Review Detail
4.0 4
Young Adult Fiction
869
A Fresh, Chilling Debut
(Updated: June 12, 2026)
Overall rating
4.0
Plot
4.0
Characters
N/A
Writing Style
N/A
Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)
N/A
Reader reviewed by deltay
Prophecy of the Sisters is the first book in a trilogy - and what a debut it is that Michelle Zink
has crafted! With the eloquently formal diction of days gone by and a
sinisterly gothic setting, Zink opens a portal to a what feels like an
alternate dimension.
Setting
is definitely one of Zink's fortes; the dark forebodding tone conjures
a deliciously creepy mood that sustains throughout the course of the
novel. The imagery in this is very realistic, allowing the audience to
imagine the events as they occur very vividly. The diction choice may
seem a little odd at the beginning, but once the initial strangeness is
overcome, the beautiful phrasing simply serves to draw the audience in
deeper. Once the "speed bump" is passed, Zink's enthralling narrative
style sinks its teeth into the reader - and doesn't let go. I would
suggest making sure you have a large chunk of time laid aside when you
begin Prophecy, because it's very hard to put down.
It was pretty uncanny to see some of the concepts in Prophecy of the Sisters
- especially since I'd been researching astral projection just prior to
reading the book. The prophecy, the ancient tales, the otherworldly
aspects - Zink deals with these deftly in a way that's very intriguing
for the audience. I, for one, am definitely curious to find out more
about some of these things in future books. The shock factor is another
thing that's pretty central to Prophecy.
Some of those events I didn't see coming, and Zink spins the aftermath
in a way that's very raw, very poignant. Unpredictable events always
keep readers on their toes, hardly daring to relax.
As
it's a first person narrative, the character who we get to know most
intimately is Lia. Which is great, as she's the main protagonist. The
surprising circumstances surrounding her, the loss she suffers, her
vulnerability - they all add to the credibility of her
characterization. In the next two books though, I'd really like to see
a little more development of some of the minor characters. It was a
little aggravating, having figured out a pretty crucial plot point and
watching for pages and pages while Lia and her sidekicks struggled to
make sense of it. However, this could've been intentionally done as a
plot device.
As for
the character relationships, the bond between Lia and Alice is
definitely an interesting one. It was pretty cool to watch that unfurl
throughout the course of the novel, to see just how far (or lack
thereof) sisterly devotion stretched. I found the start of Lia and
Luisa's friendship to be a bit choppy and sudden, but as the novel
progressed, the friendship between the trio (completed by Sonia) was
definitely one of the strong points of Prophecy.
The romance element... there were moments when the chemistry between
James and Lia just didn't really come across as deeply as it could
have. The relationships with her father, Henry, and her mother however,
were conveyed very nicely (as were their characterizations in general).
The ending of Prophecy of the Sisters isn't really an ending,
per se. It's wide and expansive, it's open and really, it's more of a
beginning than anything else. It promises the start of an enchanting
journey. On the brink of a catastrophe, Lia could literally hold the
fate of the world in her hands. Thank goodness it's not too bad of a
cliffhanger though - at least it's a resolved open ending that I've no
doubt will lead beautifully into the sequel.
Prophecy of the Sisters
offers a deliciously dark and fresh glimpse into a world of
possibilities. Like Henry says, "only time will tell" (Zink 256). But
with Zink's beautiful storytelling style and immersing plot lines, this
is one series that readers will eagerly await with baited breath.
Prophecy of the Sisters is the first book in a trilogy - and what a debut it is that Michelle Zink
has crafted! With the eloquently formal diction of days gone by and a
sinisterly gothic setting, Zink opens a portal to a what feels like an
alternate dimension.
Setting
is definitely one of Zink's fortes; the dark forebodding tone conjures
a deliciously creepy mood that sustains throughout the course of the
novel. The imagery in this is very realistic, allowing the audience to
imagine the events as they occur very vividly. The diction choice may
seem a little odd at the beginning, but once the initial strangeness is
overcome, the beautiful phrasing simply serves to draw the audience in
deeper. Once the "speed bump" is passed, Zink's enthralling narrative
style sinks its teeth into the reader - and doesn't let go. I would
suggest making sure you have a large chunk of time laid aside when you
begin Prophecy, because it's very hard to put down.
It was pretty uncanny to see some of the concepts in Prophecy of the Sisters
- especially since I'd been researching astral projection just prior to
reading the book. The prophecy, the ancient tales, the otherworldly
aspects - Zink deals with these deftly in a way that's very intriguing
for the audience. I, for one, am definitely curious to find out more
about some of these things in future books. The shock factor is another
thing that's pretty central to Prophecy.
Some of those events I didn't see coming, and Zink spins the aftermath
in a way that's very raw, very poignant. Unpredictable events always
keep readers on their toes, hardly daring to relax.
As
it's a first person narrative, the character who we get to know most
intimately is Lia. Which is great, as she's the main protagonist. The
surprising circumstances surrounding her, the loss she suffers, her
vulnerability - they all add to the credibility of her
characterization. In the next two books though, I'd really like to see
a little more development of some of the minor characters. It was a
little aggravating, having figured out a pretty crucial plot point and
watching for pages and pages while Lia and her sidekicks struggled to
make sense of it. However, this could've been intentionally done as a
plot device.
As for
the character relationships, the bond between Lia and Alice is
definitely an interesting one. It was pretty cool to watch that unfurl
throughout the course of the novel, to see just how far (or lack
thereof) sisterly devotion stretched. I found the start of Lia and
Luisa's friendship to be a bit choppy and sudden, but as the novel
progressed, the friendship between the trio (completed by Sonia) was
definitely one of the strong points of Prophecy.
The romance element... there were moments when the chemistry between
James and Lia just didn't really come across as deeply as it could
have. The relationships with her father, Henry, and her mother however,
were conveyed very nicely (as were their characterizations in general).
The ending of Prophecy of the Sisters isn't really an ending,
per se. It's wide and expansive, it's open and really, it's more of a
beginning than anything else. It promises the start of an enchanting
journey. On the brink of a catastrophe, Lia could literally hold the
fate of the world in her hands. Thank goodness it's not too bad of a
cliffhanger though - at least it's a resolved open ending that I've no
doubt will lead beautifully into the sequel.
Prophecy of the Sisters
offers a deliciously dark and fresh glimpse into a world of
possibilities. Like Henry says, "only time will tell" (Zink 256). But
with Zink's beautiful storytelling style and immersing plot lines, this
is one series that readers will eagerly await with baited breath.
G
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