Sister Light, Sister Dark

This first book in the Great Alta saga by necessity spends a lot of time in world building. In the end, this is the most interesting part of the work. The action and adventure are almost cartoonish, and detract from the otherwise deep and engaging world of sisterhood that the author centers the story around.

The great battle scene in the story is quite incomprehensible and almost nonsensical, since it doesn't conform to any logical battle rules or reality, even given the fantasy setting. Avoiding spoilers, suffice to say a thoughtful reader will be asking "How could this siege have possiobly played out this way?" Nothing in the two combatant forces is described such that the end would be what is written here.

Because this battle is a core of the story and the legend building, it weakens the work, though not fatally. It is more of a disappointment the author did not research combat and siege better to more realistically portray the outcome.

If you like the world of mystical sisterhood the author creates, you will no doubt also like the sequel, White Jenna.