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Mythmatched World #19

The Skinny on Djinni

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Being in tech time-out totally sucks.

Hector Gonzales knew the danger when he hacked the magic grid to marry it with human technology. He’d never imagined this system crash: A total tech suspension while the tradition-bound supe council reviews his case. He’s reduced to running errands for his friends, and seriously? How had people survived before GPS? Then several wrong turns—thank you so much, stupid paper map—lead him to a remote burger joint. And when he spots the cute guy behind the counter? His wolf wakes up and howls You have arrived at your destination.

Getting fired—again—totally sucks.

Rafi Abbas tries to give customers what they want, he really does. However, when he gets distracted by the lovely man with the gorgeous brown skin, he screws up another customer’s order and his boss fires him on the spot. With no money, no job, and soon nowhere to live, Rafi has no business saying yes when the lovely man asks him out. But something about Hector whispers home.

Obeying the Secrecy Pact totally sucks.

To keep the supe community safe, werewolves cannot partner romantically with humans. That rule has been programmed into Hector since he was a pup. But as the day slides from bad to worse to are-you-freaking-kidding-me, Hector sees the moratorium for what it is: ridiculous and outdated. For Rafi, he’s willing to challenge the status quo.

After all, things can’t very well get worse than worst. Right?

The Skinny on Djinni is a M/M paranormal romance set in E.J. Russell’s popular Mythmatched story universe. While it features instinctual attraction, fated mates are not a thing. You’ll recognize some familiar faces from other Mythmatched tales, and although the romance—complete with HEA—stands alone, the story answers a couple of long-standing questions!

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 18, 2022

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About the author

E.J. Russell

54 books450 followers
E.J. Russell –grace, mother of three, recovering actor–writes romance in a rainbow of flavors. Count on high snark, low angst and happy endings.

Reality? Eh, not so much.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
Profile Image for Cadiva.
4,188 reviews464 followers
May 30, 2022
So much fun!

This series from EJ has been an absolute delight from start to finish and I really hope this isn't the last book in the Mythmatched Mates.

Here we have a guy who doesn't know he's part of the supernatural world and we have the ever nerdy werewolf Hector, last seen tinkering with the magic grid to hack it into human technology for a variety of apps!

This is a super sweet book with lots of laughs but also a lot of heartfelt moments as Rafi feels like he's totally alone in the world and suddenly finds out he has lots of family.

I also loved that we find out more about Shirl who owns the second hand store and Wanda at the diner, and there's guest appearances from Jordon and his little brother, as well as their Hellhound pup.

It's low steam, I'd say entirely expected as Hector pretty much has shown no interest in anyone until his Wolfie, who he believes to be an entirely separate entity rather than part of him, sits up and notices Rafi.

Things happen quickly, but it feels completely organic and there's all the humour you'd expect within this universe.

I'd love to see Jordan get a happy ending because that poor wolf is suffering big time with guilt over his possession in the previous book. Please EJ!
Profile Image for Danielle Maria.
15 reviews6 followers
May 30, 2022
Sweet and innocent.

The Mythmatched Universe definitely builds on what has gone before, with previous happenings mentioned and recurring characters popping up. So a quick rundown of the various books/series:

Fae Out of Water (Kendrick brothers)
1. Cutie and the Beast
2. The Druid Next Door
3. Bad Boy's Bard

Supernatural Selection
4. Single White Incubus (forms a duology with Vampire with Benefits)
5. Vampire with Benefits
6. Demon on the Down-Low

7. Howling on Hold
8. Possession in Session (a free ebook download from the author's website when you subscribe to the mailing list)
9. Witch Under Wraps

Quest Investigations
10. Five Dead Herrings
11. The Hound of the Burgervilles
12. The Lady Under the Lake
13. Death on Denial

14. Cursed is the Worst (free on Prolific Works for 2022 in the YBBB promotion)
15. The Skinny on Djinni

I haven't read the Quest Investigations books or Cursed is the Worst. I don't know if Cursed is the Worst has any relevance to The Skinny on Djinni, but certainly the events of the Quest Investigations series looms large in this book. I did feel that I was missing a great deal of information having not read those books first. Jordan is a different person to the one I last left, and I'm a bit scared to find out what happened to him and dear sweet Zeke.

