This is a wondrously vibrant tale taking place in the middle east during the height of trade and learning in the middle ages. It is beautifully written with characters that come alive during the story. The main character is a retired pirate as well as a mother of middle age. It is her story that is being told in various ways, through tales and rumor as well as dictation to a scribe. She is coming out of retirement one last time in a journey to find and rescue a missing young woman. Not only is the main character colorful and realistic, the supporting characters are as well. It is a rare glimpse into the Muslim world at this time period. So many books focus only on the Western Europe world of the middle ages but this shows us a different world. It is well researched and enjoyable to read. I highly recommend it. I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Source: DRC via NetGalley (Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: February 28, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

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Why did I choose to read this book?

I started The Daevabad Trilogy a while ago (The City of Brass) and loved it, but I must have gotten busy because I haven’t read the rest of the trilogy yet. Chakraborty’s writing is lush and exciting, so when I began to see tweets and articles about The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi my ears and eyes perked up. And how could I resist a story about a middle-aged woman who was a notorious pirate (now 10 years retired) who is being drawn back into the game for one last adventure?

Narrator: She couldn’t resist.

What is this book about?

This story explores the consequences of our decisions. Amina thinks she is safely retired with her daughter and family, but the first domino falls when the mother of one of her former (deceased) crewmates shows up and promises her a million dinars to hunt down and bring back her granddaughter (that crewmate’s daughter). Once she agrees she faces all the things she thought she left behind. Some good, some bad, and one husband she was never able to divorce. Her quest to find the missing/kidnapped/runaway child takes her on a path that may just make her a legend.

At its heart I think this story is about living a life that honors your truest self. You can be a mother, a daughter, a wife, but you are also YOU and if you don’t live a life that you are happy with, it doesn’t matter how happy you make those around you, you will always be left wanting. And the lesson of this book seems to be that the denial of that want is a denial of self, and so you should honor who and what you are. It is a lesson we all need to make sure we learn.

What is notable about this story?

This story is one of the most inclusive I’ve read. Chakraborty draws in all elements of society and treats them as though they are normal, which I always appreciate. The only exception to this is a bit of a spoiler, so I’ll leave it out of my review, but suffice it to say that she honors the fact that not everyone is allowed to live as their truest self and asks us to think about how we can create space and safety so that can happen.

I LOVE DELILA. My little poison monster, how I loved reading when she was in the scene. Imagine if Edna from The Incredibles got into poison instead of fashion and was also Batman. She shines like a diamond in the story, mostly because she’s the character that is clearly herself. I wanted to give her everything she ever wanted and be her lab assistant.

I cackled at how the main characters all made fun of each other’s “oldness”: Amina’s bad knee/leg, Delila’s eyesight, Majed’s weight – it was like hanging out with old friends just ragging on each other. And let me tell you that if you haven’t ever done that, it’s a hell of a lot of fun, epecially if you don’t get offended too easily or take anything too personally. There’s a comfortable familiarity in it that says “this sucks but we’re in it together.” It made me feel warm and welcome.

The portrayal of multiple religions in the story were beautiful. The slight friction between them was there, but the rituals and routines that the characters went through just as a part of their daily lives were so calming to read. It was like Chakraborty gave me a moment of meditation before the next burst of action, or wanted to remind the reader that even when you’re out being a notorious pirate, the unknown and incomprehensible must be acknowledged – whatever that happens to be for you – because there is always someone or something bigger, smarter, stronger than you and it is healthy to stay humble.

The supernatural monsters were absolutely spectacular, and when you consider that they were brought to life by Chakraborty’s writing, you will be able to see/smell/feel them as though they were in the room right next to you. I got chills more than once as Amina made her way through the magical elements of her journey.

Was anything not so great?

I have nothing to say here. Shannon Chakraborty has written a masterpiece and I will defend it with every breath.

What’s the verdict?

5 stars on Goodreads. I plan to preorder a hardcover version and also send one to my grandmother. If you have a woman in your life that dreams, that travels, that seems too big for the container they’ve been placed in, that has been smothered by everyone or everything around them and needs a way to break free – buy this book for them. A masterpiece of feminine power in all its shapes, you’ll finish it and long for more. When you read it, say hi to Delila for me.

