The Foreign Exchange is the second book in a series (the first was titled The Quarter Storm) which follows Reina Dumond, a Vodou priestess and healer who has a knack for solving mysteries in New Orleans. In this book, Reina investigates a friend’s husband and uncovers a conspiracy of people involved in dark ritual magic.
The plot of the book moves quickly and the cast of characters, Reina’s friends and a love interest, are all engaging. What I loved most about the book was the atmosphere of New Orleans and the history of Vodou magic. The book takes place at Halloween, lending a city steeped in mystery an even more intriguing appeal. Halloween in New Orleans is celebrated with a large parade because it occurs close to the end of hurricane season. Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath haunts the book, and the vivid details transport the reader to the city.
Although Vodou is sometimes popularly associated with dark magic, this book celebrates the traditions of Vodou, tracing them all the way back to Reina’s immigration from Haiti when she was young. Autumn in Haiti is described as a time that “cleared the path for change”, and each time Reina performs a ritual, the reader can feel her hope and desire for positive change. Reina creates spells and tinctures of protection with pink rose petals, white candles, and alligator teeth, and her shop is stocked with magic Vodou healing traditions. The book even includes a recipe for “Sweet Belly’s New Orleans Dirty Rice” which seems like a spell the readers create in their own kitchens.
Fans of mystery series will enjoy the plot and characters, and armchair travelers will enjoy the details that make them feel like they have taken a trip to New Orleans. This was a fun, atmospheric read! You can find the book here.
Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.
Kelly Jarvis works as the Assistant Editor for The Fairy Tale Magazine where she writes stories, poems, essays, book reviews, and interviews. Her poetry has also been featured or is forthcoming in Blue Heron Review, Mermaids Monthly, Eternal Haunted Summer, Forget Me Not Press, The Magic of Us, A Moon of One’s Own, Baseball Bard, and Corvid Queen. Her short fiction has appeared in The Chamber Magazine and the World Weaver Press Anthology Mothers of Enchantment: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers. You can connect with her on Facebook (Kelly Jarvis, Author) or Instagram (@kellyjarviswriter) or find her at https://kellyjarviswriter.com/
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