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The Seven Sisters #6
Die Sonnenschwester
Reich, berühmt und bildschön: das ist Elektra d’Aplièse, die als Model ein glamouröses Leben in New York führt. Doch der Schein trügt – in Wahrheit ist sie eine verzweifelte junge Frau, die im Begriff ist, ihr Leben zu ruinieren. Da taucht eines Tages ihre Großmutter Stella auf, von deren Existenz Elektra nichts wusste. Sie ist ein Adoptivkind und kennt ihre Wurzeln nicht. Als Stella ihr die berührende Lebensgeschichte der jungen Amerikanerin Cecily Huntley-Morgan erzählt, öffnet sich für Elektra die Tür zu einer neuen Welt. Denn Cecily lebte in den 1940er Jahren auf einer Farm in Afrika – wo einst Elektras Schicksal seinen Anfang nahm …
Der sechste Band aus der Bestseller-Serie um die sieben Schwestern.
Der sechste Band aus der Bestseller-Serie um die sieben Schwestern.
864 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2019
7240 people are currently reading
32601 people want to read
About the author
Lucinda Riley
167 books12.1k followersAKA: Lucinda Edmonds
Lucinda Riley was born in Northern Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. She is a No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.
Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a No.1 bestseller across the world with total sales of over fifteen million copies.
Lucinda and her family divided their time between the U.K. and a farmhouse in West Cork, Ireland, where she wrote her books.
Lucinda Riley was born in Northern Ireland, and after an early career as an actress in film, theatre and television, wrote her first book aged twenty-four. Her books have been translated into thirty-seven languages and sold thirty million copies worldwide. She is a No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller.
Lucinda’s The Seven Sisters series, which tells the story of adopted sisters and is inspired by the mythology of the famous star cluster, has become a global phenomenon. The series is a No.1 bestseller across the world with total sales of over fifteen million copies.
Lucinda and her family divided their time between the U.K. and a farmhouse in West Cork, Ireland, where she wrote her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,403 reviews
July 31, 2021
I do love this series. The only downside to finishing this is that now I'm all caught up and will have to wait for the next book!
Like CeCe, whose story was told in The Pearl Sister, Electra was a character I disliked in the stories about her other sisters, but grew much fonder of over the course of her own book. She's spoilt, annoying and often simply not very nice, but a lot of that stems her issues with addiction, rather than her being a terrible person. I enjoyed her journey, especially the second half, where she started to really come into her own.
The historical story about Cecily Huntley-Morgan was particularly enjoyable. It mostly takes place in Kenya during the late 1930's/1940's, and was quite fascinating. There were times when I wanted to give Cecily a little shake as she was so naive about things, but I realise this was probably typical for many woman of the time -- educated at University, but with little practical knowledge of life. Sometimes I just wanted her to notice what was happening, but of course you cannot expect a rather sheltered and privileged young American woman to immediately grasp the events that are at play around her. She ended up being a pretty incredible character and came along way from the person she was at the beginning.
I don't want to say much more about either story, but I loved both. This has been such a brilliant series so far, and I'm really looking forward to the next book!
Like CeCe, whose story was told in The Pearl Sister, Electra was a character I disliked in the stories about her other sisters, but grew much fonder of over the course of her own book. She's spoilt, annoying and often simply not very nice, but a lot of that stems her issues with addiction, rather than her being a terrible person. I enjoyed her journey, especially the second half, where she started to really come into her own.
The historical story about Cecily Huntley-Morgan was particularly enjoyable. It mostly takes place in Kenya during the late 1930's/1940's, and was quite fascinating. There were times when I wanted to give Cecily a little shake as she was so naive about things, but I realise this was probably typical for many woman of the time -- educated at University, but with little practical knowledge of life. Sometimes I just wanted her to notice what was happening, but of course you cannot expect a rather sheltered and privileged young American woman to immediately grasp the events that are at play around her. She ended up being a pretty incredible character and came along way from the person she was at the beginning.
I don't want to say much more about either story, but I loved both. This has been such a brilliant series so far, and I'm really looking forward to the next book!
December 7, 2019
I will finish this series but then I am, like, so , totally ( the author’s favourite words) with this writer. She spins a good tale and that’s about it. All the characters are shallow and stupid... I can’t deal with it. I thought the same thing about every single sister- each one just gets more stupid. It’s such a shame really as if more thought was put into the characters instead of the plot then this could for sure be like, so , totally 5 stars.
Did Electra really say - I have recently discovered I am of African heritage?
Come again????
Did she really ask her grandmother if she had an abortion when her grandmother was telling her the story of her mother. Whhatttt? I. Can’t. deal.
And when Electra mentions her great vocabulary but talks like, sooooo, like this all through the book.
And when she, an international model, asks if Kenya is in Africa ?
And there are just so many other examples of stupidity that I can’t remember.
Again- I will read the last one and then I am done with Lucinda Riley.
I think I have said this in a previous review but she just writes too many books and doesn’t put enough thought into them. It’s painful.
Did Electra really say - I have recently discovered I am of African heritage?
Come again????
Did she really ask her grandmother if she had an abortion when her grandmother was telling her the story of her mother. Whhatttt? I. Can’t. deal.
And when Electra mentions her great vocabulary but talks like, sooooo, like this all through the book.
And when she, an international model, asks if Kenya is in Africa ?
And there are just so many other examples of stupidity that I can’t remember.
Again- I will read the last one and then I am done with Lucinda Riley.
I think I have said this in a previous review but she just writes too many books and doesn’t put enough thought into them. It’s painful.
March 12, 2020
An extremely poor rendering of black characters. Basic and bad.
When I first started the Seven Sisters series I was immediately uncomfortable and alarm bells started ringing when I noticed that when weaving this 'tapestry' of sisters of different races the author had made the two darkest sisters, Cece (of Australian First Nation descent) and Electra (black) the least pleasant. When you look at the reviews for both The Pearl Sister and this book, The Sun Sister, the oft repeated phrase is that the reader didn't like Cece or Electra.
Lucinda Riley is clearly a gifted storyteller, but this worrying strain of anti-blackness made my heckles rise. However, despite my better judgement I chose to ignore this and continued with the series, enjoying most of the stories which were set in different locations (Brazil, Norway, Australia, Spain) and seemed to introduce different cultures in a really detailed way.
And then we get to The Sun Sister, which has made me reevaluate every positive review I have given the other books and makes me regret purchasing all of them.
The issues with this book are numerous and its depiction of black people was frankly insulting. The lack of nuance and the basic attitude towardsprejudice (it's all over now folks!) was more than a little grating.
Firstly, the author's negative attitude towards black hair was insurmountable. She clearly has no understanding of black hair and the assumptions and ridiculous comments characters come out with made me want to scream. The book is set in 2008 in America. The natural hair movement was in full swing. And yet you have a book where a black character tells a Latino woman that her hair will always be nicer than the black character's. Cue SCREAM .
Black hair is repeatedly referred to as 'wiry fuzz'.
