I had high expectations for this book after finishing the Daevabad trilogy earlier this year, and it did not disappoint. Also, reading a book with a main character who has the same name as you is, like, really cool.

Chakraborty’s writing has a way of plucking you out of reality and dropping you into a magical world. What’s unique about this fantasy is that it centers around a woman in her 30s who has already experienced love, marriage, and motherhood. The characters in this book felt so real; complex and flawed. It’s difficult not to get invested in them as a collective, as well as each character individually.

As a Muslim from the SWANA region, I loved witnessing the ways in which this vast region—its diverse people and cultures—inspired the world-building and magic system. It’s always lovely to be able to connect to a fantasy book culturally.

We are exposed to characters of various ethnic backgrounds, sexualities, and gender identities—who are all nuanced and vital to the story; not just plugged in to fulfill a representation quota. I think this kind of representation is especially important for Muslim diaspora/SWANA folks.

Overall, I loved following Amina and her friends’ journey and I am beyond excited for the next book!

Thank you to Shannon Chakraborty and her team for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

It’s tricky to review this book without giving away its secrets, but I shall try. What starts as a well-researched and very enjoyable historical romp develops into an adventure of mythological proportions, with nods to the author’s Daevabad Trilogy and an exploration of the myths and legends of the time.

From the beginning, our Narrator, Jamal al-Hilli, introduces Amina Al-Sirafi as a pirate, a witch, and a mother and vows to tell her story because “to be a woman is to have your story misremembered.”

Amina is a devout Muslim who easily dispatches demons with a dagger inscribed with holy verses. She is a retired pirate and a devoted mother to 10-year-old Marjana and lives in quiet solitude until a woman hires her to rescue a kidnapped granddaughter (who is also the daughter of a former shipmate of Amina’s)


So begins the quest to reassemble her scattered crew: Dalila, Mistress of Poisons; Tinbu, boatman and occasional smuggler; Majed, her navigator, and Marawati–her beloved ship. They are hired by the Frank with mystical powers to find the legendary Moon of Saba, the largest pearl in the world – but unless they recover the granddaughter and the Moon of Saba, Amina’s family is in danger.

Things are complicated rather nicely, when Amina’s most recent husband (and the father of her child) Raksh reappears and reveals that he’s bound to her. Raksh is a delight–charismatic, mysterious, and not at all human.

The book is framed as a story told by Amina herself to Jamal al-Hilli, and the moments when the story shines the most are when she shocks him with profane language or a double entendre and she comments on his reaction. The story itself is a roller coaster, with some unexpected twists and turns, rich detail, a likable cast of diverse characters, and a dive into the myths and legends of the region. I was also pleasantly surprised with the LGBTQ+ representation. The book was a treat, and I can’t wait for the story to continue.

My sincerest thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advanced copy to review!

Read this book! Shannon Chakraborty is an amazing writer and she brought to life a magical world and its people. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi has something for everyone, from fantasy and adventure to family and love. I loved the Daevabad trilogy and was so excited that Shannon Chakraborty has a new book coming and it did not disappoint. If you like pirates, magical adventure, and strong female leads this book is for you. I'd also recommend it if you don't like those things because this book is good on multiple levels.

This was a very fun adventure novel with the added bonus of having an (unfortunately) atypical protagonist: a middle-aged woman and a mother. I loved the (research-based!) depiction of port cities on the Indian Ocean and the different cultures and mythological traditions that are represented.

Amina is retired and reformed. Sure, money is tight, but she lives a pious life with her beloved daughter and the rest of her family. Much better than her storied career as a notorious pirate. But when the relative of a former crewman tracks Amina down and makes her an offer she can't refuse, Amina gathers her old crew on one last adventure.

A historical fantasy billed as Ocean 11 meets Sinbad the Sailor? This book was a joy and perhaps my favorite read of 2022. The tone conveys a sense of a huge, mysterious world filled with adventure. Amina's voice is so distinct— brash, clever, and charmingly irreverent and paired with insightful commentary about the challenges of motherhood and middle age. How she refutes and yet exceeds the tales told about her is a constant delight.

