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The Foundling #1
Le début de la fin
Son premier jour pourrait bien être notre dernier...
Au cœur du Mississippi, une enfant à moitié sauvage est tirée des eaux troubles du bayou. Elle n’a ni souvenirs, ni famille, et est couverte de mystérieuses marques. Adoptée par le policier qui l’a sauvée, Luce Boudreau s’enrôle à sa suite dans la police, déterminée à faire ses preuves aux yeux de tous ceux qui la considèrent encore avec méfiance. Mais l’ampleur du combat qui l’attend dépasse tout ce que Luce a pu imaginer.
Elle a beau être une orpheline sans passé, personne, pas même Luce elle-même, n’est préparé à affronter la vérité sur sa sombre et puissante destinée...
Au cœur du Mississippi, une enfant à moitié sauvage est tirée des eaux troubles du bayou. Elle n’a ni souvenirs, ni famille, et est couverte de mystérieuses marques. Adoptée par le policier qui l’a sauvée, Luce Boudreau s’enrôle à sa suite dans la police, déterminée à faire ses preuves aux yeux de tous ceux qui la considèrent encore avec méfiance. Mais l’ampleur du combat qui l’attend dépasse tout ce que Luce a pu imaginer.
Elle a beau être une orpheline sans passé, personne, pas même Luce elle-même, n’est préparé à affronter la vérité sur sa sombre et puissante destinée...
415 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
950 people are currently reading
3352 people want to read
About the author
Hailey Edwards
104 books2,839 followersHailey Edwards writes about questionable applications of otherwise perfectly good magic, the transformative power of love, the family you choose for yourself, and blowing stuff up. Not necessarily all at once. That could get messy.
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https://haileyedwards.net/contact-form/
Hailey isn't on Goodreads.
Please email her via her website:
https://haileyedwards.net/contact-form/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
March 12, 2020
Okay, so a few months back I ran into a series that totally took me by surprise because I hadn't heard that much about it and I loved it, called "How to Save an Undead Life" (my review). It was so much fun that I decided to read more by this author so here I am!
Yes, maybe I was a little aggressive with the librarian, but got me my book, didn't it? Never argue with what works.
And, this book was totally worth the lifetime ban from that branch of the library. (Mabel is such a drama queen.)
So, here's the story, there is this female cop that is pretty cool who has a mysterious past. She was found in the muddy swamp as some sort of wildling child that had been raised by gators or something. Like Tarzan, but swamp style.
Yeah, it took a lot of soap before they even realized she was female. There was a loofah involved. It was a whole thing.
She's got a mysterious thing going on with strange markings on her arms, so when another girl is fished from the swamp with the same markings, she's all excited that maybe she will get some answers about her past.
The resemblance is uncanny.
She also ends up meeting a guy, who by the description, sounds like The Rock. Now, I know a lot of y'all are thinking that Mr. Rock is sexy and stuff, but I'm not on that team. First of all, I like hair on a guy. Lots of hair. Well, not like body hair lots of hair, just head hair. If I wanted a to feel stubble, I'd rub my legs, not a head.
Well placed hair is key to.... um.... wait, what was I talking about?
(Y'all, I spent about 20 minutes getting you that pic. I wanted to make sure I got just the right one. No, I wasn't just looking at 500 pictures of the pretty man for my sake. It was for yours. I'm a giver like that. I'll even do it again if you need me to. Sacrifice my valuable time. Look, I'll just go back and make sure I got the right one and then I'll finish writing this review, I swear..)
Yes, maybe I was a little aggressive with the librarian, but got me my book, didn't it? Never argue with what works.
And, this book was totally worth the lifetime ban from that branch of the library. (Mabel is such a drama queen.)
So, here's the story, there is this female cop that is pretty cool who has a mysterious past. She was found in the muddy swamp as some sort of wildling child that had been raised by gators or something. Like Tarzan, but swamp style.
Yeah, it took a lot of soap before they even realized she was female. There was a loofah involved. It was a whole thing.
She's got a mysterious thing going on with strange markings on her arms, so when another girl is fished from the swamp with the same markings, she's all excited that maybe she will get some answers about her past.
The resemblance is uncanny.
She also ends up meeting a guy, who by the description, sounds like The Rock. Now, I know a lot of y'all are thinking that Mr. Rock is sexy and stuff, but I'm not on that team. First of all, I like hair on a guy. Lots of hair. Well, not like body hair lots of hair, just head hair. If I wanted a to feel stubble, I'd rub my legs, not a head.
Well placed hair is key to.... um.... wait, what was I talking about?
(Y'all, I spent about 20 minutes getting you that pic. I wanted to make sure I got just the right one. No, I wasn't just looking at 500 pictures of the pretty man for my sake. It was for yours. I'm a giver like that. I'll even do it again if you need me to. Sacrifice my valuable time. Look, I'll just go back and make sure I got the right one and then I'll finish writing this review, I swear..)
September 22, 2017
This is a mystery thriller that moves into the type of fantasy territory I really was not expecting. Set in Canton, Mississippi, a strange wild child was found in a swampy bayou. She had odd markings on her body, and no memories of her past or even who she is. Adopted by a policeman, Edward Boudreau, 15 years later Lucy Boudreau has followed her beloved father to become a cop in Canton PD. She and partner, Rixton, have a missing person case, Angel Claremont, when they hear of a body in a bayou. On arrival, it is clear it is not Angel, but an adult woman with the same markings on her body as Luce. The White Horse security company hired by Angel's parents are on the scene and rescue the unconscious Jane Doe. Hope blooms in Lucy, perhaps at long last she will learn about who she is as there seems to be others like her. She has been desperate to find out more about herself and the mysterious calls she gets annually on her birthday from someone called Ezra. This is a dark, twisted and witty fairytale, a metaphorical Sleeping Beauty, who awakens to find there is no Prince, and there is a war to be fought for the soul of the world.
Luce finds herself working closely with Cole Heaton, the head of White Horse security and his team as her best friend, Maggie, disappears. Ever since she was found, Lucy has attracted highly intrusive and unwanted attention, both from townsfolk and the media, this multiplies considerably with the emergence of Jane Doe. With little progress in locating Angel, Lucy and Rixton lose their case to the FBI and Agent Kapoor. Lucy is determined to find Maggie as it seems there may be connections with the missing Angel. As Luce and Cole follow leads to identify Jane Doe and find Maggie, Luce finds that she is having to confront realities that challenge her to the core as to who she is, this has her feeling that sometimes ignorance is bliss. In a story that takes in betrayal, death, blood, danger and battle, Lucy adjusts to a new understanding of who she is and finds another home and allies, as well as her beloved father. This is a well written and entertaining story, full of humour and suspense, that I found to be a terrific read. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
Luce finds herself working closely with Cole Heaton, the head of White Horse security and his team as her best friend, Maggie, disappears. Ever since she was found, Lucy has attracted highly intrusive and unwanted attention, both from townsfolk and the media, this multiplies considerably with the emergence of Jane Doe. With little progress in locating Angel, Lucy and Rixton lose their case to the FBI and Agent Kapoor. Lucy is determined to find Maggie as it seems there may be connections with the missing Angel. As Luce and Cole follow leads to identify Jane Doe and find Maggie, Luce finds that she is having to confront realities that challenge her to the core as to who she is, this has her feeling that sometimes ignorance is bliss. In a story that takes in betrayal, death, blood, danger and battle, Lucy adjusts to a new understanding of who she is and finds another home and allies, as well as her beloved father. This is a well written and entertaining story, full of humour and suspense, that I found to be a terrific read. Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.
November 2, 2022
The urban fantasy market feels overcrowded, but Hailey Edwards is one of the few that has gets my attention, beginning with How to Save an Undead Life, a fun series that kept me going during quarantine. As lockdown lifted, I lost my UF tolerance and didn’t branch out to Bayou Born, despite recommendations from friends. I rediscovered Bayou while cleaning off my kindle and thought it would be a fun candy break between a wrenching Scholomance re-read and the meaty Cage of Souls. Bayou delivered, along with some unexpected twists.
It begins with a common fantasy trope, the orphan with the mysterious past. An amnesiac teenage Luce was discovered in a local bayou, then adopted by a local police officer, and grew up to become a police officer in the same department. Currently Luce is assisting with the search for a missing woman when a second woman is discovered injured in the same swamp Luce was found, with nearly identical inlaid tattoos. What follows is as much of story about discovering heritage as it is a missing persons case, so your enjoyment may depend on your ability to tolerate that more new-adult developmental focus.
In fact, the first chapter is decidedly ambiguous, with a mysterious caller–it’s not clear if it’s a father figure or love interest, and after reading a couple of choice phrases, I was about ready to quit. Honestly, tell me this isn’t horrible:
“Heavy silence roared until I got lightheaded from waiting. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t–‘Luce,’ Ezra husked, my name a benediction on his lips.'”
Excuse me. I think I just regurgitated a little.
But I persevered, because I had all those fond quarantine-memories of the Necromancy series (and now we’re starting to understand my self-diagnosed ‘quarantine-brain’ affliction) and it switched gears into the mystery of the unconscious ‘Jane Doe’ and the mysterious group of security agents hired to protect her. Edwards’ style tends to be action-oriented and have problem-solving characters over ones that do a lot of navel gazing, so events did a nice job of pulling me along.
