The Seven Sisters: Book One

The majority of this book was so compelling. I wanted to read and read and read. Then, the ending chapters seemed so thrown together. I actually just skimmed through the last hoping it would revert back to the great book it was for most of the chapters.

Interesting concept, but the end was so weird. Only one of the sisters had her story told at great lengths, but in the end one of the sisters left out in the cold in this book produces the weird ending. Story seemed incomplete.

I loved the beginning of this book where we get to meet all of the sisters as they slowly return to their childhood home fondly named Atlantis. I loved Pa Salt and the mystery that surrounded him and why he decided to adopt 6 little girls and name them after the stars. Really loved the mythology connection. His passing came with many questions as to who he really was and why he kept so many secrets. That is the part of the story that had me intrigued and turning the pages. I also loved the inclusion of the History of Brazil and the creation of the Christ the Redeemer statue. Very interesting...
Unfortunately, the story kind of lost me when the attention fell to only the story of Maia(present) and her great-great-grandmother, Izabella(past). Even though the story of Izabela from the past was a very interesting one, it wasn't the story that I wanted to hear. I would've liked to have followed the story of Maia's mother and hopefully learned how Maia ended up being adopted by Pa Salt. Perhaps the moral of the story is that adopted children will always live their lives with a perpetual question mark as to why they were given up. If that was the point, then I guess that part of the story was successfully portrayed.
I was very disappointed that we didn't get to spend more time with the other sisters. We only got to meet them briefly as they came home for a very quick visit after Pa Salt died. And then the story focus shifted to only Maia. I know there will be future installments to the series but with the book being as long as it was, I was surprised that we never re-visited them.
I was also disappointed that after spending 630 pages with these characters we are left with so many unresolved questions. It was a little to open-ended for me. I needed more closure.
I feel like this book should've been divided into two separate books. Izabella's story really should have been a book on it's own. Then maybe Maia's story could've been more fleshed out. As it was the ending felt very rushed to find some sort of HEA for her. And, without revealing any spoilers, I was very disappointed in the choice she made that left her feeling hollow and wanting to seclude herself on the island. Why would she do such a thing when she was surrounded by so many people that loved her and would've helped. That part of the story really left me feeling a little bewildered.
So, some parts I loved, others not so much... but, I am intrigued by the story enough to move on to the next book in the series when it comes out. Hopefully, we will get some of the unanswered questions resolved.
This is not a book for anyone who does not have some reader patience, it's a long one! And, you need to have some fondness for Historical Romance as well since half the book takes place in the past.

Not great. I read Storm Sister first or I might not have continued the series because this book was awkward, illogical and filled with too many scenes without purpose. Weakly crafted, the conversations in the first hundred pages went nowhere and were "hi, how are you?" "I'm fine. How are you?" "Can I get you some tea?" and this went on and on. Where was the editor? Clearly this writer needs to learn the craft of writing dialogue and giving her scenes purpose.

The dual storyline was impossible as written. She reads thirty letters written to a maid and knows everyone's thoughts and points of view? Dual storues are wonderful but the slide into them needs to be smooth.

Clear questions were missing, like Maia never asking about her mother and if her grandmother wanted to adopt her and searched everywhere why did she refuse to talk to Maia and sent her away repeatedly? A mess of a book with motivation and construction problems. So much missing and too much that didn't belong there. Great research though. Sadly cannot recommend.

Intriguing, heartwarming, and incredibly captivating!

This is the first book in “The Seven Sisters” series and boy is it a good one.

This is the story of Maia, a young woman who embarks on a journey to discover her parentage and ancestry after recently suffering the loss of her beloved, adoptive father.

It is predominantly set in Rio, Brazil during both the late 1920s, as well as present day, and is told from two perspectives, Maia and Maia’s maternal great-grandmother, Izabela.

The story, itself, is a sweeping saga filled with self discovery, family, loss, determination, strength, grief, heartbreak, happiness, and everlasting love; as well as an in-depth look into the culture, history and landmarks of Rio, complete with the construction of the iconic Christ the Redeemer and the boom and subsequent demise of the coffee industry.

The prose is precise, poetic, and exquisitely descriptive. And the characters are multi-faceted, genuine, empathetic, and engaging.

I have to admit I was a little skeptical at first about the size of this novel, but don’t be daunted. This is truly a powerful, fascinating story that will may you cry, make you smile and will have you mesmerized from start to finish.

I can honestly say that after reading this novel, The Storm Sister (Book #2) available now, and The Shadow Sister (Book #3) releasing soon, will be jumping to the top of your “to read” pile.

After the death of her adoptive father, Maia decides to move to Brazil to discover her origins. When she arrives in Brazil, she learns the story of her ancestor, Izabela Bonifacio. Before Izabela marries a Rio aristocrat, she decides to go to Europe with her friend. In France, Izabela forms a romantic relationship with the sculptor, Laurent Brouilly. Eventually, she must choose between her love or her family. As Maia learns about the star-crossed romance between Izabela and Laurent, she learns more about herself. She realizes that she must let the past that haunts her go and open herself up to a new love.

The Seven Sisters was a very engrossing read, and it was hard to put down! I wanted to know the stories of both Maia and Izabela. Each of these women were very strong, and I loved their tales equally. Even though they are from two different eras, they are very similar. Both Izabela and Maia have loved and lost. They both made hard sacrifices that they believe were for the best. They both tried to live with the hard decisions they made and tried to come to terms with it. Thus, the stories of these two women will leave you utterly breathless, and you can’t help but hope that they will find their happiness.

