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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-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:
No
For me, this book was flawless. I have to thank Clark for writing this full length novel in this amazing world with these characters that I adore. I have, and will continue to read anything this man writes.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I liked the mystery.
Some plot points were opened and then never touched back on.
Some things that happened just seemed to be written for the plot instead of what would be more realistic like whenthe agents run away from Siwa the first time he cuts his tongue. It seems like that happens so they don’t realize that the djinn is under a spell. The two agents ran away way too fast.
I loved the world building.
Some plot points were opened and then never touched back on.
Some things that happened just seemed to be written for the plot instead of what would be more realistic like when
I loved the world building.
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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Spoilers!
This was AWESOME.
What I liked:
This was AWESOME.
What I liked:
- The setting was so cool; Clark's imagination and the way he relates it to his audience is nothing short of magical. A magic-driven, steampunk Cairo that beat back the colonizers?? INCREDIBLE
- I've read a lot of Amelia Peabody books set in Cairo around the same time as this, but that's strictly historical so Brits are everywhere and archaeologists too. This was an awesome contrast
- Clark's writing just simmers with colour. I want to write like this someday; the whole world just sparkles
- There were a lot of different fantasy/sci fi elements here, and Clark did an amazing job integrating all of them into his world in a way that felt natural and seamless
- I LOVED Siti and Hadia
- This would have been an incredible graphic novel - I'm sure there is one and I think I'll have to go read it
- Not really about this book but an interesting note; the writing style here was SO different from Ring Shout, another work by Clark that I loved, and his talent in being able to shift and grow his style that much depending on the genre is enviable
- ABIGAIL WAS AN AMAZING VILLAIN. Perfectly easy to hate, with good motivations. Just evil enough to keep things very interesting
What I didn't:
- I understand this is a continuation of a short story - I wish I'd known that beforehand! Maybe it would have given more context for the Maker episode? But that's my failing, not Clark's
- I thought the plot was a little slow-moving; some of the mystery elements felt quite obvious to me and I found myself wishing at times that Fatma was a bit quicker on the uptake. Like, at one point she hears Siwa say..."you're talking about someone in THIS household, related to THIS man...who are you talking about?" when there are only 2 candidates!!
- she also runs away from Siwa the first time he tries cutting his tongue out, which seemed so odd to me. You're part of the Ministry that deals with djinn! You don't stay and help? Or try and find out what's wrong?
- At times I didn't find Fatma as compelling a protagonist as she could have been, emotionally speaking. I'd have loved to learn more about her
- We never find out why the Angels wanted to manipulate Abigail into using the Seal? That seems like a huge plot point that we totally missed out on, as readers
Overall, though, I adored this and the worldbuilding was absolutely delicious. Everything sparkled. I can't wait to read more of Clark's work!
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes