I wasn't able to finish this book, so I decided not to review it on my site or any of the major retailers/Goodreads.

Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The third book in the Seven Sisters series was an engaging and page turning read. As with all the books in the series we follow each one of the sisters on their journey to discover the true story behind their birth and birthplace. After her adoptive father's death, Star feels lost and is reluctant to read the letter her father left her in order to chart her past history. Yet when she finally does, she is launched on an adventure that will lead her to find her true place in the world and her own voice.
Her story is linked to that of Flora McNichol, a very independent woman who resides in the English countryside and whose story takes her to London, where she discovers some secrets about herself and her family which charts the course for a remarkable story. How is Star linked to Flora and what discoveries will she uncover as she continues to unravel the past?
An excellent read, I can't wait for the next book in the series.

I would read anything by Lucinda Riley. she truly is transportive

The third in a series of books about a family of adopted sisters investigating their origin stories after clues bequeathed to them upon the death of their mysterious adoptive father. This one is set all in England, between present day and early 1900s London and the countryside. I adore historical fiction that goes back and forth between a present and past storyline, and Lucinda Riley is one of the masters of this genre. This is my favorite of the Seven Sister series so far. Theoretically you could read this as a standalone, but it would kind of spoil the second book to do so, so I would recommend starting from the beginning. 4.5 stars.

Another spectacular story. Loved both sides of the story and trying to figure out how Star fit into the family. Written beautifully, wonderful characters and gorgeous settings

Another great book from Lucinda. I love the way she tells everyone's story individually. I cannot wait for the next one, and am really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together!

I want to first start off by saying that this is NOT a complete review because I did not finish the book. I completed approximately 60% of the book, and that felt like extensive effort. For those of you that have been with me for awhile now you know how rare it is that I DNF a book. Could I have finished reading this one? Yes, but it was taking so long to slog through the pages and I quite honestly was struggling to find interest to pick it back up again.

I like the premise of the series – each book focusing on one of the sisters that were adopted by a man of whom the reader (and the sisters) have little background knowledge of. Each on a quest of discovery of where they come from thus bringing the reader through a contemporary and historical storyline. I have had a lot of success with stories that move between both a history and contemporary timeline in the past, and it worked to some extent here, but I found the historical story line vastly more interesting than that of the contemporary. The reason for this…the main character Star. I found her SO boring. She had no personality and every time she was in a scene I felt like a wet blanket was being thrown over the plot. In that modern storyline I actually enjoyed the two male side characters the most: Mouse and Orlando, they at least had fascinating and quirky personalities. The historical was definitely the stronger storyline of the two. While Flora occasionally frustrated me, I felt it was appropriate to the storyline and she had a lot going on in her life. I felt for her and how her heart was ripped apart as she tried to make the right decisions in life. Basically I was interested in finding out what ultimately happened to Flora, but could have cared less about what happened to Star. Every time we emerged out of the historical storyline the plot came to a screeching halt and I would put down the book and not be interested in picking it back up. I think that this could have been a much stronger book if the contemporary story line was eliminated.

In case anyone suggests that maybe I would have enjoyed the story more if I had read the first 2 books in the series, I don’t think that this at all affected how I felt about the story. There is quite a lot of backstory provided and even information given on what happened to the sisters of the first two books that I was comfortable with the timeline.

This book was so wonderful to read! I have enjoyed the series so far and this one is my current favorite. Although, to be honest, I think that all the books will end up as favorites.

This book is all about Star with her sisters making appearances throughout. I love the way that the author draws the other characters close for short appearances, then brings us back to the main character so effortlessly.

