** spoiler alert ** After reading The Temptation of Angels, I had to read more of Michelle Zink's books. The Prophecy of the Sisters starts right after the main character's father has died, making Lia, her twin sister Alice, and their younger brother orphans and being cared for by their aunt Virginia. The story is told through Lia, the older of the twins, and the plot really starts when her boyfriend James finds a hidden book while organizing her father's affairs. The book holds The Prophecy of two sisters and Lia discovers a mark on her wrist and she soon discovers the same mark on the wrists of two of her classmates but the mark is absent on Alice's wrist. The characters are strong, the friendship between is girls is great to read, and while there's not a whole lot of hold-your-breath action in this book, it's still a great read to try to solve the mystery of the prophecy along with Lia and her friends, and with it being a series, there's the promise of a lot more action to come.

This entire series is spell bounding and I couldn't put it down. The older cover looked way cooler and was flowed better with the book. But all covers aside this book was amazing, it has romance, well thought out settings and histories of each character. The idea of making a prophecy is great because with all of the books out there right now, its either vampires, werewolves or frigging witches--which out of the three are the most refreshing ever since twilight came about. This book isn't light and fluffy. This book is refreshing.

I have to say, I literally read this book from cover to cover in one sitting. It was that interesting. I loved the eerie creepy sensations you got while reading as Lia discovers more behind Alice’s malicious actions, and the paranormal aspects of the book really enhanced the dark creepy theme that dominates throughout the storyline. Despite the usual cliche of sister vs sister (with twins to add) I thought the main idea behind the storyline was really good and it does differ somewhat from the usual battle of the sisters plots. What’s also nice to see is the addition of a historical fiction setting - which I personally like as it’s one of my favorite genres to read. Lia and Alice are great characters and perfect opposites. Alice is just filled with evil that you can’t help but just hate her for her action and behavior. When things come to a climax towards the end of the novel (involving the twins’ brother Henry) I almost wanted to jump in and intercept Alice. I hated her for what she did. She’s just awful overall! Although Lia might seem like the weaker one of the two, I can only hope she’ll get stronger later in the trilogy as it progresses. She’s got so much on her plate right now I’m hoping she doesn’t crack and become all emotional (like most main characters do in a series) later in the second or third book. Despite a wonderful story, great characters, and an even paced plot, I can’t help but think there’s some similarities between this book and the Gemma Doyle series (by Libba Bray), but it’s not completely the same. If you’ve read both, then you just can’t help comparing the two. I can’t say yet which one I like better as I just started with this series. However! if you liked the Gemma Doyle series, do pick this one up. It is worth the read and is a great book. The dark creepy theme and plot, a nicely developed cast of characters, and Alice becoming villain of the year gives the book a lot of substance to go through and will keep you interested until the end (which will make you want to get out and get the second book).

If you like historical fantasy fiction this is a must read. I think that this book is engaging and well written. Its mysterious and isn't predictable like other novels like it. If you like the Gemma Doyle, a Great and Terrible Beauty triology you'll like this also. The concept may seem a little corny but it is a creative spin on the good/evil twin thing and i actually cried at the end of this book.

I was really hesitant to read this book. If you were to ask me why, I’d tell you that the idea that two sisters who shared a womb, who are ultimately two parts of one who whole, not being together, of being against each other…that works but it’s not the kind of story I’d want to read. My curiousity got the better of me however, so I picked it up from the library. I don’t mean to be unnecessarily critical of the book. The following are just some of the observations I made about it while reading. The story opens with a funeral and immediately sets the tone of the novel. It has a somewhat Gothic atmosphere (not black eyeliner, mind you) but there is a pervasive atmosphere of stillness, of anticipation of some new horror. Lia and Alice are twins. At least superficially. They look absolutely the same. And this is my greatest complaint with the novel. Not that they look the same but I just don’t feel their “twinness” for lack of a better word (that was not made up). They are already estranged at the beginning of the novel. We don’t see them being together, loving each other so despite Lia saying they did so, they do so, the words ring hollow and unconvincing. I think, from an objective stand, that the way to convince readers of the love between them would have been to show it and then show their gradual estrangement – if emotions had already been invested in the two girls, the readers would be much more empathetic with the resulting separation of both ambitions and ideologies. Lia is well developed – Alice, not at all. You are cut off from her side entirely and I can’t help but feel that she was being a disservice. For the book to work for me, I need to understand the antagonist. If she is as much an important character as the author would have us believe, I need more than I was given to understand her. And then there are some points I really can’t ignore. It is because of (spoiler warning here) Alice that Henry dies. In fact, it is directly caused by Alice. Henry, poor helpless Henry who died so that Lia might get a list. And what does Lia do? Forgive her sister. The lack of emotion, the lack of blame – it again feels contrived and unrealistic. These are teenagers we are dealing with here. I know Lia talks about the “rage” in her more times than necessary but honey child, you ain’t showing that rage enough. I need the passion you don’t show. Oh, I understand that it’s a historical novel and passion in women is looked down upon but that doesn’t stop Lia from showing passion where James is concerned. So why, when her sister kills their younger brother, is there no railing, no shouting, nothing? I was very dissatisfied with that. There was barely any mourning. James. Lia loves James. Or so she says. And you are tempted to believe her. But Alice wants James. And what does Lia do? Leave James behind while she goes off to England. Um hello? Did you forget that your evil twin sister, the one who looks exactly like you, is waiting in the eaves to swoop down as soon as you leave? And you don’t even trust enough in him to tell him what’s really going on. Do you really love him? I liked the whole sisterhood thing (which ironically enough happens with girls who are not Lia’s sister). But at the end of the novel, I’d say that I don’t like Lia. I really don’t like her. She was eager enough to believe in Alice’s evilness and did not show enough courage or spunk to go and confront her initially. She pushes her sister away ostensibly because she fears her but come on. There is an almost tangible thread between siblings who are not twins so imagine what it must for twins and I don’t feel that. I don’t think the book was done all that well but it wasn’t done too badly either. I was left very dissatisfied and annoyed.

