A Master of Djinn

Being my most anticipated book of this year, I never expected to get this advance copy. But I overjoyed when it happened and couldn't wait to get to it. And as expected, this was such fun.

After having read one short and a novella set in this world, I was looking forward to seeing how much more expansive this would get. And I really enjoyed how the author gave us more background about how the Djinn came to inhabit this world and coexist with mortals, the differences in the workings of supernatural creatures in various countries, as well as the disintegration of the British empire. The author also throws a light on the racism and prejudices that form the undercurrent of this world, both from the white people towards the native Egyptians, as well as between the Egyptians who believe in different faiths. All of this information makes us feel like this world is real and vibrant, and immerse ourselves in its sights and sounds. I've always admired the author's writing for his distinctive world building and this one was no less impressive.

The writing is also engaging right away, pulling us into the mystery and sending us on a quest to find the truth along with Agent Fatma. She is delightful as ever, standing out not only due to her signature suits and bowler hats, but also her bravery and drive to do her best. I didn't expect a partner would work well with her, but the author manages to create a wonderful character in Hadia - she is a perfect foil to Fatma, with her conservative dressing and strong belief in religion, but she is also extremely sharp and fearless, throwing herself in harmful circumstances despite not having a lot of experience. The author weaves an interesting murder mystery plot, mixed with the villain's desire to control the world, and a volatile time in history when countries are teetering on the cusp of war. This makes the stakes very high, with us worried every step of the way for our favorite agents. In the midst of it, we also get an unexpected sapphic relationship which is full of angst and twists, but deep yearning. However, the author never lets the narrative be all serious - we also get lots of humorous dialogue, either through the Djinn or cameos from the previous stories - making this story very enjoyable.

In conclusion, this was a delight. If you've read the previous stories set in this works, you can't give it a miss. If you are new to the author's works, do start with A Dead Djinn in Cairo which you can read for free on Tor.com. If you wanna experience a steampunk historical Cairo full of supernatural creatures, fascinating mysteries being solved by very memorable agents, and a what if scenario of colonial powers having lost their hold on their empires much earlier than our real world - then this is a perfect series for you. Just be prepared to be wowed.

P. Djèlí Clark writes lush masterworks, his newest book to his collection of stories in The Dead Djinn Universe is A Master of Djinn. And, much like his other short-form works, A Master of Djinn is an intense sensory experience, with engaging characters, dialog, and kick-ass fight scenes.

It is no secret that I am a fan of his novels.  The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and A Dead Djinn in Cairo are gorgeous works of short-form fantasy. He has a knack for describing things to such a degree that you shouldn't be surprised if the red sands of Egypt poured out between your pages or you start to smell the heady incense of the streets of Cairo. If you listen very closely, you could probably hear drums thrumming while you read. 

“The three of them sat there - A Ministry agent, a half-djinn, and a cat (likely), staring out past the balcony to the sleeping city they somehow had to find a way to save.”

This kind of description is probably not for everyone. It can meander a bit, slow down the plot a little. If you are a fan of punchy stories, this one is probably not for you. 

The story's plot is a solid murder mystery staring Agent Fatima el- Sha'awari, who works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. We were introduced to her in Clark's other novellas, The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and A Dead Djinn in Cairo and the short story The Angel of Khan el-Khalili. We are back in 1912 Cairo. Djinn and all manner of creatures are a part of daily life. Fatima is investigating the murder of a dozen brutally burned people, The Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz. The corpses' clothes were untouched. It is as if they were scorched from the inside out. 

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. Fatima, her girlfriend Siti, and her new partner try to unravel the case before the supernatural forces kill us all. Of course, things all go pear-shaped. 

“Even a rich man must sometimes eat with beggars.”

One of the aspects I loved was the subtle subtext of defining what feminity is. On the one hand, you have Fatima, badass in a dapper suit in a world full of ultra-conservative people. On the other, you have a couple of characters in the story that are the epitome of what women are supposed to be in 1912 Cairo. Meek and mild. They wouldn't hurt a fly. I enjoyed the interplay off of the characters with a few twists. And while the ending was of no great surprise to me, I enjoyed the dynamic and the journey getting there. 

Unlike Clark's novellas and short stories, the characters didn't completely click with me. Fatima is supposed to be a shrewd investigator. She is no novice when it comes to dealing with the supernatural creatures of Cairo. However, at times Fatima seemed almost bumbling. Plot details that were essential points of interest for the murder case seem to get overlooked for a few chapters. While sweet, Fatima's romance with Siti lacks the intensity that I think Clark was trying to convey. They had a solid connection, but they seemed to be casually dating rather than be in a relationship. 

“You! You can't just walk in here! This is a crime scene!” “That would explain the dead bodies, then,” she replied. He blinked dumbly, and she sighed. Wasting good sarcasm was annoying.”

