Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Grey Sisters

Rate this book
Two years after a deadly plane crash, best friends D and Spider head into the mountains to face their grief. A gripping psychological thriller for fans of The Cheerleaders and Sadie.

D and Spider have always been close friends, and they are further united in their shared heartbreak: they both lost siblings in a horrific plane crash two years earlier. A chance sighting of a beloved cuddly toy in a photograph of the only survivor spurs D to finally seek closure. She and Spider and their friend, Min, set off on a road trip to the mountainside site of that terrible crash.

Ariel has lived on the mountain all her life. She and her extended family are looked down upon by neighboring townsfolk and she has learned to live by her wits, trusting few people outside of her isolated, survivalist community. A terrifying attack sends her down the mountain for help; on her way, she comes upon the three girls -- a chance encounter that will have far-reaching consequences for them all.

269 pages, Hardcover

First published September 24, 2019

11 people are currently reading
548 people want to read

About the author

Jo Treggiari

10 books244 followers
Writer, reader, and bookseller. My newest book, a YA psych thriller, is Blood Will Out (Penguin, 2018). My next book, another YA thriller, The Grey Sisters, will be published in 2019.
I'm always working on the next thing.


Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
36 (16%)
4 stars
73 (33%)
3 stars
68 (31%)
2 stars
33 (15%)
1 star
6 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews
Profile Image for Erin.
3,907 reviews466 followers
September 3, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for a digital galley in exchange for an honest review.

Another nominee for most beautiful cover of 2019, The Grey Sisters is a multi narrated story. D lost her twin sister Kat in a plane crash and many months later she, her friend, Min, and Kat's friend Spider decide it's time to visit the crash site and honor their sister and friend. But unknown to the trio is that there lives on the mountain; people who have left behind the modern world to prepare for "the war to come" and do not take too well to trespassers.

I often find these stories to be short term fillers. Meaning the situations are intriguing, the action is non stop and the chapters are brief. But the outcome is predictable and the characters tend to lack any depth. In reading that back to myself, I realize that sounds b*!$&? Yet this story failed to leave its mark on me and I am under the impression that other than the stunning cover, I may forget this one by December.

Goodreads review published 01/09/19
Publication Date 24/09/19
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,060 reviews2,869 followers
September 8, 2019
description
description This book seems to have a lot of mixed reviews. 👀 And I can understand that. 🙈 The plot was a little thin. 🚨 Certain aspects of the book were very obvious right from the start, and there were some big plot holes. ✈ However, I still found the story highly entertaining. 👍 So much so I read it all in one go. 🙌 So based on that factor alone I am giving this book 4 Stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

description

description BLOG | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | PINTEREST | BOOKBUB

Profile Image for Alaina.
7,351 reviews203 followers
September 8, 2019
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

At first, when I read the synopsis of The Grey Sisters I was intrigued. Since this one had a plane crash, where the main characters are siblings of someone who was in it, I was highly interested. It kind of reminded me the movie that was about the plane landing in the Hudson. I think it was called Sully?

That being said, I had high hopes for this book before even diving into it. Unfortunately for me, it was just okay. It sucks because I was so excited to dive into this and get to know the characters. Just to see how everyone has changed from this horrible accident that took a loved one. Then for them to go the crash site - I wanted to be moved by all of this. Yet, I wasn't.

It's sad for me to say this, but I honestly wasn't invested. The characters were a bit boring for me and I kind of had the attention span of a goldfish while reading this. Even though a lot happened in this book, I just ended up not caring.

In the end, it was predictable and boring. I wish I liked it more than I did but I can honestly say that I tried.
Profile Image for Marianne.
685 reviews13 followers
May 26, 2019
I’m not sure why this is getting such low ratings?!?! I thought it was quite good.

It’s told from several viewpoints and each had a very distinct voice. Ariel’s sections were the most fascinating as they talked of the cult mindset and what happened there.

