The Lost Sisterhood

by Anne Fortier

From the author of the New York Times bestseller Juliet comes a mesmerizing novel about a young scholar who risks her reputation—and her life—on a thrilling journey to prove that the legendary warrior women known as the Amazons actually existed.

Oxford lecturer Diana Morgan is an expert on Greek mythology. Her obsession with the Amazons started in childhood when her eccentric grandmother claimed to be one herself—before vanishing without a trace. Diana’s colleagues shake their heads at her Amazon fixation. But then a mysterious, well-financed foundation makes Diana an offer she cannot refuse.

Traveling to North Africa, Diana teams up with Nick Barran, an enigmatic Middle Eastern guide, and begins deciphering an unusual inscription on the wall of a recently unearthed temple. There she discovers the name of the first Amazon queen, Myrina, who crossed the Mediterranean in a heroic attempt to liberate her kidnapped sisters from Greek pirates, only to become embroiled in the most famous conflict of the ancient world—the Trojan War. Taking their cue from the inscription, Diana and Nick set out to find the fabled treasure that Myrina and her Amazon sisters salvaged from the embattled city of Troy so long ago. Diana doesn’t know the nature of the treasure, but she does know that someone is shadowing her, and that Nick has a sinister agenda of his own. With danger lurking at every turn, and unsure of whom to trust, Diana finds herself on a daring and dangerous quest for truth that will forever change her world.

Sweeping from England to North Africa to Greece and the ruins of ancient Troy, and navigating between present and past, The Lost Sisterhood is a breathtaking, passionate adventure of two women on parallel journeys, separated by time, who must fight to keep the lives and legacy of the Amazons from being lost forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Romance, Mythology, Fantasy

585 pages, Hardcover

First published March 11, 2014

About the author

Anne Fortier grew up in Denmark, but immigrated to the United States in 2002. She holds a Ph.D. in the History of Ideas and co-produced the Emmy-winning documentary Fire and Ice: The Winter War of Finland and Russia (2005). Her first novel in English, JULIET (2010), was published in over 30 countries and became a New York Times bestseller. Her next book, THE LOST SISTERHOOD (2014), will be out in paperback on September 1, 2015.

Reviews

[Althea Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anne Fortier clearly aims to be the Dan Brown of 'women's fiction.'
Her protagonist, Diana Morgan, 'feels' very much like The DaVinci Code's Sophie Neveu, and the plot itself bears many similarities, making little references to many of the same things. (How many novels find an excuse to bring up 'hieros gamos'?)

From the basic book description, I found the concept very appealing:
An Oxford lecturer and expert on the legends of the Amazons makes discoveries that lead her to believe that an Amazon 'cult' may have persisted to the present day.

Unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy this book. My biggest problem with it is a problem I've also had with Dan Brown's books: a character is presented who is supposed to be a brilliant expert. How do we know they're an expert? Because the author says so. We certainly never see them doing anything that shows their expertise, or thinking about the things that they're supposedly expert in. Diana Morgan is supposed to be a philologist – an expert in the study of ancient languages as they appear in historical sources. However, she doesn’t spend any time thinking about this, and the actual translating we see her do is done through a ‘cheat sheet’ – her grandmother’s notebook. (OK, there’s also one place where she translates Latin, on the fly, into ridiculously colloquial English.) Everything Diana seems to know about Greek history could have been gleaned from a middle school reading of the Iliad and the Odyssey, and a Wikipedia article on Heinrich Schliemann. She also doesn’t behave like a trained expert in any way: the scene where she’s reading an ancient, crumbling manuscript WHILE EATING A SCHNITZEL?!?!? As an archivist, I cringed. I mean, needs must, but no way in hell would anyone trained in her supposed discipline touch a manuscript like that while eating, even if they were starving to death.

As someone who’s worked at museums, I also found it unconvincing that even the most jaded, disillusioned museum curator would ever make a statement to the effect that historical research may not be desirable, as it “turns a beautiful myth into reality.” This is so antithetical to the view of anyone that would choose to go into museum studies that it’s absurd.
There are also other small things which constantly jar one out of the flow of the story. Some are practical. Like, we’re supposed to believe that a professional academic is such a poor typist that she finds the concept of using a keyboard with Arabic markings on the keys completely impossible? (If she’d just stated that the FILES on the laptop were in Arabic, and she couldn’t read them, that’d work… but.) Others are, well, political. There’s a (to me) very annoying Fox News-style undercurrent that infuses this whole book. There are constant ‘digs’ – against Socialists, Communists, Marxists, Big Government, etc. A mention of how only God can cause climate change. An inclusion of Ben Franklin’s ‘essential liberty’ quote, here recontextualized to support vigilantism. Mentions of the importance of having an armed citizenry. Comments about how super-wealthy capitalists are unfairly treated and ‘get a bad rap.’ It detracted from my enjoyment of the story.


Further, I feel like the book was full of wasted opportunities.
The author keeps skirting around the very interesting and complex debate about ownership of cultural heritage and repatriation of artifacts - but it never really gets into it in any real depth.
Oxford is such a rich (and well-known!) setting, but none of its peculiar and unique culture came through in the book at all. Our protagonist is supposed to have an American mother and a British father, but nothing about her felt British. It begs comparison with another book featuring a female Oxford academic: Dorothy Sayers’ ‘Gaudy Night.’ Fine, it’s a different time period – but after reading Sayers, I felt like I knew what it was like to walk the halls of Oxford. (And Sayers’ protagonist is 100% convincing AS an academic.) Here – no.

There’s also a good part of this book that takes place in the past, among the Amazons of antiquity. Again, their lifestyle and setting felt sketched out – I wasn’t convinced by any of the historical or legendary characters; I didn’t ‘see’ their world. The ancient characters behaved, spoke, and reacted to events like modern individuals, not as people from a very different culture would have.

On top of this, romance becomes a major aspect of both present and past stories. Now, I’m not against a bit of romance. Far from it. However, not only were both romances unconvincing (Hello? Ladies? You’re in the middle of a major THING here; don’t you think that it might distract you from sex?) but both objects of their affection were creepy, kidnapp-y, dishonest schmucks.
In the real world, anyone as smart as Diana supposedly is would’ve soon told all the creepy, ethically questionable people to screw off, gotten the hell out of there, and done her own research. And then there wouldn’t have been much of a book, I guess.

Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Fortier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I told you I would only list my five-star books here. So I figure I have to give this one five stars, too, even though it's my own and it may seem a little hubristic.

I can't tell you how excited I am that this new adventure of mine will be on sale in the US and Canada on March 11, 2014. I just can't wait to hear what you think of it. It's so strange to live in your own story-world for years, without being able to discuss it with more than a handful of people. But all that is about to change!

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s something about an athletic woman wielding a long bow that really helps me find my stride on the highway. What proved most interesting were the pieces about the Amazons and their sparse history, as THE LOST SISTERHOOD overflowed with Greek mythology. But that was where this tale and I parted ways on the positive side, as many of the negatives pressed into my flesh.

