Sisters of Shiloh

by Kathy Hepinstall, Becky Hepinstall Hilliker

A best-selling novelist enlists her own sister to bring us the story of two Southern sisters, disguised as men, who join the Confederate Army—one seeking vengeance on the battlefield, the other finding love.

In a war pitting brother against brother, two sisters choose their own battle.

Joseph and Thomas are fresh recruits for the Confederate Army, daring to join the wild fray that has become the seemingly endless Civil War, sharing everything with their fellow soldiers—except the secret that would mean their undoing: they are sisters.

Before the war, Joseph and Thomas were Josephine and Libby. But that bloodiest battle, Antietam, leaves Libby to find her husband, Arden, dead. She vows vengeance, dons Arden’s clothes, and sneaks off to enlist with the Stonewall Brigade, swearing to kill one Yankee for every year of his too-short life. Desperate to protect her grief-crazed sister, Josephine insists on joining her. Surrounded by flying bullets, deprivation, and illness, the sisters are found by other dangers: Libby is hurtling toward madness, haunted and urged on by her husband’s ghost; Josephine is falling in love with a fellow soldier. She lives in fear both of revealing their disguise and of losing her first love before she can make her heart known to him.

In her trademark “vibrant” (Washington Post Book World) and “luscious” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) prose, Kathy Hepinstall joins with her sister Becky to show us the hopes of love and war, the impossible-to-sever bonds of sisterhood, and how what matters most can both hurt us and heal us.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Civil War, Fiction, Historical, Romance, War, American Civil War

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Kathy Hepinstall grew up in Spring, Texas, near the Louisiana border. Her most recent book is The Book of Polly. Polly is based, in part, on Kathy’s own mother, who has as wicked a tongue as her fictional counterpart. Kathy now lives in Portland, Oregon.

Reviews

[Melinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Hempinstall's execute the setting with precision, the reader transported to the harshness, lurid and barbarous acts of the Civil War.

Quite a burning narrative. The dichotomy of the two sisters - hate, love, revenge, mercy, addled, clearheaded was a plus. The contrast added scope and a certain unpredictability to both narrative and characters. The reader is on edge as dark secrets are reveled at random, an element of surprise welcomed.

As much fondness as I felt for this book, I was let down by the lack of character development. We really don't know much about Libby and Josephine "pre war." I understand Arden is the quasi reason bringing them to war but their motivation failed to evoke emotion from this reader, I blame it on what felt like a rushed condensed abbreviation of circumstances. Each woman was so self absorbed they canceled out recognizing each other's varied emotions, feelings, the sisterly bond of understanding divided and veered off.

The ending surprised me, I thought for sure it would have taken a different turn, the way it stands it is the calm after the storm leaving me pleasantly neutral. Brutal story of love and war slanting more towards war. Historical fiction fans, Civil War buffs will find this novel absorbing, graphic details bringing the cruelty of Civil War home.

[Diane S ☔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josephine and Libby are sisters, they do everything together until Arden moves close to their farm. Now it is Libby and Arden, and eventually they marry. Arden enlists in the army to fight for the Confederate cause and Libby falls apart without him. She rallies when she decides to enlist in the army herself, to look for Arden. Josephine enlists to try to keep Libby alive.

Two sisters who become Joseph and Thomas enlist in an army desperate for men. What is special about this book is not only that the sisters enlist together but how Josephine always looks out for Libby, but even in battle does not want to kill. I fell in love with this author's writing in her novel Blue Asylum. The way she describes battle scenes, the bodies, the soldiers fighting on, make one feel that they are there. Alongside these horrific events she describes nature, the beauty that is no more. She describes the misery of the troops in the cold, the bugs, lack of food and she does it in painstaking detail. She does as much for her characters who become well rounded human beings with hopes and dreams of their own.
There are even a few brief appearances of in inveterate
Stonewall Jackson.

I found this to be a truly good read and for me Hepinstalls writing sets her apart.

ARC from Publisher.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Twenty-one. The number of men who would pay for his death. As a woman she loved the poetry in that equation; as a man she loved the rage.’

