Paranormal Romance with Multi-layers
One Wish Away by Ingrid Seymour is the first book in a Series called Djinn Empire. This paranormal romance is followed by the second book: Two Hearts Asunder.
Marielle is waiting to go to college when her grandfather dies and leave her with an enchanted rock and a nursery. The rock is the home of a Djinn.
Marielle needs to make three wishes as soon as possible and trap the Djinn, named Faris, back into the rock before things get complicated. However, she makes friends with him.
She is one wish away to uncover why her grandfather was friends with Faris but ended up being angry at him. She is one wish away from uncovering a brother rivalry. She is one wish away from discovering what her grandfather did that changed people around her. She is one wish away from breaking Faris’s heart and becoming part of a mortal combat between two spell-bound Djinn: Faris and Zet. She is one wish away from dying.
Marielle is a girl down-to-earth facing ordinary problems who happens to live in a world of magic. She is not a chosen one, and she does not blindly embrace the Djinns gifts. The characters felt real and three-dimensional. The pace of the novel developed naturally. Nothing was rushed or going at breaking neck speed, but each page contained its own mysteries and the secrets kept piling on top of the other.
What I liked two things in this book: first, the way the author refreshed the Djinn trope, and second, the way she complicated everything, even the simplest of things. For example, when Marielle uses one wish to heal someone, it doesn’t foster the reaction she hopes for. Being good isn’t as simple as that.
The author surprised me by the twists and unexpected encounters. I suggest this novel to writers who want to understand how to work tension into their stories. Seymour crafts each scene so well, they keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are hindered in their progress by their past and the memory of traumatic events. It feels realistic.
If I had to change anything in this novel, I would have liked Marielle to explore more deeply the main theme: if you had three wishes, what would you be, selfish or selfless? Marielle seems to look up to her grandfather as a role model and wants to get rid of her task as fast as possible. In a way she sounds younger than her age. It’s not really explained why she actually opens the box where the Djinn is contained because she seems so opposed to it. She could have left it untouched. This part could have been more believable in my opinion.
This being said, there are so many layers in this story, it feels more than the ordinary paranormal romance. There are several mysteries going on at the same time to keep track of. Nothing is straightforward, so if you decide to try this novel, do not take anything for granted.
Publisher: PenDreams
Length: 333 pages
Marielle is waiting to go to college when her grandfather dies and leave her with an enchanted rock and a nursery. The rock is the home of a Djinn.
Marielle needs to make three wishes as soon as possible and trap the Djinn, named Faris, back into the rock before things get complicated. However, she makes friends with him.
She is one wish away to uncover why her grandfather was friends with Faris but ended up being angry at him. She is one wish away from uncovering a brother rivalry. She is one wish away from discovering what her grandfather did that changed people around her. She is one wish away from breaking Faris’s heart and becoming part of a mortal combat between two spell-bound Djinn: Faris and Zet. She is one wish away from dying.
Marielle is a girl down-to-earth facing ordinary problems who happens to live in a world of magic. She is not a chosen one, and she does not blindly embrace the Djinns gifts. The characters felt real and three-dimensional. The pace of the novel developed naturally. Nothing was rushed or going at breaking neck speed, but each page contained its own mysteries and the secrets kept piling on top of the other.
What I liked two things in this book: first, the way the author refreshed the Djinn trope, and second, the way she complicated everything, even the simplest of things. For example, when Marielle uses one wish to heal someone, it doesn’t foster the reaction she hopes for. Being good isn’t as simple as that.
The author surprised me by the twists and unexpected encounters. I suggest this novel to writers who want to understand how to work tension into their stories. Seymour crafts each scene so well, they keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The characters are hindered in their progress by their past and the memory of traumatic events. It feels realistic.
If I had to change anything in this novel, I would have liked Marielle to explore more deeply the main theme: if you had three wishes, what would you be, selfish or selfless? Marielle seems to look up to her grandfather as a role model and wants to get rid of her task as fast as possible. In a way she sounds younger than her age. It’s not really explained why she actually opens the box where the Djinn is contained because she seems so opposed to it. She could have left it untouched. This part could have been more believable in my opinion.
This being said, there are so many layers in this story, it feels more than the ordinary paranormal romance. There are several mysteries going on at the same time to keep track of. Nothing is straightforward, so if you decide to try this novel, do not take anything for granted.
Publisher: PenDreams
Length: 333 pages
Gidion, a Vampire Story for MG Readers
Gidion’s Hunt -- followed by Gidion’s Blood-- by Bill Blume is one of the best vampire novels I have ever read!
The voice is fresh and effortlessly young.
The action is simple, but thrilling.
It is one of those books that deceptively make it seem easy, but are the hardest to write.
