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Dark Sister
Maggie and Alex have their problems. their old, drafty house, for one thing. Their stressed-out marriage, for another.
Then one day, uncovering and cleaning the house's original fireplace, they discover a dead blackbird...and an old handwritten diary full of herbal lore.
Maggie takes an interest in the diary. Soon, with the help of her friends Ash, an herbalist,and Old Liz, and old woman with a deep knowledge of ancient ways, Maggie tried to find her way in a world of power and magic. But Maggie's searching has awakened her Dark Sister, a malevolent force that threatens her hold on her family and her sanity.
Then one day, uncovering and cleaning the house's original fireplace, they discover a dead blackbird...and an old handwritten diary full of herbal lore.
Maggie takes an interest in the diary. Soon, with the help of her friends Ash, an herbalist,and Old Liz, and old woman with a deep knowledge of ancient ways, Maggie tried to find her way in a world of power and magic. But Maggie's searching has awakened her Dark Sister, a malevolent force that threatens her hold on her family and her sanity.
300 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1992
39 people are currently reading
1469 people want to read
About the author
Graham Joyce
73 books569 followersGraham Joyce (22 October 1954 – 9 September 2014) was an English writer of speculative fiction and the recipient of numerous awards for both his novels and short stories.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
After receiving a B.Ed. from Bishop Lonsdale College in 1977 and a M.A. from the University of Leicester in 1980. Joyce worked as a youth officer for the National Association of Youth Clubs until 1988. He subsequently quit his position and moved to the Greek islands of Lesbos and Crete to write his first novel, Dreamside. After selling Dreamside to Pan Books in 1991, Joyce moved back to England to pursue a career as a full-time writer.
Graham Joyce resided in Leicester with his wife, Suzanne Johnsen, and their two children, Joseph and Ella. He taught Creative Writing to graduate students at Nottingham Trent University from 1996 until his death, and was made a Reader in Creative Writing.
Joyce died on 9 September 2014. He had been diagnosed with lymphoma in 2013.
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October 15, 2017
Ρεαλιστική και απλή υπερφυσική φρίκη.
Μαγικά φίλτρα βοτάνων απο μεσαιωνικές συνταγές. Κατάρες μαγισσών.
Η σκοτεινή αδελφή που πρέπει να τραγουδήσει το τραγούδι του θανάτου πριν πεθάνει για να μη σπάσει η αλυσίδα των αιώνιων μαγισσών.
Αυτών που γιατρεύουν αρρώστειες ψυχικές και σωματικές,μα καίγονταν στην πυρά και βασανίζονταν απο τους εκκλησιαστικούς εκπροσώπους, που πουλούσαν θέση στον ουρανό κερδίζοντας εξουσία και χρήμα στη γη.
Το ημερολόγιο μιας τέτοιας σκοτεινής αδελφής, μάγισσας και θεραπεύτριας θα ανακαλύψει η ηρωίδα του βιβλίου μας.(Μάγκυ)
Γραμμένο εκατοντάδες χρόνια πριν βρίσκεται κρυμμένο στην καπνοδόχο του τζακιού σε ένα αναπαλαιωμένο βικτωριανό σπίτι όπου κατοικούν η Μάγκυ με το σύζυγο και τα δυο τους παιδιά.
Κατά τη διερεύνηση του ημερολογίου - το οποίο είναι στην πραγματικότητα ενα βιβλίο σκοτεινής μαγείας-η συμπεριφορά και η αντιλήψεις της Μάγκυ αλλάζουν και ταυτίζονται με παρανοϊκές και μυστηριώδεις ιστορίες.
Υφαίνοντας ξανά θαμμένα τελετουργικά υφαντά
θανάτου.
Η επίδραση του σκοτεινού ημερολογίου έχει επικίνδυνες επιπτώσεις πάνω στα παιδιά της και διαλύει τη σχέση της με το σύζυγο της.
Η Μπέλα είναι η συγγραφέας του ημερολογίου και μετά απο κάποιες τελετουργικές διαδικασίες σε συγκεκριμένες ημερομηνίες και θέσεις της σελήνης, η Μάγκυ αποκτά την κατάρα και τις ικανότητες της Μπέλας.
Απο πίσω ακολουθεί χρονικά και δραματικά το απόλυτο κακό που προσπαθεί να λυτρωθεί.
Μια γενιά μαγισσών με παντοδύναμα αποκρυφιστικά σύμβολα και μυστικά.
Μια εξειδικευμένη πανάρχαιη γνώση σε σχέση με τη γη και τα βότανα, τον ουρανό και τη Σελήνη.
Οι ψίθυροι των ανέμων είναι γι’αυτή την αδελφότητα η γλώσσα της απόκρυφης τελετουργικής μαγείας τους.
Η ιστορία των βοτάνων και η θαυμαστή παγανιστική δύναμη που εξυφαίνεται μέσα στην πλοκή του βιβλίου καταλήγει να συνδέσει με αριστουργηματικό τρόπο πολλές γενιές μυημένων γυναικών που -εν αγνοία τους-αποτελούν μέρος της αλυσίδας του θανάτου.
Κρίκοι σε αυτή την αλυσίδα που πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να μη χαθεί είναι η συγγραφέας του χειρογράφου, η Μπέλα, η Μάγκυ και κάτα κάποιο μοιραίο τρόπο ο σύζυγος και τα παιδιά της ως βοηθητικοί παράγοντες.
Οι δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου, μια ηλικιωμένη αποδυναμωμένη μάγισσα με ισχυρά μυστικά και ένας πωλητής βοτάνων, είναι ειλικρινά απολαυστικοί και άκρως ενδιαφέροντες μέσα στην εξέλιξη της ιστορίας μας.
Αυτό που συνδέει και αποκαλύπτει τα πάντα είναι το σώμα μιας γυναίκας διαμελισμένο και θαμμένο σε ένα κουτί και ένα μεσαιωνικό όργανο βασανιστηρίου που έχει ως φίμωτρο στο στόμα της.
