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This is it, the final Book of the Ancestor trilogy, The Holy Sister (Click here to purchase*). Written by Mark Lawrence, it tells the final chapter of Nona Grey’s story. And to be honest, I didn’t want it to end. I wanted Lawrence to surprise us with a new book but that looks very unlikely.
Nona Grey is a novice of the Convent of Sweet Mercy. In a nutshell, they train girls to become warriors using various methods. From the simplicity of blade work, to poisoning and all the way to a magical ability which is tied to The Path. We learn in the earlier books that reaching for The Path is dangerous.
Even those that succeed usually can’t do it again within the same day.
The story splits itself in two parts like The Grey Sister. Except both parts are from the viewpoint of Nona. One viewpoint is from hours after the events of the previous book. While the other part is three years later.
The way Lawrence uses this split to tell the story makes for some great reading. There is a moment in the past section which has great consequences. The present section then alludes to the event that happens. But later on, the past section resolves that situation. It’s a great part and I enjoyed it especially with the twists that were thrown in near the end.
Since Holy Sister, is the final book in the trilogy. Lawrence can and does take lives of characters that you have been with since the first book. The loss of their life hurts both Nona and the reader. Especially early on in the book a key character dies which I have grown to love.
The Holy Sister, Nona
Nona has grown as a character since The Red Sister. We were first introduced to a child that only cared for herself. In Holy Sister, she is thinking of the greater good of the Convent. She is willing to put herself in harm’s way to protect those she now loves.
With her new found love of friends, she uses her blood abilities to move others to meet her goals. She doesn’t like doing it but she knows she must to protect the greater good. She’s also less inclined to take life. Preferring any other solution first. Though there is one death in the book that is well deserved we are never sure who orchestrated it.
Since Nona is maturing there is also an element of a love triangle though it is very subtle. The relationships never dominate the pages they are written on. But they do benefit the story and do not slow it down. Which is a breath of fresh air, when other writers dedicate whole sections to love.
Lawrence’s writing in this book is both beautiful and straightforward. Metaphors and other comparisons never out stay their welcome. World building is kept to a reasonable level so that it doesn’t dominate the book.
My only negative is that I’ve grown to love the characters so much. That I wish there was more to their story. I know there are a few short stories to read, but I don’t feel like that it is going to be enough. My only option is to see what Mark Lawrence’s next book The Girl and The Stars is about. It looks like its set in the same universe.
The Holy Sister is miles better than The Red Sister and The Grey Sister. And those books weren’t bad books, It’s the best series I’ve read to completion so far.
Lawrence provides an introduction into the world. For those that haven’t read the previous books. But I still feel like you need to read them first to get an understanding of the world and its characters. So rating-wise The Holy Sister gets an easy 5/5.
It may be the best book I will read this year. Though with Lawrence’s next series it may be beaten by his own books. It has a chance of being the best fantasy title I’ve read this year. Thank you so much Mr Lawrence for allowing us to read the story of Nona. I only wish we could receive more on her and the other characters. A second trilogy would be nice.
The Holy Sister
This is it, the final Book of the Ancestor trilogy, The Holy Sister (Click here to purchase*). Written by Mark Lawrence, it tells the final chapter of Nona Grey’s story. And to be honest, I didn’t want it to end. I wanted Lawrence to surprise us with a new book but that looks very unlikely.
URL: https://tidd.ly/3hOyHHl
Author: Mark Lawrence
5
Pros
- A great finale
- Resolves all story lines
Cons
- It's the end of the series
English