Reincarnation Blues by Michael Poore

Standalone
384 p.
Publisher: Del Ray Books
Published: 8/22/17
Source: Publisher and NetGalley for review

A magically inspiring tale of a man who is reincarnated through many lifetimes so that he can be with his one true love: Death herself. 

What if you could live forever—but without your one true love? Reincarnation Blues is the story of a man who has been reincarnated nearly 10,000 times, in search of the secret to immortality so that he can be with his beloved, the incarnation of Death. Neil Gaiman meets Kurt Vonnegut in this darkly whimsical, hilariously profound, and wildly imaginative comedy of the secrets of life and love. Transporting us from ancient India to outer space to Renaissance Italy to the present day, is a journey through time, space, and the human heart.

My thoughts:

The blurb made me curious and I also wanted to see how the worldbuilding would play out in this story since so many cultures have a form of reincarnation within it's mythology narrative. While it was an interesting story, it did not really follow any specific religious views which I think was a good thing. However, it also touched so lightly on various cultural views it ended up not really having one of it's own and I'm not totally sure it was purposeful in doing that. Most people will not come to this story for that specific cultural view so this will be a minor niggle to most but I personally wanted it to go a bit deeper. Personal preference only but I also was glad it didn't so it didn't become preachy or religious at all.

I wasn't quite certain what the theme of the book was as he was continually pushed for "perfection" or enlightenment (which I think was interchangeable here) but it was never truly defined and he did find perfection within imperfection (say that 3 times fast). The romance was actually quite light in this book and was really the motivation for our hero to achieve perfection. The timeline flows back and forth through time with historical characters we know and futures we have yet to experience. It was an interesting journey and his lifetimes were interesting within itself. The ending is satisfying as is the epilogue but it does pose a philosophical question which I will not reveal since it would end up being a spoiler. You'll just have to see if you feel the same. *evil laugh*

I would have also liked to have followed "death" or Suzie more and I think that would have made the romance stronger. It was not strong within the story as most would expect but I did believe it and rooted for both of them to be together.

I give this book 3 stars. I did enjoy the fantasy of many lifetimes and even though I would have liked a stronger and more depth to the worldbuilding and romance I still found our hero Milo's journey to be interesting in how he learned and grew.

🌟

The Collector of Dying Breaths (Reincarationist #6) by M.J. Rose

Reincarnationist Series #6
384p.
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: April 8, 14
Source: From Netgalley and the publisher for review

A lush and imaginative novel that crisscrosses time as a perfumer and a mythologist search for the fine line between potion and poison, poison and passion…and past and present. 

Florence, Italy—1533: An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. Traveling with the young duchessina from Italy to France, René brings with him a cache of secret documents from the monastery where he was trained: recipes for exotic fragrances and potent medicines—and a formula for an alchemic process said to have the potential to reanimate the dead. In France, René becomes not only the greatest perfumer in the country but the most dangerous, creating deadly poisons for his Queen to use against her rivals. But while mixing herbs and essences under the light of flickering candles, Rene doesn’t begin to imagine the tragic and personal consequences for which his lethal potions will be responsible. 

Paris, France—The Present: A renowned mythologist, Jac L’Etoile, is trying to recover from personal heartache by throwing herself into her work, learns of the 16th century perfumer who may have been working on an elixir that would unlock the secret to immortality. She becomes obsessed with René le Florentin’s work—particularly when she discovers the dying breathes he had collected during his lifetime. Jac’s efforts put her in the path of her estranged lover, Griffin North, a linguist who has already begun translating René le Florentin’s mysterious formula. Together they confront an eccentric heiress in possession of a world-class art collection. A woman who has her own dark purpose for the elixir… a purpose for which she believes the ends will justify her deadly means. This mesmerizing gothic tale of passion and obsession crisscrosses time, zigzagging from the violent days of Catherine de Medici’s court to twenty-first century France. Fiery and lush, set against deep, wild forests and dimly lit chateaus, The Collector of Dying Breaths illuminates the true path to immortality: the legacies we leave behind.

My thoughts:
I picked this one up since I have been curious about this series and understand that these can be read as standalones. That was correct. The theme or reincarnation is what holds the collection together and the stories are separate.

In this book we follow alternating POVs of René, Catherine de Medici's perfumer, and Jac the daughter and sister of 2 great perfumers and one in her own right (she does not do it professionally). With René's story we follow what happened to him and what he did right before and during his time in the service of Catherine. We follow his long time obsession with collecting dying breaths in hopes of reanimating that soul into a newborn babe. He finds a formula where the ingredients are hard to find. He thinks he may have stumbled on the elixir to immortal life.

We also follow Jac. Her brother had been poisoned and she is not sure if she is the next target. She starts the arduous task of collecting her brother's things and she stumbles on his last project. The project determined to bring back René's greatest work of reanimating dying breaths. She becomes intrigued and then obsessed when she learns that her brother had his last breath collected. Through twists and turns that also ends up as a murder mystery, she finds the most shocking truth of it all and how everything connects. And that truth is... Yea, right... not going to reveal that. ;)

I give this book 4 stars. I recommend it to those that enjoy a good twisty mystery and a large amount of historical fiction. I really enjoyed the author's writing and I do intend to pick up the other 5 because now I'm very curious. Even with the shifting POVs, it is very readable.