A black character does the 'big chop' - but it is not referred to as such - there is no reference or understanding of the cultural moment that lead to black women embracing their natural hair - instead the character decides to do it because she feels weaves are unethical because they force less fortunate people to give up their hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then later on it is inferred that the character in fact relaxes their hair? Pick a style.
And the same character talks about the tortuous hassle of having their hair done, with no recognition of the fact that the hair salon can be such a place of fun and community. And they keep their short afro 'natural' which means no product!
Honestly, I only finished this book so I could leave an informed review.
Then there is the Muslim female character - who is basically an angel with no character development or depth - she is perfect. Her character development relates solely to falling in love with a non-Muslim side character and the treatment of this poorly fleshed out and barely believable relationship was full of sentimentality and tropes with no depth.
The white saviour echoes are also prevalent - a white character chooses to semi-adopt a black child and is repeatedly praised for sacrificing for this child. (Hard eyeroll)
Overall this was simplistic tosh and makes me think everything I learned in the earlier books was also tosh. It was so bad I don't even care about the seventh sister.
This series and I are done.
When I first started the Seven Sisters series I was immediately uncomfortable and alarm bells started ringing when I noticed that when weaving this 'tapestry' of sisters of different races the author had made the two darkest sisters, Cece (of Australian First Nation descent) and Electra (black) the least pleasant. When you look at the reviews for both The Pearl Sister and this book, The Sun Sister, the oft repeated phrase is that the reader didn't like Cece or Electra.
Lucinda Riley is clearly a gifted storyteller, but this worrying strain of anti-blackness made my heckles rise. However, despite my better judgement I chose to ignore this and continued with the series, enjoying most of the stories which were set in different locations (Brazil, Norway, Australia, Spain) and seemed to introduce different cultures in a really detailed way.
And then we get to The Sun Sister, which has made me reevaluate every positive review I have given the other books and makes me regret purchasing all of them.
The issues with this book are numerous and its depiction of black people was frankly insulting. The lack of nuance and the basic attitude towardsprejudice (it's all over now folks!) was more than a little grating.
Firstly, the author's negative attitude towards black hair was insurmountable. She clearly has no understanding of black hair and the assumptions and ridiculous comments characters come out with made me want to scream. The book is set in 2008 in America. The natural hair movement was in full swing. And yet you have a book where a black character tells a Latino woman that her hair will always be nicer than the black character's. Cue SCREAM .
Black hair is repeatedly referred to as 'wiry fuzz'.
A black character does the 'big chop' - but it is not referred to as such - there is no reference or understanding of the cultural moment that lead to black women embracing their natural hair - instead the character decides to do it because she feels weaves are unethical because they force less fortunate people to give up their hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then later on it is inferred that the character in fact relaxes their hair? Pick a style.
And the same character talks about the tortuous hassle of having their hair done, with no recognition of the fact that the hair salon can be such a place of fun and community. And they keep their short afro 'natural' which means no product!
Honestly, I only finished this book so I could leave an informed review.
Then there is the Muslim female character - who is basically an angel with no character development or depth - she is perfect. Her character development relates solely to falling in love with a non-Muslim side character and the treatment of this poorly fleshed out and barely believable relationship was full of sentimentality and tropes with no depth.
The white saviour echoes are also prevalent - a white character chooses to semi-adopt a black child and is repeatedly praised for sacrificing for this child. (Hard eyeroll)
Overall this was simplistic tosh and makes me think everything I learned in the earlier books was also tosh. It was so bad I don't even care about the seventh sister.
This series and I are done.
July 20, 2020
I’ve only read one other book from this series, besides this one, and I need to read them all. This is definitely a chunk of a read and the longest book I’ve read this year, but it’s worth it. The storytelling and characterization pays off, and reading it is an experience I won’t forget.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
June 19, 2021
Für mich leider der bisher schwächste Teil der Reihe, aber trotz allem ein wirklich gutes Buch. Die Reihe ist einfach nur sehr stark, sodass mir diese 4-Sterne-Bewertung schlecht erscheint.
Ich habe hier einfach relativ lange gebraucht um mit Elektra warm zu werden, da sie dem Leser bzw. zumindest mir zu Anfang doch sehr unsympathisch ist. Dadurch bekommt sie allerdings auch die Chance auf eine großartige Charakterentwicklung, die dann auch wirklich schön zu lesen war. Das passierte für meinen Geschmack nur etwas zu spät im Buch.
Daher habe ich mich dann sehr über die Vergangenheitsgeschichte rund um Cecily gefreut. Vor allem die Szenerie Afrika habe ich sehr genossen, da Lucinda Riley einem solche Arte so schön beschreiben kann, dass direkt Fernweh und Urlaubslust aufkommt.
Retrospektiv betrachtet mochte ich Elektras und Cecilys Geschichten aber gleich gern, sie hatten beide ihre Stärken und Schwächen. Das größte Manko für mich war der fehlende Drang weiterlesen zu wollen, weshalb ich auch recht lang für das Buch gebraucht habe, obwohl es an sich keine Längen hatte oder langweilig war.
Wie gesagt das ist bei dieser Reihe alles Jammern auf hohem Niveau und ich freue mich nach dem Ende jetzt wieder umso mehr auf den finalen Band der Reihe!
Ich habe hier einfach relativ lange gebraucht um mit Elektra warm zu werden, da sie dem Leser bzw. zumindest mir zu Anfang doch sehr unsympathisch ist. Dadurch bekommt sie allerdings auch die Chance auf eine großartige Charakterentwicklung, die dann auch wirklich schön zu lesen war. Das passierte für meinen Geschmack nur etwas zu spät im Buch.
Daher habe ich mich dann sehr über die Vergangenheitsgeschichte rund um Cecily gefreut. Vor allem die Szenerie Afrika habe ich sehr genossen, da Lucinda Riley einem solche Arte so schön beschreiben kann, dass direkt Fernweh und Urlaubslust aufkommt.
Retrospektiv betrachtet mochte ich Elektras und Cecilys Geschichten aber gleich gern, sie hatten beide ihre Stärken und Schwächen. Das größte Manko für mich war der fehlende Drang weiterlesen zu wollen, weshalb ich auch recht lang für das Buch gebraucht habe, obwohl es an sich keine Längen hatte oder langweilig war.
Wie gesagt das ist bei dieser Reihe alles Jammern auf hohem Niveau und ich freue mich nach dem Ende jetzt wieder umso mehr auf den finalen Band der Reihe!
February 19, 2021
Do you ever start a series that is meh and then get sucked in even though each sequel is worse than the last? I know that I will read the last book in this series even though this book was CRAZY bad and full of bizarre and unnecessary racism. Why did the third generation ranch hand speak only broken English? Why does a black women act surprised to learn that her heritage is African? Or that Kenya is in Africa? In this family of adoptees, why are only the Black sister and the Indigenous sister repeatedly made out to be abrasive and awful, while the rest of the sisters are sweet and saintly? Why am I reading these??
October 25, 2019
I have really enjoyed reading the first five books in The Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley and was delighted to receive an Advanced copy of the sixth book The Sun Sister.