The majority of the book is Luce-focused, but by the end, there’s more of an ensemble cast. By the end, it felt like the pilot episode of a new tv series. Supporting cast is done reasonably well, although it was still a male-dominated book. The refrigerator female trope makes an appearance. It is nice that Luce is a police officer, which is a profession dominated by men, especially in small towns, but with her father as a primary emotional figure, a male police partner and a male potential lust interest, it means there isn’t a lot of room made for emotional connection to women (saying more would be spoilery, I think). It is not unusual for the genre, or even Edwards’ other books, but something that I definitely noticed and wished was otherwise. It seems to be a hallmark of paranormal romance books.
Writing is competent for genre, with only a few missteps like I noted earlier. I know, I know, sounds like I’m damning with faint praise. But Edwards is very readable. There is that annoying paranormal tendency to over-adjective hair, lips and pulses, but overall, competent.
And the plot is steady. If Luce is not the best investigator in the world, it’s because she isn’t–she’s mostly a small town beat cop who has gotten personally involved. As the story develops, it goes in a couple of unpredictable directions. However, the dual mysteries dovetail nicely, if quite unusually. I’m not altogether sure I like the direction it went, but I think it was done well. More is definitely a spoiler, which I’ll mark for my own benefit. I’m fairly doubtful I’ll be continuing the series because of it.
Re-readable? Nah. Deletable? Probably.
Two and a half stars, rounding down because the only thing you husk around here is corn.
It begins with a common fantasy trope, the orphan with the mysterious past. An amnesiac teenage Luce was discovered in a local bayou, then adopted by a local police officer, and grew up to become a police officer in the same department. Currently Luce is assisting with the search for a missing woman when a second woman is discovered injured in the same swamp Luce was found, with nearly identical inlaid tattoos. What follows is as much of story about discovering heritage as it is a missing persons case, so your enjoyment may depend on your ability to tolerate that more new-adult developmental focus.
In fact, the first chapter is decidedly ambiguous, with a mysterious caller–it’s not clear if it’s a father figure or love interest, and after reading a couple of choice phrases, I was about ready to quit. Honestly, tell me this isn’t horrible:
“Heavy silence roared until I got lightheaded from waiting. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t–‘Luce,’ Ezra husked, my name a benediction on his lips.'”
Excuse me. I think I just regurgitated a little.
But I persevered, because I had all those fond quarantine-memories of the Necromancy series (and now we’re starting to understand my self-diagnosed ‘quarantine-brain’ affliction) and it switched gears into the mystery of the unconscious ‘Jane Doe’ and the mysterious group of security agents hired to protect her. Edwards’ style tends to be action-oriented and have problem-solving characters over ones that do a lot of navel gazing, so events did a nice job of pulling me along.
The majority of the book is Luce-focused, but by the end, there’s more of an ensemble cast. By the end, it felt like the pilot episode of a new tv series. Supporting cast is done reasonably well, although it was still a male-dominated book. The refrigerator female trope makes an appearance. It is nice that Luce is a police officer, which is a profession dominated by men, especially in small towns, but with her father as a primary emotional figure, a male police partner and a male potential lust interest, it means there isn’t a lot of room made for emotional connection to women (saying more would be spoilery, I think). It is not unusual for the genre, or even Edwards’ other books, but something that I definitely noticed and wished was otherwise. It seems to be a hallmark of paranormal romance books.
Writing is competent for genre, with only a few missteps like I noted earlier. I know, I know, sounds like I’m damning with faint praise. But Edwards is very readable. There is that annoying paranormal tendency to over-adjective hair, lips and pulses, but overall, competent.
And the plot is steady. If Luce is not the best investigator in the world, it’s because she isn’t–she’s mostly a small town beat cop who has gotten personally involved. As the story develops, it goes in a couple of unpredictable directions. However, the dual mysteries dovetail nicely, if quite unusually. I’m not altogether sure I like the direction it went, but I think it was done well. More is definitely a spoiler, which I’ll mark for my own benefit. I’m fairly doubtful I’ll be continuing the series because of it.
Re-readable? Nah. Deletable? Probably.
Two and a half stars, rounding down because the only thing you husk around here is corn.
March 7, 2018
Despite the fact this that starts really slowly and had me worried at the more than passing similarity to the backstory in another YA novel (including the name of the main character), this book really turned it around by the halfway mark and left me wanting hard at the end. Any feelings that it might lack originality were blasted away as the story moved onwards and we learned more about the characters- they were innovative, funny, and charming in equal measure. Edwards managed to fit in a lot of information without being too much of a dump, but i'm looking forward to a more in depth exploration of these characters in the next book.
A good start to a new series.
ARC via Netgalley
A good start to a new series.
ARC via Netgalley
March 21, 2021
Bayou Born by Hailey Edwards
1st book in The Foundling series. Urban fantasy.
Luce Boudrou was rescued from the swamp as a child. Strange metal markings and unusual fast healing tell a story that she is more than human but it doesn’t matter to the policeman that adopts and raises her. Luce becomes a cop herself and when she is sent to the swamp on a call of a woman in the swamp with similar markings, Luce hopes she can finally get some answers.
And gets answers she does, but her questions have now multiplied.
Starts slowly but builds into a chaotic plethora of fantasy elements.
A few confusing stumbles but I’m not sure if they are deliberately added as part of the world building. Includes a gigantic crocodile, a dragon and War. Just to whet the appetite.
A cliffhanger for the series as we don’t have all the answers and the epilogue sets up more questions.
The heroine is strong and capable but it bothered me that the lost best friend wasn’t more of a stressor or focus in her professional world even while she goes through life changing revelations.
I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. I did not care for the southern accent of the narrator and pacing so for this episode preferred the ebook.
3.5 rounded up to 4 for the unique world building.
1st book in The Foundling series. Urban fantasy.
Luce Boudrou was rescued from the swamp as a child. Strange metal markings and unusual fast healing tell a story that she is more than human but it doesn’t matter to the policeman that adopts and raises her. Luce becomes a cop herself and when she is sent to the swamp on a call of a woman in the swamp with similar markings, Luce hopes she can finally get some answers.
And gets answers she does, but her questions have now multiplied.
Starts slowly but builds into a chaotic plethora of fantasy elements.
A few confusing stumbles but I’m not sure if they are deliberately added as part of the world building. Includes a gigantic crocodile, a dragon and War. Just to whet the appetite.
A cliffhanger for the series as we don’t have all the answers and the epilogue sets up more questions.
The heroine is strong and capable but it bothered me that the lost best friend wasn’t more of a stressor or focus in her professional world even while she goes through life changing revelations.
I alternated between an ebook and audiobook. I did not care for the southern accent of the narrator and pacing so for this episode preferred the ebook.
3.5 rounded up to 4 for the unique world building.
May 3, 2018
What the hell was that I just read?! This book was unputdownable. I can almost 100% guarantee you you haven’t read an urban fantasy quite like this one before. The first half of this book I was thoroughly enjoying as a straight forward mystery/romance and then....well the second half happens to you! There are no words..this is not a predictable read so don’t try! But I would say this a true fantasy and highly original. I literally couldn’t believe what I was reading.
This author also has a great sense of humour and the writing leads you on and on. I loved all the characters and am thoroughly looking forward to the next instalments. Now I’m off to check out this author’s backlog!
This author also has a great sense of humour and the writing leads you on and on. I loved all the characters and am thoroughly looking forward to the next instalments. Now I’m off to check out this author’s backlog!
August 21, 2019
What do you do when you get a book off NetGalley to review that just happens to be the fourth in the series without realising beforehand?
Well, you start at the beginning with this fantastic gem of a read Bayou Born the first book in the foundling series and got to say I am bloody impressed.
I read this book super fast then instantly ordered the second one I was that invested here.
A new author for me but one that I will have no qualms reading more of in the future.
Genre-wise this is urban fantasy which isn't a category I read that often and from the moment I picked this up I was totally on-board.
Whatever I originally thought this was it turned out to be completely the opposite of what I was expecting: doing a complete 180 on me.
This story centres on Luce Boudreau a wild child of mysterious origins and strange body markings discovered feral in the Bayou of Mississippi when she was just a kid.
Adopted by a local cop and raised as his own Luce has no memories from before that day.
Now a cop herself Luce really wants to know her past: where she came from: who she is.
So when a girl with the exact same markings is discovered lying injured in the bayou Luce is all over it.
So this story started slowly building its momentum lulling you into thinking it was something else entirely than what it actually was when Bam, as we hit the middle of this the narrative here exploded and this became a runaway train.
This was full of twists and turns galore contained just so many fantastic multi-faceted characters and though told completely from Luce's POV I still got a sense of all the distinct personalities involved with this.
I really don't want to give to much away with this first book but just know this that once this gets going its gonna knock your socks completely off.
Love Luce, totally crushing On Cole and also so intrigued by the rest of the White Horse Security team.
This really was well written and just ever so imaginative.
I am totally salivating for the next part of this like right now; can’t wait to get Cracking with it.
This was a firecracker of a start and I for one am ever so interested in where this is ultimately heading.
I Recommend this one so highly.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
February 17, 2018
It took me a little while to get into this book. It starts off a little slow and I wasn’t really sure where Hailey Edwards was going with it. And then I met Cole. Which, for me, is where the story really started to get interesting. Then it got more interesting. And more interesting. And by the end, I was ready to stalk the author on Twitter and beg for the next installment.
