Seven Dead Sisters by Jen Williams
Publisher – Absinthe Books
Published- Out Now
Price - £18 hardcover
Alizon Grey is being driven to her death, caged in the back of a cart ready to be burned to death as a witch, and for killing her father. When the cart is attacked and she finds herself loose, we follow her journey as she tries to reach safety even as the story of her life—mistreated and the last of her siblings—is gradually revealed. Alizon has had to fight for her life before now, but this time wins all and the truth will be revealed.
Justice in the past (and often now lets be honest) is down to a society’s own rules. It is amazing what you can get away with if you’re a rich man in a position of power and influence; sometimes with a bad haircut and terrible jokes. Its equally scary how often a woman can be judged as the true guilty party– history is full of the women who were burnt as witches yet were clearly not; victims of domestic abuse that were ignored and so much more. In Jen Williams’ dark tale Seeven Dead Sisters we watch a condemned women’s trip to her execution go through dark woods where many secrets are finally revealed.
Alizon Grey is to be burnt at the stake. She murdered her father and she is accompanied by the magistrate and driver to the place of her death. But the path known as the killing road leads into the forest and while Alison is inside her metal cage its is attacked. The cart is overturned; the men vanish and Alizon is all alone with something murderous. At the same time Alison goes through here memories of growing up and the six sisters she knew and lost.
I’m really impressed how much gets packed into this novella and the detours we make that all combine to link a story of cruelty, guilt and most of all our society’s way of ignoring cruelty especially if committed by men. I’ll avoid getting too spoilery but what looks like a tale of a woman being burnt for witchcraft it is not. Instead, we get a tale in miniature of a family in a small inhospitable place where life (particularly those of women) is cheap and as realise exactly what has been unfurling for years; we will be disturbed that so many people decided not to notice or get involved. All of which helps us understand Alizon and also take her side. I really appreciated how each sister is given a character both good or bad but we get to briefly know them as people in their own right. The villains here especially for their attitude to women are a lot clearer as the story progresses and who we believe to be truly guilty will change.
The other key feature is the fantasy elements. We get some rather great horror and dark fantasy in this tale. The unknown monster in the woods, the fates of the two men with Alizon and where the story goes to all fit the story. It’s a place of magical bargains and pleas that may not be answered as much as you’d like. The forest setting is so fitting as a place for dark things to be found and be revealed. All accumulates in a ending explaining what actually happened and the reader will have to judge what Alizon is guilty of.
A very powerful and wonderfully plotted dark tale awaits the reader in Seven Dead Sisters. It sits on the borders of dark fantasy and horror and is a story perfect to chill you in the all the wrong ways for a summer read but it is well worth your time and attention. Highly recommended reading!