The Skinny on Djinni is a nice book, but for me this Universe has lost the magic that pulled me in with the Fae out of Water and Supernatural Selection books. Howling on Hold and Possession in Session are good, but I disliked Witch Under Wraps very much.

I was hoping to be drawn back in, but I'm struggling to describe this book as more than nice. Hector and Rafi are both very cute, but there's not much more I can say about them. I think a big part in my losing interest in this universe is that I struggle to connect with the younger main characters. In the first six books, many of the main characters are several decades or even centuries old, with a wealth of personal history and many facets. The younger characters don't have anything like the same depth of character (understandably) and I just can't get that excited about them.

The story is ok, but lacking in action and humour. There are some revelations about characters and events in previous books. Heat level is almost zero (Hector is ace). People who have enjoyed the books from Howling on Hold onwards will enjoy the continuation of the story of the Doghouse pack. For myself I think I need to stop trying to fall in love with the newer books, and just enjoy the older ones.
Profile Image for Anne Barwell.
Author 24 books108 followers
May 26, 2022
I love this author’s Mythmatched universe and read this story in one sitting. I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books, especially Matt and Jordan, and loved how Hector and Rafi fit into this world.

Both Hector and Rafi are struggling against their natures, and I loved how their being together enables them to embrace who they really are. I liked Hector’s inner war between his need for tech, and being a werewolf, and why he views Wolfie as a separate entity. Rafi’s ability to give people what they need, rather than what they want is a cool twist on an existing mythology, and I liked how it’s taken that much further. I also liked how they work together in that Rafi, who can’t afford technology, needs to learn how to use it, and Hector, who isn’t allowed to use it, must figure out how to do things the old-fashioned way.

I loved seeing Jordan and Doop again! And also the hope that comes with this story that might help him move past what happened.

The worldbuilding is great, and wonderfully detailed. The plot keeps moving, with several twists and turns as Rafi and Hector run into coincidences, bounty hunters, horrible landlords, ex-bosses, and missing relatives in order to get their HEA. I loved how it tied back into previous books and gave a few answers.

More please.

Profile Image for Janet (iamltr).
1,238 reviews99 followers
May 26, 2022
This was so sweet

It took me until the end to figure out that all this happened in the same day. I was just that much into the story that I did not notice.

Hector was the most innocent wolf shifter I have ever met and Rafi broke my heart with how hard his life was going. Full disclosure, I have only read the first book of the mystery series, so most of the people, places,and back stories made no sense to me. Which made the beginning of this story hard to get into. Once I got further into it though, I was able to figure most of it out.

So this story was about how a wolfie who did some unapproved magic/internet hacking met a down on his luck human who was not human. That is not a spoiler, the title gave it away. After a lot of driving and bonding, we find out that Rafi was not human after all and then after a very anticlimactic showdown with the creature chasing down Rafi's mother, its all settled and Rafi and Hector decide to be together. After one single day.

There is no funtimes in this story, just a kiss or two.
Profile Image for Mary Mary.
1,037 reviews49 followers
May 29, 2022
That was a really, really enjoyable story!
I loved E.J. Russell's books featuring Supes and I loved this one. Hopefully there will be more books like this one, because I think the supernatural world is absolutely fantastic and I'd love to know more!

I adored both MCs, they are both sweet, young guys that found love and "new family" when they needed it the most. This is a fast and easy read without much drama, no angst, just a small town with a young pup and a lost djinni, totally unaware of his powers.
It is a perfect story for a summer evening to relax with a book. I just wish it was longer so i could spend more time with Hector and Rafi and read about their life together.

