The Times bestseller

King Cador’s children inherit a land abandoned by the Romans, torn by warring tribes. Riva can cure others, but can’t heal her own scars. Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, although born a daughter. And Sinne dreams of love, longing for adventure.

All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky – bringing Myrdhin, meddler and magician. The siblings discover the power that lies within them and the land. But fate also brings Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart.

Riva, Keyne and Sinne become entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, and must fight to forge their own paths. It’s a story that will shape the destiny of Britain.

Finalist: the Goldsboro Glass Bell Award and the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel 2022

Translations: Spanish, Turkish

A stunning, lyrical debut with an unforgettable trio of siblings, Sistersong is a tragic tale of the founding of a nation and the ultimate unraveling of a family relationship. A loose retelling filled to the brim with heartbreak and betrayal, this modern ballad is sure to become an immediate favorite for lovers of Song of Achilles and Ariadne.

Barnes & Noble Discovery Pick Oct 2021

Sistersong by Lucy Holland retells the folk ballad, ‘The Two Sisters’ – now including the perspective of the sibling that time forgot. It’s a powerfully moving story, perfect for fans of Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale.

A beautiful reimagining of an old British folklore ballad, Sistersong weaves a captivating spell of myth and magic around the reader. Lucy Holland’s lyrical prose and powerful storytelling will lure you into an eerie, intriguing world.
jennifer saint, author of ariadne
From its opening pages, Sistersong transports you to a time period often overlooked, and spins a tale of family, loyalty, and the triumph of becoming the person you were always meant to be. I was utterly captivated from the beginning to the tragic, bittersweet end.
genevieve gornichec
Sistersong is a marvelous tale, gracefully told in language as beautiful as the song that inspired it. It’s a celebration of the power of sisterhood, the strength of earth magic, and the triumph, in the end, of fidelity to both. I fell in love with all three siblings, and I think you will, too!
louisa morgan
Sistersong truly reads like a ballad—beautiful and mournful, a melody that sticks in your head. An absolutely stunning book.
hannah whitten
Holland crafts a tale tied to folklore, history, and song, bringing rich detail and imagination to characters and setting.
Give it to readers who have enjoyed Arthurian retellings or Madeline Miller’s Circe.
Library journal, starred review

Where to order

Available in hardback, paperback, ebook and audiobook

UK edition

pan macmillan

US edition

orbit / redhook

Spanish edition

umbriel editores