Πρόκειται για ενα είδος κλουβιού εφοδιασμένο με ένα μεταλλικό κομμάτι και ενα καρφί που εισάγονται στο στόμα καθώς το καρφί πιέζεται μέσα στη γλώσσα.
Ο σκελετός βρίσκεται μετά απο ανασκαφές και συνοδεύεται απο τελετουργικά μαχαίρια και άλλα αποκαλυπτικά και αποτρόπαια ευρήματα.
Η ταφή χρονολογείται το 16ο αιώνα τότε που γράφτηκε και το σκοτεινό ημερολόγιο.
⚔️⛓⚔️⛓🌗🌘⚔️⛓⚔️
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
Πολλούς ασπασμούς!!
Μαγικά φίλτρα βοτάνων απο μεσαιωνικές συνταγές. Κατάρες μαγισσών.
Η σκοτεινή αδελφή που πρέπει να τραγουδήσει το τραγούδι του θανάτου πριν πεθάνει για να μη σπάσει η αλυσίδα των αιώνιων μαγισσών.
Αυτών που γιατρεύουν αρρώστειες ψυχικές και σωματικές,μα καίγονταν στην πυρά και βασανίζονταν απο τους εκκλησιαστικούς εκπροσώπους, που πουλούσαν θέση στον ουρανό κερδίζοντας εξουσία και χρήμα στη γη.
Το ημερολόγιο μιας τέτοιας σκοτεινής αδελφής, μάγισσας και θεραπεύτριας θα ανακαλύψει η ηρωίδα του βιβλίου μας.(Μάγκυ)
Γραμμένο εκατοντάδες χρόνια πριν βρίσκεται κρυμμένο στην καπνοδόχο του τζακιού σε ένα αναπαλαιωμένο βικτωριανό σπίτι όπου κατοικούν η Μάγκυ με το σύζυγο και τα δυο τους παιδιά.
Κατά τη διερεύνηση του ημερολογίου - το οποίο είναι στην πραγματικότητα ενα βιβλίο σκοτεινής μαγείας-η συμπεριφορά και η αντιλήψεις της Μάγκυ αλλάζουν και ταυτίζονται με παρανοϊκές και μυστηριώδεις ιστορίες.
Υφαίνοντας ξανά θαμμένα τελετουργικά υφαντά
θανάτου.
Η επίδραση του σκοτεινού ημερολογίου έχει επικίνδυνες επιπτώσεις πάνω στα παιδιά της και διαλύει τη σχέση της με το σύζυγο της.
Η Μπέλα είναι η συγγραφέας του ημερολογίου και μετά απο κάποιες τελετουργικές διαδικασίες σε συγκεκριμένες ημερομηνίες και θέσεις της σελήνης, η Μάγκυ αποκτά την κατάρα και τις ικανότητες της Μπέλας.
Απο πίσω ακολουθεί χρονικά και δραματικά το απόλυτο κακό που προσπαθεί να λυτρωθεί.
Μια γενιά μαγισσών με παντοδύναμα αποκρυφιστικά σύμβολα και μυστικά.
Μια εξειδικευμένη πανάρχαιη γνώση σε σχέση με τη γη και τα βότανα, τον ουρανό και τη Σελήνη.
Οι ψίθυροι των ανέμων είναι γι’αυτή την αδελφότητα η γλώσσα της απόκρυφης τελετουργικής μαγείας τους.
Η ιστορία των βοτάνων και η θαυμαστή παγανιστική δύναμη που εξυφαίνεται μέσα στην πλοκή του βιβλίου καταλήγει να συνδέσει με αριστουργηματικό τρόπο πολλές γενιές μυημένων γυναικών που -εν αγνοία τους-αποτελούν μέρος της αλυσίδας του θανάτου.
Κρίκοι σε αυτή την αλυσίδα που πρέπει οπωσδήποτε να μη χαθεί είναι η συγγραφέας του χειρογράφου, η Μπέλα, η Μάγκυ και κάτα κάποιο μοιραίο τρόπο ο σύζυγος και τα παιδιά της ως βοηθητικοί παράγοντες.
Οι δευτερεύοντες χαρακτήρες του βιβλίου, μια ηλικιωμένη αποδυναμωμένη μάγισσα με ισχυρά μυστικά και ένας πωλητής βοτάνων, είναι ειλικρινά απολαυστικοί και άκρως ενδιαφέροντες μέσα στην εξέλιξη της ιστορίας μας.
Αυτό που συνδέει και αποκαλύπτει τα πάντα είναι το σώμα μιας γυναίκας διαμελισμένο και θαμμένο σε ένα κουτί και ένα μεσαιωνικό όργανο βασανιστηρίου που έχει ως φίμωτρο στο στόμα της.
Πρόκειται για ενα είδος κλουβιού εφοδιασμένο με ένα μεταλλικό κομμάτι και ενα καρφί που εισάγονται στο στόμα καθώς το καρφί πιέζεται μέσα στη γλώσσα.
Ο σκελετός βρίσκεται μετά απο ανασκαφές και συνοδεύεται απο τελετουργικά μαχαίρια και άλλα αποκαλυπτικά και αποτρόπαια ευρήματα.
Η ταφή χρονολογείται το 16ο αιώνα τότε που γράφτηκε και το σκοτεινό ημερολόγιο.
⚔️⛓⚔️⛓🌗🌘⚔️⛓⚔️
Καλή ανάγνωση!!
Πολλούς ασπασμούς!!
November 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this book about frustrated housewife and mother of two young children, Maggie. After restoring their old fireplace they discover a mysterious diary inside. Lists of herbs and lots of blank pages. Maggie becomes almost obsessed with it and starts trying herbal remedies on her children, first son Sam’s conjunctivitis and then Amy’s eczema. Husband Alex becomes more and more disconcerted by it all. He’s an archaeologist (and also the least likeable character in the whole book) and the dig he’s on is unexciting until Maggie shows up one day and says ‘dig there’.
As Maggie gets more into the diary and it’s mysteries , new characters from the old wise woman, Liz and Ash, the owner of herb shop bring more interest to the story. It certainly goes into some dark spaces, not least the treatment of wise women by the churches in the past but also domestic violence, infidelity and jealousy. The latter parts of the novel were hard to look away from. I’ll have to look up some of his other novels.
