Sisters of Sword and Song

Starred review from April 1, 2020

Gr 9 Up-An immersive new fantasy based on Greek mythology, and one that readers will want to curl up with. Set in the Kingdom of Corisande, which sounds similar to ancient Greece, is the story of two sisters. When Halcyon is convicted of murder, her sister, Evadne, immediately volunteers to serve part of her sentence. From this moment Evadne's life is forever changed as she leaves her bucolic life in her family's olive orchard to enter a world filled with powerful mages, gods, and plenty of royal intrigue. Evadne and Halcyon must use their wits in order to survive and to one day reunite. Evadne has a particularly poignant story, in that she becomes more confident in herself and her abilities while navigating a limp caused by a childhood trauma. A romantic interest, in the guise of a slow-burn relationship, is woven seamlessly into the plot. The history and backstories for the Nine Divines, the gods of this realm, will fascinate and draw in both fantasy readers and mythology lovers alike. VERDICT This lyrical novel will have an eager, built-in audience in fans of "The Queen's Rising" duology and will find new readers for Ross as well.-Zoe Leonarczyk, Florida State University, Tallahassee

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 15, 2020
An ancient Greece-inspired fantasy starring two very different sisters. Halcyon was destined from an early age to become legendary, plucked from lower-class obscurity to rise through the hoplite ranks. But the night before her first scheduled visit home in eight years, she shows up in her younger sister Evadne's room--haunted, hunted, and on the run. She's followed by her former commander, Lord Straton, ending up on trial for the accidental murder of her shield mate, Straton's son. Evadne pleads to take part of Halcyon's sentence, ending up serving Straton's family. Always longing for magic and jealous of her sister's specialness, Evadne's drawn to Straton's younger son, Damon, a mage. From his family, Evadne learns of a mage conspiracy behind the queen's unpopular decrees--unmanageable taxes, banning commoners from owning magical relics of the gods--and of a secret group opposing them. Meanwhile, in a hard-labor quarry sentence, Halcyon--whose identity as a member of the pro-queen faction is uncovered--is challenged to keep the group's secrets from the conspiracy. While athletic Halcyon physically languishes, Evadne, whose abilities are underestimated due to an old ankle injury that causes her to limp, must step into a quest that challenges the heroes' magical resources, cleverness, and strength of character. While flawed and capable of mistakes, the heroes are quintessentially good. The characters default to white. Classical heroism in a magical antiquity makes for a fresh read. (Fantasy. 12-adult)

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May 1, 2020
Grades 9-12 Ross' romantic stand-alone fantasy follows two sisters who come together to save their queen from an insidious enchantment. Seventeen-year-old Evadne hasn't seen her older sister, Halcyon, in years, not since Halcyon left their olive grove to become a hoplite in the Legion. Halcyon's return visit should be a joyous occasion, but instead she is put on trial for murder by her commander, Lord Straton. Evadne, sure there's more to the story, volunteers to share Halcyon's sentence. While Halcyon is sent to manual labor, where she runs afoul of a cunning traitor, Evadne serves Straton's household. Straton's son Damon, a mage, recruits her to continue Halcyon's secret mission: locating a divine relic that could free Queen Nerine from an evil mage's control. Ross' heroic epic is vividly inspired by ancient Greece, down to its poetic language. Evadne and Halcyon's relationship is a joy, as they find strength and bravery in their love for each other. While the story lacks suspense, as difficult and dangerous situations are often resolved quickly, it revels in intricate plotting, political intrigue, and fascinating divinity-based magic.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)