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jesslynh's review
3.0
My issue was the lack of diversity. The story is set in New Orleans and the only black, brown or other people of color were historical figures. Really?!
Sigh. Other than that, the story was enjoyable despite a couple of really bonehead moves by the main character.
Sigh. Other than that, the story was enjoyable despite a couple of really bonehead moves by the main character.
fuent020's review against another edition
2.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
The book cover & description doesn't give it much justice & I almost didn't read it because of that.
However, I am glad I did read it. DJ, the main character, is easy to understand & relate to. DJ is a wizard in New Orleans dealing with the aftermath of Katrina. Her mentor, the wizard caretaker of New Orleans, is missing & DJ is appointed the new caretaker (Sentinel) in his absence. It is her responsibility to deal with a new partner, the "historically" undead, and a death god on the loose. Not to mention, she still needs to find her mentor.
Great read & I've already bought the second book.
The book cover & description doesn't give it much justice & I almost didn't read it because of that.
However, I am glad I did read it. DJ, the main character, is easy to understand & relate to. DJ is a wizard in New Orleans dealing with the aftermath of Katrina. Her mentor, the wizard caretaker of New Orleans, is missing & DJ is appointed the new caretaker (Sentinel) in his absence. It is her responsibility to deal with a new partner, the "historically" undead, and a death god on the loose. Not to mention, she still needs to find her mentor.
Great read & I've already bought the second book.
jeremybost's review against another edition
3.0
The book started slow, but got a bit better once the main character got a bit more power in the form of an elven staff. However, I have a few big problems with this book:
(1) It focuses a lot more on the character interaction and relationships than the actual problems and solutions. For example, the little love triangle...
(2) The MC, Drusilla, is a little...slow? When Gary disappeared and no one could sense him, couldn't she think that he might be in the Beyond? It seems incredibly obvious that he might be there if he hadn't died yet.
(3) Those two points are very characteristic of most female urban fantasy protagonists, and so is this one: unpreparedness. I don't think Drusilla ever practiced with her staff, despite relying on it in two fights.
(1) It focuses a lot more on the character interaction and relationships than the actual problems and solutions. For example, the little love triangle...
(2) The MC, Drusilla, is a little...slow? When Gary disappeared and no one could sense him, couldn't she think that he might be in the Beyond? It seems incredibly obvious that he might be there if he hadn't died yet.
(3) Those two points are very characteristic of most female urban fantasy protagonists, and so is this one: unpreparedness. I don't think Drusilla ever practiced with her staff, despite relying on it in two fights.
writeralicia's review
Overall, not for me.
Drusilla is a Green Congress wizard living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits. She leaves the city before the hurricane hits, but her mentor Gerry sticks around. At first, the two remain in touch, and Gerry appears to be fine. But then Gerry disappears. The wizard Elders demand that Drusilla return to New Orleans, locate Gerry, and address the crack in the divide between the Beyond and the real world. To help her, they send Alex, an enforcer whom Drusilla finds to be very sexy.
What I loved about the book was seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina through Drusilla's eyes. It's clear to me that the author did a lot of research on this topic, and it showed. After having read this book, I actually feel a bit more educated about the hurricane. So kudos to the author for that.
I also loved the idea of "historical undead." These are undead people who remain alive in the Beyond (and sometimes manage to sneak their way into the real world) because their memories are still alive in the real world. The historical undead who made appearances included the pirate Jean Lafitte, musician Louis Armstrong, and voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau. It was cool to see these people brought to life with personalities and weaved into the story.
Unfortunately, there was little else that I found to be special about this book. Drusilla was your usual, feisty heroine. She didn't completely understand her powers. And although her powers were cool enough, I was annoyed that Drusilla figured them out later than I did. Actually, Drusilla figured out everything later than I did, and there were times when I wanted to shout at her through the pages of the book.
I also did not like the love triangle. There was Alex, and there was his cousin Jake. Drusilla was attracted to both of them, but her feeling toward both men came across as being superficial. She was immediately attracted to both despite not having any deep connection with either. In contrast, I got the impression that both men had real, growing feeling for her, and I found her attitude toward them to be fickle and selfish.
I understand this is the first book in a series. I don't plan to read the later books.
