Holy Sister

Holy Sister is the final installment in The Book of the Ancestor trilogy by Mark Lawrence and follows Nona on her journeys. As tentacles rise from graves and pain spiders come with other creatures from the soft men, antagonistic armies are on their way to attack the empire. With this Sherzal continues her unending quest for the remaining shiphearts while the moon continues its fall towards the planet of Abeth. This last edition is told from Nona’s perspective along with others such as Sister Kettle, and her friend Ruli. The prologue begins from Markus’s point of view, while he is waiting to meet with Nona for some special instructions on a task that she needs his help to out. They had known each other from Caltess when she was younger.

The story picks up years later from where Grey Sister left off. Nona continues to be a likable character that is now fully competent, as well as proactive with people that one wouldn’t except to rely on her judgment doing so. Free from Keot’s possession now, she is looking to steal Aquinas’s Book of the Moon from the High Priest Nevis’s vault of forbidden books and recruits Markus from Caltess to do so. The Ancestor had said that the true alchemy is written within it and that it contains secrets of the moon, and if they’re to be successful later on such knowledge will be needed.

With Sister Tallow preparing to become a bride of the Ancestor, Sister Iron will assume the position as Mistress Blade and will be giving Nona her final test for the blade, as Nona continues to complete her requirements to take up the various orders: Red, Grey, and Holy, Nona will have to choose which way she will go.

Sister Wheel has taken up the position to lead Sweet Mercy after the passing of Abbess Glass and must prepare them for their coming conflict. The Scithrowl are coming and a terrible battle awaits them. They are said to have the destiny to claim the coast of Marn as they are led by their queen. Queen Adoma had made a sacrifice to secure the strength of leading her people to victory by daring the black ice and has been permanently marked ever since.

Though Clera helped Nona out at the end of Sister Grey, she has returned to Lano Tacsis to serve out his interests, though their alignment is in opposition to the interests of Nona and Sweet Mercy. Clera is the most frustrating character for me throughout this series. I grew attached to her in the first book, seeing her help Nona and was excited to see her come back to help her again in the last book, but in the end, they still seem to find themselves at odd with one another.

Though other characters such as Markus and Regol may express their interest in Nona, Ara proceeds to be the main romantic interest throughout the story, though Nona continues to have difficulty expressing her feelings on the matter, the trouble is that with Regol, there had never been a solid friendship that would be at risk. However, with Ara and Nona’s deep friendship, tension is created with Nona not wanting to chance such matters, so she keeps her feelings to herself. Other memorable novices are featured as well including Ruli, Ketti, Alata, and Jula. All have a role to play in helping Nona to achieve her goals in stopping Tacsis, Sherzal, and saving Abeth from the falling moon.   

The story runs parallel with three years prior where Nona journeys with Zole through ice tunnels, up mountains, and across the black ice trying to get away from Sherzal’s forces that have come after them to take back the shipheart that she had stolen previously. Sherzal wanting to use the Ark to control the moon has one of them already if she can regain control of the one that she had lost in Grey Sister, then she will only have Adoma to deal with upon her arrival.

In current times most of the world-building has already been established but we do learn a little bit more about the Scithrowl, who had been mentioned throughout the series but from a vague understand making them seem more mysterious. There is a heritage of endless stories about them that have been told across the Grey, stories about eating babies, practicing torture upon their enemies, and burning prisoners.

The Noi Guin continues to remain a bit of a mystery through the course of the novel, through there is an appearance that is made by the Singular that I was excited to see. This helps them to remain the mysterious antagonist that they are, as they continue their employment with Lano Tacsis.

Nona’s journey with Zole is most interesting as they travel across through the ice tunnels and across the mysterious black ice while we get to learn a little more about it. The black ice is a magical place near the ice tribes that is filled with corrupting malice. It was said that Adoma had melted it to drink it and gain her powers.

I particularly like how the magic system came into form. Now that Nona has fully developed with her abilities, and how she can weave threads and control people that she is bonded to if they will allow her control. Nona is known as a three blood and has mastered three of the four disciplines of magic at this point.

I thought that Holy Sister brought the series to a satisfying conclusion, and answered all of the questions that were in my head. To me, Mark Lawrence’s ability to create fleshed and well-developed characters within amazing worlds is a great and rare achievement that is found, which is what makes Nona such a loving character to follow throughout this series. I also found that the ending was incredibly fitting and something that Nona is to be expected from her. Though I’m excited to see the story in its conclusion, I’m equally sad that the story has ended.

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