Sister Creatures

“Captivating and sublime... and centered on a cast of women bound to their roots in unexpected ways, this is a book that interchanges the tender and the cruel, the weird and the real, with breathtaking ease.”–Jinwoo Chong, author of Flux

In the muggy, insect-ridden town of Pinecreek, Louisiana, college dropout Tess Lavigne is watching two bickering siblings while their parents are away. Her listless day drinking is interrupted when someone emerges from the woods behind the house. Filthy and feral, the daughter of religious fundamentalists, the girl known in town as Sister Gail convinces Tess to take her in for the night. The strange events of that evening will set the course for Tess’s future, and Sister Gail’s ultimate fate.

Meanwhile, other residents of Pinecreek try to cobble together a future from what little they have, their lives intersecting in small and not-so-small ways. Sisters fight to define independence for themselves (and from each other), while two young women on a bicycling trip wonder what their relationship promises, or threatens. Throughout, a deeply unsettling presence connects the characters to the buried secrets of Pinecreek: the ominous Thea, a malevolent shape-shifting entity whose rage and despair stems from a tragic history of misogyny, maternal loss, and stolen ambitions.

As time marches forward, so does Tess, creating a new path for herself while accepting what can never be entirely left behind. At times atmospheric and eerie, and at others all too real, Sister Creatures is about manufacturing resilience from nothing but the bonds that tie us together.

©2025 by Laura Venita Green. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Narrator Jenn Lee's voice perfectly matches the creepy ambiance of this story. Lee's impassioned voice follows the women at different stages of their lives as she expresses their emotional states, exposes their vices and obsessions, and engulfs the listener in an atmosphere of gothic horror. Lee creates a mood of nervousness and disquiet that permeates this unsettling novel."—Kirkus Audiobook Reviews

“A creative whirlwind that takes leaps with gusto to investigate whether we can carry the past with grace, or must sink under its weight.”–Ann Napolitano, author of Hello Beautiful

“An astonishing novel so virtuosic it reintroduced me to the wilderness within myself. You can’t convince me Green isn’t a shapeshifter.”–Kat Tang, author of Five-Star Stranger

A deeply strange, disturbing and beautiful story

This book is stunning. Beautifully crafted, beautifully written, and such a unique and strange world created by the author. At the start there are three pov's of different women - but as the book progresses, you discover these rather magical connections that weave their way in and out of each of the pov's providing a deeper connection to each of the women, and how they relate to each other, and where they came from. It's about the audacity of wanting MORE as a person, but more specifically - as a woman. A topic that is incredibly relatable for many women. It is disturbing rather than frightening and tense and uncomfortable rather than awkward. The narrator, Jenn Lee was nothing short of amazing. She deftly handles each pov - seamlessly switching from woman to woman while keeping all of the supporting characters distinct. Within each pov she brings the voice of characters backward and forward in time - still keeping the thread of how they sounded and who they were in their youth into their adult years. She brings an emotional depth to each woman navigating who they believe themselves to be, who they thought they used to be, and who they want to be. I was riveted by her narration. This is a perfect match of narrator to author. Her accent work was excellent and easy to follow. Her ability to draw you into the narrative, compelling.

Haunting and unique

I loved this book! It was different than what I usually read, but that was so refreshing. It has a real creepiness to it, but is very literary and thoughtful and asking some great questions about life and change and generations.

Captivatingly Creepy

What a darkly gorgeous piece of work Sister Creatures is! Laura Venita Green has crafted a braided tale that sucks the marrow from the female experience. From chapter to chapter, multiple characters seep through lifetimes of experiences both real and perhaps surreal.

Upon completion, I am left pondering this story’s many threads; both woven and unraveling. I adored the elements of magical realism, folklore, references to my favorite piece of feminist literature, and the book’s earthy, organic imagery.

Narrator Jenn Lee travels the many twists and offshoots of Sister Creatures with an amazing facility. Her performance is grounded and engaging. Lee’s character is work appropriately nuanced yet subtle; which makes the more fantastical elements of the book feel all the more possible.

Sister Creatures is an impactful listen for those who appreciate a darker delving into the in between.