Sherrie Cronin

Can you believe we're on book three already? I loved Sulphur. Her drive to fight for what she believes in, her rejection of what society considers proper for a woman, even under familial pressure. This book gives us better insight to the military during this time, all from Sulphur's POV. Sulphur isn't perfect, but watching her work through the obstacles and conundrums placed in her path made me love her so much more. I love that the characters have so much depth, and that the world is so show more rich. As a companion novel, this works seamlessly with the previous two, and just adds more depth to the story as a whole. show less

Not sure where to start with my review, as this sets the stage for the rest of the series. The world itself is fairly well-built, with a refreshing attitude towards sex, especially where it concerns women and sex. Sex before marriage, and not always with the same partner is the norm, and women are taught how to prevent pregnancy, so they can enjoy this freedom (which is rare I've found in many books with a woman in the lead that don't have a contemporary setting). I was fascinated by the show more Velka, and liked the idea of a commune of strong, magical women living in the woods.

Ryalgar, the oldest sister, is the one we get to meet first in this series. I love her sharp mind, her need to learn, and her desire to not be tied down to anyone. Her journey was an interesting one to follow, and while I can't say I ever really liked the prince, Ryalgar doesn't let his attitude towards her or her home break her. If anything, it makes her stronger. I love how no matter the odds, she's determined to make sure everything she holds dear is protected, whether those who rule want to help or not.

Definitely looking forward to book two, when we get to follow the story of the next eldest sister! show less

I can't believe I'm on book four already! I loved Olivine's artist soul. The conflict she feels between pursuing her art and standing with her sisters, using her extraordinary vision and bow to try and protect their land, is beautifully laid out and written. Bohdan was wonderful, and he and Olivine made the perfect pair. I love how the world is gaining more depth, and we get to explore more of it in this installment. I really hope once we've gotten to see the perspectives of all seven show more sisters we get to watch them come together to fight the Mongol invasion. show less

Let me begin this review with a thought experiment worthy of Sherrie Cronin’s character Alex Zeitman: Is Z2 science fiction? True, it has many of the elements of science fiction including time travel, telepathy, and changelings. The epilogue even takes place in the not-too-distant future. Despite these science fiction devices, however, the book is more of a family drama, focused on its characters than it is on the science fiction elements. The book is slow to start, but Cronin’s show more flashbacks at the beginning help set up the backstory for the adult characters. Once the story begins in earnest, the dual narrative of ancient mystery and a teacher’s attempts to combat racism in his community quickly engross the reader. Cronin exceeds at portraying the human dynamics so that character interactions feel natural rather than staged. Even the interconnectedness of her various characters, an element that may have read as a cheap narrative device, feels natural and adds, at different times, both humour and drama to her story. The various discussions of physics, mathematics, immigration, and racism are all well-researched and Cronin deftly interweaves them into her story (additionally, her bibliography is a nice touch and demonstrates how she blended factual history into a fictional narrative). In sum, the book is an enjoyable read full of great human elements with a wonderfully satisfying ending. show less