As a reader interested in fantasy stories set in New Orleans, and curious about how authors are handling the post-Katrina landscape, I found this book... just okay. I appreciated the diverse cast of characters, mirroring the diversity of real-life New Orleans, but beyond that there isn't much memorable here, isn't much added to the existing body of similar New Orleans-based novels with magic and gods and such.

Also, it's like this book isn't sure where it wants to be, on the spectrum from full-on Urban Fantasy to Magical Realism, so it just kind of muddles everything up, and not in a good way. It's not a bad book at all, but I was just bored most of the time.

Actual rating: 3.75 stars but rounded up to 4 stars!

The start of the story was okay but then things started to get crazy because someone already died and that's just the beginning of this book. During my time reading this, I got legit confused. I can’t say it's completely random but the book being disorganized is one thing and how it all still fits together is another. You really need to focus on the story when reading it. I consider its pace to be somewhere in between because it starts slow but quickens maybe a little too fast. Try to keep up but take in every single thing so that you can understand whatever is happening because there is a LOT going on.

There were some unexpected stuff happening right there. Things like profanities, betrayal, murder, etc. I never thought I'd read that in a fantasy book but I had low expectations for this book because honestly, I didn't know what to expect out of it. One thing I enjoyed was the starting bits that contain stories or info about different mythology and folklores.

The characters were great. Each one had a distinct personality and let me tell you, there were a lot of characters. I really liked the main character, Jude. He is so quirky and adorable but damn, he can be one dangerous man. I probably like him even more because of his dark humor. Another character I liked is Renaissance, Renai for short. First thing’s first, the name. It’s an unusual name but I think that it is so witty. At first, I thought she was just going to be one of those passing-by, filling-out-holes kind of characters but nooo. It gets better than that and she’s more involved in the story and gets more “screen time.” When I saw that the sequel was somehow about her, I got a little too excited so I’m going to watch out for that. Hooray for great characters!

The story went on longer than I expected but it's fine. This book actually took me a few days to continue it because I started this on the day before NYE. When I read some parts, I thought some of them were unnecessary and just made the book longer than it had to be but all-in-all, the book seemed complete and came with extra bits. The City of Lost Fortunes seemed to start out as boring and slow but became more intense as it came to the end. I would describe it as twisted, not just because of its characters but also because of its plot. I hope the sequel’s just as a sick read as the first one.

A big thanks to NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book. I also posted this review on my BookLikes page (nerdiiieee.booklikes,com).

You know how some books are so set in the context of a place that you desperately wish you could visit it and stay in the world of the story longer? This is exactly how I felt reading "The City of Lost Fortunes". This book is a beautiful love letter to New Orleans. I love how the city was just as much of a character in the story as the main cast, recent events like Hurricane Katrina having a real palpable effect on key plot points. New Orleans is beautiful and dangerous and otherworldly and I loved every minute of getting to explore it with Jude.

Speaking of Jude, what an amazing main character! He is your classic unreliable narrator, charming enough that you allow his obvious lies by omission to just pass you by and forgive him all his wrongs. The archetypal trickster. I need more stories with him in them, please. That's not to say I didn't like any of the other characters, though. Regal was complex in all the ways I like my female protagonists to be, not entirely trustworthy, but a lot of fun to watch at work. Side characters like Sal rounded the story out perfectly.

I kind of want to compare this one to "American Gods". The fusion of Americana and mythology is the same, and I loved the opening references to the common threads between different mythologies in each chapter. Also the tarot cards, that was a genius choice for breaking up the novel and referring to bits of the action. But "The City of Lost Fortunes" is so much its own thing that comparing it to Gaiman feels like I'm not really doing it justice. I can't wait to see where this series ends up going.