First, this novel splayed itself across a few too many pages, and then it managed to develop an ambitiousness best reserved for politicians and CEOs. It may have been historical, or women’s fiction, or action & adventure, or literary, or possibly even fantasy. Had the fantasy only been in my head, I would have been perfectly fine with the outcome. Instead, the fantasy spread itself across over 600 pages of stilted prose, as I held my nose with one hand and flipped each page of my Kindle with the other.

The characters proved a bit hard to swallow—like thumbtacks as I asked for my life back—and the ending felt like it was sprung upon me, like a dirty pair of drawers. Had this novel discovered the pace and precision of The Da Vinci Code, I would have gladly hung on for the ride. Instead, though, I gripped this story with two fingers held firmly away from my face, and waited for the ride to end. The end, though, didn’t come soon enough.

I received this book for free through NetGalley.

Cross-posted at Robert's Reads

[Sally Howes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from Ballantine Books (Random House Publishing Group) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

THE LOST SISTERHOOD is an entertaining and intriguing story that unfortunately does not always realize its full potential. The parallel story lines about the mythical Amazons in both the ancient and the modern worlds provide an exciting premise for the book, and there are many exciting moments born of this premise, but the quality of the story is inconsistent. It seems likely that in telling two stories at once, the book simply tries to do too much, and therefore, many things are done well, but nothing is done with excellence.

The story gets off to an immediate, no-nonsense start, capturing the reader's curiosity within the first few pages. The narrative style often tends towards the melodramatic but this is offset by a self-effacing humor that is easy to warm to. It is unfortunate, however, that sloppy phrasing and infelicitous expressions too often jar the reader out of full engagement with the nonetheless compelling plot. The narrative can be seen as highly self-reflexive, depending as heavily as it does on the importance of language, translation, and storytelling. The suspension of disbelief the story requires is substantial, but its intimate, humorous tone, cracking pace, and, above all, delicious intrigue make the leap of faith not such a difficult one after all. Unfortunately, the fast pace of the story sometimes causes scenes to fall flat - escapes come too easily, allies are won too cheaply, opportunities arise too conveniently. The story also suffers from a distinct lack of scenic atmosphere or "sense of place," especially considering its peregrinations from one exotic location to another - Oxford to Algeria, Greece to Finland, and many places in between.

While the quality of the storytelling may be patchy, its engagement with its main point of focus, myths about women and what constitutes female strength, make THE LOST SISTERHOOD worth reading. The story's main protagonist, Diana Morgan, has a name that combines two of history's most famous mythical females. They are not Amazons, true, but they are Diana the solitary huntress from Roman mythology and Morgan the witch-nemesis of King Arthur. It is hard to know whether to see this as making the book's major theme clumsily, blatantly obvious or as an exciting sign of things to come. The story begins with Diana speaking of how the ancient Greeks used the Amazon myth to oppress women, and it is immediately made obvious that the paternalistic confines of Oxford are doing the same to her.

This book about Amazons is, naturally, quite stridently feminist at every opportunity. The story is infused throughout with symbolic references to female strength, mystery, and "otherness" (in the Freudian and Saussurean senses). This atmosphere permeates not just the foreground, such as the arrival of Myrina, Diana's counterpart in the ancient story line, at the temple of the Moon Goddess, but also the background, such as a cat skulking in a Tunisian hotel. The book also raises the thought-provoking proposition that all myths are based on a seed of historical truth, although this seed may be quite far removed from the myth in its most highly evolved form. This is a concept that the reader may well find themselves applying to many more stories than the one in which it has been first encountered.

THE LOST SISTERHOOD lacks subtlety and sophistication, but it does have excitement, intrigue, and drama, and raises some important and thought-provoking questions about some of the timeless aspects of being a woman. It is an enjoyable read and will likely appeal particularly to readers interested in gender mythology.

[Eleni Ouzouni (Life is Art) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Πραγματικά είχα καιρό να διαβάσω ένα τόσο κακό βιβλίο! Δεν ξέρω καν από που να ξεκινήσω... Το ότι οι γνώσεις της Anne Fortier για την Ελληνική ιστορία κυμαίνονται ανάμεσα σε μια απλή ανάγνωση στην Αγγλική Wikipedia.
To καταλαβαίνω το να θες να πάρεις μύθους και πραγματικά γεγονότα και να δημιουργήσεις μια δική σου ιστορία αλλά προπάντων πρέπει να δείξεις και λίγο σεβασμό στην αρχική ύλη. Εδώ η Anne Fortier εκτέλεσε τα πάντα από τα τρία μέτρα.
Ενώ έχω πραγματικά βαρεθεί να διαβάσω σε αυτά τα είδη βιβλίων για πρωταγωνιστές που είναι εμπειρογνώμονες στα πάντα αλλά τελικά παραμένουν τόσο επιφανειακοί και άχρωμοι. Νιώθω πως έχασα τρεις μέρες από την ζωή μου...

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted so much to like this book, as I am interested in the Amazon myth and the archaeological mystery adventure (a la Indiana Jones) is right up my alley. But I hated it, and couldn't even finish it due to being so exasperated with the writing. Since the good points of this book are so few, I'll list them first. Fortier's plot is engaging. Diana Morgan, an academic, leaves her post at Oxford to jet across the world on an ultra-secret mission to excavate a site that may be linked to the mythical Amazons. The pace is lively and the plot unfolds convincingly. Fortier's style is breezy and readable, from a technical standpoint. I mean, her sentences are well-constructed and her choice of words succinct and descriptive. Even the chapters describing Bronze Age women, which are interspersed with the protaganist's narrative, are integrated fairly well and do not distract from the main plot.

That is about it, as far as the good points. But I was peeved by the overriding theme of the Amazons and the author's awkward attempts to connect it to the main character's motivations, and even to her Bronze Age women in the interspersed storyline. Diana Morgan's grandmother is supposedly an Amazon, but was lobotomized and abused by doctors who thought her Amazon recollections were hallmark of insanity, and even her own daughter (Diana's mother) does not believe her. And even the Bronze Age women, the so-called Amazons, are left orphans because the ignorant villages have killed their mother, the village healer. So Fortier wastes no time in positioning men as the evildoers oppressing women in every era, and women's strength as the necessary defense mechanism against an oppressive world of men.

The problem is that her story and characters contradict this ultra feminist ideology. Since she reached maturity, Diana's mother has been trying to pimp her out to the wealthy, aristocratic neighbor's son, hoping for a marriage. Diana is not averse to this - naturally the neighbor is not only wealthy, titled, and handsome, but also brilliant. Which would be fine for a romance novel but for one supposedly about Amazons? Funny how feminism goes right out the window when confronted with masculine wealth, good looks, and charm. Likewise both Diana and the Bronze Age woman take stupid risks, which hardly seems in keeping with warrior women. Diana jets off halfway across the world with a total stranger who offers her $5,000 a week as payment for her expertise with Amazon myths. Even though Diana's narration describes this as dangerous, and she is not allowed to tell anyone where she is actually going, she does it anyway, without the slightest precaution. Her Bronze Age woman does something equally stupid: leaves her blind sister alone while she rapels over a temple wall in a strange town, stupidly believing that the temple-keepers will understand that she comes in peace (needless to say, they throw her into a pit of vipers). Shouldn't Amazons have a little more common sense?

