My rating:
add to my books
Loading...
Sepulchre (Languedoc Trilogy #2)
by
Kate Mosse
From the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Labyrinth comes another haunting tale of secrets, murder, and the occult set in both nineteenth-century and twenty-first-century France.
I n 1891, young Léonie Vernier and her brother Anatole arrive in the beautiful town of Rennes-les-Bains, in southwest France. Theyve come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, w...more
I n 1891, young Léonie Vernier and her brother Anatole arrive in the beautiful town of Rennes-les-Bains, in southwest France. Theyve come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, w...more
Hardcover, 565 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Putnam Adult
(first published 2007)
There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!
sign in »
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
6,571)
A Great Audio Book
Since I listened to snippets of this book over a couple of weeks commuting here and there,I can't testify to the writing as much as to the well-read presentation of the audiobook. I enjoyed the novel's 1890s sections more than the present-day story that overlaps setting and plot. Many times I lifted an eyebrow at the contrived plot or why characters did what they did, but the book kept me engaged enough that even when I wasn't in the car, I sometimes thought of the ...more
Since I listened to snippets of this book over a couple of weeks commuting here and there,I can't testify to the writing as much as to the well-read presentation of the audiobook. I enjoyed the novel's 1890s sections more than the present-day story that overlaps setting and plot. Many times I lifted an eyebrow at the contrived plot or why characters did what they did, but the book kept me engaged enough that even when I wasn't in the car, I sometimes thought of the ...more
Thank goodness it's over.
Léonie has to be one of the most irritating female characters I've read in a while: she wants to be considered an adult (being a 17-year-old girl in France in 1891) and yet consistently behaves like a child. When she is caught and (rightly) chided, she throws a tantrum worthy of a toddler. Every time, up until the last 50 or so pages, only a chapter is devoted to her actual emotion growth--which would have made a far more interesting story. Even Léonie's aunt ...more
Léonie has to be one of the most irritating female characters I've read in a while: she wants to be considered an adult (being a 17-year-old girl in France in 1891) and yet consistently behaves like a child. When she is caught and (rightly) chided, she throws a tantrum worthy of a toddler. Every time, up until the last 50 or so pages, only a chapter is devoted to her actual emotion growth--which would have made a far more interesting story. Even Léonie's aunt ...more
view all 4 comments
Although I found Labyrinth a bit of a struggle, I enjoyed the basic idea of it (two stories, seperated by time, linked in mysterious ways). Which is lucky, as this is more of the same, but - in my humble opinion - better written and more compelling. Gone is Labyrinth's constant repetition - that, I imagine, was symbolic of the story repeating through the ages but which, quite frankly, got on my nerves.
France is gloriously and passionately evoked, and the characters of the 1891 story ...more
France is gloriously and passionately evoked, and the characters of the 1891 story ...more
This one has a good story even though some of the characters are annoying and what happens to them would have been completely avoidable had it not been for their own stupidity. One such matter is how one of the main characters, Leonie, is treated like a child but tries to prove she is not a child by asserting her independence, and then is berated for "acting like a child." No, she is acting like a young woman who has not been told her family is in mortal danger.
Also, Kate Moss...more
Also, Kate Moss...more
The things I didn't like about this book far oughtweighed the good that there was in it for me, I liked how it was based around a fictional tarot, characters included a violinist and an archaeologist (I like reading about what I do, then who doesn't?). I got it in easons on the 7.99 table on the premise of it being cheap, & that I liked the idea of it. Quelle erreur! the description at the back was misleading.
