Widdershins consistently sits near the top of gay fantasy romance lists, so I’ve been keen to get around to it for a while. It wasn’t quite as good asWiddershins consistently sits near the top of gay fantasy romance lists, so I’ve been keen to get around to it for a while. It wasn’t quite as good as I imagined it would be, but was enjoyable nonetheless and I think it will improve as the series continues.
’How a private detective, an archaeologist, and a comparative philologist were to thwart the plans of a powerful secret society, I had no idea.’
Set in Widdershins, a fictional town in Massachusetts, in 1897, the story is told from the point of view of Percival Endicott Whyborne, a museum philologist specialising in dead languages. When Whyborne is approached by ex-Pinkerton Griffin Flaherty, he only hopes that he can decode Griffin’s mysterious book quickly, so that the good-looking detective will go away. But it isn’t look before both Whyborne and Griffin are drawn into a world they didn’t know existed, one of magical cults and demonic creatures, and they’ll need to work together and trust one another if they’re to see the dawn alive.
“I know I’m not a man of action, or courage, or anything really useful. But now that I better understand what it is we face, I can study the Arcanorum. The next time we come upon a scene such as the one in the warehouse, maybe I’ll at least be able to tell you what they were about….You said earlier you need an expert,” I cajoled. “You have one. Make use of me.”
On numerous occasions, Whyborne describes himself as awkward, inept and boring. Needless to say he suffers a crushing lack of self-confidence and fears nothing more than that his fellows will discover he’s gay and lock him up. At the time, it was not an unreasonable fear, and Whyborne’s toxically masculine family certainly don’t help the issue. And yet I admit that there were times when I found his negative self-talk grating. As readers, we, at least, can see his value, and its wonderful to see him coming out of his shell and gaining confidence towards the end of the book. I can’t wait to see more of this in future novels.
Griffin is best described as a cinnamon roll: warm, kind, sweet and supportive. He has his own issues but sees through Whyborne’s nervous facade to the clever, brave, talented man below and is (thankfully!) rewarded for his patience. He’s a good detective, a good man, and I want more of him. I also want more of Christine, Whyborne’s (only) friend, and can only hope that she’s along for the ride (in between her expeditions to Egypt, of course).
“My dear Whyborne…”
Readers should note that, whilst this is very much a fantasy-first novel, it is also a romance and there is a decent amount of explicit, gay sex on-page. If you’d rather your romance scenes finish at the door, this book isn’t for you. Personally, I thought it was hot and loved seeing Whyborne finally let loose.
“I just want to be myself,” I said at last. “But no one else wants just me, expect for you.”
The fantastical elements in Widdershins are based upon the Cthulhu Mythos (think Lovecraft). There’s secret cults, historical clues, religious rituals, scientific discoveries, demonic monsters and reincarnation. I’m glad I didn’t know this before I started because I’m not usually a fan, but it worked well enough here and I’m excited to see more of Whyborne’s spells.
I’d recommend this book to those looking for historical or gay fantasy romance novels, though would probably recommend The Magpie Lord and Gentleman Wolf first. I’ll definitely be continuing on in the series....more
Lois McMaster Bujold is fast becoming my all-time favourite author (Orson Scott Card previously held this honour). She writes fabulously, has the mostLois McMaster Bujold is fast becoming my all-time favourite author (Orson Scott Card previously held this honour). She writes fabulously, has the most wonderfully gentle protagonists, and, no matter the genre or the series, can always be relied on to provide a beautiful, heart-warming journey.
Depending on your perspective, Penric's Fox is either the third book (chronologically) or the fifth book (in publication order) in the Penric and Desdemona series. As it heavily features characters introduced in book two (Penric and the Shaman), I chose to read it third and am (so far) glad I did. I had the characters and events of the previous book fresh in my mind and I think this added to the experience (though it's certainly not necessary).
The story is set less than a year after Penric and the Shaman. Penric is in Easthome, accompanying Princess-Archdivine Llewen to a family event and taking the opportunity to visit his friends, Inglis, still on probation from the Fellowship of the Royal Society of Shamans, and Oswyl, now assisted by Junior Locator Thala.
When a female sorcerer is found dead in the woods, Oswyl requests Penric's help to track down her demon whilst he searches for the perpetrator. With Inglis lending what help he can, the gangs back together and anything's possible.
"You will gratify me tonight by introducing yourself as Learned Lord Penric kin Jurald of Martensbridge, instead of your usual contraction." "Too wordy, Your Grace. It offends my sense of literary economy."
