Jinn and Juice

February 23, 2015
Peeler (the Jane True series) kicks off
a series with this entertaining urban
fantasy, which populates Pittsburgh with all sorts of interesting mythological creatures. For 1,000 years, Lyla has been cursed to live as a jinn, serving whoever can bind her with the right spells. But now the end has come: if she’s unbound in a week’s time, she’ll be human once more. So when Ozan “Oz” Sawyer captures her, she’s rightfully miffed. But he needs her power and help to rescue the missing daughter of an old friend, and despite initial objections, Lyla is surprised by how much she likes Oz. As they work together, they discover that something weird is happening in Pittsburgh, and the entire magical community is at risk from those who would enslave, exploit, or destroy its members. Mindful of her impending deadline, Lyla must rally her friends and unleash her full power to save the city. Peeler gets points for the originality of the premise, but loses some for the predictability in both the urban fantasy plot and the obligatory romance. Agent: Rebecca Strauss, DeFiore and Company.

February 15, 2015

Mere days before the curse that made her a jinni is due to expire, Lyla is bound by a magi. Her new master, Ozan, needs her power to help find a missing young woman; he promises to free her as soon as she accomplishes the task. It won't be that easy, but Lyla has a lot of resources after living for a thousand years, not the least of which are her loyal friends. VERDICT The heroine and her friends form a hugely appealing cast of misfit supernaturals living under the radar and working in a strip club in Pittsburgh, of all places. There is just enough romance and magic to make this work for fans of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Lyla is earthy, swear-y, and determined to win back her own soul in this new series from Peeler, who also writes the "Jane True" series (2013's Tempest Reborn).

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