Six Magical Species Walk into a French Quarter Bar…
Suzanne Johnson
The Sentinels of New Orleans series is set in a vast multiverse where mythical gods live across the border from vampires, and famous people become immortal through the magic of human memory (which is how Louis Armstrong and Truman Capote appeared in the series, and pirate Jean Lafitte is a major series character). Here’s a quick rundown of the six major non-human groups hanging out in New Orleans during Mardi Gras in FRENCHMAN STREET—and plotting a war.
1. WIZARDS
--Types of magic: physical; rituals and potions; creation and illusion; psychic. A wizard is usually strong in only one area.
--Are fully integrated into the human world, although the humans don’t know it. Until Hurricane Katrina tore down the veil between the human world and the Beyond, the wizard sentinels were in charge of guarding the borders into the human world. Now, not so much.
--The heroine of the series, DJ Jaco, is a wizard who also has elven DNA, so she can do a mix of wizard’s and elven magic. This has led to, er, problems. She is the currently unemployed sentinel.
--Personality traits: Impatient, surly, tend to be sarcastic, have a love of politics.
--Weaknesses: their physical magic does not work outside the human world.
2. ELVES
--Types of magic: mind-reading of humans and other species, which increases with touch. Can influence behavior and thoughts of others in close proximity. Each of four clans has its own unique abilities.
--Until a few years ago, the elves had remained in their own ancestral Land of Elfheim. Currently, only one of the four clans is an adult. Quince Randolph (aka the prettiest elf on earth or anywhere else) is Lord of Elfheim and a fire elf—he can make people spontaneously combust.
--Personality traits: Smart, imperious, devious, extremely attractive and willing to use it. Find human emotions like love somewhat alien.
--Weaknesses: the elves’ mental magic doesn’t work well on other elves, so their internal squabbles tend to be brutal and physical.
3. FAERIES
--Types of magic: 1) Arch, which is what we think of as manipulation of natural science—weather or genetics, for example; 2) Academy, which is manipulation of physical sciences and technology. Most faeries possess only one kind of magic; a person must have both Arch and Academy magic to rule the Kingdom of Faerie. All faeries can use glamour to change their appearance, which is how a spate of faux-celebrities (George Clooney on a unicorn, anyone?) will be riding in Mardi Gras parades.
--The Kingdom of Faerie is currently in the middle of a civil war that’s spreading into New Orleans, as the High Prince of Summer makes plans to infiltrate Mardi Gras and out all the preternaturals to the humans. The fae are the largest preternatural group.
--Personality traits: Arrogant, short-tempered, more than a little cray-cray.
--Weaknesses: Lack of self-control; inability to lie; aversion to metals.
4. HISTORICAL UNDEAD
--Types of magic: Their only “magic” is their immortality—they are give live by the magic of human memory, so if someone like pirate Jean Lafitte is well-remembered in the human world (and he is), he can’t be killed. Well, he can die, but he’ll be back in a week or two and be really angry.
--The Historical Undead live primarily in “Old Orleans,” kind of a wild-west bordertown between the human city of New Orleans and the Beyond, where the ancestral homes of the species can be found. Most don’t have much interest in the affairs of modern humans, although Jean Lafitte is an exception.
--Personality traits: They retain the abilities and personalities they had in their human lives.
--Weaknesses: Even though they can’t be permanently killed, their lack of real magic renders them a limited role in conflicts between the other species.
5. SHIFTERS AND WERES
--Types of magic: Shifters are born and change instantaneously; weres are made, have difficult shifts, and are called by the moon. They have great physical strength and heal quickly.
--The shifters and weres are fully integrated in human society, and some work for a secret FBI division. They have traditionally worked for the wizards in areas of security. An exception is the water species, including the merfolk, who are also fully integrated in human society but do not align themselves with the wizards. The water species are politically neutral.
--Personality traits: Shifters are solitary and all tend to be alphas; weres are organized in packs with a single alpha.
--Weaknesses: Some of the true shifter forms are not practical in some settings. Merman Rene Delachaise, for example, can half-shift into classic merman form, or can fully shift into a freshwater or saltwater dolphin. He does, however, need water. Canid shifter Alex Warin turns into an impressive pony-sized dog, but he probably couldn’t best a werewolf.
6. VAMPIRES
--Types of magic: Vampires can teleport short distances, can control whether their bites are painful or pleasurable, and can alter memories.
--Although the vampires maintain a strong (but hidden) presence in the human world, they also still spend time in their ancestral home, the Realm of Vampyre, and are led by a Regent. Vampires feed from other vampires of the opposite sex, but human blood is like addictive candy to them. (Elves taste really, really bad.)
--Personality traits: Disloyal and self-absorbed, pretty, good at business.
--Weaknesses: Their willingness to work as mercenaries has led to distrust among the other species. They have little interest in preternatural politics, which makes them vulnerable to being manipulated.
