Thursday, July 26

Firestorm – Rachel Caine

In the last book Jo discovered that the Djinn have been subjected to the whim of the Wardens because of an ancient agreement, created as the temporary solution to an earth-threatening problem. When the problem had resolved the Wardens came up with reason after excuse to justify holding on to the imprisoned Djinn, until the humans forgot there ever was a deal.
The Djinn, on the other hand, never did. With the death of the former Djinn leader the deal is broken, and they’re ready for revenge. No unbottled Djinn is subject to any human request or demand, and for some of them the humiliations of hundred of years of enforced servitude will be paid for by the Wardens of today.
As half the population of Wardens vanish or are killed, Jo has to head back to New York and warn the Council. But with many Wardens corrupt, some infected by demon marks, and environmental conditions worsening all the time, Warden Headquarters need Jo more than she anticipated. For some of the Wardens the idea that the Djinn are free, autonomous and angry is unimaginable, and many of them haven’t forgotten that Jo’s been accused of some pretty nasty things along the way.
She has to face literal and metaphorical fires on a number of fronts while coming to terms with the end of her relationship with Djinn lover David, and intercede for humanity of behalf of Nature. She’s been sleeping, but she’s starting to wake – the devastation wrought thus far isn’t even a conscious act, and she’s not happy. Unless Jo manages to defend us to her, all of humanity will be wiped out, perhaps the planet as a whole.
This was probably too much Jo too quickly. I still enjoyed the character, and the fast-paced plot doesn’t let up. It’s a much more consistent and cohesive series than more of the genre, but when I got to the novel’s cliffhanger ending I decided enough, at least for now. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still enjoying the series, and it’s a great ride – and I appreciate Jo having an obsession with cars rather than the more common and tedious designer shoe fetish that seems to be de rigueur for more chick-lit era heroines – but I need a little rest. - Alex

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