The Wishing Heart is a modern, urban-fantasy Aladdin-Esque retelling. Featuring magic, criminals, and epic love.

I wasn’t expecting the more modern setting (was anticipating a closer following to Aladdin) but I was pleasantly surprised and loved how it become its own.

We follow Rebel – a girl who (despite who irritatingly on the nose I find her name) is a great MC. She’s witty, funny, smart, and an epic thief (I have a thing for criminal MC’s). Rebel is also an orphan with a diseased heart – the reason she steals etc. so she can get a cure. I’m a sucker for anything medical, and it added a lot as a subplot.

We also have Angeline, a jinni, as our other narrator/MC. She has her own distinct voice, and its easy to tell whose POV your reading. I liked seeing the world and plot through her eyes and motivations, which are pretty different from Rebel’s.

The romance is well done, as was the romance. It was well paced to, fast and gripping right from the beginning.

I really enjoyed it.

The book features two POV which is Rebel or better known as Fingersmith and Angeline, the ginny. At first, I was confused between the two of them but as going through the adventure with the two of them, I got to grasp the whole story though I find it a bit lacking somewhere. Anyhow, it is an enjoyable reading.

I keep trying to get into this book and every time I keep putting it down. I find the premise of the story interesting but there's some disconnect between me and the characters personally. This isn't saying that the story isn't for everyone but it just didn't work for me

This book has quite literally stolen my heart and no, I'm just not making a bad pun. This book is something that everyone needs to read, even if you aren't into paranormal/fantasy books. It's so much more than that. It's about healing, finding love and realizing that you are good enough to be loved.

The entire world was really unique and the building of it was well down. It blended magicians with jinnis and other creatures such as mermaids and lycanthropes, which are werewolves. I really liked the fact that it took place in London. I love England and I love reading books in that setting so that was a plus for me.

I think what really sold me on this book was the relationship that developed between Rebel, a little orphan thief, and Anjeline, a jinni or a wishmaker. They are now on my top 10 couples that I ship together. They are both broken and rely on each other to heal, while still retaining who they are. Those are the kind of relationships that I can get behind. I have never shipped a couple so hard like I did with those two. And you know what was awesome? The romance was not forced, as I sometimes find in LGBT relationships. It felt natural and smooth, as it should be.

I didn't want this book to end. I tried to read it as slow as possible but I ended up speeding through it because I had to know what was going to happen next. I just had to know if Rebel, with her heart problem, was going to be okay. I had to know everything and it spurned me to read faster. I will be getting this book in physical form because it holds a very special place in my heart.

Rebel is an orphan, living in an institute for unwanted kids, stealing to make money to buy the medication she needs to fix her defective heart. When she breaks into a safe and finds a gorgeous, seemingly charged vase, Rebel knows that her luck just might have changed for the better. But she could never have anticipated the trouble that came along with the face, and the world she now finds herself surrounded by, where magic and monsters roam. Can she survive this new crazy world, and maybe, just maybe fix her heart along the way?

I knew this was going to be an exciting adventure when Rebel had already had three dangerous, potentially deadly encounters by the 23 page of the story. This was a very entertaining, magical story and the author created such a detailed, complicated world for her characters and the reader to get lost in. I had originally thought the cover was pretty enough and the synopsis was interesting so I wanted to read the book. I had no idea what the story was really about so it was fun discovering this fantastical world right along with Rebel. Seriously, nothing was left out of this book, be it good and evil Fae with royal courts, lycan packs, magician of all calibers, magic guilds, secret societies, rare artifacts… and let’s not forget the Jinni, magical wish graters who have been enslaved to grant wishes for others. But even the hierarchy within the Jinni had depth and complications, and I like the bit of history that was added to the book.

Just as important as the magical adventure was the characters, which felt real and complicated and I loved. Rebel is a lost girl with a bad heart who so desperately wants to be loved, be it in a familial way or a romantic way; she just wants people to call her own. She is the Fingersmith, a title used to give her respect for how skilled she is at picking any lock…as if it was magic. She steals to get money to buy her heart medicine, but I also think a part of her likes having a skill she is good at (not to mention the fact she is a treasure hoarder aka book and trinkets). As do all thieves, she has a code she follows and attempts to be fair. Regardless of her misdeeds, she was a good person that wanted to help more than hurt.