A thrilling adventure on the water, Amina Al-Sirafi was a book I couldn't quite put down. It leads you into a world you think is familiar and then shifts it into the fantastic. Overall I think that the book was stunning and is something that I haven't quite stopped thinking about.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is an adult fantasy that is destined to become a classic in the genre. The story revolves around Amina al-Sirafi, who is a retired pirate captain. Now, she's a mother and has put her former life behind her. One day, she's offered the sum of a lifetime in order to rescue a kidnapped girl. Now, she has to put her crew back together to embark on one more adventure. But is coming out of retirement the right choice?

Here is a detailed excerpt from the opening chapter:

"The maps are—and I cannot emphasize this enough—remarkably easy to forge. I can even tell you how it is done: You merely need a scrap of parchment and a bit of time. Tonics are applied to darken and yellow the paper, though regrettably, the majority require urine and the best derive from the bile of a bat. The map itself should be drawn with care, with enough details that some geographic locations will be recognizable (ideally directing the mark in the opposite direction of which the mapmaker intends to flee). Symbols can be lifted from any number of alphabets. Many forgers prefer Hebrew for its mystical connotations, but in my opinion, the text off an old Sabaean tomb makes for more mysterious letters. Wrinkle the whole thing up; fray the edges, burn a few holes, apply a thin layer of sandarac to fade the script—and that is that. Your “treasure” map is ready to be sold to the highest bidder."

Overall, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a high-seas adventure that will appeal to fans of R.F. Kuang's Babel or Adrienne Young's Fable. One highlight of this book is the lovely Arabian-inspired setting. Another highlight of this book is how the protagonist is both a mother and a retired pirate captain. I rarely read books with mothers as protagonists in fantasy books, and it's even better that she has such a non-stereotypical job.

Yet another highlight of this book is how the plot is super interesting and how it launched right into the action right away. One last highlight of this book is how funny it is. There were moments when I laughed out loud at the book. I can't wait for the sequel! If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of adult fantasy books in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

I was never a fantasy reader until the last few years and really enjoy getting lost in the fantasy worlds. This book is SO GOOD!!! i really loved the whole crew and their different relationships, they’re all really intriguing on their own BUT ALSO TOGETHER?? will always love found families. shannon exploring more of the daevabad world was one of my favorite aspects, i felt like in the trilogy a lot was introduced but not expanded on much so it was really fun to read about and hope that that’ll continue with the next books of the series

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Harper Voyager & NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC

This was my first Chakraborty and I can see why her work is so beloved! This was such an enjoyable read. The flow was so good, I loved the main character, the story and everything else this book had going on. While I think the book wrapped up in a good stopping point, I'm already excited for what comes next in this series.
Thank you Harper Voyager for the ARC of this one!

The Daevabad series is one of my favorites so I was very excited for the release of a new series by Shannon Chakraborty. Amina is a likeable and complex character and I look forward to seeing where the series takes her. The worldbuilding is strong, which is to be expected. The 13th century pirate setting was certainly unique so that's a strength of the book. I was a little bored before they finally got going on the journey but looking back I realize that we needed the time for her to get her crew back together. I'm still looking forward to the next installment as this one laid the groundwork for an exciting tale still to come. Thanks to the publisher for an advance copy.

This was an incredibly fun and adventurous read! I adore a nice pirate tale and this one hit the mark for me. I really enjoyed the MC being older and more mature (mostly mature lol). I also appreciated how it wrapped up nicely at the end, although I would continue on in the series if more are released. The writing style was easily consumed and well-paced. The cover is gorgeous and eye-catching as well. I have really enjoyed everything I've read from Chakraborty so far and reccomend this book to anyone who enjoys pirate/heist vibes.

Thank you so much for the ARC.

This book hooked me from page one. The storytelling style is one that I think will be perfect on audio - so if you're an audio reader, I'd recommend that.


Pros:

The Accessibility: Even though this story has fantastical elements, it is super easy to read. It has an addictive quality where it is easy to get sucked into the storytelling.

The Characters: I really like how this story has characters that are more funny. I love the Daevabad Trilogy (also by S.A. Chakraborty), but that definitely feels serious. This was funny, and I loved it.


Cons:

The Intrigue of Book 2: I will be reading book two because I love Chakraborty's writing. However, I can see how some readers will be satisfied with just this one installment. It wraps up nicely, which I personally do not love for the first book in a series. I prefer open questions (and perhaps a dreaded cliffhanger). This incentivizes me to pick up the next book without waiting years.

