Arcanum book 2

4.75 stars

Sarah is back in a second volume, and this time, she is focused on researching the Rose, a flower that in France in the 1500s was so rare and expensive that it was reserved for royals. This gives great depth to the flower. She learns all the symbolism and how it is deeply connected with other cultures, not just French. This research, the gypsies, the tattoos with the cross, and the connection still with ancient Egypt build all the mystic world, and the tarot cards continue to guide her. This time, the author includes more sessions of hypnosis and regression, so we have a few scenes of Sarah remembering her childhood.

I must confess that this time, Kurt (Ken) in the past scared me. In ancient Egypt, Sarrah was in control of sensual and sexual activities. In this one, Sari was a victim of violence at the hands of males. Ken (the card The Devil) is getting worse and more dangerous from volume to volume; I fear for Sarah in the next volume.

I love the scenes when Sarah in the present visits Leyla, and there is a ritual of picking up an object from the shelves that speaks to her at that moment. The author maintains the consistency of themes (healer, doubts, romance, past loves, learning to seduce, learning to survive, fragrances, medicine), sensual visions, flirtation, hot scenes, sensuality, but also obsessive love, escape...

I wasn't expecting the last part, including a ship to the New World, contact with natives. Those were great additions.

This time, I respected Sarah's husband during the confrontation scene, where he confesses (that deep inside he knows) that he is not the one in her past or future.

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