I often wonder about how fun it would be to read a book with One Piece vibes. I think The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, albeit more adult both in tone and in its characters, is one of the books that has come closest to capturing that feeling!

I'm a lover of the found-family trope and so I was delighted to read this iteration of it where there was an already established found-family and we got to experience that sort of homecoming feeling as they got back together for one last adventure.

Another thing that I adored about this book was that we got an older female protagonist who's a mother yet is still strong, independent and adventurous, as this is something that we seldom see in fantasy.

And along similar lines, I loved all the tidbits of history and all the diverse cultures represented, especially with the book being set in a time and place that isn't often explored in fantasy.

This book is delightful in its entirety, INCLUDING ITS NARRATORS who I believe did an absolutely stellar job, and I have a feeling that I'll be revisiting it for years to come!

This is what every reader wants in a book. A strong start that never let's up until the final page. I would highly recommend this book, especially if your looking for a captivating summer read.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is compelling in the way only a book that disrupts the literary status quo can be. Amina is a character who encapsulates the complexity of being a woman of agency and ambition alongside the monstrous and wondrous task of motherhood.

Do not misunderstand: this is not a book about motherhood. It is a book about a pirate and smuggler going on wild adventures, all while also valuing and prizing her child.

In tandem with tackling truly dynamic characters in a new way, this book also dismantles gender roles and expectations seamlessly. Without spoilers, the audiobook really adds to this overall impact and provides the reader with some real wow factors by the end of the book.

If it is not already clear, I am in awe of Chakraborty's writing. The artistry allowed my imagination to seek new outlets for wonder in a stage of life that can feel so limited and isolating.

Thank you Harper Audio, Shannon Chakraborty, and NetGalley for my advanced review audio copy. My opinions are my own.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is out now!

Plot - 5
Writing and Editing - 5
Character Development - 5
Narration - 5
Personal Bias - 5
Final Score - 5

“The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi” by Shannon Chakraborty is a captivating tale of pirates, sorcerers, and forbidden artifacts on the high seas. Amina al-Sirafi, a retired notorious pirate, is drawn back into adventure when she’s offered a chance to retrieve a kidnapped girl. As she dives deeper, secrets unravel, and the price of becoming a legend becomes alarmingly clear. This historical fantasy weaves magic, mayhem, and betrayal into an unforgettable narrative.

I am absolutely furious with myself.

I have had this book in my TBR for over a year. I have the Faeiryloot special edition, I have it on Audiobook, you name it! I am so happy I finally picked it up because this is my first 5 star book of 2024. This book is truly an adventure, it is not simple story telling more like thing after thing is thrown at this remarkable woman and she manages to handle it (and sometimes not handle it) with style. Amina al-Sirafi reminds me of Ilona Andrews [book:Magic Bites|38619] (Kate Daniels), completely different genres (Kate Daniels is Urban Fantasy, this is Historical Fantasy) but the found family is there, the banter, the humor, the character development, the strong female MC and side characters, the world is absolutely enthralling!! The story is so rich, it handles things such as motherhood and the preconceptions of it (mothers don’t just give up their personalities when they have children!), there is a character who is going through some personal self discovery that is handled with grace, a cast of middle aged characters that act like adults but also have the heart of adventure, a poisons master who I deeply want to get more accounted with… and a DEMON who is just the most ludicrous thing ever, but also super entertaining (he reminds me a little of Spike from Buffy before Spike got a soul).

AND THE NARRATOR? She is absolutely phenomenal. I have a list of favorites, and she is top on that list. She just manages to narrate the story so well and just captures the voice of Amina.

OVERALL? I kind of already want to read it again, and I cannot wait for the sequel!

I absolutely loved this audiobook. The narration was incredible and really brought this story to life.

Shannon Chakraborty world builds like no other! Fantasy and pirates made for a winning combination. I loved the audiobook version of this!

Tales of the fierce nakhudha (pirate) Amina al-Sarafi have traveled about as far as Amina has in her ship, the Marawati; tales of intense battles, stolen treasures, and her many husbands. Amina has moved past that, however, trading in her ship and sword for benign a mother to Marjana and living a tranquil life. Amina’s peaceful life is interrupted one day by the arrival of Salima, a woman desperate to recover her kidnapped granddaughter Dunya, a woman who believes Amina is the best pirate for the job. Amina is quick to say no, until Salima makes an offer she cannot refuse. Yes, the offer comes with money–a lot of money–, but it also comes with threats to her daughter, forcing Amina’s hand. Together with her trusted crew–Tinbu, Majed and Dalila–Amina will go on one last adventure in an attempt to find Dunya and her captor, Falco Palamenestra.

This novel was simply extraordinary and captivating; I was hooked from the first page and did not want the story to end. The characters are phenomenal; they are well developed and intriguing and I loved going on this adventure with them. Dalila is savage but caring, and quick witted and funny, making her my favorite character in the novel. Throughout there are little sections, told by Amina’s scribe, containing information about the Moon of Saba, which added some variety to the narrative. The pages are full of action and adventure (as the title suggests), making it a hard book to put down.

The audiobook for The Adventure of Amina al-Sarafi is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I am not the biggest fan of audiobooks in general, but I am so glad that I listened to this one. While I did have to speed up the pace a little, I found that adjusted speed perfect. The narrators did a great job in bringing the characters to life through the voices, inflection and pace. I felt like I was lost inside the story as I listened, and just like the novel itself, I didn’t want the audiobook to end.