Drusilla is a Green Congress wizard living in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hits. She leaves the city before the hurricane hits, but her mentor Gerry sticks around. At first, the two remain in touch, and Gerry appears to be fine. But then Gerry disappears. The wizard Elders demand that Drusilla return to New Orleans, locate Gerry, and address the crack in the divide between the Beyond and the real world. To help her, they send Alex, an enforcer whom Drusilla finds to be very sexy.
What I loved about the book was seeing the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina through Drusilla's eyes. It's clear to me that the author did a lot of research on this topic, and it showed. After having read this book, I actually feel a bit more educated about the hurricane. So kudos to the author for that.
I also loved the idea of "historical undead." These are undead people who remain alive in the Beyond (and sometimes manage to sneak their way into the real world) because their memories are still alive in the real world. The historical undead who made appearances included the pirate Jean Lafitte, musician Louis Armstrong, and voodoo practitioner Marie Laveau. It was cool to see these people brought to life with personalities and weaved into the story.
Unfortunately, there was little else that I found to be special about this book. Drusilla was your usual, feisty heroine. She didn't completely understand her powers. And although her powers were cool enough, I was annoyed that Drusilla figured them out later than I did. Actually, Drusilla figured out everything later than I did, and there were times when I wanted to shout at her through the pages of the book.
I also did not like the love triangle. There was Alex, and there was his cousin Jake. Drusilla was attracted to both of them, but her feeling toward both men came across as being superficial. She was immediately attracted to both despite not having any deep connection with either. In contrast, I got the impression that both men had real, growing feeling for her, and I found her attitude toward them to be fickle and selfish.
I understand this is the first book in a series. I don't plan to read the later books.
blodeuedd's review against another edition
4.0
Yes this seems to be a promising start to a new series. Likable characters, interesting place, and story. Fingers crossed for a new series to enjoy.
The book takes place during hurricane Katrina. And while New Orleans suffers Others come trough from the beyond. It's Dj's job to keep everyone in check as humans can't know about everything that is out there. She is a wizard and sentinel of New Orleans.
Dead pirates, vampires, shifters, Gods, you name it. This world had a lot to offer. And I liked that it took place during Katrina. It showed the catastrophe and what a disaster it was. Also, how it should not happen again.
Drusilla aka DJ was cool. She was not perfect at everything, now she failed and picked herself up again. While trying to maintain order she will get help from a hunky guy named Alex. Aye I hope that turns into something.
The hunt for a murderer, trying to find the man who raised her, taking down supernaturals. This book knows how to keep up the pace. I enjoyed it.
The book takes place during hurricane Katrina. And while New Orleans suffers Others come trough from the beyond. It's Dj's job to keep everyone in check as humans can't know about everything that is out there. She is a wizard and sentinel of New Orleans.
Dead pirates, vampires, shifters, Gods, you name it. This world had a lot to offer. And I liked that it took place during Katrina. It showed the catastrophe and what a disaster it was. Also, how it should not happen again.
Drusilla aka DJ was cool. She was not perfect at everything, now she failed and picked herself up again. While trying to maintain order she will get help from a hunky guy named Alex. Aye I hope that turns into something.
The hunt for a murderer, trying to find the man who raised her, taking down supernaturals. This book knows how to keep up the pace. I enjoyed it.
leabookjoy's review against another edition
5.0
French & English reviews
GROS COUP DE CŒUR !!
En tant que magicienne apprenti sentinelle à la Nouvelle-Orléans, Drusilla a toujours rêvé de travailler sur des missions plus importantes et de voir plus d'actions mais il faut faire attention à ce que l'on souhaite. Avec le passage de Katrina, toute sa vie est bouleversée et Dru se retrouve avec plus d'actions qu'elle n'en souhaitait ...
Je lis de l'urban fantasy depuis une éternité et plus les années passent, plus je réalise que je suis devenue exigeante et que j'ai du mal à trouver des séries originales et de qualité. Souvent, l'univers n'est pas assez complexe, l'intrigue trop fade et l’héroïne trop bêbête ...
J'avais ce livre dans ma PAL depuis une éternité mais je ne l'avais pas tenté de peur que cela se révèle être une déception. Et finalement, j'ai été surprise et agréablement !!
Le contexte était en partie la raison pour laquelle j'ai été tenté par cette série. J'ai toujours été fasciné par la Nouvelle-Orléans (le vieux quartier français, le vaudou, la magie, le côté original et décalé ...) alors quand j'ai vu que l'histoire avait lieu là-bas ...
