[Book Review] The Binding Stone by Lizzy Gayle & Enchanted Brew Cinnamon Roll Flavored Coffee

Title: The Binding Stone
Series: The Djinn Book 1
Author: Lizzy Gayle
Publication date: October 5th 2021
Page Count: 313 pages
Age Rating: Adult (explicit sexual scenes, assault, allusion to past assault, violence, blood, language)
How I got my hot little hands on it: Bought a copy
Publisher’s page: The Binding Stone

A thousand years of servitude has left Leela more than a little jaded. Betrayal by the man she loved was just the beginning of her lessons on the wickedness of humanity. Her hope for freedom for herself and her fellow Djinn from the stones that bind them has dimmed to a barely-there glimmer over all these years, but it hasn’t yet extinguished.

When the handsome, and idealistic Jered, inadvertently becomes her new master, Leela finds herself wondering if his tenderness and concern may actually be real. And despite her years of suffering and lessons, her heart opens to new possibilities.

As she inches closer to trusting Jered, the past and the enemies that come with it, resurface, threatening the small spark of happiness in Leela’s long life.
After a millennium of suffering what and who is Leela willing to sacrifice for freedom?

My Review

In The Binding Stone Leela is a thousand-year-old Djinn, accidentally reawakened after centuries by a new master who seems much kinder than she’s used to. It doesn’t take long for them to be faced with greedy Magicians who Leela knows all too well and who are determined to steal her (and all Djinn) power for themselves.

Leela’s new master Jered is such a cinnamon roll and must be protected at all costs. He’s twenty years old, suddenly finds himself with (almost) unlimited power and a hot genie girl at his fingertips and all he wants to do is help people. And he genuinely seems to care about Leela and her feelings. His pure heart equal parts frustrates and appeals to Leela, reminding her of the idealism she first had before she was betrayed and enslaved, a witness to the worst humanity has to offer.

Jered’s idealism does cause some bumps in the road, such as when he orders Leela not to hurt anyone (leaving her kind of defenseless) or when wants to believe the best in people (even after being warned about them)  – but that’s part of his charm.

This book is the kind you can sink into, becoming so immersed in the story that you keep turning pages without even thinking about it. The combination of excellent storytelling, intriguing plot, interesting characters, and short chapters keep readers promising themselves “just one more chapter” and the next thing you know you’ve devoured the whole thing. It’s over 300 pages that doesn’t feel like over 300 pages.

I actually read the second book in the series first, and although it stood on its own, I liked it so much I had to go back and get my hands on the first book (see my review of The Djinn Book 2 The Bleeding Heart). And I’m glad I did. While I still don’t think you need to read the first book to understand and enjoy the second, it does really help to flesh out the backstory more. I’m now rereading the second book again in preparation for the last book of the Djinn series. The Blissful End, and I’m just as drawn in as the first time I read it.

Jered is such a cinnamon roll in The Binding Stone and too kind and trusting for his own good – which makes him a perfect match for Leela, who was once a cinnamon roll too before the worst of betrayals threw her on the ground and stepped on her, and just what she needs to heal the damage to her bruised and battered heart. Enchanted Brew Cinnamon Roll Flavored Coffee smells like cinnamon roll heaven while brewing, tastes icing sweet & cinnamon warm, and goes perfect with this cinnamon roll pair.