A Master of Djinn is a thriller, mystery and police procedural all unfolding in an equally mystical setting of Clark’s steampunked world of Cairo before WWI. The storytelling is compact and does not lose focus in a beautiful spiralling chaos that is compelling as it is terrifying. The vivid descriptions leap off the pages and pulls you into this very palpable world where you imagine yourself as a minor character working alongside the heroes. Our heroes are not infallible (the execution of their tactics sometimes go awry) which makes them so attractive and believable. Throughout the book Clark weaves and explores themes of differentness, acceptance, selflessness, dominance and servitude in such a seamless, sensitive
and subtle way. It challenges our determination to selfhood and agency for “Virtue is in deeds, not the skin”. Highly recommended.

Al-Jahiz transformed the world nearly forty years ago, when he ruptured the divisions between universes and ushered a world of djinn and magic into the world—before vanishing, never to be seen again. Until now. It’s up to Fatma el-Sha’arawi, agent of Egypt’s Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, to discover what is going on…before al-Jahiz (or the person claiming to be him) disrupts the world again.

You don’t need to keep something quiet forever. You just let it come out in drips, to give everyone a chance to prepare for it. Then when the larger story is released, the impact is diminished and it’s soon forgotten.

A Master of Djinn starts off with a bang—literally.

Right from the start, al-Jahiz murders a group of British supernatural worshippers and relic hunters dedicated to discovering and preserving the legacy of al-Jahiz (in the most colonial way possible), and Fatma is assigned to the case, with a new partner to boot.

I have loved the Dead Djinn Universe series since the beginning, when I first read A Dead Djinn in Cairo and was introduced to the suit-wearing Fatma and her snark, wit and intelligence. There is even more of that now, as she rotates through an array of very colorfully described suits and continues being herself.

I’m not going to talk about the plot itself, which is more murder mystery than anything else, and addressing the murder aspect or the mystery aspect of things will be…spoilery. But let’s just say that the twist wasn’t particularly earth-shattering, and the villain’s monologue at the end was very monologuey and very…well. You’ll just have to read and see.

“You think Egypt can bring you peace when it cannot bring peace to itself. When its people cry out against its own injustices. When its corruption and decadence devour it from within.”

What I really enjoyed about this book was its insightful look into layers of prejudice and corruption.

When the world changes, who really comes out on top?

When the previous order is shattered, what happens to the victims, and to the victimizers?

Who remains in power, and what does that look like those those at the bottom?

What does reparations look like, when the injustices are finally seen—and someone decides to try to help?

There were a lot of questions, and not too many answers…which is understandable, since these are all very complex questions, and the root of colonialism and whyte supremacy are insidious and meant to be self-sustaining systems by both oppressed and oppressors. There are layers and layers, of whose intersections Clark captures very well.

At the top, there are the British colonizers, with the Great Broker of Peace and his legacy (both in terms of offspring and in political might and stranger racist archaic workings). When he is gone, where does that leave his legacy, in all sense of the word?

And with Egypt, where does their place fit into a world where they have powerful alliances, and what does it mean to be a person of color in a world of djinn and angels and whyte supremacists?

At the bottom, there are the poor, the darker skinned Egyptians, the marginalized being pushed further into the margins of their world as their country advances forward in technology and might. So when a person appears speaking words of change and revolution and empowerment and a chance to emerge from the marginalia of the history books, of course the oppressed follow.

Somewhere in the middle lies Fatma.

She is both a bridge and not. Between worlds (there are layers to this word, too), but not untouched by the worlds she resides in.

She has to reconcile with her own internalized misogyny when she is partnered with Hadia, who is as outwardly conservative as Fatma is outwardly progressive. I did like how Clark addresses the concept of the Exceptional Woman—you know who she is. The sole woman (or one of few) who are just so fantastic within their male-dominated workplace that the man clap themselves on the back for being inclusive while closing the doors behind her. The woman who by her very exceptionalism, is no longer a woman in the eyes of her male coworkers, but an object to be praised, feared and admired.

I liked that Fatma had to address (and readdress, again and again) her internalized prejudices, and build new bridges and a new way forward.

“I hope I’m not signing away my free will or fondest memories,” Hadia muttered.

“Oh no,” Azmuri replied. “Those forms are much longer.”

And, of course, I really, really liked the humor. There’s not a whole lot of it, and it’s very dry, but where it appears it is hilarious. The put-downs from the immortal magical beings are hilarious, and I loved that even though this is a brand new modern world of magic and technology, bureaucracy reigns supreme and is magic in its own way.

While the pacing was…not the best, I did enjoy who well swept up into this world I became. There is something so magical about this world, how everything builds and builds and builds until it all feels so real and magical and flawed all at once.

Anywho, if you enjoy a good murder mystery (with or without magic) and detective stories, I highly recommend this one.

I also highly recommend that you read the short story and novella that come before this. They are not entirely necessary, but will provide a bunch of context and understanding of who a lot of the players are and their motivations (and why angels are so scary).

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

A Master of Djinn releases May 11, 2021.

Disclaimer: I received an advance copy of this book from Tor.com in exchange for an honest review.

P. Djeli Clark returns to his steampunk, magic-driven Cairo for a full-length mystery novel that shows us more of the fantastic, enveloping world he's constructed. In "A Master of Djinn," he once again paints a rich picture of an alternate world where the early 20th century is drastically altered by Egypt's magic-fueled emergence as a world power. The novel mixes Islamic traditions, the old Egyptian gods most readers will know (and perhaps love!), and details of how the rest of the world--including the United States--has been altered by the re-emergence of magic. While the scope might be a little broader, this is not yet a geopolitical thriller; Clark sticks to the beat-cop supernatural mysteries he's had so much success with, though the greater length lets him weave in more steps between the inciting incident and the final showdown. At times the stakes seem to escalate too quickly, with ever-more-powerful entities emerging from the shadows to pose larger and larger threats. The novel is at its best when it slows down and unspools the rich world it's built in, even if that means slowing down the action and taking detours from the "main" case. At the risk of stretching out a taut, tense plot, "A Master of Djinn" might have benefited from being slightly longer to allow room for some of the more esoteric details of the world to breathe. However, those quibbles barely stand in the way of this enchanting portrait of a world just familiar enough to keep the reader wondering what slight twist will appear next.

Four and a half out of five stars.

More spoilery details, including for Clark's three shorter works in this world ("A Dead Djinn in Cairo," "The Haunting of Tram Car 015," "The Angel of Khan el-Khalili") follow. There are a few major unresolved supernatural plotlines that the novel leaves hanging, presumably in anticipation of a potential sequel. One is the "always a bigger fish" structure of the supernatural world. "A Dead Djinn in Cairo" made clear that angels stand half a step above ordinary djinn, working more actively to maintain (or break) the balance between our world and the Kaf. With a visit to the angels' citadel, "A Master of Djinn" doubles down on this idea, and hints at the presence of even greater powers in worlds beyond. Fortunately, the angels are used more as a shadowy power pulling strings behind the scenes than a get-out-of-jail-free, deus-ex-machina resolution, but the opening for further extradimensional problems leaves a bit to be desired. There is enough depth to this new djinn-powered Cairo, and enough human mysteries to solve, without pulling out yet another trump card.

More successful, at least in my eyes, is the shadow of Egypt's old gods. Siti is perhaps their most visible avatar, and the presence of Sekhmet behind her eyes is a twist that I found much more interesting than the reveal of her half-djinn heritage. However, Ahmad/Sobek completely steals the show. In a story where there are always nefarious parties lurking in the shadows, Clark is consistently able to surprise and delight by having Ahmad appear when we expect the worst. His gift for detail shines as he shows the slow transformation from man to crocodile, a change which perhaps foreshadows similar trials ahead for Siti. Indeed, I thought that the old goddess, not the new magic of the djinn, would be the source of her power--a successful bit of authorial misdirection. Ahmad's final gift of the scarab lighter is the kind of open ending I enjoy most; it allows space for further development and new layers of meaning while still giving the current story closure. The old gods of Egypt are surely big enough to demand a starring role in the future, but for now their cameo appearance in a book already full of magic strikes the perfect balance.

Having read all of the novellas set in Fatma el-Shara’awi’s Cairo so far, hearing that there was going to be a full length book too was basically the best news in the world. I knew I was going to love it and, no surprises, I did.

A Master of Djinn follows Fatma as she investigates the deaths of a secret brotherhood, dedicated to al-Jahiz, one of history’s most famous men, supposedly murdered by al-Jahiz himself, returned from the dead. His return is claimed to be in order to condemn the modern age for its oppressions, but Fatma is suspicious throughout that this individual is who he says he is, investigating with her girlfriend to bring him to justice.

The best part about this book, as with the novellas, is the worldbuilding. The alternate Cairo that’s created is so vivid and real it almost jumps off the page. It’s a world that, if Clark were to write say an endless number of novellas in it, I wouldn’t be opposed in the slightest. In fact, just writing this review makes me want to go back and reread all of them so far.

But really the book wouldn’t be quite as good as it is without a cast of characters you’ll love instantly. Obviously, it being part of a series, you already know Fatma and her girlfriend Siti, but you also get to meet a cast of background characters (and Fatma’s new partner, Hadia), all of whom are so fully-fleshed out, it’s like they could become main characters at any point themselves (and, actually, come to think of it, what I wouldn’t give for a novella with Hadia as the star!).

This is a book, also, for all its serious topics — obviously the murders, but also colonialism and removing one’s oppressors — that made me laugh out loud at points. Fatma has that kind of personable voice, that brings you close to the action, and is also humourous when necessary.

So, if you needed some sort of sign that you should read this book, you have just a week left to get yourself caught up on the series.

A Master of Djinn by P Djeli Clark is an extremely well written, fun mystery set in a fantastical alternate universe where Cairo is richly populated with Djinn, Ifrit, and other magical creatures.

Agent Fatma el Sha’arawi of Cairo’s Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities is tasked with finding out who or what caused the deaths of a brotherhood devoted to an ancient entity named al-Jahiz. Along the way, she is assisted by her new partner Hadia, her other partner Siti, and a city full of Djinn.

Original and full of memorable characters, Clark is a fresh voice in the world of Fantasy and I look forward to future works set in this magical universe. Definitely recommended for fans of magical realism and middle eastern mythology.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a treat this book is! There’s truly something on offer for everyone in this novel, a follow-up to two excellent novellas. History, magic, romance, adventure, mystery—and of course, prose that zips along like one of alternate-1912-Cairo’s magic-powered tram cars.

Having read both of the preceding novellas, I would say they are not required reading in order to understand and enjoy the novel, but they may prove highly enjoyable fare either before or after reading this story, and a few character interactions will be all the more interesting as a result. All relevant information is explained in-text, however, so it’s up to the reader as to whether they’d like to peek at the stories that came before.

A Master of Djinn begins as a murder mystery: Fatma el-Sha’arawi and her new recruit partner, both agents for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, are sent to investigate the strange mass death of a wealthy Englishman and his friends, seemingly due to supernatural causes. As the investigation continues, however, the stakes get higher; the case is no longer about catching a killer, but stopping a nefarious plot to turn Cairo, and perhaps the world, on its head.

As a murder mystery, the story is enjoyable. A cast of characters as fun and distinct as any Christie novel make up our pool of suspects, witnesses, and allies, and there’s always another clue for our investigative hero to track down. Will the average mystery reader be able to guess the identity of the true killer quite early on? Yes, but that will not in any way impede enjoyment of the story, and watching Agent Fatma fit together the pieces; after all, she doesn’t have our advantage of a delightfully woven narrative foreshadowing what’s going to happen.

