Reviews

Great world building! I just want to learn all about this world!The plot got a little convoluted/ the main character missed a lot considering she was a detective

hb_bookworm's review against another edition

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5.0

this book was such a treat! i love the immersive world and nuanced characters clark creates, and i loved seeing the mystery (and relationships) unfold! i didn't know fantasy/sci-fi murder mystery was a thing, but it combines two of my favorite types of story - especially populated with such wonderful characters and centered on a kickass sapphic couple. clark has been an autoread writer for me since Ring Shout, and I cannot wait to see more additions to this series!!

also as an aside, i LOVED the narrator and the range of voices and personality she brought to the whole cast of characters. definitely hope she's tapped for the next ones!

julia_duna's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious medium-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

5.0

anonymous_blobfish's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious reflective 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

5.0

This was an absolute masterpiece! P. Djèlí Clark has rapidly become a favourite author this year and after devouring the prequels, I was so excited to dive into this full-length addition to the Dead Djinn Universe.

We once again team up with the beloved Fatma as, dressed to the 9’s, she is forced to save Cairo from disaster once again, this time with the help of the beautiful and deadly Siti, and her new partner, the fresh-outta-training Hadia. Alongside their slightly less competent colleagues, these dynamic women must solve a mass murder and unmask a political pretender before the city is destroyed by itself.

There is nothing I didn’t love about this book. Clark’s characters are all so strong and rich and interesting, so easily coming to life off the page before me. The setting of Cairo was so real I felt like I could taste the spices and feel the warm air on my skin. Never having been to that part of the world, I think Clark really did a phenomenal job of describing a real-world Cairo, whilst seamlessly overlapping his steampunk fictional world atop it.

There were some moments of frustration when reading this, specifically the moments of ineptitude demonstrated by all members of law enforcement, specifically when it came to identifying a certain character. However, I also think that was an intentional statement based on who they were unveiled to be, and on the other events that happened in this world around the same time.

My favourite character throughout this book was hands down Ahmed, that little crocodilian scoundrel. I would love for Clark to write Ahmed his own story because I would love to spend more time with him, before or after the events of this book.

I will definitely be reading more from this author and can say without reserve that I highly recommend this book to any who enjoy great fantasy. This is one of my fave bookclub reads this year and I had such a good time reading it with my besties!

g_oldpetals's review against another edition

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adventurous funny inspiring mysterious tense 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? No

4.5

emmacoleman's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

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