It’s not you, it’s me? That’s how I’m feeling about a lot of Arthurian cycle retellings lately. Mostly this book was an enjoyable read predicated on the question of what if the knights of the round table had been women? Sounds like a cool gender bend, right? Well yeah but you should be able to do that without it being feminism by way of tearing all the male characters down. This is seriously becoming my most irritating of pet peeves. I really liked the concept of this book but that coupled with the low plot (I’m not averse to low plot as long as it’s high character – which it wasn’t – although how can you go to low plot in the Arthurian cycle I don’t know) meant that I felt I was reading something that wasn’t intended for me. Which is fine, I have my favourite retellings. Not everything is for me. So I’m conflicted. I liked it except that every so often one of those issues would raise its head like Pellinore’s Wyrm and jolt me out of the story. If you want a simple, female centric Arthurian story that asks little of you, aimed at the lower end of YA, give it a go.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review

This is an interesting start to a fantasy duology billed as a feminist reimaging of the Arthurian legends. While it did have some great representation of different types of women, different ways they can be strong and some great moments of power, female companionship and general bad-assery, it did also feel a little dry in the delivery.

I struggled to fully connect to the FMC Cass, who came across as a bit one-dimensional - and I think some of the supporting cast were undeveloped too. The writing did feel a bit formulaic, but it was still an enjoyable read and a good start to a series.

I would say if you're looking for a very magical, high fantasy then this isn't the one - it does have some magical elements to it but feels almost more of a historical YA than a full blown fantasy.

Book Review 📚
Sisters of Sword and Shadow by Laura Bates - 3.5/5 ⭐

Book 1 of the duology which is coming our way. There are some strong elements to the book, power, friendship and family.

The characters were good and descriptive but not a tonne of developing, which I'm hoping will come about it book 2. However, it is a very easy and fast paced book to read.

There are some elements of fantasy throughout and a strong female lead who is attempting to become a knight! Bates' writing throughout is massively descriptive and gives insight in to everything that is happening in the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This was a very disappointing read. There was no overarching plot, the characters were flat and interchangeable, and it was very simple, almost like a first draft. The feminism consisted of ‘all men are bad’ except the love interest, whom she spoke with perhaps 2 times.
As it was advertised as being perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas, I was expecting something aimed towards older YA or even adult, however it seemed for very young readers instead.
I think younger reader would enjoy this very easy story but the advertising seems all wrong for it and I felt no empowerment for female readers. A shame, because the premise is great!

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. It’s fantasy written really accessibly. If you like Arthurian legends I think you would like this book.

'An interesting thing happens, when a man is defeated in combat by a woman . . . He tells nobody.'

Sisters of Sword and Shadow (SoSaS) is the first installment of a fantasy duology written by Laura Bates and is Bates' debut within the genre. SoSaS is the answer to what would it have been like to have a female version of the Knights of the Round Table and how would they have managed in medieval England. SoSaS follows Cass as she abandons her homestead and everything she knows and joins the Sisterhood of the Silk Knights to learn to fight, protect the vulnerable and right the wrongs of men.

I flew through this book and think it will fit really well within the young adult market, it offers all the usual fantasy elements of power, courage and morality as well as adding in an organic mix of equality and feminism.