Whilst the hunt was interesting, it was the start, fishing together by a river, and the end, with Penric sitting at Llewen's feet, that had me melting into a puddle of goo. Penric is by no means submissive–he's more than capable of standing on his own two feet–but he isn't scared to show his softer, more metrosexual side either, and doesn't feel the need to make a room cower. He protects the weak and the vulnerable–whether they're suspected murderers, demons or foxes–and loves nothing better than his books and his scholarship. We need more heroes like him; he's a lesson to us all.
'You're feeling guilty about lying to a fox? Des asked, amused. Only you, Pen. / Or, perhaps, to a demon. Or both. It would depend on how events played out. Ah. Yes. Periodically, I am reminded why I like you.
My only small sadness is that we didn't see as much of Desdemona as I'd imagined. We get some quips, and her show of power towards the end is impressive, but I would have loved to have seen more of their budding companionship. I'll hope for more in Penric’s Mission....more
4.75*. Despite quite clearly being a bridge book, this might be my favourite of the series so far.
"Rene, you want us to find you -don't-know-who a
4.75*. Despite quite clearly being a bridge book, this might be my favourite of the series so far.
"Rene, you want us to find you -don't-know-who and to retrieve his you-don't-know-what for you-won't-tell-me-whom?" Rene shrugged.
Kate has left the Order and has set up her own investigative business with best friend, Andrea. Unfortunately, no one is hiring...or at least they're not hiring her. When, at last, the infamous Red Guard comes calling, Kate jumps at the opportunity. Her task: to find Adam Kaman, the scientist that mysteriously disappeared under their watch. But the more stones that Kate overturns, the less things make sense. Vampires are going rogue, shapeshifters are dying, and it might just be the end of the world if Kate can't find Adam, or, more importantly, the device he's been making.
"I don't think you understand this whole business thing. Clients produce money. Employees cost money. We want fewer employees and more clients, not the other way around. We don't need teenage gouda sex fiends as interns."
Whilst I was sad that the conflict between Kate and her father seems to have been shelved for now, it was interesting to learn a little more about her youth, her heritage and even her relationship with Baba Yaga (there's always a Baba Yaga!). Besides, the stakes of Kate's investigations grow to such heights that you can't help but be hooked by the story, particularly when Julie rocks up. Was it a little more convoluted than it needed to be? Yes. Was it ostentatious and over-the-top? Yes. Did I mind? No. Not one bit. It was funny and exciting and there were times that I thought my heart would just burst.
Andrea raise her hand. "This is the hand that slapped Aunt B." "Maybe you should have it gold-plated." "Here, you can touch it, since you're my best friend."
A good 80% of the reason I read these books is for the moments we see between Kate and Curran. They have (at last!) settled into their relationship, the last of their big secrets shared, and Kate (mostly) resigned to her role as Pack Mate/Consort/Beast Lady. Not only is Kate a badass (we've certainly seen ample proof of this over the series), but she's a good parent and mentor. I'd pay good money to keep her around. Curran, though, is to die for: dominant, funny, loving, loyal and surprisingly understanding and supporting. He stands beside Kate, rather than above her, and I love him for it. I can't wait to see how things proceed between them.
"You would leave all the people, all the bowing, and the..." His gray eyes looking into mine. "If I fought for them and was crippled, they would all say nice things, and then they would replace me and forget I was ever there. You would stay with me. You would take care of me, because you love me. I love you too, Kate. If you ever became hurt, I would never leave you. I'll be there. Wherever you want 'there' to be."
All in all, another great read from the Ilona Andrews pair. I have a feelings I'm going to be reading a good few of their books in the months to come.
"If she kills anybody, we'll make it go away." Shapeshift parenting motto–if you kid slits somebody's throat, always have a backup plan to make the body disappear.
When I'm having a crap day, this is my new go-to series. I LOVE it. I can't say it'll be for everyone, but for those that like the paranormal romance When I'm having a crap day, this is my new go-to series. I LOVE it. I can't say it'll be for everyone, but for those that like the paranormal romance genre, this is one of the best series out there.
It's been two months since the end of Magic Burns and Kate's teenage werewolf sidekick is in trouble. He's been attacked by Reapers, a team of unknown species competing in the Midnight Games, an underground tournament where competitors fight to the death. Shapeshifters are banned from attending, so it's a good thing Kate isn't a shapeshifter, because the consequences of losing go far beyond any single death.
With a supernatural tournament comes a whole heap of supernatural creatures, including a minotaur, a golem, a fu lion, an oni (Japanese ogre) and Hindu demons. I delight in every new additional to the species catalogue, particularly as they tend to be based on mythology as oppose to the fairy tales seen in Mercy Thompson.
