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Granted #1
Granted
The existence of genies may be the best kept secret in the history of the world.
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magic. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone.
Complicating everything is Rock, Brielle’s childhood friend turned enemy. Brielle doesn’t need him ruining her first trip out into the human world. Too bad she can’t keep her mind--or her eyes--off him and his annoyingly cute dimples.
To make matters worse, genies in the Tri-Cities area are suspiciously dying. One broken lamp could be an accident, but after three, Brielle suspects someone has uncovered the genies’ secret and is slowly killing them off one by one.
With the Genie Council ignoring the threat, Brielle desperately needs to gain her magic so she can stop the murderer before she--or Rock--is the next genie to die.
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magic. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone.
Complicating everything is Rock, Brielle’s childhood friend turned enemy. Brielle doesn’t need him ruining her first trip out into the human world. Too bad she can’t keep her mind--or her eyes--off him and his annoyingly cute dimples.
To make matters worse, genies in the Tri-Cities area are suspiciously dying. One broken lamp could be an accident, but after three, Brielle suspects someone has uncovered the genies’ secret and is slowly killing them off one by one.
With the Genie Council ignoring the threat, Brielle desperately needs to gain her magic so she can stop the murderer before she--or Rock--is the next genie to die.
270 pages, Paperback
Published June 30, 2016
20 people are currently reading
846 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Merrill
9 books52 followersMichelle Merrill loves kissing her hubby, snuggling her kids, eating candy, reading books, and writing first drafts. She names her computers after favorite fictional characters and fictional characters after favorite names.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 17, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, well written with a nice plot! I loved reading it loud to my daughter and she loved it too. Sometimes she even read it loud to me! I am looking forward to reading more stories by Michelle Merrill.
I highly recommend this book, especially to parents if they are looking for something fun to read to their children.
I highly recommend this book, especially to parents if they are looking for something fun to read to their children.
June 26, 2016
You guys!!! I had so much fun writing this book. I love the world, the characters, the plot, everything came together in an adventure of intrigue and mystery. Of course there's some romance because life's more fun with a little lovin' but if you're looking for another spin on genies that's different and modern, this is it! I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed putting it together!
June 22, 2016
I loved this book! It was fun, with jump-off-the-page characters, a compelling mystery, and a hint of romance. But I loved Brielle best of all. She's my favorite type of female MC- smart, strong, but also sometimes vulnerable. An excellent YA read!
March 25, 2017
This was definitely a clean read, and a fun, light story. I wanted a little more depth in the home atmosphere of the genies, and didn't fully connect with the main character, but I did very much like the side characters. There was a riddle, tension, a touch of suspense, and the sweet romance that no YA book is complete without. This is a recommended read for YA readers.
February 4, 2017
wow!
This was an enjoyable read that tugged on your heartstrings. I absolutely loved the fact that it centers around genies and i hope the next book will give more background information.
This was an enjoyable read that tugged on your heartstrings. I absolutely loved the fact that it centers around genies and i hope the next book will give more background information.
June 30, 2016
Before I start this review, I want to thank Future House Publishing for allowing me to review Granted.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine. I received Granted from Future House Publishing as an ARC for my honest and unbiased review **
Now, onto my review:
Format read in: Kindle
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Date Published: June 30th 2016
Where the book can be found: Amazon (Kindle). For a limited time (June 30th through July 7th), Granted will be $2.99 (discounted from the regular price of $4.99) Also, please remember that the price can and will change.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
How many pages: 215
Giveaway: On June 30th, you can go here to enter to win an autographed copy of Granted. Also, on July 1st, head on over to Goodreads to win physical copies of the book!!!
My review:
I have to say, I could not stand Brielle’s character in the beginning. But, then again, if I was expecting my lamp to be rubbed and then was told, sorry its in storage and you have to wait, I think that I would act the same. Over the course of the book, her character did grow on me, though. I loved her interactions with Addie and with Rock. She showed, mainly through her friendship with Addie, how much she grew in maturity while she was there.
While we are on the subject of Rock, he made me want to scream. I really didn’t have him figured out during the book. What was his deal. Was he a good djinn or did he just got caught up in something that he had no control over? Also the twist with him in the book was great!!! I didn’t expect what happened to happen.
Now onto Addie. OMG, I felt so bad for her. There were parts of the book that made me want to just reach through and hug her. And for the record, I am glad that her and Brielle met. They were good for each other.
The whole storyline of Addie’s parents just disappearing made me want to puke. Not going to get into it but I really, really, really dislike them. If you want to know more, read the book.
I do want to say that I thought that the mystery that Brielle and Rock get involved with really did catch my attention. I thought it was very imaginative to have the genies die when their lamps break. It only makes sense because their life-force is connected to the lamps. The way the book ended also made a great intro for a 2nd book!!!
3 Things I liked about Granted:
1) The storyline
2) Rock
3) Addie
3 Things I disliked about Granted:
1) Brielle at the beginning of the book
2) Vicky (she rubbed me the wrong way)
3)The triplets
How many stars will I give Granted? 4
Why? Granted was a well written YA book. The plot and the subplots were fantastic and kept my attention the whole book. While Brielle came across as a spoiled, impatient brat, she showed her true colors when she met Addie. The murder mystery secondary story didn’t take away from the main storyline and when they were brought together at the end, it was fantastic.
Will I reread it? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Tween on up
Why? This is a perfect book for tweens. It’s clean (no sex), minimal violence and very relatable characters.
