The Collector of Dying Breaths

In 16th century France, perfumer René le Florentin serves in the court of Catherine de Medici, where he pursues the ancient art of capturing a person's final breath. His quest leads him into dangerous territory as he works to perfect a mysterious reanimation formula. Modern-day perfumer Jac L'Etoile discovers René's long-lost manuscript while processing a collection of artifacts. Her expertise in scent creation and her ability to experience past-life memories draw her deep into René's world and his centuries-old mission. The narrative moves between Renaissance France and present-day Paris, connecting two perfumers separated by time but united by their work with essences, fragrances, and the power of human breath. At its core, this novel explores obsession, the boundaries between life and death, and humanity's timeless desire to achieve immortality through preserving what is most ephemeral.

Readers describe this as a gothic romance that alternates between Renaissance Italy and modern-day France. Most note the rich historical details about perfumery and reincarnation themes. Liked: - Atmospheric descriptions of perfume-making - Parallel storylines that connect - Historical research about Catherine de Medici - Sensual writing style that fits the subject matter Disliked: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Too much focus on romance over historical elements - Some found the reincarnation premise far-fetched - Multiple readers noted confusion with timeline jumps Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (3,900+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "The perfume descriptions were intoxicating but the plot meandered too much" - Goodreads reviewer Barnes & Noble readers rated it 3.9/5, with several noting it works better for romance fans than historical fiction readers.

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🌿 The book interweaves two parallel storylines - one set in 16th century France featuring Catherine de Medici's perfumer, and another in present-day France following a modern perfumer. 💨 The novel's concept of "collecting dying breaths" was inspired by an actual historical belief that a person's final breath contained their soul and could be captured in vessels. 👑 René le Florentin, a character in the book, was a real historical figure who served as Catherine de Medici's personal perfumer and was rumored to be involved in her alleged poisoning schemes. 🧪 Author M.J. Rose studied the art of perfumery at a prestigious French school to accurately portray the intricate process of creating fragrances in the novel. 📚 The book is part of Rose's Reincarnationist series, though it can be read as a standalone novel, and blends elements of historical fiction, reincarnation, and aromatherapy.