Seduction

Reincarnationist #5

by M.J. Rose

From the author of The Book of Lost Fragrances comes a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost journal 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.

What follows is an intricately plotted and atmospheric tale of suspense with a spellbinding ghost story at its heart.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Paranormal, Fantasy, Suspense

373 pages, Hardcover

First published May 7, 2013

About the author

New York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Her most recent novel, The Last Tiara, will be published Feb 2, 2021

Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com

The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization's co-president..

Reviews

[Dem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduction by M J Rose is certainly a novel of suspense. The story is set in the past and the present and is a story of reincarnation and mythology. This is out of my normal comfort zone and after seeing the beautiful cover of this book I was intrigued. I am happy to say I continued to be intrigued as I turned the pages of this Novel. I believe this is a sequel to The book of Lost Fragrances which I have not read but I didnt feel at a disadvantage having not read it and was able to establish a connection to this story quite quickly.

In 1843, novelist Victor Hugo's beloved nineteen-year-old daughter drowned. Ten years later, still grieving, Hugo initiated hundreds of séances from his home on the Isle of Jersey in order to re-establish contact with her. In the process, he claimed to have communed with Plato, Galileo, Shakespeare, Dante, Jesus—and even the Devil himself. Hugo's transcriptions of these conversations have all been published. The story is set around these facts but with other story lines fictional characters and present day events the book makes a terrific suspense novel.

Seduction is a beautifully haunting and atmospheric tale of love, loss pain and secrets. There is at the heart of this book a gothic tale/ghost story and at times it kind of gave me the “Heebie-jeebies” but in a good way.

This is a highly descriptive and a very well written novel and I certainly was pulled back in 19th Century as I got a great sense of time and place from this novel.

I especially enjoyed the Victor Hugo connection in this story and found myself goggling The Isle of Jersey and Victor Hugo to find out what is real and what is fiction, but having finished the novel MJ Rose includes a chapter detailing what is fact and what is fiction which I really appreciated.

This was an ARC from Atria Books and Net Galley and I really enjoyed this suspenseful tale.

[Morgan]

Love this author's writing but this one was just not for me...and it's #5 in a series of which I have not read the first 4.

[Erin (Historical Fiction Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find the enhanced version of this and other reviews at: http://flashlightcommentary.blogspot....

Is it possible to be intoxicated by the written word? I don't know that I'd given the idea much thought before reading M.J. Rose's Seduction, but afterward I'm inclined to say it is.

Few authors have as distinct a writing style as Rose, at least in my experience. Her narrative is heavy, though like a heady perfume, it reveals a beautiful array of notes the longer it is allowed to breathe. From the first page I was quite literally swept up in the artistry of her words, charmed by her elegant prose.

Naturally there is more to a story than how it is written. What you write is of equal importance and here again I was rather impressed. Rose seamlessly blends history, psychology, mystery, theology, romance and suspense into one astoundingly unique volume. Perhaps this is indicative of all her novels, but this being my first experience with her work, I found the combination surprising as well as enjoyable.

If only I'd been able to connect with the characters. I'm not sure why but I never felt as if I knew them. I could understand them, but something I can't put my finger on kept me from really getting inside their heads. This disconnect may, in part, be attributed to my not having read earlier installments of the series, but I am still someone disappointed I was unable to appreciate the cast as much as I did the telling of their story.

This small criticism aside, I loved this piece, how it made me think and feel, and hope to come across more of Rose's work in the future.

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Info: Genre: Paranormal
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: People who like a reading experience that is sensual, with beautiful language, paranormal, romantic fiction, those interested in past lives and reincarnation
Book Available: May 7, 2013 in hardcover, Kindle and Audiobook formats; find out how to receive swag if you preorder a hardcover by following this link (where formatting allowed)
Trigger Warnings: attempted murder, human sacrifice

My Thoughts: From the first line, “Every story begins with a tremble of anticipation,” I knew I was going to love this book just as much as I've loved this whole series. I picked up the first three books in the series three years ago after reading and loving the Butterfield Institute books (which are not related to this series, but which I also loved), and really enjoyed them, so I was so excited last year to be able to read an ARC of The Book of Lost Fragrances from NetGalley, and even more excited earlier this year to learn M.J. Rose was forming a “street team” of fans to spread the word about her remarkable stories.

“Now wait a minute, Katy,” some of you are saying. “These sound a lot like paranormal romance to me, which I know for a fact you hate!” Well, yes and no. There are definitely elements of romance in these books, but it is subsumed to the story itself. There's an underlying and long story arc through these books about various people searching for meaning in their lives by seeking out information about their past lives. There are elements of erotica, however understated, in the Butterfield Institute books, but the Reincarnationist series … it's very difficult to place them into a specific genre. But the stories all deal with finding information about past lives, and how current lives intertwine with past lives, and how unfinished business from past lives can affect one's current lives, so there is a lot of metaphysics and a lot of the supernatural. It's really quite fascinating.

While the first three books in the series are only loosely connected, although containing the overstory, Seduction is a direct sequel to, and continues part of the story from, The Book of Lost Fragrances . While you could read these two books without having read the first part of the series, I strongly recommend that you read the entire Reincarnationist series from the start or you might end up with a misapprehension concerning Malachi. (Personally I would love to see you also read the Butterfield Institute books: Lip Service , The Halo Effect , The Delilah Complex and The Venus Fix , just because they're awesome, but it's not necessary.)

The language in M.J. Rose's book is lovely, lyrical, sensual. It's like rubbing a soft piece of velvet against your skin, or petting the soft nose of a young foal. It's something to revel in and enjoy. This particular book delves into mythology, the Celts, Victor Hugo, reincarnation, past-life regression and many other fascinating ideas and thoughts. Character development for Jac and Malachi is mostly done in previous books, but the new characters we meet are as well-developed as I would expect from M.J. Rose. The only issue I had was with the language used by Victor Hugo and his associates; I do not think they would use “got” and “get” the way we do in modern days. I think their language would be more precise and grammatically correct. But that was a very minor issue.