The girls will all connect and there is more to this than a chance meeting. The real meat to this story doesn’t happen for a while but once it does it gets pretty crazy. Really my only complaint was that I wanted more of what happened after the conclusion. I easily could have read more about these characters! I will definitely check out more by this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for Sofii♡ (A Book. A Thought.).
405 reviews447 followers
September 10, 2019

I'm so sad I didn't enjoy this book, especially since I usually love plots that involve relationships between siblings, but this time it didn't work for me, at all. I liked the beginning but every time it gets more and more confusing and I had to confess that was kind of hard to finish it. The jumps between the POVs are very weird and make the reading flow confusing, especially due to changes from first to the third person. I couldn't connect with the characters and the story itself ended up taking a direction I didn't expect and didn't enjoy. Maybe I could give the author another chance in the future because there's potential in her writing style

2/5 ⭐️⭐️

FULL REVIEW TO COME
Profile Image for Alan.
178 reviews7 followers
May 5, 2022
I can't believe this book has so few reviews. It was masterfully written and completely captivating. I couldn't put it down.

If more YAs were published that read like this one did, I'd read a lot more YA.

The characterization was rich and layered, the approach to the subject matter sensitive but not cloying, and the writing smart and crisp.

Recommended for fans of Yellowjackets, Hatchet, and a good story well told.
Profile Image for Erik McManus.
423 reviews330 followers
August 3, 2019
Jo’s books always start out with such gripping chapters and this one did not disappoint! The book starts immediately in an intense scene and the sense of urgency pulls you right in.

She is very good at telling a story from multiple perspectives. Her first book was like this too, bouncing back and forth between two perspectives and this one continued with that feeling but it was bumped up to about 4 or 5 different perspectives and the way that they all tied together was magnificently told.

The book had the perfect amount of “creepy” factor for me. I love books that can make me feel like I am being watched or that there is a hidden figure in the room. It adds so much suspense to the book and just gets me in that creeped out mood that I get when watching a well put together scary/thriller movie. This book was a success on this front. Some of the situations that the characters were put in would make me feel really scared and I absolutely loved that the book could make me feel these things.

There are definitely some twists and turns that you won’t be expecting. I sort of figured it out when I was about halfway through but that is because I have a feel for Jo’s writing style now and I look for certain cues. But that is all a part of the fun for me. If I can figure out a story before it is revealed then I feel like a badass.

This book is a great read for someone that wants a YA fiction with a little bit of thriller in it. And if you get the chance to check out her other book, Blood Will Out, then I strongly suggest it because you will be thinking about it well after you have finished.
Profile Image for Aditi.
241 reviews9 followers
Read
February 5, 2023
This was a haunting, emotional read that really struck deep and meant a lot. I liked it, and even though this isn't my normal chosen genre, it was worth a read. Sadly, Netgalley and Goodreads don't have .5 star options, or I would give this a 3.5 star rating.
Profile Image for Sam.
382 reviews38 followers
October 1, 2019
You can find this review and others on my blog SleepySamReads!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

I was pretty skeptical about this one because of the low rating on Goodreads. It turned out pretty good though!

I felt like the characters were well rounded and three dimensional, with the exception of Johnathan. I wish we could have learned a little bit more about him. My favorite was probably D, but I also really enjoyed reading from Ariel's POV.

I think it portrays the different ways of grief really well with D and Spider.

The only thing that I didn't super love was how each chapter jumped to a different point of view. This was a little confusing.

I liked the ending, though I wish we could have gotten just a little bit more of everyone's recovery. Especially Min's, I feel like we didn't get to see anything of her after the huge ordeal.

Overall I would say this is a quick and interesting read, though it's not completely memorable.



Profile Image for Aly.
698 reviews22 followers
April 6, 2019
Honestly, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about this. After reading One of Us is Lying, I've been wanting to give more contemporaries and thrillers a shot. They used to be a genre I enjoyed when put together, so my flame was reignited for those types of books.

