Elysian Fields

Sentinels of New Orleans #3

by Suzanne Johnson

An undead serial killer comes for DJ in this thrilling third installment of Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series

The mer feud has been settled, but life in South Louisiana still has more twists and turns than the muddy Mississippi.

New Orleanians are under attack from a copycat killer mimicking the crimes of a 1918 serial murderer known as the Axeman of New Orleans. Thanks to a tip from the undead pirate Jean Lafitte, DJ Jaco knows the attacks aren’t random—an unknown necromancer has resurrected the original Axeman of New Orleans, and his ultimate target is a certain blonde wizard. Namely, DJ.

Combatting an undead serial killer as troubles pile up around her isn’t easy. Jake Warin’s loup-garou nature is spiraling downward, enigmatic neighbor Quince Randolph is acting weirder than ever, the Elders are insisting on lessons in elven magic from the world’s most annoying wizard, and former partner Alex Warin just turned up on DJ’s to-do list. Not to mention big maneuvers are afoot in the halls of preternatural power.

Suddenly, moving to the Beyond as Jean Lafitte’s pirate wench could be DJ’s best option.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Magic, Vampires, Romance, Werewolves

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Author of the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, set in post-Katrina New Orleans. A new story collection, JACKSON SQUARE, coming fall 2020.

Writing as Susannah Sandlin, she is the author of the award-winning Penton Legacy paranormal romance series The Collectors romantic thriller series, the standalone paranormal romantic thriller, STORM FORCE, and the Wilds of the Bayou series..

Books by Suzanne Johnson: Royal Street; River Road; Elysian Fields; Pirate's Alley; Belle Chasse; The Consort (novella); Frenchman Street; Pirateship Down (story collection); Christmas in Dogtown (novella).

Books as Susannah Sandlin: Redemption; Absolution; Omega; Storm Force; Allegiance; Illumination; Lovely, Dark, and Deep; Deadly, Calm, and Cold; Chenoire; Wild Man's Curse; Black Diamond.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first introduction to DJ Jaco and I discovered a few wonderful things. First, Elysian Fields absolutely did stand on its own. Although I did go back and purchase the first two books in this series it was only because I wanted more. I was able to follow the story and there was no "catch up" to understand what has happened in a previous book in this seris. Second, DJ Jaco could give Sookie Stackhouse or Anita Blake a run for her money, less the man harem, though there is a few awesome alpha contenders for her affections.

Elysian Fields was a marvelous paranormal read. This story was packed with unusual, witty and entertaining characters as well as a provocative mystery to keep me glued to the pages. I loved this story and am looking forward to more from Suzanne Johnson.

I received this ARC copy of Elysian Fields from Macmillan-Tor/Forge in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication August 13, 2013.

Written by: Suzanne Johnson
Series: Sentinels of New Orleans
Sequence in Series: 3
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Tor Books
Publication Date: August 13, 2013
ISBN-10: 0765333198
ISBN-13: 978-0765333193
Rating: 4.5
Genre: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Mystery
Age Recommendation: Adult
Suzanne Johnson's Website

Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

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[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world building and understanding of the bigger picture with the vampires and elves really takes off in this book. Love this series!

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I realized Tor had accepted my request for Elysian Fields, I feared I was hallucinating.

Sentinels of New Orleans is a series that grabbed me since the beginning, and I have to thank Forbidden Planet in London for it. You can guess I was more than happy to be granted a copy. :)

The book is strongly linked with the previous one and you'll probably need to get the first two in series if you want to enjoy it fully, to understand the reasons behind some of the characters' choices or behaviour.

The plot starts when River Road ended. We find the heroine battered and tired from the upheavals and deaths in her life. Unfortunately, life isn't going to be any better.
The mystery about the Axeman drives the never-stopping race that this book is, but everything is made more complex and difficult by politics, both Elven and Elders.
At the end you're not sure of anything and anyone.

DJ is compelled to make some difficult choices, and you're not going to like some of them. (On the other side, you'll probably love at least one of them :P)

I do admit that the authorial hand was at times a bit too heavy for my tastes (namely at the beginning, the scratch scene, at the middle, the Rand scene after Elf time, and the resolution of the mystery. This three moments took me out of the story making me wonder the whys of them).
I felt some passages were a little contrived, ie. I never understood why she let Rand go without reprisal, why he's still there in her house after all he's done.
Of course she felt she had no choice and had to accept his offer (you might agree with her or not). But why she couldn't literally throw him out was the real mystery to me. Yes, she's tired and almost defeated at times. But what he caused mental rape with death as a possible consequence. And let's not forget what he is doing to Eugenie can't be easily put apart.

As I said politics is a leading character in this story and it makes a very unpleasant bedfellow.
Personally I found myself confused at the sudden necessity to make DJ such a unique lady. All of a sudden everyone becomes her enemy: elves, vampire, some of the wizards. And to what points of evil this enmity drives them. They set free a serial killer... At the end I was left with a bewildering face and a question: why? Why go to such length? Meh. Politics < grin >
On the other side, DJ is a lovely heroine: strong without being over the top, snarky,but so incredibly human. And all the supporting characters are good too, even Alex who in a couple of scenes does remind me of Anita's Richard (shudders) Luckily he never goes that way.

What makes this series stand apart is world-building. Not only the idea is incredibly clever, it's very well thought. You can't catch a hole with a magnifying lens. It's quite difficult not to fall for this New Orleans and her portal to the Beyond(s).

Elysian Fields has a final wrap-up to the mystery, but do not believe for a moment you won't be left hanging anyway. So much happened that you can't avoid to wonder what such choices and happenings will cause in the future...

Arc courtesy of Tor via Netgalley

[Olga Godim · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, DJ Jaco, the young magic sentinel of New Orleans, faces the most harrowing challenges. An undead serial killer is on the loose in her city, and he seems to be targeting her. And then there are troubles with the elves. Aren’t there always troubles with the elves? They’re sly and treacherous, they don’t approve of her, and they show their disdain in the most graphic ways. Plus she might be turning into a raving shapeshifter the next full moon, if the killer doesn’t get to her first.
The pacing of the novel is lightning fast; every couple pages a new problem arises, while DJ searches for the serial killer and the one who controls him.
This novel is #3 in the series, and I didn’t like it as much as the first two. I have to be truthful: the rating of this novel doesn’t reflect the quality of writing (which is as good as in the first 2 novels of the series) but simply my level of enjoyment (not very high) while reading it.
The reason for my disgruntlement – the protagonist suffers too much, and the meanies are always, or at least until the last couple of pages, a step ahead of the good guys. I know it’s what all the writing textbooks recommend: make your hero suffer. But I’ve never been too fond of the advice; neither as a writer, nor as a reader. I prefer it when the hero’s suffering is tempered, and the moments of intense confrontations and searing pain are interspaced with the slower periods of recovery, reflections, and planning.
Such periods are denied our heroine. The author keeps punishing her throughout the novel, and by the end, I was as tired of it as she was. I wanted her happy and relaxed. I wanted her pain-free, on both physical and mental planes. I also wanted the good guys to win once in a while, at least one round out of three. They should be smarter than the villains, right? At least sometimes.
I’m offended by this author’s unwillingness to grant my wishes. Her heroine doesn’t have a choice: she has to plod through her agony, prompted by the author’s imagination. I’m not so restricted in my options, so I’m going to say: “Enough.” I’m not going to read any more of her books. Probably. Not for a while anyway.