**All opinions stated in this review are mine. I received Granted from Future House Publishing as an ARC for my honest and unbiased review **
Now, onto my review:
Format read in: Kindle
Publisher: Future House Publishing
Date Published: June 30th 2016
Where the book can be found: Amazon (Kindle). For a limited time (June 30th through July 7th), Granted will be $2.99 (discounted from the regular price of $4.99) Also, please remember that the price can and will change.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
How many pages: 215
Giveaway: On June 30th, you can go here to enter to win an autographed copy of Granted. Also, on July 1st, head on over to Goodreads to win physical copies of the book!!!
My review:
I have to say, I could not stand Brielle’s character in the beginning. But, then again, if I was expecting my lamp to be rubbed and then was told, sorry its in storage and you have to wait, I think that I would act the same. Over the course of the book, her character did grow on me, though. I loved her interactions with Addie and with Rock. She showed, mainly through her friendship with Addie, how much she grew in maturity while she was there.
While we are on the subject of Rock, he made me want to scream. I really didn’t have him figured out during the book. What was his deal. Was he a good djinn or did he just got caught up in something that he had no control over? Also the twist with him in the book was great!!! I didn’t expect what happened to happen.
Now onto Addie. OMG, I felt so bad for her. There were parts of the book that made me want to just reach through and hug her. And for the record, I am glad that her and Brielle met. They were good for each other.
The whole storyline of Addie’s parents just disappearing made me want to puke. Not going to get into it but I really, really, really dislike them. If you want to know more, read the book.
I do want to say that I thought that the mystery that Brielle and Rock get involved with really did catch my attention. I thought it was very imaginative to have the genies die when their lamps break. It only makes sense because their life-force is connected to the lamps. The way the book ended also made a great intro for a 2nd book!!!
3 Things I liked about Granted:
1) The storyline
2) Rock
3) Addie
3 Things I disliked about Granted:
1) Brielle at the beginning of the book
2) Vicky (she rubbed me the wrong way)
3)The triplets
How many stars will I give Granted? 4
Why? Granted was a well written YA book. The plot and the subplots were fantastic and kept my attention the whole book. While Brielle came across as a spoiled, impatient brat, she showed her true colors when she met Addie. The murder mystery secondary story didn’t take away from the main storyline and when they were brought together at the end, it was fantastic.
Will I reread it? Yes
Will I recommend to family and friends? Yes
Age range? Tween on up
Why? This is a perfect book for tweens. It’s clean (no sex), minimal violence and very relatable characters.
July 12, 2016
I just want to thank futurehousepublishing for allowing me to review Granted. **All opinions stated in this review are my own. I received Granted from Future House Publishing as an ARC for my honest opinion of the book.
The book can be found on Amazon (Kindle) on sale for $2.99 as of right now.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Giveaway: Head over to Goodyear to win a physical copies of the book!!! It ends July 30th!! So Hurry! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magiv. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone. Complicating things for Brielle is Rock, her childhood friend turned enemy. She doesn't need him ruining her first trip out. Too bad she can't keep her eyes off him... to makes things worse genies are dying and the Genie Council is ignoring the problem. Brielle desperately needs her magic so she can stop the murderer before she or Rock is the next genie to die.
I'm not going to lie, it took me forever to start to read this that's why it's taken me this long to do a review. In the beginning i felt like Brielle had every right to feel the way she did. I would have acted the same if I was told my lamp was in storage and I don't know if it will ever be rubbed. You could see her growth I maturity and she's very strong willed, I loved that the most about her.
For Rock, I really didn't know what his deal was in the beginning. I was on my toes with his character and I enjoyed that very much. I did not expect what happened with his character to happen!!!! I was screaming!!! As for Addie, I loved the way she grew in the book. I felt bad for her as well, no one should have to go through what she did.
Pros:
1) the storyline
2)Rock
3)Addie
4) Brielle
Cons:
1)Vickey( I wanted to smack her so bad if I could jump in the book)
2) The Council
I give this book 4/5 stars!!!!!!!❤
The book can be found on Amazon (Kindle) on sale for $2.99 as of right now.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Giveaway: Head over to Goodyear to win a physical copies of the book!!! It ends July 30th!! So Hurry! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magiv. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone. Complicating things for Brielle is Rock, her childhood friend turned enemy. She doesn't need him ruining her first trip out. Too bad she can't keep her eyes off him... to makes things worse genies are dying and the Genie Council is ignoring the problem. Brielle desperately needs her magic so she can stop the murderer before she or Rock is the next genie to die.
I'm not going to lie, it took me forever to start to read this that's why it's taken me this long to do a review. In the beginning i felt like Brielle had every right to feel the way she did. I would have acted the same if I was told my lamp was in storage and I don't know if it will ever be rubbed. You could see her growth I maturity and she's very strong willed, I loved that the most about her.
For Rock, I really didn't know what his deal was in the beginning. I was on my toes with his character and I enjoyed that very much. I did not expect what happened with his character to happen!!!! I was screaming!!! As for Addie, I loved the way she grew in the book. I felt bad for her as well, no one should have to go through what she did.
