The Library of Light and Shadow

Daughters of La Lune #3

by M.J. Rose

In this riveting and richly drawn novel from “one of the master storytellers of historical fiction” (New York Times bestselling author Beatriz Williams), a talented young artist flees New York for Paris after one of her scandalous drawings reveals a dark secret—and triggers a terrible tragedy.

In the wake of a dark and brutal World War, the glitz and glamour of 1925 Manhattan shine like a beacon for the high society set, desperate to keep their gaze firmly fixed to the future. But Delphine Duplessi sees more than most. At a time in her career when she could easily be unknown and penniless, like so many of her classmates from L’École des Beaux Arts, in America she has gained notoriety for her stunning “shadow portraits” that frequently expose her subjects’ most scandalous secrets. Most nights Delphine doesn’t mind that her gift has become mere entertainment—a party trick—for the fashionable crowd.

Then, on a snowy night in February, in a penthouse high above Fifth Avenue, Delphine’s mystical talent leads to a tragedy between two brothers. Devastated and disconsolate, Delphine renounces her gift and returns to her old life in the south of France where Picasso, Matisse, and the Fitzgeralds are summering. There, Delphine is thrust into recapturing the past. First by her charismatic twin brother and business manager Sebastian who attempts to cajole her back to work and into co-dependence, then by the world famous opera singer Emma Calvé, who is obsessed with the writings of the fourteenth-century alchemist Nicolas Flamel. And finally by her ex-lover Mathieu, who is determined to lure her back into his arms, unaware of the danger that led Delphine to flee Paris for New York five years before.

Trapped in an ancient chateau where hidden knowledge lurks in the shadows, Delphine questions everything and everyone she loves the most—her art, her magick, her family, and Mathieu—in an effort to accept them as the gifts they are. Only there can she shed her fear of loving and living with her eyes wide open.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Fiction, Paranormal, Historical, Magic

369 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2017

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

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★½
M.J. Rose created a stunning series when she authored the Daughters of La Lune. In the third installment: The Library of Light and Shadow, she has incorporated gothic historical fiction, magical realism, a bit of the paranormal, romance, art, mystery, and famous painters you may be familiar with. It's insightful, engaging, intriguing, sexy, and romantic. This might be my favorite out of the three. I hope Ms. Rose continues to add to this stunning series. I get so excited when I hear about a new book. If any of this sounds interesting, definitely check it out.

My favorite quote:
“One of the great mysteries is what makes two people right for each other. Sometimes I think we spend too much time trying to figure out the how of things – the war, man's inhumanity, destiny, genius … one simple kiss that the whole world fits into. All that matters is that we try to live the best things and turn our backs on the worst.”

The Daughters of La Lune series includes the following installments as of August 2017. In my opinion, each book can be enjoyed as a standalone novel as each features a different daughter of La Lune as the heroine.
#1 The Witch of Painted Sorrows
#2 The Secret Language of Stones
#3 The Library of Light and Shadow

8/19/2017:
I love this series ❤️
RTC

[Magdalena aka A Bookaholic Swede · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library of Light and Shadow is the best book, so far, in this series. And, I think it's because I just love Delphine Duplessi ability to paint people's deepest secrets. If you have read the previous books do you know about the women in the Duplessi's family have inherited different gifts from their ancestor La Lune, who was a witch. In the first book, The Witch of Painted Sorrows, did we meet Delphine mother Sandrine Salome. And in the sequel, The Secret Language of Stones, is it Opaline, Delphine's sister that takes the center stage.

Delphine ability to paint secrets was triggered by a childhood event when she temporary got blind. That meant that her ability was developed much earlier than usual by the women in the family. She and her twin brother and business manager Sebastian have used her talents at his art gallery. A tragic love story drove her from France to the United Starts. Then, when one of her paintings causes a tragedy between two brothers is she persuaded to come home to France. There her brother tries to get to take a painting job for Emma Calvé, a famous Opera Singer, who wants Delphine to paint the chateau where she lives in a way to get the building to reveal it's secrets. It is said that the Book of Abraham, written by alchemist Nicholas Flamel is hidden there...

I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator really managed to captivate me. It's the kind of story where you feel you really get pulled into the story and you get caught up in Delphine life. The book has one weakness and it is the love story that failed to impress me. Not that I didn't like the flashbacks, it's more that I never felt totally invested in Delphine and Mathieu's doomed love story. It's the kind of love story that just never interested me and Delphine's pining after him just never pulled my heart-strings. I was more curious to learn more about the chateau and the fascinating caretaker that lives there. But, then I'm at heart more a mystery girl fan than a romance fan. However, I did not dislike the love story. I'm just picky and this one just didn't rock my boat.

Now, despite my lackluster interested in the love story do I still think that this book is fabulous. The characters are well-developed, the intrigue is fascinating and I love the whole Nicolas Flamel angle. All and all is this a great book!

[Bam cooks the books · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Library of Light and Shadow, the third book in the Daughters of La Lune series, is told from the first-person perspective of Delphine Duplessi, a young French artist living in New York City in the year 1925, shortly after the end of WWI. Delphine makes her living by doing 'shadow portraits' at the parties of the rich and famous, doing her drawings blindfolded and sometimes revealing dark secrets to the chagrin of her patrons. But that is part of the fun, isn't it?