L'univers est très riche et assez original. Il y a les basiques (loup-garous, vampires, magiciens and co) mais aussi les "undead", des personnages historiques que la mémoire populaire rend immortels !! Et là dessus, vous avez le "Beyond" qui est un espèce d'univers parallèle qui ressemble à notre univers mais à différentes époques.
Les intrigues principales et secondaires sont passionnantes, notamment parce qu'elles ont lieu en même temps que l'ouragan Katrina ce qui créait une tension supplémentaire. Contrairement à nous, les personnages ignorent la gravité de l'ouragan et j'ai trouvé que cela créait une certaine ambiance. Ajoutez à ça de mystérieux meurtres rituels, la disparition de et la présence d'un célèbre membre du panthéon Vaudou ...
Les personnages sont l'un des points forts de ce livre. Ce que j'ai particulièrement apprécié, c'est que ce ne sont pas des personnages en noir et blanc : il n'y a pas des méchants et des gentils mais des personnages évoluant dans des zones de gris comme Gerry le mentor de Dru qui a de nombreux secrets par exemple. On se méfie et on s'interroge avec l’héroïne sur les motivations de chacun.
J'ai particulièrement aimé l’héroïne avec laquelle je me suis beaucoup identifiée. Elle est drôle, sarcastique, courageuse et surtout très humaine. Elle pleure, elle souffre et elle n'est pas une super héroïne surhumaine. Certes, elle prend beaucoup de risques mais avec tous les problèmes qu'elle a eu, je trouve qu'elle gère plutôt bien les situations qui se présentent.
Concernant la romance dans l'histoire qui est présente mais pas prédominante, je suis plutôt partagée mais c'est personnel. Alex aka l'homme de main des Anciens qui a l'air d'être un potentiel futur amant MAIS même s'il est canon, je le trouve un peu trop fade alors que Jean Lafitte ... C'est un personnage tout à fait fascinant (sanguinaire, à la limite de la légalité, sexy, avec son propre code de l'honneur, décalé et tout à fait attachant) et français (aaah quand il l'appelle Jolie ... PFIOULALA <3).
Bref, pour conclure, un début de série avec beaucoup de potentiel.
PS : #TeamFrenchPirate <3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A case of love at first sight =D
As a sentinel wizard in New Orleans, Drusilla has always dreamed of working on larger missions and seeing more action but you have to be careful about what you want. With the passage of Katrina, all her life is turn upside down and Dru finds herself with more actions than she wished ...
I read urban fantasy books since an eternity and the more years passed, the more I realize that I have become demanding and that I have difficulty to find original series and of quality. Often, the universe is not complex enough, the plot too bland and the heroine too stupid ...
I had this book in my TBR for an eternity but I hadn't tried it lest it turns out to be a big disappointment. But finally, I was surprised and very pleasantly !!
The background was part of the reason why I was tempted by this series. I've always been fascinated by New Orleans (the old French Quarter, voodoo, magic, original and offbeat side ...) so when I saw that the story was taking place there ...
The universe is very rich and quite original. There are basics (werewolves, vampires, magicians and co) but also the "undead", historical figures that the popular memory makes immortal !! And with it, you also have the "Beyond" which is a kind of parallel universe that resembles our universe but at different times.
The main and secondary plots are exciting, especially because they take place at the same time as the Hurricane Katrina, which created additional tension. Unlike us, the characters ignore the severity of the hurricane and I found that it created a certain atmosphere. Add to that mysterious ritual murders, the disappearance of and the presence of a famous member of the Voodoo pantheon ...
The characters are one of the highlights of this book. What I particularly appreciated is that they are not black and white characters : there are no bad guys and nice guys but people in gray areas like Gerry the mentor of Dru who has many secrets for example. We wonder with the heroine on the motives of each one of the characters.
I particularly liked the heroine with whom I identified myself a lot. She is funny, sassy, brave and above all very human. She cries, she suffers and she is not a superhuman heroine. Of course, she takes a lot of risks but with all the problems she has, I find she handles it rather well.
Concerning the romance in the history (which is present but not predominant), I am rather divided but it's my personal opinion. Alex aka the enforcer of the Elders who looks like a future potential lover BUT even if he is hot, I find him a little too bland while Jean Lafitte ... He is a very fascinating character (fierce, on the borderline of legality, sexy, with his own code of honor, offbeat and quite endearing) and French (aaah when he calls her Jolie ... PFIOULALA <3).