Electra the youngest sister of the d'Aplises family is a successful model, rich and famous with a hedonistic lifestyle. Her hectic days are full of alcohol and drugs and after the death of her adopted father she loses control.
All the d'Apliese sisters have been adopted and Electra has now received a letter from a woman claiming to be her material grandmother.
Her grandmother tells her a story of Cecily who traveled to Africa just before the Second World War and the consequences of this has changed all their lives.
I really enjoyed this book and honestly did not want to put it down. It's unusual for a story to bring me to tears but this one did. I particularly enjoyed Cecily's story and the descriptions of Africa and the 1930's lifestyle.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Electra the youngest sister of the d'Aplises family is a successful model, rich and famous with a hedonistic lifestyle. Her hectic days are full of alcohol and drugs and after the death of her adopted father she loses control.
All the d'Apliese sisters have been adopted and Electra has now received a letter from a woman claiming to be her material grandmother.
Her grandmother tells her a story of Cecily who traveled to Africa just before the Second World War and the consequences of this has changed all their lives.
I really enjoyed this book and honestly did not want to put it down. It's unusual for a story to bring me to tears but this one did. I particularly enjoyed Cecily's story and the descriptions of Africa and the 1930's lifestyle.
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 25, 2019
Was looking much forward to the last book of this series. But unfortunately it was the one I enjoyed the least. Many important parts of the story seemed to be rushed or artificially shortened. Maybe the pressure to bring to book out?
Also, the entire part of drug addiction was hardly researched and the writer seems unable to say more as “she does a line, then does another one and again goes to do a line”. This kept the reader comfortably at a distance of the emotional turmoils of addiction and the eventual fascination to escape into this pharmacologically made-up pseudo-reality. Also the easy and smooth success of rehab is just totally unrealistic. Riley missed a great opportunity to touch the reader on the extremely sensitive problem of addiction, the need for being all-time gorgeous and the superficiality of showbiz. The Kenya part was enjoyable and quite in the line with the other 5 previous books but Electras life was insufficiently researched and developed.
Also, the entire part of drug addiction was hardly researched and the writer seems unable to say more as “she does a line, then does another one and again goes to do a line”. This kept the reader comfortably at a distance of the emotional turmoils of addiction and the eventual fascination to escape into this pharmacologically made-up pseudo-reality. Also the easy and smooth success of rehab is just totally unrealistic. Riley missed a great opportunity to touch the reader on the extremely sensitive problem of addiction, the need for being all-time gorgeous and the superficiality of showbiz. The Kenya part was enjoyable and quite in the line with the other 5 previous books but Electras life was insufficiently researched and developed.
March 27, 2021
As a muslim woman of color, I hated this book. Lucinda Riley is CLUELESS when it comes to the struggles people of color face.
You're telling me Electra, an international black supermodel, has NEVER faced rasicm in her career? HUH?? In what planet was this book based in, because it clearly wasn't based on earth. No black woman can go about her life in America without facing some kind of colorism.
I was also so disappointed when it came to the muslim woman. She was described as perfect, no character development, no flaws - except that she falls for a non-muslim white man who thinks that muslims are terrorists. Great.
You would think that if Lucinda Riley is gonna write about different cultures and ethnicities, she would at least do it right. But no, her anti-blackness and stereotypical ideals are shining through.
Excuse my poor English and rushed review. English isn't my first nor my 2rd language.
You're telling me Electra, an international black supermodel, has NEVER faced rasicm in her career? HUH?? In what planet was this book based in, because it clearly wasn't based on earth. No black woman can go about her life in America without facing some kind of colorism.
I was also so disappointed when it came to the muslim woman. She was described as perfect, no character development, no flaws - except that she falls for a non-muslim white man who thinks that muslims are terrorists. Great.
You would think that if Lucinda Riley is gonna write about different cultures and ethnicities, she would at least do it right. But no, her anti-blackness and stereotypical ideals are shining through.
Excuse my poor English and rushed review. English isn't my first nor my 2rd language.
January 21, 2021
2 stars! ⭐️⭐️
It absolutely PAINS me to give this book such a low rating. It hurts my heart because this book series has been some of my most enjoyable reading experiences. I have just adored the previous five books detailing where on the map each sister came from. This one, not so much.
In this installment, we meet Electra - the drug addicted supermodel who is so annoying and entitled that it got to the point where I didn’t care where she came from. Between the present day in Manhattan to the back story in Africa - it just didn’t hold my interest. The previous books had such better storylines and excitement.
This chore was 2300 pages on my Overdrive app - and man, did it drag. To say that it was way too long is an understatement. I skimmed the last half because it was just so mind numbingly boring. I couldn’t wait to finish it.
Despite this one, I simply cannot wait to read the next book - the last one - in the series about the “missing” sister. I hope the author ends this with a bang. I have faith!
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lucinda Riley for my advanced copy to read and review.
It absolutely PAINS me to give this book such a low rating. It hurts my heart because this book series has been some of my most enjoyable reading experiences. I have just adored the previous five books detailing where on the map each sister came from. This one, not so much.
In this installment, we meet Electra - the drug addicted supermodel who is so annoying and entitled that it got to the point where I didn’t care where she came from. Between the present day in Manhattan to the back story in Africa - it just didn’t hold my interest. The previous books had such better storylines and excitement.
This chore was 2300 pages on my Overdrive app - and man, did it drag. To say that it was way too long is an understatement. I skimmed the last half because it was just so mind numbingly boring. I couldn’t wait to finish it.
Despite this one, I simply cannot wait to read the next book - the last one - in the series about the “missing” sister. I hope the author ends this with a bang. I have faith!
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lucinda Riley for my advanced copy to read and review.
November 5, 2019
5 - "The worlds a big place you know…" Stars!
I’ve known that The Sun Sister was going to be a challenge to read ever since we were first introduced to Electra D’Aplièse, back at the beginning of The Seven Sisters series, in that she did not come across as a very likeable person. The closing paragraph of the last book was in her POV, and as much as, as a reader you didn’t know much about her before that, I just had a feeling that her character, and the issues that are given voice at that point would make her someone I would struggle to like.
And that was 100% true, and in all honesty I can’t say I had really warmed to her by the end of the book. But I don’t think the author wrote her as a character that would want your sympathy anyway, but what she did do in the secondary story that began in New York, just before WW2 broke out, to the beauty of Kenya during and after the war, through the racial battes in the US, and the forming of the NAACP, and up to the rise of Barak Obama in the late two thousands was given a full explanation as to why this complicated and hard-to-love woman turned out the way she did.
It was Cecily, and then Stella’s story that kept this book in the five star category for me, and if you haven’t read any of this series, it’s absolutely a book that you could read on its own merits. That said, the end of this one finally confirmed the fact that there is a seventh sister, and I cannot wait too see how Lucinda puts all the moving parts of the previous six books together to give her a story but to also tie up the mystery that is still Pa Salt.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
I’ve known that The Sun Sister was going to be a challenge to read ever since we were first introduced to Electra D’Aplièse, back at the beginning of The Seven Sisters series, in that she did not come across as a very likeable person. The closing paragraph of the last book was in her POV, and as much as, as a reader you didn’t know much about her before that, I just had a feeling that her character, and the issues that are given voice at that point would make her someone I would struggle to like.