The other main character was Anjeline, who was not even introduced for a few chapters, so I was surprised that the story used dual narration with her. She has been trapped for years within her vase, distrustful of all who summon her to grant a wish. All her true powers have been bound, leaving her a shell of who she once was, only giving her a glimpse of her magic to grant a wish. And FYI, no wish is without consequences, so expect a nasty surprise…

This book was a female-female romance that grew over the course of the pages between the two main characters. This is actually the first girl-girl romance book I have ever read and I had no idea what to expect. I really liked how the author portrayed Rebel being a lesbian like a fact- Rebel likes girls (very much so, to the point of distraction at times). Everyone knew it, it did not need to be talked about or questioned, it just was. Her sexuality did not matter and she was not judged for it, which I think makes this a great read for teens to experience. Anjeline seemed like she was more the type of individual who liked a person based on character and worth, gender did not really mean anything, so for her to fall in love with Rebel made sense, since Rebel showed integrity as a person. The story was a clean romance, where you could feel the tension between the two and there were a few stolen moments, but nothing naughty occurred to make an R rating.

I was surprised by how much fun this book was, with the world building, adventure and the feels. The ending set up for more to come, so I am pretty sure that this will be the first in what I anticipate being an epic series.

I received this title in return for my honest review. For more reviews visit my blog at http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

What a delightful book this was! The imagery was incredible, and I felt I could see everything the author described as if I were looking at a picture. The characters are fantastic, and I have a serious soft spot for Rebel and her stuttering heart. Anjeline the jinni was ... wow! I think smoldering would be a good word to describe her, in more ways than one! I loved the burgeoning romance between Rebel and Anjeline, too, and I think I may have had more butterflies than Rebel did at some points. I especially love how the orphans cobble together their own version of a family, albeit one with an Oliver Twist flavor. I just thought this was a magical book all around.

I don't know if this is going to be a series, but the way it ended definitely left the door open for further books. So in case it's possible, I'll throw my voice out there as one who would encourage more books with these two ladies and their unusual group of friends and family! I would definitely recommend this for fans of sweet romance, anyone looking for books with LGBTQ characters (of which we always need more), and those who love stories about jinni and other mythological creatures.

Thanks to Entangled Teen for the early copy! This review is voluntary on my part.

Not what I was expecting at all, and while the LGBTQIA part threw me (definitely didn't say anything about that in the blurb!), it was still a fast, fun read.

There was a lot I liked about The Wishing Heart. It almost made it to four stars, but there was just a little something missing. Nevertheless, The Wishing Heart was a really enjoyable YA fantasy!

I was quite surprised to find that The Wishing Heart featured two POV characters. The first is Rebel, the book-loving thief otherwise known as the Fingersmith. The second is Angeline, the jinni she releases from a stolen vase. Their voices were quite distinct, which is always a plus in multiple POV books. The main positive that came from Anjeline’s chapters was that it allowed me as a reader to get to know her a lot more than I would have if the whole book had been told from Rebel’s POV. Her chapters also gave insight into what was happening whenever the two got separated, as well.

When I was reading The Wishing Heart I was reminded of the earlier Harry Potter novels, in the way that so many magical things happen in such a short timeframe. There were interactions with a lot of paranormal and fantasy creatures in this book, and a lot of ‘oh no we’ve been captured by evil creature x’ moments, and it just gave off a big HP vibe to me. Even though they were quite entertaining to read, I probably would have preferred to have less of the creature/capture situations and more character and relationship development.

Saying that, though, I really did like the ship in The Wishing Heart. I thought that there could have been a little more development, especially on Anjeline’s side because she went from “ridiculous human” to “my precious human” a little too quickly for me. But even so, I thought that the romance between Rebel and Anjeline was adorable, and it was my favourite aspect of the entire book. Also, the fact that not one character blinked an eye at the romantic relationship between Anjeline and Rebel made my heart happy.

Rebel as a character was pretty great, even if she was a bit hard-headed at times. I loved how passionate she was about books and reading, and how she was willing to do anything for the people she cares about. I think she and Anjeline complemented each other really well because Rebel is stubborn and shy, and Anjeline is suave and a little bit sassy. I loved their interactions even before they became romantic because even though the two of them clashed, they worked through it for the best outcome.

There was definitely a set up for a sequel at the end of The Wishing Heart, and I really hope that’s the case because I would definitely read more about these characters. I think there is so much more to learn, especially about Rebel and Anjeline’s past, as well as the side characters.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed The Wishing Heart, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fast-paced fantasy novel with an super shippable f/f romance at its heart.

© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

I just couldn't finish this book - while the premise was intriguing, and I so badly wanted to love it, I just couldn't bring myself to feel anything for the characters and what happened to them. I might pick up another of this author's work in future, but this didn't do it for me.

