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The Seventh Sister
Not yet published
Expected 10 Mar 26"A dark fairy tale about gods, betrayal and dangerous magic, this novella will keep you turning the pages right up to its fiery end." — Jelena Dunato, author of Dark Woods, Deep Water
"A skillful, lyrical retelling of Snow White with shades of Bluebeard." — Nicole Willson, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Tidepool
"The Seventh Sister gripped me from the first sentence and didn’t let go." — Koji A. Dae, author of Casual
"As dreamy as a fairytale and as tenderly crafted, The Seventh Sister gives glimpses into a world rich with possibilities.” — Naseem Jamnia, author of The Bruising of Qilwa
WELCOME TO SANCTUARY
Seer Éliane is destined to a brilliant future as a servant of Aurië, the Sun-God. Everything changes when the High Seer, her superior, becomes jealous of Éliane's abilities and chases her from the temple.
Having no family, Éliane 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, Éliane 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.
"A skillful, lyrical retelling of Snow White with shades of Bluebeard." — Nicole Willson, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Tidepool
"The Seventh Sister gripped me from the first sentence and didn’t let go." — Koji A. Dae, author of Casual
"As dreamy as a fairytale and as tenderly crafted, The Seventh Sister gives glimpses into a world rich with possibilities.” — Naseem Jamnia, author of The Bruising of Qilwa
WELCOME TO SANCTUARY
Seer Éliane is destined to a brilliant future as a servant of Aurië, the Sun-God. Everything changes when the High Seer, her superior, becomes jealous of Éliane's abilities and chases her from the temple.
Having no family, Éliane 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, Éliane 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.
115 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 10, 2026
4996 people want to read
About the author
Millie Abecassis
6 books48 followersMillie Abecassis is a French-American author of adult speculative fiction born and raised in France. She is the founder and host of #SmallPitch, a pitch event centered on independent presses, and the co-founder of the Small Spec Book Awards. Besides writing, Millie works in the biotech industry, has two cats, and loves playing video games whenever she has the time between two manuscripts.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 9, 2025
Elaine, an orphan raised by the High Seer at the temple, was recently bestowed with the gift of sight from Aurie the Sun-God. The power that Elaine has results in jealousy and range from her Superior. Escaping certain death, Elaine finds shelter at the Sanctuary - a refuge for lost, troubled women run by The Lady of Clairemont. As time passes, and girls at the Sanctuary begin disappearing, Elaine decides to tap into her abilities to save the girls that remain. Will she save herself and the others, or will they all become victims?
It never ceases to amaze me when authors can fit so much imagery, character development, and magic building into a novella. Millie did just that!
The development of Elaine was impeccable. The mystery surrounding Lady of Claremont kept me turning the pages. I loved that the other 6 ladies at the Sanctuary had their backgrounds developed, as well.
The magic system was fun and refreshing. I liked how there was a God system but the way in which the Gods interact with mortals was interesting. I also enjoyed how the magic is obtained and developed - that was rather unique.
There were many twists and turns. I liked how I questioned everyone and their intentions before being led to the truth. The book was open ended so I hope to read a continuation later in 2026.
Thank you, Millie, for the opportunity to read an ARC of your novella and provide an honest review.
Release date is 3/10/26.
It never ceases to amaze me when authors can fit so much imagery, character development, and magic building into a novella. Millie did just that!
The development of Elaine was impeccable. The mystery surrounding Lady of Claremont kept me turning the pages. I loved that the other 6 ladies at the Sanctuary had their backgrounds developed, as well.
The magic system was fun and refreshing. I liked how there was a God system but the way in which the Gods interact with mortals was interesting. I also enjoyed how the magic is obtained and developed - that was rather unique.
There were many twists and turns. I liked how I questioned everyone and their intentions before being led to the truth. The book was open ended so I hope to read a continuation later in 2026.
Thank you, Millie, for the opportunity to read an ARC of your novella and provide an honest review.
Release date is 3/10/26.
December 31, 2025
Received this book as a ARC! Decided to start reading it yesterday and i was sucked right in from page one ! I could not put it down, read it in under 24 hours! Loved it ! I will for sure be reading another book from this author ! Worth the read!
November 10, 2025
"You were always a sister to me. Even when I tried to kill you."
Orphans Éliane and Shizelle believe their future is secure when they are chosen to serve in the temple of the sun god Aurië. Yet as Éliane's talents begin to outshine those of the High Seer, she is forced to flee for her life.
Lost within a dark forest, Éliane discovers a crumbling mansion covered in snow, home to Lady Clairemont and a sisterhood of women who have taken refuge there. Relieved to find sanctuary in this remote place, Éliane embraces her new life and found family. That is, until she begins to question whether or not the mansion is truly a place of safety.
This dark fairytale novella enthralled me from the first page! I was fascinated by the temple's activities and rituals, and the ways that the gods bestowed their blessings upon mortals. The magical abilities of the nuns and seers were super interesting. I also enjoyed the eerie and mysterious mansion in the woods. I loved the world building and hope that Millie Abecassis will write more stories in this setting.
Both Éliane and the High Seer had well developed and compelling character arcs. There was a strong theme of sisterhood that existed not just between Éliane and Shizelle, and the women at the mansion, but also between the High Seer and Dame Héloïse. Even the more minor characters had interesting backgrounds.
The story had several unexpected twists that took me by surprise, and kept me captivated to the very end. I highly recommend The Seventh Sister to readers who love fantasy and dark fairytale retellings.
Many thanks to the author, Millie Abecassis, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this fantastic novella. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Orphans Éliane and Shizelle believe their future is secure when they are chosen to serve in the temple of the sun god Aurië. Yet as Éliane's talents begin to outshine those of the High Seer, she is forced to flee for her life.
Lost within a dark forest, Éliane discovers a crumbling mansion covered in snow, home to Lady Clairemont and a sisterhood of women who have taken refuge there. Relieved to find sanctuary in this remote place, Éliane embraces her new life and found family. That is, until she begins to question whether or not the mansion is truly a place of safety.
This dark fairytale novella enthralled me from the first page! I was fascinated by the temple's activities and rituals, and the ways that the gods bestowed their blessings upon mortals. The magical abilities of the nuns and seers were super interesting. I also enjoyed the eerie and mysterious mansion in the woods. I loved the world building and hope that Millie Abecassis will write more stories in this setting.
Both Éliane and the High Seer had well developed and compelling character arcs. There was a strong theme of sisterhood that existed not just between Éliane and Shizelle, and the women at the mansion, but also between the High Seer and Dame Héloïse. Even the more minor characters had interesting backgrounds.
The story had several unexpected twists that took me by surprise, and kept me captivated to the very end. I highly recommend The Seventh Sister to readers who love fantasy and dark fairytale retellings.
Many thanks to the author, Millie Abecassis, for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this fantastic novella. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 28, 2026
Millie Abecassis knows how to spin a fairytale—not the sanitized, Disney kind, but the dark, Grimm’s Fairy Tale kind that will leave you disturbed and on edge. The fairytale-like aspects in THE SEVENTH SISTER coalesce to create a story that is more than a retelling of Bluebeard and Snow White, and more than a tale of gods and power. It is an exploration of “sanctuaries,” of “safe places,” and how people who have experienced trauma and suffer with the unrelenting grip of anxiety struggle with ever feeling truly safe. It is also about the dual-sided nature of curiosity and the complex relationships of found families. I really enjoyed this novella and its gripping, sinister plot. I think it will please horror and dark fantasy fans who enjoy stories that aren’t afraid to be different from the mainstream.
November 17, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book, it sounded like a story unlike anything I’d recently read.
I found the main character was very likeable.
I was questioning everyone’s motives and enjoyed the revelations throughout the book.
The multiple POV’s were great too.
I certainly would have enjoyed it if the book was longer and explored the finale more.
Overall very positive reading experience.
I found the main character was very likeable.
I was questioning everyone’s motives and enjoyed the revelations throughout the book.
The multiple POV’s were great too.
I certainly would have enjoyed it if the book was longer and explored the finale more.
Overall very positive reading experience.
November 11, 2025
I was really intrigued by the concept of The Seventh Sister — it sounded like such a fresh, creative idea, and I was excited to receive an ARC. The story itself had a lot of potential, and I enjoyed the unique twist on familiar fairy-tale elements.
That said, I found it a little hard to connect with the characters and their motivations. The story often felt more told than shown, which made it tricky to fully sink into the emotions or understand what was driving each person. I kept wishing for a bit more depth and feeling behind their choices, because the premise itself is really interesting.
