Reviews

Voodoo Dreams: A Novel of Marie Laveau by Jewell Parker Rhodes

violetspider's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

anxietyberry's review

challenging dark informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Incredible book featuring the syncretic religion of Vodou. A great way to learn about some of the concepts around mounting and loas.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Excrement, Self harm, Sexual violence, Slavery, Racism, Rape, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Incest, Sexism, and Death

dreavg's review

challenging dark sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mehitabels's review

3.0

"He smelled of ash and withered leaves."

lindseyzank's review

DNF @ pg. 220. Not the historical fiction I was hoping for. Lots of disturbing sex and rape and men trying desparately to control women in violent ways. Nope!

chawntay's review

2.0

Very dark and disturbing but also intriguing from a historical and religious aspect.

megatsunami's review

2.0

I can't really say I enjoyed this novel, well written though it was. Even though in the end Marie Laveau

Spoiler

was able to free herself of John

, I still didn't understand why the author chose to take one of the most powerful witchy figures in American history and portray her as primarily a victim. Also, there was a lot of violence, including domestic and sexual violence in this book - relevant but not enjoyable.

laurenbookwitchbitch's review

4.0

Seamlessly blending history, folklore, and fiction, Jewell Parker Rhodes writes with such poetry reading this was like walking into a fever dream. Historians debate the actual facts and legitimacy of famed Voodoo Queen Marie Lavaeu, and tourist attractions tout commodified, stereotypical, sensationalist, (offensive) versions of Voodoo to this day; Parker Rhodes presents this legitimate spirituality in all of its beauty and complexity. As rich as any other religion. She writes about the life of Marie as a Voodoo priestess and her rise to fame with such detail of character that truly humanizes this larger than life woman. From growing up in a remote bayou, to coming to New Orleans as a young woman, finding community, falling and losing in love, discovering her power and reconnecting with her ancestors, you will witness Marie stepping into her power and into her past with uncertainty and strength of heart. Never losing sight of the time and place it is set, Parker Rhodes writes about 1800s New Orleans and the Voodoo religion, how it relates to resisting oppression, fighting against slavery, keeping tradition, ancestry and African spiritualities alive even amid brutal circumstance. I am not qualified to speak on that experience. Parker Rhodes situates Marie finding herself and practicing her religion, rising as its most prominent practitioner with justice, hope, unflinching honesty and depth. “Voodoo Dreams: A Novel of Marie Laveau,” is a work of wonder, of darkness, of light and ghosts and memory.

Read this book if you: Maybe found Dr. Facilier song in Princess and the Frog catchy and fun, but always knew it was not an accurate representation of Voodoo. You have been or want to go to New Orleans, you wish Zora Neal Hurston wrote more fiction

Do NOT read this book if you: Aren’t ready to face some pretty big existential, religious, spiritual questions.

nikkihiii's review

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

berthe33's review

2.0

DNF