Libby and Arden are newlyweds but a mere month into their lives together, the Civil War breaks out and Arden leaves to join the ranks of the Confederate army. When Libby hears that a massive battle took place nearby involving Arden’s unit she sets out to verify his survival. Her older sister Josephine travels with her and after they split up to search is the one that finds Arden with a massive hole in his stomach, dying slowly. By the time Libby finds them, Arden is still warm but long gone. Filled with a foreign rage, Libby cuts off her hair intent on joining the Confederates. She swears to take twenty-one Yankee lives for the twenty-one years that Arden was on this earth. Josephine, finding out her intentions, resolves herself to go with her if only to protect her from her dangerous plan.

The writing team for this novel is two sisters; one is a bestselling novelist and the other possesses a history degree. The result is a fluid story that is not just poignant but leaves you feeling well-informed of this time period. Sisters of Shiloh is written primarily from the point of view of Libby and Josephine who become Thomas and Joseph when they enlist. It reflects their struggles from being simple teenage girls to adapting to life as a soldier not only with the constant fear of dying but of keeping the secret of their gender safe. Josephine only joined the army to protect her sister and has no intentions of doing harm to anyone if she can help it. She’s a simple girl who has never been in love but slowly finds herself falling for Wesley Abeline (and he begins falling for “her” although his feelings remain conflicted as he’s not aware of her true gender). Libby’s mindset becomes darker as the book progresses with her hearing Arden’s voice in her head, urging her in the battle to kill again and again. She eventually begins to actually see him as well, with his stomach still bleeding and flies that cover the wound. At first, it was hard to differentiate the sister's voices but by the end, they had developed their own separate identities so much that each section was clearly definable. Josephine remained sorrowful at her inability to save her sister from her own mind and Libby remained in conflict with her true nature and the impressionable effects of her husband even after death.

‘Arden, though, was more than a name. He was a presence, an exhortation, the heaving breaths of his spirit keeping up with her, his voice shouting that unearthly Rebel yell right along with her.’

Women that conceal themselves as men and join the war effort (typically in the Civil War) seems to be a new trend in literature these days as this is the second release I’ve read recently. I Shall Be Near to You was the previous one I read and is told from the point of view of a woman that joins the Union army, rather than the Confederates. Both books succeed in presenting a side of the war that was apparently quite common but vastly absent from the history books. Reading about these women that sacrificed their safety and voluntarily went into battle (even when they weren’t allowed to) was shocking and impressive even if it wasn’t exactly smart. Libby and Josephine went into the war not knowing how to shoot a gun yet they persevered and lasted a whole eight months in the war when some men didn’t last a few weeks. This may be considered an ‘unconventional’ side of wartime but it’s a side that is truly admirable that I’d love to see more of. Other related reads I intend on picking up include Neverhome by Laird Hunt, Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War by Karen Abbott and This Side of the River by Jeffrey Stayton.

I received this book free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

[Melissa Crytzer Fry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Civil War-era books that depict the realities of such a brutal and historically significant war, and books with unconventional female characters. As a result, this novel was a satisfying read and a great way to start a new year of reading. I'm also quite mesmerized that it was written jointly by two sisters -- a direct parallel to the story itself, which focuses on the loyalties of two sisters to one another. (Writing a book by oneself is hard enough; I can't imagine sharing the duties and the complexities that it would involve). Even so, the Hepinstall sisters pull this off without a hitch.

While I admittedly would have preferred more backstory to more firmly anchor me emotionally to the two sisters, I found the central questions posed more than enough to keep me flipping pages. For me, the tension was great enough that I felt a need to know the answers and resolution to the curve balls thrown throughout the novel. The writing is straightforward and accessible, but at times also quite lyrical. It is also always descriptive in its depiction of nature (one of my favorite aspects of a good book) and the horror of warfare.

If you enjoy Civil War stories, the appearance of ghosts, nature descriptions and stories of familial and romantic love, this book is for you!

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Libby is a young wife who constantly worries about the fate of her husband, Arden, while he is at war. She moves back home with her parents and siblings while Arden is away to keep her mind from wandering. Even though Libby's love for Arden is strong her sister doesn't feel the same way. She seems to see him as a distraction. When Libby's worst fears happen she has to leave to pick herself up and find strength in her lose. She thinks she can find peace in killing a one Yankee a year for every year he was alive.

Once Josephine figures out about her sisters crazy plan she fears she will never see Libby again if she doesn't go along to keep a watchful eye on her The two devise a plan and decide to dress as men, and soon find themselves in the army. The majority of the novel takes place with the two hiding out in a camp. Libby and Josephine have very different struggles while being there. One doesn't want to take someones life while the other seems to be thriving off of the idea.