New Orleans is awash with preternaturals right now, with Mardi Gras as their final showdown to see who is the most powerful. Where would your loyalties lie?
by Suzanne Johnson
July 24, 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Suzanne Johnson
ISBN: 978-0-9968220-4-6
Number of pages: 352
Word Count: approx. 99,250
Cover Artist: Robin Ludwig Design Inc.
The uneasy truce between the preternatural species of New Orleans has shattered, with wizards and elves, shifters and vampires—not to mention the historical undead—struggling for ultimate control of the city, including the humans who still think they’re atop the food chain.
They aren’t, however—and the Summer Prince of Faerie wants them to know it.
Stuck in the middle? One unemployed wizard sentinel. For DJ Jaco, war makes for strange bedfellows as she finally embraces her wizard-elven heritage and strikes a deal with the devil so she and her ragtag band of allies can return to defend her hometown. After all, when the undead French pirate Jean Lafitte is the mayor’s newest consultant, things could go horribly wrong.
War is coming to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras, with the elves and wizards lined up on opposite sides, the shifters with a new leader, the vampires promising loyalty to the highest bidder, and the soul of the Crescent City resting on the outcome of the civil war going on in Faerie between the rival princes of summer and winter.
Mardi Gras Day is approaching fast, and the line between friends and enemies grows thin as DJ tries to stave off open warfare on the St. Charles Avenue parade route.
Laissez les bons temps rouler…but be careful, or the good times might roll too close for comfort.
July 24, 2018
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Suzanne Johnson
ISBN: 978-0-9968220-4-6
Number of pages: 352
Word Count: approx. 99,250
Cover Artist: Robin Ludwig Design Inc.
The uneasy truce between the preternatural species of New Orleans has shattered, with wizards and elves, shifters and vampires—not to mention the historical undead—struggling for ultimate control of the city, including the humans who still think they’re atop the food chain.
They aren’t, however—and the Summer Prince of Faerie wants them to know it.
Stuck in the middle? One unemployed wizard sentinel. For DJ Jaco, war makes for strange bedfellows as she finally embraces her wizard-elven heritage and strikes a deal with the devil so she and her ragtag band of allies can return to defend her hometown. After all, when the undead French pirate Jean Lafitte is the mayor’s newest consultant, things could go horribly wrong.
War is coming to New Orleans in time for Mardi Gras, with the elves and wizards lined up on opposite sides, the shifters with a new leader, the vampires promising loyalty to the highest bidder, and the soul of the Crescent City resting on the outcome of the civil war going on in Faerie between the rival princes of summer and winter.
Mardi Gras Day is approaching fast, and the line between friends and enemies grows thin as DJ tries to stave off open warfare on the St. Charles Avenue parade route.
Laissez les bons temps rouler…but be careful, or the good times might roll too close for comfort.
Excerpt:
I turned to glare at the unicorn. It was hanging around for some reason.
“Can you talk? If not, what are you waiting for?” I made a shooing motion. “Go home to your whack-job master.”
Because we needed to find out how it got to our remote beach in the Beyond.
“I’ll find a rope—maybe we can make a halter,” Rene said, walking toward the house.
Jean also seemed to have had his fill of unicorn wrangling. “Bah. I shall depart for Old Orleans, Drusilla. There are people with whom I must discuss matters of import, and perhaps I might discover the truth about Christof.”
Fine. Leave me with the merman and the unicorn.
He turned and walked into the transport, disappearing in seconds. He hadn’t removed his boots, but he had held his pistol out of the water. The pirate had his priorities straight.
“Here is my message.”
I whirled to look at the unicorn, who was now doing his best Mr. Ed impression.
“I knew it.” That freaking unicorn could talk; he’d been waiting to get me alone.
I held up the elven staff, and the unicorn had the good sense to back up a couple of steps. I slipped my left hand into my jeans pocket, fingering a couple of potions I’d cooked up in this rustic paradise using a generator-powered hot plate and my own blood. My physical magic wouldn’t work outside the human world, but my potions and charms were fine. The staff worked everywhere.
“Okay, start talking, horse.”
The unicorn managed to look offended. “Here is my message,” he repeated. “His Royal Majesty Florian will be crowned King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond in two weeks. You are—”
“Wait.” I shook the staff at him, and sparks flew out its tip. “What do you mean, ‘King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond’?”
What in the name of Merlin was that madman up to?
The unicorn tossed his head and looked even grumpier. “Here is my message,” he repeated for the third time. “His Royal Majesty Florian will be crowned King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond in two weeks. You are invited to attend and pledge fealty at his coronation in New Orleans at the apex of the celebration the humans call Mardi Gras. Should you die before the appointed time, this invitation may be considered null and void.”
And with that, the unicorn turned, took a big, steaming dump on the sand near my feet, and made to trot back down the beach from whence he came. I flipped the lid off one of the charms in my pocket, chased him down the beach, and tossed it on him. I only hit his tail, which, considering it was a freezing charm, only made said tail freeze at a ninety-degree angle.
