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A review by cece_rants_raves_reviews
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury
4.0
A powerful jinni and a boy from the streets- let the chaos begin.
Seriously how the fuck could you not want to read this book?? This shit has everything! The general premise is there's this huge human vs jinn war, female assassins, AND a powerstruggle in the kingdom
It all begins when Aladdin finds Zahra's lamp...and it all basically goes downhill from there
Can you imagine being stuck in total darkness in a traumatizing place full of painful memories then finally returning to the world...to find out magic is forbidden and her very existence is illegal. Fucking A.
I'll be honest Zahra's POV totally blew me away. This is a genie who has lived for thousands of years so obviously, she needs to have the maturity to go with that.
I was worried because this is a YA novel so she would've acted like a typical YA heroine circa 17 years old. NOPE, not today Satan!
The book perfectly balanced her personality, age, and her past lives and oh god Zahra i love you
The writing and world-building was amazing...and I totally acknowledge I have always loved the beauty and mystery of Arabian mythology. So the background of the whole forbidden magic paired so perfectly with the book's plot focus on Aladdin and Zhara's schemes where their banter added a hilarious as fuck comedic element to boot!
I also loved the idea of a king genie who just imprisons people he hates. That's just so savage and it has an evil person with a genuine vengeance... not just an fairy queen who fucks around with people *just saying*
Just beautiful, intriguing writing. For being YA, I couldn't' really tell it was YA with its colorful characters and plot. Sure it would've been nice if more adult romance which I really love, but whatever.
My main complaint was the whole real "villain" and the ending- the fight was a little underwhelming and I was hoping for a more complex resolution. Eh.
but then... BuT tHen....
Overall a strong 4 star, I was hooked from the beginning. The emotions, battles, and plot twists were well done and not too obvious which can be a struggle in most YA novels. The balance of history and world-building really kept this book from flatlining and the character relationships developed throughout the story. I really love me some genie shit, and this is a perfect example of how it can be done in a unique amazing way.
Seriously how the fuck could you not want to read this book?? This shit has everything! The general premise is there's this huge human vs jinn war, female assassins, AND a powerstruggle in the kingdom
It all begins when Aladdin finds Zahra's lamp...and it all basically goes downhill from there
"I sense the boy the moment he sets foot in the cave. For the first time in centuries, I stir. I am smoke in the lamp, and I curl and stretch, shaking off the lethargy of five hundred years."
Can you imagine being stuck in total darkness in a traumatizing place full of painful memories then finally returning to the world...to find out magic is forbidden and her very existence is illegal. Fucking A.
I'll be honest Zahra's POV totally blew me away. This is a genie who has lived for thousands of years so obviously, she needs to have the maturity to go with that.
I was worried because this is a YA novel so she would've acted like a typical YA heroine circa 17 years old. NOPE, not today Satan!
The book perfectly balanced her personality, age, and her past lives and oh god Zahra i love you
“Get control of yourself, Zahra!It literally broke my fucking heart how beautiful this writing was.
My name isn’t Zahra. I am Smoke-on-the-Wind, Curl-of-the-Tiger’s-Tail, Girl-Who-Gives-the-Stars-Away.
He loves you!
He is just a mortal. Just a boy, a moment in time that will soon pass.
His name is Aladdin.
I have known a thousand and one like him. I will know a thousand and one more. He is nothing.
He is everything. ”
The writing and world-building was amazing...and I totally acknowledge I have always loved the beauty and mystery of Arabian mythology. So the background of the whole forbidden magic paired so perfectly with the book's plot focus on Aladdin and Zhara's schemes where their banter added a hilarious as fuck comedic element to boot!
“You’re a—you’re a—”
Say it, boy. Demon of fire. Monster of smoke. Devil of sand and ash. Servant of Nardukha, Daughter of Ambadya, the Nameless, the Faceless, the Limitless. Slave of the Lamp. Jinni.
“. . . a girl!” he finishes.
For a second, I can only blink at him"
I also loved the idea of a king genie who just imprisons people he hates. That's just so savage and it has an evil person with a genuine vengeance... not just an fairy queen who fucks around with people *just saying*
‘‘Even a thief may have honor, and even a jinni may have a heart.’’
Just beautiful, intriguing writing. For being YA, I couldn't' really tell it was YA with its colorful characters and plot. Sure it would've been nice if more adult romance which I really love, but whatever.
My main complaint was the whole real "villain" and the ending- the fight was a little underwhelming and I was hoping for a more complex resolution. Eh.
but then... BuT tHen....
“Right. Galley. Got it. I’ll ask the captain. What was his name?”My only regret is that the book had A SUBTLE REFERENCE TO ONE OF MY FAVORITE LEGENDS MOTHERFUCKINGI PIRATE LEGEND SINBAD BUT THERES NO SECOND BOOK IN SIGHT!!! Could've been so epic man *shaking my fucking head*
“Sinbad, I think?”
Overall a strong 4 star, I was hooked from the beginning. The emotions, battles, and plot twists were well done and not too obvious which can be a struggle in most YA novels. The balance of history and world-building really kept this book from flatlining and the character relationships developed throughout the story. I really love me some genie shit, and this is a perfect example of how it can be done in a unique amazing way.