The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller

From Goodreads:

Haven Moore can’t control her visions of a past with a boy called Ethan, and a life in New York that ended in fiery tragedy. In our present, she designs beautiful dresses for her classmates with her best friend Beau. Dressmaking keeps her sane, since she lives with her widowed and heartbroken mother in her tyrannical grandmother’s house in Snope City, a tiny town in Tennessee. Then an impossible group of coincidences conspire to force her to flee to New York, to discover who she is, and who she was. 

 In New York, Haven meets Iain Morrow and is swept into an epic love affair that feels both deeply fated and terribly dangerous. Iain is suspected of murdering a rock star and Haven wonders, could he have murdered her in a past life? She visits the Ouroboros Society and discovers a murky world of reincarnation that stretches across millennia. Haven must discover the secrets hidden in her past lives, and loves¸ before all is lost and the cycle begins again.

Reincarnation, visions, teenage and small town prejudices and a strange pull. Something needs to be done, but not quite understanding of what needs to be done. Add a bit of youthful impatience with a large push of small minded prejudice and you have the beginning of this book. As the book goes on Haven tries to put together a puzzle where parts seem to fit and then don't. It's a struggle for her to find out what she is supposed to do and who to trust. Plus, with only a few snippets of former memory at a time it's not easy. Does she find out who is the evil force and who just wants to see good done? Can she trust anyone but her best friend? These are answers only Haven can find out for herself.

I have to say that this book holds an interesting concept for me. I was a bit disappointed on how it was handled within her own religion. I would have found that aspect more interesting if within her quest she was to also find out that Christianity has also had debates throughout the centuries with this concept. It wouldn't have been necessary at all to the book, but just more interesting since so much of the book was dedicated to the statement that Christianity and reincarnation do not go together. Another disappointment I had was with Haven. Her ability to quickly trust and mistrust Iain (often within the same hour) really irritated me. In fact it irritated her best friend who asked her if she was done with the roller coaster ride referring to her inability to pin how she felt about Iain. Also, Iain might have had good intentions, but the lack of information and the way he handled it really annoyed me as well. However, the one bright spot was Beau, her gay best friend. He was always there ready to have her back and was a true friend. 

Despite those criticisms I stated above, I will say that the book kept me interested and wanting to find out what happens next. How the pieces were to fall together and who did what kept me reading. I also believe that this is a series and I'm curious as to where the author will lead us. I find the antagonist intriguing even if a bit one dimensional at this point. I think that this concept could be taken into interesting territory. Especially since the big issue for Haven should be solved. As long as that issue is solved, I want to read the next book. I give this one 3 stars.

For some on-line fun you can goto the web site of the Ouroboros Society.

I'd like to thank Razorbill for this ARC. No compensation was given for this review.


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My Name is Memory by Ann Brashares

From Goodreads: Daniel has spent centuries falling in love with the same girl. Life after life, crossing continents and dynasties, he and Sophia (despite her changing name and form) have been drawn together-and he remembers it all. Daniel has "the memory", the ability to recall past lives and recognize souls of those he's previously known. It is a gift and a curse. For all the times that he and Sophia have been drawn together throughout history, they have also been torn painfully, fatally, apart. A love always too short. 

Interwoven through Sophia and Daniel's unfolding present day relationship are glimpses of their expansive history together. From 552 Asia Minor to 1918 England and 1972 Virginia, the two souls share a long and sometimes torturous path of seeking each other time and time again. But just when young Sophia (now "Lucy" in the present) finally begins to awaken to the secret of their shared past, to understand the true reason for the strength of their attraction, the mysterious force that has always torn them apart reappears. Ultimately, they must come to understand what stands in the way of their love if they are ever to spend a lifetime together. 

This is an unusual love story written by Ann Brashares author of the well known, "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants". In this story, you follow important events from mostly one character's life, Daniel. You find out how he first finds the one who strikes him as someone he wants to know to eventually the one he wants to spend all of eternity loving. Although he finds and loses her throughout the centuries, he keeps looking for her and trying to find a way to love her in whatever body he finds himself. Unfortunately, this leaves Daniel with a very one dimension type of character. This makes sense because he is not spending his time developing himself, but finding another.

 You also get glimpses of Lucy in her present life, who is a more rounded character since she has spent this life in developing herself. As things finally make their way together a climatic scene develops that transforms Daniels view of life and the lives he has lived. He must then find a way to keep from being haunted by another who shares the memories of past lives, or they may never be together no matter what life they are living. This person is intent on destroying him and now Lucy in whatever way he can. Unfortunately, I have to say that the ending is not satisfying and I warn you, it will not answer the lingering questions you have left. I do not know if there is a series potential, but I do understand this book has already been optioned for a movie.

 I give this book 3 1/2 stars. It is great to get a book that has fully observed how reincarnation is often understood and seen by various cultures. It is well written and I do hope that there is another book in the works for Lucy and Daniel. I'd love to read it. The book will be published June 1st, 2010.


I received this ARC from Lydia Hirt from Riverhead Books. No compensation was received for my honest review.