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A review by bookwyrmknits
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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? Yes
5.0
I have loved Clark's Dead Djinn Universe since reading The Haunting of Tram Car 015 (quickly followed by the other stories in the universe). This full-length novel is no exception! It was a lot of fun to read, and had the perfect amount of mystery to it. I especially appreciated that I figured out the puzzle (using clues, not guesses) just before Fatma did. It's always nice when an author gives the reader enough clues to solve the mystery, but not so many that the MC seems slow in comparison.
This is a highly enjoyable novel, and while you don't need to read any of the shorter pieces that come before it before picking up this book, I personally liked the little nods to those stories that I found since I *had* already read them. That extra knowledge, though, is a bonus and not at all necessary if you don't want to start with the short stories.
As with the prior installments in this universe, the focus is on setting and plot, and not characters. While we do get some minor character development in this novel, it seems that it's usually plot-driven development and not the other way around. This isn't a problem, especially if you're aware of it going in, but it might help manage expectations about what this novel is going to deliver.
This is a highly enjoyable novel, and while you don't need to read any of the shorter pieces that come before it before picking up this book, I personally liked the little nods to those stories that I found since I *had* already read them. That extra knowledge, though, is a bonus and not at all necessary if you don't want to start with the short stories.
As with the prior installments in this universe, the focus is on setting and plot, and not characters. While we do get some minor character development in this novel, it seems that it's usually plot-driven development and not the other way around. This isn't a problem, especially if you're aware of it going in, but it might help manage expectations about what this novel is going to deliver.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Fire/Fire injury