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madlyreading's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Animal death, Bullying, Colonisation, Grief, Gaslighting, Murder, Death of parent, Death, Pregnancy, Animal cruelty, and Emotional abuse
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A haunting story with a few Jane Eyre-like elements. Really enjoyed it, though I kind of feel guilty for liking it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Confinement, Death, Body horror, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
bkwrm1317's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First and foremost, thanks to Viking Penguin (Raven Ross) and NetGalley for pre-approving me for a copy of The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan in exchange for an honest review. I love reviewing debut works by new (to me) authors in exchange for a review and Djinn was no different.
At it's core, Djinn is a story of a young woman transitioning to adulthood who moves with her father to a large estate on the coast in South Africa with a colorful group of fellow tenants. With elements of horror (gothic, cosmic), as well as parallel stories playing out decades apart connected through the estate, the reader is drawn in by Khan's style and way with prose. Khan doesn't reveal all secrets too quickly, and gives the reader just enough suspense for the reveals to have some punch.
Major themes of this novel include loss, love, grief, and what it means to ultimately let go. There are also elements of the supernatural (our protagonist has a dead sister who haunts her pretty maliciously), tradgedy in true love, jealousy, and much more.
Khan is a South African novelist with roots in India, so there are also themes of cultural belonging, language, food, and more that unite the tenants of the estate where our cast of characters live, which was an enjoyable ride as a reader. I'll be on the lookout for more from Khan in the future, and in the meantime, will be recommending The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years to folks in preparation for its debut in January 2024.
At it's core, Djinn is a story of a young woman transitioning to adulthood who moves with her father to a large estate on the coast in South Africa with a colorful group of fellow tenants. With elements of horror (gothic, cosmic), as well as parallel stories playing out decades apart connected through the estate, the reader is drawn in by Khan's style and way with prose. Khan doesn't reveal all secrets too quickly, and gives the reader just enough suspense for the reveals to have some punch.
Major themes of this novel include loss, love, grief, and what it means to ultimately let go. There are also elements of the supernatural (our protagonist has a dead sister who haunts her pretty maliciously), tradgedy in true love, jealousy, and much more.
Khan is a South African novelist with roots in India, so there are also themes of cultural belonging, language, food, and more that unite the tenants of the estate where our cast of characters live, which was an enjoyable ride as a reader. I'll be on the lookout for more from Khan in the future, and in the meantime, will be recommending The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years to folks in preparation for its debut in January 2024.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Gaslighting
Minor: Death and Death of parent
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