And that was 100% true, and in all honesty I can’t say I had really warmed to her by the end of the book. But I don’t think the author wrote her as a character that would want your sympathy anyway, but what she did do in the secondary story that began in New York, just before WW2 broke out, to the beauty of Kenya during and after the war, through the racial battes in the US, and the forming of the NAACP, and up to the rise of Barak Obama in the late two thousands was given a full explanation as to why this complicated and hard-to-love woman turned out the way she did.
It was Cecily, and then Stella’s story that kept this book in the five star category for me, and if you haven’t read any of this series, it’s absolutely a book that you could read on its own merits. That said, the end of this one finally confirmed the fact that there is a seventh sister, and I cannot wait too see how Lucinda puts all the moving parts of the previous six books together to give her a story but to also tie up the mystery that is still Pa Salt.
ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.
March 6, 2020
I don't know how I can express my love for this book. It's been long time I haven't enjoyed an almost 900-page book this much, I almost wished it was 2000 pages.
From the moment I started, I couldn't put this book down. I was thinking of it all the time I wasn't reading, and I didn't realize how fast I flew through these pages.
I loved both Electra and Cecily's development throughout the stories. They were both remarkable characters. I read that Riley took real events and people as a base of this book, and it makes it even more special.
The book is full of important content like racism, drug addiction, religion and how it affects people's lives, fame, etc. There's quite a bit of trigger warning about drug usage and suicide. So, if that's a trigger warning for you, I'd like to mention it.
I really didn't expect to love Electra as much as I did by the end of this. Her story moved me so much. I think the length of the book allowed us to truly enter into her world and walk with her step by step and I very much enjoyed that. If it was short, it wouldn't be the same.
Cecily's story was also very interesting, an American girl going to Kenya for, getting to know the environment, the colonization and its results especially during and after the war. This shaped Cecily in a way that would be very different if she stayed back and again the detailed writing allowed me to get attached to this character and go back in time and place to experience the story vividly.
The one thing that impressed me so much about this book is for it to be very vivid. I felt like I was really with those characters living in those moments and all my emotions moved with them. That's why I loved it so much. Romances were not the center of these stories at all, which was another happy aspect. It was so rich with other historical details and the wholistic story, we didn't need a love story to do the heavy lifting.
All in all, I can't say more than I adored it, I wish I could read it all over again. I can't wait for the next and final installment.
From the moment I started, I couldn't put this book down. I was thinking of it all the time I wasn't reading, and I didn't realize how fast I flew through these pages.
I loved both Electra and Cecily's development throughout the stories. They were both remarkable characters. I read that Riley took real events and people as a base of this book, and it makes it even more special.
The book is full of important content like racism, drug addiction, religion and how it affects people's lives, fame, etc. There's quite a bit of trigger warning about drug usage and suicide. So, if that's a trigger warning for you, I'd like to mention it.
I really didn't expect to love Electra as much as I did by the end of this. Her story moved me so much. I think the length of the book allowed us to truly enter into her world and walk with her step by step and I very much enjoyed that. If it was short, it wouldn't be the same.
Cecily's story was also very interesting, an American girl going to Kenya for, getting to know the environment, the colonization and its results especially during and after the war. This shaped Cecily in a way that would be very different if she stayed back and again the detailed writing allowed me to get attached to this character and go back in time and place to experience the story vividly.
The one thing that impressed me so much about this book is for it to be very vivid. I felt like I was really with those characters living in those moments and all my emotions moved with them. That's why I loved it so much. Romances were not the center of these stories at all, which was another happy aspect. It was so rich with other historical details and the wholistic story, we didn't need a love story to do the heavy lifting.
All in all, I can't say more than I adored it, I wish I could read it all over again. I can't wait for the next and final installment.
March 15, 2020
Disappointing....
Lucinda Riley has fast become one of my favorite authors and I have really enjoyed her Seven Sisters series. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. Electra was just not a character that I found myself rooting for. Honestly, I just didn’t like her very much and I thought the journey’s through addiction were both unrealistic and unbelievable. Another aspect of this that just irritated me was the dialogue. It was rough and I think better editing on how Americans talk would’ve helped. Too much consistency in the characters verbiage made it not seem authentic. Cecily‘s story was the only redeeming quality that kept me reading. Therefore I was very disappointed that her story didn’t end in her voice, but in a recounting. Ended up skimming the last few chapters, because I really had lost interest. Overall, this was definitely my least favorite in this series. This novel was a struggle but I’m still looking forward to seeing how this all ends. 3 stars.
Lucinda Riley has fast become one of my favorite authors and I have really enjoyed her Seven Sisters series. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me. Electra was just not a character that I found myself rooting for. Honestly, I just didn’t like her very much and I thought the journey’s through addiction were both unrealistic and unbelievable. Another aspect of this that just irritated me was the dialogue. It was rough and I think better editing on how Americans talk would’ve helped. Too much consistency in the characters verbiage made it not seem authentic. Cecily‘s story was the only redeeming quality that kept me reading. Therefore I was very disappointed that her story didn’t end in her voice, but in a recounting. Ended up skimming the last few chapters, because I really had lost interest. Overall, this was definitely my least favorite in this series. This novel was a struggle but I’m still looking forward to seeing how this all ends. 3 stars.
January 26, 2020
The Sun Sister is the sixth book in the acclaimed Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. It is important to read the first book called The Seven Sisters in order to understand the basic premise of the series. I have not read books two through five but was able to follow the sixth book easily.
Series Plotline:
As told in the first book, six infant girls from very diverse backgrounds are adopted by a mysterious billionaire, Mr. d’Aplièse. The girls are cared for by his assistant, Maurine. The sisters refer to them as Pa Salt and Ma. The girls are raised in a mansion known as Atlantis on an island on Lake Geneva. The readers aren’t told anything about Pa Salt’s background, but apparently there are some hints in each of the sister’s stories. Lucinda Riley makes it known that there is an underlying ‘hidden’ plot that runs through the books… or the allegorical Greek references and anagrams that form the backdrop to the series”.
Each of the sisters is named for one of “The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades” constellation. In Greek mythology, the Pleiads were the seven daughters of Atlas, a Titan who held up the sky, and the Oceanid, Pleione, protectress of sailing. The sisters were Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno, and Merope. Apparently Merope was “lost” and her star often cannot be seen. Pa Salt refuses to tell the girls what he does for a living or why they were chosen to be adopted. He tells them he has been looking for Merope for many years.
After his unexpected death and secret burial at sea, each girl is given hints as to their true ancestry. The first book continues with the story of Maia, the eldest daughter and also looks back to the story of her grandmother, who lives in Rio de Janeiro. The next five books tell the story of one of the other daughters combined with the historical fiction story of a female ancestor. The author has published the books in the order of each of the girls’ adoption by Pa Salt. The historical characters follow a chronological timeline going from the construction of the Christ The Redeemer Statute in the 1920s through post World War II in the 1940s.