"I was not just an artist. I was a woman who had been blinded as a child and whose sight had been brought back by magick. And in the process, I had been given a gift--or, depending on your point of view, a curse. I had the ability not just to see people for who they were but also to see the secrets they harbored. The darkest, most hidden desires of their souls."

When tragedy strikes and her wealthy fiancé breaks off their engagement, Delphine blames herself and falls into such a depression that she can no longer paint. Her family brings her back to Cannes, France to recover but first she must confront the reasons she left her home in the first place...and the man she still loves.

The La Lune woman are cursed to know true love only once in their lives. Delphine reveals the details of her passionate but thwarted love affair in the pages of the journal she kept five years ago and now can't stop reading. What will she do if she comes face to face with her former lover now?

Her twin brother, Sebastian, coaxes her into taking on a commission for a rich opera singer. No portraits this time, which she still refuses to do. This commission is to find a book of alchemy which the woman believes is hidden somewhere within the castle walls. Delphine will need to use all her witchery skills to find the hiding place of the object and maybe save a life or two.

This book is a blend of historical fiction, fantasy and romance with lush descriptions and beautiful writing. What a delight to get a glimpse of Picasso, Matisse and other famous artists in the pages of the story. I have not read the other books in the La Lune series, but found this book can be read as a stand-alone novel. The cover art is gorgeous, just stunning!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an arc of this new book.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a time of re-birth, a time of excess, a time to indulge in life and forget the horrors of World War I and the sky was the limit for parlor tricks and daring entertainment for high society. Artist Delphine Duplessi has a gift beyond the ability to draw what the naked eye sees. She can draw one’s inner most secrets and has become the darling of society gatherings, the main attraction for the wealthy looking for one more thrill or oddity to experience. With the gift of sight comes danger and with the brutal honesty of her drawings comes pain, dark revelations and even death.

It is that pain and death that finally sends Delphine home to France, refusing to taint the world with the powers of her gift. It is there she will find her own painfully dark past pushing back into her life and the one man who owns her heart will attempt to win her back. Little does he know the reasons she left and the danger she represents. Now Delphine must search deep within her own soul and see both herself and the world for what they are, a gift to be used wisely, but can she embrace what she longs for or is it too late for her own damaged soul?

M.J. Rose brings the third book of the Daughters of La Lune, THE LIBRARY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW to life with her blend of dark and dream-like writing and a plot that is equally intriguing, erotic and veiled in mystery and Magick. An emotionally charged tale that flows steadily along, the action is in the troubled thoughts of Delphine’s mind. A read to be savored and indulged in, rich in detail, atmosphere and the turmoil of the heart.

I received an ARC edition from Atria Books in exchange for my honest review.

Series: Daughters of La Lune - Book 3
Publisher: Atria Books (July 18, 2017)
Publication Date: July 18, 2017
Genre: Historical Paranormal Romance
Print Length: 368 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Sheila G · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Review for book 1 in series: The Witch of Painted Sorrows
*Review for book 2 in series: The Secret Language of Stones

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

"Where did Nicholai Flamel tell you where the book was?"
He said, 'The book is in the library of light and shadow. But..," she paused as if remembering
"But?" I prompted.
"He told us that, only someone who could see in the shadows would be able to find the book."

The Library of Light and Shadow is the final installment in the Daughters of La Lune trilogy. This riveting series spins a tale that spans over centuries, through generations of descendants of a French courtesan, later known by the name, La Lune. 

Delphine Duplessi, the second daughter to Sandrine (the main character in The Witch of Painted Sorrows) finds her artistic niche through sketching portraits of wealthy New Yorkers at upscale parties. These sketches are procured in anything but the norm, as Delphine blindfolds herself and draws "shadow portraits." Thanks to her second-sight, she's able to procure facts about people that lie beneath the capacities of the naked eye. These drawings reveal the deepest, and sometimes darkest secrets of the sitter, which eventually causes problems for Delphine as the scandalous drawing of one woman ends in a man's murder.

Distraught by the event, Delphine gives up sketching, and returns to her home in France where she meets another renowned artist, Pablo Picasso. Despite her attempts in leaving her special portraits in her past, Delphine's brother Sebastian coerces her back into her craft with a mysterious project: to make drawings of a famous opera singer's home in attempt to uncover a secret treasure.

Invited to the singer's chateau to begin her drawings, Delphine discovers that one of the other guests is none other than her past love--the man she fled from after drawing a disturbing sketch of his future, one that revealed herself as being his demise. Frightened by the experience, and hoping to keep her loved one safe from the tragedy to befall him, she left France for America. 

Forced to face her past and her fears, Delphine must uncover secrets more than the ones of the old chateau, but about the residents themselves to discover the true treasure within. 

----------------------------------

Things that I liked:

#1 The overall eloquence to the writing and style. It's easy to feel the grandeur of Manhattan post World War I---not that the war was beautiful, but people in that era had a way about creating mesmerizing social scenes. The way this story is written reflects this very quality due to the description and details given. 

