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A Southern Enchantress
"Make him pay, daughter dear."
When Suzanne—a clairsentient enchantress—meets Max—an irresistible rogue—at a Garden District soirée, destiny is at play. As their relationship sizzles, Suzanne experiences an uptick in supernatural encounters, each demanding that an evil deed from yesteryear be avenged.
As Suzanne navigates these hauntings, she must confront her past and acknowledge her heritage. Raised by a hoodoo conjurer, Suzanne had rejected her mother's expectations to practice folk magic but eluding her role as a spellcaster no longer remains an option. Instead, Suzanne must embrace her legacy to survive. Set in New Orleans and along Mississippi’s sparkling Gulf Coast, Suzanne rediscovers the power of the tarot and learns that bonding with a beloved specter, trapped since the 1940s, will change everything.
Told in dual timelines and stretching the bounds of realism, A Southern Enchantress celebrates the generational love of women bound even beyond death.
When Suzanne—a clairsentient enchantress—meets Max—an irresistible rogue—at a Garden District soirée, destiny is at play. As their relationship sizzles, Suzanne experiences an uptick in supernatural encounters, each demanding that an evil deed from yesteryear be avenged.
As Suzanne navigates these hauntings, she must confront her past and acknowledge her heritage. Raised by a hoodoo conjurer, Suzanne had rejected her mother's expectations to practice folk magic but eluding her role as a spellcaster no longer remains an option. Instead, Suzanne must embrace her legacy to survive. Set in New Orleans and along Mississippi’s sparkling Gulf Coast, Suzanne rediscovers the power of the tarot and learns that bonding with a beloved specter, trapped since the 1940s, will change everything.
Told in dual timelines and stretching the bounds of realism, A Southern Enchantress celebrates the generational love of women bound even beyond death.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2023
7 people are currently reading
777 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Trahan
1 book14 followersI'm a Southern storyteller who is blessed to now live 1,000 steps from the sugar-white beaches of Mississippi's Gulf Coast, following many years of residing in Southeast Louisiana. During that time, I consumed the culture of Louisianians, dating back to the early 1800s.
While I taught secondary English and composition for nearly 20 years, I've always been drawn to the history of the Deep South, and perhaps even more captivated with how its people managed the many crisis points of their lives. These are the situations that give birth to great stories.
Southerners are a different breed - they feel deeply, love unconditionally - sometimes to a fault - and will do anything to help their neighbors as long as the action doesn't land them in jail!
The main character of A Southern Enchantress, Suzanne, is a conflicted woman at the beginning of the novel, partially because she carries generational trauma with her. But once she realizes what's at stake, there will be no turning back.
While I taught secondary English and composition for nearly 20 years, I've always been drawn to the history of the Deep South, and perhaps even more captivated with how its people managed the many crisis points of their lives. These are the situations that give birth to great stories.
Southerners are a different breed - they feel deeply, love unconditionally - sometimes to a fault - and will do anything to help their neighbors as long as the action doesn't land them in jail!
The main character of A Southern Enchantress, Suzanne, is a conflicted woman at the beginning of the novel, partially because she carries generational trauma with her. But once she realizes what's at stake, there will be no turning back.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
July 9, 2024
4 ⭐
Very Good.
A tale of revenge, greed, and sorrow written from the perspective of three different characters over a time period of 70+ years.
Writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the elements of fantasy (magic) are handled well.
Timelines may get a bit confusing, but they are explained quite well.
Recommended. 👍
Very Good.
A tale of revenge, greed, and sorrow written from the perspective of three different characters over a time period of 70+ years.
Writing is good, the characters are interesting, and the elements of fantasy (magic) are handled well.
Timelines may get a bit confusing, but they are explained quite well.
Recommended. 👍
March 6, 2024
Firstly, thank you, NetGalley and Atmosphere Press, for giving me a copy of this beautiful book in exchange for an honest review.
A beautiful combination of magic realism and complex multigenerational tragedy, A Southern Enchantress is a dual timeline novel charting the lengths a legacy clairsentient and enchantress will go to in order to right the pain of the past.
At first, the dual timelines were a little confusing, but once the story really got going, they really helped to develop the generational heartbreak that is at the heart of this novel. The real highlight for me was the sheer volume of vivid imagery of both New Orleans and the Gulf Coast created by the author. You can clearly tell Deborah Trahan has done her research in developing this novel because I really felt like I was in the deep south of America from cover to cover; I could smell the saltiness of the sea, feel the warm late summer breeze and hear the call of the sea birds so deeply.
