Prose Supplements - Shop now
$3.99 with 60 percent savings
Print List Price: $9.99

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $10.20

Save: $2.71 (27%)

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the authors

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Lake of Learning: A Cassiopeia Vitt Novella (Cassiopeia Vitt Adventure Series Book 2) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,508 ratings

**Best Books of August ~ Apple Books**

“Coauthors Steve Berry and M.J. Rose take lots of hairpin turns, making for an intense, suspenseful, and action-packed read. The Lake of Learning is the kind of page-turner that makes you crave a big bowl of popcorn—we just wanted it to keep on going.” ~ Apple Books

For over a decade Cassiopeia Vitt has been building an authentic French castle, using only materials and techniques from the 13th century. But when a treasure is unearthed at the construction site—an ancient Book of Hours—a multitude of questions are raised, all pointing to an ancient and forgotten religious sect.

Once the Cathars existed all across southern France, challenging Rome and attracting the faithful by the tens of thousands. Eventually, in 1208, the Pope declared them heretics and ordered a crusade—the first where Christians killed Christians—and thousands were slaughtered, the Cathars all but exterminated. Now a piece of that past has re-emerged, one that holds the key to the hiding place of the most precious object the Cathars possessed. And when more than one person becomes interested in that secret, in particular a thief and a billionaire, the race is on.

From the medieval walled city of Carcassonne, to the crest of mysterious Montségur, to a forgotten cavern beneath the Pyrenees, Cassiopeia is drawn deeper and deeper into a civil war between two people obsessed with revenge and murder.

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 4 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 3 books.

This option includes 4 books.

Something went wrong.
Bundle price: Kindle price
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Customers also bought or read

Loading...
Popular Highlights in this book

From the Publisher

The Museum of Mysteries
The Lake of Learning
The House of Long Ago
The End of Forever
Customer Reviews
4.1 out of 5 stars 2,620
4.2 out of 5 stars 2,508
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,835
4.4 out of 5 stars 2,356
Price $3.99 $3.99 $3.99 $3.99
Thriller
Historical Fiction
Mystery
Action
Adventure
Suspense

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

M. J. Rose is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen novels. She is a founding member of International Thriller Writers and the founder of the first marketing company for authors, AuthorBuzz.com, as well as the cofounder of 1001DarkNights.com. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including RT's Best Historical Fiction and People Magazine Picks. The Fox TV series, Past Lives, was based on her novel The Reincarnationist.



Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of fourteen Cotton Malone and four stand-alone novels. He has over twenty-three million books in print, translated into forty languages. He is an emeritus member of the Smithsonian Libraries Advisory Board and a founding member of International Thriller Writers, formerly serving as its copresident.



Natalie Ross is an actress and voice-over artist whose acting credits include multiple appearances in the television series All My Children, among others. She is an AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07S25DW1M
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated (August 20, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 20, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 343 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1970077468
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 2,508 ratings

About the authors

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
2,508 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers enjoyed reading the story and found it well-written and easy to follow. They appreciated the solid characters and their development, describing them as formidable and strong. Many found the short format perfect for a quick, exciting read. However, opinions differed on the plot, with some finding it interesting and thought-provoking, while others felt it needed more development. There were also mixed reviews regarding the pacing, with some finding it fast-paced and exciting, while others considered it plodding and boring until the final action.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

53 customers mention "Readability"46 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging and fast-paced, keeping their interest until the end. Readers appreciate the author's writing style and look forward to more books from this series.

"...It is short and a quick and fulfilling read. The co-author captures the flavor of Mr. Berry's original stories." Read more

"...I enjoyed this short, fast paced story about what Ms Vitt finds buried on her castle grounds and what it signifies!" Read more

"Good story. Well written. Thought provoking. Gives you insight into a past time when religion was the center of everyone’s life...." Read more

"This story was so unique. The history focuses on a little known or remembered religious sect...." Read more

19 customers mention "Writing quality"16 positive3 negative

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the author's storytelling ability and the short novel format, which is perfect for a quick, exciting read.

