The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

Ally D'Apliese 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 daughers as Pa Salt - has left each of them a tantalising clue to their true heritage.

Ally has also recently embarked on a deeply passionate love affair that will change her destiny forever. But with her life now turned upside down, Ally 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 now her story is inextricably bound to that of a young unknown singer, Anna Landvik, who lived there over a hundred years 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?

The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley was published in hardback by Pan MacMillan on 5 November 2015. Following the bestselling The Seven Sisters, The Storm Sister is the second book in Lucinda Riley's spellbinding series based loosely on the mythology surrounding the famous star constellation.

Although Lucinda Riley has very cleverly constructed this story to make it perfectly readable as a stand-alone novel, I really would advise you to go back and read the first in the series; The Seven Sisters first. Doing that will really compliment your reading, and add another dimension and lots of knowledge to this fabulous story.

Ally is the second of the six D'Apliese sisters who were all adopted separately by Pa Salt, a mysterious man who was wealthy, kind and generous. The sisters have enjoyed a life of happiness and opportunity. The story opens as Ally lazes on a golden beach on the Aegean Sea, she's a sailor and is about to embark on a challenging competition with her new boyfriend, and skipper of the boat, Theo.

Ally hears the devastating news that Pa Salt has died suddenly and immediately returns to her childhood home in Geneva, to be with her sisters and their other guardian Marina, known to them all as Ma. Pa Salt has left each of the sisters a series of clues that will lead them to their true heritage. He has cleverly designed a sculpture that depicts the star constellation that they are named for, with individual messages and map co-ordinates for each of them.

Already reeling from the death of her beloved father, Ally is then sent another life changing blow that will completely change her world. She's not sure quite how to carry on, yet the clues are tantalising and she begins to study them.

Ally's clues lead her to Norway, a place that she is unfamiliar with, but feels completely at home when she arrives. No longer does she feel like an outsider, with her pale skin and golden hair, instead she fits in completely.

Lucinda Riley masterfully weaves an evocative and compelling historical story in with Ally's modern-day search for her roots. Ally finds that her musical talent may be inherited as she learns more and more about Anna Landvik, the famous Norwegian singer who rubbed shoulders with the great composer Grieg.

Throughout the story, the reader is whisked back over hundred years, to the lives of the composers and musicians in Norway. We learn about the iconic first performance of Peer Gynt, and the people behind it. I was totally entralled by both the modern-day and historical elements of The Storm Sister. Lucinda Riley is an amazing author, she bewitches her readers with elegant writing that really does transport you right to the heart of her story.

The Storm Sister is an incredible story, I loved every one of the 683 pages, and despite the length, I finished it in just under two days. I am desperate to learn about the next sister's story; the author finished this book with a teasing glimpse of the next instalment.

My thanks to the publisher who sent my copy for review.



Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book age 24.
Her novel Hothouse Flower was selected by the Richard and Judy Book Club in 2011 and in only four years she has been translated into 30 languages and sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
She is a multiple New York Times bestselling author and has topped the bestseller charts on numerous occasions in a number of European countries.

Lucinda Riley's bestselling novels include Hothouse Flower, The Girl on the Cliff, The Light Behind the Window, The Midnight Rose, The Italian Girl and The Seven Sisters.

Find out more about The Seven Sisters series at the website www.thesevensisters.com

Find out more about Lucinda Riley at her website www.lucindariley.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @lucindariley
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