Sister of the Brotherhood

The actions of Arien, one of only a few women to wield telepathic powers, will decide the fate of the Twin Kingdoms of Hamlin and Creighton in this frustratingly sexist fantasy novel from Patrick, the pen name of Virginia Smith (The Most Famous Illegal Goose Creek Parade). When Master Petro Tyler from the Brotherhood of Power offers to take orphaned Arien as his student, she is eager to join his organization, believing that shared abilities will create community. But misogyny is the social norm in the Twin Kingdoms, so Arien is relegated to the fringes of the Brotherhood for the duration of her training to perceive and command thoughts as well as manipulate matter. Although well-executed, the plot presents few major surprises as Arien accompanies the Crown Princes of Hamlin and Creighton to the northern kingdom of Otero to uncover the truth behind rumors of an imminent invasion. The intriguing magic system and exciting conclusion don’t mitigate the normalization of the setting’s biases, which are reflected in Arien’s passivity as she wields her exceptional power in the service of men’s plans. Readers expecting this title to betoken a feminist story will be disappointed. Agent: Wendy Lawton, Books and Such Literary Management. (Oct.)