"...It is short and a quick and fulfilling read. The co-author captures the flavor of Mr. Berry's original stories." Read more

"...the work of M.J. Rose, presumably a young novelist, the writing is very competent...." Read more

"Good story. Well written. Thought provoking. Gives you insight into a past time when religion was the center of everyone’s life...." Read more

"...Needless to say, this novella was well-written, well-plotted and a page-turner...." Read more

7 customers mention "Character development"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the solid and formidable characters in this historical tale. The plot features two opposing villains and an at first blindsided protagonist. They appreciate the good character interaction and strong women in control.

"I have enjoyed the Cotton Malone series and liked the strong character that Ms Vitt always was in his adventures...." Read more

"...but it is great to see Cassiopeia operating as her own person, a formidable woman! This series should definitely become full length books...." Read more

"...The main character is great as always...." Read more

"...Hidden treasure, money, greed, and egos propel the plot, yet both antagonists seem victims of their past." Read more

5 customers mention "Short story"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the short story format for a quick, exciting read. They find the story interesting and say it deserves to be a full-length novel.

"...It is short and a quick and fulfilling read. The co-author captures the flavor of Mr. Berry's original stories." Read more

"...I really think she is an interesting and deserves a full sized novel...." Read more

"The short novela format is perfect for a quick, exciting read. The plot is fast paced and a good read." Read more

"Great shorter read with intrique and adventure...." Read more

32 customers mention "Plot"18 positive14 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the plot. Some find it interesting and thought-provoking, with a fascinating subject matter and well-described historical details. They describe it as a great shorter read with intrigue and adventure. Others feel the main story plot is disappointing and needs to be fleshed out. The ending is unpredictable and some readers had trouble with several scenes.

"Good story. Well written. Thought provoking. Gives you insight into a past time when religion was the center of everyone’s life...." Read more

"...of faith” with the writer as the story progresses, I had trouble with several of the scenes as Cassiopeia was “out thunk” at every turn by the..." Read more

"...The Cathar history is heavy in this book, which is quite interesting, but Cassiopeia could have had more 'screen time' to get a '5' rating from me...." Read more

"The Cathars are interesting as an odd religious path of minor impact and strange philosophy...." Read more

9 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it fast-paced and engaging, with an unexpected ending. Others find it tedious and boring until the final action. There are complaints about repetitive details, confusing references, and excessive words for a short story. However, some readers find the book difficult to put down and find it hard to keep their interest until the end.

"Really quite boring till the final quick action. Sorry. Like all the other books they wrote together. Maybe next time." Read more

"...I enjoyed this short, fast paced story about what Ms Vitt finds buried on her castle grounds and what it signifies!" Read more

"Too many religious references which are difficult to understand...." Read more

"...a 100 page story it was easily 75 pages of needless details, repetitive exposition, and agonizingly predictable religious melodrama that seems like..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2020
    I love Steve Berry's books. I love them because they take place in locales all over the world and I get to re-visit those locales with his books. Some, like the Amber Room, I read when I was visiting that very place.

    While I started reading his books because of the locales, it quickly became the stories that kept me coming back - over and over and over.

    This one is about one of the side characters from the main series of the novels, and it was as rip-roaring good as the others. It is short and a quick and fulfilling read.

