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The Epic Crush of Genie Lo #2
The Iron Will of Genie Lo
The fate of the heavens is at stake in The Iron Will of Genie Lo , the hilarious and highly anticipated sequel to the The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avatar, The Last The Rise of Kyoshi , F. C. Yee.
Genie Lo thought she was busy last year, juggling her academic career with protecting the Bay Area from demons. But now, as the Heaven-appointed Guardian of California, she’s responsible for the well-being of all yaoguai and spirits on Earth. Even the ones who interrupt her long-weekend visit to a prestigious college, bearing terrible news about a cosmos-threatening force of destruction in a nearby alternate dimension.
The goddess Guanyin and Genie’s boyfriend, Quentin Sun Wukong, do their best to help, but it’s really the Jade Emperor who’s supposed to handle crises of this magnitude. Unfortunately for Genie and the rest of existence, he’s gone AWOL. Fed up with the Jade Emperor’s negligence, Genie spots an opportunity to change the system for the better by undertaking a quest that spans multiple planes of reality along with an adventuring party of quarrelsome Chinese gods. But when faced with true danger, Genie and her friends realize that what will save the universe this time isn’t strength, but sacrifice.
Genie Lo
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo
The Iron Will of Genie Lo
Genie Lo thought she was busy last year, juggling her academic career with protecting the Bay Area from demons. But now, as the Heaven-appointed Guardian of California, she’s responsible for the well-being of all yaoguai and spirits on Earth. Even the ones who interrupt her long-weekend visit to a prestigious college, bearing terrible news about a cosmos-threatening force of destruction in a nearby alternate dimension.
The goddess Guanyin and Genie’s boyfriend, Quentin Sun Wukong, do their best to help, but it’s really the Jade Emperor who’s supposed to handle crises of this magnitude. Unfortunately for Genie and the rest of existence, he’s gone AWOL. Fed up with the Jade Emperor’s negligence, Genie spots an opportunity to change the system for the better by undertaking a quest that spans multiple planes of reality along with an adventuring party of quarrelsome Chinese gods. But when faced with true danger, Genie and her friends realize that what will save the universe this time isn’t strength, but sacrifice.
Genie Lo
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo
The Iron Will of Genie Lo
295 pages, Hardcover
First published January 21, 2020
36 people are currently reading
2487 people want to read
About the author
F.C. Yee
11 books1,716 followersF.C. Yee is the author of four New York Times Bestselling books in the CHRONICLES OF THE AVATAR novel series set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe. His debut THE EPIC CRUSH OF GENIE LO and THE IRON WILL OF GENIE LO received six starred reviews. His newest project is slated for some time in 2027.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
December 5, 2019
THIS WAS PERFECT. PERFECT. January 2020 is going to be EPIC.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was my favourite book in 2017 and I think... I think I love the sequel just as much. If not more.
This was such an amazing sequel and I'm SO SAD THAT GENIE'S STORY HAS COME TO AN END BUT... I'm okay. You're going to be okay. Iron Will ends on such a hopeful note and is one of my favourite series endings ever -- because it just fit Genie's story and her journey so well.
My full review is now available on my blog, The Quiet Pond!
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was my favourite book in 2017 and I think... I think I love the sequel just as much. If not more.
This was such an amazing sequel and I'm SO SAD THAT GENIE'S STORY HAS COME TO AN END BUT... I'm okay. You're going to be okay. Iron Will ends on such a hopeful note and is one of my favourite series endings ever -- because it just fit Genie's story and her journey so well.
My full review is now available on my blog, The Quiet Pond!
March 19, 2020
Two years
That's how long I waited for this book.
22 months to be more exact.
And at long last, it is here, it sits on my bookshelf right now. I'm looking at it as it sits right next to the first book.
Was it worth the wait?
Mostly, yes.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was one of my favorite books of 2018. Although this likely won't be a favorite of 2020, it was still a wild ride with salty gods and badassary. It was so nice to finally be back with these characters and this world and to finally get the closure I needed. The ending was one of the most satisfying series conclusions I've ever read and it made me cry.
The reason this is a four star where the other was a five is that I found this book a little more of a slog to get through, maybe it was because I was in a reading slump, but I feel like this book way too long to get through and I found it boring. The plot didn't really kick off until the second half but when it started it was full force crazy all the way through. I wish I had just an ounce of Genie's sheer awesomeness! Who knows what I'd do?
I look forward to reading whatever else F.C. Yee writes in the future and desperately need to read his Avatar: The Last Airbender book The Rise of Kyoshi.
Prereading Thoughts
Update April 2019
At long last, there is a cover, synopsis, and release date, I have waited well over a year for this. I don't like that the cover doesn't really matched book one but I figured they would change it so the prophecy has been fulfilled. Also the wait will be long and hard but I can survive!
Prereview March 2018
Librarian: *opens up library in the morning to find me sleeping in the YA section*screams*starts dialing 911*
Me: shhhhh! I'm trying to sleep
Librarian: what are you doing here?
Me: waiting for The Iron Will of Genie Lo.
Librarian: that doesn't even have a release date yet!
Me: that's why I've moved in until it does come out.
Librarian: but that could take months!
Me: I know, hi roomie.
That's how long I waited for this book.
22 months to be more exact.
And at long last, it is here, it sits on my bookshelf right now. I'm looking at it as it sits right next to the first book.
Was it worth the wait?
Mostly, yes.
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was one of my favorite books of 2018. Although this likely won't be a favorite of 2020, it was still a wild ride with salty gods and badassary. It was so nice to finally be back with these characters and this world and to finally get the closure I needed. The ending was one of the most satisfying series conclusions I've ever read and it made me cry.
The reason this is a four star where the other was a five is that I found this book a little more of a slog to get through, maybe it was because I was in a reading slump, but I feel like this book way too long to get through and I found it boring. The plot didn't really kick off until the second half but when it started it was full force crazy all the way through. I wish I had just an ounce of Genie's sheer awesomeness! Who knows what I'd do?
I look forward to reading whatever else F.C. Yee writes in the future and desperately need to read his Avatar: The Last Airbender book The Rise of Kyoshi.
Prereading Thoughts
Update April 2019
At long last, there is a cover, synopsis, and release date, I have waited well over a year for this. I don't like that the cover doesn't really matched book one but I figured they would change it so the prophecy has been fulfilled. Also the wait will be long and hard but I can survive!
Prereview March 2018
Librarian: *opens up library in the morning to find me sleeping in the YA section*screams*starts dialing 911*
Me: shhhhh! I'm trying to sleep
Librarian: what are you doing here?
Me: waiting for The Iron Will of Genie Lo.
