I will update the review with a link to our blog closer to publication date.
I'd like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Theoretically, this book has everything I like; fantastical creatures, secret magic societies, mysterious killer, badass female characters and a sapphic love story. But unfortunately, this book didn't work for me in the slightest. The book tries to be many things; a historical fiction with socio-political commentary, a fantasy with djinns, and a mystery surrounding a magical secret society. But I felt that the author failed to successfully mix the genres. The book had great potential, and I think if the author had focused on one or two genres, then it would've been an interesting cocktail. I liked the female characters, the romance between Fatma and Siti. But I couldn't care at all about the fantasy-mystery plot. The mystery was utterly predictable and hence, very underwhelming.

In Cairo, 1912, djinns and other supernatural entities roam the city among humans thanks to the acts of al-Jahiz who opened a portal 50 years ago. One day, all the members of a brotherhood dedicated to al-Jahiz are murdered, their bodies burned while their clothes are still intact. This calls for an investigation by the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. Here comes Fatma, an agent of this ministry who's gonna investigate alongside her new partner Hadia and her girlfriend Siti.

I'm not very fond of investigations but I was hooked to this story for its amazing worldbuilding : supernatural entities, magic, steampunk... There also were a lot of plot twists (I just saw one coming and was very proud) and the characters were well written. It was my first time reading a fantasy novel in a religious world (particularly muslim) and it was very well done in my opinion (but I don't know anything about this theme so I'm no one to talk).

This novel is the first from the author although he wrote some novellas in this same world with the same characters. I haven't read them before and understood everything but maybe it's more immersive if you read them beforehand ? Either way, I'm now curious to read them !

Diversity : wlw, diverse characters, muslims and other religions
TW : racism, blood

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a mixture of women’s rights, magic and fantasy, crime solving, religion and a few other things. Everything comes together as the book progresses and we learn more about the famous Al-Jahiz and whether he really has returned or not. The story balances everything rather well. There’s more crime solving and magic and fantasy than anything else, which is as it should be given what the story is ultimately about, but it does still include the other aspects without being heavy-handed about them. Everything that is covered in the book has earned its place and adds something to the story without detracting from it.

I liked Agent Fatma, she was someone I could relate to on many levels. She’s clearly good at her job but as puzzled as everyone else is about the person claiming to be Al-Jahiz. She doesn’t know or claim to know all the answers and, while it’s stated in the story that it is unusual to have a woman doing her job, she doesn’t make a fuss about it, it’s a fact and that’s all it is.

I like science-fiction and fantasy but I’m still finding my way around it as a genre because there’s just so much choice. But what I have discovered is that I love books that are a mixture of crime/mystery and either sci-fi, fantasy or both. This book being a mixture of crime and fantasy worked really well for me. I enjoyed the investigation side of it, the detail even in the little things like spending hours doing research in the library or following up on leads. In with that was obviously the fantasy side which added elements like the Djinn which were very interesting. There were so many different types of Djinn that I’m hoping there are more books to come so we can learn more about them.

There’s a lot happening in this story but it’s written in a way that doesn’t make it overwhelming or hard to follow. I liked getting to know Fatma and this Egypt which is different from the one we know now. There’s a lot of description of clothes (Fatma does not dress conventionally!), buildings, foods and other things that really set the scene well and made me feel immersed in the book. Frequently there were times when I felt as if I could hear people speaking, experience all the hustle and bustle of a busy city, and almost smell the food and coffee and see all the colours that were described. It was an experience that I felt transported me there and helped me feel immersed. I really hope we see more of Fatma, because I’d love to know where events take her next.

With thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are so many things to like about this book, the world, the characters, the magic system. It will make sense if you haven’t read the novellas but the mentions become easter eggs if you know it. I even laughed out loud a couple of times. Which is why I rounded the rating up to a 4 from 3.5, especially on account of the djinn towards the end (you’ll see). I don’t know what it is but I couldn’t feel enthusiastic about Fatma, her suits? yes, her relationship? yes, her and the mystery? not so much. The mystery happens and it’s good that the conclusion is unlikely to be the number you first thought of but ultimately for me it wasn’t enough to hold my interest on its own, I was waiting for interactions from everyone else throughout. But don’t take my word for it - try giving it a read! As a first novel in case you’re worried it carries the length well but I preferred the issues raised (society comes up!) to the momentum supplied by solving the murder mystery. As ever, reading is personal.

