I always love a good African diaspora-inspired story, and when it comes to weaving glimpses of African culture and spirituality into a novel, Veronica G. Henry excels. I first delved into the world of this author’s work in late 2022, when I picked up The Quarter Storm. Although it’s Henry’s second novel, I’m glad I read it first. Here’s my (long overdue) review of both The Quarter Storm and Bacchanal by the talented Veronica G. Henry.
The Quarter Storm: A Magical Murder Mystery
The Quarter Storm follows Mambo Reina Dumound, a Voudou practitioner from New Orleans who must investigate a murder before the local police ends up pinning it on her and her fellow vodouisants. This book is a contemporary fantasy, and Henry’s love for the backdrop on which Mambo Reina’s sleuthing takes place definitely shines through her vivid descriptions of a post-Katrina NOLA.
A pretty quick read, The Quarter Storm was a captivating mystery with beautifully flawed and intriguing characters and, of course, sprinkles of magic. And when I tell you I ate this book up, I mean it. As an often slow and distracted reader, I always appreciate it when a book captures my attention and refuses to let go. The Quarter Storm did just that. What I loved most about this book, though, was the respect that it shows for African spirituality, voudou, and elements of Haitian culture, too. I’m really looking forward to what Henry’s second installment in the Mambo Reina series (The Foreign Exchange) has in store.
Bacchanal: A Carnival Shadowed by Darkness
While I absolutely devoured The Quarter Storm from start to finish, I struggled a bit to finish Bacchanal. With a promising premise, a gorgeous cover, and a name that absolutely pulled me in (as an Afro-Caribbean person, when I see the word bacchanal, my interest is immediately piqued), I dove into Henry’s debut novel with high expectations – and at least 2/3rds of the book delivered.
The story follows Eliza Meeks – a young woman with the ability to communicate with animals who joins a traveling circus quite literally haunted by an otherworldly entity that is tied to her in more ways than she knows.
My favorite moments in Bacchanal were those moments when the carnival seemed to come alive – often, quite literally – with magic. There is one scene in particular involving a house of wax figures (no spoilers here) that I simply adored and I wish that the novel had more immersive moments like that. Or, I wish that at least it kept the same pace and vigor of its early scenes through to the end. Despite that, however, I will say that Bacchanal is definitely worth the read.
Have you read any of Veronica G. Henry’s works before? You can check out her books, including her most recently released one, The Canopy Keepers , here.
Khaila A. Gentle 