What do readers think of The Secret Language of Stones by M. J. Rose? Write your own review.

Paris, 1918: the long world war is finally drawing to an end, and Opaline Duplessi, a young apprentice to a Russian emigre jeweler, prays for an end to the suffering which she encounters all too closely. Opaline is a lithomancer, whose powers are concentrated through precious stones. She fashions mourning talismans for mothers, sisters and wives who have lost loved ones in battle. After she places something belonging to the departed in a piece of jewelry she creates, Opaline receives messages to pass along to the bereaved. Once the messages are delivered, Opaline hears no more from the dead, until one day she has an encounter with the tortured spirit of a young commander who blames himself for the loss of his entire unit in battle. An enduring connection begins, which leads Opaline into a new realm of adventure, both in the physical world and in the realm of the mind and spirit. Set against the background of the Great War and the Russian Revolution, M.J. Rose's novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction and romance, especially those interested in occult phenomena. The characters are intriguing and well-drawn, and the author skillfully evokes the atmosphere of mystery, danger and romance of the Palais Royal. If the occult aspects of the story seem a bit over the top at times, the story is gripping enough to keep the reader engaged until the final denouement which occurs in the epilogue.

Once again M. J. Rose takes her readers to Paris--this time towards the end of the First World War. Once again she takes us deeper into the world of the occult by introducing us to lithomancy, the art of reading the past, present or future through gemstones. Opaline Duplessi is a jewelry designer who makes mourning jewelry for women who have lost sons, brothers or lovers in the war. Using the gemstones, she becomes aware that she has the gift of hearing messages from beyond the grave and the ability go bring comfort and closure to the women who come to buy one of her pieces. Then, one day, one of these "ghost" soldiers has a message that he communicates directly to her.

Startled, Opaline begins reassessing the validity of her gift. In spite of her doubts, she begins an intense love affair with her "beyond the grave" soldier and loses all interest in any possible relationship with any living men. To add to the action, Opaline is asked to create a piece of mourning jewelry for the exiled dowager empress of Russia who is desperate to learn what happened to her Romanov family. In agreeing to this mission, Opaline opens herself up to a very dangerous adventure.

If you're an M. J. Rose fan, this book will not disappoint. It's filled with plots, secrets, and other-worldly experiences that will keep you turning pages. If you're new to M. J. Rose, this book is a good way to introduce yourself to her writing!

I love to be transported to far away lands especially Romantic Paris at the turn of the century. This book is a historical romance, a mystery and great character development of a strong minded woman. Thoroughly enjoyable and a page turner. I highly recommend it!

M J Rose writes a compelling story involving mysticism and a love affair between Opaline and Jean Luc. It is a fast read with many twists and turns. I wished that the author would have focused a bit more on the jewelry making process that Opaline was famous for.

I have read several of MJ Rose's novels, and reviewed The Witch of Painted Sorrows for Bookbrowse. I was originally drawn to this book because I love historical fiction, and in this novel the Romanov dynasty features prominently, and have a vast knowledge of gems and their history. I loved the gemstone references throughout and the first hand feeling of Parisian life and sacrifices during the Great War. MJ Rose has a knack of making you comfortable from the start, relaxing the reader into the story and keeping you interested until the end. While I loved the storyline surrounding the main character's lithomancy and her magical family history, I found the romantic passages long and tedious. Absent those affected segments that, for me, interrupted the flow of this story, this book would have been much more spellbinding.

This book was a good read and would be a good selection for a book club. However, I found it predictable at times and strugled to read it. I do agree that it was suspenseful at best and she is a good writer of this genre.

An enjoyable mix of historical fiction, mysticism, art, jewelry making and relationships. The main character, Opaline, was believable and tied together these elements as she interacted with family, friends, clients and the men in her life. I was able to imagine her and the rest of the characters quite well. I also was able to feel myself in the locations through the author's descriptions.

The glimpse into life in Paris during the war in the early 1900 hundreds was well done. The author showed that everyday life still continued in spite of the impacts from the war. Although everything was changed, everything remained the same with day to day routines. I felt I was there. I could see and feel the city and the people. Well crafted descriptions.

The added twist of the mystical element was well done and believable. It added another layer to the story, making this more than just historical fiction. And given the Paris location with the added influence from Imperial Russia, it was just right. Stones and crystals do provide unique energies to the world. The use of them as jewels and as mystical talismans was fascinating. Using them as a linking element in the book worked well to support the storyline.

Overall, an enjoyable book. Not literary fiction, but solid fiction with a touch of history and romance.

"The Secret Language of Stones" is a engaging light read. Opaline is a compelling character, as she struggles to find herself, and accept her gift of lithomancy. Part love story, part thriller, this novel is a fun read.