Dark Sisters: A Novel

Dark Sisters had all the ingredients to pull me in with generational curses, witchcraft, a sinister religious community, and women reclaiming power across centuries. I was ready for something eerie, sharp, and with tension that builds across time. The novel unfolds across three timelines, shifting between women whose lives are bound by a shared bloodline. In 1750, Anne Bolton is a healer living under the threat of witch hunts. A desperate bargain, reshaped by her daughter Florence, sets a curse into motion. In 1953, Mary is trapped in a suffocating domestic life defined by rigid expectations and dangerous men. Her refusal to deny her identity after meeting Helen becomes a turning point. Her fate reveals a clue tied to breaking the curse. In 2007, Camilla grows up inside a cult-like church where obedience is survival. Her father leads The Path, maintaining control through a bloodletting ritual rooted in the same history that began in 1750. The timelines circle a strange tree, a betrayal, and a lineage of women tied to something ancient and consuming. The structure is one of the strongest elements here. Each timeline adds a new layer and watching the connections take shape creates a steady sense of curiosity. That unfolding mystery kept me turning pages in the earlier sections where the atmosphere feels tense and uncertain. The idea of inherited power tied to blood and memory was compelling. The imagery surrounding the tree and its rituals carries an unsettling edge and hints at something darker beneath the surface. The story did have its struggles. The horror never escalates to match the weight of its ideas. Much of the book feels restrained resulting in a tone closer to young adult than I expected. The cult storyline has all the pieces to be disturbing. The Retreat, The Path, and the Purity Ball are all used to exert control over the girls living in the community. I felt that the dread never pushes far enough into real-life danger for the women since death by the curse only came to those denying their true selves. The pacing dips in the middle. I kept waiting for the tension to sharpen and the mystery to deepen. Instead, it holds at a steady level without much rise. By the time the connections between timelines become clear, the impact feels more interesting than lifesaving. The ending delivers a form of justice and it is satisfying watching the women reclaim their power. The last chapter did not satisfy me because I wanted more aftermath. A glimpse into what comes next would have added weight and strengthened the emotional payoff of the women breaking the curse. Dark Sisters offers a fascinating foundation with several standout moments. It never reaches the intensity the plot's buildup of dread promises. Readers who enjoy atmospheric, multi-timeline stories with feminist themes may still find something to appreciate if they prefer a lighter approach to horror.

This was my first time reading Kristi DeMeester's work, and it will be my last. Her characters are under developed and cartoonish. The storyline is derivative. The narrative framework doesn't hold together. There are too many inconsistencies. DARK SISTERS reads like bad YA. DeMeester's portrayal of men borders on misandry. Her portrayal of witches is equally problematic. A little research and fact checking would've gone a long way. The audience for this book is a readers who enjoyed Rachel Harrison's BLACK SHEEP AND CJ Leede's MAEVE FLY, both of which I also strongly disliked.