Author: A.R. Moler
Publisher: JMS Books
Pages/Word Count: 54 Pages
At a Glance: A short book that nicely continues to add to the story in the first.
Reviewed By: Jennifer
Blurb: After Dale Edinger’s eccentric aunt passed away, she left him with a house full of clutter mixed with magical items and a djinn named Riadh. With his own history and a set of rules that make it impossible for him to be freed, Riadh now belongs to Dale. But when your skills at magic are one step above non-existent, you need a teacher.
Now Dale’s on the hunt for a teacher so he’ll not only learn how to wield magic, but will also be able to protect Riadh. Unfortunately, his options are limited. Who poses the greater risk — a dragon with uncertain motives, or a big city mage who’d like to add Riadh to his own collection of possessions?
Review: This book flew by. It was such a short, yet enjoyable read. Having read the first one, What’s in Your Box?, I was excited to see what happened next with Dale and Riadh, but it had been awhile since I’d read it, so I was worried I wouldn’t remember what was going on. My worries were for nothing, though.
Dale has inherited his deceased aunt’s home, and all magical items within it. After deciding he wants to continue her business, he is now looking for a teacher, along with his djinn companion, Riadh. The first is not what he expects—after all, Riadh is not part of any bargain—but the second (the second what?) might be even stranger. But what’s a young, non-magical person to do?
If you haven’t read book one, you should go back and do so. It’s short, so it won’t take long, but it’ll be worth it. For those who have read it but it’s been awhile, have no fear. The author does a fantastic job of recalling events from the first book without breaking the flow of this story. It’s done very quickly, too, and is just enough to jog your memory so you can continue reading. I was thrilled to discover this, as I’ve found many authors rehash previous events unnecessarily and at length.
There will clearly be a third book, as this one is left wide open, and I can’t wait to read it. I’m curious to see what happens next to Dale and Riadh and learn more about Summer. I also want to see if Dale is ever able to overcome his PTSD and be truly intimate with Riadh. The addition of his disorder brings an element of realism to an otherwise fantastic story. Dale has made some progress since the first book, but he still has a long way to go before he is completely healed from his injuries in the war and the trauma of losing his lover.
You can buy Where There’s Smoke here:
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