Review of The Sun Sister
The Electra storyline deals with the modern-day issues of substance abuse, bullying, friendship, and the definition of strength. The Cecily story shows us the history of the Happy Valley in Kenya where the British had very loose morals. There is also an incident with a princess of the Maasai people that has a lasting impact on all the characters. Cecily’s story tells of the sacrifices made by strong women to overcome racial inequality. Both stories deal with friendship, familial love, trust, overcoming hardships, prejudice, trust and above all, hope.
I recommend this series to readers who like historical fiction about strong women characters. I am excited to read the subsequent books and hope to find out about the missing Merope as well as to understand the mystery of Pa Salt.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my digital Advanced Reader Copy of The Sun Sister. The book is currently available in hardcover. It will be published for Kindle on May 19, 2020.
Series Plotline:
As told in the first book, six infant girls from very diverse backgrounds are adopted by a mysterious billionaire, Mr. d’Aplièse. The girls are cared for by his assistant, Maurine. The sisters refer to them as Pa Salt and Ma. The girls are raised in a mansion known as Atlantis on an island on Lake Geneva. The readers aren’t told anything about Pa Salt’s background, but apparently there are some hints in each of the sister’s stories. Lucinda Riley makes it known that there is an underlying ‘hidden’ plot that runs through the books… or the allegorical Greek references and anagrams that form the backdrop to the series”.
Each of the sisters is named for one of “The Seven Sisters of the Pleiades” constellation. In Greek mythology, the Pleiads were the seven daughters of Atlas, a Titan who held up the sky, and the Oceanid, Pleione, protectress of sailing. The sisters were Maia, Electra, Alcyone, Taygete, Asterope, Celaeno, and Merope. Apparently Merope was “lost” and her star often cannot be seen. Pa Salt refuses to tell the girls what he does for a living or why they were chosen to be adopted. He tells them he has been looking for Merope for many years.
After his unexpected death and secret burial at sea, each girl is given hints as to their true ancestry. The first book continues with the story of Maia, the eldest daughter and also looks back to the story of her grandmother, who lives in Rio de Janeiro. The next five books tell the story of one of the other daughters combined with the historical fiction story of a female ancestor. The author has published the books in the order of each of the girls’ adoption by Pa Salt. The historical characters follow a chronological timeline going from the construction of the Christ The Redeemer Statute in the 1920s through post World War II in the 1940s.
Review of The Sun Sister
The Electra storyline deals with the modern-day issues of substance abuse, bullying, friendship, and the definition of strength. The Cecily story shows us the history of the Happy Valley in Kenya where the British had very loose morals. There is also an incident with a princess of the Maasai people that has a lasting impact on all the characters. Cecily’s story tells of the sacrifices made by strong women to overcome racial inequality. Both stories deal with friendship, familial love, trust, overcoming hardships, prejudice, trust and above all, hope.
I recommend this series to readers who like historical fiction about strong women characters. I am excited to read the subsequent books and hope to find out about the missing Merope as well as to understand the mystery of Pa Salt.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my digital Advanced Reader Copy of The Sun Sister. The book is currently available in hardcover. It will be published for Kindle on May 19, 2020.
Want to read
November 20, 2019Electra's story!
February 9, 2021
Oh hi Lucinda. I can't believe I'm still reading this series. I also reviewed 4 and 2, and have not given any of the books in this series above 2-stars. Buuuut I've been reading some heavy reads right now, and wanted a bit of fluff. I read the whole book and regret it.
- As usual, the book is 30% too big because of all the adjectives.
- The usual suspects 'lush', 'muscular' etc, are all there.
- The characters are poorly written, and generally uninteresting.
- Lucinda's favourite theme, SURPRISE PREGNANCY is here.
- Black characters are written even more poorly than usual
- The protagonist, when speaking to herself, refers to her "dark complexion". No one speaks like this, not even to themselves. This is a recurring trangression - "Things No One Ever Says Or Thinks"
Why I am still reading this series.
Why is the dialogue so bad.
Why are the characters so bad.
Why are all the men just doing Man Things.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ADJECTIVES.
As usual, she's great at research, great at exploring history. But to be a writer, you must write well. And that, dear readers, is one thing Lucinda Riley cannot do.
- As usual, the book is 30% too big because of all the adjectives.
- The usual suspects 'lush', 'muscular' etc, are all there.
- The characters are poorly written, and generally uninteresting.
- Lucinda's favourite theme, SURPRISE PREGNANCY is here.
- Black characters are written even more poorly than usual
- The protagonist, when speaking to herself, refers to her "dark complexion". No one speaks like this, not even to themselves. This is a recurring trangression - "Things No One Ever Says Or Thinks"
Why I am still reading this series.
Why is the dialogue so bad.
Why are the characters so bad.
Why are all the men just doing Man Things.
WHY ARE THERE SO MANY ADJECTIVES.
As usual, she's great at research, great at exploring history. But to be a writer, you must write well. And that, dear readers, is one thing Lucinda Riley cannot do.
December 6, 2019
Informative, expressive, and engaging!
The Sun Sister, the sixth instalment in The Seven Sisters series, is set during the 1930s through to 2008 and sweeps you back and forth between the bustling streets of NYC to the beautiful plains of Kenya as Electra, the youngest, most discontent D‘Apliese sets out on a journey with the help of some new friends to overcome her addictions and unravel her parentage.
The prose is sincere and descriptive. The characters are multilayered, vulnerable, and lonely. And the absorbing, heartfelt plot is an incredibly moving tale of fame, fortune, substance abuse, familial drama, self-discovery, love, loss, grief, friendship, racial segregation, courage, hope, as well as a little insight into life in Kenya during its colonialism by Great Britain.
Overall, The Sun Sister is another epic saga by Riley at just over 800 pages, but with a timely, astute, present tale and a fascinating, immersive, past tale the pages seem to turn themselves. It is truly hard to believe that this series is close to its end, and I think for every reader whether they’ve been a die-hard fan and read them all or merely a part-time connoisseur whose been swept away by only one or two the fact that there is only one more left to come is truly bittersweet.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Sun Sister, the sixth instalment in The Seven Sisters series, is set during the 1930s through to 2008 and sweeps you back and forth between the bustling streets of NYC to the beautiful plains of Kenya as Electra, the youngest, most discontent D‘Apliese sets out on a journey with the help of some new friends to overcome her addictions and unravel her parentage.
The prose is sincere and descriptive. The characters are multilayered, vulnerable, and lonely. And the absorbing, heartfelt plot is an incredibly moving tale of fame, fortune, substance abuse, familial drama, self-discovery, love, loss, grief, friendship, racial segregation, courage, hope, as well as a little insight into life in Kenya during its colonialism by Great Britain.