This book—this whole series—will appeal to people who are interested in reincarnation and past lives, who enjoy a well-told story with beautiful language, who enjoy a reading experience that is sensual and lovely. Genre-wise, I think fans of literary fiction, paranormal suspense, and romantic fiction will all enjoy these stories. Definitely check them out. I know I've loved the lot of them.

Series Information: Seduction is the fifth book in the Reincarnationist series.
Book 1: The Reincarnationist ; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 2: The Memorist ; I read in 2010, or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 3: The Hypnotist ; I listened to audiobook in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 4: The Book of Lost Fragrances ; read and reviewed March 2012. Review linked here where formatting allowed.
If you like this author's style, you can also check out The Butterfield Institute series.
Prequel: Lip Service ; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 1: The Halo Effect ; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 2: The Delilah Complex ; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars
Book 3: The Venus Fix ; I read in 2010 or 2011, but didn't review. 5 stars

Disclosure: I am part of M.J. Rose's “Street Team,” which I joined because I am a fan after buying and reading all the Butterfield Institute series books and three of the Reincarnationists series books. I received this e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: 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.

What follows is an intricately plotted and atmospheric tale of suspense with a spellbinding ghost story at its heart, by one of America’s most gifted and imaginative novelists.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giveaway on my blog!

Jac L’Etoile has returned to the States from France, leaving behind the love of her life, Griffin North, and facing an uncertain future in terms of lost motivation and a lack of direction. In Connecticut, her old therapist and mentor, Malachai, shows her the secret and ancient rock formations on his family's estate that appear to be Celtic; the revelation helps jolt Jac out of her fugue, but more so does the letter she discovers Malachai has been hiding from her, a letter from her friend Theo Gaspard whom she knew at the Blixer Rath clinic in Switzerland. Jac was at Blixer when she was fourteen, sent by her grandmother to see if Malachai and the other therapists could hep her with her hallucinations. Theo was two years older, and while they never fit in with the other teenagers at the clinic, they became close friends. But Malachai sees Theo as a danger to Jac, and warns her against him.

Theo lives on the Isle of Jersey in the English Channel, an island full of caves and ancient Celtic sites. In his letter, he asks Jac to join him in searching for evidence of the Druids, and Jac is all too eager to oblige. There are mysteries within mysteries in Jac's life: she and Theo have an unusual connection which neither of them really understand, and Theo has an ulterior motive in calling Jac - whom he hasn't seen since he abruptly left Blixer Rath well over a decade ago - to Jersey.

At Wells in Wood, the very old, rambling stone building the Gaspards have lived in for generations, Theo discovered a letter from the celebrated French author, poet and statesman Victor Hugo to his ancestor, Fantine Gaspard, in which Hugo mentions a journal hidden in a cave only the two of them know of, that will tell a story no one has heard before. A story about the Shadow of the Sepulcher... also known as Lucifer.

Since the loss of his wife, Theo has perhaps an unhealthy obsession with finding Hugo's journal and learning more, and amongst all these Celtic ruins and ancient ritual sites, Jac is easily drawn into the mystery. The layers of mystery only deepen, and the truth becomes more complicated, as the past threatens to overtake the present and obliterate the lives of Fantine's descendants.

I wasn't at all aware, when I agreed to review this, that Seduction was part of a series. Having read it, I can tell you that it doesn't make all that much difference. The previous book, The Book of Lost Fragrances, is also about Jac and this book does mention some details from her summer in Paris, the setting of the other book, but it made no real difference that I hadn't read it or any of the other books in the series, all of which feature different characters (as far as I can make out).

Reincarnation is a theme, and an integral part of the plot, but there are so many layers to this novel that it's hard to say what is the main theme. Victor Hugo plays a role, and a convincing one at that, as he recounts, in 1855, certain episodes from his time living in exile in Jersey, where he held over a hundred séances - at first to ease his grief after his eldest, Didine, drowns, but it becomes a kind of unhealthy obsession that worries at him, especially after they make contact with Lucifer - the Shadow of the Sepulcher - who offers him a deal: restore his reputation in poetry and he will bring Didine back to Victor. But as Hugo learns, the Shadow's methods are abhorrent: he lures young girls away from their beds at night and brings them to the brink of death, at which point Hugo finds them and the Shadow tries to get him to let the girls die so Didine's soul can take their place.

In the present, Jac's story of her time at Blixer Rath, her unusual friendship with Theo and what it means that she hallucinates things from Theo's life - and his previous lives, not that she believes in reincarnation - weaves in and out of the narrative, gradually adding blocks of knowledge to the foundation of mystery that this novel rests on. There is another side to the story too: a Celtic family in 56 BCE facing a horrific situation, the three players in the drama playing out their tragic roles down through the ages until, finally, it reaches the Gaspards and Jac, with her unique ability to see Theo's past life, learns the truth behind the strife between Theo and his younger brother, Ash, and Theo's wife, Naomi.

There are so many layers to this gothic-horror, mystery-suspense novel, it's a wonder that it works at all. If I untangle them slightly, there are two plot-lines: Victor Hugo's encounters with the Devil and the bargain he offers, and the search for the lost journal; and Jac's ongoing problems with hallucinations, her resistance to Malachai's belief in reincarnation, her visions from 56 BCE and Theo's past life. Somehow Rose weaves these together to make one solid story, but I'm not entirely convinced they fit together all that well.

I was engaged by Victor Hugo's story, which was full of spooky atmosphere and chilling details, and brings that wonderful sense of Victorian Gothic Horror to the story - which is nicely linked to the present through the rather oppressive and monstrous Gaspard mansion which is perched on the edge of the cliff, and even the Victorian house hidden away in the woods that Ash lives in. Jersey itself is a vivid setting, full of dark woods you can get lost in, precipitous cliffs, mist and even wolves. All the more apt for the spookiness of Jac's visions and the slightly menacing atmosphere between Theo and Ash, the Gaspard brothers. There's also their great-aunts, Minerva and Eva, who have their own secrets. This is certainly a book about airing the past and healing old wounds.