"You said sloppy! Look, I didn't even use my sword; I hit him with my head, like a moron." "A man with a sword attacked you and you disarmed him and knocked him out cold in under two seconds." He turned to Curran. The Beast Lord shrugged [...] "What the hell was I supposed to do, catch the were bison as he was falling?"
The over-arching story relating to Kate's heritage continues to brew along in the background. We meet some new characters who are likely to be important to the story, including Dali, a half-blind vegetarian tiger, and Hugh d'Ambray, Roland's general. Saiman has his moment and I was excited to finally learn his provenance, and Julie makes a token appearance.
"To answer your question, yes, you may kiss my ass. Normally I prefer to maintain my personal space, but you're a Friend of the Pack and your services have proven useful once or twice. I strive to accommodate the wishes of persons friendly to my people. My only question is, would your kissing my ass be obeisance, grooming, or foreplay?"
Meanwhile, things are hotting up between Kate and Curran. The hot tub scene was particularly swoon-worthy and I found Curran's nightly visitations oddly endearing given that they probably constitute stalking. And then then mating rituals of the various shapeshifter clans: the story about the cat piss raining around the living room had me in tears.
"Go play your games with Jim. I'll find you both when I need you." Arrogant asshole. "I tell you what, if you find us before those three days run out, I'll cook you a damn dinner and serve it to you naked."
It's hot, it's funny, it's got some great fight scenes and some creative creatures – what more can a girl ask for.
"The lack contains thirty-tow species in seven tribes, each with the own hang-up. Jackals and coyotes pick fights with wolves, because they have an inferiority complex and think they've got something to prove. Wolves believe themselves to be superior, marry the wrong people, and then refuse to divorce them because they cling to their 'mating for life' idiocy. Hyenas listen to nobody, screw everything, and break out in berserker rages at some perceived slight against one of their own. Cats randomly refuse to follow orders to prove they can. That's my life. I've been at this for fifteen years now. You're easy by comparison."
This is one of those books where the plot takes second fiddle to the world-building. I worried that, as a Brit, I'd find it quaint or clichéd; it wasnThis is one of those books where the plot takes second fiddle to the world-building. I worried that, as a Brit, I'd find it quaint or clichéd; it wasn't (or it wasn't overly). It was vibrant and funny and novel - a clear break from the usual American urban fantasy series.
"Is this where you tell me there's a secret brand of the Met whose task it is to tackle ghosts, ghouls, faeries, demons, witch and warlocks, elves and goblins...?" I said. "You can stop me before I run out of supernatural creatures." "You haven't even scratched the surface," said Nightingale.
Constable Peter Grant is a proud member of the London Metropolitan Police Service. Just out of probation, he's assigned, not to murder investigation like he'd hoped, but to desk duty. That is, until until a ghost whispers in his ear about a recent murder. All of a sudden, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale is taking him under his wing and introducing him to the magical side of London and the lesser know Met branch who police it.
Peter is your average London bloke. He's in his early twenties, horny, mixed race and from a working class background. He views meeting as things to be done at the pub and does his best to avoid staring at a woman's boobs, though sometimes he just can't seem to help himself. He's sweet, in an awkward, bumbling way, and you can't help but be charmed.
'We did an hour of practice, at the end of which I was capable of flinging a fireball down the range at the dizzying speed of a bumblebee who'd met his pollen quota and was taking a moment to enjoy the view.'
It's through Peter's eyes that we see London, and what an exotic, dirty, funny, demanding, mish-mash of a place it is - even before the magic. It's almost a character in and of itself; a living being formed from the interaction of people and place. A number of Aaronovitch's insights into what it means to be a Londoner made me laugh a loud. I may not live there but I know enough who do, and have visited often enough, to know that they're spot on.
'Being a seasoned Londoner, Martin gave the body the "London once-over" - a quick glance to determine whether this was a drunk, a crazy or a human being in distress. The fact that it was entirely possible for someone to be all three simultaneously is why good-Samaritanism in London is considered an extreme sport - like BASE jumping or crocodile wrestling.'
Aaronovitch's London is diverse and inclusive, but it's far from politically correct. Peter mocks himself and his African heritage, he mocks the old boys network and the opera goers, and he mocks the tourists and those from outside of the city - no one escapes. I was intrigued to see that Aaronovitch's own son is mixed race, so I would hope that this gave him some genuine insight into the experience.
'A sudden attack of culture snobbery is a common affliction among policemen of a certain rank and age; it's like a normal midlife crisis only with more chandeliers and foreign languages.'
On the fantastical front, Peter is a wizard in training. His new job involves settling disputes between river gods, talking to ghosts and killing vampires. For all that it's hush-hush, a good number seem to know about this hidden world and Peter makes no bones about sharing it with Lesley, his friend and crush. I loved the passing pop culture references to Harry Potter and Narnia and can't wait to meet more creatures and learn more about Molly, Nightingale, and their mysteriously long lives.
"So magic is real," I said. "Which makes you a...what?" "A wizard." "Like Harry Potter?" Nightingale sighed. "No," he said, "not like Harry Potter." "In what way?" "I'm not a fictional character."
One thing the book did not do well was plot. Perhaps because I know and knew absolutely nothing about Punch and Judy, I got quite lost at times and struggled to understand who was doing what to whom and why. Honestly, I didn't greatly mind because I was so enjoying the atmosphere, but it could have been clearer or simpler or both.
Would I recommend this? Definitely. It's charmingly British with some lines to make you laugh and a world to intrigue. I'll definitely be reading on in the series. ...more
I enjoyed Witness for the Dead, and found it quite soothing, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. Addison's world is wonderfully intricate butI enjoyed Witness for the Dead, and found it quite soothing, but I didn't love it like I thought I would. Addison's world is wonderfully intricate but also excessively complicated, and whilst I liked the gentle hero, the plot (when there was one) meandered to excess.
"What happened?" "She was murdered," I said. "Do you know who did it?" "No," I said, "but to witness for her, I must find out."
My biggest question before starting was whether I should reread The Goblin Emperor. I read it two years ago, and loved it, but remember little to none of the details. Having finished this, I'd say that rereading that isn't necessary, and you could probably get away without reading that at all (though if you had to read this or that, I'd pick that any day).
The story follows Thara Celehar, Witness for the Dead, as he investigates the death of a woman found washed up in the canal. Some might call it a cozy mystery–no running or fighting in sight–but I think it might be better described as a slice of life, because there’s little to no tension or urgency surrounding the death, and part of the charm of the book is watching Celehar go about his every day life, drinking tea and feeding stray cats.
I loved the intricacy of Addison’s steam-punk world. It’s not particularly large, but it’s easily imagined, with its tram systems and opera, tea houses and air ships. There’s even pre-payment gas meters which, as someone who works in the domestic energy industry, was a wonderful surprise.
Celehar is a kind soul who walks through life swathed in a cloak of gentle melancholy. He’s dutiful to a fault and conscientious in all he does; not proud but far from a pushover either. He has few friends and is surprised by every kindness shown to him. I liked him, and could have loved him, but I felt there was a distance between us that was never really closed.
For all of these good points, the book only just scraped three stars. The book has next to no plot, and what plot there is meanders to extremes, with random sub-plots coming to the fore at various times, making you question whether there was a point to any of them or if any would even see a resolution. In fact, what resolution we did see of the main plot was entirely underwhelming.
Unfortunately, none of this was helped by the over-whelming complexity of Addison’s religious set up, her hierarchy of honorifics or her unusual and ever-changing nomenclature. Even now, I’m unsure of the difference between the Archprelate and the Amal-othala, nor do I know if there’s any connection between Ulineise(i) and Ulistheileian, or if they have anything to do with the Untheileneise. The names were nearly impossible to remember (let alone pronounce), and seem to have infinite possible varieties depending on situation.
Witness for the Dead is a book to read if you’re looking for a relaxed vibe and a fantastical slice of life. It is not a book to rush through, and it certainly won’t keep you glued to the page. I’m unlikely to recommend it, but do not regret having read it. I would recommend The Goblin Emperor, so if you’re looking for something to read, look there. If you’re looking for something like it, try Penric’s Demon instead....more
DNF at 22%. I REALLY wanted to like this. I thought it sounds a little like a South American version of A Master of Djinn and I was keen.
UnfortunatelyDNF at 22%. I REALLY wanted to like this. I thought it sounds a little like a South American version of A Master of Djinn and I was keen.
Unfortunately, although the ideas are there and the world is interesting, I found the writing so hard to read I gave up at 22%. Sentences go on and on in a jumble, scenes begin but then lead no where, and, whilst Morgan gets points for diversity, it comes across as almost a tick-box exercise. I also didn't really care for any of the characters (though that might have changed had I given it more time).
A shame. Given revisions and a good edit, I'd be tempted to come back to this because it has potential....more
A highly enjoyable crime story set in the asteroid belt in the nearish future. The characters and the setting were interesting enough but the plot stoA highly enjoyable crime story set in the asteroid belt in the nearish future. The characters and the setting were interesting enough but the plot stole the day. I really thought I had the perpetrator down from the start, but I was surprised, then surprised again. Quite clever.
