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lportilla's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Racism
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Racial slurs
ekcd_'s review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Universe
This book is advertised as the author's debut book, but apparently, he has also written some short stories that are in the same universe. When I started reading, I felt like I had accidentally picked up a sequel or accidentally picked up a book halfway through. A lot of the character's cryptic references were actually major plot points from the short stories that were not addressed at all in the book. It wasn't mysterious and gripping it was pretty confusing trying to piece together who Fatma is, what happened to her, what is important to her, etc.
Setting and Cultural Context.
I was raised in a euro-centric Christian culture, and so this book was not written for me. As such, there were a lot of little things that I missed. Maybe I would have been more invested in the characters if I had been better introduced to the characters and/or known more about the culture. I have to wonder if the short stories established some of the Islamic / Muslim / Religious / Cultural themes that would have made the book more cohesive to me personally. Because I am unfamiliar with this part of the world and its customs, I can't comment if it is accurate or problematic. Just be prepared that if you don't know much about 20th-century Egypt, you probably will feel lost. Had Wikipedia pulled up the whole time and learned a lot, but the book wasn't good enough to warrant doing this again.
I love fantasy, and sometimes being dropped in the middle of the world gives the reader an endearing "stranger in a strange land" vibe, but this was just frustrating.
Writing Style
The prose was so purple that I stopped paying attention to the paragraphs of character descriptions and clothing descriptions. The descriptions were not detailed; they were just long. You could line up all the character introductions without their names shuffling the order and genuinely not be able to identify them.
The dialogue was choppy, and some of the words made no sense - I can't tell if the book was translated, or again, it's just little cultural norms or cues that I am missing, but some of the speaking words made no sense with the situation. I'm normally not picky with this; no one is perfect, but after I noticed it, it was like noticing I had popcorn in my teeth, and I was in a terrible mood until I got it out (i.e., finished the book).
*Spoilers Follow*
Characters
Fatma:
Wearing a suit and tie as a woman is not a personality trait. Quoting your mother's overly metaphorical but ultimately meaningless maxims is not a personality trait. This character has so much potential as a queer WOC, and it was completely squandered. Fatma also is incredibly inconsistent but not in a "loveable unreliable narrator" or "character flaw way" but in a "does the author even know their own character?" way. . In the final two chapters, Fatma mentions being against slavery, yet within seconds of putting on the ring starts to control the Djinn. Then moments later, the Seal compliments her on how pure she is? What??
The ethical dilemmas she faces had the potential to be rich and detailed, but all of her choices are rushed by crisis, and it feels like a cheap narrative tool to avoid discussing bigger ethical and social justice subtleties.
Antagonist (MAJOR SPOILER):
Abigail as the villain is super weird. She's somehow one-dimensional and inconsistent at the same time. The book would be identical if you just removed her completely from the story. The "reveal" is one sentence and not very thought out.
Sexism, Colorism, Bigotry, Colonization, Slavery, etc
Once again, I feel like there was a secret book I missed here. Many other reviews laud this book as a great commentary on big social justice issues, and I did not get that impression at all. Bigotry, religious intolerance, sexism, colorism, and racism were mentioned maybe once or twice each (in a 400-page book) and it was always just a small comment from one of the characters. The issues were not addressed or acknowledged otherwise. There were no significant plot issues driven by these themes or plot points that interacted with them. Wasted potential ? False advertisement? Personal opinion? Yes.
Plot Holes
This is not a procedural, it is more of a fantasy call to adventure. There is no police work happening here, no induction, deduction, or sleuthing. Not a good or bad thing, but certainly not a mystery as advertised.
Overall
I will forget about this book the second I submit this review. It left very little impression on me. I am disappointed because this has been suggested to me both by humans and algorithms, so I had high expectations. Not worth 400 pages, I will not be reading it again and will not suggest it to other people.
THAT BEING SAID, it did whet my appetite for Egyptian mythology and folklore, and I already have some non-fiction on the topic being queued up.
