Discover. . .: ifrit

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Be Careful What You Wish For by J. L. Sullivan #WickedWednesday

WICKED WEDNESDAY

What if your every wicked thought came to fruition? Oh what troubled lives we would lead. J. L. Sullivan's debut novel swirls that awful thought into a stunning new novel. Please welcome him back to Wicked Wednesday.

Thanks for having me back for another Wicked Wednesday, Brenda!

We all have a little wicked in us. A fleeting thought we’ll never admit. An irrational idea that peeks its head out every now and then before we shake our head and move on. We are consciously aware that we cannot take action on every thought or impulse without facing real-world consequences. Society is fortunate that, as humans, we have this ability. We can’t always control our wicked thoughts, but we can control our actions. Most of us can, at least…we’ll discuss sociopathology at another Wicked Wednesday.

In my novel, Baxter Allen summons a sinister djinn called Ifrit who pulls Bax’s wishes from the depths of his subconscious, using whatever means necessary to make those desires real. Ifrit brings to life the fleeting thoughts floating in Bax’s mind without regard for repercussions or consequences, no matter how greedy, selfish, or cruel they are, leaving Bax to pick up the pieces. Essentially, Bax loses his ability to “shake his head and move on” when his actions hurt those around him. Instead, he is forced to confront the consequences and wrestle with the knowledge that on some level, he caused the damage Ifrit created.

Ifrit is the ultimate antagonist because Bax’s unfiltered, uncensored thoughts motivate him. And who would want to face the consequences of the wicked thoughts that momentarily pass through our minds in the depths of sadness or the rage of anger?

Blurb: Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering. With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

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Bio: J. L. Sullivan writes young adult stories inspired by gritty urban environments and the fantastical tales that percolate within abandoned buildings and desolate alleys. In high school, he wrote for a local newspaper before venturing into creative writing in college. He currently lives in St. Louis with his wife, two daughters, and a dog named Princess Penelope Picklesworth.

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Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Djinn, Ifrit, or Genie It's a #WickedWednesday by J. L. Sullivan

WICKED WEDNESDAY

What a fun Wicked Wednesday with J. L. Sullivan who is letting the genie out of the lamp or ifrit out of the cave. Look out what you wish for! Read and enjoy.

Thanks for having me on Wicked Wednesday, Brenda!

Not much is more wicked than an evil djinn. Djinn have a long and storied history of wickedness. The word jinn first became prominent in ancient Arabic myths and Islamic folklore. Later, Roman-influenced translations changed the word to djinn. And still much later, the French translation of the book One Thousand and One Nights, gave us the French word genie. All to describe essentially the same spiritual being.

While not strictly good or bad, the jolly blue guy who tells jokes and sings is a very rare interpretation. Most djinn—and there are many kinds—pride themselves as mischievous tricksters or dangerous demons. And because djinn legends have evolved alongside human cultures, their influence can be felt in societies around the world. Many believe a type of djinn called Shaitaan is what early Christians came to know as the devil, while another type called a ghul, is where the word ghoul originated.

For my novel, I chose one of the most intriguing djinn—ifrit—as my story’s antagonist. Ifrit are considered one of the most powerful and cunning types of djinn. They live underground or in caves, and are often born of fire and smoke. And instead of the traditional wish-granting fare of some of the lesser djinn, my ifrit reads the mind of my protagonist, fifteen-year-old Baxter, granting the wishes of his innermost thoughts.

What could possibly go wrong with granting wishes based on the subconscious of a fifteen-year-old boy?