[Carolyn F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

These books get better and better. DJ finally figures out who she's interested and it's reciprocated (sometimes). She finds semi-allies and narrowly escapes a huge change in her life. I loved the ending.

[Lori {Romancing the Dark Side} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed on Romancing the Dark Side:

Loved every page. Elysian Fields solidified my love for Suzanne Johnson’s writing!

The geeky, blonde wizard and her entourage are back for more thrills and adventure in this third installment of the Sentinels of New Orleans series! DJ is just starting to pick of the pieces of hurricane Katrina, losing her family and her near death experience with the mer folk of New Orleans when a new threat enters her life. A resurrected serial killer known as the Axeman of New Orleans is on the loose in the city murdering victims and his main target is none other than DJ. Thought the work of a necromancer, DJ must track the killer down before he gets to her, with a little help of her friends of course.

It’s no secret I love this series, but Elysian Fields captivated me from the first page and never let me down! While there is a lot of action and suspense, we learn more about our heroine and her abilities in this installment which gives us a sneak peak at DJ’s true potential in the wizarding world and its preternatural politics. Just when you think you’ve encountered all the supes in this series, Ms. Johnson gives you some more! Wizards, shifters, loup-garou (werewolves), mer-men, vampires, the undead and now elves and necromancers? Yes!

DJ is by far becoming one of my favorite urban fantasy heroines. Sure she’s a wizard who can use magic, but she’s also smart, quirky, flawed and a hard-core Harry Potter fan, a geek-girl after my own heart. DJ is constantly getting herself into some sort of trouble, unintentionally of course, but I love that she tries to do the right thing and fights her own battles. I must say, for a geeky wizard DJ has a pretty yummy men in her life that keeps thing exciting. The ongoing sexual tension between DJ and Alex, her old partner, is ever present and I was thrilled to see their relationship somewhat resolved in this book and the possible DJ, Alex and Jake love triangle diffused. I was sometimes frustrated by the doubts Alex and DJ shared throughout this story , I mean come on…I think three years of foreplay is enough guys, make a decision! On the plus side, there’s a little bit of smexy thrown into this book (I won’t say any more) that was unexpected but much appreciated.

I wouldn’t be a true fan without mentioning the other man in DJ’s life, the infamous and sexy undead pirate Jean Lafitte. He’s around for just a short while in this book, but he always makes an impression and manages to steal your heart, DJ’s included. Lafitte’s charm and flirtatious ways add a touch of humor and lightness to the story that’s truly enjoyable. The opposite of Jean Lafitte’s character is the newly introduced Quince Randolph, aka Rand or plain old jerk, like I like to call him. He’s sneaky and has an ulterior motive when it comes to DJ’s elven ancestry, but dating DJ’s BFF to get to her was a pretty loser move even for him. He not only comes between Alex and DJ, he also threatens her friendship with Eugenie which I didn’t care for but I was glad to see DJ is as repulsed by him as I am!

To sum things up, Ms. Johnson delivers an exciting paranormal world with superb characters that you love more with each installment. Drusilla Jaco is a worthy addition to this genre and continues to surprise me. I look forward to the next adventure and what lies ahead for her. Elysian Fields has it all, action, mystery, humor and a dash of romance to satisfy any reader’s pallet. If you’re a fan of strong female leads that kick some major paranormal butt, the Sentinels of New Orleans series is for you!

Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elysian Fields is another sure fire hit in Suzanne Johnson's "Sentinels of New Orleans" supernatural urban fantasy series.

Like the Patricia Briggs "Mercy Thompson" series and Jim Butcher's "Dresden Files" series, Johnson builds on what we have learned about DJ, her half elven green witch with untold magical potential by having her face off against different supernatural bad guys in each novel. Comparisons to early Mercy Thompson or Dresden File books are very apt. Filled with werewolves, vampires and the prete or preternatural dead, Johnson's own addition to the usual battery of monsters, the series has all of the elements of another winning entry in the urban fantasy landscape. If you have not tried this series, you are missing out. The Pretes are beings that, although dead, still live on in the Beyond. Jean LaFitte, the legendary pirate and rake and Louis Armstrong, the musician are but two of the Pretes that are able to travel to real New Orleans from the Beyond.

DJ is a young beautiful wizard with enhanced powers based on her elven blood and her possession of the Mahout, a rare elven fire staff. She and her partner, Alex Warin, a werewolf, and his brother Jake Warin, a loup-garou (bigger meaner werewolf) are tasked with solving supernatural crimes committed by the other supernatural races.

In Elysian Fields, DJ Jaco learns of a series of violent murders in New Orleans, which bear the hallmarks of a series of murders committed by a the Axeman, a legendary killer from the past. DJ is afraid that the Axeman has come through from the Beyond and that the fear of his possible victims is making it ever easier to come across.

While she grapples with trying to stop the Axeman and his powerful necromancer ally, she is also confronted with a host of other issues from the leaders of the elves, who want to examine her (or kill her) regarding her use of the Mahout; a possible exposure to the loup garou venom, the love interest of Alex Warin; taking lessons with the Mahout from Adrian Hoffman, a fellow wizard; the odd possessory interest of Quince Randolph in her and the local vampire L'Amour Savage. If these are not enough problems, it seems that the Axeman is targeting her specifically as his latest victim.

Johnson swirls a lot of the usual suspects together and produces another compelling narrative filled with interesting characters, an entertaining plot and story.

Its another winner.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy highly original, entertaining paranormal urban-fantasies with a vast array of quirky characters and light romance, this series is an hangover-inducing must-read.

The scariest sound in New Orleans’ French Quarter is silence....

ELYSIAN FIELDS by Suzanne Johnson is an action-packed, fast-paced, addictive page-turner! It's the third book in Suzanne's Sentinels of New Orleans series. I confess to not reading this series in order as ELYSIAN FIELDS served as my introduction to Suzanne Johnson's writing and to the Sentinels of New Orleans series. In spite of having not read the first two books in this series prior to reading this book, I was able to pick up the story and characters as I read. So, contrary to what I've read in other reviews, it worked very well as a standalone for me. I quickly fell in love with the uniqueness of the well-plotted story, the historical setting and the characters - human and otherwise.

