Name: Holy Sister (Book of the Ancestor, Book 3)
ISBN: 9780008152413

Mark Lawrence

Nona Grey’s story reaches its shattering conclusion in the third instalment of Book of the Ancestor.

Holy Sister (Book of the Ancestor, Book 3)

The searing conclusion of the thrilling epic fantasy trilogy that saw a young girl trained by an arcane order of nuns grow into the fiercest of warriors... They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman. The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor's armies are in retreat. Nona Grey faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that she and her friends will have time to earn a nun's habit before war is on their doorstep. Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war. The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it's a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her. A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned.

Holy Sister

Magnus Dahl

Lia Yuliana

** spoiler alert **
           Update 22/09/2021

Find my reviews on :  An Ode to Fiction
Official Release Date : 4th April 2019
Buy the book :
 Amazon |  Book Depository

4.5 rounded up to 5/5 ⭐️

Holy Sister is the last book and the conclusion to one of my most favourite series I’ve read in 2020. I have an intimate relationship with this series, there are many things and many moments in the series that blew me away. Red Sister is the book that gave me the push to read more adult fantasy books and Mark Lawrence, the author, is the one that convince me to make a blog. Nona Grey as a character has grown to be one of my favorite female leads. Her growth is realized so vividly and each milestone she reaches is triumphant. The journey that has come from these last 316 pages with Nona Grey is bittersweet and yet beautiful. I’ve grown attached to Nona and all the characters in Book of the Ancestor and I am excited to see the conclusion to a such phenomenal series.

In this last book, we follow two different timelines, present day Nona and past Nona escaping from Sherzal’s palace. Past Nona is trudging through the border into Scithrowl territory and into the corridors of the black ice with Zole and the shipheart. Zole’s presence in this book is more prominent and there’s more interaction between Nona and her. In Red Sister, Zole is Nona’s rival as her arrival into the convent created a huge fiasco. After the shipheart is stolen, Zole graduates into Grey class with Nona and slowly they grow closer. In Holy Sister, Zole continues to play an important part in the grand scheme of events. Present Nona is in Holy Class, preparing to take the tests that will decide which order she will vow to: Red, Grey, Mystic, or Holy. All the while, she is conspiring with her friends to infiltrate the High Priest’s vault and steal a forbidden tome. The current state of the world is dire as the Scithrowl horde is closing into the borders of Verity and they are advancing closer into the city. These dual timelines gives an insight into the epic convergence of plot and characters, seeing it finally realized in Holy Sister is truly breathtaking.

In previous books, the pace of the story starts and builds up slowly but not in Holy Sister. The few first chapters seems slow, but I was happy to see that the story takes a sharp turn and eventually gets the ball rolling. The events of this book have already been foreshadowed from the previous books, so when the ball started rolling it was REALLY rolling. Everything converged in a natural way, Mark Lawrence did not need to force the plot to work as if he was always leading up to this book. There are so many plot threads that the author presented in previous books that all come to fruition at the end. I will very likely reread the whole series to follow these threads from the start to the end. The action sequences in this book are unrelenting and explosive; the stakes of the siege on Verity is realized by the sheer size the of Scithcrowl horde. It is a battle of numbers, filled with action packed moments and cinematic deaths. Woven into the battle is a sense of dread that has been built up since Grey Sister, this dread feeds on the fear of the characters and it is deeply felt. They are fighting a hopeless battle but Mark Lawrence gives the reader hope through Nona, as the conflict will end with her regardless of its outcome. 

The world building in all three books is intricate and unique. The books take place on Abeth, a planet orbiting a diminishing sun that is slowly being entombed by the ice. Abeth is orbited by an artificial moon that acts as a mirror to focus the sun rays on the ice. Much of the conflict on Abeth is fueled by displacement of civilization by the ever advancing ice. Verity, the capital of the empire, is surrounded by enemies that are closing into its borders; the Scithrowl to the east and the Sea of Marn to the West. Across the sea the Durns rule. This conflict also extends within the borders of Verity with many political powers trying to take advantage of the situation. One of the key locations within Verity is the Convent of Sweet Mercy, a place worship to the Ancestors filled with nuns who show their devotion in many ways. To become a sister of Sweet Mercy, one must endure a difficult training regiment where the novices are taught martial and spiritual prowess. For the empire, these nuns are their last hope.

