She’s back! This the third installment in the series dedicated to Fatma el-Sha’arawi , a young
Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities agent, but experienced beyond her years. This time, she’s hot on the trail of the next case with a partner, Hadia, in tow. A mass murder involving members of a secret society filled with rich, eccentric members with powerful political ties sets the stage for a high-stakes, crime-fighting whodunit. The steampunk-inspired Egyptian backdrop is filled with intelligent magical beings, sacred secrets, and an underlying “good-vs-evil” tug-of-war which just adds layers of wonder and mystery.
This was a very immersive, engaging reading experience. What I enjoyed was the author’s mirroring of this imagined world to our own - the good and the bad. He skillfully weaved in concepts surrounding xenophobia, "racism/colorism,” territorial disputes steeped in centuries-old grievances, the issue of slavery, "the struggles of the "have nots," and the perceived arrogance, snobbery, and indifference of the "haves." These themes played perfectly into the novel without politicizing the plot/story. We were treated to the return of old, beloved characters (like Siti and members of the ministry) and introduced to new ones (like Hadia and Ahmad) who were easily loveable as well.
There was never a dull moment - I enjoyed turning the pages as the plot had just as many twists and turns as the streets and alleyways of this enchanted Cairo. As mentioned earlier, this book is the third in a series, but is a standalone novel. There’s no need to read the first two in order to enjoy this one, but don’t deny yourself the treat! I’ve enjoyed all of the author’s novels and look forward to whatever he offers next (including more of Fatma)!
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