Pros:
1) the storyline
2)Rock
3)Addie
4) Brielle
Cons:
1)Vickey( I wanted to smack her so bad if I could jump in the book)
2) The Council
I give this book 4/5 stars!!!!!!!❤
June 26, 2016
I had the pleasure of receiving an ARC of GRANTED from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Brielle is a genie who longs to come into her magic, which can't happen until her first assignment makes a wish. Unfortunately for her, Brielle's assignment takes longer than she'd like to materialize, and when she does, the girl she's assigned to, Addie, isn't the wishing type. As if adjusting to mundane life in high school--classes, making friends, a little romance--and drawing a wish out of Addie while keeping her genie status secret weren't challenging enough, Brielle soon finds that genies are dying. Someone is killing them by smashing their lamps. Because the genie Council won't seem to do anything to find the culprit and put a stop to the murders before it happens again, it's up to Brielle and her mentor to investigate. Now if only Addie would make a wish so that Brielle could have her magic to use against the one responsible...
I loved the character of Brielle, who has sass and determination to protect her fellow genies. Addie, with her outwardly tough shell and love of Mountain Dew, was another awesome character. This was a lush, well-paced tale filled with fantastic details about genie magic, a wonderful mystery that slowly built, some fun lighthearted moments, sweet romance, and beautiful moments of heartbreak. This story will definitely give you the gamut of feels, and fans of genie stories will love this book.
Brielle is a genie who longs to come into her magic, which can't happen until her first assignment makes a wish. Unfortunately for her, Brielle's assignment takes longer than she'd like to materialize, and when she does, the girl she's assigned to, Addie, isn't the wishing type. As if adjusting to mundane life in high school--classes, making friends, a little romance--and drawing a wish out of Addie while keeping her genie status secret weren't challenging enough, Brielle soon finds that genies are dying. Someone is killing them by smashing their lamps. Because the genie Council won't seem to do anything to find the culprit and put a stop to the murders before it happens again, it's up to Brielle and her mentor to investigate. Now if only Addie would make a wish so that Brielle could have her magic to use against the one responsible...
I loved the character of Brielle, who has sass and determination to protect her fellow genies. Addie, with her outwardly tough shell and love of Mountain Dew, was another awesome character. This was a lush, well-paced tale filled with fantastic details about genie magic, a wonderful mystery that slowly built, some fun lighthearted moments, sweet romance, and beautiful moments of heartbreak. This story will definitely give you the gamut of feels, and fans of genie stories will love this book.
June 26, 2016
This is a fun, light read that involves a snappy and often snarky genie named Brielle. She has definite goals: to get her first assignment, to gain her powers, and to use her magic to get herself a Lamborghini. The lamps that draw the genies into servitude in this novel are amusing!—(unlike the cover) they are actual table lamps, rather than old-fashioned oil lamps a la Disney’s Aladdin. A very cool twist.
When lamps start breaking and genies begin crumbling into piles of ash, Brielle must solve the mystery of what’s going on and try to stop what’s happening before she becomes the next one to die. At the same time, she struggles with her first assignment: an artistic, antisocial girl who loves to wear bright PINK and keeps her wishes to herself. As if that isn’t enough for Brielle to handle, she must navigate the confusing realm of dating and hot guys along the way.
Some of Brielle’s ideas for sleuthing and solving the problem were obviously doomed to failure; I wondered why she just didn’t rule them out and go straight for the ideas that actually might’ve worked. But I do like the way the romance ended. The final scene was open-ended and not wrapped up as much as I would’ve liked, but I assume that makes way for a sequel. If you like genies, first romances, and a shot of mystery, check this novel out.
I received an advanced copy of GRANTED from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
When lamps start breaking and genies begin crumbling into piles of ash, Brielle must solve the mystery of what’s going on and try to stop what’s happening before she becomes the next one to die. At the same time, she struggles with her first assignment: an artistic, antisocial girl who loves to wear bright PINK and keeps her wishes to herself. As if that isn’t enough for Brielle to handle, she must navigate the confusing realm of dating and hot guys along the way.
Some of Brielle’s ideas for sleuthing and solving the problem were obviously doomed to failure; I wondered why she just didn’t rule them out and go straight for the ideas that actually might’ve worked. But I do like the way the romance ended. The final scene was open-ended and not wrapped up as much as I would’ve liked, but I assume that makes way for a sequel. If you like genies, first romances, and a shot of mystery, check this novel out.
I received an advanced copy of GRANTED from Future House Publishing in exchange for an unbiased review.
June 30, 2016
I'm giving this book a thumbs up. I enjoyed it. So much so, that I finished it in a day. Ok, so I was at the beach, and I was lounging, but still that's an amazing feat when you have three kids (even if they were distracted by sand and cousins). The story line is interesting enough to keep you flipping to the next chapter, even if you are risking sun poisoning in your beach chair. The mystery keeps you engaged while the underlying romance pulls you in for future books. The main character, Brielle, is a feisty teenage genie who learns that having the ability to have anything you want isn't as powerful as the relationships you build. Her transformation from superficial girl to heroine is what makes this story endearing. The story is tame enough for tween girl crowd, though older teens and adults will enjoy it also.
I received a copy of Granted in exchange for my honest review.
I received a copy of Granted in exchange for my honest review.
September 19, 2017
4.5 stars. There are a few questions I have, explained below.
Granted was a fun book to read, and it went pretty quickly. There are a lot of genie books out right now, but this is the first one I've read. I think Merrill successfully brought some unique ideas to what I would typically associate with genies. For example, rather than a lamp holder receiving three distinct wishes, a genie is assigned to that person for three weeks, inconspicuously granting wishes the person makes.
The story itself was interesting, too. Not only was there the usual protagonist coming into her powers and learning how to use them, but there was also the mysterious string of genie deaths and the GS stuff. I look forward to seeing how that all plays out in subsequent books.
The main characters were developed well. Brielle (17?) was likable but not perfect. She was rather impatient, which she recognized, and she held a friendship-destroying grudge that even she didn't fully understand. But she was loyal to the cause of genies and determined to find the cause of the genie deaths when the Council doesn't seem to consider it a priority. Rock (17?) is one of those characters you can tell is better than he appears; later revelations about him were less of a surprise than a vindication of my beliefs. I still don't understand the motivations for some of his actions, , but I wonder if that's because I was really tired last night while I pushed myself to finish the book. (I was so close that I didn't want to wait until today to finish--I might have to go back and re-read some stuff to make up for my own lack of patience.) They each displayed a good amount of progression and maturity by the end of the book.
Other characters ranged from somewhat stereotypical (Blondie/Trisha) to decently developed (Vicky, Addie). I confess Addie drove me a little crazy with her theme color requirement, but oh well--I know everyone is odd in some way.
Some questions I have:
- How are genies' lamps chosen? Can any lamp be assigned a genie, or does a lamp require specific properties for it to be assigned as a genie's lamp?
-
-
- Basically, the whole GS storyline is still open, and I hope it continues in the next book because there are a lot of questions I have about it.
- If genies are out for three weeks at at time, how do genie families even function?
- Why did , or pretend to . . . or whatever? It's not super clear what was going on there, to be honest.
-
-
- Why can't genies touch assigned lamps?
How it ends:
Note: Nothing bad. Clean read.
Granted was a fun book to read, and it went pretty quickly. There are a lot of genie books out right now, but this is the first one I've read. I think Merrill successfully brought some unique ideas to what I would typically associate with genies. For example, rather than a lamp holder receiving three distinct wishes, a genie is assigned to that person for three weeks, inconspicuously granting wishes the person makes.
The story itself was interesting, too. Not only was there the usual protagonist coming into her powers and learning how to use them, but there was also the mysterious string of genie deaths and the GS stuff. I look forward to seeing how that all plays out in subsequent books.
The main characters were developed well. Brielle (17?) was likable but not perfect. She was rather impatient, which she recognized, and she held a friendship-destroying grudge that even she didn't fully understand. But she was loyal to the cause of genies and determined to find the cause of the genie deaths when the Council doesn't seem to consider it a priority. Rock (17?) is one of those characters you can tell is better than he appears; later revelations about him were less of a surprise than a vindication of my beliefs. I still don't understand the motivations for some of his actions, , but I wonder if that's because I was really tired last night while I pushed myself to finish the book. (I was so close that I didn't want to wait until today to finish--I might have to go back and re-read some stuff to make up for my own lack of patience.) They each displayed a good amount of progression and maturity by the end of the book.
Other characters ranged from somewhat stereotypical (Blondie/Trisha) to decently developed (Vicky, Addie). I confess Addie drove me a little crazy with her theme color requirement, but oh well--I know everyone is odd in some way.
Some questions I have:
- How are genies' lamps chosen? Can any lamp be assigned a genie, or does a lamp require specific properties for it to be assigned as a genie's lamp?
-
-
- Basically, the whole GS storyline is still open, and I hope it continues in the next book because there are a lot of questions I have about it.
- If genies are out for three weeks at at time, how do genie families even function?
- Why did , or pretend to . . . or whatever? It's not super clear what was going on there, to be honest.
-
-
- Why can't genies touch assigned lamps?
How it ends:
Note: Nothing bad. Clean read.
June 30, 2016
Granted is a delightful book that reminds us that what we wish for may not always be what we get. The young heroin Brielle finally gets her wish to become a Genie, only to discover it's not exactly what she imagined it would be. Instead of love, hope and joy, she encounters hate, sorry and even murder. This book will enchant you as each new chapter introduces new characters and circumstances she must deal with. All while she comes to terms that granting wishes and getting your wish can come with consequences. A wonderful read and a great book by Michelle Merrill's!
#futurehousepub
#futurehousepub
June 27, 2016
I didn't want to put "Granted" down once I started reading. It was compelling, funny, and such an interesting premise. The writing is excellent and the Author created characters that were engaging and clever. My daughters 12 and 13 read the book as well and said it is there new favorite book behind Michelle Merrill's other book "Changing Fate." I would recommend "Granted" very highly. I received a copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
July 7, 2016
This was a great read, I really enjoyed it! It has a fresh, new spin on the idea of genies and wishes. The plot and characters are cohesive and it has a good pace throughout the book. Although the ending did sneak up on me a bit - I was expecting/hoping for a little more resolution. But that just means I look forward to the next one!
*I received an advanced reader copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
*I received an advanced reader copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! I'm in my mid twenties, and although this book is written more for teenagers I still found it very entertaining. Each chapter ended in such a way that it made me want to keep reading to find out what happened next! I highly recommend this to any teenager or young adult if they are looking for something fun to read.
June 26, 2016
I loved Granted. It was creative and well-written. It was a fresh topic.
June 14, 2024
I've always been a sci-fi/fantasy addict, but somehow this is my first genie story, and I have to say I enjoyed it a lot!