The story takes place in Canton, Mississippi. I have actually lived right outside of Canton and it was fun to get a few shout-outs to places that were a little familiar. However, it did not feel like the Canton I knew. For what it’s worth, the whole bayou southern feel was never one I got from living there. But this is fiction, so I just tucked that away and refused to let it interrupt my suspension of disbelief.
Anyway, the story centers on Luce, a 25-year-old cop with an unusual history. She was discovered in the bayou at 15 years old. No one knew who she was, herself included. She was a wild child. And oddity. And even 10 years later, she is treated a bit like a sideshow freak. She has unusual metal bands on her arms which cannot be permanently removed and she gets strange cryptic calls every year on her birthday from a mysterious man who manages to get through to her even without a working phone line. Her adoptive father is wonderful, but she has 1 million questions about who she is and where she came from. So when another woman appears in the same swamp with the same markings, Luce is all about trying to make a connection.
I really don’t want to give too much away. The unwrapping of the story is part of what makes it so awesome. But I will say that Cole is part of a security force that helps Luce rescue the mystery woman and ultimately protect her. He is big and gruff and his dynamic with Luce is fantastic. It wasn’t until the book was over that I realized there were actually no love scenes between them, but Edwards did such a fantastic job building the tension and pull between them that I still felt blazing heat.
There was a great mystery. That there is lots of action. There are fabulous side characters. I want to know more about Thom and Matthew… and of course Ezra. I know you have absolutely no idea who these people are, but that is why you need to go read the book.
One of the things I really like is how different this book. It’s paranormal, yes, but this is not vampires and werewolves. It’s creative and fascinating. The writing just has this way of creeping up on you and wrapping tendrils around you so that you are completely ensnared before you even realize it.
Again, it starts off slow. But if this review intrigues you at all, give the book to try and stick with it. You’ll eventually see what it is that is making me rave.
Sorry to be so cryptic. I just don’t want to spoil the fun for you. Would definitely recommend.
Rating: B+/A-
*ARC provided by publisher
The story takes place in Canton, Mississippi. I have actually lived right outside of Canton and it was fun to get a few shout-outs to places that were a little familiar. However, it did not feel like the Canton I knew. For what it’s worth, the whole bayou southern feel was never one I got from living there. But this is fiction, so I just tucked that away and refused to let it interrupt my suspension of disbelief.
Anyway, the story centers on Luce, a 25-year-old cop with an unusual history. She was discovered in the bayou at 15 years old. No one knew who she was, herself included. She was a wild child. And oddity. And even 10 years later, she is treated a bit like a sideshow freak. She has unusual metal bands on her arms which cannot be permanently removed and she gets strange cryptic calls every year on her birthday from a mysterious man who manages to get through to her even without a working phone line. Her adoptive father is wonderful, but she has 1 million questions about who she is and where she came from. So when another woman appears in the same swamp with the same markings, Luce is all about trying to make a connection.
I really don’t want to give too much away. The unwrapping of the story is part of what makes it so awesome. But I will say that Cole is part of a security force that helps Luce rescue the mystery woman and ultimately protect her. He is big and gruff and his dynamic with Luce is fantastic. It wasn’t until the book was over that I realized there were actually no love scenes between them, but Edwards did such a fantastic job building the tension and pull between them that I still felt blazing heat.
There was a great mystery. That there is lots of action. There are fabulous side characters. I want to know more about Thom and Matthew… and of course Ezra. I know you have absolutely no idea who these people are, but that is why you need to go read the book.
One of the things I really like is how different this book. It’s paranormal, yes, but this is not vampires and werewolves. It’s creative and fascinating. The writing just has this way of creeping up on you and wrapping tendrils around you so that you are completely ensnared before you even realize it.
Again, it starts off slow. But if this review intrigues you at all, give the book to try and stick with it. You’ll eventually see what it is that is making me rave.
Sorry to be so cryptic. I just don’t want to spoil the fun for you. Would definitely recommend.
Rating: B+/A-
*ARC provided by publisher
March 15, 2018
There is a special place in my heart for Southern Gothic stories. Especially ones that are set in the bayous or under the shade of live oaks with Spanish moss dangling from the branches. I grew up on Faulkner and O'Connor saying "You can't understand it. You would have to be born there." There are secrets in these old trees and ghosts on our front porches. That is the Southern Gothic that I love so much. We are all haunted.
This book, Bayou Born, takes the Southern Gothic idea and tucks it into a paranormal story line and the result is wonderfully creepy and it has that amazing sense of desperation and decay in it.
Luce was found as a girl, lost in the bayou near Canton, Mississippi.
Canton is a beautiful old city. It has Civil War history, ghosts, legends, and a collective past that the community can really hold onto. The book starts with this dark setting and just rolls with it. The bayou almost becomes a character itself which is absolutely necessary for any sort of gothic novel.
Mysterious metal bands of rose gold encircle Luce’s arms and regrow as soon as they are removed. She heals fast. She doesn’t remember her past or even her name but the kind but stern police chief takes her in as his own. Luce grows up and, to honor her father and the good that he does in the world, also joins the police. She is working the disappearance of a young woman in the community when she encounters another body, lost in the swamp, with metal bands wrapping around her arms.
This book isn’t all doom and gloom though. The introduction of the character of Cole was interesting in that he added more tension to the story but he also acted as a foil to Luce. He is strong, broody, quiet, and altogether too delicious for words. His taciturn nature with an unwillingness to divulge much doesn’t sit well with Luce and she has to learn how to work with him in order to solve the mystery of her past and the woman in the swamp.
It has humor in it as well. Once again, not all doom and gloom. That wouldn’t make for a very interesting book in the long run. You have to have some levity. And Bayou Born does a good job of balancing intense tension with humor.
Also going for this book is that there is no insta-love. Sometimes paranormal books can jump right into it and the main character can lose all of their personality as soon as the love interest bats his big beautiful eyes. This definitely has some slow burn to it. Cole is this amazingly physical human being that exudes sexual attraction but Luce keeps her head about her and continues to do her job without getting distracted…much.
Let's talk about Luce a little bit. By all standards, she should be an absolute wreck. Her life is a mystery and she has no idea where she came from. She waits, every year, for a phone call on her birthday from a man named Ezra who is inexplicably able to call her on a phone that is not connected to any line. These calls literally give her life and take away her pain. More mysteries. She is devoted to her father and her uncle and her best friend. She works her ass off to live up to her father's legacy in the department and I really respect her for that.
She is an unbelievably strong female character but she is also flawed in human ways. No, she isn't just clumsy or something silly like that. She is brash, impulsive, and doesn't always take care of herself. Luce secludes herself from society and has made a very thick protective bubble around herself. She cares too much about people she can't help and is more than willing to sacrifice herself for others. That makes her strong. That makes her a character that you can get on board with. I love this strong female thing while also acknowledging that she cannot be perfect or nobody would care about her.
I don’t want to get too far into the story line because there are definitely some unexpected twists and turns that I don’t want to ruin for you. This book is truly a fun read and well worth the experience. I loved it and I am super pumped for the next one in the series. I cannot wait to see what happens with Cole, Luce, and all of their compatriots in book 2!
This book, Bayou Born, takes the Southern Gothic idea and tucks it into a paranormal story line and the result is wonderfully creepy and it has that amazing sense of desperation and decay in it.
Luce was found as a girl, lost in the bayou near Canton, Mississippi.
Canton is a beautiful old city. It has Civil War history, ghosts, legends, and a collective past that the community can really hold onto. The book starts with this dark setting and just rolls with it. The bayou almost becomes a character itself which is absolutely necessary for any sort of gothic novel.
Mysterious metal bands of rose gold encircle Luce’s arms and regrow as soon as they are removed. She heals fast. She doesn’t remember her past or even her name but the kind but stern police chief takes her in as his own. Luce grows up and, to honor her father and the good that he does in the world, also joins the police. She is working the disappearance of a young woman in the community when she encounters another body, lost in the swamp, with metal bands wrapping around her arms.
”Poking a corpse with a stick wasn’t how I’d anticipated spending my birthday, but in this line of work, you learn to adapt.”
This book isn’t all doom and gloom though. The introduction of the character of Cole was interesting in that he added more tension to the story but he also acted as a foil to Luce. He is strong, broody, quiet, and altogether too delicious for words. His taciturn nature with an unwillingness to divulge much doesn’t sit well with Luce and she has to learn how to work with him in order to solve the mystery of her past and the woman in the swamp.
”I considered elbowing him to give myself room but worried I might shatter my funny bone in the process, which would not be humerus.
It has humor in it as well. Once again, not all doom and gloom. That wouldn’t make for a very interesting book in the long run. You have to have some levity. And Bayou Born does a good job of balancing intense tension with humor.
Also going for this book is that there is no insta-love. Sometimes paranormal books can jump right into it and the main character can lose all of their personality as soon as the love interest bats his big beautiful eyes. This definitely has some slow burn to it. Cole is this amazingly physical human being that exudes sexual attraction but Luce keeps her head about her and continues to do her job without getting distracted…much.
Well, that answered my question. Wrap his hips with animal pelts, pass the man a club, and Cole would be a Neolithic dream come true. Good thing I wasn’t sleeping much these days.”
Let's talk about Luce a little bit. By all standards, she should be an absolute wreck. Her life is a mystery and she has no idea where she came from. She waits, every year, for a phone call on her birthday from a man named Ezra who is inexplicably able to call her on a phone that is not connected to any line. These calls literally give her life and take away her pain. More mysteries. She is devoted to her father and her uncle and her best friend. She works her ass off to live up to her father's legacy in the department and I really respect her for that.
