Five Sisters Embark on a Hazardous Journey to Save Their Dying Father, the King

Gudrun, King Athelrick’s second wife, is distraught. She’s afraid he’s dying. His five daughters hate her, so she sends for her son, Wylm. Bluebell, the kings eldest daughter and heir, is told that her father is dying and that her stepbrother is on the way to him. Fearing that Wylm will try to seize the crown, Bluebell, a warrior princess, rides hard and overtakes him. At least he won’t arrive alone.

When she arrives at home, Bluebell realizes that her father may well be dying, poisoned by undermagic, and sends for her four sisters. Not all the sisters are enthusiastic about the proposed journey, but they realize that they must find a powerful undermagician to cure him. The sisters are very different people with their own problems and personalities. As the journey unfolds, they learn more about each other for good and bad.

This fantasy novel, the first of a trilogy, is set in a kingdom that resembles England during the Viking raids. The time and area are beautifully described giving a tapestry like backdrop to the story. However, perhaps the best thing about the novel is the characterization of the sisters. Bluebell, the eldest, is a tough warrior; Rose, the wife of the king of a neighboring kingdom, is romantically involved with a man who is the father of her daughter; Ash has a gift for magic and shows the ability to be a seer; Willow, one of the twins, is a religious mystic, but defies the traditional religion of her country; and Ivy, the other twin, chases men looking for love and attention.

The book is beautifully written. The prose pulls you along moving swiftly among the main characters. Although at first it may be difficult to become engaged with so many characters, I thought the chapters devoted to the viewpoint of each sister gave the reader a chance to know these interesting women. They are not perfect people, which makes them very real.

If you enjoy fantasy, this is a good book. The twist at the end will leave you looking for the next volume.

I received this book from Random House for this review.