3.5 Stars

'The Wishing Heart' is a solid new addition to the young adult fantasy genre. Although it's components aren't wholly original, the author wove them together in a fresh way to make the book unique. Especially considering the LGBTQ aspect woven into the story. A lot of readers are making it a point to read more diverse fiction - and this definitely fits into that category. I think it's a great contribution to what's usually a more contemporary fiction filled category. Rebel, the main character, is an orphaned thief with a heart problem. She's always felt alone and has wanted nothing more than to feel like she belonged - that she had a home. She's smart, determined, agile, and skilled. I like that the author gave her flaws too - like her heart condition, her sad backstory and wish for a family and love. It made her more realistic and easier to identify with, which was actually a bit harder for me than I had hoped.

The main reason for this was due to the point of view the author chose to use for the book. The third person always makes it harder for me to slip into the character's world and lose myself inside of it. It's one of the reasons that I'm not such a big fan of that style. I almost always prefer the first person POV, and this was no exception. I'm almost certain that if the story had been done in the first person, I would have had a much different experience. All of the aspects of the novel had potential for me to love it, but the writing style broke the deal. I loved the various fantasy and paranormal aspects throughout - the different creatures, their whole underworld that happens right beneath the surface of the normal world, and just the overall plot was great. The author uses vivid imagery and detailed descriptions to bring Rebel and her world to life for the reader, which is another factor I loved about the book. Honestly, I really wanted to love this story. And I know I would have, if it had been written in another style. This is solely my own personal opinion and other readers will not have the same issues as I did. I definitely recommend it for fans of YA fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, and even contemporary.

This blurb had me expecting something like Jennifer Estep's Black Blade series. The reality is more like a cross between those books and The Forbidden Wish. The story often reminded me of Aladdin, and not just because it features a jinni. But it also incorporates witches, werewolves and fae in an elaborate underground magical world.

I like the idea of transplanting the traditional jinni myth into contemporary London, as well as the almost Alice in Wonderland way that meeting Anjeline opened up a whole new world to Rebel. And I enjoyed the chemistry between the two girls.

What I didn't love was the writing style. The third person narration is often flowery, employing unnecessarily redundant metaphors. and dated, sounding like it belongs in a historical. Then Rebel uses a word like "bling" and it feels jarringly anachronistic even though the story is set it modern times. I'm sure that there are some people who will love it, but I kept wanting to get a red pen out and edit.

I think fans of YA fantasies like Six of Crows will enjoy The Wishing Heart, but I wanted a more urban fantasy feel.

When Rebel steals a highly secured vase, all she can see is the payout she's going to get from it. What she doesn't expect is to be thrust into a world of magic with a jinni's lamp. And now Rebel must figure out a way to navigate through this new world and through the new feelings emerging inside of her.

"We aren't defined by what others do to us."

I haven't read much in the way of Jin books. Truthfully, my only reference point is the Genie in Aladdin. So this book was new territory for me. And I enjoyed it for the most part. The magical worlds and myths were well thought out and explained. The relationship between Rebel and Anjeline grew nicely over the course of the book - even if I didn't fully feel a romantic relationship, I definitely felt a strong friendship/connection. And I ultimately liked what the author was trying to do here.

The parts that kind of slipped by me were small but enough that I couldn't rate it higher than 3 stars. One thing was, what time period did this take place in? I'm assuming nowish because some of the mentions in London, but other times it read like the timeline didn't exist in the normal world and it was hard to envision the surroundings. Another thing was that I couldn't really connect with the characters. I wanted to and I wanted to know more about them (Jaxon esp) but the story was so massive with so much happening, that I think character development just fell by the wayside. It's extremely hard to do fantasy and have well-rounded characters. Most authors tend to only focus on one aspect. Welker touched on both throughout, but just shy of a connection.

Also, did the ending feel rushed to anyone else? I remember reading at like 91% and the big showdown that we all knew was coming still hadn't happened. I started to think that maybe there will be a sequel when suddenly everything was resolved within the last 8% of the book. Very jolting and after how much explaining went into the rest of the book, the fact that the finale was so compact made it seem almost like an afterthought instead of a plan.

Overall, not bad for my first step into Jinni territory and I look forward to exploring it further.

The Wishing Heart was overall a very enjoyable read for me. It features some great characters and a wonderful f/f romance. Ultimately it fell a little flat for me because of it's slow pacing the use of an overused trope that the story really could have lived without.

