Series: Dark Caravan Cycle (bk. 2)
Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Fantasy
Subjects: jinn, supernatural, magic, alternate worlds,
mythology
Setting: Morocco, Africa and the Sahara Desert
POV/Tense: 3rd person past tense: Nalia, Raif, Malek,
Zanari
Age/Grade Level: Teen
Length: 481 pgs.
HC/PB: Hardcover
List Price: $17.99
Publisher: HarperTeen: Balzer & Bray
Summary/ product description: “A jinni who's lost
everything.
A master
with nothing to lose.
A
revolutionary with everything to gain.
When
Nalia arrives in Morocco to fulfil Malek's third and final wish she's not
expecting it to be easy. Though Nalia is free from the shackles that once bound
her to Malek as his slave, she's in more danger than ever before.
Meanwhile,
Malek's past returns with a vengeance as he confronts the darkness within
himself, and Raif must decide what's more important: his love for Nalia, or his
devotion to the cause of Arjinnan freedom.
Set upon
by powerful forces that threaten to break her, Nalia encounters unexpected
allies and discovers that her survival depends on the very things she thought
made her weak. From the souks of Marrakech to the dunes of the Sahara, The
Arabian Nights come to life in this dazzling second installment of the Dark
Passage Cycle.”
My Review: Somehow I did not enjoy this sequel nearly
as much as the first book. Possibly because I was so busy that I had a hard
time finding time to read it and it took me five days to get through half of it
and then I rushed the second half in one day. It is a very long book and the 3rd
person POV doesn’t help. Exquisite Captive was exciting and new and mixed
contemporary paranormal romance with fantasy.
Blood Passage takes place mostly in Morocco, which is
a very different place from LA. It’s where the portal to Arjinna is located.
It’s also where Nalia, Raif, Malek, and Zanari starts their search for
Soloman’s ring. I’ve never read a book set in Morocco, so I found this part
pretty cool. Then they must travel through the Sahara to find it. Nalia is
required to take Malek to its location because it was his 3rd wish
and she’s bound by wish magic. On their journey some people die, they meet
Dhorma jinni, make allies and sacrifices. There are some heart-wrenching twists
and sad parts.
I may have had a hard time getting into this sequel,
but I still enjoy the world-building and characters in it. The different castes
of Jinn are interesting. Most jinn can only use one element: water, fire, earth
or air. Nalia can use all four. Her purple eye and powers make her a Ghan
Assouri, and she’s the last her kind and the rightful empress, although she’d
rather not rule. Raif is a Djan, as is Zanari. They have earth abilities and
green eyes. Zanari can also remote view. Malek is par-djinn, or part-jinn. He’s
half Ifrit, the fire users. I like Raif as a love interest, but I found Malek
more interesting. He kind of reminded me of the bad-boy characters in other
series, like Warner in Shatter Me. He’s not all bad. He’s definitely done bad,
but in the end he’ll do the right thing to save Nalia.
I recommend this series to people who enjoy stories
that have mythology. If you are interested in non-western myths especially. If
you enjoyed City of a Thousand Dolls by Mirium Foster. If you enjoyed other
book with Jinn/Genies. If you liked fantasy books like Snow Like Ashes, or Red
Queen or The Young Elite. It you like book about elemental abilities like the
House of Night series or Vampire Academy.
Cover Art Review: Simple, but not too exciting. The
symbol on the cover makes sense though.
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