SPOIL-FREE SUMMARY
When the twins and Nimrod learn that Solomon's Grimoire has been stolen from Ayesha, the blue djinn, they learn only they can help. But this turns out to be more trouble than they expected, and soon it becomes a rescue mission. And this time, John has to go it alone.
OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS-SPOILERS
Phillipa is the twin that I still feel slight indifferent too. There were two moments in the book that made her come off as actually unlikable. Once, where she thinks she is perfectly innocent of anything and pure hearted, and another where she looks down on the maid of Ayesha. Phillipa begins a change in the book that she cannot control, but it was up to her to explain how nice she usually was. I wish we could have actually seen her kind personality and her strong moral convictions in action.
John felt the more likable than his sister. He has two scenes in the book where he witnesses deaths that move him to tears. These were written well. Not enough detail to be gorey, and no flowery writing that made John seem unreal. These scenes made him very sympathetic. It is also mentioned that John has been bullied at school, making him seem more three dimensional.
Nimrod is actually in this story slightly less. But he remains the same character. I thought it was odd that John never took him aside and became angry with him for being kept in the dark about many djinn matters.
Groanin again, has most of the amusing lines. Although Nimrod had his share. I still favor him and Nimrod over the twins, for their charisma and odd behavior.
NEW CHARACTERS
Dybbuk is a much needed character, a similar aged character who knows all about djinns because he is one. Although he comes off as snobby and selfish at first, its obvious there is more to him than meets the eye.
Darius is the young driver who helps Groanin and John get to their destination. He is charming, and has a love for racecar drivers.
The Blue Djinn of Babylon, Ayesha is emotionless and unfeeling. She allows only facts to affect her judgment.
PACING
The pacing isn't really fast, just like the last book. Before we even get to the astaralagi tournament, where the story seems to get started, we meet Dybbuk and help Mrs. Trump with a problem. This may seem to have nothing to do with the story, but events occur that affect the story later.
Although about half way through the story, Phillipa and John are split up and we get a few chapters from her perspective, and some from his. This doesn't make the book feel faster, as there are a few chapters between John's before we even get to Phillipa's.
ALAN & NEIL
The Gaunts' pet dogs come with John and Groanin for protection this time around. I quite liked seeing how they were so protective of John. But I wish there had been a few scenes in this book, or the last one, that had mentioned how close John was with him. Perhaps mentioning they went on regular walks, played fetch, or they laid at the end of his bed. I understand that they are not normal dogs, but even so, a bond that people form with animals is easy to relate to and would have made John and Phillipa more relatable.
EXPOSITION
There were the usual bits of exposition, same as last time. But for the most part, again, the information was interesting and necessary. Although some of it was silly (the book of moans?). Although I admit, I was bored when details of astralagi were given.
EXPANDING THE WORLD-SPOILERS
Kerr does much to expand the world, partly through Dybbuk and partly through the plot. For instance, we learn about Elementals, creatures created of an element that can be summoned to to a djinn's bidding. Also, we learn that Djinn can travel by hurricane.
SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS
When Phillipa vanishes, John thinks about how he feels a part of him is missing. Its a sweet sentiment, but again, I wish Kerr would have showed us how close they are, and have always been. Do they have the same classes at school? Same friends? Do they have interests in common? Is it just being the same age that has made them close? Most of us have siblings, but only some of us call them friends. I just wish Kerr had expanded on this as it's an important aspect of their characters.
FORESHADOWING
There are few instances where foreshadowing occurs. Once with Dybbuk, and another when John learns about a king. Also an incident with a bird comes back to help John.
CLIMAX
It is set up where John has to go on alone, with only Neil and Alan with him, to rescue Phillipa. It definitely felt like his book, even though the twins were together until halfway through. The Iravotum is vast underground world that seemed so creepy, I wanted to see more. It was interesting how the Blue Djinn herself was not the the one thing keeping the twins from escaping.
CONCLUSION
Although Phillipa still seems to lack depth, I find myself drawn to the wonderfully detailed world of the djinn. We travel all over, witnessing new monsters, and places of myth and legend. And John does show some of his inner feelings. Groanin and Nimrod still prove to be unique and entertaining characters while future events are set in motion. I give “The Blue Djinn of Babylon” four stars.
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