Overall, this is a creative retelling with a lot of promise. I think readers who love fairy-tale retellings and dark fantasy worlds will find something to enjoy here. I’m grateful for the chance to read it early and see this author’s imaginative take on such classic tales.
That said, I found it a little hard to connect with the characters and their motivations. The story often felt more told than shown, which made it tricky to fully sink into the emotions or understand what was driving each person. I kept wishing for a bit more depth and feeling behind their choices, because the premise itself is really interesting.
Overall, this is a creative retelling with a lot of promise. I think readers who love fairy-tale retellings and dark fantasy worlds will find something to enjoy here. I’m grateful for the chance to read it early and see this author’s imaginative take on such classic tales.
Review of advance copy
Advanced reader copy recieved read via Bookbub - thank you to the author MA for the copy.
A young woman with the temple-trained ability to see glimpses of the future is forced to flee, and seeks sanctuary in a mysterious mansion named - aptly - Sanctuary ran by a giant lady called - aptly - Lady.
Blending modern fantasy with familiar fairytale tropes, this quick read has the makings of a modern fairytale. The mythos of the gods is woven into the story well, as well hinting at the structure of the common world. The focus on sisterhood - both long-term friendships as well as new ones forged - is charming and modern without feeling forced.
As hinted in the summary, some of the naming is over-simple, and if I’m honest the characters are a little dumb. This is something fairly normal in fairytales (think Cinderella and Snow White’s on-the-nose names), but there were a few eye-roll moments for me, especially on entering the Sanctuary.
A quick, romance-free read, I give this a 3.75/5, rounded up to 4 on relevant platforms.
A young woman with the temple-trained ability to see glimpses of the future is forced to flee, and seeks sanctuary in a mysterious mansion named - aptly - Sanctuary ran by a giant lady called - aptly - Lady.
Blending modern fantasy with familiar fairytale tropes, this quick read has the makings of a modern fairytale. The mythos of the gods is woven into the story well, as well hinting at the structure of the common world. The focus on sisterhood - both long-term friendships as well as new ones forged - is charming and modern without feeling forced.
As hinted in the summary, some of the naming is over-simple, and if I’m honest the characters are a little dumb. This is something fairly normal in fairytales (think Cinderella and Snow White’s on-the-nose names), but there were a few eye-roll moments for me, especially on entering the Sanctuary.
A quick, romance-free read, I give this a 3.75/5, rounded up to 4 on relevant platforms.
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February 20, 2026Thank you so much Millie for this incredible ARC!
This book was so good! Élaine is just an absolute sweetheart, and the story just kept getting better and better! I feel like I started off very unsure, but as the story unraveled, I got sucked into it so fast! And the plot twists were just *chef's kiss*.
Seer Élaine surpases expectation as she progresses quickly to better serve the Sun-God, Aurië. When the High Seer catches wind of this, she grows jealous and swiftly chases Élaine from the temple.
With no family or home, Élaine finds herself at the doors of Sanctuary, a mysterious building owned by Lady of Clairemont. There, she meets six women who live as sisters and starts to feel like maybe she could be the seventh.
However, as days pass on, the sisters start to disappear, and it's up to Élaine to figure out who exactly is this Lady of Clairemont and determine whether this place truly is Sanctuary after all.
This book was so good! Élaine is just an absolute sweetheart, and the story just kept getting better and better! I feel like I started off very unsure, but as the story unraveled, I got sucked into it so fast! And the plot twists were just *chef's kiss*.
Seer Élaine surpases expectation as she progresses quickly to better serve the Sun-God, Aurië. When the High Seer catches wind of this, she grows jealous and swiftly chases Élaine from the temple.
With no family or home, Élaine finds herself at the doors of Sanctuary, a mysterious building owned by Lady of Clairemont. There, she meets six women who live as sisters and starts to feel like maybe she could be the seventh.
However, as days pass on, the sisters start to disappear, and it's up to Élaine to figure out who exactly is this Lady of Clairemont and determine whether this place truly is Sanctuary after all.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC from the author but thoughts are my own.
This is more of a 3.75 rating as I did enjoy the book. Knowing that the plot was a bit of Snow White and a bit of Bluebeard's wives I could tell where the plot was going and felt it was pretty straight forward. The multiple POV's were nice and the characters seemed fleshed out for the story that was being told.
