Book: The Storm Sister
Author: Lucinda Riley
Pages: 513
Read on: Kindle
Read in: 4.5 hours
Plot Summary: 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 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 how 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?
General Thoughts: This is the second book in the Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. The review of the first book- The Seven Sisters can be read here.
Things I Liked:
- Ally's story takes us to the world of musical theatre in Norway in the mid-19th century. We get to see a young village girl- Anna- leave her pastoral life to move to Oslo along with a mentor. Anna's life in Oslo is restricted to her mentor's home- studying music and practising singing. I enjoyed reading about the lives of people in the music theatre business, especially, how it was for women, who wished to make a career in it.
- Ally's journey was far more dramatic and emotionally draining than Maia's (her elder sister, focus of the first book). She goes through a lot even before she sets off to discover her parentage. I guess, that is possibly why I was quite chuffed with the family that she did find in the end.
- This is a very well research book- just like the first one. There is a lot of research on Grieg- his life, work and legacy as well as on the occupation of Norway during World War II. The author has also put in a lot of details around sailing- really brings that sport to life!
- This book raises further questions about who Pa Salt really was! Ally's boyfriend makes some interesting discoveries about the last name of the sisters, which makes them wonder if that is indeed the same last name of their father! I think that by the time we get to the seventh book, we will end up learning more about Pa Salt himself and if he is really dead!
Things I Didn't Like:
- Nothing major but I did think that the author spent a lot of time on something that was quite obviously going to happen in order for Ally to set off on her quest to find out about her past. I didn't think it was strictly necessary to have that event happen or for us as readers to get invested in that character. (Sorry about being vague, but don't want to spoil the book!)
Rating: 4/5
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