So few authors build a fantasy world the way that Shannon Chakraborty does. These characters are lovable, and who doesn't love a good pirate story?! I can't recommend her books enough, and The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi has just blown me away.

I had been so looking forward to this fantasy epic, but unfortunately I couldn't connect with any of the characters, which made it difficult to keep going with the story.

Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy is one of my favorite series of all time (have you read THE CITY OF BRASS yet?), and when I heard that she was publishing something new, I was incredibly excited. While THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SARAFI is a sharp pivot in tone, atmosphere, and character, the journey is no less captivating; the world created no less magical.

Motherhood has deeply impacted who I am as a person—I even wrote about it in my annual review for work. Therefore, it’s no surprise that it has also altered the lens through which I view literature. This book is a love letter to motherhood and womanhood, but it is written in such a way that ensures widespread appeal. There were several passages that I highlighted because they perfectly captured the amalgam of feelings many women have as they struggle to balance who they are as a person in addition to who they are as a mother.

Unlike anything I've ever read before and filled with humor, heart, and wit, THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SARAFI will have a lasting place on my shelves. Additionally, the audiobook was phenomenal. I usually struggle to provide an audio recommendation when people ask for one, but no longer. The narrators did an INCREDIBLE job, and even though I was given an ALC, I will more than likely be purchasing a copy after publication because it’s just that good. A massive thank you to Harper Voyager and Harper Audio for the gifted copies in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I have to start with mentioning just how great this cover is. I need this on a t-shirt stat.

I read this kindle copy in conjuction with the audiobook. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the best audiobook I’ve listened to in a long time. Not only is this a master class is impeccable storytelling, but the narration blew me away! The audiobook just really brought the story to life and if you like audiobooks, I cannot recommend it enough. Definitely a narrator I will be keeping an eye out for.

The book is delivered in a way where the reader is made aware that they’re being told a story of the great Amina and her adventures, with Amina opening chapters conversing with the scribe who is documenting. I found that to be so creative and added a nice comedic layer. The characters were fantastic, the story interesting, and you know Chakraborty did her research and is genuinely passionate about this time period. Despite being just under 500 pages, this book did not feel long at all and I found myself really bummed out when it ended because I just wasn’t ready to leave these characters and this world. With that said, the story ends in a very satisfying manner with no annoying cliffhanger ending and is perfectly set up for the series to continue. Can’t wait! Highly recommend to all fans of adventure fantasy. Get ready to love this hilarious middle-aged heroine.

My favorite read of the year so far, hands-down! This woman can write! :) The narrative voice is so pitch-perfect in this book, it even got me chuckling a few times. The characters are extremely lovable and I really like that some of them are parents! Very badass. Cannot wait for the next book in this series!
I read an ebook arc of this title provided by Netgalley.

I could not have loved this book more. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a modern Sinbad-esque tale complete with a piratical found family, swashbuckling adventure, a badass older heroine, and a generous dash of humor. I loved Amina and her crew so much, and I really hope there are more books of her adventures--this one was perfect on its own, but I desperately want more, especially of Raksh!

This one was an instant favorite for me, and I wish I could read it for the first time all over again!

A big thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest reivew.

I think it's about time I stop trying to read pirate fantasies. No matter how much the publishers falunt about how it's supposed to be Sinbad meets Ocean's 11. Just give me an good old fashion heist, without all the complcaitions of sea life involved.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi si fantasy novel that follows the affortmentioned Amina al-Sirafi, through her norotious time of being an infamous pirate. Who wants nothing more than to retire. But she pulled back to the seas, when the mother of a former crew member begs Amina to track down her daughter for a hefty sum. And Amina gladly takes it, despite all the consequences that are surely about to follow. Including hte likes that not everything surrounding the girl's disappearance is quite as it seems. But as it goes, there's no glory without a few guts to be spilled. Literally.

I overall loved the premise of a retired priate being pulled back into the life of piracy. But the piracy part just wasn't quite up to the par I expected, and I've read plenty of pirate prior to this one. And maybe it's just the genre, that I need to leave behind. Regardless, I will still read just about anything Shannon Chakraborty releases.

