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.

Arcanum : In The Temple Shadows is a fascinating story about past lives, reincarnation, fate, and magic. I knew I had to read this book when I read that the author had channeled this story about her past life through Tarot Cards. Channeling, divination, and the occult are fascinating subjects and I believe anyone who reads this book will feel a sense of destiny about it.

The story follows Sarah Fuller, a perfumer who has become bored with her life, until she has a Tarot reading that helps her to make sense of the visions from the past she is having. This book is a dual timeline story, one set in present day New York City and the other in Ancient Egypt, following the soul and heart of Sarah as an Egyptian mystic, muse, and lover to a powerful Pharaoh. It is clear that Egyptian Sarrah wants nothing more than to awaken her gifts and be a powerful woman as does present day Sarah who must learn how to take back her power, listen to her intuition, and follow her heart. I loved the juxtaposition between the past life and present life of Sarah and the connecting threads that were woven to both lives. The beguiling ways the past, present, and future aligns for Sarah kept me on the edge of my seat in wonder and anticipation as to when and how she would reconnect with her soul mate, destiny, and power. The story was mystical and aroused a magical sensory experience with great attention to detail that only a channeled story could describe.

I really enjoyed this book and I cannot wait to read the rest of the Arcanum series.

Arcanum: In The Temple Shadows is a unique and imaginative story idea with a book description I found intriguing. With idea of blending occult tarot with romance across thousands of years, this book is really like two love stories combined. However, the execution did not stand up and I feel it is more of a 2.5 star read than a 3 star read, but I rounded up. This is a debut novel for this author. The writing was inconsistent, dialogue felt rushed and even forced at times. The author has the ability to write engaging, descriptive, visual scenes, as seen in several of the filler scenes, sadly those scenes held very little importance to the plot. If the book had been given the same time and attention to detail during the important action scenes and character conversations that it received in the slow filler scenes then it would have been so much better. Instead I found the rushed dialogue and forced, character interactions disengaged me from the book. The pace and flow of the book was also off. I think there is a good bit of writing that needs to be done before this book should be released. It has so much potential, and a little more attention to detail to the main characters' thought processes, realizations and dialogue would take this book from 2.5 stars to 4 stars.

It was really refreshing to see a main character that was a relatable middle-age, not a teen girl, who had life experience, and complexity between being a competent business woman, mother, but also showing her insecurities and struggles. It was also great to see another main character that was child-free and never once felt sad or questioned it. There was some promising character growth, but again it felt rushed/forced in many places. This book has a lot of potential, if only there was more care taken with the more important scenes and events. I think this is supposed to be the first in a series, so I hope the sequel is given more time to really work on flow and attention to detail to really become the engaging read it could be.