The Storm Sister. Lucinda Riley

Published: Atria Books
Date: 22nd March 2016
Format: e-ARC
Pages: 512
Genre: Contemporary/Historical fiction
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Rating:
              

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."

The Storm Sister is the second book in the series by Lucinda Riley. While each is part of a series they can be read as "standalones".  I have actually not read the first book and in no way felt that I should have. However I will be reaching out to read Maia's story before too long.  There are six sisters, and the final book will hopefully be a rounding out of all the sisters and their families. Of course we wonder what about the seventh sister? What about Pa Salt? My question to myself is - did he die? We'll have to wait patiently and see! 

I soon fell in love with this story about Ally, the book sucks you in and spits you out at the end as I reluctantly accept I must wait until the next one comes along. I wanted to stay there and live a little longer within the pages. I know - 512 pages later, and  I still wanted to be there. 

There is so much to love in the book - the quest for Ally to find out her roots, the beautiful relationship she develops with Theo and then his parents. The sadness and drama of losing loved ones. The joys of finding new hopes and things to live for. Ally herself is a strong, talented woman, caring and compassionate. 

As well as the contemporary story we are taken back in time to lives connected in some way to Ally in her quest. I moan as I am taken there, and then hate it when I am whipped out of that time. Each story is so good. It is full of Norway, music, love, tragedy and hope.  There is mythology and history and the contemporary world. All combine in an intricately woven way that provides a riveting read.

If you would like to read more about this series then go to The Seven Sisters Series to find out more. Don't hesitate - go get stuck into this series.