As Maggie gets more into the diary and it’s mysteries , new characters from the old wise woman, Liz and Ash, the owner of herb shop bring more interest to the story. It certainly goes into some dark spaces, not least the treatment of wise women by the churches in the past but also domestic violence, infidelity and jealousy. The latter parts of the novel were hard to look away from. I’ll have to look up some of his other novels.
April 28, 2010
This was an excellent, creepy fun read. I could hardly put it down.
A bored, frustrated housewife finds an old Witch's diary, starts messing around with the herbal remedies in it, and next thing you know she's invoking Hecate, making Flying Ointment, and dancing naked in the woods. Her husband is none too pleased, especially when she forgets to pick up the kids at the babysitter's.
The message here is "What goes around, comes around" and also "Be careful what you wish for. " It's only to be expected that when a person changes the status quo and starts experimenting with powerful forces, unexpected changes will occur and people may get hurt, or at the very least, permanently affected.
Basically, everyone gets what is coming to them (though if you ask me, that jerk of a husband gets much better than he really deserves! What a putz!) but we are kept on edge waiting to see how it will all work out. Joyce keeps the suspense going till the very last page. Whether or not you believe in Witchcraft, this book will make you want to go right out and buy some mugwort.
A bored, frustrated housewife finds an old Witch's diary, starts messing around with the herbal remedies in it, and next thing you know she's invoking Hecate, making Flying Ointment, and dancing naked in the woods. Her husband is none too pleased, especially when she forgets to pick up the kids at the babysitter's.
The message here is "What goes around, comes around" and also "Be careful what you wish for. " It's only to be expected that when a person changes the status quo and starts experimenting with powerful forces, unexpected changes will occur and people may get hurt, or at the very least, permanently affected.
Basically, everyone gets what is coming to them (though if you ask me, that jerk of a husband gets much better than he really deserves! What a putz!) but we are kept on edge waiting to see how it will all work out. Joyce keeps the suspense going till the very last page. Whether or not you believe in Witchcraft, this book will make you want to go right out and buy some mugwort.
December 7, 2009
This is a book meant to be read in one sitting, preferably on a dark dreary night while the wind is howling through all of the cracks & crevices of old windows. Though I have the old, drafty windows, unfortunately, I no longer have the luxury of reading anything in one sitting and was forced to settle for half hour reading spurts whenever I could steal away from real life. Despite the pick-up and put-down method of my reading I was able to fall into the book all over again each time I began anew.
Like the previous Graham Joyce book I read “The Tooth Fairy”, the characters in Dark Sister are realistic, imperfect people with many flaws. No one here is perfect through and through.
Maggie is an engrossing character caught in a stifling marriage. She’s a stay-at-home mom who longs for a little more than keeping house and getting criticized by husband Alex when things are not up to his standards. Alex, an insecure turd, is the type who would lock her in a tower and throw away the key if he could get away with it and refuses to allow her to return to school. When the unhappy couple discover an old journal filled with herbal lore Maggie becomes a little obsessed with learning its secrets. As Maggie delves deeper into the world of magic and makes two new friends, a lonely herbalist and an eccentric, crusty old lady, who become part of her journey, her marriage continues to go down the tubes.
I found Maggie’s magical discoveries quite interesting but it’s the increasing destruction of her family life that adds an emotionally grueling level to the story.
Maggie is a much more sympathetic character than Alex but she also has her share of faults as well (but, hmmm, are they all her fault?). In anger, she says a few well deserved horribly awful things to Alex but I cringed because her young children were listening and she knew it. She also forgets her responsibilities (i.e., her children) one time too many when her other world begins to consume her and she doesn’t seem overly bothered by the fact. These missteps added to the realism of her character. I’m so sick of flawless characters and these people, even when unlikable, were a nice smack of reality and change of pace.
I also enjoyed the depiction of Maggie’s youngest son. He looks like a cherubic angel but acts like a real kid. He’s a genuine, tantrum throwing brat who reacts to the increasing turmoil within his family with fear and fits. I found this very sad and yet another eloquently written layer of the story.
As the story progresses and Maggie’s dabbling with magic has some eye-opening results (love the revenge on Alex) but also awakens her “dark sister” and the story becomes even more intense.
Like the previous Graham Joyce book I read “The Tooth Fairy”, the characters in Dark Sister are realistic, imperfect people with many flaws. No one here is perfect through and through.
Maggie is an engrossing character caught in a stifling marriage. She’s a stay-at-home mom who longs for a little more than keeping house and getting criticized by husband Alex when things are not up to his standards. Alex, an insecure turd, is the type who would lock her in a tower and throw away the key if he could get away with it and refuses to allow her to return to school. When the unhappy couple discover an old journal filled with herbal lore Maggie becomes a little obsessed with learning its secrets. As Maggie delves deeper into the world of magic and makes two new friends, a lonely herbalist and an eccentric, crusty old lady, who become part of her journey, her marriage continues to go down the tubes.
I found Maggie’s magical discoveries quite interesting but it’s the increasing destruction of her family life that adds an emotionally grueling level to the story.
Maggie is a much more sympathetic character than Alex but she also has her share of faults as well (but, hmmm, are they all her fault?). In anger, she says a few well deserved horribly awful things to Alex but I cringed because her young children were listening and she knew it. She also forgets her responsibilities (i.e., her children) one time too many when her other world begins to consume her and she doesn’t seem overly bothered by the fact. These missteps added to the realism of her character. I’m so sick of flawless characters and these people, even when unlikable, were a nice smack of reality and change of pace.
I also enjoyed the depiction of Maggie’s youngest son. He looks like a cherubic angel but acts like a real kid. He’s a genuine, tantrum throwing brat who reacts to the increasing turmoil within his family with fear and fits. I found this very sad and yet another eloquently written layer of the story.
As the story progresses and Maggie’s dabbling with magic has some eye-opening results (love the revenge on Alex) but also awakens her “dark sister” and the story becomes even more intense.
