Reviewed by zooloo1983 on
Wow! This book was not what I expected.
When I saw this book come up on the blog tour I wasn’t sure. I read the blurb and looked at the book cover and I wasn’t going to take part but the book kept coming back to me. It felt like this book was calling to me again and again, so I signed up to read the book. It was most probably Dahlia calling to me from the ankle bracelet!
This book well… I do not know where to begin. So I guess at the beginning then!
You get drawn in straight away. A genie called Dahlia has been locked away in a prison by someone who knew her true name! The book split between Dahlia narrating the story and Liana narrating the story, however sometimes we were viewing Liana’s point of view but through the eyes of Dahlia. I must confess at times I did get confused with the narration only because I was not always sure who was narrating but this was more to do with me not concentrating as I was getting excited. However, this kind of writing had me hooked and if I could I would have devoured this in one sitting, to me this writing was fresh and engaging.
We are introduced to the magical world of genies by Taffi causing mischief on Liana’s dad Jamieson (These are not your friendly blue genies like in Aladdin). Taffi is an Ifirit genie, the bad kind. The ones where the world should be at their feet for them and do their bidding. However, things change for him when he realises that Liana can see him, something she should not be able to do.
The author tackles the subject of schizophrenia, first by Liana’s mother having been “diagnosed” with it because they thought she was crazy as she could see things and because of the dreams she had. Now, Liana going through the same struggle, seeing things that are not there, seeing the same doctor and being told to take the same tablets. She isn’t crazy, the things she sees are real, all through the actions of Dahlia showing Liana all that has happened.
Dahlia’s purpose is to grant three wishes to Liana, so she projects her past on Liana as a cry for help and an understanding of what has happened and who needs to be stopped. More so this purpose is driven by an unknown connection between the two which we discover later on. Plus the first wish that Liana wished was just so cute and normal, I adored it.
Like normal when reading books, I end up shouting out loud at the book, as if it can hear me and change the story already written. Scenes with Liana had me shouting at her, a scene on a boat with a young boy and an old man had me shouting (a lot of shouting going on here!)….so I did feel foolish when she turned out to be correct *facepalm* which is generally unheard of for the character to be right. Normally, the reader is correct so I liked the shift in this perspective and it put me in my place! Just shut and read, please!
It has a Romeo and Juliet feel in this book with Liana and Taffi, being on opposite sides of the tribes but still trying to find a way to reach other. You have the theme of redemption with Taff. He is struggling with who he is meant to be, the Ifrit genie but through his growing love for Liana, he tries to redeem himself with what he has done because failure in her eyes is not an option. However, this is not the main focal point of the book, and it is even described in a way of being so innocent, making it so much more endearing.
There best be more books to come on this story, I need to know what happens next!! I completely adored this book and it was like the magic of the genies I was drawn into it……….
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 8 April, 2018: Finished reading
- 8 April, 2018: Reviewed