Librarian: that doesn't even have a release date yet!
Me: that's why I've moved in until it does come out.
Librarian: but that could take months!
Me: I know, hi roomie.
May 20, 2021
pablo nerudo: wtf who is that standing over my grave ???
me, drenched in rain: those 100 love sonnets you wrote? yeah i'm going to need to know how you did that
I don't know... I don't know how to express how much I immensely love this book. Would it be enough if I took out my heart and just [clenches fist] squeezed it ? Because that's how I feel inside right now.
First of all, I just want to note the fact that the first book in this series was literally one of the first books I read that made me feel... seen? Words cannot begin to describe how awesome it is to see Chinese mythology being represented outside of Chinese media.
The familiarity from my childhood— from watching shows about the myth of Sun Wukong when I was young! The constant theme of parental filial piety that's so ingrained within Chinese culture! All of this, wrapped up in a story filled with teenage humor and relatability.
I say this legitimately; thank you so much, F.C. Yee.
And this book isn't only important to me on a cultural level: it's just a genuinely good book. This novel, as a sequel, expanded on themes built upon within the first book so brilliantly that the entire series has been improved as whole. It checked basically every box when it came to filling the shoes of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, which not a lot of sequels do!
Characters and relationships were developed, especially that of Guanyin, and I almost cried when I finished it. The boundaries of morality that were already questioned from The Epic Crush of Genie Lo were pushed even further as we got to take a closer look at Heaven, and the gods that resided there.
Topics like privilege and poverty are also discussed— Genie Lo feels a lot of resentment towards her parents and others, but mostly towards herself, and I love how the course of the novel took her onto a path of healing and empowerment towards dealing with her emotions.
I'm just... really sad that this series is over, and I WILL be moping about it. I'm also really sad that more people don't know about these books. I am glad that F.C. Yee's other series is popular though :') BUT YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS ONE
> representation chinese (american) mc & cast <33
> trigger warnings death, lowkey gore
⤞ pre-review
I CLAIM POSITION AS #1 FAN OF THIS BOOK ALREADY
me, drenched in rain: those 100 love sonnets you wrote? yeah i'm going to need to know how you did that
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo ⭑⭑⭑⭑⭑ (beware my review is really bad and incoherent)
I don't know... I don't know how to express how much I immensely love this book. Would it be enough if I took out my heart and just [clenches fist] squeezed it ? Because that's how I feel inside right now.
First of all, I just want to note the fact that the first book in this series was literally one of the first books I read that made me feel... seen? Words cannot begin to describe how awesome it is to see Chinese mythology being represented outside of Chinese media.
The familiarity from my childhood— from watching shows about the myth of Sun Wukong when I was young! The constant theme of parental filial piety that's so ingrained within Chinese culture! All of this, wrapped up in a story filled with teenage humor and relatability.
I say this legitimately; thank you so much, F.C. Yee.
And this book isn't only important to me on a cultural level: it's just a genuinely good book. This novel, as a sequel, expanded on themes built upon within the first book so brilliantly that the entire series has been improved as whole. It checked basically every box when it came to filling the shoes of The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, which not a lot of sequels do!
Characters and relationships were developed, especially that of Guanyin, and I almost cried when I finished it. The boundaries of morality that were already questioned from The Epic Crush of Genie Lo were pushed even further as we got to take a closer look at Heaven, and the gods that resided there.
Topics like privilege and poverty are also discussed— Genie Lo feels a lot of resentment towards her parents and others, but mostly towards herself, and I love how the course of the novel took her onto a path of healing and empowerment towards dealing with her emotions.
I'm just... really sad that this series is over, and I WILL be moping about it. I'm also really sad that more people don't know about these books. I am glad that F.C. Yee's other series is popular though :') BUT YOU ALL NEED TO READ THIS ONE
> representation chinese (american) mc & cast <33
> trigger warnings death, lowkey gore
⤞ pre-review
I CLAIM POSITION AS #1 FAN OF THIS BOOK ALREADY
November 3, 2019
I completely and utterly fell in love with The Epic Crush Of Genie Lo when it came out and gave it what I believed to be a well deserved 5 stars so you can imagine how excited I was when I heard that F. C. Yee was going to be writing a sequel and the thought of a series really got my blood pumping. Epic Crush was an outstanding and fresh contemporary take on the ancient Monkey King legend and I could definitely see all the potential the book had to become a brilliant ongoing series if it carried on in the same vein going forward. I can honestly say that while Iron Will did everything I hoped it would I am more than a little sad that the author has decided to end the series as a duology. Iron Will was every bit as good as Epic Crush but I did find that it didn't feel quite a fresh or quite as humorous as the first adventure, hence this book only getting the 4 stars rather that the 5 stars I had been expecting myself to give it.
The Iron Will Of Genie Lo is a brilliant and worthy sequel to The Epic Crush Of Gene Lo in my opinion and I would gladly recommend it anyone and everyone. It's a fun duology that is totally worth reading if the ancient Asian legends of Sun Wukong interests you.
The Iron Will Of Genie Lo is a brilliant and worthy sequel to The Epic Crush Of Gene Lo in my opinion and I would gladly recommend it anyone and everyone. It's a fun duology that is totally worth reading if the ancient Asian legends of Sun Wukong interests you.
February 1, 2020
This concludes the story started in the Epic Crush of Genie Lo, and does so brilliantly.
Genie is now the Shouhushen of the Kingdom of California, and responsible for hordes of demons now living on Earth. Guanyin and Quentin help, but when the Jade Emperor himself goes missing in the face of a new supernatural danger from across the planes of existence, they all get drawn into a mission of immortals to save the universe.
This is an amazing conclusion to Genie's story. Her approach to problem-solving starts off much like in the previous book (hitting things very hard), but a good part of this story is about what happens when that's not possible and how she deals with things after that. There's still lots of fun though: Genie's reaction to meeting Erlang Shen again is not to be missed.
Genie is now the Shouhushen of the Kingdom of California, and responsible for hordes of demons now living on Earth. Guanyin and Quentin help, but when the Jade Emperor himself goes missing in the face of a new supernatural danger from across the planes of existence, they all get drawn into a mission of immortals to save the universe.
This is an amazing conclusion to Genie's story. Her approach to problem-solving starts off much like in the previous book (hitting things very hard), but a good part of this story is about what happens when that's not possible and how she deals with things after that. There's still lots of fun though: Genie's reaction to meeting Erlang Shen again is not to be missed.
July 14, 2020
The Iron Will of Genie Lo Pits Herself Against a Mysterious Demon Qi… and a Nearby College?!