Overall, this book is about love, loss, family, sacrifices, and choices. The message of this book is to forgive and love yourself. I thought the setting was very unique because this is the only historical fiction book I have read that takes place in Brazil. I also liked the historical details of the making of Christ the Redeemer statue. The characters are very likeable, realistic, and complex. I empathized with each character and understood the actions that they have made. The Seven Sisters is a magical novel that will linger with you long after you have read the last page! For fans of historical fiction and romance lovers who are looking for a star-crossed romance in a unique setting, I urge you to not hesitate picking up a copy of this book! You will definitely fall in love with it! After reading this, I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Storm Sisters, which focuses on Ally. The Seven Sisters series may my new favorite series. I learned that it has been optioned for a tv series! If so, it definitely has the potential to be a hit for it has such great potential! Thus, I highly recommend this novel, and if the sequels hold the same level of excellence, this series could be an instant classic!

“Remember, even if we can’t see them, those we love are always with us”
----Lucinda Riley

Lucinda Riley, an Irish international best-selling author, have spun a terrific and absolutely stunning saga of six sisters in an all new series of The Seven Sisters. The Seven Sisters is the first book and the story of first/eldest sister, Maia. This is her journey to search for her roots after her adoptive father's death.

Synopsis:
Maia D'Apliése and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, 'Atlantis' - a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva - having been told that their beloved father, the elusive billionaire they call Pa Salt, has died. Maia and her sisters were all adopted by him as babies and, discovering he has already been buried at sea, each of them is handed a tantalising clue to their true heritage - a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of where her story began . . .

Eighty years earlier, in the Belle Epoque of Rio, 1927, Izabela Bonifacio's father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is working on a statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to complete his vision. Izabela - passionate and longing to see the world - convinces her father to allow her to accompany him and his family to Europe before she is married. There, at Paul Landowski's studio and in the heady, vibrant cafés of Montparnasse, she meets ambitious young sculptor Laurent Brouilly, and knows at once that her life will never be the same again.

Although the story is a fictional account of a woman who's roots leads her to the high road of Rio de Janeiro where the story again takes us eighty years back in time when the French sculptor Paul Landowski and the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa were working on Christ the Redeemer's statue. Some characters in the book are drawn straight from the pages of our world history, but the stories going in and around their lives were all fictional!

Maia D'Apliése is the eldest of the six sisters and they all have been adopted by a wealthy billionaire, whom they used to call as 'Pa Salt'. They grew up in their adoptive father's palatial home by the shores of Lake Geneva. But Pa Salt is dead now and acting upon his dying wish to trade back to their own roots, Maia embarks on a Brazilian journey, where she not only discovers love, but also learns about one of the greatest legend of Brazil. Read this book to find out the rest of the story!

In one words, I'd describe this book as a truly enchanting masterpiece that to only takes us back in time but also takes us those exotic lands - the experience of which we can almost feel on our skin. Sadly, at the end of the book, I forgot this was a fictional story, and I'm still in belief with the story of Izabel and Christ the Redeemer's statue, since the author made her story so very convincing enough to fall for the trap.

The writing is completely fabulous that will spell-bind you with it's fairytale essence. Yes, this story is nothing short of a fairytale- a castle, a damsel in distress, flies away to find her roots, falls in love, finds a beautiful back-story that is connected with the history of Brazil. The author have unfolded the stories of Maia and Izabel strikingly and consecutively, with Izabel's story breaking at such vital points that will burn you out with anticipation. The prose is eloquent and evocative enough to keep you turning the pages of the book till it's very end. Moreover, the articulate conversation between the characters keeps you glued to it. The emotional pull in this book is quite strong, and since the story unfolds from Maia's POV, who happens to be an deeply emotional human being. And reading about which will simply make you feel as if the author have poured all her emotions into her words.

This story has many layers and each intricately layered is written with enough compassion and depth. Moreover, there is also enough space that the author have left with her story for us to judge us from our perspective. The characters are well-crafted and exceptionally brilliant. From the first chapter of the book, the author gives us a character sketch of all the six sisters along with their nurse and their father to understand about their behavior briefly. And in Izabel's story, we can feel each and every character, like from the moment Izabel described her would-be husband, Gustavo in her words, I could almost imagine how he would behave in front of Izabel.

While reading the book, I could feel the tropical heat of Brazil and that faint smell of the sea on my tongue. Not only Brazil, there's also Paris- and Paris happens to be the place where Izabel first fell in love and so you can imagine, the author turned the narrow lanes and elegant cafes of Paris into a romantic one and the Paris part completely transfixed my mind and soul with it's flawless beauty.

Verdict: So what are you waiting for? Take a trip down to the tropical paradise- Brazil and the romantic city- Paris with Lucinda Riley's new book that unfolds the journey of a woman searching for her roots.

Courtesy: Thanks to the author's publicist, for giving me an opportunity to read and review her book.

My Review: This is a book about the power of family. I had read and adored one of Lucinda Riley's previous books, The Midnight Rose, last year so I was eager to read more from this acclaimed historical fiction author. I have to admit that it wasn't until I had finished reading The Seven Sisters that I realized that it is the first book in a seven book series - with each book focusing on a different sister's past. Cool premise but a big commitment from readers.

This first book focuses on Maia's search for her birth family and what she discovers is a gaggle of familial secrets on a different continent spanning generations. The secrets themselves weren't all that scandalous and were even predictable but this book held my interest for the most part.

Honestly, I wanted to learn more about Maia and her adoptive family than her birth family. There were so many unanswered questions - I wanted to know more about Maia's adoptive father, Pa Salt, and his mysterious life as well as how and why he adopted six baby girls from all over the world. And yes I said six, not seven, because the seventh sister was never introduced. Mystery ... dun dun duuuuun. I suspect that Pa Salt has a lot more to his story than the reader (or the sisters) are privy to. His death was quite sudden and the way he died and even how he was buried was quite suspect. I sense that he had (and will have) a much larger role in each of his daughter's lives than they initially believed.