#2 The presence of explicit scenes were fewer and further between. While I have never been thrilled with the erotic side of these stories, I did appreciate that this installment seemed to have less of an emphasis on this topic. (I wish it had been ruled out completely, and just had a non-descriptive romance instead, but we can't always get what we want.)

#3 I appreciate how the author included small details here and there that carried throughout the entire series. These tidbits weren't necessarily pivotal, but they helped to create a sense of fluidity that spanned across all three books. 

Things that I didn't like:

#1 The way in which the story was told, made it difficult for the reader to follow in time and location. Frequently, I was confused with where the main character was (between France and New York) and at which particular time. Much of Delphine's story is told through flashbacks, which I don't necessarily mind. However, the amount that this technique was utilized made for a choppy read.

#2 Unlike her predecessors, I had a difficult time forming an attachment to Delphine. In ways, she reminded me of her mother, Sandrine (whom I more-or-less despised). Other than that, her character fell flat. Despite her constant ruminations about her relationship with Mathieu, the fact that she had once been blind, and her twin-connection to her brother Sebastian, little more is revealed about who she is. 

#3 Even though its presence was less, I still wish there was no erotic factor in this book. The storyline doesn't need it. 

Overall, I enjoyed the art-related themes within this book. It's been one of my favorite (if not my favorite) aspects of this series that kept me reading it. If not for the erotic nature, I would rate it higher, but I just can't. For me, the eroticism simply retracts from the plot. Instead of character relationship building, the men and women are just thrown together into a bed and WALA! Relationship made.

Yes, there are some gems of true relationship building here and there. However, since so much of this story surrounds the topic of that evasive "one true love," I wanted to see more behind why Delphine and Mathieu fell for one another.

It's a decent story, but I simply had a difficult time cementing to it. 

Vulgarity: None that I recall.
Sexual content: This is an erotica. Although, I felt it was toned down more from the previous two. There are several descriptive scenes.
Violence: Minimal. 

Make of the blood, a sight. Make of the sight, a symbol. Make of the symbol life, everlasting.

2.5 stars.

A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!

[Terri Wino · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well this is definitely my least favorite of the series so far. The story just seemed to move along at such a slow pace.

Delphine's past relationship with Mathieu is told by segments from her Book of Hours that are inserted throughout the events currently happening in the storyline. For some reason, this kept me from feeling any real connection between the two characters and I really didn't get a sense of the depth of their love for each other. Honestly, I felt more of a spark between Delphine and Gaspard -- a character who doesn't even appear in the book until almost 3/4 of the way through.

The storyline of Emma Calve wanting Delphine to use her ability to help find the mysterious book of Nicolas Flamel was very interesting, but, again, it took so long to get to that point in the book that by then I had almost given up on this book.

This author does have a beautiful way with words, and I LOVE the historical aspects she includes and weaves into her stories, but this one just wasn't as gripping for me as the previous books in the series. However, I'm still interested enough and invested in this family and their mystical abilities to read the next book!

[Cindy Burnett (Thoughts from a Page) · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Rose’s new Daughters of La Lune book is a great addition to the series, and the cover is spectacular. I enjoyed Delphine Duplessi’s story and was fascinated by her ability to draw her subject’s portrait while blindfolded. But Delphine’s portraits are special because each portrait exposes a secret the subject has kept hidden. While some revealed secrets are minor and cause no harm, others lead to dissolved relationships and further tragedy causing Delphine to abandon her talent and return home to France. While I enjoyed the entire story line, my favorite portions were those involving Picasso, Nicholas Flamel, and Emma Calvé. The Library of Light and Shadow is a quick read with an intriguing premise. I look forward to her next Daughters of La Lune book already!

[The Lit Bitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

MJ Rose has a talent for writing romantic, magical, and passionate historical fiction novels. I love her Daughters of La Lune series even if at times, the books didn’t end on a high note, overall they are really fun to read and have progressively improved between book I and book II.

I was super excited to see this one come up for review, ironically I had just been wondering when the next Rose book was due out and I was thrilled to see that it was this one! Her writing style is sensual and lyrical and the story is almost always a promising romance, so you can’t go wrong with one of her books!

The one question I am asked the most by readers, always has to do with series books. I read a lot of series books and sometimes not always in order. Readers always want to know if they need to start with the first book, 99.9% of the time I highly recommend it, however with this series, I would say that you could probably start anywhere in the series and be ok. That said, it is nice to be familiar with the premiss of the series, but in this case it isn’t required.

Admittedly, the first book fell short for me at the end, however the second book kicked it up a notch and finally with this latest installment, I will have to admit, I think it’s my favorite in the series. There were a few bumps in the story but on the whole it was enjoyable and an intriguing romance that held me interest from the beginning.

I loved how Rose incorporated gothic elements as well as supernatural along with the romance and magic. It was truly a wonderful mixture of so many intriguing bits of different genres.

The reason this one only had a 4 star rating instead of a 5 was for similar reasons as the other books…..the ending fell short for me. Rose does such a great job at building sensual romances and mysterious plots that hooks readers in and makes them enjoy the book, but the ending always seems to lack a certain punch that readers were expecting.

