A Master of Djinn

How do Fatma and Hadia complement each other as partners? What misconceptions do they help each other overcome?

How does Hadia’s faith contribute to her character? With this in mind, how does Hadia act as a foil to the impostor al-Jahiz?

Given its alternate history, the novel’s world has differences to our own. Explain how two to three of those differences set up the main characters to either succeed or fail at their goals. Consider the status of Egypt, women’s rights, and racism in the novel’s world, for example.

Although Abigail is the clear villain, the author criticizes the Egyptian police force as well, especially during the riot scene. Why do you think he does this? How do the police riot and the meeting with the Forty Leopards influence Fatma’s decisions?

How does the looming World War One affect the events of the book? Consider why the author introduces Kaiser Wilhelm as a character.

We see Ifrit throughout the book, but they act differently as soon as Abigail loses the Seal of Sulayman. Based on what you read to that point, how did you expect the Ifrit to act once freed from her control? Did the author subvert those expectations? Why do you think he chose to make the Ifrit pacifists?

When Fatma asks Ahmad about the nature of his transformation, he replies with the question, “Does it really matter if you have faith?” Explain what you think he means by this. How do Ahmad’s words play into the theme of The Power of Faith?

Why does Abigail adopt the persona of a local hero to carry out her plan?