Overall, The Sun Sister is another epic saga by Riley at just over 800 pages, but with a timely, astute, present tale and a fascinating, immersive, past tale the pages seem to turn themselves. It is truly hard to believe that this series is close to its end, and I think for every reader whether they’ve been a die-hard fan and read them all or merely a part-time connoisseur whose been swept away by only one or two the fact that there is only one more left to come is truly bittersweet.
Thank you to Pan Macmillan for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
This is definitely my favorite in this series to date. The Sun Sister is Electra's story. Electra is the youngest of the group and she is out of control. Although at the top of her game as a successful model, she is strung out on drugs and alcohol and headed for trouble fast. All the other sisters have found their roots through the letters Pa Salt left for them when he died, but Electra hasn't even opened her letter to make any steps towards learning where she came from before Pa Salt adopted her. She does receive a letter from a woman claiming to be her maternal grandmother, but Electra ignores the letter completely - until the woman shows up on her doorstep.
Thus begins Electra's journey to her roots. Her grandmother begins a tale of a woman named Cecily who went from her home in New York to visit her godmother in Kenya, Africa just before World War II began.
Electra's story is fascinating and I didn't want to put the book down. From the earlier books I wasn't very fond of Electra - she always seemed like the spoiled, detached sister, but I liked her much better in her own story as I gained an understanding of her circumstances.
Now I will be anxiously anticipating the next book - I'm assuming there will be one - to find out whether or not there is one more sister, since the possibility has been alluded to throughout the series. Also, at some point I hope we can find out more about Pa Salt - who was he, where did he get his money, is he really dead, and what possessed him to choose these particular children to adopt? I have so many questions I want answered!
Thanks to Lucinda Riley for an outstanding book! Also,thanks to Atria Books though Netgalley for an advance copy.
Thus begins Electra's journey to her roots. Her grandmother begins a tale of a woman named Cecily who went from her home in New York to visit her godmother in Kenya, Africa just before World War II began.
Electra's story is fascinating and I didn't want to put the book down. From the earlier books I wasn't very fond of Electra - she always seemed like the spoiled, detached sister, but I liked her much better in her own story as I gained an understanding of her circumstances.
Now I will be anxiously anticipating the next book - I'm assuming there will be one - to find out whether or not there is one more sister, since the possibility has been alluded to throughout the series. Also, at some point I hope we can find out more about Pa Salt - who was he, where did he get his money, is he really dead, and what possessed him to choose these particular children to adopt? I have so many questions I want answered!
Thanks to Lucinda Riley for an outstanding book! Also,thanks to Atria Books though Netgalley for an advance copy.
January 7, 2021
Puiki knyga♥️kaip ir visos prieš tai skaitytos seserų serijos.
December 3, 2022
Nachdem mir der vorherige Band so gar nicht gefallen hatte, konnte mich die Sonnenschwester wieder etwas mehr begeistern, auch wenn es „nur“ 3 Sterne wurden. Was aber erneut an der Geschichte in der Gegenwart lag. Elektra war mir zwar nicht so zuwider wie ich es aufgrund der kleinen Auftritte in den anderen Bänden erwartet hatte, aber ihr Klischee-Modelleben mit Drogenentzug und recht simpler Umkehr zum „Besseren“ hat mir nicht zugesagt. Auch langweilt es mich mittlerweile, dass (natürlich) alle Schwestern so reich und privilegiert durch ihren Adoptivvater Pa Salt sind. Elektra als Millionärin und Star setzt dem Ganzen natürlich die Krone auf. Mir war sie dann doch zu zweidimensional und die Gespräche mit ihrer Großmutter mehr als anstrengend, weil sie entgegen der Charakterzeichnung da sehr dümmlich teilweise wirkt. Sie fragt Ihre Großmutter ernsthaft, ob sie abgetrieben hat - Die eigene Mutter?! Wow, das hätte dem Lektorat z.B. nicht durchgehen sollen, aber das sind „Feinheiten“.
Umso mehr hat mir die Vergangenheit gefallen und ich habe im Nachgang noch zum „Happy Valley“ und den Protagonist*innen gegoogled, welche Lucinda Riley als Vorlage dienten >> Sehr spannend!
Nun bin ich gespannt, was es mit der verschwundenen Schwester auf sich hat und ob ich die Schwestern aus den einzelnen Bänden wieder erkenne, wenn sie zusammen unterwegs sind.
Jetzt bin ich so weit gekommen, nun möchte ich die Reihe auch beenden :)
April 4, 2023
Electra’s Rude Awakening
**A Slightly Revised Review**
Electra is the sister I did not like the sound of spoilt, challenging behaviour and her selfishness. The first part of the story had me rolling my eyes. Tall, successful and entitled. In the back of her mind she wants to deal with her late adopted father’s clue to her origin but in starting the process things come to a head when she almost loses the plot fuelled on drugs and alcohol a lot of this behaviour triggered by meeting her real grandmother.
She ends up in rehab and this becomes a blessing in disguise, she starts to see what she wants to do with her life. When she is ready and out of rehab she starts to forge a relationship with her grandmother and she finally finds out about Cecily a privileged white woman who saves her grandmother while living in Africa and the story as it progresses will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. Electra finally grows up and we see her change, will it be for better or worse…..
I have to say the whole Seven Sisters Series has been an epic journey. I feel bereft that they are coming to a close but looking forward to re reading The Missing Sister. I read and listened to this book and I highly recommend the audio back up
**A Slightly Revised Review**
Electra is the sister I did not like the sound of spoilt, challenging behaviour and her selfishness. The first part of the story had me rolling my eyes. Tall, successful and entitled. In the back of her mind she wants to deal with her late adopted father’s clue to her origin but in starting the process things come to a head when she almost loses the plot fuelled on drugs and alcohol a lot of this behaviour triggered by meeting her real grandmother.
She ends up in rehab and this becomes a blessing in disguise, she starts to see what she wants to do with her life. When she is ready and out of rehab she starts to forge a relationship with her grandmother and she finally finds out about Cecily a privileged white woman who saves her grandmother while living in Africa and the story as it progresses will make you laugh, cry and everything in between. Electra finally grows up and we see her change, will it be for better or worse…..
I have to say the whole Seven Sisters Series has been an epic journey. I feel bereft that they are coming to a close but looking forward to re reading The Missing Sister. I read and listened to this book and I highly recommend the audio back up
November 29, 2019
I've read all the other books in the series, and usually been frustrated by the hugely detailed "grandparent" story (the actual parents of these girls all get rushed over in about 2 sentences), when I'm more interested in the sisters. This book was different, I found Cecily's story way more interesting, at least until she returned to New York - the reasons for which just didn't seem compelling. Electra's complete change of character after a few weeks in rehab wasn't very convincing, especially her sudden devotion to the young heroin addict she was sharing a room with (whose name I've forgotten 2 weeks after reading the book!).
I keep reading these as I want to get the answer to their man-of-mystery father (another totally implausible plot device: how could all these girls not have found out his real name - should have been on their birth/adoption certificates; or how he made his obviously huge fortune?) The last chapter is a teaser for yet another book, which will presumably resolve all the mysteries. Is the seventh sister the baby Maia had which was adopted out? I couldn't remember what sex it was, but it would wrap things up neatly, and she did ask the lawyer to find her child in the first book.
