Scan barcode
A review by bookandcoffeeaddict
The Binding Stone by Lizzy Gayle, Lizzy Gayle
5.0
In The Binding Stone Leela is a thousand-year-old Djinn, accidentally reawakened after centuries by a new master who seems much kinder than she's used to. It doesn't take long for them to be faced with greedy Magicians who Leela knows all too well and who will stop at nothing to steal her power for themselves.
Leela's new master Jered is such a cinnamon roll and must be protected at all costs. He's twenty years old, suddenly finds himself with (almost) unlimited power and a hot genie girl at his fingertips and all he wants to do is help people. And he genuinely seems to care about Leela and her feelings. His pure heart equal parts frustrates and appeals to Leela, reminding her of the idealism she first had before she was betrayed and enslaved, a witness to the worst humanity has to offer.
Jered's idealism does cause some bumps in the road, such as when he orders Leela not to hurt anyone (leaving her kind of defenseless) or when wants to believe the best in people (even after being warned about them) - but that's part of his charm.
This book is the kind you can sink into, becoming so immersed in the story that you keep turning pages without even thinking about it. The combination of excellent storytelling, intriguing plot, interesting characters, and short chapters keep readers promising themselves "just one more chapter" and the next thing you know you've devoured the whole thing. It's over 300 pages that doesn't feel like over 300 pages.
I actually read the second book in the series first, and although it stood on its own, I liked it so much I had to go back and get my hands on the first book (see my review of The Djinn Book 2 The Bleeding Heart). And I'm glad I did. While I still don't think you need to read the first book to understand and enjoy the second, it does really help to flesh out the backstory more. I'm now rereading the second book again in preparation for the last book of the Djinn series. The Blissful End, and I'm just as drawn in as the first time I read it.
Leela's new master Jered is such a cinnamon roll and must be protected at all costs. He's twenty years old, suddenly finds himself with (almost) unlimited power and a hot genie girl at his fingertips and all he wants to do is help people. And he genuinely seems to care about Leela and her feelings. His pure heart equal parts frustrates and appeals to Leela, reminding her of the idealism she first had before she was betrayed and enslaved, a witness to the worst humanity has to offer.
Jered's idealism does cause some bumps in the road, such as when he orders Leela not to hurt anyone (leaving her kind of defenseless) or when wants to believe the best in people (even after being warned about them) - but that's part of his charm.
This book is the kind you can sink into, becoming so immersed in the story that you keep turning pages without even thinking about it. The combination of excellent storytelling, intriguing plot, interesting characters, and short chapters keep readers promising themselves "just one more chapter" and the next thing you know you've devoured the whole thing. It's over 300 pages that doesn't feel like over 300 pages.
I actually read the second book in the series first, and although it stood on its own, I liked it so much I had to go back and get my hands on the first book (see my review of The Djinn Book 2 The Bleeding Heart). And I'm glad I did. While I still don't think you need to read the first book to understand and enjoy the second, it does really help to flesh out the backstory more. I'm now rereading the second book again in preparation for the last book of the Djinn series. The Blissful End, and I'm just as drawn in as the first time I read it.