Until this book, my only experience with genies had been I Dream of Jeannie, Aladdin, and the occasional short story that popped up in anthologies. Of course, based on those, I had certain ideas as to how the whole genie thing worked—at least on the human side of things—and was pleasantly surprised to find things slightly different in this world (but still close enough that I didn't feel totally confused). I'd never really thought about where genies go when not granting wishes, or how they felt about any of it, and I enjoyed seeing things through Brielle's eyes.
Pros:
- I was pulled into the story quickly
- I cared about Brielle and her relationships with her friends
- it was fun learning the rules of this genie world
- most of the book was suspenseful enough to keep me wondering what was coming
Cons:
- I didn't buy that she hated Rock, or felt that he was her enemy (but I didn't really need that; there was enough going on without that complication)
- the whole Lamborghini thing felt a little tacked on and forced (not a huge deal, and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story)
- I wish the cover of the book showed a few of the lamps mentioned in the story, because I kept picturing traditional "genie lamps," but the descriptions weren't anything of that sort, so I had a hard time visualizing them
Until this book, my only experience with genies had been I Dream of Jeannie, Aladdin, and the occasional short story that popped up in anthologies. Of course, based on those, I had certain ideas as to how the whole genie thing worked—at least on the human side of things—and was pleasantly surprised to find things slightly different in this world (but still close enough that I didn't feel totally confused). I'd never really thought about where genies go when not granting wishes, or how they felt about any of it, and I enjoyed seeing things through Brielle's eyes.
Pros:
- I was pulled into the story quickly
- I cared about Brielle and her relationships with her friends
- it was fun learning the rules of this genie world
- most of the book was suspenseful enough to keep me wondering what was coming
Cons:
- I didn't buy that she hated Rock, or felt that he was her enemy (but I didn't really need that; there was enough going on without that complication)
- the whole Lamborghini thing felt a little tacked on and forced (not a huge deal, and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story)
- I wish the cover of the book showed a few of the lamps mentioned in the story, because I kept picturing traditional "genie lamps," but the descriptions weren't anything of that sort, so I had a hard time visualizing them
June 23, 2024
I loved this book! Brielle started out a little annoying, but, being a small town girl, she was still relatable. And I think that us teens struggle to realize that we can be annoying. It is just more noticeable when others are annoying than when we, ourselves, are being annoying. I liked that it didn't take too long to actually get into the plot, as many books so often do.
The cover is gorgeous, if no one minds me adding. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but it is beautiful.
I love how Addie and Brielle became instant best friends. It reminds me of one of my friendships. We met in science class, and within a week we had each other's phone numbers and were close friends. "Instafriends" lol. Addie is also relatable, although more reserved than most teens, and I like that. Not all of us are crazy or in your face, although there are certainly some of those.
And not all of the teenagers in this book are carbon copies of each other!!
The mystery element is entertaining. Merrill balances so many genres and elements flawlessly, never skipping a beat.
There is no swearing or sex, which calls for *bonus points.* Just kidding. If there were these elements, that would definitely call for a curb.
The cover is gorgeous, if no one minds me adding. I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but it is beautiful.
I love how Addie and Brielle became instant best friends. It reminds me of one of my friendships. We met in science class, and within a week we had each other's phone numbers and were close friends. "Instafriends" lol. Addie is also relatable, although more reserved than most teens, and I like that. Not all of us are crazy or in your face, although there are certainly some of those.
And not all of the teenagers in this book are carbon copies of each other!!
The mystery element is entertaining. Merrill balances so many genres and elements flawlessly, never skipping a beat.
There is no swearing or sex, which calls for *bonus points.* Just kidding. If there were these elements, that would definitely call for a curb.
September 29, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I was so glad to find something clean I could see myself reading to my children. I think it takes more intelligence to write without crude remarks or profanity. Thank you for going against the norm! Something I look for in books is good character development and an enticing story line. I can say Granted had both. Sometimes characters are too shallow in YA. I like how Brielle struggled when she finally got her first wish. Things were as great as she'd always imagined, but she didn't get lost in her own thoughts as she overcame challenges. I thought it was refreshing to get a modern approach to the genie way of life. After so many vampire movies and books this was delightful. The budding relationship between Rock and Brielle was refreshing where in other books it was that "forbidden love" with a human from the beginning. I am looking forward to reading more by Michelle Merrill.
May 4, 2017
Are you a Genie?
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a Genie? Wonder no more. This light-hearted story gives us the rules, hopes, and dangers of being a genie. I couldn't tear myself away from this book by a new author (for me), loved every minute. Is there a second book? Can't wait if there is!
Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a Genie? Wonder no more. This light-hearted story gives us the rules, hopes, and dangers of being a genie. I couldn't tear myself away from this book by a new author (for me), loved every minute. Is there a second book? Can't wait if there is!
September 14, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. Fun read that is good for anyone to read.
Spoilers below:
I really enjoyed the concept of magic and what it means to be a genie in this book. It really was a unique way of presenting magic and genies that I hadn't seen before. I love the idea that people come into our lives and can make some of our wishes come true, even if they are there for only a few weeks.
Spoilers below:
I really enjoyed the concept of magic and what it means to be a genie in this book. It really was a unique way of presenting magic and genies that I hadn't seen before. I love the idea that people come into our lives and can make some of our wishes come true, even if they are there for only a few weeks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2017
Such a fun, quick read! Plenty of suspense, and just enough romance to keep you reading without getting uncomfortable. The ending was not what I expected. Pleasantly surprised. I'm hoping for another one!!!
