This is the first full length book in the series. Al-Jahiz has been accused of opening up the door between worlds before he disappeared. A cult of his followers is being murdered one by one. When someone steps forward claiming to be al-Jahiz himself and assuming guilt for the deaths, The Ministry of Alchemy, Special Enchantments and Supernatural Entitues is called onto the case. Is it even possible that al-Jahiz is still alive? Why would someone go through the trouble of impersonating him and where are they getting their magic?

I was hoping that Fatma and Agent Hamed would be paired on this latest case. Although he does make an appearance, Fatma's new partner is a bright young woman who is religiously observant. Where Fatma allows us to embrace that women can walk in whatever shoes they choose, Hadia allows us to see that there is strength in the feminine.

P. Djeli Clark does a great job with giving dimension to his characters. They are flawed but grow throut the series. Dead Djinn Universe is genre defying. Part fantasy, the world building is exquisite. Very atmospheric to the point where it has a cinematic feel. Part mystery, he keeps you on the edge of your seat trying to work out the who and why. Part adventure, allo three books are action packed with killer fight scenes that have women at the forefront. And last but not least, all of P. Djeli Clark's books contain an element of social commentary that have you looking at our world both past and present.

My full review is available on my blog (link attached).

Let me start this review by saying I that enjoyed Clark’s short stories set in the Dead Djinn Universe quite a lot; A Dead Djinn in Cairo was snappy and entertaining, offering a refreshing mix of ideas, and The Angel of Khan el-Khalili is a solid psychological story rooted in real events, showcasing Clark’s strengths in the short form. A Master of Djinn, on the other hand…

Yup, there’s no way around it: if not for NG I would have DNF’ed this book without a second’s hesitation. It was jumbled, incoherent, predictable, and boring. There are many reasons why I judge this book so harshly. First is probably the case of expectations versus reality: I really liked the short stories set in this universe and expected the novel to be more of the same, or even better. It was not to be.

All the strengths of the short stories: sharp focus, snappy dialogue propelling the action forward, tantalizing glimpses of the wonders of the magic-steam-punk world imagined in detail by the author, flawed but feisty heroines, here simply disappeared in a dreadfully formulaic set of events broken by irrelevant snippets of alternate history. I will say that out loud: I don’t care about dying Ottoman Empire, beset on all sides by magically enhanced countries. I don’t care about German goblins or French fairies, or Russian rusalkas (btw, seriously? We’re matching them by the name? Then Egypt should certainly have none of djinn, being overwhelmed by a contingent of Brazilian encantados instead). The major plot points of this book, such as the peace summit, were either immaterial to the whole, or bungled so badly they seemed immaterial. Yes, I can reason out the importance of a peace summit in 1912, with all European parties increasingly more willing to spill some blood and reshuffle the cards on the table or even change the game altogether. But my understanding doesn’t come from A Master of Djinn at all – rather, from my knowledge of history.

Ultimately, it seems to me that A Master of Djinn simply doesn’t know what it wants to be: a commentary on slavery and colonialism, a discussion with the Western idea of the Orient, a murder mystery (well, this one’s easy – the twist was obvious almost from the beginning, so no mystery at all), an Urban Fantasy novel a la Kate Daniels (certainly, Kate Daniels vibe was so strong at the beginning that it actually put me off this book for a while), or maybe a shot at making further use of the bunch of loose ends and conclusions from the earlier short stories – here not so much repurposed as regurgitated. It’s a book that suffers from too many disparate ideas; it would make a few good short stories, but as one novel it just disappoints.

I think good murder mysteries need not only to be less predictable than this, but also need to have a solid psychological background: we need to be able to understand the motivations of the villain and to empathize with the protagonist and solve the case along them. For me, both elements were missing. To add to this injury, the key elements of the overarching plot were lifted from A Dead Djinn in Cairo. The main McGuffin, as well as the behind-the-scenes-villains, even the repetition of last-minute chases and fights were all taken from the short story and enlarged – and Clark was aware of this fact enough to include a comment about the main duo’s recurring outfits in a piece of dialogue. Well, here’s the brutal truth. “The same, but on a bigger scale” doesn’t work. It just doesn’t.

[...]

The worldbuilding remains wonderful, though. The intrusion of magic into the non-magical world is done convincingly here, showing the various ways in which the two worlds clash and fight, but also cooperate and create a form of synergy. I enjoyed reading about various elements of the Arabic and Egyptian mythologies, incarnated gods, djinn, and angels, who remain the most tantalizing mystery of Clark’s Dead Djinn Universe.

