Book Review: Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein

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Becoming Jinn
Becoming Jinn #1
Author: Lori Goldstein
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: April 21 2015
Review Source: Feiwel & Friends

Forget everything you thought you knew about genies!

Azra has just turned sixteen, and overnight her body lengthens, her olive skin deepens, and her eyes glisten gold thanks to the brand-new silver bangle that locks around her wrist. As she always knew it would, her Jinn ancestry brings not just magical powers but the reality of a life of servitude, as her wish granting is controlled by a remote ruling class of Jinn known as the Afrit.

To the humans she lives among, she’s just the girl working at the snack bar at the beach, navigating the fryer and her first crush. But behind closed doors, she’s learning how to harness her powers and fulfill the obligations of her destiny.

Mentored by her mother and her Zar “sisters”, Azra discovers she may not be quite like the rest of her circle of female Jinn . . . and that her powers could endanger them all. As Azra uncovers the darker world of becoming Jinn, she realizes when genies and wishes are involved, there’s always a trick.

Azra has known that this day would be here her whole life. She just didn't want to believe that it would happen. Not wanting to become a wish granting Jinn like her ancestors, but there's really no way around it. After turning 16 she realizes that she may be more powerful than even she expected.

I enjoyed this book, I honestly really liked the different take on genies that was presented within this story. There's always the genies like the one in Aladdin, where obviously they explain that they want to be free. But this one takes you through the night of Azra turning 16. The book starts with her waking up to find the bracelets that indicate her place in the world. She thinks back to the night before if only to wish there was a way to get out of the bracelets. I liked this because in most of the other genie books that I have read they all are already 'slaves'.

I also liked the idea that once the bracelets were on and they were of age that their appearance changed. Honestly, I think I would be one of the girls happy that I turned 16. I'd love to have long gorgeous hair, darker skin complexion, and to be taller. It all sounds good to me, and I loved Azra's reaction to how it made her feel. Her fitful attempt at cutting her hair short, making the changes she would like to her body, just to have the power that's coursing through her bring it back to the standards of the Jinn.

This story goes takes readers on so many twists and turns, I wasn't able to guess what would happen next. And I love when a story is able to keep me guessing while I'm reading. It gets boring to guess the ending halfway through a book, so I was glad that this was not the case.