The action sequences were like watching a Michael Bay movie in my head. They were fantastic. His pacing and descriptions get you into the characters while they battle. It balanced well against the story as it slowed down a bit in some sections. 

To my knowledge, this is Clark's first step into full-length novels. And as such, this first novel has some minor pacing and dialog problems. It feels like he was making himself comfortable in this length of a story. However, in typical Clark fashion, it is generally an excellent story with superb descriptions and an engaging who-done-it plot. Is it perfect? Not quite. But it is enjoyable as hell, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great murder fantasy mystery. I can't wait to read more works in this series.

Wow that was good! Intelligent, well told and fascinating.This is an amazing story, part historical fiction, part detective story, part urban fantasy, part full on epic fantasy. It is a story with really great characters (who I really hope to read about again soon) in a complex and fascinating world that really holds a critical mirror up to our own. While I have been told that this book can be read on its own - I did not find this to be the case, I do strongly recommend reading the novellas in the series first:• [b:The Haunting of Tram Car 015 36546128 The Haunting of Tram Car 015 (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.3) P. Djèlí Clark https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1537226167l/36546128.SY75.jpg 58277622] : Not vital to the central plot, but a great introduction to this very complex world and to two very good characters. Also it is just a really great story on its own merit.• [b:A Dead Djinn in Cairo 29635542 A Dead Djinn in Cairo (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.1) P. Djèlí Clark https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1459173382l/29635542.SX50.jpg 49993780] : I really feel you must read this one before the novel as it introduces some very key features as well as the main character of the novel. I had started the novel first, got confused with certain references and then went back and read this story which cleared things up.• [b:The Angel of Khan el-Khalili 57888459 The Angel of Khan el-Khalili (Dead Djinn Universe, #0.2) P. Djèlí Clark https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1619663376l/57888459.SY75.jpg 90689051] : This is skippable, but is very short and adds great atmosphere.I'm going to seriously miss this world and these characters - here's hoping for a sequel soon!

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read in a world that I really enjoyed being immersed and which left me wanting more. The world-building and the criticism on colonialism and the relationship between Western powers with Middle East and Asian countries in the 19th century and early 20th are kinda where this book shines, even if I felt that the ending was a little wanting.

Fatma el-Sha'arawi is the first female investigator in the Ministry of Alchemy and something and Supernatural Entities. She's a breath of fresh air by way of fantasy protagonists, wearing English-style suits and ties and bowler hats (considered “exotic” in Cairo) and with an enigmatic girlfriend to boot. We had first met her in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and the foundations set in that short story continue expanding in this book. The book opens when an apparently long-dead magician, al-Jahiz, reappears and commits a flagrantly flamboyant mass murder. He has long become the stuff of legends for opening the portal between the mortal realm and the djinn and introducing magic and the supernatural into this world, and his reappearance is something akin to a resurrected prophet walking the streets of Cairo again. Fatma is called into investigate, along with her new partner and latest female addition to the Ministry, Agent Hadia (she of the sky-blue hijab), as well as Siti, Fatma's erstwhile lover.

The characters we were introduced to in the two short stories preceding this book (A Dead Djinn and The Haunting of Tram Car 015) reappear in this one, although it is only Fatma and Siti that get fleshed out. Hamed and Onsi, of whom I was looking forward to seeing more, are unfortunately relegated to being almost like cameo appearances. Even so, because of how fast-paced this book is, we barely see much characterisation of Fatma and Siti, and instead just join them as they're swept up along with the whirlwind of action going on around them.

The book clearly has a theme about colonialism and being bound against one's own will. I liked how it was explored in the form of a reimagined Egypt, more affluent, more liberal, and where Cairo and some of its citizens enjoy the same level of prosperity as London and Paris in the early 20th century. The interaction between the African characters with other characters from England, Russia, and Germany gives us a site from which we can think about colonialism, such as when Fatma is irked by an Englishwoman constantly referring to the Egyptians as “natives”, or when England and America are spoken of in a not-so-pleasant light in the same way African and Asian countries are usually described. This percolates to the level of the plot as well, which deals with the idea of djinn being controlled against their will, who gets to do this (if any), and the ethical implications of that power.

The ending felt a little lacking, in my opinion. I guessed the plot twist from the first quarter of the book, and the ending itself wrapped things up a little too conveniently. It did however have some moments that redeemed it a little. I wasn't surprised at the reveal about Abigail at all. I think I guessed it from as early as the first time Fatma found the Portendorf's notes referencing an "AW". I enjoyed the bit where the ifrit told the Ifrit King that he was a pacifist though. Fatma's being able to wield the Seal was also pretty predictable and I'm not sure I understand why the Seal chose her, and what price they exacted (if any) to be able to do so much as to command the Ifrit lords to go back. It all felt a little sudden somehow.