While I had a hard time reading and finishing this book (and boy, did I struggle: I started reading this in the first days of May, and it took me 3 weeks to finish it, which for me is like forever!) and consider it a weak book, I think other readers might be more forgiving. It’s P. Djèlí Clark’s first novel, and I can imagine that the transition from the short form to long can be difficult. It is fragmented, jumbled, and lack the punch of the short stories, but it also has cool ideas, an interesting cast of supporting characters, and a lot potential to build upon in the future. And he has great covers!

I have received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

My new favorite series. The initial novellas in P. Djèlí Clark’s world were phenomenal (A Dead Djinn in Cairo and the Haunting of Tram Car 015), and this full length story builds to even greater heights. Mystery, comedy, and alternative-history are interwoven to create an incredibly entertaining book that you won’t be able to put down. Agent Fatma returns to investigate occult crimes on behalf of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. Djinn, angels, and goblins live and walk the streets of Cairo, and the murder of a room full of secret society members sets off an elaborate adventure. I’ve already started recommending this to title to everyone who will listen.

I’m obsessed. Simple as that. Going into this book I was a little scared however it was so well written and I’m off to the book store to get all of this author’s other books. It’s set in an alternative Egypt and reimagines the 20th century. I could literally read a whole series about my new favorite grumpy mentor and their rookie partner.

Historical history with a fantastical twist!

This is the first book in a new series called Dead Djinn Universe, however I would definitely read the two novellas A Dead Djinn in Cario and Haunting of Tram Car 015 before this one. It is not necessary to understand the plot, but adds backstory to some of the characters.

The author’s depth of knowledge of history lends itself to the realism of Cairo in the early 20th century. The dialogue is rich with cultural and religious references. This is speculative fiction, an exploration of an alternate universe where human history has been drastically altered by the technological advancements introduced by Djinn from another realm. I was blown away by the author’s blending of Egyptian and Arabian mythologies into this realistic setting.

As if this book could not get any better....the protagonist is an intelligent, fierce queer lady investigator of the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities!

In the master of Djinn we meet Fatma "the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer." Fatma is a detective in a supernatural world who is complex, clever, and captivating. I would like to meet her!

Then we have the world, Egypt, Cairo, 1912. This Cairo was transformed by al-Jahiz, "forty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown".

What a great mix. I really enjoyed reading about a non-Western world with magic and djinns, and a strong female (LGBTIQ+) lead.

I would recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge.

Links forthcoming.

Agent Fatma of the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural entities has the coolest girlfriend in the world.
Sorry not sorry, Siti makes up about half of my motivation to pick up the next book in this series. The other half lies in wanting to spend a bit more time in this alternate history, turn-of-the-century steampunk Cairo full of magic, mystery, kickass activist women, and beautiful imagery. The worldbuilding was like one of Fatma’s suits: full of colour and flashy details, not always matching, fabulous anyway. From the various types of Djinn to automatons to ancient Egyptian Gods to speakeasies to multiple dimensions, A Master of Djinn is certainly never boring.
We follow Fatma as she works on an inter-dimensional mass-murder mystery, but the plot often felt like it was there to be a high-speed fly-by tour of this wildly delightful world. There were some superhero-style extravagances toward the end that felt excessive, and I never really got that satisfying feeling of the truth clicking into place.
While the mystery sped up and exploded at a bit of a disproportionate pace, the stops along the way were always worth my time and the characters were as fun as their city. P. Djèlí Clark’s novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and his two short stories from Tor.com are all set in this world, and they also make for excellent reading. I recommend A Master of Djinn for fans of fantasy whodunnits and unique worlds.

I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for after reading the two pre-novellas, but Clark took the world and characters from those and blew them both up to epic proportions. As much as I loved the Novellas, having a full length book meant we got to explore both the world and characters to a deeper level and I really struggled to put this book down.

Agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi certainly doesn't class herself as a rookie, but when someone appears claiming to be a reincarnation of Al-Jahiz, the person who broke down the veil between realms and welcomed magic into the world, she finds herself incredibly out of her depth. Between his magical abilities and his penchant for riling up the populace with engaging speeches condemning social oppressions she is unsure how to handle him. Alongside her partney Hadia, girlfriend Siti and colleagues in the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities Fatma will have to use every resource available to her if she is to catch the person claiming to be Al- Jahiz and make it out alive.

