Book 1: The Palace Kitchens
Chen Wei, a talented Chinese-Singaporean chef, took a high-paying job cooking in one of Saddam Hussein's lavish palaces along the Tigris. When coalition forces invade Baghdad in 2003, Wei is gravely injured during a chaotic bombardment while hiding in a subterranean vault beneath the private quarters. Bleeding out in the rubble, his hands fall upon a soot-covered bronze lamp. He awakens a primordial Jinn bound by ancient Mesopotamian blood magic who heals his mortal wounds, binding their souls together.
While escaping the burning palace, Wei crosses paths with Layla Al-Hassan, a sharp, fierce Iraqi restorer and art historian working at the Iraq Museum. Searching for the same vault to save ancient relics from looting, Layla becomes Wei's essential guide through Baghdad's burning streets. As US troops sweep the city, Wei discovers the Jinn's reality-bending powers are fueled by intent-infused cooking, while Layla provides the historical knowledge needed to keep the entity controlled.
Book 2: Shadow of the Djinn
Word of a magical anomaly inside the fallen palace spreads through global intelligence channels. The CIA's black-budget occult division, MI6, and former Ba'athist loyalists form a lethal dragnet across Iraq. Joining the hunt is the Solomon Order—a secret European society dedicated to harvesting ancient artifacts—alongside shadowy regional sorcerers.
As Wei and Layla navigate war-torn Iraq, their survival bond deepens into a fierce romance. Layla's deep ties to local underground networks help them evade elite mercenaries, while Wei uses his culinary-infused magic to protect her from supernatural trackers. Together, they trace the lamp's lore down ancient trade routes toward Jordan, realizing Layla's own family legacy is secretly tied to the original keepers of Solomon's seals.
Book 3: The Imperial Feast
The stakes escalate when the Solomon Order discovers the lamp is one of four elemental anchors forged to seal away an abyssal war. They kidnap Wei's family in Singapore and Layla's surviving relatives in Mosul, forcing the couple to bring the genie to a secret summit held in the historic ruins of Istanbul.
Cornered by rogue intelligence agencies, military strike teams, and ancient occult elites, Wei and Layla execute a daring plan. Combining Layla's brilliant strategic mind and historical mastery with Wei's magic-infused culinary trickery, they turn the global power factions against one another. Together, they destroy the Solomon Order's hold, break the lamp's curse, and secure a peaceful future hidden far away from the eyes of world empires.