Maia D'Apliese and her five sisters gather together at their childhood home, 'Atlantis' - a fabulous, secluded castle situated on the shores of Lake Geneva - having been told that their beloved father, the elusive billionaire they call Pa Salt, has died. Maia and her sisters were all adopted by him as babies and, discovering he has already been buried at sea, each of them is handed a tantalising clue to their true heritage - a clue which takes Maia across the world to a crumbling mansion in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. Once there, she begins to put together the pieces of where her story began ...Eighty years earlier, in the Belle Epoque of Rio, 1927, Izabela Bonifacio's father has aspirations for his daughter to marry into aristocracy. Meanwhile, architect Heitor da Silva Costa is working on a statue, to be called Christ the Redeemer, and will soon travel to Paris to find the right sculptor to complete his vision. Izabela - passionate and longing to see the world - convinces her father to allow her to accompany him and his family to Europe before she is married.
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I was intrigued by this book, the first in a series of seven. Based on the celestial seven sisters and some Greek mythology, there is mystery and drama, discovery and personal growth. I found this a fascinating story and loved it so much I started the second book straight after finishing the first.
A wealthy and mysterious man has a home on a remote lake in Geneva. Over many years he adopts baby girls from different countries to be part of his family and he names them each after the celestial seven sisters. However, one is missing; he never found the seventh baby. His housekeeper Marina (who the girls call Ma) becomes a defacto mother to the girls, who all love their "Pa Salt" and "Ma".
Pa Salt is a sailor who travels the globe and has amassed great wealth. The family lives in luxury, remote from the world but not isolated. As the girls grow up they leave the nest to pursue their own lives - all except the eldest Maia. It is her story that we learn of first.
At the beginning of the story Pa Salt dies of a heart attack, which leaves his daughters devastated, not sure how to continue without his larger than life presence in their lives. Clever man that he was, he had planned for this and left each daughter a letter. In each letter is a clue to their birthplace, they can choose to find their roots or live their current lives.
There is mystery surrounding Pa Salt's life. Who was he? How did he amass his fortune, how did he find each baby to adopt, why did he choose the way to say goodbye?
There is sadness and mystery in Maia's life too, a long held secret prompts her on a voyage of discovery to her birthplace - where she finds acceptance and healing. Searching for her past Maia comes to find peace in her present and hope for tomorrow.
With part of the story told in the past it is an interesting way to re-live the times of Maia's great grandmother through letters and personal recollection. Izabela was a beautiful woman who married into a poor but noble family in Brazil, Maia is the very image of her. Tracing her history is heartbreaking but joyful too. Tied in with Maia's story is the story of the creation of the statue on the mountain peak of "Christ the Redeemer". This part of the story also made for interesting reading. It is such an icon that many people know of it even if you have never travelled. Finding background details of its creation was illumininating.
At the heart of this series it is a love story - family love between siblings, love of a daughter for her parents, parental love for a child, and romantic love, being vulnerable enough to let someone share your life. This is a heart-warming story with love and mystery. Definitely a recommended read. - Kerryn (QBD)
Guest, 17/04/2018
