People have claimed to have supernatural abilities for years. Many books have been written featuring different aspects of the supernatural. Amanda Quick explored some supernatural elements in Victorian England in her new book Second Sight (An Arcane Society Novel).

Venetia Milton was working as a photographer to support her maiden aunt and younger brother and sister after her parents died. Venetia was old enough to be considered a spinster by society. She was offered a job photographing the relics and artifacts at Arcane House. The house was owned by The Arcane Society, a group that investigated and studied supernatural things. Venetia was alone at the house with a few servants and Gabriel Jones, a descendant of the alchemist that had originally formed the society two hundred years before. Venetia was attracted to Gabriel and saw her chance for a night of passion. After she was back home, she read a small article in the paper about his death. She had been planning to move to London with her family and claim she was a widow to give a photography business respectability in the eyes of polite society. Venetia decides to use the last name of Jones as a tribute to Gabriel. Her life was greatly complicated when Gabriel turned up in London very much alive. He believed that Venetia was in danger from someone who was willing to kill to get an artifact that was in the Arcane Society’s collection. They kept up the charade in society that they were married while working together and using their special abilities to try to discover who the killer was.

Second Sight (An Arcane Society Novel) was a historical romantic suspense book like all of Amanda Quick’s books have been. It wasn’t said specifically what year it was taking place in, though it did say it was late in the reign of Queen Victoria. At one point it was mentioned that Venetia had considered trying electric lights for lighting her studio, which did help more to establish the time period of the book. It was set in a time when women had few rights and respectable women didn’t usually have any sort of career. It is normal for the main woman character in a Quick book to manage to get around the standards of society and do things most women didn’t at that time. Quick’s books have taken place in different time periods but all have been set in England. Different aspects of life in the time period of the book would be described. I usually enjoy those things that are added in.

Gabriel and his cousin Caleb had spent a lot of time searching for the hidden laboratory of the man who had first formed the Arcane Society. Their family continued to have a strong presence in the society. According to his papers, the alchemist had been working on a formula that he believed would be very important. Someone learned about the formula and was willing to kill to get it. Venetia was in danger because of her connection to Gabriel. They had to work together to try to figure out who the killer was. That did add some mystery and suspense to the book. I thought it was interesting and I was never bored with the book. I did think the mystery could have been a little bit stronger. There was some suspense in some of the book that helped to keep things interesting.

Second Sight (An Arcane Society Novel) isn’t the first Amanda Quick book to deal with the supernatural. Wait Until Midnight dealt with mediums and a few of her other books dealt with other supernatural elements. Venetia and Gabriel both had different unique abilities that helped in throughout the book. She could see people’s auras and he could pick on if something violent had happened in a place or if an object was involved in a violent act. The Arcane Society was mentioned several times throughout the book, without too much about it being shared. It did say on the cover of the book - but not on the title page - that this was an Arcane Society book, and her website says this is the first book in a series. I would like to find out more about the society in future books. I did enjoy the supernatural elements that were included in the book. I thought they were very interesting.

Venetia and Gabriel hadn’t known each other that long when the first chapter of the book started. She’d spent a few days working at the Arcane Society before her first appearance. She had been there long enough to decide that she was attracted to Gabriel and wanted to have sex with him even though she didn’t know him that well. Gabriel was also attracted to her, though he said a few things that hinted that he was interested in a more serious relationship. Their relationship faced some problems and complications, mostly because Venetia had thought he was dead for a while. There were a few sexual situations and sex scenes in the book. The scenes were descriptive without being graphic. Their relationship was important to the plot though it didn’t detract from the mystery. The romance aspect has been stronger in older Amanda Quick books. The sex scenes were more descriptive in those earlier books. Her last several books have had stronger mysteries instead.

Venetia was a very strong, independent woman that could be stubborn. That type of woman character isn’t common in historical romances, or at least not in some of the other historical romances that I’ve read. She had a strong sense of responsibility to her family. She was a talented photographer and saw that as her way to support her family. She believed that some people did have supernatural abilities since she was able to see auras. She tended to keep that to herself. Her aunt Beatrice and sister Amelia did things to help with the business. Her brother Edward was too young to be involved with that.

Gabriel had joined the society because his father expected him too. He kept to himself a lot and didn’t share much about his special ability with others. He had some doubts connected to that ability. He was interested in the work the society did and had spent a lot of time working to find the hidden laboratory of the founder. He had been attracted to Venetia when she was working at Arcane House and he was aware of her interest in him. He had more in mind for their relationship than just one night. Once he learned that Venetia had used his name and claimed to be a widow, he was sure she would be in danger and set out to protect her. He was very nice to her family, especially Edward. Caleb was Gabriel’s cousin. Caleb had worked with Gabriel to find the laboratory. Caleb was only in a few of the scenes.

Amanda Quick is the name that writer Jayne Ann Krentz uses for the historical romantic suspense books she writes. I didn’t know they were the same person until after I had read several of the Quick books. I now have read all of those books and get the new ones when they are published. I have also read and enjoyed many of the Krentz books as well. Both groups of books share the same writing style and feature very strong female characters. Really the only difference is that the Quick books are set in the past and the Krentz books are contemporary. People that like the books of one author may also like the others since they are actually the same person.

Second Sight (An Arcane Society Novel) was an entertaining, enjoyable book. People that enjoy historical romances may also enjoy it, though Quick’s books are a bit different from most historical romances. Fans of Amanda Quick should pick it up.

I would like to thank the Book CLs for adding this book to the database so I could review it.

www.jayneannkrentz.com

Amanda Quick Book Reviews
Deception ~ Don't Look Back ~ Late for the Wedding ~ The Paid Companion ~ Wait Until Midnight ~ Lie by Moonlight ~



Recommended: Yes