“I was going to die. It was a horrible, awful, no good, very bad day.”
— Lucinda's initial realization of her impending death.
Archivist's Choice
Passion
Lauren Kate (2011)
Genre
Mystery / Romance
Reading Time
10-12 hours
Key Themes
See below
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To break a cursed cycle of reincarnation and tragic loss, Luce explores her past lives, reliving centuries of forbidden romance with Daniel while he desperately pursues her, fearing she might unravel their very existence.
Synopsis
Luce Price wants to know why she and her angelic lover, Daniel Grigori, are cursed to watch her die in every life. She travels through her past lives using shadow-like entities called Announcers. She sees the moments of her romance with Daniel across different historical periods, including ancient Egypt, Jerusalem during the Crusades, Victorian England, and the Renaissance. As Luce travels through time, Daniel chases her, worried that changing past events could erase their future. Cam and other angels and Outcasts also chase Luce, each with their own goals for their world. Luce's journey reveals the curse's origin: her first kiss with Daniel, a mortal-angel transgression that angered the universe. This led to her repeated deaths and his eternal suffering. She learns about Lucifer's part in their fate and a prophecy about their love. Luce must choose whether she and Daniel can break the cycle of death and separation, allowing their love to last, or if their romance will end forever.
Reading time
10-12 hours
Difficulty
Medium
Pacing
Variable
Mood
Romantic, Mysterious, Melancholy, Epic
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy epic, star-crossed paranormal romances with a strong focus on past lives and historical settings, and don't mind a bit of angst and a complex mythology.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer standalone novels, dislike love triangles, or find time-traveling, fated-mates tropes repetitive.
Plot Summary
The Decision to Journey
After the events at Shoreline, Luce Price is tired of the constant cycle of death and rebirth that affects her relationship with Daniel Grigori. She learns from Bill, a mysterious gargoyle, that she can travel through her past lives by touching relics from those lives. Luce decides to start this dangerous journey alone, wanting to break the curse that stops her and Daniel from having a lasting future. Daniel strongly protests, fearing that changing the past could erase their love. But Luce believes it is the only way to find answers and save them both. She uses a relic to go back in time, leaving Daniel upset and desperate to follow her.
Ancient Egypt: The First Incarnation
Luce's first jump takes her to ancient Egypt. There, she sees herself as a young priestess in love with a pharaoh, who is Daniel. She watches their tender, forbidden romance unfold in the pharaoh's court. This life shows the pure intensity of their bond, but also the societal rules and dangers that threatened them. Luce, as an observer, begins to understand their deep connection and the outside forces that have always worked against them, setting a pattern for their tragic future. She feels the pain of their coming separation, even from a distance.
Jerusalem: A Crusader's Tale
Next, Luce finds herself in Jerusalem during the Crusades. She is a young woman whose family is caught in the religious conflict. She watches her past self fall in love with Daniel, who appears as a Crusader knight. This life is marked by the harsh realities of war and clashing cultures, which again threaten their love. Luce sees the desperation and danger around them. She sees how their love, despite its intensity, is always overshadowed by outside forces beyond their control. This life further shows that their love is a light in chaos, yet ultimately doomed by circumstances.
Victorian England: A Tragic Affair
Luce travels to Victorian England. She sees herself as a young woman from a respectable family, falling in love with Daniel, a dashing but mysterious figure. Their romance is secret, filled with stolen moments and hidden passions, reflecting the strict social rules of the era. This life is especially moving as Luce sees the societal pressures and expectations that lead to their tragic separation. She begins to see how their love, though powerful, is always vulnerable to the world around them. This makes her question if there was ever a time their love could have simply existed without outside threats.
The Renaissance: An Artist's Muse
In the Renaissance, Luce watches herself as an artist's muse, deeply connected with Daniel, a passionate painter. This life explores the creative and artistic expression of their love, where Daniel's art shows his devotion. But even with this beauty, the familiar pattern of coming doom appears. Luce realizes that no matter the era or their roles, their love is always meant for heartbreak. This life contrasts with the previous ones, showing that even in times of great cultural growth, their personal tragedy remains constant.
