From Brick & Darkness

J. L. Sullivan

May 2022 · The Wild Rose Press Inc

About this ebook

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts. The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

Ratings and reviews

Be careful what you wish for… Is only one of many life lessons disguised in a well written, fast-paced YA urban fantasy story. I can’t speak to teenage readers, but this adult loved it! First, I learned the word djinn for genies. And I loved that they use the pronoun “IT”. From there it was a rollercoaster! Baxter, the MC, had characteristics we can all relate to, well beyond high school – self doubt, fear of being singled out being just two. Stayed up most of the night to finish the last 25%.

A genie. A ring. A wish. In this riveting YA novel, teenage Bax and his friends at first embrace what seems like an exciting adventure. But adventure turns into bad news, and disaster looms as things go from bad to worse. The consequences of Bax’s wishes threaten his world and everyone he loves. J.L. Sullivan has written a captivating and well-structured novel, overlaying a coming-of-age theme on the ancient trope of the wish-granting genie.

From the believable characters to the creative mystery built by the author, I got pulled in at Chapter 1. The story is bursting with drama, tension, and the mysterious workings of the djinn. Sullivan puts you alongside the main character as he painfully trudges through his sophomore year in HS while wishing for a better life. But as the story goes—be careful what you wish for. Between loyal friends, teenage crushes, high school bullies, and an evil genie, emotions run high throughout the book.

About the author

J. L. Sullivan writes young adult stories inspired by gritty urban environments and the tales that percolate within abandoned buildings and desolate alleys. He lives in St. Louis, outnumbered by his wife, two daughters, and a dog named Princess Penelope Picklesworth.