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timinbc's review against another edition
5.0
Steampunk supernatural detective in 1912 Cairo - what's not to like?
By sheer coincidence, this is the third straight book I've read that took me to Cairo. Is there a message I'm missing?
Clark shows a mastery of the novella length, dropping us in a world where of course things are as they are and getting right on with it. Hamed's a bit of an observer character, but Onsi makes up for it.
Onsi was a bit dual, though - bright young lad mixed with annoying nerd. In a novel length I'd want the author to decide which.
Plot is credible, developments believable, secondary characters good. Not without humour.
I'll read another of these, and I'll be looking for a novel eventually.
By sheer coincidence, this is the third straight book I've read that took me to Cairo. Is there a message I'm missing?
Clark shows a mastery of the novella length, dropping us in a world where of course things are as they are and getting right on with it. Hamed's a bit of an observer character, but Onsi makes up for it.
Onsi was a bit dual, though - bright young lad mixed with annoying nerd. In a novel length I'd want the author to decide which.
Plot is credible, developments believable, secondary characters good. Not without humour.
I'll read another of these, and I'll be looking for a novel eventually.
breadandmushrooms's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
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
3.5
kaithroars's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
4.25
wanderinglynn's review against another edition
2.75
This book was just okay. I'm a bit baffled on how it won so many awards.
The setting is Cairo in 1912 and djinn and other supernatural elements have been "released" into the world. Maybe because I didn't read [book:A Dead Djinn in Cairo|29635542] first, but I thought the world-building was a little clunky. And I guess because it's a novella that it just comes right out with the fact the tram car is haunted. Of course, the title also gives that away, but I thought that there might be more investigating to it.
Upon entering chapter 2, there's a clunky transition with the women’s suffrage movement. The synopsis also mentions secret societies—I don't think I'd call it a secret society. It was more of a ritual that has been dismissed by the academics/scientific community.
Again, maybe because it was a novella, I thought that the main characters had a rather easy time of it. A bit too easy. They just happened to be overheard by someone who could help them. Someone who did something bad just happened to confess. It was all too convenient. And the character development was just okay.
An easy read. Nothing spectacular—definitely a let down from the hype I've heard.
The setting is Cairo in 1912 and djinn and other supernatural elements have been "released" into the world. Maybe because I didn't read [book:A Dead Djinn in Cairo|29635542] first, but I thought the world-building was a little clunky. And I guess because it's a novella that it just comes right out with the fact the tram car is haunted. Of course, the title also gives that away, but I thought that there might be more investigating to it.
Upon entering chapter 2, there's a clunky transition with the women’s suffrage movement. The synopsis also mentions secret societies—I don't think I'd call it a secret society. It was more of a ritual that has been dismissed by the academics/scientific community.
Again, maybe because it was a novella, I thought that the main characters had a rather easy time of it. A bit too easy. They just happened to be overheard by someone who could help them. Someone who did something bad just happened to confess. It was all too convenient. And the character development was just okay.
An easy read. Nothing spectacular—definitely a let down from the hype I've heard.
trin's review against another edition
4.0
Likable characters and highly entertaining world-building, even though some of the exposition is awkwardly presented, likely due to this novella's novellaness. This feels very much like a piece of a much larger story, which I can only hope Clark writes.
meggles801's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
chemifox's review against another edition
adventurous
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
3.75
Fun read! Loved the world building and the central mystery, but it felt too short for me to fully connect with. I look forward to reading the novel set in the same universe.
atlantisfrost's review against another edition
adventurous
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
5.0
Really enjoyed this novella! I love that Arabic terms are used throughout - I'm learning a lot. It feels like the author is intimately familiar with Egypt's geography, history, and language. The author also has such a vivid, lush vision of this steampunk, alternate-history Cairo - it feels like a real place! And Onsi's ramblings of historical details are such a nice addition. Can't wait to read more in the Dead Djinn universe.