A few years ago a friend asked me if I I told a friend that I have it I wish I read the book the moment that’s why told me to read it. I’ve always been drawn to stories of sister home. I’ve always been drawn to stories that includes ancestral magic. Cypress reminds me of a young woman who is on her journey of self-discovery and is excited about it. In the go although I want more chapters of her is a young woman has a directly to the magic around her storytelling and and sexual magic. And if memories serve me well, sassafras is just trying to remain true to herself while also being tempted by things that are not good.


I think this is a story that I want to read again. I love being in the minds of the sisters. But I also thought it was interesting how their upbringing and their mother often try to stay for who they are and force them to be in stereo typical roles of what it is to be a woman specifically what it is to be black woman.

As I read this book, I thought about a lot of themes that was represented throughout the book. Most of all was love and loss. I found the sections about the queen the queen‘s mistress and the king to be the most unsettling. Because even if you are the most powerful being around you you still are not able to make decisions in your best interest. And they will always be someone plotting on your downfall. I did however love the introduction of Quinn. I was a little upset that people smelled him and knew that he was a shifter and caused him to act differently towards  him. However, because of Sookie’s natural affinity to be around supernatural beings she was kind to him. I also thought her kindness to him and his kindness to her was probably the best partnership I’ve seen in a series between Sookie and somebody else that’s far. 

Also I kept thinking while reading this book is that toxic masculinity continues to be a theme. And this theme is so antiquated and I’m so over it and I get so exhausted reading about men who think that women is their property or they have some sort of ownership over women. What bill did in this book was a palling and like sookie I don’t think that I can forgive him either. 

Also I was very interested to read about demons and half demon beings in this book. I think that I am starting to de Eric more because of this book. And I also wonder, have we seen the last of Bill?

The author note at the end of the book about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina was greatly appreciate it. And I do thank her for that.

Something was missing. There were too many open end red herrings if that’s a thing. I’m not sure. There were too many that it left me with lots of questions. Also some things didn’t make sense to me. However, I like Agent Teagan and the ending makes me want to read book two because I think Teagan has some secrets that she hasn’t shared yet. And I don’t know why I don’t trust her husband. 

Nancy dodging  red herrings likes it’s her job, lol. Alan was the most annoying character. This mystery was so clear cut and cute. I was able to deduce the criminal right away. 

I’ve been thinking of this book. I wanted so bad to like this book. I wanted to DNF less than half way reading. I felt that being in the MC mind was too much. I felt that book was more focus on the “scare” than on the development of the characters and the story. The MC was all over the place due to the trauma she experienced. I am typically all about a character who is failing apart. But someone this character’s messiness did not do anything for me. I find myself feeling like “what did I just read.”

It felt like I got very basic info about the characters. I know that’s not necessarily true, I just didn’t connect with the story. Which is strange because I like stories set in space, mysterious, with horror. In theory, I should have loved this book. But that did not happens. 

The mystery of the characters confused me and made it hard for me to tell a lot of male characters apart. It also didn’t help that the narrator is not a narrator I gravitate towards. I listen to this narrator for the final book of the “The Beautiful” series by Renee Adhieh and I didn’t like it and had to DNF the book. I wonder what it would have been like if I read the book with my eyeballs instead of my ears. 

These men in this books. Also these girls are going through it. 

Yeah! Amazing! Love the mix of character and plot development. Love how Tanarive sets up things to be a red herring only to find out later that the entire book is little clues. 

This is a story about a family with conjured magic. This is what happens when a family matriarch bends magic to its breaking point and Papa Legba requests a price. Only for unfortunate event after unfortunate event happens to this family who are owners of the good house. This is a story of how ancestors and live descendants must work together to restore a family. This story urges you that you don’t have to believe in the unexplained in order for the unexplained to believe and HUNT YOU! 

This is also a story of how important it is to share family history. No matter how difficult it may be because it may cost someone’s life. It’s important to believe your family members and trust your gut. If you believe someone with malice is coming into your life. Belief that and cleanse yourself and people you love as well.

The first paragraph draws you into this story. Right away you are invested in the revenge by this teacher who lost someone close her. What I loved the most is that this book has POV which I think really strengthens a mystery or thriller story. The ending was unknown and I loved the twist. 

I don’t like how the men in the book are just using Sookie and have expectations of her because she is a woman and pretty. She owns her body not these damn men. 

Zora did it again! 

If you want to watch/hear an in depth review discussion of the book click this link to my YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/2NuuMUkl33c