As an alternate-history adventure fantasy, the story is appropriately packed with snarky djinn, ancient artefacts, magical machinery, and suitably epic explosions, but none take away from the heart of the story, which is Fatma herself and the people (or rather, citizens) of Cairo. The soul of the city is as much a character as any living being, and Clark’s ability to pinpoint human nature’s role in imagined historic events is reminiscent of the late great Terry Pratchett. The fantastical elements draw from folktales, legends, classic literature, and the author’s own inventive imagination, resulting in a truly unique world that is nonetheless grounded in its own kind of realism.

Perfect for fans of Jonathan Stroud, Terry Pratchett, and S.A. Chakraborty. A novel I would recommend to all lovers of fantasy, and many others besides.

Smashing -- a true adventure novel, in all the best ways. Clark expands his alt-Cairo with ease and I want a thousand books like this, please and thanks.

This was absolutely a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it. P. Djèlí Clark built a world that is enthralling, baffling and absolutely fascinating — steampunk meets early 1900s Egypt with a badass detective thrown in there for a little spice. I didn’t always understand exactly what was going on, but I never felt lost like I sometimes do in fantasy. I also found the mystery elements quite compelling, though I did guess the big bad — didn’t take away from my enjoyment! The book and the storyline are so well-crafted and vivid that I’ve felt myself missing it, and Fatma, in the weeks since I finished it. Luckily, there are two novellas set in the same universe, so I’ll be tackling those soon! Thanks to Tor for sending my a copy, because wow.

A huge amount of fun - Clark's 1914 Cairo is one of the outstanding alternate history/urban fantasy universes. I think this is his first novel in the setting, after a handful of excellent shorter works, and he continues to unfold his set of characters and the details of his world in surprising ways.

The plot involves a world turned upside down following the release of magic into the world (in the 1870's), with Egypt now a major power. But the European powers are struggling to adapt, and great power tensions could be heading toward a World War.

In this setting, our heroine is trying to solve a murder involving djinn and other magical creatures, while coping with her complicated personal and work affairs. The result, as I said, is a lot of fun and exciting reading.

Absolutely recommended, and I look forward to more stories in this universe and timeline.

A Master of Djinn, by P. Djèlí Clark, was a completely enchanting novel. I was instantly hooked on this adventurous mystery featuring Fatma el-Sha’arawi, of Cairo’s Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. Decades before the novel opens, a mysterious sorcerer connected our world with the world of the djinn. Magic flooded into the world. In 1912, when the story is set, people like Fatma try to keep everything in harmony between the magical and the mundane. I loved everything about this novel: the characters, the setting, the plot. I can’t praise it highly enough.

Fatma is the kind of person who lives for her job. She rarely has any downtime. (Of course, since most of that downtime is spent in the company of the captivating Siti, Fatma can’t really talk about it with others in the still fairly conservative Cairo.) That little bit of downtime vanishes almost entirely when a group of British men (and one Egyptian woman) are mysteriously murdered. They are burned to death by a fire that didn’t touch anything else. The Ministry is called in to investigate. We know a little bit about what happened because of the prologue, but we have to learn along with Fatma about who did it, why, and how on earth they can capture what appears to be an almost omnipotent opponent.

The action never stops after Fatma arrives at the crime scene. Along with her new partner at the Ministry, Hadia, and Siti, Fatma dives into a case that involves a colonialist secret brotherhood, djinn and angels, intersecting plots, masterful deceptions, and cults that worship the old Egyptian gods. I loved every minute of this book. I don’t want to say too much about it because that would ruin the mystery for other readers. I will say that the mystery element of the story escalated into an incredible climax that had me breathlessly reading until Fatma, Siti, and Hadia found a way to fight fantastically powerful enemies.