Another thing about the series that is unique is the magic system. In this setting, people have specific powers based of their genetic lineage, as all people of Abeth are descendants of the Ancestors. The Ancestor lineage is broken up into four tribes (bloods), the Marjal, the Hunska, the Gerant, and the Quantal. Each of the four types of blood offer unique powers. These powers manifest with different intensities for every individual. Some may have only a touch of a blood, while some may be full bloods and have full control over the powers of a certain blood. Rarely, some may be multiple bloods and have control over the powers of multiple bloods, but it is very rare for one person to manifest all the four blood powers. Prophecy states that a child who manifests all the four bloods is destined to be the Argatha, one who is protected by a dedicated warrior known as the Shield. The Argatha is destined to save Abeth from the ice by wresting control of the moon by using ancient artifacts left by the Ancestors. These artifacts are known as the shiphearts, artifacts that can amplify the powers of the Ancestor. These shiphearts are double-edged swords however as the power they provide also corrupt the user. I admire the way the author incorporates balance into the magic system and how the shipheart can corrupt someone making them lose all of their humanity to become mere vessels of corruption. The magic system compared to other books connects to the lore of the world and adds to the plot, it isn’t mere tools for the characters to use in combat. It actually plays a bigger part of the world that is Abeth and the story of the Ancestors.


  
    “But that was never the heart of Sweet Mercy. The shipheart wasn’t the foundation of the convent. It was always the faith. Always the notion that all men and women are our brothers and our sisters. And that faith doesn’t end with borders. It doesn’t care about heresies used to divide us, or whether you speak your prayers to a white star, or to the fields and forests and stones.”
  


Nona Grey’s innocence and love for her friends is still the core of her as a character. Nona has gone through a series of horrible events that the author can easily have taken the direction of the story and written a corruption arc for Nona, but Mark Lawrence kept her foundations as a character. Nona has been taken advantage of and put down constantly throughout the three books but Nona’s loyalty, trust, and faith remains strong. I don’t know how many times I have said this but Nona Grey is one of the best protagonist I have come across, her character as a whole has left me shaken to my core. Mark Lawrence wrote her into existence in a very well thought out way like no other author I know. From Red Sister to Grey Sister and now Holy Sister, her growth is realized to its fullest and it wasn’t handed to her on a silver platter. She worked hard to become the powerful woman she is in Holy Sister.

Nona isn’t the only character that brings the story together, there are many characters that contributed into the plot and that adds a different point of view to the workings of subplots of the story. These point of views are present especially in Grey Sister, the second book to the series. We not only get to see a Nona’s POV but also Abbess Glass’ and Sister Kettle’s POV. What the author did do effortlessly is throughout the series is writing character interaction that feels distinct and layered. Each character bounce off of each others banter and comments that brings you into the dynamics they shared. For instance, the interaction between Nona and her friends (Ruli, Jula, Clera, Darla, Ara, Zole, Hessa). From book one to book three this group of friends lead by Nona has conspired and planned many schemes at Sweet Mercy. In the group each character plays a specific role, contributing and voicing their ideas. I would like to focus on three characters that became a pinnacle in fueling the growth of Nona and the story.

First, Hessa, she is a disabled girl that shared Giljohn’s cage with Nona. Hessa is a sweet girl and showed talent in thread work. Her life was cut short when Yisht stole the shipheart. Hessa’s death left Nona wounded and griefing. Because Hessa meant so much to Nona, the girl knew her before she came to Sweet Mercy. A reminder to Nona’s past as a child of the cage. From mourning Hessa’s death, Nona learned how to overcome the loss and learn that vengeance only leads to more vengeance in Grey Sister.

