Library of Light and Shadow

By M. J. Rose

As a small child, Delphine was blinded when a schoolmate threw lye in her face.  Sebastian, her twin brother, became her eyes and guide until her sight returned.  Always a painter, as she regained her sight she also regained a talent to paint a person’s hidden secrets.  All the daughters of La Lune have special magick. Delphine uses a velvet eye mask and her magick flows through her fingers onto the canvas. After a horrible incident, she is forced to return to Paris though she no longer has the will to paint.  Emotionally wounded she attempts to heal within the loving arms of her family.  As her healing begins, continued pressure from Sebastian eventually wears her down to accept a special commission to shadow paint a castle to find a hidden book that belonged to Nicholas Flammel.

I believe this might be my favorite in Rose’s Daughters of La Lune series.  Delphine’s painful story slowly emerges like images on a canvas.  The supernatural aspect of the story floats effortlessly throughout the novel and does not overpower Delphine’s story.  As Rose takes us through Delphine’s haunted life, Rose uses words to paint the descriptions of Delphine’s surroundings and you feel as if you are walking the path or flying down the road sitting shotgun in Delphine’s Bugatti.  A thoroughly enjoyable story.

I wish to thank the publisher for generously providing an Advanced Reader’s Copy for my honest review.

ISBN:  9781476778129

Publisher:  Atria Books/Simon and Schuster

Pub Date:  July 18, 2017

Genre:  Historical Mystery (slight paranormal overtones)