Right! That’s it for this review before I give away too much! Go read A Master of Djinn. It is outstanding in every way and I am already looking forward to more historical fantasy/mysteries featuring Fatma, Siti, Hadia, and all of the delightful characters in this imaginative series.

Hell yes.

Let's see....steampunk Cairo....murder most foul of a bunch of old white guys....supercilious djinn....insightful and impeccably dressed veteran detective....unusually brilliant and deceptively naive newbie detective....scattered grouchy old gods....angels that aren't really angels at all...

Add to all of this some sharp and witty dialogue, a self aware villian, and some unexpected laughs.

It all mixes together to a genuinely fun read. It's not exactly light reading since there's so much going on. But if this is the way fantasy is trending, then I wholeheartedly approve.

I have been eagerly awaiting this full length book from the author as have previously devoured all his novellas, and what can I say but that the wait was worth every second.
We follow the investigation of a brutal mass murder of a secret brotherhood of Al-Jazhiz led by Agent Fatma el-Sha'arawi of the Ministery of Alchemy, Enchantment and Supernatural Entities.. The murders are mysterious, bodies burnt but not their clothing and it is up to Fatma to solve this crime before the upcoming World Peace Summit.
The book is set in Egypt of 1912, but in an era where the colonial powers did not prevail and conquor nations as happened in our timeline. The change in the balance of power was effected by Al-Jahiz who tinkered with the veil between worlds and so freed a variety of supernatural beings inclding the Djinn.
Fatma is a strong woman in a time and place where suffarage is just beginning. However this does not mean she is any less resentful when a new female partner Hadia is foisted on her. The investigation develops their working relationship (despite bumps on the road) and leads them into a race to save all nations.
This could be read as a standalone story however it would be advisable to read the two preceding novellas, A Dead Djinn in Cairo and THe Haunting of Tram Car 015 as these introduce some of our main characters Fatma and Siti both strong and unique female leads.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC - all views are my own.

100%, you will enjoy this more if you read at least one of the mini novella’s that predate this release (you can find them easily and for free). I, however, learned about A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting of Tram Car 015 well into reading this story. Admittedly, it therefore took me a long time to sink into A Master of Djinn and it was frustratingly confusing when events/characters were referenced from these prior novellas … especially since this is marketed as the FIRST book in the Fatma el-Sha’arawi series!

Aside from the frustrating drawbacks of “playing catchup”, this was a really entertaining read. Full of surprisingly snarky, slapstick humour, a unique steampunk take of Cairo 1920, a world where Djinn walk among humans, and just an all-around fantastic leading lady detective. The queer romance is well developed, central to the plot, and features two equally strong, complicated women.

A Master of Djinn is an entertaining, all around fun read that while the author does bog down the narrative with some information dumps, it still remains lighthearted and approachable mythological fantasy. Come for the alternate steampunk take of 1920s Cairo and stay for the strong female characters, crafty imagination, slapstick humour, and the most fantastic mentor/rookie relationship ever. I definitely want detective Fatma el-Sha’arawi in my squad!

I think the one thing that I can always trust from a book by P Djeli Clark is super rich descriptions and a level of world-building on the same level as the great fantasy writers. The depth of description even to include the backstory of that building or event or thing that's being described is exceptional. It's extremely visual, which makes me want to see this one on the big screen. I think that this would translate so easily with a story that will definitely keep you watching.

I absolutely loved agent Fatma and agent Hadia. I loved that Fatma is the old pro while Hadia is the new kid on the block. It reminded me of the Haunting of Tram Car 015 and the two agents that are from different worlds working together and doing it well. I was rooting for Hadia and worried for her since she's so new and green to the Ministry, but my worries were immediately assuaged when she jumped right into the fight without any hesitation. Also, her level of deduction was awesome as well; almost as good as the one Fatma has.