I'm just going to start off by saying that I love Fatma with my whole heart. She is witty, determined & maybe a little stubborn. Her choice of job, clothing and attitude make her something of an oddity, she almost resents being a woman in a world built for men and does her best to remove herself from any kind of female stereotype. At times this makes her prone to judgment and sometimes disdain for members of her sex, but working with Agent Hadia, and her relationship with Siti make her realise there is more than one kind of 'powerful' woman. Hadia is almost the polar opposite of Fatma, she prays daily, makes time for her family and friends and dresses in a more traditionally feminine fashion, none of which stop her from being an incredibly skilled and kick ass agent. She wants nothing more than to prove herself to Fatma, the youngest female Agent in the Ministry, and lends her knowledge and strength to the case on more than one occasion. And then we have Siti who puts the two of them to shame, a member of the Forty Leopards ( a kind of rogue group) she is able to fight in the slinkiest and most daring of outfits & is never one to shy away from an altercation. Siti has faith in the old Gods, and belongs to the church of Hathor, something that as seen as almost heretical in this 'modern' world.

Anyone who has read the pre-novellas will notice quite a few returning characters from Agents Hamad and Onsi, co-workers of Fatma at the ministry to Aasim a liaison between Cairo's police force and the ministry, but we also get introduced to a whole host of other side characters from members of the Brotherhood who were murdered and their families, Djinn of all varieties, Angels, as well as introductions to some other magical creatures. Each character has their part to play in the story, some more pivotal than you may realise at first glance, but when it all starts coming together you see the awesomeness of Clark's foreshadowing.

My favourite thing about this series, other than fatma herself is Clarks worldbuilding. Epic doesn't even begin to cover it. When Al-Jahiz brought down the veil between worlds it didn't just affect Egypt, in fact it happened all over the globe meaning the reintroduction of creatures thought only legend happened world wide. We learn that some have come to peace with their magical brethren, whereas in certain countries the development lead to wars. Because of the scope he gives us, Clark could realistically write a book set in every country of the world, delving into their folklore/mythology, and I can tell you right now I would read every single one. In terms of this book though we do learn about some of the other countries and how they are handling the return of magic, Clark focuses on Egypt and the Djinn, Angels and other creatures that reside there. When the Djinn travelled through to Egypt they brought with them a wealth of knowledge, leading to an industrial revolution and an Egypt that runs on machines and magic We do meet some foreign dignitaries in this book, including a Goblin from Germany but I can't wait for more information and potential introductions in later books.

This is the perfect books for fans of the grumpy mentor/wide eyed rookie trope. Clark has a way of writing strong powerful women showing that they come in all shapes and sizes, with all kinds of religious backgrounds and they don't always have to wear pants. Agent Hadia is exactly the kind of doe eyed newbie that Fatma does not want as a partner, but the more time they spend together (usually in some form of danger) Fatma learns that having a partner, especially one with Hadia's kind of skill set can some in extremely handy. She initially looks down on the woman who wears a headscarf and prays regularly, deeming her as lesser than Fatma herself, but Hadia quickly shows herself to be more than up for the challenge and makes Fatma question her own lifestyle decisions. Fatma, Hadia and Siti couldn't be more different, but Clark shows them all to be strong and resilient women in a world that is only just beginning to accept them fully.

Clark has a kind of sharp and witty writing style that pulls you into the story, it makes all the parts of the book that could be info dumpy gloriously entertaining, and he writes his characters in a similar style. Going from the Novellas to a full length book, I wondered if the story would drag slightly, however I just never wanted it to end. The way he weaves in Egyptian culture absolutely transports you to his steampunk style Cairo with all it's modern conveniences, while at the same time he stays true to the religion, beliefs and culture that would have been prevalent at the time. The mystery he weaves through A Master of Djinn is masterfully done (pardon the pun), I buddy read this with a friend and we were forever throwing out ideas as to who Al-Jahiz, or the person claiming to be him was, and when it all came together we couldn't believe we hadn't seen it sooner. There are plenty of other twits thrown in for good measure, one of which I could have hit myself for not realising sooner, but they all add together to make a plot that flows brilliantly and a story I didn't want to finish.

