A Short Review of Mother of Souls, by Heather Rose Jones

Mother of Souls by Heather Rose Jones

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Viva Alpennia!
I can only hope there are more tales of this country somewhere between France and Switzerland, a realm of magic, a magic of the Mysteries, woven by words and music and gems and the evocation of saints and other powers.

Serafina Talarico has traveled across Europe to study with Margerit Sovitre, the Royal Thaumaturgist, to find a place for her own mystical talents that don't seem to fit in with traditional practices. But Serafina doesn't find a place in Margerit's circle of scholars: she "can perceive, but not evoke, the mystical forces of the Mysteries of the Saints and even Margerit can't awaken her talents." Then Serafina finds a place to stay with Luzie Valorin, a music teacher and composer. In Luzie's music there is power to "rival the Mysteries, and Serafina alone has the vision to guide her talents" (back cover).

Can Serafina help Luzie fulfill her ambition to "write an opera on the life of the medieval philosopher, Tanfrit?" (back cover). Can this opera release the sorcery that has created an "malevolent storm," a storm choking the mountains in ice, preventing the life-giving spring waters from flowing down?

Jones' world-building is deft and sure and complete, as are the characters that inhabit this world.
While reading the first two in the series does help in understanding who the characters are and how they are connected, and Alpennia's magic works, this novel does stand alone.

Recommended indeed.



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