The Sisterhood

By: Helen Bryan

Narrated by: Laura Roppe

Length: 14 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Reeling from a broken engagement, adopted 19-year-old Menina Walker flees to Spain to bury her misery by writing her overdue college thesis - and soon finds herself on an unexpected journey into the past. The subject of her study is Tristan Mendoza, an obscure 16th-century artist whose signature includes a tiny swallow - the same swallow depicted on a medal that is Menina’s only link to her birth family.

Hoping her research will reveal the swallow’s significance and clue her in to her origins, Menina discovers the ancient chronicle of a Spanish convent, containing the stories of five orphaned girls hidden from the Spanish Inquisition before they escaped to the New World. Learning about the girls’ adventures, the nuns who sheltered them, and Mendoza, Menina wonders if accident or destiny led her to Spain - and the discovery of a lifetime.

From best-selling author Helen Bryan comes The Sisterhood, an epic adventure filled with history, passion, and intrigue.

©2013 Helen Bryan (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Great story--supremely bad narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

The narrator ruined this book for me. I almost quit listening, but was very interested in the story. The narrator seems to think everyone who speaks with a southern accent does so with a high pitched scream. Her rendition of a Spanish accent was no better. The story itself switches back and forth between the mid 1500's and the Inquisition and modern days. It's fascinating.

Do you think The Sisterhood needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no

Just loved this audiobook!

What made the experience of listening to The Sisterhood the most enjoyable?

The well developed characters and plot of this novel kept me eagerly awaiting each opportunity to listen!

Time Travel from Magnificent to Mundane

What made the experience of listening to The Sisterhood the most enjoyable?

The sheer glue that held a nucleus group of women together from the Biblical times to the 1500's to present day allows one to make key characters part of one's own circle. No matter when, these women teach us all that we are one, no matter what faith, no matter what time and no matter what place

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character was Luce. While a minor character, her beauty combined with her handicaps brought all in her life to love her and care for her. One of the few that are truly good inside and outside.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

During the translation of the book, I found the story finally bringing everything together. This book beautifully winds its way through time and the book is the recorded history the sisters.

Generally interesting

What did you like best about The Sisterhood? What did you like least?

The description of women's lives during the inquisition was very interesting and vividly portrayed. There were a lot of characters and sometimes that was difficult to follow.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

Description of life during the inquisition. The setup for the modern day connection was poorly conceived.

What didn’t you like about Laura Roppe’s performance?

The reader's accents were terrible, and when the story called for a character to cry or sob, the volume of the performance doubled, nearly breaking my eardrums.

Did The Sisterhood inspire you to do anything?

Think a bit more about the Inquisition.

Worth a read

The storyline seemed decent, but the book was a little hard to follow. Some of the characters didn't seem like the were developed. Too predictable at the end.

Just ok.

It took me a while to get through this. I found the accent of some of the characters to be annoying, they were very high pitched. The story took a very long time to get going and in the end just thought it was ok. I just didn't really care for any of the main modern day characters. The most interesting were the stories of the nuns in the second half of the book.

Sisterhood

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book truly portrays the bonds of women's' friendships; the ups and downs, the catty and heroic, the joy and the pain that draws us closer together. Women do not have many life-long friendships, we're often spread too thin taking care of spouses, children, parents, and others "needing" our help. When we have friends who take care of us, these women become our sisters.

Excellent

Many books talk to my mind. Very few address my soul. This book, The Sisterhood, is one of those few books. The performance brought the character to life. No spoilers , but I do love happy endings.

Good selection

enjoyable throughout, the reader did a wonderful job and the overall pace was good too

A wonderful story

Great story that will keep you listening wrapped up in the characters and their adventures.