    The co-author captures the flavor of Mr. Berry's original stories.
  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2019
    The Cathars were a peaceful people ruled by the God of Good. Although their beliefs were different than the Catholicism Church, it is still hard to believe that Christians were ordered to exterminate other Christians with the promise of the church that all their sins would be forgiven. It seemed that the Cathars were completely wiped from existence, but a few existed and recruited more members who waited centuries to again find their Book of Truth and the clue to find it came when Casseopeia Vitter unearthed a very unique Book of Hours while working to rebuild an old castle in France.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2019
    > It's a novella (a very short novel). Or, perhaps it could be described as a short story which has been padded out with alot of filler material. Therefore there simply isn't enough opportunity for much to happen. I could FULLY summarize the plot in three sentences, but then there would be NO reason at all to read the novel.
    > The ending is very, very abrupt. Very unsatisfying. I was listening to the audiobook version and repeated the last track/chapter 3 times on the erroneous assumption that I had been somehow distracted each previous time and had missed some crucial events. It turns out that I wasn't distracted, I missed nothing -- the novel just ends in the middle of a scene.
    > Lake of Learning has only 3 significant characters (which is an improvement over the cast of hundreds {or at least dozens } in some Steve Berry novels) -- but they are just cardboard cutouts. Cotton Malone does not appear. Cassiopeia Vitt does not feel at all like Steve Berry's Cassiopeia Vitt.
    > Incredibly, although the novella is only a fraction of the length of a Steve Berry novel, the author's notes (whoever the author actually is) are omitted from the audiobook version. The author's notes were often the best part of Steve Berry novels, especially in the audiobook editions where Steve Berry himself speaks at length about the topic of the particular novel.
    > CAVEATS -- Assuming that this is entirely the work of M.J. Rose, presumably a young novelist, the writing is very competent. If Steve Berry was not listed as an author, Lake of Learning might be barely worth a grudging 4 stars
    > Maybe they should re-market this as the abridged version, and issue an unabridged version.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2020
    I have enjoyed the Cotton Malone series and liked the strong character that Ms Vitt always was in his adventures. I enjoyed this short, fast paced story about what Ms Vitt finds buried on her castle grounds and what it signifies!
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2019
    I generally don’t like short stories and this novella proves once again why. The story just tries to accomplish too much in a short span and fails (in my view) to fully explore the storyline. While we readers are expected to take some “leaps of faith” with the writer as the story progresses, I had trouble with several of the scenes as Cassiopeia was “out thunk” at every turn by the villain. The story ending was especially terse and left this reader feeling cheated and wanting more. The moral of the story for me - stay away from novellas and short stories.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2019
    Good story. Well written. Thought provoking. Gives you insight into a past time when religion was the center of everyone’s life. As a catholic, I am disgusted how the Church sanctioned the killing of the Cathars. It gives you insight into why Martin Luther’s protests came into being. He was right. Good book.
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2021
    This story was so unique. The history focuses on a little known or remembered religious sect. The plot features two opposing and divergent villains and an, at first, blindsided protagonist who slowly grasps the insanity of the brainwashed villains and the lengths they will go to steal her ancient manuscript. Needless to say, this novella was well-written, well-plotted and a page-turner. In a novella there aren’t enough pages for character development, but it is great to see Cassiopeia operating as her own person, a formidable woman!

    This series should definitely become full length books. They would be excellent.
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2019
    This is a nice offshoot for Cassiopeia. The Cathar history is heavy in this book, which is quite interesting, but Cassiopeia could have had more 'screen time' to get a '5' rating from me. The story does have a Steve Berry flavor so his followers will enjoy it to some degree or another; which I am and I did. M.J. has her hand in the 'voice' of the book as well so you get a blend of the two, not one or the other. Cotton has almost no screen time - I would have liked a few more phone calls or a visit from him. I will definitely purchase more books from the two authors together.
    6 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • V Mason
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Condition
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 22, 2024
    Excellent!
  • Fashionable Lady
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in Canada on July 25, 2020
    Excellent book, really enjoyed It and would strongly recommend it anybody who enjoys the Cassiopeia Vitt character. Very good story.
  • Peter Barinca
    2.0 out of 5 stars Not his best book
    Reviewed in France on February 28, 2020
    It was readable but, the combination with the other writer is not a succes.
    Next time better i surely hope!
  • Annette K Roberts
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent short read
    Reviewed in Australia on December 9, 2019
    I loved Cassiopeia having her own story with some references to Cotton Malone being the love of her life. I lived the Cathor historical review
  • Wayne
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing premise, quick read
    Reviewed in Canada on August 24, 2021
    The story is well researched, and well crafted. Good story with enough suspense to keep me going.
    Vitt is larger than life but a strong character. The villain is a bit too over the top to seem unbelievable.
    Overall an excellent summer afternoon read.

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?