I think the novel's strongest point was by far the romance. This was definitely supported by some really beautiful writing and the way the characters were able to describe feelings and attraction. From the beginning you can tell that the two characters are attracted to each other and their development throughout the novel is really wonderful. While it takes a little time for something to actually happen between the two characters, I do feel like their feelings for each other grow to a point of “I can't live without you” a little too fast. I personally didn't mind it and felt like it worked, as it wasn't just build upon feelings but an actual pact to help each other too.
Overall I enjoyed the different characters we got to know. There's a bunch of interesting side and minor characters that accompany our main characters throughout this novel and I found them all to be very enjoyable to read about.

My biggest disappointment with this book was the use of the “The Chosen One” trope. This is sadly where the book absolutely lost me because up until that point the story was a really cool tale about a human girl that suddenly finds her real world is filled with magic. With the use of that trope, I felt like the story completely fell apart. Not only was it cliche but it was also too predictable. Staying away from this trope would have made for a really unique story. Instead we get one that we have read about a million times before. And on top of all that this gets “hinted at” so blatantly obvious at already 55%. From there on out you are basically capable of seeing how exactly this story will turn out.
The villain was a very stereotypical one that I have read about more than enough and didn't find intriguing in any way. To be honest I contemplated not finishing this book at that point because I was so disappointed with the way the story unfold but decided to continue to find out how the story goes for the characters. But I basically skimmed the last fourth of this book and really didn't feel like I missed anything.

When it comes to the world building I immensely enjoyed the idea behind it and thought it was overall unique but just lacked a bit at the execution. I feel like for such a short book there were just too many magical, mythical and fantastical creatures that tried to be included in this book. I liked that the author tried to have her own take on werewolves and mermaids etc. but I felt like there was not enough time to really explore this. I wish we would have focused on exploring one of these groups a bit more, instead of trying to make them all have an impact on the story.

Overall I would still recommend this book. As I said, it is a very enjoyable read up until 75% into it, despite its other flaws. I feel like if you enjoyed The Mortal Instruments, this is a book you might enjoy and especially if you're looking for a Fantasy read with an f/f romance in it, I would still recommend picking this up because the romance works very well.

Basically: an f/f Aladin where the Genie is the Princess and they're living in magical realism contemporary England. No fun animal companions but sarcasm and flirting are abundant.

↣Rebel's heart condition isn't just when it's inconvenient.
↣Includes hunger pains and the toll it takes, which is an important part of growing up struggling.
↣Book nerd who steals stories to survive. Now that's my kind of girl.
↣the apple scenes are adorable. (you'll get it when you read it, but trust me.)
↣Loved Anjeline's past with Solomon and the backstory
↣Rebel's lineage isn't a surprise at all.
↣Several of the plot turns aren't surprising.
↣Rebel was conveniently clusty at times.
↣Typical good vs. evil problem, which contributes to the obviousness to some plot points. Not necessarily a bad thing, but if you're looking for something different, come back when you're ready.
↣Foxy older brother thief, mermaids, fairies, court plots, Romeo & Juliet romance in the background.
↣While they're story could continue with the next magical problem, everything is wrapped up and can be read as a standalone.


If you liked my How to Make a Wish review from yesterday and like fantasy or magical realism, definitely give The Wishing Heart a shot. They've both got super cute f/f romances with relevant issues, drama, and their own form of magic.



Top Quotes:

Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl.


Not everything written is truth. Just like not every story is false.


Nope. Not dead. Pain meant she was still breathing.

Love me a good cat and mouse book! Wonderful story and great characters. I like to read a book and feel like I am apart of it and I certainly felt that way the whole way through this book!

I really enjoyed The Wishing Heart – it had very likable characters and the sceneries were described in a way that it was easy to picture them as a reader. The book had plenty of magic and fun characters like Anjeline (the Jinni), werewolves, mermaids, magicians, and others. the romance part is quite slow but realistic – well as realistic that kind of romance can be. It was also nice that this book was more a mainstream fantasy novel, which happened to have two female characters fall in love and it was not over the top, which made it more realistic. I liked how labels and sexuality were not an issue.
All in all it is a fun story with a lot of twists and different creatures that all draw an interesting picture and make the main character more likable.

Rebel is a thief with a pocket knife and a book that is special to her. One night she takes a golden vase. When she goes to pawn that vase it stirs up all the magical creatures in London. What she really took was a vessel that holds a wishing Jinni and all the magical creatures want it. Thrown into a world of magic Rebel finds things she only thought were stories. As she evades the magical creatures to help the Jinni become free she battles with her weak heart. Will she survive to help the Jinni become free?