December 21, 2017
Ένα βιβλίο με μάγισσες, φίλτρα, βότανα, ένα "άρωμα" από μεσαίωνα και ταυτόχρονα μια ιστορία για ένα σύγχρονο ζευγάρι με δυο μικρά παιδιά που πρέπει να βρει έναν τρόπο να ξεπεράσει τα προβλήματά του. Αυτές τις εικόνες μου δημιούργησε στο μυαλό το συγκεκριμένο βιβλίο.
Μια γρήγορη περίληψη του βιβλίου: η Μάγκι βρίσκει κρυμμένο στο σπίτι της ένα ημερολόγιο με χειρόγραφες σημειώσεις μιας κοπέλας, της Μπέλας. Στην αρχή φαίνεται να έχει συνταγές για αλοιφές και γενικά θεραπείες με βότανα, αλλά σιγά-σιγά αποκαλύπτονται και άλλες σημειώσεις, που μοιάζουν με καταγραφές ημερολογίου. Προσπαθώντας να εκτελέσει τις συνταγές η Μάγκι μπαίνει σε έναν κόσμο μαγείας και φίλτρων, γεγονός που έχει επιπτώσεις και στην οικογενειακή της ζωή.
Το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου είναι ένα παραμύθι για ενηλίκους, και μάλιστα πολύ ωραίο. Με κράτησε απορροφημένη και είχε και ενδιαφέρον για το τι θα γίνει στη συνέχεια. Προς το τέλος όμως και με αφορμή την επιλογή της Μάγκι να επιχειρήσει ένα δύσκολο και επικίνδυνο μαγικό, το βιβλίο αλλάζει ύφος και μπορώ να πω ότι γίνεται πλέον ένα εξαιρετικά ατμοσφαιρικό σκοτεινό ψυχολογικό θρίλερ. Αν και μου άρεσε όλο το βιβλίο, το τέλος του ανέβασε πολύ τον συγγραφέα στα μάτια μου -είναι το πρώτο του βιβλίο που διαβάζω αλλά θα ψάξω και τα άλλα.
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.gr/
Μια γρήγορη περίληψη του βιβλίου: η Μάγκι βρίσκει κρυμμένο στο σπίτι της ένα ημερολόγιο με χειρόγραφες σημειώσεις μιας κοπέλας, της Μπέλας. Στην αρχή φαίνεται να έχει συνταγές για αλοιφές και γενικά θεραπείες με βότανα, αλλά σιγά-σιγά αποκαλύπτονται και άλλες σημειώσεις, που μοιάζουν με καταγραφές ημερολογίου. Προσπαθώντας να εκτελέσει τις συνταγές η Μάγκι μπαίνει σε έναν κόσμο μαγείας και φίλτρων, γεγονός που έχει επιπτώσεις και στην οικογενειακή της ζωή.
Το μεγαλύτερο μέρος του βιβλίου είναι ένα παραμύθι για ενηλίκους, και μάλιστα πολύ ωραίο. Με κράτησε απορροφημένη και είχε και ενδιαφέρον για το τι θα γίνει στη συνέχεια. Προς το τέλος όμως και με αφορμή την επιλογή της Μάγκι να επιχειρήσει ένα δύσκολο και επικίνδυνο μαγικό, το βιβλίο αλλάζει ύφος και μπορώ να πω ότι γίνεται πλέον ένα εξαιρετικά ατμοσφαιρικό σκοτεινό ψυχολογικό θρίλερ. Αν και μου άρεσε όλο το βιβλίο, το τέλος του ανέβασε πολύ τον συγγραφέα στα μάτια μου -είναι το πρώτο του βιβλίο που διαβάζω αλλά θα ψάξω και τα άλλα.
https://kiallovivlio.blogspot.gr/
January 25, 2015
Once again Graham Joyce has managed to completely captivate me and draw me in! Dark Sister is a tale of a marriage torn apart by dark, unseen forces. What seems at first to be an innocent discovery of an ancient book hidden in the fireplace, turns out to be the beginning of a mystical, and at times nightmarish journey for Maggie and her family. The book seems to beckon to Maggie to read its pages and unlock its hidden secrets. What begins as a hobby, quickly takes a turn towards a darker, more malevolent force that seeks to use Maggie as a vessel for a long dormant magic.
I was intrigued throughout by the magical forces of the ancient book and Maggie's newfound "talents," but the characters themselves were less than endearing. Maggie and her husband, Alex, were incredibly selfish - only caring about their own desires and agendas - and their poor children were treated as pawns in a game of strategy. I suppose this is not unlikely in many troubled marriages, but it was difficult to read about what those children endured as a direct result of their mother's misguided foray into the dark arts and their father's quest to get revenge on their mother. Despite the crass and selfish, behavior of Maggie and Alex, I still couldn't blame them entirely for their behavior because I believe so much of that was a result of the dark forces that Maggie unknowingly unleashed into their world.
As I've come to expect, Graham Joyce is a master storyteller with an uncanny ability to unlock the Pandora's box of his readers' imaginations!
I was intrigued throughout by the magical forces of the ancient book and Maggie's newfound "talents," but the characters themselves were less than endearing. Maggie and her husband, Alex, were incredibly selfish - only caring about their own desires and agendas - and their poor children were treated as pawns in a game of strategy. I suppose this is not unlikely in many troubled marriages, but it was difficult to read about what those children endured as a direct result of their mother's misguided foray into the dark arts and their father's quest to get revenge on their mother. Despite the crass and selfish, behavior of Maggie and Alex, I still couldn't blame them entirely for their behavior because I believe so much of that was a result of the dark forces that Maggie unknowingly unleashed into their world.
As I've come to expect, Graham Joyce is a master storyteller with an uncanny ability to unlock the Pandora's box of his readers' imaginations!
May 2, 2011
I was not sure if I was going to like this book until the very end . . . I mean, it's Graham, GRAHAM! The man who endeared himself to me forever by confessing to having had a crush on Cathy from Wuthering Heights when he was twelve. He's adorable, and his other books have been BREATHTAKING, so I kept on going, but this book starts out with two people whose marriage is failing and who are taking out their own frustration on each other and their children . . . hard to read. But his writing is so darn beautiful that I could not stop. (Also, it's Graham! I need to learn to trust Graham more.) And then I reached a point where I thought: this will either end very, very horribly and I will need to dispose of this book in a dramatic fashion, or it will end beautifully and I shall praise its name.