* I was gifted an ARC copy and this is my honest review *
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,374 reviews99 followers
May 19, 2022
Even though he was pretty much always a behind the scenes character, I always wanted Hector's story. Luckily, Russell can read my mind because she definitely delivered! This book is just so dang sweet. Hector was everything I knew he could be, and Rafi was just pure joy in character form. These two go through A LOT in their relatively short book, but they always come out on top. As always, I love how Russell is adding new mythological species to this massive world she's created, and I found Djinni's absolutely fascinating. It's cute, sweet, fluffy, and just smile inducing. Now we most DEFINITELY need a Jordan story, so I'm going to project that and hope Russell can read my mind once again!
Profile Image for Dan.
1,818 reviews49 followers
May 19, 2022
In a typical EJ fashion, this book was enjoyable, fun, interesting, went flying by, I couldn't believe it when it was over, I want more. I really liked Hector in the previous books, so I'm glad he got his turn at being the protagonist. And Rafi is a sweetheart, a cinnamon roll, and he deserves the best. And Hector is the best so...
Profile Image for Lori S..
1,202 reviews43 followers
March 28, 2023
Hector is put on tech-time by the Supe Council for out for hacking into the magical grid without permission. Though feeling a bit left adrift, he soon finds enough to keep himself busy when Wanda, the owner of Stuff-n-Things, sends him on a seemingly pointless pickup to the town of Everton, where he meets down-on-his-luck Rafi, a young man who's lost more jobs than he can count and has just been evicted from his apartment as well.

The love is just a little too fast for my liking as these two have only known each other for a few ours before the whole locus thing kicks in between Rafi and Hector. They are a cute couple, true, but I wanted more than just them running around Dewton and Everton searching for Rafi's pawned property. I hope we'll get more development in their relationship in the next Quest arc of books.

On the upside, Rafi finds family who he never knew existed and we get a big clue as to where the next Quest series might head, finally really getting down to it's actual mission: finding missing supes ...
3,075 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2022
a outstanding entertaining read!

Rating : 4.75 🌈

From the fabulously great name on, everything about The Skinny on Djinni by E.J. Russell is absolutely on point. It just makes for a outstanding entertaining read!

Part of Russell’s Mythmatched story universe, it picks up after the events of Death On Denial
(Quest Investigations #4), some of which are referenced here. You don’t have to have read that series, although if you’re a fan of this author, it’s highly likely you’re familiar with the characters, towns, and universe.

We meet Hector Gonzales, IT werewolf hacker in trouble with the Supe Council because he’s been messing around with the magic grid, and it caused huge issues, which was not his fault! So now she’s on probation until his case is heard and he’s technology free until then. Agony!

Hector, a werewolf from Jordan’s group of young were’s, is so perfectly put together that we can see his personality as he’s desperately trying not to use all the devices he has taken for granted and deal with everything going on. He’s young but responsible, intelligent and solid, focused and kind. You can’t help but feel for the position he’s in and still understand how his nature got him there.

Then, through the mechanisms of Shirl, the store owner of the local general store, who sends Hector on a errand for her, he meets Rafi.

That’s Rafi Abbas. Who’s having a very bad life.

Rafi Abbas gets fired from his job at a burger joint when he meets Hector. Then things get even stranger.

Rafi Abbas is that hundred fold object who’s waiting to have their layers peeled back . Only they didn’t know they could do it. Rafi is a sweet, sad, adorable character . His is a history that is not only complicated but expanded on the more Hector gets to know him.

No spoilers but we also find out more about characters we’ve known for many, many books, and get answers for elements that occurred in other stories. Just perfect!

Plus at the end, all the characters and the readers are given a huge thought provoking “what if” question thrown out there that could launch not just another book but maybe a whole new Mythmatched universe series. At least I certainly hope so.

