The City of Lost Fortunes

The City of Lost Fortunes follows Jude Dubuisson, a man with supernatural abilities who has withdrawn from New Orleans' magical underbelly in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. When the Fortune god is found dead, Jude is pulled back into a high-stakes card game with divine players, where the pot includes both godhood and his own life. The novel takes place in a version of New Orleans where gods, angels, vampires, and magical practitioners exist alongside unsuspecting mortals. As Jude investigates the Fortune god's death, he must navigate a complex web of loyalties and debts while confronting his own painful history with the city. The story combines elements of urban fantasy with the rich culture and mythology of New Orleans, drawing from traditions including Christianity, Vodou, and West African folklore. The post-Katrina setting serves as more than backdrop, informing the actions and motivations of both human and supernatural characters. Through its supernatural lens, the novel explores themes of obligation, power, and the price of both remembering and forgetting. It raises questions about fate versus free will, and examines how people and cities recover from catastrophic change.

Readers found the rich New Orleans setting and diverse mythology to be standout elements, with many appreciating how Camp wove together various cultural traditions. The supernatural poker game premise and detailed world-building received positive mentions. Readers highlighted: - Strong sense of place and atmosphere - Creative blend of different mythological systems - Complex magic system - Strong supporting characters Common criticisms: - Pacing issues, especially in the middle sections - Plot becomes convoluted and hard to follow - Main character lacks depth compared to side characters - Too many storylines competing for attention Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (150+ ratings) Representative review: "Beautiful writing and a fascinating magic system, but gets bogged down by trying to do too much at once." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted it works better as a New Orleans fantasy novel than as a traditional urban fantasy.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman Ancient gods walk among mortals in contemporary America while a man becomes entangled in their power struggles and schemes.

Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch A London police constable discovers a hidden world of magic and must solve supernatural crimes while navigating relationships with river goddesses and other mythical beings.

Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse A Navajo monster hunter tracks supernatural creatures through a post-apocalyptic Southwest where gods and heroes from Indigenous mythology have returned.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman A man stumbles into a magical underground London filled with supernatural beings, ancient societies, and dangerous quests beneath the streets of the modern city.

The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins A librarian trained by a god-like figure must uncover the truth about her missing mentor while navigating a complex system of supernatural powers and ancient knowledge.

🎭 Author Bryan Camp set the novel in post-Katrina New Orleans, where he himself lived through and survived Hurricane Katrina in 2005. 🃏 The book weaves together elements from multiple mythologies, including Haitian Vodou, Egyptian mythology, and Urban Fantasy, creating a unique supernatural tapestry. 🎪 The main character, Jude Dubuisson, possesses the magical ability to find lost things—a power that becomes overwhelmingly painful after Hurricane Katrina creates too many losses to process. 🎲 The plot centers around a high-stakes card game between gods, drawing inspiration from traditional trickster tales found in various cultures' mythologies. 🎺 The novel is the first in Camp's Crescent City series, which continues to explore the supernatural side of New Orleans in subsequent books.