The magic of this whimsical novella is as much in its gorgeous, musical prose as it is in the fairy tale world it describes.
It tells the story of the Hawthorn sisters, Esther and Ysabel, who tend their family’s enchanted willows on the border between human lands and the mystical forests of Faerie, singing to the trees in thanks for their magic.
But their peaceful lives are disrupted when Esther rejects a persistent human suitor, and his response puts the sisters’ bond–and their lives–at risk.
This story is a far more sisterly reimagining of a 17th century English murder ballad called The Two Sisters, but you don’t need to know anything about that folktale to enjoy El-Mohtar’s take. And personally, I prefer this version!
Another gift is that this book also includes one of El-Mohtar’s short stories, John Hollowback and the Witch, which is one of the best short stories I read last year. But don’t just take my word for it; it’s also featured in “Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy” short story collections in both Canada and the US.
