**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Gather the Fortunes is the second book in the fantasy Crescent City series by author Bryan Camp. Though you do not need to read the first book, in order to understand and enjoy the second novel, I would advise it. I went into the second book without having read the first book, and I think that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. I found myself wanting to know more about the world. Though, to my knowledge the second book follows a different character than the first book- The City of Lost Fortunes does, so I think in that regard you should be fine. 

Gather the Fortunes was a great read. There are so many aspects of the story that I really love. First, I love the New Orleans setting, and Bryan Camp's New Orleans is even cooler because we get to experience both the normal New Orleans as well as the underworld New Orleans filled with Gods and Magic. Which leads me to the next thing that I loved- Gods. I adore any book that features gods of any sort of mythology, and Gather the Fortunes had that in spades. This was a really fun and magical adventure. 

The main character in Gather the Fortunes, Renaissance Raines or Renai, is a psychopomp, which is someone who lead the souls of the dead through the Seven Gates of the Underworld. Renai is a great main character. I loved that she had a good moral compass and I also loved how spunky she was. Dealing with gods of the underworld is no easy feat. I was really intrigued about the mission she was tasked with. Along with her mission we got to learn more about the gates of the underworld and the gods and magic found within. I really loved that aspect of the story. 

I think fans of The City of Lost Fortunes will really enjoy Gather the Fortunes, and I am proof that a reader can also start on this second book and really love the story. If I had a do over, I would have chosen to first read The City of Lost Fortunes before I dove into Gather the Fortunes. So if you have the choice, I would grab both books and read them back to back. If you are a fan of fantasy books set in New Orleans and the Underworld, the Crescent City series is one for you to check out. 

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs