The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis
Blurb:
Seer Eliane is destined to a brilliant future as a servant of Aurie, the Sun-God. Everything changes when the High Seer, her superior, becomes jealous of Eliane's abilities and chases her from the temple.
Having no family, Eliane has no choice but to find refuge in Sanctuary, the mysterious mansion of Lady of Clairemont, alongside six women living there as sisters and refugees.
When the sisters begin to disappear, Eliane must find the truth about Sanctuary and its secretive owner before she disappears, too.
A horrific retelling of Bluebeard and Snow White, The Seventh Sister is a tale about sisterhood and overcoming adversity.
Review:
In The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis, Seer Elaine is a brilliant and talented future servant to Aurie, the Sun-God who all seers revere. Orphaned at a young age after her mother dies and her father vanishes, she dedicates her life to perfecting her glimpses of the future under the High Seer, her superior and teacher. But when her powers threaten to surpass that of even the High Seer, her teacher schemes to end her life before her power and position can be usurped. Sending her on a pilgrimage doomed to end in her demise, the High Seer plots Elaine’s death. She doesn’t expect Elaine to survive her assassination attempt…or to find worse danger than even the threat of the High Seer’s greed in her attempt at discovering safety.
This is the first work I’ve read by Millie Abecassis, and I don’t usually read novellas unless they’re by friends or I’m super invested. It’s definitely not the kind of story I’d usually read as my first introduction to a writer—but Abecassis absolutely knocked it out of the park with The Seventh Sister. It was an intriguing read, with unique magic and an even more original premise. I couldn’t get enough of the descriptions of the powers used and implemented throughout the narrative, and I loved how everything was tied to the pantheon system Abecassis had built.
The characters and their connections and relationships with each other were especially compelling, and I liked how those relationships changed and became stronger (or weaker) throughout the narrative. The character arcs were clear, whether they were good or bad, and it was a terrifying but immersive ride to read as Elaine was steeped in more and more dangerous situations. I truly love the characters and hope to see them blossom in future installments to the world of The Seventh Sister.
One of my favorite things about Abecassis’s writing is her simplicity. She doesn’t overdo the prose, she doesn’t overdo the dialogue, and perhaps most importantly: she doesn’t overdo the backstory. It was easy to step into the world of the novel and feel completely immersed in it within seconds, rather than having to push and shove and fight for comprehension of a completely new world and subject matter.
Abecassis’s work is outstanding in a way that skilled authors are outstanding: her writing pulls you in with intrigue, and you stay for her authorial voice.
Abecassis’s novella is perfect for readers looking to dip their toe into the fantasy realm, as well as readers who are well-established in the fantasy genre. Original and easy to consume, reading The Seventh Sister was akin to learning what a joy fantasy is to read for the first time.
I cannot wait to see what other stories and novels (and novellas!) Abecassis puts out into the world, whether through indie publishing or traditional publication. She is truly a unique talent and voice in the literary industry, and I look forward to seeing where she goes with her original concepts and profound but digestible works.