April 2, 2018
An interesting premise but not at all what I expected. Young adult with all the nonsense of teenagers disrupting what could have been an interesting mystery.
May 31, 2020
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
Rtc
Rtc
Read
July 6, 2016Who knew Genies had their own city that they lived in, that they had families or that making children was even in the realm of possibilities for them? I surely wasn't aware of any of this until I dived into this book and leaped into the adventure with the protagonist of this story, Brielle.
Brielle is a genie who has longed to go on assignment all her life. She went to school like the other genies and was well prepared to go on her first wishing job if you will. She was itching to go but there was one problem. Her lamp was put in storage so she wasn't able to actually go on her first assignment until she was 16 years old. Building years of resentment for her mom and dad and old friend and now enemy Rock because they were able to go off on assignment and fulfill wishes and get out of their city in the Sahara Desert that she was trapped in. No magic, trapped and hatting life pretty much describes Brielle until one fateful day, her birthday her assignment comes up.
As she embarks on her first assignment she is told to be careful. She didn't give the advice much thought until she was thrust into her new assignment and finds out that genies are actually dying. Is is an accident? Is it intention? Whatever the answer she must find out and help her people. First she needs to have a wish granted by Addie, her first assignment and first human friend.
I liked that Brielle was headstrong and had a mind of her own. Even though there were clear rules and instructions that she needed to follow she made calls at times that went against the status quo for the genies to help the better good. She like most teens seemed to struggle a bit to fit in when she started attending the high school were Addie attended. You could tell she had mixed feels about wanting to fit in or stand out.
Addie, her assignment, isn't exactly miss popularity. She actually quite the opposite and very antisocial when we first meet her. Brielle has to put in a bit of work but she and Addie become good friends. Addie has had a tough few years so when they meet Addie doesn't even believe wishes can come true. Despite that belief she has a yearning for one thing more than anything else in the world and finally makes her wish in almost a whisper.
As Brielle sets out to make Addie's wish come true she gets caught dead smack in the middle of a mystery with several genie lamps going missing. Some genies have even died. Armed with her magic that happens to be quiet powerful she sets to make her friends wish come true, figure out the mystery and save the other genies and herself too.
Try as she might, she isn't superwoman and isn't able to accomplish all she sets out too. It hurt as I imaged her struggle with her failings. I rallied behind her as she preserved and keep trying and moving forward to accomplish the things that were in her control.
All in all I really enjoyed this book and would enjoy other books in the series as well. If you are a young adult fantasy reader this is a great book for you.
I received a copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2016
I was given an ARC copy of the book for my competley honest review for free!
To start this review off I didn’t appreciate Brielle’s character at the beginning and perhaps almost the whole book until the very end. She did a lot of complaining and whining about how desperately she wanted to leave her hometown. Thankfully, she has some redeeming qualities, more so when she is dealing with Addie and trying to get her to make wishes. There is a lot of character growth in Brielle which I appreciate. For some reason Brielle is really into cars, more specifically she wants a Lamborghini. That is all well and I believe it showcases a teen girl not obsessed with her looks but rather a shiny gray Lambo. There were several points in the book where it was just annoying reading to Brielle drone on about cars. We get it. She loves cars! Additionally, the reason why she hates Rock is shallow and it should have been introduced a lot sooner. I didn’t really find anything Rock was doing to Brielle annoying or a cause to hate him. Yet, of course, she found herself feeling mixed emotions about him. Thankfully Merrill allowed their relationship to evolve organically. Poor Addie is an after thought even though she is a pivtol character. I often found I forgot about her until Brielle brought up needing her to make a wish. There is nothing interesting about Addie expect her love of the color pink and her goth style. I expected her to be a refreshing take on a introvert that was so strong that she survived what happened in her past. Yet, I was left down the further along her story unfolded, which is too bad because Addie had so much room for potential. Additionally, the subplot with the triplets just to include one important character was almost wasteful.
The subplots in this book to don’t trail off in different directions leaving the read confused about the purpose. They ultimately, tie is well to the story and quickly suggest loose ties will be cleared up before the even of the book. Granted is clearly set up to continue on to another book, yet I felt the story could have wrapped up in one novel.
With this in mind, the story sets itself up as very much a YA novel. It is sugar-coated and full of lovely-dove situations and an attempted love triangle that really doesn’t pan out in the end. Often I was reminded of the “Twilight” series due to Brielle’s struggles plus the area she lives in . Additionally, the writing style of Merrill is reflective of Stephanie Meyer’s writing. Yet, where Meyer holds back Merrill pushes forward to develop the plot. This book is clearly written for YA, it couldn’t be more obvious with the setting and the monotonous task of documenting Brielle’s high-school experience. As an adult, I found the teenage situations a little hard to digest, this book is clearly suited for tweens and teens to enjoy.
Overall, this is a great story for YA readers looking for something new. It may be a very childish for adults. Granted is a good read and quick to finish in a weekend or less. If there is a second book in the series would I read it? More than likely not. Check out the rest of my review here www.dinafarmer.com/granted_book_review .
