Thursday, September 1, 2011

Review: That Voodoo You Do, Jodi Redford

That Voodoo You Do, Jodi Redford
That Old Black Magic, book 1
eBook, received from author

The Blurb from samhainpublishing.com
Something dead this way comes…

That Old Black Magic, Book 1

For ten long years Griffin Trudeau has managed to keep his paws off Jemma Finnegan, best friend and leading star of his kinkiest fantasies. As her appointed cat familiar, indulging those fantasies with the delectable witch is strictly forbidden. But when Jemma shows up at his door with seduction in mind, control goes right out the window.

Too late he realizes making love to Jemma is the trigger that launches a zombie apocalypse.

Jemma’s been dealt a double whammy: she’s just discovered she’s a witch. And Griff has been hiding whiskers and a tail. Oh, and if her life wasn’t crazy enough, a dead voodoo queen needs her blood to raise a legion of zombies.

There’s one plan that might work to increase Jemma’s powers so she can put an end to the looming holocaust. A sexy threesome with Griff and Logan Scott, a werewolf familiar with a history of rubbing Griff’s fur the wrong way. A cat and a wolf playing nice, much less sharing? It’ll take a miracle.


Product Warnings
A witch, tiger and wolf doing naughty things. A dead voodoo queen doing evil things. And zombies doing zombie things. Get your shovels ready. 











Okay, readers. By now you are aware that Kyla Novelista is…well, different. Unless, of course, you’re new to my blog. In which case perhaps I need a warning label. No worries, as long as you’re not drinking, you won’t be in danger of choking on ice cubes as so aptly demonstrated by Samhain editor Sasha Knight – poor woman. No one panic. She’s just fine.

What’s my point? I don’t read book blurbs. It’s a quirk. So, I read That Voodoo You Do without reading the blurb above. Needless to say I ran into some SHOCKING plot twists! Especially considering I had no idea that Griffin was a CAT. But how could I? When Jemma didn't know. (Note: I don't read blurbs because I LOVE that feeling of surprise. Gets my blood pumping.)

My Review
I read this book on the edge of my seat, clapping my hands or squealing like a fifth grader. Yes, I truly did. Ask my 5-year-old who thinks mommy is just a wee-bit insane. What’s so great? For one thing, I absolutely love Redford’s style. I never felt like I was pulled away from the story, or thrust out of it by the word choices. I didn’t experience any moments of “Yeah, like that would ever happen.” One has to wonder how authors manage that, especially when we’re talking about witches and familiars, zombies and voodoo queens. I’m a pretty big skeptic when it comes to feasibility and not all fantasy novels pull this off. An author really has to work to make us not question the unbelievable.

Mission make the unbelievable, believable in That Voodoo You Do? Epic success. By throwing these magical beings into real life situations (okay, except for, hopefully, a zombie apocalypse), she helps me suspend any disbelief. I was completely invested in these characters; completely invested in their struggles. So, yes…I cried. Don’t judge until you’ve read it yourself. Then you may pepper my website with comments regarding my sappiness.

Part of making it believable is sticking within the characters that she created. Jemma’s reaction to the mention of multiple men tracks with the picture I had formed of her. Each of the characters stays true and that is essential in character building, unless there is a reason or slow progression to change.

Beyond all that, I enjoyed the new take on familiars and the complicated rules involved in this world she’s created. I can see the thought and planning put into creating this…which, again helps make it feel real.

What’s more? I now get to move on to The Seven Year Witch, That Old Black Magic book 2! Holla!

I must offer a warning though, to anyone whose interest has been peeked, to anyone who feels drawn to pick up a copy. Buy one of these…you’ll need it.  
 Trust me.

My Favorite Lines
Ground control, we have contact.

As for his tongue. Holy hell, it should be considered a weapon of mass destruction.

That old cliché about seeing stars? Not just bullshit. In fact, she was pretty damn certain she spied a glimpse of an entirely new galaxy.

She’d seen enough zombie movies to know that loosely translated, graw meant Hmm, which of your tasty appendages should I snack on first?

“Sorry, whatever’s in my mind tends to flow freely from my mouth unfiltered. It’s like the damn Niagara Falls in there.”

There are SO many more, unfortunately, I don’t want to spoil it for you! 

Feel free to check out Samhain Publishing's website for an excerpt of the book!

~kyla 

6 comments:

  1. I agree, the characters and the world were believable. It worked and the only WTF? moments were the good kind.

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  2. Great choice for your first Limelight Review posting. Really? You don't read blurbs - how do you know which books to pick? Girl, that's doing my head in!

    Sorry ... onto my thoughtfully worded and insightful comment.

    I think a writers ability to make me buy into the absurd and illogical is actually what makes or breaks a book for me. If I'm stopping to think "well that's not real", or "like that would ever happen" then I haven't become involved in the story which means that it's not that great a book.

    I started reading a book the other day, heavily based in mythology but that is essentially erotica. I had to stop reading it when I stopped to check up on a detail on the mythology used. It's the same theory - if I'm not involved enough to gloss over any historical/mythological discrepancies then something ain't workin'.

    I'm definitely going to have to check this one out. I love a well done menage story and if its PNR so much the better. And here I thought blogging would reduce my tbr pile :)

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  3. Are you kidding me? You don't read blurbs? You are brave my friend. I could not deal without reading the blurb! The blurb and the cover are what hook me (more so when I have yet to experience a particular author though).

    I absolutely adore Redford! Where the heck have I been to be missing out on such a talented author? Not only is she highly entertaining, she (as you put it) makes the story believable. It may be out there, but in Redford's world, it can happen. The humor comes in just the right amount and the sex is smokin' hot! I also like how she uses the epilogue as an aid in allowing the reader a sneak peak into the premise of the subsequent book.

    Well done. If I hadn't already read it, I would have rushed out to buy it! ;)

    Kendra
    (Reader's Edyn) (@EdynzTrybe)

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  4. OK this book sounds so cool! and I can't believe you don't read blurbs...how do you decide whether to read a book or not? lol I'm going to check and see how much this book is, because I'm on a self imposed budget...I must read what I already have first!! Maybe. I have no will power though--I do have a hair trigger buy finger though.

    Great review Kyla. I love me some snark

    Erika

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  5. haha I love it that you're recommending a fan :)

    I have never heard of this book before but your review has definitely peaked my interest. I'm not much into fantasy and zombie books but I have a feeling I will like this one. Thanks for the review.

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  6. After I won my own copy from you (winks), I've been debating whether I wanted to read the review or go ahead and just read it - I'm glad I chose to check this out!

    You've addressed all the points I believe are important in a book like this one: believability and character consistence. I can see by your comments that both scored a perfect success, and I think I agree with your reasons as well: making the mundane part of the supernatural, and making it logical, is just what we need to get invested in Zombies and vampires.

    And cat familiars? Oh boy. I'm such a cat person. And the... opportunities opened up by this line are just too great! If, to top it off, I can simpathize with the situations and reactions, then I'm in.

    You also said that you could see the level of planning involved in the book - so I got a question :)

    I'm going to be left wondering in despair at how the pieces make sense until I read the next installment, or is it self-conclussive? I find I tend to prefer the second kind, because it allows me to better jugde the quality of the work - it's too easy to forget about foreshadowing from book to book! What do you think?

    Thanks for the review!

    Ron @ Stories of my life

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