For me, based on her caliber of writing, I would expect an ending that delivered but I just don’t see that happening in the way that I hope with each of her books, and it’s not just this series—her other books lack a certain ‘umph’ when it comes to the ending. This seems to be an issue in her writing which frustrates me as a reader, however I love her books because the foundation is elegant and the chemistry between the characters is solid and believable.

That’s why I keep reading her books and this one was no different. The romance and chemistry between the characters is enchanting and I love how their magical abilities drive the story, however I just wish the ending had matched the build up of the book.

see my full review here

[Denise]

A woman who can sense and paint your secrets while wearing a blindfold because of her special gift -- "the darkest, most hidden desires of their souls." Delphine Duplessi does this in New York as a party trick until one of her surrealistic caricatures causes a tragedy. In true melodramatic fashion she claims, "and therein lay the source of my compassion, my sorrow, and my own ruination."

Set first in New York in 1925 and then with her return to France, the period details are the most interesting and fascinating part of this story. The author gives vivid descriptions of everything from clothing to food to the sights and scenes of the location. The background information on the dark arts and magik are also very absorbing aspects of the book. I also enjoyed how the author inserted real life characters in the book to give it a more genuine reflection of the time and place. The actual story line and plot, however, were not that compelling.

I've read quite a few of M.J. Rose's previous books and the first two of this DAUGHTERS OF LA LUNE series (this being the third). I also read, and really liked, the "fragrance" series -- even now I still wear the Ames Soeurs perfume that was created especially for that launch. But this was a disappointment. The character of Delphine was too histrionic for my taste and I tired quickly of the constant drama and way too many "romance" scenes and thoughts. Anyone who follows me knows how much I hate that being such a major part of any book. I'm all about the mystery and this one bordered on ridiculous -- because of a "vision" while she was blindfolded, Delphine flees her lover, Mathieu, the ONLY ONE SHE CAN EVER LOVE due to the family curse. The resolution was totally predictable. I didn't care for any of the characters in this tale and I had to skip over long sections of repetitive lamenting about the lost love.

I liked the blend of realism and occult, but the narrative just didn't live up to my expections considering the premise. The protagonist was just too immature and her angst too ludicrous. Why didn't she just tell him what she saw -- oh wait, then there would be no conflict. I can't stand when a whole book is based on people not communicating -- my pet peeve.

Despite all this, there were enough good parts to keep me reading til the end. Thank you to Edelweiss for the e-book ARC to read and review. I'm sure I will read another book by this author in the future but I hope this series has come to an end.

PS -- as always, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

[Jillian Stein · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Library of Light and Shadow is the newest work in author M.J. Rose's Daughters of La Lune series and while you don't have to read the previous books I recommend you do...for no other reason than they are all fabulous.

This latest journey from M.J. Rose is filled with mystery, emotion, magic, intrigue, and even danger.

From the very first page, I was pulled into the story. Starting with a letter from a woman who sat for a painting done by our magical and mysterious heroine, Delphine, I knew I was headed on quite a journey. And was I ever.

Delphine's magical painting ability stems from a death and rebirth in a way. She lost her sight and was able to regain it eventually thanks to the magical ability of her mother. The woman in her family come from a long line of magical ability and now Delphine is one of them. Now, after regaining her site, she has the ability to paint people as their true selves, oftentimes showing their deepest secrets. That ability has given her a reputation as a mystical talent. A very sought after one at that. But the thing is, sometimes the very thing that defines you can also be the thing that will be your downfall...

It seems as though Delphine's life has a theme of love and loss. As we visit her past through her journal entires, my heart broke for her and the love that had slipped through her fingers. I wanted desperately for her to reunite with her soul mate but I also understood her fears. Delphine realizes love isn't meant to be for her in a painted moment that breaks her heart and changes her future.

But what seems like a dismal and unhappy road ahead for Delphine will turn out anything but when Ms. Rose delivers another stellar and blissfully romantic end. I was making dinner while finishing up that last chapter and was crying happy tears into my boiling pasta water!

If you're looking to leave reality behind and become immersed in a magical time and place, this is a book you must read. Thank you, Ms. Rose, for another stunning read.

[Ginny Lurcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always heard wonderful things about M.J. Rose and so I went into this book with high expectations. I should no better than that by now because it always bites me in the end.

While Rose's prose is flawless, the story simply did not resonate with me. I found it hard to engage with the characters, sections dragged, and I found myself losing interest in the story. I clung to hope for the romance, but even that felt off. Though it could be that by the time it finally rolled around I'd lost interest.

So while the book has a beautiful backdrop of New York and France in the 1920s and exquisite prose, it was not for me. Sample before you buy.

[Brianna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps because it was the third in a series I haven't read, but I simply could not get engaged with The Library of Light and Shadow. The storytelling felt fractured as I picked it up and put it down in multiple reading sessions, and the story I simply didn't feel compelled to continue. Not a book for me but I can see appeal for others who enjoy a bit of magic in their historical fiction.

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Delphine Deplessi is an artist with a great gift - she can paint people's secrets. But when her gift leads to a terrible tragedy, Delphine returns to her roots and must decide if it's worth continuing to practice her art - and if she must change her mind about the most important people in her life.
I really struggled with this book. It had an interesting premise, a unique magic system, and characters with great potential. But this book just didn't quite deliver on everything it promised to be. And that was really disappointing, because I had high hopes.
To begin with, I appreciated that there was depth to the relationships between characters. The author makes sure that the characters have plenty of experiences together and that their past comes through in their conversations and actions. Unfortunately, this was not always done well. Often, a character would say something and the author would spend a few paragraphs explaining why this was significant. This detracted from the story a lot and didn't add as much to the depth of the characters since it was so abrupt and had to be explained in the moment. This also made the characters a lot less strong and interesting since their pasts felt somewhat contrived in those moments.
My second big complaint is that the characters were just kind of dumb and they do such stupid things. Delphine has an interesting gift that can be used in interesting ways, but instead, she squanders it on dumb commissions (that ruin lives) and then spends half the book trying to decide if she should use her gifts or not. She also completely misinterprets her vision about Matheiu and wastes five years of both their lives trying to run away from something that's inevitable. It was so obviously a misinterpretation and such a waste of time and energy! It infuriated me and made me roll my eyes constantly while reading. There were also a few times when I could tell exactly what was going to happen or where pieces would obviously fall into place, but the characters were too dense to notice it. I hate being that much smarter than the characters - it just makes them less fun to read.
And then there are my typical complaints about books - it was far too melodramatic for my tastes, I could predict many of the events far before they happened, and it wasn't written all that well. I think I need a break from Netgalley books because the past several I read have followed this pattern and have grated on my nerves.
Recommended for people who enjoy romance novels with a touch of fantasy.

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction centered around an artist, who, while blindfolded, can draw pictures of the closely-guarded secrets of her subjects. These renderings, called shadow portraits, have resulted in tragedy, leading her to disavow her abilities. Attempting to revive her artistic career, her brother-manager convinces her use her talents to help unravel a mystery.

I enjoy reading books about the arts, which occasionally leads me to read outside my normal preferences, and in this case, it resulted in a pleasant surprise. Starting in New York and continuing to Paris, a variety of real-life artists, authors, and composers of the time make an appearance. The author was adept at creating a picture in the mind’s eye of what it was like to live in France in the 1920’s, beautifully describing gardens, architecture, and social interactions. It also included elements related to WWI, lost arts such as book-binding, and seances, which were popular during this era.

I found this book very creative. I’d call it a magical mystery-romance. I enjoyed symbolism of light and shadow. While this book is the third in a series, I had not read the first two, and found it could easily stand alone. The only drawback for me was the ending, which was not as powerful as I was expecting. I like to draw conclusions from my reading, and in this case, I’d say: Be careful what you think you “know” – you may be mistaken.

Recommended to readers of magical realism, romance, and those who enjoy stories about art or artists. Be aware that it contains a bit of graphic sexual content.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advance reader’s copy in return for feedback and review. It was released on July 18, 2017.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, as it checked so many of my boxes: historical setting, magic, a hint of romance... unfortunately after the inciting action, the heroine spends the next two thirds of the book moping and avoiding any decisions, actions, or feelings that would make her an interesting or active character in her own story . The flashbacks to her romance plotline were saccharine and dull. The present day plot was plodding and contrived, and I'm sure many readers will guess the plot twists before the oblivious characters. It's a shame that the structure and characterization were so weak because the frame of the story and the prose were promising .

[Cat Jenkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Just not my cup of tea. In the first few pages I thought "Hey, I've read something like this before." And, not knowing this was part of a series, it took a moment for the pieces to fall into place. I thought I'd give it a try, but the same stilted language and the same helpless female-in-a-male-society isn't for me. When you start thinking the heroine is an idiot in the first chapter, well...probably not the book for you.

But kudos on the cover design. It hooked me in, as did the dust jacket blurb. It's just the writing and the story itself that have no resonance for me.

[Harker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell into a series in and I didn't mean to, but having read The Library of Light and Shadow I think it may turn out to be quite fortuitous. This book introduced me to a world that had a unique background, intriguing characters, and a plot that balanced between the magical and the real, the ornate and the simple.

This book was chock full of characters, both based on real life people and those of the author's imagination. Some were sympathetic, like the main character Delphine, a painter whose portraits reveal the secrets of her subjects; some were mysterious, like Gaspard, the caretaker of the chateau that Delphine is commissioned to paint; and others are suspicious, like Sebastian, Delphine's twin, who as a male La Lune descendant did not inherit a magical gift and yet is intertwined with Delphine's as her manager. There were the real life personages, like Jean Cocteau and Pablo Picasso, writers, artists, singers, etc., that were summering in France and that Delphine met through friends and through family connections. I was amazed at the sheer scope of her family's influence, the people that they knew because of their abilities and their longevity. Whether the author's portrayal of these people's personalities was accurate or not is unknown to me, but they all felt authentic in the moment of this story.

The settings that were seen throughout the book are another thing altogether. There was sumptuousness throughout and Delphine never seemed far from the fine things in life, even when she was living in her small studio apartment in New York. There were colors and fabrics co-mingling that I don't think I'd have thought of pairing together, but reading them here I think that the author found an interesting balance. The ornateness of Delphine's life, whether it was her family's home or the chateau that she has to draw, bordered on the line of obscene at times, but always the story was brought back from the brink before it crossed over.

As for the plot itself, I felt so sad for the burden that Delphine, as well as her female relatives, must carry. Powers like the ones that they have felt like the kind that are often described as more like curses than gifts and there is, in fact, a curse to their family: they only get one shot at true love. That is terrible, even more so when we realize why Delphine fled to New York in the first place and why it feels like such a terrible thing for her to return to France. Her relationship with Mathieu felt pretty well-developed, it was physically intense, and he seemed to really understand her, even after she left him in an effort to protect him, following a shadow portrait that revealed a future that she interpreted in a specific way.

The character I knew I would feel the most betrayal from, and yet couldn't help but go along with Delphine's belief in them, was her brother Sebastian. I knew from the summary that there was a history of co-dependence, which made a lot of sense considering his lack of magical abilities, but watching his manipulation of Delphine was intense. It was so subtle that even Delphine did not see it for a majority of the book, even though I was suspecting things by the way he was pressuring her to return to painting against her wishes. When the depth of his deviousness is revealed at the end of the book, even that was a surprise despite the way I'd been feeling about him. The author's handling of her characters painted an interesting portrait of familial commitment and the blindness that Delphine had toward her brother and his actions for a long time.

M.J. Rose wrote a rich text in The Library of Light and Shadow. It's the third in the series, but as I said earlier, it isn't necessary to read the previous two books. I'd strongly recommend going back to them though, especially if they're anything like Delphine's story because a tale of magic and beauty and life like this should be enjoyed like the fine drinks and food that the characters consumed: often and with gusto.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lush, lavish and sensual story. Filled with historical figures such as Monet and Picasso, brimming with magick, the arts, and love. MJ Rose has done it again.

[Piepie | The Napping Bibliophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! I read this book in two days. The "Daughters of La Lune" series is captivating!

I loved all the references to Flamel and immortality. Once again I enjoyed how sexy and sensual these books are. I love her characters' supernatural gifts of magic, art, and talent. And all three pretty covers!

I also like how each book can be read as a standalone. I started with book #2, then book #1, now #3, and that order worked just fine for me.

[nikkia neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Atria Books and netgalley for this ARC.

M. J. Rose cannot be beat for the otherworldly, ethereal, Amazon-like warrior priestesses she creates for her novels. I think this was my favorite but then I always think that until I read her next novel.

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.]

When I requested this novel, I hadn’t realised it was the third instalment in a series; however, it turned out you can read it even without having read the previous ones, since the narrator does summarise well enough what her family is about, and that’s what you mostly need to know as far as background is concerned.

I liked the premise—Delphine’s gift and how it can turn out badly, the family with witchcraft gifts... I also liked how most characters felt like they had a life of their own: they definitely weren’t just plot devices, but had relationships, past experiences (sometimes together, sometimes not), and generally breathed and lived.

A lot of descriptions, too, were vivid, and allowed me to picture the places and scenes quite clearly. I’m definitely not sure about all of the fine details, though (avenue Franklin D. Roosevelt in Paris in 1920... uhm, it was avenue Victor-Emmanuel III, but even without knowing that it doesn’t make sense), so I advise not getting into that with a historian’s mind. Unless those were corrected in the final copy, that is. Anyway, the prose does have its charm, and whether New York, Paris or Southern France in the mid-twentied, it conjures the needed images easily.

I had more trouble with the pacing. For a good half, Delphine doesn’t do that much, to be honest, apart from being depressed because of her gift (which she probably wouldn’t have been if she hadn’t been such a doormat to her brother) and remembering her love story. I don’t know about the format it was told in (a diary), background info was needed here, yet on the other hand, it felt disjointed from the story. Moreover, while in terms of relationships the characters had a life, indeed, their actions and decisions were at times... silly. I could guess the turns and twists, and seriously, Delphine, that vision you had, that made you run away to the other side of the world... it was so obviously opened to many interpretations that it being a misunderstanding was a given here.

The story picked up after the characters arrived at the castle, but at that point I wasn’t ‘in’ it anymore.

Still, I may try the first book, because the parents’ story could be interesting (there’s a duel and a bargain with the spirit of a dead witch, apparently?).

[Mystica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delphine Duplessi is more than just another young, talented artist. She is gifted in another unique way. Her shadow portraits are not the normal portraits people are used to seeing and in fact it is with some trepidation that most people would employ her to do their portraits. She unveils hidden secrets, crimes and past sins which everyone may not want to even acknowledge let alone let others see them. She is not deliberately drawing people like this but that is her talent. She uncovers past desires, incidents and these portraits are highly valued, and highly feared.

It is with one such portrait which leads to the death of a person that leads her to leave New York and return to France to her family to recuperate and to also decide on what she is going to do next. Art is all she knows, this is her livelihood but she does know that it is a dangerous skill that could get a lot of people into trouble, the way it already has.