Russell gives us so much here that adds to her unique universe, gives us another couple to love , and another employee for Quest Investigations.

This story makes me soooo happy!

I just need Russell to sort Jordan out now. He’s just getting more complicated and a favorite by the book!

I’m highly recommending The Skinny on Djinni by E.J. Russell . Grab it up and have a outstanding time!
Profile Image for Stepphy.
150 reviews3 followers
June 10, 2026
I’ve always thought Hector Gonzales was a bit of an enigma, a Were who didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of his species. I am so glad that E.J. Russell gave him a story and a Happily Ever After

Hector Gonzales is a computer wiz, but after being caught hacking into the magic grid, he is given a total tech suspension while the council figure out what to do with him. He tries to lay low and keep to himself, running errands for his friends. But after getting lost because... no GPS, he comes across a cute guy who makes his “Wolfie” wake up and take notice for the first time.

Rafi Abbas is really trying his best. After coming out of the foster system, he just can’t seem to make any headway in his life. Living paycheck to paycheck, getting fired for not providing the services people ask for. He’s about to have no money, no job, and no home. So when a very handsome man asks him out, who is he to turn down the offer?

I loved how E.J. Russell gives life to Hector and provides us with an insight into his life as a werewolf. I like how he has never fully integrated with his wolf and thinks of it as a different person, and how that has impacted him and his abilities. I enjoyed getting to see his “Wolfie” wake up and finally take notice of the world around him, especially Rafi. It really was love at first sniff.

I knew Rafi would be a Djinni; the title of the book kind of gave it away, but it was interesting to see how his powers manifested without his knowledge, as he knew nothing about the Supe world.

Rafi’s story had me in tears as we explored his feelings of inferiority and abandonment. The loss he experienced with his mother disappearing on him, leaving him alone in the world, just broke my heart.

I loved how Rafi and Hector were together; they provided each other with exactly what they both needed. With all that happened in the book, it was hard to realise it all happened over the span of a day.

It was also so good to see Wanda and Shirl play a bigger role in this story and reveal themselves to be members of a Supe race. I let out a whoop of joy when I realised what was happening with them.

I enjoyed how this story ended; it has opened up new paths for the Quest Investigation series to continue with their main mission, locating the disappeared.
Profile Image for Xanthe.
2,636 reviews53 followers
May 27, 2022
I love the Mythmatched world that E.J. has created and it's so great to have Hector finally get his HEA. It's no surprise that he's finally in trouble for combining supe magic with human tech and so no, while awaiting the tribunal, he's totally off the grid and banned from any tech, ridiculously hard for someone who has it so ingrained in their life.
However, what he could never have anticipated, after many a wrong turn and weird moment, he comes across Rafi, and his wolf howls. Rafi is struggling. My heart broke for him for now he was struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. To pay rent, buy basic necessities, basically at life but he keeps trying, putting one foot forward. At least until everything falls apart in the space of a couple of hours. Hector ends up saving him, though, and in the space less than a day, they share more in the weird and wonderful than many do in years spent together. It's a huge day for Rafi, full of discoveries, enemies, new friends and family. There are a lot of coincidences/serendipitous moments that definitely help them out when in need and it all comes with a several big shocks for Rafi towards the end but also a HEA for them both as over the course of the day their attraction has developed into something deeper, a connection they both feel and need.
It's a lovely slow burn relationship with a fair bit of drama throughout the day that keeps both men on their toes. There's always a character of two popping up from the Mythmatched world to offer support or a friendly face. It is a story that can be read as a standalone but I think better enjoyed I'd you've read the others in the series.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Profile Image for Kaylee.
784 reviews34 followers
October 8, 2025
Okay. I get that Russell says instinctual attraction and not fated mates but Rafi and Hector had only known each other for hours, and not even in the double-digits, I don't think. Maybe I'm wrong about the double-digit part... However, even Hector says it wasn't even in his top 100 of wants to even have a boyfriend period less than 24 hours ago when he hadn't met Rafi!

