Local author Lucy Holland’s latest book, an epic historical fantasy based on an old folk song and set in Sidmouth is now available for preorder.
Sistersong, which has been compared to Madeline Miller’s Circe, Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale and Naomi Novik’s Uprooted, tells the tale of three siblings and three deadly sins all set on Peak Hill in Sidmouth in the days after the Romans left Britain and just before the Saxon invasion. Based on the folk ballad, The Two Sisters, (known locally as Twa Sisters) is the latest from author Lucy Holland, who also writes as Lucy Hounsom.
Lucy lives in East Devon and regularly uses the stunning Jurassic Coast for inspiration, this is her fourth novel. Her first book, Starborn, the first in the Worldmaker Trilogy was shortlisted in the 2016 Gemmell Awards for Best Fantasy Debut.
Speaking about her latest release, Lucy said: “Sistersong is a historical reimagining of an old English folk ballad called The Twa Sisters, a story of sibling rivalry, murder and transformation. It's set in post-Roman Britain when the westcountry was under threat of invasion by Saxon Wessex, and deals with themes surrounding the search for identity and our lost connection with nature. The siblings' home is inspired by the sub- Roman remains found at High Peak in Sidmouth.”
Sistersong is available for preorder via all good book shops and will be released on 1st April. You can join Lucy in celebrating the books release with a virtual launch event hosted by the Cymera Festival, where Lucy will be in conversation with fellow author Kaite Welsh and will be answering your questions. The event will be held via Crowdcast with signed and personalised books available when buying tickets. Find out more and take part in the event, taking place on 1st April from 7pm here.
You can preorder the book in hardback, audio format or ebook here.
Image: Lucy Holland