A Master of Djinn by P Djèlí Clark
Cairo, 1912: Despite being the youngest woman employed by the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities, Fatma el-Sha’arawi is unquestionably no newcomer, especially after averting the end of the universe last summer.
Agent Fatma is therefore tasked with solving the murder of a secret fraternity honouring al-Jahiz, one of history’s most well-known figures. When he removed the barrier separating the magical and natural worlds forty years ago, Al-Jahiz changed the course of history before disappearing into oblivion. This assassin, who makes the claim to be al-Jahiz, has come back to denounce the current day for its societal injustices. His lethal magical prowess stirs up discontent in Cairo’s streets that threatens to spread to the rest of the world.
A Master of Djinn by P Djèlí Clark
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Agent Fatma must solve the riddle surrounding this imposter with the help of her Ministry colleagues and a person from her past in order to bring peace back to the city—or risk the potential that he might not be who he seems.
Fatma has battled djinn before. She works for the bravely called Egyptian Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities. The rumoured al-return, Jahiz thought, might be a test that goes too far. Al-Jahiz has already left a gory trail of dead bodies as a sign of power, and you have the impression that he is only getting warmed up. The old Cairo sings to you with its winding streets, bazaars, and aged shops. I was transported to Aladdin because the illustrations were so good. Every page is filled with magic and gives off an air of omnipotence as if anything is possible.
Having two female protagonists who can present different perspectives on Egypt’s modernization and advancement is where this novel excels. In contrast to Hadia, who is religious, wears the headscarf, and leans a little more toward tradition, Fatma is more “European,” for want of a better term, with her manly attire and approach. Both, however, show that Egypt is balancing both in this world and that being modern doesn’t always mean copying the west exactly.
This book has great worldbuilding. The globe is alive and the possibility of an entirely different history in other areas of the earth is hinted at in numerous important scenes in an alternate 1920s Egypt where the English were banished much earlier due to the discovery of magic and jinn decades before. There are numerous possible offshoots and alternative stories that are hinted at and waiting to be explored. In fact, a part of me yearned for those stories of India freeing itself earlier and Germany following a different road by relying on its folklore creatures.
