The Storm Sister

#2 in Lucinda Riley's planned 7 volume series about six adopted sisters, where each novel is the story of one sister's search for her biological origins.

In this one, flute-playing professional sailor Ally finds love, loses love, explores roots, and uncovers some of her own musical family connections. Most of the story takes place in Norway, tying into the play written by Henrik Ibsen, for which Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg composed music -- Peer Gynt. In addition to Ally's story, Riley also tells a related love story from Germany in the late 1930s -- so you can imagine that story doesn't end well.

Part historical fiction, part mystery, and part the pure creation of Riley's fertile imagination -- it's a fun read, though the prose is a show more little hit-you-over-the-head obvious in a few places. I definitely plan to continue with the series. show less

My book club read the first book in the The Seven Sisters series and I decided I’d listen to further books in the series on my morning walks.

Six girls adopted by Pa Salt gather at Atlantis, their childhood home in Switzerland, to mourn the passing of their adoptive father. Each is given a letter and a clue to her true heritage. Each daughter’s journey is the subject of a novel. The Storm Sister is the story of Ally, the second daughter to be adopted. She competes in yacht races but a tragedy upends her life so she decides to travel to Norway where the clues to her origins lead. She discovers she is linked to Anna Landvik who sang in the first performance of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt set to music by Edvard Grieg. Exactly how she is show more related is gradually revealed.

This second book follows a similar pattern to the first. We are given the story of people from the past who have a link with a well-known historical figure. There is romance both in the past and present. The plot is fairly predictable. Because of considerable foreshadowing, there are few surprises if a reader has been paying the least bit of attention.

As with the previous book, I enjoyed the stories set in the past more than Ally’s narrative. Certainly Ally’s relationship with Theo is problematic. Despite attempts to portray him otherwise, his sexism is obvious. His actions towards Ally and his crew are not those of a real leader or hero.

This is a light, easy read which does not require a great deal of effort on the part of the reader. The author tells rather than shows. The style lacks nuance; readers are told everything they need to understand characters and plot.

Great literature this is not. I will, however, continue on to the next book in the series because I look for pure entertainment in my audiobooks. Since I’m easily distracted on my walks, I want something I can easily leave and return to and not worry about missing something important. Everyone needs a guilty pleasure and this series of books will be mine.

Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski). show less

When six adopted sisters lose their father, he leaves with each of them a clue as to where they originally came from. Initially, Ally, the second oldest sister, decides she’s in a good place in her new relationship and doesn’t need to look into her family history - until tragedy strikes, and she decides to follow her father’s clues to Norway and her musical family’s history.

I really liked this one. The history of her family started in the 19th century, and included one generation living in Norway during the Nazi occupation during WWII. Initially I liked the family history story better than Ally’s present-day story, but I thought Ally’s story picked up as the book went on. Have to admit I really disliked one thing that show more happened at the start, but if it hadn’t happened that way, the rest of the story may not have worked the way it did. Also disliked something that happened in the 19th century storyline, but that was explained later on.

I like the way this series is being done, though I can see if being difficult to write. The books start off with the same event, but then go in different directions as each sister is followed in the separate books. The author has to keep the storylines and timing straight for all the sisters for when they intersect. There was an author’s note and a Q&A at the end, which looked at this a bit. show less

Secondo libro di una serie che definire imperdibile è quasi un misero eufemismo per quanto mi è piaciuta.
Protagonista Ally, la sua passione per la vela, un dolore immenso e la ricerca delle sue origini che la porteranno sino in Norvegia a scoprire qualcosa di completamente inaspettato ma anche molto emozionante.
Bellissimo, avvincente, appassionante e, come sempre, imperdibile.

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 show more 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. show less

Zum Inhalt:

Ally d'Aplièse ist die zweitälteste der Schwestern aus Lucinda Rileys 'Die Sieben Schwestern' Romanreihe.

Wir erleben aus ihrer Perspektive wie sie mit der Nachricht vom Tod ihres geliebten Pa Salt umgeht.

Eigentlich hatte sie sich gerade frisch verliebt, und war glücklich, aber die Nachricht, die sie nach Hause ruft, ändert zunächst mal alles.