The author also draws us back and forth between past and present throughout the book and I found it so easy to follow her in and out. All the characters were well drawn and the plot was easy to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

The third book in the on-going series and the strongest offering yet by a veteran timeslip author, The Shadow Sister is a return to the varied and interconnected lives of the seven daughters of the enigmatic Pa Salt. Imagined as a more modern retelling of the Pleiades, each successive novel has centered on a successive adoptive sister of a large, multicultural family. Recommended for fans of century-spanning plots from authors like Kate Morton, Star D’Aplièse's current life is intertwined with that of Flora MacNichol, a woman who lived 100 years before and whose story is pivotal to the modern plotline.

Before with The Seven Sisters first eldest sister Maya and then Ally in The Storm Sister got to have their backstories told and now it is the turn of quiet, shy Star to take the center stage. The Shadow Sister is entirely her story, though others leave their mark on both her and the plot's progression. Leaving Atlantis to follow her path and find herself, Star finds a lot more than she could have expected, including the fictional inclusion of Beatrix Potter. Her story is long and winding; Lucinda Riley's style of storytelling lends itself to detail, description, and sometimes repetition. Star is an able main character; despite her flaws she's engaging and likeable. It's easy to invest in her, even if sometimes her decisions are frustrating. Flora is a good complement and foil for Star, but I found her plotline somewhat less compelling. I was interested to see how it would conclude and connect but it was Star that pulled attention.

The various locations shown in the book are another highlight to reading The Shadow Sister -- the bookstore! London! Beatrix Potter's house! The settings for Flora before and for Star now can be both evocative and atmospheric. As I said, Riley is an author that tends to be rather descriptive -- which benefits that pivotal aspect of their stories. On the other hand, there's no denying that The Shadow Sister is a very verbose book. Almost 700 pages is a lot of story to cover and certain elements of the plot can feel overly-drawn out at times. The way the narrative alternates between the past and present is a favorite structure of mine and can be used to showcase new angles to the central story, but some of it feels unnecessary and repetitive here.

Despite the occasional spot of uneven pacing, narrative repetition, or an overly-anticipated plot reveal, The Shadow Sister is a engaging blend of two women's stories of life and love. The "silent sister" of the seven, in this Star finally finds her voice, and Lucinda Riley ends her third novel in a good position to launch the fourth.

Sometimes we need to look in the past in order to move forward. The Shadow Sister was a captivating story about a young woman on a journey of self discovery.

I honestly had no idea what to expect with this book. Being my first by this author and the third in a series, I was a little worried I might get lost. Much to my surprise The Shadow Sister read very well as a standalone. All I want now are the first two books!

Written in present and past the Riley did a fantastic job of blending the lives of Star D'Aplièse and Flora MacNichol without taking away from the main story. Star is the main character but Flora holds such an important role she acts as a main character herself. It truly was two stories beautifully blended into one glorious tale. Star is definitely living in the shadows of her sisters and importantly her closest sister CeCe. But it's the death of her father that truly sets the wheels in motion. Having left her and her adopted sisters clues to where they are from.

CeCe has convinced Star to move to London with her. Their bond to each other is strong and while Star may feel as though she's lost her way, CeCe is right there to bring her along "her" journey. It doesn't take long for Star to begin feeling restless and in turn the clues left to her create an escape. Opening one door leads Star to an old bookstore and from there the real story begins.

I loved how real my struggle became, not knowing which story I wanted more Flora or Star's! I found myself yearning for one when the other would pick back up. The parallels between Flora and Star were also worth noting. Both of these women lead similar lives many decades apart. I only wish I could adequately describe how engaging and riveting this story is. I didn't want it to end, yet I couldn't wait for the end. For it's the coming to terms with who she really is that brings Star's story full circle.

I will be honest and admit that I didn't totally love the connection between Star and Mouse. I totally get it, I just didn't feel it. This is really my only critique. I cannot wait for the next book! First I need to go back and read books one and two!

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

To be fair in reviewing this novel, I must admit that I've had very little reading time the past couple of weeks. I enjoyed it, however, if I'd been able to read it more continuously I think I'd have enjoyed it more. The beginning & ending dragged a bit for me; however, I loved, loved, loved Flora and couldn't wait to get back to her story. Past story was 5 stars... present story 3. Still a great series that I highly recommend. 4 stars.

