Reina, the MC, is especially human, and I found myself invested in her life. But that’s what makes them so compelling. These characters do not always make the right decisions, and in fact sometimes take morally ambiguous action. From the high-spirited, eager-to-fight Tyka, to the righteous and Vodou-wary Roman, to the haughty and self-serving Lucien, Henry’s characters have a depth that you can only achieve through vice and virtue. The characters felt real with all their faults, and oh do they have faults. I thought Henry did a phenomenal job here. There are several aspects of The Quarter Storm that stood out to me, the first of which was the characterzation. 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. 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.Īs Reina delves into the city’s shadows, she untangles more than just the truth behind a devious crime. 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. Gifted with water magic since she was a child, Reina is devoted to the benevolent traditions of her ancestors.Īfter a ritual slaying in the French Quarter, police arrest a fellow vodouisant. Haitian-American Vodou priestess Mambo Reina Dumond runs a healing practice from her New Orleans home. All opinions are my own.Ī practitioner of Vodou must test the boundaries of her powers to solve a ritual murder in New Orleans and protect everything she holds sacred. I received an ARC of this book from 47North. This review was originally written on Goodreads and the Libri Draconis blog. It is quite the nod to New Orleans and a satisfying read. If you enjoy atmospheric, slice-of-life fantasy that is steeped in the culture and traditions of a specific urban center, then you’ll like The Quarter Storm. Yet these events are interwoven with the plot elements so as to play an important role in unraveling the mystery.

As the mystery unfolds, the reader experiences the mundane: preparing gumbo, walking into a neighborhood bar and grill, or bringing a meal to less fortunate friends. In some respects, The Quarter Storm reads like a slice-of-life fantasy. This mystery steeped in Vodou magic immerses you in the communities, environment, and day-to-day life of a post-Katrina New Orleans so effectively it’s as if you’ve been transported there, feeling the humidity on your skin as you walk down the streets of the Quater and witnessing the events of the book yourself.

If I were to pick one word to describe The Quarter Storm it would be atmospheric.

The quarter storm veronica henry