It's also such a pleasure to see how Chakraborty has grown as a writer, particularly in portraying relationships between her characters. There are so many complex ties between Amina, her family, and her crew, and Chakraborty portrays those tangles so beautifully.

Highly recommended.

Amina al-Sirafi has high seas adventures you could only dream of and I was enthralled by it! I was invested in her story from the beginning and got hooked as we follow her travels. Not only is she an incredibly badass pirate but also a loving mother. I loved seeing these parts of her which made her a complex and at times imperfect main characters, but I couldn’t help but root for her and follow her on her adventures. And her adventures are entertaining and everything you’d expect from a pirate, including super high stakes that kept me reading. As the first book in a series I can’t wait to see where Amina goes, especially with how she ends this adventure, and it also made me want to read about all the adventures that lead to her being something of a legend. You do get a peak at some of what is said about her and parts of her past throughout the book in between chapters and I really liked that addition. I thought it added to depth of the story and characters and helped show how Amina became a legend!

Overall, this is a good high seas adventures I recommend you read once released!

Read if you’re looking for…
•pirates
•high fantasy
•women led
•magic

After dazzling readers with her Daevabad trilogy, Shannon Chakraborty is back with a brand new series. Now, instead of a djinn-populated city rife with intrigue and tension, she takes us to the high seas to follow one Aminia al-Sirafi, a former pirate of renown who has reluctantly emerged from retirement to take on a job that quickly explodes into an adventure far beyond what she ever could have possibly anticipated.

Considering the author and the setup, the book is as fantastically delightful as one would expect, if not even more so. Once again, Chakraborty manages to provide a wonderfully immersive experience with her vivid writing. I could practically feel myself transported to its setting out in the waters of the Indian Ocean and the diverse lands that surround it. Meanwhile, the cast of characters she’s crafted for this latest tale are fit to bursting with flaws and quirks, and just so complex and so wonderfully human that almost as soon as I was introduced to them it felt like I had already known them for ages. On top of it all, Middle Eastern and Islamic mythological elements that richly spice the narrative make this book continue the trend of the author’s writing feeling like a wonderful breath of fresh air in the fantasy realm.

So for those who are already Chakraborty fans such as myself, it will be an understatement to say that you definitely won’t be disappointed. For newcomers, I wholeheartedly encourage you to dive right in. “The Adventures of Aminia al-Sirafi” is an absolute blast of a fantasy literary escape. As a reader, I can't wait for the next book in the series to come, and as a librarian I can't wait to add this to my workplace's collection.

This writing style, unfortunately, was not for me. The conversational aspect of it just didn’t flow well - not sure if that’s because it was an e copy that didn’t highlight what was a story vs. conversation with the writer or what. I won’t be posting this review on Goodreads or my Instagram so that it doesn’t negatively affect the release. I’m sure people will love this, it just wasn’t for me!

I've already started generating some buzz in my book club. We hail from Tampa bay. Down here, we LIVE for pirate stories. We will definitely put out some copies in our libraries upon release.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC.

I really honestly feel like there is nothing that S.A. Chakraborty could write that I would hate. Pirates? Revenge? A badass MOTHER? Yes! This book was filled with hilarious banter, folklore, magic, and lyrical prose. The pacing was perfect and I never found myself bored. The world building and familial elemenTS were fantastic.

Absolute perfection! I’m so excited about this new series! Amina and her crew are an absolute delight. The book had adventure, magic and so much heart. Chakraborty is such a master storyteller.

This may be one of the best books I've ever read.

If you've never read the Daevabad Trilogy and want to see a little bit of what the writing is like, this book is a great place to start. It doesn't spoil anything from the previous books, it's entirely self0contained (though if we got more of Amina's adventures I wouldn't complain), and it beautifully showcases Chakraborty's skill in worldbuilding and character developement.

I have no complaints on this book. It delivers action, exquisite character development, adventure, mystery, a little taste of horror, and more set-up of the magical world and new creatures and beings. It deftly handles relationships and building up villains to be actual villains, and I never once had a feeling of doubt that the end of the story would deliver a banger.

