Customer Reviews

The Blue Djinn of Babylon Children of the lamp ; bk. 2

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Dear readers,
If you are one of those readers deciding whether or not to try reading "The Blue Djinn of Babylon," you need not worry. Once you pick up this awesome book, you won't stop till you come to the final conclusion..... which hints of MORE to come!

In this complex, but well written plot, Kerr ought to be crowned for the most expected to achieve author. I bet my money that Kerr is the only author that has tried to squeeze so much into a storyline, and still succeeded in making the plot "fun, quirky, and interesting."

Warning: Even though this book is VERY good, I suggest reading the first book of the Children of the Lamps Series... you might be slow on the second book then. If you read this excellently written book, try to think of all the imagining and work that went behind it pages.

In the second volume of the Children of the Lamp trilogy, djinn (genie) twins John and Philippa Gaunt are suffering the powerlessness caused by a cold New York winter (djinn need heat in order to use their powers). Dybbuk, a djinn visitor, shows them that sitting in a sauna will temporarily jumpstart their forces. But is Dybbuk setting them up somehow?

The twins play a trick on their wealthy housekeeper's own worthless housekeeper. In the process, John meets Frank Vodyannoy, the resident djinn of the famous Dakota apartment building. Mr. Vodyannoy warns John to watch out for relatives of Iblis, the bad djinn the twins defeated in THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE. He gives John a gift --- one emergency wish to use when he's desperate.

Philippa spies her mother arguing with Ayesha, who is the famously hard-hearted Blue Djinn, the leader of all djinn, good and bad. When Philippa asks her mother about the argument, she mysteriously denies it took place. Yet she appears sad and even refuses to discuss the topic of the Blue Djinn with John. However, John learns that Ayesha is searching for a replacement.

Philippa competes in her first Djinnverso Tournament, a gambling dice game, and meets Ayesha, who makes cryptic remarks to her, including the admonition to remember "it's nothing personal." Philippa agrees to this ominous warning although she has no clue what the powerful djinn is talking about. But soon Philippa is framed --- as a cheater! --- and is banned from all Djinnverso tournaments for eternity.

An enormously important book of djinn magic called the Solomon Grimoire, which contains powerful incantations that could enslave any djinn, has been stolen by a Blue Djinn guard who now regrets his actions. The thief will only hand over the book to John and Philippa, but they must undertake a dangerous journey in order to meet with him. Are they up to this urgent and frightening challenge? Are they heading for disaster? Their decision to endanger themselves is partly swayed by Philippa's hope that pleasing Ayesha will cause her to revoke Philippa's Djinnverso ban. So, traveling by whirlwind, train, boat and by foot, the twins head off for their adventure.

Readers of THE AKHENATEN ADVENTURE once again will be enthralled with the quirky details, the humorous asides, the tongue-in-cheek cultural references, and the breakneck pace as Philippa and John whirl headlong into their far-flung exploits. THE BLUE DJINN OF BABYLON feels like a classic (as does the previous book) and will appeal not only to fantasy lovers but to anyone who enjoys an enthralling and original read.

--- Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)

This second book in the “Children of the Lamp” series can be read without reading the first, but why would anyone want to do that? Both books are excellent adventures for both young adults and adults who think they’re still young, and should not be separated at any cost.

We take up the story with John and Phillipa Gaunt, the djinn twins from New York, suffering from the winter blues around the time of the Halloween festivities. Being fiery beings, cold weather tends to send their powers into hibernation, necessitating the summoning of a djinn doctor who specializes in holistic health treatments, and of course lots of accompanying tonic.

The twins’ mother Layla has renounced her powers to try to lead a normal life for her family’s sake, so she keeps tight control over their magical escapades, and when the doctor’s wayward son Dybbuk (call me Buck) lets them into a little secret for recharging their magical batteries, they jump at the chance for a little magic on the side.

