Bryan Camp (1)

Having finally gotten around to reading this novel, two thoughts come to mind. One, I regret not reading it sooner, as this is really excellent story, as one follows the destiny of Renaissance Raines, the young woman who was "fridged" in the author's first novel, only to be resurrected as a guide to the dead, and who now finds herself stuck with the problem of a person who has dodged their own destiny with death. Two, I hope that there's more from Camp in the future, as I found it very show more emotionally satisfying. About the only thing that I can mark this book down for is that there is a little too much misdirection, but without all the misdirection the story just wouldn't work. show less

I've been bewitched, ensnared, ensorcelled!!

This (audio)book was an awesome, oft times (oddly enough) enjoyably confusing, wild ride. With a delicious blend of (New Orleans) Culture and Magic and a few cameos from various Mythologies and Folklores, this book was a mixed and mottled amalgamation of all things Divine and Preternatural (with a smattering of questionable paternity) and a large dose of good old fashioned Fate (and who's in control of that?). Sound confusing? It was... just a bit show more BUT hang in there because it is sooooo worth the price of admission.

This book was brimming with atmosphere and grit and Possibility and Chance. In part, this Urban Fantasy was a magical/mystical/crazy pants/ culturally edifying Whodunit. It was also a patchwork introduction to Vodoo and Christianity, and many other varying religious beliefs. It's also a coming of age story and a tale of Destiny and more importantly, who has their hands on the reigns in that matter... and and and... It was many many things but what it most certainly was not was boring. Every word was sheer poetry... not literal poetry but poignant nonetheless. It was not too verbose... except for Morning's dialogue but he's him so it's allowed. I was helpless, helplessly (lovingly) chained to this tale. A tale that, at its bare minimum, is a story about a boy (??) Demigod (??) Son of (??)... oh well, we'll have to move on from there because we don't know for certain those answers until WAAAAAY later in the story if at all. Well this... let's just call him (her?) Jude, this Jude resides in beautiful New Orleans after Katrina. Jude has some magical tricks and is called to a card game with some pretty interesting players. Jude is forced to play. What happens next is that the Luck God of New Orleans is killed, Jude has no recollection of what happened after he sat down and began to play and the suspect list is populated by the very eclectic group of card players in attendance that fateful evening. There is an angel, a vampire, a voodoo god (riding inside of one of his followers), and a Greek/Egyptian god. Jude knows... errr thinks... the murderer wasn't himself but if not he then who (or what) killed the Luck God of New Orleans AND what does this have to do with Jude AND does it help us figure out Jude's parentage AND will it help Jude find his place in the World? As I said, there's more to it than that but that's as succinct of a synopsis I can give without giving away too much.

Overall:
I'm a bit confused as to why this book isn't rated higher, maybe it's because it was difficult at times to suss out what was 100% going on at all times. I am that reader though that enjoys suspending my beliefs and need for control while being immersed in a read. I'm the one saying "I'll follow wherever this leads me even if I'm all sorts of lost along the way." If you need tight control... need to know things with complete certainty about the goings on in your read at all times? This book might not be for you. Don't get me wrong, you'll probably enjoy the wording and vibe but you'll be lost in the proverbial sauce. I personally was captivated and utterly unable to put this one down. The narrator was Korey Jackson and he brought this beautiful ode... homage... love letter to the devastated yet resilient and healing city of New Orleans vibrantly to Life. I can't wait to dive into and devour (or let myself be devoured by) book #2!

I highly reccomend this (audio) book!

~ Enjoy show less

If you're writing a novel about occult doings in New Orleans you've set yourself a high bar to clear as there are so many cliches to navigate, so the immediate question is whether the author manages to clear it. On the whole, I'd have to say that answer is mostly yes. That said I'm not sure that the struggle of Jude Dubuisson to essentially regain his spirit, and possibly save the spirit of New Orleans, is always convincing, often being more of a slacker's than a hero's journey. The cynic show more might argue that Dubuisson is the recipient of too much unearned grace. Still, I like the characters, Camp has a good sense of scene and place, and I personally do like the semi-poetic prologues to each chapter which some folks seem to find pedantic. I will give the next book in this setting a try. show less

Let me paint you a picture. It's August 23rd, 2005 in Louisiana. The levees just broke, water begins a fast and furious pace to your homes, and everything surrounding you.

Your government has failed you. Rescue attempts, and basic amenities are hard to come by. Whether you want to or not, it's best to leave your house, and all the comforts of home to find safety.

As help comes, it is necessary to mark the houses that have been checked to see if anyone has been left behind. Even when the waters show more recede, it is evident that a disaster has ransacked not only your house, your neighbors house, but the entire city you have grown to love.

How can you forgive what has happened? How could the government do better? Would this kind of devastation cause you to leave, or dig your heals in to help your city find what was lost in the storm: it's Magic, it's Voice, and it's Luck?

Fast forward six years, and our main character Jude Dubuisson is ready to stop straddling the worlds of god and men, causing trouble on both sides, and face the real world again. You see, Jude Dubuisson was born with a gift; a gift from his father who he had never met. He had always been good a finding lost things. Following the devastation of Katrina, it was better "being nowhere and nothing, than feeling all the loss."

The breadth of his unique gift grew with him. From simply finding lost toys, to finding finding lost people. And when the levees broke open, his magic responded in the same way, only it was uncontrollable. Enough that he bought himself a pair of gloves so that he wouldn't accidentally touch someone to feel their loss. Since Jude was able to somewhat control his magic, he also needed to make a living. And what better way than a street magician. His shtick? Finding lost things of course! Mostly for young people so they wouldn't get in trouble with their folks. After a customer leaves behind their cell phone, Jude receives a call from his former partner, Regal Sloan, trying to throw him back into work.

A favor is being called in by the fortune god, Dodge Renaud, to attend a poker game. The entrance was masked in a magical ward that actively pushed any passerby away (physically making them cross the street). Going into a house Jude goes through a red door and can't believe his eyes. This was not an ordinary poker game- this game included a vampire, an angel, Papa Legba- king of voodoo, Thoth- keeper of scribes, a fortune god, and Jude. Instead of poker cards, tarot cards were used. Each player playing to effect the fate of someone in New Orleans- people Jude knew. Jude new he didn't have a clue how to play, and the god players are hoping he fails. Each god wants something different from Jude- the vampire wants his blood, Papa Legba wants his voice, and the angel wants his faith. When it's time to turn the cards over, he notices that all of his cards are blank. Seeming like he lost, the most acceptable thing to do is try to back out of the game before the gods can collect on their bets- Jude falls back into darkness and wakes up in his apartment fast asleep.

Regal calls Jude in the morning explaining that the fortune god of New Orleans has been murdered. Regal chauffeurs him off to his former employer Mourning to hash out the details of the killer. The murderer has to be one of the five card players from the game the past night, not excluding Jude who is having trouble remember things after he blacked out in his apartment. The first step in the magical crime investigation is to attempt to find Dodge in the underworld. Summoning a god though only manages to make the red door appear- and Regal and Jude walk through not knowing what they'll find. At first glance it is an empty room, but as they start to move around they get snapshots and stills of evidence, ending with Dodge on the table, his throat slit. When they come full circle to where Jude was sitting, one of his blank, upturned cards has an image on it. It's the Magician tarot card- and it has his face on it.

From the summoning sends Jude and Regal on a whirlwind of sleuthing. Questioning every god that was seated at that table, while being followed by a mysterious shadow that Jude can't seem to shake. With the red door constantly following him, what exactly is it trying to tell him? And why do the gods keep disappearing?

Oh this book (and I mean this in the best possible way). Almost each chapter starts out with a paragraph of poetry describing the differences in gods and religions in the most tasteful and politically correct way. I was hooked by chapter two in the epic god poker game, and Bryan Camp continued to suck me into the rich history of New Orleans trying to rebuild a dying city.

Each character had such dimension- extremely well thought out and developed, and each holding a crucial piece to the mystery of the death of the fortune god. I honestly cannot find a single complaint with this book. In the author's note of this book, Camp states this is not the book he set out to right; the meat of it is still there IE the gods and monsters. I have to say, I'm not sure what your original direction was going to be, but I am super stoked that this book is the final product, especially for a debut novel. I do hope this series continues, as I am now a die hard fan of "Crescent City". show less