Which way did it end?
Trust in Graham.
Trust in the fact that the man writes with effortless beauty. Trust in the fact that even when he's creeping you out and you keep thinking about how much you don't like that kind of book, you still want more. Trust in Graham to have written a book that appears to be so deceptively simple that it's not until the end that you realize how many strands and threads and layers and nuances and shades went into the story.
Just do it. Just trust in Graham.
(Unless you are offended by language and sex. In which case, trust in Graham's book The Exchange, and put this one down. You have been warned.)
Which way did it end?
Trust in Graham.
Trust in the fact that the man writes with effortless beauty. Trust in the fact that even when he's creeping you out and you keep thinking about how much you don't like that kind of book, you still want more. Trust in Graham to have written a book that appears to be so deceptively simple that it's not until the end that you realize how many strands and threads and layers and nuances and shades went into the story.
Just do it. Just trust in Graham.
(Unless you are offended by language and sex. In which case, trust in Graham's book The Exchange, and put this one down. You have been warned.)
May 27, 2017
μου άρεσε...καλό ήταν και είχε πολύ γρήγορο ρυθμό χωρίς να κάνει καθόλου κοιλιά...δυστυχώς το ελαφρά μπερδεμένο τέλος με εκανε να μην του βαλω τα 5 αστέρια...γενικά είναι μια καλή ελαφριά επιλογή...δεν είναι τρόμος...μυστήριο θα το έλεγα
September 5, 2016
I don't know....I'm a big Graham Joyce fan and this one just didn't do much for me. I didn't hate it, but I didn't love it, something I've come to expect from this author. It wasn't very spooky or scary which I would have liked. I read it at night without a second thought. I didn't like either of the main characters and couldn't really justify either of their bad behavior. They weren't the kind of parents to put their children first. They were selfish. In lots of reviews I've read, people didn't like Alex at all but seemed to give Maggie a pass. Not me! They both did things that were equally bad IMO. It doesn't matter that Maggie thought she was doing things for the right reason! They both deserve a big kick in the arse! I did like the secondary characters of Ash and Liz and think I would have liked the story better if they were the main characters. As usual, GJ threw in some quirky scenes that could be off putting to those who are not fans of his! I certainly wouldn't start with this book if you plan to try his work. I myself still plan to read all of his books! I didn't find the witchcraft take very exciting...it was a bit bizarre and confusing.
November 10, 2012
Some authors don't know how to breathe life and emotional depth into their characters. Some people do not know how to live their lives with emotional depth and end becoming "characters." I had trouble figuring out whether Joyce was intentionally trying to depict shallow people or if he just can't write them. Either way, this was a depressing and mostly uninteresting read saved only by the supernatural element it contained.
January 23, 2018
Το τέλος αυτού του βιβλίου περίμενα 15 χρόνια να το μάθω!
Όταν ήμουν μικρή και προσφάτως χαριποττεροβαρεμενη, βρήκα αυτό το βιβλίο δίπλα στο τζάκι, όπως η Μάγκι (oh so creepy?) Έπεσα με τα μούτρα στο διάβασμα και είχα παρόμοια με της Μάγκι αντίδραση, όταν το βιβλίο εξαφανίστηκε. Προφανώς μου το πήρε η μαμά μου γιατί hellooo το βιβλίο έχει σκοτεινή μαγεία και σεξ και ήμουν μόλις 12-13.
Διαβάζοντας τώρα σαν σοβαρότατη ενήλικας, απογοητευτηκα αρκετά. Στο πρώτο του μέρος ήταν αρκετά ανατριχιαστικό αλλά στη συνέχεια ήθελες απλά να σταματήσεις να διαβάζεις για όλους τους αχωνευτους χαρακτήρες.
Τα τελευταία κεφάλαια αποζημίωσαν λίγο, με κλασσικό creepy, μαγισσενιο σενάριο!
Όσον αφορά τους χαρακτήρες και τις σχέσεις τους, προβληματικοτατοι.
3 αστεράκια για νοσταλγικούς λόγους κυρίως.
Όταν ήμουν μικρή και προσφάτως χαριποττεροβαρεμενη, βρήκα αυτό το βιβλίο δίπλα στο τζάκι, όπως η Μάγκι (oh so creepy?) Έπεσα με τα μούτρα στο διάβασμα και είχα παρόμοια με της Μάγκι αντίδραση, όταν το βιβλίο εξαφανίστηκε. Προφανώς μου το πήρε η μαμά μου γιατί hellooo το βιβλίο έχει σκοτεινή μαγεία και σεξ και ήμουν μόλις 12-13.
Διαβάζοντας τώρα σαν σοβαρότατη ενήλικας, απογοητευτηκα αρκετά. Στο πρώτο του μέρος ήταν αρκετά ανατριχιαστικό αλλά στη συνέχεια ήθελες απλά να σταματήσεις να διαβάζεις για όλους τους αχωνευτους χαρακτήρες.
Τα τελευταία κεφάλαια αποζημίωσαν λίγο, με κλασσικό creepy, μαγισσενιο σενάριο!
Όσον αφορά τους χαρακτήρες και τις σχέσεις τους, προβληματικοτατοι.
3 αστεράκια για νοσταλγικούς λόγους κυρίως.
February 3, 2009
Have to admit I stopped reading this book--which surprised me, since I usually like Graham Joyce's dark worlds. However, I can't continue to read a book whose characters I dislike as much I did these. The husband turns my stomach, and the storyline of herbalism/witchcraft has been done much better by other authors. I'm going to try one more Joyce young adult book, but then that may be it.
August 3, 2016
really cool intriguing story! I read it with a herbology book next to me - the things used in this book are real herbal remedies. I learned quite a bit. And it is spooky too.