I felt like this was a bit of a let down for me. I mean, it was ok. It just wasn't what I was expecting. i was hoping for some epic survival strategies, some sneaking around the enemies, and digging into more of their memories of the plane crash. I didn't get much of that, but just some teen angst and weird dialogue and descriptions.

There was a ton of dialogue between the characters, with new characters being added in too. I felt like I was being told everything I needed to know instead of being drawn in by the suspense of their situation in the mountains. The writing itself was great though when it wasn't just dialogue I didn't need to read. There's even a point where they know they shouldn't trust someone, then just a few pages later they trust said person to help them out. When I reached that point I wasn't invested anymore and just reading to finish. I also did not enjoy the ending at all. I get the meaning of it. but it just didn't sit with me personally.

I just don't see myself picking this up again to see if I like it. This will probably be a hit or miss book for a lot of people, and I'm definitely a miss.

ARC provided to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Shelley.
587 reviews24 followers
September 22, 2019
The Grey Sisters captured my interest the moment that I read the synopsis. In an attempt to find some closure, D, Spider, and Min take a road trip to a secluded, treacherous mountainous area to the site of the plane crash which claimed the lives of two of their siblings. They quickly discovered that facing their grief was the least of their problems in this dangerous, unforgiving territory.

What began as an emotional journey to ease their grief quickly turned into a survival story of their own. I’m always fascinated by stories of survival and how people find the strength and perseverance in the toughest of challenges. Not only did these friends have to face the challenges of the land, but also of the people who called that area home.

The Grey Sisters gave me a bit of a Deliverance meets Big Love vibe. I must admit that I was most intrigued by the chapters from Ariel’s perspective. It was equally disturbing and interesting to see how her people were living their lives in accordance with one self-made ruler’s plan for the community.

The story had an overall creepy feel to it and had plenty of scenes in which I found myself holding my breath in fear and anticipation. While I found that, for the most part, the story moved along at a fairly steady pace, I did find that the ending felt a bit rushed. Was it a satisfying ending? Sure, but I wanted a bit more out of it.

The Grey Sisters was an intriguing story that kept my interest throughout. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Jo Treggiari.

*I received a copy of the book from the publisher (via NetGalley).
Profile Image for Brenna Clark.
214 reviews6 followers
April 12, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC! I requested it on a whim, falling for the gorgeous cover and the promise of a mystery following a devastating tragedy. It delivered on this pact and gave me even more than I could have imagined!

The book starts out with a pretty literal bang as we see Kat and Jonathan’s last moments on the airplane that is the catalyst for this novel. We then flash forward two years as their siblings, D and Spider, respectively, are gearing up to visit the crash site with their friend Min in tow to get some closure.

The trip is perilous; filled with car trouble and the constant feeling of being watched. Only we know that they are indeed being surveilled by a group of mountain dwellers that are led by a Jim Jones type known as Big Daddy. We are given insight into this compound through Ariel, who has grown up within its teachings. When she encounters an accident of her own, she begins to seek help and is driven into D and Spider’s lives desperately.

What unfolds in this book is a beautiful battle for that last spark of hope that keeps us all going, even in our darkest hour. These characters are tried, tested, and come out on the other side stronger for it. The determination and will of these women is a force to be reckoned with, and it has the most satisfying happy ending. I’m not saying it’s all puppies and rainbows; this narrative drips with trauma. However, in spite of this, life finds a way. I loved how this just completely surprised me and ended up being so perfectly up my alley!
Profile Image for Arianna Mclaughlin (arianna.reads).
817 reviews32 followers
September 24, 2019
I devoured this book in one afternoon. It is well written and captivating. The different perspectives of each girl added layers and depth to the story and highlighted the humanity at the core of each of their different experiences. Ariel was a fascinating character- she represented the struggle between family and history and the reality of the horrors that these can inflicted on yourself and others. She starts the novel loyal to her family and her character arc was emotional and satisfying to read. I could read an entire novel about her and the history of the Pembrooke family and cult. I particularly liked the agency Treggiari gave to her female characters. Even when they were not in positions of power, we heard their voices and lived their experiences. This put them at the centre of their stories, when too often I think we see these types of female characters stories being told through the eyes of a savior like a cop or boyfriend.

