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From Smokeless Fire #1
Summoned
The wrong jinn at the right time, Zahara’s a force to be reckless with
Zahara, party girl of the paranormal, floats up out of a lamp in Daniel Goldstein‘s apartment ready to trick a sorcerer into giving up his soul. But Daniel, whose Moroccan grandmother has reached out from beyond the grave to command him to raise a jinn, wants to do good—by stopping a vengeful fallen angel.
The nymphomaniacal, shopping-obsessed Zahara isn’t the otherworldly ally Daniel had in mind. A do-gooder with a dangerous quest isn’t what Zahara’s looking for, either.
Stuck in a magical contract with each other, the two travel to Morocco, where Zahara’s handsome friend Zaid, a jinn who’s converted to Islam, reluctantly joins their quest. As Daniel and Zaid struggle against jinn-hunting mercenaries and their attraction to one other, Zahara is forced to join forces with the fallen angel’s gorgeous but infuriating brother to stop a cataclysmic war between the human and jinn worlds.
Zahara, party girl of the paranormal, floats up out of a lamp in Daniel Goldstein‘s apartment ready to trick a sorcerer into giving up his soul. But Daniel, whose Moroccan grandmother has reached out from beyond the grave to command him to raise a jinn, wants to do good—by stopping a vengeful fallen angel.
The nymphomaniacal, shopping-obsessed Zahara isn’t the otherworldly ally Daniel had in mind. A do-gooder with a dangerous quest isn’t what Zahara’s looking for, either.
Stuck in a magical contract with each other, the two travel to Morocco, where Zahara’s handsome friend Zaid, a jinn who’s converted to Islam, reluctantly joins their quest. As Daniel and Zaid struggle against jinn-hunting mercenaries and their attraction to one other, Zahara is forced to join forces with the fallen angel’s gorgeous but infuriating brother to stop a cataclysmic war between the human and jinn worlds.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2019
15 people are currently reading
1551 people want to read
About the author
M.A. Guglielmo
7 books92 followershttps://www.facebook.com/maguglielmoa...
M.A. Guglielmo is a neurosurgeon, mother of two awesome daughters, and a life-long fan of speculative fiction. Her Italian grandmother may or may not have been able to cast the evil eye on difficult neighbors, and Maria loves telling a good story, especially if magical curses and witty villains are involved.
After having the wits scared out of her by ghost tales told to her over a campfire in the Moroccan Sahara, she’s come up with a plan to travel to all the potential settings for her novels. Since those include the mountain-ringed home of the Jinn and a future dystopia complete with monster portals, some items on her bucket list might be harder to achieve than others.
Maria was born and raised in Rhode Island and lives there with her two daughters and assorted pets, and is always dreaming of the stories that can come out of her next travel destination.
M.A. Guglielmo is a neurosurgeon, mother of two awesome daughters, and a life-long fan of speculative fiction. Her Italian grandmother may or may not have been able to cast the evil eye on difficult neighbors, and Maria loves telling a good story, especially if magical curses and witty villains are involved.
After having the wits scared out of her by ghost tales told to her over a campfire in the Moroccan Sahara, she’s come up with a plan to travel to all the potential settings for her novels. Since those include the mountain-ringed home of the Jinn and a future dystopia complete with monster portals, some items on her bucket list might be harder to achieve than others.
Maria was born and raised in Rhode Island and lives there with her two daughters and assorted pets, and is always dreaming of the stories that can come out of her next travel destination.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 23, 2019
Why I picked up this book:
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Okay, let's be super honest . . . I adore M. A. Guglielmo and I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this story years ago. So when I found out the ARC was ready, I was all grabby hands to read Zahara's story again. She's the type of character you both want to cuddle and punch in the throat.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Zahara is by far my favorite character. Constantly obsessed with how people see her, this lovely lady is always primping her own breasts, wearing the tiniest, most see-through clothes, and demanding everyone's attention be on her. But when her true form is revealed, it's hilarious to see how much it affects her—how something so simple to any other character forms one of the strongest cornerstones of her insecurity.
This story is full of Moroccan beauty and culture, including several words readers may not be familiar with. Each one adds a deeper layer of flavor to the overall world.
What I'd love to see more of:
I'm a huge fan off deep world building and even deeper character emotions. While I loved Zahara's story, one of the things that kept me a bit distanced from the characters is the emotions didn't seem to run deep, and some reactions felt a little off-hand to the severity of the drama.
Overall:
This is a beautiful debut for M. A. Guglielmo! Due to some of the content, I'd recommend for older teens and adults, and could hit the sweet spot for both contemporary and contemporary fantasy readers. Can't wait to see more from this lovely author!
I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Okay, let's be super honest . . . I adore M. A. Guglielmo and I was lucky enough to read an early draft of this story years ago. So when I found out the ARC was ready, I was all grabby hands to read Zahara's story again. She's the type of character you both want to cuddle and punch in the throat.
This review may contain spoilers.
What I loved:
Zahara is by far my favorite character. Constantly obsessed with how people see her, this lovely lady is always primping her own breasts, wearing the tiniest, most see-through clothes, and demanding everyone's attention be on her. But when her true form is revealed, it's hilarious to see how much it affects her—how something so simple to any other character forms one of the strongest cornerstones of her insecurity.
