A review by brokebybooks
Belle Chasse by Suzanne Johnson

4.0

Status Quo Icon Adult Icon Contemporary Icon paranormal Romance Icon Fae Icon Others Icon Shifters Icon Vamps Icon

If you're a fan of the series, Belle Chasse is a must read. Especially after book 4, Pirate's Alley's cliffhanger.

While there are open threads and overarching plots to follow, at the end of Belle Chasse there's been a lot of forward movement in the short action-packed time frame. Several things are resolved and certain characters have developed and changed due to the adversity. Which brings me to the one failure of the novel -- besides the status quo lack of diversity.

At the end, there's an ultimate sacrifice like the blurb says. However, it didn't impact me. It should've. But, it felt obvious. Things were just too good, if you know what I mean. I wish something else could've caused the epiphany needed to advert the stupid stubbornness that cause this incident in the first place.

I'd actually prefer they switched places --that'd really be shocking, different and have a bigger impact. I was sad to see someone I loved so much pushed to the back and then used in such a way. Feels like a waste of a great character.

Of course, I'll still be continuing the series. The plot and DJ are just too good to pass up. Sentinels of New Orleans is definitely one of my favorite paranormal romance series.



There are worse reads, but there's also more diverse reads. I also recommend the Mercy Thompson series and the Urban Dragon series.

If you've haven't tried Sentinel of New Orleans yet, you should. The first book, Royal Street deals directly with Hurricane Katrina and is heart wrenchingly realistic.

For a VERY different kind of read that's about a Katrina living and surviving in the 9th ward, there's What Remained of Katrina.