Incantations by N. Milanne
Incantations by N. Milanne is the first self-published book in her projected Jeannie’s Bottle series
Incantations by N. Milanne is the first self-published book in her projected Jeannie’s Bottle series.
This sweet middle-grade tale follows 12-year-old Jeannie (pronounced like genie), whose mother, Clara, disappeared and is presumed dead. After her father’s dental practice fails, Jeannie, her dad, and her little brother move to Shallow Cove to live with Aunt Marid, whose vegan cuisine Jeannie considers a trial.
A quick note on Marid’s name, in Islamic tradition, a marid is a demon like an ifrit. This made me initially suspicious of Marid, but I’ll have to wait for the next instalments to learn if this suspicion bears out.
At her new school, Jeannie makes friends with UFO-obsessed Rita but is also harassed by “Glam Girl” Leah, and her English teacher, Mr. Queue, gives her the creeps. While helping at Aunt Marid’s second-hand shop, Mr. Queue shows up with a box of donations and Jeannie finds a brass bottle inside, which she promptly takes when it begins to glow.
Later, when she deciphers the inscription and recites it, Anpudru (Dru) the jinn emerges from the bottle. Bound to the bottle, Dru must obey many rules, like speaking in awkward forced rhyme (which is hilarious). He appears without clothes, which is a problem for Jeannie, who begins to keep some of her dad’s old clothes around, so she can actually look at Dru when they’re speaking. He can also grant Jeannie one wish per day. Jeannie’s first wish? That Leah can’t talk anymore. That goes about as well as you might expect.
The story follows Jeannie as she learns to use her wishes more responsibly, while trying to solve the mystery of why Mr. Queue seems to have an interest in her. The crisis culminates on Halloween night under a blood moon lunar eclipse, and Jeannie learns who Mr. Queue really is.
The novel is certainly accessible to younger readers and has been praised by parents, teachers, and librarians.
About the Author
N. Milanne loves to write middle-grade fantasy books packed with mystery, magic, and characters who might remind you of your own friends.
About the Reviewer
Melanie Marttila (she/her) is an #ActuallyAutistic SFF author-in-progress, writing poetry and tales of hope in the face of adversity. Her poetry has appeared in The /tƐmz/ Review, Polar Starlight, Sulphur, and her debut poetry collection, The Art of Floating, was published in 2024 by Latitude 46. Her short fiction has appeared in Through the Portal, Pulp Literature, and On Spec. She is a settler writing in Sudbury, or ‘N’Swakamok, on Robinson-Huron Treaty territory, home of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek and the Wahnapitae First Nation, in the house where three generations of her family have lived, on the street that bears her surname, with her spouse and their dog.
Book Details
Publisher : N. Milanne
Publication date : Oct. 31 2025
Language : English
Print length : 204 pages
ISBN-10 : 1069569100
ISBN-13 : 978-1069569103
Item weight : 281 g
Reading age : 8 - 12 years
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