Their friend Mr. Rakshasas (an Irish-accented Indian djinn who lives in a lamp) has written a very significant and important book, and at the book-launching party their kindly Uncle Nimrod introduces them to the who’s who of djinn society, including Stan Bunyip of Australia and David Kabikaj of Canada, as well as the Cruella de Ville of evil djinn, Mimi de Ghule. At this meeting Phillipa learns that Ayesha the Blue Djinn (leader, judge and jury of all djinn, good or evil) is almost ready to retire, and is looking for a successor.

Phillipa is an accomplished Djinnverso player (djinn poker, but with seven eight-sided dice) and enters a tournament at the Algonquin Hotel in New York, (the spot for the cleverest writers and wittiest actors, and the place where stylish insults are encouraged), but unfortunately things don’t go very well for her. To make matters worse, they learn that The Book of Solomon is missing. Solomon’s Grimoire is a powerful book that can help a djinn or magus to control many other djinn, and is normally kept in a safe place by the Blue Djinn herself.

John and Phillipa set out on a quest to recover the book, but the rescue operation hits a snag when Phillipa is kidnapped. The cavalry then springs into action, led by John, with the assistance of Uncle Nimrod, Mr. Rakshasas, the family dogs, and the crabby, competent, and never-basically-boring Mr. Groanin, (who thoughtfully packed supplies of dog food, and an enticing Kendall Mint Cake,) and this leads us to many exciting chapters fraught with danger, packed with adventure, suspense, current affairs, humor (lots of it) and magic.

Set in exciting locations such as Istanbul, Iraq and Guiana (French Guiana that is, just a whirlwind ride from Guyana in South America), this book differentiates itself from regular run of the mill fantasy stories, and prepares the stage for book three, due at the end of 2006. We can’t wait!!!


Amanda Richards, May 7, 2006

The Blue Djinn of Babylone is AMAZING!!! I read it in one day because I couldn't put it down! It was as though my hands were glued to the book! My mom got mad when she saw my light on at 11:00 PM because I was still reading. When you start to read this book, you will wish that P.B. Kerr would hurry up with another book it's soo good!!!!

I am 60 years old and have just retired as an elementary and middle school librarian. I love to read and totally adore reading fantasy. I am one of those 60 year olds who feel as though they are 13. The Children of the Lamp series really took hold of my heart as I listened to both on tape. P. B. Kerr is very creative and has a gift for providing a very exciting setting. His books leave you in suspense as to what is going to happen in the next book. I can't wait for book 3. My granddaughters are now reading the book and loving every word. That, of course, is the real test to me - how well my 10 and 11 year old granddaughters enjoy the book. They love fantasy like their grandmother and are avid readers. John and Phillippa are good role models for children as they are good and kind. They are highly intelligent and have a love for learning as well as adventure. As twin siblings, they are very devoted to each other and their family. You cannot help but love them. I highly recommend this series to our youth and to all wannabe youths like myself.

Beverly Dyer
August 16, 2006

Even though I am definitely not a young teen (unless 65 qualifies) I love the Children of the Lamp series. One of my granddaughters bought the first book at a school book fair; I had run out of my own reading material for relaxation; and, as they say, the rest is history.

After I finished The Akhenaten Adventure, I bought the Blue Djinn and Cobra King of Kathmandu. I am awaiting the next three books as much as my granddaughter.

The Blue Djinn of Babylon was a marvelous story that was excellent in every way. It had wonderful plot, setting, theme, characters, description, detail, and anything you name. I loved it so much because it made me laugh sometimes, it made me think a lot, it made me guess what would would happen, and it made me so anxious to continue reading. The story completely satisfied my hungry mind. My favorite parts of the story were when John and Philippa are on the train awaiting for the arrival of Izaak Balayaga and also the entire part when John was in Iravotum. I thought that those two parts were the most engrossing of all. A series that I like as much as the Children of the Lamp series are the Divide series. Both series are fantasy books that have mystical creatures, like djinn. I would give this book five out of five stars.