Anyone who’s read The Epic Crush of Genie Lo surely wanted a chance to return to Genie and Quentin’s demon stuffed San Francisco. It was a wonderful modern twist on Chinese mythology. And I was super excited to see what trouble these gods got into in the duology, The Iron Will of Genie Lo. Sometimes we can be shocked by a character’s sacrifice.
Did this Fangirl get swept away by The Iron Will of Genie Lo?
I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading F.C. Yee’s author note in the beginning of the book. It was clear he had no desire to write any more adventures for Genie after this. The Iron Will of a Genie Lo is all we’d be getting anytime soon. Most likely ever. How would he play it? Well he went huge. HUGE! The end is satisfying. Loose ends are tied up but not so neatly that life couldn’t continue. If Epic Crush was set down on earth then Iron Will rose to the heavens. And what a battle filled journey it turned out to be.
Swept away by the gods.
We get more Chinese god action with the return of our favorites from Epic Crush and the arrival of a handful we only know throughout reputation. The way Genie interferes I need the gods’ business will rock her world and interfere with her college tour in a big way.
Swept away by college woes.
Genie is at a transitional time in her life as high school comes to a close. She has Quentin but things can’t possibly stay the same when so many other aspects of life of changing. As she investigates options for her future she’ll have to make some tough choices even as the very gods themselves interrupt her life.
Swept away by friendship and sacrifice.
If Epic Crush tackled romance then Iron Will really focuses on friendship. Sure she has some complications with Quentin but this time around we look at the other people close to Genie. We get a sacrifice whose roots tie in with the theme of friendship that is so strong in Iron Will. It’s an unexpected as well as poignantly beautiful way to end the duology.
Why wasn’t Genie Lo more than a duology?
My biggest disappointment with The Iron Will of Genie Lo was that the story stops here. Genie has a lot going for her as a character. As a teen in San Francisco she has a lot of change to embrace. A child of Chinese parents she has expectations to overcome to be happy. And with a past life with a connection to Chinese mythology there is a lot she has to life up to.
So as a writer myself why do I think Genie Lo only got two adventures? Well, it’s certainly not because she didn’t have many more that could be woven from her modern mythological world. I’d say this could easily have been a three and maybe four book series as she tackles each stage of a teen becoming an adult. We got the high school end in Epic Crush and the college transition in Iron Will. We could have had an adventure amidst college immersion and one to cap it all as she transitions into young adult life.
Writing is such a passion fueled career. We love our characters but sometimes all of our emotions for them are worked out quickly. I can’t say why F.C. Yee stopped here, but for fans of Genie Lo we’ll certainly miss her.
The Iron Will of Genie Lo has all the Chinese gods that fans of her first adventure crave. Genie and Quentin work together to uncover secrets that even friends of the Emperor don’t know! It’s about to get epic up in here…
Anyone who’s read The Epic Crush of Genie Lo surely wanted a chance to return to Genie and Quentin’s demon stuffed San Francisco. It was a wonderful modern twist on Chinese mythology. And I was super excited to see what trouble these gods got into in the duology, The Iron Will of Genie Lo. Sometimes we can be shocked by a character’s sacrifice.
Did this Fangirl get swept away by The Iron Will of Genie Lo?
I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading F.C. Yee’s author note in the beginning of the book. It was clear he had no desire to write any more adventures for Genie after this. The Iron Will of a Genie Lo is all we’d be getting anytime soon. Most likely ever. How would he play it? Well he went huge. HUGE! The end is satisfying. Loose ends are tied up but not so neatly that life couldn’t continue. If Epic Crush was set down on earth then Iron Will rose to the heavens. And what a battle filled journey it turned out to be.
Swept away by the gods.
We get more Chinese god action with the return of our favorites from Epic Crush and the arrival of a handful we only know throughout reputation. The way Genie interferes I need the gods’ business will rock her world and interfere with her college tour in a big way.
Swept away by college woes.
Genie is at a transitional time in her life as high school comes to a close. She has Quentin but things can’t possibly stay the same when so many other aspects of life of changing. As she investigates options for her future she’ll have to make some tough choices even as the very gods themselves interrupt her life.
Swept away by friendship and sacrifice.
If Epic Crush tackled romance then Iron Will really focuses on friendship. Sure she has some complications with Quentin but this time around we look at the other people close to Genie. We get a sacrifice whose roots tie in with the theme of friendship that is so strong in Iron Will. It’s an unexpected as well as poignantly beautiful way to end the duology.
Why wasn’t Genie Lo more than a duology?
My biggest disappointment with The Iron Will of Genie Lo was that the story stops here. Genie has a lot going for her as a character. As a teen in San Francisco she has a lot of change to embrace. A child of Chinese parents she has expectations to overcome to be happy. And with a past life with a connection to Chinese mythology there is a lot she has to life up to.
So as a writer myself why do I think Genie Lo only got two adventures? Well, it’s certainly not because she didn’t have many more that could be woven from her modern mythological world. I’d say this could easily have been a three and maybe four book series as she tackles each stage of a teen becoming an adult. We got the high school end in Epic Crush and the college transition in Iron Will. We could have had an adventure amidst college immersion and one to cap it all as she transitions into young adult life.
Writing is such a passion fueled career. We love our characters but sometimes all of our emotions for them are worked out quickly. I can’t say why F.C. Yee stopped here, but for fans of Genie Lo we’ll certainly miss her.
The Iron Will of Genie Lo has all the Chinese gods that fans of her first adventure crave. Genie and Quentin work together to uncover secrets that even friends of the Emperor don’t know! It’s about to get epic up in here…
April 7, 2021
4.5 stars
I might have casually read this in one sitting which is rare for me, so I think that says a lot about this book. I liked this one even more than the first book - while there were arguably still too many pop culture references for my liking, I did feel like Yee honed in on the humour and some of the awkwardness in the first book wasn't as prevalent here. I also loved how he expanded on the world and mythology, and I feel like our main characters all had really satisfying character arcs as well. The ending had me tearing up and I'm really sad that this is the end of this series, but the ending was really fitting. This is such an underrated YA series, and I highly recommend the audiobooks!
I might have casually read this in one sitting which is rare for me, so I think that says a lot about this book. I liked this one even more than the first book - while there were arguably still too many pop culture references for my liking, I did feel like Yee honed in on the humour and some of the awkwardness in the first book wasn't as prevalent here. I also loved how he expanded on the world and mythology, and I feel like our main characters all had really satisfying character arcs as well. The ending had me tearing up and I'm really sad that this is the end of this series, but the ending was really fitting. This is such an underrated YA series, and I highly recommend the audiobooks!