If that isn't complicated enough Josephine starts falling in love with a fellow soldier. While Josephine struggles with wither to stay loyal to her sister or to reveal her true gender Libby is battle her own ghost... Literately; she keeps seeing vision of her dead husband. The two sisters are night and day from each other which was a big positive to this story. I will say I did prefer Josephine to Libby. This being said I felt neither character had a ton of development going on. The ending of this book did surprise me as it went in a different direction than I thought.

It was nice having this book to break up my reading between Ya books... Since I do mainly (almost only) read YA/NA books I did find this one a littler harder for me to get into. If you're into war books and want something that has a deeper meaning this book would be a good pick for you.

[Barb]

I read and enjoyed Kathy Hepistall's 'Blue Asylum' back in 2012, it was a favorite of mine for the year. I was impressed by her writing in that novel and was eager to read more from her. I would recommend that novel to others who would like to read something from her.

Unfortunately I didn't care for the writing in this latest novel at all. I found the characters very flat and one dimensional. The language the authors use was somewhat simplistic with many awkward and clumsy phrasings that gave the story a juvenile feel to it. The character's emotions and dialogue were very flat and lacked realism. The story line was not very convincing or nuanced and writing didn't come across as polished. I think it's a tricky thing to co-author a novel and it's hard to know if that was part of the problem with this book or not.

If you are interested in the subject matter of this story, women who fought as men during the American Civil War, I highly recommend Erin Lindsay McCabe's 'I Shall Be Near to You'. I thought that was an excellent fictionalization of the life of a woman fighting as a man.

[Raegan · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Disclaimer: I won this book for free through goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-

Quite a slow and boring read. I couldn't feel attached to the characters or feel how they felt during some of the emotional scenes. I felt the two main characters made some rather naive' decisions. Sometimes I feel authors purposely make the main character(s) of their books dumb so they have more to write about. I understand some characters/people make mistakes but come on! Even the dullest of bulbs in the package wouldn't do some of this stuff. This book was very hard to believe most of the time. The book had its moments but it was an overall let down.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The topic of women disguising themselves as men in order to serve in the Civil War is fascinating to me. I always love a good sisters novel, so I found the idea of an older sister following her headstrong younger sister into battle in order to protect her an interesting premise. As far as plot goes, this novel feels a bit unfocused—it's more episodic than structured. Despite its war setting, then, SISTERS OF SHILOH actually gets a little dull in places. I also wanted more development from the characters, especially the sisters, who seemed kind of flat. All in all, though, I enjoyed this one well enough. I'd give it somewhere between a B- and C+.

[Jenny Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giveaway @ Let Them Read Books!

Arden, I remember a summer day when we were young and you were lying on your back in the grass, and all I can think of now is that nothing in the meadow told you that in five years you'd be dead. No clues at all. Not from the daisies or the clover or the birds or the wind. Not from the clouds or the dog whose ears you scratched. Not from God.

There were Yankee boys, then, in the North. Lying in meadows. Scratching dogs' ears. Time would pass and one day they would put on their shoes and come find you.

Now I've come to find them.

Sisters of Shiloh is the story of Libby Beale, a young woman maddened by grief who disguises herself as a man so she can funnel her anger into vengeance by joining the Confederate army and killing one Yankee for every year of her husband's too-short life. But she's not going alone. Her older sister, Josephine, is going too, to ensure that Libby comes back home, for Josephine can't imagine a life where she is not the plain and dutiful sister to the beautiful and willful Libby.

The sisters run away and enlist shortly after the Battle of Antietam, the single bloodiest day in our nation's history. While Libby fits right in, relishing her new role as a soldier and a killing machine, Josephine feels increasingly isolated. That feeling deepens even more when she realizes her sister has done far more than simply impersonate a man; she has channeled herself into her dead husband, to the point where Josephine can't tell where Arden ends and Libby begins. Libby's descent into madness couples with the horrors of war and Josephine's own guilt over Arden's death to form a morass of conflicting, soul-crushing feelings that Josephine must wade through to maintain her own sanity. Throw in her growing love for a fellow soldier, a love she can never act upon without revealing her identity and getting the sisters kicked out of the army--an unforgivable sin in Libby's eyes--and Josephine's internal struggles become almost as large as that of the war itself.

