By M.R. Fournet
New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages.
Twelve-year-old Marius Grey is a cemetery boy in New Orleans. That means he is responsible for tending to the ghostly residents of Greystone Cemetery and watching after them until they move to the next place. After his father disappeared and his mother died, Marius was left an orphan, but he isn't quite alone -- he is accompanied by the disembodied voice of his mother who only he can hear. Other than that, Marius spends his days like any other kid -- attending a special school for fringe kids, those who are on the border between the living world and the supernatural world. But at night, he hunts monsters. He isn't supposed to. Monster hunting is dangerous and involves navigating the seedy underbelly of New Orlean's monster bounty-hunting market. But Marius is desperate to bring his mother back from the dead, and that means earning a lot of mystic coins. Of course, the only person who knows his plan is his best friend, Rhiannon, a flesh-eating mermaid. So there is no one to talk him out of going after an especially dangerous bounty -- the infamous rougarou.
This book is the start of a fun and spooky fantasy series from debut author M.R. Fournet. The author builds an enticing and exciting world that honors the history, culture, and tradition of New Orleans, while also introducing a complex and unique magical system with its own rules, customs, and culture. To say this book is immersive might undersell it. Additionally, Marius's own motivations -- however misguided -- are approached with empathy which results in a well-composed rumination on grief, loss, and death. But this book is not just a heartfelt read, plenty of monster battles add in lots of bone-chilling action and a little light gore. The storyline is well-paced, hurtling to an inevitable cliff-hanger ending and a promised sequel. Great for fans of Lockwood & Co. or Small Spaces.
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