Review: Voodoo queens and curses, oh, my!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 20, 2012
(cross-posted from The Caffeinated Diva reads blog)The good...I really enjoyed this book, despite the mixed reviews on Amazon.  The voodoo mythology behind the story is fresh and unique, a twist on the witchy theme.  It had a very real flavor to it, a lot of attention paid to incorporating true voodoo beliefs.  Much of the story centers around Arelia and her dealings with the spirits, the ceremonial aspects of asking for and receiving favors very well done.  Some of these spirits were clearly of the higher level, while many were simply the spirits of those who have passed.The various relationships within the story were also dynamic and interesting, even those that were rather unhealthy.  The friendship between Sabrina and Arelia, although it annoyed me, was very real.  It took a lot for me to harbor anything but negative feelings for Sabrina!  Lucas and Arelia were an interesting couple, blowing hot ad cold throughout this first book.  The Dumptys, although minor characters, added to the story as well.  The parents wre awful, but their son Ben was adorable and the mother in me wanted to take him home and take care of him.One of the things that I liked about Arelia's character was the very thing that I have seen denounced in many reviews of this book and series.  Her mercurial mood swings throughout this book.  From moment to moment, she either believed or didn't believe in voodoo and her abilities.  From moment to moment, she blew hot and cold.  In my opinion, this worked.  She was brought up to respect, but not embrace voodoo.  She came to the plantation and was suddenly immersed in a world she really didn't understand.  It was a lot for her to handle.  She blew hot and cold with just about everyone for most of the book, but that, too, worked for me.  She knew her grandmother was keeping secrets, Mae wanted things from her, James was constantly in her face, Sabrina was arrogant and dismissive, and she was fighting an attraction to Lucas.  Any one of these things is explanation enough.  For me, the mood swings supported her struggle to accept voodoo and to find herself.The bad...My only issue was in editing errors.  There were quite a few of them.  That can be distracting, but in this case, it was less so for me.  The story was strong enough that it was easier to get past those things.  The other thing was the conclusion.  I didn't like where it ended.  Even knowing there was a next book, it was a bit awkwardly placed.Diva notesAside from the novel itself, the cover is gorgeous.  Dark and mysterious, it fit the storyline and the location.  Will I read more of Arelia?  Absolutely!