Review ~ Prophecy of the Sisters ~ Discussion

Title: Prophecy of the Sisters
Author: Michelle Zink
Series: Prophecy of the Sisters #1
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 2009
Source: Own (Bought at a used bookstore)
Format: Hardcover
Rating: Brandy: 3 stars /Malissa: 3 stars

~Scoop from Goodreads~

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

 

Once again, Malissa and I decided to read a book together. Since we're making a habit out of this (yes, two books together is now considered a habit... ;) ), we may just try to review all of them together discussion style on here. :) There are pitfalls, of course, to reading a book together. For some odd reason we can never seem to pace it just right and be on the same page. Also, there's the risk of our discussion leading to spoilers. Those I will leave out as long as it is humanly possible. 

Malissa

I'm still not super far in Prophecy (maybe chapter 4) but I'm enjoying it for sure. Too early to say if it will be a like or a love, but I'm definitely engaged.   I do see what you mean about Lia easily accepting all the oddity that just happens time and time again. I noticed it (maybe partly because you mentioned it) but don't know if it would have bothered me or seemed strange otherwise. The whole feel that it's all fate makes that kind of believable but it also makes her seem a bit weak and overly accepting of her fate. I'm hoping she grows from the weaker twin that she sees herself as to someone stronger by the end. That could make or break the book for me, I think. And I find myself weirdly bothered by the opposition between Lia and Alice that seems to be growing and being set up. I know it fits the storyline so far, but I just don't want Alice to be the antagonist! The sister in me wants so badly to see them become allies in whatever it is that's going on ... Please, lol? I also like the way the whole family's feminist leaning attitudes exist but aren't a huge point in the story. It's just who they are, and that works for me. 

Brandy

cartoonsource.com

I'm teetering between 2 & 3 stars. Something seemed to be missing for me. A lack of caring for the characters, maybe? I was a little deterred by her finding the mark and not questioning it, of hearing the prophecy and simply accepting it. Oh hey, there's this prophecy about twin sisters and it's hard to understand. But hey, I must be a part of it. Why else would it be in our house? I don't know. It just seemed a little... forced, maybe. Personally if I had some weird tattoo like thing show up on my arm I am thinking I might freak out a little. What was her background on supernatural type things? There didn't appear to be any to me, so why was she so inclined to just believe and not be like "this type of stuff doesn't exist" or question it in some way. I think that's the part I struggled with the most. There were a few other things that seemed thrown in there, but didn't take me completely out of the story.

That aside, I enjoyed the writing itself, if the plot and character development was lacking. I'm not sure whether or not I'll read the next one when it comes. (I ordered thru the library) But I am curious to know how it ends, just not at all on the scale it should be to be waiting waiting waiting for the next one. Maybe I'll skim them. I just wasn't as entangled in the story as I'd like to be. There was too much going on for me to completely suspend belief and fall into it. :(  I'm saddened by this because I like the idea a lot. 


Malissa
Even at not quite done, I'm in complete agreement. If I loved the characters and were totally sucked in, I would probably be OK with the way she accepts it all so easily and chalk it up to "fate." But I find myself not really caring that much. She could give in and the apocalypse could come, and I'd be mildly annoyed. But I wouldn't feel any real loss. So, I kinda feel like "What's the point?" I'll likely end on 3 stars because I don't hate any of it by any means. A teen might like it for a light, casual read. But I wanted more from it. Like you, I loved the idea. I love the way the author takes things that are usually considered occult and evil and makes them just ... exist. Not really good or bad that they do. But it could be sooo much more dramatic and deeper and even darker really. And I have books like Splintered and Seraphina, and The Diviners on my list. Plus that new Printz winner I'd never heard of ;) I want more than "meh." Life is too short for meh, lol. 

Brandy

I'm with you on the not hating it. I don't. Or I wouldn't have finished it, of course. I just don't seem to have the inclination to care enough to find out what happens next. Some parts of the story intrigued me more than others. But mostly I found it to be so-so. "Meh," as you say. :)  I agree. Life is too short for meh. It was definitely missing a wow factor for me. I do hope that in the second book Lia becomes a stronger person. For that matter, I'd like all the characters to be a bit more rounded and to care more about what happens to them.

Malissa
Finally finished the book. Must admit that I don't really care what comes next... at all. I actually skimmed the last few pages. I mean I'd still recommend it to a teen whose tastes it fits with the disclaimer that I didn't love it, but it's not a bad read. I nearly rated two starts based on just my personal enjoyment (if I have to skim to finish, it feels like less than 3 stars to me), but I truly think it's recommendable. But definitely no wow factor. No real caring for Lia or her fate. If we'd gotten a stronger main character to care about, I might feel totally different, but we didn't. She feels so bland to me. No deep hurt at the rift (to put it mildly) between her and her twin sister, no deep anger and feelings of betrayal toward her mother, and no rage over the awful "incident" near the end.  Really? I'd be a hot mess of emotion at *best.* And that equals no desire to read on for me.

Brandy
I haven't thought about the book since I finished it so I'm leaning toward not caring either. I figure if I haven't thought about Lia or Alice and wondered at all then there's no point in reading further. I have more books I want to read more. I definitely agree with her being 'bland.' I think that's a great way to put it. I'm still sad, though. I wanted to like it... I really did.

Let us know what you think. Have you read it? Did you like it if you have? If you haven't read it, do you think you will?

Smiles,

B (& M)