February 2, 2018
Μου αρέσουν τα παραμύθια για μεγάλους αλλά νομίζω ότι δεν έχουν πολλοί το χάρισμα του joyce. Το απόλαυσα παρόλο που δεν αποτελεί κάτι ιδιαίτερα καινοτόμο όσον αφορά στη θεματολογία.
September 8, 2009
This was the second book by Graham Joyce I read, and it was soon after reading the first.
I have read a few book descriptions for this one and have decided to alter the best one, because some of the plot points were incorrect. So here is Tamara Hladik's description/review of the book that is listed as the description at Amazon.Com with my corrections/additions:
Now, I left the first line of this description/review in there because that horror word crept in again in regards to Joyce's work. I obviously need a lesson on what horror fiction is, because I just don't see it. Just like "The Tooth Fairy" this book came across as a novel about real life with fantastical elements. And the "horrors" or events that happen in this book seem even less horrific, to a point, then those in "The Tooth Fairy", except for one. Though still, with other fantasy books I have read, it is not more horrific then anything else I have come across. Though part of that is in presentation.
One element of the book that I really enjoyed was the subtleness of the witchcraft. And maybe subtle is the wrong word, but it's the only one I can come up with right now. It's not overbearing, it's not what the whole story is about. There are real life issues going on there, and Maggie tries to use these powers to help the issues, and sometimes fails. But it's not heavy handed, like some big gothic novel. I have a copy "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman waiting to be read. I would like to see how these two books compare. (And for the record, I have not seen the movie "Practical Magic", based on the book, which is surprising given that I am a fan of Nicole Kidman.)
The characters are all well crafted, though there is a bit of craziness to each. However, we are dealing with a world where "witches" can practice their craft and are successful. One of the most endearing characters though is Old Liz. She's the 83 year old women that Ash sends Maggie to see for advice. At first she is a hard woman, but as the story goes, you see the intelligence in her character, the reason for the hard exterior, and though her presentation doesn't change much, you do see more and more of her inner person as the book goes. All the characters have flaws and they are well presented, and of course many of them won't own up to those flaws.
Being the second book by Joyce that I have read, I quickly figured he is someone that I will have to always read. I have enjoyed both novels so far on many levels. Both have very fantastical elements, but he keeps so much reality in the books that they can be seen from many different views.
On other note, I am not really into quotes by other authors that are displayed on books. I have found them unreliable at times. But there were two on this book that I found interesting. They are also listed with the description of the book on Amazon.Com:
"I won't bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wide audience in America; rather, I think the American audience deserves to discover him." --- Jonathan Lethem
"Graham Joyce writes the kind of novels we keep hoping to find, but rarely do." --- Jonathan Carroll
I think both of these are accurate. Of course you have to like these kind of books. But it took me quite a few years to finally fall into Joyce's work. And frankly, I think Carroll's quote about Joyce is true of his own work. I have yet to read anything by Lethem, but will be soon.
I have read a few book descriptions for this one and have decided to alter the best one, because some of the plot points were incorrect. So here is Tamara Hladik's description/review of the book that is listed as the description at Amazon.Com with my corrections/additions:
"Dark Sister" is the third book by British fantasy writer Graham Joyce to be published in the United States - and the author travels further into the realm of pure horror than he did in "The Tooth Fairy" or "Requiem". Maggie Sanders, an unfulfilled, restless housewife in England, comes to terms with her nascent, otherworldly power amidst a disheveled and antagonistic domestic life. Her archaeologist-husband Alex is subtly dominating, which makes for an unfulfilling marriage. So, Maggie buries herself in the chaos of her small children (six-year old Amy and three year old Sam), until a chance discovery both liberates her and invokes catastrophe.
The Sanders decide to tear out their gas log imitation and open up the fireplace for real wood fires after a visit to a friends' home. While cleaning out the chimney, Alex discovers an herbalist's journal which Maggie finds much interest in. Soon after, her life unfurls wildly and runs horribly aground. It seems that the owner of the journal was not just an herb woman, but also a witch with real powers. Inspired by this forgotten woman, Maggie begins to dabble in the arts of Wicca, with the help of herbal store owner Ash and Old Liz in whom he has consulted. The gifts it brings her are powerful - a sense of freedom, purpose, even clairvoyance. But every gift has its counterbalance, and Maggie's newfound telepathy allows her to see things she might have wanted to remain hidden. Even more ominously, it seems that in unearthing the journal, Maggie has awakened deep tragedies from an abandoned time, and the evil that now stalks her and her family might be insatiable and unstoppable.
Now, I left the first line of this description/review in there because that horror word crept in again in regards to Joyce's work. I obviously need a lesson on what horror fiction is, because I just don't see it. Just like "The Tooth Fairy" this book came across as a novel about real life with fantastical elements. And the "horrors" or events that happen in this book seem even less horrific, to a point, then those in "The Tooth Fairy", except for one. Though still, with other fantasy books I have read, it is not more horrific then anything else I have come across. Though part of that is in presentation.
One element of the book that I really enjoyed was the subtleness of the witchcraft. And maybe subtle is the wrong word, but it's the only one I can come up with right now. It's not overbearing, it's not what the whole story is about. There are real life issues going on there, and Maggie tries to use these powers to help the issues, and sometimes fails. But it's not heavy handed, like some big gothic novel. I have a copy "Practical Magic" by Alice Hoffman waiting to be read. I would like to see how these two books compare. (And for the record, I have not seen the movie "Practical Magic", based on the book, which is surprising given that I am a fan of Nicole Kidman.)
The characters are all well crafted, though there is a bit of craziness to each. However, we are dealing with a world where "witches" can practice their craft and are successful. One of the most endearing characters though is Old Liz. She's the 83 year old women that Ash sends Maggie to see for advice. At first she is a hard woman, but as the story goes, you see the intelligence in her character, the reason for the hard exterior, and though her presentation doesn't change much, you do see more and more of her inner person as the book goes. All the characters have flaws and they are well presented, and of course many of them won't own up to those flaws.
Being the second book by Joyce that I have read, I quickly figured he is someone that I will have to always read. I have enjoyed both novels so far on many levels. Both have very fantastical elements, but he keeps so much reality in the books that they can be seen from many different views.
