Skip to main content

The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2) by Lucinda Riley: A Book Review

The Storm Sister (The Seven Sisters #2)
Author: Lucinda Riley
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: 2016
Pages: 512
Source: My State Public Library
Synopsis: A sweeping and spellbinding love story spanning the warm waters of the Mediterranean to the cold, clear skies of Norway—the second in an epic new series of novels by #1 internationally bestselling author Lucinda Riley.

     Ally D’Aplièse is about to compete in one of the world’s most perilous yacht races when she hears the news of her adoptive father’s sudden, mysterious death. Rushing back to meet her five sisters at their family home, she discovers that her father—an elusive billionaire affectionately known to his daughters as Pa Salt—has left each of them a tantalizing clue to their true heritage.

     But the timing couldn’t be worse: Ally had only recently fallen into a new and deeply passionate love affair, but with her life now turned upside down, she decides to leave the open seas and follow the trail that her father left her, which leads her to the icy beauty of Norway…

     There, Ally begins to discover her roots and how her story is inextricably bound to that of a young unknown singer, Anna Landvik, who lived over a century before and sang in the first performance of Grieg’s iconic music set to Ibsen’s play Peer Gynt. As Ally learns more about Anna, she also begins to question who her father, Pa Salt, really was—and why is the seventh sister missing?

     Following the internationally bestselling novel The Seven Sisters, this novel, “full of drama and romance” (Daily Mail), continues Lucinda Riley’s spellbinding series inspired by the mythology surrounding the famous star constellation.

     My Review: Ally wants nothing more than to be a sailor and sail in the Olympics. When a tragedy strikes, she turns her back on the sea for good. At a loss of what to do with her future, Ally decides to go to Norway to learn about her family's heritage. When she is in Norway, she learns about her ancestor, Anna Landvik who dreams of becoming a singer. As she discovers her Anna’s story, Ally realizes that the past is also the key to her future.

     I found Anna to be a very lovable character, and I was enthralled with her tale. Anna must choose between her career and love. Anna is a very tough character, and I admired how she went through her tribulations. Anna’s story is very emotional and heart-wrenching. I couldn’t wait to get to her chapters because I wanted to know about what happens to Anna. I soared through the pages anticipating Anna’s ending.

     While I found Anna’s story more intriguing, I also love Ally’s story. Ally was a very relatable character. I went through her journey of finding love and losing it. Her journey, while sad, transformed her character. She became more mature and made hard decisions. She also learned how to recover from her tragedy and focused on rebuilding her life. Thus, Ally’s story was darker, but she learned to find her talents and strengths. I believe we could all learn from Ally’s story.

     Overall, this book is about love, loss, recovery, and self-discovery. The message of the book is that while there may be darkness in your life, there is also goodness. The Storm Sister also tells that sometimes our darkest moments may be our greatest strength. Therefore, this book gives us food for thought. While The Storm Sister is darker than The Seven Sisters, it leaves on a more heartening note. I love the message that it contains. I also love the setting of historical and present day Norway, and it gave me some insight into the making of the Peer Gynt opera. I not only recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, but also to music lovers and fans of The Queen of the Night, Emilie’s Voice, and The Musician’s Daughter

     So far, I love The Seven Sisters series. I can’t wait to to re-read The Shadow Sister, and I greatly anticipate the release of The Pearl Sister. The Seven Sisters series is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. I encourage everyone to read this series. While each novel can be read as a standalone, it is best to read them in order. The big picture of the series starts in the first book. The Seven Sisters series has been a very rewarding experience for me.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Here is Lucinda Riley talking about The Storm Sister:



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Deborah Swift's Book Blast

HF Virtual Book Tours is delighted to introduce you to historical novelist Deborah Swift! Deborah’s acclaimed novels are set in turbulent seventeenth century England and have been described as “brilliant” and “a must for all readers looking for something out of the ordinary but grippingly alive”. Her previous life as a scenographer and costume designer shine through as the settings are beautifully evoked, immersing the reader in the sights and smells of the time. Deborah’s multi-layered and engrossing historical adventures will make perfect picks for reading groups. Reading Group Guides can be conveniently found in the back of each book and on her website. Find more information on Deborah's novels below and enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card (£15 UK)! The Lady's Slipper Publication Date: June 3, 2011 Pan MacMillan Formats: Ebook, Paperback England, 1660. The King is back, but memories of the English Civil War still rankle. In rural Westmorland, artist Alice I...

Interview with Paula Margulies

     Today, I have the opportunity to interview Paula Margulies. She has recently wrote a novel about Pocahontas called Favorite Daughter, Part One , which won an Editor’s Choice Award at the 24th Annual San Diego State University Writer’s Conference. The story creates a different perspective to the American heroine. It is told in first person narrative, and it is how Pocahontas at a young age embarks through the many changes of her life. By doing so she transforms into a strong, courageous, wise woman. I am very pleased that she took the time to grant me this interview and to generously donate a copy of her novel to the giveaway. I look forward to reading her books in the future, and check back for my review of Favorite Daughter’s Part One soon. This interview is to give readers insight about her and her novel. Thank you, Mrs. Margulies. 1. Where and when do you write?  In my home office mostly, although I try to sneak away to artist residencies whenever ...

La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess who Captivated Havana, Madrid and Paris by Alina Garcia-Lapuerta: A Book Review

La Belle Creole: The Cuban Countess who Captivated Havana, Madrid and Paris Author: Alina Garcia-Lapuerta Genre: Nonfiction, Biography, History Publisher: Chicago Review Press Release Date: September 1, 2014 Pages: 320 Source:  Netgalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Synopsis: The adventurous woman nicknamed La Belle Creole is brought to life in this book through the full use of her memoirs, contemporary accounts, and her intimate letters. The fascinating Maria de las Mercedes Santa Cruz y Montalvo, also known as Mercedes, and later the Comtesse Merlin, was a Cuban-born aristocrat who was years ahead of her time as a writer, a socialite, a salon host, and a participant in the Cuban slavery debate. Raised in Cuba and shipped off to live with her socialite mother in Spain at the age of 13, Mercedes triumphed over the political chaos that blanketed Europe in the Napoleonic days, by charming aristocrats from all sides with her exotic beauty and singing voice. She m...