Lipstick Voodoo (Kincaid Strange, #2) in Audiobook Junkies

Jan 13, 2019 Mogsy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, audiobook, urban, paranormal, ghosts, arcs-and-galleys, review-copy, zombies

4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/20/...

It was nice getting back into the world of Kincaid Strange with Lipstick Voodoo, and reading it has made me realize how much I’d missed this kind of urban fantasy. Thing is, I’m just not reading as much of the genre as I used to. I’ve gotten pickier these days, and my UF reads are mostly limited to series I’ve already started and to only books that I feel are breaking the mold. While I would hesitate to label the Kincaid S 4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/01/20/...

It was nice getting back into the world of Kincaid Strange with Lipstick Voodoo, and reading it has made me realize how much I’d missed this kind of urban fantasy. Thing is, I’m just not reading as much of the genre as I used to. I’ve gotten pickier these days, and my UF reads are mostly limited to series I’ve already started and to only books that I feel are breaking the mold. While I would hesitate to label the Kincaid Strange novels as “typical”, admittedly they do follow a certain type of formula, containing a lot of the tropes often associated with the genre. At the same time though, I’m guessing that’s where all the warm and fuzzy down-earth-vibes I’m getting are coming from.

Lipstick Voodoo is the sequel to The Voodoo Killings, and picks up soon after the events of the first book. As one of the only few licensed (and legit) paranormal practitioners on the entire west coast, Kincaid Strange has got her hands full with new jobs, and yet she’s still always nearly broke. At the moment, simply trying to keep her zombie roommate “alive” and in one piece is draining her bank account. Nathan Cade used to be a pretty big deal on the 90’s Seattle grunge scene before he died in a boating accident at the height of his fame, and until recently, he’s spent the last two decades or so continuing his musical career as a ghost. But now, due to a magical ritual gone wrong, he is trapped in an animated corpse that is slowly decomposing, and if Kincaid doesn’t find a solution to the problem soon, his spirit will die along with its vessel.

Meanwhile, Kincaid is also in trouble with Gideon, the ghost of a sorcerer who is currently furious with her for destroying a body he had intended to inhabit. Now Gideon figures she owes him a huge debt, and he’s not going to rest until it is exacted. As if her life wasn’t complicated enough, Kincaid is also trying to sort out her feelings for Aaron, her ex-boyfriend who is a detective on the police force. The reopening of a twenty-year-old paranormal case has led to Aaron calling her up for her expertise, and the fact that it involves a murdered rocker who was a contemporary of Nathan Cade’s has both the detective and our protagonist wondering if her undead roommate may have had something to do with the death.

Lipstick Voodoo was everything I wanted—fast and fun, with just the right amount of offbeat humor and charm. We mostly have our main character to thank for that. In some ways, Kincaid Strange reminds me a bit of a modernized Anita Blake (but savvier and less raunchy), most likely due to her supernatural ability to draw energy from the otherworld to fuel her necromantic magic. But while she may conform to the familiar archetype of the urban fantasy female protagonist (e.g., strong and independent, to the point of preferring to work alone; having few female friends and strained relationships with remaining family members; always getting in trouble with the powerful head honchos of the paranormal community because of her snarky, sometimes impetuous attitude; dealing with a tricky situation with an on-again-off-again beau, etc., etc., etc.), Kincaid also possesses a number of qualities that endeared me to her personality. For one thing, unlike a lot of bull-headed heroines who can’t see past their own self-importance, she knows what her weaknesses are and isn’t afraid to take an L if it means fighting another day. She’s also very loyal to the people she cares about. And slowly but surely, she’s coming around to the idea that it’s okay not to have to fight one’s battles alone.

On the world-building side of things, I’m once more impressed. As any fan of this genre knows, establishing the setting and a “sense of place” is always a huge component of an urban fantasy series, and I like how Kristi Charish is continuing to build upon her paranormal version of Seattle with an eye towards detail and atmosphere. Not only has she populated her world with all manner of creatures from ghouls to ghosts, she’s taken care to include examples of how the presence of the supernatural has also impacted everyday life. Incorporating the musical culture of the city into her story was also a stroke of genius; I’d liked this aspect when I read the first book and was thrilled to see it carried through to this sequel.

