You may recall that this novel was on my list of books I was looking forward to in 2021. I am happy to say that A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark does not disappoint. In fact, it even managed to exceed my expectations.
The Plot
All of the members of a secret society of Englishmen in Egypt are horrendously murdered with magical fire. It falls to Agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi to figure out whodunnit, and why. What follows is a steampunk adventure/mystery set in an alternate version of Egypt circa 1912.
It becomes clear early on that the murder was carried out by someone claiming to be al-Jahiz, the man who punched a hole through the worlds and brought in a new era of magic and djinn around the world. But is he truly al-Jahiz, or someone capitalizing on his reputation? And why did he murder an entire group dedicated to discovering his secrets?
In order to find the truth, Agent Fatma has to work with her colleagues at the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, the police, djinn, angels, and humans at various levels of society. She even finds herself reluctantly paired with a new partner, a female rookie with an eager attitude.
Along the way, the story touches on issues of colonialism, class, colorism, police violence, and more. Just like many cities today, the Cairo of A Master of Djinn is a city benefitting from technology and growth, but where the average person might still struggle to find a good job and an affordable apartment, and where the poorest live in slums (in this case, living among mausoleums).
Why It Worked for Me
Look, I am always here for a dapper, queer femme protagonist. I adore Agent Fatma. I love that every time she tries to dress more soberly for an occasion, she still ends up with about three flashy elements in her outfit. I love her relationship with her mysterious lover Siti. I also love how she comes to appreciate and respect her new partner Hadia. Actually, I love Hadia too. She’s introduced as an earnest young hijabi, but while she might outwardly appear more “proper” than Fatma, she has surprising depths; a willingness to skirt the rules, a passion for feminism, and a whole lot of very useful cousins.
A Master of Djinn has an incredible sense of place. This version of Cairo feels very real. It’s a cosmopolitan city inhabited by people from all over Egypt and around the world, people of all religions and walks of life, from bookbinders to djinn with a gambling addiction to New Orleans jazz musicians working the night club scene. The old gods sleep, but their followers have a hand in events in the world. There’s a lot going on; so much potential for other stories.
From a craft perspective, the book is paced in such a way to be difficult to put down. There are breadcrumbs throughout about what’s going on, and lots of clever end-of-chapter hooks that get you saying “One more chapter” until you’re late for work (whoops).
Does It Work as a Stand-Alone?
A Master of Djinn is Clark’s first full-length novel, but it is not the first story in this setting or with these characters. While the main story is largely self-contained, there are many references to the events of A Dead Djinn in Cairo (a short story/novelette which you can read for free on tor.com), and a few passing references to The Haunting of Tram Car 015 (a novella). Really, you should just go ahead and read them all in order.
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