She is an unbelievably strong female character but she is also flawed in human ways. No, she isn't just clumsy or something silly like that. She is brash, impulsive, and doesn't always take care of herself. Luce secludes herself from society and has made a very thick protective bubble around herself. She cares too much about people she can't help and is more than willing to sacrifice herself for others. That makes her strong. That makes her a character that you can get on board with. I love this strong female thing while also acknowledging that she cannot be perfect or nobody would care about her.
I don’t want to get too far into the story line because there are definitely some unexpected twists and turns that I don’t want to ruin for you. This book is truly a fun read and well worth the experience. I loved it and I am super pumped for the next one in the series. I cannot wait to see what happens with Cole, Luce, and all of their compatriots in book 2!
June 10, 2019
Yum!
I devoured this one! Way better than what I expected.
It was such a fun read. Fast-paced and filled with action, a great plot and amazing characters. I haven't read anything by this author before and was so glad to have discovered her.
The UF part was something that I haven't seen too often. The world-builder was pretty complex but easy to follow at the same time. And, frankly, it's one of the few times, from what I've read, when . It's a really nice spin-off and all I can say is that I'm impressed.
A great start for a fun series, can't wait to see what comes next!
I devoured this one! Way better than what I expected.
It was such a fun read. Fast-paced and filled with action, a great plot and amazing characters. I haven't read anything by this author before and was so glad to have discovered her.
The UF part was something that I haven't seen too often. The world-builder was pretty complex but easy to follow at the same time. And, frankly, it's one of the few times, from what I've read, when . It's a really nice spin-off and all I can say is that I'm impressed.
A great start for a fun series, can't wait to see what comes next!
June 16, 2020
{Review in English | Comentario en Castellano}
3.5 stars
Luce Boudreau was a child found 15 years ago in the swamp, with no previous memory. The Sergeant Edward Boudreau who rescue her, later adopted her, and she become too a cop. She is the local celebrity 'wild child' , persecuted by journalists because of some strange markings in her body. So when a case about a missing young woman call her and her partner to the swamp , and she discover a woman with her same markings, Luce is eager to finally get her answers.
But perhaps that 'be careful what you wish for' thing applies to her with a vengeance.
This is the type of story where no one is what it seems, where there is a story behind everything that the author gives us with a dropper and leaves us with all the desire to know what is happening and where the next unpleasant surprise will come from, and fearing it .
And at the same time the story is addictive. It's been a long time since I've followed a series, and now I'm devouring one book after another. That does not mean that it does not conflict with the story, especially with all the things that are hidden from Luce and Cole's attitude towards her. Conflicting feelings I understand, but Cole behaves like a seesaw (get a grip, moron). And all those mentions of previous ...never explains them well. I can't believe I'm saying this but I want info dump - darn it.
All the secondary characters are great. Luce's interaction with her father and fellow police officer Rixton stand out in their camaraderie, community service, morality, and sense of family.
Then the coterie, the White Horse team, with their different personalities conquer you.
SPOILERS-----------
“We’re a coterie, so yes. We all live together,” Miller said, joining me while Thom crouched where a third chair might have gone. “None of us are the same as Cole, or the same as each other for that matter, but we are all charun.”
“Demons,” a smug voice grated out behind me. “The closest approximation for you is to say we’re demons.”
Yeah, this kind-a like-a
-----------
Luce Boudreau fue una niña encontrada hace 15 años en el pantano, sin memoria previa. El sargento Edward Boudreau que la rescató, más tarde la adoptó, y ella también se convirtió en policía. Ella es la celebridad local , la 'niña salvaje', perseguida por periodistas por algunas marcas extrañas en su cuerpo. De modo que, cuando un caso sobre una joven desaparecida la llama a ella y a su pareja al pantano, y descubre a una mujer con sus mismas marcas, Luce está ansiosa por obtener finalmente sus respuestas.
Pero tal vez eso de 'ten cuidado con lo que deseas' venga a morderla.
Este es el tipo de historia donde nadie es lo que parece, donde hay una historia detrás de todo que la autora nos entrega con cuentagotas y nos deja con todas las ganas de saber qué cosa esta pasando y de donde saldra la próxima sorpresa desagradable y temiéndolo.
Y al mismo tiempo, la historia es adictiva. Ha pasado mucho tiempo desde que seguí una serie, y ahora estoy devorando un libro tras otro. Eso no significa que no entre en conflicto con la historia, especialmente con todas las cosas que están ocultas de la actitud de Luce y Cole hacia ella. Entiendo sentimientos encontrados, pero Cole se comporta como un balancín; controla, imbécil. ¿Y todas esas menciones de Nunca los explica bien. No puedo creer que esté diciendo esto, pero quiero info-dump, maldita sea.
Todos los personajes secundarios son estupendos. La interacción de Luce con su padre y con su compañero policia , Rixton, destacan en su camaraderia, servicio a la comunidad , moralidad y sensación de familia.
Luego, la coterie, el equipo de White Horse, con sus diferentes personalidades te conquistan.
3.5 stars
Luce Boudreau was a child found 15 years ago in the swamp, with no previous memory. The Sergeant Edward Boudreau who rescue her, later adopted her, and she become too a cop. She is the local celebrity 'wild child' , persecuted by journalists because of some strange markings in her body. So when a case about a missing young woman call her and her partner to the swamp , and she discover a woman with her same markings, Luce is eager to finally get her answers.
Phrases like dissociative amnesia and depersonalization disorder had been murmured in soft voices across my hospital bed once the doctors realized my memory stretched back minutes instead of years. They postulated that my lack of an identity cornerstone might explain why I had trouble connecting with the person who looked back at me in the mirror.
The former was public knowledge. The latter, I usually hid better than this.
But perhaps that 'be careful what you wish for' thing applies to her with a vengeance.
This is the type of story where no one is what it seems, where there is a story behind everything that the author gives us with a dropper and leaves us with all the desire to know what is happening and where the next unpleasant surprise will come from, and fearing it .
And at the same time the story is addictive. It's been a long time since I've followed a series, and now I'm devouring one book after another. That does not mean that it does not conflict with the story, especially with all the things that are hidden from Luce and Cole's attitude towards her. Conflicting feelings I understand, but Cole behaves like a seesaw (get a grip, moron). And all those mentions of previous ...never explains them well. I can't believe I'm saying this but I want info dump - darn it.
All the secondary characters are great. Luce's interaction with her father and fellow police officer Rixton stand out in their camaraderie, community service, morality, and sense of family.
Then the coterie, the White Horse team, with their different personalities conquer you.
SPOILERS-----------
“We’re a coterie, so yes. We all live together,” Miller said, joining me while Thom crouched where a third chair might have gone. “None of us are the same as Cole, or the same as each other for that matter, but we are all charun.”
“Demons,” a smug voice grated out behind me. “The closest approximation for you is to say we’re demons.”
Yeah, this kind-a like-a
-----------
Luce Boudreau fue una niña encontrada hace 15 años en el pantano, sin memoria previa. El sargento Edward Boudreau que la rescató, más tarde la adoptó, y ella también se convirtió en policía. Ella es la celebridad local , la 'niña salvaje', perseguida por periodistas por algunas marcas extrañas en su cuerpo. De modo que, cuando un caso sobre una joven desaparecida la llama a ella y a su pareja al pantano, y descubre a una mujer con sus mismas marcas, Luce está ansiosa por obtener finalmente sus respuestas.
Pero tal vez eso de 'ten cuidado con lo que deseas' venga a morderla.
Este es el tipo de historia donde nadie es lo que parece, donde hay una historia detrás de todo que la autora nos entrega con cuentagotas y nos deja con todas las ganas de saber qué cosa esta pasando y de donde saldra la próxima sorpresa desagradable y temiéndolo.
Y al mismo tiempo, la historia es adictiva. Ha pasado mucho tiempo desde que seguí una serie, y ahora estoy devorando un libro tras otro. Eso no significa que no entre en conflicto con la historia, especialmente con todas las cosas que están ocultas de la actitud de Luce y Cole hacia ella. Entiendo sentimientos encontrados, pero Cole se comporta como un balancín; controla, imbécil. ¿Y todas esas menciones de Nunca los explica bien. No puedo creer que esté diciendo esto, pero quiero info-dump, maldita sea.
Todos los personajes secundarios son estupendos. La interacción de Luce con su padre y con su compañero policia , Rixton, destacan en su camaraderia, servicio a la comunidad , moralidad y sensación de familia.
Luego, la coterie, el equipo de White Horse, con sus diferentes personalidades te conquistan.
October 17, 2017
Four and a half stars.
I'm a critical fan of Hailey Edwards' writing, sometimes I think she knocks it out of the park and other times I truly struggle to finish her books. Yet her writing is so fresh, interesting and different that I keep requesting her books. As I hadn't read the last couple of books in the Lorimar Pack series I wasn't sure whether this new series was a spin off or something totally different.
Lucy Boudreau is an enigma. She was found in the swamps of the Mississippi bayou as a young girl fifteen years ago. Her arms and shoulders are marked with metal bands, which resist all attempts at surgical removal. She heals unnaturally fast, she has lightening fast reflexes and she doesn't recognise the face in the mirror - ever! Lucy was adopted by the police officer who found her in the swamps and as a tribute to him she joined the police.
