I thought this was a decently solid pirate fantasy. Amina the character is what really carries this story and makes it enjoyable. The plot was a bit lackluster and too drawn out but Amina herself and her crew are the main reason why I didn't DNF. I think it was a little bit too long and the audio narrator didn't quite feel like the right choice for this story. My two notes while reading:
-The court thing with the avian creates was so cringe [I have no recollection whatsoever about what this means]
-I swear to god I thought this book was set in the 1400-1500s [Again, I have no idea why I thought that or if I was even actually wrong??]

The story felt forgettable but I liked Amina so much that I will probably still read the sequel.

To the shock of no one, Shannon Chakraborty does it again. Her atmospheric and transformative writing always intrigues me from page 1. Chakraborty has been an instant-buy author for me since City of Brass, and I cannot wait to see what other stories have yet to come.
4.5/5

The notorious pirate captain Amina Al-Sirafi is called out of retirement/hiding for one last job, a rescue, that will set up her family for life. But the rescue isn't as simple as she was led to believe. With her old crewmates, she is soon caught up in a rescue of someone who might not want to be rescued and pitted against a man with unnatural and vast powers. And Amina wants to be on the ocean on her ship, but will she be able to make it home to her waiting daughter who needs her.

I loved this book so much. It's so rare to see a middle aged woman and mother as a protagonist for a swashbuckling fantasy novel and I love to see it. The structure of the story was a bit different so that was fun too. I enjoyed the heisty-ness and all the side characters. I did feel like the villain was a bit one note, but that was okay. I really wanted to know more about the powers that Amina's husband had an how they would impact her daughter, but I guess that's a story for the future. I also liked how even though the good guys were righteous, they were complicated . The book doesn't shy away from the fact that pirates are actually criminals no matter how much they are romanticized. Definitely enjoyed and would recommend.

Thank you Harper Voyager, Avon books, the author, and @netgalley for the advanced ebook!

There’s nothing better than a swashbuckling tale that takes place on the high seas. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is one of those tales, and one well worth reading if this type of story is your cup of tea. It’s also worth reading if you’ve been underwhelmed by pirate yarns of publishing yore—Chakraborty’s book takes place in a magically infused version of the 12th century on the Indian Ocean, for one, which is not a common location for well-known pirate stories we’ve seen from, let’s say, Walt Disney Studios. The book’s protagonist, Amina, is also not your usual nakhudha (captain). She is a middle-aged woman who is formidable and courageous and, frankly, a little worse for wear at this point in her career.


At the beginning of the novel, Amina is retired and living a quiet life with her mother and daughter. She misses the sea, but she left her beloved ship, the Marawati, after her demonic husband (at the time—Amina has taken on multiple husbands in her life, with some marriages only lasting a night or two) destroyed her crewmate’s soul after an ill-fated deal. The trauma of this unnatural death scarred Amina and the rest of her surviving crew, and they all disbanded after locking her chaos-seeking lover in a trunk and leaving him for dead. For the past 10 years, Amina has lived on land and in anonymity.

[Rest on Tor.com, here: https://www.tor.com/2023/05/18/review-the-adventures-of-amina-al-sirafi-by-shannon-chakraborty/]

Eh.

I am shocked that I didn't thoroughly enjoy this book. I was sure that this would be at least a 4 star read for me, if not a 5 star read. I realize that a lot of that came from the GORGEOUS cover and the premise being oversold.

This is historical fiction, and while I can respect liberties taken in fiction, especially with fantasy elements, some of the historical inconsistencies seemed like poor research and not deliberate choices.

The plot was boring, the characterization inconsistent, and this really read like a modern character trying to blend into the past.

Also, the continuous appropriation of a culture that is not her own (by the author) is extremely exhausting. If it had been done well, perhap some forgiveness could be given but that was not the case.

“I wanted to travel the world and sail every sea. I wanted to have adventures, to be a hero, to have my tales told in courtyards and street fairs, where perhaps kids who’d grown up like me, with more imagination than means, might be inspired to dream. Where women who were told there was only one sort of respectful life for them could listen to tales of another who’d broken away—and thrived when she’d done so”

Amina is the embodiment of badass and and I 👏🏻 am 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it 👏🏻

After devouring Daevabad, I absolutely love seeing adult content from Chakraborty. It goes so well with the story given the saying “I curse like a pirate” and boyyyyy did Amina absolutely knocked this out of the park.

The story starts very slow but picks up all of a sudden and it’s just so so well done. Once the action starts you get hooked in and cannot put the book down. Chakraborty’s imagination is wide and vast and seeing this new world through her eyes was amazing.

The shocked laugh I let out when Amina came across Daevas could have qualified me as insane but I love when authors have little cameos and Easter eggs of their others books and series!!! When Khayzur mentions slaved souls in rings white talking about the Transgressions MY HEART LEFT MY BODY thinking of my precious Dara 😭😭

The world building was excellent. Having read Daevabad previously definitely helps a lot as I am now more familiar with the folklore and certain culture specific words. I love the incredible guides Chakraborty gives us in her books, they are magical and help the reader a lot!!

