Grey
Sister reads as a stand-alone novel although you will enjoy it
more if you read its prequel, Red Sister. Intense is the word that most describes the
character and plot development in both novels but more so in Grey Sister. Nona Grey is at the stage of her convent (No,
not like any convent experience you’ve read about or experienced!) experience
where she must choose to permanently become a member of the Martial Sisters
(red), the Sisters of Discretion (grey), the Mystic Sisters (blue) or the
Brides of the Ancestor (black). Nona is
still trying to figure out in which place she fits. She has extraordinary physical abilities,
enhanced by her experiences on the Path which are fueled by her phenomenally
rage when inspired by some wrongdoing experienced directly or indirectly. So great is her fury that the power that emanates
from her can take down concrete walls and buildings! It’s hard to believe there are other Sisters
with as intense powers, but there are!
Nona’s quest in this novel of
the series is to figure out the secrets of the Universe and who controls them.
This is a world of ice and cold moons that are controlled by devices, one of
which has been stolen. While the quest
continues to find that device, Nona continues to study shadow-making, potions
for poisoning, thread-weaving, sword battle and physical battle. She certainly has become better in each one,
but the challenges she most pays attention to are that of silent meditation and
a type of balance walking that is almost impossible to complete in one attempt.
Who is trying to control Nona
or even kill her? Her old nemesis is
dead but after that event a spark of evil named Keot (almost like an animal
spirit) is now inside Nona and often contradicts what Nona decides but is an
ever-present advisor.
Action abounds throughout this
novel, rising and falling with death-defying conflicts. The Noi-Guin are a series of warriors who
want Nona dead. The other nuns in
training are one minute fully helping Nona and then threatening her very
existence. A secret lies in the deepest
recesses of ice-cold caves below the convent, a place in which they are forbidden
to enter.
The ending of this particular
novel is quite spectacular. Readers who
love mystery, rocking adventure, various levels of the fantastic, physical and
mystical battles, etc will love this series beyond description! Although sometimes the end goal is unclear,
it still has enough clues to satisfy any reader sharp enough to capture them
when they appear. Nicely crafted, Mark
Lawrence! Looking forward to third novel in this intriguing series!
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