Relic Hamilton Genie Hunter
Joseph Coelho, illustrated by Hyun Song We
Walker Books

Twelve year old Relic lives in London’s Soho with his grandfather who runs an antiques business under their home. From things we learn early on it’s evident that the boy is being bullied.

One day as he’s sorting through items in the basement, Relic comes upon a box containing brass oil lamps, six small ones in the middle of which is a larger one. As he starts to polish the large one Relic unleashes a genie – a powerful one of the evil kind that feeds on people’s hopes. “What do you wish for Relic Hamilton?” he asks Relic starts to feel strange and the next thing he knows his grandfather is lying on the floor beside him, unconscious. After that he loses consciousness again and wakes to discover that he is being whisked away in a jet called Aladdin with his grandfather who is lying in a bed. Also on board are two people, The Professor and Raphaela who tell him that they are members of the Hermitic Sodality of Genie Hunters and so is his grandfather.

Meanwhile, Ravenna, the genie Relic has unleashed is taking over Taya Porter, a girl with lots of wishes. Every time Taya makes a wish her power over herself diminishes. Seemingly such genies will stop at nothing to get what they want and to thwart the evil Ravenna, Relic is plunged into a thrilling but dangerous adventure that takes him back in time. He meets pirates and giant squid as he gradually discovers more about himself and the world, in his endeavours to save his beloved grandfather.

With creepy illustrations by Hyun Song We, this fabulously exciting story ends on a cliff hanger that will leave you eagerly awaiting Grandfather’s revelations and what they lead to in the next book. You’ll certainly never think of genies in the same way again