Thanks to #NetGalley, the author and Penguin Random House Canada for a copy in exchange for a review.
Profile Image for PinkAmy loves books, cats and naps .
2,738 reviews251 followers
April 7, 2019
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary coup of THE GREY SISTERS by Jo Treggiari in exchange for my honest review.***

An airplane crash kills D’s and Spider’s siblings. Now they’re ready to visit the crash site. What they encounter on that mountain changes their understandings of the accident.

I love the premise of the story, but had a difficult time getting into THE GREY SISTERS. The alternating points of view helped move the story along although I became confused when the same character told the POV from first and then third person and back again. I much prefer the method of narration for each individual character be consistent.

Perhaps Jo Treggiari isn’t a writer for me. While I didn’t enjoy the voice, I’ll bet other readers might. The characters were my favorite part of THE GREY SISTERS.
Profile Image for Sandra.
413 reviews963 followers
October 27, 2019
Check out my full video review: https://youtu.be/EF9aR_jCoeU

The Grey Sisters follows three teens going on a trip to the crash-site of their friends/siblings, where they died two years ago. They do this to get some closure of the horrible accident. We also follow Ariel, who lives in the mountains (near the accident site) and lives and survives in a totally different world then we are used to. What is really going on? What is happening?

I don’t even know how to write a short synopsis for this one, but it is supposed to be a mystery/thriller novel. The book opens with the plan crash and for some reason, I got a sort of supernatural feeling when it was happening… that feelings quickly spiraled, when I realized what was really going on. There is really dark themes in this book, and I don’t think they are handled very well. I would trigger warn for: violence, drugs, kidnapping, sexual assault (not directly on page, but indicated), trauma, brainwashing. All these horrible things are present in this book, but I just feel like it was never approached and talked about in a proper way. The plot itself is lost to me, and I felt like there was no point to this story. I thought it was going to be a story about siblings, maybe something with the mountain since they talk about it a lot? While it has siblings and a mountain it was not at all what I expected. At some point the book was okay, but then it was nothing in it that I enjoyed in the end. 2/5 stars.
Profile Image for Shannon.
650 reviews42 followers
April 27, 2019
2.5 stars.

I read the author's last book, Blood Will Out and I wasn't a fan, but The Grey Sister's sounded fairly interesting so I figured I would give it a try. I have to say first off, that when character's have very strange names like Spider, that in itself kind of turns me off before I even start reading. The premise of this story sounded very interesting to me and I was expecting some sort of epic survival story, which is not at all what this book was. I didn't really feel a connection with the characters and I never really found myself invested in the actual story. I also just wasn't a big fan of the way the plot went or the way the book ended. The author's writing is pretty good, I just don't seem to be a fan of this particular story. But as always, I encourage readers to read the book and come to their own conclusions.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an ARC of this book.
Profile Image for Blagica .
1,384 reviews16 followers
December 31, 2019
The Grey Sisters
Closure

A plane crash in the Mountains called the Grey Sisters kills everyone but one person. That is how this tale begins. After that you know you are in for a fun ride. After the crash D and Spider who both lost siblings in the crash. What we see is a group of friends who go to the crash sight to get closer. The book is told in the perspective of the girls going to the plane crash site and Ariel’s chapters were my favorite I think they had more grit to them and it made it enjoyable. I have to say I am having a real hard time writing a review for this book without giving it away. There are some unique twists that make this a good read. I would be interested to see if this is a series or if this is the genre that this author stays in with the next book.
Profile Image for dobbs the dog.
1,037 reviews33 followers
July 11, 2022
CW: cults, parental neglect, attempted sexual assault, guns, kidnapping

I enjoyed this book! I read it for the Teen Summer Book Club I am running at the library and it was good. I was a little bit surprised by the content, with it being YA, and there being some, perhaps more 'adult' content (see CWs).