The characters were interesting enough and quite diverse. I have to give credit to Riley for giving each of the sisters a very unique voice in the beginning of the book. Sadly we really don't get to see much more of the six sisters for the remainder of the book which was unfortunate because they were quite an interesting and diverse group of women. After Maia takes off to find her birth family the plot began to falter for me. As the story progressed it became less about Maia and more about Maia's great great grandmother, Izabella. While Izabella's story was fairly interesting it was Maia who I wanted to read about. And with the inclusion of Maia's grandmother and mother into the story, at times, it became hard to remember which generation we were talking about.

The setting and history aspects are what enthralled me. Rio isn't a place that I've read about (let alone visited) before and while I know what the Christ the Redeemer (aka Christo) statue looks like it was interesting to learn more about its design and construction as well as a brief history of Brazil. The streets, people and culture of Rio was vividly described and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about this unique city as it's woven within a fictional tale.

In the end, I can't say that I loved this book. It was good, not great. The pace dragged and it felt like it could have been condensed quite a bit and still kept the story in tact. The lackluster ending leaves readers with too many unanswered questions which may be used to entice readers to read the future books in the series but it left me feeling a little jilted if I'm being honest. Overall, this was a decent book but not up to par with some of Lucinda Riley's early works.

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars
**This book review can also be found on my blog, The Baking Bookworm (www.thebakingbookworm.blogspot.ca) where I share hundreds of book reviews and my favourite recipes. **

Maybe even 4.5 stars! THE SEVEN SISTRS is the first in an ambitious series of novels Lucinda Riley plans (2 more are already written)-- each telling the story of six girls, all adopted by the same mysterious man who lives in a castle on Lake Geneva. If this one turns out to be representative of the entire series, I am totally hooked.

This novel presents the story of Maia, the oldest. It begins with the death of her adopted father, Pa Salt, and the legacy he leaves each daughter, allowing them to learn more about their origins. Eager to avoid a reunion with a former lover, Maia decides she will pursue her past immediately, leaving Geneva for Rio de Janeiro, where her own clue points.

In Rio, Maia discovers the dramatic story of her beautiful ancestor, Izabel, born to a nouveau-riche coffee entrepreneur who is eager to achieve the status of a well-married daughter. As Izabel's story slowly unfolds -- from Rio to Paris and back in the 1920s-- she finds herself among the artists creating Rio's famous Christ the Redeemer statue that now hovers over the city. And by discovering Izabel's story Maia is able to come to terms with her own dark secret.

It's a wildly inventive and suspenseful story, where you won't know what's going to happen next, including a zinger of a denouement on the very last page. Completely absorbing and unique! I'm off to book #2.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley is the first book in the Seven Sisters series. Maia D’Apliese is in London when she gets the news that Papa Salt (her adoptive father) has passed away. Maia is one of six children that her father adopted during his travels and then brought home to Atlantis. Atlantis is their home in Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Maia is the eldest of the six girls. The others are Alcyone (Ally), Asterope (Star), Celeano (CeCe), Taygete (Tiggy), and Electra. They are named after the star cluster the Seven Sisters. There is a seventh name, but their father never brought home a seventh girl. The lawyer gives each girl a letter from their father and shows them an armillary sphere. It was made special and there is one band for each girl. On the band is the girl’s name, a saying, and coordinates. The girls (well, all but one) never asked Papa Salt about their origins and now he is giving them an opportunity. Maia’s letter also contains a little tile with names written on it. Maia decides to look into her birth parents and sets off for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The coordinates lead her to the house of the Carvalho family. With the help of Floriano Quintelas (an author for whom Maia translated his work from Portuguese to French), Maia sets out to find out her origins.

The story goes from 2007 (which is present for Maia) into the past as Maia reads letters from her ancestors. I found The Seven Sisters to be a long, long book. The author includes many descriptive paragraphs (of Atlantis, Rio, statues, etc.) which I started skimming over after a while (the book just seemed to go on forever). The Seven Sisters is basically a romance novel with Maia’s search for her family as well as Maia finally getting confidence (and believing in herself) thrown in. I give The Seven Sisters 3 out of 5 stars. I think The Seven Sisters could have been much better with some editing. I thought this novel would tell the story of all the sisters (at the beginning), but it only told Maia’s story (I imagine that there will be five more books). Overall, it was a satisfactory novel. I just kept hoping for a twist about Papa Salt to be thrown in (clues that he was still alive).

I received a complimentary copy of The Seven Sisters from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.

I have read this book quite a while back, but ever since I've kept thinking about it and am looking forward to reading the sequels.

The novel follows the life of one of the six D'Apliese sisters. The novel starts with the death of their adoptive father. We learn from the very beginning that each sister was brought into the family in a non-tradional way: their father went to get them from some random place in the world. Now with their father dead, each has of the opportunity to learn about their origins because their father left them clues. Each sister is given a geographical location and can begin a search of their own.

The first novel follows the journey of the oldest of the sisters, Maia D'Apliese. She is the most cautious of the sisters, so it is a great decision for her to leave her home and go search for her story. But eventually she does. I want to say from the very beginning that this is a very catchy story, and the idea to follow each sister's story is appealing. The story starts in the present, but in order to understand Maia's story the shift is placed on the past, on Maia's great-grandmother. The past shows the Belle Epoque of Brazil's and Paris' 1920s. The perfect backdrop for a love story which sparks between Isabella Bonifacio and Laurent Brouilly. The story is told through the memories of Maia's grandmother's care taker and also, later, by Maia's grandmother.

What I had a rather hard time with was the language, if I may call it that. For some reason the characters were talking so strangely one with the other. Snippets like: "Presumably, you had a tough night last night, Maia, dealing with Electra's usual histrionic", said CeCe. or "Well, you know me, I'm addicted to good old caffeine-fueled English breakfast tea", I said, smiling, as I sat down. "I think I'll pass." [the housekeeper: ] "We're all addicted to something, Maia. I wouldn't worry too much about tea." sounded fake and inauthentic. For the 21st century the pieces of dialog between these characters were too stiff. However, once the shift turned towards the past, and the language was just the same, it made more sense. We were reading of the 20th century, after all. Maybe this is a preference thing, but it made the beginning a bit slow for me. But, as I said, the story became interesting and I continued reading.