This book is advertised as the author's debut book, but apparently, he has also written some short stories that are in the same universe. When I started reading, I felt like I had accidentally picked up a sequel or accidentally picked up a book halfway through. A lot of the character's cryptic references were actually major plot points from the short stories that were not addressed at all in the book. It wasn't mysterious and gripping it was pretty confusing trying to piece together who Fatma is, what happened to her, what is important to her, etc.
Setting and Cultural Context.
I was raised in a euro-centric Christian culture, and so this book was not written for me. As such, there were a lot of little things that I missed. Maybe I would have been more invested in the characters if I had been better introduced to the characters and/or known more about the culture. I have to wonder if the short stories established some of the Islamic / Muslim / Religious / Cultural themes that would have made the book more cohesive to me personally. Because I am unfamiliar with this part of the world and its customs, I can't comment if it is accurate or problematic. Just be prepared that if you don't know much about 20th-century Egypt, you probably will feel lost. Had Wikipedia pulled up the whole time and learned a lot, but the book wasn't good enough to warrant doing this again.
I love fantasy, and sometimes being dropped in the middle of the world gives the reader an endearing "stranger in a strange land" vibe, but this was just frustrating.
Writing Style
The prose was so purple that I stopped paying attention to the paragraphs of character descriptions and clothing descriptions. The descriptions were not detailed; they were just long. You could line up all the character introductions without their names shuffling the order and genuinely not be able to identify them.
The dialogue was choppy, and some of the words made no sense - I can't tell if the book was translated, or again, it's just little cultural norms or cues that I am missing, but some of the speaking words made no sense with the situation. I'm normally not picky with this; no one is perfect, but after I noticed it, it was like noticing I had popcorn in my teeth, and I was in a terrible mood until I got it out (i.e., finished the book).
*Spoilers Follow*
Characters
Fatma:
Wearing a suit and tie as a woman is not a personality trait. Quoting your mother's overly metaphorical but ultimately meaningless maxims is not a personality trait. This character has so much potential as a queer WOC, and it was completely squandered. Fatma also is
The ethical dilemmas she faces had the potential to be rich and detailed, but all of her choices are rushed by crisis, and it feels like a cheap narrative tool to avoid discussing bigger ethical and social justice subtleties.
Antagonist (MAJOR SPOILER):
Sexism, Colorism, Bigotry, Colonization, Slavery, etc
Once again, I feel like there was a secret book I missed here. Many other reviews laud this book as a great commentary on big social justice issues, and I did not get that impression at all. Bigotry, religious intolerance, sexism, colorism, and racism were mentioned maybe once or twice each (in a 400-page book) and
Plot Holes
This is not a procedural, it is more of a fantasy call to adventure. There is no police work happening here, no induction, deduction, or sleuthing. Not a good or bad thing, but certainly not a mystery as advertised.
Overall
I will forget about this book the second I submit this review. It left very little impression on me. I am disappointed because this has been suggested to me both by humans and algorithms, so I had high expectations. Not worth 400 pages, I will not be reading it again and will not suggest it to other people.
THAT BEING SAID, it did whet my appetite for Egyptian mythology and folklore, and I already have some non-fiction on the topic being queued up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Murder, Classism, Misogyny, War, Slavery, Police brutality, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Confinement, Gun violence, Violence, and Lesbophobia
astropova's review against another edition
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? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexism, Police brutality, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
Minor: Colonisation, Body horror, and War
aardwyrm's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
A mystery is a balancing act, and overall this one does a good job of leaving clues the audience can follow and making sure it all pays off. Also djinn are cool as shit.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Xenophobia, Gun violence, Violence, Sexism, Racism, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Police brutality, Misogyny, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Death, Homophobia, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
schnaucl's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.25
I really liked it, though I think I would have benefited from reading the short story set in the universe first. I actually liked the fact that certain things (mostly related to fashion) weren't explicitly explained for an audience who may not be familiar with it
The idea that America would be very anti-magic seems fitting.
I think the politics will be fascinating since not only is there the introduction of magic about 40 years ago, but it looks like World War I never happened. Egypt is a great power. Britain's power is waning for but for somewhat different reasons than happened in reality.
It's always interesting to explore the mythologies, magic traditions, and religions of other places and cultures. Lots of interesting stuff about colonial power, race, gender and religion to chew on.
I really liked the Jasmine Club.
I was a little frustrated, that Fatma didn't pick up on the fact that Siwa was trying to give them clues the only way he could the first time. I didn't understand the clues, but I figured that's what was happened. I also thought his second attempt where he was literally like here's a story about a woman dressed as a man doing a thing was pretty on the nose. Then again, I figured out who the true culprit was as soon as the doctor explained about the mask, since Fatma took her information from the person who first described the mask to her.
The idea that America would be very anti-magic seems fitting.
I think the politics will be fascinating since not only is there the introduction of magic about 40 years ago, but it looks like World War I never happened. Egypt is a great power. Britain's power is waning for but for somewhat different reasons than happened in reality.
It's always interesting to explore the mythologies, magic traditions, and religions of other places and cultures. Lots of interesting stuff about colonial power, race, gender and religion to chew on.
I really liked the Jasmine Club.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Slavery
Minor: Cultural appropriation
uranaishi's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Colonisation, Homophobia, Murder, Sexism, Slavery, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Blood, Racism, Stalking, Religious bigotry, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Death, and Racial slurs
Minor: Alcohol, Police brutality, Sexual content, Antisemitism, Outing, Violence, and War
yavin_iv's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Body horror, Fire/Fire injury, Racism, and Murder
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Death of parent, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Sexism, and Slavery
Minor: Alcohol
mar's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
5.0
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Sexism, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Minor: Religious bigotry, Stalking, and Police brutality
dedonohoe's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
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? No
5.0
TL;DR: A Master of Djinn is a queer, magical steampunk fantasy anticolonial alternate history murder mystery detective novel. And it’s excellent. My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
A mysterious scientist-philosopher-magician of a bygone era opens the human realm to greater settlement by djinn and other “mythical” beings. Thanks to this historical development, Egypt has greatly benefited from advanced djinn magic and technology to become an early nineteenth century superpower.
One of the reasons I was excited to read this book is that the description (steampunk alternate history with anticolonial bent) reminded me of Nisi Shawl’s Everfair, which I read and enjoyed a couple years back. There were indeed thematic and steampunk genre similarities between the two, but these are ultimately very different kinds of stories. Mystery, detective, and fantasy tropes are far more prominent in A Master of Djinn. The main character, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, is an investigator with the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. The supernatural bureaucracy elements of the story reminded me a bit of the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter, as did the protagonist’s mission to stop a megalomaniac from harnessing potentially catastrophic magical powers.
There is so, so much to love in this book. The clues, twists, and turns of a good mystery. Strong, complex female heroes, sidekicks, and villains. A queer love story that navigates racial, religious, and other differences in identity and lived experience. Gender politics of turn of the century Cairo. Revenge fantasy scenes where white colonizers get what’s coming to them. Vivid and imaginative descriptions of setting and characters that make glorious use of color (e.g. Cairene woman protagonist is known for wearing androgynous and brightly color-coordinated European suits). Compelling historical allusions (e.g. Black New Orleans jazz musicians who fled Jim Crow America for Egypt give commentary on the racial politics of their adopted country of refuge).
As a big language nerd and someone who has traveled and lived in places with Turkic, Persian, and Arab cultural influences, I also LOVED the religious, cultural, and linguistic details that Clark weaves into his story. It’s quite apparent in his fiction that Clark is a historian by training.
