fox_at_the_circus's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Really like the setting of this story and how the discovery of Djinn changed society and world history. Loved seeing the suffragete movement here and all the powerful working women in this book.
I also liked the characters. I especially loved Onsi and his loved/need for philosophical debate, so entertaining and interesting! And also a great way to show more of the world within this shorter story. Also the genderfluid Djinn, amazing!
I also liked the characters. I especially loved Onsi and his loved/need for philosophical debate, so entertaining and interesting! And also a great way to show more of the world within this shorter story. Also the genderfluid Djinn, amazing!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Sexism
alliemikennareads's review
4.0
This novella was a great read for fall. It’s not as eerie as I was expecting, but it definitely has great ghost vibes with a really interesting theme and storyline that’s unlike other books I’ve read in the horror genre in a really great way. I enjoyed it and read it in one sitting since it’s a short read. I’d definitely recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy and Miscarriage
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Had higher expectations for this :/ the potential was there but not executed well. Did like the wacky mysterious vibes. Didn't like the women's suffrage subplot to the main plot. That wasn't good. Didn't like the MC but the rest of it was decent. Definitely a starting novella for the author. Liked the monster action and world building. Looking forward to Fatma's book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexism, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Violence, Gore, and Animal death
Minor: Blood, Misogyny, and Xenophobia
bookishpriest's review
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Pregnancy and Xenophobia
_forestofpages's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Death and Violence
its_kievan's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
There's really not much to The Haunting of Tram Car 015, given that it's already so short, but what there is is a fun little story set in one of the most original and interesting fantasy worlds I've seen in a long time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence
venetiana's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Death, Violence, and Misogyny
ceallaighsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“How do we stop it?”
Madaam Mariam sipped her tea before answering. “You will need iron, to bind it. Something sharp, preferably. Even as small as a needle. Prick the spirit. Then, once that is done, bring it home and make it work for you.”
Hamed squinted back at her. “That’s a bit strange.”
“Most of these stories are,” she told him flatly.”
TITLE—The Haunting of Tram Car 015
AUTHOR—P. Djèlí Clark
PUBLISHED—2019
GENRE—historical fantasy; steampunk
SETTING—a sort of alternate historical 1912 Cairo
MAIN THEMES/SUBJECTS—djinn magic & mythology, Islamic history, women’s suffrage, artificial intelligence
WRITING STYLE—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
CHARACTERS—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Onsi was my favorite. 🥰
PLOT—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
BONUS ELEMENT/S—I loved the inclusion of womens suffrage as a theme in the story! also all of the folklore surrounding the al and other similar beings…
PHILOSOPHY—⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I wanted this novella to be longer simply because I became completely absorbed by the worldbuilding and enamored with the characters and engrossed by the storytelling, but Clark’s story is a perfectly complete one that felt neither rushed nor left incomplete.
Set in the same Cairo as the first novella and third book, this story focuses on the story of Hamed and his partner Onsi who are also agents with the Ministry, though both “Siti” and Fatma make their appearances. Hamed and Onsi’s mission to “exorcise” a haunted tram car turns into an exciting, funny, and philosophically beautiful story of folklore and the power of women.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
TW // violence, some gore, scary supernatural creatures
Further Reading—
- everything by P. Djèlí Clark
- folklore retellings, like Hag: Forgotten Folktales Retold, edited by Daisy Johnson
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore and Violence
obscurepages's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
P. Djèlí Clark just knows how to surprise you. He knows how to build curiosity and tension, create momentum, and then surprise you with the best twist there is. He did it in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, and he did it again here in The Haunting of Tram Car 015. And y'all, I love it! I love it so much, AAAHHHH.
I immediately fell in love with the world in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, I knew I just had to get back to this universe (and I'm so glad we're finally getting a full novel? HELLOOOOO). Though this one has a different set of main characters, it still has the same action and humor and otherworldly mystique the first novella has. Apart from the paranormal and the exciting plot, I loved the focus on women and equality as well. I really enjoyed reading this one.
And now, I am ready to read Master of Djinn! And thank goodness I have an e-arc, AAAAAHHHHHH
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
I immediately fell in love with the world in A Dead Djinn in Cairo, I knew I just had to get back to this universe (and I'm so glad we're finally getting a full novel? HELLOOOOO). Though this one has a different set of main characters, it still has the same action and humor and otherworldly mystique the first novella has. Apart from the paranormal and the exciting plot, I loved the focus on women and equality as well. I really enjoyed reading this one.
And now, I am ready to read Master of Djinn! And thank goodness I have an e-arc, AAAAAHHHHHH
Find me elsewhere: Instagram | Twitter | Blog
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Misogyny, and Sexism
beholderess's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism and Violence