Jinn and Juice by Nicole Peeler
Series: The Jinni #1
Published by Orbit
Published on: November 25, 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 374
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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Meet Lyla: Jinn, belly dancer, and the hottest new urban fantasy heroine in town.
To escape an arranged marriage, a jinni granted Lyla her wish: to live a thousand years as a jinni herself.
Now, her servitude is ending, but there are a few obstacles in Lyla's path to freedom. A Magi intent on binding her again, a jinni bent on vengeance, and not to mention the nightmare from her past that threatens to make her curse permanent -- and claim her very soul.
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I spent months waffling on this title; the reviews weren’t great, the paperback edition got bumped to an April release date (5 months after the eBook), and although Nicole Peeler’s JANE TRUE series apparently started off strong, the last few installments left readers dropping like flies. Now, I haven’t checked out her other novels, but the three previous points were enough to make me leery of JINN AND JUICE’S pretty cover, and catchy name. The story was fast paced, and the author went all out with her mythology, however there were LOTS of characters and the romance crossed a line that was kinda iffy.
Lyla’s POV was disappointing considering she’s supposedly nearly a millennia old. I found that she was rather immature as far as protagonists go given her massive life span, and she also lacked drive. She had a “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” outlook that consisted of belly dancing at a burlesque club, and hiding in Pittsburgh with the other misfit toys. Peeler does explain Lyla’s reasoning; she doesn’t want to get Bound again, and the other jinni have it in for her, but still… she was too green for someone so old, and powerful. I felt like her potential was wasted.
I had zero quibbles with the world. Peeler really dug deep when it came to setting the tone of this series with her definitions of Purebloods & Immunda, Deep Magic, Bound vs. unBound, and multiple plot threads. There was at least a baker’s dozen of different supes in this book which came with advantages, and downsides. In the positive column, you were never bored, but alternatively, very little was elaborated on besides the jinni & Magi, and there were SO many characters that it was difficult to identify potential secondaries from background noise. The only names I remembered were Lyla & Oz.
The romance seemed to be the main bone of contention with readers, and I have to agree. I fully anticipated the Master / Slave relationship; however the feelings that developed between them progressed entirely too fast given their dynamics. Oz strolls into town and Binds Lyla one week before her thousand years of servitude are up because he’s convinced that his mission outweighs her freedom. He feels bad about it, and ultimately keeps his promises when all is said, and done, but is there really such a thing as a good oppressor?? It was all a little too dysfunctional for me.
JINN AND JUICE tried overly hard to be funny, and not enough to be badass.
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Owner, designer and main blogger behind Rabid Reads. Avid book reader, snowboard bunny, video gamer and Supernatural fan. I love all things paranormal, werewolves especially. Oh, and I’m Canadian, eh!
Sorry – can I take a minute to giggle at the title? That song will be stuck in my head all day now. Anyway.
I’ve had issues before where the MC was supposed to be OLD and acting 17. THAT, is frustrating! The world sounds pretty intense though!
tonyalee recently posted…Review | When Love Happens by Darcy Burke
The world sounds well done but sorry to hear the romance wasn’t great
Love the title though 🙂
Sharonda recently posted…Tuesday Jams #126
I can see why you waffled on this and even after you read it, it still seems you were unsure of exactly how you felt about it. It does sound like a really interesting story but definitely one you have to be prepared for and in the right mood to read.
kindlemom1 recently posted…Blog Tour Guest Post and Giveaway: Lion Heart by A.C. Gaughen
I was one of the Jane True fans that should have dropped off a like a fly. I really enjoyed books 1-3 of that series but the last ones I should have skipped and that’s the reason I’m not added this title to my TBR.
This is an example of where an author rocks my face off in person at book cons and online. Peeler is super funny and it makes me sad that I don’t enjoy her books more.
Meh. It’s the romance that deterred me from reading this one, for the reasons you just mentioned. Some things are easier to stomach than others, and this falls in the latter category for me. Excellent review, Carmel 🙂
Ramona recently posted…Zen Monday: Find Joy In The Ordinary
I liked the cover right away. Very colorful but it doesn’t sound like a story I’d necessarily like. Thanks for the review.
Mary Kirkland recently posted…Happy Raturday!
I adored her Jane True series until book 4 when things took a serious downturn. I always thought her sense of humor was her saving grace, but if she does try too hard in this, then there’s nothing left, is there? The romance would have made me uncomfortable too, I just know it. I had already decided to pass, but now I’m sure I made the right decision.
Yeah, he still owns her, it was tricky
blodeuedd recently posted…Dearest Rogue – Elizabeth Hoyt
I still need to read her Jane True series. I can see why the relationship here would be tricky. Too bad it didn’t pull it off. I may have to skip this offshoot.
Melissa (Books and Things) recently posted…Angelfall by Susan Ee
Oh that’s sad to hear. I loved Nicole’s Jane True series and was eager for this one. I too waited for the paperback because the cover was gorgeous and it must be had in color! My kindle doesn’t do color sadly. There needs to be a kindle strictly for reading but comes in color so readers can enjoy the gorgeous covers of the world! I don’t want to have a Kindle Fire or iPad to enjoy that factor. But sigh…
I have been hearing mixed things on this one though. I still plan to read it though because I’ve enjoyed Nicole’s books too much to pass on it! Nice review!!
Jessica recently posted…ARC Review–Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs & Tracy Deebs
I’ll likely still give this a read, maybe when I’m in the mood for something quick and fluffy.
Mogsy recently posted…Audiobook Review: Corsair by James L. Cambias
My sister really like the Jane True series, and recommended it to me early in the series, so I was surprised when I asked if she was going to be reading the new series and her answer was “eh, maybe”. I think I will wait on this one a bit. Great review.
Judy recently posted…Quote-Tastic Meme-Jacked: Stay of Execution by Kellie Larsen Murphy
I can only imagine what kind of kind was crossed with the romance. I”m intrigued!
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…Giveaway: Charley Davidson Series
Ah it’s too bad about Lyla. I was really curious about this one when I heard about it because it’s totally the kind of books that I culd love. One day I’ll have to try!
I used to love Jane True, but I was one of those fans who gave up on the last installments. I was curious about this one and waited to read some reviews to decide, but the more I read the least I like… So I guess I’ll pass on this one.
BookaholicCat recently posted…Blog Tour – Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Once Pure by Cecy Robson
You aren’t the first review I’ve read to complain about Lyla’s immaturity, Carmel. That gives me pause. The world building, though, sounds fantastic. It’s just too bad that the character development isn’t really there since there’s so many characters. Oh, and the romance kinda worries me too. I don’t know…I prefer character driven stories, so I’m not sure this one would be for me.
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Review ~ With Visions of Red ~ Trisha Wolfe