THE STORM SISTER (THE SEVEN SISTERS, BOOK #2)
BY LUCINDA RILEY
Publication Date: March 22, 2016
Atria Books
Hardcover & eBook; 512 Pages
Series: The Seven Sisters
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
Gathered at their childhood home to mourn their father’s death, Ally D’Aplièse and her five adoptive sisters receive tantalizing clues to their distinct heritages. Ally soon finds herself in Norway where she begins to make sense of her elusive past in the second part of an epic new series by #1 internationally bestselling author Lucinda Riley.
Olympic hopeful Ally is in the midst of preparations for one of the world’s most challenging yacht races when news of her beloved father’s death shocks the accomplished sailor. Saying goodbye to the love of her life, a man her family knows nothing about, she rushes back to her family home, an enchanting chateau where she and her five sisters—each adopted as infants—were raised on the shores of Lake Geneva.
When new tragedy strikes on the high seas, pummeling Ally yet again with a terrible and unexpected loss, she turns her back on the water and instead follows her own North Star—an intriguing clue left by her father which leads her to Norway and the promise of unmasking her origins. Surrounded by the majestic beauty of an unfamiliar homeland, Ally begins to unpack the century-old story of a remarkable young woman named Anna Landvik, a talented singer with an astonishing link to composer Edvard Grieg and his celebrated musical accompaniment to Henrik Ibsen’s iconic play “Peer Gynt.”
Lucinda Riley’s captivating story brings together two resilient women—decades apart—weaving their stories into a moving examination of family, love, and identity.
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Review:
Ally D’Aplièse is the second oldest sister of six. All six sisters, named after stars in the Pleiades constellation were adopted from around the world by their beloved Pa Salt and were raised on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Each of the sisters were encouraged to follow their dreams. Ally’s were music and boating, just like Pa Salt. Ally is out on her boat with her boyfriend Theo when she learns of Pa Salt’s death, she is devastated that she is the last to know and was not there to comfort her sisters. However, Pa Salt made it as easy on the sisters as possible including leaving clues to their true heritage, if they would like to know. After yet another loss on the ocean, Ally decides to follow Pa Salt’s clues to Norway where she discovers the story of Anna and Jens Halvorson, musicians who performed Grieg’s music in Ibsen’s ‘’Peer Gynt.”
I absolutely loved the first book of The Seven Sisters and could not wait to read Ally’s story in The Storm Sister. I would definitely recommend reading The Seven Sisters first, even though each book could be a stand-alone. When Ally arrives home after Pa Salt’s death, a few more small clues to Pa Salt were leaked. I was also very, very impressed with the continuity from the first book. Conversations and events that had to be re-hashed from the first book were done perfectly, but now from Ally’s perspective. As a huge fan of dual time stories, I enjoyed both the parts of the story with Ally in the present and Anna and Jens in 1875 Norway. However, I did feel a bigger pull towards Ally in this story even though Anna and Jens romance was captivating and dramatic, I really wanted to know what Ally was going to do with the information and if she would put all of the pieces together. Her story is one of overcoming great heartbreak, internal struggle and eventually acceptance for what life gives you. There were some parts at the end that were a little predictable; however it didn’t ruin anything for me. I will be impatiently waiting for book three which will be about the mysterious sister, Star.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
A wealthy Swiss businessman has traveled the world and adopted six daughters, all named after the stars in the Pleiades constellation. The sisters have grown up with a life of privilege and have all been able to go their separate ways to fulfill their dreams in adulthood. Upon their father’s death, whom the sisters lovingly call Pa Salt, the sisters are brought back together at their childhood home on Lake Geneva, called Atlantis. Here they realize that they do not know much of their father, or where they came from. Pa Salt has left each daughter a letter with clues to their past if they want to find out more. The oldest daughter, Maia, who works as a translator takes the opportunity to follow her clues to Rio De Janiero, Brazil where she uncovers her past with the help of an author that she has translated for. She finds that she is connected to an aristocratic family and through her Great Grandmother’s letters, Maia learns of Izabel a Bonifacio’s time spent in Bel Epoque Paris and her connection with the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Enchanting and addicting, I could not put down The Seven Sisters. Maia and Izabela’s dual timelines unfold much like a fairytale, two elements that I love! There are mysteries upon mysteries that pulled me into the story. Each sister is introduced in the beginning, and each has their own distinct personality and their own past to find. This book focuses on Maia. Each of the characters has astounding depth; Maia is compassionate, emotional and intelligent. Maia’s intense feelings drew me in and rooted me to her story. When Maia reaches Brazil, her sense of adventure is tapped into and another layer is uncovered. The story flows flawlessly between Maia and her great-grandmother Izabela, and I loved both stories equally. Izabela and Maia’s stories parallel each other’s lives and both are strong female characters that are fighting for want they want out of life. I love that Izabela’s story took me from Rio De Janiero to Bel Epoque Paris, where she met sculptor Paul Landowski and his assistant Laurent Brouilly where I could learn of the construction of the Christ the Redeemer statue. I can’t wait for the other sister’s journeys. Filled with intrigue, adventure, romance, beautiful writing and imaginative scenes, The Seven Sisters is one of my favorite books so far this year.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and wrote her first book aged 24. Her novel ‘Hothouse Flower’ (also called ‘The Orchid House’) was selected for the UK’s Richard and Judy Bookclub in 2011 and went on to sell 2 million copies worldwide. She is a multiple New York Times bestselling author and has topped the bestseller charts in four European countries.
In response to demand from her readers, she has recently re-written two books from her early writing career when published under her maiden name Lucinda Edmonds – the books are now being published as ‘The Italian Girl’ and ‘The Angel Tree’.
‘The Seven Sisters’ is the first of a unique seven book series based allegorically on the mythology of the famous star constellation.
Lucinda’s books are translated into 28 languages and published in 38 countries. She lives with her husband and four children on the North Norfolk coast in England and in the South of France.
For more information visit http://thesevensistersseries.com. You can connect with Lucinda Riley on Facebook,Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Goodreads.