This story is full of Moroccan beauty and culture, including several words readers may not be familiar with. Each one adds a deeper layer of flavor to the overall world.
What I'd love to see more of:
I'm a huge fan off deep world building and even deeper character emotions. While I loved Zahara's story, one of the things that kept me a bit distanced from the characters is the emotions didn't seem to run deep, and some reactions felt a little off-hand to the severity of the drama.
Overall:
This is a beautiful debut for M. A. Guglielmo! Due to some of the content, I'd recommend for older teens and adults, and could hit the sweet spot for both contemporary and contemporary fantasy readers. Can't wait to see more from this lovely author!
September 15, 2019
The beautiful cover and blurb caught my interest from the get-go and I immediately grab it. The beginning chapters were funny, wellpaced and showcased the blossoming friendship between Daniel and Zahara . As the story progress and additional characters were added, my interest in the read started to diminish. It wasn't bad enough to drop and I'm not gonna lie I did end up skimming through a few pages/chapters at the 3/4 mark and overall can understand why some readers were be drawn to this type of story. Sadly enough it just wasn't for me but I will notate that I will definitely keep the author on my radar for future releases.
August 20, 2019
I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
When I saw that cover and read the blurb I knew I had to read this one. I loved the sound of it and I was happy when I got approved on Netgalley and started reading the book shortly after. I think the world the author has created in this series is very well done and I really liked the set-up and parts of the plot, but sadly it failed to entertain me as completely as I had hoped.
The start of this book was brilliantly done, that first chapters was so funny and I enjoyed the dialogue between Daniel and Zahara. It has a bit of that vibe you have in those buddy movies, although sadly I felt like it wasn't as strong in later parts of the book.
I liked the set-up and was hooked from the start, but somehow as the story progressed I started to lose interest. Where the beginning was pretty fast paced, the pace now seemed quite slow. And on the one hand quite a lot happened and the pace felt slow, but at the same time big events and reveals almost lacked impact. There were also some parts where I would've liked a bit more information or explanation as in some cases there was just one line that revealed things and as the reveals didn't really got the impact I had expected it was easy to forget certain details and who was responsible for what. The intricate plot lines and reveals fell flat for me because of this. There was one twist that was so obvious to me I didn't get why the characters thought something.
The plot was mostly entertaining, I just would've liked the pace to speed up a bit, but the story was interesting to follow, it just felt like the story didn't progress in a way I found interesting and it felt like it took a long time with less interesting events before they got further. I was curious to find out how they were going to defeat this fallen angel as they seemed so much weaker than him, but still determined. There were also parts where they are fighting those on the same side and this happens multiple times, which felt a bit frustrating as you know they are on the same side.
The characters were likable and or interesting. Zahara probably was one of my favorites with her love for clothes and sweet things and how her whole family are these evil jinn and she doesn't quite fit in. I enjoyed seeing her slowly change throughout the book and do some good deeds as well. I would've liked a bit more insight in her motivations. Her relationship with her mother also was quite interesting. And I liked how she interacted with Daniel.
Daniel is a typical American guy until one day his dead grandma send shim a letter to save the world and call up a jinn, which is how he gets involved in this whole plot line. I actually kinda liked how normal he was. He was very determined, although at times I was unsure why he was so determined to follow this quest.
While the characters were all interesting, I wouldn't have minded a bit less focus on the plot and a bit more on the the characters, their emotions, their relationships and interactions and what they're going through. Now it lacked a certain emotional depth at times. Even with the big things they're going through, it just felt like they just shrugged and continued on.
I also have to admit I expected way more romance based on the blurb than the book actually had. I wouldn't classify this as a romance book, but an urban fantasy with a hint of romance. As for the romances there are two potential romances. Daniel and Zaid who seem to have mutual attraction, although I couldn't figure out why they fell for each other. And there are only a few scenes with just the two of them and only one scene plus the end that even felt a bit romantic in nature. I just didn't feel their romance at all and I would've liked to see their relationship build a bit and see why they liked the other.
Then there is Zahara and Hurat. Zahara's attraction to Hurat was clear and I am glad their romance doesn't really progress much beyond that as I felt like it fit the plot. They start off as enemies and slowly grow a bit closer and have a bit of mutual regard. The pace which with this progressed was well done.
So with how both those romances progressed or didn't, it did make this book very light on romance and I had hoped for more romance. And at the same time it makes sense it's light on romance as they are trying to save the world, I guess I still would've liked some more romance as those feelings and emotions don't always wait for a convenient moment. And I went in expecting more romance, so that didn't quite mash with what I got.
I did really like the whole idea of jinn, the different factions and powers and everything we learn about them. It did feel a bit confusing at times, but that's mostly because I know very little about the jinn and while there is world building and explanations it still didn't quite feel like enough. Or maybe that's just because I wanted to know more. There were some interesting dynamics and rules here. They also felt a bit demonic here, but not sure if all jinn were that way or only some of them. Then there are the angels or fallen angels and we actually learn almost nothing about what angels are and how they fit into this world. So that was a bit weird.
The setting in Morocco also was quite interesting and there are some scenes and references that make it obvious the author knows quite a bit about the setting. I would've liked some more description at times so the setting would've come more alive.