For a long time, I thought this was going to end up a 3-star read for me for several reasons. First, I can't say I'm the biggest fan of the writing style. Lots of POV switches and short scenes lent a disjointed feeling to the novel, but that is balanced out by gritty and eye-opening descriptions of camp life and stunningly profound passages about war and its effects. Second, the subject matter is already so dark that at times I felt like Libby's madness on top of that was overkill, and I started to get rather annoyed with her, but toward the end, the authors did a great job of making me understand how closely she had been connected to her husband (and that it wasn't a good thing) and that her temporary spiral into darkness was almost necessary for her to be able to come out on the other side of it and move past her grief. And finally, it took me awhile to form a connection with the sisters, but as the story drew closer to the end, everything sort of gelled together for me, and I was on the edge of my seat to see how everything would play out.

I was moved the most by Josephine's struggle to hold on to her femininity, which she had already thought was somewhat lacking, in the midst of so many men and so many horrible situations. I enjoyed watching her confidence emerge, watching her finally become her own person instead of thinking of herself only as a sister or a daughter. And I was grateful for her budding romance with a fellow soldier. In a novel full of blood and guts and death and despair, that shining bright spot was very much appreciated, and I held on to that hopefulness right up to the very last page and the novel's poignant and satisfying conclusion.

I don't think this novel will be for everyone due to its darkness, but for its focus on the sisters' internal struggles and the life of a war-time soldier, it's a must-read for lovers of women's fiction and Civil War history.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was granted access to the digital review copy of Sisters of Shiloh in Edelweiss by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

This is not the first work of historical fiction about women serving in the Civil War but it has the twist of two sisters joining forces to write riveting war scenes about two sisters, disguised as men and joining the Confederacy.

Libby, the younger sister, recently widowed, vows revenge for the death of her husband, Arden. Josephine, believing that she must protect her sister at all cost, reluctantly joins her in enlisting in the Confederacy as "Thomas and Joseph".

The Beale sisters endure eight months of hell in the Stonewall Brigade and the descriptions of the war itself place you on the battlefield with them. Libby/Thomas is obsessed with the loss of Arden and relives scenes from their short marriage over and over in her mind. Eventually those memories slips into madness with her ghostly, Arden, directing her revenge for his death. She, in effect, becomes Arden in manner and speech.

Josephine/Joseph sees her sole role in the war as protecting Libby/Thomas from herself and the dangers of war. She secretly tries to stay true to herself as a woman while outwardly projecting the manly image necessary to remain disguised.
To fail at the subterfuge would cost her the close relationship with her sister.

The battle scenes are very descriptive. It seems somewhat impossible that the two sisters can live so close to the bloodshed yet despite their inept battle skills emerge unharmed. Like a tornado that rips through a neighborhood mysteriously bypassing some homes there must be instances of blind luck in war.

Josephine/Joseph feeling isolated and emotionally alone in battles not of her choosing finds a friend in a fellow soldier. She finds herself falling in love with him and despairs that she can't reveal herself as woman to him.

As a librarian, I was drawn to the use of literature as a source of relief from the war by the Confederate soldiers. In this story, the five part English translation of the 1862 French novel, Les Miserables, seemed necessary to their mental health. For those readers wanting to know more about the importance of this work to both sides of the Civil War please Google the following: "In Camp, Reading ‘Les Miserables’" by Louis P. Masur.

I enjoyed the book and recommend it to readers of historical fiction and women's issues.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I once had a wonderful American History teacher, who talked about women who disguised themselves as men in order to fight alongside their husbands, brothers, fathers, friends, on both sides of the Civil War. These women entered the war for many various reasons, some out of conviction, others out of a fierce need to protect or be near their male counterparts. So I was very glad to be selected to win a copy of Sisters of Shiloh from LibraryThing, a historical fiction piece that features sisters Josephine and Libby, who join the Rebel fighters after Libby's young husband Arden is killed in battle. Libby is determined to avenge her husband's death by killing at least 21 Yankees, (one for each year of her husband's life) and Josephine is just as determined to convince her sister to quit this insanity and go home, also to try to keep her sister alive.
This book appears well researched, and the historical setting is detailed and realistic. The violence of war is felt, the fears, and the pain are all here. But the greatest emphasis of this story is the relationships, between the two sisters, between Libby and her dead husband, and between these two women, who are seen as young naïve men by their fellow soldiers, and those other soldiers. This is the second book I have read by Kathy Hepinstall, and I have found both to be compelling and engaging.