For me this wasn't a higher star rating because things felt way to rushed and it felt like the stakes weren't there to make me feel concerned for the character's in trouble. Either a few more chapters or take up a bit more time within the story.
I will say if you are a fan of shorter books or fairy tail retellings this one is a good one to start with as it's pretty straightforward and easy to digest, plus a quick nice read
This is more of a 3.75 rating as I did enjoy the book. Knowing that the plot was a bit of Snow White and a bit of Bluebeard's wives I could tell where the plot was going and felt it was pretty straight forward. The multiple POV's were nice and the characters seemed fleshed out for the story that was being told.
For me this wasn't a higher star rating because things felt way to rushed and it felt like the stakes weren't there to make me feel concerned for the character's in trouble. Either a few more chapters or take up a bit more time within the story.
I will say if you are a fan of shorter books or fairy tail retellings this one is a good one to start with as it's pretty straightforward and easy to digest, plus a quick nice read
December 12, 2025
*I was given this book as an ARC but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
A quick delve into a world of gods, magic, and betrayal. The Seventh Sister is a Snow White retelling where my only complaint was that it was too short! Despite being thrown into the world at full force, Abecassis makes it easy to understand all the rules of the magic and gods without it being condescending or feeling like a barrage of information. The writing is cinematic and I found myself imagining how gorgeous this would look on the screen. I would be delighted to read more about this world and its’ characters, particularly the gods themselves. Highly recommend for anyone who wants something quick, fantastical, and full of magic.
A quick delve into a world of gods, magic, and betrayal. The Seventh Sister is a Snow White retelling where my only complaint was that it was too short! Despite being thrown into the world at full force, Abecassis makes it easy to understand all the rules of the magic and gods without it being condescending or feeling like a barrage of information. The writing is cinematic and I found myself imagining how gorgeous this would look on the screen. I would be delighted to read more about this world and its’ characters, particularly the gods themselves. Highly recommend for anyone who wants something quick, fantastical, and full of magic.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a fun, fast-paced dark fairy tale about a young seer, Éliane who is forced to run away from her temple because her jealous superior wants her dead. She flees to the forest where she finds the Sanctuary - a strange house run by the mysterious Lady of Clairemont. She meets six other women there - women who ran away from violence and poverty. But as she adjusts to her new life, Éliane finds out that the Lady is not as benevolent as it seems and that there is a dark secret hidden at the heart of the Sanctuary.
This is a great short read with interesting world building and characters which will - I hope - appear in some future tales.
This is a great short read with interesting world building and characters which will - I hope - appear in some future tales.
November 23, 2025
Thank you Millie for the opportunity to read your ARC.
A very enjoyable fast paced novella. Elaine is an orphan handpicked to become a Seer. Her abilities exceed her predecessors thus making her an unknowing target. Forced to flee her home she stumbles upon ‘The Sanctuary’ a deceiving safe haven.
Unable to control her curiosity, Elaine begins questioning the sanctuary and its host ‘Lady’ what she discovers however is more than she ever imagined.
I liked reading this novella and am interested in seeing where the series goes next. Thanks again Millie.
A very enjoyable fast paced novella. Elaine is an orphan handpicked to become a Seer. Her abilities exceed her predecessors thus making her an unknowing target. Forced to flee her home she stumbles upon ‘The Sanctuary’ a deceiving safe haven.
Unable to control her curiosity, Elaine begins questioning the sanctuary and its host ‘Lady’ what she discovers however is more than she ever imagined.
I liked reading this novella and am interested in seeing where the series goes next. Thanks again Millie.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A huge thank you to the author for an arc of this novella. Thoughts are my own.
Enjoyable and fast-paced, I found this novella quite engaging and captivating; The world-building and characters were on-point even though it somehow took me a little while to adjust to the name and remember each one accurately.
Also, aside from the story, I am totally in love with the cover!
I am totally happy that this was my first read of 2026.
Enjoyable and fast-paced, I found this novella quite engaging and captivating; The world-building and characters were on-point even though it somehow took me a little while to adjust to the name and remember each one accurately.
Also, aside from the story, I am totally in love with the cover!
I am totally happy that this was my first read of 2026.