As interesting as the story was - and the multiple layers or dimensions to it did appeal to me - I struggled a bit, reading this. Rose's prose is perfectly competent but her style, her "voice", isn't one that really worked for me. It's hard to say why, it's just one of those things. We all have our own unique brain patterns, the rhythms of our mind and our own voice, even if we're not writers, and sometimes we find authors whose own voice, or style - their "way with words", how they construct sentences - aligns well with our own, or balances it or engages or stimulates or what have you. And other times an author's voice jars, or annoys, or bores us. Rose's voice just didn't quite engage mine, so that I too-often found my mind wandering. It's not an easy thing to explain, especially when I can't say that there's any particular reason why I didn't "click" better with this novel. It has so many elements that should have completely engaged me, but that didn't. Perhaps part of the problem was that there was so much going on here, and for a while I simply didn't know what story I was reading or where it was headed. It's not going to be that way for everyone, obviously, so I don't want it to detract from anyone's interest in reading this. But, this being my personal review, it's important to note it.

Seduction has many strengths, not least of which is the depth of Rose's research - into Victor Hugo, the Celts, the art of creating perfume and any number of other things. It's rather exhausting to think of it. Rose has created a deeply atmospheric, multi-layered novel of mystery, suspense and gothic horror, weaving the lives of centuries into one complex tale. There is a scene at the end that I found to be horrific and tragic and that still makes me want to cry just thinking about it, but that just made the revelations all that much stronger, and caring about a novel's characters makes the reading experience linger for a long time. I may have struggled to connect with the characters and the story in some ways, but it isn't a story I'll forget in a hurry; as for the characters, so will it echo and resonate over the years with me.

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via France Book Tours.

[Debi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through Good Reads and when it arrived I questioned my reasons for wanting it. Yes, it was presented as historical fiction about Victor Hugo but what I failed to see was it is part of a series that deals with reincarnations and the devil. But I made a commitment to read the book and review it and I’m glad I did.
There is an awful lot happening here. Victor Hugo plays a small part of the story, almost like a supporting actor. The death of his daughter, use of drugs and popularity of séances during his lifetime becomes the foundation of this novel. It is sandwiched by tales of ancient times and current people.
Seduction is filled with information on many topics- ancient cultures, perfumery, science and psychology, just to name a few. The main characters are likable with realistic flawed aspects of their personalities. The story is a fun, fast paced read that is both interesting and enjoyable.
I think if one is a fan of M .J. Rose’s work, they will love this book. Thank you to Good Reads and M.J. Rose for such a delightful experience.

[Suzanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was offered an advance review copy of this novel, which enticed me with the publisher’s description:

“…a haunting novel about a grieving woman who discovers the lost letters of novelist Victor Hugo, awakening a mystery that spans centuries.”

When I received the book, I discovered that it is one of a series, in which the author explores seánces, reincarnation and the supernatural world. Frankly, this isn’t really my cup of tea, but I did resolve to give it a try. When I got to the part about contacting Satan through a seánce, I knew I did not want to read further. Life is too short, and there are too many wonderful books out there (many already on my bookshelves!) just waiting to be read. Chalk this one up as abandoned.

[Judith Starkston · Rating 4 out of 5]

M.J. Rose’s Seduction moves between the haunted world of Victor Hugo in 1855 on the Isle of Jersey after the death of his daughter and the equally problematic life of Rose’s modern heroine, Jac L’Etoile, a mythologist and innately talented perfumer with a tragic past. The book opens with news of the drowning of Hugo’s daughter, Didine, and subsequent attempts to contact her through séances. Hugo, the great French rationalist and defender of secular justice, becomes obsessed with the dead, even to the point of awakening a dangerous spirit.
On the modern side of this literary equation, Jac yields to her own menacing temptations. Jac’s extraordinary olfactory sense seems to draw her into the past as her “recall” of events is triggered by particular smells. Her mentor, Malachai Samuels, a Jungian psychiatrist and believer in reincarnation, tries unsuccessfully to hold her to safe projects, but instead she finds hidden in Malachai’s papers an invitation to her from Theo Gaspard, a man she hasn’t seen since she was fourteen, to come to the Isle of Jersey and explore Celtic ruins. As teenagers they connected at the Swiss clinic where Malachai treated both troubled kids, but they were separated for reasons Jac never understood after a mysterious accident. Now Jac, trying to recover from a broken heart, can’t help but wonder what Theo really wants and has to offer. She always felt an enticing sizzle between them.
Malachai is right to have been concerned, as it turns out. The journals from Hugo’s séances and the Celtic remains on Jersey tangle Jac and Theo in a dangerous web that may be the spirit world, may be Jungian universal images, or perhaps past lives coming through in a deadly way. Rose uses all these possibilities to invite the reader to enter into this ominous and atmospheric world.
Rose brought us the appealing Jac L’Etoile in The Book of Lost Fragrances and I’m glad to follow her into a new adventure blending the past and the present in a mystical way. I did not realize there had been a spiritualist stage for Victor Hugo, author of Les Miserables, a humanistic book determined to right social injustices toward the poor. Rose moved me with her portrayal of his grief and the frightening, wild irrationalities it drove him to. Her blending of the mystical and the historical pulls the reader deeply into the emotional crises of Jac and Hugo. This is a difficult book to put down.

[MartyAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't believe in saving 5 stars as if no book is worthy. I use 5 stars here because this book masterfully took me on a journey I was completely a participant in, and it blew me away.

I was lucky enough to be able to read a pre-release copy of SEDUCTION. I was excited, because M.J. Rose has never let me down. She is an incredibly talented writer. I enjoy the Reincarnationist series, and SEDUCTION follows the previous in the series, THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES. The character of Jac L'Etoile is in both books as she searches for origin myths for her television show as a mythologist. She's interested in exposing myths from their tiny origins, in her mind debunking them, while to her audience, it verifies that there is a truth in there/ out there!

As the book starts out with lyrical passages about the sea, I have chosen to use the imagery in my review. The pacing begins like the lapping on the shore, as two stories start to be told. Along the way, intrigues of various level are added, mixed flows of water from multiple directions. As the tidal waves build, danger does as well. In a cave, the journal of Victor Hugo is found that ties the past into the present. An almost unplace-able scent has mind-bending consequences for Jac L'Etoile. She has an incredible scent-memory, born of a family that has been perfumers for generations. This new scent leads her on a journey she would otherwise never believe possible.