Overall, still a good enjoyable read with a world that I want to see more of (and particularly more of the angels!!! We didn't get as much of them in this book as I would nearly have liked).

This novel is set in Egypt in 1912, in an alternative history in which magic and various supernatural beings were let into the world 40 years earlier, causing some changes of status among nations. In particular, Egypt was able to make use of the influx to maintain its independence and become a great power in its own right.

I enjoyed the story, but I have some reservations about it. The scenario is wonderfully imaginative, and the details of Egyptian culture seem well researched—although you'd need an Egyptian to confirm that. The writing is good, the characterization adequate: most of the characters are briefly sketched and not very memorable.

It's what I call a wild fantasy: that is, the magic used in this world seems to follow no particular rules and can achieve effects without limit. If it has any rules or limits, we the readers don't know what they are, and the characters in the story don't seem to know either.

Wild fantasy always seems like cheating to me, because the author can get out of any situation by deploying some new magical effect that does whatever trick is required. It doesn't need to be explained or justified, because magic can do anything.

The story of this novel is a kind of whodunnit, although it's hard to deduce the identity of the villain in a world in which magic can do anything. For all we know, the villain might be the heroine's cat.

We have to accept as a premise of the story the presence of magic and supernatural beings, but I find other aspects of the story somewhat implausible. In this world, Egypt has a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament and an active feminist organization. Women are starting to appear in jobs previously reserved for men, and parliament has recently given agreed to give votes to women. It's not clear to me how the presence of magic and supernatural beings leads to these political effects, and the book doesn't seem to give any explanation.

Although the majority of Egyptians seem to be Muslims, various other religions also have adherents, and they all seem to tolerate each other remarkably well; although the older pagan religions operate in semi-secrecy because they're less well tolerated.

Our heroine, Fatma, isn't particularly magical but seems to have a charmed life, as she emerges from all kinds of dangerous situations alive and without serious injuries.

On first reading, I gave the book three stars. On second reading, I think I enjoyed it well enough to give it four, despite my reservations. Fatma makes a congenial heroine.

Be warned, the story pulls out all the stops. Anyone who tried to make a film of it would need a huge special-effects budget.

I was disappointed in this one. I love a fantastical murder mystery, but this one was too light for the mood I was in. It's fine if you're just looking for a glittery steampunk popcorn read, but the story spends too much time on what the world looks like and not really enough on the characters for me to really enjoy it. Also, I guessed the murderer from the minute they were introduced, which always annoys me. I kept hoping I'd be wrong, but it just kept making all these obvious references to who really dunnit that I was frustrated that a character as supposedly adept as Fatma couldn't figure this out.

I recently finished listening to the audio book of this. I enjoyed it. I really like the universe, and the world building that went into the story. The characters are enjoyable, but maybe not as deep as other works, but that works in this story as well. The story can be a bit obvious at times, but is still fun and entertaining. The end may be a bit weaker than the journey there, but it still resolved everything. Maybe tied it up a bit too neatly, but hey it's a story not life. I will very much keep an eye on this author, and probably read more in this universe, it is just too much fun not too.

I'm trying to review more books, and post them on here this year. This was influanced by the recent loss of a very active reader and reviewer Jenny “Reading Envy” Colvin.

Pros: great characters, detailed worldbuilding, twisty plot

Cons:

After the members of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz are murdered in a mysterious manner, Agent Fatma and her new partner Agent Hadia, of the Egyptian Ministery of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, to solve the case.

This is a fun murder mystery that takes place in an alternate Egypt of 1912, where a portal to another world allowed djinn, ‘angels’ and other supernatural beings to come to earth. The worldbuilding is fantastic and extrapolates the politics of the time to fit these entities in.

This is the first novel, but there are a couple of short stories that preceed this story, introducing some of the characters (like how Agent Fatma and Siti meet), that while not necessary to understand the events of this book, are a lot of fun and give some more depth to the characters.

Agent Fatma is delightful and I loved her relationship with Siti. While I’m not generally a fan of the’ agent who doesn’t want a partner gets a new partner’ trope, it was handled well and I enjoyed seeing them learn to work together.

The murder mystery was interesting, with some fun twists. The ending was properly apocalyptic.

If you’re unfamiliar with Egyptian (and Nubian) food and clothing, there will be some new vocabulary to look up. I looked up some but not all of the terms, learning some interesting cultural facts along with my fiction.

I found this an enjoyable romp in a country I’d love to visit someday.

An enjoyable, fun read in a magical 1912 Cairo with Djinns. And a murder plot. Oh, and a female protagonist, an agent of the Ministry Of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities.

Clark's writing flows easily, his universe is intriguing, and his character are charming. (Bonus points for a lesbian protagonist).

