Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows offers an intriguing premise with its blend of magic and adventure. I appreciated the imaginative worldbuilding and the unique magical system that drew me in. The characters have potential, but I found some of their development lacking, which made it hard to connect with them on a deeper level. Additionally, the pacing occasionally dragged, especially during the exposition-heavy sections, which disrupted the flow of the story.
Despite its flaws, the book has an engaging concept that kept me curious, and I can see it appealing to fans of fantasy looking for something new.

This is apparently the first in a series. It is the story of Sarah Fuller, wife and mother of two, who runs a very successful business based out of Manhattan. She has been married to her husband Carl for a long time and seems to have the perfect life. The story was plausible as far as time travel and time slip novels go. All her life she has been drawn to the Egyptian wing at the national museum and her husband throws her a surprise 40th birthday party there, she meets a man named Harry and all the lines blur. Next we meet Sarah in ancient Egypt she has many mystical abilities she is a part of the royal court unlike most royal families Sarah‘s also has intrigue and dangerous situations I love the way the author gave ancient Egypt Sarah similar ties to modern day Zara. I found the story very complex and on paper I should’ve absolutely loved the book I don’t know if it was the African setting but I just couldn’t get into this book despite the great detail the awesome romance. Thank you to the author/publisher

If you like stories having to do with reincarnation, magic, and history - and if you love that romance is thrown in - this is the book for you. I happen to love stories like this, especially the fact that the main character, Sarah, is a 40 year old woman who doesn't have it all put together. Sarah is a perfumer who has her own company in New York. She is married with twins and seems to be in the right place. However she isn't happy and can't figure out why she has been feeling off - with her marriage especially. When she celebrates her birthday and meets Harry, she feels like she has connected to someone special. A quick Tarot reading shows her she does indeed have some major things to discover about herself and she must make the decision to either run with it or let it go. This is the first part of the book - and the only reason I have given it 4 stars. There are two stories being told, one with Sarah and one with another woman from another time, Sarrah. I was at first confused but I caught on quickly.

Sarrah, who lives in Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs, is being introduced to court because she has magical abilities. The Pharaoh wants someone to help guide his son, Meti, and Sarrah is the perfect person. She not only can see what is to come but she can also manipulate events to work in Meti's favor. Once Meti and Sarrah connect, nothing can stop them. Until Sarrah begins to sense a connection with someone else.

The book goes back and forth between the stories and it does get a little convoluted. Once you catch onto the writing style, though, it begins to flow. I loved all of the Egyptian history and O'Hearn really knows how to create beautiful imagery. The tension is there throughout and I became immersed in all of it. I have to say that I could have had a book with just Sarrah's story but having both made it interesting. She connected both plots nicely at the end and I could easily read a sequel. I can't wait to see what O'Hearn writes next.

I rate this a 3.8/5, rounded up to 4 on goodreads. I loved the premise of this book. I wouldn’t say I love the book as a whole but I really liked it. It’s a combination of Romance, Historical Fiction and Suspense. What’s not to like. I also think there will be a sequel that I will look forward to.

I think this was an interesting read and I loved the concept but the pacing was off. I wish the author had named her character in ancient Egypt something else besides Sarrah.

I don't usually like dual timelines because I find that one isn't as well written as the other. That is not the case here. I was intrigued with both time periods. I enjoy books about reincarnation and Tarot. To have both included in the book along with magic and ancient Egypt was a mix that worked well. I'm looking forward to more in the series.

This was an interesting book with two great stories, however, I didn't like the way it was written. It starts with Sarah in current times and the author gives us a great story that draws you in immediately. Then, the book changes to Ancient Egypt and we get to know Zara and her perilous life. We also meet Harry/Hasan in both stories. Each time period was so well written and I loved each one. The problem is - that too much time was spent in each time period so it felt like I was reading two different books. If the author had given us a few chapters of one period then a few chapters of the other one, switching back & forth more often, I would have given this book 5 stars. But because there were too many chapters at a time, I got irritated by the "interruption” of the time period I was reading because I was deeply embedded. I would like to read the next one, but I'm hoping I don't get more of the same or I will quit reading it and that would be a shame.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.

As a first book in a series, O"Hearn does a great job of setting up the world, establishing characters, and setting up for what comes next. I enjoyed the weaving of past and present, the mystical elements, and the clearly well-researched history. I like the idea of the plot and look forward to reading what happens next.

I did think the pacing seemed off at times, and this hindered some of the enjoyment while reading. A few times the story was dragging, and I had to put the book down and come back to it later.
I also felt that some of the character development, particularly the supporting characters, was superficial.

Perfection on the Page

Sunday Fun Day! I am thrilled to declare that I've discovered a five-star gem. Words cannot express how much I relished this book. Already, I've earmarked three friends whom I must recommend it to. Yes, I'm that enthusiast—if something captivates me, you'll undoubtedly hear about it.

