What worked:
The adventure is chocked full of humor, as Amira and her
younger brother alternate recounting the story. They are the Chosen Ones to
save the world from an ancient fire spirit named Ahriman, but the kids are
partnered with contrasting characters on opposing sides of the conflict. Amira
is paired with Aasman Peri, and the jinn never misses a chance to point out
Amira’s lack of talents. Actually, she often puts down the entire human race
and our quirky lives. Hamza is taken by a dev called Ahriman, since only a
Chosen One can touch pieces of the Oculus, to form a tool to locate the Ring of
Power. Hamza contributes most of the funny banter, as his mind wanders to
strange, random thoughts when he’s nervous, which happens frequently. Not to
mention, he’s constantly nagging his captor about his need to eat and use the
restroom. The author sprinkles in choose-your-own-adventure-like segments when
Hamza daydreams about possible, terrifying scenarios, and Hamza is forced to
answer sphinxlike riddles. Hamza is clearly the highlight of the book.
Despite the typical sibling bickering, Amira and Hamza display
a deep love for one another. Amira is determined to rescue her brother even as
she risks her life to survive dangerous obstacles. Hamza reluctantly remembers
Amira’s advice to solve puzzles and escape his own dilemmas. It’s hard to admit
his sister might be more logical and make better choices than himself. He’s
especially intimidated by the riddles he’s presented since Amira and their
father are the ones who enjoy solving puzzles. Nevertheless, Hamza is always
confident his sister will save him, and Amira will not let him down.
The dual stories following the adventures of Amira and Hamza
effectively share the plot from their two points of view. Their problems are
related but separate. Much of Hamza’s narrative is within his mind since his
relationship with the antagonist doesn’t lend itself to much talking. Ahriman
treats him as a tool being used to collect the Oculus, and Hamza’s dialogue is
often used to stall for time or as a way to cope with stress. Amira’s problem
is finding her brother, so she’s forced to do more detective work by examining
the clues Hamza leaves behind. The story includes Islamic folklore, so elements
of the culture are sprinkled in.
What didn’t work as well:
The publisher indicates this book
can be read independently from the first, but the jinn world isn’t clear. I’m
not sure why the non-magical siblings are the Chosen Ones, but all of the characters
are aware of it. The kids don’t have any apparent special abilities and their
companions make snide comments about them being useless humans. Readers will
still be able to easily understand the plot, and most of the disparaging
comments only add to the humor.
The Final Verdict:
The power of sibling love. The author presents an exciting escapade
of jinn and a hidden ring that transports the characters around the world. This
book will appeal to readers who enjoy humor and adventure, and I recommend you
give it a shot.
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