The Reincarnationist by M.J. Rose

The Reincarnationist is the first in a series of books by M.J. Rose about reincarnation. I read it several months ago, but I held off reviewing it when I signed up to host a stop on M.J. Rose's blog tour for the second book in the series, The Memorist so I could review both books together. (Read my review of The Memorist and interview with M.J. Rose tomorrow!)

The Reincarnationist begins with photojournalist Josh Ryder experiencing memories of someone else's life in fourth-century Rome after he was injured in a terrorist bombing. Uncertain why he is having visions from 1,600 years ago, he seeks the help of the Phoenix Foundation, an organization that aims to help children plagued by memories of past lives. Josh's quest to learn the meaning of these memories leads him to Gabriella Chase, an archaeologist who helped uncover a tomb where a pagan nun known as a Vestal Virgin was buried alive. I don't want to give too much away, but the story involves the hunt for memory stones, which are ancient jewels thought to bring the person who possesses them visions of all his/her past lives. The stones are very valuable; several people are after them in the book, and some would kill to have their powers.

M.J. Rose's fast-paced writing style draws you in from the first page, and she manages to weave a complex tale involving numerous characters in different periods of time without making it difficult to follow. Rose is brilliant at giving the right amount of information at the right time, which is perfect for someone like me who likes to be kept in suspense until the very end. While I personally do not believe in reincarnation, the storyline seems plausible, and Rose never forces a particular belief system on the reader.

I thought all of the characters were interesting and well developed, and each of their stories was intriguing. I particularly loved the story about Sabina, the Vestal Virgin in the tomb, and her forbidden affair with Julius, the pagan priest. Their story could have been a book on its own!

I've heard people compare The Reincarnationist to The Da Vinci Code, which I read quite awhile ago. I can see why such comparisons are made, specifically in the hunt for ancient relics that could change what people believe and put many lives in danger. Personally, though, I think The Reincarnationist is a better read, as Rose did a great job making me feel connected to the characters and pulling me right into the story. This wasn't a good book for me to read on the train/bus because I was so engrossed that I almost missed my stop on more than one occasion!

Read an excerpt of The Reincarnationist here.

The Reincarnationist also was reviewed by:

A Reader's Respite
You've GOTTA read this!

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I hope you all will come back tomorrow for my review of The Memorist, my interview with M.J. Rose, and a giveaway of two sets of the books!! "See" you then!

Disclosure:  I borrowed The Reincarnationist from the library.