Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter

By Author / Illustrator

Joseph Coelho, Hyun Song We

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books

ISBN

9781529509595

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

03-10-2024

Synopsis

Relic Hamilton is just your average 12-year-old, living a quiet life with his grandfather above their old antiques shop in Chinatown in London. Until one day, while polishing some mysterious brass lamps in the basement, something extraordinary happens. Relic feels spine-chillingly cold. Breathless. Scared. And suddenly, a real, live genie stands before him! But this is no kind, benevolent genie. This genie is evil ... and it feeds on hope.

Relic finds himself catapulted to the centre of a fast-paced underground community of genie hunters, led by the excitable Professor Latimer and the tech-savvy Doctor Raphaela. Together, they travel in their one-of-a-kind jet, the Aladdin, secretly chasing rogue genies before they can wreak havoc on the world...

A thrilling new adventure series from the former Waterstones Children's Laureate and winner of the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing, perfect for fans of Skandar and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

See also: Relic Hamilton: Genie Hunter - The Door of the Dead (book 2)

"A witty, fast-paced adventure." Guardian. "Part Indiana Jones, part Ghostbusters, part Pokemon, but all very much its own. Brilliant." Netgalley. "A brilliant tangle of high tech, magical and historical adventure that ranges through time and geography at a cracking pace. There's a great cast of fantastic and fantastical characters - genies, genie hunters, pirates, school children and some wonderfully told history as Relic goes backwards and forwards in time." Books for Keeps

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Reviews

Louisa

Joseph Coelho has a mighty talent for reworking traditional tales into something creepily original with a hint of humour that makes them irresistible to children (remember the wonderful 'Fairy Tales Gone Bad' series?). In Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter, Aladdin's world of genies, lamps and wishes becomes darker, more modern and, actually, more profound. What if genies were imprisoned for a reason? What if genies granted wishes in exchange for stealing our hope? Does having what we want gradually corrode our optimism to leave us hopeless?

Relic is growing up in London with his grandfather in an antique shop in Soho when, without warning and without meaning to, he releases a powerful genie and launches headlong into an breathless adventure. Who knew there was a secret genie-hunting organisation already successfully preventing evil genies from destroying mankind? But will their ancient knowledge, combined with spectacular technology, be strong enough to contain this new threat? And what can Relic do to help?

The first book in what promises to be a highly creative new series defies genres, combining fantasy, time travel, stunts and poetry to make a compelling first person narrative full of surprises. The language is accessible and often informal but enriched by the expressive poems which are interwoven through the story and add linguistic depth as well as varying the tone and perspective.

Throughout, the reader is encouraged to reflect on themes of hope, loss, bullying and resilience. This would make a great class read for Year 3 or 4 and an individual 'read for pleasure' suitable for anyone in Key Stage 2.

288 pages / Reviewed by Louisa Farrow, teacher