Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

From Barnes & Noble

In Michelle Zink's debut novel, orphaned twin sister Lia and Alice Milthorpe are yoked together in an ancient prophecy that makes them enemies and could destroy them both. If Lia can break this familial curse, she can not only save her relationship with her beloved boyfriend; she can finally resolve the mystery behind her parents' death. A teen author to watch.

From the Publisher

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

Publishers Weekly

Set in 19th-century New York, Zink's tense and haunting debut novel is narrated by 16-year-old Lia Milthorpe, left in the lurch by the recent death of her father under mysterious circumstances. Lia, who bears the mark of the Jorgumand (a snake devouring itself) on her wrist, soon learns that she and her twin sister, Alice, are fated to play crucial opposing roles in a mystical struggle that goes back to the dawn of time; unfortunately neither girl is temperamentally suited to the role she has been assigned. The author's language, formal and restrained, is appropriate for the setting and gives the chilly scenes between the sisters an especially gothic air (“We are not the kind of sisters who engage in nightly hair brushing or confided secrets”). While Zink relies on the well-used trope of the grand prophecy, the story is anything but clichéd, with flawed and fragmentary translations, misinterpretation and methodical but inspired deduction complicating and enriching the tale. The result is a captivating tragedy immersed in a world of spells, Samhain and twisting family allegiances that stands on its own while leaving room for sequels. Ages 12–up. (Aug.)

VOYA

Lia and her twin sister, Alice, have never been particularly close. After the sudden and strange death of their father, the girls find themselves pitted against each other as part of an ancient prophecy. This prophecy, if fulfilled, would bring about the downfall of the world and release an evil that has been contained for the generations of the prophecy. Lia must rely on her new friends, Sonia and Luisa, to help unravel the secrets of the prophecy and figure out how to end it before her sister is able to defeat her. Zink's dark, haunting debut, the first of a planned trilogy, is an intense and captivating story that gives a whole new meaning to sibling rivalry. The intricate plot is full of twists and turns, some expected but others will not be seen coming. The story begins slowly, but as the secrets of the prophecy are revealed, readers will find it difficult to put down the book as it races towards its conclusion, where they will be left wanting more. Lia's narration enables readers to connect with the range of emotions she experiences firsthand. Her grief, frustration, and fear are powerful and help drive the story. Zink masterfully combines compelling characters with an interesting nineteenth-century setting to create a Gothic tale certain to appeal to fans of Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy. Reviewer: Alissa Lauzon

VOYA

The Prophecy of the Sisters reminds me of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy with its compelling characters who pull you into their lives, a plot line that keeps you glued to its pages, and writing that is so powerful at times that it takes your breath away. This book has everything that a reader can ask for in a novel—romance, friendship, mystery, suspense, sadness. You experience it all and yet want to read more. Lia and her friends grab your attention from the very first page and don't let go once throughout their story. There had better be more to this story because I am waiting for the next installment. Reviewer: Mary Boutet, Teen Reviewer

Kirkus Reviews

Everything changes for 16-year-old Lia Milthorpe when her father dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving her orphaned along with twin sister Alice and younger brother Henry. Hours after her father's death, a mysterious mark appears on her skin, which she recognizes as the mythical Jorgumand-a snake eating its own tail. Thus begins the unfolding of the Prophecy of the Sisters: Lia learns that she and Alice are the Guardian and the Gate-one good, one evil-who will either prevent evil Souls from entering the world or bring about the end of the known world. Which twin is meant to fulfill which role? She is uncertain whether to tell her beloved bookseller James about her suspicions. She narrates her tale in a late-Victorian voice, describing the enigmatic adults who help her and who have their own roles in the Prophecy. From dangerous seances with deadly consequences to coldblooded sibling murder, this tale is extremely dark, but Zink's methodical unfolding of events will draw readers in. The ending primes for an anticipated sequel. (Fantasy. YA)

Product Details