November 15, 2019
What I really liked about this sequel to The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is the simple fact that she’s shown as human with college worries, true friendship and a family that she loves. What I struggled with was her relationship with Quentin as because as much as I wanted to like him there were times I was left rolling my eyes. Perhaps I expected too much from this book with its nod to Asian legends of Sun Wukong but honestly this Monkey King is far too juvenile and boisterous for my liking. Genie is still trying to keep control of the hellspawn that want to escape and cause mayhem and she actually learns even more about her powers here but sadly for this reader it just lacked something although if you want a fun and totally preposterous view of Asian folklore then this book will open your eyes !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
anti-library
May 21, 2019Can't believe I got approved for this within an hour of requesting, truly unprecedented 😭
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THAT COVERRRR AND A NEARBY ALTERNATE DIMENSION? I'M SO FUCKING READY FOR THIS BOOK
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'...it will be about Genie’s development as a leader in the supernatural world. It’ll touch upon her realization that ugh, everyone from book one is sticking around in her life, and she’s got to adjust her long-term plans to deal with that. Also, there’s more Yunie.'
AAAAAH, CAN'T WAIT. GIVE ME MORE FED UP GENIE AND HELL YEAH TO MORE YUNIE. FRIENDSHIP TIMES.
Source
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THAT COVERRRR AND A NEARBY ALTERNATE DIMENSION? I'M SO FUCKING READY FOR THIS BOOK
-------------------
'...it will be about Genie’s development as a leader in the supernatural world. It’ll touch upon her realization that ugh, everyone from book one is sticking around in her life, and she’s got to adjust her long-term plans to deal with that. Also, there’s more Yunie.'
AAAAAH, CAN'T WAIT. GIVE ME MORE FED UP GENIE AND HELL YEAH TO MORE YUNIE. FRIENDSHIP TIMES.
Source
July 6, 2020
After reading the first book I was really excited for the second. Unlike the first book which had a more clear, singular hero’s story arc, the second book has multiple overarching arcs that I wish were more fleshed out. The first half and second half could have been two different parts. Things like Genie’s duty as Shoushen could have had more substance to it. I’m pretty sure this is the last installment, but I would have liked to see more of the characters. Much like the first, I enjoyed this book for the characters (Genie!), the Chinese-American experiences, and the integration of mythology in modern day.
January 16, 2020
I could read one million more books in the series. Genie's voice is top notch, I love her to bits
June 2, 2020
I received this book from Amulet/Abrams & Chronicle in exchange for an honest review.
Genie Lo has just become the new Guardian of California, appointed by the Jade Emperor himself and now on top of deciding where she wants to go to college, and what exactly she wants to do with her life, she needs to babysit a bunch of Chinese demons called yaoguai stuck on earth and under her control. But even more evil is coming her way, and Genie may have to team up again with her boyfriend Quentin aka the Monkey King and Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin to defeat it.
This was a fun sequel to The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, and continued Genie and Quentin's adventures together as demon squashing, couple goals. I enjoyed the deeper look into Chinese folklore which I loved learning about in the first book, and I appreciated that we learned about a few more legends in this one, and there was an appearance of a few more Gods as well.
I definitely think this book lacked some kind of energy that the first one had, and definitely didn't shine quite as brightly for me as The Epic Crush did. I don't think Genie had that much more character progression as she did in the first as well, and The Epic Crush could have been left as a stand alone without any real damage being done to the overall story. This book also takes places over a shorter period of time (one long weekend versus the several months of the first) but the pacing felt a lot slower for some reason.
I do still love Genie's friendships in this book - particularly with Yunie, and we see her friendship with Guanyin really deepen in this one as well which is lovely. I can't see speak for the representation in this book but I appreciate how much I learned from it and the new zest I have tor read more stories based on Chinese folklore as it's so entertaining and bad-ass!
Genie Lo has just become the new Guardian of California, appointed by the Jade Emperor himself and now on top of deciding where she wants to go to college, and what exactly she wants to do with her life, she needs to babysit a bunch of Chinese demons called yaoguai stuck on earth and under her control. But even more evil is coming her way, and Genie may have to team up again with her boyfriend Quentin aka the Monkey King and Goddess of Mercy, Guanyin to defeat it.
This was a fun sequel to The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, and continued Genie and Quentin's adventures together as demon squashing, couple goals. I enjoyed the deeper look into Chinese folklore which I loved learning about in the first book, and I appreciated that we learned about a few more legends in this one, and there was an appearance of a few more Gods as well.
I definitely think this book lacked some kind of energy that the first one had, and definitely didn't shine quite as brightly for me as The Epic Crush did. I don't think Genie had that much more character progression as she did in the first as well, and The Epic Crush could have been left as a stand alone without any real damage being done to the overall story. This book also takes places over a shorter period of time (one long weekend versus the several months of the first) but the pacing felt a lot slower for some reason.
I do still love Genie's friendships in this book - particularly with Yunie, and we see her friendship with Guanyin really deepen in this one as well which is lovely. I can't see speak for the representation in this book but I appreciate how much I learned from it and the new zest I have tor read more stories based on Chinese folklore as it's so entertaining and bad-ass!
March 17, 2020
I adored the first book. I adore this book!
If you're in the mood for a short, quick read with lovable and genuine characters, an interesting and unique plot complete with Asian legends, laugh-out-loud humor on every page, and a completely perfect ending to the series, you should read these two books!
That ending was perfect! I love how much Genie grows throughout both books. I especially loved the romance and relationship growth that happened in this book. This book has really readable writing with tons of truly hilarious lines. I love all the adventures. And I adore these characters. Quentin (also known as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King!), Genie (the Ruyi Jingu Bang), Guanyin, Yunie, and Tiny! I will be rereading this series when I need warm and comforting characters to brighten my mood.
If you're in the mood for a short, quick read with lovable and genuine characters, an interesting and unique plot complete with Asian legends, laugh-out-loud humor on every page, and a completely perfect ending to the series, you should read these two books!
That ending was perfect! I love how much Genie grows throughout both books. I especially loved the romance and relationship growth that happened in this book. This book has really readable writing with tons of truly hilarious lines. I love all the adventures. And I adore these characters. Quentin (also known as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King!), Genie (the Ruyi Jingu Bang), Guanyin, Yunie, and Tiny! I will be rereading this series when I need warm and comforting characters to brighten my mood.
October 29, 2021
Honestly considering how much I enjoyed The Epic Crush of Genie Lo , you’d think I’d get around to reading The Iron Will of Genie Lo much quicker than I actually did. (I definitely took my very sweet time.)