Daniel's Pursuit and Cam's Involvement
As Luce travels through her past, Daniel chases her, afraid of what she might find or change. He uses his angelic powers and knowledge of her past lives to follow her, often arriving just after she leaves an era. Meanwhile, Cam Briel and the other Outcasts, along with various angels, also search for Luce. Cam worries about her safety and the possible results of her meddling with time. Others have their own goals for the balance between Heaven and Hell. This creates a complex chase through history, with Luce at the center of multiple groups' interests.
The Origin of the Curse Revealed
Luce eventually reaches the moment of the Fall of the angels from Heaven. She sees the rebellion led by Lucifer and the angels' choice. Here, she sees her past self, an ordinary human woman, caught between the warring sides. She realizes that her curse began when she chose neither side, but instead chose to love Daniel, an angel who had also chosen neutrality. This choice, seen as an insult by both Heaven and Hell, resulted in the eternal curse: she would die upon true love's first kiss, and be reborn to repeat the cycle with Daniel.
The First Kiss and the Price
Luce watches the first time her human self and Daniel truly connected, sharing their first kiss. In that moment of pure love, the curse immediately takes effect, and her human self dies in Daniel's arms. This is the origin of the painful cycle, a direct result of their love being seen as an act of defiance. Luce finally understands the full weight of the curse and the deep tragedy of their bond. It is a devastating discovery, showing her that their love, while powerful, has always carried a fatal price.
The Role of Lucifer and the Balance
As Luce sees the Fall, she also understands Lucifer's reasons and the cosmic balance between good and evil. She realizes that Lucifer, in his own way, wants to challenge the established order. Her and Daniel's curse is a result of the ongoing conflict. The curse is not just about their love; it is a pawn in a larger, celestial war. Luce recognizes that their individual tragedy is connected to the fate of the entire angelic realm, making her quest more important than she first thought.
The Choice and the Future
After seeing the curse's origin, Luce understands that simply watching is not enough; she must act. She realizes that breaking the cycle is not about changing the past, but about understanding it to make a new choice in the present. She faces the huge pressure of her decision, knowing that her actions could either free her and Daniel or end their connection forever. The weight of centuries of tragic love rests on her shoulders as she prepares to face Daniel and the other angels, now clear about their shared destiny.
Reunion and Revelation
Luce finally reunites with Daniel, who has been desperately searching for her across time. Their reunion is filled with emotion, relief, and the lingering fear of what her journey might have uncovered. Luce shares her experiences and the devastating truth she has learned about the curse's origin: that their love itself caused her endless deaths. This discovery is a turning point, as Daniel struggles with the knowledge that his love has caused her suffering. It forces them both to rethink their relationship and the sacrifices they have made.
The Prophecy and the Announcers
Through her journey, Luce also understands a prophecy about her and Daniel, and the role of the Announcers—shadowy beings that help with time travel and carry messages. She realizes that the Announcers are not just tools, but ancient entities with their own goals, subtly influencing events. This adds another layer to their problem, suggesting that their fate is not entirely their own, but also part of a larger, predetermined plan. Luce questions how much free will they truly have against such powerful, ancient forces.
The Pursuit Intensifies
As Luce and Daniel try to process the discoveries, Cam, Lucifer, and the other angels chase them more intensely. Each group has an interest in Luce, believing she holds the key to breaking the curse, shifting the balance of power, or fulfilling a prophecy. The stakes become very high. Luce realizes she is not just fighting for her own love, but possibly for the angelic world's fate. She and Daniel must make hard decisions about who to trust and how to handle the dangerous world of celestial politics.