To summarize: Summoned has a great concept and I liked learning about the fascinating world of the jinn. The story and the set-up were great, but somewhere along the way I kinda lost interest in the story. The pace felt slow and big reveals lacked impact. I would've liked a bit more focus on the characters, their motivations, emotions and relationships. The romance was quite limited with Daniel falling for the jinn Zaid, but there isn't really any build-up or romance scenes. I didn't feel their romance sadly. Zahara and Hurat had a mutual attraction, but I actually was kinda happy it didn't go further than that as this fit the characters and plot better. I liked Zahara's character with how she was supposed to be evil, but had a soft side too and slowly changes a bit throughout the book. Daniel was just a normal guy, which was interesting to have as a main character. He was very determined to see this quest through, but I had trouble understanding why he was so motivated to do this. I liked the world building and it was interesting to learn more about the jinn, it's just that I wanted to know even more. The setting in Morocco was fun, although I would've liked some more descriptions so it would come alive more.
When I saw that cover and read the blurb I knew I had to read this one. I loved the sound of it and I was happy when I got approved on Netgalley and started reading the book shortly after. I think the world the author has created in this series is very well done and I really liked the set-up and parts of the plot, but sadly it failed to entertain me as completely as I had hoped.
The start of this book was brilliantly done, that first chapters was so funny and I enjoyed the dialogue between Daniel and Zahara. It has a bit of that vibe you have in those buddy movies, although sadly I felt like it wasn't as strong in later parts of the book.
I liked the set-up and was hooked from the start, but somehow as the story progressed I started to lose interest. Where the beginning was pretty fast paced, the pace now seemed quite slow. And on the one hand quite a lot happened and the pace felt slow, but at the same time big events and reveals almost lacked impact. There were also some parts where I would've liked a bit more information or explanation as in some cases there was just one line that revealed things and as the reveals didn't really got the impact I had expected it was easy to forget certain details and who was responsible for what. The intricate plot lines and reveals fell flat for me because of this. There was one twist that was so obvious to me I didn't get why the characters thought something.
The plot was mostly entertaining, I just would've liked the pace to speed up a bit, but the story was interesting to follow, it just felt like the story didn't progress in a way I found interesting and it felt like it took a long time with less interesting events before they got further. I was curious to find out how they were going to defeat this fallen angel as they seemed so much weaker than him, but still determined. There were also parts where they are fighting those on the same side and this happens multiple times, which felt a bit frustrating as you know they are on the same side.
The characters were likable and or interesting. Zahara probably was one of my favorites with her love for clothes and sweet things and how her whole family are these evil jinn and she doesn't quite fit in. I enjoyed seeing her slowly change throughout the book and do some good deeds as well. I would've liked a bit more insight in her motivations. Her relationship with her mother also was quite interesting. And I liked how she interacted with Daniel.
Daniel is a typical American guy until one day his dead grandma send shim a letter to save the world and call up a jinn, which is how he gets involved in this whole plot line. I actually kinda liked how normal he was. He was very determined, although at times I was unsure why he was so determined to follow this quest.
While the characters were all interesting, I wouldn't have minded a bit less focus on the plot and a bit more on the the characters, their emotions, their relationships and interactions and what they're going through. Now it lacked a certain emotional depth at times. Even with the big things they're going through, it just felt like they just shrugged and continued on.
I also have to admit I expected way more romance based on the blurb than the book actually had. I wouldn't classify this as a romance book, but an urban fantasy with a hint of romance. As for the romances there are two potential romances. Daniel and Zaid who seem to have mutual attraction, although I couldn't figure out why they fell for each other. And there are only a few scenes with just the two of them and only one scene plus the end that even felt a bit romantic in nature. I just didn't feel their romance at all and I would've liked to see their relationship build a bit and see why they liked the other.
Then there is Zahara and Hurat. Zahara's attraction to Hurat was clear and I am glad their romance doesn't really progress much beyond that as I felt like it fit the plot. They start off as enemies and slowly grow a bit closer and have a bit of mutual regard. The pace which with this progressed was well done.
So with how both those romances progressed or didn't, it did make this book very light on romance and I had hoped for more romance. And at the same time it makes sense it's light on romance as they are trying to save the world, I guess I still would've liked some more romance as those feelings and emotions don't always wait for a convenient moment. And I went in expecting more romance, so that didn't quite mash with what I got.
I did really like the whole idea of jinn, the different factions and powers and everything we learn about them. It did feel a bit confusing at times, but that's mostly because I know very little about the jinn and while there is world building and explanations it still didn't quite feel like enough. Or maybe that's just because I wanted to know more. There were some interesting dynamics and rules here. They also felt a bit demonic here, but not sure if all jinn were that way or only some of them. Then there are the angels or fallen angels and we actually learn almost nothing about what angels are and how they fit into this world. So that was a bit weird.
The setting in Morocco also was quite interesting and there are some scenes and references that make it obvious the author knows quite a bit about the setting. I would've liked some more description at times so the setting would've come more alive.