In this book there are two 12-year-old twins, John and Phillipa Gaunt who have recently discovered that they are from a family of djinn, or more frequently used: "genies". They are having trouble this winter since they live in New York City. There is harsh, cold weather, which all djinn hate since they are made from fire. They can't use their powers in cool weather because they don't have enough energy, but a friend comes along to show them a trick to boost up their magic, just take a trip to the sauna!
Phillipa Gaunt is an excellent djinnverso player, (It is a common djinn game to play, and is sort of like poker) enters a tournament where she ends up getting framed for cheating for some bizarre reason. Then the next thing they know is that a very important book that controls all djinn kind that is called Solomon's Grimoire gets stolen. The person who stole it feels really guilty and wants to return it without bringing attention to himself, so he makes a deal with the twins Uncle Nimrod to give it to him and he'll take care of it. He decides to make the exchange on a train through Istanbul, Turkey. It turns out to be a trap and Phillipa gets kidnapped!
Phillipa gets taken to an underground world in Babylon, Iraq where she will be forced to be the next Blue Djinn. John finds out about the plan and goes on a rescue mission to save her. There is a very special tree that grows in the under ground world where Phillipa was taken that is called the Tree of Logic which transforms the next to-be Blue Djinn hard-hearted.
John must go through a series of brave tasks to save his dear sister before it is too late. He must fight of giant man-eating locusts, allow himself to be killed bunch of times but he realizes he wasn't really killed, it was like an illusion, and every time it is a different way he is killed, another situation. He also has to be steered by a man made of bronze over a sea that is lava-hot and fend of a huge killer bird, make his way through a forest full of dangerous beasts and creatures, escape with his sister from the house she was imprisoned in and run away from the enormous wish-monster that swallows everything in its path. In the end the whole family is together and happy again and all safe from the disaster that occurred.

This is a wonderful book. There is always a shock around the corner, and suspense on ever page. I was really hoping for more suspense in this book, and I got exactly that.

Although, I was a little disappointed that the book was mostly about John. Being one who greatly enjoys reading Philipa's thoughts, and scanning the page with huge eyes when she solves the mystery, I was disappointed that she was the damsel in the story. I was very put back by that, but the book still turned out great. Some subjects were hard to understand, for example, the djinn game of Djinnverso. I didn't understand that at all. I do appreciate the author (Phillip B. Kerr) for making up his own game for the book, it was original, and I applaud him for it. I also believed some of the parts in the book were choppy, and did not run smoothly. The events in the book seemed to happen too fast (and yes, while writing this is did factor in the fact that djinn can move quickly from one place to another by creating, and riding their own whirlwind).

I loved that Phillip Kerr well explained the personality of each character. I had such a solid image of the characters in my mind, I felt as though I was in the story.

The thing I like the most is Kerr's complete originality. It is wonderfully refreshing, I have never heard of a series like the Children of the Lamp. It must take a great imagination to make up things such as, "The Baghdad Rules," a long list of rules that all djinn must obey. "The Tree of Logic," a tree made to harden the hearts of any who stay near it too long. One of my personal favorites is the decorating of the inside of a lamp, HILARIOUS! I absolutely loved that djinn could decorate their lamps with movie theaters, Cafes, Libraries, etc. I can't wait to find out what brilliant ideas Kerr comes up with next.

I am hooked on these books, I'm reading the 5th one now. They are perfect if you are looking for a magical adventure, with pop-off-the-page-characters. Read if you are looking for a series like no other.

The Blue Djinn of Babylon is mouth-watering continuation of the Children of Lamp series. The twins learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of their djinn powers and discover some fascinating facts about their mom. Not to mention twins get separated by the Blue Djinn and have some wild hair-raising adventures trying to find each other. I'd tell you more, but its more fun to read the book! Let your imagination do the walking.