Prophecy of The Sisters - A Review

Prophecy of the Sisters - Michelle Zink

Synopsis from the Barnes & Noble website:

Without the Keys, something terrible will happen.
Something that cannot be undone.
And with them, I might bring an end to the riddle of the Prophecy and my strange part in it.

If Alice and I are on conflicting sides of the Prophecy,
the Keys would be dangerous in her hands.
Which means I have to find them.
And I have to do it before my sister.

Sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe has just recently lost her father, leaving her parent less. But when a strange mark appears on her wrist, she realizes she is being branded with much more than her new found title of orphan. Lia and her twin sister Alice are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other.

Lia hides this discovery from Alice and even from her beloved James, but to escape from the burden this secret bestows she must end the prophecy-before her sister. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the mark on her wrist, the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her, and the impact the resolution of the prophecy could have.

With, haunting, lyrical prose, this multi-layered story of family, friendship, and romance explores the timeless question of predetermination versus free will. And it takes readers on an unforgettable coming-of-age journey where one sister's self-discovery could have an impact of Biblical proportion.

My Thoughts:

This was a wonderful, dark, Gothic mystery and I loved it! I can't wait to read book 2 when it comes out. I want to see how this story unfolds as Lia moves on to her next stop in her journey. I enjoyed how Michelle's storyline is pitting sibling against sibling in a race between good and evil. She has a unique take on this particular storyline.

The era in which this story is told is what really makes the story work. I'm not sure it would work at all in any other era or at least not nearly as well. I was pulled into a dark, cold, dreary world where the buildings are old and the cold seeps in no matter where you roam. Michelle did an awesome job of creating the world in which her story is told. I could see the rooms of the sprawling estate and it's grounds, the carriages they rode to town in, the lake, I could almost feel the rushing water. I can picture how the town looks and feels. I love it when story comes to life like that for me.

The story weaves through your mind creating a visual of a world I can't wait to go back to. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes the feel of a dark, Gothic book full of mystery and intrigue.