Which brings us to the mystery component to this fantasy book. While there was definitely a "whodunit" feel to the book, it didn't feel like a real crime mystery where the clues all led to some nefarious being. In fact, the clues were super easy and I had a feeling about who was the suspect before getting halfway through the book. Was I right? Yep! However, it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I didn't come into the book thinking that it'd be a whodunit, so my expectations on that level were low. But I felt like the story is less about the mystery and more about this fantastical world and the work Fatma does for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. I loved getting to know Fatma throughout the story. The little things like the suits she wears and the people she associates with were interesting and all so realized. It really immersed me in the story and made me invested especially when the djinn and ifrit come along and the story really starts to take hold.

I think the only issue I had is that it dragged a bit every once in a while. I mean, I'm not surprised that it did given how deeply descriptive Clark gets in some instances. However, there were points where I wanted less description and more action or more details into the case.

Overall a great story filled with adventure all the way through. The magic was great and I loved how the story moved. Definitely going to be reading more from Clark!

SAPPHIC ROMANCE, POLITICAL TENSIONS AND STEAMPUNK IN THE 1912 EGYPT!

Thanks to Netgalley and Tordotcom for this ARC!

I had been hearing people talk about P. Djèlí Clark for a while now so I was very keen to dive into his novellas, however, I saw this ARC on NetGalley and I couldn’t resist the temptation to request it and how lucky I was to get approved!

“A Master of Djinn” is a brilliant and delightful book with charismatic characters and a very unique an original atmosphere. I mean, steampunk in the 1912 Egypt!? It turns out it is a magnificent combination.

The novel follows Fatma el-Sha’arawi as she tries to resolve Cairo’s latest mystery: the murder of all the members of a secret society perpetrated by someone claiming to be al-Jahiz, the person that brought magic and Djinn to the world 50 years ago.

This is a fantasy book, but it is also incredibly political. It talks about colonialism, racism, political tensions, power struggles, war. And what I loved about this book is how it mixes real historical elements with fictional elements. For example, we get to know some European leaders and the political tensions growing between them would definitely lead to WWI, but these political leaders as well the meeting they have are totally fake.

My favourite thing about “A Master of Djinn” was its not-so-subtle criticism of the patriarchy and also of prejudice and presumptions about women. I absolutely loved how we meet these empowered Muslim Feminists who are kicking ass in their hijabs.

One of these characters is Hadia, a sweet but also badass new recruit of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities who becomes Fatma’s sidekick and support throughout the story. But there’s other superb characters as well, like Siti and Ahmad. I loved all of these characters a lot but I have to admit that the main character, Fatma, was hands down my favourite. She defied everything that was established for women like her, she is a rebel, a pioneer and even better, she is queer! And another thing I liked about her is how connected she is to her late mother and how she remembers everything she taught her whenever she needs to make a decision. This made me quite emotional and nostalgic at times.

I found the sapphic romance to be quite sweet and interesting and I am really looking forward to seeing more of it in the next books of the series.

I think the worldbuilding was well-established but you can get to know it even better if you start by reading the short story “A Dead Djinn in Cairo”, which precedes the novel. This way you’ll get a better understanding of the different magical species like Djinn, ghouls, and angels.

The only thing I didn’t enjoy as much of this book was that the plot wasn’t as exciting as it could have been and the mystery was also a bit predictable. The rhythm also felt a bit slow at times and I think it might have needed more action. I think perhaps short fiction might be the author’s strong suit because “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” doesn’t have any of these problems, it is very exciting and fast-paced while it also maintains a solid worldbuilding and charming characters.

I look forward to reading the following books in the series. I hope they will have more action. In the meanwhile I will read all the novellas published by the author, because in case you haven’t heard, he’s just been nominated for another Hugo Award!

This is a wonderful book centred around some truly wonderful female characters who truly shine in a world filled with magic and djinn.

