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New Orleans is perhaps the most ‘other-worldly’ city on the planet. Its streets breathe magic, music and mystery like its inhabitants breathe air. From tales of ghosts on the Bayou, to vampires lounging in luxury – there is no end to the legends that surround the city. Which is why it’s the perfect setting for an Urban Fantasy, wreathed in missing people, magic, monsters and ass-kicking vigilantes. Cue Crack the Spine; a paranormal mystery-cum-LGBTQIA+ romance. With strong characters and action scenes and a gripping plot, I would challenge anyone not to fall in love with it.
The story starts with Tara; a student living alone who disappears without a trace. Her best friend, Frankie, is the only person who can advocate for her, and entices the members of Wayward Investigators to meet her with some nebulous threats. However, Frankie, is under the impression that Tara’s disappearance is purely ‘ordinary’ (for want of a better word), until the team come across a vile creature as they search for any sign of Tara. Unwittingly, she’s pulled into the murky paranormal underbelly of New Orleans; discovering shadows that move by themselves and that monsters are very, very real.
What was so entertaining about Crack the Spine was the colourful, vivid language that Lewellyn-Hughs uses. Even though I’ve never been to New Orleans, I could almost smell the rich spices and hear the thrum of music while reading. The characters were three-dimensional, with defining personalities and vocabulary. Diego and Jian were especially bright, with their easy dialogue. But each and every character had strong, believable backstories and arcs. Each of them having faced persecution for who they are and each of them escaping their pasts with the kindly Marcélite. Except, maybe Leif, who for the most part, remains a closed off giant – but still radiating his own pain and determination through his quiet contemplation.
If I was to criticise this book in any way, it would be that sometimes the prose feels a little jumbled. Almost as though the words have tumbled from Lewellyn-Hughs’ fingers quicker than the reader can keep up with. A forgotten comma here, a misplaced hyphen there leaves some sentences feeling hectic; much like the streets of New Orleans. It adds charm to the novel, for sure, but if they were more controlled, then Crack the Spine would be out of this world.
S. A.
First published on Reedsy Discovery as part of their ARC Programme. You can read the original review here.
Crack the Spine is available on Amazon. You can purchase it by clicking on the name of the book.