The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko

Every Jordan Ifueko book is a treat that also somehow manages to be incredibly healthy for your heart and your brain.

Her latest fantasy series debut is aimed at Middle Grade readers, and is set in a future/alternate earth that is still eminently recognizable. Valentine Adesanya has grown up in the city of GlossAngeles with one dream: to make it as a Feared and Fabulous Film Director. Her Nigerian immigrant parents don’t exactly approve — they would rather she find a more stable career — but she’s only thirteen, after all. There’s plenty of time for her to come to her senses, or so they believe.

Valentine’s world turns upside down when she receives a package one day which reminds her that she has an older sister. Vanessa had been everything to Valentine: a supportive, considerate sibling who strove to make up for their parents’ shortcomings. Yet somehow, Valentine and her parents had all forgotten that Vanessa even existed. Determined to get to the bottom of this mystery, Valentine heads out of IngleGloss and to the boba shop where Vanessa had texted her to meet.

Alas, it is a trap. Instead of finding her sister, Valentine is tricked into becoming part of the General Employee Network of Immortal Engineers, a secret workforce run by the Trio Trust that essentially controls all of North America. She can buy back her freedom by winning the Genie Game, where she and all the other “genies” compete to fulfil the wishes that power the Trio Trust. Valentine is understandably wary of doing anything that will enrich her captors, but soon discovers her own ability to subvert the system for the greater good. Will she be able to figure out where her sister is tho, and bring her home?

This is not a subtle critique of late-stage capitalism but, let’s face it, sometimes you gotta sledgehammer ideas into reader’s brains. More importantly, Ms Ifueko infuses her world and her characters with such verve and believability that you absolutely root for Valentine and her friends as they fight for what’s right. The only part that didn’t feel entirely credible to me was the falling out between Valentine and her best friend Chrys, and that was only because it was handled in a surprisingly abrupt manner. Some of the other pacing relationship-wise also felt a little bit off, but Valentine’s feelings regarding her parents and sister were absolutely spot on throughout.

But most of all, this book is a perhaps surprisingly fun excursion through the world of making and granting wishes. Sure it’s good to be cautious when wishing for things, but The Genie Game also explores how good it feels to help others. Just make sure to read your contracts before you sign them! I’m so excited that there’s more in this series to look forward to, and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

The Genie Game by Jordan Ifueko was published April 21 2026 by Harry N Abrams and is available from all good booksellers, including