Too much.

Rafi has not had a fun life for over a decade. It was really sad with all he went through. And continued to go through here. I guess the ending and how it all played out made up for it...? It was a bit too neatly wrapped up but worked overall. The ending was rather anti-climatic and the revelation for that one was definitely not one but I was kind of glad for that part.

I did really enjoy certain revelations and confirmed a lot. Always good to see the other characters. This is definitely one series where I absolutely do not mind MCs from other books coming into play. When I first started this whole world, it was a bit much sometimes (especially from Quest Investigations when everything is repeated again and again) but not overboard with most of it. Still love this world and learning more and more about it.

As always with this series: audiobook so sad I don't have quotes/specifics anymore but~! Soo glad to be back with Greg Boudreaux! Did a fantastic job as always. Have only a couple left of this world that's out but it doesn't appear that one of them is audio...? Not on Audible...? Need to do more research. So few left... They've been good almost comfort listens if that makes sense.
Profile Image for Katherine.
2,872 reviews13 followers
December 18, 2023
New species old magic

Giving a story to a new character and also finally answering a long standing question about some side characters, this was another great entry into the Mythmatched universe!

Hector has always followed the rules except for when he majorly didn't to help out a tech and magic union. That now has him on trial and on a tech sanction. It is driving him to distraction and he takes on some odd tasks to keep his mind off the upcoming verdict. This unexpectedly leads him to a small town and a fascinating man, Rafi, that his wolf feels compelled to be around. Rafi has lived his adult life down on his luck and when Hector offers to help out he takes him up on his offer. Soon the two find themselves dealing with unusual blockades on a simple quest to just get home as strange events keep happening.

With the classic mix of magic, family, and love this story wove together both the building relationship of Hector and Rafi, as well as the important events in Rafi's past. There is not only importance for Rafi, but for the magical community as a whole as a new possibility for changes in the community becomes clear. Rafi and Hector work to build a connection even as it isn't clear if they can with the current rules and the ongoing case.

Not only does this book solve one ongoing mystery, but it gives a good opening for a direction the series has been going and will hopefully lead to some new stories!
Profile Image for Wide Eyes, Big Ears!.
2,841 reviews
August 17, 2025
Werewolf tech genius Hector Gonzales is on probation after having been discovered altering the magic grid with custom-made apps. He’s currently homeless and penniless, and feeling very sorry for himself in a burger joint when his attention is drawn to employee Rafi Abbas who is being fired for screwing up the orders. Rafi just doesn’t understand why orders constantly go wrong for him—he’s been fired from so many jobs. The two hard-luck cases are drawn to each other and Hector begins to notice that whenever he wishes for something around Rafi, he may not get what he wants, but he will get whatever he needs.

I understand that EJ Russell didn’t want to give the game away too early but I felt like I was being tantalised with the mystery of Rafi for much longer than necessary. Having said that, once the big reveal occurred and the explanations finally started to flow, it was pretty satisfying. This supernatural instalove romance has a total YA vibe: mild chemistry with no sex or violence and only brief nudity. It wasn’t as fun as previous Mythmatched stories, I think because the Djinns here had such a sad history of being exploited and, despite the HEA, there was no restorative justice in the final scene—there were no negative consequences for any of the badly behaved people in the story. 🎧 Greg Boudreaux gives another flawless performance, even an Afrikaner accent!
Profile Image for Debby.
1,839 reviews57 followers
May 28, 2022
Hector Gonzalez is in tech-timeout until the council can review his case. He tried to marry the magic grid with human technology and a crash resulted. With nothing else to do, he winds up running errands for his friends. With no GPS, he gets lost and meets an amazing man at a burger joint. Rafi Abbas is that cute man. He tries to give people what they want but still messes up. Now he is fired again and evicted and has no money. When Hector volunteers to help him out. He cannot resist the offer. Hector feels like home for some reason. Hector feels the same way but is bound by the Secrecy Pact. He cannot reveal that he a supe.

