[Review] The Witch of Painted Sorrows--M.J. Rose

I first discovered M.J. Rose through her wonderful Reincarnationist series. Her new novel is another great read combining elements of the supernatural with romance and obsession. Set in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, the story centers on Sandrine, who has fled an abusive husband in New York to be with her grandmother, an elegant courtesan who she hopes will help her start her life over. When Sandrine arrives in Paris, however, she finds her grandmother’s warm and magical Maison La Lune closed up for “repairs” and her grandmother strangely unwilling to discuss her true reasons for vacating the house. Curious, Sandrine shows up there unannounced and meets Julien, the handsome architect her grandmother has hired. Though she is still married and Julien is engaged, they begin a clandestine relationship that involves a shared passion for art. But as Sandrine spends more and more time in the vacant house with her lover, she encounters the spirit of her ancestor La Lune, a witch who was betrayed by the man she loved and now seeks to possess Sandrine in the same way she has possessed other women in her family over the years. 

Although I thought it started out a bit slow, once the story picked up I could not put it down. Another winner from M.J. Rose! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with this ARC for review.