Their father, the Professor, is there to help an expedition uncover an ancient buried city, and Anna and Max are along for the ride.
But this time, the Professor’s work is not on the peripheral while Anna and Max uncover dangerous fantastical creatures.
This time, the Professor’s work is right at the heart of the mystery Anna and Max are trying to solve, and the Professor himself is in great danger.
You see, there are saboteurs in the expedition camp, and they’re searching for deadly artefacts that might just end the world.
Anna and Max must find out who they are, what they want and how to stop them or EVERYONE is in serious trouble.
Genies are at the heart of book three, and I love Henseleit’s exploration of genie hierarchy. It turns out there’s more than just one type of genie, and some are more deadly than others.
Book three also starts to explore some of the bigger mysteries that have popped up in the series, like Anna’s magical knife (found in book one) and mysterious creatures from book two that come back for more in this instalment.
I’ve said it before, but this series really is a great one for middle-grade lovers of fantasy, mystery and all things spooky. They are fast paced books that suck you in and have you frantically turning pages to find out what happens next. They are very-well written, have nice large text and have a few illustrations scattered throughout to kick-start imaginations.
The Genie Rings is as brilliant as The Vampire Knife (book one) and The Troll Heart (book two), but as I get further into the series, I do think it is one better read from the beginning. As the mysteries start to connect and link up, I think kids will miss out on important clues if they don’t start from the beginning. But, seriously, who doesn't love a good series they can sink their teeth into?
Now, the only thing left to do is wait patiently for book four (The Mermaid Wreak)!
Title: The Genie Rings
Author: Jack Henseleit
Publisher: Hardie Grant Egmont, $16.99
Publication Date: 1 August 2018
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760129873
For ages: 8+
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
