Elysian Fields
Author: Suzanne Johnson
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Publisher: Tor
Sentinels of New Orleans Book #3
ISBN:
0765333198
ISBN13: 9780765333193
Genre: Urban FantasyReview Copy Source: Netgalley
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.
Our favorite New Orleans characters are back in Book 3 ELYSIAN FIELDS. I am always amazed at the world building that goes into these books. There has been something in each installment that has made me put the book down and Google away trying to find out more information. In ELYSIAN FIELDS that ended up being Six Flags New Orleans. Once Suzanne started describing it in the book I had to learn more and she was totally spot on with descriptions. I thoroughly enjoy how she brings the area into her books.
DJ of course has grown a lot since book 1. She has climbed in rank and has great allies on her side. Her personality pulls me in and brings me back again and again. She gets targeted a lot by the bad guys but I love the way her and her allies always manage to handle it. Jake has a lot of issues. He still has not come to terms with himself being loup-garou and he ends up losing it in front of DJ early on in ELYSIAN FIELDS. The whole situation spirals into other things and plays a big part of what the book is about. I really love Jean Lafitte. He always manages to surprise me. I love the way Suzanne has written him and continues to grow his character. Quince the neighbor who is dating DJ's other neighbor and friend, was introduced to us in book 2. He has a bigger role in ELYSIAN FIELDS. He ended up being a complete surprise to me. Can I get a FINALLY on the relationship front between DJ and Alex. My goodness did that take forever to move along. It is always 1 step forward, 2 steps back with these two. I expect that there will be some giant back steps in book 4 but I liked the development between them in ELYSIAN FIELDS and hope it sticks.
I enjoyed ELYSIAN FIELDS. It was again a great mix of world building, characters, history and adventure. The pace was consistent with a plot that was always advancing. The Sentinels of New Orleans series is great to get lost in.
I gave it 4/5 stars