If Wishes Were Curses

Allis Evanenko is half genie.  HALF GENIE.  This was so intriguing from the start!  Since when do we have stories with this awesome concept??  From page one, I was hooked.  The characters were engaging---I found myself chuckling at the humor & snark; the plot was easy enough to keep up with (though maybe a bit fast-paced...?); & the magic system was extremely complex.

Also, there's this strangely cool, vegetarian vampire---who's a good deal different than your stereotypical, sparkly-skinned, blank-faced, arrogant vampire guy. (If you can't tell, I'm not really one for vampire stories... ;D)  This guy, however, is a gentlemanly, charming kind of fellow, & I liked him from the start.

I will warn you that there's some foul language & rather steamy romance---though nothing happens on scene---as well as quite a bit of blood.  (Read more details in the following categories below.)

Allis works for a group of private investigators, as well as a matchmaker of sorts.  Her abilities as a half-genie allow her to read people, giving her a sense of their dreams & desires.  Every now & then her job takes her somewhat undercover in bars & the like, wheedling out justice on those who attempt to take advantage of others, mostly helping keep the Fae in check in regards to the human laws.  She gets herself in some rather sticky situations.

A bear-shifter in the form of a huge grizzly tries to kill her at one point---she battles it as best she can, until finally unleashing the forbidden magic she didn't know she could use, killing him.  As she fights for her life, she senses the blood-lust from the rabid grizzly, as well as the overwhelming terror emanating from him.

She & Cendric are kidnapped & imprisoned in a special room designed to suppress magic.  We learn their kidnapper kept them tied together for at least three days trying to starve them into submission.  At one point, the bad guy makes a cut on Allis' neck trying to entice the blood-starved, vampire Cendric into drinking from her & saving himself.  (He does, but takes only what he needs...)  In making their escape, Cendric uses his own abilities of magic to release the curse (in the form of a tattoo on Allis' arms) that's keeping the full power of her genie magic suppressed, allowing them to escape.  In so doing, it causes much pain to Allis & she nearly passes out, but eventually they make it out.

A group of vampires attack them, keeping them on the run.  Several shifters try to ambush them also at one point.  People are slashed & bit, cut & bruised, etc. etc.

A man who we come to find out is a leprechaun (but not your typical red-haired dwarvish kind), has many powerful magical abilities, which include the scary idea of body-hopping... Essentially, the body he's using isn't his original... *shudders*

[SPOILER]  A plot is uncovered that a massive group of vampires are trying to take over the city & send it into chaos.  They are basically taking over the minds & bodies of unsuspecting Fae creatures (mainly shifters) & using them as pawns...

The magic system, as mentioned above, is pretty complex---I won't even try to explain it as I'm sure I'll bungle it up (JUST READ THIS BOOK!!).  But there are Fae people born with special abilities, as well as humans whose parents were Fae or at least have some in their lineage somewhere, giving them heightened senses or keen abilities.

From her birth, Allis was given a curse mark by the Fae court, swirling tattoos on her arms, that suppress the full ability of her genie powers because it was expected that she could be dangerous, to herself perhaps, but maybe it was the Fae court didn't want to see exactly what she was capable of.  Because of the mark, she's only able to do basic magic: transport objects to & from various places, add a smidgen of magic to her brother's potions, etc. etc.

Shifters come in all types of animal species: birds, bears, tigers, foxes, otters, etc.  Allis' younger brother is an otter-shifter & I'll just say, HE'S ADORABLE.  At least one character is a fox shifter, but known as a kitsune, a fox with nine tails, who can also shapeshift into any form of human (male or female) to suit her needs.

There's also some type of shadow creature whose powers can be quite horrifying.

Genie magic could very well be the most powerful of the Fae.  And while rare in the city of Pittsburgh, there are at least two other genies present, which can cause some tension as genies are known to be territorial.

Vampires are the outcasts of the community---mostly because those who are fully vampire (& not just a half-breed of some kind---like a shifter who's been turned) cannot operate in full sunlight, and are usually seen as avoidable at all costs.

Several uses of "d---", "a--", "a--hole", "hell", "crap", "pissed off", "bastard", "s---", "bulls---", "weirda--", "bada--", "stubborna--", and at least one use of "b----".

Characters are present in nightclubs & other bars with all kinds of alcoholic beverages & other mixed drinks.  Allis is a complete coffee addict & would probably be one of those who'd say anything could be solved with a cup of joe.  A friend is always fixing her up a coffee with some incredibly random mixture of cinnamon & other spices that wouldn't normally be added, but totally fit her personality.

Characters wear mini skirts & revealing outfits at times.  There's some obvious attraction between Allis & Cendric, but I honestly believe it is well done.  In my opinion, it is well paced & sweet.  They kiss a time or two & embrace as well.

In the scene where Cendric drinks her blood, they share their magic with each other, creating (unintentionally, rather) a mating bond.  In terms of Fae, this basically means they are married even if it's not yet been consummated... Other Fae couples are mentioned as having mating bonds.  To me, it all sounds rather animalistic, but for this story world, it seems to work.

At one point, before the book's ending, Allis wakes up in her bedroom in the apartment she shares with her brother, recovering from the plot's climax.  Cendric is present keeping watch over her & once she comes to they talk & laugh over all the events with her requesting coffee.  Eventually, Cendric climbs onto the bed & but a moment later her brother walks in on them (STILL CLOTHED, mind you), but turns away in mock disgust throwing the comment that (paraphrased) this is still his house too & they should be more aware.  He mentions something along the lines of things you cannot un-see & one of those being a vampire brother-in-law & a "turned-on" sister...  Also, I will add, that according to the story-world's rules & the term of mating bond, Allis & Cendric are married---so this kind of scene is totally okay in the moral sense, in my opinion, as nothing is described in any sort of detail on screen, & nor do they---er, do the thing...  But for younger readers, I'm not sure it's necessary to so strongly imply.  

All in all, I SO ENJOYED this book.  And I NEEEEEEED the sequel!  Also, I need moremoremore of Allis' otter-shifting brother---he basically MADE THE BOOK in my humble opinion, despite his tiny role.  xD  The story world was fantastic! and I enjoyed the characters & their flawed-relateable personalities, fun quirks, & chuckleable (new word, y'all!) humor.  I don't often read urban fantasy, but I enjoyed this one!

That said, I was extremely disappointed in the vast amount of unexpected language.  Having read the gushing reviews from other "friends" & authors I follow on GoodReads, I went into this book head first.  So when these words kept popping up in all their distraction, I was completely thrown.  The foul language was WHOLLY unnecessary & a HUGE distraction from the story itself.  Hence, the loss of a star in my rating.  Again, I loved the concept, story, & characters, but was thoroughly disappointed in an otherwise, mostly clean piece of urban fantasy.

FOUR out of FIVE stars, due to some language, some sensuality, & violent content.