THE END: The consequences that come of it, and the finale are AMAZING.

FIRST M.J.Rose?
If you have never read any book by M.J. Rose, this book is understandable by itself, but some references will not enlighten you. Once you HAVE read this book, if you enjoyed it, I suggest you read the Reincarnationist Series. After that, you may want to read more of M.J. Rose. I warn you that M.J. Rose writes wonderful sex scenes.

LIBRARIANS: If a patron checks this book out, try to give them the book of lost fragrances with it, and have all of M.J. Rose's books available in your shelves!

Permalink: http://martysreads.blogspot.com/2013/...
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/review/edit/...

[Andrea Guy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seduction brings back some of the characters that you met when reading M.J. Rose's last novel The Book Of Lost Fragrances, so there will be some familiar faces here, especially for those of us that have been reading The Reincarnationist Series. (These books can be read as stand alone novels, but I think in this case, it might be helpful if you had read the previous book in the series)

This book, like the others in this series, blends past and present beautifully, bringing the life of Victor Hugo into the realm of fiction. His character is one of the main reasons I wanted to read the novel and as always, M.J. Rose didn't disappoint. I really felt connected to him in a way I never have before. He's more than just the author of Les Miserables now.

More than suspenseful, this book also has a lot of spooky going on, which gives it a slightly different feel from the other novels. It almost made me wish that this book had been released in the autumn, because it is more the type of book I read around Halloween. (I'm crazy like that...I tend to read all my spooky novels in October)

The seances that occurred in Hugo's time period were creepy and the things that happened to Jac really give this book some dark undertones.

I love how well researched the book was in regards to Hugo's life. I found myself doing many an internet search to fact check and I found myself even more intrigued with Hugo's life after reading this book.

This is definitely the best book in the series so far.

I highly recommend this book and all of the series to fans of mystery/suspense and just a little something different.

[Marg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am going to start with a huge disclaimer about my review of this book. I didn't enjoy this as much as I expected, mainly because it wasn't the book I expected to read.

To be honest, that is my own fault. I have read a number of M J Rose's books before and liked them well enough, but after reading the third book in her Reincarnationist series I decided that was enough for me. It's not that I didn't enjoy the books I read but thrillers aren't really my thing and I am not invested in the paranormal aspects to a great degree, and so I felt it was time to let this series go.

When the next book, The Book of Lost Fragrances, came out last year I stayed strong and didn't read it, just like I apparently didn't read the blurb closely enough when I was offered this book for review. I have a very clear memory of thinking that it was interesting that M J Rose was choosing to go in a new direction. I guess I was stuck on the references to Victor Hugo on the island of Jersey (I had no clue that he had lived there) and didn't actually read the rest of the blurb.

Here's the thing though... the blurb and the cover don't really help considering that there is nothing in either that tells you that this is part of the Reincarnationist series. And that is a real bug to me because as a reader I prefer to read a series in order. I prefer not to find out that a book is part of a series when I read the second chapter and recognise a character name from the previous books. And yes, I am sure that there are plenty of people who would tell me that this is a standalone book, and it was to a degree, but there were still a lot of references to the events of the previous book.

Anyway...enough of my ranty mcranty rant. How about the book itself?


To read my thoughts about the book, head to

http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2013...

[Paula Cappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Rose is a talented writer and this book certainly lives up to her reputation. The story is quite complicated with so many story lines. I think I would have loved just a purely historical fiction of Hugo, his family,the spiritualism, and Old Lucifer himself because that is really where the suspense and seduction take place. I cared less for the Jac storyline to be honest but I can see how Rose wanted to bring the story into modern day. The book is atmospheric and suspenseful all the way through. I felt each turn of the page haunt me as if someone were reading with me over my shoulder. (I read it in hard cover and I have to say that there are some stories that affect the imagination deeper in bound paper with those little hisses and sweeps as you flip to the next thought; this is one of them). Rose explains at the end of the book how she wrote the first draft with an old fountain pen (from Paris), which in itself is a seductive little tidbit. A writer's creative process is so mysterious anyway. Adding a writing tool from the historical past is ... well, ghostly. This book certainly is.

[Terri M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last year as I started the new year it seemed like every book I read had something to do with time travel. This year every book I read has some connection to reincarnation. Talk about being drawn to certain types of books, right? I'll be honest, I didn't set out to string a bunch of these types of novels back to back. It just happened that way and if you know anything about Carl Jung, nothing is a coincidence.

Seduction by M.J. Rose is the fifth installment in her Reincarnationist series. I found this series several years ago after winning book 4 in the series via the GoodReads First Reads program. The premise is quite easy to grasp (we all have past lives) and there are tools/artifacts in the world that can help us connect with our past lives.

Jac, the main character, is in denial about past lives even though she seems to be drawn into situations that seem to be big neon signs screaming at her that past lives DO exist. Her denial draws her into intense siutations that create the driving force for most of the plots in the series. I like Jac the skeptic. She's always questioning the world and people's beliefs. I'm also a bit envious of Jac's job as a researcher and traveler. She gets to travel to exotic locations in search of finding the truth behind mythologies and legends. Okay, so maybe, Jersey, the location for Seduction isn't that exotic, but there are Celtic ruins, strange legends and a connection to Victor Hugo.

Honestly, Seduction is a bit of a mess. The story picks up shortly after book 4, The Book of Lost Fragrances, ends. And because it has been several years since I finished book 4, I struggled to remember exactly what happened. Rose did not implement any sort of recollection or recap of the plot within book 5 and so many times when Jac was vaguely remembering something that happened in the last book, I found myself skimming as I couldn't remember the details.

There are three distinct storylines in Seduction that just don't connect. Two of the timelines (the Celts and Victor Hugo on Jersey) take place in the past and are not connected in any way and the one in the present (the Jac, Ash, Theo and Naomi love square) is only loosely connected to the two past timelines. It was quite frustrating as in previous books in the series the historical plot drove the happenings in the present. The whole point of the novel in the end was to reveal Jac's special gift and her tentative acceptance of that gift. The revelation of her talent was confusing and written hastily and took place in just the last 60 pages of the book.