I liked the characters and thought they were really well developed. I liked the changing POV, not just between characters, but also between first and third person; it really gave a unique perspective to the book.

I will say that I had a hard time with a lot of the cult stuff. Like, the fact that they're basically raping teen girls and calling older women 'cows' because they are fat and lazy; just yuck.

Overall, a good thriller, but do beware of the CWs.
Profile Image for Stephie.lovesbooks.
342 reviews31 followers
September 30, 2019
3.5

Cult? Plane crash? This book had so many fascinating aspects. I just felt like it lacked fully pulling me in. Some stuff were definitely predictable but that part didn’t bother me as much. It’s told in different perspectives so we get to see what everyone is thinking.

Overall, this was interesting but don’t go in it thinking you’ll be shocked with the events in the book. If you’re ok with that then I think you will find yourself enjoying this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for my review copy.
Profile Image for Jacie.
184 reviews1 follower
September 26, 2023
Teens in a cult aren't allowed to see doctors/get professional medical treatment because their leader Big Daddy doesn't want The Government to know they exists, but these same teens are enrolled in school. 🤯🤯🤯🤯 I guess no one told the authors schools are run/regulated by The Government.
Author fails to use exclamation marks, even when characters are "yelling."
Otherwise, boring, no character development and very, very slow.
Profile Image for wandering. bibliophile_ .
231 reviews93 followers
June 20, 2020
I liked the beginning but every time it gets more and more confusing and I had to confess that was kind of hard to finish it.The alternating points of view helped move the story along although I became confused when the same character told the POV from first and then third person and back again. The premise seems interesting, but it wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Ashley.
1,175 reviews
July 26, 2019
**Disclaimer: I received an electronic advanced readers copy of The Grey Sisters by Jo Treggiari from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the publishers for this opportunity.

The Grey Sisters by Jo Treggiari is a multiple point of view YA fiction novel that’s a bit of thriller/mystery. It releases on September 24th, 2019. I gave it 3 stars on GoodReads.



Here’s the summary from NetGalley:

Two years after a deadly plane crash, best friends D and Spider head into the mountains to face their grief. A gripping psychological thriller for fans of The Cheerleaders and Sadie.

D and Spider have always been close friends, and they are further united in their shared heartbreak: they both lost siblings in a horrific plane crash two years earlier. A chance sighting of a beloved cuddly toy in a photograph of the only survivor spurs D to finally seek closure. She and Spider and their friend, Min, set off on a road trip to the mountainside site of that terrible crash.

Ariel has lived on the mountain all her life. She and her extended family are looked down upon by neighboring townsfolk and she has learned to live by her wits, trusting few people outside of her isolated, survivalist community. A terrifying attack sends her down the mountain for help; on her way, she comes upon the three girls -- a chance encounter that will have far-reaching consequences for them all.

The Grey Sisters was a really interesting story. However, it wasn’t my favourite thing I’ve read recently and the star rating I gave it reflects that. I will start off by saying that I really liked the basic premise. Again, I was drawn in by the cover and further by the summary, which is why I requested it. I was also really intrigued by the comparison to Sadie and The Cheerleaders because I absolutely loved both of those books. However, in comparison, I felt that The Grey Sisters fell flat.

As I mentioned, I really liked the basic idea of the story, but the execution of it wasn’t as good as it could have been. The multiple points of view were intriguing and I liked getting into all of the characters’ heads but some parts of the story were really jumpy and I felt like I lost details that were technically important. That being said, in some places the jumps worked really well. There were some very well executed cliffhangers when we jumped from one point of view to the next.

There were parts of this novel that were really beautifully written and I really liked the way that Treggiari described certain things. She has a interesting style and I definitely think that I will read more things by her in the future.