I love DJ! She totally rocks! Drusilla "DJ" Jaco, geeky blonde wizard-in-training with elven blood, is the kick-ass heroine in this series. She's smart, never gives up, and has a sense of humor that had me laughing out loud more times than I could count.

As this installment begins, DJ is working on perfecting her elven magical powers with the most annoying wizard ever. She's getting tired of rejecting advances made by her neighbor, Quince, who is supposed to be in love with her best friend, Eugenie. She's finding that she no longer wants to ignore her attraction to honest, sexy, hunk Alex Warin (I'm Team Alex all the way!). As if all the above wasn't enough to keep her busy, she's investigating murders in New Orleans which seem to be committed by the famed creepy serial-killer Axeman. Whew!

My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Check it out there! http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...

5 Wine Glasses!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved returning to NOLA in the well-written 3rd installment of the Sentinels of New Orleans series by Suzanne Johnson.

Johnson takes DJ and the gang through the streets of NOLA trying to solve the case of the serial killer, the Axeman. At first it looks like a copy cat serial killer since the real Axeman has been dead since the early 1900s. But if the undead pirate, Jean Lafitte can cross over from the Beyond into NOLA why can’t the Axeman?

So far in the series we’ve seen wizards, undead pirates, weres, shifters, vampires and now we get Elves and necromancers thrown at us. And more sexy alpha males than we can shake an elf stick at. Just when I think I have a “team” picked one of the other guys does something to make me swoon and I want to change teams. DJ even has snarky thoughts about a threesome a few times in Elysian Fields and I was totally there with her. LOL DJ finally gets some smexy time with one of the guys in her life. (You’ll have to read to find out which one.)

Elysian Fields is full of action, snark, mystery and a dash of romance through in. It’s the prefect balance for an urban fantasy read. If you like your heroines to be smart, sassy, kick butt and grow over the span of a series you NEED to read Suzanne Johnson’s Sentinels of New Orleans series. Many are comparing this series to Sookie Stackhouse. But I say DJ is WAY BETTER than Sookie.

[Tasha Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable. World building continues to be interesting. Characters are still relatable. We learn more about elves. Enjoy getting to know more about New Orleans post-Katrina. The love triangle (square?) is not doing much for me but is typical of the genre. I look forward to more books by this author.

For a really good review check out https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Review curtesy of netgalley and publisher in exchange for honest review.

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this series, DJ is growing and changing and finding out new things about herself. The action is crazy and non-stop, more pretes are showing up, more politics are pushing things around and Jean Lafitte is still awesome. If you like urban fantasy with a little bit of romance, not a lot, and New Orleans, you really need to pick these up. You never know who to trust or what the true agenda is and it is a heck of a lot of fun.

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Mostly b/c this book had absolutely nothing to do with Elysian Fields. Nada.

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

8 out of 10 > 4 stars. Really good.

I especially love the concept of the historical undead. And how great it must be to be able to summon Louis Armstrong :D

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by Jen
Book provided by the author

After reading books one and two, I was so ready for  Elysian Fields .  And let me tell you, I was not disappointed.  While book one was mostly set up for the series and book two was mostly about DJ's growth, book three throws everything out the window.  There was seriously so much happening in this book, my head was spinning.  But it was in such a delicious way that I was riveted to the page.

I just love DJ.  She's definitely flawed, but she's been growing over the course of the series.  In this installment, she's tested beyond belief.  She's up against a serial killer who seems to be aiming at DJ.  She's trying to figure out her feelings for Alex.  And to top it all off, she's been told she has to learn more about Elven magic.  DJ has so much she's juggling, it was amazing she even crawled out of bed in the morning.  And then of course, Ms. Johnson had to go throw a major twist into the plot.

I really did enjoy this book.  My mind was blown as to where this series has gone.  She even managed to engage all my emotions as I read.  I laughed at DJ's antics and cried during some pivotal moments. During some of the action scenes, I could almost feel my skin crawl as the descriptions were just so...real.  I felt like I was standing right in the middle of the action and could vividly picture what was happening around me.  And sometimes that wasn't a wonderful thing.  I've said before in prior reviews that I'm not a fan of horror.  Every once in a while, I felt that it was toeing the line to crossing over to horror it was that graphic.  And in the end, that really is my only complaint with this book.

At the end of the story I was so ready for book 4, I immediately picked it up to see what was going to happen next.  The story does mostly wrap up, but I was definitely left with lots of unanswered questions.  While I think the book can stand alone, I don't recommend it.  So much of what happened in this story was built to in the prior books.  But for urban fantasy fans, I do highly recommend picking up this series.... and this installment was my favorite to this point.

[Una · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the first two in the series, but I have book four and will definitely read it.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Genre* Urban Fantasy
*Rating* 3-3.5

*My Thoughts*

Elysian Fields is the third novel in the Sentinels of New Orleans series by Suzanne Johnson. As a series recap, Drusilla (DJ as she prefers to be called) Jaco is the Wizard Sentinel for the Greater New Orleans area and is responsible for investigating and keeping track of preternaturals in her area and stepping when needed along with her partner Alex Warin (Shape-shifter) and cousin Jack Warin (Loup-Garou werewolf).

Her party of friends includes the Undead like Louis Armstrong who sometimes spies for DJ in the alternate reality, and the famous pirate Jean LaFitte, who was a privateer and smuggler who lived around the time of the War of 1812 (TRUE STORY!). He’s also more than a little obsessed with being with DJ.

The Undead and preters have been making their way into DJ's world since the veil fell after Katrina hit New Orleans. As the wizard in charge, DJ has been tested in many different ways, but none of them have helped her learn about her Elven staff called Mahout which once belonged to her father and mentor Gary or kept her from being hurt, and nearly killed. In fact, it has been called prudent that DJ learns her Elven magic before she ends up in the middle of a faction war.

DJ doesn't get much of a rest in Elysian Fields. Not when a creepy serial killer from 1919 called the Axeman returns to New Orleans apparently on a mission which includes destroying DJ and everything she holds dear. Not when there are political games being played not only by The Elven Synod, The Vampire Regent’s Council, but her own Congress of Elders as well.

I had quite a difficult time coming up with an honest review for Elysian Fields without putting any emotional fits of hostility towards certain characters who kept coming back, and coming back, and ended up being tied to DJ in a such way that didn't exactly make me jump up and down for joy or want to shout from the roof tops. Since I enjoy this series so much, one story, or one character won’t destroy my intentions of continuing the series especially since books 4 and 5 release in 2014.