Unfortunately unlike the first novel, I didn’t love The Iron Will of Genie Lo as much as I hoped I would. Personally I felt the pacing was a little slower, but as someone who is a mood reader who read way too many books at a time, I also think I just wasn’t in the right mood but the time I picked up the book.
While the pacing personally felt slower for me, I think a lot of it was made up through the development in the story and characters, because this is a huge step from the first novel. Genie Lo is finally a senior in high school, worrying about not only her schoolwork and making it into a good college that would make her parents proud without breaking the bank (relatable), but she’s also trying to navigate her new role as the Ruyi Jingu Bang and protecting California from demons.
But like most people, she also begins to question what she really wants to do with her life and just kind of undergoes an existential crisis, especially when she receives an offer that could solve most of her problems but ends up putting some tension between her and Quentin (the Monkey King).
There’s a lot of growth that Genie and the characters undergo in the sequel as they all work to stop a new, bigger threat to not only humans but also Heaven as well (enough a mandate is called to challenge taking over for the Jade Emperor, who has pretty much gone a little MIA). I loved seeing her relationship with Guanyin and Yunie and how each of them challenge Genie for the better (and vice versa). Guanyin tries to keep Genie from being too reckless with her anger (no matter how valid) while Genie encourages the Goddess of Mercy to challenge the mandate to rule Heaven; Genie tries to keep Yunie from being involved with the new part of her life, but somehow her best friend just ends up entangled throughout the book anyway no matter how hard Genie tries for that to not happen.
Overall, The Iron Will of Genie Lo was a solid sequel and end to the duology, and despite my one issue, I definitely didn’t dislike the sequel. In its own way, I actually enjoyed the sequel a lot and would highly recommend giving the series a try for anyone who is interested.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
December 22, 2019
On my blog.
Rep: Chinese American mcs
Galley provided by publisher
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is one of the most criminally underrated YA books of the past few years, so it stands to reason that this book will become criminally underrated too. Do not let it. Just sit down and read this series right now because, if you haven’t, you’re missing out. If you like Rick Riordan’s books, and any of the books in his imprint, this will be right up your alley.
Okay, that’s done. Onto the actual review.
The Iron Will of Genie Lo starts off a few months after book 1 ends. Granted, I couldn’t remember how book 1 actually ended, but it’s not all that hard to pick up. So, Genie has a Heavenly Mandate putting her in charge of keeping demons on earth in check, but meanwhile the Jade Emperor has gone missing, there’s a huge threat coming, and she has a college trip to get through. Sounds simple right?
The best part of this book was Genie. I know, I know, I have a Type when it comes to characters and Genie fits it perfectly. I loved her in book 1 and I loved her even more here. And of course the surrounding cast is great too (Quentin and Yunie are obviously next on the list of favourites, followed by Guanyin).
Unlike in book 1, the plot is a little calmer, less chaotic, for the most part. I mean, that’s to be expected given how it’s not like Genie’s finding out she’s a reincarnated weapon all over again. So yeah, there’s not much happening for a good chunk of the book, but that doesn’t matter because the characters carry it along so well. And then when things do happen, they really happen.
But one thing I would say is that the ending feels a little unsatisfying almost? Like, there could be more to it, though it’s kind of clear from the time-skip that that was supposed to be some sort of resolution. Which was fine, but at the same time it does feel a little… light maybe? I don’t know how to describe it best.
That aside though, this was an excellent sequel (and I really hope not the last we see of Genie).
Rep: Chinese American mcs
Galley provided by publisher
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo is one of the most criminally underrated YA books of the past few years, so it stands to reason that this book will become criminally underrated too. Do not let it. Just sit down and read this series right now because, if you haven’t, you’re missing out. If you like Rick Riordan’s books, and any of the books in his imprint, this will be right up your alley.
Okay, that’s done. Onto the actual review.
The Iron Will of Genie Lo starts off a few months after book 1 ends. Granted, I couldn’t remember how book 1 actually ended, but it’s not all that hard to pick up. So, Genie has a Heavenly Mandate putting her in charge of keeping demons on earth in check, but meanwhile the Jade Emperor has gone missing, there’s a huge threat coming, and she has a college trip to get through. Sounds simple right?
The best part of this book was Genie. I know, I know, I have a Type when it comes to characters and Genie fits it perfectly. I loved her in book 1 and I loved her even more here. And of course the surrounding cast is great too (Quentin and Yunie are obviously next on the list of favourites, followed by Guanyin).
Unlike in book 1, the plot is a little calmer, less chaotic, for the most part. I mean, that’s to be expected given how it’s not like Genie’s finding out she’s a reincarnated weapon all over again. So yeah, there’s not much happening for a good chunk of the book, but that doesn’t matter because the characters carry it along so well. And then when things do happen, they really happen.
But one thing I would say is that the ending feels a little unsatisfying almost? Like, there could be more to it, though it’s kind of clear from the time-skip that that was supposed to be some sort of resolution. Which was fine, but at the same time it does feel a little… light maybe? I don’t know how to describe it best.
That aside though, this was an excellent sequel (and I really hope not the last we see of Genie).
December 23, 2019
Rating: 4.5 Stars
This was bittersweet for me, as it was an ending, but I will say, it was a fantastic send off for a character, who had wiggled her way into my heart.
I fell in love with Genie in her previous book, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo. There was just something about her humor and her wit, and the way she saw and interpreted the world. I loved her ambition and her drive, and she spoke my native language, sarcasm, fluently. She was strong and fierce, and the way she sought to uphold her duty was admirable.
But, this was Genie's senior year, and her future was calling. The problem was, that she was not sure what her future held. Money, her mother's health, and her obligation as Protector of California all weighed on her, as she tried to figure out what path she should take. Would she travel out of state to college, stay local, or skip college all together? She had no idea, and that uncertainty played a big role in this installment of the series. All of this AND she had to travel to another cosmic plane in order to battle demons, while avoiding addressing relationship issues with Quinten.
Sounds like a lot, right? But, Yee handled it all so well. The same charm, humor, and action that made me love the first book were still present in this sequel. In addition, I was overjoyed that there was more Yunie and more girl power, because both elements really elevated the story for me.
Though, I did envision many additional books in this series, I am eternally grateful for what Yee gave us. The ending was stupendous! Excuse me, as I deal with these happy tears, but that's what thinking about the ending does to me.
Overall: A fantastic wrap-up for a series, which had me laughing and cheering.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
This was bittersweet for me, as it was an ending, but I will say, it was a fantastic send off for a character, who had wiggled her way into my heart.