She and her partner are working a missing person case so when a female matching the description is found in the swamp, much like Luce herself was found, they rush to the scene. The young Jane Doe they find is still alive but being guarded by the most enormous alligator who clearly sees Jane as his dinner. Just when Luce and her 'uncle' Harold are running out of options to rescue Jane Doe a group of private security men from White Horse Security arrive on an airboat, they have been hired by the missing girl, Angel Claremont's family to track her down.
I spent a good deal of this book wondering what Luce and the people from White Horse Security and Jane Doe really are (and let me tell you it's a doozy). Clearly they are all 'other' but precisely what does not become clear for quite some time. This is most definitely a mystery wrapped up in a mystery as the reader discovers Lucy's history at the same time as Lucy and the White Horse Security team find out Jane Doe's identity and who has been kidnapping young women. Unfortunately because I think the revelations are SOOOO good, I can't tell you anything else.
Just, this is a totally new series that just blew me away, loved it!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
I'm a critical fan of Hailey Edwards' writing, sometimes I think she knocks it out of the park and other times I truly struggle to finish her books. Yet her writing is so fresh, interesting and different that I keep requesting her books. As I hadn't read the last couple of books in the Lorimar Pack series I wasn't sure whether this new series was a spin off or something totally different.
Lucy Boudreau is an enigma. She was found in the swamps of the Mississippi bayou as a young girl fifteen years ago. Her arms and shoulders are marked with metal bands, which resist all attempts at surgical removal. She heals unnaturally fast, she has lightening fast reflexes and she doesn't recognise the face in the mirror - ever! Lucy was adopted by the police officer who found her in the swamps and as a tribute to him she joined the police.
She and her partner are working a missing person case so when a female matching the description is found in the swamp, much like Luce herself was found, they rush to the scene. The young Jane Doe they find is still alive but being guarded by the most enormous alligator who clearly sees Jane as his dinner. Just when Luce and her 'uncle' Harold are running out of options to rescue Jane Doe a group of private security men from White Horse Security arrive on an airboat, they have been hired by the missing girl, Angel Claremont's family to track her down.
I spent a good deal of this book wondering what Luce and the people from White Horse Security and Jane Doe really are (and let me tell you it's a doozy). Clearly they are all 'other' but precisely what does not become clear for quite some time. This is most definitely a mystery wrapped up in a mystery as the reader discovers Lucy's history at the same time as Lucy and the White Horse Security team find out Jane Doe's identity and who has been kidnapping young women. Unfortunately because I think the revelations are SOOOO good, I can't tell you anything else.
Just, this is a totally new series that just blew me away, loved it!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Bumped for release.
May 9, 2022
This new series isn't in Edwards' usual UF universe. Also, it's published by a Hachette imprint, so the pricing is really weird. Just a heads-up that they get progressively more expensive even as the books get shorter so you might want to take that into account if you're tempted to dive into the series.
Personally, I wouldn't bother. it's not that the worldbuilding is bad, really. But the burden on the heroine is more drama than a game of charades with Oscar nominees playing for a shot at the latest Christopher Nolan film. Not that I didn't like Luce, because I did. I just didn't like the eventual reveal of her past and double didn't like the pseudo-reveal of her secret caller ().
So while the plot was interesting and her coterie was fun to get to know, and who doesn't like a Chinese-dragon shifter romance?!? I'm going to give this three stars—not least for dropping the ball in the end and .
A note about Chaste: There's not even any shifter-related nudity and certainly no sexy times. So this is very chaste.
Personally, I wouldn't bother. it's not that the worldbuilding is bad, really. But the burden on the heroine is more drama than a game of charades with Oscar nominees playing for a shot at the latest Christopher Nolan film. Not that I didn't like Luce, because I did. I just didn't like the eventual reveal of her past and double didn't like the pseudo-reveal of her secret caller ().
So while the plot was interesting and her coterie was fun to get to know, and who doesn't like a Chinese-dragon shifter romance?!? I'm going to give this three stars—not least for dropping the ball in the end and .
A note about Chaste: There's not even any shifter-related nudity and certainly no sexy times. So this is very chaste.
January 15, 2018
3.5
Good beginning, a middle that's a bit wobbly, and again a very good end.
I could have done without the instalust and all its physical appearance, I honestly found it irritating, like a water drop falling constantly from a kitchen tap. In itself nothing really problematic, but on the long run it might bring you to the wall :)
(I have yet to meet such a woman or man that gets immediately physically aroused on sight. I do apologize but I also find it mildly offensive. We are way more than bodies.. )
If not for this mildy annoying dripping sound in the background, :) I would have liked this book much more. But in the first half I had a few problems in believing a woman with her past and her experiences could be this trusting (well, kind of) and the immediate lust for a guy didn't help. It was a very good plot point (at the end you get it), but maybe with a different timing and execution.
Overall a fresh take on UF world and a heroine that's so not a special snowflake it is almost unbelievable. Yeah, bonus points! :)
I had to stop reading midway for personal reasons, but the book resonated with me long enough. I did start again yesterday, but for the pleasure of it. I did remember the story very well.
The plot ends mostly with the book, but there's a very definite story arch, so you won't get all the answers.
Good beginning, a middle that's a bit wobbly, and again a very good end.
I could have done without the instalust and all its physical appearance, I honestly found it irritating, like a water drop falling constantly from a kitchen tap. In itself nothing really problematic, but on the long run it might bring you to the wall :)
(I have yet to meet such a woman or man that gets immediately physically aroused on sight. I do apologize but I also find it mildly offensive. We are way more than bodies.. )
If not for this mildy annoying dripping sound in the background, :) I would have liked this book much more. But in the first half I had a few problems in believing a woman with her past and her experiences could be this trusting (well, kind of) and the immediate lust for a guy didn't help. It was a very good plot point (at the end you get it), but maybe with a different timing and execution.
Overall a fresh take on UF world and a heroine that's so not a special snowflake it is almost unbelievable. Yeah, bonus points! :)
I had to stop reading midway for personal reasons, but the book resonated with me long enough. I did start again yesterday, but for the pleasure of it. I did remember the story very well.
The plot ends mostly with the book, but there's a very definite story arch, so you won't get all the answers.
December 21, 2017
4.5
Holy moly, I need the next book like I need to get my Christmas shopping done- ASAP!! The plot starts out a little slow, though the mystery surrounding Luce's past and the appearance of the Whitehorse security guys immediately captured my attention. The overall tone is a subtly dark and mysterious, and the world building is excellently done. Something about the writing style is unique and really appeals to me, though I can't put my finger on what it is.
I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next one! I'll definitely be keeping my eye on this series and author :)
Ps. That epilogue, though...
July 26, 2018
The story opens when we meet Luce Boudreau, a police officer for Canton, Mississippi PD. It's her birthday and marks the day, her now adopted father discovered in the murky waters of the bayou. Luce's origins are surrounded in mystery especially when doctors and the press discovered strange bands or markings on her wrists and arms. Luce takes great care to keep her life normal and hides the markings under long sleeve shirts. We learn some strange things about the day they discovered her and about a bizarre ritual she repeats each year. Edwards pulled me in, and I knew we were in for a ride when Luce helps rescue another girl found in the swamps.
I liked Luce, her partner and father. She has built strong ties even if she feels very much a loner. The more Edward's revealed that about her, the more I wanted to learn.
I love urban fantasy and Edwards did a wonderful job introducing the world and characters. We have a mystery when Luce's best friend goes missing and they find her blood. She is the second missing woman. The mysterious girl found in the swamp, now called Jane is in the hospital and Luce is hoping she holds the answers to who she is. Cole, a security expert and leader of an elite team is assigned by a mysterious benefactor to watch over Jane, and Cole follows Luce. I loved the interaction between them and was intent on finding out more.
Edwards mixed in a little humor and some sexual chemistry to offset the gritty, darker sides of the story and I appreciated the balance. We get to know more about Cole's security team and it left me excited to hear their stories.
Mythology, swamp creatures and heart-pounding danger gave this gritty tale an addictive pace. The reveal and set up for the next book has me eager to dive in. Bayou Born was a great start to the Foundling series This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I liked Luce, her partner and father. She has built strong ties even if she feels very much a loner. The more Edward's revealed that about her, the more I wanted to learn.
I love urban fantasy and Edwards did a wonderful job introducing the world and characters. We have a mystery when Luce's best friend goes missing and they find her blood. She is the second missing woman. The mysterious girl found in the swamp, now called Jane is in the hospital and Luce is hoping she holds the answers to who she is. Cole, a security expert and leader of an elite team is assigned by a mysterious benefactor to watch over Jane, and Cole follows Luce. I loved the interaction between them and was intent on finding out more.
Edwards mixed in a little humor and some sexual chemistry to offset the gritty, darker sides of the story and I appreciated the balance. We get to know more about Cole's security team and it left me excited to hear their stories.
Mythology, swamp creatures and heart-pounding danger gave this gritty tale an addictive pace. The reveal and set up for the next book has me eager to dive in. Bayou Born was a great start to the Foundling series This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
June 3, 2018
As anyone who knows me at all knows, I am a huge fan of Hailey Edwards and of her Black Dog books so I went into this book a little hesitant seeing as it was a non- Back Dog books, I was confident in the authors skills to pull off a great read but wary of the new subject matter. Of course as it turned out I needed have worried at all as while this book was a bit of slow-burn by the end it was thrilling and exciting read, with a new wonderful world of characters and the most mind-blowing twist I didn't see coming (no more on that as I don't want to spoil it for anyone else wanting to read this of course).