Elysian Fields had such a wonderful premise to the story that the twisted convoluted romance angles just didn't make a whole lot of sense in my humble opinion. Yes, I can see that there are things that happened below the surface that would make certain characters involvement necessary. But, DJ has been a character who has readily admitted that she likes to live dangerously and without a safety net.

On the positive side: I continue to enjoy the author’s use of New Orleans as the setting for her series. You can definitely tell that she’s a native of the city and that she uses the surrounding history and establishments to enhance the enjoyment of the book. I still enjoy DJ although she makes some interesting choices which I particularly wanted to throttle her for. I want Johnson to give DJ a chance with Alex without the continued involvement of other characters, including, Jean. DJ is quickly becoming a heroine in a UF setting that continually gets into troubling situations and ends up somehow scrapping by in the end.

On the negative side: I did not care for the numerous men in DJ's life who want to go further than just being colleagues. I only liked one, well, okay 2, and that is absolutely the limits as to what I can stand. It becomes really painful to read a book knowing that I have a severe case of hatred towards anything that appears to be a 3-way love triangle.

Overall, Elysian Fields is definitely a worthwhile addition to the Sentinels of New Orleans series, and I recommend it to those who have read Royal Street and River Road. Looking forward to seeing what direction Johnson takes the series from here.

*Recvd via Netgalley 06/19/2013* Expected publication: August 13th 2013 by Tor Books

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

DJ finds herself up against her most challenging enemy yet when an axe murderer starts claiming victims all over New Orleans. This isn't just any old murderer though, it's one of the historical undead and he's back to carry on the killing spree he started nearly 100 years ago. As if that wasn't bad enough it looks like DJ is his next target. Can she figure out who is behind his sudden reappearance and why they have sent him after her? She doesn't just have a killer to catch though, she also has the elven Synod to deal with and they aren't happy that their ancient staff has bonded to her.

I really enjoyed both of the previous books in this series so I couldn't wait to start reading Elysian Fields and I'm happy to say it was the best instalment yet. There are so many different plot threads going on in this story which made it faster paced and even more action packed than the previous books. We finally see DJ pick between the three men in her life, I'm not going to tell you who she chooses but I will say I was very happy with the outcome. We should know better than to expect DJ's love life to ever be free of complications though and it isn't long before someone throws a major spanner in the works. I'm not sure that I'm particularly happy about the latest development but it is certainly going to have huge implications for the rest of the series and I'll be very interested to see how things play out!

I really enjoyed getting to learn more about the elves in this book, they've been very much on the sidelines in the series so far but they definitely have a more central role to play this time around. The elves are a very secretive race who generally keep themselves to themselves and avoid the rest of the preternatural population but since finding out that DJ has bonded with one of their ancient staffs they have been watching her. They aren't happy to have one of their powerful weapons in the hands of a wizard no matter how much elvish blood is running through DJ's veins. The elves make for powerful enemies and I'm sure that DJ hasn't seen the last of them yet, in fact I suspect that they are going to be a major part of the series going onwards.

Elysian Fields is a fantastic, fast paced, edge of your seat thrill ride that will have you hooked from beginning to end. I can't wait to see how things play out and the next book will definitely be at the top of my to read pile the moment it's released. If you haven't started the series yet then I would recommend reading the books in order but it's such a fun series and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Fans of the previous two books are just going to love reading about DJ's latest adventures.

[Paris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Elysian Fields was exactly what I expected it to be and more. I knew I would get entertaining characters, interesting world building and an action packed dilemma that would keep DJ and Alex constantly on the go. I was definitely not disappointed by any of those elements in this story. And to top it off, I got an amazingly creepy, horror type case that DJ was completely wrapped up in. The Axeman was a totally awesome bad guy and I loved every creepy minute of him. The mystery surrounding the Axeman is pretty cool and although I thought I had figured it out, I wasn’t as good as I thought I was.

The only reason I marked this book down half a star was that there were a few moments that dragged a little, but overall this book was freaking fantastic. We get some answers to questions broached in River Road, we get to see all of our favorite characters like Alex, Jake and Jean (although there was a definite lack of Jean in this book). We even get to see Rene, which I loved. I hope he continues to be an asset to DJ. I have to say that the romance angle of this book was handled perfectly. We’ve had a sort of love square going on lately and although we did add another facet to this weird shaped romance, we kind of also got closure in another direction. I’ve been Team Alex from day one (even if I did think Jean was a better character, he’s freaking hilarious and inappropriate) and I was more or less a happy camper in regards to how Alex was portrayed in this book.

I loved the way this book ended and I am hoping that we get more from Suzanne Johnson soon. This is such a fantastic series and I want more. This has become one of my favorite urban fantasy series and I hope that it’s around for a long time…as long as it doesn’t overstay its welcome like some other series have. But with this cast of characters and this awesome world, I doubt that would even be possible.

Arc provided by the publisher via Netgalley

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our favorite New Orleans characters are back in Book 3 ELYSIAN FIELDS. I am always amazed at the world building that goes into these books. There has been something in each installment that has made me put the book down and Google away trying to find out more information. In ELYSIAN FIELDS that ended up being Six Flags New Orleans. Once Suzanne started describing it in the book I had to learn more and she was totally spot on with descriptions. I thoroughly enjoy how she brings the area into her books.

DJ of course has grown a lot since book 1. She has climbed in rank and has great allies on her side. Her personality pulls me in and brings me back again and again. She gets targeted a lot by the bad guys but I love the way her and her allies always manage to handle it. Jake has a lot of issues. He still has not come to terms with himself being loup-garou and he ends up losing it in front of DJ early on in ELYSIAN FIELDS. The whole situation spirals into other things and plays a big part of what the book is about. I really love Jean Lafitte. He always manages to surprise me. I love the way Suzanne has written him and continues to grow his character. Quince the neighbor who is dating DJ's other neighbor and friend, was introduced to us in book 2. He has a bigger role in ELYSIAN FIELDS. He ended up being a complete surprise to me. Can I get a FINALLY on the relationship front between DJ and Alex. My goodness did that take forever to move along. It is always 1 step forward, 2 steps back with these two. I expect that there will be some giant back steps in book 4 but I liked the development between them in ELYSIAN FIELDS and hope it sticks.

I enjoyed ELYSIAN FIELDS. It was again a great mix of world building, characters, history and adventure. The pace was consistent with a plot that was always advancing. The Sentinels of New Orleans series is great to get lost in.

[S.M. Blooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I just have to say that I’m pretty sure my brain is completely fried. As in all caps. No holds barred. Fried. This week has been TOUGH! I read book 2 the last time it was on tour! Man! What a fun, fun book! I was swept away from the start.