Another issue I had is probably not a fair criticism, as there are varying opinions about the history, but the background information on the Amazons seems more informed by ideology than by what we know today of the ancient people who might have spawned the Amazon myth. Diana rejects the idea that Amazon myths derived from actual female warriors. Excavations have demonstrated that women of the steppes did bear arms. To the Western world, this was remarkable and may have led to the Amazon myth, but Diana seeks to prove there was a legendary "city of women" and an entire population that was not just matriarchal, but actually comprised of only women. This is far-fetched because of human nature and biology. The idea that thousands of women would utterly reject male companionship is extremely implausible. Small bands of women who reject men utterly have been discovered, but not entire civilizations. Most women crave the company of men and any attempts to establish a civilization of only women would fail. The reverse is also true.

Worst of all is the narrators endless self-compliments - these would be bad if spoken by another character, but when her first-person narrative refers to her own "angelic" appearance, her curly blond hair, her "North Sea eyes" and wide mouth, her "tall, dreamy" stature... it is beyond ridiculous and more than a little "Mary Sue" as the fanfiction writers call it (when the main character is a thinly-disguised and highly idealized version of the author). Of course, her best friend Rebecca is also beautiful, as is her grandmother, who, despite being elderly, has a thick head of hair and an unlined face. Her father is dapper, and his book-lined study is appealingly Victorian. Her love interest is, as mentioned, handsome, rich, titled, and brilliant.

On the other hand, the man who escorts her to the mysterious location, once she's decided to drop everything and jet off with him, appears to be an Arab so she describes her decision to run off with him as especially reckless because he is a man of "obscure ethnicity" clad in "filthy rags." I mean, is being an Arab really that obscure? Is it fair to describe Bedouin robes as "rags"? Can't she just come right out and say that she had some reservations about running off to some unknown part of the world with an Arab?

Although Diana describes her family as being of humble means, and she is envious of the wealthier academics at Oxford, she also describes her ancestral home as a charming cottage near the grand manor home of the previously-mentioned aristocratic neighbor. For someone who is supposedly financially-strapped, she still has time for fencing - not exactly an inexpensive sport. She does have a post at Oxford, which would be highly coveted in any academic circle. But unlike most underemployed academics I've known, she does not have to work a second or third job, nor hustle to publish papers or conduct research. There is nothing wrong with being reasonably well-off, and I wouldn't fault the narrator for that, but just don't pretend that she's poor!

I didn't finish the book because I just got too exasperated. I guess this review is so long because I did see a lot of potential in the story idea and wish the author had made a few different choices, particularly in regard to characterization.

[Nikoleta · Rating 1 out of 5]

Έφτασα στην 400 σελίδα με κόπο αλλά δυστυχώς δεν μπόρεσα να το τελειώσω. Και ενώ είχε ωραία γλώσσα, γραφή και τα λοιπά, η ιστορία ήταν τραβηγμένη από τα μαλλιά, κάτι που συνηθίζει η Fortier στα βιβλία της. Ποτέ δεν είχα πρόβλημα με την αλλαγή των μύθων και της ιστορίας για χάρη της μυθοπλασίας, αλλά αυτό με προσπερνά. Κακοί απολίτιστοι Έλληνες (μυκηναίοι βιαστές αγριάνθρωποι, μινωϊτες ανθρωποφάγοι) vs.πανέμορφοι ευγενικοί πανάγαθοι Τρώες, α, και σύγχρονοι Έλληνες με πολύ τρίχα που τρώνε πολυυυυυ κρέας! χωρίς νόημα χωρίς λόγο ύπαρξης ιστορία, βαρετή, αδιάφορη, με ήρωες καρικατούρες γραμμένη με πολλή πολλή αφέλεια και υπερβολή. Κάποια στιγμή θα προσπαθήσω να το τελειώσω, αυτή τη στιγμή με κούρασε….

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” ― Winston Churchill

This book is an amazing and epic Amazon adventure. The story is broken into duel narratives of the past and present. I normally am not a fan of time jumping narratives but the author weaved the two narratives together with mesmerizing perfection.

It took me a while to get through this book. Not simply because of its length but because there was just so much adventure and intrigue that I couldn't marathon this book. This is a story that deserves to be savoured.

I can truly say that at no moment was I bored of this book, in fact it has spurred in me, an interest in Amazon history. I love when books influence you so deeply that it leads to many more books on the subject.

My only tiny issue with this novel is that the language of the present day narrative felt very dated. I had actually thought that the main characters timeline was in the 40s or 50s until the mention of a cell phone, which left me quite flabbergasted.

Apart from the slightly dated language, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and would eagerly recommend it to everyone.


Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[B the BookAddict · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is part historical fiction, part modern times and part mystery. It maybe even part fantasy; it is about the Amazon race, if you don't believe the Amazons ever existed then it's part fantasy.

It's the story of Myrina and Lilli, two sisters belonging to the Amazon tribe of women who worship the Moon Goddess and Diana, the current day philologist on a quest to find evidence of the Amazons.

*Philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a combination of literary criticism, history, and linguistics. It is more commonly defined as the study of literary texts and written records, the establishment of their authenticity and their original form, and the determination of their meaning.

I did Ms Fortier the great disservice by read this book in two parts, two weeks apart and so lost the rhythm of the novel. It did nevertheless lead me to Google to read up on the mighty Amazons and also the lost city of Troy. If I'd read it all in one go, it would probably receive a 4 ★ but due to my own lapse, it's only a 3.5★.

[Rashika (is tired) · Rating 3 out of 5]

***This review has also been posted on Tangled in Pages

Actual Rating 3.5

Do you like adventure? Does a good treasure hunt intrigue you? Are you fascinated by ancient history and mythology? Then perhaps you have come to the right place for this book provides you with a good mix of everything I just mentioned above.

There are mixed reviews all over the place about this book and it’s really easy to see why. Some people will love this and some people won’t. One reviewer described this book as the Dan Brown of women’s fiction and that is a very apt comparison because this book does have the same vibes as a typical Dan Brown book and your enjoyment of this book will largely depend on whether or not that sort of thing works for you. If you haven’t read any Dan Brown and are confused as to what I am referring to.. basically, do you like info dumps? Do you mind being stuffed with information? Avoid this if that doesn't appeal to you, but if you don’t mind so long as the topic interests you (which in case it did for me), dive right in but prepared for a couple of unrealistic things that may bother you.

I was in 3rd grade when I first heard about the lost city of Troy and since then, mythology hasn’t let go of the grip it has on me. As soon as I came across this book and saw the combination of mythology, history and women’s fiction, I knew I had to read it and I was not let down. I went into this expecting a good adventure and that is exactly what I got.

This novel follows the story of two women, namely Myrina, who lived in the Bronze Age and Diana who lives in present day.

Diana is approached by a mysterious man who tells her that proof that Amazons existed has been found. The man proceeds to hand her an image to back up what he is saying. Diana is definitely vary but she is also intrigued because well she is passionate about Amazons and something about the writing in the image seems familiar. It turns out that the notebook her grandmother left her was written in the same language and so begins our adventure as Diana follows the same path Myrina did over thousands of years ago.

