Book review: Sister Light, Sister Dark

This book, by one of the most proliphic science fiction and fantasy writers of our time, Jane Yolen, is an excellent start to a trilogy of novels. It tells the story of Jenna, who is believed to be a legendary figure of prophecy. Jenna is raised with a group of warrior women who teach her woodscraft and swordplay. When Jenna is thirteen, she sets out with her friend Pynt on her missioning, which is a type of growing up ritual. Along the way, she meets an exiled prince, who is on the run from the usurper king’s hunters.

This book is surprisingly dark. There are places that are extremely violent and gory, and Jenna, our main character, despite being super special and destined for greatness, is amazingly likeable. I also really liked that the book didn’t really make much of the fact that Jenna and her sisters were women. Jenna is just treated as if she is on a par with the men in the book.

There are also songs, legends, myths, and even historical references throughout the book telling what scholars in later days thought of that passage in the story. These are especially intriguing and give depth to the narrative.

The book is also fairly short, so it’s not the kind of sprawling epic you’ll be reading for weeks.

Over all, very highly recommended.