Reading: Sistersong

Lucy Holland's Sistersong is a historical fantasy set in sixth-century Britain. The novel weaves together the voices of the three children of Cador, king of Dumnonia (modern-day Devon and Cornwall): thoughtful, studious Riva; golden, carefree Sinne; and Keyne, whose magical talents hide other, more difficult truths. As the old magic fades from the land and Dumnonia becomes vulnerable to attack by the Saxons, the siblings' actions are key to the fate of the kingdom.

Based partly on the ballad 'The Twa Sisters', Sistersong weaves together history, myth and legend, sibling rivalry, disability and gender identity to create a powerful and compelling story. I really enjoyed this; more than anything, it felt like an updated version of Rosemary Sutcliff's post-Roman novels, with added magic.

Reading: The Girl From The Sea

Molly Knox Ostertag's The Girl From The Sea is a sweet YA graphic novel about first love, friendship and coming out. 16-year-old Morgan thinks she's going to have to wait until she can move away from her home on the coast to the big city before she can be open about being gay. Meanwhile, her brother is being difficult since her parents split up, and hiding secrets from her three close friends is exhausting. But then she slips on the cliffs and is rescued by a girl named Keltie, who tells Morgan that she is a selkie, responsible for protecting the local seal colony, and that kissing Morgan has given her the ability to walk on land in human form.

This is a delightful book, with gorgeously colourful artwork, and I really enjoyed it.