To summarize: Summoned has a great concept and I liked learning about the fascinating world of the jinn. The story and the set-up were great, but somewhere along the way I kinda lost interest in the story. The pace felt slow and big reveals lacked impact. I would've liked a bit more focus on the characters, their motivations, emotions and relationships. The romance was quite limited with Daniel falling for the jinn Zaid, but there isn't really any build-up or romance scenes. I didn't feel their romance sadly. Zahara and Hurat had a mutual attraction, but I actually was kinda happy it didn't go further than that as this fit the characters and plot better. I liked Zahara's character with how she was supposed to be evil, but had a soft side too and slowly changes a bit throughout the book. Daniel was just a normal guy, which was interesting to have as a main character. He was very determined to see this quest through, but I had trouble understanding why he was so motivated to do this. I liked the world building and it was interesting to learn more about the jinn, it's just that I wanted to know even more. The setting in Morocco was fun, although I would've liked some more descriptions so it would come alive more.
September 3, 2019
Two jinns, a human and a fallen angel, lots of magic and adventures around the world. What a good experience was to read this book.
I really need to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book
Merged review:
Two jinns, a human and a fallen angel, lots of magic and adventures around the world. What a good experience was to read this book.
I really need to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I can’t wait to read the next part.
I really need to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book
Merged review:
Two jinns, a human and a fallen angel, lots of magic and adventures around the world. What a good experience was to read this book.
I really need to thank Netgalley and Tule Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I can’t wait to read the next part.
March 3, 2020
Upper YA and mature readers will enjoy this supernatural wild ride as one human and two jinn race to save the world from fallen angels with questionable motives. This was a quick, fun read full of sarcasm-laced dialog and humorously inappropriate antics.
#Summoned #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
#Summoned #NetGalley - I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. Read more reviews! http://dreamerjbookreviews.blogspot.com
March 30, 2021
Three and a half
I love books about the Jinn so was excited to read this. Daniel is just an ordinary guy until one day he gets a letter from his deceased grandmother . Ok that's not the end of it because he hears odd noises and suddenly finds himself with a lamp ! Time to follow his instructions and call up demonic help but what he gets is a Jinn who is way more wily and knowledgeable than he ever expected. You could say Daniels life is about to be anything but ordinary !
I think from the cover I probably expected this to have romance which it really doesn't although seeds are sown. Essentially Daniel unknowingly sells his soul to Zahara in return for her help to stop two very dangerous fallen Angels from destroying the world. Zahara is a hoot as she adores what humanity can give her and that includes shoes, clothes, jewellery and sex. She's just a fun loving girl sadly with mummy issues. Daniel prefers men so Zahara can stay out of his pants but hey that girls a trier ! In Morocco Zahara asks her Jinn friend Zaid to help but I really wanted to know a lot more about him. In fact thinking about it I wanted much more emotion from Daniel too because at times he just felt like a cardboard cut out and I wanted to know what he was feeling. The two fallen Angels are very different, you could say like night and day but my lips are sealed. Plus poor Zahara learns things about herself she hadn't expected which I thoroughly enjoyed as she just became more and more likeable as the story unfolded.
I won't rehash the plot but will say I liked the story, I would love to read more and I hope to feel more emotionally involved with these characters next time.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
I love books about the Jinn so was excited to read this. Daniel is just an ordinary guy until one day he gets a letter from his deceased grandmother . Ok that's not the end of it because he hears odd noises and suddenly finds himself with a lamp ! Time to follow his instructions and call up demonic help but what he gets is a Jinn who is way more wily and knowledgeable than he ever expected. You could say Daniels life is about to be anything but ordinary !
I think from the cover I probably expected this to have romance which it really doesn't although seeds are sown. Essentially Daniel unknowingly sells his soul to Zahara in return for her help to stop two very dangerous fallen Angels from destroying the world. Zahara is a hoot as she adores what humanity can give her and that includes shoes, clothes, jewellery and sex. She's just a fun loving girl sadly with mummy issues. Daniel prefers men so Zahara can stay out of his pants but hey that girls a trier ! In Morocco Zahara asks her Jinn friend Zaid to help but I really wanted to know a lot more about him. In fact thinking about it I wanted much more emotion from Daniel too because at times he just felt like a cardboard cut out and I wanted to know what he was feeling. The two fallen Angels are very different, you could say like night and day but my lips are sealed. Plus poor Zahara learns things about herself she hadn't expected which I thoroughly enjoyed as she just became more and more likeable as the story unfolded.
I won't rehash the plot but will say I liked the story, I would love to read more and I hope to feel more emotionally involved with these characters next time.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
April 25, 2022
Welcome to Zahara’s world! She is a jinn who has found her way out of the lamp and into the world. Zahara is a nympho who is obsessed with shopping and all things fun in the world, and the last thing she wants to do is to help Daniel to stop a fallen angel. However, the two enter into a contract which should supposedly benefit them both and head off to Morocco. Needless to say, best laid plans do not live up to their expectations. This is a great intro to a new series, and I am looking forward to reading the next installment. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.
September 16, 2019
[I received a copy of this book through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.]
Zahara, party girl of the paranormal, floats up out of a lamp in Daniel Goldstein‘s apartment ready to trick a sorcerer into giving up his soul. But Daniel, whose Moroccan grandmother has reached out from beyond the grave to command him to raise a jinn, wants to do good—by stopping a vengeful fallen angel.
