M.J. Rose has a knack for spinning tales of wonder and allure that enthrals readers into an enchanting web that they do not want to get out of—The Witch of Painted Sorrows is no different, in fact, it may just be her most gripping novel yet! Rose intertwines a story that sends readers to a place where desire and lust were perceived to be incongruous, yet, oh so challenging to go on without them.

The Witch of Painted Sorrows is an historical novel, set in the late 19th Century in Belle Epoque Paris, with mystery, fantasy and romance aspects surrounding it to make it a great read for all. The background, era the novel was set in; in addition to the fantasy occult slices were enrapturing.

The characters in Rose’s novel were well-built and the romance was sensual, and full of passion. Our heroine, Sandrine, was delightful; one could truly see her develop into a better person as the tale went on. In the beginning, Sandrine started out as a girl with many issues, a piece of coal so to speak, but then, she grew into an intricate character, bursting with vivacious passion—she developed into a beautiful and bright diamond.

Rose truly has a flair for captivating storytelling, and she has topped herself with The Witch of Painted Sorrows. Readers can just feel the panic, yearning, lust and raw emotions radiating off of every single page.

---

An Advanced Readers Copy was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.