Diana for the most part is a pretty decent female lead. She is headstrong and can make her own decisions. She doesn’t let the men make her choices for her but instead does what she feels is right. She’s grown up, she can handle herself… for the most part. Sometimes she may need to be rescued and sometimes her decisions land her in icky messes but really the one thing that bothered me about her is how oblivious she can be. Especially with the whole thing about her grandma. It’s GLARINGLY obvious what’s going on there yet Diana was blind to that for a major chunk of the book.

Also, I do not buy the fact that this chick translated an ancient scripture in a manner of days. Uh.. NO. Even with the ‘translating dictionary’ Diana had (her grandmother’s notebook), it should still take more than a mere 5 days. Remember when I mentioned unrealistic things? Yup, this was one of them.

Myrina was an interesting character to say the least. Both Diana and Myrina get thrown into circumstances that turn their lives upside down, they follow similar paths but their stories are different. Myrina travels all the way to a city to find the Moon Goddess so that her sister can be cured of the blindness that came as a result of a fever. Myrina is a wonderful sister and more than that, she is a brave warrior. She is a hunter at heart and she is a strong female lead and a great leader. In spite of all these wonderful things about her, I never really liked her. I didn’t dislike her, but her story, while fun to follow, was not nearly as enjoyable as Diana’s. Perhaps this is because Myrina’s story has an underlying sadness to it. When you realize that all of this occurred in a past so distant, in a part of history that has been lost and might not ever be recovered, it makes you feel very melancholic.

One of the loop holes in Myrina’s story was her elder sister. I have no idea what happened to her. Perhaps I accidentally skimmed over the part (hey, the book was long!!), or perhaps it was never mentioned.

The world building is were some of the other issues arise. The scholars in this world are constantly looking down on women and I know this happens in the real world. I KNOW. But the extent to which it happens in this book kind of pisses me off. It seems overdone. Then there was also the thing about the female lead being half American and other scholars constantly mocking her for her ‘Americaness’ when according to her she was raised in Britain. Really? Are we really going there?

The author brought some original twists to the tales we know and some of them, well, some of them just didn’t work for me. They were believable. The author didn’t just pull them out of nowhere but sometimes some things don’t work for you and nothing can change that. There were also other things that the author threw into the mix which didn’t sit well with me but I learned to live with those grievances to enjoy the adventure I was on.

One of my other issues with this novel was the romance. No the romances. Neither of the romances were all that well developed. The romance is not the focus of either story (okay so perhaps Myrina’s tale has a tad bit more romance) but I never saw it coming. I mean I knew there was going to be a romance, but there wasn’t enough development in either case to make the romance more believable. They seemed to have popped out of nowhere.

With that said, Myrina’s romance, even with my annoyance of how it seemed random, was so sweet. It really just brought out emotions. Yes I was annoyed that Myrina willingly gave up who she was but then her romantic interest is just so adorable that it’s hard to stay mad. There is so much respect in their relationship and so much love and SO MUCH COMPANIONSHIP. They can tell each other things. They do get mad at each other but they are sweet together.

Diana’s romance was… iffy. Nick is not the best love interest out there. He has been lying to her since the dawn of time and has pulled her inside this complicated web of lies and really I have no idea how she could trust him after everything that he has done. I know I wouldn’t. Pretty face be damned (although I am not sure we know what he looks like exactly).

There are secrets, lies, ancient civilizations and heaps of mythology involved and if you’re looking for an adventure, this book does give you one.

But it’s best not to go into this book expecting to be wowed. Similar to a typical Darn Brown book, the excitement only lasts for the period you are reading the book and once you’re done, everything will fade away. This book makes for excellent brain candy and I’d recommend this to fans of Dan Brown but also to anyone who is looking to lay back and just chill with a good adventure. Don’t let the number of pages scare you off for they go by pretty fast and the book will be over before you know it.

[Dorine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rated 5 Blue Ribbons + Recommended Read. Also posted at TBRMountainRange.com with a discussion question.

When offered five thousand dollars to help interpret the writings of an ancient civilization, can a young academic resist the pull of adventure? Especially when this job may prove the existence of the long sought after Amazons? Did this cult of women ever really exist and was her grandmother one of them? History, mythology and contemporary academia combine in an intriguing adventure.

A fascinating tale, THE LOST SISTERHOOD unites two stories running parallel between an ancient civilization and present day, both on an adventure that promises to solve the mythical mystery of the Amazons. Any strong woman will wonder...what if?

Dr. Diana Morgan, a twenty-eight-year-old philologist is settling in to enjoy academia at Oxford in present day England. Her latest lecture on the fate of the Amazon women warriors, which have always been rumored as myth, has yet to convince her male colleagues of any truth to her outlandish theories. But Diana is convinced, not only are they real, but her Granny was one of them.

After her unsuccessful lecture to her peers, where she is left to feel like a fool, Diana is approached by a mysterious stranger who tempts her with photos to prove that the Amazons really do exist. All she needs to do is get on a plane to Amsterdam and decipher some script on a wall at a secret archeological dig. Once she agrees to accept the job and the five thousand dollars they'll pay her to do it, she will be told more about the location. Dare she leave the safety of academia, a budding relationship and her students to fend for themselves, all for a promise from a man she barely knows?

As we're left to wonder what Diana will do, we're introduced to Myrina and Lilli, two sisters forced to cross a desert alone after a terrible illness kills their mother and fellow villagers in the late Bronze Age. Lilli is blinded by the illness during their journey which leaves Myrina not just concerned for herself but more than anything, anxious about her sister's future and safety wherever they settle. A fierce female hunter, Myrina is strong enough to survive, but what about her younger sister? Can they find the temple of the Moon Goddess where their mother has always told them they'll be safe? And if they arrive alive after forging through wasteland conditions, what will be their reception?

I love nothing better than an adventure evolving around an archaeological dig and the aura it illuminates. Add in the rumor of an ancient cult of woman warriors and those who wish to destroy them and I'm enthralled. Throw in artifacts for money and the danger that entails and I can't stop reading. Give me smart women doing what they love and I'm captivated. But that's only part of this novel and why it's so fascinating. The two stories that flow back and forth between the Bronze Age and present day kept me mesmerized and sometimes about to scream when I was left hanging by one scenario while presented with another. This back and forth tug of war was maddening and it is also what made the book deliciously addictive because I loved the pacing. The historical portion of the novel was magnetic, adding more depth and excitement to the contemporary story. Of all the places visited historically in this novel, I especially loved imagining Troy. Myrina and Paris were such a poignant couple.

This novel is exactly the type of book I love to read. There is nothing I can imagine being done to it that would have increased my enjoyment. I loved every word, every descriptive clause, the ebb and flow of the two worlds colliding, knowing that eventually I would know the truth. And wow — what a story! Of course, there is a romance, more than one, actually, and they're also part of the adventure. Not like a suspense type of romance but an inevitable outcome of being in danger together. You just know these couples will be explosive together but can they trust one another?

At over 580 pages, this book could have easily slogged on and become boring, but it never did. There weren't over-descriptive sections that slowed the story down at all. I appreciated every bit of it and relished the content. This epic novel is the type of book that beckons reading from cover to cover, in a reading marathon if at all possible, for the pure joy of it. I'm mourning the loss, having finished and left wanting more of this world. It entertained me for days, left me wondering about it when I wasn't reading it. It sort of consumed my every waking thought, made me talk about it with friends and family, enfolding me within its pages, imagining what will happen next.