The tale opens with Sarah navigating a midlife crisis, further complicated by the arrival of a dark, mysterious stranger who triggers a sense of déjà vu. Her encounters with a psychic, who unveils her past as a Pharaoh’s lover and a mystic in ancient Egypt, infuse the narrative with layers of intrigue and fascination. Sarah's evolution from skeptic to believer is enthralling, albeit slightly hurried, driven by her profound longing to unravel her past.

O'Hearn's premise is spellbinding, deftly weaving together past and present lives to offer readers an immersive experience. The meticulously researched historical and mystical elements vividly depict ancient Egypt, enriching the storyline with depth and authenticity.

Nevertheless, the book does have its drawbacks. The pacing can be erratic, leading to moments where the plot loses momentum. Secondary character development, particularly of Sarah’s husband and best friend, feels somewhat shallow, often serving as mere plot devices rather than fully realized individuals. Admittedly, I found Sarah’s best friend more endearing than her husband, and the slower segments did little to detract from my overall enjoyment.

Sarah’s journey is undeniably compelling, yet her rapid acceptance of the psychic’s revelations may seem implausible at times. A deeper exploration of her internal conflict and skepticism would have added layers to her character arc. Furthermore, while the romantic elements add excitement, they occasionally overshadow the more profound themes of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

In conclusion, "Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows" marks a promising debut for Kelly O’Hearn’s series. It offers a refreshing twist on the romance genre, blending past lives and tarot into a narrative that will appeal to enthusiasts of history, mysticism, and love alike. Personally, as someone not typically drawn to historical romance, I found myself thoroughly engaged throughout, making it a journey well worth embarking on.

I’ve enjoyed the idea of love across lives since I first picked up the Georgina Kincaid series. Reincarnation can be a bit of a cliche trope if not done right, but I think that Kelly O’Hearn has a great start here.

While this is obviously a story in 6 parts, I wish that each part had more completion. I feel like there is so much going on here that we really don’t get to experience the story because of the complexity of world building.

Will I read the next book? Absolutely because I want to know how it all ends!

I really had a hard time with this book. I almost quit reading it and then picked it back up twice. Netgalley was nice enough to let me read it so I felt I should finish it. Now I see in the description on goodreads it is described as a sexy past life romance. On Netgalley it said she meets someone she may have known before and there is an intriguing psychic and Sarah may have lived in ancient Egypt. I’m fascinated by ancient Egypt and love books with psychics and tarot readers so I was excited to grab this book. Unfortunately for me I really dislike romance stories and there was way too much “sexy romance” for me. I really didn’t Cara for Sarah she came across as a very spoiled woman. If I had known this book was more romance I wouldn’t have chose it. I did finish it but I did not care for it.

Gripping from the first page, ARCANUM: IN THE TEMPLE SHADOWS by Kelly O'Hearn is breathless, well-wrought fantastical wonderful. On board with the sensations that Sarah knows are not just dreams, are just as real as the reality she lives in New York City in the current day with husband and children in an apartment that never felt right to her. On her fortieth birthday, Sarah's hard-won reality is shattered and the lives she has lived come into full, living glory along with the man who has been there all along. I won't go into the details, but suffice it to say they are as heartfelt and sensory-rich as the Sarah in our here and now. Of course, there are dilemmas and complications, all described and handled with deft grace and creativity. Well-written, fun, and so well-plotted, this book is the first in what promises to be along line of wonderful stories. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Arcanum In The Temple Shadows by Kelly O’Hearn, is the first book in a new series in book one is about Sarah she’s 40 years old owns her own perfume company in Manhattan in despite a gorgeous husband and two perfect children she is unsatisfied. All her life she has been drawn to the Egyptian wing at the national museum and her husband throws her a surprise 40th birthday party there, she meets a man named Harry and all the lines blur. Next we meet Sarah in ancient Egypt she has many mystical abilities she is a part of the royal court unlike most royal families Sarah‘s also has intrigue and dangerous situations I love the way the author gave ancient Egypt Sarah similar ties to modern day Zara. I found the story very complex and on paper I should’ve absolutely loved the book I don’t know if it was the African setting but I just couldn’t get into this book despite the great detail the awesome romance it just wasn’t a book I found myself enjoying. The story was plausible as far as time travel and time slip novels go. I just don’t think every book is going to be for every reader and this one wasn’t for me and although I didn’t love it The way others have I may truly enjoy the second book I wasn’t over the moon about the first but would still recommend it as it’s well written has a good romance and a plausible story to tell. I want to thank the publisher for my free arc copy Net galley. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

"Arcanum: In the Temple Shadows" is a captivating story filled with intriguing details about past lives, soulmates, and history. The direction the author took in telling the story was surprising, and I think you'll find it quite entertaining as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Global Entanglement, LLC for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows by Kelly O'Hearn was an intriguing read.
I’m excited for book two after reading this one.
The characters and her writing was absolutely incredible.

Thank You NetGalley and Kelly O'Hearn for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I am not sure how I feel about this book. There was so much of it that I loved and that drew me in. I loved the star crossed lovers theme and how the story went back and forth between Sarah, a women who is a loveless marriage who crosses path with her soul mate and Sarrah, a slave in Egypt who positions herself as the confidant of the pharaoh but really is in love with her soul mate. The parts of the story I wasn’t crazy about were at times it was a bit repetitive and the ending. I understand this is book 1 of a series but the ending felt random and disappointing.