As a mystery plot lover I was hoping for a massive plot twist to throw me off course, but while I did figure out the culprit too early on, I was entertained all the way through.

I hope to read many more stories set in this universe.

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r/fantasy Bingo Card 2021: Genre Mashup

I gave this 4 stars because I think it should be in Young Adult and as such it is a fun read. But as Adult Fiction... nah. It reminds me a lot of Winter's Orbit in a sense that the world and story work on the surface, for the purpose of a fun, casual story, but if you think deeper for 5 minutes it absolutely falls apart. Again, as YA this is common and generally accepted at this point. But I personally don't think these books belong in Adult Fiction.

A Master of Djinn is set in an alternative history Egypt where, in the late 1800s, a sorcerer known only as Al-Jahiz, working in Cairo, restored magic to the world, and with it Djinni, and all manner of other supernatural beings. In this process, this also brought Egypt into being a Great Power on the global stage (technically again), and lead to an earlier contraction of several empires.  It's now 1912, and rumblings of various political and military disagreements are pointing towards a potential World War. A peace summit is due to be held in Cairo in the hopes of avoiding that ar, organized by diplomat Sir Alastair Worthington – a British man who is well respected in both Europe and Egypt, and who has adopted Egypt as his home country. Worthington has also founded a secret society dedicated to Al-Jahiz and his works, as part of his, for lack of a better term, Egyptophilia.  So, when a person claiming to be the returned Al-Jahiz murders Worthington and the entirety of his brotherhood, using magical means, not long before the peace summit. the Egyptian government has A Problem on its hands. So, the relevant organization – the Ministry for Alchemy, Enchantment, and Supernatural Entities Agent Fatima el-Sha'arawi to investigate, along with her new (and rookie) partner, Agent Hadia.  Clark uses some of the narrative concepts of the “Buddy Cop” (or just “Buddy Crime”) story for considerable effect, through using twists on a familiar narrative structure to help keep the reader grounded, and also preventing a sense of exoticization. By having the characters react to things that are different from our life experiences as normal through a familiar concept, those things become normal, and we as readers are able to step away from our internal sense of exoticization and just roll with it.  As an example, Fatima starts the story as an agent who works on their own – who doesn't have or want a partner – and eschews traditional Islamic fashion, instead wearing Western-style suits with a bowler hat. She also doesn't talk much about her religious beliefs, particularly since she's also a lesbian. Her partner, Agent Hadia, being fresh out of the academy, has less street smarts, but has some book smarts Fatima lacks (particularly when it comes to religious training) – but also can pull her own weight in a fight and, being a member of the Islamic Feminist League, is in tune with various social movements, meaning that it reduces a degree of tension regarding whether the two are going to end up at odds because of Fatima's sexual identity.  The involvement of the peace summit also really helps to round out the larger world of the setting, both with the various foreign dignitaries, and with the handful of emigre communities that pop up over the course of A Master of Djinn, either directly playing a role in the plot, or as background supporting cast. If I had a gripe at all with this, it's that the Conference's Great Powers are “The European Great Powers + Egypt” – with no presence of any of the contracted former colonies of the Great Powers that might have their own tensions that would make the World War fit that description – such as India, China, and Japan. Japan's conflict with Russia in World War I ended up spreading into further grabs for territory in China and Korea, for example, and the rise of magic could potentially have lead to some degree of a resurgent China (giving it a different global perception than it had pre-WWII), and the Indian Independence movement might have already made a level of headway that it didn't get until post World War II. It all feels like a missed opportunity.  On the other hand, Grey gets into the very ways racial prejudices have and haven't changed in this world – the White European members of Worthington's “Brotherhood of Al-Jahiz” look down on the people of Egypt, Cairo has a population of African-American emigres (particularly demonstrated by the African-American Jazz musicians at the club where Fatima hangs out), much as there were in France. However, darker-skinned Egyptians also face prejudice from their peers, and related to this, the story also gets into the historical president of this with tensions between previous Egyptian pharaohs and the darker-skinned population of Nubia to the south, and the ways that the Nubian population was treated in Egypt in the past.  Now, the mystery that is the heart of the plot is wonderfully well written – feeling like a work that fits in the lineage of other detective stories set in and around World War 1, not as cynical as noir, and not as grim as hard-boiled detective stories, but still with a willingness to get its hands dirty in the telling of the story, without getting into the gentility of a cozy.  I'm tremendously glad I read this book, and I'm going to need to hunt down the other novellas in this universe – and I deeply look forward to Clark's next novel. 

I suspected that after reading A Dead Djinn in Cairo I was going to gobble this up too and that's what happened! This might have been a bit predictable, but the mystery component felt more realistic than typical detective stories and I'll take any story of Fatimah navigating this magical version of Cairo.