On other note, I am not really into quotes by other authors that are displayed on books. I have found them unreliable at times. But there were two on this book that I found interesting. They are also listed with the description of the book on Amazon.Com:
"I won't bother saying Graham Joyce deserves to find a wide audience in America; rather, I think the American audience deserves to discover him." --- Jonathan Lethem
"Graham Joyce writes the kind of novels we keep hoping to find, but rarely do." --- Jonathan Carroll
I think both of these are accurate. Of course you have to like these kind of books. But it took me quite a few years to finally fall into Joyce's work. And frankly, I think Carroll's quote about Joyce is true of his own work. I have yet to read anything by Lethem, but will be soon.
February 9, 2021
Ενδιαφέρον βιβλίο, σε κρατάει, όμως βρήκα πολλά λάθη σε ονόματα που οδηγούσαν σε μπέρδεμα!
December 14, 2013
Hmm, what did I think. I think I hated Alex. He was such an insensitive asshole I found it easy to believe Maggie would want to cast a spell on his sorry ass.
But I also didn't find it easy to believe that Maggie would race forward toward serious witchcraft with such gay mad abandon when she supposedly loved her children. Bit of a disconnect there.
Joyce uses a few too many broad strokes to sketch out his characters. I sense he didn't even like them. Granted, in the heat of the moment, people do or say nasty things, but some of the statements made by the characters were so cliche they blasted me from the story. "If you're not with me, you're against me." "You have nothing better to do than watch the children, right?"
I mean yeah, if someone said "You have nothing better to do than watch the children, right?", I'd turn them into a cloth diaper so they could suffer over and over again.
I really am leaning toward a two-star review but I can't give the author who gave me such delight via "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" two stars. It's not that I didn't like the novel... but it didn't convince me plus I hated...yeah, said it already.
There's my incoherent ramble of the day. xoxo
But I also didn't find it easy to believe that Maggie would race forward toward serious witchcraft with such gay mad abandon when she supposedly loved her children. Bit of a disconnect there.
Joyce uses a few too many broad strokes to sketch out his characters. I sense he didn't even like them. Granted, in the heat of the moment, people do or say nasty things, but some of the statements made by the characters were so cliche they blasted me from the story. "If you're not with me, you're against me." "You have nothing better to do than watch the children, right?"
I mean yeah, if someone said "You have nothing better to do than watch the children, right?", I'd turn them into a cloth diaper so they could suffer over and over again.
I really am leaning toward a two-star review but I can't give the author who gave me such delight via "Some Kind of Fairy Tale" two stars. It's not that I didn't like the novel... but it didn't convince me plus I hated...yeah, said it already.
There's my incoherent ramble of the day. xoxo
October 21, 2012
WHen I sink My teeth Into a Book That Captivates me
Like this One...There is Nothing Else..Graham Joyce has a Way of Wiritng to wher You fell you are there
& I could Relate At a Deep Level...Where the Dark Sister WEnt!
Like this One...There is Nothing Else..Graham Joyce has a Way of Wiritng to wher You fell you are there
& I could Relate At a Deep Level...Where the Dark Sister WEnt!
October 14, 2008
Finding a BOS and experimenting with spells and Flying may not be the safest thing, unless you are willing to pay the price!
May 15, 2018
it started out with so much potential, i don't know where it went wrong.
A married couple that still loved each other! I instantly loved that aspect. A witch's diary. A child visiting a psychologist. All things that I found amazing.
The writing style though was all over the place. The exact opposite of atmospheric, POV changes with no indicators, poor description, inconsistent characters with few exceptions. The plot was gripping, even with the lackluster ending, but it truly was overshadowed by the random sex scenes, bad unrealistic dialogue, the introduction of new unhealthy things that went largely unaddressed.... I could go on for days.
I still enjoyed reading it, but would not recommend for any reason .
A married couple that still loved each other! I instantly loved that aspect. A witch's diary. A child visiting a psychologist. All things that I found amazing.
The writing style though was all over the place. The exact opposite of atmospheric, POV changes with no indicators, poor description, inconsistent characters with few exceptions. The plot was gripping, even with the lackluster ending, but it truly was overshadowed by the random sex scenes, bad unrealistic dialogue, the introduction of new unhealthy things that went largely unaddressed.... I could go on for days.
I still enjoyed reading it, but would not recommend for any reason .
November 11, 2015
It all started when Maggie and Alex Sanders found the book—an ancient leatherbound diary, walled up in a niche inside the fireplace in their quaint English country farmhouse. That's... not the kind of thing that would be likely to happen in the U.S., where our history is only a few centuries old at most. The Sanders only discovered the diary in the first place because they were trying to keep up with their friends the Suzmans... but even though Alex is the archaeologist, Maggie's the one who takes possession of the mysterious book, and who begins to unravel its secrets.
At first, Maggie just mines the diary for simple herbal remedies, but as she reads more—and as the diary reveals more about its author—she is drawn more and more deeply into an ancient and very powerful sisterhood, both dark and otherwise, in a line stretching back through generations...
The strength and variety of Dark Sister's female characters impressed me greatly. This book simply could not exist without them. Not only are Maggie, Liz and Bella strong women, but as Joyce portrays them, they're each strong in different ways. In contrast, all the male characters are significantly flawed and, despite their superficial differences, they tend to exhibit the same oblivious attitudes.
The late Graham Joyce's Dark Sister is, whether consciously or otherwise, powerfully evocative of Daphne du Maurier's work—this novel in particular gave me the same quietly creepy (and very British) feeling as du Maurier's The House on the Strand. This is, in case you were wondering, a good thing.
Ultimately, Dark Sister isn't really about magic or archaeology; those are just the vehicles that deliver the story's surface details. This novel is really, at its heart, about Maggie Sanders—about her journey from unreflective conformity to self-awareness. It's complicated—despite their flaws, Maggie and Alex really do love each other, and the pain they cause each other isn't always justified. And, in that, Dark Sister is, finally, an utterly realistic work.