I'm nervous to read book 6 in this series as I also found it on my bookshelf while taking stock of the books I own for the Shelf Love Challenge. In looking back over my reviews of the last 4 books and in reflecting on book 5, it appears the series is moving away from the elements I liked most in the first few books—historical fiction with ties to the present time presented in a suspenseful storytelling style.

An Afterthought
I found Rose's afterwards quite fascinating. Anyone with an interest in writing should grab a copy of the book, maybe at your library, and read the last few pages. She talks about her inspiration for the book, how she wrote the book and what the images on the end papers of the hardcover are from. It's really cool!

This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduction by M.J. Rose is an Atria publication. I received this DRC from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Mythologist, Jac L'Etoile, has had her fair share of grief. She is under the care of her mentor and counselor, Malachi Samuels. When she is contacted by her old friend, Theo about studying some Celtic ruins, Jac is very excited to go. But, Malachi warns her to be very careful. Theo had just lost his wife and he had never been really stable. But, Jac made up her mind to travel to the Isle of Jersey to meet with Theo.

When Jac arrives she discovers that Theo did actually have an ulterior motive. He had discovered his grandfather had some letters or a journal of the famed novelist Victor Hugo. He wants Jac to use her special abilities to help him discover the communications between Hugo and a spirit called the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

The relationship between Jac and Theo began back in their teens when they were both in an institution. The two formed a bond, but then Theo was sent home under a cloud of suspicion.
Now, Jac finds Theo grieving for his wife, but at odds with his brother, Ash.

The story starts out with the journals of Victor Hugo. The death of his beloved daughter has lead him into spiritualism in hopes of communicating with her again. But, what he encounters are various other spirits, and one very evil one.
We alternate between the past and Victor's journals to the present with Jac and Theo hunting for more of Victor's journals and Jac having more frequent hallucinations.
We finally begin to see an ironic connection between the past and the present that involves old Druid rituals, mythology, and reincarnation.

It took me a little while to get into this one. I couldn't figure out how any of the various threads were ever going to come together and make any sense. The atmosphere is heavy, dark and there are few real spine tingling moments. In the end, Jac is able to understand her role and gift, but also gets to find a little of her own history, which gives her a new direction to go in.
The pace is slow, but this adds to the suspense. I just think that maybe there was just a little too much going on sometimes and it was easy to get lost. The history was based in fact, and was very interesting.
I don't know what I was expecting with this novel. I haven't read a lot of this author's work. It was a little off the beaten path for me and sort of defies a specific genre. I think it might really belong more in the horror genre than in mystery or paranormal romance. But, it was a certainly imaginative. Overall I give this one a B.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably one of the most interesting premises that I’ve read in awhile, Seduction gives us not only an inside look into the secret life of Victor Hugo, but an indepth study on reincarnation. Seduction tells the story from three view points: One in the 1800’s (Hugo’s diary), one from an ancient Druid clan, and one in the modern day.

The title is very apt. The writing is sweeping and ethereal. It seduces your senses to a point where Hugo, Owain, Jac and Theo are all you can think about. Their lives intertwine together, but why? The sections on Victor Hugo are taken from his (fictional) letters written to one of his par amours that describe his sadness over losing his daughter that drives him to begin following the route of spiritualism and séances in order to, hopefully, have a conversation with his lost daughter. He comes in contact with a bad spirit and begins a downward spiral.

Owain is the head priest of the druids. The Romans are marching close to their lands, and as he struggles to find a way to save his people, he is asked by the gods to do the unthinkable. As he struggles to come to grips with this request, his life is changed—perhaps for eternity.

Theo is a troubled man who had a troubled youth. He has problems with depression and anxiety. When he asks Jac to come and help him find and explore an ancient secret about druids and reincarnation, Jac jumps at the chance and finds herself embroiled in something way over her head and comprehension.

Jac is the one holding the key to all of these men and helping them to settle their issues. Her hallucinations mean something more than just random occurrences and if she could just figure out what it all means, perhaps she could help, or better yet, get the hallucinations to stop!
The writing is engaging and the subject is definitely something out of the ordinary!

Hallucinations, reincarnation, ancient druid ceremonies, séances and Ouija boards, perfumers, murder mysteries, and even a brush with lightning make this an adventure for all the senses. The overall feeling is spooky and mysterious—you’ll want to leave all the lights on!

Review is courtesy my link text.

FYI-- There is a lot of content (a lot of sex and freaky spiritualism, especially), and if that's something that concerns you, I recommend looking up the content ratings at the above website. This particular book will not be on the searchable database until it comes out it May, however, so look for it after May 2013.

[L.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted First on Blog Critics.

Anatomy of seduction from Wikipedia: seduction is the process of deliberately enticing a person, to lead astray, as from duty, rectitude, or the like; to corrupt, to persuade or induce to engage in sexual behavior. When the past and the present combine to create the power of seduction, often lives collide.

In Seduction by M.J.Rose, we learn a great deal about the novelist Victor Hugo, an author from the early 1800’s who lost his daughter to drowning. Unable to cope with the despair, his is seduced by the spirits from beyond the grave, constantly seeking his approval by offering to exchange the life of his daughter for another. Yet there is much that is private and unknown about Hugo and his writings, as well as his interactions with his wife and others.

Enter mythologist Jac L’Etoile, recovering from her own loss and grief. In her effort to uncover more about the reclusive early author, she also hopes to uncover the secret of his home's Celtic roots. Invited to Jersey by Theo Gespard, a friend and mentor from her own past, little does she realize that Theo has his own agenda for the research and history she is following? As she delves into the mystery of Hugo’s transcripts dealing with his conversations she senses a mystery. As he writes his dialogue with someone known to him only as the Shadow of the Sepulcher, little does she understand the danger she is uncovering that puts her very life at stake? Is the key to these conversations worth her sanity and that of her friends? Can she find the answers that beckon her, and put the shadows to rest before it is too late?