Second, Clera, the daughter of a bankrupt businessman and one of Nona’s first few friends at Sweet Mercy. Clera liked numbers and would do anything to be on the winning side as long as that side benefited her. Her sudden shift in alliances, going against her friends, didn’t change how Nona perceived of Clera. Their dynamic still holds even after all the years of they were apart and fighting on different sides. Nona still trust and has faith in Clera, she could’ve easily killed her but she didn’t. Nona didn’t let her disappointment cloud her judgment and gave Clera a chance in redeeming herself. Her relationship with Clera throughout the three books shows her growth as a character. How? Nona is a vengeful character especially if you cross her. Clera’s betrayal should’ve been the end of the relationship but it continued. This shows how Nona has learned to overcome her anger and grief by showing mercy.

Third, Zole, the ice triber and four blood. Nona’s relationship with Zole improved significantly after the events in Grey Sister. Their relationship started out as rivals, Zole is the Argartha that Nona despised at first. In the third book, Nona and Zole traveled together through the Corridor. Zole, an ice triber, with much experience on the ice lead their journey. During this journey, Zole’s personality and intentions are unraveled slowly. The build up for her character has been teased in the first two books. Zole plays a big part in shaping Nona’s decision making and maturity that we get to discover in this last book.

Since starting Red Sister back in August, I am captivated by Mark Lawrence’s writing. The way Mark builds a story is detailed and meaningful. Every scene either progresses the plot, furthers character growth, or develops the world. Every interaction the protagonist has with any character has depth like no other writer could do. Each character has purpose and nearly all of the characters have left a lasting impression. They are very well fleshed out, each having their own voice and thoughts that can be vividly heard. Whenever a character makes a decision, their choice is never random or spontaneous. Abbess Glass played the long game and strategized her moves to be a step ahead of her enemies. The political drama in Abbess Glass’ arc is a relish to watch, the way Abbess Glass delivered her two cents in Grey Sister that shifted the balance of power in the plot is just *chefs kiss*. Personally, character development and relationships are very important to me as a reader.

I have already praised Mark Lawrence’s ability in writing relationships and characters in my review for Red Sister and Grey Sister(and here!). The relationships are much more complex and deeper with the possibility of death in this book because of the inevitable war. The main character and most of the side characters starts off the story fairly young but the tone of the book is very much adult. Not once did it feel like I was reading a young adult book, which is perfect for readers that want to read a coming of age story with a more mature tone. It doesn’t lack any angst that comes from a coming of age story and gives readers the experience of growing up together with the main character. This series is consistent and the quality of writing is equally prominent in all three books. Mark Lawrence wrote one of the best trilogies in the genre and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND for you to give this series a try.

Personally, I want to thank Mark Lawrence for writing such an amazing series and I can’t say it enough that this trilogy means so much to me as a reader. I will definitely pick it up again some time in the future and read all of Mark Lawrence’s other works.

MARK. LAWRENCE

HOLY SISTER.

Danny Engström

I have loved everything I have read by Mark Lawrence. This one was a disappointment, though. Feels rushed.

"The third book in the thrilling and epic Book of the Ancestor trilogy from international bestselling author Mark Lawrence. Powerful novice Nona Grey must fight to survive in "a fantastic world in which religion and politics are dark and sharp as swords, with magic and might held in the hands of wonderful and dangerous women."* *Library Journal"--

Celeste Richardson

You can find this review and more at Novel Notions. 

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher. While I am thankful for the gift, the giving of it had no impact on this review. All views below are completely my own.

Holy Sister keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first page. It’s an incredibly smart conclusion to a standout, action-packed series, with heartbreak and triumph mingled on nearly every page. I can’t remember the last time I felt so satisfied upon finishing a book. 

“Some lessons must be written in scars.”

