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booksavvyreviews's review against another edition
4.0
"And yet, eight hundred years after his precious Paloma, Bertran, and Aicelina had burned alive in a church in Gruissan, eight hundred years after a fever had burned him alive in a cave not far from where he now stood, Raoul had returned. If only he could understand why."
You are not alone, Raoul! I also wondered. I wondered a lot of things as I read this book. A very slow, leisurely book. A book that can and should be read next to a crackling fire as you sip tea. This wasn't a fast read for me, it took me a bit to get into it and I found it rather difficult. Here is why.
A majority of the first half and into the second part is all a historical info dump. It's rather intriguing but it reads more like a well-written history of France and the Crusades than anything. If you're into history reads then this book is definitely up your alley, as for me, I require a little more story than just history.
This is an eloquently written tale about how several lives during such a horrible point in time are twined together by fate, guilt, and setting right to wrongs. There is a love triangle of sorts that is rather interesting from an adult perspective, but there is nothing childish about it.
I wasn't too keen on the characters or at least I would have been if the historical info drops didn't interfere with my developing feelings for the characters. The switching to and fro, the bringing up of history made any and all relationships feel a little... off to me. At points it felt rushed and not eased into.
The overall plot was touching, beautiful and the book itself is beautifully written. All of your questions you form as you're reading are answered as the book goes on, and trust me there are a lot of them...
The ending left me feeling unfulfilled for my own selfish reasonings, but it was a beautiful book. So it is well deserving of 3.8 stars!
You are not alone, Raoul! I also wondered. I wondered a lot of things as I read this book. A very slow, leisurely book. A book that can and should be read next to a crackling fire as you sip tea. This wasn't a fast read for me, it took me a bit to get into it and I found it rather difficult. Here is why.
A majority of the first half and into the second part is all a historical info dump. It's rather intriguing but it reads more like a well-written history of France and the Crusades than anything. If you're into history reads then this book is definitely up your alley, as for me, I require a little more story than just history.
This is an eloquently written tale about how several lives during such a horrible point in time are twined together by fate, guilt, and setting right to wrongs. There is a love triangle of sorts that is rather interesting from an adult perspective, but there is nothing childish about it.
I wasn't too keen on the characters or at least I would have been if the historical info drops didn't interfere with my developing feelings for the characters. The switching to and fro, the bringing up of history made any and all relationships feel a little... off to me. At points it felt rushed and not eased into.
The overall plot was touching, beautiful and the book itself is beautifully written. All of your questions you form as you're reading are answered as the book goes on, and trust me there are a lot of them...
The ending left me feeling unfulfilled for my own selfish reasonings, but it was a beautiful book. So it is well deserving of 3.8 stars!
taisie22's review against another edition
5.0
In Another Life tells the story of Lia Carrer, a young widow who lost her husband in a biking accident two years earlier. She returns to the country she loves best, Languedoc in the south of France to work on her dissertation about the Cathars. From her first day, she encounters strange happenings and meets people who seem familiar in ways that they should not. There's Lucas, the enigmatic photographer, with whom Lia is collaborating on a book. There's Raoul, the quiet vintner who lost his own wife and children. And there's devious Father Jordi Bonafe who leaves clues for Lia regarding the Cathars and the murder of Archdeacon Pierre de Castelnau, the event which precipitated the massacre of the Cathar people in 1208.
The Cathars believed in reincarnation for souls that were killed without a chance at redemption. Lia is forced to confront this belief as events unfold and she becomes the instrument for atonement of these lost souls. This is a finely written book, truly descriptive of the beauty of the Languedoc region. I've been to some of the locations in the book and the author absolutely nails the mystical allure of the ruins, countryside, and towns. The story moves along at a good pace, and the two timelines are skillfully woven in to make a cohesive and interesting story. This is a lovely story with themes I will ponder in days to come. I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read this wonderful book.
The Cathars believed in reincarnation for souls that were killed without a chance at redemption. Lia is forced to confront this belief as events unfold and she becomes the instrument for atonement of these lost souls. This is a finely written book, truly descriptive of the beauty of the Languedoc region. I've been to some of the locations in the book and the author absolutely nails the mystical allure of the ruins, countryside, and towns. The story moves along at a good pace, and the two timelines are skillfully woven in to make a cohesive and interesting story. This is a lovely story with themes I will ponder in days to come. I want to thank Netgalley for letting me read this wonderful book.
tmaturino's review against another edition
4.0
In Another Life was rich in historical detail, the landscape was lush, the characters flawed and the romance heartbreakingly beautiful. I enjoyed learning about the Cathar religion and their beliefs in reincarnation and a time in France I knew nothing about.
See my full review and interview with author Julie Christine Johnson originally posted at my blog Mom's Small Victories.
See my full review and interview with author Julie Christine Johnson originally posted at my blog Mom's Small Victories.
beckylej's review against another edition
4.0
In the year and a half since her husband died, Lia still hasn't recovered. It's not that she expects to get over him, or even that she hopes for that. But after losing her job thanks to an unfinished doctorate, a change of scenery is definitely in order. And so Lia picks up and moves into her friends' home in Languedoc. The open ended trip offers Lia two things - the chance to recover in a place she loves with the people she loves and a chance to finish the research for her doctorate.
Lia's research on the Cathars hits a bit too close to home, though, when she begins to think there might just be merit to their belief in reincarnation. Especially when she meets and falls for Raoul Arango, a mysterious winemaker who reminds her of her husband.
Raoul doesn't belong in Lia's time. And neither do two other acquaintances in Lia's life. But how and why they've traveled through the centuries to become entwined in her story is something even they don't know. And so it's up to Lia to figure it out.
This may be Julie Christine Johnson's debut, but you'd never know it. She writes with an assuredness that makes In Another Life quite an enjoyable adventure!
Lia is sure to capture your heart pretty immediately. When the story begins it's been eighteen months since her husband Gabriel died in a tragic accident. In Languedoc. In spite of that, or because of it, France is still where she feels most comfortable. Plus, it's the heart of Cathar history and she's been understandably unable to focus on finishing her dissertation.
Cathar history is fascinating! I think it's been on the periphery of other things I've read but it's not something I know much about at all. It's a wonderful and somewhat unique element here considering the way Julie Christine Johnson uses it to tell her tale. She weaves that history into the story quite smoothly, taking the reader back to 1208 with Roaul, Lucas, and Jordi's origins and the crusade against the Cathars. These flashbacks appear intermittently throughout the book, appearing more frequently as Lia learns or begins to suspect more and more about these three men, ramping up the intrigue and suspense.
In Another Life is the kind of romantic and mysterious read that gives you tingles even from the start. You know, that feeling that tells you you're embarking on a fabulous fictional journey.
Lia's research on the Cathars hits a bit too close to home, though, when she begins to think there might just be merit to their belief in reincarnation. Especially when she meets and falls for Raoul Arango, a mysterious winemaker who reminds her of her husband.
Raoul doesn't belong in Lia's time. And neither do two other acquaintances in Lia's life. But how and why they've traveled through the centuries to become entwined in her story is something even they don't know. And so it's up to Lia to figure it out.
This may be Julie Christine Johnson's debut, but you'd never know it. She writes with an assuredness that makes In Another Life quite an enjoyable adventure!
Lia is sure to capture your heart pretty immediately. When the story begins it's been eighteen months since her husband Gabriel died in a tragic accident. In Languedoc. In spite of that, or because of it, France is still where she feels most comfortable. Plus, it's the heart of Cathar history and she's been understandably unable to focus on finishing her dissertation.
Cathar history is fascinating! I think it's been on the periphery of other things I've read but it's not something I know much about at all. It's a wonderful and somewhat unique element here considering the way Julie Christine Johnson uses it to tell her tale. She weaves that history into the story quite smoothly, taking the reader back to 1208 with Roaul, Lucas, and Jordi's origins and the crusade against the Cathars. These flashbacks appear intermittently throughout the book, appearing more frequently as Lia learns or begins to suspect more and more about these three men, ramping up the intrigue and suspense.
In Another Life is the kind of romantic and mysterious read that gives you tingles even from the start. You know, that feeling that tells you you're embarking on a fabulous fictional journey.
ibeeeg's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book simply based on the description and cover; my interest was piqued. I do love historical fiction especially ones that weave past and present together. I also appreciate romance within the pages when it is done well; when it's not the driving element of the story. I was hopeful, and my hope wasn't entirely misplaced.
In Another Life delivered a twisting plot with a part of history that I am not familiar with - the Cathartic crusades of 1208 in the Languedoc region of France. While I did like learning about this time in history, the details were hard to keep track of, far too much information thrown my way in order for me to have a good grasp of it all. I am typically not a detailed oriented reader so for the details to bother me is a testament to the amount given. The story started to speak to me - I started to enjoy it - once I made a consciousness decision to not concern myself with all the details packed into a small space. I did not come away from this book with a firm grasp on the Cathartic crusades, but I am at least now familiar.
