Held captive by a powerful human in Los Angeles, upper-caste jinni Nalia agrees to aid Raif, the leader of the rebellion that destroyed Arjinna, in exchange for her freedom from both her master and a deadly Ifrit assassin. Though the story is frequently interrupted by clunky exposition, the lyrical writing, lush setting, and unlikely romance will enchant many readers.

Gr 9 Up-Nalia, a powerful jinni from the world of Arjinna, has been on the dark caravan of the jinni slave trade for three years. After a deadly coup killed almost everyone she cared about, Nalia was captured by a slave trader who sells jinn to humans. Now she is trapped in Hollywood and bound to a handsome master who is as ruthless as he is powerful. Nalia is desperate for the chance to return to Arjinna and rescue her captive brothersomething that seems impossible while bound to her master and the bottle that can hold her prisoner. When Nalia agrees to a dangerous bargain with the leader of Arjinna's revolution, she will have to decide if any price can be too high for her freedom. Demetrios crafts a refreshingly diverse story with nods to Arabian culture in this lengthy blend of traditional jinni lore and urban fantasy elements. Unfortunately, while Nalia is a strong and capable heroine, her positive attributes are marred by a lopsided love triangle. The well-realized world of Arjinna is similarly overshadowed by stiff descriptions and numerous explanations. Emma Carbone, Brooklyn Public Library

Just eighteen summers old, Nalia has seen her share of war, death, intrigue, and tight spots. War has torn her homeland apart and left her as the last of her people. As heir to the Arjinna throne, she has been trained to fight, but nothing has prepared her for slavery. A jinni from a long line of warrior women, she has been sold on the dark caravan to Malek. Unable to break her bond to the bottle, she will have to trust her enemy in order to gain her freedom and return to her beloved home.Set in present day with language and flashbacks that harken to a medieval time of magic and blood feuds, Demetrios's tale is intricate and rich. With a touch of noir, this fantasy tale is the first in a series and just long enough to satisfy those rabid fans of faeries and second worlds. Although the novel is dubbed young adult, some of the language and style tends to lean towards new adult. Allusions to sexual assault and coercion will give those collecting for middle-grade readers pause, but otherwise it is a solid addition to an established collection. An audiobook is available as well, and those looking to introduce readers to the genre may do well to offer the alternative in order to ease fears about the length.Shanna Miles.