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Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson is the fun, fast-paced first book in the Sentinels of New Orleans, a series of urban fantasy novels filled with wizards, mermen, and pirates. In the tradition of the Sookie Stackhouse books, these novels are perfect for readers of paranormal fiction and “fans of Charlaine Harris and Cat Adams.” (Booklist)
As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than sniffing out supernatural bad guys like rogue vampires and lethal were-creatures. DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.
Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.
While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.
To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.
“Rarely has an urban fantasy so moved and entertained me on the very same page! Royal Street offers an insider's view of post-Katrina New Orleans, in all its heartache—and all its heart. A witty, resilient heroine and an irresistible cast make this a sure hit with fans of Charlaine Harris and Jim Butcher.”
—Jeri Smith-Ready, award-winning author of the SHADE and WVMP RADIO series
Suzanne Johnson is a magazine editor and feature writer with more than fifty national writing and editing awards. A longtime New Orleans resident, she helped rebuild for two years after Hurricane Katrina.
Excerpted from Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson Copyright © 2012 by Suzanne Johnson. Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
I never fully connected with this book. It just didn't excite 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 having any deep connection to 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. While I will add the next book to my to-read list, I'm in no big hurry to read it.
5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The tale takes place against the backdrop of New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. Johnson beautifully captures New Orleans, some of its most famous citizens and creates a fresh new fantasy world. While this first novel deals a lot with establishing this new world, I found the tale and the characters to be delightful. This tale contains wizards, assassins, Fae, elves, vampires, shape-shifters and more. With Kim Harrison’s series the Hollows winding down, I am excited about this new series. The protagonist is twenty-five year-old Drusilla Jane Jaco.( DJ for short.) She is a junior wizard and empathy. She is employed as the deputy sentinel in New Orleans. Gerald St. Simon has been her mentor and father-figure since the age of seven. DJ is a Green Congress wizard who specializes in rituals and spells. She is eager to learn more and take on more responsibilities. She gets her first chance when Gerald asks her to send pirate Jean Lafitte back to the other realm after he was summoned. Jean Lafitte offers DJ a deal, one she refuses. After trapping him she sends him back to the Otherworld. As he leaves he swears revenge. When warnings start coming in of a hurricane bearing down on New Orleans, Gerry orders DJ to head out of town to her grandmother’s in Alabama. Gerry stays behind to watch the borders of the Beyond. When fluctuating barometric pressure happens during a hurricane, it opens doors that keep the Pretes (supernatural beings) in their world. Left unchecked they would begin crossing over and causing problems for the humans who reside in New Orleans. Reluctantly she agrees, but when Gerald ends up missing, she is ordered back to New Orleans. DJ returns home, to find her home spared and Jean Lafitte in her home seeking revenge. Without time to invoke a spell, DJ has to use her wits to save herself, and just when it looks like she might have the upper hand, Alex an enforcer for the Elders rushes in like Rambo and shoots Lafitte, sending him back to the Otherworld. She learns she is now the Sentinel for New Orleans and the Elders have sent Alex to assist her. DJ’s main concern is finding Gerry and GI Alex is not about to stop her. The tale that unfolds is actions packed, as DJ and Alex search for Gerry and try to stop a killer using voodoo. The characters in this novel are interesting and unique. I easily connected with DJ. She is bright, feisty and determined. The thoughts that pop into her head were a riot and reminded me of a younger Charley from Darynda Jones fantastic Charley Davidson series. I cannot thank Johnson enough for creating a heroine who isn’t winey and doesn’t need a man to make it all better. DJ is not a tough in this novel. In fact she spends almost the entire novel in various shades of black and blue. Johnson hints of DJ’s untapped powers and we learn some unique things about her that have me excited to watch this young protagonist grow into a warrior. Combine that with her ability to piece things together, negotiate with those in the Otherworld and think outside the box, DJ has the potential to be one of my favorite heroines. Alex is a likeable guy and while his FBI training can make him act like a neanderthal, he respects DJ and listens to her. We learn a little about his history, but I have a feeling there is more. His buddy Jake owns a bar called Gators and is ex-military. Watching the two of them try and stake a claim on DJ was delightful. Jean Lafitte is a giant flirt and a true pirate. I
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Royal Street is part paranormal and part alternate reality. This is a world where magic is real, those with fame can live forever, and every supernatural being you could dream of lives in the Beyond – or on Earth. Fascinating sexy pirates, deadly vampires, and even famous jazz musicians all grace this thrilling, mysterious, funny read and of course our main star, DJ the little wizard.
