BAYOU BLUES is book one in Sierra Dean's new Genie McQueen series, a spin-off from the Secret McQueen series that I love. Genie is Secret's little sister, and we've seen her in action before in the wonderful urban fantasy setting of Secret McQueen, where snarky witches and vampires butt up against werewolves.

Because this series focuses on Genie, who is attending university in New Orleans, this book feels more Young Adult UF than the Secret books, but I'm good with that, because it's got everything else I love about Dean's writing. There's witty repartee, great pop culture references, and loads of action. There's even super creepy supernatural happenings that I will leave you to be surprised by. BAYOU BLUES is a rollicking ride from start to finish. And don't worry, if you haven't read the Secret books, you can follow this story without a problem.

Princess Eugenia "Genie" McQueen is the niece of the King of the South. Genie's twin brother Ben is being groomed to eventually take over Uncle Callum's place. Genie is both a werewolf and witch who recently helped her sister Secret stop a group of necromancers from taking over the world and saved NYC from the brink of annihilation, so she's something of a celebrity. But poor Genie would like to just hunker down and pretend to be human, going to college to get a degree. Callum has allowed Genie some length in her leash for a false feeling of freedom, but when Church of Morning threatens all weres, that thin veneer is destroyed as she is yanked back home where her uncle feels she will be safe. But Genie is not known for doing the safe or smart thing. When a fellow pack member Hank is kidnapped and held by the Church, Genie escapes with Hank's hot brother Wilder on an illicit rescue mission. There's a lot of action packed into these 247 pages, and its great fun.

Genie is a lot of fun. She's young, so we can forgive a lot of her stupidity on the basis of not knowing any better yet. I like how she's trying to be honorable in her relationships, but I feel confident in who will be her long term love interest in the series. And I really love how she stands up not only for herself, but for those around her who can't stand up on their own- that's a true hero, and I love that it's the female who's fulfilling that role.

There are several factions of bad guys poised to cause problems for Genie and her pack. The Coalition for a Pure America (CAPA) is prejudiced against shapeshifters and other supernaturals, and is advocating for legalized bigotry. Now, the cult-like Church of Morning has appeared and is promoting violence against shapeshifters as well. With so many human forces ranged against Genie and her allies, the fur flies in this tale. Genie's twin Ben is an ass, and I get the feeling that Genie is going to end up maturing over the course of the series and ascending to Queen of the South, displacing Ben. I can't wait to see that sanctimonious bastard Ben get his come-uppance! There are a few points where my willing suspension of disbelief is strongly challenged, but I thoroughly enjoy BAYOU BLUES, and am definitely on board for this next set of adventures to come from the fabulous author Sierra Dean.