A Master of Djinn

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.