I loved the characters of this book so much, especially the female characters because they are all so well written that they just come to life from the page and made reading this book so much fun. Agent Fatma was truly a brilliant protagonist and I had so much fun following her around as she and her partner Agent Hadia went around solving the mystery that they had been tasked with solving alongside some pretty colourful side character such as Siti and Ahmad who are also very cool. The villain (who I will not reveal to keep this spoiler-free) was very well written and I loved their reveal and descent into madness. And of course, the Djinn were super cool as well and I would love to know more about them in the following books of the series.

The plot of this book was incredibly intriguing and really kept me engaged as the mystery around the events of the prologue and how everything got more and more complex as the book continued. It was very well-paced and written and it continually had me engaged throughout and kept me reading on to find out what else was going to happen. The halfway mark was incredibly exciting and I was on the edge of my seat, literally haha. But seriously I had a great time reading this book and the ending was very well done because it was very well-timed and paced and it felt perfect for the events that had gone before it.

As already said, the writing was incredible and I can't wait to see what else is going to happen in this series because this book set it up so well! The characters were incredible and the plot was so well done and I just loved reading this book because it was such an enjoyable experience, even if I was a little confused by the beginning as we were just kind of thrown in which I really enjoy! There was a just to take in at once haha but it was so good and you guys should definitely check it out.

I really enjoyed this alternative early 1900s Cairo murder mystery. I haven't read any of the other books set in this world, so this was all brand new for me, and it was really refreshing.

I liked the mix of Arabian and African influences that came through with the world building.

The set up of the book was very typical of many urban fantasy detective type novels. A murder mystery to solve with a slightly jaded older detective and an eager rookie, but for all that it has been done, it didn't feel stake or old. The story was fun, even if it was a bit predictable in terms of who the bad guy was.

There's lots of action, lots of different types of magical characters, and I definitely recommend it. I will be picking up the next one and be going back to read the previous novellas.

Master of the Djinn, is the third story set in Clark’s Cairo steampunk universe and his first full-length novel. I highly recommend reading the two preceding novellas (A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting of Tramcar 015) both stories introduce a few characters, events and the world setting, leading to this story, besides they are well worth reading.

Master of Djinn begins with a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world 50 years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of Cairo that threaten to spill over onto the global stage.

In the Master of Djinn the worldbuilding expands from the two novellas, it is simply fantastic. There is an alternate history theme that works really well. There is colonialism but with a steampunk twist to it. A world where Egypt, in particular, appears to be at the forefront of the liberal movement, which considers suffrage, race and religion, all play a big part in this book and handled sensitively.

The characters are well written. Most of the main characters have made their debut in the earlier novellas, though some have a lesser role here. This adds to the richness of the setting and worldbuilding. I especially liked our main protagonist, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, who works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. I also liked the introduction of Hadia, Fatma’s’ rookie sidekick, the back and forth between them both plays out nicely. Fatma is also a protagonist who is comfortable in her own skin and this was what pulled me into the story narrative.

P. Djeli Clark's writing reads effortlessly. He handles topics like race, religion, homosexuality, capitalism, colonialism etc. with sensitivity. He makes these themes essential to the story with ease. So much so, that these topics never feel shoved into the main storyline, but they seamlessly fit into the story being told, all very cleverly woven together.

The plot slowly unfolds, which gives time for the characters and worldbuilding to establish. It was good to read a book with two very strong female leads, Fatma is both sharp and clever and rather kick-ass! The story has the familiar trappings -- a mysterious supernatural murder, a supernatural detective to solve it with all manner of old Egyptian gods. This was a really excellent read, full of mystery and steampunk magic, which was entertaining and comes highly recommended.

Thank you to #Netgalley for letting me read a free digital advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Clark does a truly fantastic bit of world building. Everything about how this version of Cairo works, the magic, the law enforcement, all the side characters, so great. Really, the side characters are truly fantastic. The lead is interesting, but, perhaps because I haven't also read the novellas, slightly flatter, almost as though she has already been fleshed out and rounded. I want to see more from this series because I want more time for the *truly excellent* supporting cast to shine.