The City of Lost Fortunes is a beautifully written novel that seemed a bit like a mythology textbook on steroids. I went into this book somehow thinking it was YA magical realism? Not exactly sure where that idea came from because that is NOT what this is. I think I may have heard someone talking about it on Booktube and misunderstood the synopsis. That out of the way, what is this book? It is urban fantasy, which if we are being honest, is not my favorite subgenre of fantasy to say the least, and I would call it New Adult versus YA or Adult.

The story follows Jude, who when we meet him, appears to be a simple street magician in New Orleans. In fact, he is actually a demigod...I think...we follow him into a card game where there are gods, vampires, etc., involved. They are playing with tarot cards but it sounded like poker and it is for his talents, gifts, fates, futures...I seriously don't know. A god gets murdered and then Jude must investigate the incident to figure out whodunit so he can get his magic back? There was A LOT going on in this book. The side characters were all from different culture's mythologies/belief systems. So, basically it was like a hodgepodge of all types of mythological beings and creatures from all around the world. This was really cool. I did enjoy it and the author did include so very interesting facts/beliefs behind all most of these beings as well. It was just hard for me to keep track of who was who and what their special powers, etc., were.

This being said, the writing in this book is absolutely beautiful. It has such a gorgeous lyrical quality to it. I really wish the plot could have been a little less hectic so that I could focus more on that incredible styling as opposed to trying to figure out what the heck was going on. Maybe it's me? I don't know. I am really interested to see what other readers thought of this one. I haven't read any reviews of it thus far. Again, the concept of it was excellent, I just feel like the execution could have been a little less hectic and perhaps more concise. If that makes sense?

If there is a continuation of this story, I think it is the start to a series maybe, I would definitely check it out. Perhaps more of the pieces would fall into place for me. I did have fun reading it, I laughed a bit and there was definitely a ton of action. Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with an e-copy to read and review. I always appreciate the opportunity!

I have to admit that the great cover art caught my attention initially but the blurb was very intriguing. After finishing the book, it is really good. It reminded me of early Sandman Slim books with the magical realism/things happening right in front of the non-magical people who don't notice. This book had a good balance of magic, folklore, mystery, and sense of place because the city of New Orleans plays such an important part.

Jude is a street magician who has the magical ability to find lost things, a gift passed down from his god/demigod father. After Hurricane Katrina struck, he has been hiding because the storm caused many things to be lost which messed with his magic. The Fortune God of New Orleans is murdered and Jude is sucked back into his old world where he must find out who murdered the Fortune God and uncover a sinister plot for the soul of the city. I found this to be a fast paced book with great characters, lots of descriptions about New Orleans that made me feel like I was there and a plot that kept me very interested until the last page.

The book felt like it was pretty contained so I'm not sure if the author is planning to write more books about these characters or the city itself but I would be very interested in reading them. Excellent debut novel.

Overall, The City of Lost Fortunes took my breath away. At first, this book almost lost me because of the numerous side characters with seemingly little significance to the plot. There were many time where I wanted to just put the book down, which is why it took me several months to read all the way through to the end.

However, this book is almost a love story to the city of New Orleans. I picked up this book solely because it took place in New Orleans and it contained the supernatural/paranormal nature famously found in the area. There were vampires, Tricksters, entertainers, mythology, and a seemingly decent take on voodoo lore and culture. Little details, like mentions of Abita beer and descriptions of gumbo and jambalaya dishes, brought back so many memories for me from my own visits and created quite a large feeling of nostalgia to return.
The author began writing this book at the cusp of Katrina’s landfall and he finalized the book may years later after seeing both first- and secondhand evidence of the toil the storm took on the city and its residents.

Overall, I would say this is a story of hope and acceptance, which makes this an enjoyable read for all those who love the city and its cultural identity.

A few badass Tricksters don’t hurt, either.