I also want to address the question of whether A Master of Djinn is a standalone work. When I requested an ARC for A Master of Djinn, I hadn’t realized that P. Djèlí Clark had already written two novellas set in this fantasy world and featuring these characters. I was curious whether they were important to understanding and enjoying his debut novel, so I decided to buy and read them before jumping into A Master of Djinn. I can definitely report that it’s not necessary to read “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” or “The Haunting of Tram Car 015” in advance. The important information gets repeated in A Master of Djinn for the benefit of the uninitiated.
That said, if you want to get a taste of this world before committing to the full novel, “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” is very short (43 pages) and tells the story of a previous case Fatma has solved that is very relevant to the case she becomes embroiled in during the events of A Master of Djinn. “The Haunting of Tram Car 015” is longer (82 pages) and centers on side characters (Fatma only makes a brief cameo) and a case that is not central to A Master of Djinn. However, it is entertaining in its own right and provides background for some of the religious conflict present in this imagined Cairene society, as well as recent political movements for gender equality that are alluded to in A Master of Djinn.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Racial slurs, Racism, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Slavery, and Violence
TL;DR: A Master of Djinn is a queer, magical steampunk fantasy anticolonial alternate history murder mystery detective novel. And it’s excellent. My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars A mysterious scientist-philosopher-magician of a bygone era opens the human realm to greater settlement by djinn and other “mythical” beings. Thanks to this historical development, Egypt has greatly benefited from advanced djinn magic and technology to become an early nineteenth century superpower. One of the reasons I was excited to read this book is that the description (steampunk alternate history with anticolonial bent) reminded me of Nisi Shawl’s Everfair, which I read and enjoyed a couple years back. There were indeed thematic and steampunk genre similarities between the two, but these are ultimately very different kinds of stories. Mystery, detective, and fantasy tropes are far more prominent in A Master of Djinn. The main character, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, is an investigator with the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. The supernatural bureaucracy elements of the story reminded me a bit of the Ministry of Magic in Harry Potter, as did the protagonist’s mission to stop a megalomaniac from harnessing potentially catastrophic magical powers. There is so, so much to love in this book. The clues, twists, and turns of a good mystery. Strong, complex female heroes, sidekicks, and villains. A queer love story that navigates racial, religious, and other differences in identity and lived experience. Gender politics of turn of the century Cairo. Revenge fantasy scenes where white colonizers get what’s coming to them. Vivid and imaginative descriptions of setting and characters that make glorious use of color (e.g. Cairene woman protagonist is known for wearing androgynous and brightly color-coordinated European suits). Compelling historical allusions (e.g. Black New Orleans jazz musicians who fled Jim Crow America for Egypt give commentary on the racial politics of their adopted country of refuge). As a big language nerd and someone who has traveled and lived in places with Turkic, Persian, and Arab cultural influences, I also LOVED the religious, cultural, and linguistic details that Clark weaves into his story. It’s quite apparent in his fiction that Clark is a historian by training. I also want to address the question of whether A Master of Djinn is a standalone work. When I requested an ARC for A Master of Djinn, I hadn’t realized that P. Djèlí Clark had already written two novellas set in this fantasy world and featuring these characters. I was curious whether they were important to understanding and enjoying his debut novel, so I decided to buy and read them before jumping into A Master of Djinn. I can definitely report that it’s not necessary to read “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” or “The Haunting of Tram Car 015” in advance. The important information gets repeated in A Master of Djinn for the benefit of the uninitiated. That said, if you want to get a taste of this world before committing to the full novel, “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” is very short (43 pages) and tells the story of a previous case Fatma has solved that is very relevant to the case she becomes embroiled in during the events of A Master of Djinn. “The Haunting of Tram Car 015” is longer (82 pages) and centers on side characters (Fatma only makes a brief cameo) and a case that is not central to A Master of Djinn. However, it is entertaining in its own right and provides background for some of the religious conflict present in this imagined Cairene society, as well as recent political movements for gender equality that are alluded to in A Master of Djinn. Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for giving me advance access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
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