Lipstick Voodoo also ties up several plot threads from the previous novel while introducing new ones to look forward to. For a series that only has two books out right now, Kincaid Strange is already flowing like an extremely well-oiled machine with the promise of even more quirky and entertaining stories to come. I am looking forward to the next adventure starring our plucky heroine.

Audiobook Comments: I made the switch from print to audiobook with this installment, a decision I do not regret at all. I generally find that most urban fantasy works great in audio, especially with a book as light and fun as Lipstick Voodoo. As a bonus, Susannah Jones was fantastic as narrator, possessing the perfect voice and cadence to portray Kincaid Strange, but she also delivered incredible performances for all the other characters. If you’re an audiobook listener thinking about checking out this series, I highly recommend this format. ...more

25 likes · Like · see review

Nov 21, 2018 ☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I listened to the first novel, The Voodoo Killings but scheduling had me reading this time around. Because this is urban fantasy and a lot of what happens in Lipstick Voodoo results from what occurred in book one.

I love this series from Nate, her ghostly friend to the scary and intriguing Gideon. I have to confess Gideon has me perplexed, but page time with him was one of my favorite things in this story. For those who don't know Gideon is a powerful dead sorcerer. Kincaid find herself indebted ...more

10 likes · Like · see review

Nov 15, 2018 Anne - Books of My Heart rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

With the world and characters established, I enjoyed this second book in the Kincaid Strange series even more than The Voodoo Killings.

I feel Kincaid is still so alone. No one, even her friends, seem to help her. Throughout Lipstick Voodoo, I worried who would hurt her or betray her. She seems to constan This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart

Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4.5 hearts

With the world and characters established, I enjoyed this second book in the Kincaid Strange series even more than The Voodoo Killings.

I feel Kincaid is still so alone. No one, even her friends, seem to help her. Throughout Lipstick Voodoo, I worried who would hurt her or betray her. She seems to constantly have new issues thrown at her and spends lots of time reacting rather than being able to set forth with purpose. For her level of talents, I'm surprised often at how much she doesn't know. The great thing is there is so much character growth ahead for her.

The plot was like real life, a mish mash of multiple happenings all at once. I love the complexity these layers give. Kincaid had her problem with Nate the zombie/ ghost. Aaron calling her in to work murder cases, for FREE, with the lure of getting back to her police consulting. Gideon providing lessons and tasks for her to learn but also to assist him.

Finally, I feel she and Nate were truly working together. I hope she has her first real ally. Gideon is a conundrum. What is he really about? Sometimes he seems terrifying and evil; sometimes he even acts like a mentor or friend. Aaron was a douche, is a douche and likely will continue to be a douche.

So, this was really exciting and I can't wait to see what is next for our girl. The ending sets up the next wild adventure. She has so much potential. If she can dump the douche, curb Nate's worst meanderings, and survive Gideon.

"... There is always corruption in the ruling class. Even in your United States today."

"Except the US is a democracy where we vote on our leaders. They aren't elected by their family members."

Lee made a derisive noise. "Never mind that two families, the Bushes and the Cintons, have appeared in all your elections since 1988 and split the presidency between themselves for twenty years, and the orange man has instated his offspring in positions of power. No, there is certainly no corruption or nepotism occurring in hte choosing of your candidates."

...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Dec 27, 2018 Susan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

From the very beginning we are thrown into Kincaid’s chaotic life and while she never gets to take a breather or to sleep, neither does the reader. The action is non-stop and every stage ends in a mini cliff-hanger so I felt compelled to keep reading until I dropped my e-reader on my head (for real) because I just couldn’t stay up any longer. This is a seriously suspenseful and fast paced story and there is no intermission or downtime. It is running from one disaster to the next the entire book. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review