I fell in love with Genie in her previous book, The Epic Crush of Genie Lo. There was just something about her humor and her wit, and the way she saw and interpreted the world. I loved her ambition and her drive, and she spoke my native language, sarcasm, fluently. She was strong and fierce, and the way she sought to uphold her duty was admirable.
But, this was Genie's senior year, and her future was calling. The problem was, that she was not sure what her future held. Money, her mother's health, and her obligation as Protector of California all weighed on her, as she tried to figure out what path she should take. Would she travel out of state to college, stay local, or skip college all together? She had no idea, and that uncertainty played a big role in this installment of the series. All of this AND she had to travel to another cosmic plane in order to battle demons, while avoiding addressing relationship issues with Quinten.
Sounds like a lot, right? But, Yee handled it all so well. The same charm, humor, and action that made me love the first book were still present in this sequel. In addition, I was overjoyed that there was more Yunie and more girl power, because both elements really elevated the story for me.
Though, I did envision many additional books in this series, I am eternally grateful for what Yee gave us. The ending was stupendous! Excuse me, as I deal with these happy tears, but that's what thinking about the ending does to me.
Overall: A fantastic wrap-up for a series, which had me laughing and cheering.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
February 25, 2020
This wasn’t quite as funny as the first book but it was just as good. More from this author please!
January 10, 2020
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Iron Will of Genie Lo is a sequel that examines responsibility and being a leader. Faced with more decisions and pressure than before, Genie has to figure out how she can balance her own dreams of the future and her new life. While Genie Lo has plenty of introspection about her own identity, especially as she's faced with the prospect of college, there's also plenty of action. Sometimes it feels like it all comes down to us, but we have to realize that we can let others help us.
This sequel really struck a chord with me. Maybe it's because, like Genie, I've felt pulled in different directions. Whatever it is, The Iron Will of Genie Lo allows Genie to evolve and develop. Can she manage her friendship with Yunnie and her future? Additionally, The Iron Will of Genie Lo talks about privilege. Because of Genie's finances, can she afford the dreams she has? The direction she thinks her life has been heading? Other people have the ability to fail, a safety net. But what about Genie?
full review; https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
The Iron Will of Genie Lo is a sequel that examines responsibility and being a leader. Faced with more decisions and pressure than before, Genie has to figure out how she can balance her own dreams of the future and her new life. While Genie Lo has plenty of introspection about her own identity, especially as she's faced with the prospect of college, there's also plenty of action. Sometimes it feels like it all comes down to us, but we have to realize that we can let others help us.
This sequel really struck a chord with me. Maybe it's because, like Genie, I've felt pulled in different directions. Whatever it is, The Iron Will of Genie Lo allows Genie to evolve and develop. Can she manage her friendship with Yunnie and her future? Additionally, The Iron Will of Genie Lo talks about privilege. Because of Genie's finances, can she afford the dreams she has? The direction she thinks her life has been heading? Other people have the ability to fail, a safety net. But what about Genie?
full review; https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
October 2, 2022
A fun and dangerous journey with Genie Lo and her friends and enemies and loves, in a young adult novel. A battle between magical creatures and demons. I enjoyed it and don’t feel I was lost by not reading the first book, though I do feel I may have gotten more involved in the characters and the outcome if I had.
June 25, 2020
my only real complaint from book one,
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo
was having too little of yunie and genie's friendship. this time, the relationships between genie and other women (both peers and mentors) were everything i could ask for. yes, genie still remains herself and wants to do things independently to protect others, but she's learning how to lean on others and what sister relationships might look like. it made me tear up, not gonna lie.
the payoff we get in iron will cannot be understated. genie and co are stronger, more capable, and closer than ever. the amount of heart inside these pages absolutely fills you. please consider this if you're in the market for a feel-good chinese mythology-inspired adventure story.
the payoff we get in iron will cannot be understated. genie and co are stronger, more capable, and closer than ever. the amount of heart inside these pages absolutely fills you. please consider this if you're in the market for a feel-good chinese mythology-inspired adventure story.
February 8, 2020
More like 3.5 half stars. The Iron Will or Genie Lo is a pretty good sequel to a really interesting and unique fantasy based on Chinese mythology.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I’m definitely a fan of Genie. She’s tough and snarky. Plus as a fellow tall woman, I have to respect her for being a relatable heroine. But the thing I liked most about Genie is she walks this great line between being a reluctant hero and being ready to take on anything and anyone to protect those she loves. It makes her the kind of character I root for to succeed.
There are also some fantastic secondary characters here. First, Quentin who is the male lead. I didn’t love him in the first book but over time he really won me over. I think because in this book the romance wasn’t perfect it felt more realistic and less Insta-lovey so it worked better. I also found the more dubious characters like Erlang Shen and The Great White Planet to be very interesting. Guanyin also had some great moments and Yunie really shined in this book.
The world as well was incredibly interesting and engaging. I am not very familiar with Chinese Mythology so I found myself looking up different characters and scenarios to learn more. Some might think that shows a lack of world building, but for me that is actually a good thing. It intrigued me and left me wanting to learn more. In general it gave me the feel of a Rick Riordan book. There are Easter eggs and mythological elements that people familiar with the original stories will pick up on and appreciate but even if you aren’t familiar with the myths you will still enjoy it.
In general, I felt like The Iron Will of Genie Lo was a fun and engaging read full of adventure. I loved the characters and found the world fascinating and unique. I would absolutely recommend to anyone who likes YA fantasy inspired by mythology.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. I’m definitely a fan of Genie. She’s tough and snarky. Plus as a fellow tall woman, I have to respect her for being a relatable heroine. But the thing I liked most about Genie is she walks this great line between being a reluctant hero and being ready to take on anything and anyone to protect those she loves. It makes her the kind of character I root for to succeed.
There are also some fantastic secondary characters here. First, Quentin who is the male lead. I didn’t love him in the first book but over time he really won me over. I think because in this book the romance wasn’t perfect it felt more realistic and less Insta-lovey so it worked better. I also found the more dubious characters like Erlang Shen and The Great White Planet to be very interesting. Guanyin also had some great moments and Yunie really shined in this book.
The world as well was incredibly interesting and engaging. I am not very familiar with Chinese Mythology so I found myself looking up different characters and scenarios to learn more. Some might think that shows a lack of world building, but for me that is actually a good thing. It intrigued me and left me wanting to learn more. In general it gave me the feel of a Rick Riordan book. There are Easter eggs and mythological elements that people familiar with the original stories will pick up on and appreciate but even if you aren’t familiar with the myths you will still enjoy it.
In general, I felt like The Iron Will of Genie Lo was a fun and engaging read full of adventure. I loved the characters and found the world fascinating and unique. I would absolutely recommend to anyone who likes YA fantasy inspired by mythology.