A Master of Djinn had me hooked from the very first page with its expansive, consuming, atmospheric word and noir-like mood and it's engaging plot. At its very core, this book is a mystery. We follow Agent Fatma, who is accustomed to this alternate version of Cairo where djinns and angels and other paranormal entities exit and through her, we put together the pieces of the puzzle: who is the master of djinn? Is he really who he says he is?

The mystery was simple but effective, and even though I pretty much guessed the big plot twist quite early on in the book, but the way it was revealed was satisfying and fun. I was never bored for a moment, and the book had my full attention till the very last page. The writing style was pretty fun, despite the semi-dark mood of some scenes, and there were more than one instances of witty lines and dialogues that made me smile and showcased the author's range.

The characters were interesting and I warmed up to Hadia almost immediately. She has my whole heart and I *will* fight for her. Siti too. I took some time to get comfortable with Fatma because, even though her POV was interesting, I felt like my relationship with her as a reader was a little impersonal. Even though the voice was close, we simply didn't get to know enough about her as a character/her motivations except for her love for her job, her desire to do the right thing and her fierce protectiveness over certain characters. None of this is bad, but I did feel like I wanted more. The sapphic romance was woven into the plot seamless, and I enjoyed the banter between the characters involved.

The world-building is rich, especially in terms of tone and atmosphere, and the whole vibe of the book was very reminiscent of the classic "The Mummy". The types of characters, their interactions, and the larger-than-life adventure is what kind of reminded me of that movie. The book is paced a little differently than what I'm used to (it's a little on the slower side), but that's okay because it worked pretty well for the story and tone.

Overall, this is definitely a new favourite, and I'd 10/10 recommend it!

So this was absolutely brilliant. I am an absolutely huge fan of alternate histories as well as historical fantasies. I also love detective stories. This book is all these things but is also an absolute credit to Clark’s ability to build a rich vision of characters with even better characters.

We follow Fatma el-Sha’arawi, agent of Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities and the best dressed woman in Cairo. This isn’t my first time meeting Fatma. There are two short stories and a novella set in this world with characters we meet in this books. Clark has made A Master of Djinn accessible to both readers of them and non readers alike which I really appreciated. But having read A Dead Djinn in Cairo in May, I was looking forward to getting back to walking the streets of Cairo with Fatma.

Fatma is an excellent lead with so many layers to her. Choosing to forgo uniforms and feminine dress in favor of excellently tailored suits and bowler hats, as well as being the youngest (and only for a while) woman agent in the ministry, she walks entirely her own path. There is a loneliness to Fatma and a vulnerability we see a lot more of in this book. Something I really related to myself was her constant need to work independently and spend a lot of time alone to process her thoughts. Particularly on her cases. With the introduction of her new partner, Hadia, she is confronted with not only her own solitary habits, but her own biases. Agent Hadia at one hand confronting her own internalised misogyny for assuming because she was more gentle natured, that she couldn’t hold her own which just isn’t true.

There are three excellent things in this book. The characters, the world building and the mystery. While still on the topic of the characters, Clark has written an excellent cast of characters with varying complexities. But mostly I am impressed with the amount of female characters. Alongside Fatma and Hadia, we have Siti. As Fatma’s lover, sometimes accomplice she is still sometimes at arms length from the reader. Alongside Fatma however, she has her own flaws and secrets she keeps. But I really was rooting for these two! They are messy, flawed and very full of feelings.

This is a world that I genuinely believe existed in the 1900’s. I honestly can’t grapple with the fact it isn’t. There is this version of Cairo I will continue to have in my head that was able to expel colonising countries in order to stand on their own with newly discovered Djinn, technology and other fantastical creatures. Something I enjoyed seeing was that not only Cairo got this introduction of magic, it’s confirmed that the rest of the world changed too. At one point a German politician is carrying a Goblin on his shoulder, as a result of negotiations between the Germans and the Goblin kingdom for representation. I always love the extra attention to detail when setting up alternate histories because I always wonder how Ireland would fare in all this. The Wormwood trilogy did this excellently as well. But just everything from the old religions, the various Djinn walking the streets, the terrifying Angels in their clockwork bodies and the magic, I just felt like I was walking the streets with Fatma.