The end is as expected, speaking strictly from the story's present point of view, but by the end I don't think the reader is interested in the first sister's story anymore. Where my curiosity lay was in finding out what were the family roots of the older sister. The final chapter of the novel starts talking about the second sister's story, Ally, thus leaving the reader curious about the sequel. Well done, author, well done.

All in all, it was a good story, it kept me turning the page (or pressing the forward button on my Kindle), and it made me curious for the sequel. Novel well done, I say.

I received an e-book version of this book via Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I started out liking this book fairly well. The plot seemed interesting and I enjoyed the astronomy part where the sisters got their names. The setting was very pleasing and I enjoyed that part a lot. I got befuddled with the book when it turned to Rio and just one of the sisters and her story. I wanted to hear about all of them but I suppose there will be more books in this series. I could not stay with the book after we went to Rio and I did try. There were a lot of questions that I wanted answered that remain unanswered and that frustrates me when I am reading a book. If the writer is going to write about an illegitimate son, I want to know where he is and how his adoptive parents are. I wanted to know where Pa Salt found all of his daughters and why he adopted them. Who was the woman with him when he got his first daughter. These are things that left me frustrated with this book. There was not enough information about the sisters and that disturbed me. I like to have my questions answered when I read a book. Three stars because I did enjoy the first part of the book.

This new series is loosely based on the mythology of the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades and will tell the stories of seven adopted sisters, each named after one of these mythological sisters ( it is noted at the beginning of the novel that the girl that would have been their seventh sister, named Merope, was never found and adopted by their father. As this series is meant to be seven books and each book is supposed to deal with a separate sister, I have my fingers crossed that the seventh book will be about the elusive Merope!).

The first book in the series is The Seven Sisters, and at the beginning the girls learn that their loving yet mysterious adopted father has died. I have to note that their father, nicknamed Pa Salt, is exactly how I would picture a God-like character being when placed within our modern world. He's extremely benevolent and caring to his daughters and staff but also very removed, secretive and rules this world he created completely. He creates this luxurious fairy-tale like "kingdom" named Atlantis that is completely separated from the rest of the world on Lake Geneva and brings up his six adopted daughters there, giving them everything they could possibly want and encouraging them to find their passion in life and to go out and get it. At the same time he never tells any of them where they come from, what he does for a living or even where he goes when he isn't at home and brooks no argument when it comes to the way he runs their lives. Even after his death he is controlling the situation by making it impossible for the girls to attend a funeral and by giving each of them the coordinates to where they were born as well as a personal letter to each. Each daughter can now decide if she wants to find out where she comes from or whether she wants to move on with her life as it has always been.

The Seven Sisters focuses mainly on the oldest sister, Maia. She has always been the most responsible and grounded one, intelligent and beautiful but never brave enough to leave the sanctuary that is Atlantis. She has continued to live there, working as a book translator and always falling back on the excuse that she needs to be there for their father as he ages. Now that he has died and armed with the whereabouts to where she was born and her letter from her father telling her to open herself up to life and love, she resolves to embrace this new life and try and discover her biological family's history.

The book synopsis above does a great job of summarizing Maia's experiences in Rio so I don't need to do that again, but what I will say is that, as Maia learns the tumultuous and dramatic history of her great-grandmother, Izabela Aires Cabral, she begins to process her own grief and guilt over some actions from her past that have left her unable to love or fully open up and trust people since, and she finally allows herself to grow and become the woman she was always meant to be.

Alternating with Maia's present day story is that of Izabela, who was forced to choose between her family's wishes and needs and her ultimate heart's desire. These sections perfectly transport the reader to 1920's Rio as the magnificent Christ the Redeemer statue is being constructed as well as to the Bohemian streets and artists' ateliers of Paris. These are vibrant worlds full of color, heat, passion and heartache and I absolutely loved not only immersing myself in it all but learning so much about the process of sculpting and creating such luscious works of art as the Christ the Redeemer statue.

Even with my great love of history, I have to say that, in this instance, my favorite parts of the novel dealt with the present day sisters and Maia's discovery and transformation. There are just so many delicious questions left unanswered that I know the future novels will tackle ( What do all the other sisters' letters say? Where are they all from and will each choose to travel there and research their history? Will Star, the quiet and unassuming sister break away from her domineering sister CeCe? And who and where is this seventh sister they've never met?). I, for one, am absolutely biting at the bit to find out!

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley is the first novel in what is going to be a series of seven books all inspired by the ancient myth of the Seven Sisters of Pleiades and it is awesome! Today is the kickoff for The Seven Sisters book tour with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours and I’m so excited to kick it off with a five star review! This novel is full of all the things I like in a book like great characters, beautiful settings, and a storyline that grabs my interest from the beginning and never lets go even for a minute. The Seven Sisters is sure to please her loyal fans along with new ones like me!

This is a story that weaves from past to present and does so seamlessly. Quite often I find one side of the story so much more interesting but not this time. I was equally anxious to read both and loved traveling back and forth from the beautiful Brazil to the romance of Paris.

In present we have Maia who is the eldest of the sisters. Their father had adopted all six girls from different parts of the world as babies. Upon learning of their father’s death the sisters all come home to gather support from each other while they grieve their beloved Pa Salt as they called him. When the will is read the girls each receive a letter from their father which leaves them an idea of where they had been born. While some of the other sisters have been curious over the years to learn of their birthplace Maia was always happy to let things alone but after reading her father’s letter to her she becomes curious enough to want to delve further into her heritage. Maia travels to Rio de Janeiro and with the help of a novelist she has worked with she finds that she descends from one of the more prominent families there. However she isn’t greeted very warmly and thinking all is lost she goes to leave but is approached by a maid who gives Maia a stack of old letters – old letters that lead her into a past she never could have imagined.

