Wednesday, 16 May 2012

The Bonehill Curse by Jon Mayhew


The Bonehill Curse
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Format: ARC
Published: 10th May 2012
Number of Pages: 384
Book: For Review*
Genre: Action Adventure, Historical, Mythical, Fantasy, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Paranormal, YA
Recommended Age: 12+
Contains: Violence, Mild Swearing, Death
No Alcohol, Drug References
Author's Blog: Jon Mayhew

A  twisted tale of evil djinns, flying carpets and deadly revenge.
Necessity Bonkehill has unleashed an evil djinn from his bottle.  Now she has just seven days to put him back.  But the djinn has a different plan, and returning to his prison of three thousand years isn’t part of it.
With her friend Azuli and a fierce flying carpet, Ness must race against time to stop the djinn from carrying out his deadly last wish – whatever it takes.


                                                                   Review:
"With Wishing Comes Grieving" (Traditional Proverb) 
Neccessity Bonehill's uncle sent her a bottle, along with instructions to never, ever open it. 
Only she did. 
What Ness didn't know is that her uncle and six others summoned a djinn.  And when she opened that bottle, she unleashed it on the world. 
She has only seven days to repair her mistake.  If she doesn't manage to get the djinn back in the bottle, he will destroy the world Ness knows...
Can she succeed?  How can one girl, her new-found friend Azuli and an untameable flying carpet unravel the conspiracy and destroy one of the most powerful magical beings - the last djinn Zaakiel...?  Before he carries out his final, destructive wish...?
I love the Arabian Nights, the Victorian era and djinn - so this book was right up my alley!  I found out only after reading this that it is the third in a series set in the same world.  As I adore this world and can't wait to dive right back in, I'll be getting my hands on those two books ASAP!  I loved all the characters, the world, the magic, the writing, the setting, the... well, everything!  An incredible book that left me wanting more!
Ness was amazingly kickbutt and could totally hold her own!  To begin with she was a real piece of work - a bully - but I loved how she grew and developed.  She was just so alone, so young despite her toughness.  And as stubborn as a mule!  I felt so sorry for her - her name said it all "Neccessity".  No wonder she didn't feel loved. 
Azuli was brave, impulsive and dedicated.  He just wanted to prove he was worthy, to be accepted as a Lashkar.  He was kinda withdrawn to begin with, but I quickly came to love him!  He was also a teeny bit arrogant - but Ness soon knocked that out of him!
All of the characters were so well padded out, and so many of them completely surprised me.  I loved Sergeant Major Morris, the scatter-brained, determined, funny and loyal man who taught Ness to fight.  And I also loved how Mayhew wrote the djinn Zaakiel.  Sure, he was creepy and hell-bent on vengeance, but his story was so…. Rich and believable and he just had so many levels.  He was the most amazing and utterly compelling villain ever, and I loved how strangely relatable he was!  I also adored how the main characters changed and grew as well...  Mr Mayhew sure know how to write wonderfully strong characters!
The writing was amazing - I really felt like I'd gone back in time!  And I could see everything!  It was all simple, descriptive, beautiful addictive, spooky and rather gory - and I loved every second!  I adored all the creepy Proverbial-snippets at the start of each chapter.  They were majorly spooky!  I just adored Mayhew's writing and also the plot: it was so addictive!  As it says of the back of the proof copy, this book really is "Arabian Nights meets Indiana Jones"Awesome!!  I loved the quest-like-adventure feel of the book.  It was action-packed, spooky, addictive!  I was left wanting more, more, more!
And the setting was just amazing - so rich and vivid and real.  Again, like I'd gone back in time!  And all the magic and history was just stunning - breath-taking and amazing.  I especially loved the djinn and Lashkar mythology!  And all the supernatural things in this world... well, I have to get my hands on the other books - I can't wait to see more of this world!  I loved how the Oliver-Twist-London was made new, exciting and exotic by the magic and djinn.  Man I love this world!
A djinn bent on revenge, a secret society bent on stopping him and a girl caught in the middle...  An amazing, magical, addictive, action-packed, mythical, awesome book that had me hooked from start to finish.  I sped through this book and was left desperate for more.  I will be getting my hands on Mr Mayhew's other books as soon as I possibly can - I adore this world and everything about this book, and simply must get back into it!

Star Rating:
4½ Out of 5
                                                             


Read this book if you liked:
Mortlock Series by Jon Mayhew
The Bartimeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy
Wereworld by Curtis Jobling


Challenges It's Taking Part In:

Happy Reading
Megan
* This book was received from Bloomsbury in exchange for an honest review

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