"Nobody knows what this company is capable of better than those of us who have to shovel their shit and pretend it's gold."
A year or so ago, Hester Marley, now thirty-seven-years-old, survived a terrorist attack that killed most of her friends and work colleagues on their way to set up a research colony on Titan. Rescued by Parthenope, a lucrative space mining corporation, she is fitted with a prosthetic left arm, leg, eye and ear and must spend the next four years paying off the expenses. Her required home: Hygiea, an asteroid - or family of asteroids - in the far belt. Her ill-suited job: Safety Officer for the Department of Operational Security for Parthenope Enterprises.
Coming home one night after work, Marley receives an odd video message an old colleague currently working on Nimue, an asteroid mine a few hours flight from Hygiea. The message is clearly coded but exactly what its trying to say, Marley doesn't know. The next day, her colleague is found dead. Only eleven people could have done it and they all claim to be innocent. But the more Marley looks, the odder it all seems, from the staff right up to the Overseer, the AI that manages the station. Marley has no experience with homicide investigations but she does with AIs and she'll use what she can to figure out who killed her friend.
'Having a conversation with her was like chasing a narcissistic butterfly through a shit-filled meadow.'
On the one hand, Marley, a world-renown AI researcher, is clearly quite clever. On the other hand, it took her far longer than it should have for few to twig to certain clues. She lets the suspects walk all over her and seems to have the temperament of a primary school teacher, rather than a hardened detective. But then I suppose that's just it: she's not a detective, not really, she's just doing it because it was the best of a bunch of bad options given to her to pay her bills. I liked her well enough but wouldn't have been too distraught if she'd met with a sticky end. Actually, that could be said for my feelings about all of the characters: her boss, Adisa; her colleague and occasional bed-fellow, Ryu; and their lawyer, Arendonk. Only Vanguard, aka Bug, softened my soul just a little.
Pretty early on I would have said with high confidence that I knew who did it - I was actually quite annoyed with Marley that she didn't seem to see it. And then the plot thickened and I found that things weren't quite as clear cut as I'd imagined them to be. And still, I thought, I know who did it. And then the plot thickened again and I had to admit that I really had no idea who did it except for the fact that the whole lot of them were shifty as f***. Needless to say, by this time I was hooked. I was surprised by the ending and, though initially I really didn't like the resolution, it grew on me the more I thought about it.
Of particular interest to me was the key role that AI played in the story and the questions it raised about their future. On the whole, I think I would agree with Elon Musk that, in reality, AIs pose a significant risk to humanity (think I, Robot). However, I do enjoy reading a book with a slightly more optimistic outlook. Here, Wallace promotes the idea that AIs are much like children, affected for good or evil by their circumstances and those who teach them; not inherently evil but capable of doing evil and being self-aware enough to know it. Darker than the AIs we see in The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet and Columbus Day, but not all doom and gloom.
Some have described this book as horror. I wouldn't agree. There are some slightly horrifying elements - the spiders for one! - but on the whole it's pretty clear-cut space crime. The world has advanced to the degree that we have colonies elsewhere in the solar system but there's no aliens and the culture seems much the same as it is now, lending me to believe it's reasonably near future.
Would I recommend this book? I would. Would I read it again? Probably not, but I certainly wouldn't mind if you forced me to. Would I read more Kali Wallace? Yeah, maybe. ...more
This was just amazing as I imagined it would be. I'd worried that, because I'd started with the Mercy Thompson novels, I'd like this less but, althougThis was just amazing as I imagined it would be. I'd worried that, because I'd started with the Mercy Thompson novels, I'd like this less but, although its similar, it's very much its own story and I'm swooning just as hard for Kate and Curran as I ever was/am for Mercy and Adam.
'If you could pay, they would charge you; and if you couldn't, they would kill shit on your behalf pro-bono.'
The very first line of the blurb reads: 'The world has suffered a magic apocalypse.' Somehow I missed this and was surprised to find myself in a near-future Atlanta where buildings (and normal) society have partially crumbled under the brunt of magic, reappearing in a big way for the first time in four thousand years. Vampires, shapeshifters, witches, wizards and necromancers all walk the streets with barely an eye batted. So far, Andrews has drawn less inspiration from fairytale than Patricia Briggs but its still early days in the series yet.
"One last thing, Your Majesty. I'd like a name I can put into my report, something shorter than typing out 'The Leader of the Southern Shapechanger Faction.' What should I call you?" "Lord." I rolled my eyes. He shrugged. "It's short."
Kate is a magically-talented, sword-wielding mercenary whose family are long dead and whose power has mysterious origins. She lives hand to mouth, battling monsters for pay and trying to keep out of the public eye. That is, until her guardian, a Knight-Diviner for the Order of Knights of Merciful Aid, is brutally murdered. Kate will do anything to find his killer, even if it means partnering with the Order and working with Curran, the infuriating Lord of the Beasts. (If you're chuckling over those awful titles, so was I!)
"It's a reflex. Hear a bell, eat food. See an undead, throw a knife. Sam thing, really."
Like Mercy, Kate is kick-ass and confident but also has a tendency to put her foot in her mouth #herekittykitty. Like Adam, Curran is swoon-worthy but has some serious alpha issues. Kate both infuriates him and fascinates him and he can't stay away. They're still at the love-hate stage at the moment but I can't wait to see how this develops (because there's really no doubt it will).
'To think that I had found a kindred spirit in the Beast Lord. How touching.'
In terms of side characters, we've been given tasty morsels to whet our appetites for the upcoming books: there's Saiman who can somehow metamorphose into almost anyone; Anna, Greg's ex-wife and a clairvoyant; Ghastek, a necromancer who may not be as bad as he first appeared; Roland, the elusive head of the People; Greg, the cute shapeshifting kid; and more.
"You know anything about investigative work?" "Sure. Annoy the people involved until the guilty party tries to make you go away."
As in most of these sorts of urban fantasies, each book takes a different mystery and revolves it, whilst the world-building and the relationships develop over the series. Almost from the start, I was 100% sure I knew whodunnit. In fact, I rolled my eyes that the clues were so clunky and so obvious. I was so wrong. On the one hand, Andrews should get a round of applause for that; on the other hand, the hints were still clunky in their delivery, even if they were only leading me astray.
"You may call me Dr. Doolittle," he said. "I've sailed through the night and day, in and out of weeks, to where the wild things are and now I'm their private physician." "That was Max."
If you've read the Mercy Thompson series and loved it, I still recommend reading this - the first will not spoil your enjoyment of the second. If you've not read Mercy Thompson or this, I recommend both and don't think it matters which you start with. If you've read this and Mercy Thompson and are looking for something similar, I recommend Storm Front, House of Earth and Blood and Rosemary and Rue. If you've never read any Urban Fantasy and think it's all just like Twilight, I promise you it's not; give it a go. It's got action and romance, knights and monsters, and it'll give you a fun few hours of reading, brains not necessary....more
4.5*s. A fantastic story, with a swaggering young female protagonist, set in a veritable cornucopia of middle eastern mythology. It’s longer and so ve4.5*s. A fantastic story, with a swaggering young female protagonist, set in a veritable cornucopia of middle eastern mythology. It’s longer and so very slightly slower than its predecessors, but the world building more than makes up for it.
"I am the Father of Mysteries," he spoke in deeply accented English. "The Walker of the Path of Wisdom. The Traveler of Worlds. Named mystic and madman. Spoken in reverence and curse. I am the one you seek. I am al-Jahiz. And I have returned.
A Master of Djinn is preceded by A Dead Djinn in Cairo (a short story) and The Haunting of Tram Car 015 (a novella) but is designed to work as a standalone. That said, I still recommend reading its predecessors first. You’ll get more from this having read those as they’re a wonderful introduction to the characters - both Fatma and Hamed - and key details referenced here are covered in more detail there.
This story picks up a few months after its predecessors left off, in November 1912. On her way to investigate the mysterious immolation of a room full of people, including the English Basha, Fatma el-Sha’arawi, Special Investigator for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, finds herself joined by a new partner, Hadia Abdel Hafez, twenty-four years old, like Fatma herself, and fresh from the Academy.
Together, they must get to the bottom of the incident, but their job is made a whole lot harder when their chief suspect claims to be the Prophet al-Jahiz returned. Not only does he appear to possess powers never before seen, but he begins inciting rebellion among Cairo’s poor. Soon, there’s a class war brewing and Fatma begins to suspect the very fate of Egypt is at stake.
'Playing the dandy would have to wait. Well, except for the gold tie pie and matching cuff links. Not to mention the bowler and cane. Did the violet pin-striped shirt count as dandy?'
I loved Fatma’s swagger. She dresses to impress, not in delicate dresses (nor department regulation) but in smart three-piece English suits, tie to match and walking cane-cum-sword in hand. She’s confident and clever, quick with a bargain and fast to act, whether to wield a sword against impossible odds or to speak up in a crowd of dignitaries. She’s a lone wolf at heart, but does have a loyal following when she looks up long enough to notice.
"Partner? Another lady Spooky Boy? Pretty like you? With a thing for suits and infidels? Should bring her by."
Fatma’s pseudo-girlfriend Siti is a funny one. There’s no doubt that there’s something odd going on with her (fortunately we find out what this is), and at times she’s quite intimidatingly fierce, but the more time we spent with her, the more I liked her and, more importantly, the more I (and Fatma) trusted her. It’s hard not to like Hadia from the start. She’s more traditional than Fatma but by no means glued to her rule book. She’s eager to learn and determined to improve, but she seeks more than just her own advancement, she seeks the advancement of women everywhere. Onsi is an adorable, over-excited puppy and Hamed is definitely getting softer around the edges. I can’t wait to see more of all of them in the future.
"I think the mortal wishes to do me harm. Fascinating!"
Even better than the characters though, is the world-building. Djèlí Clark at last as room to play with and boy to we get the whole package. There’s djinn and jann, ifrit, Ggyptian gods, ghuls, marid, daeva, angels, golems, goblins and more. Honestly, it was amazing. What was better was that because this wasn’t a retelling, Djèlí Clark could delve into the source of some of these mythological creatures and the history of the stories in “One Thousand and One Nights”.
Like the Mercy Thompson or the Kate Daniels books, the premise is that our myths and fairytales are based on true creatures and characters and these have now come to the fore once more. In some ways, this was even better for being based in a historical, non-western setting. I loved all the details around Arab culture, from dress to food and more. It felt authentic, as if written by someone who actually knew what they were talking about, rather than someone just picking and choosing the ‘exotic’ aspects of the culture for their otherwise western novel (whether that’s actually the case I don’t know, not knowing Djèlí Clark or actual Arab culture well). On the one hand, I think it would be interesting to listen to the audiobook so that I could hear the terms as they’re meant to be said (rather than in my mangled renditions), but on the other hand I was glad to be reading the book so I had time to digest the more unfamiliar aspects.
Why then did I not rate it the full five stars? I’m not entirely sure, but I wasn’t desperate to do so so I didn’t. Perhaps it was because it was a little slow at times, but really we’re talking in increments not great leaps. Perhaps it was just because as a romance-fantatic I would have liked a little more swoon-worthy material and there was little to be had here. Fatma and Siti certainly have their sexy moments but I’m not gushing over their relationship and nor are they. Regardless, I will 100% be reading the next book (assuming their is one) and would recommend this highly. It’s high quality writing with a rich, unique world for all that others have written about djinn for centuries. Not to be missed.
I received this book free of charge in return for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley....more
3.5*s. An enjoyable read but not as good as the first. I think it would have been better as a short story like the first, as oppose to a novella, but 3.5*s. An enjoyable read but not as good as the first. I think it would have been better as a short story like the first, as oppose to a novella, but I enjoyed the chance to see more of Clark's world.
Fatma el-Sha’arawi is now a person to know, a situation Senior Agent Hamed al-Nasr is quite jealous of. Like her, he works for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments, and Supernatural Entities - they even went to the Academy together - but Hamed hasn't yet managed to catch his break. Reports of a haunted tram car don't look to fulfil it either. And now he's burdened with a new partner, twenty-four-year-old Agent Onsi Youssef, four years his junior with ten times as much energy as he ever remembers having. Together, they must get to the bottom of the issue before the issue grows out of their control.
“That spirit was just a formless being minding its own business. Then, it encountered men. And they decided to make it this beautiful woman or this monstrous crone, because that’s the only way many men can even view women. Maybe they were looking for a way to explain why their wives died in childbirth, or why infants died in their blankets. Maybe they were just afraid of old women. So, they made up this al, conjured it up as a woman, and blamed it on her!”
I enjoyed watching Hamed and Onsi grow to appreciate each other and their strengths. Hamed is old beyond his years and needs a little enlivening, whilst Onsi benefits from a hand guiding and tempering his exuberant energies. He was like a little excitable dog - it was very sweet actually. The plot was interesting enough and the end was highly amusing but what really stole the show here was the world-building.
“Thinking beings, whether wrought by God or man, should not be bound to serve but have the right of choosing their lot.”
Clark's world is an alternate early-twentieth-century Cairo. Djinns, ghosts, mechanised robots and all sorts exist and coexist with everyday human society. Magic mixes with religion and politics and women fight for suffrage for themselves and their fellow 'slaves': tram cars, boiler plate eunuchs and all. The differentiation between men's grander magicks and women's more traditional rituals and practices reminded me quite a bit of similar comparisons made by Le Guin in Tehanu. Despite their secondary roles, I found myself fascinated by the female characters who were , on the whole, so confident and so outgoing despite their disenfranchisement.