Her family the female side are witches of a kind. Each female imbued with particular abilities and strengths but all to be used for the good of people. It is 1925 and Paris is awash with believers in the occult and sciences who are all looking for answers for a France so badly effected by WWI. Delphine herself is desperately alone having never recovered from a love affair which she herself ended when she saw an image into the future and thought that her presence in his life would be eventually his destruction. She has never got over her love for Matthieu and coming back to France would she feel put him again into her orbit and whether she will be strong enough to walk away a second time is doubtful.

Told in descriptive detail so that a newcomer to the art of the occult would understand this is a magical story and one also of love and survival and family. A genre the magic that is, is one I am not very familiar with but it was a fascinating read which kept me literally spell bound throughout the book.

[Babel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegant, mysterious, and laced with foreboding.

Crafted with charming and stylish talent, this story is like a lake of perfect serenity, broken by sudden bursts of colourful intensity. There's beauty everywhere from Delphine's artistic life and view on the world to the atmospheric vibrancy of the 1920s, first in New York and then in France.

In the midst of all, the lyrical romance between Delphine and Mathieu, a complex man with many sorrows and the soul of a poet. These memories of Delphine's intermingle with her present life and create a double story that explains as much as it adds mystery and longing.

It's without a doubt a pleasure to read another story by this author who never ceases to mesmerize me with her mystical, sensitive female characters always drawn to tragedy, art, the occult and the most passionate, gorgeous love affairs. The daughter of a renowned artist in France, who we met two books ago, descendant of a historical witch, Delphine struggles with the dark consequences of practicing her amazing talent. Shadow portraits that unveil profound secrets that might cause havoc or delight.

Against the majestic backdrop of legends, history, witchcraft, French landscapes and food, Delphine rises as a multi-faceted creature in search of freedom from heartbreak and the curse of her double-edged talent. Every page we turn, there are beautiful things to savour, but also mysteries to uncover, dangers from the past to discover.

I fell in love with the exploratory mission Delphine embarks on in the second half of the book. Accepting a peculiar commission to unearth an ambiguos secret from the past, it is intricately interwoven with her lost love and her family bonds. Such a stunning way with words the author has, such delicate sensitivity, and an impossible love to boost. Such an enlightening, perfect conclusion.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE LIBRARY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW sweeps you up and doesn't let you go. As usual, M.J. Rose has given us an utterly enchanted story filled with fascinating, mysterious people and the most gorgeous houses, each which have their secrets. The principle house in this book is a French castle owned by the early 20th-century singer Emma Calvé who dealt in the occult; in this book the castle hides endless secret rooms. The young heroine Delpine Duplessi is invited there with her beloved twin brother who has his own secrets; Delphine, a descendant of the witch/enchantress La Lune, has inadvertently brought sorrow to friends and the end of her own great love by her shadow drawing -- a gift of drawing blindfolded which reveals somehow the deepest secrets of her subject. In the castle she is looking for a book of eternal life while mourning her own lost love for the wounded WWI veteran Mathieu, from whom she parted for fear something would happen to him through his closeness to her. The passages with Mathieu in particular are utterly enchanting, so real, quite sweeping you away into all the mystical and beautiful places love can take you. As usual with the books of M.J. Rose, I was utterly fascinating with every page, wondering how on earth it would end for Delphine, her brother, her delicious, wounded, strong and gifted lost lover, and all the journeys of searching and finding where there are always "shadows between the words."

[Elysium · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delphine Duplessi is an artist who paints “shadow” portraits while blindfolded showing her subjects darkest secrets. After an accident involving one of her portraits, Delphine returns home to France vowing to never paint shadow portraits again. Her twin brother and manager Sebastian tries to get her into painting again and manages to cajole her into accepting a commission to search for a book about alchemy hidden in a mysterious château.

It’s been too long since I read the previous books since I’ve forgotten so much about those. In this book were many characters that I just know we’ve encountered before but have no recollection where or how.

I liked Delphine but at times I wished she would stand up to her brother who was so manipulative. They’re twins so of course she sees only the good in him, especially since Sebastian saved her life when they were children, but I thought he was just selfish.

I thought the ending was bit abrupt leaving more questions than answers. We see Mathieu mostly through diary of a kind and I would have liked to see him more in the present. I felt I didn’t really know him and that he forgave Delphine way too easily for leaving him.

This was a really quick read and I wanted to know what happens next. I really hope there will be a book about the 3rd Duplessi sister!

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book off the library "new" shelf - I should have left it there!! The editing was worse than the writing and that is saying a lot!! A comedy of errors, too numerous to elaborate on. Paris is the "City of Light" (no s ) even though the author doesn't agree with me!! I didn't even get to page 50 - 46 was already too far!

[Delia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could not get into the story.

[PLEsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Taught me that this is not my genre.

[Kelloggss22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I debated between 3 and 4 stars and decided to round up. Overall, it was a good book, but admittedly, I'd probably give it a 3.5 if I could.

The premise of this book is really clever and unique. Delphine's ability to paint "shadow portraits" was interesting, as was her process when painting. I didn't find out until about halfway through that this is the 3rd book in a series. That's never happened to me before, but I didn't notice because it's more of an anthology. Each book focuses on a different woman in the family, but the stories are unrelated. You can read them in any order, but I wish I'd started with the first. I would have liked to know more about La Lune and the origin of their powers.