In short, to conclude, a beginning of series with a lot of potential.
PS: #TeamFrenchPirate <3
GROS COUP DE CŒUR !!
En tant que magicienne apprenti sentinelle à la Nouvelle-Orléans, Drusilla a toujours rêvé de travailler sur des missions plus importantes et de voir plus d'actions mais il faut faire attention à ce que l'on souhaite. Avec le passage de Katrina, toute sa vie est bouleversée et Dru se retrouve avec plus d'actions qu'elle n'en souhaitait ...
Je lis de l'urban fantasy depuis une éternité et plus les années passent, plus je réalise que je suis devenue exigeante et que j'ai du mal à trouver des séries originales et de qualité. Souvent, l'univers n'est pas assez complexe, l'intrigue trop fade et l’héroïne trop bêbête ...
J'avais ce livre dans ma PAL depuis une éternité mais je ne l'avais pas tenté de peur que cela se révèle être une déception. Et finalement, j'ai été surprise et agréablement !!
Le contexte était en partie la raison pour laquelle j'ai été tenté par cette série. J'ai toujours été fasciné par la Nouvelle-Orléans (le vieux quartier français, le vaudou, la magie, le côté original et décalé ...) alors quand j'ai vu que l'histoire avait lieu là-bas ...
L'univers est très riche et assez original. Il y a les basiques (loup-garous, vampires, magiciens and co) mais aussi les "undead", des personnages historiques que la mémoire populaire rend immortels !! Et là dessus, vous avez le "Beyond" qui est un espèce d'univers parallèle qui ressemble à notre univers mais à différentes époques.
Les intrigues principales et secondaires sont passionnantes, notamment parce qu'elles ont lieu en même temps que l'ouragan Katrina ce qui créait une tension supplémentaire. Contrairement à nous, les personnages ignorent la gravité de l'ouragan et j'ai trouvé que cela créait une certaine ambiance. Ajoutez à ça de mystérieux meurtres rituels, la disparition de
Spoiler
Gerry, le mentor de l’héroïneLes personnages sont l'un des points forts de ce livre. Ce que j'ai particulièrement apprécié, c'est que ce ne sont pas des personnages en noir et blanc : il n'y a pas des méchants et des gentils mais des personnages évoluant dans des zones de gris comme Gerry le mentor de Dru qui a de nombreux secrets par exemple. On se méfie et on s'interroge avec l’héroïne sur les motivations de chacun.
J'ai particulièrement aimé l’héroïne avec laquelle je me suis beaucoup identifiée. Elle est drôle, sarcastique, courageuse et surtout très humaine. Elle pleure, elle souffre et elle n'est pas une super héroïne surhumaine. Certes, elle prend beaucoup de risques mais avec tous les problèmes qu'elle a eu, je trouve qu'elle gère plutôt bien les situations qui se présentent.
Concernant la romance dans l'histoire qui est présente mais pas prédominante, je suis plutôt partagée mais c'est personnel. Alex aka l'homme de main des Anciens qui
Spoiler
se transforme en chienBref, pour conclure, un début de série avec beaucoup de potentiel.
PS : #TeamFrenchPirate <3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A case of love at first sight =D
As a sentinel wizard in New Orleans, Drusilla has always dreamed of working on larger missions and seeing more action but you have to be careful about what you want. With the passage of Katrina, all her life is turn upside down and Dru finds herself with more actions than she wished ...
I read urban fantasy books since an eternity and the more years passed, the more I realize that I have become demanding and that I have difficulty to find original series and of quality. Often, the universe is not complex enough, the plot too bland and the heroine too stupid ...
I had this book in my TBR for an eternity but I hadn't tried it lest it turns out to be a big disappointment. But finally, I was surprised and very pleasantly !!
The background was part of the reason why I was tempted by this series. I've always been fascinated by New Orleans (the old French Quarter, voodoo, magic, original and offbeat side ...) so when I saw that the story was taking place there ...
The universe is very rich and quite original. There are basics (werewolves, vampires, magicians and co) but also the "undead", historical figures that the popular memory makes immortal !! And with it, you also have the "Beyond" which is a kind of parallel universe that resembles our universe but at different times.
