Summoned (From Smokeless Fire #1)

At the start of Guglielmo’s entertaining, fast-paced debut, New York City game designer Daniel receives a letter from his deceased grandmother that instructs him to summon a jinn and defeat the angels Harut and Marut, who blame humankind for their initial fall from grace and are bent on revenge. Daniel thinks it’s a prank until cockroaches arrange themselves into a command to heed his grandmother. But instead of summoning a powerful jinn warrior, Daniel gets raunchy Zahara. Guglielmo’s prose is witty and saucy as Zahara’s jinn friend, Zaid, reluctantly joins the duo in Marrakech, where they must locate Daniel’s grandmother’s former house. The trio confront one of the fallen angels before forming an unlikely alliance with the other. Although there are hints of romance, the quest overshadows the budding attraction between Zaid and Daniel. Unexpected developments and constant momentum lead into a thrilling climax; details of jinn social structure, hierarchy, and magic add depth. Guglielmo’s sharp humor, clever plot twists, and novel take on jinns add up to a fun urban fantasy adventure. (Sept.)