Hector and Rafi certainly had their problems but when they met it was magical. It made for great reading as these two tried to navigate their way home with accidents, detours and trees blocking the road as well as the new relationship that is blossoming. Funny things also keep happening and Hector is not sure why. It was incredible to watch these two instinctually knowing they belonged together. Rafi had been alone for so long; he was sure Hector would get tired of his “weirdness” and kick him to the curb. Hector did not and how they came to their HEA is fantastic.
Profile Image for Beth.
3,050 reviews27 followers
May 19, 2022
I really enjoy this series, and the corresponding ones, and their take on the supernatural-human world. It really pays to have read the earlier books in order to understand the references to the other characters and more about the world. But the story does stand on its own.

Hector is a werewolf who is in trouble with the Supernatural Council so he’s not allowed to use any technology. As a result, he has to rely on a friend and a job delivering stuff and fetching stuff and has to use a paper map…resulting in him getting lost. But a side benefit of that is meeting Rafi, a human, who has the worst luck. Hector’s wolf immediately responds to Rafi and Hector gets all protective over him and ends up helping him out. As a result, they make some interesting discoveries. When things get dicey Hector calls for help from friends, all of whom we know from previous books.

Ravi just breaks your heart and you want to wrap him up in a hug. You will immediately empathize with him and be rooting for his happy ever after. You cheer for Hector because it is so clear that he is a good guy who wants to do the right thing. I adore the characters created in this universe and hope that we continue to get more of these stories and more of all these characters.

This is a cute, quick read from an author I can always count on for fun paranormal romance.

**I voluntarily read an arc and this is my unbiased opinion.**
Profile Image for R.
2,174 reviews
May 28, 2022
Djinni: one of a class of spirits that according to Muslim demonology inhabit the earth, assume various forms, and exercise supernatural power

Hector has been banned from the World Wide Web indefinitely. Since computers are his life he’s lost, doesn’t even have a phone. Till he meets Rafi and realizes that him and his Wolfie really want Rafi for themselves. Big problem, wolf and human relations are a no go. So what’s a poor wolf to do except get himself into more trouble.

Rafi considers himself a looser. Can’t keep a job, behind on his rent, and just about ready to give up. Then Hector walks into his life and suddenly there a light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel.

The story was very sweet and although there was no sex to speak of, still had a few steamy kisses. I liked that Rafi finally found the home he’d been looking for so long. Of course the inclusion of Jordan and Doop was very welcome.

Love this world the author has created. The characters are interesting and have wonderful personalities. Very imaginative and easy to read. So pull up an alternate dimension and and settle in to read the series.

I received an arc of this book.
Profile Image for Raven and Chris.
3,581 reviews31 followers
May 17, 2022
If you haven’t read any of the books in this world before, this one probably won’t make any sense to you. So please read those first. But this is a delightful story about Hector, our sweet techie werewolf, and Rafi, who I will leave you to use your powers of deduction to figure out. Oh sweet Hector. He isn’t allowed to use any tech at all while waiting for the decision on his case with the Council. They should know that Hector couldn’t hurt anything! And poor Rafi. Everything always seems to go wrong for him and his string of bad luck is about to leave him homeless. Good thing they accidentally run into each other…yeah no accidents in this world. This is a quick little read but it answers a question or too. And it is so good to see Jordan and Doop again. Jordan is going to need his own book. I love cameos by characters in shared worlds, no matter how small. This is a cute little story and is worth the time it will take you to read it if you like the Myth Matched Universe.
Profile Image for Edga.
2,361 reviews22 followers
May 22, 2022
Magical and funny romance

Rafi never knew magic was real until Hector enters his sorrowful and loveless life; and so starts his journey in escaping his life and learning to fight for himself, while standing on his own two feet, encouraged and supported by Hector.

