Sisters of Castle Leod by Elizabeth Hutchison Bernard is a fantastic work of historical fiction that will inspire an interest into the true historical facts behind the characters. The intriguing characters drive this story forward and they are the main reason I kept pickup up this book over and over again. Set in the mysterious Castle Leod in Scotland and inspired by the lives of the real people, the novel follows Sibell Mackenzie, the third Countess of Cromartie, and her sister, Lady Constance Stewart-Richardson. This rich story is colored with the supernatural as the reader finds out more about Sibell’s belief in the “Unseen world”, her visions and premonitions as well as the castle’s very own ghost, the Night Watchman.

This riveting historical fiction novel follows the dramatic story of how the birth of Sibell’s daughter and a forgotten family tale set into motion a bitter feud between the two sisters. Sibell and Constance were close in their childhood but as they grew up, jealousy and superstition ripped them apart. Ever since their birth, the sisters had been juxtaposed and labeled as opposites. The conflict only grew worse when their father, the Earl of Cromartie, died and passed on the castle, titles, and land to his eldest daughter Sibell while Constance was left with a comparatively meager dowry. As time goes on, tragedy strikes and leads Sibell on a roller coaster journey in which different people get entangled in the sisters’ lives. Sibell’s grief and passionate belief in reincarnation lead her to different places around the world and events that change her life. All of this flows well because of the author’s superb writing. If the tension isn’t high, then the drama is, and because of this there is rarely a dull moment in this sensational historical fantasy.

On the surface, the story is about the fragile relationship between the two sisters but delving deeper, the questions raised by Sibell’s spiritualism and philosophy are intriguing and might even rearrange the way you think. I would recommend Sisters of Castle Leod to everyone who loves reading about gothic castles, spiritual quests, and complex relationships between family members. This stirring and well-crafted story will keep you entertained from beginning to end!

Pages: 314 | ASIN: B0BG36NZK5