Book Reviews

Book Blurb

A grumpy, pain-loving Christmas elf. A control-obsessed human with a shriveled heart. A last chance to get a wish right before the doom of eternal perkiness at the North Pole descends…

All Coal needs to prove himself to Santa and avoid cleaning up after reindeer for the rest of his days is to fulfill one tiny wish. How hard could it be to make one human Grinch happy?

Angus doesn’t do Christmas, relationships, or liars. So why does Angus itch to hear the prospective singer for the Christmas party say, ‘Yes, Boss’? Pushing the unnerving attraction down works until his callous nemesis shows interest in the odd, bratty, festive-obsessed singer. Last time, Angus didn’t see the relationship road crash coming. Dare he risk his heart in another tug of war?

Book Review

This second volume in the ‘Festive Djinn’ series continues the weaving of an unusual tale with a Christmas theme that is definitely atypical because it is set in a supernatural world with lots of interesting rules around Christmas fairies that turn out to be djinns. I guess it makes sense since both are centered on wish fulfillment, but this DeMMonica world is a lot edgier than the traditionally sweet Christmas stories I am used to. There are a few more revelations about Santa Claus/Nick and the feud he has been involved in with his brother Arioch/Krampus, but much remains hidden in mystery.

 

Coal (the name really says it all, LOL) is a very unusual Christmas fairy. He is grumpy, hates the eternal cheerfulness of the other fairies, loves pain to the point that he inflicts it on himself, and he is not very good at wish fulfillment. Making Angus happy (as wished for by one of Angus’s employees) is Coal’s last chance to get it right. He may not be ready to deny his own nature and become an obedient little submissive though – and that is what Coal’s struggle/battle in this story is all about.

 

Angus is even grumpier than Coal. He is obsessed with controlling every aspect of his life as well as demanding total truth from everyone he interacts with. This mostly works in his job as the owner of a taxi company, but in his personal life? Not so much. His last experience with a relationship and a lying partner has left his heart shriveled and this makes him resist the feelings he very quickly develops for Coal with a vengeance. Being his Dom and making him obey – no problem. Admitting he is beginning to love the stubborn fairy – not going to happen. Well, that is what Angus thinks.

 

As more details about this world emerged, I have to admit that I was beginning to be slightly put off by the cruelty that underlies the feud between Nick/Santa Claus and Arioch/Krampus. It becomes clear that the latter is actually a demon, so I would expect him to be mean and vengeful. But “the good guy”, a.k.a. Nick, is beginning to emerge as a being with some questionable ideas as well. I am worried, but too curious to give up on the series at this point.

 

If you want to find out more about “adult” wish fulfillment and its consequences in this world, if a stubborn elf with his own ideas about his own future is your thing, and if you are looking for a delicious battle between two men who have their own ideas what should work in a relationship, then you might like this novel.

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER: Books reviewed on this site were usually provided at no cost by the publisher or author. This book was purchased by the reviewer.

 

Additional Information

Format	ebook and print
Length	Novel, 414 pages
Heat Level
Publication Date	27-October-2022
Price	$4.99 ebook, $15.99 paperback
Buy Link	https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Coal-Festive-Djinn-Book-ebook/dp/B0BK2L4XV6