In an Oyster Shell – A fantastical paranormal urban fantasy that’s fast paced.

The Pearls – The idea of a magical side of London was intriguing to me. First I liked that it was set in London. I always like being taken to places that I haven’t been in a book. The next thing is adding a magical side to London. Everything is not as it seems. It makes for an invigorating read.

The main character Rebel was a beautifully flawed character. She was weak but in her weakness was strong. She was a pure heart which enables her to wish without consequences. This also makes her a target for the dark magician Nero. Who is looking for someone like her to grant him the wish of immortality.

The action was non-stop. You almost needed to take a breather it was that intense at times. There were lots of twists and turns. I kept reading faster to know what happen. Rebel and the Jinni got into so many binds. It was gut-wrenching at times. It’s almost like they couldn’t catch a break. Yet they did at certain parts of the book. I’ll say it again it was intense.

The Sand- I wish there had been some indication that this was and LGTBQ book. This is not a genre that I read.

alas, i can't push myself to read this anymore. the beginning of the novel itself didn't hook me though i could tell the author was trying to make it very action packed. but i didn't like the main character and i didn't sympathise with her at all, nor the persona she's built around as herself, which makes her seem too good to be real.

the world confused me. i'm still not sure what this is--urban fantasy? just fantasy? i know London is mentioned but there also seem to be fictional places mentioned, and magic, clearly, but i thought it was weird it wasn't really specified... it might've been too early, but oh well.

the writing isn't anything special. it failed to hook me, but that's just me--i'm too picky about writing. it's not bad but it's nothing to be impressed with.

i was also told, rather after i began reading, that this was basically a white-washed retelling of Aladdin. that alone just makes me not want to continue.

overall rating: 2 stars. i wouldn't recommend this.

This was a really enjoyable read. I mostly read lesfic, but I would put this book in the more mainstream category, it just happens to have two females that fall in love. Fans of YA urban fantasy/paranormal, will really enjoy this book. The romance is super sweet, and If you are a mainstream reader that has not read many books with LGBT characters, I don't see how anything in this book could ever offend. The romance is sweet. And I liked how labels and sexuality were not an issue. These two characters fell in love, and that was that.

I love fantasy and paranormal books, so I was immediately drawn into this magical England. A place where Fae, Jinni, Mermaids, Werewolves and more exist. The story is about Rebel, a 17-year old (if I remember correctly) living in a home for unwanted youth. She spends her time as being one of the better thief's in the city, breaking into almost any lock, while never getting caught. Rebel has a heart problem. Her heart stops beating and she knows it is only time when it may never start again. She steals to hopefully be able to afford an operation. When she is told by a friend of a big score, she thinks this heist may be the one to save her heart. Rebel gets more than she bargains for when she steals a vase that has a Jinni in it. With every magical being in the city after the vase, will rebel get her wish for a new heart, or will she loose her heart to the Jinni instead?

I really enjoyed the pacing of the book. All the adventures the characters went on. All the paranormal beings they had to outsmart. Rebel may have skills as a thief, but she is not a superhero. She still made a kicks ass main character without having special powers. I loved the interactions between Rebel and Anjeline the Jinni. The romance is slow, but it is absolutely sweet, and you feel the love between them.

I think this is a book, YA urban fantasy fans will really enjoy. This is the kind of book that when you finish reading, you still think about the characters. The ending left it off in a way for another adventure in a book 2. I will absolutely read it if it comes out, and will keep my eye out for other books by Welker.

An ARC was given to me by Netgalley, for a honest review.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
Thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Wishing Heart by J.C. Welker! As the story opens, Rebel is breaking into a rich London apartment. She thinks of herself as a modern day Robin Hood, but she keeps the loot for herself so she can make wishes. She's an orphan living in a dreary institute run by an unkind matron and needs all the happiness she can find. She steals a golden vase, not realizing that it's actually a vessel holding a jinni named Anjeline. Rebel has a heart condition and she ventures on a journey to free Anjeline and repair her own heart. Along the way, they run into a variety of characters and creatures, some friendly and some dangerous. Rebel learns about her parentage and all of its mysteries. This story brings fantasy, mythology, supernatural and LGBT together tastefully and smoothly. The author, J. C. Welker, has a goal, "...to work toward giving a voice to LGBTQ stories, while facing magic and monsters along the way. ". 4 stars for a job well done!