Summary:
This is the first full length Novel in P. Djeli Clarks’ alternate world. While I do not think it is required reading to dip into the Novellas that come before, I STRONGLY suggest it.

Characters:
This story follows one point of view for the entirety of the book (Fatma el-Sha’arawi).

Fatma el-Sha’arawi: With every subsequent story this character just keeps getting better and better. Not only do we learn more about her personal past and what drives her, but we get to experience her draws on the knowledge she's accumulated across the Novellas set before this book; woven in so seamlessly too~! I love that she is still flawed and that other characters (new and old) are perfectly willing to tell her where she is being short sighted and biased. I really appreciate that as a character she tries to accept those criticisms and better herself. She is a wonderful example of a fantastic strong character; not good at everything, willing to ask for help if needed, compassionate, gracious, willing to change, and adaptable.

Siti: *groans* SITI IS SOOOOOOOOOO COOL! I can’t go into details, but if you have read the first Novella
(which I strongly suggest, if you haven’t) then you already know she's pretty darn amazing. She just became EVEN MORE interesting in this freaking book. How can so much cool be wrapped up into one character? The amount of detail in her description paints such a beautiful visual image of her that it absolutely makes me want to get out a sketchbook and reread anything pertaining to her so i can get every detail just so.

Positives:
+ If you are looking for a story that has the most amazing way of drawing you into the scenery, holy heck is this the author for you. P. Djeli Clark has the most magical way of transporting you to his alternate Cairo and making the imagery come alive. You can feel the bustling city around you; the scents, sounds, tastes. Every time I read one of his works, I have to look up a bunch of things I didn't know (clothing and food usually) and the more I learn the more I desperately desire to try all of these things.
+ i LOVE that a bunch of characters from the Novellas (ALL the novellas! ALL!!!) made an appearance in this book. More Depth! More intrigue! More excitement! More character growth, even for more minor characters! Huzzah!!!
+ The dialogue, especially with the non-humans in the book is great. Not even just the dialogue, the portrayal of characters. All of the characters feel distinctly individual; their mannerisms, how they talk, the way they react to their environments. It's nice to not have shallow cookie-cutter characters.

Negatives:
- At times, the pacing felt a little odd. The very end of the book in particular, weirdly dragged on. This may have just been because I had figured out who the baddy bad was and desperately wanted the comeuppance to smack them down immediately.

Final Thoughts:
Djinn? Angels? Alternate Cairo in the 1900’s? Mythos and glimpses at cultures you (ok, “I”. I don’t want to assume for you, reader.) don’t often get a lot of? BADASS FEMALES? How can you not already want to read this book after all those previous words? P. Djeli Clark was already on my ’insta-buy’ list after I read my first Novella of his, but I am so excited to have a full length Novel to add to my shelves. I enjoyed this book immensely. Where the Novellas were a toe dip into this world, this book was a full cannonball. I absolutely loved the imagery, the overarching mystery, and the nod at the previous Novellas (and the characters in them). It was fascinating to read and learn so much about a culture I am not the most familiar with, from mannerisms, food/clothing descriptions, and snippets of poetry or excerpts from religious texts. The more I read, the more I wanted to see if I could find a place here in town to admire the clothing, taste the food, and maybe pick up a translated bit of work to understand better. It is always fantastic when a story inspires you to educate yourself; you learn best if you are interested in the first place. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys steampunk (this isn’t steam punk exactly, but it feels similar), alternate realities, and mythologies. This story was a delightful mouthful of spicey unknown to my normal pile of books; the perfect dash of “LOOK! SO MUCH YOU DON’T KNOW!”. I also suggest that if you haven’t read all the novellas, you do so before you read this book; it’s so pleasant to see ‘old friends’ again from previous stories - don’t miss out. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my copy so I can fangirl some more over how cool Siti is.