It starts mere days before New Orleans fell to Hurricane Katrina. DJ is a young Green Wizard who is forced to leave her post before the onslaught of the hurricane hits. She leaves behind her home, the mentor whom she loves as a father, and is forced to evacuate on the orders of the Wizard Congress. She complies though she voices her opinion with Jerry; after all she just dispatched an ancient pirate who tried to seduce her into making a bargain.
She hadn’t been gone long, and she watched in horror as the city she loved fell when the levees broke. If anything could have been worse, she wouldn’t expect it to be Jerry. Her mentor had gone missing, and upon the Wizard Congresses orders, DJ would have to return and find him quickly before the breaches between Earth and the Beyond allowed more supernatural’s to waltz on in.
DJ would have to do the impossible, but not alone, no, the Congress sent in an enforcer, a delectable enforcer as both her partner and protector. Alex has many of his own secrets, his own talents, and one is to infuriate DJ. But when his cousin comes into the picture jealousy rears-up when DJ shows interest.
Oh but this is so much more than a love story, or a triangle, and no I won’t give a single thing away beyond this point! You’ll have to nab yourself a copy and get your read on!
I really loved this story, and I sure hope the author will be writing more. There weren’t any real loose ends, but I could see it continuing here and there. This story was very well written and filled with facts, lots of paranormal, fantasy creatures and ideals, and it all worked well together. I even enjoyed the humorous bits that were nicely splayed into the story. A lot of times they seem awkward, but no these really meshed nicely.
Character, world, and plot creation was superb. I actually got sad when I watched the book come to an end. I’ll say it again, I want more of DJ, Alex, Jake and oh even Jean, loved him – and hated him at times too! So, please, please, please keep writing more!
Originally Reviewed at: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Reviewer: Heather
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Magluvsya03
Posted May 8, 2012
I got this one from net galley so I gotta say extra thanks to them This story is a version of magical wizard meets cops, with a side of Hurrican Katrina. Now I will start with, being in south Louisiana, I lived through Katrina, not terribly like New Orleans, as I live more to the western side, but all the way at the bottom on the west side, however I really lived through Rita… My house got it pretty bad. But, hurricanes are a way of life… we have summer-aka hurricane season, almost all year, and a slight fall, with a small side of wet, cold, windy winter. *sigh* I miss winter, it’s so hot down here LOL I will give it to this author, she is either familiar-in a “I was there” way, or she did some really good research. I also like the dated times from the local Times-Picayune paper quotes. I also thought she was fantastic with landmarks I normally stay away from books about/based in/having to do with NOLA (yes, we say NOLA when we talk about New Orleans, LA).
Drusilla is a junior wizard sentinel. This job entails her guarding her territory from breaches of the Otherworld-they call it the Between- and making sure those supernaturals that do cross over don’t cause any trouble, or get sent back when they do. It’s a very fine line to walk. She is a green level-this means she does potions and retrieves the easy level things. Red levels have all the physical magic magic-aka can throw fire balls and things like that. All she wants to do is become a senior level sentinel, and she is willing to prove it. She’s tired of being treated like the new rookie, and a child. And then tragic strikes, and all hell breaks loose-literally. The walls are crumbling from the Between, and all kind of creatures are coming through, and to make matters worse, her mentor has gone missing. The Elders-like a government type of council-send over Alex-hot, rugged, carrying enough fire power to supply a small nation with weaponry, and a real FBI agent- over to become her partner, as she is now in charge of the New Orleans territory. This is all she ever wanted, but not how she wanted to get it. She is literally falling apart and has a very big job to do. I love her strength, her courage, her fantastic sarcastic attitude, and most of all, her growing abilities. I think she is a fantastically built character!
So, let’s talk about Alex, and his FANTASTIC cousin Jake- yeah I think I’ve got the hots for Jake! Alex is all tall, dark and broody, with a side of gun power. Jake is like the sun-kissed surfer southern boy. I can’t help but wanna hug him. I do like Alex, but he’s kinda predicatable, so I’m trying out the cool sweet-HUMAN- kid for once. Jake has no idea about any of the supernatural things in the world. I kinda like that about him. Trust me, Alex is pretty awesome, but I can’t help but gravitate towards Jake. And maybe that will change as the series grows. Drusilla makes it clear she has no time or emotional capacity right now for any kind of relationship, but that doesn’t stop those lovely cousins from trying!
Along the way, she also meets some very fascinating characters. This is very well written, it’s definitely an easy read, as it’s fast paced and action packed. And boy, were there some major twists and turns. I cannot wait to see where this series is going to go, and being a born-raised-and never leaving- native south Louisiana girl, I’m glad that she didn’t make us sound like stupid idiots, nor did she get crazy with the discriptions of New Orleans. Sorry, a lot of people write about us like we aren’t edumacated Yes, we are weird, crazy, whole different culture, but most of us are decently smart LOL This one gets an excellent 4.5 stars from me!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.cubicleblindnessKM
Posted May 5, 2012
I love the fact that this story had everything I was looking for in it. From the description and the cover I knew what to expect and it lived up to every bit of the excitement I had since I first heard about the story. The author does a great job informing the readers about the events that occurred during Hurricane Katrina, and has it as the actual events that the characters have to work around to solve their own mystery. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting events could be considered a character all in itself. A well handled way of introducing a real-life event into a great Urban Fantasy storyline.
After our MC Drusilla has left the New Orleans area because of the hurricane warning, she finds out that her boss and father figure Gerry has gone missing. She is asked by the Elders to return to the area and investigate, upon her return she discovers that the Hurricane has not only opened the levees around the city, flooding the city, but the doors to the otherworld have also opened and released the preternatural beings that have been banished there. As DJ is just getting started in her investigation and trying yet again to get out of the groping hands of the 200 year old undead pirate Jean Lafitte, her newly appointed partner shows up. A partner she had no idea was coming, or felt she needed.
Their investigation takes them around the city finding clues that may lead to what happened to Gerry. A combination of entertaining and dangerous characters that reveal clues that this could be a mystery beyond finding Gerry, but some of the beings that were released just may be planning something bigger.
With a combination of otherworldly characters (like famous ghosts finding their way back home) to the soldiers and the every day people trying to clean up after the storm. To the run-in with some very powerful voodoo magic. I'm not sure what else I could have asked for, humor, with light romance and a mystery that goes beyond just a missing persons case with entertaining and humorous situations and a twist ending.
I love stories that involve a combination of different characters and possibilities of which direction the story can go. This opens up the series to have a variety of directions it can go in the future in both the magical world and the mundane. DJ is just touching on some of her magical powers and has a potential in becoming a beloved heroine in today's Urban Fantasy world. She is strong, determined, and loyal.
Royal Street is a must read debut novel, it can only get better from here.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Therecanbeonlyonepenname
Posted April 22, 2012
I'm having trouble getting through this book. The concept sounded great, but the writing just isn't grabbing me. Mostly it's our heroine. I'm finding her to be very unlikable. She's disagreeable and dismissive - just to show she knows best - to the point of stupidity. I assume the author was trying to give her independence and depth, but it's not coming across. After paying a ridiculous $10 for this book, I'm really hoping it gets better. I liked the pirate (the one saving grace).
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Royal Street is the beginning to a new paranormal series that shouldn’t be missed. It’s not heavy on the romance, which is just the way I like it. It has tension and just enough of it, but steers away from the urban fantasies that are saturated with it. Some may feel that New Orleans is the usual location for stories such as this, but it just makes sense, and it’s my hometown, so when it is done right I will never turn my nose up at it. And Royal Street did New Orleans justice. The fact that it takes place before, during, and after Katrina and uses the event as the reason for everything that’s going down is pure genius on Johnson’s part.
I’m not sure who my favorite character is, because there are a lot of great choices. DJ is the strong female lead that you shouldn’t screw with, but you might not realize that from looking at her. She isn’t the typical lead with supernatural strength, her strength is all in her intentions. Once she has her mind set on something, she takes care of it. Her new partner and his cousin are both swoon worthy and each have their moments that had me rooting for either one of them to steal DJ’s heart. The most interesting character is definitely the pirate, Jean Lafitte, he’s undead, bad, and good(ish), all at the same time, and he is always entertaining. I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!
Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Royal Street is about Drusilla Jaco who is the junior wizard sentinel of New Orleans. DJ is biting at the bit to prove herself. She always gets sent on pixie-retrieval assignments, or gets stuck mixing potions. She wants a real assignment so she can show her mentor, Gerry, that she is ready to be a full fledged wizard. When the threat of Hurricane Katrina threatens New Orleans, Gerry sends DJ to Alabama to stay with her Gran. New Orleans is decimated and its people devastated. They do not know that due to the destruction there was evil that was unleashed from the Otherworld; an evil that DJ will have to face in order to save everyone that she cares about. Gerry has gone missing and to make matter's worse the wizard Elder's decide to send an assassin to help her. Alex is as hard headed as they come. DJ and Alex fight like cats and dogs, but both feel an undeniable attraction toward the other. They both do their best to ignore it so they can concentrate on the mission at hand. Will they be able to beat the evil that has taken over New Orleans? Can they resist the allure of the other?
Suzanne Johnson has blended the paranormal with facts and created a whole new world. The devastation that Karina left in her path can never be told. You would have to have lived it, experience it, and lost because of it. Through her writing you can see that Suzanne Young experienced Katrina and it affected her deeply. Royal Street is not only a kick ass urban fantasy, but a literary tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. DJ is a strong heroine that has her flaws, but still rises to the occasion. She learns from her mistakes and loves with her whole heart. Alex has his own reasons for his attitude and the shadows that haunt him. Royal Street is an adventure full of magic, danger, zombies, voodoo, undead pirates and pixies! Add a bit of a love triangle and this story will grab you from the beginning and not let go till you have reached the very last word. Great start to a new series!
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Anonymous
Posted January 16, 2013
Loved it and on to the second book :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Reader2369
Posted January 13, 2013
I Also Recommend:
Incredibly satisfying read. If you are a fan of Karen Marie Moning's Fever series or the earlier Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series you will not be disappointed. There is great character development in a different genre of paranormal fiction. Most mass market PF offerings tend to rely heavily on insipid romance or violent fighting these days. It's refreshing to read a good story that has deeper plot development. Sure there is romantic flirtation and the occasional battle but this book has so much more. I read this novel in a day and wanted to give my thoughts before starting the next one. I'm hopeful that this series won't devolve as the Sookie Stackhouse novels have. If you are on the fence about purchasing it, go for it! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MVF
Posted December 16, 2012
Suzanne Johnson is one author I'm putting on my "Keeper" list.
Disclaimer: I have the pleasure of knowing Suzanne Johnson, but she did not ask me review or read this book. I did so on my own. Drusilla Jaco (D.J.) is a wizard, her job is to help protect her beloved New Orleans from supernatural critters that sneak in from beyond. But hurricane Katrina hits, changing everything she knows. Now she's in search of her mentor and boss Gerald (Gerry) St. Simon, who's dissapeared, trying to pick up the pieces after the storm.
To complicate matters, D.J. has to deal with a vengeful but sexy supernatural--Jean Lafitte, an unwanted overbearing enforcer sent to assist her--Alex, and his charming cousin Jake. To top it off she's learning that there is more to her magic than even she thought.
As she tries to figure out who are friends and enemies she finds herself in the middle of one big mess and not enough junk food to get her through.
I loved the world Suzanne created, she's got varying groups of wizards (Red Congress - physical magic, Green Congress--Ritual and spell work etc). Then there are those in the beyond--fae, elves, vampires, and all sorts of things-- Which totally has me enthralled!
Best of all are her characters--I like D.J., she's smart, and human. The whole situation scares and threatens to overwhelm her. She's got a lot to learn and is forced to make some terrible decisions. Not to mention she's attracted to--three guys.
Now the men in her life--vary. Alex is an enforcer sent the Congress of Elders to help her after Katrina, now that Gerry her mentor is missing. His motto: more fire power (I like this guy). He's tough and he's determined (and makes me laugh)
Jake is Alex's cousin, he's one tough guy. A former marine, he's seen his share of woe. He owns a bar that comes in handy. He's got great dimples and is impossible to hide anything from, but in pinch he's a good one on your side.
Jean Lafitte---an undead pirate from beyond. All he wants is to come back, start living again, (even if its outside the law) and he'll do just about anything to do this. He's also damn sexy and has a thing for D.J.
The best part is the author weaves the dynamic of the three men into the story seamlessly, without overwhelming the plot and the overall purpose of the story. It adds interest and complication. By the time I was done, I wasn't sure if I was in Alex's camp, Jake's, or Jean Lafitte's. All of them had qualities I loved---although I was leaning toward Jake if you must know (the dimples), seconded by Jean Lafitte. Nothing against Alex, he's over the top, but I'm with D.J. the man tried to get her to eat soy bacon--ug. (Ok pathetic of me to even use that as a strike! LOL)
Negatives--initially, I felt D.J. wandered a bit, but it had to be this way--we had to feel her sense of helplessness, confusion, and what the heck was she going to do next. I'm looking forward to her learning more about her abilities! (So I'm contradictory about my negative, I realize this.)
Still, this is a fun read and I'm going to move on to the next in the series, because now I have to see what happens....
Anonymous
Posted May 25, 2012
I loved almost everything about this book and I felt like I was actually seeing and smelling NOLA in the horrible aftermath of Katrina. I loved the story and the supernatural/urban fantasy characters and happenings in the story. My only complaint--is it too much to ask for a heroine who doesn't stumble around and make stupid decisions? I love strong and savvy heroines. I was so frustrated at times by the stupid actions of DJ that I felt jolted out of the storyline. I would have to stop, get calmed down and then start reading again. As a woman it is offensive to me to see other women in stories make choices or decisions that I nor any one of my female peers would never make. Even the way DJ handles her relationships with Alex and Jake is irritating. It takes away from an otherwise great urban fantasy. I really want to love this series so I hope that by the next book DJ has had the stupid slapped off so she can be worthy of being treated like a mature wizard as she so longs to be. That would be awesome and be worth a 5+ star review! It is worth the time and money to read if you can get past that.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Terri N.
Review Copy Provided by Netgalley
As a big fan of Urban Fantasies I was looking forward to reading this book. I love New Orleans and have visited often so the setting was pleasantly familiar. It was interesting that the story took place before and after Katrina. The concept that the worlds between the dead and living were held together by borders that were breached because of the storm was imaginative and fresh.
When Gerry, the mentor of the heroine tunes up missing after Katrina I was excited to find out what happened to him. I love a good mystery. However, I did not like how the mystery ended for Gerry.
The book started off with an action scene that was promising. Unfortunately, there was more commentary going on in the heroine’s head then anything else. I found myself skimming for dialogue. DJ, the heroine was likeable. She jumped into action, most of the time putting her self in peril and needing someone else to save her. I found Alex, the hero, to be sexy and intriguing. I wanted to know about him and less about Gerry.
In my opinion the dead pirate, John Lafitte, stole the show. His loud threats and silly flirting added comic relief. My favorite scenes were with him.
The author sets up the story making the reader think that Alex will be DJ’s love interest. Then she turns around and introduces Jake, Alex’s cousin, who takes up DJ’s interest for most of the book. Then in the end she doesn’t end up with either of them.
I found some parts of the story to be predicable. I did like the style of the author and I would read the next book in the series.
Favorite Quote: “The fight wasn’t over,” I said through gritted teeth. “I’d have won it.” Probably.
“Right,” he said. “And something just flew past your window. It was oinking”
Buffy422
Posted April 23, 2012
I knew from the first chapter that I would love Royal Street and I did. Ms. Johnson’s voice was perfect for the story. DJ was a believable 25 year old wresting some very complicated and dangerous situations. I can’t say she didn’t have a few “to dumb to live” moments, but what 25 year old hasn’t. I can’t wait for the sequel, River road, in November. The Sentinels of New Orleans series has a ton of potential and I can’t wait to see Jean Laffite again. Undead pirates are hot! Oh, and Alex isn’t bad either!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Andreat78
Posted April 19, 2012
Set in New Orleans in the days preceding Hurricane Katrina, and the tumultuous weeks after, ROYAL STREET is the story of Drusilla "DJ" Jaco. DJ, a Green Congress wizard, is charged with helping to protect modern day New Orleans from the Beyond. What lies in the Beyond? Vampires, Weres, Elves, the Historical Undead...all are itching to cross over. When Hurricane Katrina forces a breach in the borders, and DJ's mentor, Gerry goes missing, she'll find out is she's ready to take on the preternatural bad boys, or die trying.
Oh, how I love a great Urban Fantasy. I'm always amazed when an author can create a world all his/her own. Suzanne Johnson is no exception. And though I thoroughly enjoyed many elements of ROYAL STREET, I have to give major props for the world-building. Johnson's brand of wizard was well developed, interesting, not terribly complicated. Hurricane Katrina was a horrible time for Louisiana, especially the New Orleans area. But to take such devastation and create a series around it's havoc was brilliant. New Orleans is an easy pick, with it's rich, decadent heritage. And it is hip deep in the "historical dead", my new favorite type of supernatural being.
For example, Jean Lafitte, a historically famous pirate. ROYAL STREET opens with DJ and Jean facing off in the bayou. He's a freaking riot, maybe my favorite character in the book. He's handsome, possesses a wicked charm, and dead sexy. Even though he would probably feed DJ to the gators if it served him well, I couldn't help but smile every time that bad boy showed back up. The fact that I'm gushing over Jean instead of the main character should tell you how much I liked him.
Speaking of main characters, I really liked DJ. Her dialogue, verbal but especially internal, was funny, a tad snarky, & sincere. DJ's a tough, brave chick. She does tend to let her heart rule her head, sometimes a bit too much, but I have to admire a girl with so much loyalty and courage. There were a few times I wanted her to take a beat and thinks things through a bit more. But who wants a completely perfect, obedient heroine? Boring!
DJ has a hot, slightly brooding, more than capable partner in Alex Warin. Sa-woon. I mean, sure, Alex is a bit on the quiet side,& yeah, he's a tad secretive. But when he begins to open up...I don't know how DJ can stand staying in the "Just Partners Zone". Alex's cousin, Jake, though, offers a nice alternative. Jake is open, funny, & sexy as heck. Better yet, he's not DJ's partner. The chemistry between DJ/Alex & DJ/Jake was perfect. Even though it never turned into a true triangle, you can just see an emotional storm brewing on the horizon. Either way, DJ can't possibly make a wrong choice.
As much as I enjoyed ROYAL STREET, I did get into a bit of a lull throughout the middle portion of the story. There was lots of talking & plan making about finding Gerry and protecting the wards, but not a lot of actual action going on. It felt like a long, slow build-up to the big confrontation. But once we got there? Wow. What a great, action & emotionally-packed ending. I had no idea what would happen. Johnson ended the story with some resolution, and a super set-up for book two in the series, RIVER ROAD, due out in November. I've already added it to my to-read list.
Favorite Quote:
" ' I know you think I'm hot.' Then the grin faded. 'Of course, you think Jake's hot, too, and Jean Lafitte, who's not even alive. You're really screwed up, you know that?' " (pg. 167)
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Overview
Royal Street by Suzanne Johnson is the fun, fast-paced first book in the Sentinels of New Orleans, a series of urban fantasy novels filled with wizards, mermen, and pirates. In the tradition of the Sookie Stackhouse books, these novels are perfect for readers of paranormal fiction and “fans of Charlaine Harris and Cat Adams.” (Booklist)
As the junior wizard sentinel for New Orleans, Drusilla Jaco’s job involves a lot more potion-mixing and pixie-retrieval than ...