On the Horizon – a master of djinn (P. Djèlí Clark) – It’s Wyrd and Wonder!

Ahoy there me mateys!  I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  So here be me honest musings . . .

Title: a master of djinn

Author: P. Djèlí Clark

Publisher: tor.com

Publication Date: Available Now!!! (hardback/e-book)

ISBN: 978-1250267689

Source: NetGalley

This is me sixth work by the author but not me last.  This is set in the author’s early 1900s alternate Cairo where magic has returned to the world and Egypt is a major world power.  First there was a short 40 page story about Agent Fatma el-Sha’arawi, then a longer novella about Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr, and now this full-length novel set in the same world.  Fatma stars but previous characters make appearances too.

A murder investigation drives the plot.  The dead include a rich Englishman and his secret society dedicated to al-Jahiz.  I have to admit that I knew early on who the murderer was but not how it all went down.  Finding out was lots of fun.

I continued to love Agent Fatma.  She rocks.  I also really enjoyed the addition of new agent Hadia.  The djinn, in all their variations, continue to be the highlight for me.  I love the steampunk feel of Cairo and the lovely twisting of the historical elements.  The world building rocks and I loved more insight into the city and its denizens.

The flaw of this novel was that the plot is quite scattered and Fatma doesn’t exhibit the brilliant intellect I expected of her.  In addition there were just too many elements and I felt that most of them didn’t get the attention they were warranted.  That said, I had fun with this and could read many more stories set in this world in whatever format the author chooses to write them in and starring lots of different folk.  Arrr!

Side note: I found out there is another short story set in this world.  I must track it down!

This post was brought to ye by Wyrd & Wonder 2021.  And the letter W.  Arrr!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel (shortened by me cause spoilers):

Cairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha’arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she’s certainly not a rookie . . .

So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case . . .

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….

To visit the author’s website go to:

P. Djèlí Clark – Author

To buy the book go to:

a master of djinn – Book 3

To add to Goodreads go to:

Yer Ports for Plunder List

Previous Log Entries for this Author

the black god’s drums (On the Horizon – Fantasy eArc)

“The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington” (Shiver me Timbers! – Historical Fantasy Short Story)

a dead djinn in cairo – book 1 (Captain’s Log – Fantasy)

the haunting of tram car 015 – book 2 (Captain’s Log – Fantasy)

ring shout (On the Horizon – Historical Fantasy eArc)