February 27, 2020
An action-packed, funny, poignant and wonderful finish to Genie's story.
There are countless problems in Genie's life: 1) a whole host of demons she's trying to keep corralled on Earth and relatively content, 2) where to go to university, 3) how to pay for university, and 4) an unexpected and frightening situation in her family. How Genie deals with everything, including a newly strained relationship with Quentin, is great to watch.
Because this is Genie, she gets to punch some of her problems. We also see a Genie who's pushed pretty far emotionally, confronting a whole new set of dangers, personalities, and much more adult concerns. F. C. Yee does a great job balancing all the complex feelings Genie's having, along with some great action moments, and lots of quippiness, sarcasm and emotional growth from the super powerful Ruyi Jingu Bang. I loved the way Yee wrapped up the story, even though I was not ready to say goodbye to Genie. She's been a blast to spend time with, and I felt a mixture of sadness, satisfaction and happiness as I closed this book.
There are countless problems in Genie's life: 1) a whole host of demons she's trying to keep corralled on Earth and relatively content, 2) where to go to university, 3) how to pay for university, and 4) an unexpected and frightening situation in her family. How Genie deals with everything, including a newly strained relationship with Quentin, is great to watch.
Because this is Genie, she gets to punch some of her problems. We also see a Genie who's pushed pretty far emotionally, confronting a whole new set of dangers, personalities, and much more adult concerns. F. C. Yee does a great job balancing all the complex feelings Genie's having, along with some great action moments, and lots of quippiness, sarcasm and emotional growth from the super powerful Ruyi Jingu Bang. I loved the way Yee wrapped up the story, even though I was not ready to say goodbye to Genie. She's been a blast to spend time with, and I felt a mixture of sadness, satisfaction and happiness as I closed this book.
May 15, 2021
3/5 stars.
Didn’t absolutely love it but didn’t dislike it. Just... “eh”
Didn’t absolutely love it but didn’t dislike it. Just... “eh”
February 29, 2020
Genie Lo thought she was busy protecting the Bay Area from demons. But now, as a Heaven- appointed Guardian, even the well-being of demons is her responsibility—and their numbers are multiplying. Guanyin and Quentin are doing their best to help; but what they really need is for the Jade Emperor to get off his butt and deal with the crisis. While he’s AWOL, Genie nominates Guanyin to fill in his shoes, unaware that the role will go to the god who can defeat a mysterious threat to the supernatural order. Along with a few other contenders for the throne, including a former enemy, Genie and her friends embark on a Heavenly quest to an in-between world. But when faced with true danger, the group realizes that what will save the universe this time is sacrifice, not strength.
I know it's only the end of February, but The Iron Will of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee is one of my best reads of 2020 as well as one of the best releases of the year. As far as I'm concerned it was perfect in every way. It was marvelous to have the opportunity to spend more time with the cast of characters and visit their world(s) again. It has everything to make it a classic action-adventure fantasy set in a world inspired by Chinese mythology, but most importantly it has the heart to really makes it shine above the rest. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo series deserves all the love it can get and it totally deserves so much more attention.
If The Iron Will of Genie Lo is truly the finale of the series, I'll be satisfied because it wrapped up beautifully, but it would be amazing to be gifted with more of Genie's future adventures. I also hope that someday we'll be blessed with a tv adaptation of this series because I think this story would also be a perfect fit for such a visual medium. If you haven't already picked up this series, what are you waiting for? If you're a fan of The Daoshi Chronicles by M.H. Boroson, I have a feeling you'll love this as well.
I know it's only the end of February, but The Iron Will of Genie Lo by F.C. Yee is one of my best reads of 2020 as well as one of the best releases of the year. As far as I'm concerned it was perfect in every way. It was marvelous to have the opportunity to spend more time with the cast of characters and visit their world(s) again. It has everything to make it a classic action-adventure fantasy set in a world inspired by Chinese mythology, but most importantly it has the heart to really makes it shine above the rest. The Epic Crush of Genie Lo series deserves all the love it can get and it totally deserves so much more attention.
If The Iron Will of Genie Lo is truly the finale of the series, I'll be satisfied because it wrapped up beautifully, but it would be amazing to be gifted with more of Genie's future adventures. I also hope that someday we'll be blessed with a tv adaptation of this series because I think this story would also be a perfect fit for such a visual medium. If you haven't already picked up this series, what are you waiting for? If you're a fan of The Daoshi Chronicles by M.H. Boroson, I have a feeling you'll love this as well.
Want to read
February 14, 2018i'm here i'm ready i'm WAITING HELLO?
August 14, 2022
Mid until the second half 'cause holy crap. That ending!!
I don't know if you read my review of the first book, but I compared The Epic Crush of Genie Lo to Katie Zhao's The Dragon Warrior and Zhao actually read this series, eye- I'm psychic or something.
Okay, so onto the actual book: not as good as the first one. I felt like I was falling asleep until the final act came around. Whoof- now the final act was fun! The humor and crazy dynamics returned. Just a good dose of Genie Lo's world again.
Although it's not really the main thing that made me enjoy this book, I really appreciated the mention of how stressful it is to decide your future at such a young age. I'll be an adult so soon, and life is just flying way too fast for me. The ending with Genie's parents(won't go too spoilery on this) is actually really genuine for an Asian parent- I'll say that right now. If anyone quotes me on this, don't.
But yeah, I feel like this could've been a standalone, but I'm so sad that I'll probably never see these characters again. We love angry Genie, and Quentin's personality is lowkey aligning with my ideal type HELP.
Read Genie Lo if you haven't!
I don't know if you read my review of the first book, but I compared The Epic Crush of Genie Lo to Katie Zhao's The Dragon Warrior and Zhao actually read this series, eye- I'm psychic or something.
Okay, so onto the actual book: not as good as the first one. I felt like I was falling asleep until the final act came around. Whoof- now the final act was fun! The humor and crazy dynamics returned. Just a good dose of Genie Lo's world again.
Although it's not really the main thing that made me enjoy this book, I really appreciated the mention of how stressful it is to decide your future at such a young age. I'll be an adult so soon, and life is just flying way too fast for me. The ending with Genie's parents
But yeah, I feel like this could've been a standalone, but I'm so sad that I'll probably never see these characters again. We love angry Genie, and Quentin's personality is lowkey aligning with my ideal type HELP.
Read Genie Lo if you haven't!
October 25, 2023
Genie Lo goes cosmic! What an unbelievably exciting, clever YA duology. I feel like this second book was stronger in plot but weaker in pacing, which evens out to at least as good as the first. I’d say better. The relationship development! The thematic progression! The addition of several more super epic Journey to the West characters! I had a blast. If I thought I was obsessed with Guanyin before… oh my god she’s so good in this one.