Anne Fortier creates a distinctive, addictive narrative that makes this novel impossible to put down. THE LOST SISTERHOOD is such a fun book to read, which earns it Romance Junkies' 5 Blue Ribbons, plus, the honor of a Recommended Read status for its imaginative, well-balanced story. THE LOST SISTERHOOD is epic adventure romance that will become your next obsession.

Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of Romance Junkies.

[Έλσα · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Abbey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Other than general blandness, I'm not sure why I'm not more excited about this book. I feel like I should be--it has a very interesting premise, and even brings in bits that feel like "Clan of the Cave Bear." But having said that, none of the characters are developed enough to cause me to actually care--Myrina has an incredibly tragic event off the bat in the book, but her character is so non-dimensional that I don't actually care. Likewise, Morg has an interest that should be fascinating to me, but....there's a little too much academia/conspiracy theory for her human side to develop. Likewise, the hint of romance is so ridiculously unpassionate and unemotional that again, I just don't care that much.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmmm..Λοιπόν,έχοντας τελειώσει αυτό το βιβλίο και κάνοντας ένα μικρο διαλειμματάκι για να συντάξω τις σκέψεις μου σε σειρά σε σχέση με αυτό το βιβλίο λέω να αρχίσω να κάνω την κριτική μου...
Λοιπόν... Ήταν ένα καλό βιβλίο...
Πολύ ωραία η πλοκή,το story (αν και υπήρξε μεγάλη (όσο πατά ο ελέφαντας μωρέ!) παραποίηση ιστορικών γεγονότων αλλά έτσι είναι όταν κάποιος θέλει να γράψει βιβλία τέτοιου είδους). Το εξώφυλλο πανέμορφο!! Το πρώτο πράγμα που λάτρεψα πολύ σε αυτό το βιβλίο ήταν και είναι το εξώφυλλό του (καλό όμως είναι να μην κρίνουμε ένα βιβλίο από το εξώφυλλό του έτσι? ;-) ). Η περίληψη όπως την διάβασα από το πίσω μέρος του βιβλίου μου τράβηξε την προσοχή και την περιέργεια να το διαβάσω... Όταν εκδόθηκε/βγήκε αυτό το βιβλίο εδώ στην Ελλάδα ανυπομονούσα να το πάρω στα χέρια μου και να το διαβάσω. Μα δεν μπορώ να πω ότι τελικά άξιζε η τόση ανυπομονησία μου. Και είναι κρίμα γιατί ήταν καλό. Δυνατή πλοκή, ενεργητικοί χαρακτήρες (προσωπικά λάτρεψα τον χαρακτήρα της Μύρινας. Τόσο δυνατή και έξυπνη. Όμως μου άρεσε εξίσου και του Νικ. Ξέρει πάντα τι να πει αυτός ο άνθρωπος και είναι πολύ ικανός...). Τι έλεγα?? Α ναι για αυτά που μου άρεσαν πάνω στο βιβλίο... λοιπόν, πολλοί τόποι δράσης και περιγράφονται πολύ ωραία. Αλλά.. (γαμώτο μακάρι να μην υπήρχαν βιβλία στα οποία να έλεγε κάποιος αλλά(που με αυτό υπονοείται ότι θα λεχθεί κάτι κακό)) ΤΙ ΣΤΟ ΔΙΆΟΛΟ??!!Μας παρουσιάζει (τους Έλληνες εννοώ) λες και ήμασταν βάρβαροι,κακοί,γουρούνια.. ε μην πω και τίποτα άλλο..τόσο πολύ μισεί τους Έλληνες βρε παιδί μου?? Όχι, γιατί προσωπικά αυτό μου δείχνει εμένα μίσος προς εμάς ,εκτός αν το έκανε για να επιδειχτεί ή για να αυξήσει τις πωλήσεις ή κάτι άλλο.. Κρίμα πάντως... Και αν δεν το έκανε αυτό θα έδινα παραπάνω αστέρια στο βιβλίο της... Μπορεί να το έβαζα και στα αγαπημένα μου... Από ένα σημείο και μετά θα το σταμάταγα λόγω αυτού του μίσους για τους Έλληνες να το πω??Ή είναι πολύ βάρια έκφραση?? :p αλλά είπα να το συνεχίσω μέχρι να δω που θα το φτάσει... Δεύτερον,μεγάλος αριθμός σελίδων πφφφφφφφφφφφ.... 712 αν θυμάμαι καλά... Πάλι τόμο διάβασα... Τέλος πάντων 3 αστεράκια και πολλά του είναι!!
Υστερόγραφο: Αυτό το βιβλίο κάλλιστα θα μπορούσε να γίνει μια ωραία ταινία αν φύγουν κάποιες λεπτομέρειες και κάποια άλλα πραγματάκια (π.χ. το ψιλοhate προς τους Greeks) αυτό...

[Linda Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author has a PhD in the History of Ideas, which, if not the coolest doctoral endeavor on the planet is surely close to the top. And ideas are what are on display in this novel. Wickedly clever ideas that showcase Fortier's knowledge of ancient cultures, and celebrate the Warrior Women throughout history who are regrettably missing from the heroic tales. She writes in the acknowledgements that maybe the events depicted didn't happen the way the novel supposes, but that absolutely does not mean that's not the way things could have gone. We are introduced to Diana Morgan, an Oxford philologist who begins our adventure unsettled in her academic career. The dept. head wants her hide, her advisor wants her to give up the mention of Amazons, let alone lecture about female horse riding bow wielders. A peculiar stranger with an umbrella beckons Diana to meet him at the airport to fly to Amsterdam. A thinking woman would have moved fast in a different direction, but the stranger had the right password. Amazon. We get on a different plane than the one she has a ticket for, but we're along for the flight now. There are pages in the middle of this globe / time -spanning fiction that can't decide if it's a romance novel, a mystery, a whodunit, or a history lesson. And the villains are too. Villainy. Might as well have swirling moustachios and duelling scars. At one point in the book I shut it, asked how dumb can a 153 IQ woman be? There is an issue with writing a smart woman when stupid comes in handy as a plot device. It's annoying, but fortunately, in this book, forgettable. There are a couple of clunker lines that took me right out of the story. "muttering curses I had never known existed..." is one. I stepped away and came back, and was restored to the tale. The characters who live in our minds - Medusa, Paris, Priam, Menelaos, Agammemnon, Helen, Myrina, Thesus, Persius - are all shown as the mere humans they probably were. Ingenious. Readers who stick to the end will be rewarded with a nice close to the smorgasbord of ideas, and a good feeling that in the world there are Amazonian women righting wrongs and covering our backs.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A book that is too lengthy, and it stumbles with unfinished story lines.