The main and secondary plots are exciting, especially because they take place at the same time as the Hurricane Katrina, which created additional tension. Unlike us, the characters ignore the severity of the hurricane and I found that it created a certain atmosphere. Add to that mysterious ritual murders, the disappearance of
Spoiler
Gerry, the mentor of the heroineThe characters are one of the highlights of this book. What I particularly appreciated is that they are not black and white characters : there are no bad guys and nice guys but people in gray areas like Gerry the mentor of Dru who has many secrets for example. We wonder with the heroine on the motives of each one of the characters.
I particularly liked the heroine with whom I identified myself a lot. She is funny, sassy, brave and above all very human. She cries, she suffers and she is not a superhuman heroine. Of course, she takes a lot of risks but with all the problems she has, I find she handles it rather well.
Concerning the romance in the history (which is present but not predominant), I am rather divided but it's my personal opinion. Alex aka the enforcer of the Elders who
Spoiler
turns into a dogIn short, to conclude, a beginning of series with a lot of potential.
PS: #TeamFrenchPirate <3
mischiefmaker17's review against another edition
5.0
I must admit I was kinda skeptical at first, but WOW am I glad I picked up this book! It's a very refreshing take on the old new orleans supernatural tale, with just enough mystery and a lil dash of attraction/romance. And really, who couldn't love a New Orleans in which characters like Louis Armstrong and Jean Lafitte still roam around? DJ is a strong female lead without being too badass, or too whiny, or too predictable, which is my complaints of most books in this genre these days.
The writing is excellent, the plot sucked me right in and I felt like I was actually roaming around New Orleans post Katrina. Seriously, can't wait for more books from this author! Very impressed, it's def my new favorite series! Def worth your time and money!
The writing is excellent, the plot sucked me right in and I felt like I was actually roaming around New Orleans post Katrina. Seriously, can't wait for more books from this author! Very impressed, it's def my new favorite series! Def worth your time and money!
upbeatmetaphor's review against another edition
2.0
Royal Street promises itself as an urban fantasy set at the intersection of the worlds of old magic and modern day, against the backdrop of the events of hurricane Katrina.
It doesn't really deliver.
It's more of a detective novel, although it lacks any really clue-based intrigue, and whilst the magic is described as old and has the potential to be enthralling and powerful, it is robbed of its teeth by a system of societies and rituals that are explored in a clinical, matter-of-fact way.
New Orleans feels like a missed opportunity, treated as little more than a backdrop. There's a range of Dixieland characters, but the city itself seems to have no personality, either with or without the inevitable changes and influences a hurricane brings. It made me want to research and visit New Orleans, not because it painted a rich and detailed picture, but because it clearly left so much out.
Within the city, the main narrative of missing persons and supernatural incursions takes a bit of a back seat to our protagonist's main concern. Who or what she might want to f*ck.
Protagonists need agency, and *checks notes* Drusilla certainly has that, but her choices are constantly ill-advised and she learns nothing from them, and her attentions are constantly distracted by bulging muscles, open shirts and smooth voices.
There seems to be no real motivation for her lousy decision-making and constantly throbbing loins, so *checks notes* Drusilla comes off as quite an unlikeable, almost stupid character, which makes *checks notes* Drusilla quite forgettable.
The most interesting characters (a voodoo demi-god and an Afghanistan war vet) are sidelined in favour of the biceps, pecs and unwanted constant sexual advances of Drusilla's new attaché and/or replacement. Character development is mainly presented in sudden oh-I-guess-I-can-tell-you-now infodumps, or in blurted rushes of conversation that make characters seem like they're in a rush to leave the chapter.
The story resolves not with an unfolding mystery but with a bit of a scuffle, and the epilogue goes too far to wrap up every single plot point in a thinly veiled list.
One thing worthy of note is the tact with which Katrina is handled. It is not exploited, sensationalised or trivialised... but there's still something missing in the response to its actions upon a city that is supposedly so dear to the characters. Perhaps the desired tone is a sort of distant and pragmatic observation, but this doesn't match with the tantrumy hair-trigger hormones of the core characters.
I wouldn't really recommend it to fans of urban fantasy or supernatural fiction, or fans of steamy romance because well, it's a bit steamless. I'd forgive the characters their constant horn-dog distractions if they responded to them with anything other than the meticulous listing detachment with which they view the city, the story, and everything else.
I don't know what I was supposed to get out of reading this.
It doesn't really deliver.
It's more of a detective novel, although it lacks any really clue-based intrigue, and whilst the magic is described as old and has the potential to be enthralling and powerful, it is robbed of its teeth by a system of societies and rituals that are explored in a clinical, matter-of-fact way.