The generational heartbreak explored throughout hit me like very few other books have. It really felt that up until Suzanne, history was doomed to just keep repeating itself through the power that money and status held and continue to hold over people. It really stood out to me that whether in 1945 or 2013, the Lafountain women's lives revolved around the money and status held by their male relatives and was used as a form of control which I felt was explored really tactfully.
Overall, this novel is a beautiful, vividly colourful journey of one woman's quest to put an end to the heartbreaking generational trauma thrust upon her female ancestors for generations told with care, warmth and a ending leaving the reader with a lasting sense of satisfaction.
A beautiful combination of magic realism and complex multigenerational tragedy, A Southern Enchantress is a dual timeline novel charting the lengths a legacy clairsentient and enchantress will go to in order to right the pain of the past.
At first, the dual timelines were a little confusing, but once the story really got going, they really helped to develop the generational heartbreak that is at the heart of this novel. The real highlight for me was the sheer volume of vivid imagery of both New Orleans and the Gulf Coast created by the author. You can clearly tell Deborah Trahan has done her research in developing this novel because I really felt like I was in the deep south of America from cover to cover; I could smell the saltiness of the sea, feel the warm late summer breeze and hear the call of the sea birds so deeply.
The generational heartbreak explored throughout hit me like very few other books have. It really felt that up until Suzanne, history was doomed to just keep repeating itself through the power that money and status held and continue to hold over people. It really stood out to me that whether in 1945 or 2013, the Lafountain women's lives revolved around the money and status held by their male relatives and was used as a form of control which I felt was explored really tactfully.
Overall, this novel is a beautiful, vividly colourful journey of one woman's quest to put an end to the heartbreaking generational trauma thrust upon her female ancestors for generations told with care, warmth and a ending leaving the reader with a lasting sense of satisfaction.
September 18, 2024
A Southern Enchantress is a generational supernatural tale that weaves together the lives and stories of a line of hereditary witches— “Enchantresses”, from one decade to the next.
The echoes of their interconnected pasts surge forward to encircle the fate and determine the choices of the present-day Lafountain descendant. And to what end? Revenge… In a deliciously southern kind of way, of course. This impressive matriachiarchial lineage of spellcasters proficient in their own particular brand of folk magic with a sprinkle of clairsentient abilities makes for a fascinating read.
Author, Deborah Trahan does an exceptional job at developing individual character arcs to evolve and ensnare the reader. Evocative organic language, well-paced flow and magical realism build a world of mystique set amidst the haunting beauty of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I couldn't help but crave more and devour this book, I most certainly did.
The fact that romance is a secondary element in this storyline tickled me pink. It’s always refreshing to explore the depth and motives behind strong women whose grit, power and inner resolve are the driving force behind the core plot. And that no matter the circumstances, these Enchantresses will not be held down and they will be avenged— even if from beyond the veil. Thrilling!
A must-read novel you don't want to put on the back burner of your TBR. Make sure you get onto this ASAP!
The echoes of their interconnected pasts surge forward to encircle the fate and determine the choices of the present-day Lafountain descendant. And to what end? Revenge… In a deliciously southern kind of way, of course. This impressive matriachiarchial lineage of spellcasters proficient in their own particular brand of folk magic with a sprinkle of clairsentient abilities makes for a fascinating read.
Author, Deborah Trahan does an exceptional job at developing individual character arcs to evolve and ensnare the reader. Evocative organic language, well-paced flow and magical realism build a world of mystique set amidst the haunting beauty of New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I couldn't help but crave more and devour this book, I most certainly did.
The fact that romance is a secondary element in this storyline tickled me pink. It’s always refreshing to explore the depth and motives behind strong women whose grit, power and inner resolve are the driving force behind the core plot. And that no matter the circumstances, these Enchantresses will not be held down and they will be avenged— even if from beyond the veil. Thrilling!
A must-read novel you don't want to put on the back burner of your TBR. Make sure you get onto this ASAP!
February 26, 2024
This book just isn’t my cup of tea and that’s okay!
I loved the descriptions and the atmosphere of the coast. I loved the full circle connections.
However, none of the characters were likable to me and the plot wasn’t my favorite!
