Uptown Oracle Reads… Sistersong | Celtic Magic in the Time of Constantine of Dummonia

Sistersong Lucy Holland

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535 AD. In the ancient kingdom of Dumnonia, King Cador’s children inherit a fragmented land abandoned by the Romans.

Riva, scarred in a terrible fire, fears she will never heal.
Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, when born a daughter.
And Sinne, the spoiled youngest girl, yearns for romance.

All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold – a last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. But change comes on the day ash falls from the sky, bringing Myrddhin, meddler and magician, and Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear the siblings apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne must take fate into their own hands, or risk being tangled in a story they could never have imagined; one of treachery, love and ultimately, murder. It’s a story that will shape the destiny of Britain.

As the titles alludes to, Sistersong is about Sisters in medieval England (around Devon and Cornwall by today’s geography) and relies a bit on old Celtic myth and Magic. Set in around 500 AD as the Saxons are slowly taking over Briton, I enjoyed how the historical setting was written whilst keeping a sense of magic, especially around the Nemeton and the woods that the sisters visit.

There is a lot of world building around the politics outside of the castle, with mentions of Saxons but also allies of Dummonia who we do meet some of within the book. The King is built up as a strong and just ruler, who had been able to conjure up the magic of the land to help protect his people, but the power is starting to be lost as Christianity takes place as the strongest faith.

The Celtic and Pagan influences were woven throughout the story to counter the Priests pushing of God to the people, and I found this intriguing as our characters most often held onto Pagan beliefs, but sometimes nearly fell into the belief of Christianity more. This shows the beginning of Christianity becoming more common in Briton, and whilst most of the book focuses on not letting go of old beliefs, you understand how the people were starting to convert.

Riva as a character irritated me a lot, although I think this was on purpose. She is introduced as the most sensible and realistic sister and then she spirals into a woman who only cares for a man. Her magic is all about healing, and her conflict is that she was never able to heal herself from burns as a child and so she resents herself and others because of it. Her actions predictability hurt her family in the end, however I enjoyed her ending as I found it fitting and good storytelling that contrasts with her sisters.

Keyne is transmasculine and I loved reading how he overcame how others saw him and grew into a stronger character in multiple ways. Keyne has the most growth throughout the book and changes mentally, physically, and magically as he learns to command the land as his father did before him. His relationships with his sisters is one full of love, and their reactions to him are in turn filled with love in the end although confusion is faced near the start and beginning of the book.  

Sinne is the youngest and most fanciful of the sisters. She has glamour magic but uses it to play with others more often than not. Her power grows throughout the book too and does lead to altercations with Riva who doesn’t approve. Sinne’s character arc is one of forgiveness, both from and towards her which gave her a lot of emotional impact to the story for all the other characters too.

The overall plot of the book is how the three sisters each have their own place as part of keeping their people safe. Keyne as the warrior, Riva as the healer and Sinne as the singer. Reading about a time where they’re all frustrated with the lack of power they have as women despite being the king’s children, was interesting as they pushed past this lack of control to create their own narratives and paths to follow. Without spoilers, each of them leads a very different life despite starting off so similar and inseparable and the story feels and reads like a myth.

Positives of Sistersong

• Magical story, world building and characters
• Strong character relationships built up througout story

Negatives of Sistersong

• Slower pace in areas

I received Sistersong by Lucy Holland from the publisher. This is an unbiased and honest review

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