A Master of DjinnA Master of Djinn
What it's about
In an alternate 1912 Cairo, magic and djinn returned to the world forty years earlier, and Egypt is now a world power. Fatma el-Sha'arawi, the youngest woman in the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, investigates the murder of an entire secret brotherhood. The killer claims to be al-Jahiz, the mystic who brought magic back, returned to finish what he started.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It's a stylish, fun fantasy mystery with a sharp-suited detective heroine.
You'll love it if you liked
Babel
The Golem and the Jinni
Jonathan Strange & Mr NorrellGood to know
It stands alone, though it follows some short stories in the same world.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics66 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz26 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #166 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #175 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #212 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1203 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Gripping
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Quick answers
Is A Master of Djinn worth reading?
Yes. It won the Nebula Award and was a Hugo finalist. It ranks #1,203 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is A Master of Djinn about?
In an alternate 1912 Cairo, magic and djinn returned to the world forty years earlier, and Egypt is now a world power. Fatma el-Sha'arawi, the youngest woman in the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, investigates the murder of an entire secret brotherhood. The killer claims to be al-Jahiz, the mystic who brought magic back, returned to finish what he started.
How long does it take to read A Master of Djinn?
About 12 hours (472 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has A Master of Djinn won?
Nebula Award winner (2021).
What should I read after A Master of Djinn?
If you liked it, try Babel by R. F. Kuang, The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker or Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.