I keep reading these as I want to get the answer to their man-of-mystery father (another totally implausible plot device: how could all these girls not have found out his real name - should have been on their birth/adoption certificates; or how he made his obviously huge fortune?) The last chapter is a teaser for yet another book, which will presumably resolve all the mysteries. Is the seventh sister the baby Maia had which was adopted out? I couldn't remember what sex it was, but it would wrap things up neatly, and she did ask the lawyer to find her child in the first book.
July 22, 2020
Racist? I’ve had this niggling thought from the beginning that Lucinda is racist (although trying hard not to be or perhaps she doesn’t realise it?), and actually not a feminist.
Lucinda Riley has such a chance here to write and address some serious issues like race, addiction and HIV.
There are so many times I thought come on!!??🙄 here are a few:
How has Electra never thought about her skin colour or roots up until 26?! And it’s 2008!!
The fact that Electra rock bottom is when she vomits herself/really?!
She doesn’t know what and where the projects are despite living in ny, and up until 16 having a (presumably)good education.
Why was Njala not the main historical character? We only meet her 69% of the way into the book! When we got to her I couldn’t believe Cecily was not her blood mother I was expected her to have an affair with Nygasi in the very least.
Bill is so anti racist but he does no actions that are in fact anti racist. In fact he makes the king follow him around?
When Cecily moves from Kikis house she says she couldn’t bear the terrible atmosphere there any longer- but this was never mentioned while she lived there?
Electra love story is a repeat of so many others in series. I like him (sorry I love him) but he can’t love me but my friend tells me it’s clear by the way he looks at me that he is besotted. It can’t be true. Declaration of love. Live happy ever after.
Adding more: ok the shopping spree? That was so weird.
So Cecily shudders to think of Stella sleeping in the shed but she’s ok with Lankenua and her son staying there.
Also why is Kiki character dismissed through most of the book I just don’t find their relationship believable how can she adore her god daughter who never visited her once she had her own life?
Ok adding more, turning into a bitch session but hopefully someone out there wants to join in;)?
So everyone is so proud of Electra. Stella is tearing up so is Miles. I’m not taking away from her sobriety but it’s been like a week? Maybe that’s just me.
Also Electra is so unaware that Obama’s election would be huge? That she thinks racism is done with her generation and that things are equal now?
Throughout the books abortion is looked down on and some rather condescending thoughts are made about it. Isn’t a women’s right to choose one of the fundamentals of feminism?
I actually could add so many more points but I’ll stop.
Really struggling to finish this one.
Lucinda Riley has such a chance here to write and address some serious issues like race, addiction and HIV.
There are so many times I thought come on!!??🙄 here are a few:
How has Electra never thought about her skin colour or roots up until 26?! And it’s 2008!!
The fact that Electra rock bottom is when she vomits herself/really?!
She doesn’t know what and where the projects are despite living in ny, and up until 16 having a (presumably)good education.
Why was Njala not the main historical character? We only meet her 69% of the way into the book! When we got to her I couldn’t believe Cecily was not her blood mother I was expected her to have an affair with Nygasi in the very least.
Bill is so anti racist but he does no actions that are in fact anti racist. In fact he makes the king follow him around?
When Cecily moves from Kikis house she says she couldn’t bear the terrible atmosphere there any longer- but this was never mentioned while she lived there?
Electra love story is a repeat of so many others in series. I like him (sorry I love him) but he can’t love me but my friend tells me it’s clear by the way he looks at me that he is besotted. It can’t be true. Declaration of love. Live happy ever after.
Adding more: ok the shopping spree? That was so weird.
So Cecily shudders to think of Stella sleeping in the shed but she’s ok with Lankenua and her son staying there.
Also why is Kiki character dismissed through most of the book I just don’t find their relationship believable how can she adore her god daughter who never visited her once she had her own life?
Ok adding more, turning into a bitch session but hopefully someone out there wants to join in;)?
So everyone is so proud of Electra. Stella is tearing up so is Miles. I’m not taking away from her sobriety but it’s been like a week? Maybe that’s just me.
Also Electra is so unaware that Obama’s election would be huge? That she thinks racism is done with her generation and that things are equal now?
Throughout the books abortion is looked down on and some rather condescending thoughts are made about it. Isn’t a women’s right to choose one of the fundamentals of feminism?
I actually could add so many more points but I’ll stop.
Really struggling to finish this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2021
3.5
Fajna ale jak dla mnie trochę się ciągnęła i miała przydługie fragmenty. Niezmiennie historie przodków głównych bohaterek są dla mnie najciekawsze.
Fajna ale jak dla mnie trochę się ciągnęła i miała przydługie fragmenty. Niezmiennie historie przodków głównych bohaterek są dla mnie najciekawsze.
August 31, 2022
4.5 ⭐
Me ha gustado mucho este libro, junto al de Ally de mis favoritos de la serie. Me han tenido en vilo tanto la historia de Cecily como la de Electra... y menudo final.
Me ha gustado mucho este libro, junto al de Ally de mis favoritos de la serie. Me han tenido en vilo tanto la historia de Cecily como la de Electra... y menudo final.
October 8, 2020
Electra d'Apliese, the youngest of the six sisters, rocketed to fame when she was discovered in Paris in her teens. Now a highly successful supermodel, she has become quite the party girl, giving in to the lure of drugs and alcohol. She hasn't dealt well with the death of their beloved Pa who had adopted the sisters as babies. As she turns more and more to drugs and alcohol her world begins to spiral out of control. Adding to the stress is a letter from a woman claiming to be her grandmother. Electra is scared, but also anxious to know her roots and the story of her ancestry.
Her story begins in Kenya, a beautiful, wild country where New Yorker Cecily Hunter Morgan finds herself after being jilted by her fiancee. Invited by her godmother, socialite Kiki Preston, Cecily is shocked by the lack of morality displayed by the infamous Happy Valley set. Despite everything, Cecily grows to love Kenya, ultimately making it her home. But how does she fit into Electra's heritage?
Though Electra was not my favorite of the Seven Sister's series, I still enjoyed her story and felt of all the sisters her's was the greatest transformation.
Her story begins in Kenya, a beautiful, wild country where New Yorker Cecily Hunter Morgan finds herself after being jilted by her fiancee. Invited by her godmother, socialite Kiki Preston, Cecily is shocked by the lack of morality displayed by the infamous Happy Valley set. Despite everything, Cecily grows to love Kenya, ultimately making it her home. But how does she fit into Electra's heritage?
Though Electra was not my favorite of the Seven Sister's series, I still enjoyed her story and felt of all the sisters her's was the greatest transformation.