Characters contradiciting themselves frequently; there were many instance...more
Characters contradiciting themselves frequently; there were many instance...more
What a disappointment! I bought this at Heathrow for the flight back from the UK full of high hopes and anticipation. I raced through Mosse's first page-turner, Labyrinth, in a couple of days last year. It was a brilliant evocation of personal drama during the religious wars of ancient times, coupled with an archeological dig in the modern era. With the Grail legend thrown in for good measure. At the end, the connection between the two intercalated stories was a tad improbable, but never mi...more
I am one third into the book and am pretty sure that I will finish it. But I have to say that at the moment all the characters are pretty one dimensional and not particularly interesting. Mosse is more apt at describing what the characters are wearing than giving them flesh as real human beings. I am not convinced. I enjoyed Labyrinth, fine for a short weekend of relaxation. Sepulchre so far is not up to that standard.
Finished the book now. It is passable, but not a book I would rec...more
Finished the book now. It is passable, but not a book I would rec...more
Sue Harris
added it
This is the first book I have read by Kate Mosse so didn't really know what to expect. I'm interested in anything out of the ordinary i.e. Tarot cards, fate etc. so this was definately my cup of tea! Although saying that, at first, I felt that it was a bit like reading a French Dictionary. The author would be writing away in English and then suddenly a french word would pop up and I would wonder why, for example "He wore a 'bleu' shirt" which in most cases I found quite unnecessary. I ...more
Hayley Lamb
added it
After reading, and really enjoying, Mosse's first novel, Labyrinth, I was worried about Sepulchre being too similar to hold my interest. However, whilst set in the same location and written in the same style i.e. two stories intertwined, one from the past, the other from the present, I found Sepulchre to be an enjoyable read, if not quite as good as Labyrinth. I loved the era she chose to set it in and the characters in the past were all captivating and I really enjoyed their story, if a little ...more
Ok - The last book was a success, so lets repeat the formula - time sleep novel, fate is pre-ordained, mystery, ghosts, historical fiction, carcassonne, myths etc.
In the past - we have Leonie - 17 years old and her brother Anatole. they are in Paris at the turn of the century at a staged funeral.
The early stages of the book are exceptional - the riots at a musical performance and beautifully evoked but by the the time you finish this behemoth, you will have forgotten them.
...more
In the past - we have Leonie - 17 years old and her brother Anatole. they are in Paris at the turn of the century at a staged funeral.
The early stages of the book are exceptional - the riots at a musical performance and beautifully evoked but by the the time you finish this behemoth, you will have forgotten them.
...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I truly believe in fate. I found this book when I was looking for something great to read and I got it almost for free! The story was fantastic and the cover was excellent...
~
Λοιπόν. Τί να πρωτοπώ γι' αυτό το βιβλίο? Το βρήκα εντελώς τυχαία στο σουπερ μάρκετ μονο 5€. Στην αρχη θεώρησα ότι για να είναι τόσο φθηνό θα είναι καμιά μπαρούφα. (Πριν καταχωρήσω το βιβλίο εδώ, είδα ότι κανονικά κοστίζει 25,48€ !!) Όμως με "τράβηξε" το εξώφυλλο και η περίληψη στο τέλος του βιβλ...more
~
Λοιπόν. Τί να πρωτοπώ γι' αυτό το βιβλίο? Το βρήκα εντελώς τυχαία στο σουπερ μάρκετ μονο 5€. Στην αρχη θεώρησα ότι για να είναι τόσο φθηνό θα είναι καμιά μπαρούφα. (Πριν καταχωρήσω το βιβλίο εδώ, είδα ότι κανονικά κοστίζει 25,48€ !!) Όμως με "τράβηξε" το εξώφυλλο και η περίληψη στο τέλος του βιβλ...more
Cara Byrne
added it
This is the first book I have read by Kate Mosse so didn't really know what to expect. I'm interested in anything out of the ordinary i.e. Tarot cards, fate etc. so this was definately my cup of tea! Although saying that, at first, I felt that it was a bit like reading a French Dictionary. The author would be writing away in English and then suddenly a french word would pop up and I would wonder why, for example "He wore a 'bleu' shirt" which in most cases I found quite unnecessary. I ...more
Want to comment on this review or read more of mine? Please go to www.emsun.org. Thanks!