I had heard so many good things about this book, but after reading it, I don't really understand what all the hype is about. I couldn't even finish the whole book. I got to Chapter 16 and then skimmed the rest. I found it so uninteresting and dull and it felt like a chore to read. The writing was okay and the idea behind the story was appealing, but somehow the author got lost along the way. The plot unravelled slowly and I was not interetsed in the characters at all. I found Lia boring and kind of annoying and Alice, who had the makings of a very good villain, eventually fell flat. There is a second book, but I don't see myself buying that, seeing as this book was just so unsatisfactory.

The Prophecy of the Sisters is a well written novel with a complex and mysterious plot that slowly begins to unravel after twin sisters Lia and Alice's father dies and a peculiar mark of a snake eating it's tail begins to form on Lia's wrist. The reader is introduced to a creative tale of an ancient prophecy involving generations of twin sisters and good versus evil when Lia's beau James discovers an ancient text and shares his discovery with her. Michelle Zink's description of the two main protagonists, Lia and Alice, allows the reader to clearly visualize their vastly different personalities. As the story progresses the reader begins to connect with Lia on a deeper level due to her genuine and caring personality while simultaneously being drawn away from Alice due to her secretive and dishonest actions. While I did not find myself unable to put this book down the story began to slowly weave itself into my unconsciousness and I found myself dreaming of mysterious prophecy's and pondering how much of life is actually within our control and how much is predestined. For those of you who have read and enjoyed, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (the first novel in the Gemma Doyle series) then I believe you will enjoy this series as well. Both books take place in the late 1800's and involve young women in events that were set in motion before their birth as well as share similar themes of prophecy, magic, clairvoyance, friendship and rivalry. What I look forward to most about reading the second installment of the series, Guardian of the Gate, is furthering to unravel the secrets of the prophecy and witnessing Lia's struggle to fulfill a destiny she was unprepared for. I have included a book trailer for The Prophecy Of The Sisters below and if you are interested in learning more about the author or the novel please check out the links at the top of this post to both the authors web site and a link to browse inside the novel.

This book is amazing! It has so many secrets to it, so even after you put it down you can't stop thinking about it! I NEED TO READ THE SEQUEL!

Like "Disappointed", I was a bit underwhelmed by this book at first. I had purchased two books at the same time. I tried to read this one first. The first person narrative threw me off a bit at first, but I got over it by the beginning of the third chapter. But it was also at that point, I decided to switch to the other novel I purchased (which was OUTSTANDING!!!). But when that was finished, I picked this back up and was not thrilled to be getting back at it, but persisted. Boy, was I glad I did! This was a superb prelude of the story the next 2 books will continue to reveal. Zink's style is simple, but the imagery she creates very powerful and I found myself falling helplessly into the story with every page I turned. I think the foundation for the Best Villain award will be better realized in the future chapters of the story. Alice is a truly inconceivable villain and one you just know will only get more brutally evil as the story goes on. The cruelty she is portrayed with is almost tangible - in fact, I won't be surprised to learn in the end that she was somehow possessed by Samael himself! Excellent in the end, if not a bit slow to start - but definitely worth persisting to the last page. I'm begging for Gate to be released now!

Ugh, I dont even know if I can express in words how much i didnt like this book. I'm not a big fan of histrical fiction to begin with, but this book definatly did not do it for me. It was slow. And i still dont think I understood everything that was going on in this book. Dissapointing considering all the great things i have heard about it, and that it was nominated for best villain in the teens read awards. And i am oblivious to the reason why.... anyone wnt to fill me in on that one? I know who the baad people were in the plot but there was no outstanding villain or anything! Terrible read. But I perservered through it 1/5