One thing I didn’t like about this book was how slow it was to get into the story. I wanted it to be a bit more action packed. I remember being 25% into the book and messaging Kari to say I had no idea what was happening yet. I had a basic idea, of course, but it wasn’t coming together enough for my personal liking. It did eventually all come together but it felt like it took a really long time.

The cult aspect of this book was really interesting and disturbing at the same time. It’s one of the very unique things about this story. I will mention that there’s a bit of a trigger warning here for sexual assault/rape. Nothing graphic but some things are heavily implied so tread lightly if that’s something that bothers you.

Ultimately, for me, the thing that set this book up to not be the best read for me is the comparison to The Cheerleaders and Sadie. Both of those books blew me out of the water, and honestly this story didn’t. I wanted more from it and while there was mystery and thrilling aspects to it, it just wasn’t the same kind of thing as those other two books. I think that I would probably have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t had those comparisons in advance.  However, that's me setting my hopes too high.

One little neat part of this book was that it featured a character who shares my last name. I’ve never encountered that in a book before, so I thought that was cool.

However, if the summary at all intrigued you, I definitely think it’s worth checking out. Not all books are for everyone and while this one wasn’t for me, there’s a good chance it might be for you. So when September 24th rolls around, consider getting a copy of The Grey Sisters.

Thanks for reading.
255 reviews1 follower
June 10, 2020
Overkill. Too much attempted in one book. The novel is split into two stories, which meet in the middle. The first is about a girl who lost her sister in a plane crash. The second is about a girl at a polygamous compound. The compound and plane crash site are on the same Grey mountain range. It was easy to guess where the story would go. But somehow the link between the two stories still felt forced. It is a tricky format to get right anyway, because it's easy for the reader to pick a favourite. The author did seem to put more effort into the compound plot. Frequently far more pages were devoted to it and I wondered which character I was supposed to root for. As for the writing itself, it was far too showy. The author had a decent vocabulary for sure but that alone won't equal a good book. I had to wade through tons of waffle to get some substance. There were also many redundant words and additional commas. The author chose the wrong moments to insert lengthy dramatic passages and it took away from the drama. I welcomed a twist early on but then later in the book more were thrown in and it became ridiculous. And despite the focus on unnecessary details, many important things weren’t thought through. In one chapter the car breaks down because the headlights are left on. But when they go to a service station instead of getting a jumpstart or a charge for their flat battery (they know it’s flat – a lady down the road jumpstarted them not long before), they ask for a whole new battery. Even though their friend Min is supposedly (and conveniently) some kind of genius. In another chapter, when they’re all on edge because earlier a panic-stricken girl ran into their cabin asking for help, they think nothing of their friend taking ages to return. Instead they distract one another with massages. Not to mention the unrealistic names that make you roll your eyes: Spider (real name Seraphine), Min (real name Marianne), D (who knows what for...). Multiple times poor word choice took away from the seriousness of a given scene. Silly phrases - e.g. “ninja stealth” or just the characters laughing at strange moments. The characters were themselves also like wooden caricatures wooden. A frustrating line where the comparison was drawn of the situation being “like a Tarantino movie all of a sudden” (direct quote) made me annoyed. I found that obnoxious and overreaching. Plus, nothing worse in a book or movie where some character stupidly says "Oh this is like a movie, I can't believe it's real." Pulls you right out of the story. There were also copious shock-tactic scenes of physical abuse, animal abuse, casual mention of rape, vile living situations, women being used like breeders referred to as “cows”, all designed to have impact but so unoriginal and fatalistic. I don’t like to use the word drivel. But this warrants it. Just awful.
Profile Image for Lizz  (literary_lizard).
255 reviews17 followers
October 24, 2019
I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but can safely say that I wasn’t disappointed at all.

The first chapter is unlike anything I’ve ever read before: it takes place on a plane that is about to crash. Right off the bat, you know this story isn’t going to be sunshine and rainbows. You quickly learn that a number of high school students were on the plane, and have been presumed dead and missing. However, their friends and family back home are not quick to forget them.