There is so much more that I haven’t even touched on. The book is quite long at almost 500 pages but you’d never know it. Once you start reading it is impossible to put it down. I listened to the audiobook which I have to say is simply incredible. It is narrated by Emily Lucienne and she does such a fantastic job. The audio comes in at eighteen and a half hours and it just flew by.

The Seven Sisters is a must for your summer reading! It’s a favorite of mine so far this year for both the amazing story and the great audio production. Highly recommended

I'm happy to offer a review for an absolutely beautiful book called The Seven Sisters, the first in a series of seven books by New York Times Bestselling Author Lucinda Riley. From the minute I opened the first few pages, I was completely hooked. That doesn't happen often with me, getting started in the beginning is always the worst for me, but with this book is was like floating through water. From the elegant sentences and verbiage, to the suspenseful mystery surrounding the Switzerland home called Atlantis (which was the family home of six adopted sisters as they grew up), I was compelled to follow the story. It was like torture waiting each day to be able to crack back open the pages.

After their father's passing, and a mystery unfolds about each of their adoptions and their involvement in being named each by a constellation, this first book moves before the halfway point to showcase the tale of the first sister, Maia, who is the only one who remains living at the family estate. Her travels in search of the meaning behind the clues given to her takes her to the exotic world of Rio, where the Christ statue is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. As Maia pieces her story together, the book shifts seamlessly in part two back many decades to when the famous French sculptor, Paul Landowski, and the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, were constructing Christ the Redeemer. As well we meet Izabel Bonafacio and discover how she is connected to Maia, which I don't really want to give away. Not only then is Rio in the book, but also Paris as Bel travels to Paris and falls in love in the City of Lights. We can feel, smell, and walk the streets of Paris in this book and have a bird's eye view of how the famous awe-inspiring statue was created as well. However, it's the same in Rio for me, when we can feel as if we are present due to her descriptions. Yet, I can see the differences in the cities as well as the time periods quite clearly. I can find similarities in Maia and in Izabel's fully dimensional characters, yet also I can see them as unique women living in different times quite easily. Riley certainly has a knack for clearly constructing characters and time periods to a point that the reader wouldn't even have to think upon "set" changes, in fact, unless of course they thought after the fact because they were writing a review!

In reading the book, there is so much to garner about living your dreams, broken dreams, redemption, love and loss, and heart break. It's about breaking traditional norms as a female and even about class structure. It's about art and how art imitates life, maybe even about how sometimes we sculpt our life and how sometimes it's sculpted for us. It's about how people make mistakes, yet can and are redeemed. The foundation of the book is about roots and learning your roots. Is where you come from important? There are many questions I pondered as I read this wonderful absorbing story. In the vein of a lengthy fairytale, it certainly can teach the reader much.

The Seven Sisters is a beautiful, engaging, and engrossing read that carries much within its pages, but as you are reading it's as if you are enthralled into an ancestral story, one passed down through the ages, and you don't even stop for a minute and ponder its length or multi-faceted and layered content, you just escape through reading it to something completely new. I absolutely can't wait for book two, or for the rest in this series, as the mystery is eating away at me! I've been swept up romantically with Riley's lovely writing style and I'm excited to read her future books and her back titles as well.

I highly recommend The Seven Sisters as the summer read this year in this genre or to anyone looking to get lost in a good book. I especially recommend it to women who ask: "what one really good book should I read right now?" I fully enjoyed this book while kicking my feet up at the beach over the weekend. I haven't a doubt that anyone reading it will fall in love with it and want more. Luckily, there's more to come. <Fingers crossed it's soon!!!>

*I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley is loosely based on the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, a constellation next to the belt of Orion. Real life sisters, Maia, Electra, Taygete, Alcyone, Celaeno, and Sterope were all adopted by a rich man "Pa Salt". Their adoptions are a mystery in themselves as their father never discussed it. They were adopted from various places around the globe all from different nationalities.

Maia D'Apliese was away on a needed getaway in London to visit a friend when she gets word that Pa Salt passed away. She is the first of the sisters to arrive at the Lake Geneva estate, Atlantis. Their father has already been buried at sea and they are all there for the reading of the will. They are all given a clue as to their birth and they need to figure it out from this clue.

Maia's clue takes her to Rio de Janeiro where she discovers who her family is. Her journey takes her to her dying biological grandmother. She is given letters from her grandmothers caretaker that tells her the story of Maia's great grandmother, Izabela Bonifacio, daughter of Italian immigrants, whose fortune comes from coffee farms. Izabela is betrothed to a man, her father has chosen for her and prior to the wedding her intended allows her to go to Paris with a friend. While there she meets Laurent, a handsome sculptor who is assisting in the creation of the famous Christ the Redeemer monument that looks over Rio.

While in Rio, Maia meets a novelist, Floriano Quintelsas, who she has translated a novel for, and he accompanies her on her discovery of her birthright. While learning about her great grandmother, Maia also learns about herself and what is really important, it helps her get out of her own seclusion and discover her heart. This is a wonderful story, full of love passion, history and the beauty that is Paris and Rio de Janeiro. This story is very well written and will have the reader wanting more, and of course there will be as this is the first in a series of books featuring each of the sisters as they explore their ancestry. I loved everything about the book, the complex characters. The story takes the reader from the shores of Lake Geneva, Switzerland to Rio de Janeiro and then back to 1920's Paris.

I recently went to the Dominican Republic and went up the mountain to see the replica of the Christ Redeemer statue and reading this story gave me more insights as to how the original was constructed. The author gives us an idea about the art of sculpting and the history of the monument itself. Very interesting indeed. This is a historical fiction novel that you won't want to end. I highly recommend this book, but be prepared to stay up late to get to the last page and then eagerly awaiting the next in the series.

