These three themes in particular were the most exciting to read, as Clark examined these effectively within his story. The themes expressed within the prose, such as the patriarchy, LGBT relationships and colourism, were particularly well explored. I particularly loved the magical element of the prose, the mythical creatures, such as djinns, living and working alongside ordinary humans. Clark uses place to present social injustices in a complex storyline and it works very well. The setting allows us to understand female power and authority in a male-led city. The place, Cairo 1912, sheds light on a woman’s place in the workforce. I enjoyed the use of place as the setting itself, Cairo 1912, acted as a pivotal character within the novel, controlling key aspects of the story arc. Clark’s A Master of Djinn, follows protagonist Fatma el-Sha’arawi, a member of the Ministry of Alchemy, as she attempts to solve the baffling supernatural murders being committed by Al-Jahiz – an anonymous figure known to fight oppression in wildly illegal ways. His historical fantasy Ring Shout won the British Fantasy, Locus and Nebula Awards in 2021. Djèlí Clark is an American speculative fiction writer and historian.

DjèlÍ Clark, took me on a journey that I did not foresee enjoying so much: a detective-style novel that intertwines current social issues with traditional sci-fi tropes.

A master of djinn p djeli clark