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse was handed to me by my brother last week when I was lamenting not having enough books to read. Immediately I was drawn in by the cover. Red and gold with swirls and points, it looks like an old rust-covered gold-leafed plaque. There is a symbol on the front, mysterious to me, and on the inside covers are tarot cards. That's it. I'm in.
It took me a little while ...more
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse was handed to me by my brother last week when I was lamenting not having enough books to read. Immediately I was drawn in by the cover. Red and gold with swirls and points, it looks like an old rust-covered gold-leafed plaque. There is a symbol on the front, mysterious to me, and on the inside covers are tarot cards. That's it. I'm in.
It took me a little while ...more
Just finding out that this is the second in a series...a bit frustrating. I'm just in the 200s pages - and am still uncertain as to where this is headed. I'm a bit worried that it might be a bit scarier than I thought'd be. Woo hoo!
I enjoyed the book - wasn't scary, though, but still a good read! NOW - I'll be reading the first book of the series. :)
I enjoyed the book - wasn't scary, though, but still a good read! NOW - I'll be reading the first book of the series. :)
Okay. I would not have picked up this book, except for the fact that I'm currently in Cambodia and reading materials are thin on the ground, so one is forced to make do with whatever crosses one's path.
First of, be warned that this book contains a beautiful heroine whose "silken hair" falls to her "slender waist" - I generally take beautiful, slender-waisted, silken-haired heroines as a warning that there will be very little character development. Also that the wri...more
First of, be warned that this book contains a beautiful heroine whose "silken hair" falls to her "slender waist" - I generally take beautiful, slender-waisted, silken-haired heroines as a warning that there will be very little character development. Also that the wri...more
Kate Mosse writes about France, and noteably about historical France, and what could be more appropriate? Living in France, history is an unavoidable fact of life mostly taken for granted by the French. So, I'm right on Kate's page with her desire to portray life in France of days gone by, mixed up with some contemporary daily life. She also adds in a dose of the mystical which is also quite present in rural French life. evry village has it's "rebouteux" or "conjureur du feu"...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I have to admit I am a bit overwhelmed with writing my review of Sepulchre by Kate Mosse. Luckily I am on vacation so I have all the time I need to give it a go. Sepulchre is over 735 pages long not including the Reader's Notes and Sepulchre Tour pages. Very daunting number of pages to any reader I should imagine...and then writing a credible review that encompasses all the themes...well you can see why I'm daunted! The book was very seductive though and breezed by on a tense plot, shortish chap...more
Sepulcher is a good book. I was part way through before I realized it was part two of a series, but I suspect it won't matter. As horror (the way some categorize it) it falls flat, but as a supernaturally influenced suspense and gothic novel, it is successful indeed. I liked the past / present interplay, though I thought the connection was a little forced at the end. Both Leonie and Meredith were engaging, making me anticipate the return to each woman's respective time period. I applaud Mosse fo...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I gave this book a 2, although maybe a 2.5 as, in comparison to Labyrinth and Winter Ghosts, I was not nearly as aggravated by the style and characters. By the way, although the books are touted as a trilogy they are really unrelated except for location and, what some others have called, time-slip. So the order read, or even not reading at all, is no actual loss to the reader. In fact, this story itself was weakened by the forced inclusion of the entire time-slip attempt, as there was plenty ...more
Não li o primeiro volume desta trilogia. Li boas críticas sobre ele mas, não sei muito bem porquê, não me chamou a atenção, ou não se sobrepôs a outros títulos que à época lhe faziam concorrência na minha lista de livros a adquirir. Não senti que tal fosse indispensável para a leitura deste segundo volume, fiquei, isso sim, com uma tremenda vontade de ler o primeiro quando treminei esta leitura.