*** thank you to net galley and Harper Voyager for the ARC for review 🫢***

I can’t even put into words how excited I was for this book. Not only did I absolutely devour Chakrabortys Daevabad trilogy early last year, I was immediately hooked with the plot.

Most novels start with young snappy characters thrust into legendary situations, but this instead was the tale of a legend AFTER her adventures have come to an end. It took me weeks to finish only because I wanted to make this story last as long as possible. I’m in love with this authors world building and historical and mythological tales. I will never get enough of reading about her Djinns and magics.

This as incredible and I am on the edge of my seat waiting impatiently for more.

Pirates? All I needed to know.
For some reason, there is a lack of YA/New Adult pirate books that have badass females and such intricate plots. It's also been a while since a decent heist book was done well, and I think this book delivered in all aspects of representation, world-building, and intricate characters. Nothing to criticize or critique!

This is another great read for fans of diverse fantasy, though not quite as engaging for me personally as the Daevabad books. Amina al-Sirafi is a semi retired pirate captain, attempting to live a quiet life with her ten year old daughter. As the story begins she is tracked down by the mother of an old crew member and hired to find the woman's kidnapped granddaughter, setting off the main adventure quest for the story.

As with Daevabad, Amina's story is filled with great characters and diverse representation. Amina herself is a wonderful character, since we don't see many (if any) middle aged pirate captains with children. I love when authors write mature women with enough complexity to acknowledge that things like parenthood and family do not have to conflict with other roles in the plot. It's especially rare to see this in fantasy. Of course Amina is also a Muslim woman moving in a world based on the medieval conflicts between Islam and Christianity. It's a refreshing point of view, and is of course very well developed by Chakraborty.

My biggest complaint with this book was that it took awhile to get off the ground. The beginning is rather slow, and it takes quite some time to introduce everyone and build the action. The stakes seem smaller then in Daevabad, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. The fantasy aspects are also a bit more understated here, which was slightly disappointing if only because I came in expecting a higher level of fantasy. If you're a reader you enjoyed the Daevabad books and would like to read some more epic adventure stories (especially if you like pirates), then I'm sure you'll enjoy this book. Shannon Chakraborty has cemented herself as one of my favorite new authors, and I'm excited to see what she does next. I would especially recommend her work to those who enjoy Lois Bujold and Martha Wells.

Where I found it: NetGalley

Why I picked it up: I absolutely adored the Daevabad Trilogy by the author and could not wait to read her next work!

What’s It All About? Amina Al-Sirafi is a retired pirate. She had been out of the game for ten years, during which she had given control of her ship to her first mate, lost contact with all of her crew, and had a child whose father must be kept secret from both her and her family. One day, a woman appears at Amina's door, offering a very large reward to find her granddaughter (who is the daughter of a crew member who died while sailing with Amina). Thinking this a simple task, to follow the kidnapper and retrieve the girl, Amina agrees. Besides, the price is too high to say no to. However, the more that Amina learns about the circumstances and the players involved, the more she wants out of this particular job. The woman informs Amina that if she does not do this job, all of her enemies will be alerted as to where she and her family live. Continue she must, but not without the aid of her first mate, poisoner, navigator, and a husband who was assumed dead and is not entirely what he seems. This is a high seas fantasy that takes place in a version of the medieval Indian Ocean, steeped in the local mythologies of the time.

My thoughts: This book was incredible! Absolute 5 stars, and I cannot wait for the rest of the series! This book hit on so many things that I am interested in from a book. A great female lead, mythologies that I am less familiar with, high stakes adventure, and mythical creatures. Amina isn't just a great female lead, she is a woman caught (as many women are), between being a mother and being the person she was before motherhood. Steeped in middle eastern and Islamic folklore/mythologies, the creatures that inhabit the world along side the humans are larger than life and as unique as anyone else. I read this book so quickly, that I cannot pull out specifics (without spoilers). I can say that the whole book works wonderfully with many interconnecting threads. It is obvious that this is the start of a series, but it's story can stand alone as well.

Genre: Historical fantasy
Themes: Friendships, family, pirates!, responsibility
Recommended For: Lovers of high fantasy, strong females, and of course, pirates!

4.75 stars
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Writing: 4/5
Engaging? It's one hell of a ride.

Thank you to HarperVoyager for the e-arc!

A legendary pirate captain embarks on a heist across the seven seas for magical artifacts and enormous sums of money in this refreshing fantasy-reset. This book is perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Six of Crows.

Plot -
We follow Amina Al-Sirafi, a retired pirate captain who just wants to live the rest of her life in peace with her daughter when fate knocks on her door. Her old crew member's family comes to her door begging her to find their kidnapped grandchild. And what turns out to be a simple retrieval for loads of money turns out to be a dangerous heist filled with magic, surprise, and over-confident men who just get in the way. Amina's adventures are sure to bring excitement and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you follow along on this high-seas journey. The plot is driven by external events that happen to Amina as well as her own inner turmoil. The result is a beautiful paring between character driven moments and intense plot driven battles. The pacing was a bit slow in the beginning but as the book progress, you realize you needed the set up for the epic voyage.

Characters -
As we meet our cast of characters, we can see that they all have individual motivations for rejoining Amina. They are each individuals in their own right and contribute in some way to the over-arching story. Together, this band of misfits is a found family that is capable of rocking peoples' shit. The characters are interesting and are very human in their actions and reactions. Amina, the headstrong captain is a mother and an explorer. Tinbu, the first mate, is a fixer with a heart of gold. Delila, the poisoner who keeps it real with the group. Majed, the navigator, is a father and the glue the binds them together. The cast is lovable, flawed, and intriguing.

Writing -
The story is told from the perspective of a scribe relaying the legend of Amina Al-Sirafi. The scribe pauses to insert important reference material and lore that helps the world building feel less out of place. The scribe also sets up the book in a beautiful intro that helps set the stage for the adventure the reader embarks on. The writing is theatrical and the style of a story within a story works well for the twists and turns that happen. The writing descriptions of fighting scenes were somewhat confusing. With big sea battles, details tend to get lost in the chaos of it all which made it hard to follow the characters and the stakes. Overall, the story flows forth from the pages and makes for a thrilling, page-turning pirate voyage!

Quotes that hit different:
"...to be a woman is to have your story misremembered."

"You may be a pirate now nakhuda, but it is neither crime nor gold that makes your heart beat. You are an explorer".

"Those of us who make the sea our home carry libraries in our head"

"Biographers polish away the jagged edges of capable, ruthless queens so that they may be remembered as saints"

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy. This much awaited book did not fail to impress me, similar to Chakraborty’s other masterpieces. It is still definitely an adult novel, with profanity, innuendos, and fighting. I don’t know how the author came up with the horrors of humanity and magical beasts, but she certainly is creative and the descriptions are vivid, making them come to life. Waqwaq! The themes of autonomy, family, and doing what is right can all be discussed. This isn’t something I can recommend for our school library, but it is a story I will cherish. Thank you for a happy ending!

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi features a bad-ass middle-aged female pirate! What more is there to say? Sign me up!

This is a fast paced, fun, and often quite hysterical take on the conventional pirate adventure book. Chakraborty creates a lush world and a wide array of secondary characters. I loved the witty dialogue and Amina is the female MC we all need.

If you enjoy a lot of action, smart writing and giant squid like sea creatures, all with the theme of F the Patriarchy, this is for you!

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is a high-sea adventure heist full of pirates, sea monsters, and magic. The writing is quick and witty, perfect for the story being told. The characters were unique and lovable, and I was quickly rooting for Amina and her crew. The cast of characters are diverse, and each has a clear voice. This book was well-researched, and it was clear that the author has a love of this time period. I appreciated that there was suggested reading if you wanted to learn more about the 12th century in the Indian Ocean. I couldn't get enough of this book and these characters, and I look forward to continuing this series! I recommend this book to anyone who wants an entertaining, quick-paced adventure.

Such a fun setting! I love a pirate book, and this felt both authentic and fantastic in ways I really enjoyed. I did wish for more from the side characters, moments where they grew from what we'd first seen or got a chance to be showcased more fully. But that's because I liked them all and wanted more!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 3.4/5

Renowned nakhida Amina al-Sirafi gave up her life as a pirate for good ten years ago, but the promise of a final adventure and a massive score bring her back for one final trip.

The very beginning of this book drew me in immediately and wholeheartedly. It was amazing. I was absolutely obsessed from page one. Amina has a strong and entertaining voice, and her way of thinking and values and motivations are always made clear throughout the story. She’s very well rounded and a very interesting character.

This story is told in the form of an oral history, essentially—Amina is telling her own story, and an off-screen person is transcribing it, with sporadic interjections and asides that make it truly seem conversational. There are inserts of more “scholarly” tales or histories scattered throughout. I absolutely loved this formatting, and I genuinely don’t think I would’ve enjoyed this book as much as I did without it.

Beyond that, Chakraborty’s world building and skill at weaving in religion and mythology is something I loved in the Daevabad trilogy and something I loved here as well. It’s such a lush world, a perfect mix of incredibly well researched history and supernatural elements. I’m excited to see more of the world in the next book. And, I gotta say, all the little Daevabad trilogy cameos? Amazing.

When I read the Daevabad trilogy, I had several issues with the length and pacing of the books, but I loved so many of the characters that it was easier to overlook. With Amina, most of the characters didn’t really feel fully developed—largely by nature of the style of narration I think—and while they nevertheless interested me, it wasn’t quite enough. The book took me a month to read. It’s long and dense, with slow pacing and not all that much action. You reach what’s going to be the main plot of the series at 80%, and until that point there’s a few major plots that begin and are completely resolved and then begin again. It just failed to fully capture my attention and dragged on and on.

Besides that, I personally really wanted Amina to be more ruthless. While I really liked all the ways she’d changed since her younger days, it doesn’t really seem like she was particularly ruthless back then, either. She’s supposed to be this fearsome and legendary nakhuda but it’s not entirely clear why? This is maybe just personal taste but I love pirate content because I love morally grey characters, and I was honestly surprised to find this book a bit lacking in that.

Thank you, Harper Voyager team, for providing me with an E-Arc for review!!

Shannon Chakraborty is quickly becoming an Insta-buy author for me. I love how beautiful, intricate, & diverse her worlds are. This one especially made me tear up multiple times from how happy I was to see some of the representation included. I also just love pirates so so so much & Sindbad I hyperfixated on so much as a child, & I loved the Sinbad movie & this was such a fricken awesome somewhat retelling of pirate lore & it made my heart soar. I cannot WAIT for more Amina & more from Shannon!!!

Fantastic. Honestly might like it even more than Daevabad (definitely more than The Empire of Gold). I loved Amina al-Sirafi and the rest of her crew. I loved how grounded in history this felt. Yeah, cannot recommend enough, and I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel.

"For this scribe has read a great many of these accounts and taken away another lesson: that to be a woman is to have your story misremembered. Discarded. Twisted."

Plot: 5/5
This story is told as Amina dictating her adventure to a scribe with a few tales/passages interspersed. Those additions only added to the flow of the story and served to give the read more background information through a tale rather than infodumping. The plot is relatively fast paced after Amina pulls together her crew. I was constantly on the edge of my seat. As soon as one problem was solved, three more came up in its place.

Characters: 5/5
Amina is a firecracker, I absolutely adore her. She is a fiercely protective mother and her loyalty to her crew is so admirable. Raksh is such a funny character, he’s so detached from humanity and it made me laugh every time Anima explained seemingly simple things to him.

I have a crush of Dalila. She was definitely my favorite of the crew. Her mysterious and dark past, her penchant for bombs and poisons. My kind of woman!

I also want to mention Dunya. I think she is such a brilliant character to include. Chakraborty gave us a great example of how a teen struggling with their gender identity feels.

I adore Payasam, more than half of the lines I highlighted were about him.

Writing: 5/5
This biography type perspective is phenominal and hilarious. Each sentence is bursting with personality. It’s so clear how much thought and research went into every detail. It made the world-building flow seamlessly. The story is mostly set in our human world but there’s touches of the Djinn world and even some Peri involved.

Overall: 5/5
Honest to god, this book is a beautiful story of motherhood, faith, passion, and adventure. I’m not a devout person but Chakraborty writes about religion in a way that is so profound and loving that I almost wish I was.