The Length/Pacing: Parts of this book felt a little fast. Others felt a bit slow. The writing and humor kept me going, but I do think that there are parts of this novel which hit a slump.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in morally gray characters, pirates, and heists!

After loving Chakraborty's debut Daevabad trilogy, I have been eagerly awaiting the release Amina al-Sirafi. Overall, it did not disappoint. Chakraborty is as skilled at writing historical fiction as fantasy, and she is at her best when she pauses to linger on the details: unpacking her characters' intricate loyalties, dropping nautical factoids, or seamlessly integrating the customs, prayers, greetings, and history of the ancient Islamic world. I felt completely immersed in this setting and quickly came to love Captain Amina and her crew.

The introduction of a certain character at about the halfway point was, for me, one of the book's only stumbles. This character is not supposed to be likable -- in fact, he has a mysterious, villainous backstory that readers slowly learn details of as the adventure unfolds. My issue was: his interactions with Amina felt off, and made her character read a little too "YA." This wouldn't usually bother me too much, except that one of the major themes of the book is Amina's "older" age: unlike a lot of fantasy protagonists, she is over 40 and a mother. In fact, most of the cast is middle aged. For the most part, this is handled well and makes for an interesting dynamic, as each character struggles to balance what they want from their lives with their family obligations. There were times, however, when I had to forcibly remind myself that Amina was a fully-grown adult as she endlessly bickered with this completely reprehensible character. All of her interactions with him felt out-of-character and immature, and made me wonder where the rational, wise Amina of the early chapters went.

Regardless, I loved the adventure and "heist" elements of the plot. I loved the crew. I thought the framing device - Amina telling her story aloud to a scribe named Jamal - was executed perfectly. And finally, I appreciate that this book can be read as a standalone fantasy story. Though it teases sequel novels to follow, it still ends on a satisfying note.

I love Chakraborty's writing. It's always so thought-through and funny. I also adore the addition of a (not) demon himbo. We need more of them in all of literature!!! And of course the throwback to COB was perfect, and left breadcrumbs for more crossovers to come.

I am not going to lie, I missed the political intrigue that was integral to the COB books, but that does not stop this novel from being a very fun romp!

Lady pirates! Magic! Getting the team back together for one last mission! This has all the ingredients you could ask for for an epic series start plus more. Amina as a middle aged lady pirate that feels too old for this sh*t is such a badass and I love her. I also adore Dalila, Mistress of Potions, who could kill you from 200 miles away 3 days after you saw her last. And dare I say it, but Raksh wormed his way into my heart despite how chaotic he is. AND! We got to see our favorite peri from the Daevabad trilogy!
This book was so great, not just for the plot and the characters, but for the homage to strong women who raise strong women and make sure they create spaces in the world for other strong women.
I’m excited to see the next adventures of Amina and her crew!

4.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a requested copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I will not be giving a full review of this book, because Harper Collins has still not met the demands of the strike.

That being said: please support Arab and/or Muslim authors (I know this author is a Muslim convert). These stories deserve love and attention, as do many others that are suffering due the current situation.

This book is great--please Harper Collins, please give your workers what they need and deserve.

Absolute perfection… I don’t have words to describe how amazing this book was!

I saw this ARC available for request on NetGalley and was so thrilled to get it!

Genre: Fantasy
Pace: Medium
Summary: Amina Al-Sirafi is a mother, a daughter oh and a bad ass pirate! She just wants to retire with her family in their secluded family home. She wishes to remain hidden after quite the scandalous career as a notorious pirate. Although she has hidden her identity she is found by a wealthy woman in desperate need of Amina’s particular skill set. A young woman has gone missing and she needs Amina to find her and bring her home. She’s offered a sum of money and security that will ensure that her whole family and generations after, will never have to worry about money again. Once she sets out to find the young girl it’s apparent that there is much more at stake.

I heard this book compared to Oceans 11 meets swashbuckling pirate adventures. That is not too far off! I am not usually drawn to “sea tales” or ‘pirate” stories. Not a fan of Jack Sparrow (don’t cancel me), so I wasn’t sure if I wanted to dive into this. So glad I did, what an amazing story and what incredible writing once again by Shannon Chakraborty! She is a new must buy author for me! I am obsessed… I loved the magic and lore of this unique world and setting. Amina is an older female lead that is a power house. The diversity of characters and the melting pot of this world is really unique to see in story telling. Loved that so much. I was really surprised at how much I loved the way she was portrayed as a mother and a bad ass pirate. That deep down her desire was to provide security for her family, mainly her daughter. Such a fun read, super story and worth the ride!