Neste livro há muitas histórias que se entrelaçam, formando uma espécie de tapeçaria que permite...more
Neste livro há muitas histórias que se entrelaçam, formando uma espécie de tapeçaria que permite...more
I'm sorry, but this is a bad book. I have tried not to be influenced by the audio version I have been listening to, with phoney French accents and sprinkled with Americanisms, even though by a British writer, but it doesn't work. Which is a pity, because one feels it could have been much better. The book is probably 3 times longer than it should be. The characters are thin and stereotyped, one never feels one has got to know them as people. I never felt worried or concerned about what was goi...more
I love stories like this one - stories told over centuries, using common places, families, or even objects. When I read Kate Mosse's Labyrinth a couple of years ago I really enjoyed it, so I was excited to get my hands on Sepulchre. Kate Mosse is a master at creating a haunting, atmospheric novel and this was no exception.
Sepulchre is not for everyone. This is a dense peice of historical fiction, not at all like the fluffier HF that seems to have flooded the book market in the last f...more
Sepulchre is not for everyone. This is a dense peice of historical fiction, not at all like the fluffier HF that seems to have flooded the book market in the last f...more
Have you ever heard/read of the word "juddered"? Not jetted, not jarred, not shuddered... "juddered." Used in the context of this novel (and it was used twice), it was something like "juddered to a halt." Now... I've never seen this word before, but it certainly made me judder to a halt. Though Dictionary.com suggests "judder" means "to vibrate violently," which means I'm not quite sure it means what Mosse wanted it to mean, but if anyone has...more
This book has the same problems I had with her first book, Labrynith. It's somewhat slow and not even that interesting in the middle...the classic sagging middle, I guess. The characters seem one dimensional, almost rooting for the bad guy to make it more interesting, but he was also very one dimensional. But I did read through the whole book, hoping for a good ending that would make up for the slowness, but it didn't pan out that way.
This "bestseller" title is so puzzling ...more
This "bestseller" title is so puzzling ...more
Octobre 1891 : la jeune Léonie Vernier et son frère Anatole quittent Paris pour le Domaine de la Cade, à quelques kilomètres de Carcassonne. Dans les bois qui entourent la maison isolée, Léonie tombe par hasard sur les vestiges d'un sépulcre Wisigoth. Tandis qu'elle progresse peu à peu dans les strates du passé, elle découvre l'existence d'un jeu de tarot dont on prétend qu'il détient les pouvoirs de vie et de mort.
Octobre 2007 : Meredith Martin arpente les contreforts pyrénéens dans le bu...more
Octobre 2007 : Meredith Martin arpente les contreforts pyrénéens dans le bu...more
I couldn’t help but compare Kate Mosse’s Sepulchre to its predecessor Labyrinth and find it lacking. Like Labyrinth, Sepulchre is a time-slip narrative set in Southern France, centering on two women separated by time but with interlinked destinies. Unfortunately, that’s where the similarities end. Unlike Alais and Alice, the captivating parallel heroines of Labyrinth, Sepulchre’s Leonie and Meredith are insubstantial and annoying. Likewise, compared to the fascinating religious and politic...more
This is a great book if you want something light and page-turning if you go on holiday to the south of France. If you're not, then don't bother. The description on the back is far more interesting than what you encounter inside the pages. Also, I found the author has a very awkward and cringe-worthy way of writing that really managed to get on my nerves very quickly. It's fine if you're writing from the point-of-view of a character from a different country than yourself (the main character is Am...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Read Labyrinth First? | 5 | 30 | Jun 03, 2011 10:16pm | |
| Historical detective fiction | 1 | 10 | Sep 03, 2008 10:46pm |
Readers Also Enjoyed
Kate Mosse is an English author and broadcaster. She is the author of a novel, Labyrinth, which has been translated into more than 37 other languages.
-Wikipedia
More about Kate Mosse...
-Wikipedia
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“One cannot always marry the person one loves...”
—
5 people liked it
“There is no pattern the human mind can devise that does not exist already within the bounds of nature...Everything we do, see, write, notate, all are an echo of the deep seams of the universe. Music is the invisible world made visible through sound.”
—
2 people liked it
More quotes…