Rose has moved the needle with a suspenseful and eerie mystery. Beginning with an early ghost story, the words take you into the darkness and madness of grief. With a gripping turn of the pen you are transported into the mind of a man whose misery comes close to ruining his life. This darkness and despair echoes through the story and the island home of Victor Hugo, turning the lives of those searching for answers upside down.

If you enjoy romance and danger and a bit of the paranormal with a mysterious story, then you will enjoy Seduction. This would be a great book for a reading group; there is a great deal of information and action that will make for great discussion. Full of tragedy and hope, the ending takes you unaware and leaves you wanting more. This is a must read for the M.J. Rose fan and will garner her a whole new audience.

[Sharon Goodwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read The Book of Lost Fragrances in March 2012, when I saw Seduction on Netgalley I couldn’t resist! I was looking forward to getting involved in Jac’s life once more.

Seduction (The Reincarnationist #5) is told in two timelines. We spend time in the mid 1850’s with Victor Hugo and in the present time with Jac.

We begin in 1843. While Victor Hugo is on holiday with his mistress, he reads about the death of his daughter Leopoldine. Then in 1855 he is on his self-imposed political exile in Jersey, Victor is introduced to the ‘talking tables’ by his childhood friend Delphine de Giradrdin while she is visiting him. They try a séance but no spirits come through until Victor himself joins in and then his daughter, Leopoldine, comes through.

Next, we’re in present time with Jac on a trek with Malachai. He is the co-director of the Phoenix Foundation which is an institution dedicated to scientific study of reincarnation. We learn about the time when Jac met Theo Gaspard at the clinic in Switzerland. She stumbles on a letter addressed to her that has been opened, but she has never seen. It’s from Theo asking her to visit him. He is now in his ancestral home which is in Jersey. He has a quest and thinks Jac’s can help him.

As we alternate between the timelines, we’re taken on a journey of both a spiritual and karmic nature. Jac has her visions again although this time, there is a completely different theme running through them.

I love the way the author ties up one timeline following another, for example, the fog in the past links into a scene with the fog in the present time.

Family heritage is a strong theme and new characters Theo and brother Ash, along with their aunts, are key to this.

I had no idea the revelations were taking us to the conclusion so the way everything tied up was a surprise for me.

We’re left with suggestion that Jac will join her brother Robbie in the family perfumier business. I would love to see where this takes us using the recipes of Francine from the mid 1850’s being created in modern times.

The author’s note at the end details which is fact and which is fiction. Once again, Rose has shown she has thoroughly researched and she has woven the fact and fiction into a whole that is gripping and evocative with loss and the threads that connect us to the dim and distant past.

[Yodamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story tells of three families, torn and beaten through different times connected through a twisted thread. They are set to relive the horrors of the past.
The story of Victor Hugo's life quest to contact his departed daughter through seances was a fascinating look into his obsession/madness. His need to reunite with her nearly cost him his very soul. His parties became famous, everyone wanted a chance to talk with the dead. He was a dark man, with a heartache that crushed him. But did his terror begin with him or does it go further ?
Jac and Theo, in the current time line.They are two troubled teens who meet and find a strange connection while at a mental health treatment center. There are so many moments of something more between these two, adults filled with fear over their bond tear them apart. They stay separate till 17 years later when Jac finds a letter From Theo hidden from her by those she trusted. Jac seems to have trouble staying in the here and now and fights to find the truth and how they all fit together.
The oldest of stories goes back to the Druids. The family of a priest, Owain, who has to make horrible choices when the Romans are upon his people. His fate as well as his families start a chain reaction that spans decades.
I wasn't sure if it was madness, reincarnation or drugs that caused many of the peoples problems. I was kept guessing till the end of the story. It was a long detailed story traveling back and forth between the times. Slowly the story started to blend and I started to connect the dots. the whole book was a build up to the last 20 % of the book. I was sitting on the edge of may seat waiting for the big finish, only it didn't happen. It was not the big tree falling in the forest I had hoped for it was a small branch hitting soft ground. I was left feeling unsatisfied. Such a story deserved a bigger ending. Even so, it was a good tale, entertaining and breathtaking at times.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read my full review @ http://bit.ly/1037C6M

My opinion: The Reincarnationist series is one of my favorite series. I have said before that Ms. Rose is a master of writing within multiple genres including very light horror. I think the author disagreed with me on this, but this series is what I talk about when I say that. I don't feel that this book classifies as a thriller. The breadth of what Seduction is deeper than your everday thriller and presents itself as chilling down to the spine.

Seduction has an eeriness to it that goes beneath the surface writing of this book. Ms. Rose has such a talent for weaving a story that is comparable to some classics that I have read. I was reminded of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. In addition and almost more importantly, as in all Ms. Rose's works, the characters are laid out well and written with a vivid picture.

I am working through the first books in the series, but I would say that this one depended much more on character revelation in the first works in the series more than I would have said it in other books later in the series. Jac is a complicated character and she requires a deep understanding on garnered through reading the beginnings of the series.

One other point that I would like to make in my review. There are a couple of books that do not convert to ebooks well. This is one of those books. In my opinion, there was some of the deepness to the novel that I think was missed in the ebook format. Give yourself an extra treat and splurge for the print version of this book. I rarely recommend this, but on this one, it is worth it.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduction by M.J. Rose shifts from the present day to the 1850s as Jac E’Toile uncovers more of her family and Malachai’s secrets, as well as the connections to seances, the Druids, and reincarnation. Memories and past lives cricle in on themselves revealing bit by bit how entwined Jac’s life is with Theo Gaspard, the man who invites her to the Isle of Jersey to research the island’s Celtic roots. In the process, readers see a side of Victor Hugo they may not have heard of before, a side that has been documented in his own notations. Like the other books in Rose’s reincarnationist series, Seduction can be read as a stand alone novel, though some readers may want to read The Book of Lost Fragrances first.

