I saw this reviewed by J back in February and thought it sounded awesome. It is awesome. It starts off fast and keeps going. I cannot stress enough what a flat out fun read this was.
Eugenia “Genie” Lo is a high school student in the Bay Area. Her town is the poorer, less nice pocket of affluent Silicon Valley. She wants out, and the way out is acceptance to an Ivy League school and a career far away from San Francisco. Her single minded focus on academics and making herself appealing to admissions committees is shattered when Quentin shows up and tells her she’s a demon hunter and the reincarnation of something like his best friend.
I loved Genie. She is funny, not at all together, and so angry. She’s got some Buffy Summers and Kamala Khan in her DNA, but she is a fresh take on the chosen one.
Here are a few things I loved:
- Genie does not change who she is, she accepts who she is.
- Genie’s priorities don’t change, but her reasons for her priorities do change in a solid and positive way.
- Genie does not put up with shit from anyone.
- The Goddess of Compassion and Mercy practices tough love.
- The language!
Mom began screaming at me since she’d apparently been telling me to come down for the last five minutes and not ignoring me asking her to come up. This kind of crazy I could take. I almost sobbed with relief, her banshee song as soothing and familiar as a lullaby.“
Turns of phrase like, “her banshee song as soothing and familiar as a lullaby” kept popping up and making me laugh, while also deepening my appreciation for Genie’s mind and personality.
I am looking forward to book two. So far I don’t see an expected release date.