June 22, 2024
The 6th in the Seven Sister series I've read. Told in the usual dual timeline format, this book concentrates on the youngest sister Electra, a famous beautiful black model. and Cecily, a seemingly unconnected white woman. Electra, like her sister CeCe before her, I initially didn't think I'd like due to her portrayal in her previous sisters' books. She was portrayed as a spoilt, unpleasant rich girl, and I thought there would be little to read about. This changed throughout the course of the read. Her addiction to drink and drugs, subsequent rehab, learning to trust, and her relationship with her grandmother and sisters were sensitively written. I enjoyed Cecilys' story, a fiance who leaves her and her embarrassment in New York leads her to Kenya via Scotland. She marries Bill and finds a baby abandoned in the bush who she raises as her own. Excellent accessible writing and the 830 odd pages I devoured, enticing me to have little sleep as I was compelled to read on. A wonderful, fabulous read.
August 15, 2022
Penultimo appuntamento con le sette sorelle che hanno il nome della costellazione delle Pleiadi.
Devo dire che questa serie di libri è molto piacevole da leggere e ogni volta ti porta in una parte del mondo diversa.
In questo libro si affrontano temi importanti quali le discriminazioni razziali e le dipendenze da droga e alcol. La ricostruzione della parte storica è sempre molto accurata e in questo caso la scrittrice ci porta in Africa nel periodo del colonialismo e tra i Masai.
L'unica nota dolente è che rispetto ai primi libri, che erano davvero originali e interessanti, gli ultimi tre sono un po' più banalotti dal punto di vista della scrittura e dei dialoghi.
Devo dire che questa serie di libri è molto piacevole da leggere e ogni volta ti porta in una parte del mondo diversa.
In questo libro si affrontano temi importanti quali le discriminazioni razziali e le dipendenze da droga e alcol. La ricostruzione della parte storica è sempre molto accurata e in questo caso la scrittrice ci porta in Africa nel periodo del colonialismo e tra i Masai.
L'unica nota dolente è che rispetto ai primi libri, che erano davvero originali e interessanti, gli ultimi tre sono un po' più banalotti dal punto di vista della scrittura e dei dialoghi.
July 26, 2022
“It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you” 🎶 Sort of how I felt about this book once I got into it! After feeling rather meh about the previous one, The Sun Sister was a much more enjoyable epic, and the 830-odd pages flew by. If you haven’t read the other Seven Sisters books, this isn’t the place to start, as while in theory they’re separate stories and you can read them in any order, in reality you would be thoroughly spoiled for the other books - both in terms of the outcome of each heroine’s story, but also because this is probably the best one. I liked both the contemporary and past characters and liked that I couldn’t predict which way things would go.
Electra is the youngest of the six girls rescued as infants by the mysterious billionaire Pa Salt, and raised in relative luxury by his housekeeper Ma in his mansion on Lake Geneva. A rebellious, unhappy and difficult child, she struggled at school and quit as soon as she could, working as a waitress before being discovered by a modelling agent who turned her into a supermodel. Now she’s rich, famous and lives a pampered jet setting lifestyle, but she’s still deeply unhappy, struggling to deal with her father’s death, pushing family away and escaping into drugs and alcohol. When a stranger contacts her claiming to be her biological grandmother, Electra is suspicious, and wonders how Stella’s story of a wealthy white woman who travelled to Africa in 1939 could possibly relate to her own past history. At a crossroad in her life, she will discover that love can transcend biology and family - in whatever form you make it, is everything.
At the beginning of this I despised selfish bratty Electra and wondered why anyone put up with her, which made her transformation, however implausible, all the more enjoyable. Cecily was a more straightforwardly sympathetic heroine, serially abandoned by handsome men, but standing her ground and finding her place in the hedonistic world of expat Kenya. I didn’t know much about the “Happy Valley Set” so it took a bit of googling to work out which characters were real. Stories set in Africa are always upsetting for me because of the game hunting, but this doesn’t dwell on or glorify it, and I loved the descriptions of the landscapes and colonial lifestyle - my grandparents met in South Africa around the same time and while not from the nobility, would’ve faced similar concerns with the outbreak of WW2.
It took a while to work out how Electra, who is Black, could be related to Cecily, but it all makes sense eventually. I liked that we get the whole of Cecily’s story, unlike with some of the books where the historical character fades away with a disappointing ending. I also particularly liked that the modern day romance was very much in the background here, not the main part of the plot, and the way the author handled the race, addictions and depression issues. 4.5 🌟rounded up for great storytelling. Now I just have The Missing Sister’s book to read, so am looking forward to that one 🙂
Electra is the youngest of the six girls rescued as infants by the mysterious billionaire Pa Salt, and raised in relative luxury by his housekeeper Ma in his mansion on Lake Geneva. A rebellious, unhappy and difficult child, she struggled at school and quit as soon as she could, working as a waitress before being discovered by a modelling agent who turned her into a supermodel. Now she’s rich, famous and lives a pampered jet setting lifestyle, but she’s still deeply unhappy, struggling to deal with her father’s death, pushing family away and escaping into drugs and alcohol. When a stranger contacts her claiming to be her biological grandmother, Electra is suspicious, and wonders how Stella’s story of a wealthy white woman who travelled to Africa in 1939 could possibly relate to her own past history. At a crossroad in her life, she will discover that love can transcend biology and family - in whatever form you make it, is everything.
At the beginning of this I despised selfish bratty Electra and wondered why anyone put up with her, which made her transformation, however implausible, all the more enjoyable. Cecily was a more straightforwardly sympathetic heroine, serially abandoned by handsome men, but standing her ground and finding her place in the hedonistic world of expat Kenya. I didn’t know much about the “Happy Valley Set” so it took a bit of googling to work out which characters were real. Stories set in Africa are always upsetting for me because of the game hunting, but this doesn’t dwell on or glorify it, and I loved the descriptions of the landscapes and colonial lifestyle - my grandparents met in South Africa around the same time and while not from the nobility, would’ve faced similar concerns with the outbreak of WW2.
It took a while to work out how Electra, who is Black, could be related to Cecily, but it all makes sense eventually. I liked that we get the whole of Cecily’s story, unlike with some of the books where the historical character fades away with a disappointing ending. I also particularly liked that the modern day romance was very much in the background here, not the main part of the plot, and the way the author handled the race, addictions and depression issues. 4.5 🌟rounded up for great storytelling. Now I just have The Missing Sister’s book to read, so am looking forward to that one 🙂
February 21, 2020
I’m not familiar with previous books in this series. And what attracted me to this story was the historical background of Africa as I haven’t read many books set there. Unfortunately, the modern day story involving Electra is not something I can relate with.
Electra is a successful model, who struggles with drug and alcohol addictions. She is certainly a strong character, but not a character I could connect with. I’m not a reader of modern day fiction. So that was my problem connecting with her. And it’s all due to personal preferences.
Even when the story goes back in time and reveals the story of Cecily, there is still a lot of vanity going on before getting to any historical background.
This story is simply not the right fit for me.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Electra is a successful model, who struggles with drug and alcohol addictions. She is certainly a strong character, but not a character I could connect with. I’m not a reader of modern day fiction. So that was my problem connecting with her. And it’s all due to personal preferences.
Even when the story goes back in time and reveals the story of Cecily, there is still a lot of vanity going on before getting to any historical background.
This story is simply not the right fit for me.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
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