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A review by fantasticcan1475
A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book is really interesting because it ties in magical beings from fairy tales from all of the world. It’s set in 1912 in Cairo, where in recent years the magical creatures called the Djinn, and others, have recently been brought from the magical realm by someone and the world is still adjusting to magic being real. Cairo is fast becoming the next big international hub and is on par with cities such as London. The story brings in historical perspectives and politics from the time period, with a magical twist!
The main character Fatma is a Special Investigator for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities and she’s trying to solve a mystery of who killed all the members of a cult.
I really enjoyed the plot, setting and the perspective of Cairo’s culture both magical and from that time period! There’s a lot going on in the book and I especially liked that the plot wasn’t predictable. Also it works really well as a standalone book, despite being the first in a series.
I really liked the side characters since I had a chance to really get to know them and they’re quirks, plus how they interacted with Fatma. But on the other hand, it felt like I was missing something critical about her: like why she’s an investigator, what her motives are and who she is as a person.
I didn’t realize until after reading Master of Djinn, that there’s two prequels: a novelette, A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and a novella, The Haunting of Tram Car 015). I wonder if we learn more about Fatma in those?
Lastly, the audiobook of this book is amazing and the narrator Suehyla El-Attar really captures how each of the characters speak at different paces, nuances and with different accents! I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I’m definitely going to see what else she has narrated!
The main character Fatma is a Special Investigator for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities and she’s trying to solve a mystery of who killed all the members of a cult.
I really enjoyed the plot, setting and the perspective of Cairo’s culture both magical and from that time period! There’s a lot going on in the book and I especially liked that the plot wasn’t predictable. Also it works really well as a standalone book, despite being the first in a series.
I really liked the side characters since I had a chance to really get to know them and they’re quirks, plus how they interacted with Fatma. But on the other hand, it felt like I was missing something critical about her: like why she’s an investigator, what her motives are and who she is as a person.
I didn’t realize until after reading Master of Djinn, that there’s two prequels: a novelette, A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and a novella, The Haunting of Tram Car 015). I wonder if we learn more about Fatma in those?
Lastly, the audiobook of this book is amazing and the narrator Suehyla El-Attar really captures how each of the characters speak at different paces, nuances and with different accents! I listen to a lot of audiobooks and I’m definitely going to see what else she has narrated!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: War and Sexual content
Minor: Grief