So everyone loves a good mystery right? Why else would we still be eating up all the alternate/SFF adjacent Sherlock Holmes stories that are always being published? This has an excellent mystery at the heart of it. The set up from the very start is always going to have you second guessing. The ongoing question of who is this person claiming to be al-Jahiz, is it really him and how does he have this power, does keep you on your toes. I was able to figure out one aspect of the mystery, just because I was sus about someone for a while, but I genuinely loved how tantalising this always was.

I want to thank Orbit Books for sending me a copy of this book for review and to Tracy for having me on the Compulsive Readers blog tour. I really hope you all get to read this, I highly recommend to Daevabad fans for sheer head canon reasons. This is one of the best books I read this year and no doubt it will remain to be. Thanks for checking in! Happy reading!

The worldbuilding in this novel is fantastic and whimsical and it's clear that this is a very well thought out and planned universe. I did come into this thinking it was a standalone (it wasn't) and that threw me slightly but it does work on its own. The writing itself was fantastic but I felt the pacing didn't quite match the story and it took me out of it slightly. I kept falling in and out of interest.

My biggest issue with this book was the characters, they sounded interesting but I felt they didn't get enough character development. There was a lot more focus on the action and the plot which isn't a bad thing, it just isn't my preference.

I did think this was a unique story with some fascinating elements and definitely glad I picked it up.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Orbit Books and Nazia for providing me an ARC. All thoughts are my opinion only!

This is a world full of Egyptian and Arabian mythology that is a refreshing setting. It’s not something you see often where you get an Alternate History novel combining Steampunk, Mythology and Magic. This is a world full of bazaars, camels, djinns in marvellous magic, a world in which you have never seen before. In its scope, one could interpret this series to explore the broader implications of this world; this is a world where Egypt threw off the shackles of British Colonialism and furthered the advancement of the decline of the Ottoman Empire. A world that is close to the edges of WW1. The discovery of Djinns and their ability to integrate into Egyptian society was a sharp wake up call for the Western Powers. They resolved to conquer Africa, but African countries defeated their forces. India liberated itself and the British Raj is now struggling to hold on to whatever precious territory it has left. In one sense, this novel has a huge scope for a potential tv series adapted by Netflix, and in another, it makes me want to explore the world outside of it. This is what I want to see more of in fantasy novels, but more of that, I am proud that the author combined historical fantasy with steampunk to take something uniquely different; What if Egypt overthrew the shackles of colonialism that had taken over hold of it?

But this is a novel that is fighting for the heart and soul of Egypt. Even though Egypt has become independent, it is struggling to reform its society. People still hold deep patriarchal views, and there are many nationalist movements unsatisfied with the King and Queen of Egypt and its Government. However, Egypt is trying to exert its influence in helping fund revolts in the French Colonies in Algeria while convincing the Ottomans to give greater autonomy.

There are eccentric characters in this novel, and the writing is exceptionally good. I commend the author for writing such a complex and detailed novel. The amount of historical research that went into this is astounding. This novel focuses on Fatma, an agent of the Ministry that has to deal with the murder of members of the Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz. In it, she and her lover, Siti, a half-Djinn and her partner, Hadia, discover a secret that threatens to unleash a storm of Djinn and Ifrets, mythological creatures that were from the tales of old. We see the very beginnings of power and magic; we see mystical elements of this world; we see a world that has been shut off from the West. I became more exposed to elements of Arabian Mythology that I didn’t know at all! So many new fascinating concepts, so many new fascinating creatures, and the Djinn are the Genies in the Western context. But don’t be fooled, Djinns are excellent lawyers. They are spirits that can’t be handled around like a pet dog. They can trick you when you don’t see it. The characters in this novel are interesting, but they didn’t hold enough interest for me yet to dig deeper. However, I think this is because of what I’ve read. I’ve barely scratched the surface. There is so much lore, so much fascinating story. I’m amazed at this. I don’t wish to reveal the rest of the story. But P. Djèlí Clark has created a world that is full of mysticism, magic and a fascinating insight into an alternate Egypt which never existed in this timeline. Using brilliant wit and prose, under-taking detailed complex historical research, he has created a world where you will feel yourself in the streets of Cairo and observe the beauty of Egypt’s world.