#theadventuresofAminaalsirafi #netgalley #shannonckraborty #bookreview

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off a little slow, but once our main character got back on her boat and got the gang back together, it really picked up. First and foremost, I think it is important to point out that the main character is not only a badass female Muslim pirate, she is a badass female Muslim pirate over 40, which is amazing. I am truly looking forward to following more of her and her crew's adventures.

Speaking of her crew- the characters in this book are all well drawn out and characterized. Their relationships to each other all feel authentic and not forced. The found family aspect of this book is definitely one of the things that I loved most here. Also, big shout out to the lovable idiot of a ship cat, Payasam, probably the best character out of a group of really great characters.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves pirates, heists, women being badasses, and/or the excellent HBO show Our Flag Means Death.

This novel is by a brilliant author, but I found the pacing of the plot and action to be slow. I enjoyed the characters but I wasn't as convinced that the plot and story could keep the attention of most readers.

A retired female pirate, one of the most renowned in the Islamic world, is lured out of retirement with promises of untold wealth. She doesn’t own her own home, her family struggles to stay afloat, and the lure of providing an education for her daughter and life of relative comfort for her family is too tempting to ignore. She sets off on a quest at the behest of a noblewoman, experiences working mom guilt the entire time, and outpaces men in a space designed only for them. Is this a tribute to millennials and working moms everywhere??

Okay, but in all seriousness, Amina is one of the most relatable MCs I have ever met. She is an absolute badass - she can lead, she can fight, she’s cunning, strong, wise, and most of all, she’s loyal. She doesn’t let anyone or anything stop her from achieving her goals, but has the wits to know when to seek out help. Written as a first-person accounting of her many exploits to her biographer, Amina takes the reader on an epic, and often humorous, journey through the medieval world of the Indian Ocean. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is an homage to Islam, womanhood/motherhood, and the wisdom that comes with age and experience. You won’t want to miss this high-stakes fantasy quest!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Setup: A retired pirate captain who only wants to stay home with her daughter gets pulled back into adventure, and we learn all about the strange magics that she encountered before and new wonders and terrors on the current quest.

I liked this book but didn't *love* it- perhaps my life stage is closer to Nahri's (from The City of Brass) than Amina's, so I connected with this one less. 3.5-4 stars but Goodreads doesn't do fractions. I definitely liked it enough to keep an eye for the next book; Chakraborty has earned my goodwill with her reliably enjoyable writing.

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-the-adventures-of-amina-al-sirafi-by-s-a-chakraborty/

Tl;dr Snapshot Review

A fascinating book that reads like a story straight out of 1001 Nights. It’s rich in world, excellent in characters and satisfied my fancy for swashbuckling sea pirate adventure. The Legend and the woman behind it, captain us into a tale of mystery and adventure filled with evil magic, sea monsters and mythical beings!

Full review:

Those who have read the authors earlier works (The Daevabad Trilogy) would know what to expect and won’t be disappointed. From the get go, Chakraborty starts weaving a deft tale rich in world building and character development.

We start off with getting to know a retired Amina living with her daughter, hiding from her infamous past and hoping for a peaceful future. But as we read from the synopsis, fate has different plans. She is approached by the mother of a shipmate of hers who offers a heady mix of rewards and threats melded into an offer Amina can’t refuse. Once she gets set, she immediately realizes that she has been misled and things are far more serious that she was let know. The kidnapping doesn’t look like one, her supposed enemy takes on a new and far more frightening dimension and the stakes are far far larger and deadlier than her worst expectations. But with the threats hanging over her, she’s forced to carry on.

The story then switches back and forth between the current quest and key events prior to her retirement. As she gets her crew back, more layers of history are revealed and we see both sides of Amina, the notorious pirate who wanted to be a legend and the mother who just wants to be back her family now.

.

After reading City of Brass, I became a firm believer that S.A. Chakraborty writes some of the best prose in the book world and this book just reinforced that. They way she weaves a rich tapestry of words, so rich in detail is absolutely phenomenal. The depth of detail brings to life the culture from the landscape in Arabia to the seascape life at the ports of Aden (Yemen) with a clarity that genuinely makes you feel you are right there journeying with Amina. the prose is predominantly told from the perspective of Amina, though she breaks the flow now and then to remind us that part of it is a narration by her to her chronicles/historian. Not just the worldbuilding, but the action of the characters, their speech, their mannerisms etc are perfectly in synch (at least to my own ignorant self) to fit that period lifestyle.