New Orleans feels like a missed opportunity, treated as little more than a backdrop. There's a range of Dixieland characters, but the city itself seems to have no personality, either with or without the inevitable changes and influences a hurricane brings. It made me want to research and visit New Orleans, not because it painted a rich and detailed picture, but because it clearly left so much out.
Within the city, the main narrative of missing persons and supernatural incursions takes a bit of a back seat to our protagonist's main concern. Who or what she might want to f*ck.
Protagonists need agency, and *checks notes* Drusilla certainly has that, but her choices are constantly ill-advised and she learns nothing from them, and her attentions are constantly distracted by bulging muscles, open shirts and smooth voices.
There seems to be no real motivation for her lousy decision-making and constantly throbbing loins, so *checks notes* Drusilla comes off as quite an unlikeable, almost stupid character, which makes *checks notes* Drusilla quite forgettable.
The most interesting characters (a voodoo demi-god and an Afghanistan war vet) are sidelined in favour of the biceps, pecs and unwanted constant sexual advances of Drusilla's new attaché and/or replacement. Character development is mainly presented in sudden oh-I-guess-I-can-tell-you-now infodumps, or in blurted rushes of conversation that make characters seem like they're in a rush to leave the chapter.
The story resolves not with an unfolding mystery but with a bit of a scuffle, and the epilogue goes too far to wrap up every single plot point in a thinly veiled list.
One thing worthy of note is the tact with which Katrina is handled. It is not exploited, sensationalised or trivialised... but there's still something missing in the response to its actions upon a city that is supposedly so dear to the characters. Perhaps the desired tone is a sort of distant and pragmatic observation, but this doesn't match with the tantrumy hair-trigger hormones of the core characters.
I wouldn't really recommend it to fans of urban fantasy or supernatural fiction, or fans of steamy romance because well, it's a bit steamless. I'd forgive the characters their constant horn-dog distractions if they responded to them with anything other than the meticulous listing detachment with which they view the city, the story, and everything else.
I don't know what I was supposed to get out of reading this.
laden_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
Set during Hurricane Katrina, this is an interesting take on the supernatural. Supes are under the radar, with governing boards, and our hero is a junior witch* (but totally not a junior witch) who has to evacuate during the Hurricane and then come back because her senior witch has gone AWOL. There was the standard partner love interest and sudden/inappropriate triangle. All in all, though, I enjoyed the execution.
*generic term for magic users in spec fic, not actually indicative of any sort of plot/store/character point
*generic term for magic users in spec fic, not actually indicative of any sort of plot/store/character point
tracey_stewart's review against another edition
5.0
Royal Street is another Netgalley offering which made me very happy. Netgalley is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you're gonna get. Royal Street is one of the ones that looks like it might be one of those odd chocolate-covered taffy things, where the inside is that strange pastel color and you seem to just have to chew and chew. It might look that way, as possibly just-another-urban-fantasy, but Royal Street is actually pure coconut. Or, as the Cigarette Smoking Man preferred, English toffee.
I don't know why it's been so hard to polish up and polish off this review....
It has, in real time, been seven years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and – well, here in Connecticut the impact of those horrors was mainly through our television screens. It was terrible – but we were largely able to proceed with our lives, grieving during the evening news each night. It was an impersonal horror.
This story brings it home and makes it personal. In fact, I think it's brilliant how Suzanne Johnson uses the disaster as a springboard for her story: natural disasters cause the barriers between worlds to weaken. There is this world, where wizards work quietly and unknown to mundanes to keep things on an even keel, and there is the Beyond, where all of the mythical mystical beings of legend and young adult novels dwell. Dwell, but don't like to remain; they would rather be here, powers amidst the powerless, rather than exiled to the Beyond where any average prete (short for "preternatural") is a small fish in a big magical pond. This world is much more fun and tasty. New Orleans, always prone to breaches being as it is and ever has been steeped in magic even mundanes can't help but be aware of, is now wide open because of the huge disturbance of the hurricanes. Wizards are kept busy containing the situations that arise – anything from gnomes looking for a drink to vampires looking for a drink. The book begins just a couple of days before Katrina, as the Louisianan main character – Drusilla Jaco (DJ) – watches weather forecasts with an eye half worried (it really does sound like a bad one) and half jaded (but we've heard all this before).