Here’s an interesting tidbit: During the years from 1830 to 1841, Egypt had declared its independence under its leader, Muhammad Ali, who had been the de facto governor of Ottoman Egypt and launched an invasion of the Ottoman Empire twice. Before the rebellion, he reclaimed many Arabian territories and conquered Sudan. Twice he conquered Asia Minor, defeating the Ottoman armies that came across him. Twice he was close to the Gates of Constantinople, but European pressure forced him to prevent him from doing so. This novel takes place exactly at a place where the power of feminism has taken root in Egypt. Where political rights and voting are emerging, where Egyptian society is becoming what it should have been which the European Powers in their colonies never allowed.

Allow me to explain. When Britain ruled India, its economic, social and foreign policy was not always the best for the native Indians. It certainly benefited the elite of India, but not the common people. African farmers in the European Colonial States had their profits robbed from them. France had a weird policy of trying to integrate Africans in their colonies, but never really was going to give them that. It made sense for the European Powers to keep their colonies poor while exploiting the natural resources to gain profit. That being said, many Empires have done this in the past. Not just European ones. Now imagine India being successful in 1857 against the British. Imagine if that had inspired other nations that were being ruled by the European Powers to rebel. This is only an assumption of mine.

And that’s what I love about the world that P. Djèlí Clark has created. Finally, seeing the world, not from a Eurocentric colonial point of view. I studied French Colonialism in Algeria and Vietnam at University, and I was glad to study the Algerian and Vietnamese viewpoints that hold an extraordinary picture. But is this to say that all colonialism was bad? Not at all. We have to acknowledge the positives and negatives. On my side, I might have some bias. But I shall not turn this review into an essay, for I am merely pointing out the condition of Colonial History. In contrast, we have a strong Egypt that is doing the opposite of what actual Colonial history was for Egypt. If you read about it, you will be shocked. At one point, Egypt was ahead of the West and it was modernising before the British came back to conquer it. Then you hear little about Egypt until World War 2 with the Allies fighting the Axis Powers. This novel pits us a few years directly before WW1, but very close to it.

In the end, this novel impressed me. I’ve written more of a historical essay, but I thought it important because few in the West even know about Egypt’s history. It’s neglected. I do not mean Ancient Egypt, but the foundations of Modern Egypt during the decline of the Ottoman Empire. I loved Fatma and Siti, and their unique relationship carried the story forward. Sometimes I felt Fatma was more reactive rather than being active. Another wish I would carry forward to the author is that in the next book, we have the Egyptian Gods stirring again and bringing back their culture. I think it would be an interesting dynamic to add. This book is worth your time, and I would whole heartily recommend this.

In the future, I wish to see more novels that take different viewpoints like this. More of this combining alternate history and a different setting? What if the Byzantines had survived till the Napoleonic Era? What if we saw the Dutch becoming the World’s Superpower rather than England? What if we saw African countries take on the Industrial Revolution and colonise Europe? What if we saw a strong resurgent Ottoman Empire that had transformed itself with the Industrial Revolution and we had magic and steampunk? What if we saw the Qing defeat the British in the Opium Wars with their mythological dragons? What if we had a different world, where the Ancient Powers had survived to the late 1800s has never converted to Christianity and removing the element of the Middle Ages? What if? There is so much more. And Alternate History doesn’t need to be WW2 anymore. Not now. It’s been overdone in my opinion. Alternate history is vastly under-rated and I believe you can join many genres with it. It must be done right and with a lot of amounts to detail. This is amazing. I want more publishers tackling this subject.

I have posted my reviews on Amazon/Waterstones but they are taking time to get submitted.

How can anybody resist such a beautiful and compelling world?

After reading two novellas by this author, I had to add him to my favourite author's list! this man's writing is like pure magic and the descriptions are so vivid, I was immersed so deeply into this story. I love our funny and fierce main character Fatma. She's got a great fashion sense and sense of humour, you can't help but fall in love with her!

