Grey Sister, Review

Grey Sister, Book of the Ancestor #2, by Mark Lawrence

“But I must warn you, sister, that a sickness runs in me, and if you fashion yourself my enemy I will make a ruin of your life, for I am born of war.”

Grey Sister picks up right where Red Sister left off, with Nona Grey back at the Convent of Sweet Mercy, trying to make it through Mystic class without getting killed, expelled, or emotionally wrecked. She’s still rough around the edges, still haunted by the past, but she’s also starting to step into the full weight of what she can become. Her powers are growing, her allies are sharpening, and her enemies are circling.

This book is a continuation in the best sense of the word. It doesn't just repeat the beats of book one. It builds. The stakes are higher, the friendships deeper, and the danger more personal. We watch not only Nona evolve, but also her classmates. Everyone is moving into their strengths, whether that means blade-work, shadow-walking, or mind-reading. Each girl is a weapon in the making, and Mark Lawrence makes sure we understand just how deadly they can be.

“Your enemies make you what you are. Your foes shape your life more than friends ever could.”

What I appreciated about Grey Sister is how much it leans into the politics and power plays outside the convent. The Church, the Empire, and the noble families are all tightening their grip on this world, and Nona is caught in the center. Whether she wants to be or not. The quiet threat of control and betrayal hovers in every chapter, and just when you think you know where things are going, something shifts. The book constantly reminds you that nothing is safe, and no one is untouchable.

“There are some lessons that must be written in scars.”

Lawrence’s writing continues to be sharp and confident. There’s a precision to it, especially in the fight scenes. You feel every blow, every dodge, every act of desperation. But what makes Grey Sister work isn't just the action. It’s the emotion underneath it. Nona’s anger, her loyalty, her confusion, and her pain all feel earned. She's not a typical heroine. She’s broken in ways that make her unpredictable and dangerous, but also deeply human.

The pacing here is strong, with a slow burn that explodes into an intense and satisfying final act. There are consequences. There is loss. And there is, finally, a sense of just how wide and deep this world really is.

“Never be so focused on picking a lock that you forget kicking down the door is also an option.”

If Red Sister was about survival and discovery, then Grey Sister is about consequences and control. It lays the groundwork for something much bigger, and by the time you turn the last page, you’ll know exactly why book three is going to be a war.