November 22, 2023
Goosebumps! A page-turner that masterfully blends timelines and brings to life the power and immortality of a mother’s love. At times hilarious, at times tragic. I was particularly intrigued by the indelible depictions of the Mississippi coast of the 1940s, which the author managed to make as familiar for me as the present day garden district of New Orleans.
November 5, 2023
wow!
I really enjoyed this book! Great story . Great character development. And the supernatural is made entirely believable. It’s a page turner!
I really enjoyed this book! Great story . Great character development. And the supernatural is made entirely believable. It’s a page turner!
September 18, 2024
I enjoyed this book so much!
The book is in dual timeline (one with Suzanne and Max´s POV and the other with Addy´s one) which was a bit confusing at first but after some chapters I was totally into it. I loved Suzanne´s journey and the whole plot of the book. All of the characters were well described even if I wish we had some more information about some of them (Esty and Jack). The writing style was superb!
I liked the magic system, folk magic, tarot etc., this is the first book I pick with this kind of magic system and it was really original.
Will definetly read more books from this author!
The book is in dual timeline (one with Suzanne and Max´s POV and the other with Addy´s one) which was a bit confusing at first but after some chapters I was totally into it. I loved Suzanne´s journey and the whole plot of the book. All of the characters were well described even if I wish we had some more information about some of them (Esty and Jack). The writing style was superb!
I liked the magic system, folk magic, tarot etc., this is the first book I pick with this kind of magic system and it was really original.
Will definetly read more books from this author!
July 14, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. A back and forth story surrounding an old southern family the LaFountains. Many generations of women who are enchantresses, they can commune with spirits, make protection spells, and pass their knowledge down. Suzanne is the last woman in her family with the ability to help her passed on family finally rest, with a little help from other spiritualists and her family’s angel, Jack. Contained a few whirlwind romances, mystery, magic, and justifiable revenge. My heart hurt for the women in this family that were taken too soon, but I’m thankful Suzanne was safe in the end.
April 29, 2024
This book surprised me, I’d give it 3.5 stars (i’ve rounded up). The book had multiple time jumps and lots of back stories to help build and idea of the characters and the plot. I enjoyed this and I’m glad I requested to read this, it was the cover that drew me in but story that keep me interested!
October 31, 2023
Atmospheric, vivid, and incredibly compelling — read the entire thing in one night.
November 25, 2025
Book review:
✨Set across sweeping time periods and bathed in Southern mystique, this novel threads together the lives of women bound by blood, magic, and legacy. One timeline centers on Suzanne, a modern-day clairsentient enchantress in New Orleans who’s avoiding her heritage until forces beyond her control make it impossible. The other follows Addy in the 1940s Gulf Coast, whose budding psychic gifts and wartime love story echo across the decades. Trahan creates a story that feels rich in both setting and lineage, weaving hoodoo traditions and female resilience into an elegant tapestry.
✨What stands out is the sensory detail and emotional resonance. The city streets of New Orleans, the warm salt air of the Gulf Coast, even the whisper of spirits and ancestral magic come alive as if you can almost feel them. The characters carry weight: Suzanne’s reluctance, Addy’s ambition, the women around them filling the world with their stories and scars. Trahan doesn’t shy away from complex history, trauma or the supernatural but she handles these with a steady hand that keeps you rooted in human stakes.
✨The dual-timeline structure gives the story breadth and an almost fated feel, as though past and present are mirrors rather than separate. It may demand attention because it moves across decades, settings and forms of magic ,but the payoff is satisfying: you begin to see how the threads tie together, how the women’s choices ripple. The magic isn’t just spectacle; it’s a part of identity and inheritance. The romance, the hauntings, the culture all align: this isn’t just about a spell or a ghost, it’s about belonging, power, and redemption.
✨Deborah Trahan deserves recognition for bringing this story to life with such vivid vision and respect for her material. She blends folklore, history and female strength without ever making the magic feel cheap. Her characters breathe, her world is immersive, and the emotional core holds firm even as the plot sweeps you across time and place. It’s a skillful debut that promises more and one that readers who love Southern gothic, magical realism, and powerful women will remember.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨Set across sweeping time periods and bathed in Southern mystique, this novel threads together the lives of women bound by blood, magic, and legacy. One timeline centers on Suzanne, a modern-day clairsentient enchantress in New Orleans who’s avoiding her heritage until forces beyond her control make it impossible. The other follows Addy in the 1940s Gulf Coast, whose budding psychic gifts and wartime love story echo across the decades. Trahan creates a story that feels rich in both setting and lineage, weaving hoodoo traditions and female resilience into an elegant tapestry.