The characters are not only believable, they are endearing and vivid.
I did enjoy quite a few adult vampire novels, but kids needed their own version with no sensuality, not bloody fights and rivalities, and no gore.
I would recommend the novel not only for young adults, but also for advanced Middle Grade readers.
Why?
The romance is funny, awkward and constitutes one line here and there (which, nowadays, is rare) and is hilarious come to think of it.
The language slips here and there, but is mainly clean.
The vampires are not exactly scary. They are basically humans who feed on blood.
In fact, this version of vampires is more about detective work than about the world of vampires. Think a vampire version of Veronica Mars.
Gidion, our hero, is not really interested in knowing more about the vampires. He is here to do his job. He hunts the devils that attack humans, cut their head, send the corpses to the crematory his grandfather owns, gets his hundred dollars reward, and tries to keep humans as safe as possible.
He is a cop in disguise.
Gidion looks for clues, asks questions, breaks into vampires’ houses, save kids.
The rest of the time, he is a reliable friend, a good student, and a decent son.
Although this novel could be part of the Urban Fantasy Genre, it could also be classified as a thriller.
The novel is action-packed, just perfect for 9 to 15 years old who will enjoy a hero who can wield a sword and crack a joke at the same time. I wouldn’t recommend it for older kids, but hey, if I enjoyed it and felt the story was unusually refreshing, so might anyone else.
What I probably guarantee?
Your kids will both double over laughing and gripping the sides of their book with anticipation.
So why not give it a shot.
For now, it's only $3 on Amazon.
REVIEW: Beauty & The Beast in a Court of Fae
Are you looking for a new rendition of Beauty and the Beast?
In a magic world?
With fae, a wall between the magic beings and humans, full of dangerous characters?
And a curse that can be lifted only by a girl who hates the Beast’s kind?
You’ve got it all in The Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
Although on the slow side, this tale will enchant you and you will reach the end without even realizing it. It was written for young adults and this is the kind of tale that will sweep them off their feet.
As an adult, I did want more to the story and I wanted Feyre to have clearer goals, true. So I waited and waited and there it was, the moment when a human girl has to prove her love in the most cruelest of ways. Beautifully written with a touch of fairy tale and a dose of darkness, this story will win you over. Believe me.
If you are a writer and you are looking to write a rendition of an old tale, this is a great example of the way a traditonal story can acquire new meanings, and be deepened in a realistic way.
This story also shows the power of the imagination with a world that's unique and a world where the girl is not winning everybody's heart, in a world where friends can send you into danger on purpose. It's a world where a lover can choose another one over you. It's a world where your family can give you nightmares.
And some unique twists on top.
It was so refreshing.
In so many ways, this story reminds me of "Avatar," of this human who has a handicap and wants to walk with the aliens/otherworldy creatures and slowly gets to understand them. But in so many ways too, this story reminds me that original fairy tales are much more cruel than the softened one we read to our kids nowadays. The original fairy tales are much darker and the stuff of bad dreams. In a way this story is much closer to the traditional fairy tales, which touch us in the deepest places.
I'm looking forward the sequel: A Court of Mist anf Fury & A Court of Ruins and Fury.
In a magic world?
With fae, a wall between the magic beings and humans, full of dangerous characters?
And a curse that can be lifted only by a girl who hates the Beast’s kind?
You’ve got it all in The Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.
Although on the slow side, this tale will enchant you and you will reach the end without even realizing it. It was written for young adults and this is the kind of tale that will sweep them off their feet.
As an adult, I did want more to the story and I wanted Feyre to have clearer goals, true. So I waited and waited and there it was, the moment when a human girl has to prove her love in the most cruelest of ways. Beautifully written with a touch of fairy tale and a dose of darkness, this story will win you over. Believe me.
If you are a writer and you are looking to write a rendition of an old tale, this is a great example of the way a traditonal story can acquire new meanings, and be deepened in a realistic way.
This story also shows the power of the imagination with a world that's unique and a world where the girl is not winning everybody's heart, in a world where friends can send you into danger on purpose. It's a world where a lover can choose another one over you. It's a world where your family can give you nightmares.
And some unique twists on top.
It was so refreshing.
In so many ways, this story reminds me of "Avatar," of this human who has a handicap and wants to walk with the aliens/otherworldy creatures and slowly gets to understand them. But in so many ways too, this story reminds me that original fairy tales are much more cruel than the softened one we read to our kids nowadays. The original fairy tales are much darker and the stuff of bad dreams. In a way this story is much closer to the traditional fairy tales, which touch us in the deepest places.
I'm looking forward the sequel: A Court of Mist anf Fury & A Court of Ruins and Fury.