I received a copy for review and was not monetarily compensated for my review.
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A wealthy Swiss businessman has traveled the world and adopted six daughters, all named after the stars in the Pleiades constellation. The sisters have grown up with a life of privelege and have all been able to go their separate ways to fulfill their dreams in adulthood. Upon their father’s death, whom the sisters lovingly call Pa Salt, the sisters are brought back together at their childhood home on Lake Geneva, called Atlantis. Here they realize that they do not know much of their father, or where they came from. Pa Salt has left each daughter a letter with clues to their past if they want to find out more. The oldest daughter, Maia, who works as a translator takes the opportunity to follow her clues to Rio De Janiero, Brazil where she uncovers her past with the help of an author that she has translated for. She finds that she is connected to an aristocratic family and through her Great Grandmother’s letters, Maia learns of Izabel a Bonifacio’s time spent in Bel Epoque Paris and her connection with the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Enchanting and addicting, I could not put down The Seven Sisters. Maia and Izabela’s dual timelines unfold much like a fairytale, two elements that I love! There are mysteries upon mysteries that pulled me into the story. Each sister is introduced in the beginning, and each has their own distinct personality and their own past to find. This book focuses on Maia. Each of the characters has astounding depth; Maia is compassionate, emotional and intelligent. Maia’s intense feelings drew me in and rooted me to her story. When Maia reaches Brazil, her sense of adventure is tapped into and another layer is uncovered. The story flows flawlessly between Maia and her great-grandmother Izabela, and I loved both stories equally. Izabela and Maia’s stories parallel each other’s lives and both are strong female characters that are fighting for want they want out of life. I love that Izabela’s story took me from Rio De Janiero to Bel Epoque Paris, where she met sculptor Paul Landowski and his assistant Laurent Brouilly where I could learn of the construction of the Christ the Redeemer statue. I can’t wait for the other sister’s journeys. Filled with intrigue, adventure, romance, beautiful writing and imaginative scenes, The Seven Sisters is one of my favorite books so far this year.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

4.5 - Now was the time to discover who I was. Where I came from. And where I belonged. Stars!

The Seven Sisters is a book that you will struggle to put down once you start reading. The co-ordinates on an Armillary Sphere set off a chain of events, which send Maia D’aplise on an adventure of a life time.

Set in the present (2007) the story is begins on Lake Geneva, in Switzerland where Maia and her sisters; Ally, Star, Cece, Tiggy and Electra all meet up at the family home for the reading off their adoptive fathers will, this reading and the information provided sends Maia off to Rio to investigate further. In the course of her searching we go back to the late 1920’s, and are given the story of Maia’s Great Grandmother, Izabela Bonifacio and her travels to Paris as well as her life in Rio, her loves and her losses along the way.

”Hiding away from the world never works, because you still have to meet yourself in the mirror every morning.”

I loved this book; it is a beautifully written, visual and imaginatively stimulating read. The author manages to describe and give nuance to everywhere the women go, the people they meet and the stories they are telling. I also liked that as the story progressed the slight parallels between Maia’s current life and Bel’s previous life although not apparent initially become more clear as each facet of Izobela’s life with her husband Gustavo, and then her lover Laurent develops.

Set against the backdrop of the planning, and building of the great Christ the Redeemer statue, the Wall Street crash and everything that happened in-between, Bel’s story was what actually shone through this book for me, even though it is the secondary part of the book to Maia’s story, I just fell in love with her and the struggles she faced with the pressures of her life, her familial expectations and ultimately the decision she has to make, between her hearts happiness, and her families future.

I sit here looking up at the stars and wish with all my heart we had met at a different moment in time.

I have a feeling that this series will be one of the few that I will make time to go back and revisit many times over the years, and I cannot wait for the next sister to go on her own voyage of discovery.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

L O V E D I T! I'll be honest and say I really wasn't sure what to expect when I read how the book was inspired by the myth of the Seven Sisters of Pleiades, but then I read the rest of the books description and thought it does sound good. Well it is very very good! The main character in this book is Maia, now she is kind of an odd character as she basically still lives at home and doesn't seem to truely be living life more like hiding from it. For me, I didn't really connect on some levels with her at first. I mean I liked her well enough, but once she takes flight from her beloved home in Lake Geneva and heads to Rio she begins to grow wings. It's once she is in Rio Lucinda Riley puts forth Izabela's story.

Now Izabela's story had me. I mean I could barely put the book down and when I did I was surprised by how much I had read! I was completely smitten with Izabela, she is beautiful and a devoted daughter. For me, it is her story that steals the show. However, as Maia also gets to read Izabela's story Maia grows. It is like new life is breathed into her and before I knew it I couldn't put down the novel while reading Maia's story either.

Oh and a big surprise that took me completely off guard, as well as a few teasers for the next book. I can't wait to read! Oh and there are a couple of side mentions in the story that I am pretty sure will come back into the story, I can not wait to find out! Oh and you get to know a little about all the sisters, so I am so excited to get to know each of them even more. I was hooked on THE SEVEN SISTERS and I am ready for book two! I absolutely LOVED this book and am highly recommending you add it to your must read summer books!

Every once in a while, I stumble on a spectacular book, one that will become a longtime favourite of mine, one I will gush about over and over and over again. This is one such book.

It is the story of 6 adopted sisters - yes I know the title says that it is seven, but I think that secret will be revealed in a subsequent novel. When their adopted father dies, he summons them to their enchanted castle-like home on the shores of Lake Geneva Switzerland. From there, the sisters will individually embark upon their own stories in future novels. And I love this premise! This first novel is about Maia who travels to Rio de Janiero Brazil to discover the secrets of her roots. There, she will find the love of family, discover the dark secrets of her past, and fall in love, all during the creation of the Christ the Redeemer's statue.

