Get Lost in the Stars: A Guide to The Seven Sisters

If you’re looking for a book series that you can really live inside for a few months, allow me to introduce to you - the globe-trotting world of The Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley. Whether you’re a history buff, a travel lover, or just someone who enjoys a good mystery, this series has a little bit of magic for everyone.

Just a heads-up: this post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you decide to pick up a copy through one of my links. This helps me keep the lights on here and keep sharing great reads.

How the Journey Begins

The story begins at Atlantis, a fabulous, secluded estate on the shores of Lake Geneva. Six sisters - Maia, Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy, and Electra - are called home following the sudden death of their billionaire adoptive father, the enigmatic "Pa Salt."

The sisters, who were all adopted as babies, have grown up in total luxury, but they realise that they know almost nothing about their adoptive father, or his past, or come to think of it - their own. But upon his death, Pa Salt has left each of them a physical clue to their heritage: a set of coordinates and a cryptic quotation, all marked on a giant armillary sphere in the garden.

More Than Just a Romance

What follows is an epic seven-book (well, eight) quest. Every novel follows a sister as she travels to a corner of the globe - from the bustling streets of Rio de Janeiro to the snowy peaks of Norway to the red dust of the Australian outback.

Lucinda Riley has showcased a real talent in this series – an ability to deep dive into history. Each book weaves together a modern-day search for identity with a historical storyline. You don’t just read these novels; you learn about the construction of Christ the Redeemer, the bohemian world of 1920s Paris, or the hidden history of the Edwardian era. It’s like a cultural education wrapped in a page-turner.

The Mystery that Keeps You Guessing

The series is loosely inspired by the mythology of the Pleiades constellation (the "Seven Sisters" of the night sky). This adds a wonderful layer of mystery to the plot. As a reader, you become a total detective:

• The Missing Sister: Why were there only six girls when the constellation has seven?

• The Anagrams: Keep a close eye on the names. (The sisters' surname, D’Aplièse, is a clever anagram of …?)

• The Father: Who actually was Pa Salt? Why did he want to be buried at sea before his daughters even knew of his death? And what is the significance of that empty band on the armillary sphere?

  
  

The Heart-breaking (and Heart-warming) Finale

There is a very moving story behind the completion of this series. Lucinda Riley sadly passed away in 2021 after a brave four-year battle with cancer. Even while she was ill, she managed to write five incredible novels and knowing how much the ending of the series meant to her fans, she left behind detailed notes for the final book.

Her son, Harry Whittaker, took up the mantle to finish his mother’s legacy and in Spring 2023, the eighth book, Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt, was finally released, giving the answers some had waited years to find.

The Reading Order

If you’re ready to dive in, here is how to navigate the stars:

1. The Seven Sisters (Maia’s story)

2. The Storm Sister (Ally’s story)

3. The Shadow Sister (Star’s story)

4. The Pearl Sister (CeCe’s story)

5. The Moon Sister (Tiggy’s story)

6. The Sun Sister (Electra’s story)

7. The Missing Sister (The search for the seventh)

8. Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt (The epic conclusion)

Buy the 7 book collection - The Seven Sisters Series 7 Books Collection Set By Lucinda Riley (The Seven Sisters, The Storm Sister, The Shadow Sister, The Pearl Sister, The Moon Sister, The Sun Sister, The Missing Sister)The series

Why I Love These Books

I’ve heard people say these books are a bit of a "slog" or perhaps too romantic, but I couldn't disagree more. In a world that can often feel a bit grey and mundane, Lucinda Riley brought colour, history, and destiny into mine.

Yes, they are grand and sometimes unbelievable but isn’t that the joy of fiction? Isn't it about escaping the "everyday" and traveling through time.

With over 30 million copies sold worldwide, it’s clear that this family of sisters has found a home in the hearts of readers everywhere. Even a year after finishing the final book, I still find myself thinking about the sisters and the secrets of Atlantis.

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