The Blue Djinn of Babylon: Children of the Lamp Book 2 [Hardcover]

Dear readers,

If you are one of those readers deciding whether or not to try reading "The Blue Djinn of Babylon," you need not worry. Once you pick up this awesome book, you won't stop till you come to the final conclusion..... which hints of MORE to come!

In this complex, but well written plot, Kerr ought to be crowned for the most expected to achieve author. I bet my money that Kerr is the only author that has tried to squeeze so much into a storyline, and still succeeded in making the plot "fun, quirky, and interesting."

Warning: Even though this book is VERY good, I suggest reading the first book of the Children of the Lamps Series... you might be slow on the second book then. If you read this excellently written book, try to think of all the imagining and work that went behind it pages.

In the second volume of the Children of the Lamp trilogy, djinn (genie) twins John and Philippa Gaunt are suffering the powerlessness caused by a cold New York winter (djinn need heat in order to use their powers). Dybbuk, a djinn visitor, shows them that sitting in a sauna will temporarily jumpstart their forces. But is Dybbuk setting them up somehow?

The twins play a trick on their wealthy housekeeper's own worthless housekeeper. In the process, John meets Frank Vodyannoy, the resident djinn of the famous Dakota apartment building. Mr. Vodyannoy warns John to watch out for relatives of Iblis, the bad djinn the twins defeated in THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE. He gives John a gift --- one emergency wish to use when he's desperate.

Philippa spies her mother arguing with Ayesha, who is the famously hard-hearted Blue Djinn, the leader of all djinn, good and bad. When Philippa asks her mother about the argument, she mysteriously denies it took place. Yet she appears sad and even refuses to discuss the topic of the Blue Djinn with John. However, John learns that Ayesha is searching for a replacement.

Philippa competes in her first Djinnverso Tournament, a gambling dice game, and meets Ayesha, who makes cryptic remarks to her, including the admonition to remember "it's nothing personal." Philippa agrees to this ominous warning although she has no clue what the powerful djinn is talking about. But soon Philippa is framed --- as a cheater! --- and is banned from all Djinnverso tournaments for eternity.

An enormously important book of djinn magic called the Solomon Grimoire, which contains powerful incantations that could enslave any djinn, has been stolen by a Blue Djinn guard who now regrets his actions. The thief will only hand over the book to John and Philippa, but they must undertake a dangerous journey in order to meet with him. Are they up to this urgent and frightening challenge? Are they heading for disaster? Their decision to endanger themselves is partly swayed by Philippa's hope that pleasing Ayesha will cause her to revoke Philippa's Djinnverso ban. So, traveling by whirlwind, train, boat and by foot, the twins head off for their adventure.

Readers of THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE once again will be enthralled with the quirky details, the humorous asides, the tongue-in-cheek cultural references, and the breakneck pace as Philippa and John whirl headlong into their far-flung exploits. THE BLUE DJINN OF BABYLON feels like a classic (as does the previous book) and will appeal not only to fantasy lovers but to anyone who enjoys an enthralling and original read.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

This second book in the “Children of the Lamp” series can be read without reading the first, but why would anyone want to do that? Both books are excellent adventures for both young adults and adults who think they’re still young, and should not be separated at any cost.

We take up the story with John and Phillipa Gaunt, the djinn twins from New York, suffering from the winter blues around the time of the Halloween festivities. Being fiery beings, cold weather tends to send their powers into hibernation, necessitating the summoning of a djinn doctor who specializes in holistic health treatments, and of course lots of accompanying tonic.

The twins’ mother Layla has renounced her powers to try to lead a normal life for her family’s sake, so she keeps tight control over their magical escapades, and when the doctor’s wayward son Dybbuk (call me Buck) lets them into a little secret for recharging their magical batteries, they jump at the chance for a little magic on the side.

Their friend Mr. Rakshasas (an Irish-accented Indian djinn who lives in a lamp) has written a very significant and important book, and at the book-launching party their kindly Uncle Nimrod introduces them to the who’s who of djinn society, including Stan Bunyip of Australia and David Kabikaj of Canada, as well as the Cruella de Ville of evil djinn, Mimi de Ghule. At this meeting Phillipa learns that Ayesha the Blue Djinn (leader, judge and jury of all djinn, good or evil) is almost ready to retire, and is looking for a successor.

Phillipa is an accomplished Djinnverso player (djinn poker, but with seven eight-sided dice) and enters a tournament at the Algonquin Hotel in New York, (the spot for the cleverest writers and wittiest actors, and the place where stylish insults are encouraged), but unfortunately things don’t go very well for her. To make matters worse, they learn that The Book of Solomon is missing. Solomon’s Grimoire is a powerful book that can help a djinn or magus to control many other djinn, and is normally kept in a safe place by the Blue Djinn herself.

John and Phillipa set out on a quest to recover the book, but the rescue operation hits a snag when Phillipa is kidnapped. The cavalry then springs into action, led by John, with the assistance of Uncle Nimrod, Mr. Rakshasas, the family dogs, and the crabby, competent, and never-basically-boring Mr. Groanin, (who thoughtfully packed supplies of dog food, and an enticing Kendall Mint Cake,) and this leads us to many exciting chapters fraught with danger, packed with adventure, suspense, current affairs, humor (lots of it) and magic.

Set in exciting locations such as Istanbul, Iraq and Guiana (French Guiana that is, just a whirlwind ride from Guyana in South America), this book differentiates itself from regular run of the mill fantasy stories, and prepares the stage for book three, due at the end of 2006. We can’t wait!!!

Amanda Richards, May 7, 2006