Amina is a superbly written multifaceted character. A pirate that other pirates fear to cross, a myth where stories and reality have lost their definitions, and now a mother living life of piety and motherhood in retirement and one where her suppressed past self and wages a war with current self to get back to good ol’ glory days! The way she balances her inner desires to her reality, makes for one captain, I’d be happy to sail with! Not just her, but each of the supporting cast are etched well and have their own role to play.

On the flipside, the novel is not without it’s faults (for lack of better word), but these may be more because of my personal bias than anything the author wrote. For one, fascinating though the worldbuilding has been, many a time I felt it took priority over the actual plot progress making it a unevenly paced read. Paragraphs and sometimes pages pass in providing details before the characters actually progress along the story. I did end up with a feeling that I’d have been OK if she had traded a bit less worldbuilding, so I could get a more crisper read. Secondly, the plot is fairly predictable and events just happen to progress the plot rather than a organic progression which felt a bit forced.

Minor niggles aside, this was a rich and fascinating read and one I believe would add to her previous successes with Daevabad Trilogy.

Recommended!

Thanks to Netgalley's extremely quick response time! ARC received in exchange for an honest review. There may be spoilers ahead, so proceed with caution!.

THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI is a high-seas adventure following the exploits of the notorious pirate Amina al-Sirafi as she's dragged out of retirement to settle a threat against her family. This did not read like a pirate book, but that didn't bother me as much as I thought it might (given the way this book was advertised). Instead, this reads like a mashup of a heist book, adventure novel (à la TREASURE ISLAND), demon-hunting quest, break-up story, and historical account all in one.

THE CONS (of which there are few, but they were early enough in the book to almost turn me away from reading): This book was trying to be too many things at one time. For the first 90-120 pages, I was contemplating putting it down pretty frequently. Though having Amina's background was necessary to understand her motivations, I thought the plot dragged on far too long, from her first encounter with Salima--who sets in motion the course of events of this book--to getting the crew back together to finally getting a lead on the whereabouts of their quarry. This book is long, so 100 pages of not-so-good material isn't the end of the world (it clocked in at 682 pages on my e-reader), but it is still a long time to go without being fully immersed in the story.

So. What saved it?

I felt like my entire outlook of the book shifted during one specific scene, and I went from being extremely so-so to extremely excited to see what was in store for us. (I will leave it at silver coins, in an effort to keep at least a little mystery to this book). In no time at all, the story jumped into action and kept me turning page after page until the very end. I was completely drawn in to Amina's journey, her crew, her (supposed-to-be-dead) husband, and the mythology surrounding the artifact at the center of so much bloodshed. In fact, I had such a good time reading the rest of the book that I forgave it for anything I'd disliked about it before, and that's ... pretty rare for me, haha.

I haven't read any of S.A. Chakraborty's previous works, and I'm not sure I will (because if they're this long, and they're a trilogy, when will I find the time???), but I immensely enjoyed myself throughout (the majority of) this book.

And since I'm making a conscious effort to evaluate books less on the technical or nitty-gritty pet peeves they irk in me this year and more on my enjoyment overall, this gets a full 5 stars from me! The first of 2023! You go, Amina al-Sirafi!

As an end note, I also loved the commentary on how much of Amina's notoriety comes from the simple fact that she's a woman stepping out of the traditional role in the society that she lives in, and though I found the in-between chapters where people tell their accounts of her or her compatriots largely unnecessary, I think they paint a fun picture of the way her legend spread versus the woman we actually meet and follow in the present day of the story. And! Raksh's annoyance at being considered a demon when he is much older than the concept, and his true origins having been lost to time so people box him in when he's a lot larger and mythical than even that. Things I'm hoping continue to come up in the sequel!

Notes from the Margins:

📝 I gambled. “I know how to dissolve the bind between us,” I lied in a rush. “But it is a complicated, delicate process. A spell of sorts, one that may be tricky to navigate.”
“How?” Raksh asked, growing breathless. “What is it?”
God guide me. “A divorce.”

📝 “Your obsession with me is embarrassing.”