The Storm Sister by Lucinda Riley

This is the second book (of seven) of The Seven Sister series. The second sister, Alcyone, called Ally, is an accomplished sailor (as in racing sailboats/yachts) and she spends her time on the sea, part of one crew or another. As a side note, but a significant one, she is also an accomplished flautist. She chose sailing over the flute, however, for her livelihood. Her passion for the sea was shared by her father, Pa Salt, who had adopted her and her five sisters when they were babies. She is taking a break from training for her next race on a boat with the love of her life and fellow sailor, Theo, when she receives the news that Pa Salt has died. She returns to her homestead, Atlantis, along with her five sisters.

At Atlantis, each sister receives a letter from Pa Salt with clues about her birthplace and/or birth parents. He gives them the coordinates on a globe as to where their particular "story" began. Ally doesn't show much curiosity about her history until Theo tragically dies in a sailing accident. Not having her own home (other than Atlantis) because she was always on the sea, she decides to fly to Norway, the county of her birth.

As in the first book (about the oldest sister, Maia), the story goes back in time from 2007, the year of Pa Salt's death. Ally's story starts in Telemark, Norway in August 1875. In 1875 we meet Anna Landvik, a young girl from a farming family with a beautiful singing voice. She is "discovered" by Herr Franz Bayer, a professor at the University of Christiania, a pianist and a music teacher who seeks out young musical talent. Anna leaves her home (and a fiancé, Lars) to return to Christiania with Herr Bayer so that he can train her to be a professional singer. Herr Bayer arranges for Anna to be the "ghost voice" for the female lead in the premiere of the stage production of Henrik Ibsen's play Peer Gynt. The music was written by Edvard Grieg. 

These books are based on historical facts and events, even though some of the people are fictional, like Anna herself. (Although they did indeed use a "ghost voice" for the lead in the premiere of Peer Gynt in Christiania in 1875). This story is well researched and well written. The combination of historical people and fictional people just make the story all the more engaging. Anna's story moves along, alternating with Ally's story in 2007. Eventually their connection unfolds in the most absorbing way. I can't express enough how much I love these books. The author shares Anna's life in depth to such a degree that it would take too long to explain in this blog post. We also find out a lot about the generations between Anna and Ally. Absolutely fascinating.

I am waiting for the third book in the series to arrive. If it's anything like the first two books, I will devour it as well.

Wendy's Rating: *****