The story then shifts and follows three friends—Spider, D, and Min—who decide to take a trip up into the mountains to visit the plane’s crash site. Spider and D had both lost siblings, and want to visit the site to get a sense of closure. Min decides to join them for the ride; plus, she has the most experience outdoors and knows they’ll need a hand setting up the tent and starting a fire.

Once they get up into the mountains, though, something doesn’t seem right. They have a run in with some strange men at a gas station, and also meet an erratic girl who seems to be running away from someone. Despite these strange events, they keep pressing on with their trip. Fans of thrillers will be yelling at them through the pages to turn around and go home, because we know nothing good comes from being alone in the wilderness at night. These three girls are headstrong and determined, though.

What happens next is something I never would have expected, especially in a YA book. I’m not about to give away any spoilers, so don’t worry. I will, however, urge you to read this book to find out what happens in these sleepy mountains. I promise you won’t regret it, and then afterwards, we can gush about the twists and turns, and unexpected events that occur.

The Grey Sisters is told from the perspectives of multiple characters, so you always get an inside look at what they’re thinking. D and Min are enjoyable enough, but Ariel was by far my favourite character. She lives up in the mountains, and gives a perspective to the story that will keep you guessing until the very end. Where is she from, and what exactly is she trying to do? Readers, please, pick up this book and find out!

I’d recommend The Grey Sisters to anyone who enjoys thrillers, strong female characters, and true crime. The book is fictional, but there are some elements in it that I think my fellow murderinos will enjoy.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for including me in the blog tour for this book! The Grey Sisters came out on September 24, 2019 and can be purchased wherever books are sold.

My full review can be read here: https://literarylizard.com/2019/10/24...
Profile Image for Alice.
690 reviews20 followers
August 30, 2019
First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Teen for approving my request and sending me an eARC in exchange for a honest review.
You have to know English isn’t my first language, so feel free to correct me if I make some mistakes while writing this review.


I wouldn't exactly define The Grey Sisters as a horror, but it sure delivers a creepiness of sorts because you get the feeling the something scary might happen maybe right now or the next page - still you don't know where, you don't know when and you don't know how. And that's the good part.

I have to tell you this, though: this book contains animal cruelty.
It's not extremely lengthy and I like to think I can stomach (almost) everything, but this is something I really struggle with - so I had to pause and take a break to breathe.

Getting back on point, maybe Ariel is the girl that got to me the most - maybe because she's the only one who tells her side of the story in first person point of view. She tells us about Avalon, about her life in her community, about her family - blood related and not. And it's often awful reading how women are disrespected by men and treated as objects to serve a purpose. Their living style reminded me somehow of a couple episodes I had seen on Justified, Longmire and Cult - their way of thinking and trying to defend themselves from outsiders something dangerous and frightening.

I came to care about the well-being of every girl here and I admit I was so captured by the atmosphere that I never put my attention on some tiny details left here and there as hints, so the plot-twists totally caught me by surprise - one in particular gave me goosebumps.

I confess I expected a little bit more by the ending - I don't know, maybe a chapter more told by Ariel.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed this book very much and I recommend it if you're searching for something that can give you chills and a creepy setting to lose yourself in.
Profile Image for BookwormishMe.
488 reviews25 followers
July 28, 2019
When D’s twin sister Kat dies in a plane crash, she finds it hard to piece her life back together. Spider’s brother was also in the plane crash. Spider was Kat’s best friend. D happens to see a photo of a survivor from the crash with her twin’s stuffed animal, and it sends her on an expedition to the crash site for closure. Spider and Min tag along. What happens next will change all their lives forever. Meeting up with a young women who lives on a paramilitary compound in the backwoods of the Grey Sisters mountains leads D, Spider and Min into a terrifying battle for their own lives.

