On Starships and Dragonwings

Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson is the third in the Sentinels of New Orleans series. It takes place shortly after the second book concludes, so there isn’t another several year gap ;-). Elysian Fields is the book where things really get moving and permanent, important changes are happening in DJ’s life. I could not believe the way Johnson is torturing her poor characters in this one and it was awesome! I love reading a book that surprises me because it doesn’t take the easy, no-consequences route. There are big spoilers for the first book in the synopsis below!

Note: I received Elysian Fields through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Elysian Fields by Suzanne Johnson (Sentinels of New Orleans #3)
Published by Tor Books on August 13th, 2013
Genres: Adult, Urban Fantasy 
Length: 352 pages
How I got my copy: NetGalley
IndieBound - Book Depository - Goodreads
Purchases made support this blog 

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. --Goodreads 

Strengths:

• Elysian Fields had several moments where I literally thought, “Oh my God, that did not actually happen!!” I was completely surprised by a number of events in this one and loved it. Books in this genre easily fall into the trap of a mystery popping up, solving the mystery, and nothing of significance changes in the characters’ lives. Elysian Fields does not suffer from this!
• The bad guy is suuuuuuuper creepy. As the synopsis says, there is an undead serial killer on the loose and guess who his target is…. Gah!
• Someone finally makes a move and the romance is sizzling ;-).
• We get to see a lot more of the Beyond and other types of pretes in Elysian Fields. So cool! Though I don’t think I would want to live in any of those places >.>.

Weaknesses:

•  There is a certain creeper who refuses to respect boundaries and thinks stalking is the way to win a girl’s heart. I want to throttle said creeper.
• I also wanted DJ to actually stand up to said creeper more than just telling him off and then letting him stay. It greatly angered me that she let him get away with stalking her.
• I have to admit it: I have no idea what the title’s meaning is supposed to be. Anyone else read this and have some insight for me?

Summary:

Elysian Fields continues the awesome streak that River Road set. I’m really enjoying this series and now that I know there are no punches pulled, I can’t want to see what happens next :D. I was also quite happy not to be getting any deja vu from other UF series. Elysian Fields did a great job of coming up with a plot unique to the world of the Sentinels, since I’ve never run into historical undead before (in real life or in books fortunately!). So when does the next book come out? >.>