A review by outsidestar
The Lost Sisters by Holly Black

adventurous reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Let’s start with a love story.
Or maybe it’s another horror story. It seems like the difference is mostly in where the ending comes.

I needed this novella so badly. In my review of The Cruel Prince I complained about not understanding the motives behind certain character's actions. That doesn't mean supporting or agreeing with them, but understanding why they do what they do, on a deeper level than "just because" or "because he/she is evil". This novella gives you that.

This is an apology of sorts from Taryn to Jude, where she explains what happened with Locke. I really liked that this was from Taryn's perspective, since that allowed for me to not only understand her and Locke's motivations, but I also understood Jude better by looking at her from her twin's point of view. I even got a better glimpse at Cardan, though there are still gaps to fill in his relationship with Nicasia and Locke. I mean, how can they all still be friends? But I do somehow get their hatred toward the twins.

Like I said, I may not support what Taryn did, but I get her now, I get where she's coming from and what she hopes to achieve from it.

"It's terrible to be a girl trapped in a story. But you can be more than that. You can be the teller. You can shape the story."