This book's premise is great, and the first few chapters hold up very well. It's also one of the only paranormal fantasy book I've read that brings in Middle Eastern mythology and which is set in Morocco, so that was great to learn about. But as I continued reading, I wanted a little more depth from the characters. I wanted relationships to develop at a more meaningful level, and because there wasn't time devoted to this, the chemistry seemed a little false. I also felt the plot dragged a little in the middle, but the final fight scene at the end was exciting, fast-paced, and pretty badass. I just wish some of those characteristics were carried throughout the book, rather than just at the beginning and end.
Zahara, party girl of the paranormal, floats up out of a lamp in Daniel Goldstein‘s apartment ready to trick a sorcerer into giving up his soul. But Daniel, whose Moroccan grandmother has reached out from beyond the grave to command him to raise a jinn, wants to do good—by stopping a vengeful fallen angel.
This book's premise is great, and the first few chapters hold up very well. It's also one of the only paranormal fantasy book I've read that brings in Middle Eastern mythology and which is set in Morocco, so that was great to learn about. But as I continued reading, I wanted a little more depth from the characters. I wanted relationships to develop at a more meaningful level, and because there wasn't time devoted to this, the chemistry seemed a little false. I also felt the plot dragged a little in the middle, but the final fight scene at the end was exciting, fast-paced, and pretty badass. I just wish some of those characteristics were carried throughout the book, rather than just at the beginning and end.
March 28, 2021
M.A. Guglielmo’s debut novel, Summoned, is a light-hearted, fun read which should appeal to older YA readers. Daniel Goldstein, a Jewish gaming designer, is told by his grandmother’s ghost to summon a jinn to save the world from fallen angels. He ends up with a supernatural party girl. Zahara, who introduces him to her friend, Zaid. The three combine forces to battle the angels. The dialogue is zippy and laced with sarcasm. It was enjoyable to read a paranormal book with new-to-me Middle Eastern mythology.
September 18, 2019
First of all, I absolutely enjoyed the settings in this book as it took me on a ride to places unfamiliar to me. The characters each had distinct personalities, and I liked the way they played off each other as their relationships grew. The author also did a great job of touching on their different worlds in a natural way, helping to submerge the reader which was cool!
September 19, 2019
I don’t typically read paranormal fantasies, but this was a fun read! The story was fast-paced and adventurous. I loved the relationships between Zahara, Daniel, and Zaid. I appreciated the author’s incorporation of Middle Eastern mythology as well as the evocative setting and descriptions. This is a book I think readers of any genre would enjoy!
November 20, 2019
This book took me a bit to get into (there’s a heck of a lot going on), but once I got engaged there was no going back. Zahara was fascinating and her demon form....terrifying!! I really liked Daniel tho, a good guy trying to do the right thing. Overall it was really interesting and I can’t wait for the next one!
August 13, 2019
This was a pretty good first chapter in the series, the characters are well-developed and I enjoyed the plot itself. Overall this was a really good read and I'd recommend this to fans looking for a good fantasy novel.
August 22, 2019
An interesting, entertaining and engrossing start for a new series.
I liked the cast of characters, the world building and the plot.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I liked the cast of characters, the world building and the plot.
Recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
May 24, 2022
This is the first book in the From Smokeless Fire series by author M.A. Guglielmo (and her debut novel). Beautiful cover. Wow. I was wayyyyy out of my comfort zone with this one, but stay with me, because I stayed with the story.
I found Summoned a unique paranormal story, and though I don’t usually (ever) read paranormal, I really enjoyed the fact that this book seemed different – jinns!
Zahara is a jinn who loves sex, shoes, and lots of sugary sweets. She is an absolutely mesmerizing character, and kudos to the author for her creativity in drawing out Zahara. Zahara is summoned by an ordinary guy named Daniel Goldstein, and their mission is to stop a fallen angel who’s bent on destroying the world.
Daniel’s deceased Jewish grandmother plays a significant role as well, and Guglielmo takes the reader on a whirlwind journey to mysterious Morocco.
I enjoyed the fact that the author showed a lot of originality with this tale. It’s exceptionally well written, too. Banking on the timeless theme of good vs. evil, Summoned will captivate the reader with its unique spin. I did struggle a bit to stay with the story around two-thirds in – maybe that was just me, but it seemed a little slow. But I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. So, even if you’re not a reader of paranormal, I can recommend this book as a good escape novel.
I found Summoned a unique paranormal story, and though I don’t usually (ever) read paranormal, I really enjoyed the fact that this book seemed different – jinns!
Zahara is a jinn who loves sex, shoes, and lots of sugary sweets. She is an absolutely mesmerizing character, and kudos to the author for her creativity in drawing out Zahara. Zahara is summoned by an ordinary guy named Daniel Goldstein, and their mission is to stop a fallen angel who’s bent on destroying the world.
Daniel’s deceased Jewish grandmother plays a significant role as well, and Guglielmo takes the reader on a whirlwind journey to mysterious Morocco.
I enjoyed the fact that the author showed a lot of originality with this tale. It’s exceptionally well written, too. Banking on the timeless theme of good vs. evil, Summoned will captivate the reader with its unique spin. I did struggle a bit to stay with the story around two-thirds in – maybe that was just me, but it seemed a little slow. But I stuck with it and I’m glad I did. So, even if you’re not a reader of paranormal, I can recommend this book as a good escape novel.
