Mark Lawrence’s latest series has a lot going for it due to its worldbuilding and characters, but the narrator didn’t quite work for me.
Starting any new series that isn’t a continuation off of an old series requires a decent hook to lure readers in. For Mark Lawrence’s Red Sister, that hook is basically nuns, but the nuns could be magic workers (and there are multiple kinds), or killers, or more regular nuns somewhat closer to what you probably expect when it comes to even fantasy nuns.
It is, perhaps unsurprisingly, a good hook, and Lawrence manages to pack a rather impressive amount of worldbuilding into this book while still leaving some things rather unsolved to build (pun intended) on the nuns’ ability to draw you in.
Our protagonist is Nona, who joins the Convent of Sweet Mercy after nearly finding herself executed. Throughout the book, she learns more about her own abilities, makes some friends, makes some enemies, and works her way up.
Overall, this book rates a 3.5/5 stars. Yours truly really enjoyed the world, but there were parts of the narrative that made the book less interesting and fun at points.
The Good
Before you even make it to the actual storyline, you’ll find an author’s note that recommends you skip said author’s note, because it includes a dramatis personae and explains the four different types of blood that show up in Red Sister. Honestly, it’s not a bad idea to read the author’s note anyway, and not just to stick it to the author. Simply put, Nona’s world has a lot to juggle, and when characters occasionally have multiple names and with some unfamiliar terms, knowing a bit about what’s about to go down can help a reader appreciate the amount of effort and properly process the information and revelations throughout the book.
However, a great world needs a good cast. Red Sister doesn’t falter there, either. Nona may not fit in to the traditional mold of a sister. But it’s nice to see a protagonist who at least attempts to follow the rules set for her. To go much further would be a spoiler. Indeed, the rest of Nona’s classmates all have at least some defining qualities. It makes it easy to tell them all apart instead of having a reader’s eyes glaze over at the names.
Additionally, the plot does contain some twists and turns in it when it goes beyond the walls of Sweet Mercy, which kept yours truly engaged. That’s just it. There’s still so much in this world that has yet to be uncovered. And probably will have to wait until the next book or so.
The Not-So-Good
However, some parts of the plot, particularly in the middle, could leave a reader wanting more. At times, Lawrence draws things out for a bit too long in between reveals. It led me to question why I was reading about the next attempt to do something Nona had struggled with before or when it came to her actual backstory. To elaborate further would likely cross into the realm of spoilers.
Furthermore, Lawrence’s narrator is often at odds with some of the subtlety worked out in dialogue and in the plot. For example, at one point we’re flat out told that someone else does not like Nona instead of being shown. At other points, the narrator pulls away from the story to meditate briefly on greater concepts. It feels vaguely disorienting, particularly when the third-person narration primarily focuses on Nona. A careful reader can tease out many of the plot points of Red Sister. Having the narrator often seem so … obvious … doesn’t quite achieve a good effect.
Next: Review: Waking Gods, Sylvain Neuvel
The Recommendation
On the whole, Red Sister‘s benefits outweigh its drawbacks. It’s a good read, and it has me intrigued for the next installment. But it may take more time than its sub-500 pagecount suggests.