✨What stands out is the sensory detail and emotional resonance. The city streets of New Orleans, the warm salt air of the Gulf Coast, even the whisper of spirits and ancestral magic come alive as if you can almost feel them. The characters carry weight: Suzanne’s reluctance, Addy’s ambition, the women around them filling the world with their stories and scars. Trahan doesn’t shy away from complex history, trauma or the supernatural but she handles these with a steady hand that keeps you rooted in human stakes.
✨The dual-timeline structure gives the story breadth and an almost fated feel, as though past and present are mirrors rather than separate. It may demand attention because it moves across decades, settings and forms of magic ,but the payoff is satisfying: you begin to see how the threads tie together, how the women’s choices ripple. The magic isn’t just spectacle; it’s a part of identity and inheritance. The romance, the hauntings, the culture all align: this isn’t just about a spell or a ghost, it’s about belonging, power, and redemption.
✨Deborah Trahan deserves recognition for bringing this story to life with such vivid vision and respect for her material. She blends folklore, history and female strength without ever making the magic feel cheap. Her characters breathe, her world is immersive, and the emotional core holds firm even as the plot sweeps you across time and place. It’s a skillful debut that promises more and one that readers who love Southern gothic, magical realism, and powerful women will remember.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
August 25, 2024
::|| Max leaves his legal concerns in his attorneys hands and concentrates on fast-forwarding his relationship with Suzanne. Thanks to Maureen’s sleuthing skills, he learns that Suzanne’s considerably wealthier than estimated. Max knew about Suzanne’s lawsuit that follows her mother’s fiery death in a crash on U. S highway 61 four years ago in front of Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana, one of the most haunted plantations in the South ||::
Suzanne is a beautiful, intelligent, smart and powerful woman who is caught in the middle of a family dilemma that goes back centuries.. And the women in her family line, they do not forgive and the most certainly do no forget. With one of the oldest, all powerful ancestral blood running through her veins she in on the brink of doing something for the females in her family that had never been done before. She is going to allow them to go home and be at peace.
But she can’t do that without first dealing with Max problem. She needs to put it right. She is her ancestors only chance.
I do have to admit when I first tried to get into this. It was hard, I found the back story confusing because I was getting so much information while trying to know what to keep and what is just there to hype up the tension but overall this book is amazing!
The more you read and learnt about the Lafountain, the more I just wanted to adopted by them, although they didn’t have the easiest path, everything came out alright in the end didn’t it?
Suzanne is a beautiful, intelligent, smart and powerful woman who is caught in the middle of a family dilemma that goes back centuries.. And the women in her family line, they do not forgive and the most certainly do no forget. With one of the oldest, all powerful ancestral blood running through her veins she in on the brink of doing something for the females in her family that had never been done before. She is going to allow them to go home and be at peace.
But she can’t do that without first dealing with Max problem. She needs to put it right. She is her ancestors only chance.
I do have to admit when I first tried to get into this. It was hard, I found the back story confusing because I was getting so much information while trying to know what to keep and what is just there to hype up the tension but overall this book is amazing!
The more you read and learnt about the Lafountain, the more I just wanted to adopted by them, although they didn’t have the easiest path, everything came out alright in the end didn’t it?
January 5, 2026
This book was my initial choice based on its location, but I ended up staying because of its diversified elements. The narrative seems to be very much based on the past, memory, and personal accountability. It goes into the impacts of the past choices on the current lives without being too heavy or moralizing. The book is written in a very nice, thoughtful way and it's very easy to understand which is probably why the ideas get to the reader so naturally.
I liked the author’s decision to emphasize identity, inheritance, and self-acceptance. The whole book is like a quiet voice that gradually becomes stronger and deeper. The feeling or mood of the book is very much like it is from a person's life and is quite reflective.
At the end, the story is very satisfying and it has a lot of meaning. This is a very nice book for the readers who like to read character-driven stories with some kind of substance and which have an emotional impact.
I liked the author’s decision to emphasize identity, inheritance, and self-acceptance. The whole book is like a quiet voice that gradually becomes stronger and deeper. The feeling or mood of the book is very much like it is from a person's life and is quite reflective.
At the end, the story is very satisfying and it has a lot of meaning. This is a very nice book for the readers who like to read character-driven stories with some kind of substance and which have an emotional impact.
May 22, 2024
In this multigenerational historical fiction and fantasy novel, readers travel to the American South, where they follow Suzanne, Farrah, and Addy over several decades. Tracing several generations of women from the same family, readers explore the secrets of this family’s connection to magic and to other worlds and the intergenerational similarities of dangerous and unsafe relationships. As these women grow, they all have their own series of challenges to face, particularly in the relationship category (which may be triggering for some readers), and Suzanne in particular must rediscover her relationship to the family magic as things come to a head. Set in New Orleans and Mississippi and spanning the decades since the 1940s, historical fiction fans might find this to be a good mix of fantasy, fiction and historical fiction. The characters are all complex, with hidden motivations and ulterior agendas, and Trahan does a good job balancing so many perspectives, plots, and narratives over the course of the novel. Some readers might find the IPV and hostile relationships in this novel triggering, so readers should proceed with caution, as one character in particular remains relevant to several plot threads. An interestingly complex read, Trahan’s latest novel will definitely keep readers on the edge of the seat from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atmosphere Press for the advance copy.
August 9, 2024
A Southern Enchantress by Deborah Trahan is a spellbinding young adult novel that immerses readers in the enchanting world of the Lafountain family. With its dual points of view, the story intricately explores the lives of these women, delving into their unique talents for folk magic and spellcasting.
Trahan’s vivid descriptions and complex character portrayals create a rich atmosphere that draws you in from the very first page. I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply I connected with the story, finding the blend of magical realism and familial bonds both captivating and emotionally resonant.
Overall, A Southern Enchantress is a delightful and immersive read that will enchant fans of magical fiction and character-driven narratives. If you appreciate intricate world-building and engaging, multifaceted characters, this book is definitely worth a read.
Trahan’s vivid descriptions and complex character portrayals create a rich atmosphere that draws you in from the very first page. I was pleasantly surprised by how deeply I connected with the story, finding the blend of magical realism and familial bonds both captivating and emotionally resonant.
Overall, A Southern Enchantress is a delightful and immersive read that will enchant fans of magical fiction and character-driven narratives. If you appreciate intricate world-building and engaging, multifaceted characters, this book is definitely worth a read.
May 21, 2024
Love stories of spell making and magick, add in WWII history and it’s about as ideal as it gets for me. The storyline flits to past and present giving us glimpses of these women with clairvoyance and spell casting. I enjoyed this even if it was a bit confusing in spots, eventually all the characters fell into place though. I couldn’t put it down as I kept needing to know the ending.
Thanks to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for sharing the book.
Thanks to Atmosphere Press and NetGalley for sharing the book.
September 7, 2024
This book contains a story of revenge, greed, sorrow, family dynamics written from the perspective of three different characters. The story takes place in a timeline period of 70+ years.
This book has a beautiful mixture of magic, realism, ghost, multigenerous tragedy and drama. Due to the story diving into a multigenerous tragedy i was quite confused in the beginning of what these character had to do with each other etc. But once the story kept going things got more clear! This story had so many levels it blew my mind and i read this book in one sitting.
This book has amazing writing a colorful and beautiful journey of a women who works to stop a generational Tragedy and trauma that her female ancestors had to endure. I enjoyed reading this so so much!
Thank you netgalley, for providing this Arc in exchange of an honest review.
This book has a beautiful mixture of magic, realism, ghost, multigenerous tragedy and drama. Due to the story diving into a multigenerous tragedy i was quite confused in the beginning of what these character had to do with each other etc. But once the story kept going things got more clear! This story had so many levels it blew my mind and i read this book in one sitting.
This book has amazing writing a colorful and beautiful journey of a women who works to stop a generational Tragedy and trauma that her female ancestors had to endure. I enjoyed reading this so so much!
Thank you netgalley, for providing this Arc in exchange of an honest review.
September 10, 2024
I love when books jump timelines and POVs to tell stories, leaving you to connect the characters and the story together. This one focuses on three different characters through out a timeline of 70 years, weaving a story of revenge, greed, and sadness. The story will make you cry and laugh. The writing was top tier, and the book was very enjoyable.
