From Brick & Darkness

by J L Sullivan

Overview

Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts. The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781509240081
Publisher:	Wild Rose Press
Publication date:	05/16/2022
Pages:	362
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.75(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

Editorial Reviews

"Rising young adult author, J. L. Sullivan, combines mythology, theology, and astronomy to create an invitingly fresh, nail-biting coming-of-age teen tale."
—Chanticleer Book Reviews (5 Stars)

"Effortlessly inclusive and massively entertaining, From Brick & Darkness wraps a childhood fairytale up in a slick modern package, offering readers of any age a most enjoyable escape."
—Indies Today (5 Stars)

"Suspenseful and perfectly written, From Brick & Darkness was an outstanding story."
—Readers' Favorite (5 Stars)

"From Brick & Darkness will attract young adult fantasy readers who enjoy stories about magical opportunities gone awry, and impossible dreams that turn into nightmares."
—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

"It is fast-paced, creative, and perceptive with a tightly woven plot that will have the reader wanting more."
—Reader Views Kids (5 Stars)

"In this beautiful and quirky YA debut with paranormal hints, J. L. Sullivan delivers a captivating tale centered on the complexities of having one's wishes granted."
—The Book Commentary (5 Stars)

"A dark and sometimes twisted look at coming of age."
—N.N. Light's Book Heaven (5 Stars)

"Sullivan's debut is an exhilarating page-turner, featuring a fully fleshed-out cast and a fantastical world packed with both whimsey and dark."
—The Prairies Book Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-04-19
A dangerous supernatural being starts granting a teen’s deepest wishes in Sullivan’s debut YA fantasy.

In St. Louis, Missouri, Baxter “Bax” Allen is a sophomore at Truman High School. His parents split up 13 years ago, and he lives with his mother, Sara, who supports them with two jobs. He also suffers from episodes in which stress causes him to faint. One night, on his way back from his best friend Jason Franklin’s house, Bax meets a stranger who insists that Bax give Greg, the teen’s estranged father, a gaudy ring with a purple gem. Bax accepts it even though he doesn’t know where his dad is. The next day, as Bax and Jason examine the ring, a short, monkeylike being with white fur appears and asks to be of service. This is Janni, a low-level djinn; it obeys Bax’s wishes, but its powers have limits—for example, it can’t change people in any way. Later, Ashley Bryant, Bax’s brainy neighbor, asks Bax to have Janni spy on her parents. Eventually, Bax dreams of getting everything he wants—financial stability, his parents reunited, and the attention of his crush, Scarlet Lane. However, a more powerful entity may cause Bax to regret his desires. Sullivan presents several familiar ingredients of YA adventures, including a nerdy, underdog protagonist and threatening bullies, but it’s the djinn that truly makes this fantasy shine. Janni provides a fertile source of humor, as when it tries to help with the dishes; it’s also noted that the djinn smells like burnt hair whenever traveling via magic. There’s discussion of how a more powerful djinn could improve the world by, for example, curing cancer, which sounds a note of seriousness to the narrative. Later, well-executed twists ratchet up the horror: “He yelled but only heard the shrill grinding of metal. Then, in a split second, he heard nothing at all.” Bax’s supporting cast is well developed—especially Ashley, who begins the tale as a social outcast. Sullivan provides a tight finale, although fans will surely crave more.

A bold page-turner that interrogates the notion of winning one’s heart’s desire.

Kirkus Reviews