Susan Thurston

Sister of Grendel Susan Thurston

In the ancient epic, Grendel and his mother are monsters slain by the hero warrior Beowulf. In Sister of Grendel we learn a different truth, told by the lone witness to their brutal deaths. In this powerful and poignant reimagining, Grendel has a sister, Rehsotis. She and her brother are not monsters, but Anathians, who possess refined language and intelligence, great physical strength, and longevity. They live close to the natural and spiritual world, are skilled in herbal medicine, music, and magic, and can enter the dreams of sleeping humans. Rehsotis and Grendel are among the last of their race. Ultimately, Rehsotis must bridge the dangerous divide with humankind-the Smallheaded-with the help of her few allies, including a forsaken monk, a grieving lover, and a trusting child.