Tell me a novel is historical fiction and I’ll be all over it. Add real life historical figures and I’ll swoon. Toss in a quest to discover a character’s long lost past and…oh my. Enter The Shadow Sister. Star, one of six adopted daughters, has no idea about her true origins – nor, for that matter, where her billionaire adoptive (and oh so beloved) father came from. However, they had a wonderfully happy childhood and, when Pa Salt passed away, he left each of his daughters a clue as to her heritage. For Star, that means travelling to London, to an antiquarian bookshop where she uncovers a story that played out a century earlier. A story of Flora MacNichol, Beatriz Potter, and a king’s mistress.

While The Shadow Sister wasn’t my introduction to Lucinda Riley, it was my first of her Seven Sisters series – and let me be the first to tell you if you aren’t already familiar with Riley’s novels: her books are NOT quick, breezy afternoon reads. Not only do they tend to hover close to 500 pages, but the depth of Riley’s writing practically demands the reader’s full attention. Don’t let the size fool you though, these novels are truly lovely and so, so rewarding.

Star is the quiet one in her band of sisters and for a good portion of the book I was extremely frustrated and enraged for her. Her sister CeeCee virtually runs Star’s life and has since they were children. Despite being nearly 30, CeeCee still insists on buying an apartment with Star, sharing a bedroom with Star, going everywhere and doing everything with Star. What really did it for me though, was what happened when the two had been looking at universities. Star had her heart set on a particular school and was even accepted. However, CeeCee had never been as bright as her sister and wanted to apply at a school that was still great, but far easier to get into. And had Star apply too. Naturally Star was accepted and when CeeCee received her own acceptance letter, that’s where the pair ended up studying. Only – and this is the part that had me seeing red – CeeCee dropped out, leaving Star to study at a school she never wanted to attend in the first place. The sheer audacity of CeeCee’s character wowed me (and not in a good way). I was beyond thrilled for Star when she finally realized she needed to break away and take time for herself.

I love novels that bounce between the present day and the past and Riley pulls it off flawlessly, jumping between Flora’s story and Star’s. What had me most intrigued about, not just this book, but the series as a whole, is that each sister has been adopted from a different part of the world and it’s Pa Salt’s clues that lead each woman to discover where she came from. For Star, that clue leads to London, but I’ll admit now I’m eager to read the previous two novels: Maia’s clue leads her to Brazil and Ally’s clue has her packing for Norway! I say this begrudgingly, but even the next book (CeeCee’s story ugh) sounds intriguing as she heads to Australia!

While these novels are definitely a commitment, they are truly worth it and Lucinda Riley is a master at weaving together intricate, seemingly unrelated characters across centuries. The Shadow Sister was my first of this series and easily read as a standalone with Star’s sisters making brief appearances. That said, I’m very interested in going back now and reading the first two books! Several readers have been discussing the possibility of a seventh daughter – after all, the series title does mention seven sisters and the girls’ names come from the Pleiades star cluster, so how could there only be six of them? That alone has me eager for more!

This is a lovely series but the latest installment- Shadow Sister- can easily and happily be read as a standalone. Star's quest to know and love herself leads us to Flora, whose story is intricately and beautifully told. This is the sort of novel you can settle into and read with delight. The characters- all of the sisters- are so well drawn and the tales of the families are neatly plotted. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Recommend this for fans of family sagas.

The Shadow Sister is book three The Seven Sisters series. I had wanted to read this series from the beginning and I was a bit unsure how it would go starting with book three. But, despite some mentionings from the previous book did I find this book to work as a stand-alone. Although now I really want to read the previous two books!

I found the title of this book to be very fitting, both the main characters in the present time Star D'Aplièse and Flora MacNichol that lived in the beginning of the 20th-century are both shadow sisters. They both have to find their own way in life. Star by daring to finally break free from living her life in symbiosis with her sister CeCe and Flora who has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sisters will one day have to choose between her own happiness or her sisters.