I just finished watching Our Flag means Death and needed more pirates in my life . This was the perfect outlet, lady pirates! I love all the characters and the adventures they go on. I will recommend this to our patrons as a great adventure!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty was a fantastic adventure. The first book of a new trilogy by the author of the Daevabad trilogy this story introduces Amina a woman who lived a life of almost legend like proportions and has now retired to a quiet life of family and motherhood. When she’s brought a job from the mother of a former crew mate Amina must step back into her old life and track down a kidnapped girl but the further she looks into it the more Amina realizes she wasn’t told everything.
***
I loved Amina, she’s got so much spirit and drive and the relationship she has with the different crew mates on her ship. The way her past exploits are woven into the main present story and their relevance to her current journey was done so well too, I didn’t feel bogged down with a lot of extra information and I was given enough to want to know more of Amina’s past but feel satisfied with the story between the past and present. I’m definitely looking forward to book 2.

Such a great adventure story. With fantastic atmosphere and great characters I was fully engaged from beginning to end. The audio book was well done. If you're looking for a great adventure, this one is for you.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
First, I must say I loved the voice that was given to Amina. I listened to this as an audiobook, and the voice acting was wonderful and drew me in. I felt like Amina was actually telling the story so that it could be recorded.
Second, I liked the characters. You could tell that Amina and her crew were older and not able to do everything that they used to do, nor as easily as before. It was also clear that a lot of Amina's reputation was due to the exaggeration of stories and the luck that was brought by her last husband, so her average/normal showing was not unexpected.
I thought the setup for a continuation of the series was good, and look forward to reading more.

A wonderful pirate themed romp, through a world rich with characters and story. Similar to the fun run about that is Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. The Adventures of Amina Al Sirafi is a spellbinding novel that takes readers on an exhilarating journey through a world brimming with magic, mystery, and boundless imagination. Written by a masterful storyteller, this book captures the essence of true adventure and ignites the reader's spirit of exploration.

Set in a vividly depicted Arabian landscape, the story follows the brave and resourceful Amina Al Sirafi, a young adventurer with a heart full of curiosity and a thirst for discovery. From the very first page, readers are catapulted into a world where magical creatures roam, ancient treasures await, and danger lurks at every turn.

The author's meticulous attention to detail shines through as the vibrant tapestry of this richly imagined world comes to life. The descriptions of bustling marketplaces, sprawling deserts, and majestic palaces are so vivid that they transport readers to a place where the senses are awakened and the imagination soars.

I had really high expectations of this book so that was probably unfair of me. I have only read book 1 of City of Brass and although I throughly enjoyed it, I wasn’t obsessed enough to finish the series (yet, I will one day), so I don’t know why I expected so much of this book, but alas.
I LOVED the age of the characters, it was refreshing and fun. I loved the non-western setting, the pirates, the mythology and even the banter, but I felt the pace was too slow and having Amina narrate the story the stakes didn’t feel very high, I knew she would be ok and I didn’t connect with any character enough to worry about their future, so I feel that if I had more time to make a connection with them this would have been a five stars, but it wasn’t the case.
Still fun, full of rep, and well written, and I’ll probably read the sequel, but it missed the mark for me.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy of the adventures of amina al sirafi. this was fantastic. heist, one last job. pirates. a devoted but struggling mother.

This book was so incredibly fun and full of adventure! The audiobook narrators were incredible and truly brought life into Amina and Jamal.

I have read the digital version of this title and it was a good book. I unfortunately have to say that I did not enjoy the narrator.

His voice just did not go with the story. It just felt "too modern" for the story that was written. I will also say that his inflections were ill-placed and his pace was also off.

NetGalley, thank you for sending me an ALC of what is probably my favorite book of 2023! Where do I even begin to describe how much I am obsessed with this book?

This audiobook is one that I can listen to over and over. The narrators elevated the standard for audiobooks, in my opinion. It's JUST. THAT. GOOD. When an audiobook can get me to believe that I'm IN the story, hearing straight from the mouth of the MC, that is an unbeatable audiobook.

Within a few chapters I KNEW that this book was going to become a new instant fave. Chakraborty has a gift for storytelling that weaves together adventure, history, fantastical elements, layered characters, potent themes, and excellent banter! When you find a book that you equally cannot put down and never want it to end, you know you've found your latest book obsession. And for me, that was The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.

The character of Amina al-Sirafi is an absolute breath of fresh air, and I YEARN for more characters like her in the stories I read. Amina is strong and fierce and FUN! She's older in age (but not old), she's a mother who will do anything to protect her daughter, she's a pirate, and she's unabashedly herself. She's an icon, she's a legend, she is the MOMENT, and 2023 BELONGS. TO. HER. She is, without a doubt, in my top 5 of female protagonists.

The banter and dynamics between the characters in this book...Y'ALL. This book is HILARIOUS and the narrator's delivery only made it that much more humorous. I loved the friendships in this story, particularly between Amina and Dalila. The two of them together are a force to be reckoned with and they feed off each other so well.

One last major highlight of this book were the excerpts, missives, and tales. These added so much to the world building, lore, and history. Sometimes when books have these extras woven into the story, they can be distracting, but not with this book. In my opinion, it only elevated an already amazing story that much more.

A PERFECT audiobook!

I couldn't get into this one unfortunately and Rebecca up not finishing it at about half way through.

The audiobook for The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was so flipping fantastic. The story was wonderful and the narration definitely added to the experience.