Diana Morgan is desperately trying to lock in her place at Oxford. Right now, she is a guest lecturer whose expertise is Greek Mythology and the mythical Amazon warriors. After an exasperating day, Diana is cornered by a strange man who is linked to a wealthy foundation. He presents Diana with an offer she can’t refuse. Diana meets up with Nick Barran, an enigmatic guide. Together they travel to North Africa in search of the Amazons. As the plot thickens, Diana is confronted with danger around every corner. Who can she trust?
What I Liked:
*The Lost Sisterhood is a sweeping story that immerses the reader into the past and the present as two tales unfold. In the past, Myrina a young, fierce girl is on a quest to save her sisters, which eventually leads her to Troy. In the present, Diana Morgan is tracking down her own mysterious past as she tries to unravel the clues in her grandmother’s notebook. Her journey takes her across continents all in hopes of finding the mysterious Amazon women. If you like adventure, mythology, danger, archeology and mystery, this is a tale for you.
*This book presents two different story lines. I found myself more invested in Myrina’s story line. Myrina is the founder of the Amazons. I loved watching her adventure unfold. From humble beginnings, to the shores of Troy and beyond.
*I enjoyed the mystery. The story is full of twists and turns as Diana and her friends go on a quest to uncover the origins of the Amazon. I especially liked the personal ties that were uncovered between Diana and Nick.
*There is plenty of action and danger in this one, and you are never quite sure whom to trust. It reads a bit like an Dan Brown tale.
*The ending is satisfactory in that the main mystery is complete and most of the story lines are finished.
And The Not So Much:
*What held this one back for me was the length. It got too drawn out, and I felt like it dragged.
*I was extremely disappointed in the supposed conclusion of Myrina’s story. The reader is left wondering what happened to Myrina. I was so invested in Myrina and her character, and I was frustrated that her story line was left dangling.
*I also thought the story line in the present was a fizzle at the end. I don’t know I was expecting way more from the Amazons. After all that, it was disappointing.
*The romance was a big miss for me. Diana isn’t sure who Nick is and she isn’t sure she can trust him, and then she all of a sudden falls in love with him? It just didn’t work for me.

The Lost Sisterhood was an interesting book, and I loved the blending of genres. I was especially intrigued by Myrina’s story in the past which takes the reader to Troy. What held this book back for me was the length, the ridiculous romance and the unfinished story lines. It was a good read, but I wanted it to be brilliant.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Nancy Goldberg Wilks · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I finally (with much regret) closed the back cover of The Lost Sisterhood, I sat for awhile mulling over whether I would give the book 5 stars or 4 & ½ stars (were I to do star-rated reviews). Instead of reaching a decision, I opened the front cover and began reading the book again. It wasn’t long before I was once again ruing the closing of the back cover. It is that good!

The “Lost Sisterhood” mentioned in the title refers to the Amazons – those epic women warriors of mythical proportions. Central to the book is modern day Philologist, Diana Morgan. Diana is also an Amazon specialist – whose enthusiasm and interest was sparked by an allegedly mentally ill grandmother. The book follows Diana as she is lured away from her Oxford teaching post by an unknown, but familiar, writing that had been uncovered at an archeological dig. Part of the book follows Diana as she follows the trail of the text.

The other part of the book follows Myrina and her sister Lilli, priestesses to the Moon Goddess long ago, at the genesis of the Amazon sisterhood. The book shifts back and forth between Myrina’s journey, in the past, and Diana’s journey in the present.

As with all myths, there is a kernel of truth in the myths about the Amazons. Diana tries to seek that kernel of truth – as well as to discover whether Amazons continue to exist in the present. The journey includes Greeks and Trojans, history and love, and professional and personal discoveries.

The Lost Sisterhood is beautifully written and has wonderful character development. Frustrated at not having a sequel, I am tempted to read it a third time.

So, why the half a star quandary? I was a little dissatisfied with the ending. The plot was so complex and convoluted that I found the end – where all the loose ends seemed to be neatly tied up very quickly – to be a sort of letdown. But there is now no question in my mind – were I a star- giving reviewer, The Lost Sisterhood would definitely receive 5.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

[Helena Zelin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being part feminist, I just couldn't ignore the existence of this book. I always wanted to learn the history of this people and although the book is obviously a fictional version of the know myth, it still is a dilightfullydifferent approach of what may have occurred.

Mrs Fortier writing isis quite elegant and thw switch from the present to the past and back keeps the reader in suspense as the story always pauses at a critical point.

I couldn't not notice that through the story, the writer appeares to have much hatred for the Greeks and as a Greek myself, I have to ask why? I admit that we were a kind of barbarians but can you name at least on nation that wasn't at the time? Regarding the events og the Bronze Age, the book presents the Greeks as uncivilized, bloodthirsty beasts, barbarian covetous and dishonest tribe.. And once again I ask, why tis much hatred?

Nevertheless, I liked the different approach and the reformulation of the story is done in a way that the common reader can't distinguish what is fiction and what is part of the widely known version.

Finally, the book leaves a pleasant taste and certainly it made me feel that the hours I spent were not at all wasted.

For more reviews you can visit my blog https://helenasbooks670176047.wordpre...

[Natasa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is filled with family, love, and friendship. It is a mystery, romance, and adventure. It sounded more intriguing than it actually is. Book started out to be great but as the story went on, I just lost interest and found it a chore to finish. The plot is slow-paced, and there is a lot of trudging through to get through to the climax. The setting is well-developed, but the characters are not likable and forgettable. 

[Kszr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting thesis to start off with, but this book needs an editor! Long winded and overblown, the main character, Diana Morgan, is the classic nerd in that she is always the last to figure anything out. Naive to a fault, and a bit loopie if you ask me, this chick is flying around the world without knowing enough on how to get past customs.

Aside from the fact that I kept losing my patience with her, which may have been the point, I kept going to find out what happened. Where was Granny? And why did she send the bracelet? What was the mystery she was hiding? And why did we start with a baby being left? Entwined within is a fascinating story of Myrina - and the telling of this becomes the telling of the Greek and Trojan wars. I was more invested in Myrina than in Diana, honestly, but the tales are set to be parallel.

As long as you are ok with slogging through the dingbat Diana's story and fly through Myrina's I learned more about the Greek and Trojan past, including mythology and the strength of women in that world.

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Arc provided by Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine through Netgalley





This is a story that left me with mixed feelings: on one hand it develops a complex and rich story from ancient mythology; on the other hand, I found the characters and the initial pace of the adventure not very interesting.

Told in alternating points of views, this tale is divided between two very different chronological time phases:
• One takes place during the Bronze age. In it we follow the paths of two sisters, Myrina and Lilly, who after returning from a hunting expedition find most of their tribe decimated.
• The other one follows the life of Diana Morgan a philologist who is currently teaching at Oxford.

My first problem with the initial narrative is that, after a while of reading it, it became quite dull to follow.
The characters' development and consequent characterization is not this book's strong point. Instead they feel like the props against which the plot, _ the actual star _, develops itself.

Diana, who is supposed to be twenty eight years old, comes out as this naïve and easily infatuated girl. The _very teenage way_ she talks about her long time love interest seems quite at odds with the personality that she should have had for someone who against better judgement _when it comes to her career_ has decided to uncover the Amazons' history. Someone determined and focused.

On the other hand, _ also _ at the beginning, the historical pov didn't sound very credible due to the way the dialogue was written between the characters. The characters sounded too modern regarding their time frame.