June 14, 2021
ARC from NetGalley
3.5 stars
I'm a bit torn on this one. There were things I quite liked. It was very amusing and light-hearted, but I felt a bit misled. The blurb makes this sound like a romance, and it is, but barely so. It's an introductory book, and I assume the romance is very, very slow-burning. It's entertaining to read, but it isn't deep. I barely formed any connections with the characters, so it was hard to care what happened to them. It's an interesting book with some neat twists. When the next one is out, I would consider reading it if I could get it for free, but I won't be chomping at the bit, and I certainly wouldn't pay for it. It didn't draw me in enough, but perhaps that's because I went into this expecting it to be one thing and finding it failed to hit that mark.
3.5 stars
I'm a bit torn on this one. There were things I quite liked. It was very amusing and light-hearted, but I felt a bit misled. The blurb makes this sound like a romance, and it is, but barely so. It's an introductory book, and I assume the romance is very, very slow-burning. It's entertaining to read, but it isn't deep. I barely formed any connections with the characters, so it was hard to care what happened to them. It's an interesting book with some neat twists. When the next one is out, I would consider reading it if I could get it for free, but I won't be chomping at the bit, and I certainly wouldn't pay for it. It didn't draw me in enough, but perhaps that's because I went into this expecting it to be one thing and finding it failed to hit that mark.
February 24, 2021
There were some genuinely funny parts to this—my favorite was when Zahara pulls Harut through hell to escape a bunch of government spooks and on the other side he’s so unappreciative of the save that she dumps him on his ass and gives him a nice petty kick—but there were also a number of cringe-y moments that made it verrrrry obvious the author is a white woman.
April 12, 2022
Very much enjoyed reading. Love books about the Supernatural. "Summoned" had creatures from Fallen Angels, Demons & Jinn. Angel brothers fighting each other to prevent a rip between worlds that would end man. Great read & looking forward to the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
Unique read
Zahara is a very unusual character and the adventures she gets dragged into by Daniel have a profound effect on her. Amusing and action packed read
Zahara is a very unusual character and the adventures she gets dragged into by Daniel have a profound effect on her. Amusing and action packed read
January 9, 2022
Hmm, on the one hand, this isn't really my preferred niche of fantasy, but this was a fun read if you don't come in expecting high literature. Fans of the particular genre will not be disappointed.
I should be a little more circumspect with my choices. I picked this up thinking it was urban fantasy with djinns and angels, and while that is true, this leans strongly on the paranormal romance side of things. Nothing tragic, rather lots of funny quips and wordplay. And very inclusive in terms of representation. There are several non-traditional romances but then love triangles with djinns, angels, mermen, and humans in the mix are pretty non-traditional to begin with.
The plot is well crafted, mixing mythologies and religions reflecting both the past and current state of the Middle East's mixing pot of religions and traditions. The world-building isn't too bad either, the surreal quality of the demons true forms I found particularly interesting, but I do have issues with some of the characterizations.
Fans of the Kate Daniels books will definitely find this enjoyable.
ARC from #Netgalley
Merged review:
Hmm, on the one hand, this isn't really my preferred niche of fantasy, but this was a fun read if you don't come in expecting high literature. Fans of the particular genre will not be disappointed.
I should be a little more circumspect with my choices. I picked this up as being urban fantasy with djinns and angels, and while that is true, this leans strongly on the paranormal romance side of things. Nothing tragic, rather lots of funny quips and wordplay. And very inclusive in terms of representation. There are several non-traditional romances but then love triangles with djinns, angels, mermen, and humans in the mix are pretty non-traditional to begin with.
The plot is well crafted, mixing mythologies and religions reflecting both the past and current state of the Middle East's mixing pot of religions and traditions. The world-building isn't too bad either, but I do have issues with some of the characterizations. Daniel is relatable enough, but Zahara is not believable, her actions are completely incongruent to the situation and the trouble she is always in, and hardly reflects what would be expected of a demoness (even a young one with possible angelic blood). Thinking about it again, too often in the novel we have a character having a near brush with death while only thinking about getting laid.
Fans of the Kate Daniels books will definitely find this enjoyable.
ARC from #Netgalley
I should be a little more circumspect with my choices. I picked this up thinking it was urban fantasy with djinns and angels, and while that is true, this leans strongly on the paranormal romance side of things. Nothing tragic, rather lots of funny quips and wordplay. And very inclusive in terms of representation. There are several non-traditional romances but then love triangles with djinns, angels, mermen, and humans in the mix are pretty non-traditional to begin with.
The plot is well crafted, mixing mythologies and religions reflecting both the past and current state of the Middle East's mixing pot of religions and traditions. The world-building isn't too bad either, the surreal quality of the demons true forms I found particularly interesting, but I do have issues with some of the characterizations.
Fans of the Kate Daniels books will definitely find this enjoyable.
ARC from #Netgalley
Merged review:
Hmm, on the one hand, this isn't really my preferred niche of fantasy, but this was a fun read if you don't come in expecting high literature. Fans of the particular genre will not be disappointed.
