The Book of Lost Fragrances is a captivating historical fiction. It offers a tale of suspense with paranormal elements, religious oppression and a romance that spans the ages. Rose masterfully blends fact and fiction as she takes us from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the catacombs of Paris. I was fascinated by the history and drawn to the characters.
Cinder is Marissa Meyer’s debut novel, and in this readers opinion she knocked the ball out of the park for a Grand Slam home run. Cinder offers a futuristic, steampunk re-telling of the fairytale Cinderella. The world-building is magical with amazing characters and a plot that has endless possibilities. Meyer’s writing style is lovely and the tale was beautifully written. While some of the tale is very predictable Meyer’s creates a storyline and world that are both unique and fascinating.
In Redwood Bend, we get to know Katie Malone and her twins better. In the last novel, Hidden Summit we met and fell in love with her brother Conner. After the danger has passed, she decides to bring her boys to Virgin River to be closer to their uncle Conner. Katie is an Army widow, and a recent encounter with her boss, has made her step back and reevaluate her non-existent love life. I loved this novel and feel in love with the characters and a new place called Payne, Montana.
The Stubborn Dead drops us right into the action as protagonist Rachel Miller attempts to release a spirit from the Earth realm. The entity appears to be a woman and she violently resists Rachel’s plea for her to crossover. Rachel draws upon symbols on her arms calling forth spirits that help her trap the entity. Despite its violence, she asks the spirits to be gentle. Rachel is thrust against a wall, as the spirits wrap themselves around the female entity. One of them lingers back and Rachel yells, I’m OK, she needs you more then I do.” “GO”. This novella while only twenty thousand words grabbed me from page one and never let go.
Anne Rice is a best-selling American author of gothic, supernatural, historical, erotica, and religious themed books. She is perhaps best known for her Vampire Chronicles. The Wolf Gift delves into the creation of werewolves and presents both philosophical and religious views and questions. The tale, which moved at a slow pace, was beautifully written, but lacked the luster I was looking for. Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed it; I just felt that overall it fell flat of my personal expectations.