So when I say that I had absolutely no issue following this book, I want you to understand that I say this knowing I had…oh, maybe half a brain cell left to comprehend this book. LOL! I love how Ms. Johnson is capable of writing in such a way that she sweeps you into another world, but you’re not left struggling to keep up. I wish I could bottle that. She doesn’t repeat things over and over and over and over. She just writes the story with an ease that makes it easy on your overworked brain.

I love DJ. Nooooooow, okay. She made a few decisions in this book that had me pulling out my hair. Also, there was one point I was yelling at my phone – because SistaPITA has my Kindle. I am definitely on team Alex. There is just something about him–no, no. It’s not really in how Ms. Johnson pens him. It’s how DJ is around him. I just think she’s a more grounded, better person. Jean just rubs me wrong and I don’t think DJ makes the best decisions around him.

The plot was fast-paced and kept the book moving. The character plots were great and kept the pages hot-hot-HOT! The setting is a ton of fun and there are little treasures sprinkled here and there. Not quite easter eggs, but still fun. This was a great book. I will say that between the characters, the history and the world building, this series is genuinely unique! I highly recommend it! Give it a read!

[Billie Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a review copy of this book from Suzanne Johnson via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This was my first time reading a book by this author, and it was "Amazing". This was the third book in this series and I felt as if i hadn't missed a thing by not reading the first two books. I love when an author can take you from one book to the next seamlessly. Terrific plot and well developed characters, a must read in my opinion. I also loved the author's take on New Orleans, very descriptive and colorful, made me feel like i was right there along side the characters. Planning on purchasing the first two books immediately.

[Jean ~ Kindle Queen · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this one. I think maybe the love square (or maybe now it's a love pentagon) finally got to me. I'm not usually a fan of love triangles, and the amount of potential suitors in this one really exhausts me. I don't think this book was less in terms of quality as compared to the first two. If you liked the first two books, then you'll like this one. I'm just not sure I'll continue with this series if the focus continues to be on D.J.'s many suitors.

[julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good. Not sure I like the elves in this particular universe. Still a little tired of how handsome some of these guys are. Love Jean LaFitte, though. He's awesome. Glad we got to see some of her merman friends too. Those guys are great.

A little sad for DJ and all that she went through, and I'm not even sure what was gained here. Here's hoping the next story is a little more cohesive.

[Debrac2014 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it! DJ, a wizard, has elven blood and can do elven magic. The elves aren't happy! Adrian,as usual,is annoying and betrays DJ! Rand turns out to be an elf and DJ bonds with him to save herself. Good read!

[Readsalot81 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so conflicted.. ARGH. Love her writing.. DID NOT like the story. Review to come shortly.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third in the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series revolving around DJ Jaco, an overworked Sentinel wizard.

I did receive this story ARC from the publisher.

My Take
Johnson has some interesting twists on the loup-garou, the dead, and magic in general, and she takes it and runs in this opening. It's an easy enough, basic opening: serial killer back from the dead with the good guys trying to figure it out. Without telling at least one of the party the background truth.

She incorporates worries about Jake's psychological condition and how other people's perceptions can color our own. Something to keep in mind in our own lives. Of course, we don't have to be worried about shapeshifter hearing… I do like how Johnson wrote Jake's reactions. They felt so real, how a real person might react if they had been forced into Jake's situation. Johnson takes excellent advantage of this to create yet more problems for the besieged DJ.

Lots of personal tension what with DJ's worry that she may turn loup, the wizard crazy house, whether Alex will have to put Jake down, Alex's sudden turn at hot romance, and then Rand's offer and his actions after bonding. It complicates things all the hell up.

I did love that DJ had some problem with her fire control when Adrian was oh-so-condescendingly teaching her how to use her elven magic. But, what I don't understand is if Adrian has a master's-levels in elven magic, why would he disregard DJ's elven abilities?

I love that DJ is so protective of Eugenie and how she thwarts Rand's attempts at...seduction?? Yeah, I don't like the Elders insta-judgements and their bias about anything anyone can do better than they.

That settles it. The sky is falling. Alex is endorsing one of Lafitte's plans.

Awww, DJ feels bad that she's screwing everything up. I say she's simply being consistent in her stupidity, although Alex calls it her chaos.

I can't believe how pushy Rand is. How much he thinks he can get away with! He completely ignores whatever she says?! Of course, DJ being such an idiot has dropped herself right into his lap.

It's heavyhanded and shallow, even as Johnson does a nice set-up for future issues; I know I'll want to read number 4 when it comes out.

The Story
It's a serial killer come to life, well, a sort of life and DJ and Alex debate whether Ken is ready to learn about the other side. He's already indicated an interest in being the NOPD liaison with DDT; he's just not ready to hear what that really means.

The elves are pressuring DJ to meet with them regarding Mahout, and Zrakovi wants Adrian (!) to teach DJ how to use it. Oh, right...

And the Axeman is after DJ.

The Characters
Drusilla "DJ" Jaco is a Green wizard who wears Gyffindor pjs and is the Sentinel for New Orleans. That FBI badge is a fake! She's also part elf, which explains Charlie, her elven staff which the elves call Mahout. Sebastian is the unwanted, sneaky chocolate Siamese she inherited from her father. Eugenie, a beauty shop owner, is DJ's best friend, but fully human. And she's so in love with Rand.

Alex Warin is an enforcer (with a black-and-white view on the world) for the wizards, able to turn into a pony-size dog, and is now Jake's boss on the FBI's Division of Domestic Terror (DDT) unit. He had been DJ's cosentinel. Jake Warin is a loup-garou with shaky control who happens to own a bar, the Green Gator; Alex is his cousin, who believes that training and working for the DDT will help Jake with his control.

Jean Lafitte is, yes indeed, the infamous pirate who walks between the Beyond and New Orleans. Always the businessman, always an eye out for the deal. And always an eye out for DJ. Rene Delachaise is a merman friend of Lafitte's as well as DJ's friend after events in River Road , 2.

Quince "Rand" Randolph started up a landscaping business across the street and cattycorner from DJ: Plantasy Island, and he has an unhealthy interest in DJ when he 's supposed to be dating her best friend, Eugenie.

Ken Hachette is a homicide detective with the NOPD and a friend of Jake's. Dr. Adam Lyle is a Yellow wizard and Houston psychiatrist helping in the aftermath of Katrina. Louis Armstrong is one of the dead, and he's happy to help DJ out as it seems that the Axeman loved Louis' jazz. He's also been seeing a lot of Jake…hmmm…

Adrian Hoffman is the insensitive, overbearing, condescending jerkwad Speaker of the Elders and a Blue wizard. I know I'd like to smack him around. For days. Turns out Adrian's daddy, Gregory Hoffman, is First Elder, and he's angry with Willem and DJ for chastising Adrian for events in River Road . Willem Zrakovi is head of the Elders for North America. Jonas Adamson is the only registered necromancer in the area.