I should be a little more circumspect with my choices. I picked this up as being urban fantasy with djinns and angels, and while that is true, this leans strongly on the paranormal romance side of things. Nothing tragic, rather lots of funny quips and wordplay. And very inclusive in terms of representation. There are several non-traditional romances but then love triangles with djinns, angels, mermen, and humans in the mix are pretty non-traditional to begin with.
The plot is well crafted, mixing mythologies and religions reflecting both the past and current state of the Middle East's mixing pot of religions and traditions. The world-building isn't too bad either, but I do have issues with some of the characterizations. Daniel is relatable enough, but Zahara is not believable, her actions are completely incongruent to the situation and the trouble she is always in, and hardly reflects what would be expected of a demoness (even a young one with possible angelic blood). Thinking about it again, too often in the novel we have a character having a near brush with death while only thinking about getting laid.
Fans of the Kate Daniels books will definitely find this enjoyable.
ARC from #Netgalley
September 24, 2019
3 1/2 stars.
I received a copy of Summoned through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Summoned is the debut novel of M.A. Guglielmo, and it is a memorable one. Fans looking for a slightly different take on jinn should check out Zahara's tale, as it's one they'll find themselves enjoying greatly.
Two completely different characters have been forced into a contract with one another, all with the hopes of stopping a fallen angel from wreaking revenge on the world. Oh, and did we mention it was the ghost of one of the character's grandmothers that warned them of the threat?
Zahara is a quirky jinn, to put it lightly. She's a nymphomaniac at heart, though she can also be distracted with shopping, which is something. She doesn't want to be on this quest, but she's bound by jinn laws to help.
Daniel is just doing what his grandmother told him to. His dead grandmother. She warned him of the fallen angel threat, and even told him that he had to summon a jinn to get the job done. This isn't what he wanted to do, but he can't ignore what's happening either.
“'I don't want money,' he said. 'I called up a jinn because my bubbe told me I had to save the world before two fallen angels destroy it.'”
Summoned was a fun an exciting escape from reality. This was a strong novel, before taking the whole debut novelist into account. M.A. Guglielmo knocked it out of the park.
The characters were quirky, unique, and silly when needed. They were atypical heroes, with a jinn that just wanted to party, and a goody two shoes who's still listening to his late bubbe. But it's better than nobody, right? To be honest, it was really refreshing to see such unique characters. They were built on tropes, yes. But then they were completely flipped on their heads.
Sometimes Zahara did annoy me, but once I got to know her it wasn't nearly so bad. So if you're put off by her behavior, in the beginning, give her a few more chapters before you make up your mind. Hopefully, you'll find it worth it!
I'll confess that it was the cover that originally brought my attention to this piece. But in my defense, who can resist something as pretty as this cover? I know I can't! The description sold me. And thankfully, the pages inside were just as much fun as I was hoping.
This novel will make a perfect escape for any reader looking for a light and distracting read. It's cute and funny, which lots of quips and banter. I'm glad I gave it a chance, and will be keeping an eye out for any more of Guglielmo's works.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
I received a copy of Summoned through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Summoned is the debut novel of M.A. Guglielmo, and it is a memorable one. Fans looking for a slightly different take on jinn should check out Zahara's tale, as it's one they'll find themselves enjoying greatly.
Two completely different characters have been forced into a contract with one another, all with the hopes of stopping a fallen angel from wreaking revenge on the world. Oh, and did we mention it was the ghost of one of the character's grandmothers that warned them of the threat?
Zahara is a quirky jinn, to put it lightly. She's a nymphomaniac at heart, though she can also be distracted with shopping, which is something. She doesn't want to be on this quest, but she's bound by jinn laws to help.
Daniel is just doing what his grandmother told him to. His dead grandmother. She warned him of the fallen angel threat, and even told him that he had to summon a jinn to get the job done. This isn't what he wanted to do, but he can't ignore what's happening either.
“'I don't want money,' he said. 'I called up a jinn because my bubbe told me I had to save the world before two fallen angels destroy it.'”
Summoned was a fun an exciting escape from reality. This was a strong novel, before taking the whole debut novelist into account. M.A. Guglielmo knocked it out of the park.
The characters were quirky, unique, and silly when needed. They were atypical heroes, with a jinn that just wanted to party, and a goody two shoes who's still listening to his late bubbe. But it's better than nobody, right? To be honest, it was really refreshing to see such unique characters. They were built on tropes, yes. But then they were completely flipped on their heads.
Sometimes Zahara did annoy me, but once I got to know her it wasn't nearly so bad. So if you're put off by her behavior, in the beginning, give her a few more chapters before you make up your mind. Hopefully, you'll find it worth it!
I'll confess that it was the cover that originally brought my attention to this piece. But in my defense, who can resist something as pretty as this cover? I know I can't! The description sold me. And thankfully, the pages inside were just as much fun as I was hoping.
This novel will make a perfect escape for any reader looking for a light and distracting read. It's cute and funny, which lots of quips and banter. I'm glad I gave it a chance, and will be keeping an eye out for any more of Guglielmo's works.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
September 29, 2019
A 4*
Caution, mild spoilers ahead
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions included in this review are my own and are in no way affected by the exchange.