Told from multiple characters’ points of view, The Grey Sisters is a YA novel rich with history (whether real or fictional.) There is a blurb at the beginning of the book that references a historical novel about the area, and the settlers who made their homes there. How the area and the settlers were somewhat wild and hardened by the conditions of living in the shadow of the mountains. This really sets the scene for what’s to come. The next section takes us straight to the plane ride that led to Kat’s and Jonathan’s demise. It’s a frenzied start to a novel, and keeps you wanting to turn the pages to know what happens next.

This was the first book I’ve read by Jo Treggiari. I wasn’t disappointed. Unique characters with strong personalities, I liked the fact that this book was female based. These are all tough women with difficult situations. The way that the setting is described gives you a virtual picture of how difficult the terrain is. The concept of the militaristic compound was both fascinating and frightening. Personally, I found the book to be well written and enjoyable. I would absolutely read another book by Treggiari again.

3.75 stars on Goodreads

This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com close to publication date.
Profile Image for Tasha Leigh.
918 reviews14 followers
October 27, 2019
Going in to this novel I was so excited - there was a plane crash and a girl who lived in a commune finally leaving the hills that have always been her home. It sounded like a A+ thriller. Unfortunately, my expectations far exceeded the calibre of the novel.

So, this wasn't 'bad' per se it was just kind of ho hum. The story, while having promise, failed to hit the expected high notes of intrigue and tension that comes with a really good thriller novel. Throughout the majority of the The Grey Sisters it was fairly single note rather than having the highs and lows usually associated with the genre.

I also found myself having an extremely hard time relating to any of the characters. There's a guy who is kind of the centre of the story but is so forgettable that I had to think extremely hard to remember who they were; a female character who was part of the original plane crash but seems to happily revisit ground zero without any issues despite almost dying; a character who is know by a single letter who kind of had a place but also I'm not sure I understand what it was; and lastly a woman who escapes captivity but happily returns only to realise she could probably help the camps captives if she just grew a pair. They could have all had such depth but endeavouring to squish the whole thing into less than 300 pages lead to most of them being very superficial.

I will say however that I quite enjoyed the 'villain' of the piece. He is mean and predictably manipulative, giving the narrative just a little bit of pep and pizazz.

Overall. as I said earlier, it wasnt 'bad' just poorly executed in parts. The punch usually associated with the thriller genre are for the most part missing with it feeling more like a contemporary lacking a degree of emotion. While The Grey Sisters wasn't for me, I feel like it would appeal to those who loved Gone Girl or A Simple Favour.
Profile Image for Erica.
514 reviews16 followers
May 20, 2019
I received an ARC of this novel via NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada in exchange for an honest review.

D and Spider spot a stuffed animal in a photo of the sole survivor of the plane crash that took their siblings two years prior. The toy belonged to D's twin sister Kat, a loss D has not been able to put behind her. Together, with their friend Min, they travel to the crash site, a forest that outskirts the Grey Sister Mountains, in hopes of finally getting closure...what they discover will change their lives forever.
Ariel lives in a survivalist mountain community called Avalon. In a constant struggle to survive the elements, disease, and starvation that reduce their numbers they continue to prepare for a war they are told will come. An animal attack that leaves one of her team severely injured results in her traveling outside the safety of her community...an event that will result in consequences for both parties.

The Grey Sisters is an action packed YA fiction novel with a survivalist element. Although some of the names chosen for the characters were a bit strange the plot itself was fairly entertaining. This novel provides two parallel stories involving young girls (16-ish) who become linked with life changing revelations for both parties. There are elements of the novel that may not suit all readers primarily revolving around the mountain community run by "Big Daddy". It implies sexual acts involving young girls (both consensual and nonconsensual) however; it doesn't get graphic in the details. That being said I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this one. The beginning of the novel kicks off with a plane crash, but then the book lags a bit while we get to know the characters back stories. The story picks back up again and ends with a bang...quite literally. Overall entertaining and action packed but probably not for the younger spectrum of YA genre.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 93 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.