TWIN FLAMES

Sisters must work together to banish the djinn ravaging their small Virginia town.

On their 18th birthdays, the lives of Iranian and Argentinian American twins Bianca and Leila Mazanderani are drastically changed when their neighbors’ barn mysteriously burns down. A terrifying djinn appears, announcing to the girls that “the promise of your ancestors is your burden to bear.” To top it all off, Leila suddenly possesses superpowers, and a voice inside her head starts trying to control her. Bianca and Leila will have to reconcile their differences in order to uncover the mystery of their family’s debt—before the monsters pouring into their town completely take over. Abtahi engages readers with a host of interesting dichotomies throughout, from the twins’ opposing views on their cultural backgrounds (Bianca embraces their heritage, while Leila tries to fully assimilate) to their plans for the future (Bianca longs to leave their small town as soon as possible, but Leila hopes to stay close and marry her high school boyfriend, Foster). Their sisterly reconnection amid the extraordinary threat to their lives is wholesome, and their individual developments are satisfyingly honest: Bianca finds purpose in her hometown and discovers romance in an unexpected place, while Leila explores new feelings and grows in her love of her whole self.

A multicultural fantasy that’s packed with action and heart.