Welcome to Litsy!

Picked this up on Kindle. A great read so far, if a little gruesome β€” it‘s somehow also a fun mystery frolic, which is impressive. Love the sideways step to a slightly different world, too.

A queer detective of the supernatural in an alternate, steampunk Cairo full of djinn in 1912!? Yes please!! Most of the main characters were women of various backgrounds and religions striving to succeed in a Cairo thrown into modernity by the the mysterious Al-Jahiz. I loved Fatma, Siti, and Hadia!! They were all complex characters and the romance was amazing. The angels were so disturbing! Looking forward to Clarke‘s other works!!

This was a ton of fun! Fantastic world building, djinn and other magical entities roam the world, having been released / brought to our world by an Egyptian mystic in the 1800s. Steampunk + magic + lead roles are women + light romance + djinn + period piece dealing with colonialism and the lead up to WW1? If that sounds like a lot, it is, and it came together great.

What a wonderful book! If you like fantasy, read this one.❀️❀️❀️

I'm excited to be starting this fantasy adventure!

A 1920s fantasy Cairo where djinn live alongside humans in a delicate balance between magic and non-magic life. An investigating agent solves supernatural crimes while navigating misogyny, conflicting ideology, racism, and the lingering effects of colonialism. A wonderful tale that has me looking forward to the next book in the series.

Currently reading, about 53% of the book.

Too much historic talks. It's slow and I'm getting sleepy 😴😴

Alternate 1912 Cairo full of magic and steampunk vibes, this mystery/fantasy was fun to read.

Trying to read through my booklist for #bookspinbingo but I just can't do it, so I pick up another book not on the list. I love the font 😍😍
And that first page just killed it πŸ‘ΉπŸ‘Ή

With the Hugo finalists largely taking over my June reading, I've barely gotten any non-fiction reading in this month. Also, my format has largely swung to digital vs my preference for print books. Tagged book is the next Hugo on my list.

Pride Month: Day Sixteen! β€οΈπŸ§‘πŸ’›πŸ’šπŸ’™πŸ’œ

If you're looking for a different sort of fantasy story, you might want to give this one a try! It features an alternate 1920's Cairo in which djinn, ghosts, and all sorts of other creatures share the world with people. πŸ“šπŸ’•

#pridemonth #queerbooks #lgbtq

This steampunk historical fantasy set in 1912 Cairo is a 2022 Hugo Best Novel nominee. It's a fun read with an interesting cast of magical characters.
#hugoawards #hugo2022

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Hanging out with my curious little dog on this Tuesday night. A MASTER OF DJINN is my P. Djèlí Clark tiebreaker, and I‘m pleased to report I‘m enjoying it a lot! It‘s super readable and I‘ve had fun digging into his alternate Cairo. #gaymay

I picked up three more Gay May titles on the way to the grocery store: an historical fantasy, a short fiction anthology, and a biography. Good times. #gaymay

This was the April pick for the Sword and Laser book club. The world building was excellent. The author constructed a steampunk magical Cairo in 1912, where Djinn live alongside humans and magic is everywhere. The author wrote several short stories in this setting before writing this novel. I read one of the stories, but it‘s not necessary to do so. Although I found the plot predictable, I enjoyed being in the world.

I like the world building of an alternate history/ steampunk / fantasy Egypt and the forefront of Cairo and Egyptian culture, detached a bit from the British empire even if they are a presence and central to the main plot. It feels like the primary message is don't underestimate women! Ha.

I do think my enjoyment of the novel was enhanced by my reading of the three connected novellas.

In an alternate Cairo, a young female police inspector follows the trail of clues from the supernatural murders of a seemingly harmless cult of idolaters. This is a richly detailed setting, a mixture of the real and the fantastic, with believable characters and a satisfying plot. I'll be looking for more from Clark in the future.

Full review at https://lamp.works/bwl?s=B08HKXS84X
#scifi #occult

This has it all - urban historical steampunk gender queer fantasy πŸ™Œ Set in early twentieth century Cairo we follow Fatma, (agent for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities) hunt down a dangerous imposter stealing magical artifacts. Egypt is a global power that kicked out the British with the help of djinn and suffrage is bringing women into traditionally male roles. The city is still not ready to accept Fatma‘s ⬇️

This was a lot of fun! I enjoy Fatma and all the other characters, though I never feel like I can really lose myself in Clark‘s stories. I guessed the Big Bad quite early on but enjoyed the labyrinthine quest for all the answers, and there were definitely a few twists I didn‘t expect.

🎧 Fatma is the youngest female Agent at the Ministry of Alchemy. Her love interest is a female half-Djinn (a call back to a previous novella).

This was a FUN read. A murder mystery involving a possible imposter, magic, sleeping Djinn, Djinn living amongst & working with humans in 1912 Cairo! Mystery needs to be solved before there‘s an all out war.

A steampunky vibe.

The dialog is on par with Ring Shout & the narrator is great.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

For my #FoodandLit tour of Egypt, I read two books: the Lonely Planet guide and this amazing ride through an alternative Cairo where steam technology and magic coexist to make Egypt one of the world‘s great powers.
I love the characters in Clark‘s world (begun in two novellas before this full length novel), the world he has created, and the exploration of all kinds of power dynamics. I hope there will be more books in this universe!

Being third one in the series, I liked the full novel length. The first two ones seemed short in a very unsatisfactory way - the reader longing for more. I did not see some of the twist coming, but the ultimate and last one was clear to me already at the middle of the book. But Djèli Clark writes in a perfect way keeping the reader on a leash. ???