Auch sie bekommt kryptische Hinweise auf ihren Ursprung, und letztendlich entschließt sie sich, ihre Herkunft zu erforschen.

Dazu reist sie nach Norwegen, wo sie tatsächlich der Vergangenheit auf die Spur kommt.

Das Leben ihrer Vorfahren führt uns zunächst ins ausgehende 19. Jahrhundert, nimmt den zweiten Weltkrieg mit, und endet schließlich im Norwegen des Jahres 2007.



Meine show more Meinung:

Wie schon in im ersten Band Die Sieben Schwestern, gelingt es Lucinda Riley, einen sofort in den Bann zu schlagen.

Ihre Beschreibung der Trauer beim Verlust eines geliebten Menschen ist sehr einfühlsam. Da ich kürzlich selbst den Verlust eines geliebten Menschen erfahren musste, hat es mir arg zugesetzt, denn es fühlte sich sehr real an.

Ich musste mir immer wieder in Erinnerung rufen, dass es sich hier um Fiktion handelt. Ich vermute, dass die Autorin wohl schon mal selbst so etwas erlebt hat, denn sonst könnte sie vielleicht nicht so treffend darüber schreiben.



Die beschriebenen Schicksale sind sehr verschieden, aber sie alle berühren einen sehr. Die Charaktere sind sehr gut herausgearbeitet, und die Recherchen müssen sehr intensiv gewesen sein (was auch aus der Danksagung am Ende des Buches hervorgeht).

Zugegeben, am Ende weiß man als Leser schon früher als Ally, was los ist, aber das tut der Spannung keinen Abbruch. Mir persönlich hat der Schluss sehr gut gefallen, auch wenn es vielleicht ein bisschen zuviel der glücklichen Fügungen ist -- aber nach all den Schicksalsschlägen, die ich im Buch mit den Charakteren durchlebt habe, kam mir das gerade recht. Ich mag es, wenn etwas positiv und hoffnungsvoll endet. Man bekommt auch einen kleinen Einblick wie und mit welcher Schwester es im nächsten Buch weitergehen wird, und ich freue mich schon darauf.

Vielleicht werde ich das nächste Buch aber im Original lesen, denn wie schon im ersten Band taucht hier beständig das Wort 'Schmunzeln' auf, und ehrlich gesagt hat es mich genervt. Im heutigen Sprachgebrauch ist es doch eher selten anzutreffen, und wenngleich wir im deutschen nicht so viele Synonyme haben wie die englische Sprache sie aufweist, hätte man doch etwas variieren können. Wieder einmal frage ich mich, ob die Autorin auch nur immer ein und das selbe Wort benutzt, aber das kann ich mir eigentlich nicht vorstellen.

Das ist aber der einzige Tropfen der das Lesevergnügen etwas getrübt hat. Das Buch hat mir sehr gut gefallen.

Wie schon der erste Band, ist auch dieser in sich abgeschlossen, und man braucht kein Vorwissen zu haben, um zu verstehen, was vor sich geht. Ich kann allerdings den ersten Band sehr empfehlen.

Wer gerne gute Unterhaltung mag, ein bisschen was historisches, ein bisschen was fürs Herz und Gemüt, und Spannung ohne Mord- und Totschlag, sollte sich das Buch auf jeden Fall besorgen. Es ist absolut empfehlenswert. show less

#2 in Lucinda Riley's planned 7 volume series about six adopted sisters, where each novel is the story of one sister's search for her biological origins.

In this one, flute-playing professional sailor Ally finds love, loses love, explores roots, and uncovers some of her own musical family connections. Most of the story takes place in Norway, tying into the play written by Henrik Ibsen, for which Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg composed music -- Peer Gynt. In addition to Ally's story, Riley also tells a related love story from Germany in the late 1930s -- so you can imagine that story doesn't end well.

Part historical fiction, part mystery, and part the pure creation of Riley's fertile imagination -- it's a fun read, though the prose is a show more little hit-you-over-the-head obvious in a few places. I definitely plan to continue with the series. show less