The Crossroads
Luce finds herself at a critical point, having gained deep knowledge but also facing great danger. She understands the curse's origin, Lucifer's reasons, and the complex angelic politics. Now, she must decide how to use this knowledge. Does she try to break the curse directly, possibly changing history in dangerous ways? Does she accept her fate? Or is there another way to a lasting future with Daniel? This moment is the peak of her journey, where all the pieces are in place, and she must make the final move.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the huge challenges and the devastating truth about their past, Luce and Daniel emerge from her journey with a new understanding of their love and its tragic history. The curse remains a big obstacle, but Luce's experiences have given her insight into its nature and possible weaknesses. They are not yet free, but they have a renewed sense of purpose and a deeper bond formed through shared suffering and discovery. The book ends with a glimmer of hope that, with this knowledge, they might finally find a way to break the cycle and achieve a lasting future together, setting the stage for their next confrontation.
Principal Figures
Luce Price
The Protagonist
Luce transforms from a reactive participant in her fate to an active seeker of truth, gaining knowledge and agency to confront her curse.
Daniel Grigori
The Protagonist/Love Interest
Daniel moves from a position of resigned acceptance and fear to a more proactive stance, willing to confront the past to secure their future.
Cam Briel
The Supporting/Antagonist
Cam's character remains largely consistent in his motivations, but his actions become more nuanced, revealing a deeper concern for Luce's fate.
Bill
The Supporting
Bill remains a mysterious guide, gradually revealing more about his purpose and the larger cosmic conflict.
Lucifer
The Antagonist
Lucifer's role is further solidified as the orchestrator of the curse and a major obstacle to Luce and Daniel's happiness.
The Announcers
The Supporting
Their role as facilitators is clarified, hinting at their deeper connection to the cosmic balance.
The Elders
The Mentioned
Their historical role in the curse is further explained through Luce's journey.
Gabbe
The Supporting
Gabbe's loyalty to Daniel and concern for Luce remain consistent, reinforcing her role as a supportive, albeit cautious, ally.
Themes & Insights
The Nature of Eternal Love and Sacrifice
The main theme explores the deep, often painful nature of Luce and Daniel's love, which goes beyond time and death. Their love is both a blessing and a curse, demanding great sacrifice from both. Luce's journey through her past lives shows the sacrifices made in each era, from social standing to life itself, all for their connection. The theme asks if true love is worth such an eternal price and if it can ever truly be free from outside forces, as seen in the repeated tragic endings of their lives.
““You’ve died for me a million times, Luce. Now it’s my turn to die for you.””
Free Will vs. Destiny
This theme is central to Luce's quest. She struggles with the idea that her fate is set by an ancient curse. She questions if she and Daniel have any power to break the cycle. Her journey is an active attempt to use free will against a seemingly unchangeable destiny. Prophecies, the actions of celestial beings like Lucifer and the Elders, and the curse itself constantly challenge the characters' ability to choose their own path. Luce hopes that understanding the past can help her create a new future, rather than just repeating an old script.
““If I don’t go back, if I don’t find out, we’ll be trapped forever.””
The Weight of the Past
The entire story is built on how past events affect the present. Luce's journey is a literal exploration of history, showing how ancient choices and curses still control her current reality. Each past life she sees adds to her understanding of her and Daniel's problems. The theme highlights that the past is not just gone; it actively shapes the present and future. True understanding requires facing and learning from historical events, even painful ones. The characters are constantly haunted by memories and the results of actions taken centuries ago.
““Every life, every death, every kiss, every tear—it was all leading to this.””
Good vs. Evil and Moral Ambiguity
The conflict between Heaven and Hell, and the Fall of the angels, forms the background for Luce and Daniel's curse. The theme explores the unclear lines between good and evil. Characters like Cam, and even Lucifer, have complex reasons that are hard to categorize simply. The curse itself results from choosing neutrality, showing that in a cosmic war, even choosing not to choose can have serious consequences. Luce's journey makes her question who truly represents 'good' and 'evil' and if love can exist outside these strict definitions.
