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emily_mh's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was another fantastic novella from Clark set in his alt-history steampunk 1910s Cairo! I’m truly in love with the setting of this world, and in this book it was really brought to the forefront, the plot being focussed on this Cairo’s network of aerial trams!!
The plot further expands the world-building in how it ties in the religious and political diversity and tensions of the setting. There’s a particular focus on women (and how AMAZING they are), as Egypt’s women are fighting for suffrage, and womanhood is otherwise tied into the story. Ironically, our MC and his investigative partner are men, though they are very endearing ones at that. Furthermore, the pacing of the plot was once again well-executed.
I was really intrigued by the brief commentary on this Cairo’s thinking machines. The narrative poses the question: if they can think, are they beings in their own right, and thus is our use of them enslavement? The parallels were AI are striking.
Overall, this was thoroughly enjoyable and well-done.
Rep: Muslim Egyptian MC, Egyptian SCs
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Kidnapping, Violence, Child death, and Animal death
Minor: Alcoholism, Addiction, Death, Misogyny, Infertility, Blood, Gore, Vomit, Gun violence, Ableism, Alcohol, Racism, Colonisation, Mental illness, Slavery, and Fire/Fire injury
novella42's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Excellent worldbuilding!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pregnancy, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Misogyny, Miscarriage, Blood, Medical trauma, Confinement, Injury/Injury detail, Child death, Body horror, and Animal death
ndpmclean's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Another great story in this world of dijin in steampunk Cairo!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Animal cruelty, and Gore
rorareads55's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Cursing
Minor: Animal death and Gore
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Had higher expectations for this :/ the potential was there but not executed well. Did like the wacky mysterious vibes. Didn't like the women's suffrage subplot to the main plot. That wasn't good. Didn't like the MC but the rest of it was decent. Definitely a starting novella for the author. Liked the monster action and world building. Looking forward to Fatma's book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Violence, Gore, and Animal death
Minor: Blood, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
aardwyrm's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really like Clark's work and all the weirdness and reflection on human frailty and fundamental potential for goodness and cool monster action is here, though you can kinda tell it's an earlier work (lot of "as you know, Bob" dialogue), the exposition dumps sit lightly because the bizarre worldbuilding is a large part of the draw.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Pregnancy, Sexism, Blood, Cannibalism, and Gore
bekahmccue's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore
awpatton's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Gore
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“How do we stop it?”
Madaam Mariam sipped her tea before answering. “You will need iron, to bind it. Something sharp, preferably. Even as small as a needle. Prick the spirit. Then, once that is done, bring it home and make it work for you.”
Hamed squinted back at her. “That’s a bit strange.”
“Most of these stories are,” she told him flatly.”
TITLE—The Haunting of Tram Car 015
AUTHOR—P. Djèlí Clark
PUBLISHED—2019
GENRE—historical fantasy; steampunk
SETTING—a sort of alternate historical 1912 Cairo
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—djinn magic & mythology, Islamic history, women’s suffrage, artificial intelligence
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Onsi was my favorite. 🥰
PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S—I loved the inclusion of womens suffrage as a theme in the story! also all of the folklore surrounding the al and other similar beings…
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wanted this novella to be longer simply because I became completely absorbed by the worldbuilding and enamored with the characters and engrossed by the storytelling, but Clark’s story is a perfectly complete one that felt neither rushed nor left incomplete.
Set in the same Cairo as the first novella and third book, this story focuses on the story of Hamed and his partner Onsi who are also agents with the Ministry, though both “Siti” and Fatma make their appearances. Hamed and Onsi’s mission to “exorcise” a haunted tram car turns into an exciting, funny, and philosophically beautiful story of folklore and the power of women.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW // violence, some gore, scary supernatural creatures
Further Reading—
- everything by P. Djèlí Clark
- folklore retellings, like Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold, edited by Daisy Johnson
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Violence
montereads's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Gore, Pregnancy, Misogyny, and Sexism