Denis Villere is a cantankerous merman from River Road , 2. He and his clan have been consigned to the Atchafalaya Basin (I love saying that word!) because of their actions.

The Axeman was a serial killer in the early part of the twentieth century in New Orleans. Joseph Isaacson appears to be his latest victim.

Etienne Boulard is the Regent of Vampyre in New Orleans based at L'Amour Sauvage, a vampire club. He's an old friend of Lafitte's. And he was a wizard who could do necromancy when he was alive. Terri Ford is his assistant. Lily, an elf, wants to do business. Dani is a naughty vampyre.

The Congress of Elders rule the wizards and the rest of the supernatural community. If an ability or power isn't something they can wield, it either doesn't "exist" or they make it illegal. Green Congress wizards are "the geeks of the magical world", using potions and ritual magic. Red Congress wizards do physical magic---the flashy stuff. Yellow Congress specializes in mental magic. While artistic and creative, the Blue Congress is usually in charge of reconstructing crime scenes if it turns out the crime is not supernatural. Sentinels are wizards in charge of cities or regions and keep an eye on the boundary between the Beyond and our world, the Now. Enforcers are part FBI prete team and part assassin. Ittoqqortoormiit is a remote wizard outpost in Greenland specifically for the incarceration of whacked-out wizards.

The Beyond is another plane of existence that lies alongside our own where Vampyre, Faerie. and some lesser territories are located. With this latest treaty, any preternatural being (prete) can walk on over.

The Elven Synod has become aware of Charlie (known as Mahout by the elves---and belongs to the Fire Elves clan), and they're not happy about a wizard who can wield elven powers. Mace Banyan is the head of the Synod as well as the chief of the Awyr, or Air. Yep, the same one who tried to fry DJ's brains in River Road . There are four elven clans: Awyr, Ddaear (Elves of the Earth; Betony is their chief); the Dwr (Elves of the Water; Lily is their chief); and, the Tân (Elves of the Fire). Vervain is chief of the Tân and Rand's mom.

The Cover
The cover is greenish grays and reds as DJ grasps Charlie and stares out at us in defiance, standing in front of a wrought iron fence.

The title is a misnomer as there is nothing about this story that comes close to being Elysian Fields...unless it's the very end?

[Lea Bookjoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

French & English reviews

Mon tome préféré jusqu'ici <3
Ce que j'ai adoré :
- l'intrigue avec l'Axeman et tout ce qui en a découlé était EXTRA !! Très intense avec beaucoup d'intrigues tordus, de rebondissements etc.
- l'intrigue avec le "loup garou" qui m'a tenu en haleine jusqu'au bout (et les conséquences ... Je comprend pourquoi Dru a fait ce qu'elle a fait mais je sens les emmerdes poindre ...)
- j'adore Rene, tellement amusant <3
- Lafitte <3 Sa relation avec Dru évolue de plus en plus et très naturellement au fil des livres et la fin quand elle lui tire dessus ... PFIOULALA <3
- La fin ... TELLEMENT DE POSSIBILITES pour la suite !!

Ce que j'ai moins aimé :
- les scènes de sexe ne sont pas top ... Ce n'est pas que c'est mal écrit, c'est juste qu'il n'y a rien, c'est plat, vide, sans passion ... Et c'est bizarre parce que les scènes de flirt sont WOUAH
- Alex Warrin. Dans ce tome, Dru et lui finissent enfin par coucher ensemble mais même si j'ai lu pas mal de reviews de personnes qui sont fans de lui, pour moi, à part le fait qu'il soit sexy et qu'il se transforme en chien, je le trouve plat et un peu trop carré pour Dru ... Je ne vois pas vraiment comment il pourrait faire un vrai couple vu que la raison principale pour laquelle il a l'air de l'aimer c'est parce que d'autres sont attirés par elle et qu'il la soutient jamais vraiment ...
- le "secret" de Rand était un peu facile et j'ai trouvé que Dru était plutôt passive par rapport à ça ... Je veux dire vu toutes les emmerdes qu'elle a eu avant, j'aurais pensé qu'elle se serait plus investie !! Bon heureusement Rand a l'air d'être un personnage plutôt complexe, un peu une carte mystère qui peut tout sauver ... Ou foutre la merde ><
- je trouve qu'Eugénie ne sert pas à grand chose et perso je la trouve un peu chiante ><

Bref, j'ai hâte de lire le prochain livre et voir toutes les conséquences de ce qui est arrivé x)
PS: #TeamPirate

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My favorite tome so far <3
What I loved:
- the plot with the Axeman and all that result from it was EXTRA !! Very intense with lots of twisted intrigues, twists and turns etc.
- the plot with the "werewolf" that kept me breathless until the very end (and the consequences ... I understand why Dru did what she did but I feel the bad thing coming ...)
- I love Rene, so funny <3
- Lafitte <3 Her relationship with Dru evolves more and more naturally over the books and the end when she shoots him ... PFIOULALA <3
- The end ... SO MANY POSSIBILITIES for the next book !!

What I liked less:
- the scenes of sex are not great ... It is not that it's badly written, it's just that there is nothing, it's flat, empty, without passion ... And it's weird because the flirting scenes are WOW !!
- Alex Warrin. In this book, Dru and he finally end up sleeping together but even if I read quite a few reviews of people who are fond of him, for me, apart from the fact that he is sexy and that he turns into dog, I find him flat and a little too forthright for Dru ... I don't really see how they could become a real couple since the main reason why he seems to like her it's because others are attracted to her and he never really supports her ...
- Rand's "secret" was a bit too easy to guess and I found that Dru was rather passive compared to that ... I mean regarding all the problems she had before, I would have thought she would have been more invested !! Fortunatly, Rand seems to be a rather complex character, a mystery card that can save everything ... Or fuck up everything ><
- I found Eugénie not really useful and personally I find her a bit boring ><

In short, I can't wait to read the next book and see all the consequences of what happened x)
PS: #TeamPirate

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I started to read this book, and got a few pages in, I immediately regretted the decision to request this book and ya know...read it. "WHY!?" I hear you cry? Because as I got a few pages in, I immediately loved the characters and the world, I didn't want to leave it, and I clocked the agonizingly long wait, nearly a year, until the next book in the series.