As a huge folklore nerd, I often find it difficult to enjoy the subgenre of mythology retellings and spin-offs that’s dominated contemporary fantasy for the past decade. I’m too prone to disagreement with an author’s interpretations of the original story, and the novels overall strike me as either too derivative or barely grounded in tradition (or, astonishingly, both. lol). I’m so, so happy to have added the Genie Lo books to the group of treasured exceptions to that rule.
What can I say? F. C. Yee just nails it all, man. The interplay between modernity and tradition, the social commentary about institutional exclusionism, the coming of age and coming of power narratives. The kickass battles that honor Journey to the West in epic, overpowered scale and exhilarating fun, even when heart-wrenchingly emotional. I love these characters, and their ending absolutely did them justice.
As a huge folklore nerd, I often find it difficult to enjoy the subgenre of mythology retellings and spin-offs that’s dominated contemporary fantasy for the past decade. I’m too prone to disagreement with an author’s interpretations of the original story, and the novels overall strike me as either too derivative or barely grounded in tradition (or, astonishingly, both. lol). I’m so, so happy to have added the Genie Lo books to the group of treasured exceptions to that rule.
What can I say? F. C. Yee just nails it all, man. The interplay between modernity and tradition, the social commentary about institutional exclusionism, the coming of age and coming of power narratives. The kickass battles that honor Journey to the West in epic, overpowered scale and exhilarating fun, even when heart-wrenchingly emotional. I love these characters, and their ending absolutely did them justice.
April 9, 2023
A great followup to the first Genie Lo novel. The book follows the first novel directly, with Genie and Quentin a couple and monitoring the yaoguai in California. However the first part of the book follows less of the supernatural and more of Genie's regular life - her mom's health, her ideas about college, and her relationship with both Yunie and Quentin. While I felt this move made the beginning a little slow, it kicks into action gear when a great evil is threatening Earth and the Jade Emporer seems to be doing nothing about it. Thus a Mandate challenge is called to find a new Heavenly Ruler, and a quest to defeat the evil begins.
I thought the tension between Quentin and Genie is realistic and gives us a little growth to their relationship. The new gods we get to see up close had great personalities, and the recurring characters also showed some character development. As with the first book the mythology was great and all made sense for the story. The end was well done, and while I would wish for more in the series, the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way. Overall a fantastic YA mythic fantasy duology that I heartedly recommend!
I thought the tension between Quentin and Genie is realistic and gives us a little growth to their relationship. The new gods we get to see up close had great personalities, and the recurring characters also showed some character development. As with the first book the mythology was great and all made sense for the story. The end was well done, and while I would wish for more in the series, the ending wrapped things up in a satisfying way. Overall a fantastic YA mythic fantasy duology that I heartedly recommend!
January 14, 2020
4.25 stars
read on my blog
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and Edelweiss. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was one of my favorite reads of 2017, and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel! You know I hit that request button as soon as it went up on Edelweiss/Netgalley. It was very hard to follow up the brilliance and masterpiece that is The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, but this book certainly did. However, The Iron Will of Genie Lo was more introspective, compared to the action-packed pace of its predecessor. It was still amazing though, just in a different way.
This book was truly a reminder that Genie is still only human and trying to live her life while acting as a Guardian. She’s touring colleges and worrying about her future as Guardian on top of typical teenage angst. I really liked seeing this side of the story; both Genie’s school life and supernatural life are equally important to her, but there are limits to how much she can balance them.
So yeah, this book was much more character-driven and introspective than plot-heavy. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of action. It’s just more balanced with Genie’s hopes and fears, her dreams and aspirations.
Also, Genie and Quentin have a lot of relationship drama, and their fights are hilarious. I love them! One of the best parts of the book. They talk through their problems in such a healthy way as well (after the initial avoidance of their feelings).
I loved seeing more of her friendship with her best friend; we didn’t get to see enough of them in the last book because Genie was trying to keep her life secret. Yunnie is an important part of her life, so it felt right to incorporate her more. I also really loved reading about Genie’s friendship with Guanyin developing more.
I’m sad that this was the end of our journey with all these characters, but it seemed natural to end here since I know that the plot and the character arcs can only go so far. The Iron Will of Genie Lo was a bittersweet ending, but one that feels right. The characters have grown so much, Genie particularly, and I’m glad to have gone on this journey with them.
read on my blog
**I received an ARC from Netgalley and Edelweiss. These are my honest opinions, and in no way was I compensated for this review.**
“Can we just go?” I said weakly. “Through the rift or whatever? I can only deal with so much. I don’t think I want to be on this plane of existence right now.”
The Epic Crush of Genie Lo was one of my favorite reads of 2017, and I was eagerly awaiting the sequel! You know I hit that request button as soon as it went up on Edelweiss/Netgalley. It was very hard to follow up the brilliance and masterpiece that is The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, but this book certainly did. However, The Iron Will of Genie Lo was more introspective, compared to the action-packed pace of its predecessor. It was still amazing though, just in a different way.
This book was truly a reminder that Genie is still only human and trying to live her life while acting as a Guardian. She’s touring colleges and worrying about her future as Guardian on top of typical teenage angst. I really liked seeing this side of the story; both Genie’s school life and supernatural life are equally important to her, but there are limits to how much she can balance them.
So yeah, this book was much more character-driven and introspective than plot-heavy. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of action. It’s just more balanced with Genie’s hopes and fears, her dreams and aspirations.
Also, Genie and Quentin have a lot of relationship drama, and their fights are hilarious. I love them! One of the best parts of the book. They talk through their problems in such a healthy way as well (after the initial avoidance of their feelings).
“Woo!” Quentin shouted, raising his fists into the air. “I’m going to be famous!”
“You’re already famous, you dip,” I said. “I learned who you were through one of the oldest stories still being told. You are literally legendary.”
Quentin grinned. “Yeah, but now I’m going to be New Economy famous. I’ve gone multi-platform.”
I loved seeing more of her friendship with her best friend; we didn’t get to see enough of them in the last book because Genie was trying to keep her life secret. Yunnie is an important part of her life, so it felt right to incorporate her more. I also really loved reading about Genie’s friendship with Guanyin developing more.
I’m sad that this was the end of our journey with all these characters, but it seemed natural to end here since I know that the plot and the character arcs can only go so far. The Iron Will of Genie Lo was a bittersweet ending, but one that feels right. The characters have grown so much, Genie particularly, and I’m glad to have gone on this journey with them.
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