As the history is revealed, grief, love, forgiveness, and redemption are dealt. So, what about the characters? Well, I liked them. At first, I was bit concerned about Lia. I mean, walking around naked in her newly rented house and then seeing a strange man at her window (while she was naked) and not once did she freak out; she never freaked out about that experience! Hmmm. I was like "Uh-oh! This better not be a story driven by sex with the covering of romance." To my huge relief, it was not. Lia did redeem herself, she is intelligent and I liked how she handled her grief while realizing the need to move forward. Raoul intrigued me while Lucas flashed the warning signs "beware". All in all, I really did like the characters and how they interacted. I am a huge sucker for time-travel/ reincarnation, what have you, where characters from the past and present meet or are in some magical way deeply entwined. But I do wish they were developed more, and the relationships deepened.
The ending, I must say, left me sort of hanging, I was like "Wait! No. Wait! That wasn't how it was suppose to work out, but okay, I guess the way it did work out is for the better. But still."
Bottom line: The first thought that came to mind when I read the last line In Another Life - this was a good story. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I do wish the relationships were deepened, but I am good with how they were.
In Another Life delivered a twisting plot with a part of history that I am not familiar with - the Cathartic crusades of 1208 in the Languedoc region of France. While I did like learning about this time in history, the details were hard to keep track of, far too much information thrown my way in order for me to have a good grasp of it all. I am typically not a detailed oriented reader so for the details to bother me is a testament to the amount given. The story started to speak to me - I started to enjoy it - once I made a consciousness decision to not concern myself with all the details packed into a small space. I did not come away from this book with a firm grasp on the Cathartic crusades, but I am at least now familiar.
As the history is revealed, grief, love, forgiveness, and redemption are dealt. So, what about the characters? Well, I liked them. At first, I was bit concerned about Lia. I mean, walking around naked in her newly rented house and then seeing a strange man at her window (while she was naked) and not once did she freak out; she never freaked out about that experience! Hmmm. I was like "Uh-oh! This better not be a story driven by sex with the covering of romance." To my huge relief, it was not. Lia did redeem herself, she is intelligent and I liked how she handled her grief while realizing the need to move forward. Raoul intrigued me while Lucas flashed the warning signs "beware". All in all, I really did like the characters and how they interacted. I am a huge sucker for time-travel/ reincarnation, what have you, where characters from the past and present meet or are in some magical way deeply entwined. But I do wish they were developed more, and the relationships deepened.
The ending, I must say, left me sort of hanging, I was like "Wait! No. Wait! That wasn't how it was suppose to work out, but okay, I guess the way it did work out is for the better. But still."
Bottom line: The first thought that came to mind when I read the last line In Another Life - this was a good story. I enjoyed this one more than I thought I would. I do wish the relationships were deepened, but I am good with how they were.
jessreadthis's review against another edition
3.0
It was a great story with, in my opinion, a completely unsatisfactory ending. So much buildup to a rushed, incomplete, and lackluster finale. I was left feeling an injustice was done to all the characters. Great writing and storytelling. I think the author has a nice style.
historynerd04's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars.
I loved the author’s other book, The Crows of Beara, so I was particularly excited about reading this title. Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me like The Crows of Beara did, despite it falling in my wheelhouse of likes: history, a lost religion, reincarnation, and a historian main character. I can’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t like this one as much, but the structure and the way the narrative veered back and forth between past and present didn’t help.
Having said that, this was still a decent enough read. And given that The Crows of Beara was such a revelation for me, I’ll read anything else this author writes.
I loved the author’s other book, The Crows of Beara, so I was particularly excited about reading this title. Unfortunately, this one didn’t grab me like The Crows of Beara did, despite it falling in my wheelhouse of likes: history, a lost religion, reincarnation, and a historian main character. I can’t quite put my finger on why I didn’t like this one as much, but the structure and the way the narrative veered back and forth between past and present didn’t help.
Having said that, this was still a decent enough read. And given that The Crows of Beara was such a revelation for me, I’ll read anything else this author writes.
lesread's review against another edition
4.0
You can check out my entire review HERE along with some extra content like an AUTHOR INTERVIEW!
REVIEW:
I love how In Another Life seems like it’s just an ordinary story about a brokenhearted woman, getting a hold on her life again, yet our main lady Lia gets tossed into a crazy blast from the past. My mind was reeling along with hers.