Rose weaves mystery with romance, history, and elements of spiritualism. Hugo and the Gaspard family become obsessed with loss and overly consumed to the point where they are nearly willing to make a deal with the devil to bring back those they love. Jac and Malachai have known each other since she was a teenager, and while he continues to obsess over the search for the 12 memory tools, Jac continues to hold him in esteem until events shake her faith in him. However, Seduction is less about the search for memory tools and more about uncovering the past and past lives. Each of these characters is seduced, either by their grief or their fear, and in the end, their triggers may be different but their obsessions threaten to take them over.

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2013/05/s...

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this novel is suggestive of a book of romance, but the "seduction" that plays out in the lives of the characters is a much more powerful seductress than love. The controversial belief in reincarnation and its connection to past lives and troubled memories provides a maze which must be navigated in order to answer questions crucial to the present-day lives and sanity of two tortured misfits who possess unusual insights into times before they existed. The island of Jersey in the Channel Islands contains the key to the tragedies of the past which must be sought out and linked to those still living. Victor Hugo's interest in reincarnation and his many seances he held while living on the island play a major part in unlocking all the secrets that must be discovered, including a dark force that almost destroyed him and that still poses danger a century and a half later.

Coming into a series that already has two books prior to Seduction was not as problematic as I feared. I was able to enjoy this novel without confusion over earlier events, even though said events were referred to at times in the book. What did happen is that I now want to go back and read those novels, as I'm convinced that M.J. Rose in this reincarnation series has struck a chord of interest and intrigue for me, which will compel me to read more. Great atmosphere and complex characters, along with suspenseful plot, make Seduction a book easy to be taken over by.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

After hearing of his daughter’s death, Victor Hugo starts communicating with the dead. Hoping to bring him closer to his daughter. However the dead are not just satisfied with talking. They want more. Particularly one known as the Shadow of the Sepulcher.

Jac is contacted by a friend. Her friend has found some Celtic ruins. Jac travels to the Isle of Jersey. There Jac uncovers the secret behind who the Shadow of the Sepulcher was and what he wanted with Victor.

It was great to see Jac again who appeared from book four in this series, The Book of the Lost Fragrances. I enjoyed reading The Book of the Lost Fragrances. Seduction is a nice tie in from the prior novel. However if you have not read the prior novel, don’t despair as you can still read Seduction as a stand alone novel.

One thing that I can always count on with M.J. Rose is her storytelling. She makes all of her characters and their stories come alive. She is like one of the only authors that I can think of that can find that great balance between the past and the present. Usually I am drawn more to the past tense then the present.

The way that Victor became obsessed with communicating with the spirits was creepy. It was almost like I could feel the air change in the room and hear the howl of the phantom dog. I was seduced by Seduction!

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.


This isn’t just a tale of historic fiction– it’s a novel with a unique blend of the paranormal, romance, mystery, and psychology.

When I read this book, I really got the sense that I was reading something different and unique. I loved how Rose uses scent as a catalyst for past lives and reincarnation….what a different concept!

I really liked the mix of Jungian theory, reincarnation, mystery, suspense, and historic fiction. What this novel lacked in character development it made up for in suspense and an intriguing plot line. I was captivated from the start and loved have all the plots converged at the end, truly a magical read! I will definitely be reading more from Rose in the future!

See my full review here

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seduction: A Novel of Suspense By M.J. Rose The author made you think what you can imagine. A grieving father wants to communicate with his daughter that died; using different mediums. I loved how the author used fragrances and scents through out the book. It makes the reader use all of their imaginations. We are all seduced by fragrance, it evokes love memory and dreams. The great question in the book was coincidences, real or not real. I enjoyed the book.

[kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting story line. Actually three stories woven together in different time periods. I enjoyed the book a lot! A bit slow at times but richly written. Got a feel for the history during each time period. And the characters were well developed.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

The best thing about this book was the necklace on the cover.

[Lynn Cullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping magic carpet ride of a read, with a gripping story, compelling, believable characters, and fascinating lore. M.J. Rose is a bold and powerful storyteller.

[Brenda · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the afterward to Seduction: A Novel of Suspense, M.J. Rose admits to feeling stymied at her initial inability to “conjure” the voice of “a mid-nineteenth century genius"(371). But, she eventually overcomes her block when she realizes that “the eloquence and brilliance” of Victor Hugo’s “poetry and prose didn’t always exhibit itself when he was writing to people close to him” (371-72).

I almost wish I’d read Rose’s explanation of her approach before I began my slow slog through the book's opening chapters. What presumptuousness it must take for any author to attempt to channel another long-dead author, especially one who is held in such esteem.

I suspect that most fiction writers would find it nearly impossible not to compete with the spirit of the author-character they were attempting to channel even if a third person, limited omniscient perspective was being employed. But to opt for first person! I don’t think I would dare.

It seems to me that Rose might have avoided resistance (like mine) if she had created another character who could act as a witness to Hugo’s crisis (something like a Nick Carraway to Hugo’s Gatsby). Ellis Avery applies this technique rather brilliantly in The Last Nude, a novel about the art deco painter Tamara de Lempicka. Of course, de Lempicka was a visual artist rather than another word-wright. As I continued to read,I wondered if Rose might be able to pull off this very bold word act more easily because she was composing in the English language while Hugo had written in French.

Why hadn't Rose simply invented a fictional great author to play the same role as Hugo did in the novel? (A.S. Byatt took such an approach in Possession, though Victorianists couldn't help but recognize the influence of Robert Browning and Christina Rossetti on compositions attributed to two of her main characters.)

Indeed, I found it much easier to continue if I stopped thinking of Rose's Hugo as the Hugo. I had an easier time suspending my disbelief if I wasn’t hankering after some semblance of authenticity in the voice.

But, I must also say that I had a much easier time cooperating with the narrative in segments that were narrated by the modern day character, a female expert in mythology who has traveled to Jersey seeking proof that would validate druid legends. Yes, at times, I was reminded of the rather awkward insertion of lore that I recall from reading fictions by Dion Fortune and other occultists. Sometimes, Rose’s characters discuss Jungian psychology and world myths as if they’re merely reciting tidbits from the author’s research. Fortune’s plots always struck me as excuses to promote her beliefs. I'm not sure if Rose believes any of the new age ideas she appropriates.