Totally engrossing, completely enchanting, the author peels back the secretive layers of the past, revealing a story so poignant, so compelling, I was hard pressed to put it down. Utterly credible characters literally come to vibrant life. Maia is courageous, kind, and savvy, a true role model of a human being. And there there is the story of Izabel, her ancestor, who has an engrossing past history that is intricately weaved with that of Maia's. The author weaves history and fact and details of the land and culture so expertly that this is indeed a very rich read.

This is definitely a must read book - it will appeal to contemporary readers as well as those who love historical fiction. I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment. This is one series I will anxiously await. That's how much I loved this book!

When I started reading this book, I was instantly intrigued. Although, I almost stopped reading it because it started to get a bit dull when Maia first started to read letters that were given to her. Good thing I powered through because I then couldn’t put it down! It turned out to be an excellent story. I got a little confused with who some of the characters were and their relation to Maia. I don’t really know why I had some trouble with that. My fault or the author’s fault? Not sure. Still, I can’t wait to read the next book!

This book surprised me. I judged the book by its cover, thinking it was a simple romance novel. While it’s certainly got romance, it’s a wonderfully delicious and fun, totally immersive reading experience. I’m a slow reader but I whipped through this, unable to put it down. The idea of a series based on adopted sisters looking fir their heritage is such fun; I learned a great deal of history and had a bit of cultural immersion st the same time. This is vacation reading at its best. So glad I was introduced to this. I’m on to #2.

Hang on, my friends ... you're in for a wild ride. And this is just the beginning. The Seven Sisters is the best structured book/series I have seen. Does the book keep you hanging? Yes and No. The story of the #1 sister, Maia, is certainly complete enough to move along to the next book/next sister - but do keep in mind that there is an over-lay plot about their dad that will keep you hanging somewhat - or should I say "curious." Or "suspicious?" Is this bad? NO! You just wish you didn't have to wait for the second book! And you're happy-happy that the book isn't really over! Kudos, Lucinda Riley!
Excellent. I truly could not put it down ... and am playing with various pieces in my mind to unlock some tiny little clues!

This story is told through 2 characters in different times but connected. At first, when the story changed from present day Maia to Izabela's view in early 1900s, I struggled for some reason. But it was the best part of the story! I loved Izabela, Paris and Rio. I loved the writing, characters, dialogue, and plot. I really loved getting to understand the Brazilian culture and history through Maia and her journey! I will remember Paul Landowski and hope to visit Rio de Janeiro.

This story is about a man who adopted these girls, gave them a home. One they couldn't of had previously. He adopted six girls, I can't imagine Having that many sisters.

They all go off in their own directions. Something happens and they are all brought together. But they are given information to do as they choose. They have no idea where they are from. They are given a chance to find out.

This book is through Maia's point of view. It is a really long book and also part of a series. Pa Salt is such a mystery. It will be interesting to see where Lucinda takes this. I thought it was good but. I really didn't feel a connection with the characters....Lissa

Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings

The first in a series that starts out with seven sisters who have recently lost their adoptive father in a sudden way. Each sister was adopted and named after a star and their father has left them clues to find out the details of their births and their origins.

This first book starts with the oldest daughter - Maia. She heads to Brazil to find that there is a long lineage of women and quite a bit of drama. Right at the moment that she is learning all the things, the reader gets taken into her great great grandmother's story and I loved reading her story just as much as Maia's.

This novel took us to an exotic and beautiful location for a breathtaking story! One of the things that I loved the most was Riley took us to so many different beautiful locations and made us fall in love with each one: Geneva, Paris, London and Brazil….can I globe trot now please?!

The story itself was complex and beautifully constructed layers. Though it was long, I never felt like the story was ‘lengthy’ or ‘unnecessary’.

While it was long, the pages seemed to fly by! Riley has a wonderful way of capturing the readers interest and it’s almost like time stands still. While I was reading, I would look at my watch and be like ‘where has the time gone?!’.

I was completely captivated from the very beginning. The clues that each person received were tantalizing and really caught my attention as a reader and made me want to know what they meant and how they fit.

In that same vein, one thing that intrigued me about this series is that it is in fact a series. While there are all these different sisters with different clues, this book is about only one of the sisters. I am excited to read the other books that will come, the concept was well constructed and enticing.

This review was first published at M's Bookshelf - http://mssbookshelf.blogspot.com

Where to even begin. WOW. What a jewel.
Not rereading the blurb before I started reading, this story took me completely by surprise. I let Lucinda Riley and her wonderful characters take me on this breathtaking journey. After only a few pages I found myself completely immersed in these story lines and characters and I felt almost heartbroken when there were finally no more pages left for me to read.
I don't want to give away too much about the story - 'cause really, I can only recommend just diving in before (re)reading the blurb - but I can honestly say that the character's (family) history is incredibly interesting, surprising and oh so romantic. Even though the main characters are so far apart from what I know or who I am, I felt an instant connection. It's clear that Lucinda cares a lot about her characters and that care and love really translates into her stories. I couldn't be happier to know that the sisters' stories will continue in a 7(!) book series! Not only am I dying to know what each sister's story is, I'm so excited to - hopefully - find out more about their almost magical upbringing. I can't wait to travel the world (through time) in the next 6 installments.
The Seven Sisters really has anything. Family, sacrifice, love,... I feel overwhelmed, to be honest. And I know for sure that these characters and their amazing stories will stay with me for a long time.
The Seven Sisters is a magical book, and Lucinda Riley a truly gifted writer and storyteller. I cannot recommend this enough, but I must add that the risk of getting a book hangover is very real. ;-)

Historical Romance - which is a favorite genre for me. I assume the last novel will wrap up each sister's story because, while this title did have an ending for one sister, it didn't feel like her journey was complete at the end. Also, I am guessing that as the series unfolds the sisters as a family unit will also unfold, I am looking forward to the epic journey. The story stretches back 80 years from 2007 to Brazil and then to France. Half of the book is devoted to Isabella the great great grandmother of Maia D’Apliese. The other half is Maia's story.