Starting off, I had trouble getting into this book, even though the author wrote beautifully. Truthfully, I blame that on being in a reading slump because once I picked up the book, I didn’t want to put it down. Halfway through, the plot in this novel became explosive, and I read the final third of In Another Life in one day because I could not stop reading!
The scenes from the 1200s were a great example of how an author should show the reader what’s happening, and not just tell them. I was thoroughly intrigued by these men and why they were stuck as reincarnations in current day Languedoc, France. The ending wrapped things up quite well. I was satisfied with my discoveries, and my mind boggled at how the author was able to orchestrate such a twisting plot.
In Another Life made me want to relax with a warm beverage every time I picked it up, and I escaped to the beautiful, mysterious landscapes of Languedoc. I haven’t been in a historical romance mood lately because I read a couple crappy ones, but In Another Life washed that bitter taste out of my mouth.
I can definitely recommend In Another Life, and say… This is a DARN GOOD debut novel!
DISCLAIMER: I requested a copy of this book, and received one (from the publicist/SourceBooks) for free in exchange for my honest review/promotion.
REVIEW:
I love how In Another Life seems like it’s just an ordinary story about a brokenhearted woman, getting a hold on her life again, yet our main lady Lia gets tossed into a crazy blast from the past. My mind was reeling along with hers.
“She'd drifted through a life that had no rails to grasp for balance."
Starting off, I had trouble getting into this book, even though the author wrote beautifully. Truthfully, I blame that on being in a reading slump because once I picked up the book, I didn’t want to put it down. Halfway through, the plot in this novel became explosive, and I read the final third of In Another Life in one day because I could not stop reading!
The scenes from the 1200s were a great example of how an author should show the reader what’s happening, and not just tell them. I was thoroughly intrigued by these men and why they were stuck as reincarnations in current day Languedoc, France. The ending wrapped things up quite well. I was satisfied with my discoveries, and my mind boggled at how the author was able to orchestrate such a twisting plot.
"A roasted goose rested on top of the stove, the gold brown skin of one leg poking from underneath the loose cover of foil."
In Another Life made me want to relax with a warm beverage every time I picked it up, and I escaped to the beautiful, mysterious landscapes of Languedoc. I haven’t been in a historical romance mood lately because I read a couple crappy ones, but In Another Life washed that bitter taste out of my mouth.
I can definitely recommend In Another Life, and say… This is a DARN GOOD debut novel!
DISCLAIMER: I requested a copy of this book, and received one (from the publicist/SourceBooks) for free in exchange for my honest review/promotion.
literaryloquacity's review against another edition
3.0
In Another Life was a slightly challenging read, as you're dealing with an 800-year timeline, constant movement of the characters in a geographic sense, AND a conspiracy-theory type mystery on top of that. If you're really detail-oriented, you may want to read a little history on the Cathars before you read this book, and you'll definitely want to reference the map that Julie Christine Johnson has included at the front of the book.
While the main characters were clearly defined (their eye color, in particular, was detailed almost repetitively), it was a struggle to keep some of the peripheral characters organized, particularly those who are part of the earlier timeline in 1208 and have foreign names. It was a smaller struggle to keep the locations straight, as Johnson does provide the map; but even still, it was a challenge. The storyline itself was, at times, hard to follow, because there were so many locations (see the map), bouncing around in time, and the mystery that is being solved. There is a lot going on. There were possibly some loose ends; it was hard to tell. I might have been reading into it too much by that point.
All of this being said, it was still an enjoyable read!
While the main characters were clearly defined (their eye color, in particular, was detailed almost repetitively), it was a struggle to keep some of the peripheral characters organized, particularly those who are part of the earlier timeline in 1208 and have foreign names. It was a smaller struggle to keep the locations straight, as Johnson does provide the map; but even still, it was a challenge. The storyline itself was, at times, hard to follow, because there were so many locations (see the map), bouncing around in time, and the mystery that is being solved. There is a lot going on. There were possibly some loose ends; it was hard to tell. I might have been reading into it too much by that point.
All of this being said, it was still an enjoyable read!
paigicus's review against another edition
1.0
On the front cover of my paperback copy there was a quote that said it was "evocative of Outlander." I really wish it hadn't said that....I set my expectations far, far too high for this piece of crap. The plot made no sense and the characters had no depth. By the end I just didn't have enough left in me to even care. Skimmed it just to have it be over.