Bayou Born in written in typical Edwards style and the world and the character contained in that world were as realistic and charismatic as the always are. Another brilliant and wonderful considered book from one of my favourite authors...... who more people should be reading in my humble opinion!!
Bayou Born in written in typical Edwards style and the world and the character contained in that world were as realistic and charismatic as the always are. Another brilliant and wonderful considered book from one of my favourite authors...... who more people should be reading in my humble opinion!!
May 14, 2022
A tightly written police procedural bursts around the halfway point into a wild fantasy adventure when some mysterious elements that were introduced near the beginning finally take over the story. You know already what that means--I can tell you about the mysterious elements, but the main story is way out there in spoiler land, and in this case it might even be a spoiler to hint at where it goes. This is the first book in a five-volume series, so even the blurbs for the other books could spoil this one.
A woman is rescued from a bayou in the state of Mississippi, and she is taken to a local hospital where she remains unconscious. Attempts to identify her fail, and she is simply called Jane Doe. She is definitely not Angel Claremont, age sixteen, an apparent kidnap victim and daughter of a wealthy family, who has been the subject of intensive searching by local law enforcement until Special Agent Kapoor of the FBI turns up to direct the case.
Our first-person narrator is Luce Boudreau, age twenty-five officially, and part of the local police force; her older partner is John Rixton, her father Edward Boudreau has hero medals from his days on the force, and his partner (still on the force) is Luce's honorary uncle Harold. Luce's best friend Maggie is a kindergarten teacher. All five of these characters are immensely likable and appear in many scenes. So much of this novel is taken up with bright, sunny, small-town Southern life that the mysterious elements I mentioned stand out all the more. Here they are:
Jane Doe has peculiar markings on her body, in the form of rose-gold metallic bands. Everyone is shocked because Luce not only has the same markings but was rescued from the same bayou fifteen years earlier, with huge publicity in all the media. She was presumed to be around eleven years old at the time, and no family or identity was ever found; her rescuer was Edward Boudreau, who adopted her and raised her as his daughter.
She has no memory of anything before that, and she wants very much to learn whatever she can about herself. Officially, her birthday is the day she was found, and her only solid clue to the mystery of where she came from is another mystery, and this one is spookier. Every year on her birthday she experiences agonizing pain and other symptoms. Then an old rotary phone, completely disconnected, rings, and someone named Ezra talks cryptically to her and heals her over the phone. She can never get him to stay with her or answer her urgent questions.
Luce tries very hard to fit in and do good--that's why she followed in her adoptive father's footsteps and joined the local police force. She wears long-sleeved shirts to hide the markings, but everyone in town knows about it from all the attention she got as a foundling. She tells us
White Horse is a private firm from Tupelo, hired by the Claremonts to assist in finding Angel, and five characters round out the main cast: Cole Heaton, owner and likely love interest for Luce later in the series, though romance doesn't go very far in this book; Santiago, oddly antagonistic; Miller, who becomes a true friend despite a secret no one will reveal; Thom, who's lots of fun; and Portia, a breath of fresh air I thought. Even early on, there are hints that there's more to this crew than appears on the surface.
Well, the story's set in Canton, Mississippi, a real place just north of Jackson, and I searched my atlas in vain for any bayous that would be within the local police's jurisdiction, or anywhere at all nearby. And the fantasy world-building, when it finally comes, is done with very broad strokes--exciting, but not too clear. The characters I've mentioned are what kept me engaged with this story, and the plot is certainly character-driven. I'll say 3.5 stars rounded up.
A woman is rescued from a bayou in the state of Mississippi, and she is taken to a local hospital where she remains unconscious. Attempts to identify her fail, and she is simply called Jane Doe. She is definitely not Angel Claremont, age sixteen, an apparent kidnap victim and daughter of a wealthy family, who has been the subject of intensive searching by local law enforcement until Special Agent Kapoor of the FBI turns up to direct the case.
Our first-person narrator is Luce Boudreau, age twenty-five officially, and part of the local police force; her older partner is John Rixton, her father Edward Boudreau has hero medals from his days on the force, and his partner (still on the force) is Luce's honorary uncle Harold. Luce's best friend Maggie is a kindergarten teacher. All five of these characters are immensely likable and appear in many scenes. So much of this novel is taken up with bright, sunny, small-town Southern life that the mysterious elements I mentioned stand out all the more. Here they are:
Jane Doe has peculiar markings on her body, in the form of rose-gold metallic bands. Everyone is shocked because Luce not only has the same markings but was rescued from the same bayou fifteen years earlier, with huge publicity in all the media. She was presumed to be around eleven years old at the time, and no family or identity was ever found; her rescuer was Edward Boudreau, who adopted her and raised her as his daughter.
She has no memory of anything before that, and she wants very much to learn whatever she can about herself. Officially, her birthday is the day she was found, and her only solid clue to the mystery of where she came from is another mystery, and this one is spookier. Every year on her birthday she experiences agonizing pain and other symptoms. Then an old rotary phone, completely disconnected, rings, and someone named Ezra talks cryptically to her and heals her over the phone. She can never get him to stay with her or answer her urgent questions.
Luce tries very hard to fit in and do good--that's why she followed in her adoptive father's footsteps and joined the local police force. She wears long-sleeved shirts to hide the markings, but everyone in town knows about it from all the attention she got as a foundling. She tells us
No need to explain the months and months of testing I'd undergone while doctors attempted to solve the riddle of my banding. Dad had checked me out against the advice of my doctors when their attempt to remove the one nearest my elbow resulted in eventual regeneration. Metal was not an alloy produced by the human body. I shouldn't have regrown the missing striation, but I had inside of a week.and later
Beyond the curiosity factor, the one quirk of my biology that got me in the most trouble was the fact I healed fast. Really fast. So fast doctors salivated at the idea of poking me full of holes, cutting me, hurting me to test my limits.One more element of mystery: when they go out on the bayou to get Jane Doe, they're threatened by a creature like an alligator but many times bigger. It's night, of course, so they never get a good view, but a crew from White Horse Security turns up and, ah, saves the day as something enormous moves underwater and raises the level of the whole bayou.
White Horse is a private firm from Tupelo, hired by the Claremonts to assist in finding Angel, and five characters round out the main cast: Cole Heaton, owner and likely love interest for Luce later in the series, though romance doesn't go very far in this book; Santiago, oddly antagonistic; Miller, who becomes a true friend despite a secret no one will reveal; Thom, who's lots of fun; and Portia, a breath of fresh air I thought. Even early on, there are hints that there's more to this crew than appears on the surface.
Well, the story's set in Canton, Mississippi, a real place just north of Jackson, and I searched my atlas in vain for any bayous that would be within the local police's jurisdiction, or anywhere at all nearby. And the fantasy world-building, when it finally comes, is done with very broad strokes--exciting, but not too clear. The characters I've mentioned are what kept me engaged with this story, and the plot is certainly character-driven. I'll say 3.5 stars rounded up.
December 16, 2019
RATING: 3.75-4 STARS
I have a range because the idea for this series is really cool, but I thought the first third and last third were much better than the middle in strength.
I have the next three books to read in the series and am eager to learn more.
I have a range because the idea for this series is really cool, but I thought the first third and last third were much better than the middle in strength.
I have the next three books to read in the series and am eager to learn more.
November 16, 2017
Started slow but ended beautifully without a Cliffhanger which is a rarity. It’s an intriguing start to what promises to be an excellent series.
September 13, 2020
This is a pretty interesting series. There isn't a lot of romance in it but the plot was enough to hold my interest.
June 2, 2018
I would rate this book 4 Stars except for the fact the set-up was ponderous and too long. Once you get past that (if you get past it) the book is great. So 3.5 Stars.
December 1, 2019
Good, different.
December 26, 2021
I have the worst taste in books -_- sometimes...
What a mess. What a freaking mess, that started out so strong and then just went insane.
This started out so promising! It was all kinds of cryptic and I had no idea where this was going, but I was loving the voice and the relationships dynamics that Luce has with her partner, with her father and her best friend.
SO, color me surprised when a huge amount of testosterone entered the story and derailed the thing.
First we have THE LOOK: you know, when the main character meets the supposed love interest and voilà, her nipples become mount Everest
Strike one.
Then we have the character personality CHANGE because of a dude she barely knows.
So a very reserved and guarded person suddenly decides to tolerate this nosy/stalker guy, despite she being a COP! LOL
Strike two.
A character who is so strong, starts fainting and acting like a damsel in distress in a crazy way.
Her best friend goes MISSING, after another girl has disappeared and what does she do?
Well she has an accident, conveniently forgets about THAT, only that, and when she does remember it again, does nothing.
Strike f****g THREE!
There's no "omg, I going to do anything in my power to get her back" as one would! She just goes her normal life!
The testosterone element: look, I no longer have the patience for dudes _IN BOOKS _ who GROWL.
Don't even get me started on THAT on real life, because that would elicit a call to animal control...
The growling made me want to smack him in the nose with a journal.
o_O
The truth about Luce's past is revealed and I was like
JFC, this story should be called "The evil inside"!
Horseman of the apocalypse, really?
Or better yet, horsewoman -_______-, sorry, but without proper background to develop THAT, it just felt clumsy.
A case to say that I lost my single brain cell while reading this!
So why two stars instead of one?
Because this at times was funny: I especially liked the demonic black cat with wings, although very stereotyped.
I liked the beginning! *cries*
And despite not liking mess, I really wanted to know what was going to happen!
*what is wrong with me?*
What a mess. What a freaking mess, that started out so strong and then just went insane.
This started out so promising! It was all kinds of cryptic and I had no idea where this was going, but I was loving the voice and the relationships dynamics that Luce has with her partner, with her father and her best friend.
SO, color me surprised when a huge amount of testosterone entered the story and derailed the thing.
First we have THE LOOK: you know, when the main character meets the supposed love interest and voilà, her nipples become mount Everest
Strike one.Then we have the character personality CHANGE because of a dude she barely knows.
So a very reserved and guarded person suddenly decides to tolerate this nosy/stalker guy, despite she being a COP! LOL
Strike two.
A character who is so strong, starts fainting and acting like a damsel in distress in a crazy way.
Her best friend goes MISSING, after another girl has disappeared and what does she do?
Well she has an accident, conveniently forgets about THAT, only that, and when she does remember it again, does nothing.
Strike f****g THREE!
There's no "omg, I going to do anything in my power to get her back" as one would! She just goes her normal life!
The testosterone element: look, I no longer have the patience for dudes _IN BOOKS _ who GROWL.
Don't even get me started on THAT on real life, because that would elicit a call to animal control...
The growling made me want to smack him in the nose with a journal.
o_O
The truth about Luce's past is revealed and I was like
JFC, this story should be called "The evil inside"!
Horseman of the apocalypse, really?
Or better yet, horsewoman -_______-, sorry, but without proper background to develop THAT, it just felt clumsy.
A case to say that I lost my single brain cell while reading this!
So why two stars instead of one?
Because this at times was funny: I especially liked the demonic black cat with wings, although very stereotyped.
I liked the beginning! *cries*
And despite not liking mess, I really wanted to know what was going to happen!
*what is wrong with me?*
June 10, 2018
4.5
Review posted on Got Fiction?
A friend recommended this book to me and I almost didn't read it. Boy am I glad I did. I think that when it comes to Urban Fantasy, I'm one of those who only likes it if there's a romantic interest that goes somewhere. I don't want 10 books of will they/won't they, so I'm always a wee bit leery going in. This book is the best UF I've read in a long time.
Luce Boudrou was found in the bayou as a young girl, with no memory of her past. The cop who found her adopted her, and she grew up with the absolute best dad any girl could hope for. She grew up to be a police officer just like her dad, and at about 25 (she doesn't know her true age), she is still a daddy's girl, and a good cop.
One night she gets a call about a girl floating in the water, and when her partner tells her, they both know it's important. The woman floating in the water is in the same area Luce was found in. And when they get there, they discover how much more Luce and the Jane Doe have in common.
Stranger than being found in the bayou, stranger than having no memory of her life, even stranger than anything in her life, Luce has copper bands all the way up her arms, under her skin. They can't be removed without intense pain, and then they grow back. And her Jane Doe? Has them too.
This can't be coincidence.
However, that same night they try to save this Jane Doe, something else is in the water with her. Something big. A team of hunters shows up, and they say they'll help. But these hunters, they aren't ordinary hunters, they're a security team, and they're trackers, hunters, bodyguards, whatever they need to be. And they magically show up exactly when Luce needs them? Also, not a coincidence.
I don't want to spoil what's going on, so I'm keeping this one vague, but Cole, one of the hunters, knows more about Luce than he's letting on. And he can't seem to stay away from her.
This book is so interesting, so different, and so exactly what I needed in my reading slump. Grab it. If you like excitement, mystery, magic, and romance, this is definitely the book for you. I've already grabbed the next in the series, and I can't wait to dig in.
Review posted on Got Fiction?
A friend recommended this book to me and I almost didn't read it. Boy am I glad I did. I think that when it comes to Urban Fantasy, I'm one of those who only likes it if there's a romantic interest that goes somewhere. I don't want 10 books of will they/won't they, so I'm always a wee bit leery going in. This book is the best UF I've read in a long time.
Luce Boudrou was found in the bayou as a young girl, with no memory of her past. The cop who found her adopted her, and she grew up with the absolute best dad any girl could hope for. She grew up to be a police officer just like her dad, and at about 25 (she doesn't know her true age), she is still a daddy's girl, and a good cop.
One night she gets a call about a girl floating in the water, and when her partner tells her, they both know it's important. The woman floating in the water is in the same area Luce was found in. And when they get there, they discover how much more Luce and the Jane Doe have in common.
Stranger than being found in the bayou, stranger than having no memory of her life, even stranger than anything in her life, Luce has copper bands all the way up her arms, under her skin. They can't be removed without intense pain, and then they grow back. And her Jane Doe? Has them too.
This can't be coincidence.
However, that same night they try to save this Jane Doe, something else is in the water with her. Something big. A team of hunters shows up, and they say they'll help. But these hunters, they aren't ordinary hunters, they're a security team, and they're trackers, hunters, bodyguards, whatever they need to be. And they magically show up exactly when Luce needs them? Also, not a coincidence.
I don't want to spoil what's going on, so I'm keeping this one vague, but Cole, one of the hunters, knows more about Luce than he's letting on. And he can't seem to stay away from her.
This book is so interesting, so different, and so exactly what I needed in my reading slump. Grab it. If you like excitement, mystery, magic, and romance, this is definitely the book for you. I've already grabbed the next in the series, and I can't wait to dig in.
October 6, 2017
Holy wow, this was fun. Not only is the world-building top notch (just so you know, I say that often about HE's books because she's a FANTASTIC world-builder), but the revelations of who Luce is and how she ended up in the swamp as a child made me positively giddy. GIDDY. Like, I can't stop thinking about how things are going to play out because there's a whole lot of crazy going on here and Luce's life has taken a turn she couldn't have expected.
There's so much I want to discuss, but I feel like anything I mention will ruin the surprises. So I'm going to go with some intentionally vague things... I've always been a sucker for a big, growly guy who just can't keep his nose out of people's business. The mystery behind Cole's past and his dedication to the cause are things I'm looking forward to uncovering. The rest of the crew is equally intriguing. In a different way, of course, but I like the group dynamic. I like that there's still a lot we don't know about them.
As for Luce, sometimes the truth can be a good thing and sometimes it can completely turn your life upside down. I think knowledge is strength in this case because once she's aware, she can guard against those trying to come against her. Still, WOW. I can't imagine she saw this particular truth coming no matter how far she pushed her imagination.
Fantastic characters, fantastic world-building, and some truly terrible bad guys. I seriously can't wait to see where the next book will take us.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
There's so much I want to discuss, but I feel like anything I mention will ruin the surprises. So I'm going to go with some intentionally vague things... I've always been a sucker for a big, growly guy who just can't keep his nose out of people's business. The mystery behind Cole's past and his dedication to the cause are things I'm looking forward to uncovering. The rest of the crew is equally intriguing. In a different way, of course, but I like the group dynamic. I like that there's still a lot we don't know about them.
As for Luce, sometimes the truth can be a good thing and sometimes it can completely turn your life upside down. I think knowledge is strength in this case because once she's aware, she can guard against those trying to come against her. Still, WOW. I can't imagine she saw this particular truth coming no matter how far she pushed her imagination.
Fantastic characters, fantastic world-building, and some truly terrible bad guys. I seriously can't wait to see where the next book will take us.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
November 21, 2020
Wow wow wow, I think this is my favorite of Hailey Edwards so far. Of course, I can't remember too much of it now since I took too long to review it.
...guess that means I'll have to re-read it ;) such a shame haha.
2020 re-read // series review
This is such a unique and interesting series. This is one of those rare times where I bought a series without reading it and I don't regret it. I do admit that I wasn't as big of a fan of the last book, but although I really liked it. I loved the characters -- they are all different and unique. It is easy to distinguish all of them and I have a soft spot for many of the cast. One of the weak points I felt was the romance -- just the... development of it, I suppose. I wanted more growth between them.
Yet, this is me being super picky. This is a fun series, one I practically binge-read. I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a Urban Fantasy dealing with big concepts.
...guess that means I'll have to re-read it ;) such a shame haha.
2020 re-read // series review
This is such a unique and interesting series. This is one of those rare times where I bought a series without reading it and I don't regret it. I do admit that I wasn't as big of a fan of the last book, but although I really liked it. I loved the characters -- they are all different and unique. It is easy to distinguish all of them and I have a soft spot for many of the cast. One of the weak points I felt was the romance -- just the... development of it, I suppose. I wanted more growth between them.
Yet, this is me being super picky. This is a fun series, one I practically binge-read. I definitely recommend this one if you are looking for a Urban Fantasy dealing with big concepts.
January 16, 2019
loved the book. I really like the idea of Luce and Cole together, so I have a feeling that is not going to be allowed to happen. So even though they pull together, push apart, I am rooting for them. I pretty much guess who the caller was on the her special phone and it is frustrating that this person will be a possible wedge between Cole and Luce. But I will at some point move on to book two, I just don't want to be disappointed. Maybe the caller is the better choice..we shall see.
October 19, 2017
Review originally posted at http://fictionvixen.com/review-bayou-...
