A Master of Djinn: 1 (Dead Djinn Universe)

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a b "2022 World Fantasy Awards Finalists". Locus Magazine. July 20, 2022 . Retrieved August 25, 2022. A Master of Djinn is poised to launch P. Djèlí Clark’s SFF career to new heights as the highly-anticipated debut readers are clamoring for.

There will be no war,” Lord Worthington spoke. His voice rang with a quiet crispness that silenced the table. “We live in an age of industry. We manufacture vessels to traverse the seas and airships to roam the skies. With our manipulation of noxious vapors, and your country’s recovered skills of alchemy and the mystic arts? What new hideous weapons could this age create?” He shook his head, as if clearing away nightmarish conjurations. “No, this world cannot afford war. That is why I have aided your king on the coming summit of nations. The only way forward is peace, or we shall surely perish.” Sometimes, Moustafa,” Dalton went on, stripping off a pair of gloves, “I think you delight in sending me on these fool’s chases.” Archibald had near forgotten about the second man, who stood silent as furniture—Dalton’s manservant, Moustafa, though it was increasingly difficult to find natives for that sort of work. Mummies were hard to come by, as Egypt’s parliament had restricted the trade. Moustafa, however, always seemed able to find Dalton some new lead—each one fruitless and, Archibald suspected, conducted at great expense. Booklist gave the book a starred review, and described it as a "delightful combination of mystery, fantasy, and romance." [14] Plot, however, was problematic. While it initially seems to be a murder investigation, it turns out that a much larger game is afoot, one that ultimately (thematic spoiler) reminded me of a Scooby-Doo episode . At times, however, the story felt scattershot, too many asides that pulled focus away from plot. Halfway through, world politics were awkwardly inserted–perhaps as a way to up the tension–and it turns out now there's also goblins to contend with. Unfortunately, I ended up with more questions, having accepted the premise of the adjacent-world for the djinn. The short explanation didn’t square for me, but perhaps someone else will read it differently. “Folktales were collected and scoured for any practical use. Djinn were not native to the country, but there were other creatures–chief among them goblins… allowing [redacted] to rapidly grow in its magical and industrial expertise.”Meanwhile, Fatma – who’s run off every official partner she’s previously been assigned – has a new partner in the form of Hadia, one of the few other female agents in the Ministry and one who looks up to Fatma, an appreciation that Fatma does her best to stomp into pieces. And Fatma’s in a strange place with her lover Siti: Siti has secrets, is difficult to pin down, may or may not be interested in an actual long-term relationship, and is right in the middle of Fatma’s investigation, helpful and infuriating by turns.

What a wonderful world P. Djélì Clarke has created here — an Arab world never colonized, where magic-powered trams glide through a cosmopolitan Cairo and where djinns make mischief among humans.” - NPR Try to Fit That on a Business Card: At the end, Ahmad calls himself “Lord Sobek, Masters of the Waters, the Rager, Lord of Faiyum, Defender of the Land, General of the Royal Armies” in his letter to Fatma. Clark reconfigures history with a keen, critical eye toward gender, class, and imperialism. An epic tale of magic and mystery, this is sure to wow. " - Publishers Weekly, starred reviewAlongside her Ministry colleagues and her clever girlfriend Siti, Agent Fatma must unravel the mystery behind this imposter to restore peace to the city – or face the possibility he could be exactly who he seems… Egypt. The mysterious jewel of the Orient, land of pharaohs, fabled Mamlukes, and countless marvels. For ten long years now, Archibald had spent three, four, even six months in the country at a time. And one thing was certain: he’d had his fill. Keystone Army: Abigail controls her army of djinn with the ring she wears, so once her hand wearing this is bitten off, the spell which controls them is broken and they break free, no longer working to fulfill her plan. The Marid didn’t react right away. Finally, he closed both his eyes, at the same time widening the third on his forehead until it flared with brilliance. When he reopened his remaining eyes they looked startled. My full-length novel, A Master of Djinn, was officially released a week ago from today on May 11 2021 by Tor.com Publishing. Though I’ve done this before, since it has (again) been a minute, this post is gonna recount the road that brought me here. Because mane, who knew?

Horned Humanoid: Djinn often look like this, with a generally humanoid body but also large horns. Siti does too in her djinn form. Also awkward was the frequent use of non-English words. I’m no stranger to sci-fi and am more than used to figuring context of a word, but at times it was excessive, to the point of inhibiting story meaning and flow. One particularly cumbersome example: O.O.C. Is Serious Business: After being forced to strangle Fatma by the false Al-Jahiz's spell, Siti is distraught, plaintively asking if she's all right when they see each other again, with her having clearly been crying. This is quite the contrast with her usual energetic, teasing attitude. She's usually wholly fearless as well, but expresses profound terror at how he controlled her. All Myths Are True: As well as the djinn in Egypt, there are also goblins and fae in Europe. The ancient Egyptian gods also possibly exist.Turns out, people liked it. The story. The main character. The worldbuilding. They really liked it. So much so, some asked the inevitable–“is there more?” Only the Pure of Heart: The Ring of Sulayman only reveals its true form to someone who has pure motives. Battle Couple: Fatma and Siti, her lover, both know how to fight skillfully, doing so as a team at times. Fatma nodded at the familiar Cairene slang—evoked with praise, sarcasm, or anger, at the long-disappeared Soudanese mystic. The very one who some forty years past bored a hole into the Kaf, the other-realm of the djinn. She was young enough to have been born into the world left in al-Jahiz’s wake. It was still at times a dizzying affair.