In case you haven't worked it out yet, I haven't read the first two books, and I chose to request this one solely on the strength of the intriguing synopsis, I mean c'mon guys, undead pirate? You may not know this, but I can quote Pirates of the Caribbean to an irritating level, so if it's got pirates....I'm in. The whole "undead" pirate was an intriguing bonus, not to mention the magic, implied romance and general crazy murderer running about. I guessed I'd be in for a fun few hours and I really wasn't wrong. To be honest, not having read the first two books wasn't a problem for me, sure I wasn't too sure on some previous relations with some characters, but DJ does a great job refreshing everyone's memories concisely, letting me know what I need to know from the other books, and I would imagine reminding readers of the first two books without wittering on for pages with stuff you already know.

We join DJ at a crime scene, eerily similar to those of the 1918 serial killer, simply known as The Axeman, except it has to be a copycat...right? Wrong. This has got Historical Undead all over it. DJ sets out to apprehend him, but when Jean Lafitte shows up, in a horse and carriage no less, he has an interesting and mildly terrifying piece of information. The Axeman is after her. More specifically, as DJ works out, a necromancer controlling him, is after her.

"Great. We had an undead serial killer quoting Tennyson."

Forced to endure Adrian and his magic lessons to improve her less than stellar aim, being weirdly stalked by Rand, and telling with the fall out of an accidental bite from Jake, and potentially joining Jake hiding out at Jean's place if she turns at the full moon, she really could do without a faceless necromancer with homicidal urges towards her. Cue Alex and his sudden desire to be something more than friends. Did I mention the kidnapping elves? No? Well there's them too. Add in some political drama and becoming bonded to a certain stalkery Elf and DJ's just about reached her drama quota. But first, she has to work out who it is trying to kill her, and then she can curl up and gorge on cake in peace.

I don't know where to start raving about this book! I mean, I was drawn in from the very first page and kept there the entire time I was reading.

A major part of that was DJ. I love her, she's badass, she's strong but can still let herself have a good cry, and even though she's hurting emotionally from love related problems, she still gets stuff done. Not to mention she's perfectly snarky and witty. I think I laughed over "impending furmaggedon for way longer than I should have. I connected to DJ and she has fast become one of my new favourite characters. Her narrative was engaging and hilarious in certain places, to the point of ugly snort laughing. At other times you really feel for her, and can relate. Without the whole elves/shifters/wizard type things but ya know. She's my kinda gal.

Along with DJ, all the other characters, including secondary ones, where written with their own unique personalities, and with depth and detail. Johnson gives us a strong cast of characters who jump off the page, from sometimes neanderthal Alex, to undead charming pirate Jean to irritating and weird Rand.

"Oh, great. Rand would be able to annoy me from a distance"
The world building was given plenty of detail, enough to create a feel of the setting. I've never been to New Orleans unfortunately, I would love to go, but after reading about it in the book I have a good idea of what it's like there and such. The world created truly takes all your attention, along with the characters and action. You really got a feel for the vibes of New Orleans and it was enchanting.

Elysian Fields is fast paced with a good flow. You blow through the book even though you don't want it to end, and you're left wanting more even though there isn't a cliffhanger at all. Although I can't be the only one reading the last page like...oh no.....whatever happens in the next book...it's gonna be bad and poor DJ's relationship with Alex is gonna go to hell in a hand basket. Elysian Fields is written atmospherically, with plenty of laughs, as well as plenty of creep with the whole serial killer thing. Natch.

"Was she bonkers? The man was an immortal undead serial killer fueled by the cold magic of a necromancer. He wasn't going to pet the azaleas and sing Grateful Dead songs."
The book has a truly unique vibe to it that I'm powerless to resist. Another thing that, along with DJ, had me loving the book a mere chapter or so in. We have the elves, but their divided in to different clans, each with one of the four standard elements. Then more unusually we have the wizards being divided in to different congresses, for example, DJ is a green congress wizard and so on. Each can do different magic I believe. Then there's the standard Vampires, and shifters and weres, but there's also one of my favourite supporting characters, Rene, who is a merman. I mean...."That was intense" after nearly being killed by a serial killer? Love it.

Further adding to the unique, stand out vibes of Elysian Fields is the aspect of the Beyond and the Historical Undead, which I have gathered means historical figures, well known and powered by us lot talking about them and so on, keeps them alive and immortal and they crash in the Beyond, unless they're powerful enough to come over to our world. That is the aspect that really piqued my interest. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love books that stand out from the crowd and are totally unique.

I'm not sure what I can comment on the romance seeing as I haven't read the first two, but I gotta say I'm team Alex, although DJ and Jean would be pretty fun! Rand annoys me and I don't like him, nor do I trust him. I thought the romance with Alex and DJ was written perfectly. It wasn't the sole focus of the book, it was an added/background element adding to the fun of the book, and it's grown from a friendship in a realistic way from what I gather. While we appear to get a happy ending, both are complex characters, so I'm not entirely sure it's gonna be smooth sailing, and the whole Rand bond thing will add an interest aspect, but seeing as DJ hates him, I don't think there's going to be a love triangle, just Rand being a pain in the ass!

I was kept guessing with the plot. There where plot twists everywhere. I couldn't begin to guess who the hell was behind everything. I mean I thought Adrian, then I dismissed it, I didn't peg him as the villain, although he wasn't squeaky clean. I didn't see the connections between the various parties involved, possibly because I was too busy chuckling over DJ's internal monologue, possibly because I was enjoying the book in general too much to seriously attempt to figure it out. But it was a huge "OOOOHH" moment!

Elysian Fields can stand on it's own, I personally think. You've given enough tidbits from previous books to be clued in to what's going on, having said that, I'm gonna be buying the first two books because I just love the world!

Elysian Fields is a fast paced, supernatural thrill ride. There are plot twists everywhere, and an intriguing and complex plot that will keep you guessing, romance, mystery, snarky humour and sprinkled with magic and a little bit of mayhem. As soon as you start reading you won't be able to put the book down, nor will you want to leave the enchanting and unique world created. Elysian Fields stands out from the crowd!

One things for sure. This book is a book hangover inducing, agonizing wait for the next book, life ruiner! And aren't those types of books just the best?!

[Marissa Rocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked forward to the release of this third volume as it’s a series I really love. In fact, Suzanne Johnson has many original ideas in her novels and I was waiting to have again our undead characters as well as our exciting heroes.

DJ has a lot of works these days, and she needs to deal with all the troubles occuring. A serial killer is in loose in the city led by a necromancer and it is up to our heroine to stop him. But how will she be able to kill someone immortal? Especially before he kills her. But she must also manage all her powers which seem to increase with time, her possible change after being scratched by a werewolf , her attraction to Alex or manage the boyfriend of her best friend who seems very interested by her. Yes as I was telling you, a lot of events, keeping us in suspense throughout the story.