From the plot, to the mystery to the world-building, everything was perfection. Alternate Cairo in the 1900s is written like a dream- so rich and full of monsters, djinn, ifrits, al's and all manner of beings! I can't wait to read more by this author! Highly recommend if you're looking for something unique and written so well, it'll blow your socks off :)

**I was provided with an copy of the book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Ever since I picked up the first of the Dead Djinn universe novellas early last year I was immediately on board the “please please PLEASE give us a full length novel in this world” train. So trust me I was absolutely ecstatic when news of this novel came about and even more so when I got the chance to read it early!

The bizarre massacre of a secret society devoted to Al-Jahiz – the legendary individual who changed the world forever by opening the doors between the magical and mundane worlds – threatens the peace in Egypt, particularly when it is someone claiming to be Al-Jahiz returned who confesses to the crime. Enter the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities and who else but their most renowned and impeccably dressed agent, Fatma Al-Sha’arawi to lead the case.

A Master of Djinn welcomes us back with open arms to all the magic, mystery and mayhem, and this time Clark has given us the keys to fully unlock and throw open the doors to his alternate steampunk, early 20th century Cairo which we only caught glimpses of before.

I’d personally recommend picking up the novellas first if you’re like me and prefer reading things in chronological order however, diving into this novel not having read them won’t hinder your reading experience too much.

The transformation of Egypt through the integration of supernatural beings into society is absolutely fascinating and the storytelling just adds to the magic. Clark seamlessly blends the everyday cultures of Cairo with fantastical and steampunk elements allowing you to walk its streets in a whole new way. Rich in detail the story reintroduces us to and gives a broader understanding of the mythology, lore and array of evolving practices present among the people which were first described to us in the novellas. There were also titbits of information on how the breach in realms has effected the world outside of Egypt too!

Along with jumping back into this lush universe, I thoroughly enjoyed being on an all new adventure with Agent Fatma. From her spectacular fashion sense to her sharp mind she is such a fun character. It was also wonderful to see some familiar faces as well as some new faces around to help her! We have Fatma and Siti teaming up again which is nothing short of entertaining, as well as more time exploring the softer, more personal moments of their relationship. There is also a new addition to the kickass female cast in Agent Hadia, Fatma’s new partner, and the mentor-mentee dynamic that they have was wonderfully written!

The primary murder mystery storyline I’m not going to say too much about so as not to spoil anything, but it is masterfully interwoven with discussions of various social issues of the times as well as allusions to the country’s actual colonial history.

I will admit that I caught on to some of the reveals earlier than they were let on however, take my word that the rich world-building, the perfect balance of crime solving mystery and action, and the witty cast of characters will keep you absorbed with every turn of the page.

If you love historical fantasy, or fantasy stories with a bit of mystery I can’t recommend this book (and the novellas of course) enough!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars

This was the first book I have read by P. Djèli Clark and for some reason I thought it was a standalone. This is not the case though, since it's the third book, set in this alternate universe!

The story was very good, with a solid world building, the writing great and I loved most of the characters, including the secondary. I loved the romantic relationship between Fatma and Siti, as well as Fatma's relationship with her new work partner Hadia!

My only problem was the pacing. The beginning felt a little slow and confusing, but that was probably because I hadn't read the first two books! After I managed to understand the world and magic it got better.

All in all, this was a very good book and I will definitely read Fatma's next adventure!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc, in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

P, Djeli Clark has put together a fantastical story which somehow deals with serious issues such as colonialism, slavery and feminism, with a plot that feels like a romp. It's a joy to read. Fatma is a great twist on the grizzled older detective character, and the secondary characters all feel fully realised too. I did see the big twist coming from quite a long way off but that's no criticism of the writing, which kept me engaged throughout.

A Master of Djiinn is a steampunk novel with a dash of magic, murder, mystery, and mayhem! My four favorite M 🤭

Set in alternate steampunk Cairo, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, an investigator at the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, is investigating the deaths in a secret brotherhood. This brotherhood is dedicated to Al-Jahiz, a man who changed the world 50 years ago, and the murderer: someone who claims to be Al-Jahiz back from the dead!

First of, P. Djèlí Clark's prose is beautiful and engaging. He created an atmospheric vibe throughout the novel.

