Check out our review of The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings it’s the urban fantasy novel to read if you are in the mood for a book with ghosts.

Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links. That means we receive a small commission at no cost to you from any purchases you make through these links.


genre-icon-urbanfantasy
URBAN FANTASY

Book cover The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings

The Ballad of Perilous Graves
by Alex Jennings

Standalone
Released: June 21, 2022
465 Pages | ebook

read this book if you’re in the mood for
  • Ghosts
  • Magical New Orleans setting
  • trope 3
synopsis

The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings follows Perry, his little sister Bendy, their mysterious friend Peaches, and Casey Ravel, a trans man who recently moved back to New Orleans after leaving the city during Hurricane Katrina. Casey has a mystery of his own when he and his cousin, now a famous artist, notice that the graffiti they made as teens seem to be coming to life. The songs that keep NOLA alive have been stolen, and itโ€™s up to Perry, Bendy, and Peaches to help the cityโ€™s resident undead musician Doctor Professor retrieve the songs before the city begins to break down.

review

Jennings creates an even more magical and musical picture of New Orleans in this delightful urban fantasy. Those who call the Big Easy home will especially love this book with references to locations and events that locals will know. However, it is also written in a way that those who may not be familiar with the city will be able to follow along.

Jennings has created a magical love letter to New Orleans while not being afraid to mention its not-so-great parts, yet the love for the city is always prevalent. New Orleans has always held the imaginations of those who have a love of the supernatural, and The Ballad of Perilous Graves takes those magical elements and puts them to song; with descriptions so clear, you can almost hear the jazz as youโ€™re reading along.

The first couple of chapters of the book can be a little difficult to follow along with the various POVs and jumping almost immediately into action; however, as the story builds, it becomes easier.

I have called New Orleans home for nearly ten years, and I appreciated a story that, while set in a fantasy version of the town, still told a story that portrayed the real NOLA and managed to avoid the stereotypes associated with the city and its culture, yet still celebrating the things the city does well; jazz, food, and community.

in conclusion

The Ballad of Perilous Graves is a great summer read, and even if you canโ€™t travel to New Orleans, this book will take you there.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

One Comment