The Sisters of the Winter Wood got off to a truly amazing start, I love the way that the story switches between the sister's points of view. Both Liba and Laya are really interesting and I also love the differences between their prose, steady and descriptive Liba and poetic and flighty Laya. This was really unique and I really loved it.

There were so many amazing fairytales woven in to the story, it was wonderful to see familiar favourites as well as finding new ones. The Sisters of the Winter Wood was a beautifully written and darkly enchanting fantasy tale which I just did not want to put down.

The character development of the two sisters is a big focus in the book, and I love both of the sisters and how different they are. It's so interesting to see how the two sisters cope, in their own way, with their parents leaving them alone in their house. I felt a kinship with Liba, as an older sibling myself, and the lengths as which she goes to hold everything together and to protect her younger sister.

There is a darkness to the tale which I found really enchanting, you feel compelled towards it, just as Laya is compelled towards Fedir. I found the fact that the two sisters were both experiencing their first love, in very different ways, in parallel was a really great way to drawn the narratives together. It was wonderful to highlight the differences between us all.

I loved the fairytale elements to the tale, they really added a richness to the world of the Winter Wood. But the elements of reality, which were also woven in to the story made The Sisters of the Winter Wood really incredible. It's really interesting to have a window in to a Jewish family, and the Jewish community of the town.

For me, the message I took away from The Sisters of the Winter Wood, is that is it sometimes what we don't say that can cause the most hurt. This seemed to be a recurring theme throughout the books.

Overall, I absolutely loved The Sisters of the Winter Wood and I would definitely recommend it to any fantasy fans, and especially those who love fairytale retellings.

If we ignore the parents telling their children they are in fact a bear/swan,then faffing about a bit,then heading into the unknown,leaving the sisters both confused and without food supplies.... let's ignore that.
I REALLY enjoyed the idea of people who changed into animals,and the mystical brothers on the fruit stall.... tied in with the persecution of Jews it could have been gripping stuff.
For me it rarely hit magical though... there were a few times when Layas shorter sentences gave more urgency to the words that I almost felt it... but the switch between characters came too soon and too often.
Others nothing wrong with this book,it just didn't quite live up to what I'd hoped.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, Orbit and Rena Rossner for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Sisters Of The Winter Wood.
I found I was drawn to the book by the cover and after reading the description, I was hooked.
This book is a beautifully written and an engrossing tale.
When I read a book of this calibre, I find myself at a loss for words to describe how wonderful it was to read. There are no words that would do this book justice.
I would highly recommend this book

I have to start by saying the cover of this book is absolutely stunning!
This is a beautiful story that follows two sisters as they navigate a world of magic and whimsy.
The ambience of this book really makes for a truly enchanting read - highly recommend!

I'm not sure there are enough superlatives to describe this book. First, there's the magnificent cover. It sets the tone for the book better than any cover I've seen. The story was beautifully written--much of it in a prose poem style that works fantastically well to convey the thoughts and conversation of the characters. Two girls lost in the woods. How many fairy tales have had that theme? But this book twists and turns the cliche into something breathtaking and fascinating and new. (See how many superlatives I've already used?) One of my favorite scenes describes a Shabbat dinner. The food, the table settings, the people around the table, and love in the room--all were unforgettable. I'm not Jewish, so I also appreciated the opportunity to learn something of a religion I'm not that familiar with, a time I know little about, and a place I know nothing about. Such a lovely book. I'm convinced it will be an instant classic.