[Sheri Peddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well of course I'm partial to the fact that my brilliant cousins are the authors, though I can honestly say I was intrigued by the story, and not disappointed at all. One of the authors' greatest talents is their ability to describe the scenery, scents, sounds and emotions so life-like that one can actually imagine themselves as a character, experiencing everything first hand; colorful descriptions brings the book to life. The history is so rich, and well, my vocabulary expanded...very smart writing! While not at all scandalous, and definitely constrained, there are a few delicate events that one might want to protect their young from reading, unless you are ready to enter into a discussion about "the birds and the bees", desires, etc. And finally, what a great script for a movie! Oh how I hope to see this wonderful story on the big screen...and pray the movie will do the book justice! Congratulations Becky and Kathy! Thank you for not giving up on your dream...

[Denise Westlake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually a five star, but civil war images prevent me from recommending to one and all. Very very good story about sisterly devotion.. and more.

You can't just banish love out of anger. It's hardier than that." Pg.285

[Peg Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "Sisters of Shiloh" is a most stunning, shocking, and animatingly lyrical novel written by two sisters about, well, two sisters who join the Confederate Army.

I found myself totally transported to 1863, into the heat of battle, totally immersed in the lives of Joseph and Thomas er , Josephine and Libby – keeping along with them the secret of their identities, discovering with them a universal truth: The bonds of sisterhood are, in fact, inseparable and inseverable. And, as our intrepid heroines finally learn, what truly matters most to us transcends everything and heals all.

[Lisa Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful historical fiction, beautifully written and quite moving.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher.

Josephine and Libby are sisters living in the south just before the Civil War breaks out. They are very close and do everything together, although Josephine seems to be the stronger of the two and serves as Libby’s protector.

When Libby’s husband, Arden, joins the Confederate Army and dies on the battlefield, Libby is beside herself with grief and cannot figure out a way to deal with the loss of her husband until she meets a wounded boy in an army hospital. The boy has lost his arm in battle and is disappointed because he to fulfill his vow of killing at least 18 Yankee soldiers while he was serving in the army. Libby decides to dress up in disguise, join the Confederate army, and kill 21 Yankee soldiers, one for every year that her husband Arden was alive.

Josephine cannot let her sister go into battle alone, so they set off together and join the army. What I found the most interesting about this story is that the sisters take a lot of time to learn the traits of a man which include how a male walks, shakes hands, and even plays cards. They do not want to be discovered so they are very meticulous in the study of all things masculine.

When they are finally assigned to a Confederate Army camp, they are befriended by their fellow soldiers. Josephine is especially attracted to a young soldier named Wesley. The romance in the book is intriguing and keeps the reader in suspense. Does Wesley suspect that Josephine is really a woman? Will she reveal herself to him before either one of them are killed in battle? What will Wesley’s reaction be when he finds out that Josephine is really a woman?

The contrast that the authors build between the two sisters is very interesting. As Josephine is falling in love, Libby seems to be going mad. In addition to dealing with lice, lack of food, sleeping on the cold ground, and the horrors of war, Libby is also haunted by her dead husband. She keeps having visions of Arden who goads her on to kill more Yankee soldiers.

My only complaint about the book is that there are a lot of very odd phrases and sentences that the authors use that are distracting and awkward. For example, Libby’s love for Arden is described with a clumsy metaphor: “She loved him that much, in a way that made no space for herself, as though he were a full glass of tea and she was that piece of ice that would cause an overspill onto the tablecloth.” The pause in a battle when men are reloading their weapons is described as, “The cacophony paused for a split second, and Libby heard the sound of a single curse, so absent of God it seemed to come from the idea of war itself.” When metaphors in a book are overwrought, they do not enhance the story but instead distract from what is otherwise an excellent plot and set of characters.

If you enjoy historical fiction set during the Civil War then the SISTERS OF SHILOH is a must read. Seeing the atrocities of this war through the eyes of two strong female characters makes for a fabulous and entertaining read.

