Author: M.J. Rose
Format: ARC
Publisher: Atria
Publish Date: May 7, 2013
Source: HF Virtual Book Tours
Why You're Reading This Book:
- You're a historical fiction fan.
- You like a little bit of the paranormal.
From Goodreads.com: "From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost letters of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.
In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo’s beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, Hugo began participating in hundreds of séances to reestablish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with the likes of Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo’s transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. Or so it was believed.
Recovering from her own losses, mythologist Jac L’Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey—where Hugo conducted the séances—hoping to uncover a secret about the island’s Celtic roots. But the man who’s invited her there, a troubled soul named Theo Gaspard, has hopes she’ll help him discover something quite different—Hugo’s lost conversations with someone called the Shadow of the Sepulcher."
My Two Cents:
"Seduction" is the third M.J. Rose book that I've read (the first was The Hypnotist and the second was The Lost Book of Fragrances). "Seduction" is the fifth book in The Reincarnationist series. One thing that has been consistently present for me throughout Rose's books is the fact that she certainly knows how to spin a really good yarn that will keep you fully engaged and entertained throughout the entire book! Although "Seduction" is the fifth book is the series, you will have absolutely no problem diving right into this book even if you have not read any of the other books in the series (personally I still need to go back and read the first couple books in the series).
I really liked that "Seduction" continues the story of Rose's heroine, Jac L'Etoile, who continues to be such a fascinating character to me. Rose gives you so much detail and insight into L'Etoile's psyche that she really begins to feel real to the reader. I think that it is easy to go overboard with a character description so it feels more like telling rather than showing but I feel like L'Etoile's character is revealed in a very natural, non-forced way.
I also liked that this story was about the famous writer, Victor Hugo. I have read The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables and really enjoyed both but I did not know much at all about Hugo's life or what it was like. Rose builds a really interesting story about him after his beloved daughter dies. I liked that Hugo's part of the story is told from the first person point of view as it really helps to pull the reader into the story. I sort of wish that Jac's story was told from first person point of view as well.
Overall, this is a great book that will appeal to those looking for a character driven historical fiction book with a punch of suspense!
Follow the Rest of the Tour:
Monday, March 25
Review at Luxury Reading
Tuesday, March 26
Review at Peppermint, Ph.D.
Wednesday, March 27
Review at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Thursday, March 28
Interview at A Bookish Libraria
Friday, March 29
Review & Guest Post at vvb32Reads
Guest Post at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Monday, April 1
Review at A Bookish Affair
Review & Guest Post at The Novel Life
Review & Guest Post at The Lit Bitch
Tuesday, April 2
Guest Post at A Bookish Affair
Wednesday, April 3
Review at Griperang’s Bookmarks
Thursday, April 4
Review at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Friday, April 5
Guest Post at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Monday, April 8
Review at Girls Just Reading
Interview at The Novel Life
Tuesday, April 9
Review & Guest Post at Kinx’s Book Nook
Wednesday, April 10
Review at Booklover Book Reviews
Thursday, April 11
Review at Psychotic Book Reviews
Guest Post at Literary Marie
Friday, April 12
Review at West Metro Mommy
Monday, April 15
Review at Layered Pages
Tuesday, April 16
Review at CelticLady’s Reviews
Wednesday, April 17
Review at Reflections of a Book Addict
Thursday, April 18
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Guest Post at Reflections of a Book Addict
Friday, April 19
Guest Post at Flashlight Commentary
Monday, April 22
Review at Impressions in Ink
Interview at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Tuesday, April 23
Review at Review From Here
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, April 24
Guest Post at The Maiden’s Court
Thursday, April 25
Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Friday, April 26
Review at Girl Lost in a Book
Monday, April 29
Review at A Chick Who Reads
Review at As I Turn the Pages
Tuesday, April 30
Interview at A Chick Who Reads
Wednesday, May 1
Review at Peeking Between the Pages
Thursday, May 2
Review at Unabridged Chick
Guest Post at Peeking Between the Pages
Friday, May 3
Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Monday, May 6
Review at Amused by Books
Tuesday, May 7
Review at Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews
Wednesday, May 8
Review at Buried Under Books
Review at Diary of an Eccentric
Thursday, May 9
Review at Oh, for the Hook of a Book!
Interview at Buried Under Books
Friday, May 10
Review at Savvy Verse & Wit
Monday, May 13
Review at Historical Tapestry & The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Tuesday, May 14
Review at Words and Peace
Review at Kimba the Caffeinated Reviewer
Guest Post at Historical Tapestry
Wednesday, May 15
Review at Stiletto Storytime
Thursday, May 16
Review at From Left to Write
Guest Post at Stiletto Storytime
Friday, May 17
Review at A Novel Review
Monday, May 20
Review at Broken Teepee
Tuesday, May 21
Review at Confessions of a Book Hoarder
Guest Post at Broken Teepee
Wednesday, May 22
Review at Bags, Books and Bon Jovi
Guest Post at Confessions of a Book Hoarder
Thursday, May 23
Review at Man of La Book
Guest Post at Bags, Books and Bon Jovi
Friday, May 24
Review at The Calico Critic
Monday, May 27
Review at Paperback Princess
Tuesday, May 28
Review at To Read or Not to Read
Guest Post at Blood Mother Blog
Wednesday, May 29
Review at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Guest Post at To Read or Not to Read
Thursday, May 30
Review at Book Nerds
Guest Post at Cheryl’s Book Nook
Monday, June 3
Review at A Book Geek
Tuesday, June 4
Review at Tribute Books Mama
Guest Post at My Shelf Confessions
Wednesday, June 5
Review at Bippity Boppity Book
Thursday, June 6
Guest Post at Book Nerds
Friday, June 7
Review at Book Drunkard
Monday, June 10
Review at Jenny Loves to Read
Tuesday, June 11
Review & Interview at Pure Textuality
Wednesday, June 12
Review at From the TBR Pile
Thursday, June 13
Review & Guest Post at Books by the Willow Tree
Friday, June 14
Review at Bibliophilia, Please
Monday, June 17
Review at Mari Reads
Tuesday, June 18
Guest Post at Mari Reads
Wednesday, June 19
Review at Daisy’s Book Journal
Thursday, June 20
Guest Post at Daisy’s Book Journal
Friday, June 21
Review at Judith Starkston Blog
Review at Just One More Chapter
Monday, June 24
Review at The True Book Addict
Tuesday, June 25
Guest Post at The True Book Addict
Wednesday, June 26
Interview at Judith Starkston Blog
Thursday, June 27
Review at The Little Reader Library
Friday, June 28
Review & Giveaway at A Writer’s Life: Working with the Muse
I just skimmed your review, since I have a tour date scheduled in May. I have read Book of Lost Fragrances and am delighted to see you liked this one.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked this one. Will read the reviews once I've finished my ARC copy.
ReplyDeleteI'll be reading this for the tour in May, so I'm glad to see you rate this one so highly. I haven't read any Victor Hugo, but I might be prompted to do so after reading this book!
ReplyDeleteI'm not big on paranormal, but for some reason this sounds good - nice review.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, I'm thinking of adding this to my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteThis is really a pretty cover. The book sounds good but I was worried about not having read the previous books in the series. Thanks for mentioning that that will not be a problem.
ReplyDelete