*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
3.5 stars
This was a very interesting book, and a new and unique take on the classic zombie novel.
I loved all the new info I learned. Before I read this book, I knew very little about Creole and Haitian voodoo/hoodoo and I had no idea what a bokor was. I am now very well informed. The author did a lot of research, and it shows through in her writing. From very detailed (and at times highly disturbing) instructions on how to make a bokor (zombie), to the history of hoodoo, this wasn't just a romance book, it was a learning experience.
Now, here's where I'm conflicted. While I liked how the story starts right away, my biggest problem (also) was that you are quite literally thrown into the middle of the story. All of a sudden, zombies are attacking, people have died before the story even begins, and these two are already on the case. While I liked getting right to the nitty-gritty, I also felt confused about what was happening, why, etc. For example, Matthew and Jesse have a big backstory together that's mentioned and talked about, which explained why they pretty much hopped into bed right away. Yet, I would have liked to see the beginning of their relationship. I felt like I missed the prequel novel, though this is supposedly a stand-alone.
Another thing that bugged me was the open ending. I assume it was meant to be a HEA/HFN ending, and yet I was left with lots of questions. For example, now that everyone's dead, what happens next? Do they really just leave and walk off into the sunset together? What happens if Jesse doesn't take charge?
All in all though, this was an interesting and enjoyable book, and I would love to see more of Matthew and Jesse (maybe a sequel answering my questions??). I would definitely recommend this book, as it is a different take on the classic zombie book, and it is an entertaining (if often times gruesome) read.