Mini Reviews || The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury and Finale by Stephanie Garber

The Forbidden Wish

by Jessica Khoury

Rating: 3.5 stars

Summary: She is the most powerful Jinni of all. He is a boy from the streets. Their love will shake the world... 

When Aladdin discovers Zahra's jinni lamp, Zahra is thrust back into a world she hasn't seen in hundreds of years—a world where magic is forbidden and Zahra's very existence is illegal. She must disguise herself to stay alive, using ancient shape-shifting magic, until her new master has selected his three wishes. 

But when the King of the Jinn offers Zahra a chance to be free of her lamp forever, she seizes the opportunity—only to discover she is falling in love with Aladdin. When saving herself means betraying him, Zahra must decide once and for all: is winning her freedom worth losing her heart?

As time unravels and her enemies close in, Zahra finds herself suspended between danger and desire in this dazzling retelling of Aladdin from acclaimed author Jessica Khoury.


My Review:

   This book is a really fun concept. I mean a fun Aladdin retelling where instead of Aladdin falling for the princess he falls for the jinni?? COOL, COOL, COOL (sing it like the jo bro song my friend).

 Loved the world building. Good action scenes. Great kissing scenes. This book had all the elements to be a fantastic fantasy retelling and could easily make it on my fav shelf.

“And what do you know of love?"

"That it must be a choice."

"Oh, my naive thief. " I pause briefly to meet his gaze. "Love is rarely a choice.” 

 I really liked Zahra I thought she was an interesting female protagonist. Being a jinni she really had to remain objective most of the time when it came to her feelings because she was so used to catering to other humans and their wishes that she really didn’t have the freedom to concern herself with her own wants or emotions. This made watching her slowly falling for Aladdin more exciting because she was in such denial of her feelings that it made for a much more slow burn romance that didn’t feel rushed or insta- lovey.

“Time has a different meaning for me,...Time has a way of burying things, shifting like the desert and swallowing entire civilizations, erasing them from map and memory. Always, in the end, everything returns to dust.” 

 Aladdin is also very likable. Very true to his tale of being ruggish and sly like a thief he was a fun character but I thought he could have had a bit more depth or a bit more wit. I also would have liked a bit more banter because I feel like that would have added a layer to their relationship.

“You’re a—you’re a—” 

Say it, boy. Demon of fire. Monster of smoke. Devil of sand and ash. Servant of Nardukha, Daughter of Ambadya, the Nameless, the Faceless, the Limitless. Slave of the Lamp. Jinni. 

“. . . a girl!” he finishes.” 

 While I did enjoy the romance in this book I felt that after about half way through it began to fall a bit flat and I wasn’t liking the turn the plot was making?? There were times where that plot was totally dragging on and I was like wow this could have gone in a much more fun or at least cleaner direction??

 I mean overall I loved the characters. I really liked Zahra and Aladdin and their romance. I really liked the princess and her girl gang. I liked the development of the villain characters and how Zahra had to try and free another jinni and fought for her freedom. The romance was well done. It just the plot/ ending that made this book a three stars read.

“Even a thief may have honor, and even a jinni may have a heart.” 

 Overall a fun, action packed read thats perfect for traveling or the beach with a heart melting romance and likable characters!




Finale

by Stephanie Garber

Rating: 5/5 stars

 Summary: A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time—only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…

My Review: 

   Ok so its safe to say that after that ending in Legendary I immediately got my butt up off the couch and set my sights on retrieving THIS BOOK because omg I just needed to know!! I needed to know what was happening and just exactly what Legends agenda was because I was all kinds of confused and mistrusting but at the same time like... maybe we can work this out here!? 

“Occasionally, there are minutes that get extra seconds. Moments so precious the universe stretches to make additional room for them.” 

 While its safe to say Legendary still is and will probably always be my favorite book in the series I really did enjoy Finale! (especially the last 100 pages or so like damnnn that ending nearly tore me apart and had me simultaneously trying to sew my heart back together while reading it) 

 First off we continued with the amazing world building. Seriously I loved the magic in this book. It was incredible and delicious and had me loving it the whole time. This book was also told by the POV of both sisters (that would be Tella and Scarlett for those of you whole don't already know ;) I personally liked Tellas POV more I thought her storyline was just a bit more intriguing to me but that being said I still very much liked Scarletts and I like how we got to see more of her and Julian. 

“Tonight he was smiling like a wicked prince, escaped from the stars, ready to spirit her up into the heavens.” 

 But.... if y’all really want to know what kept me flipping the page it was that damn LEGEND! Like every time I thought I had him figured out and I thought I knew why he was toying with Tella he would just do something cold or calculating or completely different and it took me a minute to get used to. The middle parts where a bit of a slower pace than Legendary but still kept me enthralled enough to keep reading. 

“He smelled of magic and heartbreak, and something about the combination made her think that despite what he claimed, he wanted to be her hero.” 

 The ROMANCE was also very good in this book on both accounts. I loved Julian and Scarlett they were 100% huggable cuteness throughout the whole book an reminded me more of a traditional you cant help but love it YA romance. However.... the real heart stopping spellbinding, I don't know if I love him/ hate him/ am frustrated by this romance was between Legend and Tella!!! *swoon* *swoon* *add a little more swooning*  They took me on a ride and were almost giving me the push and pull relationship angst similar to that of Chuck and Blair from Gossip Girl. 

“I’m not trying to win her hand. I’m offering her mine, and everything that comes with it, hoping she’ll take it and decide she wants to keep it.”

 But the real show stopper for this book was the ending! It was very well done and I loved the element they tied in to the end. I even liked the little bits they threw in with the prince of hearts. I thought it added a good element of intrigue and confusion, just enough to keep you guessing till the very end. Great read highly recommend this series because it is one of my new all time favorites!! 

“He might have been a liar and villain, but he made both things look very good.” 

So what do y’all think? Gonna give any of these a try? I highly recommend the Caraval series if you haven’t read it! Already read it? LMK what you think in the comments below!!

-BubblyBooks