A Promise of Sirens

In debut author Barycz’s rowdy launch of the Pilgrim Archives series, a young woman navigates an alternate Detroit brimming with supernatural beings. Brigitte Laveau Fitzpatrick has impeccable magical lineage: her mother is a descendant of Vodou queen Marie Laveau and her father was Senior Pilgrim, tasked with keeping the city’s magical denizens in line, a position Brigette inherited. Now she has her hands full investigating several disturbing cases with her partner, Graceland, a Greek god. Someone is killing sirens who work in a gentlemen’s club, the Tomes & Bones magic shop is ransacked and a box of arrowheads stolen, and the vlkodlak (werewolves) are causing trouble by spreading a rumor of a cure for lycanthropy. As Brigette investigates how these strange occurrences may be connected, she struggles to keep the peace among the city’s bickering mystical factions. Barycz whisks together American and European folklore into a gumbo of murder mystery, political drama, and urban fantasy. While at times the overabundance of subplots and worldbuilding details make it difficult to get one’s bearings, Barycz tells the tale with enthusiasm and vigor. Readers will hope for more clarity but just as much fun in future installments. (July)