[early review] Elysian Fields (Sentinels of New Orleans 3) by Suzanne Johnson

Hello to all,

                  Today i've decided it was time to share with you my opinion of the future new release in one of my favourite series "The Sentinels of New Orleans". Normally you know i post both an english version and a french one of my review and it will be done but the french one will have to wait a little since i really wanted to post this today.

Why the hurry? Simply for 2 reasons... oki 3. One: i absolutely love this series and i have been waiting for Elysian Fields for too long already....but more importantly this will give me the opportunity to share some infos with you that you would love to know if you didn't already... first for a few more hours you can get the digital version of Royal Street ( book 1) for less than 3dollars! so if you prefer digital book  don't hesitate and hurry time is slipping fast.

Then if you have read Royal Street and River Road, if you love our dear privateer Jean Lafitte, you must know he has his own novella "Jackson Square" this one will be sold later this year but you have te opportunity to read it already, for FREE, on Suzanne's official website so don't hesitate, it's really a fun reads.

Publisher:  Tor Books

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0765333198

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: mild
Public: 18+

Source: arc receive in exchange for an honest review
 

Short description from goodreads :

 An undead serial killer comes for DJ in this thrilling third installment of Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series

The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.

New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random—an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ.

Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.


Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

My opinion:

          Elysian Fields has been on my list of books to get as soon as i learned its title and I was more than happy to receive an Arc  to review but strange things are…actually writing said review has been more difficult that I expected…now I did love the book don’t misunderstand me but it’s quite different from the precedents and thus finding my words to make it justice took time.

To start with one important detail, the author wrote Elysian Fields so he could work as a stand alone… objectively that’s true, Suzanne makes enough references to past events so you are not lost if you are just discovering this series… now that being said I think thing you should read “Royal Street” and “River Road” first. Why? Because they are really great books to start with but also because it gives you a thorough understanding of the characters. Yes the author makes allusions about the events and their impacts yes you understand the story but when you have read the two precedents books you understand the story AND the characters, you have lived the events with them and thus our judgement can be different that what it would be if you start by “Elysian Fields”.

For example in DJ case, she finally makes a decision regarding her heart we get the why, the when and the how, we get also positioning in the timeline, we learn for how long they know each others but by having read book 1 and 2 and took I really feel how a big step she is making, what she is risking and thus how she has matured. I’m not sure I would have arrived at the same conclusion if I hadn’t.

Also and that’s capital if the book is excellent, Suzanne having managed to improve once again, it marks a turning point in the series. The atmosphere is darker, the humour is still there however the investigation is predominant and the romance is now really building without all the hesitations than before: we know the main couple, we have a wild card to ( grr Rand*GRRRRR*) , but it’s a slow building and it will take more books…. In a sense Elysian fields definitively positions The Sentinels of New Orleans in the urban fantasy genre while the precedent books were more a mix of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, now the action, main storyline are highlighted while the romance is more secondary, an element in the whole plot.

This story focuses on a murder serial, really gruesome murders and DJ once again find herself to be a target and having to survive while attempting to overcome other problems. She knows she can count on some allies like the merman Rene and the privateer Jean Lafitte both more than happy to help, in exchange of some favour of course. However hers partners Alex and Jake are quite busy or in turmoil…add to that the human: cops Ken Hachette who finally learned of the preternatural existences but has no experience dealing with them and her best friend Eugenie who ignore all and whose boyfriend is behaving suspiciously threatening the only female friendship DJ has…. Since he first appeared Randolph aka Rand has switched on all my alarms and I must confess I dislike him even more now!! Nevertheless I must admit I’m still don’t know what to think about him.. on a part I don’t forgive his actions… on the other side I suspect him and I don’t trust him even if I appreciate his help… I can‘t discern his motivations, all his grey about him and it‘s frustrating as well as exhilarating.

 I greatly enjoyed the story and for the first time in this universe we really meet some vampires, not that friendly, looking quite organised, and the elves… divided in several factions they are far from beautiful, fragile and kind creature… ( forget Legolas or Galadriel) no they are conniving, power hungry, vicious and DANGEROUS…we already had a glimpse of if with Mace in River Road but now we see that he wasn’t the exception to the rule quite the opposite. It’s hard to love them and in a sense I understand why Charlie has chosen DJ has his Master…she is so different and since he kind of has its own mind he would prefer kindness….( or self preservation^^). I was instructing to see the exchange between the different factions, between elves, but even more between wizards, vampires and elves…

The plot is really well done and I had doubts on the culprits until the end, which was even more surprising. I’m happy to said the ending is giving us some closure even if it still has some track open when you turn the last page you are happy not feeling like you are missing something even if you do want more. There is a reason for this ending…until a few weeks ago it was unknown if the publisher was going to want more books so Suzanne made it so it was possible but the readers wasn’t completely left hanging. Fortunately, we learned that at least book 4 and 5 were going to see the light and that’s wonderful news for the fans!!

If you love urban fantasy, not too dark, with romance touch and Humour, you love having a mix of creature from vampires, shifters to mermen and historical undeads, a excellent intrigue then Elysian fields is right your alley but like I already wrote I would still recommend you to read book 1 and 2 before (lighter, funnier but setting the universe swimmingly. (but you can’t wait it can be as stand alone yes)

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no other compensation was received.

Elysian Fields will be released on the 13th August 2013

If you want this book you can buy it on  amazon or on  Bookdepository -US edition- ( Uk edition )

You can find more informations on the series and Suzanne on her Blog

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