In this book we’ve finally come full circle, experiencing the stunning introduction to Red Sister in real time. The novices we’ve come to know and love over the course of this trilogy are now nearly grown, forced to prematurely take their vows in the face of war-laced apocalypse. As the moon weakens and ice encroaches from the north and the south, the only land left to fight over is the small Corridor of yet unfrozen terrain around circling the middle of Abeth. And there just isn’t room for everyone.

“North and south the ice squeezed and all the nations of the Corridor bled.”

“A million words won’t push the ice back, not even the breadth of a finger. But one word will break a heart, two will mend it, and three will lay the highest low.”

Grey Sister presented us with a tale from two perspectives. In Holy Sister we are again seeing things entirely through Nona’s eyes, but are alternating time frames, hopping between present day and three years ago, as we see what happened in the immediate aftermath of Grey Sister’s climax. As we progress, we see how and why Nona makes the decisions she does, and what kind of impact that has on those around her. Nona’s character development over the course of this series is mind-blowing. She’s one of the bravest, coldest, most loving characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. She’s a calculating badass who throws herself into danger with almost no fear of what might befall her, but she will go to any lengths necessary to protect those she loves even as she uses them. And those she loves are numerous. I would have never thought when I first met her in Red Sister that Nona would have one of the biggest hearts in fiction, but she undoubtably does. I can say without qualm that she’s my favorite heroine in the fantasy genre.

“I must caution you. Nona Grey could tear this street open to the bedrock to see you dead, and level the houses all around us. She could blast you with such force that the amulets your gold has purchased would burn and fall to dust. And before I could take a single step to stop her you would all be smoking offal amid the ruin… You should know that I would do everything in my power to bring her to the emperor’s justice after such an outburst. But it would be scant consolation to your corpses.”

As much as I love Nona, I feel that the true hero of this series is Abbess Glass. The way she sees the world and its most probable futures is insane, but her ability to recruit others to serve as her knowing and willing pawns is even more astounding. She is everything I love about characters such as Gandalf and Dumbledore and McGonagall all mingled into one person. I’m just so blown away by her. I am also incredibly impressed by the development the author gave to many of the other nuns, especially the likes of Pan, Wheel, and Tallow. What Lawrence was able to do here was show that any female, whether aged or youthful, regardless of talent or skill level or interests, has the capacity to be a hero of epic proportions. I have never read another book or series with so many strong, well-developed, completely epic female characters, let alone but a male author. I applaud Lawrence so much for this amazing cast of nuns and novices. 

“…the application of knowledge could unlock doors that her flaw-blades couldn’t so much as scratch, and it could bring down those so mighty that no feat of arms would stay their hand.”

“To sow knowing that you will not reap is an old kind of love, and love has always been the best key for unlocking the future.”

I also want to take a moment to recognize Lawrence’s wonderful way with words. He paints lovely pictures with his sentences, and they are a pleasure to read. I would consider this series literary fantasy, as the writing is not only important but almost a character in its own right. Consider this sentence as an example: 
“The fighter was young, still in his early twenties perhaps, and his muscles crowded along his bones, the battle for space heaping them up in great, veined mounds.”
I think that is a marvelous description, one I can clearly envision while also appreciating the way Lawrence built the sentence. Because that’s how I feel about Lawrence’s prose; it’s not written, but crafted. The quote below is one of the most important realizations of the book, in my opinion, and it’s such a beautiful sentiment that I had to share it here. I’ve removed all possible spoilers and tried to only include the most philosophical elements.

“At Sweet Mercy they made a weapon of me. They honed every skill into a sharp edge. They put a sword in my hand, because there will always be foes who much be opposed, always violence that much be met with violence. 
But that is not the heart of Sweet Mercy. It was always the faith. Always the notion that all men and women are our brothers and sisters. And that faith doesn’t end with borders. It doesn’t care about heresies use to divide us, or whether you speak your prayers to a white star, or to the fields and forests and stones…
Not as a weapon but as a tool. As a healer might used the knife, sometimes to cut, but ultimately to heal.”