The world-building is phenomenal! It's so complex and vivid. There are djinns, goblins, golems, angels, and many more. It blends culture, history, and mythological creatures so perfectly. Also, it decontructs colonialism, racism, misogyny, colorism.

And have I mentioned that there's sapphic romance?! It has and it's sooo good!

Big thanks to Orbit/Little, Brown Book Group UK for my galley 🥰 All thoughts and opinions are mine.

Today is my turn on the blog tour for A Master of Djinn, a beautiful fantasy set in an alternative-universe Cairo in 1912. The author has previously written short stories set in this world but this is his first full-length novel. I haven’t read the short stories but now desperately want to as I need more of this world.

Cairo is now a global power thanks to being the site where a mystic broke the barrier between worlds and released magic into our world. The magic effects vary across countries and continents. In Egypt, there are djinns, ghuls and angels. In Germany, for instance, there are goblins. The world-building is so rich and complex and there’s even a steampunk atmosphere with the aerial tramlines and airships. The author uses luxurious prose to capture the language, customs, culture and folklore of Egypt successfully and immerses the reader completely.

Fatma is the main character and a special investigator with the Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. She’s intelligent, capable and fierce, plus wears the most fabulous suits. I loved the introduction of an unwanted partner in the shape of Hadia and how their working relationship developed. Siti is Fatma’s sort-of girlfriend and probably the coolest character in the book. She has enhanced strength and combat abilities which seemingly flow from the ancient goddess she worships. Every scene with Siti in is enjoyable and often memorable.

The author explores a number of thought-provoking themes in a nuanced manner, from colonialism and imperialism to sexism and racism. This is most often through Egypt’s relationship to other countries, especially Great Britain, but it’s also happening within Egyptian society as well. I particularly appreciated the gender dimension of Fatma’s job and the workplace treatment of women which is also reflected in wider society.

Well-plotted and tense action scenes leave the reader breathless and the mysterious antagonist was engaging and believable. The pace is perfectly kept and the author ensures the reader is hooked by the end of every chapter. I loved the epilogue and the idea of found family and hope we revisit these characters in future stories. This is a fantasy I’d definitely recommend.

I loved Clark's novellas so I thought I was going to love this book too but alas... This is just not a style I enjoy in a novel format : too much action and worldbuilding and not enough characters and their developpement. It was still pretty fun but just not for me.

I read this book twice. The first time it was a sort of "Let's see how it is" and read it in two setting as I was totally involved in the plot.
The second time after reading the novellas set in the same world and I was able to get more nuances of the characters and the world building.
This is one of the most original and exciting fantasy book I read in the last years: a mix of fantasy, historical mystery and steampunk.
Fatma is a fascinating character that challenges the tradition even if things are changes.
There's a fantasy story but there's also moments when the books talks about racism, social classes and how you can be shunned for the wrong skin tone.
The world building is excellent, rich of details and I loved it.
It is s an exciting, highly entertaining and riveting novel, I hope to read other books set in this world.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

P. Djèlí Clark started the acknowledgments part of A Master of Djinn with “The first full-length novel! Can you believe it?”, which pretty much echoes what a lot of readers have been saying when the book was first announced, myself included. Clark’s imaginative, sharp novellas are always great but it sometimes felt like devouring an amuse-bouche and regretting it’s not a full meal.

And now, we’ve been fed to satiation.

A Master of Djinn takes place after the events of A Dead Djinn in Cairo and The Haunting of Tram Car 015. It’s better to pick up at least the former if you haven’t yet – not only does it feature the same lead but there are relevant plot elements.

It is a tremendously fun book. Between the engaging writing and the intriguing plot, it was basically impossible to put down. It has that vibe of “buddy cops learning to work together and unravel a mystery, also things go boom and then they go even worse” that’s really irresistible (Fatma and her newly-appointed partner Hadia aren’t actually cops though, which makes it even better).

One of the major highlights of any Clark story is the worldbuilding, which is why the novella format could be a bit frustrating. We’ve gotten tentalizing glimpses of what an alt-1910s-Egypt would look like with magic and djinns, but A Master of Djinn took the time to dig deeper. There are cultural, religious, and geopolitical repercussions that we see more clearly in this story – without it ever slowing down the breakneck pace of the plot. There’s a special kind of pleasure in reading fantasy books that firmly decenter the Western world. And yes, there are digs at the expense of the colonialist powers, and yes, I did enjoy every one of them.