At first, Maggie just mines the diary for simple herbal remedies, but as she reads more—and as the diary reveals more about its author—she is drawn more and more deeply into an ancient and very powerful sisterhood, both dark and otherwise, in a line stretching back through generations...
The strength and variety of Dark Sister's female characters impressed me greatly. This book simply could not exist without them. Not only are Maggie, Liz and Bella strong women, but as Joyce portrays them, they're each strong in different ways. In contrast, all the male characters are significantly flawed and, despite their superficial differences, they tend to exhibit the same oblivious attitudes.
The late Graham Joyce's Dark Sister is, whether consciously or otherwise, powerfully evocative of Daphne du Maurier's work—this novel in particular gave me the same quietly creepy (and very British) feeling as du Maurier's The House on the Strand. This is, in case you were wondering, a good thing.
Ultimately, Dark Sister isn't really about magic or archaeology; those are just the vehicles that deliver the story's surface details. This novel is really, at its heart, about Maggie Sanders—about her journey from unreflective conformity to self-awareness. It's complicated—despite their flaws, Maggie and Alex really do love each other, and the pain they cause each other isn't always justified. And, in that, Dark Sister is, finally, an utterly realistic work.
May 18, 2015
Maggie and Alex have their problems. their old, drafty house, for one thing. Their stressed-out marriage, for another.
Then one day, uncovering and cleaning the house's original fireplace, they discover a dead blackbird...and an old handwritten diary full of herbal lore.
Maggie takes an interest in the diary. Soon, with the help of her friends Ash, an herbalist, and Old Liz, an old woman with a deep knowledge of ancient ways, Maggie tried to find her way in a world of power and magic. But Maggie's searching has awakened her Dark Sister, a malevolent force that threatens her hold on her family and her sanity.
This was an interesting read, quick and creepy. I enjoyed reading about the witchcraft aspects of this story, but there were other things going on as well. It was easy to hate Alex and that seemed to somehow justify what Maggie was doing. The kids were the ones stuck in the middle and I did feel bad for them. Ash and Old Liz were great characters and added a lot to the story. A few bizarre things happen, which makes me a little hesitant to recommend this to everyone. I did enjoy it though and do recommend it for fans of Graham Joyce.
Then one day, uncovering and cleaning the house's original fireplace, they discover a dead blackbird...and an old handwritten diary full of herbal lore.
Maggie takes an interest in the diary. Soon, with the help of her friends Ash, an herbalist, and Old Liz, an old woman with a deep knowledge of ancient ways, Maggie tried to find her way in a world of power and magic. But Maggie's searching has awakened her Dark Sister, a malevolent force that threatens her hold on her family and her sanity.
This was an interesting read, quick and creepy. I enjoyed reading about the witchcraft aspects of this story, but there were other things going on as well. It was easy to hate Alex and that seemed to somehow justify what Maggie was doing. The kids were the ones stuck in the middle and I did feel bad for them. Ash and Old Liz were great characters and added a lot to the story. A few bizarre things happen, which makes me a little hesitant to recommend this to everyone. I did enjoy it though and do recommend it for fans of Graham Joyce.
April 5, 2016
The premise of this book was intriguing but the story falls short. This is a tale of a woman,mother and wife who is seduced by magic.But the story is told in a very detached and clinical manner.No attempt is made to seduce the reader.I did not understand the behavior of the characters.They were described as loving, caring parents and spouses but they acted like spoiled children.And the psychiatrist was just a weird addition to the story.Not only was he completely unbelievable but no parent would send their 3 yr old to see someone for lying.By the end of the book I very much disliked most of the main characters and did not care what happened to them.
October 8, 2007
Blech. To be honest all I really remember is it's about a middle aged woman with an unhappy marriage who discovers that there really is magic and she can practice it. Of course that's what's been missing her entire life.
Dear God, you may as well just walk to the New Age section and just read something by Raven Silverwolf or whatever the fuck her name is since apparently that's what this author read alot of in researching this book. You'd get just as much fiction and maybe a little bit more entertainment.
Dear God, you may as well just walk to the New Age section and just read something by Raven Silverwolf or whatever the fuck her name is since apparently that's what this author read alot of in researching this book. You'd get just as much fiction and maybe a little bit more entertainment.
March 15, 2008
When Maggie and Alex find an old diary while renovating their home, Maggie is enthralled. The contents offer herbal remedies -- and a connection to a witch who lived in the area years ago. Gradually, Maggie is drawn into experimenting with her own herbal remedies, much to the chagrin of her husband and the confusion of her children. Things come to a head as Maggie becomes increasingly involved and awakens great powers.
What was most enthralling about this book to me is the way that Joyce manages to make everything seem plausible, despite its connections to magic and fantasy.
What was most enthralling about this book to me is the way that Joyce manages to make everything seem plausible, despite its connections to magic and fantasy.
September 6, 2012
This is the third Graham Joyce novel I have read and is one of his earlier books. I prefer his later books ( "Some Kind of Fairytale" and "Limits of Enchantment").The characterisation in this book is again brilliant but the story seemed a bit short with a lot happening in the final couple of chapters and I had to reread bits to keep up with what was happening. Saying that, the story was still really good and I raced though it- perhaps I should have savoured it more!
October 3, 2012
After reading my first Graham Joyce novel, I was hooked and had to read more. I was not disappointed. Dark Sister is another example of Joyce's walking the line between the known and the unknown, reality and fantasy and the point at which they converge. In Dark sister, seduction has many faces and Joyce explores them through masterful story-telling.
April 13, 2014
When you get a book by Graham Joyce you can be sure it will be well-written. Dark Sister is a great read. Joyce manages to create complex believable characters and intriguing situations very efficiently. This isn't a book for gorehounds but rather for folks who appreciate good literature with a sinister edge, a perfect read on a rainy night.
September 30, 2010
A stunning and emotional book. I read this in one day because it was so hard to put down. You really feel the power in the main character and you want her to succeed. I enjoyed this, my first novel by Graham Joyce.
March 1, 2012
Loved this. Dark Sister is wonderfully creepy and entertaining. Graham Joyce is one of my favorite authors and this story is generously sprinkled with his usual hallucinogenic occurrences and imagery.
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