Another 5 star read to add to my year and a series that I can't ever see myself getting bored of. Between this series and Ring Shout, Clark has cemented himself as an auto-buy author, and I cannot wait to see what he has in store for Agent Fatma and the ministry in the next book.

I did not read the short story associated with this world before delving into A Master of Djinn, but I can certainly say that I'm going to go back and read it now. I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it filled me with such contentment. I've realized these last few months that I adore this genre where modernity meets magic, whether it's actual places on earth, the case of this book, or made up ones. I'm obsessed and Clark did the genre phenomenally!
Moreover, after a dynamic cast of characters, wonderfully fantastic lore, and wit to match, I would recommend this story to any fantasy lover. I'm probably going to start screaming about it from the rooftops because I know plenty of people would adore it.

This is a great steampunk murder mystery! I really enjoyed the worldbuilding and the prose. The story incorporated classic mystery tropes while keeping them fresh. The humor and action kept me reading, and I loved the plot twists throughout.

Pure brilliance. The level of inventiveness and creativity put forth by the author is impressive. This wonderful alternative Egypt put forth is one of the best fantasy settings to come along in years, and every time it is fleshed out more, it gets better.

If you love the Craft Sequence, this book is a must-read. Honestly, a must-read for anyone.

A fantastically written, refreshing read. Fatma is a character you connect with immediately, and one LGBT+ readers will be happy to meet. The story benefits from a setting that isn't a rehashing of pseudo-European countries and I adored being able to read about Egypt as the main setting and not as some sort of exotic landscape that had to be shown to me through a European lense. I found myself looking up things new to me as I read along, and I adored every moment of the adventure.

I just couldn't get into the writing style of this at all. And if it's going to show up as being over 900 pages on my Netgalley shelf, I really have to like the writing style. I'm sure this is a great book for some people, but I am not that person.

Absolutely brilliant. I couldn’t get enough of the writing. The story and characters had me on the edge of my seat

TITLE: A Master of Djinn
AUTHOR: P. Djèlí Clark
500 pages, TorDotCom, ISBN 9781250267689 (hardcover, e-book, audiobook)

DESCRIPTION: (from the back cover): Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.

So when someone murders 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.

Alongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city - or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems....

MY RATING: 5 stars out of 5

MY THOUGHTS: In his first full-length novel, P. Djèlí Clark expands the alternate-history, steampunk-flavored Cairo he introduced us to in the short story “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” and the novella The Haunting of Tram Car 015. Characters from both “A Dead Djinn in Cairo” and The Haunting of Tram Car 015 appear in the novel in various lead and supporting roles, but one does not have to have read those previous stories to understand what’s going on in A Master of Djinn. (Although I will say that reading the short story and novella will enhance your enjoyment of the world and understanding of the characters’ personalities and inter-relationships.)

Clark has crafted a multi-layered murder mystery that the formidable Agent Fatma, along with her mysterious lover Siti and newly assigned work partner Hadia, must solve before the city of Cairo, and perhaps the entire world, fall into chaos. Thanks to an opening chapter that presents the mass-murder from the perspective of one of the victims, the reader heads into the story knowing more than the investigative team – but that’s not the same as knowing everything. The clues necessary for the reader to solve the mystery are there to be found, as are the requisite number of false clues and moments that seem to mean more than they really do. The case takes several interesting twists before the ultimate reveal. I had my suspicions early-on about who this person claiming to be al-Jahiz really was, but there were also moments where I thought I could be very wrong. This delighted the mystery fan in me: I love having my guesses turn out to be wrong as much as I love being correct, because being wrong means I can re-read the book to see where the correct clues were. Of course, I am not a fan of mysteries where all the clues are red herrings and the answer is something the reader could never have guessed. But that’s not a trap Clark falls into, thankfully.

I’d have been happy enough with A Master of Djinn being a straightforward mystery set in this alternate world. But the book provides so much more. There’s a rich history to be explored, with Egypt becoming a world power based on the revival of magic into the world and Colonialism being overthrown in some parts of the world earlier than in our own timeline. It’s 1912, and the international conclave hosted in the middle of the book gives us interesting looks at what a “World War One” would look like in this setting. There’s a magic system that I think we’ve only scratched the surface of in the tales told so far: not just various types of djinns and other Middle Eastern magical beings, but goblins in Germany and hints at other types of beings al-Jahiz’s actions released into the rest of the world as well. These magical beings have been involved in some of the fights for regional freedom mentioned, so you know these world powers will put such beings to use when full-scale international war does break out (with the possible exception of America, where Puritanical beliefs seem to have essentially outlawed magic use). The Colonialist mind-set of the era, the European fascination with “adopting” local culture while disdaining the actual people, is on full display throughout the book and Clark does not let his characters leave it unremarked (at least among themselves, even if politics prevents them from saying anything to the actual perpetrators).