If you want a wholesome adventure of found family pirates, a badass mom, and magic, read this.

I absolutely loves this book. Fantastic world-building, amazing action, and some wonderful characters. While the book focuses on Amina I'd love to see further volumes exploring her crew.

Do you remember when the first Pirates of the Caribbean came out? That theme song can still drum up strong feelings in response, one that longs for adventure, laughs, and swashbuckling adventures. Well that's exactly what this book does (only better in my opinion).

Amina is retired, with a child and family she's still supporting from her notorious past as a pirate. However, she's lured out of her decade-long retirement by the wealthy mother of one of her former (and now dead) comrades. Apparently, her granddaughter has been kidnapped by a Frank who is seeking mystical treasures in the area. Will Amina please fetch and return her for a million dinars? With promises of riches that would secure her family's future, the chance to avenge her old comrade's daughter, and the alluring temptation of returning to a life she's missed, Amina agrees.

I do not know if I have the words to properly sum up just how amazing this book is. It's chock full of amazing characters, tight pacing that never left me bored, dialogue that had me laughing aloud, and a found-family trope that brought tears to my eyes.

Not only that, but we get an MC who's middle aged?? Finally! There are far too many women in books that tend to fall under the same youthful stereotypes. However, Amina is no doe-eyed heroine. She's a tall, muscular ex-pirate, sturdy and weathered with experiences. She may not be quite as spry as she used to be, but that doesn't mean she's any less capable. And with age comes new and different perspectives as well. Amina embodies the struggle of both desiring more for herself, to fulfill lifelong dreams of exploring and seeing the world while also wanting to be a good mother who's there for her child. It's a topic that I'm sure many can relate to. Throughout the book, we see her start to embrace both sides of herself, no longer denying that her longing to be out at sea is something that is a part of her and also needs attention.

Can we also talk about her ex-husband? OMG, I LOVE this fun little twist! It just makes it all the more delicious when you get all the full details and their interactions are just *chef's kiss* perfection. His character reminds me a lot of Loki in that he's definitely not one to be trusted and clearly makes decisions all based on self centeredness...but you can't help but love him a little, you know? Just me?

This is the start of a very promising trilogy and I cannot recommend this enough! It's sheer joy in a fantasy book, full of Middle Eastern pirates, magic, sea monsters, sorcery, and at its heart, a pirate mom you will be cheering for the whole way through.

This book was amazing! I loved Chakraborty’s Daevabad trilogy so when I saw she had started a new series I just had to read it, and I’m glad I did! Chakraborty’s writing style and world building is once again magical and engrossing. Her characters were very well written, especially Amina. I loved Amina as a main character and rooted for her throughout the book. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that liked the Daevabad trilogy or likes fantasy adventure novels. I can’t wait to read what happens in the next installment!

shannon chakraborty can do no wrong.

the adventures of amina al-sirafi follows amina. a retired pirate who has given up an adventurous life at sea to raise her daughter. when presented with an opportunity to never want for anything again, amina decides to return to the sea in search of a missing girl. once getting her old crew back together, they embark on a magical journey filled with daunting creatures, epic tasks, and an overarching joyous tale leaving readers wanting more.

i for one cannot wait until the next book comes out. as an avid lover of the daevabad trilogy, this book lived up to the standards carried over from that series. i anxiously await amina’s next installment, as this book was sheer joy and the perfect kind of escapism. 5/5 stars!

thank you to both netgalley & avon and harper voyager for an e-arc. all thoughts and opinions are my own!

In short, I loved this book. It had adventure, magic, blackmail, and enough twists and turns to keep me hooked all the way through. Seriously, I had this book finished in less than a week (most books take me close to a couple of weeks to get through, so to finish a book within a week should be a clue to just how much I liked this book). This book reminded me a bit of the Pirates of the Carribean movies, so if you happen to be a fan of those movies, I highly recommend getting a copy of this book when it comes out in March.

