The Secret Language of Stones – Daughters of La Lune (Book
2). M. J. Rose. Simon & Schuster. July 2016. 320 pp. ISBN#: 9781476778112.
Opaline
Duplessi has run away to Paris with a Russian expatriate. She makes jewelry but not just any common
jewelry. One could call it memento
jewelry that will be bought by grieving mothers, wives, sisters, lovers, and/or
friends of those who have perished during the horrific First World War. She also makes watches that can be worn on
the battlefield and easily used, unlike the more popular watches with covers
worn by nonmilitary men. Within each beautiful jewel piece, Opaline inserts a
lock of hair or another minuscule personal item. Her skill is called lithomancy, an illegal
practice involving contacting the dead. When
she is done choosing precious gemstones and working her magic, the stones
emanate energy that enables her to communicate with the dead soldier and listen
for the message to be spoken to the loved one of the dead person. Opaline is just learning to use her gift but
is clearly frightened beyond words at how this power overcomes her, even to the
point of being ill. She fears going
insane and therefore seeks help to manage her gift or curse, depending on how
it is experienced!
This,
however, is just the basic gist of Opaline’s skill and the story to come is a
wonder indeed! A young mother comes to
Opaline and questions her about how she acquired this skill and how she uses
it. Opaline begins to fashion a new
jewel for this mother but before she can deliver any message she is haunted by
the dead son and actually develops a relationship unlike any one any reader has
encountered. This then is the story
which eventually turns into a mystery involving the family of the lately
assassinated Tsar of Russia.
M.
J. Rose is unlike any other writer this reviewer has ever read. She has researched her fascinating subject
and presents it uniquely in a mesmerizing fashion each reader will never
forget. The occult is depicted in a
balanced manner that rejects any quick judgment and seeks only to find the
truth with a purpose. Her descriptions of shapes, colors and sizes of different
jewels and their arrangement are artfully presented as well. The Secret Language of Stones is the
second book in the Daughters of La Lune series but stands as a solo novel just
fine. This is a must read that readers
won’t be able to put down, crafted cleverly and skillfully by this very
talented writer. Highly recommended!
