Review: A nice break from the norm
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2011
Eleanor Figg was a quasi bartender/gate keeper for Lian and his empty bar. He got the occasional customer but gave the impression that he would just as soon not get any. Lian gave the impression of being just released from an Ivory tower of a very expensive Ivy League university. From his three piece suits, to his somewhat preoccupied demeanor, Lian was in essence what he appeared to be, a devotee to academia. It's what he studied that make him such a stand out. Lian chronicled myths and legends hidden from humanity,but existing beside them in anonymity. After a brutal attack by a werewolf, then an extended stay in rehab, Lian is content to remain isolated from the world for awhile, thus the empty bar.  Experts knowledgeable in the occult and supernatural can't remain in hiding for long however. This is the case when trouble seeks them out in the form of a powerful Voodoo priestess and her magical family. Someone is raising the dead in Dallas and it's up to Lian and Figg to save the day.Wickedly fun and darkly compelling, Voodoo Dues caught my fancy in the first few sentences. Written entirely in first person, the point of view shifts from Lian to Figg, giving the reader great insights into the action and motivation of these polar opposites. I like the alternating POV's, and really wish other authors who use first person styles would follow this example. It can be very frustrating not knowing what a main character is thinking. The writing is gritty and graphic and stays very true to it's Urban Fantasy roots. There is a thin thread of romance, but it is by no means the focus of the story. While not my normal cup of tea, it was a refreshing albeit intense break from  my regular fare.  Figg was just quirky enough to garner my approval and Lian is just a great big bag of mystery. The other colorful characters sprinkled throughout the story added a lighter touch to the darkness of the zombie/voodoo arc. I am glad I ventured into this world and expect to make several trips back to keep tabs on these two