I was so glad we got Fatma as the lead in this story. She’s amazing. Sharp suits, sharper mind, but with an openness and at times, a vulnerability that makes her thoroughly likeable. She is very, very good at her job, but is never cocky enough to assume she knows everything or can solve anything. Clark must have had fun with the homage to a buddy cop classic trope, the grizzled veteran rejecting the wide-eyed rookie, before totally subverting it. Hadia was a breath of fresh air. She’s a devout Muslim, wears hijab, quotes ayat, kicks ass. I loved her so much.

Another trope deliciously subverted, this time straight from a Noir detective story, is the dame. Siti, Fatma’s lover, who appears in the most convenient times with a smile and many, many secrets. They are so good together, and Siti by herself is simply delightful. So many iconic one-liners (and outfits!).

There are also social issues brought up in the story – a modern, magical Egypt isn’t safe from gender inequality or poverty – or racism. I particularly appreciated the way that last point was handled. While the scene was enraging, it is a nuanced reminder that racism isn’t just a Western thing. North Africa can be fucking awful about it today still.

The plot itself is a pretty straightforward murder mystery, in the tradition of urban fantasy. It’s got a lot of action, and so many things go wrong, and we are kept on our toes until the very last page.

A Master of Djinn is an entertaining story that reinvents history in a highly inventive setting and features great depictions of female camaraderie, friendship, and romance. For me, there was also the familiarity of a North African setting (Morocco is not Egypt, but we have a lot in common, and I grew up with Egyptian TV shows in the background of my family home!) and the often-snarky anticolonialist message that made it a great read .

I said before that we’ve been fed to satiation – it’s not quite true. I would definitely love to have more.

A Master of Djinn was an enjoyable read! We follow Detective Fatma as she investigates the murder of a secret brotherhood dedicated to Al-Jahiz in Cairo. Al-Jahiz changed the world 50 years ago when he opened the veil between the magical and our normal world. The murderer claims to be Al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. Fatma, with the help of her colleagues at the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, is asked to solve this mystery - a task that quickly becomes highly dangerous!

Let's start with the best thing about this book in my view: the worldbuilding! The author managed to make me feel absolutely immersed in this fabulous alternative version of Cairo - a sort of steampunk version of modern Egypt, with djinns and other magical creatures living alongside humans. The prose wasn't particularly lyrical but it was well-written and successfully led to a vivid imagery of this world. I also really enjoyed the blending of actual historical events within this alternate history, which supported to the immersion in this different culture. I would love to get back to this setting in the future!

The characters were also endearing. The story is told through Fatma's POV and whilst I liked her, I found her personality a bit bland overall (she really likes fashion so maybe that's why I didn't connect). However, her two friends were super interesting and more than made up for this issue. The mysterious Siti was intriguing and charming, and I loved to get to know Agent Hadia, Fatma's new partner. The relationships between Fatma and each of those secondary characters was beautifully explored.

The murder mystery was interesting to follow, even if I guessed some elements. I was rooting for Fatma and her team from beginning to end and held my breath a few times during the action scenes. The finale was surprisingly epic!

That being said, there are two reasons for me to rate this book 3-stars. First, I thought there were at times some pacing issues. In between some intense page-turning chapters, some passages felt much slower (and as I said before, I did not really care for the fashion details). Secondly, and more importantly, there is one aspect of the mystery that was not explained by the end of the book, which frustrated me. I like detective stories but I need the whole mystery to be properly wrapped up. Maybe this is something that the author will tackle in another book but given that this should be read as a stand-alone, it left me a bit unsatisfied. Many readers will not see this as an issue given the epic scale of the finale but unfortunately I'm nit-picky!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read, in a fabulous world, with interesting characters. It was good, not great!

This book was not what I expected but still so very good. Reads like historical fiction in a fantasy world. Reminiscent of the City of Brass but with crime fighters rather than royalty.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed stories about Djinn and story female characters breaking the mold. Great LGBTQ+ rep too!