Guest Review #2 - Jen

Our next Guest Reviewer goes by the name of Jen; and her nickname? The bibliophile -- which means "a lover of books." Check out her blog @ In The Closet With A Bibliophile as soon as possible; it's ah-mazing! Jen, why don't you introduce yourself a little?

I live in Arizona, the valley of the sun, and I love it! No, I have not met Stephenie Meyer, although that would be awesome (don't judge me people!). I am a mother of 2 crazy children, and I own my own business. In any spare time I can find, whether it's midnight or 4 in the morning, I read. I'd read all day, every day if I could, but alas, I cannot. I love to blog and write up my feelings on books, so I hope you all enjoy this guest review, it's the very first one I've done - guest review that is.

Awesome, Jen! It sounds like you have a very exciting, yet busy life :). And readers, now that you know a little about her, read her review for Prophecy of the Sisters.

Hope you enjoy it,
--Zakiya, the walking butterfly and Jen, the bibliophile

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Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Pages: 343
Published: August 1st, 2009 by Little Brown & Co.
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction, Paranormal, Some Romance, Mystery, Coming of Age
Overall Rating:

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

Woe the tales of predestination and agency. Do we have a choice of what we will make of ourselves, or are our lives already decided for us? This is the underlying story in Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink. Two sisters - twins - and their younger brother Henry are all that remain of the Milthorpe family. They are watched over by their Aunt Virginia, the sister of their long dead mother. The book starts us off on a rainy day in 1890 New York where Zink sets the scene of her debut novel's macabre storyline with an undeniable sense of foreboding.

Our main character, Lia, guides us through her story of the prophecy surrounding her and how it has changed her life. Lia happens to be one of the twins, as I'm sure you know already, but of course she is the elder of the two. She seems to be a very loving soul who wants nothing more than to be with her family and have her father back home and not dead in the ground.

I keep trying to decide what I should say concerning her, I don' t know if I really feel much for her as a character other than she does seem to be a good person. She seems kind and caring and I do like that about her, but other than that she seems to be sort of weak. Meaning that she is always leaning on others to help her and guide her in her decisions. It's not that she isn't willing to help, just that she is too meek to actually do what she must. Now, of course, there is some character development that helps her towards the end grow into herself and find her strength, but still she doesn't seem like a strong enough character to be the lead.

However, there are some characters that I do love much better. Sonia and Luisa, Lia's partners in crime, are so different from one another, but lovable nonetheless. Sonia, although soft spoken seems very strong and knowledgeable. Luisa is fun, loud and has the force of an ox if necessary. I think I actually can relate to Luisa the most because she does what she must and still does not let it deter her. Her personality calls to me in the most interesting ways.

Interestingly enough, one of my most favorite characters would have to be Edmund, the old employee of her father. I would imagine him in his late 30's, but I've always carried a love for the quiet souls in books who look after those they care about, but don't make too big a scene about it. I think it is their hidden personalities that intrigue me so.

All the characters have their place in the story, they all have the ways that they affect one another and of course the menacing prophecy that looms over their heads. It is quite fascinating the turns the book takes and where it leads us at the end. I mean, what could be better than two twin sisters at war with one another in the fight for good versus evil?! Might we say a fight of biblical proportions? Well, maybe not, but there does seem to be quite a bit of talk throughout of the Bible and of the Beast aka, Satan. Even if our main character isn't really religious, the undertones cannot go unnoticed.

As a whole, I greatly enjoyed this book. I highly appreciated how it made me think and grasp for concepts that I might not ponder all that much. I found it interesting and rather well versed. It's always nice to find a good author. The only thing I would have wished for would have been a stronger main character and a whole lot more of James, her best friend and love. He really wasn't in it that much and he was such a sweet, wonderful character. He was hardly developed into the book, so quite a few of the references to him almost seem out of place, but those were mostly at the end.

However, I still give it a very high rating because the author painted a dark story of the past with alluring words and lovely characters. She gave me two funerals and several cryptic stories for deciphering - I always love a good intrigue. As the book does leave us, of course, with a cliffhanger, I am very excited for the release of the sequel Guardian of the Gate on August 1st of this year.

(4 out of 5 Flowers)

Quotes:

" I recall his somber eyes during that last, private conversation. His eyes and his words, far too wise for a boy of ten: only time will tell, Lia.
In the end, I suppose it will."

"I am embarrassed at the effect of his touch. I don't want him to feel my heart striking against the bodice of my gown or to hear my catching breath, so I pull away, eying him playfully. "

Here is the book trailer for this book if you'd like a peak. :D