Thank you Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Netgalley for the ARC of this title in exchange for my review. It took me quite a while to get t9mthis, but once I started I powered through in a few days. I really enjoyed this story of current day (2011) New Orleans imbued with the magical characters and situations that seem to fit New Orleans so perfectly (from my tourist perspective). I found some parts of the plot regarding the plans of the gods to be kind of confusing but it didn’t detract from understanding and enjoying the overall novel. I’m interested to see what the next book does, as this is intended to be a series. I recommend this title.

This book reminded me of everything I enjoyed in Neil Gaiman's <i>Good Omens</i> and <i>Anansi Boys</i> but better in some ways. I loved pretty much all the characters as well as Camp's blending of different mythologies into one complex tangle. Camp's writing is a little over-descriptive, but I found it worked in the context of the story style; I wonder if it would sound better read aloud.

One of my favorite things about this book, though, is the setting. New Orleans is a character in her own right in the book, and Camp never lets the reader forget the strength of the people who live there nor the city itself. I don't think this book could have worked in any other city, or at least not as well.

The City of Lost Fortunes has an intriguing premise. Set in New Orleans post-Katrina, it’s about the son of a magician finding his way when the local magical authority needs a job done. There’s a lot to enjoy, but it feels like a story that could use editing with an eye to overall pacing.

The writing is descriptive and evocative. The underlying premise of a card game with high stakes is intriguing. Camp seems to be a writer in love with writing, with crafting each sentence with an eye towards building a crystal-clear image. While this can be a fabulous, and indeed desirable skill, in this case description careens out of control. I know, I know; I’m the same person that complained about Morning taking more time to describe a skirt than a door in Darkfever. But it is possible to over-describe, particularly if it is coupled with a lack of action. Let me illustrate, as the protagonist makes it past an obstacle and approaches the house:

“Jude rose to his feet and stepped onto the rot-wood porch, hesitating for only a moment before reaching for the knob. The handle turned, but the door, swollen into its frame, refused to budge. Jude put his shoulder into it and went sprawling into a dark, cramped space filled with cobwebs and the musty, nose-tickling stink of mold. Inside, entropy had long been at work, leaving behind crumbling Sheetrock and exposed brick, years of grime and dust. Jude stood in a long hallway, barely able to make out the outline of a door at the far end. When he reached it, doing his best to ignore the scuttling shapes amid the debris on the floor, he saw that it had been painted, recently, with bright red paint. He pulled it open, his pulse thundering in his ears.”

That is by no means an unusual example; that much detail is used for both significant and insignificant details. I was left with an impression of one active verb per sentence. For instance, though the prior sentence contains a plethora of verbs, it is followed with two paragraphs describing the room and the occupants, while in the third, Jude finally “stepped inside” and “studied.” This is followed by a description of Jude’s reaction to what he is seeing.

Each chapter begins with a entry about a certain story time; creation myths, Tricksters, and draws parallels across traditions. The writing is flowery, beautiful and, dare I say it, virtually pointless.

I think I’m only partially a visual person reader; growing up on mysteries, myths, fairy tales, and a total lack of Brandon Sanderson, means I learned to focus on plot. Eventually my stories also had character development beyond the ‘orphan embracing heroic destiny.’ While Camp attempts to integrate Jude’s self discovery into the story, it feels more like abrupt change in personality. For the most part we are hearing what Jude says about himself, not seeing how he actually acts. His flashbacks, for instance, are like someone at a party telling a story, not reliving a scene, so it feels somewhat unreliable although the scene is described with clarity. You know, when that person says, “I used to be like that, but now I’m not,” and you think, ‘uh, I disagree,’ but keep your mouth shut to wait for the proof.

So. Interesting story but with a somewhat confusing framework and plot that is not made more clear by the variety of myths and traditions. However, a number of immediate conflicts keep momentum until Jude’s predicament becomes more obvious. For me, the last third was very engaging, but I was close to putting it down a couple of times between 25-50%, I think. I just don’t need the scene described so completely to enter a story, and it started to seem pointless to read if I was only looking for plot points. Other’s mileage may certainly vary.