The character relationships are also beautifully established. Fatma is essentially a loner. She has eschewed being assigned a partner for this long mostly on strength of personality and successful cases, but department policy can’t be pushed off forever. Hadia’s arrival at the crime scene the day before she’s supposed to officially meet Fatma creates a wonderful level of friction between the two women that plays out as one of the sub-plots. First impressions give way to shared experiences, and Clark charts that growth subtly through dialogue and body language. Fatma at the same time is learning more about Siti, their sexual relationship moving into the romantic – but Siti has secrets of her own that influence both the relationship and the main plot of the novel, which I will not spoil here. We also learn a lot more about Fatma’s past thanks to her interactions with both Siti and Hadia, but there’s plenty we still don’t know about all three women that I look forward to seeing revealed in future books set in this universe.

Clark further develops the Ministry beyond the vague structure and mission established in the previous short story and novella, giving us more intimate looks at Fatma’s immediate superior, the Ministry’s support staff (including a delightfully surly Djinn librarian), and fellow investigators (including the stars of The Haunting of Tram Car 015, Hamed Nasr and Onsi Youssef). Hamed and Onsi are supporting characters here but I hope we’ll get more of their own adventures in the future. Likewise, Fatma’s main contacts outside of the Ministry, bookie/underworld contact Khalid and Cairo police Inspector Aasim Sharif (who reminds me, perhaps intentionally, of Holmes’ Inspector LeStrade), are further developed from their previous appearances, although they play smaller supporting roles than Hamed and Onsi. I was also intrigued by the details revealed about an all-female criminal organization, the Forty Leopards, and the hierarchies and interactions of various temples dedicated to Egypt’s earlier, pre-Mohammedan, gods.

Excellent alternate-history fantasy world-building, multi-dimensional characters, on-point political commentary, and a top-notch murder mystery combine to make P Djèlí Clark’s debut novel a must-read. Go get it!

NOTE: Although I’m posting this review after the release date, it is based off an electronic advance reading copy I received from NetGalley.

Honestly, this book is pretty incredible. Clark's originality and creativity with world building is profound. There are diverse interesting character in a unique setting with a dynamic plot. I loved everything about it!

A Master of Djinn is a fast-paced adventure full of history and djinn lore. I really appreciate when an author gives the reader just enough information about the history of a region and the lore involved to keep a story flowing, and trusts the reader to look up any information they may need for more context. Several times throughout the book, Fatma or one of her colleagues would refer to a magic-related incident from their past without divulging many details. I hope as the series progresses that there will be some novellas or short stories that flesh out those incidents as they sounded like a lot of fun magical action occurred. The action never stops in this fantastical steampunk adventure through Egypt. From a true djinn in a bottle, magical sandstorms, fights in the streets and at fancy parties, the story moves along quickly .

Fatma is a strong and interesting character who felt really alive and whole. Her complicated relationships with religion, work, and her intimate relationship with Siti were all very relatable. Fatma is a true badass who never backed down from a fight, magical or mortal, but was also very vulnerable in her relationship with Siti. It was interesting how even in a magical world there could still be sensitive conversations about differences of religion as the djinn and magic were everywhere. A Master of Djinn also touches on bigger topics like cultural appropriation, racism, and sexism.

I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title. All opinions and mistakes are my own.

One paragraph into P. Djèlí Clark’s “A Master of Djinn,” the chronically truant self-preservation muscle in my brain jerked to life and hit pause. The novel is too well crafted, too interesting, too readable. It’s a magical detective story set in pre-World War I Cairo narrated by no-nonsense special agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi and her plucky, paperwork-loving, hijab-wearing junior, Hadia Abdel Hafez. It is set in the same world as other books from the same author but is a stand-alone story. From its base components alone, mathematically speaking, “A Master of Djinn” almost overwhelmed me (and my exam study schedule).

Once started, “A Master of Djinn” is a fast read. Clark creates a compelling fantasy setting full of representation. Despite being marketed as steampunk, the novel is a detective, police procedural at its core. When twenty members of a secret society are brutally murdered, special agent Fatma and her new partner Hadia are tasked with locating the killer. Together, they unravel a larger magical plot within their Egyptian home city.

Set before WWI, the novel imagines a world before American hegemony and nuclear power. In Fatma’s metropolitan Cairo, the local zeitgeist is one of possibility, with energy wild and unpredictable. The world is less surveilled, less formed at the turn of the century. But Clark does not settle for easy first impressions of a halcyon past. Considering the many social identities of the characters, the novel would be incomplete without a consideration of power structures and imperialism. Clark mindfully engages with the past, forcing his characters to move through a world recognizable in its colonialism, colorism and religion. Fatma’s friend Benny, a Jim Crow-era American ex-pat, helps contextualize and ground Clark’s expansive world. Perhaps, instead of the Djinns and Priestesses, the most fantastical aspect of Clark’s novel is its ability to recall a tantalizingly vast, flawed and cautiously hopeful world.

“A Master of Djinn” is an amazingly consistent read. Clark is a competent storyteller and a master of unobtrusive style. While the ultimate mystery is not hard to puzzle out three-quarters in, the characters are vibrant and the plot is sound. Some writers have stylistic ticks that require more deliberate reading; fantasy writers, in particular, have an unfortunate tendency to “info-dump,” front-loading their worldbuilding and characters. Most fantasy classics require some measure of indelicate, brute mental force to break into the center of the novel. Clark breaks that mold, presenting a digestible and compelling fantasy landscape. His writing exemplifies how such a novel should be paced, most notably in how he distributes and buffers the customary info-dump hurdles.

Clark introduces the main character, Fatma, over the course of one chapter. It’s with a deft, careful hand that Clark contours and colors this LGBTQ+, suit-wearing, cane-sword-wielding, overworked government agent. Clark approaches each character with care, depicting them as dynamic, multifaceted characters that are informed, rather than defined by their social identities. They feel authentic. Clark is cheeky with his characters. Fatma’s junior agent endearingly sports a fun, modern bright blue headscarf as a display of her progressive values.

Because the novel follows the detective-novel, CSI-esque structure, one might misread it as an entertaining but run-of-the-mill iteration — not quite radical but also not derivative. However, Clark’s characterizations and attention to detail positions “A Master of Djinn” solidly above its contemporaries. The only downfall of his attention to character and storytelling is how unsustainable producing ten more similar novels would be. Ideally, there would be as many “A Master of Djinn” entries as there are “Dresden Files” novels. Alas, the rich world and characters leave room only for a sequel or so.

Clark’s novel is a prime fantasy book complete with a unique comprehension of identity and personhood. While reading “A Master of Djinn,” time flows eagerly past, weaving through bustling, magical Cairo streets. The novel’s concept is uncomplicated and naturally integrates Arabic mythology with historical, fantasy settings. Clark’s dynamic characters and consideration of historical power imbalances, class and racism are a balm to the tired fantasy reader.

A Master of Djinn was nothing short of perfect. Clark created a world rich with lore and mysticism. Just like the book's predecessors, A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting of Tram Car 015, the magic system and world-building were vivid and well-written. It was lovely to jump back into the world and coming back to my favorite characters.

I loved following alongside Fatma and Siti as they tried to uncover the mystery of the sudden appearance of al-Jahiz. However, I did find the mystery element rather predictable. This did not stop me from enjoying the novel because I was so engrossed in the world-building and character dynamics. Speaking of the character dynamics, it was amazing to see a sapphic relationship take center stage. Fatma and Siti's relationship was so supportive and healthy - it was refreshing to read. As for Fatma and Hadia's relationship, I loved seeing Fatma slowly start to warm up to her new partner. It revealed a softer side of Fatma.

Overall, I loved this book! Whatever Clark puts out, I will read it.

My first interaction with Clark's work was accidentally reading a in-between novella set in this world, but despite not knowing all the ins and outs of the world I was hooked.

This story builds on previous work but you don't have to read any of those to understand what is going on in 1920s Cairo. I loved the world building and setting for this book. It is such a rich location and the cultural, while partially made up, is still vibrant and full of interesting and compelling characters.

The plot of this book started slow and we get to know the world and our main heroine, but it quickly builds and the pacing of the drama and adventure was so well done I didn't want to put it down!