Fire Wish (Jinni Wars #1)

Fire Wish (Jinni Wars #1)
Author(s)
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
July 22, 2014
ISBN
9780385369763
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In this romantic and evocative fantasy, Najwa is a jinni, training to be a spy in the war against the humans. Zayele is a human on her way to marry a prince of Baghdad—which she’ll do anything to avoid. So she captures Najwa and makes a wish. With a rush of smoke and fire, they fall apart and re-form—as each other. A jinni and a human, trading lives. Both girls must play their parts among enemies who would kill them if the deception were ever discovered—enemies including the young men Najwa and Zayele are just discovering they might love.

In this romantic and evocative fantasy, Najwa is a jinni, training to be a spy in the war against the humans. Zayele is a human on her way to marry a prince of Baghdad—which she’ll do anything to avoid. So she captures Najwa and makes a wish. With a rush of smoke and fire, they fall apart and re-form—as each other. A jinni and a human, trading lives. Both girls must play their parts among enemies who would kill them if the deception were ever discovered—enemies including the young men Najwa and Zayele are just discovering they might love.

Editor reviews

2 reviews
Fantasy set in Baghdad
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4.0
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Najwa is a jinni still working on her skills, but when she manages to magic herself into the palace (which is supposed to be protected by wards), her teacher is very impressed and hastens her joining the Eye of Ilbis spy group. She is going to be sent to the palace to spy of Kamal, the prince, in order to collect intelligence for the war between the humans and the jinn. Zayale is a pretty girl from a remote mountain village. She is grateful to the government for keeping her village safe from jinn after the death of her aunt and uncle years ago, but not grateful enough to be married off! When she is traveling to Baghdad to be married, she catches Najwa apparating, grabs hold of her, and wishes that she could go home and that the jinni could take her place. Najwa has to grant the wish, and since she bears a strong resemblance to Zayele, accompanies Zayele’s cousin to the capital and prepares to marry the prince. Zayele finds herself deep in the lair of the jinn and tries her best to remain undetected. The war between the two groups is ramping up, however, even though the prince thinks they should get along. Secrets are revealed about both girls and their ties to the war, and the intrigue is just beginning.

This had some very interesting twists in it that I did not see coming! I liked both girls, and found the world building to be solid. There is a nice romance. Definitely a different sort of fantasy, with its Baghdad setting.
Weaknesses: I wish there were some more information about the mythological characters involved in this story.
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4.0
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4.0(1)
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4.0(1)
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4.0(1)
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Magical Middle East Fantasy
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4.0
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The Fire Wish - wow! What a richly written fantasy that has one foot in the real world of Baghdad, Iraq and one foot in the magical world of the Jinni, the Cavern. Author Amber Lough shows her first hand knowledge of the Middle East with her attention regional customs and other setting details. Both worlds' details allow the reader an escape to these far off lands. It's like a vacation held in your hand.

The story has two points of view - human Zayele and Jinni Najwa. With one wish, both girls find they have switched lives and must learn the customs and people of their new worlds. With two races at war, there is a lot to learn from the humans and Jinnis. Zayele and Najwa discover that sometimes old stories are not always shared completely and trusting becomes a confusing task. Plus, two budding romances complicate the tasks at hand. With always the threat of discovery and death looming over each girl, both Zayele and Najwa must learn fast in their new world in order to fix their mistake and make it out alive. Whew! The Pressure!

I loved that this is going to be a series too! Titled Jinni Wars I, I am eagerly anticipating the sequel because the story had such an action packed ending! I want to know what is next for all the humans and Jinnis who are left in Baghdad and the Cavern.
Good Points
Moving action with duel point of views
Both girls are intriguing and I loved discovering their worlds with each of them.
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