Taken

The Djinn Wars #2

by Christine Pope

After her djinn lover is imprisoned by a survivalist group intent on eradicating all his kind, Jessica Monroe faces a dire choice. She can live out her life alone — her soul mate torn from her and imprisoned in Los Alamos — or she can risk everything to rescue Jace from the stronghold of the Immune, where survivors of the Dying are developing a weapon that could tip the scales in the war between human and Djinn. 

Every risk she faces seems worse than the last, but Jessica is determined to save the djinn she loves…even if it means betraying what’s left of humanity. (Book 2 of The Djinn Wars)

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dystopia, Paranormal Romance, Google, Collections, Fiction

374 pages, ebook

First published April 22, 2015

About the author

A native of Southern California, Christine Pope has been writing stories ever since she commandeered her family’s Smith-Corona typewriter back in the sixth grade. Many reams of dead trees later, she’s happy to announce that her debut novel, Fringe Benefits,was published by Pink Petal Books on April 8, 2010. Her short fiction has appeared in Astonishing Adventures, Luna Station Quarterly, and the new journal of dark fiction, Dark Valentine. Her paranormal novella, Playing With Fire, was released on August 5, 2010.

While Fringe Benefits is a straight contemporary romance, she writes in a variety of genres, including paranormal romance, fantasy, horror, science fiction, and historical romance. She blames this on being easily distracted by bright, shiny objects, which could also account for the size of her shoe collection.

After spending many years in the magazine publishing industry, she now works as a freelance editor in addition to writing fiction. She lives with her husband and an explosively fluffy Pomeranian mix. Her house is pink, but don’t hold that against her.

Reviews

[Mummy's Naughty Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading some of the other reviews I didn't think this book was too bad. There were boring parts but I thought there was a storyline. It seems like the group will be fighting a war and they have enemies coming from all sides. It'll be interesting to see what happens next.

[Violet Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah...I didn't particularly enjoy the first one but this one was just boring. While I do think Christine has a nice writing style the actual content could have been expounded upon. I was never moved by the characters and wasn't sad by any sacrifices made.

[Tree Abbott · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Rounded down

There are lots of writers who have mastered the craft of writing a compelling series without huge cliffhangers. Story arcs resolve while the saga continues and the reader is compelled to find out what happens.

Ms. Pope succeeded in making me care about, and want to know more about the MCs, both of whom are fleshed out and have agency. The relationship flourishes realistically for a human- non-human book.

OMG after writing the above I discovered there are 12 books in the series. If the next book doesn't have a well written end ... no mas.

[d_uhreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where and why has this series been all my life?! The writing is phenomenal. The spice...... I could use more, but I love what I am getting. The thrill.......I have been on the edge of my seat the whole time I have been reading this.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was ambivalent about the first of this series, and this one is continuing that trend. It's not poorly written, and there are aspects of it that I like. It's just not really sucking me into the storyline. I'm not a big romance reader, so perhaps that is part of the issue. I'm mildly curious about how the series ends, so I may continue reading anyway.

[Hilary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant Series

Taken (The Djinn Wars Book 2) by Christine Pope. The humans from Los Alamos had taken Jasreel. After talking to the Djinn at Taos Jessica goes to Los Alamos to free Jasreel. After a few weeks she finally manages to free Jasreel and get back to Taos. Still they weren’t safe. Suddenly there were hundreds of Djinn flying into Taos, the ones who were scouring the earth looking for survivors. One of the survivors at Los Alamos had developed a box that could control the Djinn. Jasreel and Jessica had stolen one as they escaped. Now Jessica used it to get rid of all the Djinn flying into Taos.

[DiAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was first introduced to this book via Bad Magic: Novels of Demons, Djinn, Witches, Warlocks, Vampires, and Gods Gone Rogue. I loved the books but only felt the need to purchase additional books for a few of them. This happened to be one of them. I loved them although I only bought books 1-4. My only problem with them was how accepting some of the people were regarding everyone they knew dying. Realistically I think people would have been a bit more distraught watching everyone die and turn to dust. A little romance does not counteract that much loss. Other than that, I loved them!

[Pat Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of your books

I discovered your books quite awhile ago. I just bought 20.00 worth of books from gift cards my daughter sent me for my birthday. When I have more money I will buy more of the books posted on Amazon or where ever I can find them. Of all things I could have gotten for mothers day, my son gave me kindle fire 10 tablet. I am 78yrs old and in very bad health, with a bleed on my brain. But I still try to do my share. Thank you so much for creating such enjoyable books. You are my one true writer. May the Lord keep watch over you. Par dean

[Scot · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this second book in the series, Jace and Jessica's idyll is disturbed by forces from without: it turns out some angry human survivors who hadn't yet been wiped out by the Djinn majority have developed a contraption to weaken and subjegate djinn, and they use it indiscriminately on all such beings, even those in the minority, like Jace, who have bonded with a human and seel only peaceful coexistence.In this book they take Jace prisoner, so Jessica, along with a new sidekick, a lesbian who also had her djinn lover kidbapped, goes undercover at Los Alamos to infiltrate then rescue her lover.

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is volume 2 and cannot be read without volume 1.
After the comparatively light tone of the first book (after the catastrophe at the beginning), book 2 is a lot darker and I would not recommend it to people who are looking for an easy read. (trigger warning).
However, if you like a bit of edge to your thrillers, you will find this very engaging and at the end, there is a sort of happy-end.

[Sonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find it a little annoying that the stories all end on a cliff hanger. I like, but don't love the writing but I want to know what happened. I suppose it's a good marketing strategy as I've just bought the third book (and $5 Aussie dollars is not that expensive) but I'd rather read a complete story.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating tale will draw you in to the story with its unique plot and captivating characters that are constantly challenged by disputes and hardships. The continuous surprises will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow this fast paced drama to its conclusion, very entertaining with great memorable characters!!!!!

[Alannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 2.5

The book was pretty slow. Some interesting stuff happened but I feel like the whole book could have been reduced in size.

Also, the last book ended on a cliffhanger and this one does too, a better cliffhanger than the last one but I still get the distinct impression that these books were written as a money grab.

[Kay Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love and war

There is so much action of all kinds that should keep any reader fully immersed. From friends to enemies, evil good guys (and bad), the battle for survival is as much for human survivors as it is for Djinn. And there is the love story that refuses to die. All so very well written. What more could one ask for?

[Doreen Ewasiuk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting to read, different from other books I have read. Jessica, who is looking for the love of her life after the heat destroyed everyone she loved; and finding out that he is being experimented on.

[MGB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jessica and Jace are separated, but her love causes her to follow and attempt a rescue. This story is consumed with that effort and the results - a love story sure, but some action as the opposing factions attempt to bring their beliefs into the fray.

[Nellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Djinn romance

I like the story, and the characters. Love scenes don't remain clean. Looks like there are 12 in this series.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So frustrating. I kept wanting to shout out to the characters, "I know how it works!"

[Lonnie lee shieds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good

Kept me on my toes, I loved this book. I cannot wait to read the rest of Christine Pope books.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recapturing the story and enjoying it just as much as before.

[Stella Shahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

This is a good story lot of suspense and action. I love characters as well as the storyline. Even the descriptions of the different areas are great. Truly a great story.

[Nina Acosta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not wait to get the rest of the series. Really good read.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, book 2 didn't flow as well as book 1, & there still a lot of things left hanging (unanswered questions or situations that needed clarifying), that I wasn't sure if they will be answered at all by the time I got to the end of book 2. I hate when the heroine never asks any questions, cause I think a strong main character like Jessica would have kept asking questions, not just accept things or stay mute. A few things from book one have been answered but not enough to stop me questioning the story. Those unanswered questions or situations still pulled me out of the story. I did like the main characters' development, they are evolving/changing thru the story. I still feel Jessica seemed to be too talented in general (in book 1 it seemed in survivalist living), almost like she can do anything in the world. I tend to not like people like that in real life. I wasn't as excited over the other chosen either, they came off a bit step-ford like. The editing was not great, I'm surprised a published book would have so many mistakes, like wrong words, too many words, words in the wrong order, etc. That definitely interrupts the flow of reading, having to backtrack to clarify what I was reading versus what should have been there.

As a side note, if an author chooses to use a lot of wording that I have to constantly google the meaning of in a book (I think they are trying to impress by using big words or just trying to find different words to use than standard used words to make the story unique), that takes the fun out of reading as well as pulls me out of the story. I don’t read to broaden my vocabulary but to immerse into the story. I relate better if it’s more like the natural spoken/usually used words than words I’ve never heard used before in my nearly 60 years (and I’m not an ignorant or uneducated individual, having had college English courses as well as life experiences).

[Nikki Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Djinn Wars series. I'm a new reader of Christine's work and I am impressed!!!!

This book takes up pretty much where the first book ended. Jessica has been left alone after Jace has been taken. A fellow Chosen is directed to her and together they leave in search of Jace and Natila, their beloveds.

I loved how we see how the remaining humans are coping after the Dying and that just because they are human does not make them humane!! Evil lurks in many forms and guises and there are lots of characters we meet during their time in the human encampment that I would love to get my hands on and inflict some justice of my own!!! Definitely the sign of a good book.

There is fear, sadness, loss of friends and lovers and the despair of being left behind. All around this was a fabulous book and I greatly enjoyed reading it. Well driven story and characters that are well developed and complex. An absolutely fab read!!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a delightful continuation to the Djinn series with Jessica sucessfully saving Jace, her Djinn lover from the Immune located in Los Almos. They both returned to the Djinn city of Taos where other Djinn's and their mortal companions live. I was totally absorbed into the story, leaving reality far behind me as I got lost in the tale and following Jessica has she learns to accept what has happened to the world around her and her desperate need to save her lover. The tale shows that even at the end of the world, we will do what it takes to save those we love, but also that even against great odds the human spirit is always striving to survive.

[Ofosua Darko · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great read. interesting story line. loved the twist in it. in all it was awesome. this book was given to me for an honest review.

this the second book in the series. here Jessica's lover has been held as captive and she would stop at nothing to find him. during her quest she comes across another who expresses his will for her to become her chosen but she refuses only to find out that she is partly his as well as Jace. but with the help of another chosen (who has also lost her lover to captives) she might be able to find her beloved.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy this second installment of the djinn trilogy. I think the writing process has been rushed too much, and the story development is suffering. I did like that the main character continues to be a strong female lead, however.

[Karene Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

I love this series! This series is a definite twist on what the apocalypse would look like. The characters are well rounded and the story well written. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Alisha Frias · Rating 5 out of 5]

first of all...I loved how it immediately picked up where the first book left off. this book highlights Jessica's daring rescue for Jace and Natila.

[Michelle]

Really enjoyed this book very powerful emotion, been reading none stop