For more of my reviews visit my blog: www.thebookbindersdaughter.com

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Josephine and her younger sister Libby have always had a strong bond. Josephine fills the caretaker role for Libby, nursing her when she falls ill and watching over her as a new neighbor boy, Arden comes into her life and steals her away. Libby and Arden get married right before the Civil War breaks out. Arden decides to join the Confederate Army in Stonewall's Brigade for the Southern cause with a fierce hatred of the Yankees in his heart. When the sisters find Arden dead after the battle in Sharpsburg, Libby looses herself in grief and madness and decides to avenge Arden by killing 21 Union soldiers, one for every year of Arden's life. To do this, Libby cuts her hair, binds her chest and dons Arden's old clothes. Libby feels she must continue to protect her sister and does the same. Now Thomas and Joseph, they set off to join the Confederate Army. Once accepted into the brigade, Libby quickly shifts into her alter-ego with her sights set on the kill while Josephine quietly falls for another soldier.

I am drawn in by books about women in battle in our history. Sisters of Shiloh brought me into the Civil War through the unique lens of sisterhood, grief and protection. From the first lines of this book I was taken in by the powerful, dreamlike and haunting writing. The contrast of the two sisters along with their dedication to one another was amazing to me. Josephine and Libby were distinct and motivated by different circumstances. Libby was hardened on the outside, but falling apart mentally with the ghost of Arden haunting her and pushing her to kill. Josephine was softer, more reserved, waiting to find love from a man, but determined to see her sister through the war. The time that the sisters spent in camp and in battle was the most interesting to me; these scenes were gritty, real and emotional. The other soldiers in the camp added diversity and a lot of personality in their interactions with Libby and Josephine as Thomas and Joseph. I loved Joseph and Wesley's relationship as well as Floyd's relationship with the boys in the camp. The addition of Les Miserables as reading material in the camp and a way to keep spirits up was really interesting as well. I do wish the ending was a little more concrete, especially with Wesley and Josephine.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Heather C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Civil War is an era of which I have not read widely, however I have always been intrigued by the stories that I have heard of women dressing as men and enlisting or partaking in military engagements. Sisters Becky and Kathy Hepinstall bring us a unique take on this tale by interweaving a tale of sisters who join and experience the war in different ways. I am curious as to their writing practice together – with two sisters writing the story of two sisters, I wonder if each chose one of them to write from the perspective of.

One of the strengths of this novel is the evocative descriptions rendered. A notable example that I marked during my reading:

“They passed a man’s head lying in thistles and covered in ants. The smell of gunpowder and spoiling flesh hung in the air, punctuated by the neighing of loose horses and the cries of the wounded men. Shells had torn farm animals apart, and the flesh of burst pumpkins had slid down the sides of the walls” (loc. 378, e-arc).

Wow! I can virtually see and smell that scene!

I found the introduction to the novel to be a little bit awkward and hurried to get into the meat of the story. I did not feel like I got to know the sisters very well and for quite some time had problems identifying the differences between the two of them. I think with a little more introduction, this issue would have been resolved for me. While the novel had a seemingly slow start, the story took off upon the girls enlisting in the army. At this point, the two girls developed their distinct identities – one set on revenge, and another set on trying to save her sister from it. The lengths that they went to in order to preserve their secret identities and the drama that ensued because of those measures made for excellent reading.

I have heard that the two sisters are working on another novel together and I am excited to see what comes of it as they have created a great work together.

This review was originally posted at The Maiden's Court blog.

[MissSusie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Xe Sands narration was wonderful she had distinct voices for both of these women and she was able to give emotion to what these women were going through in a wonderful way especially with Libby towards the end.

These two sisters are really as different as can be, yet are so close that they both dress up as men and enter the fray of war. Libby decides first to do it; she is going to kill 21 men one for every year her dear husband was alive but killing someone isn’t as mindless as the soldiers would like you to think. Josephine can’t let her sister go off on her own so also dresses as a man and goes off to war. Although Libby does become a very good soldier Josephine ends up with feelings for a fellow soldier but he thinks she is a man and doesn’t want or can’t return those feelings.

The characters aren’t as fleshed out as I would have liked I would have liked to know what their life was like before this , were they strong women before they joined were they spoiled society girls, farm girls I never really got a feel of where they came from, or who they were outside of the world of war. And as Libby starts to lose her grip on reality and Josephine is pining for a fellow soldier who is confused about his own attraction to another man, the ending for me is where the story kind of falls apart it felt rushed and unfinished to me.