That's one side of the tale – the increase of preternatural activity, including the disappearance of Drusilla's mentor Gerry, with whom she has lived most of her life. He made her evacuate for the storm to her grandmother's house; he stayed, as sentinel of New Orleans needing to be on hand for whatever happened. And now he's gone without a trace, mystical or otherwise, and in addition to that and the expected increase in other activity National Guardsmen are being murdered. Also alarming: strange symbols are being found on houses all throughout the area… the houses of wizards. And DJ, not-quite-trained as she is, is suddenly the only sentinel on hand.
The other side of the tale is the one everyone faced.
This is her city. And, slowly at first and then stronger and stronger, it becomes clear that it will never, ever be the same again. It's just the beginning of the pain, still fresh, still in survival mode; reaction has not had the chance to morph into the outrage over failed levees and the debacle the trailers turn into … The pain is still concentrated on what the hurricanes did, not the government: nearly 1000 deaths, and many times that struggling to cope with the loss of everything they owned.
The magic system of the book is lovely, well thought out and detailed with plenty of room for exploration later. Johnson achieves the best of all worlds by simply creating several classes of wizard – red, green, blue, etc. – and allowing each group different strengths and abilities. With this, DJ is quaffing potions and throwing vials containing various spells like a bona fide video game heroine, and her mentor Gerry can burst open a door with a wave of his hand. And neither can do what the other can.
Seriously awesome random line: At this point, I could have been floating around with a lampshade on my head, playing maracas and singing show tunes.
Odd quirk of the text: "Bon chance" is always used instead of "bonne".
The pirate Jean Lafitte is a major player in the book, right from the beginning (and he has eyes for DJ). He is beautifully used, as a story-telling device (he serves as the reader's introduction to pretes and how they are dealt with) as well as simply as a character: yes, this is indeed what the pirate must have been like, and how he would behave. The reality of the character is not forgotten: this fellow is no charming rogue type, though he can be charming and "rogue" can be substituted for "scoundrel". He is ruthless, violent, intelligent, and out for profit – and is also alarmingly attractive even though he oughtn't to be. He seemed like he was intended to make a cameo appearance and then wouldn't leave. "The old rule about taking candy from strangers should apply doubly to taking alcoholic beverages from undead pirates."
One of my Issues with my reading of late has been a tendency toward Everybody Loves [insert heroine's name here]. The stunningly gorgeous (though not cookie-cutter beautiful!) female main character moves through her life drawing men along behind her like a magnet through a metal shop rubbish tip. In time there isn't a man of appropriate age (and sometimes in-) who is not goofy in love with her; even casual interactions show unnamed NPC's giving her smiles and special treatment.
The funny thing is, Royal Street goes that route ... sort of. All I can really say is that if you're gonna do it, do it like this. DJ is attractive, but not the be-all and end-all, and the men who enter her life become attracted to her in a more natural manner - one becomes her new partner, one is his cousin and part of the attraction is a competitive streak between the two men. And then there's Lafitte – but he's just like that.
I love that DJ doesn't play the moronic games so many heroines (and in fact heroes) do: I really should share such and such information with this man who has announced himself as my partner, but he irked me and I won't, I'll just go into this ridiculously dangerous situation alone and fix it all by myself so there. She doesn't much like him, doesn't want him around, hates that he thinks Gerry might have been on the wrong side – and she works with him like a reasonable adult human being in a bind. They help each other. Also, he doesn't spend the entire book keeping stupid secrets from her; there is one huge secret that he spills fairly early on. It still has impact – comical and plot – and doesn't end up being something she can screech at him for keeping from her at the end of the book. As happens in so many books. She even promptly tells him about her dreams. This is awesome.
I don't know why it's been so hard to polish up and polish off this review....
It has, in real time, been seven years since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and – well, here in Connecticut the impact of those horrors was mainly through our television screens. It was terrible – but we were largely able to proceed with our lives, grieving during the evening news each night. It was an impersonal horror.
This story brings it home and makes it personal. In fact, I think it's brilliant how Suzanne Johnson uses the disaster as a springboard for her story: natural disasters cause the barriers between worlds to weaken. There is this world, where wizards work quietly and unknown to mundanes to keep things on an even keel, and there is the Beyond, where all of the mythical mystical beings of legend and young adult novels dwell. Dwell, but don't like to remain; they would rather be here, powers amidst the powerless, rather than exiled to the Beyond where any average prete (short for "preternatural") is a small fish in a big magical pond. This world is much more fun and tasty. New Orleans, always prone to breaches being as it is and ever has been steeped in magic even mundanes can't help but be aware of, is now wide open because of the huge disturbance of the hurricanes. Wizards are kept busy containing the situations that arise – anything from gnomes looking for a drink to vampires looking for a drink. The book begins just a couple of days before Katrina, as the Louisianan main character – Drusilla Jaco (DJ) – watches weather forecasts with an eye half worried (it really does sound like a bad one) and half jaded (but we've heard all this before).