I can’t recommend this trilogy highly enough. Whether you’re a fantasy fan or not, this is a series well worth your time. It has so much to offer to so many, and I dearly hope that it acquires the audience and notoriety it deserves. I feel that Nona’s story offers many profound lessons that could bring our world healing and understanding of one another if we would all take its words to heart. There is tragedy in Holy Sister, and the mourning it brings, but there is also vitality and passion and selflessness. It’s a beautiful book that I can’t wait for the world to read.

“Moons might rise and fall, empires wax and wane, even the stars come and go, but there are constants, too, and thought the story of our kind is ever-changing it is also always the same.”

All above quotations were taken from an uncorrected proof, and are subject to change upon publication.

Tom Turner

Well, that's definitely going to stay with me for quite some time. There are definer some aspects of the ending of the Book of the Ancestors trilogy that my brain is still trying to compute, but the weird thing is, I don't see that as a negative as I might have done with another book or series. I think this is because everything in this series was so character driven I can't imagine it happening any other way. Mark Lawrence deftly skims not falling into clichés, which is so easy when it comes to ending a Saga. Absolutely brilliant! Bravo!

Nickie Mohler

This is one of my all time favorites. I LOVE this series! I love the character development, especially Nona's. The magic is amazing, and the world is quite interesting. I am so sad that this series is done! I have loved watching Nona's journey from cage to Cage.

I recommend this to anyone that can read. It is that amazing.

I received a copy from Net Galley and have also purchased a physical copy.

libby g

Sister Pan is a badass bitch. What a play.

Judy Hudgins

A lot of back and forth in time which can be a bit distracting, but an enjoyable read nevertheless.

Sally Salinas

I’ve really enjoyed this series, the characters! Continuation of Nona & her friends, this story flashes back from the end of previous book, to present day which is 3 years from the end of book two. It’s another big adventure & epic battle.

Ben Nathan

A great end to a delightful series. It's a true wonder when the adults in a youth centered novel are not all blockheads and just the right amount of badass. Loved this series start to finish.

Rowan Jones

I'm very sad but also happy with the ending. I wish we could have gotten more from the romance, but I know that isn't the main focus of the story so I can forgive it.

Story was brilliant, fantastic ending, every character was amazing. Couldn't really have asked for a better conclusion.




*SPOILERS*



However I was so anxious leading up to the end as there was so few hints that I was worried NonAra wouldn't happen, so it distracted me from the main story :( I wish there had been a more solid ending rather than it being so vague.

Nona Grey's story reaches its shattering conclusion in the third instalment of Book of the Ancestor.

Lisa Beasley

While I think the first book will always be my favourite of the trilogy I did enjoy the final book and was overall pleased with how it all concluded. I really like Nona as a character and seeing her with her ragtag band of mates was really good. I actually found I liked the way we got flashbacks to help fill in the gap between the previous book and this one, it threw me at first but it was done very well. 

Overall pleased to have read this series and the audiobook narrator was brilliant, I enjoyed the accents as it helped differentiate the nuns imo.

Tim Beyer 

Jolien De Landsheer

Lucy Richards 

Jyotiprakash Satapathy 

Cooper Lacasse

Nicole

Veronica Overholt

Tess

Julia Lotz

Ashley Janssen

The searing conclusion of the thrilling epic fantasy trilogy that saw a young girl trained by an arcane order of nuns grow into the fiercest of warriors... They came against her as a child. Now they face the woman. The ice is advancing, the Corridor narrowing, and the empire is under siege from the Scithrowl in the east and the Durns in the west. Everywhere, the emperor’s armies are in retreat. Nona Grey faces the final challenges that must be overcome if she is to become a full sister in the order of her choice. But it seems unlikely that she and her friends will have time to earn a nun’s habit before war is on their doorstep. Even a warrior like Nona cannot hope to turn the tide of war. The shiphearts offer strength that she might use to protect those she loves, but it’s a power that corrupts. A final battle is coming in which she will be torn between friends, unable to save them all. A battle in which her own demons will try to unmake her. A battle in which hearts will be broken, lovers lost, thrones burned.