Pan Macmillan acquires extraordinary folktale retelling Sistersong

Pan Macmillan is delighted to announce an exciting new deal with author Lucy Holland. Editorial Director Bella Pagan acquired world rights from Veronique Baxter, at David Higham Associates. Sistersong is the powerful reimagining of a folk ballad, set in a magical ancient Britain. Here three siblings become entangled in a gripping tale of treachery, love and ultimately, murder. This story retells The Two Sisters through the eyes of the one the tale forgot. 

Three siblings fear a life of confinement within the walls of their father’s hold – a last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. But change comes on the day ash falls from the sky. It brings Myrddhin, meddler and magician, and Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear the family apart. Riva, Keyne and Sinne are drawn inexorably into a story of forbidden magic and hidden ambition. It's a tale of hope, empowerment and also despair, which will shape the destiny of Britain.

Lucy Holland commented: ‘I am absolutely delighted to be working with Bella on Sistersong. This is a story I've wanted to tell since I first heard The Two Sisters ballad several years ago. Bringing a tumultuous period in history to life has been both challenging and exhilarating, and I couldn't be happier that the book has found a home at Macmillan.’ 

Bella Pagan said: ‘Lucy has produced something incredibly special. I was enthralled by the sisters’ darkly magical tale and captivated by the maturity and depth of the storytelling. If you’ve loved reading Naomi Novik and Madeline Miller, Sistersong will be an absolute treat.’

Lucy Holland is a Waterstones Bookseller, who wrote the Worldmaker trilogy under the name Lucy Hounsom. Sistersong is scheduled for publication in spring 2021. You can discover more about Lucy Holland and her work at lucyhounsom.co.uk, or find her on twitter as @silvanhistorian.