The chemistry between Hector and Rafi sizzles, but without feeling rushed, I loved the whole slow burn of their romance. As usual, with EJ, there are lots of funny one-liners, and quick-witted replies, that help bring the vibrance of the characters and the world to life.

Watching Rafi grow and develop as a character was moving and poignant. His life had been so hard. The emotional connection between him and the redoubtable Hector made me not only smile, but feel all the feels. The writing is interesting, and some creative language and images are used, which drew me completely into the book as I read it.

I love this lady's work, it's so feel good and uplifting to read. This series is so good, some of the characters, are the best developed I've come across. However, If you've read the previous books, you'll know what I mean when I say that I felt so sad for Jordan. It's horrible to read about him now, Ms Russell I want sunny Jordan back, please.
Profile Image for Sarinha M.
448 reviews1 follower
November 28, 2025
After watching Matt-Hugh really go through the wringer for his HEA, this felt too insta-love & as there wasn't any real relationship progression, it wasn't as satisfactory as the previous instalments in the overall Mythmatched series... as they were both technically completely new characters... we met Hector somewhat peripherally in Death on Denial & we knew about his Tech hacking skills & apps were very prominent in the previous Quest Investigations series, he hadn't been a fully fleshed out character & I felt that he still wasn't by the end of this book nor was Rafi, but they were cute together!

As with the previous book, my heart broke for Jordan & I hope that the author will at some point give him his own HEA 🙏🙏

Noah & Dupi were adorable as always!

The resolution didn't feel resolute because Tank was made a prominent back character & then he no longer mattered & the hunter got away scot free!

But all in all, it was mostly a cute story!
Profile Image for JWho.
50 reviews2 followers
July 29, 2026
I absolutely love this series! Every single book is a fun, well-written read. While there is an overarching plot connecting the books, each story stands perfectly well on its own.

The Skinny on Djinni, is a spectacular addition to the universe! Watching Hector (a chaotic werewolf tech-genius on forced probation) cross paths with Rafi was pure magic. Their instant, instinctual chemistry is incredible, and the way their romance unfolds is wonderful.

Please note that these are LGBTQ+ MM contemporary fantasy romances, so they might not be everyone's cup of tea. However, if you enjoy that genre, you are in for a treat! The characters are always lovely, the world-building is seamless, and this book delivers a highly satisfying happily-ever-after (HEA) while answering some long-standing questions for series fans.

Highly recommended for fantasy romance fans looking for their next binge-worthy obsession!
Profile Image for Devoted❤️Reader.
1,627 reviews32 followers
May 16, 2022
Wishes

I love reading books by E.J. Russell as they always make me chuckle *ahem dongles* and leave me smiling and happy. I especially love reading books that are part of the Mythmatched world as it’s amazing, has some of my favorite people, and never fails to surprise in fun ways.

“And right there, blocking the door of a down-at-heels burger joint in the middle of nowhere, Hector discovered something he wanted orders of magnitude more than he wanted the Kaypro.
Him.”

Raise your hand if you’re a fan of geeky werewolves and quirky but well-meaning MCs who fumble their way into love. Pick me, pick me! Hector and Rafi are completely adorable and enchanting. I love how these two meet, how they shyly find their way together, and how they won’t let go. I may not know what I‘d wish for but I know I need. And I NEED these two in my life.
Profile Image for Joyfully Jay.
9,528 reviews534 followers
June 28, 2022
A Joyfully Jay review.

4.5 stars


Skinny on the Djinni is the latest installment in Russell’s Mymatched Universe. It is technically a standalone, as the author gives all pertinent details for this story to make complete sense. That being said, however, as with most connected universe books, there’s extra nuance added when you’ve read the other books in the series. In particular, there are some secondary characters here who we’ve seen before and, in this book, we get answers to some questions. You definitely could start here, but for me, the reading experience is more complete having read the books up to this point, and that’s something to keep in mind.

