This book review was part of a podcast discussion.
Listen to the episode here.
So, I’m not going to lie: This is my favorite trilogy, so I am going to show more bias than usual. Anyways, with the cat out of the bag, let’s get on to the review. Red Sister is the tale of a seven- or eight-year-old trying to literally fight adults, sometimes even winning. It is a truly enjoyable experience.
Protagonist Nona Grey is an angry murder child and a disaster, and I love her. One of my favorite characteristics of hers is her incredible loyalty and refusal to give up on people she considers friends. Her bravery speaks to me in a profound way. She is even loyal to friends that betray her because of their former friendship. Nona would throw herself in front an arrow to protect her friends (and she does).
The next thing I love is the world. I could sum it all up in two words: Moon laser. Lawrence is gifted in writing worlds that are familiar but also wholly alien. Take Abeth (the book’s setting). It has aspects of western culture but is on a planet experiencing global cooling. Ice is closing in on the one place free of it, the Corridor. The only thing holding it back is the artificial moon shooting a laser to melt the ice during the night. This setting is fricking awesome and interesting to me.
The final pro is the character interactions. One such interaction is the relationship between Sisters Apple and Kettle. I won’t spoil it but it is lovely.
There are things I would change about the series. I wish some stuff was more fleshed out. I wish there was more about the side novices and sisters, and about the magic system. The other thing I would change the plot is kinda meh.
South Carolina
I am new podcaster who has been enjoying the fantasy genre for many, many… many years. I will read most any fantasy book but high and steampunk are my favorite subgenres.
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