Before God, our blood means nothing. Virtue is in deeds, not the skin.

My #12Booksof2021 pick for May is this steam-punkish, alternate history, Urban Fantasy set in Cairo - where djinn are part of every day life and badass female detectives rock.

@Andrew65

@Crazeedi @Lizpixie

I really enjoyed this one. Fun characters, nice worldbuilding and interesting setting.

#BookReport
Managed to finish two books again this week so I‘m feeling good. Master of Djinn was excellent so I‘m glad my book club chose it.

#WeeklyForecast
Now that my book club picks for the month are done it‘s back to the BookSpin grind. I may end up bailing on the fairytales though.

I really enjoyed this but I think even though it‘s the first full length novel in this world you need to read the two previous short works to get the full scope of the story. I love this world if djinn and supernatural entities with a steampunk flair. I also really liked Fatma and her unique perspective.

I‘m so glad to have this back, and I cannot wait to sit and look through everybody‘s comments! Thank you for a wonderful experience and introducing me to some new authors! ❀️ #LMPBC #GroupL #Round12

#BookReport
I managed to finish not one but two things this week so I'm very pleased. After my slumpish reading lately this was so good. I also really enjoyed both books I read this week.

#WeeklyForecast
My goal this week is to finish Neverending Story and Master of Djinn. I also want to get at least another 25 pages into Fairy Tales as well.

Isn't it nice when a book just springs an amazing library on you? ☺😍

Since I'm on vacation next week, I'm going to try and finish all my current reads and maybe get started on my #bookspin.

#novelnovember @Andrew65

Just finished this snuggled on my couch. It‘s a soft pick for me as it was a difficult read but I enjoyed its spirit and I did want to finish the story. This is my last #LMPBC book for the last round. I‘m late finishing it but it will be headed back to you, @ozma.of.oz soon! @kellyann28 @Endowarrior21

I love this world of steampunk and djinn magic set in an alternate Cairo in the early 1910s. This first full length novel is not quite as effective as the novellas, but it's still a fun, worthwhile read. Fun nods to Peter Pan and Lord of the Rings in its inspiration.

Archibald James Portendorf disliked stairs.

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

This a new favorite!! I love the world, the characters, the way the story is woven together, it‘s all great. I also appreciated the little Easter eggs throughout for those that have read the preceding short stories and novella. Alternate history 1920s Cairo with steampunk elements and djinn. Throw in a murder and a loveable cast of characters and you‘ve got this book. Moves fairly quickly and I can‘t wait for more in this world!

@BookishBelle for some strange reason the book was shipped back to me so I will be sending back out tomorrow to you so sorry for the delay. #LMPBC #ROUND12 #GROUPL

A long and entertaining #audiobook set in an alternate history 1912 Cairo and featuring a wonderful main character: Fatma. She is a lesbian who favours dandy men‘s suits and works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. Pure fun. Narrator Suehyla El-Attar manages the many different characters‘ voices with aplomb. #LGBTQ

Finished the jacket I was sewing as part of an online course; almost finished the tagged audiobook. #audiocrafting

Unfortunately I could not get through page 20 in this book. I truly tried but it just didn't work. @kellyann28 @BookishBelle @ozma.of.oz #LMPBC #GroupL #Round12 this will be going in the mail by Saturday @BookishBelle

#audiocrafting #sewing

#audiowalking … taking in the fall colours

I‘ve loved pretty much every novella Clark has written, so it was interesting to see what he would do with a full-length novel. I was just a tiny smidge shy of adoring this (nothing I could put my finger on, but I realized I wasn‘t reading it as quickly as I do when I absolutely love something), but still enjoyed it a lot and thought it was a ton of fun. His world building is πŸ’― and he gets an extra thumbs up for strong, female characters!

The book is wonderful and the narrator is just great. I will have withdrawal from this world after this book because I have read already the other short novellas in this universe. If you want a real treat and to see if you are likely to like this book the LeVar Burton reads podcast has Levar read a short story in this universe called the angel of the Angel of Khan El-Khalili. I love that podcast as well so thumbs up for LeVar Burton too!!!

This is not your grandfather's Cairo BUT is it ours? I don't think so. I listened to the previous novella & loved it! I tried listening to this book & even though the narrator is the same I just couldn't get into the story. I didn't care about what was happening or for the characters, a travesty! One that's hard to overlook & power through. This is a DNF at ~ 50%. I tried over & over to psych myself up to go back to it but ultimately I failed.

Me: hmm with this month's bookspins added, my owned-tbr "must read/read soon" pile is a bit intimidating. I'll focus on owned books this month!

Libby: yeah, totally. good idea. oooor...

Me: *hits borrow so fast*

Set in Cairo (1912). A being, claiming to be the legendary Djinn master al-Jahiz, immolates the members of a secret brotherhood devoted to his honor. Fatima el-Sha‘arwi, an Inspector in the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, & Supernational Entities investigates. She is assisted by her new partner, her lover (part-Djinn) among others. Great super-beings, lots of steampunk details. Very well written; otherwise it would be silly. I loved it!

@kellyann28 this arrived to me today I can't wait to read it. @BookishBelle @ozma.of.oz #LMPBC #GroupL #Round12

I really needed to be able to revisit this list, so here it is shared with my Litsy fam ❀️ @Laughterhp @wanderinglynn @Avanders it made me think of all of you!!!

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/18/1027159166/best-books-science-fiction-fantasy-pas...