I'm afraid that, although crucial to the story's development, the way Diana agrees to the professional proposition made to her was just another sign of her tstl personality...
Her job is at risk, and she just takes of like that? Photos can be photoshopped... just saying.
Diana's voyage marks another phase in the book. Yes, it becomes more action packed, in a Clive Cussler way... the thing is that, _once again _, since I didn't develop any attachment to the characters, were one of them to die, I couldn't care less.

The contemporary romance was very weak. There wasn't a growing sense of tension between the characters, nothing that indicated love or lust between them.
There was also the part where Diana's knight in shining armour joins her and her adventure colleagues, and starts behaving as if he owns her, when their relationship had never been more than that of colleagues.
And what does she do?
She finds it strange but doesn't say a word! How? This is the main problem with her!
It's like emotionally she doesn't react to the story, physically, yes. She reacts to dangers, she runs, she hides, the whole gamut... emotionally... she just keeps quiet.

She doesn't question people's attitudes. She doesn't find odd or very coincidental certain things and events...
she's a paper doll. Soulless.

Regarding the historical romance, it is better done than the contemporary, especially because Paris' personality beats all the other ones...
Regarding the unexpected turn of events that the author created... I have to say that I loved it! :)
Let's say that I found this much more believable than the "common acknowledged story" of Paris and Helena.
Basically the whole concept in which the author was able to interweave mythological characters and events in a completely different and original way, was just fabulous.

I would be reading a page, and then a character would pop up and I was like: Oh, here you are....
Lilly who is Myrina's sister, takes the role of "Cassandra"...
Paris himself, here takes the place of Hector...
Myrina, the Amazon Queen, plays Helena to her Paris..
Achilles here is just a Pirate...
Hercules only makes a brief appearance... and so on and on.
So if you're keen on "your" mythology following a certain determined path, you'll probably have a problem with this.
To me, this was the book's greatest asset!

As the author says:

"Some scholars will certainly disagree with my choices in describing the past— skepticism is, after all, a prerequisite of proper scholarship— but that doesn’t necessarily mean things could not have happened the way I depict them. It is my hope, of course, that inquisitive readers will use my book as a springboard for a dive into the many unsolved mysteries of the past and flock to the fields of history, philology, and archaeology, eager to help expand our knowledge of the ancient world."

[Carol Apple · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I found The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier on a Libertarian book list. I loved the book even though it is a far-fetched adventure thriller. Come to think of it, all my favorite novels are farfetched stretchers of plausibility: Ivanhoe, Les Miserables, Kate Atkinson ‘s Life After Life. In the end this novel stirred my imagination and sent thrills of possibility down my spine.

The story begins in the stuffy academic world of the Oxford Ancient Studies department where a 27-year-old philologist named Diana Morgan is counseled by her adviser to keep quiet about her unhealthy interest in the existence of ancient Amazons. It is does not bring respectability to the department to conjecture about the historical reality of sensationalistic comic book characters. But Diana cannot restrain herself from speaking on her favorite topic and one such speech results in a mysterious invitation to fly to Amsterdam view evidence that at Amazon culture really existed. The invitation comes with a photograph that shows mysterious writing in a newly discovered ancient alphabet.

Diana’s interest in the forbidden topic is rooted in her childhood relationship with her grandmother who came to live with Diana’s family after being released from a mental institution. Granny secretly tutored nine-year-old Diana in the ways of the Amazons until her parents got wind of it and began taking steps to put her grandmother away again. With the help of Diana’s piggy bank savings, Granny is able to escape on a bus, never to be heard from again. Only years later does Diana remember the notebook Granny filled with writing from beginning to end. Diana retrieves the notebook from her parents’ files and discovers it to be a dictionary of an ancient language. When she realizes the letters match the ancient letters in the photograph, Diana risks her career and possibly her life to pursue the answers to her questions about the Amazons and the truth about her grandmother.

What is meant to be a one-week research trip turns into a worldwide jaunt involving two sets of pursuers who are after either the notebook, the jackal-headed bracelet on Diana’s wrist, or perhaps Diana herself. Of course there has to be some romance involved, in this case in the form the man with multiple identities who is sexy enough to make Diana forget about her lifelong crush on the young Lord who grew up in her neighborhood and was just beginning to finally show some interest in her at Oxford.

An especially delightful feature of this novel is that as Diana and her colleagues make astounding discoveries, alternate chapters take us to the ancient world during a time just before the fall of Troy where characters from Homer and Greek mythology come vividly to life – Paris, King Priam, Hercules, the evil King Minos, Medusa, and others. I enjoyed how the novel poses some fascinating speculations about possible historic roots of many of the familiar myths.

It takes a while to get that soul-stirring spirit of freedom that put this book on a Libertarian reading list, but when you get the concluding chapters it’s worth it. You realize that while no novel is more far-fetched than the dream of individual freedom there is also nothing that makes life more worth living. I was fascinated by how the story incorporates ideas about living free in a dangerous world – ideas that include living in loosely connected communities that are able to help each other as needed, being flexible about picking up and moving, being well armed, and not being overly dependent on technology. The female point of view is a truly fresh take on the freedom theme and worked excellently since no group has been so consistently enslaved and oppressed throughout human history as women.

In reading the Wikipedia bio on the author I noticed she has a Ph.D. in The History of Ideas from Aarhus University in Denmark. I had no idea there was such a degree but if I were beginning my education now, that’s the degree I’d want to go for! The Lost Sisterhood is an entertaining novel that offers so much more than mere entertainment. It might to considered a philosophical novel, but not in a heavy-handed way. The entertainment outweighs the philosophy. I look forward to reading Anne Fortier's other books, beginning with Juliet.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in today’s liberated society, it can be a challenge to find female heroes. Well in Ancient times, it was practically impossible. We don’t hear of very many women in the stories of the Ancient Greeks and Romans and the women who do make an appearance in the myths have a tendency to be victims who are molested by the gods, or jealous goddesses who start wars. The exception to this are the mythical Amazons, a race of fierce women warriors. Although no one is certain the Amazons existed, they are mentioned by Herodotus in his histories and Homer has them fighting with Troy in The Iliad.

The Lost Sisterhood is the story about Diana Morgan, an Oxford Professor who specializes in decoding and translating ancient languages. Her personal fascination is the story of the Amazons, even though her obsession with the myth has caused her to lose some credibility. Running parallel to this plot, is the story of Myrina, a woman warrior who tries to keep her band of women safe from pillaging hordes of Greeks and the usual dangers that women encountered in the Bronze Age. The book bounces back and forth between the two stories with Myrina fighting for her life and Diana, searching for clues about the lost Amazons.

Although this book did not feature deep complex characters or astounding lyrical writing, it does have an interesting plot, with plenty of research about the myth of the Amazons entwined in the story. I loved the sections of the book that took place in Ancient Greece. It also offers some interesting discussion topics, such as whether or not museums should return art that was stolen from other countries. I also found it ironic that Myrina and Diana have many of the same challenges – balancing romance with a career and having a difficult time gaining credibility with their male colleagues.

