Review ~ The Shadow Sister by Lucinda Riley

Macmillan
 November 2016

There is no doubt that this ambitious seven book series has captured the imagination of Lucinda Riley fans all over the world. Each book in the series is eagerly anticipated, so when I was given the opportunity by the UK publishers Macmillan to read an early copy I jumped at the chance and wasn't disappointed.

The Shadow Sister focuses on Star's story.

Here's the blurb..

Star D'Aplièse is at a crossroads in her life after the sudden death of her beloved father - the elusive billionaire, named Pa Salt by his six daughters, all adopted by him from the four corners of the world. He has left each of them a clue to their true heritage, but Star - the most enigmatic of the sisters - is hesitant to step out of the safety of the close relationship she shares with her sister CeCe. In desperation, she decides to follow the first clue she has been left, which leads her to an antiquarian bookshop in London, and the start of a whole new world . . .

A hundred years earlier, headstrong and independent Flora MacNichol vows she will never marry. She is happy and secure in her home in the Lake District, living close to her idol, Beatrix Potter, when machinations outside her control lead her to London, and the home of one of Edwardian society's most notorious players, Alice Keppel. Flora is pulled between passionate love and duty to her family, but finds herself a pawn in a game - the rules of which are only known to others, until a meeting with a mysterious gentleman unveils the answers that Flora has been searching for her whole life . . .

As Star learns more of Flora's incredible journey, she too goes on a voyage of discovery, finally stepping out of the shadow of her sister and opening herself up to the possibility of love.

Here are my thoughts..

I was hugely excited when I received my copy of The Shadow Sister and couldn't wait to become reacquainted with the story of The Seven Sisters. In this third book in the series we follow the story of enigmatic Star D'Aplièse who seems to have been grossly overshadowed by her more forceful younger sister CeCe. Following the clues to her heritage, which have been left for her by Pa Salt, Star follows the trail to a London book store, there she comes into contact with, Orlando, the enigmatic book shop proprietor, and her story begins.

I'm deliberately not saying anything more about Star's search for her identity as that would spoil things considerably. However, what I will say is that this is by far my favourite of the stories so far. I loved how the story flitted between two times frames which were always perfectly in tune so that neither one tried to outshine the other. Both the twenty-first century and the nineteenth century, nestled very companionably together and each story was compelling in its own unique way. I really enjoyed meeting up with Beatrix Potter but was equally enamoured by Star's growing relationship with the family at High Weald, especially Mouse.

There is no doubt that the author shows great skill in the way she so skilfully brings the stories to life. The strands of the story are all interwoven beautifully and the brilliant way in which all the varying elements come together certainly make for compelling reading.

I am completely enthralled by this series, and such is the pull of the story, that as one book finishes I simply can’t wait for the next to be released and for me Lucinda Riley can’t write the stories of The Seven Sisters quick enough.

I am already eagerly anticipating book #4 and CeCe's story in The Pearl Sister..

Best Read with…One of Star’s delicious chocolate brownies and maybe a cup of tea and gossip with Mrs Alice Keppel..

About the author..

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her novel Hothouse Flower (also called The Orchid House) was selected by the UK's Richard and Judy Book Club in 2011 and has been translated into thirty-four languages and sold over eight million copies worldwide. She is a New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author.

Find the author on her website by clicking here

Follow on Twitter @lucindariley

All the Seven Sister books standalone however, this is one series

that needs to be read and enjoyed from the beginning.

#1 The Seven Sisters

#2 The Storm Sister

#3 The Shadow Sister

 

My thanks to the author and also to Katie at Macmillan for my review copy of The Shadow Sister

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