The book starts off with a bang (pun intended 😂) and had me hooked right off the bat. I'm a fan of analepsis in a story, so I liked how we knew from the start that her relationship with Mathieu (thanks Emily in Paris for teaching me the fun correct way of saying his name lol) had ended because of a vision she saw. I enjoyed the chapters from The Book of Hours. The development of their relationship was sweet. It continued to annoy me that Delphine was hiding him from her family though. This was the start of my frustration with her as a protagonist. I mean, they were engaged, and she hadn't even mentioned his name to them. Sometimes she felt overly stubborn and dramatic, and her actions could be impractical and unreasonable.

The book drags a bit in the middle. There are too many repetitive chapters of Delphine lamenting the loss of her creativity and inspiration. Her hesitancy to put the blindfold on again was understandable to an extent, but it started to feel a bit fatuous. I mean, why is she so afraid of painting an inanimate object? Rose also started phrasing too many of Delphine's thoughts as questions. In one paragraph, when Delphine is about to crash the car, she says something like, "Should I hit the brake? Tap the gas? Do I turn to the left? Or to the right? Where is the ditch? What if another car comes?" I don't really know why, but I found this extremely annoying. And it continues until the end of the book.

I was losing interest, but then they finally went to the chateau, and it got much more exciting. It felt like some sort of Gothic fiction, with everyone trapped in the house due to a storm. Between the seance, the hunt for the book, the secret rooms, and the mysterious groundskeeper, the atmosphere of the story became more enigmatic and magical. I enjoy historical fiction, so I liked the the protagonist's interactions with people like Picasso, Satie, and Calvé. Nicolas Flamel continues to be a popular and mysterious person to write about, but I'll always think of Harry Potter when I read about him 😂⚡️

I like that the end of the story references back to the letter sent to Delphine at the very beginning. I had a feeling that would come back up in some way, but I didn't see any of that coming. However, after the events of the seance, I knew exactly where it was going. It was fun seeing the tension build before the ultimate confrontation. I was annoyed that it took Delphine so long to talk to Mathieu about what she saw. It seemed a bit silly that she didn't recognize that she wouldn't just randomly stab him. Obviously there was more to that vision, and she could have told him a long time ago. It's not like the visions are set in stone and straightforward. She says that multiple times.

The ending itself felt very rushed. Sebastian is horrible, and Delphine didn't get remotely mad enough at him. I get that they're twins, but he's been manipulating and controlling her since they were children. Plus, he was responsible for her horrific childhood trauma that resulted in a lifelong fear of water (when before she used to love swimming.) And ultimately, it was his actions that lead to her leaving Mathieu in the past and to the events at the chateau in the present. The whole falling into the water together and the waterfall and all felt like it happened out of nowhere. Then the book was over, and we didn't get to see her confront Sebastian for what he admitted in the water or for all of his prior indiscretions.

All in all, it wasn't a very satisfying ending. I'm glad that she found the cave. And I loved that the groundskeeper's name was an anagram of Flamel. I didn't catch that at all. And the kid being named Nick was perfect too. I'm also glad that she's back with Mathieu. But it could have been extended a bit to tie up some of the loose ends. I think I'll read the others in series.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a little bit of everything I love in 'The Library of Light and Shadow.' A dip into magic/arcane arts, a modest mystery, some romance, and a fabulous period in history as a backdrop (the years after WWI.) That period seemed to produce a lot of artistic genius. So many larger-than-life writers, painters, artists and a lot of them name dropped within these pages.

Beginning of the book was fascinating ~ I'd probably get in line with everyone else to have a portrait painted revealing my innermost secrets. That would be a surreal experience for sure. I enjoyed the last half of the book immensely (the part involving the mystery.) The period after Delphine returned to France, from NYC, a teensy bit draggy. There was a lot of background building so it was not "lost" reading, just got infinitely more interesting as soon as she accepted the commission to look for the the lost 'Book of Abraham.'

Sidenote: I've read one book previously about the Cathars and their beliefs (so close to Christianity) so when the search for the 'Book of Abraham' touched on that period in history, it was an unexpected bonus.

The author writes in a rich, evocative style which sets the mood beautifully. I could almost "see"the rooms in Emma Calve's castle! She also either has a passion for the occult, practices some sorcery herself, or researched the society extremely well. Delphine alone possessed a surplus of gifts, many she referenced as only learned on an exploratory level, but nevertheless is able to perform them in a perfunctory manner. I find that whole realm mysterious and fascinating (I confess to a desire for a few magical abilities myself) so no wonder the book had appeal. Of course I started with the 3rd book in the 'Daughters of La Lune' series instead of the first ~ how do I do that so often?? but now I will definitely go back and pick up the first two and will certainly be reading others by M.J. Rose as well.

My only complaints: I wish the book hadn't ended so abruptly. Perhaps there's a 4th book in the works? A few questions were left hanging ~ especially what happened with Sebastian (after his evil side was revealed.) Also Delphine had powerful gifts but seemed to underestimate herself, always letting other people determine her value. Would love to see her character developed with more self confidence and autonomy. None of these issues changed my opinion about the book tho ~ I liked it very much.