Wait a minute. Had I lost my mind? Somehow forgotten my chosen line of work? Mambo, vodouisant, servant to the lwa—these were proper titles. Police officer was nowhere on that list.
The Quarter Storm by Veronica Henry was my Amazon First Reads pick for February. Honestly, the books from the Amazon First Reads rarely interest me, but this cover caught my attention.
Summary
A practitioner of Vodou must test the boundaries of her powers to solve a ritual murder in New Orleans and protect everything she holds sacred.
Haitian-American Vodou priestess Mambo Reina Dumond runs a healing practice from her New Orleans home. Gifted with water magic since she was a child, Reina is devoted to the benevolent traditions of her ancestors.
After a ritual slaying in the French Quarter, police arrest a fellow Vodouisant. Detective Roman Frost, Reina’s ex-boyfriend—a fierce nonbeliever—is eager to tie the crime, and half a dozen others, to the Vodou practitioners of New Orleans. Reina resolves to find the real killer and defend the Vodou practice and customs, but the motives behind the murder are deeper and darker than she imagines.
As Reina delves into the city’s shadows, she untangles more than just the truth behind a devious crime. It’s a conspiracy. As a killer wields dangerous magic to thwart Reina’s investigation, she must tap into the strength of her own power and faith to solve a mystery that threatens to destroy her entire way of life.
My Thoughts
I loved The Quarter Storm. Veronica Henry paints New Orleans perfectly. You will feel as if you are walking alongside Mambo Reina as she searches for the answers to the murder that has shaken the Vodou community. For the first book in a growing series, there was just enough detail given about Mambo Reina’s past, father, and her connection with water to keep my wanting more. I cannot wait to see how this series develops.
I was not expecting a cast of characters to enjoy. Each character felt human battling their own troubles. We get a peak into each character’s life through Reina’s investigation, adding depth to The Quarter Storm. By the end of the book, I felt the connection Reina has with her community. She is not just another Vodou priestess she is an active leader.
The Quarter Storm is a magical mystery book that you can easily read in one day. Henry twists murder, rich Vodou magic, and the caring heart of Mambo Reina into a thrilling story. Mambo Reina, has a connection with water, which she uses to help others and protect herself. Her powers make her stand out amongst others in the Vodou community. While Henry explores Reina’s powers, she makes sure we know there are others who practice in different ways.
A Vodou priestess’s thoughts were never hers alone: she learned to share them and her life with the gods and goddesses, for them to do with as they saw fit. The deafening pitch of a raging river slammed against my eardrums and quickly faded away.
I enjoyed the Vodou magic throughout the story and look forward to Reina’s power in the future. As much as I liked various elements of the story, I found Reina’s on and off again lover odd. He was not my favorite character, again flawed, but I feel like there is a better match for Reina.
Should you read The Quarter Storm?
If you are a lover of mystery, murder, and Vodou The Quarter Storm is the book for you. There is still time to snag a copy for your Amazon First Reads pick for February. If not, you can find your copy on Amazon.
Let me know in the comments below if you have read The Quarter Storm, or tweet me @litlemonbooks.
Lit Lemon Books 