Review: Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Young Adult Fantasy

Little, Brown Young Readers (August 1, 2009)
ISBN: 978-0316027427

352 pages

From Amazon.com:

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.

Dark, somber, mysterious, intriguing. That's pretty much all a girl can say about this amazing tale without giving too much away.

This first installment in the trilogy is all about the buildup, which means it's a bit slow action-wise. As the novel progresses and the mystery behind the ancient prophecy unravels, there is a steady climb in the feelings of danger and anticipation. Just when you you think things are at their most tragic or curious, something else happens to throw you for a loop. By the end, the intrigue has only deepened and nothing is resolved. Instead, one can't help but feel anxious for the continuation.

Zink has created a great cast of characters and has managed to make them all very relevant and involved in the overall plot. Perhaps my favorite thing that she does in the novel involves Alice. As the twin destined to be the evil one, it would have been so easy to make her simply that. Instead, Zink builds her into a complex and, at times, sympathetic character. So many of her negative actions are tinged with a certain sadness and reluctance that make it impossible to write her off as completely wicked.

I don't know what else to say without spoiling it so, just go pick it up!

Grade: B+