December 9, 2025
🚨 I received an ARC from the author so the thoughts are my own 🚨
I can thoroughly say that I enjoyed this very much! It's short and sweet and has all the elements I was wanting out of a horror fantasy novel. I loved the horror fantasy aspect of it. Because who doesn't like a good horror fantasy novel? I highly recommend The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis.
I can thoroughly say that I enjoyed this very much! It's short and sweet and has all the elements I was wanting out of a horror fantasy novel. I loved the horror fantasy aspect of it. Because who doesn't like a good horror fantasy novel? I highly recommend The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow—just wow!
This dark fantasy was so different from what I usually read, and I really enjoyed it. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and the blend of magic, gods, and mystery made the story incredibly intriguing and hard to put down.
I’m grateful to have read this ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.
This dark fantasy was so different from what I usually read, and I really enjoyed it. The twists and turns kept me on my toes, and the blend of magic, gods, and mystery made the story incredibly intriguing and hard to put down.
I’m grateful to have read this ARC and am voluntarily sharing my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed this!!! It was so quick paced, I finished it in one sitting cause I needed to know what happened next.
I don’t know why but it reminded me of an episode of Over The Garden Wall. Lady reminded me of one of the witches from one episode (I don’t remember which one) and I loved that.
This was such a good creepy novella!!
I don’t know why but it reminded me of an episode of Over The Garden Wall. Lady reminded me of one of the witches from one episode (I don’t remember which one) and I loved that.
This was such a good creepy novella!!
November 15, 2025
Well written fantasy story. I liked the concept and characters. It held my attention the whole time.
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January 11, 20263.75 ⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis.
A short and sweet retelling of the classic fairy tale Snow White.
Orphan Éliane is a young seer who is forced out of the temple by a jealous high seer and ends up finding safety at The Sanctuary….. This novella has many twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged with its fast pace, Millie doesn’t skimp on the details and fleshes out seer life and all of the characters have dimension
I enjoyed this tale and finished it one sitting!
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy of The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis.
A short and sweet retelling of the classic fairy tale Snow White.
Orphan Éliane is a young seer who is forced out of the temple by a jealous high seer and ends up finding safety at The Sanctuary….. This novella has many twists and turns and keeps the reader engaged with its fast pace, Millie doesn’t skimp on the details and fleshes out seer life and all of the characters have dimension
I enjoyed this tale and finished it one sitting!
Review of advance copy received from Author
A young new Seer, whose growing powers are becoming a threat to the High Seer in charge. Jealousy grows and lies are told. As Éliane flees for her safety, she stumbles across the Sanctuary. She's taken in by the other women. But as the days pass, she wonders; where lies the true danger?
//
Thank you so so so so much, Millie, for this ARC copy of 'The Seventh Sister'! I do love a good retelling of our beloved fairy tales. Anyone who enjoys Bluebeard and Snow White, will devour this novella. I loved learning about the world-building as the story went on. Everything's written very clearly and nice to follow. The suspence being build up was very well done. I got the same feeling as Éliane about feeling something is off, but also trying to believe what Lady tells her. That just really pulled me in. I loved reading Éliane's story. I truly can't wait to see it be officially published on March 10th 2026! And who knows, hopefully we'll see more Éliane again some day....
//
Thank you so so so so much, Millie, for this ARC copy of 'The Seventh Sister'! I do love a good retelling of our beloved fairy tales. Anyone who enjoys Bluebeard and Snow White, will devour this novella. I loved learning about the world-building as the story went on. Everything's written very clearly and nice to follow. The suspence being build up was very well done. I got the same feeling as Éliane about feeling something is off, but also trying to believe what Lady tells her. That just really pulled me in. I loved reading Éliane's story. I truly can't wait to see it be officially published on March 10th 2026! And who knows, hopefully we'll see more Éliane again some day....
January 22, 2026
I read The Seventh Sister has an ARC. This book was not what I was expecting! I love retellings of Disney classics, and this one was amazing! The Seventh Sister was a very well-paced retelling of Snow White and Bluebeard. I have never heard of Bluebeard, so I had to look it up. Bluebeard is a French folktale about a wealthy, intimidating man with a blue beard. This man marries and then murders his wives. Mille Abecassis did an outstanding job with retelling Snow White and Bluebeard. There were turns and twists I didn't see coming! I won't give any spoilers, but I will say that this book will leave you wanting more!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews