Black Heart Loa by Adrian Phoenix review

Black Heart Loa by Adrian Phoenix (Hoodoo #2)

copy won from the author


Synopsis from Goodreads
 “An eye for an eye is never enough.” Kallie Rivière, a Cajun hoodoo apprentice with a bent for trouble, learned the meaning of those ominous words when hoodoo bogeyman Doctor Heron targeted her family for revenge. Now, while searching for her still-missing bayou pirate cousin, Kallie finds out the hard way that someone is undoing powerful gris gris, which means that working magic has become as unpredictable as rolling a handful of dice. The wards woven to protect the Gulf coast are unraveling, leaving New Orleans and the surrounding bayous vulnerable just as an unnatural storm—the deadliest in a century—is born. As the hurricane powers toward the heart of all she loves, Kallie desperately searches for the cause of the disturbing randomness, only to learn a deeply unsettling truth: the culprit may be herself. To protect her family and friends, including the sexy nomad Layne Vallin, Kallie steps into the jaws of danger . . . and finds a loup garou designed to steal her heart—literally.

* * *

I don't think it's fair to say that the first book was stronger than the second. Not really. What throws people off the track is the change of pace and accents on different issues.

I love Adrian Phoenix. She is one of the best in urban fantasy, and one of the most underrated authors. You should read Her Maker's Song series, they are superb! Although Hoodoo series take place in the same sort of area, they are inherently different.

As in book#1 all the action happens within 24 hours. There are plenty of life and death situations, horrifying discoveries and layers upon layers of lies. Everything gets too complicated because the magic is messed up and backfires 10 times out of 10, the hurricane is getting close, Baron Samedi, the loa of death is hunting Kallie, and Layne picks up a second ghost rider...

Also the loup-garou angle was intriguing. What's up with the demon wolf? I thought he was awesome. The idea with the ritual in the end... mm-m, very vivid and intense.

I would have loved to see more Augustine, but the girl can't have everything. Overall, good second installment which left me with more questions than answers in the end. Can't wait for the third book.

By the way, have you seen the awesomeness of Dante#5 cover?! Heather's got new leather trousers at last! :) *happy dance*

* * *

Несправедливо говорить, что эта книга слабее предыдущей. Она просто написана по-другому, темп и акценты совершенно другие. Мне очень понравилась та заварушка которая началась с того момента, как лоа в Калли втянула в себя чёрную душу доктора Херона, опять действия, описываемые в книге совершаются в очень короткий промежуток времени. Магия переворачивается вверх тормашками и все заклинания и молитвы приносят обратный желаемому результат. За Калли гоняется лоа смерти Барон Самеди, в Лэйна вселяется ещё один призрак, а на Луизиану надвигается смертельный ураган....
Интересная концовка, когда Лэйну и Калли приходится совершить некий хм-м ритуал, и совершенно инригующий демон-волк (что это значит, что он пометил Калли?).
Читайте, не думаю, что разочаруетесь!

9/10