Book Review: "House of Arsceneaux" by Caterina Novelliere

“House of Arsceneaux” is a fast-paced paranormal romance, steeped with ancient history, Celtic mythology, and intertwined with Creole/Cajun culture. The novel follows Caitlin DeDanann, an overworked acquisitions attorney as she gets pulled into a new work project just as she’s about to jet off to New Orleans for a week of vacay. Caitlin gets more than she bargained for when she learns that the elusive CEO she’s been flown in to investigate is none other than vamp Evariste Gage Arsceneaux - a familiar figure who she’s drawn to immediately. While Evariste comes to terms with the fact that Caitlin is his 300-year-old wife incarnate (unbeknownst to her!), dark forces come to play in the bayou of New Orleans, trying to force the pair apart again.

With the help of some friends (aka spiritual guides and a grandmother who’s actually a goddess), Caitlin begins remembering parts of her past and her life with Evariste. She also begins to come into her own powers - just in time for an epic battle between the lovers, their evil vamp enemies and the amassed army, determined to pull the two apart. (Don’t worry - Caitlin’s got some help from her Fae friends, along with the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse…what could go wrong?)

I appreciated the amount of research that went into weaving past with present. The flashbacks and changes of names could have been more confusing but it was done with finesse and provided some important context to the history between the protagonists and antagonists in the story. With as many paranormal entities as this book had (vampires, witches, Celtic goddesses, Horsemen, Fae, etc.), it was done in a way that made sense, surprisingly.

This book was chock full of tropes: Second chance at love, fated mates, workplace romance, star-crossed lovers, time travel, touch her and die. I was there for it all! It also had just enough spice to convey the more intimate nature of Caitlin and Evariste’s relationship - and make the reader realize how their love and connection could survive a 300 year recess. The energy was palpable!

More than just “another vampire romance,” Novelliere’s novel has all the workings of a page-turning paranormal romance that spins modern and past NOLA culture, food, and happy endings into a gripping tale of long-lost love found, rekindled, and never to be messed with again.