Book Tour for Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson w/review and giveaway
I’m excited today to participate with Bewitching Book Tours to promote the latest novel in Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series. It officially releases tomorrow! Elysian Fields is one awesome book and one you should definitely check out if you’ve been following the series, and if you haven’t yet, see my reviews for the first two books here (purchase links at the bottom of this post). As a bonus, the author is conducting a tour wide giveaway of the following items:
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1 iPad 2 (open internationally)
5 -$20 gift cards to winners’ online retailer of choice (open internationally)
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Don’t miss your chance to win. Just click on the rafflecopter link below to enter.
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ELYSIAN FIELDS
by Suzanne Johnson
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BLURB:
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. Fighting off 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? It could be DJ’s best option.
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? It could be DJ’s best option.
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Elysian Fields
Sentinels of New Orleans Series
Book Three
Suzanne JohnsonGenre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Date of Publication: August 13, 2013ISBN: 978-0765333193
ASIN: B00CQY7TOINumber of pages: 352
Word Count: approx. 102,000Cover Artist: Cliff Nielsen
Sentinels of New Orleans Series
Book Three
Suzanne JohnsonGenre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Tor Books
Date of Publication: August 13, 2013ISBN: 978-0765333193
ASIN: B00CQY7TOINumber of pages: 352
Word Count: approx. 102,000Cover Artist: Cliff Nielsen
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PURCHASE LINKS:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository
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EXCERPT:
By midafternoon, I was out of ideas and full of nervous energy that finally sent me out of doors, catching up on yard work I’d neglected all season, raking the small, crunchy leaves from the live oaks into piles a kid would love to play in.
“Need help?”
I ignored the voice and counted to ten, hoping it would go away. Instead, Quince Randolph knelt next to a tall pyramid of leaves I’d erected and took the lid off the big green trash can he’d brought with him. He began scooping up armfuls and piling them in the can. “You should compost this down. It would make a good mulch for flowerbeds. Plus you need more color in your landscaping.”
“Whatever.” I didn’t know what mulch was, didn’t care enough to ask, and had such a brown thumb that flowers never survived my gardening efforts.
Rand wore a chocolate-brown sweater almost the same color as mine, with jeans in a similar wash. With our comparable shades of long blond hair, we resembled grown-up Bobbsey Twins, except he was prettier. Freddie and Flossie do New Orleans.
“Are you here for any particular reason?”
He squinted up at me against the soft afternoon sunlight. “I just want to get to know you better.”
Uh- huh. “Tell me what you are, and then we’ll know each other better. I’m betting elf or faery.” I was kind of betting elf— it might explain his interest in me although, thankfully, he’d never shown any inclination to plunder my brain.
He grinned. “Go to dinner with me and I might tell you.”
I noted the return of his peridot earrings. Big liar. Super-big cheater. “Where’s Eugenie? You know, your girlfriend?”
A flash of irritation spoiled his perfect features a half second before he answered. “Working. Can we—”
What ever he planned to ask, my answer would be no, but he didn’t get a chance because a clomping noise reached us from the direction of Prytania Street. Rand and I both were stricken speechless at the sight of Jean Lafitte sitting like royalty in the back of a gold and white French Quarter tourist carriage. It was being pulled by a light- gray mule wearing a hat festooned with
fake flowers and driven by a smiling guy who had no idea how many daggers his undead pirate passenger had hidden on him.
The ornate carriage rolled to a stop, and the mule flicked an ear at the passing traffic. Those animals pulled tourists around the French Quarter all day, and it would take more than an impatient Toyota driver to rattle one of them. The carriages were also ridiculously expensive if one commissioned a ride outside the Quarter.
Then again, Jean Lafitte was loaded. The driver probably had a reason to smile.
Jean exited the carriage with extraordinary grace for such a large man. He was tall, powerfully built, black-haired, cobalt-eyed, a shameless flirt, and talked with a raspy French accent that made me swoon even though he was technically dead. In other words, I had a bit of a problem with Jean Lafitte and my own common sense being present at the same time.
Jean said a few words to the carriage driver, then turned to prop his hands on his hips in a broad pirate-like stance, giving Rand a disapproving visual once-over. The mule backed up a
few awkward steps before pulling the carriage into my driveway.
God help me, I hoped Alex didn’t get home in time to see this. I’d never hear the end of it.
“Do you wish me to rid you of this intruder, Jolie?”
“Need help?”
I ignored the voice and counted to ten, hoping it would go away. Instead, Quince Randolph knelt next to a tall pyramid of leaves I’d erected and took the lid off the big green trash can he’d brought with him. He began scooping up armfuls and piling them in the can. “You should compost this down. It would make a good mulch for flowerbeds. Plus you need more color in your landscaping.”
“Whatever.” I didn’t know what mulch was, didn’t care enough to ask, and had such a brown thumb that flowers never survived my gardening efforts.
Rand wore a chocolate-brown sweater almost the same color as mine, with jeans in a similar wash. With our comparable shades of long blond hair, we resembled grown-up Bobbsey Twins, except he was prettier. Freddie and Flossie do New Orleans.
“Are you here for any particular reason?”
He squinted up at me against the soft afternoon sunlight. “I just want to get to know you better.”
Uh- huh. “Tell me what you are, and then we’ll know each other better. I’m betting elf or faery.” I was kind of betting elf— it might explain his interest in me although, thankfully, he’d never shown any inclination to plunder my brain.
He grinned. “Go to dinner with me and I might tell you.”
I noted the return of his peridot earrings. Big liar. Super-big cheater. “Where’s Eugenie? You know, your girlfriend?”
A flash of irritation spoiled his perfect features a half second before he answered. “Working. Can we—”
What ever he planned to ask, my answer would be no, but he didn’t get a chance because a clomping noise reached us from the direction of Prytania Street. Rand and I both were stricken speechless at the sight of Jean Lafitte sitting like royalty in the back of a gold and white French Quarter tourist carriage. It was being pulled by a light- gray mule wearing a hat festooned with
fake flowers and driven by a smiling guy who had no idea how many daggers his undead pirate passenger had hidden on him.
The ornate carriage rolled to a stop, and the mule flicked an ear at the passing traffic. Those animals pulled tourists around the French Quarter all day, and it would take more than an impatient Toyota driver to rattle one of them. The carriages were also ridiculously expensive if one commissioned a ride outside the Quarter.
Then again, Jean Lafitte was loaded. The driver probably had a reason to smile.
Jean exited the carriage with extraordinary grace for such a large man. He was tall, powerfully built, black-haired, cobalt-eyed, a shameless flirt, and talked with a raspy French accent that made me swoon even though he was technically dead. In other words, I had a bit of a problem with Jean Lafitte and my own common sense being present at the same time.
Jean said a few words to the carriage driver, then turned to prop his hands on his hips in a broad pirate-like stance, giving Rand a disapproving visual once-over. The mule backed up a
few awkward steps before pulling the carriage into my driveway.
God help me, I hoped Alex didn’t get home in time to see this. I’d never hear the end of it.
“Do you wish me to rid you of this intruder, Jolie?”
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MY REVIEW:
I was really excited when the chance came to review this third book in the Sentinels of New Orleans series. The first two books were really great and this had become one of my favorite UF series. Still, you worry if an author can keep it up and continue producing strong story lines. I was not disappointed. Suzanne Johnson managed to make Elysian Fields every bit as good as the previous novels, and maybe even a little better!
One of my biggest concerns from the last book was how long the romance might get dragged out. DJ has had several choices of men, but nothing serious had occurred with any of them. In this book, things with one of the men (no, I’m not saying who) finally wins the heroine over. That’s not to say this has settled into a solid relationship yet. It’s seriously complicated by the other men in her life, including a new one, but that it’s definitely grown into something you can believe in and root for. The romantic side of me was happy to see this happen.
The plot for this novel was intense as well. It was one wild roller coaster ride (almost literally) of twists and turns. You never really sure who the bad guys are, or if they may even be what you thought were the good guys. DJ certainly had her work cut out for her with this novel. I loved how many of the previous characters played into it and Jean Lafitte had his usual dramatic appearances (love that guy!). There are some scary moments for the heroine as well. She has some growing to do and you’ll hang on every line waiting to see how she handles things.
All I can say is this book was worth the wait and one I’d probably want to read again. The author did an amazing job keeping the series going strong. I expect the next novel will be every bit as good and will hopefully not take too long to come out. Five whips for Elysian Fields!
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Note- a free advance review copy of this novel was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
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AUTHOR BIO:
On Aug. 28, 2005, Suzanne Johnson loaded two dogs, a cat, a friend, and her mom into a car and fled New Orleans in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.Four years later, she began weaving her experiences and love for her city into the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, beginning with Royal Street (2012), continuing with River Road (2012), and now with Elysian Fields (August 2013).She grew up in rural Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years—which means she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.She can be found online at her website or her daily blog, Preternatura. As Susannah Sandlin, she writes the best-selling Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance series and the recent standalone, Storm Force.
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AUTHOR LINKS:
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PURCHASE LINKS FOR RIVER ROAD:
Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
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PURCHASE LINKS FOR ROYAL STREET:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository Indiebound
Angela Wallace
kerraangelsandwarriors
Suzie
Tim Greaton
Musings of Mistress of the Dark Path 
Thanks for your review. Elysian Fields is better than the first two. A little darker. DJ takes a beating in this one. Even Charlie has some problems. Great story. Love this series.
Thank you for this reviews, Elysian Fields is definitively a captivating story ^^ ( and one that make us see the elves in a new light!)
You are new to me, but I will be adding to my TBR immediately!
Looking forward to reading my copy ASAP!
Thanks for sharing the great excerpt and the review. I love the Sentinels of NO series and I am looking forward to reading Elysian Fields. evamillien at gmail dot com
The Sentinels of New Orleans Series definitely sounds like something I need to start reading. 😀