MOON WITHOUT MAGIC

In this sequel to Wishing Moon (2004), the lamp that was formerly Aladdin’s disappears, and its well-meaning keeper, Aminah, discovers that she has become addicted to using its magic. She isn’t the only one who’s disturbed; it seems that the mercurial Jinni has been left behind, trapped in a mortal body with a split personality. Worse yet, Aladdin’s bad-news wife Princess Badr al-Budr has resurfaced, vowing to reclaim the lamp and exact bloody revenge. Once again, Tunnell positively pours on the crises, disasters, quick journeys, showy magic, bandits, exotic locales and clever twists, but rather than recapturing that high-energy Arabian Nights feel, the plot just seems overstuffed and under-steered. Furthermore, his focus on Aminah’s inner conflict as she wrestles with her dependence adds a heavily purposeful element—and since her eventual determination to swear off using magic is quickly, once the lamp is recovered, replaced by the conviction that she’s wise enough to use it responsibly, the message seems muddled. A disappointing follow-up to a terrific opener, but the premise and characters are still strong enough to carry readers through, and even on to a future episode or two. (Fantasy. 11-13)