This is the fifth book in The Seven Sisters series by Northern Irish author Lucinda Riley, featuring the adopted daughters of Pa Salt, each named after one of the stars in the Pleiades. This is Tiggy’s story (Taygete) and shifts between her life on the Kinnaird estate in the Scottish highlands and the story of her Gitano (gypsy) ancestors in Spain.

Tiggy is an animal conservationist and delighted to be working in Scotland rehoming wild cats. Everything changes when she meets Chilli, an ancient gypsy living on the estate who believes he is to send her home to Sacromonte, Granada, to meet her family. Given the awkward situation she finds herself in feeling a strong attraction for her boss, the Laird of Kinnaird, Charlie, and pursued by persistent millionaire Zed, she decides to do just this.

In Granada, she discovers the story of the Gitanos living in caves built into the slopes of Cerro de San Miguel on the edge of the Camino del Sacromonte. In particular she learns about Lucia Amaya-Albaycin, her grandmother, a famous flamenco dancer. The book shifts back to 1912 to Lucia’s story, which moves from Sacromonte to Barcelona, and through the Spanish Civil War she flees to Portugal, then Argentina and the USA where she pursues her dream of becoming a famous dancer.

I found both stories interesting and the settings atmospheric, but both also had their irritations. Lucia is a selfish, stubborn and childish character who I wanted to shake at times. Tiggy is constantly referred to as the intuitive one, but with very little evidence to support this in my mind. In Spain she spends a whole 10 days learning to be a Bruja, which apparently transforms her life and gives her both the second sight and healing hands, enough to get her employed by a vet with no qualifications . There are glaring medical errors. Zed is a major part of the story and then this storyline simply evaporates, possibly to recur in the subsequent book. The Spanish Civil War is almost mentioned in passing with very little context. Despite the flaws, the settings and secondary characters such as Annalina, Chilli and Meneque were engaging enough to make it a pleasant read. I’m not entirely sure whether I am committed enough to read any more of the series but I can see that the premise is attractive enough to get readers hooked in for the ride. 3.5 stars ( )

Another great read. Set against the Scottish highlands and Spanish Granada prior to, during and after the civil war. Riley keeps the threads clear and interconnected. I have loved this seriees. ( )

Quinto libro e quinta sorella, Tiggy, la cui ricerca delle origini si dipana tra la Scozia e la Spagna in un crescendo continuo di vicende ed emozioni.
Un altro libro bellissimo, avvincente e appassionante, imperdibile non meno dei precedenti della serie. ( )

This is the fifth book in The Seven Sisters series to which I am listening on my morning walks.
Six girls were adopted by Pa Salt, an ultra-wealthy man. After he dies, each daughter is given a letter and a clue to her true heritage. Each daughter’s journey is the subject of a novel. The Moon Sister is the story of the fifth daughter, Tiggy.

Tiggy gets a job as a wildlife consultant in the Scottish Highlands. There she meets Chilly, a Spanish gypsy who tells her he was expecting her; he tells her that her roots lie within the Roma community of Sacromonte near Granada, Spain. Of course, she travels there and learns more about her family, especially Lucía Amaya-Albaycin, a great flamenco dancer. As expected, Tiggy, who has always been described as intuitive, is identified as a bruja, a healer who can connect with the supernatural world. Angelina, a relative, teaches her all about herbs and how to use her intuition.

The structure is that of previous books in the series. There are two narratives, the present involving Tiggy and the past describing the life of an ancestor who is exceptional in some way. Again, there is more focus on distant relatives, a grandmother and great-grandmother, rather than on Tiggy’s mother whose story is almost an afterthought.

Tiggy is a likeable character, though her meekness and unwillingness to speak up and thereby avoid misunderstandings become annoying. Why not tell Charlie the real reason for her leaving his employ? Why not be more direct with Zed? She repeatedly mentions her veganism but eats food made with dairy products? Her grandmother Lucía, however, is not sympathetic in the least. She is totally self-absorbed, uninterested in anything except her dancing career. By choice, she remains illiterate. She is never satisfied and always wants more. And she abandons her own child, even after her own childhood?! I’ve enjoyed the historical information provided in the other books, but this one has much less, although there is a definite attempt to portray Roma culture in a positive light.

The love-at-first-sight trope is used again and is unconvincing. The relationship between Charlie and Tiggy just doesn’t ring true. Coincidence is certainly overused in this novel so that it is difficult to suspend disbelief. Chilly waited in Scotland for Tiggy’s arrival so he could send her to Spain – even though Pa Salt left her a letter telling her where to go and even the colour of a door? Zed shows up on the remote Scottish estate where Tiggy works?

This book has more hints about Pa Salt. Tiggy visits her childhood home, known as Atlantis, and discovers a previously unknown basement in the house. Of course the mystery of that man will not be solved until the eighth book. In the meantime, I’ll continue to book six. Though I’m becoming disenchanted with the repetitive structure and weaknesses in the books, they are perfect companions for my easily distracted mind while I’m on my morning walks. I recommend the series only to those who want pure escapism and are willing to overlook the flaws.

Note: Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski). ( )

il filone delle sette sorelle ci porta sempre a scoprire mondi nuovi e personaggi nuovi realmente esistiti. Per questo libro la Ryley ha inventato Lucia la Candela, romanzando la vita di una ballerina di flamenco realmente esistita, ma le atmosfere e il fascino di questo mondo e di quest'epoca sono resi benissimo, come sempre ( )