It has been a while since I've been THIS EXCITED to share a book review with you guys. And the best part? ITS A SERIES!!! Of really BIG BOOKS!!!
When my friend Amanda posted a review about the first book, it was an instant library reserve for me. However, by the time the book was available for checkout, I'd largely forgotten any details. This meant that I picked up the book not really knowing what to expect--other than that there were seven sisters. I didn't even remember the genre! I basically never read a book without knowing the plot synopsis, so it was strange going in blind. However, this didn't take away from the enjoyment and I've spent the last month absolutely devouring these books. I actually sat and read for hours with the last two titles, which is something I rarely have the time or attention span for these days!
So, what's the gist? A mysterious billionaire passes away, leaving behind his six adopted daughters--each named after one of the sisters of the Pleiades mythology. Each young woman receives a letter and coordinates which lead her to the origins of her biological family. Part historical fiction, part love story, part mystery, and part inspired by the Greek mythology, each book follows a different sister to a different country. There, the narrative splits between the historical and the present day, with ongoing plots interweaving in each.
While 'romance'+'historical fiction' is often a combo that leads to mediocre or even cringeworthy writing, this is not true of Riley's work. The characters are delightful, the prose engaging, and the narrative deeply engrossing. While the first book is the weakest (though still good), the series only grows in strength and excellence. (I'd say the second book and the second sister might be my favorite, but I'm not sure...they're all so good!)
What is truly impressive is the fact that each book contains an entirely different setting--and usually two! The Seven Sisters and their ancestors traverse Switzerland, Brazil, France, Norway, Germany, England, Scotland, Thailand, Australia, Spain, Kenya, USA, Ireland, and Russia. From Christ the Redeemer, to Beatrix Potter, to Spanish Flamenco, each book also centers around a specific creator or artistic movement.
And each sister has their own unique journey of growth. They are all beautifully three dimensional characters, giving their own flavor to their own book. The big overarching theme is adoption, and identity, and wrestling with what it means to have both a wonderful adoptive family, but also discovering and understanding where one came from as well. And of course, since each sister is adopted, the theme is explored from a multitude of angles. I really appreciated this because every adoptee has their own story, and it is wonderful to see so many perspectives represented.
I also loved looking at the diversity of interests among the cast of characters. There's a foreign translator, a sailor/musician, a shy bookworm, a blunt dyslexic, a mystical animal lover, and a supermodel addict. Yet none of these are reduced to tropes, but are fully fleshed out. And that's only the seven sisters! The supporting and historical cast are equally diverse. I can't even begin to mention them all. The one mention I'll make is that one story involves a young deaf child, and I absolutely loved it--I almost cried.
(Okay, I almost cried at several points during the series. It was that good.)
One of the best parts is that, while each sister has her own POV book, they are a family and do appear in each others stories. This means that we get to see stories progress beyond a sister's individual book. In fact, in the final two books, we get POV chapters from each of the main characters.
Now, potential flies in the jam (your milage may vary). It's an adult series. Some of the sisters (and/or) their ancestors have sex lives, not all of which take place in wedlock. There are brief sex scenes in some of the books (though not all). Without risking spoilers, it's worth noting that the series really takes the line that actions have consequences. One or two books have some rougher language as fits the characters journey. One book delves deeply into an addiction and recovery journey. A few books deal with racism. One book follows a family of Spanish Romani and involves the culture's mysticism and fortune-telling. One sister does eventually land in a same-sex relationship, although it's an extremely light romance compared to the others. IMHO, all of these issues were on the light side for adult fiction--I wouldn't be recommending them otherwise. However, everyone has their own tolerance level, and I know some of you will appreciate the heads up.
Although the series is called "The Seven Sisters" it is actually a saga of eight books. The overarching mystery is resolved in the last book, "Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt", and TRUST ME, if you get that far, you want to have book eight ready the moment you finish book seven. Sadly, author Lucinda Riley passed away before finishing the eighth book, but her son does an excellent job of wrapping matters up. I personally don't think you can tell any difference in the writing style, and the book masterfully weaves together various threads and clues dropped in the earlier series. It is a really cool resolution.
It was bittersweet to finish the series and realize that my time with the sisters was over. However, it was a fantastic journey, and I'm sure I'll be rereading them eventually. And I'm so excited to finally share this review with YOU!