To start this review off I didn’t appreciate Brielle’s character at the beginning and perhaps almost the whole book until the very end. She did a lot of complaining and whining about how desperately she wanted to leave her hometown. Thankfully, she has some redeeming qualities, more so when she is dealing with Addie and trying to get her to make wishes. There is a lot of character growth in Brielle which I appreciate. For some reason Brielle is really into cars, more specifically she wants a Lamborghini. That is all well and I believe it showcases a teen girl not obsessed with her looks but rather a shiny gray Lambo. There were several points in the book where it was just annoying reading to Brielle drone on about cars. We get it. She loves cars! Additionally, the reason why she hates Rock is shallow and it should have been introduced a lot sooner. I didn’t really find anything Rock was doing to Brielle annoying or a cause to hate him. Yet, of course, she found herself feeling mixed emotions about him. Thankfully Merrill allowed their relationship to evolve organically. Poor Addie is an after thought even though she is a pivtol character. I often found I forgot about her until Brielle brought up needing her to make a wish. There is nothing interesting about Addie expect her love of the color pink and her goth style. I expected her to be a refreshing take on a introvert that was so strong that she survived what happened in her past. Yet, I was left down the further along her story unfolded, which is too bad because Addie had so much room for potential. Additionally, the subplot with the triplets just to include one important character was almost wasteful.
The subplots in this book to don’t trail off in different directions leaving the read confused about the purpose. They ultimately, tie is well to the story and quickly suggest loose ties will be cleared up before the even of the book. Granted is clearly set up to continue on to another book, yet I felt the story could have wrapped up in one novel.
With this in mind, the story sets itself up as very much a YA novel. It is sugar-coated and full of lovely-dove situations and an attempted love triangle that really doesn’t pan out in the end. Often I was reminded of the “Twilight” series due to Brielle’s struggles plus the area she lives in . Additionally, the writing style of Merrill is reflective of Stephanie Meyer’s writing. Yet, where Meyer holds back Merrill pushes forward to develop the plot. This book is clearly written for YA, it couldn’t be more obvious with the setting and the monotonous task of documenting Brielle’s high-school experience. As an adult, I found the teenage situations a little hard to digest, this book is clearly suited for tweens and teens to enjoy.
Overall, this is a great story for YA readers looking for something new. It may be a very childish for adults. Granted is a good read and quick to finish in a weekend or less. If there is a second book in the series would I read it? More than likely not. Check out the rest of my review here www.dinafarmer.com/granted_book_review .
January 6, 2017
Wait. WHAT????
Ok there are spoilers coming
HOW HOW HOW did he become human???? I'm sooo confused. I don't know if it was because I'm exhausted and maybe skipped over a sentence that explained it but I don't get it!!!!!!
Over all it was a pretty good book.
Ok there are spoilers coming
HOW HOW HOW did he become human???? I'm sooo confused. I don't know if it was because I'm exhausted and maybe skipped over a sentence that explained it but I don't get it!!!!!!
Over all it was a pretty good book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2016
Granted is a wonderful story told through the eyes of a twelve-year-old genie, Brielle. It begins with her experience with being assigned a lamp. A Rite of passage for young genies. To her dismay, the lamp is in storage, and she must wait for someone to rub the lamp to gain her magic, and begin her time granting wishes.
Jump ahead four years, and she still hasn’t been summoned, and she is beginning to lose hope that she will ever gain her magic. Until finally, she is summoned on her birthday. The story continues as she experiences the life and dangers of being a genie in a world of humans. Very quickly Brielle learns that being a genie can be deadly when genies begin to die because their lamps are broken…
Of course if you want a better summary of the book pick one up and read it yourself. When I read Granted. I was immersed in a world of genies and magic where wishes can be granted by someone who looks like someone you know. The Author’s writing is spectacular, and her storytelling flowed like a river. Though I read an unpublished version of the book, I found it to be refreshing to see the care that was taken in crafting this rich story and the characters that dwell in the fantastical world. It was refreshing to also see that through the course of her writing and revisions, the author completely removed the spelling and grammatical errors that can pervade some of the more recently-published books that I have read recently.
If you could call it an issue, my only one is: If this book is intended to be a standalone, the ending left me disappointed. Too many loose ends, and a feeling of incompletion of the story. However, if this book is intended to be the first in a series, then I look forward to reading the sequel. I must note that this book left me feeling a desire to read more. The loose ends were left in a way that brings me to believe that the Author has at least a full story arc prepared for a larger series. One that I look forward to reading after (or before) publication.
I received a copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
Jump ahead four years, and she still hasn’t been summoned, and she is beginning to lose hope that she will ever gain her magic. Until finally, she is summoned on her birthday. The story continues as she experiences the life and dangers of being a genie in a world of humans. Very quickly Brielle learns that being a genie can be deadly when genies begin to die because their lamps are broken…
Of course if you want a better summary of the book pick one up and read it yourself. When I read Granted. I was immersed in a world of genies and magic where wishes can be granted by someone who looks like someone you know. The Author’s writing is spectacular, and her storytelling flowed like a river. Though I read an unpublished version of the book, I found it to be refreshing to see the care that was taken in crafting this rich story and the characters that dwell in the fantastical world. It was refreshing to also see that through the course of her writing and revisions, the author completely removed the spelling and grammatical errors that can pervade some of the more recently-published books that I have read recently.
If you could call it an issue, my only one is: If this book is intended to be a standalone, the ending left me disappointed. Too many loose ends, and a feeling of incompletion of the story. However, if this book is intended to be the first in a series, then I look forward to reading the sequel. I must note that this book left me feeling a desire to read more. The loose ends were left in a way that brings me to believe that the Author has at least a full story arc prepared for a larger series. One that I look forward to reading after (or before) publication.
