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BOOK REPORT for Stray and Burn (Four Sisters #1 and #2) by Elissa Sussman
Cover Story: Lost Ladies
BFF Charm: Big Sister x 2
Swoonworthy Scale: 6/3
Talky Talk: She Said/She Said
Trigger Warning: Self-Harm
Bonus Factors: Fresh Fairy Tale, Love is Love
Anti-Bonus Factor: Loose Ends
Relationship Status: Left Wanting
Cover Story: Lost Ladies
I really like the simple nature of these covers, especially the soft, painting-like feel, the understated title treatment, and the solitary ladies. But they also make me feel a little sad. The ladies just look so lonely and/or weighed down by too many worries.
The Deal:
Stray tells the story of Princess Aislynn, who’s spent her entire life following The Path, the set of guiding principles for young noble ladies, that tells them how they should behave best to nab a suitable husband—and that using their magic, if they have it, will lead them into wickedness. She’s nearing the age where she’ll cement a marriage proposal and therefore a “proper” life for herself … if only she can keep her magic in check, and her wicked thoughts of what life might be like otherwise, at bay.
Burn continues where Stray ends, but looks at a different side of life in Aislynn’s world: that of Elanor, a former slave to the Wicked Queen and current Orphan who works to free innocents from the Wicked Queen’s grasp. Although the two girls are different, Elanor also finds herself struggling with the life she thinks she’s supposed to lead compared with the things she wants.
BFF Charm: Big Sister x 2
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Although I liked them both, Aislynn and Elanor often made decisions that seemed terribly young and naive. They supposedly had people in their lives to show them right and wrong, but either those advisors/guardians didn’t think they needed to be told or purposefully misguided them on many an occasion. Both would benefit from the guiding hand of someone who would be willing to tell them when they were being foolish, or simply not seeing all sides of a situation.
Swoonworthy Scale: 6/3
The Path teaches young noblewomen like Aislynn to keep themselves—and their thoughts—pure, for the sake of future marriage. Aislynn struggles with much of these teachings, however, and finds herself swooning over someone who really isn’t “appropriate.”
Elanor, on the other hand, has always been free to do what—or who—she wants. She finds someone that makes her feel good, but there’s not a whole lot of chemistry between the two, and the build-up is lacking.
Talky Talk: She Said/She Said
Both Stray and Burn are told through the eyes of the books’ main characters, Aislynn and Elanor, respectively. But while Elanor is an interesting character, and Burn is billed as a companion novel, it was a little jarring to go from one narrator to a completely different one, but continue the story. (Note: Elanor does make an appearance in Stray, and Aislynn in Burn, so their stories do eventually intertwine.) I would have preferred a set of novels featuring both characters from the start—combining their different viewpoints and adventures, which eventually follow the same path, would have made for a more well-rounded plot.
Additionally, Elissa Sussman started the creation of a very interesting world in which women who are in positions of power are seen as unique and dangerous creatures and men use women’s gifts for nefarious acts, but there wasn’t enough backstory to satisfy my curiosity, or clear up how the world had come to be. I wanted more about the world, and, in turn, more about the characters and why they acted the way they did.
Trigger Warning: Self-Harm
Aislynn struggles with keeping her magic in control, and finds that one way of doing so is to release it on herself. This release manifests in the form of angry welts and/or burns.
Bonus Factor: Fresh Fairy Tale
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There are hints of many classic fairy tales in Stray and Burn, but the plots of the books stand on their own. It’s fun to read tales that feel both familiar and new at the same time.
Bonus Factor: Love is Love
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There are multiple examples in Stray and Burn of same-sex relationships. Thankfully, it never felt like Sussman was making a political statement; in fact, one of the characters puts it very simply and honestly when she explains that people just love who they love.
Anti-Bonus Factor: Loose Ends
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Burn is a companion novel to Stray, and advances the plot of the first book slightly. But neither books resolve what I see as the overarching villain storyline. I don’t know if there’s another book in the works to resolve it, but I’m currently left with a lot of open-ended questions.
Casting Call:
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Fiammetta Cavatorta as Aislynn
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Grace Phipps as Elanor
Relationship Status: Left Wanting
Although I liked our first date a lot while we were on it, Books, I realized afterward that I was left with more questions than answers. I suppose we’ll have to get together again for you to explain; maybe that was your plan all along?
FTC Full Disclosure: I received a copy of both books from Greenwillow Books, but got neither a private dance party with Tom Hiddleston nor money in exchange for this review. Stray is available now; Burn will be available Jan. 19.