The Reverend Corina Youngblood, minister of the African Spiritual Church of Mercy, is a woman powered by Jesus and the santos. Her corner store, St. Jude Lamb of Light Botanica, which caters to the eclectic religious and spiritual needs of New Orleans, is threatened by her Cuban ex-lover and mentor Elroy Delgago's plans to open a K-mart-like Superbotanica nearby. Gus Houston, a displaced former army officer now ersatz chaplain at an exclusive girl's school, stumbles into Corina's store, discovers her mesmerizing powers, and strikes up a profitable and prophetic relationship, sending Corina his troubled students for consultation. When Gus hits on the idea of entering the wealthy white girls into the gospel singing competition during the Jazzfest, he triggers a series of events that has all sides evoking the spirits for good and ill. Davis combines religion, voodoo, New Age philosophy, and good old-fashioned capitalism, greed, envy and a host of other unsavory motives in his entertaining first novel.
"Hats off to Rod Davis who has made the arcane intricacies of voodoo enjoyable and coherent. Corina is an unforgettable character, and her squabble with former lover, and big-boy botanica-supplier Delgado makes for a delightful adventure. After reading Corina's Way, you'll want to hop a plane for New Orleans and look for a real-life Corina, hosting the spirits at some local traffic crossing."
Margot Fortunato Galt, author of The Story in History and other works
"Make room on that crammed New Orleans shelf for 'Corina's Way,' a multi-layered tale of suspense about our mysterious underbelly and its all-seeing navel."
Andrei Codrescu, author of Messiah
"More than any author I know Rod Davis understands and knows that hidden southern space where the ancient currents of African spirituality still linger in the American soul. Corina's Way, a story of faith and redemption is a wonderful and powerful novel, a stunning fictional debut from an author who has already brought us what is arguably the finest account of Voudou in America."