The book is an overall enjoyable read, especially if you like historic fiction. But, I have one complaint that annoyed me through much of the book. Usually with historic fiction, if you feature real people from history, they have to behave in a manner consistent with reality. You can’t portray as a kind humanitarian for example. This book doesn’t have historical characters, but features many of the major players from Homer’s epic, like Paris, Hercules, Agamemnon and Helen. But, unlike the story of the Trojan War, they all behave differently and their relationships with each other varies quite a bit from Homer’s version. So if you are familiar with the Trojan War, put aside your expectations, because this is a very different story. Fun read!

[Ariana Fae · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Sisterhood captured my attention because it revolved around the legendary Amazons, the theme about individual freedom and breaking gender stereotypical roles.

Anne Fortier did a wonderful job of intertwining the tales of two women: Myrina who takes on the responsibility of protecting and leading her sister through an ancient world, and Diana who is on a quest to prove that Amazons were not myths but truly existed. The main female characters were strong and my favorite was Diana’s grandmother. Although she is minor character she was the most compelling and the main reason I kept on reading— I wanted to find out who she really was and her past.

The world building was done well with enough details that made everything vivid. One of the things I loved was how Fortier blended in and reinvented the mythological figures such as Hercules, Paris Hippoltya, King Minos, and King Priam to richen her story. The historical flash backs with Myrina was my favorite part of the book, to where I was speed reading through Diana’s chapters to get back to her. I was slightly disappointed with Myrina’s ending, while it was good, I would have preferred something meatier instead of a summary. The book had just enough mystery and intrigue to capture my interest and imagination to keep turning the pages.

The Lost Sisterhood will appeal to anyone who loves myth, romance, adventure and ancient history- especially those who love tales about Amazons.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Fortier finally gave me another book to read! And it did not disappoint. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster with twist and turns I didn't see coming. If you liked Juliet I recommend The Lost Sisterhood. Flashing between past and present is like two books in one. If she had taught history in my college it would have been the most exciting class in campus. She ties in myths we grew up hearing and makes it an unforgettable journey. This Book was amazing and I have been saying that since before I finished the book. Now that I'm done I am completely heartbroken. I hope I don't have to wait 6 years for another book. Anne Fortier knows what she is doing and her snippet in the authors notes about being a warrior was a great end. There really is an Amazon in all of us.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling read with characters that really came to life for me! The modern day heroine, Diana & the mysterious Nick experience a fast-paced adventure, interesting mystery, and spark off each other in a fun romance. The compassionate historical heroine, Myrina, is the center of a beautiful love story and legendary story line. I listened to it on Audible with one of their star narrators, Cassandra Campbell, and loved it! Hope this author comes out with something else soon :)

[Holly in Bookland · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5 stars

I really liked parts of this story but something just seemed to be missing for me. I don't think I liked Diana very much. For an Oxford scholar she seemed very naïve and even un-intelligent at times. I did like Myrina's story, learning about the Amazons, and having a bit of mythology thrown in. Overall I liked this book but I just didn't love it like I wanted to.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun march back into the historical events surrounding the beginnings of the Amazon women and their legends. A dual-timeline story that slowly unravels to bring together the best of historical speculation and modern-day treasure hunting.

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title - The Lost Sisterhood

Author - Anne Fortier

Summary - (SPOILERS)

"..Thank you, Dr. Morgan. I am gratified to discover that I am no longer the most antiquated scholar at Oxford. For your sake I hope the academy will one day come to need feminism again; the rest of us, I am relieved to say, have long since moved along and buried the old battle-ax..."

Diana Morgan has an obsession. A belief ingrained in her by countless tales told to her by her grandmother. A faith that the Amazons of legend did exist and not only did they exist, but that she will find archaeological proof of such an existence. Unfortunately she is also very alone among her colleagues in such a belief and finds her career stalled often for it.
Until one afternoon after a lecture she has given, she is propositioned by a strange man. Propositioned to fly across the world to decipher a text; in a language she has seen only once before. In a tattered old notebook written in by her grandmother. The very grandmother who has disappeared but left in Diana, the tales of the Amazons.

Parallel to the tale of Diana is the tale of Myrina. A young girl who along with her younger sister finds herself outcast from her village. A disease has attacked the village and Myrina's mother, whose faith in herbs and potions finds herself the scapegoat in the villagers fears. Myrina takes her sister to the city of the Goddess to seek refuge and there joins with the Sisterhood of the Goddess.
But such safety does not last as the Temple is sacked and the Sisterhood is taken into slavery or killed. The attackers, Greek pirates led by the son of King Agamemnon have taken Myrina's sister captive.

"..If there exists a land without men," replied Myrina, glancing at her sisters, "we above all should like to know where it is. As you can surely see, we have suffered much, and expect to suffer more, for this world of ships and journeys has not been kind to us." She bent her head as images of the temple raiders passed before her eyes. "Happiness has long since run its course in us. We are now to choose between danger and regret, neither of which can ever restore the lives we have lost..."

"..To the Greeks," Paris went on. "women are little more than livestock, and foreigners are considered more brutish still. This is why Agamemnon's pirates think nothing of attacking a foreign temple and laying hands on a priestess, and why I urge you to forget this quest of yours. If your friends are not already dead, they will be soon. Why add more bodies to the pyre?"
Myrina was shocked by his words that her growing respect for Prince Paris almost lost its footing. "If I were a man," she said, straightening, "you would not have spoken to me thus. Because I am a woman, you assume my aim in life is comfort, and that my honor lies in my chastity alone. I can't blame you, for you are merely saying what you think I am hoping to hear. But you are wrong..."

Myrina finds an ally in the young Prince of Troy, Paris, and together they set forth to free the captive Sisterhood. Thus setting the stage for the great War of Troy.

Diana finds clues to the existence of Myrina, the last known queen of the Amazons and of the battle of Troy. But in doing so she finds something else. Did the Sisterhood truly die defending the city of Troy against the Greeks, or do they still live today?

Review -

Anne Fortier has done it again. Her first English novel, Juliet, told the story of Shakespeare's Juliet in historical terms and how it relates to a modern day Juliet. In The Lost Sisterhood, she brings the strength of and power of the legend of the Amazons to life but in terms that are realistic and true to their time.
Myrina and her Sisterhood find themselves becoming warriors not by choice but by necessity. And it is their great loss that leads them to seek a sanctuary without men. Where they can provide for themselves and build a life without the limitations pressed upon them by the cultural expectations of their time.
In telling Diana's story, Fortier shows with deftness and grace, that little has changed as Diana fights for the respect and equality that her male counterparts receive in the academic world.
Do not get me wrong. This novel is not a flag waving, bra burning condemnation of the male species. Perhaps this is what Fortier has done so very well in this tale. She makes her point without alienating the male reader.
More than that alone, it is a suspenseful and wonderfully researched novel of the fall of Troy and the legends of the Amazons that defended it. She does not mimic the story we have heard before but writes one of her own. There is little mention of Achilles and none of Paris' older brother Hector. Helen is here of course but not quite in the fashion we are use to.
The Lost Sisterhood is an ode to strong independent women and insightful to the sacrifice and gain that comes with such independence.
But best of all, it is a really good story.

[Kalen Ruiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect mix of history, intrigue, treasure hunt and romance. When an audiobook makes you not want to leave the car, it’s a winner.