I was completely swept away by the story and all that was happening. DJ sees her life turned upside down in the novel both in a professional and personal level. She is left with many responsibilities she never requested, as well as the attention of characters she would have avoided. I admit that I was intrigued by what was happening and I could not wait to have all the answers to my questions. But we have them in time and I was surprised more than once . Suzanne knows her characters and lead us astray in multiple hypotheses.

I loved seeing the DJ’s evolution, although sometimes she doesn’t think about the consequences of her actions and that puts her in rather complicated situations. She will face many dangers as many obligations, and I was curious to see how she would manage it. But this will not be easy for her, even far from it! But of course, we have once again Jean Laffite, this character that makes us succumb every time. I was glad to see him in the story, helping DJ the best he can, trying to get something from her as usual. But Alex and Jake are there too, although it is difficult for the two of them to control what happens in their lives, even if the reasons are different. But of course, we also have many other characters that I let you discover that are just as interesting, especially one that we did not suspect the involvement in the life of our heroine.

This novel begins many things as you can see and I loved every moment of it! I am now more than impatient to read about what will happen as soon as possible! A pleasant surprise that I recommend to fans of urban fantasy!

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted at http://smexybooks.com/2013/08/review-...


Favorite Quote: “I would have done as much for anyone. It just happened to be you.”

Elysian Fields picks up a few weeks after the events in River Road. Drusilla Jaco (DJ), is still recovering from the wounds she received battling an insane nymph. When she is called to the scene of a brutal murder, she discovers that a serial killer, known as the Axeman who terrorized New Orleans back in the early 1900’s, has come back from the dead to reign hell on the mortal realm. Further investigations reveal that an unknown necromancer summoned the Axeman and he is gunning for DJ. If DJ’s life wasn’t dangerous enough, she finds herself caught in the middle of a political disaster when the Elven Synod demands access to DJ for training purposes and a freak accident occurs that could spell the end of DJ’s career… and her life.

Elysian Fields is the third book in Suzanne Johnson’s paranormal urban fantasy Sentinel Of New Orleans series. An action packed series that effectively bridges the supernatural with the mundane. Set in an alternate New Orleans, supernaturals intermingle with humans; though most humans aren’t conscious of this. The series is based on Drucilla Jaco, a junior wizard who stands as one of the sentinels charged with standing guard over the supernatural borders in New Orleans. Placed in her position through circumstance, DJ is still in the process of learning to control her powers. We recently learned of DJ’s elven heritage which is already causing her problems in the form of a magic staff that everyone wants but no one can touch until DJ’s death. The series follows her through her life as she investigates supernatural affairs and deals with the inevitable chaos that seems to mock her every step.



“ I’m a chaos junkie…”


I wasn’t impressed with the first book in this series, Royal Street. I adored the lush world building and overall premise, but the character development and revealing of the storyline was not a smooth transition. River Road more than made up for all that and I found myself engrossed in the second installment. Elysian Fields presented as a worthy follow up to River Road but failed to deliver for me. Elysian Fields places heavy emphasis back on the romance of the arc; a romance that seems to evolve sluggishly. The conflict suffers in my opinion as very interesting multiple storylines circle and intertwine, none able to fully develop or flesh out as we are stuck in a lackluster and unappealing love triangle. This was a huge mistake I felt that occurred in book one and I’m dismayed to see it happening again.

I was disappointed in this latest installment as I feel Ms. Johnson’s Sentinel series is an enjoyable urban fantasy. Humorous and suspenseful, it keeps you fully engaged. Her voice resonates throughout and I feel she is an immensely talented writer. There is a nice balance between the magic and the police procedural investigative means DJ uses to solve the mysteries. The world building continues to expand and evolve, giving us more insight into this world of magic in a modern, mortal setting. Supernatural entities coexist with humanity in a comfortable relationship.

Thought the first two installments seemed more conflict based, this installment most certainly revolves around the main character, DJ. DJ. has a lot on her plate this go around. A supernatural serial killer, her elven heritage, and a love triangle that I had hoped would resolve itself by now. Alex Warin, her former mentor and now partner, has been wth D.J. from the beginning. The sexual tension between them has burned bright for years though both of them fear the fall. Some steps are made that lead the reader to believe a choice has been made but DJ’s impetuousness puts it back into the unknown. Alex himself also has a problem with all the problems that seem to follow DJ.. His need for order and control is constantly tested by DJ.’s motto of ‘it’s better to ask for forgiveness later than permission first’ attitude.



“Did it ever occur to you to that you might want to talk to me before making a decision like that? Did it not even pass through your mind that you’re not the only one this affects? Jesus.”


This was another area that I felt failed in execution. In River Road, there was a remarkable growth and maturity to DJ’s character. In here, it’s as if she regresses. We see her once again making decisions on the fly which in turn backfire every single time. She suffers from what I call Scarlett O’Hara syndrome. She’ll think about it tomorrow. Everything will be addressed tomorrow. She does suffer a traumatic event that affects her both physically and mentally but I felt the plot element was merely placed in the book in order to being in yet another man wanting to warm DJ’s bed. Quince (Rand) Randolph. Though in a relationship with DJ’s best friend, Eugenia, his actions show a marked preference to DJ; much to her dismay. While DJ is physically attracted to Rand, (as with almost every man she meets), DJ feels there is something off with him and knows he’s not being honest with her. Certain scenes prove that later in the book and DJ learns the hard way that you should always go with your gut.



“I had never felt so violated [...] I’m never going to forgive you for this. Never.”


The main plot is an intriguing mixture of mystery, suspense, and supernatural what not but as I stated earlier, romance overshadows it and I felt we only get the bare bones of the storyline. The merging of the Axeman plot with various external factors makes for a huge OMG moment that foreshadows future problems for DJ. I’m looking forward to the exploration of that storyline. We meet quite a few interesting characters (good and evil) whose agendas will bear watching in the future. We also see quite a few old faces. DJ’s sexy and very dead admirer Jean Lafitte provides some humor and drama as DJ is forced once again to place herself in his debt. Out of all the characters, he is my favorite. His and DJ’s relationship is probably the most honest one she has. Charming, flirtatious, and occasionally smarmy, he has gradually proven himself to be a true friend that genuinely cares for DJ’s well being. Not to say he won’t use her for his own gain, but at least he’s honest in his duplicity. Their emotional bond is the strongest in this series and helps to balance the many uneasy romantic threads that wind their way through the storyline.

The ending is quite dramatic in it’s reveal. Action packed with decisions made that will reflect on DJ’s future both romantically and magically. All the loose threads are gathered and tied off, effectively solving the mystery but leaving an opening to assure us this isn’t the last we have seen of it. While I continue to enjoy Ms. Johnson’s writing, I can’t help but feel that the romance is being pushed with a heavy hand into this series and rather than elevating it, it’s slowly suffocating the overall appeal.



Overall Rating: C-