I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley while searching for a fresh fantasy novel that would take me on a new adventure. And after closing the book, I do not feel disappointed with my choice.
Summoned takes you on an incredible adventure in distant lands of our world, lands that are not usually explored on pages of a book. It is not a standard setting with cliche characters. Well, maybe a little bit with Zahara who is party chick and Daniel a nerdy type of a game developer… Forget about what I said about cliche characters.
But going back to the setting, it explores Morocco and the Middle East, with a dive into different religions, myths, and legends, combining them all in one wonderful story. There was a drag in the story, by the middle of it, where there is almost nothing of interest happening and the passages get a bit boring.
But then the ending arrives, with unexpected turns and wild unravellings. Everyone gets a happy ending and the bad guy loses… This is good, but, for a good fantasy, there are some tragic events missing and more evolution and transformation from the characters needed to make it a great novel.
The characters are interesting in their own ways, with their own stories.
Summoned is a good fantasy novel that is seeking a new, non-cliche fantasy world, born in the modern age but constructed of the stories of old, twisted in a new way.
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Caution, mild spoilers ahead
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions included in this review are my own and are in no way affected by the exchange.
I stumbled upon this book on NetGalley while searching for a fresh fantasy novel that would take me on a new adventure. And after closing the book, I do not feel disappointed with my choice.
Summoned takes you on an incredible adventure in distant lands of our world, lands that are not usually explored on pages of a book. It is not a standard setting with cliche characters. Well, maybe a little bit with Zahara who is party chick and Daniel a nerdy type of a game developer… Forget about what I said about cliche characters.
But going back to the setting, it explores Morocco and the Middle East, with a dive into different religions, myths, and legends, combining them all in one wonderful story. There was a drag in the story, by the middle of it, where there is almost nothing of interest happening and the passages get a bit boring.
But then the ending arrives, with unexpected turns and wild unravellings. Everyone gets a happy ending and the bad guy loses… This is good, but, for a good fantasy, there are some tragic events missing and more evolution and transformation from the characters needed to make it a great novel.
The characters are interesting in their own ways, with their own stories.
Summoned is a good fantasy novel that is seeking a new, non-cliche fantasy world, born in the modern age but constructed of the stories of old, twisted in a new way.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
October 9, 2019
This is an okay YA story written very simply. I really wanted to like this because the premise was interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't really like the characters very much. Zahara is an annoying party girl/djin with little substance. She says she's evil but we don't really see it. Daniel is a clueless and naive kid dragged into a conflict by his dead grandmother. He is tasked with stopping two fallen angels from destroying the world. Bubbe, as the grandmother is annoyingly called, died over a year ago. I found it difficult to believe that if she knew so much about supernatural creatures such as djin, why is Daniel so clueless. Zahara calls him a powerful warlock but we don't see that either. Zahara describes Zaid as being someone who wants to fight evil but he doesn't do much. This story does address mythology and religion but it was not enough to hold my interest. The story is flat and it just bumbles along. It wasn't for me. It is simplistic. It might interest a young YA reader but anyone with any maturity will find the characters annoying. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 27, 2019
I like a man who listens to his grandmother! Summoned has Daniel who is as Zahara calls him “a do-gooder” and a great grandson to boot. I was so pleasantly surprised to read Summoned by M.A. Guglielmo. I wasn’t sure if it would take a comic book approach in the plot but stayed true to paranormal/fantasy.
Without a doubt, Summoned has an original story-line of good verses evil with unique characters that are interesting, far from perfect but are still likable. The beginning of the story is captivating but wanes after about halfway. This is an author who is still perfected the craft but overall it is a worthy read.
Tule Publishing has been branching out to include paranormal fantasy books by authors that I am unfamiliar with reading. This inclusion seems to be authors that are new to me. Finding new authors with creative imaginations is always a good thing for me.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Without a doubt, Summoned has an original story-line of good verses evil with unique characters that are interesting, far from perfect but are still likable. The beginning of the story is captivating but wanes after about halfway. This is an author who is still perfected the craft but overall it is a worthy read.
Tule Publishing has been branching out to include paranormal fantasy books by authors that I am unfamiliar with reading. This inclusion seems to be authors that are new to me. Finding new authors with creative imaginations is always a good thing for me.
An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 16, 2021
A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is the first book in a series. I have not read this author before. Okay that being said, I also chose this book by the cover! I know, I know bad bad! Great cover by the way. I have also not read many books about Jinns so I was sort of confused from the get go. I found this story to be just odd-I felt lost most of the time. I also expected some romance but there is very little of that. Zahara I found annoying but she did grow on me. Not sure if I will read any of the future books. 3 stars
August 25, 2019
Interesting premise. Description was what drew me in. The actual story was a little flat. Zahara is written like every "party girl" cliché wrapped into one person. Daniel's so ignorant of how to interact with the jinn and what a contract means. It doesn't stop to ask questions about what the contract means. If Zahara wasn't written as such a bubble head and Daniel took the whole thing a little more serious.. And what was Zaid's roll again?
September 23, 2019
An interesting start to a new series, I enjoyed the cast of characters and the world building, I think it does need a little work and it would be so much more, it lost me a few times, but it was worth persevering, I think a little work and this could be a fabulous series, I will still look forward to the next.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews