The Beginning of Always

by Samantha Sotto

Elise Grier found everything she was looking for when she moved to Paris. But after she nearly drowns in the Seine on New Year’s Eve, she finds herself wading through the memories of a 19th century woman who shares her face. As Elise traces the threads that bind her to the past, she discovers that an old choice between life and love must be made again. Her second chance at life comes at a cruel cost, a price that someone else must pay.

Genres: Fiction, Fantasy

334 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2020

Reviews

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beginning of Always
by Samantha Sotto

I am always left in awe after reading Samantha Sotto’s work. The uniqueness of the subjects she chooses makes you ask yourself how in the hell she came up with them and if there is anything at all that she cannot make a story out of. She started with significant moments of European history in Before Ever After, then the Fibonacci Sequence Formula in Love and Gravity, and life after death for A Dream of Trees. It is pure imagination that always churns something absolutely magical.

The story she created behind L'Inconnue de la Seine was just amazing. The kind that leaves you both smiling and heartbroken. What I have found to be true in many books I have read is that when the past and the present are interspersed or there are parallel worlds within the storyline, it is easy to lose track of the timeline. Samantha Sotto, in my opinion is one of those authors who do it so seamlessly. She is the master of introducing complex characters with intertwined lives and she does it so intricately and meticulously that they stay with you long after you have finished reading their story.

I have said this in my previous reviews of her work, and I will say it again. It takes ingenuity at a whole other level to be able to mix history, art and even science with prose, and Samantha Sotto has done it four times! I cannot wait for the fifth!

[Rachel S]

I felt like a jerk for being the only rating below 4 stars, so I'm removing my star rating for now, especially because I adore Samantha Sotto and really don't want to dissuade anyone from reading this book. I loved Before Ever After and Love and Gravity, so I wanted to love The Beginning of Always, but it was hard for me to follow. I'll probably read this book again once life is back to some degree of normal, because there's a good chance that it's more about me being scatterbrained in this craziness.

[Grethel Ulang · Rating 5 out of 5]

As if choosing a mysterious, random, historical art piece is not mesmerizing enough – Samantha Sotto created a magical story out of it. Taking the mystery of that art piece as a root, it branched out to other rousing stories that make a one whole beautiful novel. What I like most in this latest novel is the kilig factor that made me her fan after reading her first novel “Before Ever After.” The intricacy of her story telling is really admirable and would make you keep turning the pages and wish the story would never end. I would have finished reading this in two sitting – faster that when I read “Love and Gravity”- if it hadn’t come out exclusively in ebook format. I only mentioned this with the hope that they will publish it print too. She is, for me, the Dan Brown of the magical-romance genre.

[Leni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Samantha has once again captured me with her elegant writing, whisked me to time and places through her tales. Although some twists may have gone a little bit too magical, according to my “amateur” opinion, I also thought that we may need to have faith in a little bit more magic during these times. It was a hopeful read in times of great distress. The end will get readers thinking, true to the author’s signature style. Samantha remains to be one of my favourite authors bringing together a life that I can only wish to write about and live. Thank you for bringing me back to Paris, Cadaques, Eze, Budapest and more. I can’t wait for your next book!

[Cym · Rating 3 out of 5]

It takes quite a bit of effort to get into as the story shifts from past to present and back again. The imagery was good but also predictable, yet it made me feel I was traveling with the characters. But all this talk of drowning had me feeling breathless, so I guess it worked in drawing the readers into the story. The story of what actually happened and what happened to the other characters felt crammed near the end. The back and forth of Elise’s and Thomas’s feelings and their quest were kind of dragged out resulting in my previous statement. It’s mostly a sad and heavy story as it’s also a mystery, the lightheartedness was sparse, to my chagrin.

[museroom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great twists and turns

The concept of the unknown lady from the Seine was its initial appeal, but I also thoroughly enjoyed how the author spun its story to conclusion.

Except for the weird ending on the last few pages, I love this book!

[Genny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another magical book from Ms Sotto has left me with a smile on my face. Her previous books have taken me on a wonderful journey, and this one was no exception. Highly recommend.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magical and mysterious. Ms. Sotto's novels really are like modern fairy tales. She gives life to words that carry you away to another time, another life, and become something more than you can ever have imagined.

I've read her other works and somehow missed this being published in 2020. I quickly got a copy and dove right in. All the twists and turns in the pages are so beautiful. Stories within the story full of connections and love.

Like Before Ever After, this one will be high on my list of recommendations.

[Angela Herrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic, Mystery, and Romance

This story had me guessing until the very end, while featuring characters I felt deeply about. Now that I’m done with the book, I miss them!