Book Review - Prophecy of the Sisters

By Michelle Zink
Published by Little Brown
Release date: August 2009
343 pages

Source: Bought
4.5 out of 5 stars

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.


I read this over holiday break and I highly recommend carving out some time to read it. Prophecy of the Sisters is definitely "that" book, you know the one that you want to curl up with and savor. Michelle sets the mood immediately, when you find yourself in 19th century New York and meet the 16-year-old protagonist, Lia Milthorpe who is attending her father's funeral.

From there the plot unfolds rapidly as does the mystery. Why does the mark of a Jorgumand (a snake devouring itself) appear on Lia's wrist? What does it mean? It seems that she and her twin sister, Alice, are a part of an unfolding, dark, twisted prophecy. The mythology reveals itself as Lia uncovers more of the truth behind her family secret and the role she is destined to play.

This is where I try to remain objective and fail. Michelle uses Gaelic folklore, gothic fantasy themes, magic that weaves itself into different planes and sibling roles which come together and then twist apart. My only issue is that I had to stop and start as I read due to all of my holiday interruptions. Each night, I found myself waiting to literally drop into Michelle's world and to glide on her imagery and words. And much like Lia, I wanted to find out the mystery behind the Prophecy. Who was good? Who was bad? What would happen next?

When you are in the mood for a gothic fantasy about four friends who are destined to do battle against each other, pick up Prophecy of the Sisters. It truly has it all - love, death, magic, unbelievable mythology, a sibling bond which will tear two sisters apart and yes, oh yes, romance. For those who have read it, I have one word - James. For those who haven't read it, yet, think of a hot, old fashioned boy who is "unaccustomed to mysteries he cannot solve" (page 38, Prophecy of the Sisters). I see that you need to take a moment to view the trailer below.

Hop on over to Michelle's website and look through more reviews, advice and yes, just plain fun. Don't forget her prequel, Guardian of the Gate, will be out on August 1, 2010.

And if you'd like the recipe for the homemade granola she shared on her facebook page, I promise to post it in the comments section below by tomorrow morning. My family has given it "the best granola ever" rating. And I have a bunch of very picky eaters.

So pick up Prophecy of the Sisters, make a cup of tea and some of that delicious granola. Then on these wintry evenings, sit back and read a story of twin sisters and the magic that both binds them and threatens to tear them apart.