Thank you very much to @cranthorpemillner for the ARC.
This Young Adult novel is a diect sequel to Madame Voodoo that was released in 2023 and forms the middle book that is now part of a planned trilogy.
The main part of this second book can be enjoyed as a separate adventure but there are parts that make more sense having read the first one.
It's a fantasy/horror/lesbian romance with two strong female teenage characters. Nkechi, an African American with distinctive facial markings from vitiligo, a powerful witch with various abilities and nursing a broken heart over what happened with her boyfriend, Charlie, in book 1, and Kosum, her gay Asian best friend who has powerful telekinetic powers. Kosum's mother is in a coma, the coven of witches is in disarray, and New Orleans is a war zone as the Voodoo King grows in power.
There's lots of fun, adventure and peril with magic, witchcraft, possessed zombies, warlocks, potions, spells and strange creatures.
The danger level has escalated a lot from the first book and from the title it will be no surprise that voodoo deities Papa Legba and Baron Samedi make appearances.
It's totally aimed at the teen market with the choice of language used (I had to look up a couple of words in the urban dictionary because I don't talk like a teenager 😂), and tropes such as enemies to lovers which only work because young people change their minds frequently.
The characters act with a lot of sass and it's good to see them growing in their abilities, confidence and emotions.
Spooky season fun for a younger audience which keeps up the fast pace and mix of sweetness and tragedy that made Madame Voodoo so enjoyable.
✨✨✨✨4 stars
Do you know the difference between voodoo, common, hedge, and satanic witches?
The Index of Species explains all.