““There are no sides in love, only choices.””
Identity and Self-Discovery
As Luce travels through her past lives, she is not just seeing history; she is finding different parts of her own eternal soul. Each life reveals a different personality and context, but Luce's core remains. This journey is a deep act of self-discovery, helping her understand who she is, where she comes from, and why she is cursed. By seeing her past selves, she gets a clearer sense of her present identity and the great power she holds as the key to breaking the cycle.
““I had lived a thousand lives, but I was still Luce. And I was still in love with Daniel.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Time Travel (Announcers)
The primary mechanism allowing Luce to visit her past lives.
The Announcers are shadowy, ancient entities that serve as portals, enabling Luce to travel through different historical periods and witness her past incarnations. This device is crucial for the plot, as it allows Luce to directly observe the origins and manifestations of her curse. The Announcers are not merely transportation; they are presented as mysterious, sentient beings with their own subtle influence on the flow of time and information, adding an element of the unknown to Luce's journey.
The Curse
The central conflict and driving force of Luce and Daniel's story.
The curse is the fundamental plot device that dictates the entire premise of the series. It dictates that Luce will die upon her first true kiss with Daniel in every incarnation, only to be reborn and repeat the cycle. This device creates constant tension, highlights the tragic nature of their love, and is the primary motivation for Luce's perilous journey. Unraveling the origin and finding a way to break this curse is the ultimate goal, shaping every character's actions and decisions.
Flashbacks/Visions (Past Lives)
Luce's direct experience of her previous incarnations.
While time travel is the mechanism, the actual 'flashbacks' or visions of her past lives are the content. These detailed scenes from different historical periods allow the reader, alongside Luce, to understand the repeated patterns of her and Daniel's love, their tragic separations, and the external forces that constantly plague them. This device is essential for character development, plot exposition, and building the emotional weight of their centuries-old romance.
Prophecy
An ancient prediction hinting at Luce's ultimate role.
A prophecy, vaguely referenced in earlier books and further illuminated in 'Passion,' suggests that Luce holds a unique and powerful position in the ongoing conflict between Heaven and Hell. This device adds a layer of cosmic significance to her individual struggle, implying that her actions could have far-reaching consequences beyond her personal love story. It creates an aura of destiny and raises the stakes of her quest, hinting at a larger purpose for her existence.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“What if you were meant to be with someone and you just kept missing them?”
— Lucinda pondering missed connections and destiny.
“Every lifetime, I find you. Every lifetime, I lose you.”
— Danie's recurring lament about her relationship with Lucinda across different lives.
“Love is not a choice. It is a destiny.”
— A philosophical statement about the nature of their bond.
“Sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them go.”
— A painful realization about sacrifice for a loved one.
“History repeats itself, but it doesn't have to be the same ending.”
— The hope for breaking the cycle of their tragic pasts.
“We are bound by something stronger than time, stronger than death.”
— Describing the unbreakable connection between Lucinda and her beloved.
“There are some things you can't outrun, no matter how many lives you live.”
— The inevitability of certain aspects of their destiny.
“To truly live, you must first die.”
— A paradoxical statement about the journey of their souls.
“The past is not behind us, it is within us.”
— Understanding how past lives influence their present.
“Every moment is a choice. Every choice is a ripple.”
— Emphasizing the impact of individual decisions on their shared destiny.
“Sometimes, the greatest love stories are the ones that never end, even when they seem to.”
— Reflecting on the enduring nature of their love across lifetimes.
“You can't escape who you are, but you can choose what you become.”
— A message of agency within their fated existence.
“The threads of fate are tangled, but they always lead back to you.”
— The unwavering certainty of their destined reunion.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Luce is tired of the cycle of her and Daniel finding each other only for her to die, leaving Daniel heartbroken. She believes that by revisiting their past incarnations, she can uncover the secret to breaking this curse and allowing their love to finally last without tragedy.
About the author
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