“A roar can be used to characterise the sound of a war, and on occasion, it actually is one. A roar that precedes the charge of a thousand warriors drowns out all other noise. However, in between charges and countercharges, there is the yelling of those who are too hurt to keep quiet but aren’t yet close enough to the Path to fall silent. There is the clash of weapons, which most commonly happens on shields since close-quarters combat is an ugliness and lack of grace. There are the frantic calls for help and there are the lost ones’ sobs.”
Well, goddamn, I scream into my sweater’s sleeves. Writing this review is going to be challenging for a variety of reasons. One reason is that it is the third and last book. However, the main reason is that I am just so ecstatic that this series exists! I genuinely adore it so much! It can be difficult to really convey how much you adore someone, and I think that may be the case with this review. I’ll probably talk a lot without talking too much, I hope!
Imagine the following to get a sense of the intensity of emotions Holy Sister caused me to experience as I turned the last page of the book: I was sobbing and swaying back and forth while curled up in a ball, thinking about Nona and what a remarkable character she is. You have it now! The review’s TL;DR summary is as follows. I love how each of Mark Lawrence’s books includes a Story So Far. I really enjoy taking that refreshment every time! especially because it seems like a decade has passed since the last book was released. Oof.
The events of Grey Sister are immediately followed by those of Holy Sister, which takes place in the present day and three years ago. Mark Lawrence does a superb job of masterfully weaving connections throughout these stories. Just about everything fits. The story’s progression is so deftly done and never felt complicated. At its core, the Book of the Ancestor trilogy is a grimdark coming-of-age story. But, oh. It is countless times more than that. emotive, compelling, and realistic Although the worldbuilding is expertly done, we only get a small taste of how big it is. If Lawrence so chooses, there are a variety of stories that might be told in this realm. I am sure I am not the only one who would be utterly ecstatic to have more. I have the impression that I’m still not quite ready to go.
It’s something I’ve said before, and I’ll keep saying it. In ANYTHING, Nona is one of my favourite characters. Television, movies, and books. It is significant given how heroic Nona Grey is. At her core, she is a hero with a true heart who is surrounded by violence and death. She is a flawed, multifaceted, BADASS WARRIOR. I often find myself drawn to ethically dubious people and anti-heroes. An antihero is complex and has numerous facets. It’s just so much pleasure to read (and compose) them. But what about the actual world—the one we currently inhabit? It’s miserable as all get out. And I’m learning that it’s alright to search for the heroes amidst the gloom. Nona basically encompasses this in its entirety. She is a bright, empathetic, and dependable friend. She is not a conventionally fashioned hero. That is the driving force behind why I find her to be such a passionately amazing character. Nona Grey is unique; no one else compares.
With Holy Sister completing out the Book of the Ancestor trilogy, it is now firmly entrenched in my list of all-time favourites. EVERRR. This series is unlike any other for me. Page after beautiful page, Mark Lawrence never fails to wow. I would say YES if he wrote down a shopping list! OMFG THIS IS BRILLIANT! THE WAY HE DESCRIBES THE FOOD NEEDED IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT! ACTUALLY, WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MASTERMIND! but really. As I write my eleventh Mark Lawrence review, I’m at a loss for words to convey what a fantastic writer he is. The way he arranges a story is like seeing an amazingly beautiful symphony.
The Review
Holy Sister
It is a rare thrill to find an author who can keep your brain challenged, your feels fulfilled and your pulse pounding book after book after book. You know, the ones that make you hold your breath. Or ignore your family. Or get completely lost in another world because the book is so damn good. I am happy to report that I am able to pick up each and every one of Mark Lawrence’s books with the same expectation each time: This one will also be epic.
PROS
- A Marvelous Finish!
- Amazing world building!
- All knots tied and all twists unravelled.
- Absolutely remarkable.
- Formulaic but Excellent.
CONS
- Disappointing Conclusion.
- Frustrating disjointed.
- Disappointing final volume.
- Predictable and dissapointing.