Magie Noir

Historical fiction blends with good old-fashioned romance in Magie Noir, a pitch perfect and absolutely stunning debut by Leigh Ferguson. Set between Galveston and New Orleans just after the Longhorn State establishes independence from Mexico, Cray McLeod is talked into launching a stock of trade goods to supply the expected influx of new citizens in Texas. Setting up the deal in the Big Easy, he meets and falls in love with Mirielle Rochambeau, the only child of Etienne and Celeste Rochambeau, who have recently fallen victim to yellow fever. Mirielle, with her golden hair and dark eyes, has inherited her father’s shipping business; the only problem is he signed a marriage agreement between his daughter and the son of Charles Trefoe, who is not at all interested in women. This is ideal, because Charles plans to keep Mirielle for himself. In a desperate attempt to gain freedom, she pays a visit to Marie Laveau, Queen of New Orleans Voodoo, who offers an extreme and underhanded remedy.