This was a pretty good story but maybe I read this too soon after finishing a similar book (Neverhome) maybe I should have put more time in-between.

All in all this isn’t a bad book it’s a good story I just wish there had been more character development.

3 stars

[Holly Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is co-authored by sisters Kathy Hepinstall and Becky Hepinstall Hilliker. Their unique pairing produces a story about sisters thrown into the Civil War by the death of a husband. The two sisters, Josephine and Libby, disguised as men, enlist in the Confederate Army.

Their relationship is complex, their emotions raw, and their bond both fragmented and cemented. Descriptions of soldier camps and hardships suffered are graphic and detailed. This reader found the incorporation of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo an interesting element. The book evidently was commonly read by soldiers in camp and quoted while marching.

The central themes are sibling love, hate, revenge and survival. Libby is portrayed as mad and self-absorbed, Josephine as protective and emotionally isolated. Unfortunately, that is where the structure of the book weakens. Each sister is so absorbed in her own world; there is little emotional connection to the other. The prose is beautiful. The authors know how to paint with words. While the book truly fascinated me as a convincingly accurate view of the Civil War, I found the structure a bit awkward. I read a pre-publication galley. I hope the editing will refine the novel.

Hepinstall is the author of Blue Asylum, a finely crafted story about an insane asylum during the Civil War.

NetGalley provided the advance readers copy for my unbiased review.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby and Josephine aren't very similar, but their bond as sisters is fierce. Libby marries neighbor boy Arden, while Josephine still hasn't been kissed. When Arden is killed in battle, Libby vows to avenge his death by killing 21 Yankees, one for each year that Arden lived. Josephine can't let Libby go on her own, and joins her in the disguise of two young men heading off to war. During their "enlistment", Libby and Josephine learn to fight, survive the elements, and endure the amazing hardships that existed for Civil War soldiers, all while hiding their true identities. Libby's love for Arden brings him close in spirit - close enough that he talks to her and guides her actions. Josephine however, falls in love with a fellow soldier, which brings complications of its own.

I just loved this story and read it in one day. The writing is so beautifully evocative. I've never read a book with two authors where you couldn't see the seams where the two writing styles came together.

I never share quotes from books - in part because they ask you not to share from ARC's unless you know it is in the finished work - but this first sentence is so exquisite that I had to stop and re-read it:

Libby waited for her dead husband in the woods, her breath making clouds in the cold night air.

I love that opening. I loved these characters. I loved this book!

Thank you to Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for my review copy and for making me part of their tour.
For full review, see my blog at www.drbethnolan.wordpress.com
Beth's Book-Nook Blog

[Lori]

I was a goodreads first reads winner of the book " Sisters of Shiloh" this book was written by sisters Kathy and Becky Hepinstall. Sisters Libby and Josephine grew up together in the south.Libby the youngest marries Arden a man that Josephine dislikes. Arden goes off to fight in the civil war and is wounded and dies. Libby his wife wants revenge. she vows to run away and join the army with the intent to kill 21 Yankees one for each year her husband Arden lived. Josephine fearing for her younger sister runs away with her. The both cut off their hair, bind their breasts, and join the army disguised and boys.this book traces the gals over the course of about a year. they both go into battle. witness death and killings. Libby is slowly losing her mind and her sister Josephine has to protect her. they go by the names of Joseph,and Thomas. Josephine finds herself attracted to a soldier called Wesley but has to keep it a secret that she is a girl. It is hard to read books about war. This is a pretty interesting one, having two girls fight in battle hiding as boys. I do not want to give away too many spoilers. this book is pretty well written and tries to keep things realistic for the times. I found myself rooting especially for Josephine who showed devotion to a troubled sister and was willing to risk her own life to take care of her.

[Autumn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year there were two similar books that came out. The first was I Shall be Near to You by Erin Lindsay McCabe and the second was Neverhome by Laird Hunt. I read and reviewed both because they had a similar theme of women fighting in the civil war. In reading those, I heard about this book and wanted to compare it to the others. What I found interesting is that in the author's notes, this book said that it took the authors nearly 10 years to write this book. I find it strange that 3 such similar books would all come out within a year of each other.

