Sister Light, Sister Dark

By Jane Yolen

Book Overview

"Lovers of fantasy will appreciate this title," raved Library Journal , and Publishers Weekly called it a "fine novel." It is the story of Jenna. Raised on a mountainside, she learned the arts of the warrior, and from the mountain women the magic of the ancient lore. But the greatest magic of all was her ability to call forth her dark sister from the depths of the mirror of the land of light and shadow. Skada was the dark one, able to exist only when the moonlight cast a shadow or lamplight flickered in a darkened room. This is the story of Jenna and Skada. Sister Light and Sister Dark .

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765343576
• ISBN13: 9780765343574
• Release Date: September 2003
• Publisher: Tor Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.0"
• Age Range: 13 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 8 and higher

Customer Reviews

Lovely

"Sister Light, Sister Dark" and its sequel, "White Jenna," hold places of honor on my bookshelves.The story is about Jenna, a thrice-orphaned girl of the Dales (a fictional region) being raised by followers of Great Alta, the Goddess. These women--mostly unwanted daughters of local peasants--train for years to call up their "dark sisters." Jenna, who was born with completely white hair, may be the Anna foretold in prophecy.Stuff happens.Interspersed among the actual narrative chapters are ballads and myths of the Dales, as well as a pretentious contemporary historian's interpretation of the events of the story. Through his impeccable application of scientific method to historical research, he manages to get just about everything completely wrong. It's hilarious.The third volume in this trilogy, "The One-Armed Queen," was a disappointment to me. While it was a good book in its own right, to me it didn't feel related to the other two--it worked on its own, but it was not part of the series. It concerns Jenna's one-armed adopted daughter Scillia, who seemed much less interesting than Jenna. Oh, well.I highly recommend the first two books.

Absolutly Mesmerizing!

Jane Yolen ties in an ancient religion with wonderful charecters to construct the best book I for one have ever had the pleasure of placing my hands upon. Three cheers for Jane Yolen and all her talents. And by the way, the sequal is The White Anna. ;)

It's a wonderful story and I cannot wait for the sequel!!!

I found this book a few years ago when I was helping out in my school's library. I looked it over and since I had read another of her books I tried it. It was so well written that I couldn't put it down!!! Congradulations to Jane Yolen on her wonderful gift of story telling. The characters were real and the blend between the past and fantasy was awesome!!!!

INCREDIBLE!!!

I have never found another author with as much color in writing style as Jane. I read this book when i was a teen-ager and to this very day it is my favorite book. This is the type of book that draws you in and paints the pictures in such a light that you feel a part of the story - as if you were there. A child hanging on every word.

Women warriors, fog demons, goddesses; this book has it all!

I thought that this was a great book and a credit to Jane Yolen! Her interweaving of historical accounts along with a bit of fantasy flair will draw readers into the book as soon as they pick it up! The wonderful harmony between fact and fiction is a winner! The story of a seemingly ordinary girl, who wept, hurt, and bled like an ordiary child becomes the goddess on Earth, also called the Anna, of the Upper Dales. The book comes complete with myths, parables, historical summaries, and for all of you out there who like music, songs complete with a score. The historical accounts can at times be dry, but are also exeedingly interesting. A winner on all acounts