TOO LONG!!!!

Author has many similar story lines.....with variations of geographical locations. That is the only saving grace for the interest.
Her main characters -Isabella and Maia were SPOILT women! Maia more so as 35 yr old; Sorbonne educated, little heart, failings of a rich girl.

The men in the book were more admirable. Liked Laurent, felt sorry for Gustavo, loved Fabiano, have suspicions about who is Pa salt or at some link to someone in the past.

While I understand the use artistic licence the multiple references, uses and comments with reference to Paul landowski is over the top.

Author is becoming too verbose in an age where long repetitious descriptions are becoming boring... I used the audio version and it was TEDIOUS as a trial.

Author needs to adapt some other story lines soon!!! The last minute revelations before death are becoming too much to understand.

Book One is Fabulous!!! My only problem? I now have to wait for all the promised books about the other sisters. But this one was just great. I loved it! I won't go into the story line because you can read the description for yourself. But I totally enjoyed the overall concept, and then the first story. It delves into so much history and yet keeps us grounded in the present, as well. Total enjoyment for this reader from the first page to the last. Thank you, Ms. Riley, for another fantastic book!

This is an amazing story that leaves you wanting more. The character are real and very interesting and their story is addictive. I would recommend this book and series to everyone. Once you start you will not be able to put it down.

Lucinda Riley is my favorite author, I devour all of her books. If you've ever read one of her books, you know how good she is. If you've never read any of her books, this is a great place to start. I normally have a difficult time enjoying a book if I feel I have nothing in common with the main character. In this case, Maia and I are very opposite, yet I was still utterly engrossed in her story. Lucinda's writing is so all encompassing that you feel transported in time and space along side the characters. Can't sing her praises enough, I hope US readers catch on to what an international sensation she is. In my opinion, the best female author today.

The Seven Sisters is a lovely multi-generational saga. The pages seem to turn themselves as you move through the story, fully invested in the characters the author has created and how their lives are forever altered by the events that await them. I am almost through book three in the series and I don't want the series to end. I don't know what I'll do when I finish reading book 4 as book 5 is not due to be published until November!

Great intro into The Seven Sisters series. Kept me wanting to keep reading. If your looking for a well researched, heart warming series, this is it. I love the way she ties the present with the past. Well done Lucinda Riley!

Oh wow!. Great story. Could not put it down. Adopted sisters, all from different areas of the world. This book you learn about the family and first sister. Lean some history also.Books to follow with tell the story of each sister. Cannot wait to read them.

This will obviously be a series, each book dealing with one of the adopted sisters. The character development of the present day characters wasn't as detailed as those in the flashbacks that dealt with former generations. A fairly decent book, but nothing special other than some of Rio's colorful history surrounding the building of The Redeemer.

The Seven Sisters takes the reader on a journey through passion, history and fate. The story within the story keeps your rapt attention and longing for more through the entirety of the tale. This well written book drops you right into the midst of the lives of many characters you become closely entwined. I was sad when the book was over. I look forward to reading about the other sisters as well but am skeptical that their stories will be as interesting and as well told. We will find out!

I looked forward to reading this book because I had read three others by Lucinda Riley and enjoyed them. This book was a struggle to get through.
The beginning dragged and you just knew the six, or seven? sisters each would have their story told with tons of repetition, and some fancy plotting
in another country, and I found it boring. I gave up after 100 pages.

I am a real fan of Lucinda's, loved everyone of her books, and this one did not disappoint, in fact I can't wait until the next one comes out. Wow, what a beautifully written, emotional, poignant story. I read it within 2 days, just couldn't put it down, and was dying to know what would happen next.
Set in Rio, Paris and Geneva , all exotic locations, which Lucinda described wonderfully. I especially was enthralled by the love affair between Izabela and Laurent. How tragic and sad!! had me weeping, which makes a novel for me.
Roll on November when the next book will be out, I wonder which country that will transport our imagination..

I was disappointed in this book, having so enjoyed Lucinda Riley's other books. I would have liked more development of the other sisters lives instead of just the older sister who seemed to have had a pretty boring life. Mostly, though, were the many intriguing elements in the story that were never explained - so many details just left hanging.

I realize we are not looking for reality in one of Lucinda Riley's books, but the Seven Sisters was much more far-fetched than any of her other works. That said, there was still a lot to like here. I enjoyed the multiple timelines and especially enjoyed the Brazilian setting. Because I loved The Lavender Garden and The Orchid House, I was really looking forward to the publication of this book. I was somewhat disappointed.

Absolutely amazing story! I think she is becoming one of my favourite writers. I have previously read The Italian Girl and Midnight Rose, I loved them both. I was a bit sceptical when I first started to read this, wondering how she could continue a third amazing book. But as soon as I started to read about Izabela I really could not put the book down. I am now having to read the Storm Sister; and I will read all her other books! They truly transport you to another world!

I didn't know anything about this book or author. Found this through a search of books available to download immediately from my public library. Looked interesting. WOW what a great read. I wanted to read the next in the series but it wasn't out yet. Now it is. Bought it. Will look into more books by this author.

I only gave this book two stars because it is of the same vein that most of the store's kindle books go if they are in a series. They try to get you hooked by pricing the first book of the series cheap ($1.99 or less) and then the next books are "substantially more". The second is $12.99 and third is $13.99. This is ridiculous and I am tired of the store "fooling" their customers. Aren't we their "bread and butter" once we've purchased a kindle, don't we have to buy their damn "expensive" first run books as it is. And now for them to do this with the author's books who do trilogys, its not right.