Tu Books (Lee & Low). 2024
Reviewed by Alma Ramos-McDermott
Category: High School
Rating 5 stars
Eighteen-year-old twins Bianca and Leila didn’t like each other very much. Though sisters, raised by Argentinian/Iranian parents, they were complete opposites. Leila didn’t care about her heritage, dressed too girly, liked to sew, cook, and garden. She had plans to marry her high school sweetheart, have his children, and never leave their little town of Ayers, Virginia. Bianca was rough and tumble goth, spoke Persian and Spanish, loved learning about their family’s heritage, and couldn’t wait to see Ayers disappear in her rear-view mirror after graduation. It had been years since they’d spoken a civil word to each other, as each were biding their time until they could finally go their separate ways.
Everything changed the day they turned eighteen years old. After strange fires and rumors of fiery demons circulated, they found out evil djinn were loose in Ayers. Their prince, Cyrus, possessed Leila because she didn’t wear an iron ring their father had gifted them for protection as she didn’t like anything Iranian. Years ago djinn had granted a favor to a family member who had used them as collateral, and had come to collect the twins as payment. They would be a bridge that would allow these demons to possess humans and conquer the world.
Faced with the possibility of losing their souls, and Ayers to djinn, the twins forgot their animosity and joined forces. With thousands of djinns at Cyrus’ command, how were a pair of Iranian/Argentinian teens equipped to fight for their lives and for everyone in their town? It would take more than they could offer if they were going to conquer the forces of evil.
I was transported once I started reading and finished in one sitting. Fantasy, adventure, jealousy, evil, greed, anger, love, hope, friendship, and sisterly love all combined as I was transported into Bianca and Leila’s desperate fight for their souls and those they loved.
Highly recommended for ages 14 and over.
Note: This review was originally published on You Decide: Should I read it or not?
Reproduced here as a courtesy to Alma Ramos-McDermott
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