Syosset Public Library TeenSpace Blog

There’s a new book that has been haunting me lately – Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. From the publisher’s description:
“In late nineteenth-century New York state, wealthy sixteen-year-old twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe find that they are on opposite sides of an ancient prophecy that has destroyed their parents and seeks to do even more harm.”
This first book in a planned triilogy has all the right makings for a spooky fall tale. Let’s see: a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other since the dawn of time? Check. A chilly gothic setting with old-fashioned and formal language? Check. The fate of a legion of lost souls hanging in the balance? Check. Yes, it fulfills many spooktacular requirements.
What I really enjoyed was how well-developed the characters are and the many plot twists that kept the novel from being stale and clichéd. Even though the book centers around a battle between good vs. evil, the main characters are not so black and white. Lia has a good heart, yet was born into a role she does not wish to fulfill. Alice seems evil from the beginning, but you sympathize with the fact that she ultimately cannot help her calling. The supporting characters, such as Lia’s friends Sonia and Luisa, infuse some warmth and humor into the story and are instantly likeable.
Although the first book spends a lot of time world-building to set the stage for more action to follow, it is a world I very much enjoyed visiting and hope to return. This is definitely a book to curl up with under a fluffy blanket on a cool autumn night.
Sharon Long