Read Kris’ review in its entirety here.



Profile Image for E..
2,106 reviews22 followers
May 19, 2022
4.5 stars

Great way to give Hector his time in the spotlight. He's always been a shadowy tech guru in the background, so I didn't even realize his name at first. The revelations about Wanda and Shirl are mind-boggling and touching. I loved this addition to the series, and I always adore the mix that the werewolves (not to mention Doop) add to any of the stories. I ache for poor Jordan and look forward to seeing him finding a way to cope with the trauma he's been through.

This author has such a wonderful imagination and I'm fascinated by the way the stories all tie in to each other and give a different perspective on traditional mythological elements. There are some tales that just uplift and entertain me, and this is definitely one of them. I'll be rereading this one again and again.
Profile Image for Avid Reader 1.
843 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2022
The Skinny on the Djinni is a lovely opportunity to dip my toes back into the beautiful world this author has created.
I liked the one-on-one time between Hector and Rafi. It allowed me to see who they are without other characters affecting the scenes. They are both sweetly awkward, and I can envision them growing and learning together in the future. The lack of sexy times is nice, given their innocence.
The engaging storyline has a smooth flow, and the secondary characters add a lot to the book. I enjoyed seeing characters from previous books, and meeting new characters is always a treat with this author. I particularly enjoyed seeing Jordan and Doop again.
I look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Kaity.
2,058 reviews23 followers
March 24, 2023
3 stars

i know that EJ Russel books to me are mediocre but she knows how to get me with the Greg B narrations haha.

overall this book was alright, nothing special. I do hope that Jordan gets his book soon.. although he is a character that makes me want to rip my hair out sometimes haha.

this can be read as a stand alone, but its part of the overarching Mythmatched universe, so if you wanted to know the backstory for all the cameo's of the characters then you should start at the beginning with Cutie and the Beast, but it isn't necessary.
Profile Image for Katherine.
5,488 reviews42 followers
April 21, 2023
Wonderful narration by Greg Boudreaux, as always. I was thrilled to learn more about Shirl and Wanda, who turn out to be Djinni. And Rafi is a guy whose life has been a series of awful event, one after another, who just can’t seem to catch a break. That was all cool. Plus there appearances by Doof, his were companions/owners (?) and others from the previous books. What I couldn’t buy was Hector as a romantic lead. The book was true to his character in that he was portrayed as someone asexual, without desire for physical intimacy. And in this book he immediately falls for Rafi. I guess it’s plausible, the wolf claiming his mate. Ok. Ok. I’m going to stop trying to analyze this book. It’s good.

KU + whisper sync
Profile Image for Monika .
2,368 reviews40 followers
May 19, 2022

I absolutely adored this story and I love this Universe!!! More please!

QUICK THOUGHTS
-- Quick fun read -- Paranormal -- Part of the Mythmatched Universe -- shifter-wolf/sweet bumbling (should I say what he is?Maybe not 😉) pairing -- mild mystery -- drama -- instant attraction (not fated mates) -- a romance with no sex -- first time/kiss -- lost family found -- really sweet -- did my heart good -- love the MCs... Hector/Rafi -- other characters from the Mythmatched world appear -- oh Jordan! you really need your own story -- not a stand-alone in my opinion -- goes on my "will read again" shelf
1,080 reviews6 followers
May 20, 2022
I love the Mythmatched series and Hector has been a big side carachter with him being a werewolf and being the one that hacked the magic grid.

Hector is now on a time out from all things tech but it really works in his favor as it leads him to Rafi. There's an instant attraction between them and Rafi who has been having a streak of bad luck himself can finally breathe out again. But Hector isn't supposed to reveal the supes to humans, but as it turns out Rafi might be more than that.

I loved how sweet Rafi is and how Hector for the first time had to hold back his laid back wolf. And I love that we got to meet some familiar faces from the previous books.
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