May 9, 2024
“In New Orleans, culture doesn’t come down from on high, it bubbles up from the streets.” — Ellis Marsalis
If you have ever had the pleasure to visit The Big Easy, you know the effervescent spirit that flows through the city from its music to its food and everything in between. You do not have to be clairvoyant to feel this pulsating energy but Suzanne is one of the rare ones who communicates with the departed and it is a calling she must embrace and find coexistence with the ghosts of New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast. These lands carry a deep rooted, rich history. Told in dual timelines from 1944 to modern day, Southern Enchantress is a haunting and beautiful tale full of heart and magical realism in a city filled with gumbo and ghosts.
If you have ever had the pleasure to visit The Big Easy, you know the effervescent spirit that flows through the city from its music to its food and everything in between. You do not have to be clairvoyant to feel this pulsating energy but Suzanne is one of the rare ones who communicates with the departed and it is a calling she must embrace and find coexistence with the ghosts of New Orleans and the surrounding Gulf Coast. These lands carry a deep rooted, rich history. Told in dual timelines from 1944 to modern day, Southern Enchantress is a haunting and beautiful tale full of heart and magical realism in a city filled with gumbo and ghosts.
May 10, 2024
A different read for me but I enjoyed it! The start took a little getting used to due to the different timelines but once I got my head around it, it was so good. Really interesting plot and characters and a real sense of magic. I’d definitely recommend!
September 30, 2024
Deborah Trahan's A Southern Enchantress is a delightful blend of romance and Southern charm. The story is rich with vibrant characters, but Max truly stole my heart—his blend of charisma and depth makes him an unforgettable hero. The chemistry between him and the protagonist is electric, filled with witty exchanges and genuine emotion. Trahan’s vivid descriptions bring the Southern setting to life, adding to the enchanting atmosphere. If you’re looking for a captivating read that weaves magic and romance seamlessly, this book is a must-read!
May 5, 2024
This book gave me a few pleasant surprises. At the start until you are used to it, it jumps around a fair bit, but this does not distract from the main story. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the arc of A Southern Enchantress by Deborah Trahan. Recommend!
April 23, 2024
A huge thank you to NetGalley for giving me an arc in exchange for my unbiased review.
I loved that this book followed a dual timeline and had paranormal themes. And while both timelines were intricate in their own right I heavily preferred the 1940s timeline to its more modern 2013 counterpart.
There’s a lot of generational trauma explored in this book and it was fascinating to see how similar yet different the LaFountain women’s struggles were throughout the decades.
Although, the book deals with other heavy themes such as loss and grief, non consensual intercourse, and drug usage, and I would’ve preferred to see a trigger warning for these. But overall, I feel like this story captured the paranormal aspect of things perfectly and created a unique reading experience by mixing historical fiction with social and supernatural elements.
I loved that this book followed a dual timeline and had paranormal themes. And while both timelines were intricate in their own right I heavily preferred the 1940s timeline to its more modern 2013 counterpart.
There’s a lot of generational trauma explored in this book and it was fascinating to see how similar yet different the LaFountain women’s struggles were throughout the decades.
Although, the book deals with other heavy themes such as loss and grief, non consensual intercourse, and drug usage, and I would’ve preferred to see a trigger warning for these. But overall, I feel like this story captured the paranormal aspect of things perfectly and created a unique reading experience by mixing historical fiction with social and supernatural elements.
June 24, 2024
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley.
I regret this book took me some time to get through, but I’m so glad I pushed through. It’s probably one of the most unique and unexpected storylines I’ve read in a few books. I love the connections through the decades and the interwoven stories. All of the characters are such rich personalities that I loved them all! While I knew Max was a slime-ball from the start, I was still rooting for him in some small way to figure his life out. I was really expecting more at the end in terms of comeuppance. I had hoped that Max was some distant relation to someone down the line that made the full circle journey more fulfilling. There is a LOT going on. I was getting lost in the details and the timelines and the overlap of characters. By the end, I was still struggling to understand who Jack was and how he tied into everything, he was kind of an enigma that was never explored fully. I was really hoping that Suzanne would seek out Esty since she was still alive. It didn’t make sense that Suzanne knew this branch of the family existed yet didn’t reach out. I think that could have offered more insight than the bits and pieces Jack scattered in at random intervals. I didn’t understand why it seemed the women had to choose between their clairvoyance or their hoodoo and root magic. The magic system got a bit too detailed at times but in the end it didn’t really add too much to the plot other than some candles and extra spookiness. There was a lot of magic that I think just ended up distracting from the plot. Overall, this book had too much going on. It could have been simplified and focused more on the connecting stories. But I truly enjoyed the interwoven storylines and the characters. The setting was delightful and one of the reasons I was eager to read this book. I would check out another story by Trahan in the future.
I regret this book took me some time to get through, but I’m so glad I pushed through. It’s probably one of the most unique and unexpected storylines I’ve read in a few books. I love the connections through the decades and the interwoven stories. All of the characters are such rich personalities that I loved them all! While I knew Max was a slime-ball from the start, I was still rooting for him in some small way to figure his life out. I was really expecting more at the end in terms of comeuppance. I had hoped that Max was some distant relation to someone down the line that made the full circle journey more fulfilling. There is a LOT going on. I was getting lost in the details and the timelines and the overlap of characters. By the end, I was still struggling to understand who Jack was and how he tied into everything, he was kind of an enigma that was never explored fully. I was really hoping that Suzanne would seek out Esty since she was still alive. It didn’t make sense that Suzanne knew this branch of the family existed yet didn’t reach out. I think that could have offered more insight than the bits and pieces Jack scattered in at random intervals. I didn’t understand why it seemed the women had to choose between their clairvoyance or their hoodoo and root magic. The magic system got a bit too detailed at times but in the end it didn’t really add too much to the plot other than some candles and extra spookiness. There was a lot of magic that I think just ended up distracting from the plot. Overall, this book had too much going on. It could have been simplified and focused more on the connecting stories. But I truly enjoyed the interwoven storylines and the characters. The setting was delightful and one of the reasons I was eager to read this book. I would check out another story by Trahan in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2024
"every damn day i found something i didn't know that i surely needed to know"
.
3/⭐ - liked the book but not a must read
1/🌶️ - a little bit of spice
Trigger warning: rape
Netgalley ARC (thank you !!!)
The story:
In this book we follow the story of the lafontaine women, slowly we discover with the characters themselves the history of this family
It is a beautiful historical drama, with a fantasy aspect: connection to magic and ghosts
What i loved:
The story is written in different perspections and different timelines
It makes the beginning of the story very confusing but it creates a beautiful ending where all the pieces suddenly fit together
The atmosphere of the book is beautiful
The surroundings are well enough explained to vividly imagine the world the characters live in
The happy end
The complexity of the characters
Although I don't feel there is a lot of character development in the book
The characters don't need it they were complex from the beginning shaping the beautiful story
What i didnt love:
It took me a while to connect all the characters because of the different timelines, this is ok normally but the chapter's were short so we jumed from one thing to the other what made it more difficult than needed
Some unresolved questions
I personally dont like it when we don't have all the answers
Like did Esty have anything to do with this locked door ?
Why did everyone fail to tell Addy about the kid ? The adoption ? ....
The story of Max feels incomplete
Some info is lacking in general
So overall beautifully written book
But not completely my style and this is why the lower score
.
3/⭐ - liked the book but not a must read
1/🌶️ - a little bit of spice
Trigger warning: rape
Netgalley ARC (thank you !!!)
The story:
In this book we follow the story of the lafontaine women, slowly we discover with the characters themselves the history of this family
It is a beautiful historical drama, with a fantasy aspect: connection to magic and ghosts
What i loved:
The story is written in different perspections and different timelines
It makes the beginning of the story very confusing but it creates a beautiful ending where all the pieces suddenly fit together
The atmosphere of the book is beautiful
The surroundings are well enough explained to vividly imagine the world the characters live in
The happy end
The complexity of the characters
Although I don't feel there is a lot of character development in the book
The characters don't need it they were complex from the beginning shaping the beautiful story
What i didnt love:
It took me a while to connect all the characters because of the different timelines, this is ok normally but the chapter's were short so we jumed from one thing to the other what made it more difficult than needed
Some unresolved questions
I personally dont like it when we don't have all the answers
Like did Esty have anything to do with this locked door ?
Why did everyone fail to tell Addy about the kid ? The adoption ? ....
The story of Max feels incomplete
Some info is lacking in general
So overall beautifully written book
But not completely my style and this is why the lower score
June 25, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an arc of The Southern Enchanctress by Deborah Trahan.
25/06/2024
⭐⭐⭐/5
This book started off relatively slow, and unfortunately I struggled to get into it throughout it
The premise was interesting, and Trahan gets extra points for the uniqueness of her story. Playing with multiple timelines is a bold move, and it was my favourite part of the book.
The main thing bringing this book down for me was the characters. I found all of them unlikable, and slightly one dimensional. I couldn't sympathize with any of them, and struggled to care about their unique stories.
The writing style itself was interesting, and while I could understand the appeal, it just wasn't for me. I found it wordy, and long-winded, with a lot of information being dumped at once. It felt very "tell" and not "show" to use English-Teacher-Terms.
All in all, the book was intriguing, unique, and despite not being my favourite I can appreciate all it had. If it had been simplified slightly I think I would have really loved it.
25/06/2024
⭐⭐⭐/5
This book started off relatively slow, and unfortunately I struggled to get into it throughout it
The premise was interesting, and Trahan gets extra points for the uniqueness of her story. Playing with multiple timelines is a bold move, and it was my favourite part of the book.
The main thing bringing this book down for me was the characters. I found all of them unlikable, and slightly one dimensional. I couldn't sympathize with any of them, and struggled to care about their unique stories.
The writing style itself was interesting, and while I could understand the appeal, it just wasn't for me. I found it wordy, and long-winded, with a lot of information being dumped at once. It felt very "tell" and not "show" to use English-Teacher-Terms.
All in all, the book was intriguing, unique, and despite not being my favourite I can appreciate all it had. If it had been simplified slightly I think I would have really loved it.
March 31, 2024
A Southern Enchantress is an interesting mix of fantasy and historical fiction and a must read for lovers of spirituality and the occult.
Our Southern Enchantress, Suzanne, is a divorced Mum of two who meets a dastardly handsome man at a garden party. Said handsome man, Max, has only one thing on his mind - her sizable divorce settlement, and dislikes Suzanne's attention being taken away by pesky ghosts.
Telling the story in multiple perspectives across two timelines was a bold move by Trahan - it's often difficult to keep up with who's who and when's when. While each character has their own unique voice, it is sometimes tricky to understand the time in which it is happening - especially between Max and Suzanne's chapters.
Our Southern Enchantress, Suzanne, is a divorced Mum of two who meets a dastardly handsome man at a garden party. Said handsome man, Max, has only one thing on his mind - her sizable divorce settlement, and dislikes Suzanne's attention being taken away by pesky ghosts.
Telling the story in multiple perspectives across two timelines was a bold move by Trahan - it's often difficult to keep up with who's who and when's when. While each character has their own unique voice, it is sometimes tricky to understand the time in which it is happening - especially between Max and Suzanne's chapters.
January 12, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book!
This story had me captivated from the very beginning. They way the author went between three main POV's to tell a story, one of the perspectives being from the 1940's, and the others being from 2013. And if you couldn't tell from the title. there is a lot of paranormal and magical elements to this story. As much as I loved that the author touched on sensitive topics, I do with that there was a trigger warning page as this book does discuss non-consent sex and drugging another person.
This story had me captivated from the very beginning. They way the author went between three main POV's to tell a story, one of the perspectives being from the 1940's, and the others being from 2013. And if you couldn't tell from the title. there is a lot of paranormal and magical elements to this story. As much as I loved that the author touched on sensitive topics, I do with that there was a trigger warning page as this book does discuss non-consent sex and drugging another person.
November 10, 2023
a must read
The book seamlessly moves between decades, weaving a story not to be missed. Each chapter draw you in closer and closer to the full truth of what’s happening here and there. The flow of the book is wonderful - it’s dense with information and yet very easy to read. I don’t want to give away spoilers … but there the ending was immensely satisfying to me as the reader. Makes me want more of the story of the intervening years! Well done!
The book seamlessly moves between decades, weaving a story not to be missed. Each chapter draw you in closer and closer to the full truth of what’s happening here and there. The flow of the book is wonderful - it’s dense with information and yet very easy to read. I don’t want to give away spoilers … but there the ending was immensely satisfying to me as the reader. Makes me want more of the story of the intervening years! Well done!
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December 28, 2023What I liked most about A Southern Enchantress by Deborah Trahan was its vivid descriptions of the settings of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and New Orleans. The book’s narrative takes place in dual timelines and describes the lives of several generations of women in the Lafountain family, a family with talent for folk magic, spellcasting and even clairsentience.
Published by Atmospheric Press.
Published by Atmospheric Press.
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