Libby marries her childhood sweetheart much to her sister Josephine's dismay. Josephine never liked Arden and felt like he controlled and manipulated Libby's thinking. When Arden is killed, Libby starts to go insane and decides that she needs to kill one enemy for every year of her husband's life, 21. The two sisters enlist in the army, Libby for revenge and Josephine to protect her sister. Libby becomes the ideal soldier, while Josephine falls in love for the first time in her life.

I would definitely recommend this book for all the historical fiction fans. I really enjoyed this one. I read it cover to cover in one day. I got a little obsessed!!

[PopcornReads - MkNoah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review, Giveaway, Giveaway Hop: We’re participating in the Fool for Books Giveaway Hop in honor of April Fool’s Day. It seems only fitting that we feature a novel for that giveaway that pulls the wool over on someone, doncha think? Well, the sisters in Sisters of Shiloh pulled the wool over the eyes of everyone in the Confederate Army. Bestselling author Kathy Hepinstall and her sister, historian Becky Hepinstall Hilliker, have joined forces to give us a look at two very different sisters during the Civil War. You may recall that we reviewed Blue Asylum by Kathy Hepinstall a couple of years ago (link at the end of this review). It was such a well-written novel that it was a no brainer to choose Sisters of Shiloh. Family, love, war, dark secrets, hurt, and healing – and so much more. If you like historical fiction brought down to a very personal level, you won’t want to miss out on this book giveaway at http://popcornreads.com/?p=8272.

[Lesliemurrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was granted preview access to the book "Sisters of Shiloh Sisters of Shiloh" this book was written by sisters Kathy and Becky Hepinstall.

Sisters of Shiloh is a book about civil war time sisters written by sisters. It's intertwined with researched history, and stunning descriptions of characters, mood, scenery, and plot. I love historical books that make you feel like you could actually be there. The Hepinstalls nailed it.

Each sentence seems to twist and set a tone and capture my every attention.

Although historical fiction is not my preferred genre, this book captured me. I enjoyed the parallels of history and present with the struggles for love.

I've read all of Kathy's previous books and will continue to beg for more from both sisters. The pairing up of the two sisters only elevates their status of brilliant writing.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

There have been a number of books recently about women fighting as men during the Civil War including Laird Hunt's Neverhome and Karen Abbott's nonfiction Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy. In Sisters of Shiloh, Libby's husband dies fighting for the Confederacy and Libby falls into a deep depression. Eventually she decides to avenge his death by going off to war masquerading as a man. Worried about Libby, her sister Josephine ends up going along and they become Thomas and Joseph. Sisters of Shiloh effectively illuminates the hardships that the soldiers faced, the horrific battles they went through, and the PTSD they faced afterward (though, of course, it wasn't called that at the time). Recommended.

[Jenny Belk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sisters Of Shiloh is a story of two sisters who become soldiers in the Civil War Confederate Army. I received this ARC copy from Goodreads. This lovely book is very descriptive of its settings and characters. The ravages of war and the lives it costs, takes it toll on both women. It is also a familial love story as the sisters go to war together. Sacrifice and loss are abundant. Perseverance and endurance under unspeakable conditions make for a searing reading experience. I was captivated by the lyrical prose. I give it a high rating. I thoroughly enjoyed this story that needed to be told.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I more or less enjoyed this story, I was disappointed with its resolution of what I call the "Mulan problem." Rather than discussing Wesley's attraction to Jospehine/Joseph as a person, the character only saw an attraction to a man--which he saw as unnatural. When she turned out to be a woman all of the thorny issues (such as whether love can be unnatural) apparently evaporated, unexamined by any of the characters.
All in all, an easily pleasant read, but lacking the depth I was hoping for.

[TerryJane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a choice for my local book club. I read I Shall Be Near To You earlier this year, telling the story of a young woman in disguise in the Union Army, and was anxious to read Sisters of Shiloh to get a Confederate take on women in the army. It was an easy read in some ways, tough in others. One of the most intriguing things for me was learning of the troops reading Les Miserables. In all my years of school, I never learned about that!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2 stars! Historical fiction about two sisters who disguise themselves as men and join the Southern Army during the height of the Civil War. One does it for revenge and the other to keep her younger sister safe. This one kept me up all night to see how it ended. Highly recommended!