Earlier this month I read a book by Hailey Edwards that stopped my Harvey book funk in its tracks. I enjoyed it so much I started looking for anything else by this author I could get my hands on. Bayou Born, the first book in her Foundling series, popped up on Goodreads as releasing in October.
Summary:
Luce is a police officer in Canton, Mississippi and as the first few chapters unfold readers are introduced to her and learn certain mysterious details of her backstory. She was discovered in the swampy bayou when she was eleven years old; Naked, covered in strange metallic markings, and with complete amnesia. After spending a considerable amount of time in the hospital being poked, prodded and the subject of intense scrutiny, she was adopted by the police officer who rescued her and raised in a loving home. Now it is fifteen years later and she still has no idea of her life before, but she has a small support system that includes her dad, his partner and wife, per partner Rixton and his wife, and her best friend. She also has a phone call she looks forward to every year on her birthday (her found day) from a man who she knows nothing about other than that his name is Ezra.
Luce and Rixton are currently working on a missing persons case involving a young woman, Angel Claremont. When a body is found in the bayou they are called in to investigate and quickly realize this woman isn’t Angel, but she might be the key to Luce finally getting some answers about her past. Jane Doe is covered in the same strange markings as Luce and in almost an identical situation. On scene Luce also meets the members of White Horse Security. They have been hired by Angel’s family to locate the young woman, and end up helping the police rescue the mysterious woman in the water. What Luce doesn’t know is that they, along with the owner and head of the company Cole Heaton, are integral to the investigations of both women and Luce finally finding out who she is and where she comes from.
Bayou Born starts off a bit slow, it almost reads more like a mystery/suspense rather than a fantasy up until about the 50% mark. I mean I knew something was up and all kinds of weirdness was about to unleash, I just wasn’t sure what or when. I was kind of expecting some voodoo, witchiness to come into play, but NOPE. I really had no idea where this book was going until it actually got there. Seriously, no idea. Which is was nice actually. I’ve struggled with this review because I kind of feel like this is one of those books where the reader should go in completely spoiler free. Bayou Born begins with a mystery, then kind of morphs into another mystery and I spent the entire book trying to not only figure out what was up with the missing women, but who was Jane Doe and what did she have to do with Luce, and how did White Horse and Cole figure into Luce’s history. When all those mysteries started to unravel and a clear picture of the truth weave itself together I was totally surprised. I think you will be too. And this is one of those first books in a series where you just know things will only get more intricate and interesting as the series evolves.
Which is why I’m going to end my review here and just tell you guys to add Bayou Born to your TBR stack. Interesting world building, intriguing characters and an ending that leaves so many questions that I’m already looking forward to book two. Hailey Edwards is fast becoming an auto buy author for me. Final Grade- B
Favorite Quote:
Earlier this month I read a book by Hailey Edwards that stopped my Harvey book funk in its tracks. I enjoyed it so much I started looking for anything else by this author I could get my hands on. Bayou Born, the first book in her Foundling series, popped up on Goodreads as releasing in October.
Summary:
Her beginning may be our end . . .
Deep in the humid Mississippi bayou, a half-wild child is dragged from the murky waters. She has no memories, no family and is covered in mysterious markings. Adopted by the policeman who rescued her, Luce Boudreau follows him onto the force, determined to prove herself in the eyes of those who are still suspicious.
However, there’s more of a battle ahead than Luce could possibly imagine. She may be an orphan without a past, but no one – including Luce herself – could ever be prepared for the truth of her dark, powerful destiny.
Brand new urban fantasy series by Hailey Edwards, bestselling author of the Gemini and Black Dog series. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Estep, Darynda Jones and Ilona Andrews.
Luce is a police officer in Canton, Mississippi and as the first few chapters unfold readers are introduced to her and learn certain mysterious details of her backstory. She was discovered in the swampy bayou when she was eleven years old; Naked, covered in strange metallic markings, and with complete amnesia. After spending a considerable amount of time in the hospital being poked, prodded and the subject of intense scrutiny, she was adopted by the police officer who rescued her and raised in a loving home. Now it is fifteen years later and she still has no idea of her life before, but she has a small support system that includes her dad, his partner and wife, per partner Rixton and his wife, and her best friend. She also has a phone call she looks forward to every year on her birthday (her found day) from a man who she knows nothing about other than that his name is Ezra.
Luce and Rixton are currently working on a missing persons case involving a young woman, Angel Claremont. When a body is found in the bayou they are called in to investigate and quickly realize this woman isn’t Angel, but she might be the key to Luce finally getting some answers about her past. Jane Doe is covered in the same strange markings as Luce and in almost an identical situation. On scene Luce also meets the members of White Horse Security. They have been hired by Angel’s family to locate the young woman, and end up helping the police rescue the mysterious woman in the water. What Luce doesn’t know is that they, along with the owner and head of the company Cole Heaton, are integral to the investigations of both women and Luce finally finding out who she is and where she comes from.
Bayou Born starts off a bit slow, it almost reads more like a mystery/suspense rather than a fantasy up until about the 50% mark. I mean I knew something was up and all kinds of weirdness was about to unleash, I just wasn’t sure what or when. I was kind of expecting some voodoo, witchiness to come into play, but NOPE. I really had no idea where this book was going until it actually got there. Seriously, no idea. Which is was nice actually. I’ve struggled with this review because I kind of feel like this is one of those books where the reader should go in completely spoiler free. Bayou Born begins with a mystery, then kind of morphs into another mystery and I spent the entire book trying to not only figure out what was up with the missing women, but who was Jane Doe and what did she have to do with Luce, and how did White Horse and Cole figure into Luce’s history. When all those mysteries started to unravel and a clear picture of the truth weave itself together I was totally surprised. I think you will be too. And this is one of those first books in a series where you just know things will only get more intricate and interesting as the series evolves.
Which is why I’m going to end my review here and just tell you guys to add Bayou Born to your TBR stack. Interesting world building, intriguing characters and an ending that leaves so many questions that I’m already looking forward to book two. Hailey Edwards is fast becoming an auto buy author for me. Final Grade- B
Favorite Quote:
“Beauty is a reflection on the genetic soup we got served. It says nothing about your character or personality. Pretty is just that. Pretty. Substance is what matters. Clichéd as it sounds, it really is what’s inside that counts.” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “As long as what’s inside isn’t me in your belly, we’re cool.”
Read
November 29, 2020This book has me thinking there is something wrong with me. I am not fawning over it like a lot of people. Instead, I’m actually just kind of confused, with a side of whiplash.
The book started off slow. The FMC was found at the age of 11 in a mash with banding on her arms and metal plates (no descriptions). FMC grew up to be a cop, having been adopted by one. Then there is a Jane Doe found with similar markings 14 years after Luce at the same time Luce was working a missing person’s case. This was the initial plot the book started with.
It was way way too chaotic how all of it was tied together. Also way too many names that I couldn’t even figure out why I should care, or even who was who. I honestly didn’t understand how the book was urban fantasy... Then about halfway in, all the fantasy stuff started hitting like a shit storm and I could barely process what the heck was going on.
I can’t tell you about character build because... maybe only the MC, Luce actually had one. Her dad seemed way too weak, for his supposed strength. Every one else felt like a prop in a story that was at times too fast or at times too slow. Then there were all the forced snarks and jokes that were kinda dry. Or was I the only one not laughing?!
Even the way they concluded who the antagonist was didn’t seem to add up to the stuff in the first couple of chapters. Who were the others abducted? Why? How long had the antagonist been watching the FMC? What was the sense in the first abduction? Maybe the second missing person made sense but the first absolutely not! The whole mistrusting the coterie made zero sense too. Luce quite literally owned them. She could just as easily order the truth from them and none could refuse. Using the mistrust angle as a potential motive to explain the antagonist’s scheme was very weak.
I don’t get it. I don’t get this book, and now I feel like I’m broken somehow 😩. I can’t even write a coherent review of what was happening. Gosh I’m going to read book two to make it make sense. But this feeling is truly frustrating.
The book started off slow. The FMC was found at the age of 11 in a mash with banding on her arms and metal plates (no descriptions). FMC grew up to be a cop, having been adopted by one. Then there is a Jane Doe found with similar markings 14 years after Luce at the same time Luce was working a missing person’s case. This was the initial plot the book started with.
It was way way too chaotic how all of it was tied together. Also way too many names that I couldn’t even figure out why I should care, or even who was who. I honestly didn’t understand how the book was urban fantasy... Then about halfway in, all the fantasy stuff started hitting like a shit storm and I could barely process what the heck was going on.
I can’t tell you about character build because... maybe only the MC, Luce actually had one. Her dad seemed way too weak, for his supposed strength. Every one else felt like a prop in a story that was at times too fast or at times too slow. Then there were all the forced snarks and jokes that were kinda dry. Or was I the only one not laughing?!
Even the way they concluded who the antagonist was didn’t seem to add up to the stuff in the first couple of chapters. Who were the others abducted? Why? How long had the antagonist been watching the FMC? What was the sense in the first abduction? Maybe the second missing person made sense but the first absolutely not! The whole mistrusting the coterie made zero sense too. Luce quite literally owned them. She could just as easily order the truth from them and none could refuse. Using the mistrust angle as a potential motive to explain the antagonist’s scheme was very weak.
I don’t get it. I don’t get this book, and now I feel like I’m broken somehow 😩. I can’t even write a coherent review of what was happening. Gosh I’m going to read book two to make it make sense. But this feeling is truly frustrating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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