Reviews

A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

chlcrc617's review

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funny mysterious medium-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

4.5

kaelstrom's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

geekwayne's review

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4.0

'A Master of Djinn' by P. Djeli Clark is an urban fantasy set in an alternate Cairo where magic creatures exist.

Fatma el-Sha'arawi is a young but seasoned investigator in Cairo's Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. She dresses sharp and really doesn't want a partner, but when a mysterious man in a gold mask shows up and seemingly commands the cities many Djinn, she just might need the help.

While I found the mystery a bit easy to unravel, the motivation and method as well as the lush world-building made it a fun journey. The varied characters are interesting and well rounded also.

I received a review copy of this ebook from Macmillan-Tor/Forge and NetGalley. Thank you for allowing me to review this ebook.

klnanker15's review

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5.0

A Master of Djinn was a solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed. A large part of that was that the narrator for the audiobook was fantastic. She did such a wonderful job narrating and it really pulled me into the story. I highly suggest listening!

This book is largely a fantasy mystery set in an almost steam punkesque Cairo. I enjoyed the mystery, though I did solve it before the main character which always disappoints me a bit. I love that Cairo wasn't just a backdrop, but was a vital element to the story. The city informs the characters and the plot. The characters themselves are well written, aside from perhaps a slightly campy villian.

I also enjoyed that this book had so many women main parts. I've read plenty of books in fantasy where there were female main characters, but I've rarely read a book where it felt like there were more women who were important to the story than men. There are plenty of male characters too, but the women were given far more priority, agency, and depth then the men. At least, more than I feel like is typical in the genre! So for me that's a win.

Overall, Master of Djinn really had me invested, especially in the beginning to middle sections. The end got a bit too over the top, but there were some good laughs there too so it didn't take itself too seriously. Worth a read!

alyssathinkstoomuch's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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? Yes

4.25

hannahduff's review against another edition

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adventurous 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

4.0

emilysummer_'s review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

vanessa_books26's review against another edition

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funny hopeful 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

4.5

ksc2742's review

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challenging mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

kesii's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

4.0