I received a copy of Granted from Future House Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2016
I just want to thank futurehousepublishing for allowing me to review Granted. **All opinions stated in this review are my own. I received Granted from Future House Publishing as an ARC for my honest opinion of the book.
The book can be found on Amazon (Kindle) on sale for $2.99 as of right now.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Giveaway: Head over to Goodyear to win a physical copies of the book!!! It ends July 30th!! So Hurry! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magiv. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone. Complicating things for Brielle is Rock, her childhood friend turned enemy. She doesn't need him ruining her first trip out. Too bad she can't keep her eyes off him... to makes things worse genies are dying and the Genie Council is ignoring the problem. Brielle desperately needs her magic so she can stop the murderer before she or Rock is the next genie to die.
I'm not going to lie, it took me forever to start to read this that's why it's taken me this long to do a review. In the beginning i felt like Brielle had every right to feel the way she did. I would have acted the same if I was told my lamp was in storage and I don't know if it will ever be rubbed. You could see her growth I maturity and she's very strong willed, I loved that the most about her.
For Rock, I really didn't know what his deal was in the beginning. I was on my toes with his character and I enjoyed that very much. I did not expect what happened with his character to happen!!!! I was screaming!!! As for Addie, I loved the way she grew in the book. I felt bad for her as well, no one should have to go through what she did.
Pros:
1) the storyline
2)Rock
3)Addie
4) Brielle
Cons:
1)Vickey( I wanted to smack her so bad if I could jump in the book)
2) The Council
I give this book 4/5 stars!!!!!!!❤
The book can be found on Amazon (Kindle) on sale for $2.99 as of right now.
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Giveaway: Head over to Goodyear to win a physical copies of the book!!! It ends July 30th!! So Hurry! https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...
After being trapped in the Sahara Desert her whole life, sixteen-year-old genie Brielle finally gets her first assignment in Tri-Cities, Washington. She eagerly heads out into the human world to grant her first wish so she can gain her magiv. Unfortunately, her assigned human, Addie, gave up believing in wishes years ago and would much rather everyone just leave her alone. Complicating things for Brielle is Rock, her childhood friend turned enemy. She doesn't need him ruining her first trip out. Too bad she can't keep her eyes off him... to makes things worse genies are dying and the Genie Council is ignoring the problem. Brielle desperately needs her magic so she can stop the murderer before she or Rock is the next genie to die.
I'm not going to lie, it took me forever to start to read this that's why it's taken me this long to do a review. In the beginning i felt like Brielle had every right to feel the way she did. I would have acted the same if I was told my lamp was in storage and I don't know if it will ever be rubbed. You could see her growth I maturity and she's very strong willed, I loved that the most about her.
For Rock, I really didn't know what his deal was in the beginning. I was on my toes with his character and I enjoyed that very much. I did not expect what happened with his character to happen!!!! I was screaming!!! As for Addie, I loved the way she grew in the book. I felt bad for her as well, no one should have to go through what she did.
Pros:
1) the storyline
2)Rock
3)Addie
4) Brielle
Cons:
1)Vickey( I wanted to smack her so bad if I could jump in the book)
2) The Council
I give this book 4/5 stars!!!!!!!❤
June 23, 2025
I've always been a sci-fi/fantasy addict, but somehow this is my first genie story, and I have to say I enjoyed it a lot!
Until this book, my only experience with genies had been I Dream of Jeannie, Aladdin, and the occasional short story that popped up in anthologies. Of course, based on those, I had certain ideas as to how the whole genie thing worked—at least on the human side of things—and was pleasantly surprised to find things slightly different in this world (but still close enough that I didn't feel totally confused). I'd never really thought about where genies go when not granting wishes, or how they felt about any of it, and I enjoyed seeing things through Brielle's eyes.
Pros:
- I was pulled into the story quickly
- I cared about Brielle and her relationships with her friends
- it was fun learning the rules of this genie world
- most of the book was suspenseful enough to keep me wondering what was coming
Cons:
- I didn't buy that she hated Rock, or felt that he was her enemy (but I didn't really need that; there was enough going on without that complication)
- the whole Lamborghini thing felt a little tacked on and forced (not a huge deal, and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story)
- I wish the cover of the book showed a few of the lamps mentioned in the story, because I kept picturing traditional "genie lamps," but the descriptions weren't anything of that sort, so I had a hard time visualizing them
Until this book, my only experience with genies had been I Dream of Jeannie, Aladdin, and the occasional short story that popped up in anthologies. Of course, based on those, I had certain ideas as to how the whole genie thing worked—at least on the human side of things—and was pleasantly surprised to find things slightly different in this world (but still close enough that I didn't feel totally confused). I'd never really thought about where genies go when not granting wishes, or how they felt about any of it, and I enjoyed seeing things through Brielle's eyes.
Pros:
- I was pulled into the story quickly
- I cared about Brielle and her relationships with her friends
- it was fun learning the rules of this genie world
- most of the book was suspenseful enough to keep me wondering what was coming
Cons:
- I didn't buy that she hated Rock, or felt that he was her enemy (but I didn't really need that; there was enough going on without that complication)
- the whole Lamborghini thing felt a little tacked on and forced (not a huge deal, and didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story)
- I wish the cover of the book showed a few of the lamps mentioned in the story, because I kept picturing traditional "genie lamps," but the descriptions weren't anything of that sort, so I had a hard time visualizing them
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