“Stop, unicorn, or I’ll toast your rump like a potroast!” I yelled, aiming the staff. I sent a warning zap of fire onto his rump. My aim had improved a lot in months since I’d blown up my own SUV and burned down half of Six Flags New Orleans. I’d had lots of time to practice.
Unfortunately, the shot only made the unicorn fly into a gallop. I had no choice but to run after him and hope I could keep him in sight by moonlight.
I turned to glare at the unicorn. It was hanging around for some reason.
“Can you talk? If not, what are you waiting for?” I made a shooing motion. “Go home to your whack-job master.”
Because we needed to find out how it got to our remote beach in the Beyond.
“I’ll find a rope—maybe we can make a halter,” Rene said, walking toward the house.
Jean also seemed to have had his fill of unicorn wrangling. “Bah. I shall depart for Old Orleans, Drusilla. There are people with whom I must discuss matters of import, and perhaps I might discover the truth about Christof.”
Fine. Leave me with the merman and the unicorn.
He turned and walked into the transport, disappearing in seconds. He hadn’t removed his boots, but he had held his pistol out of the water. The pirate had his priorities straight.
“Here is my message.”
I whirled to look at the unicorn, who was now doing his best Mr. Ed impression.
“I knew it.” That freaking unicorn could talk; he’d been waiting to get me alone.
I held up the elven staff, and the unicorn had the good sense to back up a couple of steps. I slipped my left hand into my jeans pocket, fingering a couple of potions I’d cooked up in this rustic paradise using a generator-powered hot plate and my own blood. My physical magic wouldn’t work outside the human world, but my potions and charms were fine. The staff worked everywhere.
“Okay, start talking, horse.”
The unicorn managed to look offended. “Here is my message,” he repeated. “His Royal Majesty Florian will be crowned King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond in two weeks. You are—”
“Wait.” I shook the staff at him, and sparks flew out its tip. “What do you mean, ‘King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond’?”
What in the name of Merlin was that madman up to?
The unicorn tossed his head and looked even grumpier. “Here is my message,” he repeated for the third time. “His Royal Majesty Florian will be crowned King of Faerie and of All Species of Earth and Beyond in two weeks. You are invited to attend and pledge fealty at his coronation in New Orleans at the apex of the celebration the humans call Mardi Gras. Should you die before the appointed time, this invitation may be considered null and void.”
And with that, the unicorn turned, took a big, steaming dump on the sand near my feet, and made to trot back down the beach from whence he came. I flipped the lid off one of the charms in my pocket, chased him down the beach, and tossed it on him. I only hit his tail, which, considering it was a freezing charm, only made said tail freeze at a ninety-degree angle.
“Stop, unicorn, or I’ll toast your rump like a potroast!” I yelled, aiming the staff. I sent a warning zap of fire onto his rump. My aim had improved a lot in months since I’d blown up my own SUV and burned down half of Six Flags New Orleans. I’d had lots of time to practice.
Unfortunately, the shot only made the unicorn fly into a gallop. I had no choice but to run after him and hope I could keep him in sight by moonlight.
About the Author:
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On Aug. 28, 2005, Suzanne Johnson loaded two dogs, a cat, a friend, and her mom into a car and fled New Orleans in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Four years later, she began weaving her experiences and love for her city into the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, beginning with Royal Street (2012), of which Frenchman Street is the sixth and final book in the story arc. She also has written Pirateship Down and The Consort, both set in the Sentinels world, and the standalone Christmas in Dogtown.
She grew up in rural Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, which means she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.
She can be found online at her website or her blog.
As Susannah Sandlin, she writes multiple award-winning paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including The Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance, suspense duology The Collectors, romantic suspense series, the Wilds of the Bayou romantic suspense series, and the standalones Storm Force and Chenoire.
Suzanne currently lives in Auburn, Alabama, where she works as a full-time author and copyeditor.
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On Aug. 28, 2005, Suzanne Johnson loaded two dogs, a cat, a friend, and her mom into a car and fled New Orleans in the hours before Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
Four years later, she began weaving her experiences and love for her city into the Sentinels of New Orleans urban fantasy series, beginning with Royal Street (2012), of which Frenchman Street is the sixth and final book in the story arc. She also has written Pirateship Down and The Consort, both set in the Sentinels world, and the standalone Christmas in Dogtown.
She grew up in rural Alabama, halfway between the Bear Bryant Museum and Elvis’ birthplace, and lived in New Orleans for fifteen years, which means she has a highly refined sense of the absurd and an ingrained love of SEC football and fried gator on a stick.
She can be found online at her website or her blog.
As Susannah Sandlin, she writes multiple award-winning paranormal romance and romantic suspense, including The Penton Vampire Legacy paranormal romance, suspense duology The Collectors, romantic suspense series, the Wilds of the Bayou romantic suspense series, and the standalones Storm Force and Chenoire.
Suzanne currently lives in Auburn, Alabama, where she works as a full-time author and copyeditor.
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