Still, I did find myself becoming absorbed whenever I learned something new. I was very interested in the protagonist’s account of the Romans’ os sacrum (or “holy bone”). Although I had heard of the “evil eye,” I was unfamiliar with the kabbalist’s “roite bindele,” a silken bracelet worn for protection. I won’t go into detail, here, since these elements appear rather late in the narrative.

I suspect that readers who have not written dissertations on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century supernatural fictions—and who are not very familiar with Hugo’s work will be less resistant to Rose’s effort.

Since Seduction is the first book I’ve ever read of hers, I really can’t say if she tends to take such risks (attempting to impersonate famous voices) in other texts. In some ways, her method isn’t really inappropriate since believers in spiritualism always seemed to be able to converse with the famous dead. Hugo was not the only seeker who was supposed to have enticed Shakespeare, Dante, even Jesus (!) to visit his séances. Of course, rapping mediums need not have worried about verisimilitude of “voice.” Modern believers in reincarnation also have an amusing tendency to discover that they used to be some famous somebodies in past lives.

And I must admit that I did enter the First Reads giveaway for this novel because I wanted to read a convincing impersonation of Hugo just as, years ago, I agreed to pay five dollars to a state fair's palm reader, hoping to be entertained by the future she imagined for me.

My disgust at her half-assed effort (“You will have the five children you’ve always wanted.” The end) had little to do with a desire--on my part--to believe in palmistry. I left no more skeptical than I’d ever been. I was offended, however, by the reductive nature of her imagination.

But, then, I had always been the one to move the planchette (without appearing to do so) during childhood sessions with the Ouija board. If I hadn’t learned to shift the pressure in my fingers in order to entertain everyone else with invented personas and outrageous stories, we’d all have given up the game in under ten minutes.

Of course, I made sure to interject some responses that would hint at my authorship—and my friends and family members would always laughingly accuse me of influencing the message.

But that’s the fun that illusionists are supposed to offer—and that’s what we want from our fiction writers, too. We want to suspend our disbelief for just long enough to participate imaginatively in the story.

I suspect I just need the likes of A. S. Byatt to serve as my medium.

Still, I enjoyed Rose’s novel more than I thought I would as I forced my way through the opening chapters—and other reviews on Goodreads do suggest that many readers will not be the obdurate audience that I evidently am.

(Note: I also received an advanced reader's copy of this book in digital format from Netgalley shortly before winning the hard back edition from First Reads. I used the page numbers from the hard back to ensure accuracy.)

[Sara Giacalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me in many ways. I loved the almost "time slip" aspect of this novel, and enjoyed the author's use of symbolism, mythology, scent and memory to move the story forward. I will be reading more of her books in the near future.

[Mogsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much appreciation and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of Seduction, which is probably one of the most haunting and evocative books I've ever read. The expected publication date for this title is May 7, 2013.

As a big fan of the fantasy and historical fiction genres, I have to say I love it whenever I come across authors who experiment with ways to incorporate elements from both in their stories. Seduction definitely fits the bill. The book is not your typical historical novel in that much of it actually takes place in the present. Its plot also contains a pretty hefty paranormal component.

Events in the book unfold through a couple different storylines. In the present day, mythologist Jac L'Etoile arrives on the Isle of Jersey--where famed novelist Victor Hugo once lived for several years during his time as a political exile--in the hopes of studying the island's Celtic history with her old friend Theo Gaspard. Interspersed through her story are chapters from Hugo's secret diary in which he chronicles his grief at the death of his daughter in a drowning accident, as well as his subsequent obsession with contacting her spirit by participating in hundreds of séances. These separate narratives are interwoven to form an intricate tale of mystery and suspense, linking together these characters and perspectives separated by more than a century and a half.

What I love best about this novel is its unique and unusual blend of aspects from so many genres. Seduction is the latest in a series of books called The Reincarnationist, which centers around topics related to paranormal phenomena as well as spiritual themes like past lives and the idea of an immortal soul. At its heart, the book can be considered a mystery novel, with the aforementioned historical fiction and fantasy elements. But it also has a bit of horror in it too. Quite a few scenes unsettled me and sent chills down my spine, especially the ones involving Victor Hugo's séances and his encounters with a malevolent spirit implied to be the devil himself, called the Shadow of the Sepulcher. There's a spooky vibe throughout the whole book for sure, which are enhanced by the rich details the author gives of the old architecture and the ethereal beauty of the sea and caves on Jersey.

So much seems to be going on in this novel. Maybe too much. Granted, it all comes together in the end, but the book started slow while it attempted to establish all the characters and the setting. It also made for a rather scattered reading experience trying to keep track of what's going on in the present as well as in the past, and things only get even more muddied with Jac's visions and the addition of a third side storyline partway through the novel.

Not to mention, Jac's character has a pretty complicated history to think about as well. The book touches upon her psychological disorders and troubles with hallucinations, which is what led her to befriend Theo when they were teenagers being treated at a Swiss clinic together, but there is also so much about her past that doesn't seem to be explored much. To be fair, my guess is that a lot of this was probably covered in The Book of Lost Fragrances, the book that came before this one, in which Jac is also the main character. However, I did have to wonder if we really needed so much about her pining for her past lover. All the references to him and what they shared, heartbreaking as they were, felt a bit superfluous, since none of that had to do with the story at all.

In any case, despite all that, Seduction can definitely be read as a standalone. If you're like me, you might even be tempted to pick up the previous book, to find out more about Jac L'Etoile who makes her living as a TV mythologist, but actually comes from a long line of famous French perfumers. In fact, her character's experience with making perfumes and identifying scents is what probably gave me a whole other level of appreciation for this book.

Like I said, M.J. Rose is fantastic with the details she puts into describing the setting, but truly it's her description of scents and odors as a main storytelling device that really struck me. I've never thought much about smells in the books I read, until this one came along. It's very effective when used here, too. Since olfactory triggers can often make the mind conjure up very clear imagery and activate vivid memories, this makes it perfect for Seduction which deals so much with remembering and reliving past lives. Overall, I felt this novel was very cleverly written and put together, and that's just one of many reasons.