Two and a half stars, rounding up because Camp is a skilled writer. He just needs someone to make him drill down to the story core.

Many thanks to Allie, who joined me on a buddy read for this one, and to NetGalley, for an advance ereader copy. Quotes are subject to change, but I think conveys the style well.

The City of Lost Fortunes is the kind of book I really, really want to like. Bryan Camp writes beautifully, slowly unwrapping the story with elegant descriptions and solid dialogue. He's built a complex world of urban magic that blends seamlessly into the real magic of New Orleans and the story sounds fascinating: our hero inadvertently joins a high-stakes poker game that he discovers too late has real life and death consequences.

Unfortunately, while reading this book I felt a lot like a kid in the backseat of the car on a long trip who can't stop asking "Are we there yet?" For all the beautiful writing, there just isn't a lot of action. I'm also not sure if I just don't have enough experience with urban fantasy, because I frequently felt like there were terms, people, and ideas that I was supposed to already understand but that meant nothing to me. I don't know if my inexperience was the case or if some of those things needed to be explained better.

This is definitely an author to watch -- there was just so much that was good in this book that I'm looking forward to giving this author another try. But The City of Lost Fortunes will probably be preferred by readers who prefer pretty prose over action and plot progression.

DNF

Everything about this book is my catnip, but sadly, I couldn’t make it far because the writing just wasn’t to my taste. Besides the info dumps about Jude’s power that just kept coming one after the other, the narration felt incredibly distant; I much prefer a close third person POV. Also, the writing itself felt clunky to me, and I couldn’t look past that to dig into the actual story and worldbuilding, which actually seemed pretty cool.

With a comp title like AMERICAN GODS, a murder mystery, and one of my favorite settings (and cities), this should have been a home run for me. Sadly, it just didn’t work out.

So many stories are set in New Orleans where the author has never lived in the city (sometimes never even visited) and I'm always nervous picking up a book set here because it's so rare that an author gets it right.

Bryan Camp definitely got it right. New Orleans is its own character in this story and I love how she's portrayed. Fully fleshed. Nuanced. Full of the culture and ambiance that is New Orleans.

I found the pacing a bit slow at times but I really enjoyed Jude's story. It's a new take on the different mythologies and I like the way it leaves room at the table for everyone. There were twists and turns that I didn't see coming and Jude's kind of an asshole, but in a likable way, which is always a plus.

The mystery aspect was very well done and there was just enough humor stirred into the mix. I wanted a little less narrative distance overall, I think that would have helped the pacing in some spots, but a fun read and a great New Orleans fantasy. Can't wait to read what comes next.

I love it. It has everything. Gods, zombies, voodoos, magic... Every chapter starts with different mytological stories. The story unique to me. I love reading about mythology but reading with a different perspective is amazing.

Bryan Camp had the idea for this book as he was evacuating New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. This book is set in New Orleans six years after Katrina took place. Jude Dubuisson has a magical ability to find lost things and after the hurricane, his powers went a little crazy. A magical poker game sets him on a journey to discover himself, solve a crime and race against time.

The genre of this book is considered “urban fantasy.” This is something I have not read before and it reminded me a little of the “Vampire Diaries” television spin-off, “The Originals.” Vampires, magicians, mythological creatures, zombies, gods, and demigods all play a role in this story. Many cultural beliefs and religions play a role in this fantasy.

I thought the story itself was intriguing, but the writing was boring. There a few times throughout the story I found myself zoning out. I also did not like the author’s writing style.

I don’t usually read urban fantasy but this one sounded different enough to give it a try. I live near New Orleans so the setting is familiar to me, and I think the “modern” handling of the book’s “gods” would appeal to fans of Neil Gaiman or early Tim Powers.

The author is a professional.; that’s clear form page 1. This is very well written, unlike many titles I’ve come across in the past few years. The author knows what to say, when to say it, and more importantly, what not to say. If urban fantasy is your thing, give it a try!

