really understood where the story was going, a little of the spook factor went away, but overall there is definitely a creepy aspect to the book. Between the voices whispering in the dark and the midnight rituals, this story really got the hairs on the back of my neck hopping up. The best way to describe this book is dark and deliciously addictive. I read this story in a day and now am excited to see what else Ms. Zink has up her sleeves.

PROPHECY OF THE SISTERS is book one in a trilogy; the second book, Guardian of the Gate is due out August 2010. Ms. Zink can be found online at [...]

Cinnamon
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
February 2010

Michelle Zink's Debut novel is a dark fantasy filled with mystery and intrigue that captures us with the very first scene. The hauntingly descriptive funeral and revealingof a secret mark sets us off into a world never before seen. This is a twisty tale of two sisters, twins, battling their own destiny, seeking freedom from the one thing they cannot control, forces them to not only fight against their future, so clearly laid out for them, but also fight against each other. Zink portrays her relationships in a vivid form with each one full of personality, mystery and intrigue. Each character comes alive on the pages but they are all intertwined in a tale of dark and epic proportions.

Lia, though confident in her role in the prophecy is not as confident in her other relationships with her friends and family. She struggles with both her love interest, James, and her family, hiding the most important part of who she is. Trust is imperative and both Alice and Lia struggle with it, forcing the mythos and the character's struggles to intertwine and deepen as the plot arc advances. Alice, Lia's twin, is distant and cold, conniving and ruthless even, but yet she is a girl fighting her darkest nature and striving to do what she thinks best. She is sad and mysterious and I am compelled to read more, hoping to get to know her more; to understand her better.

The writing is the first thing you notice. It is lyrical and it flows seamlessly into the eerie and haunting occurrences of the novel. I was feeling the grief, the torment, the inner struggle with each word and felt what Lia felt. I was there with her struggling alongside her.

I was captivated by the mystery of the Prophecy, constantly on edge of my seat, guessing left and right, and yet I was surprised when it wasn't what I thought. Though sometimes I was ahead of the game so to say, the story was still interesting enough to keep me in it till the last page. Even when I had to put it down it was like a siren calling me back. I was rooting for Lia the whole time and her heartache was truly felt. Beautifully written, engrossing and lyrically enchanting; I couldn't put it down and I am ready to follow Lia through her journey, prophecy and destiny.
This tale that intertwines fantasy with mythology is a must read for any age. It is sure to keep you on your toes, guess at every turn, and it is sure to keep you up at night. Michelle's debut novel is a captivating beginning and a promise for a wonderfully entertaining trilogy, full of chaos and hauntingly enthralling.

Paranormal readers will enjoy reading Prophecy of the Sisters. When the sisters' father dies and leaves the sisters orphans, their world changes. Lia is a believable heroine whose discoveries of her destiny is a good read for readers. Mysterious and intriguing, I am looking forward to book 2.

Prophecy of the Sisters
by Michelle Zink

Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
# of Pages: 343
Age Rating: +13
My Rating: 5 Stars
Where I got it: Library

Synopsis:
Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

Review:
I have one question about this and that is, WHEN in the world is the second book coming out or does anyone have a ARC of it that I can read??? Because this book was....amazing!
It's a twisted, Gothic, beautiful book with lots of details and complex. I thought that the plot was very gripping and it's not predictable but every time you think you know whats going on, a new mystery comes up that you were not expecting. And the writing was almost like a classic reading except that it was written for YA but people who don't read any classic may have a little bit of a hard time at first but it's really worth it as the writing was very detailed and beautiful.

The charactera were complex and rich, it's wasn't like "Alice is all evil so there for, Lia must kill her", but Alice was just like any other girl and Lia? I felt so sorry for her, she has to keep the gate from opening and stop her sister that she love but didn't want to hurt her at all. (Would you want to kill your sister?)
So I thought that all of the characters seem very real and very complex.( I know, I keep on saying that!)

The whole book was dark and beautiful, Gothic and very 19th century. This book was AMAZING, it's a must read.
I give it 10 stars out of 5 stars.

Enjoy! :D:D:D

An incredibly unique concept, classically told, with an extra helping of terror and isolation. Between sisters, nothing is easy, and in this family, nothing is as it seems. Michelle Zink carves out a rich, unforgettable universe within the world of YA fantasy. This will be a powerful series to watch.

Prophecy of the Sisters reinvents the allegory, in a novel so haunting and real that it literally kept me up at night. It is expertly layered with the kind of emotion and complexity that only exist within families and friendships, which leaves the reader unable to find an obvious villain. Michelle Zink's characters embody the best and the worst in us all, and remind us that sometimes there is no simple answer. Each time you think you may have unlocked the mysteries in this novel, the story takes a new and unexpected turn. I will pass Prophecy of the Sisters on to everyone I know.

At first Lia doesn't understand why she had a tattoo on her arm, or why she has strange dreams or hears voices. As time goes by she learns that all the strange experiences she encounters has to do with an ancient prophecy.

Lia and her sister Alice are part of the prophecy. One sister is evil, the other is good. The bad sister will release the Devil into the world and it is the good sister's job to keep that from happening. Lia must find out which role she has in this prophecy. As she is doing this Lia is mourning her father's death, trying not to be distracted by her budding romance with James and caring for her sick brother Henry.

The historical detail in this book is nonexistent unless you count the mention of servants and carriages as historical detail. There is no description of dresses, traditions, manners, mourning customs etc. etc. If this is a historical fantasy book then there better be some sense of the time period the characters are living in.

As another reviewer said the evil sister was hardly in the book. I was expecting more sinister behavior, more backstabbing more...something.

The book is good, but not great. I think I was expecting more from the glowing reviews and the hype.

I think students who are enjoying the urban fantasy crazy and those who like the Gemma Doyle series will enjoy this one.

This is a really hard review to write. I feel like I should have liked this book - it has so many characteristics of books I typically love - paranormal, family drama, historical setting, friendship, romance. It reminds me both of Beautiful Creatures and Libba Bray's Great And Terrible Beauty trilogy. But I just could not get into this book. It starts out shrouded in mystery. Lia and Alice Milthorpe's father has just died. Alice is acting very strangely. Then Lia and her boyfriend James find a book that tells of a prophecy of the entrance of evil and chaos into this world. One sister is the guardian of the gate and the other is the gatekeeper, the only one who can let evil enter. Kind, gentle Lia naturally assumes that she is the guardian while her untrustworthy sister is the gate. To her great surprise, Lia is in fact the gate. She desperately wants to prevent the prophecy's fulfillment. With the help of two new friends, Lia embarks on a journey to prevent the gate from opening.

I give this book a 3 star review, because it is quite well-written and I think will appeal to others much more than it did me. The elegant prose makes it seem like it was written in the time it is set (1890). The entire book feels very Gothic, like a dark and misty night. The paranormal element of the prophecy and flying through other worlds is complex and well-developed. The prophecy is revealed subtly, symbolically. It requires you to actually think. I think the series will become even more interesting with future books.

My main problem with this book was the characters. I just didn't care about them. Lia was the most interesting. She is kind, honorable, and brave; she wants to defy the prophecy regardless of the personal cost. I thought Alice was woodenly evil, despite occasional hints of sisterly kindness. Sophia and Luisa were nice girls, but I didn't get a real feeling of personality. James, the love interest, wasn't a big enough part of the story for me to develop any feelings for him. The pacing of the book was also too slow for my taste. It took to long for me to understand the prophecy at all (I don't know that I ever really understood it). Sometimes a slow build-up creates anticipation and excitement, but I was just confused. I kept waiting for the book to become a page-turner, but it always kept me just interested enough to keep going...nothing more.