Thank you to Kelly O’Hearn and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Arcanum was…weird. I thought the premise sounded super interesting - the history, the past lives, the soulmate aspect all drew me in. But the whole book just felt like a weird amalgamation of a bunch of different ideas that didn’t fit well together. The time spent in the past were far more interesting than the present, as present Sarah felt annoying and wildly two dimensional.

I would have much rather read a book solely focused on one incarnation of these characters, and then having the very end be the next lives they lived (and on and on for however many books this is going to be). Instead it was just a chaotic kind of mess with characters who spoke to each other in the way I’ve never heard people communicate in my life, and an abrupt cliffhanger that, rather than make me desperate to get my hands on the next book, reaffirmed my decision to not read any more of these books.

*Spoilers below*

POV: single third person

You can expect: past lives, soulmates, reincarnation, tarot, mysticism.

CW: cheating (physical and emotional)

"Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows" by Kelly O'Hearn is an intriguing blend of past life romance and mystical exploration, marking the first book in a unique series channeled through tarot cards. This novel introduces readers to Sarah Fuller, a luxury fragrance mogul who finds herself grappling with a profound sense of déjà vu on her 40th birthday. The book embarks on a journey through time and emotion, exploring the concept that love can transcend lifetimes.

The narrative kicks off with Sarah experiencing a midlife crisis-like scenario, made all the more perplexing by the appearance of a dark, handsome stranger who seems eerily familiar. Her encounters with a psychic who claims she was once a Pharaoh’s lover and a powerful mystic in ancient Egypt add layers of mystery and allure to the story. As a skeptic, Sarah’s transformation into a believer is both fascinating and a bit rushed, reflecting her deep connection to a past she’s desperate to uncover.

O'Hearn's premise is captivating, and the intertwining of past and present lives is handled with a delicate touch, providing readers with an engaging experience. The historical and mystical elements are well-researched, offering a vivid depiction of ancient Egypt that enriches the storyline.

However, the book has its shortcomings. The pacing is somewhat uneven, with the plot meandering at times, causing some sections to drag. The character development, particularly of secondary characters like Sarah’s husband and best friend, feels a bit superficial. Their roles in the story often seem more like plot devices rather than fully fleshed-out individuals.

Sarah’s journey is compelling, but her swift acceptance of the psychic’s revelations can feel a bit unconvincing. A deeper exploration of her internal conflict and skepticism would have added more depth to her character arc. Additionally, while the romantic elements are steamy and add excitement, they sometimes overshadow the more profound themes of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

In conclusion, "Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows" is a promising start to Kelly O’Hearn’s series. It offers a unique twist on the romance genre with its incorporation of past lives and tarot, appealing to readers who enjoy a mix of history, mysticism, and love. While it has areas that could be improved, the book sets up an intriguing premise for the series that may well develop further in subsequent installments. Fans of mystical romance will find much to enjoy in this novel, even if it doesn’t quite reach its full potential.

Arcanum: In the Temple of Shadows
By Kelly O'Hearn

This is apparently the first in a series. It is the story of Sarah Fuller, wife and mother of two, who runs a very successful business based out of Manhattan. She has been married to her husband Carl for a long time and seems to have the perfect life.

But Sara is finding herself more and more dissatisfied with her marriage as her fortieth birthday approaches. Her husband surprises her with a birthday party in one of her favorite places – the Egyptian wing of the Metropolitan Museum. Sara has been drawn to this part of the Met – and specifically the Temple of Dendur – since childhood.

On this night, Sarah takes a breather from her party and visits the Temple alone – only to meet a man named Harry Aiken. Although he is a stranger, Sarah and Harry both experience a magnetic attraction unlike anything either has experienced before, throwing Sarah into a tailspin.

Now the story changes to ancient Egypt, where a young girl named Sarra, who has mystical and medicinal gifts/powers, as well as the ability to read minds, is introduced to Pharaoh's court as a potential companion for Prince Meti, heir to the throne. She becomes his lover, his teacher, and his protector – in short, his everything. Unfortunately, she meets Hasim, the General in charge of Pharaoh's army, and they both experience the same attraction as Sarah and Harry in the present time.

The story alternates between these two star-crossed couples, leading to the obvious conclusion that they have known each other throughout time.

The epilogue seems to actually be the beginning of another of their meetings in France in the 16th century. This may be a series based upon a number of reincarnations. If so, I'm sure the following books will prove interesting.

I find it hard to evaluate the first book in a multi book series when each book is necessary to the fulfillment of the story line. The hook for me in wanting to read this book was the lifetime after lifetime love story but of course book one is merely the beginning and so much of the story line is actually missing.
I found the Egyptian characters a bit two dimensional at times, and that part of the story bogs down sometimes. In the present the main character is more meaty, perhaps because I can understand her life a bit better.
All in all I found the book a bit flat at times and intriguing at others. Do I want to know the outcome. Yes, indeed.