I got very engaged in both Star's and Flora's lives. Sure there were times I wanted to scream at them to not be stupid and think of themselves, but they are both very undemanding and their love for their sisters makes them make decisions that go against what they really want. I did have moments when I just wanted them both to be a bit more selfish, and tell them to reach for the stars!

The Shadow Sister is a thick book, but absolutely not a dull book. A lot of things are going on, I do admit that I did want the story to get going at a faster pace sometimes, but at the same time, I enjoyed reading about the people in the book. From the bookish Orlando to little Rory, and Mouse who had lost so much in life. And, of course, Star and Flora, both storylines were interesting to follow.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book which seems to be starring CeCe!

4.5 stars

Atmospheric, absorbing and incredibly descriptive!

In this third instalment of The Seven Sisters we delve into the life of Star, a young woman who is yearning for a little independence from her sister CeCe and who discovers on her journey to find her parentage that she loves the simple things in life, taking care of others, dusty bookshops and small-town country living.

The story, itself, is exceptionally compelling and is filled with drama, familial dynamics, emotion, self discovery, secrets, love, loss, duty, courage, heartbreak and passion; as well as an intriguing look at the influential, glamorous, and regal figures of the Edwardian period. The characters are unique, flawed, multifaceted, lovable, and eccentric. And the prose is remarkably well-turned and eloquent.

This truly is a beautifully written novel that grabs you from the very start and does a wonderful job of blending historical facts with compelling and believable fiction. It is certainly a book for book lovers and even though I have loved all The Seven Sisters books so far, I think this one might just be my favourite. If you haven’t read this series yet, you really should!

Thank you to NetGalley, especially Atria Books, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This third installment of the series is probably my favorite so far. I like that each of these books is set in a new place, and I'm definitely partial to England. I loved the lush atmosphere and the colorful characters. I was afraid that these books would start to seem repetitive since each sister was adopted under secretive circumstances, but so far they still seem pretty fresh. I've been really enjoying reading the novels of Lucinda Riley, both this series and her stand-alones, and I'd definitely recommend them to readers who appreciate complicated relationships with the occasional historical background.

I wasn't a fan of this book for about the first quarter of the story. But once things got moving with Flora and the historical fiction aspect, I began to really enjoy the tale. I have really enjoyed the entire series so far, but I don't feel like I have a favorite story just yet. I'm still waiting for that "OMG" moment. Will it happen with another sister's story? What's up with all the girls having visions of Pa Salt? Who is Pa Salt? The author has barely cracked the surface of the series and there's so much to be discovered. I hope I'm not let down in my expectations of the future of the series!

I knew by page 20 that this was going to be my favorite so far of the Seven Sisters series. I wasn't wrong. There was something about this particular book that drew me in more than the first two. Perhaps because it was set in England and that's my particular favorite or maybe I saw something in myself in Star that made her my favorite sister (so far). Whatever "it" was, it worked. I was completely engrossed in this novel from the very beginning and never once did I want to put it down. I was only half-way through when I got online and bought it!

So this 3rd entry, we meet Star. Star, in the past, we haven't heard much from considering that her sister CeeCee is always speaking for her. So I, personally, was very interested in what she would end up being like. Yes, she was a very quiet person. She's okay with being surrounded by books, or just being in the kitchen/garden. She doesn't feel the need to fill the silence. She, however, does feel the need to break away from CeeCee and forge her own path. Which is how she finds herself outside a London bookstore and meets the eccentric, Orlando. Through him and his family, Star will find much more than her history...she will also find her future.

It goes without saying that I loved everything about this novel: the characters--ALL of them!!, the setting, the story, the feeling it gave me--happiness doesn't even cut it. I can honestly say that this is my favorite novel I've read, so far, this year.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.