I'm not sure if I'm more disappointed in this book or in myself for getting my hopes so high. Whatever's the verdict, though, one thing is painfully clear: this was not a book for me. The imagery was incredible & the comparison to Gaiman's "American Gods" really spot on. But apart from that? The writing itself and just the general feeling of this novel was as far from what I usually enjoy as humanly possible. I really hate to let it go unfinished but with every read page I liked it a little bit less & I don't want to end up bitter enough to start ranting.

Maybe someday I will give it another go. Hopefully, on a better day.

This was an EXTRAORDINARY story, full of magic and symbolism and snarky bad actors (and even snarkier good ones). There were secrets and betrayals and surprises around every corner, as well as life lessons and good old-fashioned storytelling... The writing was excellent. The pacing was excellent. The characters were brilliantly-executed. The plot was original and engaging and fun to read through all its myriad twists and turns. There honestly isn't a single bad thing I can say - except that it ended, and I'm not sure if there will be a sequel!

Seriously - Bryan Camp has created a world in post-Katrina New Orleans that is absolutely spot-on perfect. His blending of the supernatural and the natural is seamless. The incorporation of gods from multiple pantheons and geographies was fascinating - both for the comparisons and for the interplay between them. Jude is a fantastically flawed, perfectly believable hero (and, occasionally, anti-hero); his journey is a dark and disturbing one, but very relatable and thoroughly enjoyable to partake in (from the sidelines, at least - I wouldn't have wanted to *actually* be there!), largely because of the skill Camp displays on page after page as he keeps readers tap-dancing among landmines right along with the characters.

This was an excellent first novel - I hope to hell there's more to come, because Camp has told WAY too good a story for this to be the only one!

Bryan Camp dishes out an exquisite urban fantasy of a post-Katrina New Orleans.
Delicious backstory, devious players, and thoroughly delightful storytelling.

At its heart this book is a love story to the New Orleans that was (before Katrina) and what it is now (still coming back). New Orleans has always, in its 300 years, been a city surrounded by mystery, things seen and unseen, unexpected and different. Add in different cultural influences and its no wonder that most New Orleanians can speak with some merit to the different faiths and cultures, as they continue to influence modern culture to this day. But what HAS changed is the city's soul. It was forever changed by Katrina and a part of it's fortune was lost, never to return.

And that is the central theme of this story- while the Gods of New Orleans play out a poker game for Jude's life, it's really the city itself that if fighting for it's breath, and chance to try to bring back its magical essence. It's hard to believe that this is Camp's debut, as rich in its texture and nuances, as it is. But it is the story that those from New Orleans will recognize in their souls. You may leave your heart in San Francisco, but your soul? No it wants to stay in New Orleans, and it will recognize the city in each of the characters, and hold its breath, to see the outcome. Camp gives us an amazing allegory, that is a 'can't put down read', that draws you in from the first page. Be prepared for lots of late late night reading once you start this book, and if you love NOLA, be sure to read it!

I'm a big fan of the "asshole gods and the way they mess up people's lives" genre, and this is a wonderful example. Jude Dubuisson, who has the gift of finding lost things from his father, one of New Orleans' myriad gods, gets drawn into divine schemes and squabbles when he finds himself at a card game, playing against trickster gods, with stakes that are both unclear and unimaginably high. When the Fortune god is murdered, Jude searches for the killer and uncovers a plot against the city itself; but this plot is less a murder mystery and more a hero's journey for self, as well as a tour through the varied mythologies of the many cultures of New Orleans.

The beginning's a little shaky, some overwrought prose with a lot of exposition dump about Jude's past that felt like it could have been a whole book in itself, but as the story begins to unfold it shrugs off its awkwardness and takes on life. I liked the careful structure around the tarot cards that form the hand Jude must play, the metaphor brought to literal life, and the various gods from many pantheons that all have an interest in the outcome.