That's one side of the tale – the increase of preternatural activity, including the disappearance of Drusilla's mentor Gerry, with whom she has lived most of her life. He made her evacuate for the storm to her grandmother's house; he stayed, as sentinel of New Orleans needing to be on hand for whatever happened. And now he's gone without a trace, mystical or otherwise, and in addition to that and the expected increase in other activity National Guardsmen are being murdered. Also alarming: strange symbols are being found on houses all throughout the area… the houses of wizards. And DJ, not-quite-trained as she is, is suddenly the only sentinel on hand.
The other side of the tale is the one everyone faced.
The houses on either side of Gerry's were deserted, windows broken out. Heck, every single house in Lakeview was deserted. Two square miles empty and ten thousand people homeless just in this one neighborhood.
Then multiply it by dozens more neighborhoods.
This is her city. And, slowly at first and then stronger and stronger, it becomes clear that it will never, ever be the same again. It's just the beginning of the pain, still fresh, still in survival mode; reaction has not had the chance to morph into the outrage over failed levees and the debacle the trailers turn into … The pain is still concentrated on what the hurricanes did, not the government: nearly 1000 deaths, and many times that struggling to cope with the loss of everything they owned.
The magic system of the book is lovely, well thought out and detailed with plenty of room for exploration later. Johnson achieves the best of all worlds by simply creating several classes of wizard – red, green, blue, etc. – and allowing each group different strengths and abilities. With this, DJ is quaffing potions and throwing vials containing various spells like a bona fide video game heroine, and her mentor Gerry can burst open a door with a wave of his hand. And neither can do what the other can.
Seriously awesome random line: At this point, I could have been floating around with a lampshade on my head, playing maracas and singing show tunes.
Odd quirk of the text: "Bon chance" is always used instead of "bonne".
The pirate Jean Lafitte is a major player in the book, right from the beginning (and he has eyes for DJ). He is beautifully used, as a story-telling device (he serves as the reader's introduction to pretes and how they are dealt with) as well as simply as a character: yes, this is indeed what the pirate must have been like, and how he would behave. The reality of the character is not forgotten: this fellow is no charming rogue type, though he can be charming and "rogue" can be substituted for "scoundrel". He is ruthless, violent, intelligent, and out for profit – and is also alarmingly attractive even though he oughtn't to be. He seemed like he was intended to make a cameo appearance and then wouldn't leave. "The old rule about taking candy from strangers should apply doubly to taking alcoholic beverages from undead pirates."
One of my Issues with my reading of late has been a tendency toward Everybody Loves [insert heroine's name here]. The stunningly gorgeous (though not cookie-cutter beautiful!) female main character moves through her life drawing men along behind her like a magnet through a metal shop rubbish tip. In time there isn't a man of appropriate age (and sometimes in-) who is not goofy in love with her; even casual interactions show unnamed NPC's giving her smiles and special treatment.
The funny thing is, Royal Street goes that route ... sort of. All I can really say is that if you're gonna do it, do it like this. DJ is attractive, but not the be-all and end-all, and the men who enter her life become attracted to her in a more natural manner - one becomes her new partner, one is his cousin and part of the attraction is a competitive streak between the two men. And then there's Lafitte – but he's just like that.
I love that DJ doesn't play the moronic games so many heroines (and in fact heroes) do: I really should share such and such information with this man who has announced himself as my partner, but he irked me and I won't, I'll just go into this ridiculously dangerous situation alone and fix it all by myself so there. She doesn't much like him, doesn't want him around, hates that he thinks Gerry might have been on the wrong side – and she works with him like a reasonable adult human being in a bind. They help each other. Also, he doesn't spend the entire book keeping stupid secrets from her; there is one huge secret that he spills fairly early on. It still has impact – comical and plot – and doesn't end up being something she can screech at him for keeping from her at the end of the book. As happens in so many books. She even promptly tells him about her dreams. This is awesome.