Let me first say that I have read every book Shannon Chakrabotry has ever written, and I will continue to do so. Forever. She has written a trilogy that I highly recommend - to everyone I meet, And while I didn't enjoy this book as much as her previous ones, I still loved it, which just proves what a great author she really is. And what a ride! An excellent thriller/story and I think anyone regardless of age (teen, adult_ would enjoy the twists and turns and the brilliant original plot. Wonderful, captivating writing gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. Vivid, descriptive story-telling, with interesting characters that have depth to them, and skillfully rendered, and I also enjoyed the well-written fighting pirate scenes! I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print.

I didn't realize this was a planned trilogy, but i'm so glad it is because I need more of Amina's adventures. This book serves to set up Amina, her crew, and their circumstances, providing a lot of background alongside the present day story. With a character like Amina, who is older and has already retired out of her life of piracy, there's a whole other trilogy's worth of stories the readers are missing out on. The author does a great job of filling the readers in on some of these details while maintaining an air of mystery around Amina's life and her actual exploits. The story is written from Amina's pov, but is styled as her dictating it to her scholar friend Jamal, which was a fun way to structure the narrative and fit well with the kind of story being told. The book starts with the wealthy mother of one of Amina's former (and now dead) comrades pulling her out of retirement with demands that she find her granddaughter who has been kidnapped by a Frank who is seeking mystical treasures in the area. Of course, there's more to the story than there seems and as Amina builds up her crew and reconnects with old friends, she discovers that the mysterious Frank is much more dangerous than expected. I loved this story, I can't wait to read the rest of Amina's adventures.

Genre: historical fantasy
12th century, Gulf of Aden, Indian Ocean

Amina al-Sirafi, retired pirate, mother, and nukhudha (captain) of the Marawati, wishes nothing more than to spend her days with her daughter, support her family, and fly under the radar. Her retirement is abruptly interrupted when a wealthy and powerful woman demands that the legendary pirate find her kidnapped granddaughter. While the riches are a draw (she really needs a new roof), she’s inclined to turn the mission down until the woman threatens her family. As a mother, Amina can’t afford to say no, and she gathers her crew, all also enjoying their semi-retirement, and sets out to search for the girl, and the rumors of the powerful Frankish sorcerer who has kidnapped her.

I have so much I want to say about this book, and it’ll never fit in one caption or one review. It’s simply brilliant. We do get a lot of setup through the first third of the book, but it is worth it as Chakraborty sets up her characters and introduces us to meticulously researched 12th century middle eastern ship life.

Amina is the middle aged fantasy heroine we older readers absolutely need in our lives. She’s fierce and bold, but with the sagacity of middle age rather than the brashness of the younger heroines we often see. Like most mothers I know, she’s the meanest, fiercest person in the room but with the empathy required to approach situations that have no clear moral path. A natural leader on the decks of her ship, her crew trusts her with their lives, but Chakraborty doesn’t need to write that onto the page explicitly as we can sense it throughout.

Every character on board the Marawati is messy. They’ve had successful and unsuccessful adventures, they’ve lost friends and family, and they face unknown challenges. They aren’t framed as “good pirates” either. They are criminals who bribe and steal and raid, though in their retirements they have tried to return to the sounder side of the law, because in middle age that’s the prudent path. Amina herself has tried to return to her Isalmic faith - but she can’t completely shake the days where she (paraphrased) “strayed closer to adultery than not, drank too much, and was too hungover for the morning call to prayer” but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t put her trust in a benevolent and fair Creator.

The format of the book may throw some readers initially - it’s framed as Amina relating the story to a scribe, who occasionally interrupts to get details right or question a telling. There are insets of legends to help frame the mission details - because of course it turns into more than rescuing a kidnapped teenager, and of course there is raw magic and power that Amina and her crew encounter. They encounter demons and marid, along with the Frankish sorcerer and other legendary creatures like daevas and peris.

As soon as Chakraborty announced this project, I’ve been following her research and eagerly awaiting this book. It was my most anticipated book of early 2023, and I was thrilled to receive an eARC from @harpervoyagerus for review. I can’t wait to see the finished copy with its maps and its bibliography. This publishes 3/27/23 and is the first in a new series, so no advanced reading is required.