Would I recommend this? Yes. Could you read it alone, without reading A Dead Djinn in Cairo? Yes. Would I recommend you read the first book first anyway? Yes, absolutely, it's a good introduction and this adds meat to the bones. Will I be reading the next? Yep!...more
4.5*s. In just 43 pages, this story evokes a wonderfully exotic and intriguing world that I hope to see more of in future. The story is free to read h4.5*s. In just 43 pages, this story evokes a wonderfully exotic and intriguing world that I hope to see more of in future. The story is free to read here on Tor.
Set in 1912 in a Cairo that has traded British colonials for magical beings (an excellent trade if you ask me), the story follows Fatma el-Sha’arawi, Special Investigator for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, as she investigates the death of a very large, blue djinn.
Fatma is one of those people who's so cool she has her own style - a three piece British suit with accompanying walking stick. Whether she's going for exotic or ridiculous or both, you'll need to decide. A surprising Ministry choice given her gender (female), her age (24), and her roots (the backwaters), she's more than capable of doing her job and positively oozes confidence and inquisitiveness. Whether's she gay or just curious, I'm intrigued to discover.
In her investigations, Fatma introduces us to djinns and janns, angels and ghouls, necromancers, sorcerers, mechanos and more. There's huge potential just waiting to be mined and I can't wait to see where Clark takes it. That this fantastical veneer is laid over an alternate version of 20th century Cairo really is the icing on top. I've read books based in ancient Egypt, but none that were even vaguely modern and I loved it. It felt exotic without being overdone and genuine without being boring. Listening to the audiobook, with the names and the terms pronounced as they should be (as oppose to mangled by my British interpretation), I couldn't help but feel as though I were there.
I highly recommend this story. It won't take you long to read and it's good to mix up the usual medieval European fantasy setting with something a little different. I will most certainly be continuing on with The Haunting of Tram Car 015 and A Master of Djinn....more
“That threep’s the goat. That’s the player the other team wants to rip the head off of. They try to take his head, while his team tries to keep him fr
“That threep’s the goat. That’s the player the other team wants to rip the head off of. They try to take his head, while his team tries to keep him from having his head ripped off.” “And when the head is taken, they try to punt it through the goalposts.” “Punt it, toss it, or carry it through, yes.” “And everyone has swords and hammers and bats—” “They have those because that shit’s just fun.”
I want to begin this review by asking (begging!) Scalzi to please write more books in this series. They’re huge fun whilst also encouraging a surprising amount of introspection and societal examination.
One year on from Lock In, Chris Shane watches a man get decapitated – twice. Hilketa, a Haden-only sport, is played by ripping the head off an opposition threep - the goat - and carrying it through the goalposts before they can do the same to you. But when a player dies mid-game and his vitals are suspiciously wiped, Shane and Vann begin investigating. For every question they answer though, another three rack up and it seems someone will go to great lengths to hide what’s going on.
Like the first book, Head On was an absolute page turner (I say this metaphorically as I actually listened to the book). Scalzi manages to combine the short sentences and sharp repartees of a crime/thriller with the creativity and wonder of a new science-fiction world and by god it works. We’re introduced to a new sport, get insights into the realities of Haden sex, and glimpse the changes coming on the back of Abrams-Kettering subsidy cuts - shared threeps and advertisements in the Agora being just two examples.
At times, I admit, I got rather lost in the intricacies of who’d done what and why, but I think that’s more a product of me multi-tasking whilst listening to the book than it is the fault of the book itself. It is true that Scalzi’s crimes are far from straight-forward, but, on the whole, I think that’s a good thing so I’m prepared to give Scalzi the benefit of the doubt.
Character-wise, I enjoyed seeing more of the secondary characters in the universe. Shane’s parents may be grand and important but the scene where Shane’s mum cuts his hair really really highlights that they know where their priorities truly lie. I loved seeing all Shane’s flatmates fight over the cat and am so intrigued by the the twins who share a threep. I’d love to see more of them and get insight into what’s going on there.
In terms of our protagonists, I love Shane and Vann but also feel that they can be rather one dimensional. I happen to love that one dimension so I don’t overly mind. In typical rich-boy fashion, Shane goes through threeps like I do books, completely oblivious to the fact that they cost serious money. Meanwhile, Vann has her snark dialled up to high which, whilst amusing, could benefit from some softer, more vulnerable moments.
Having finished, I find myself antsy for more. I’m tempted to reread, though I may take the opportunity to finish Scalzi’s Interdependency series. Highly recommend for a few hours of action-packed fun....more
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