I cannot wait to see what Amina’s next adventure will be!!!

“I can snap a man’s bones with these legs”

"Are not all mothers capable of being monsters when it comes to their children?"

---

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

Within a few pages 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. I loved the friendships, 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.

INFINITY out of 5 stars! If you haven't read this book yet, go read it! And while you're at it, also pick up Chakraborty's Daevabad trilogy!

Usually, you know what you’re getting with a pirate story. Swordfights, rum, probably some treasure, maybe a little misogyny, and generally the sort of grizzled, damaged characters who, as the kids say, have seen some shit. This is a big part of the reason that Shannon Chakraborty’s The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi feels like a breath of fresh air: It’s a story that pushes back against everything these kinds of tales are known for. A delightfully wry and self-aware romp, this first installment in a new fantasy series from the critically acclaimed author of the Daevabad trilogy is, more than anything else, simply fun.

A swashbuckling adventure with genuine stakes and richly developed oddball characters whose found family of misfits vibe is endlessly charming, the novel’s brisk pace and dry self-deprecating narrative style (the story is framed as Amina recounting—and commenting on—her life story for a scribe) help the pages fly by, and Chakraborty’s detailed, immersive worldbuilding makes the various villages and island of her medieval Islamic world sing with life. But what truly makes The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi stand out is its heroine.

In fantasy tales like this, the story’s central figure is almost always a young woman on some sort of journey of self-discovery, who grows into the person she’s meant to become along the way. Chakraborty’s Amina, in contrast, is a middle-aged mother who has lived an entire life before this book’s title page—surviving dangers, exploring her beliefs, and having her flaws made all too plain to her. She has a checkered past, a young daughter she adores, a bum knee, and a laundry list of things she’d do differently if given the chance. This isn’t the beginning of her story.

Throughout this novel, Amina is still living with the consequences of the choices she made when she was younger and felt untouchable. Her rededication to her Muslim faith is in large part about atonement and penance for the choices she made them. Her relationships with her crew are steeped in shared history and mistakes. Her reputation may seem fantastical, but it’s one she came by honestly and she carries the emotional and physical scars to prove it. It’s a perspective and a character type we see very infrequently in this genre, which is why Amina feels like a revelation from the book’s first pages.

Easily a five-star read for me, this book was absolutely captivating with its richly detailed world-building, a lively cast of characters, and exciting plot. From the very first page, I was drawn into Amina's world and taken on an immersive journey around the Indian Ocean during the 12th century. Amina herself is a wonderful protagonist, with a fierce determination and a relatable vulnerability that makes her easy to root for.

The ride-or-die camaraderie between Amina and her old crew is one of my favorite aspects of the storytelling. The dynamic among the old friends is spot on and very entertaining, especially when they find trouble and have to get themselves out of it. Honestly, this whole crew had me in stitches, especially Raksh who is just ridiculous and delightful throughout.

I also loved how many different pirate adventure tropes the author managed to squeeze into this story. We have quests, a ship heist, a prison break, sea monsters, clashes with other pirate crews and more. The risky, high-stakes nature of each challenge kept me reading well past my bedtime, and I really enjoyed seeing how Amina and her crew navigated the various obstacles.

Lastly, this book was everything I had hoped for and I'm just a tiny bit obsessed with it. I rarely collect multiple editions of the same book, but this one was so good, I didn't mind sacrificing some extra shelf space for an extra special edition copy. If you enjoy historical fantasies, exotic locales, and strong female protagonists, this is likely to be a new favorite!

Thank you for the ARC! This review has been cross-posted on Goodreads and Instagram.

I found the writing style interfered with my ability to take in the story. I tried to pick it up a few times and ultimately decided it wasn't for me. Disappointing because I love this author's other work.

After picking up this book several times, I find that the pacing makes the story rather droll and dry. in just the first 12%, there are so many asides that don't move the story forward. Many of the conversations last a lot longer than they needed to be and felt repetitive at times. I'm not going to be able to finish this one.

This was such an entertaining adventure from beginning to end. The Adventures of Amina a-Sirafi is a swash-buckling historical fantasy. I loved the themes of found family, dark magic, and demon husbands! This was less serious than the Daevabad trilogy, but I didn't mind because it was so much fun. The worldbuilding was phenomenal, and the character dynamics were a blast.

I thought this was fine. I really enjoyed Chakraborty's first series, but struggled to get the same enjoyment out of this. I don't think I was really engaged with it until almost the end. The pacing just felt slower; it took forever to get anywhere. I'm not sure I would read the other books in the series. The finale did offer some redemption for me, and I found myself genuinely hooked, but I'm not sure the journey there was worth it.

This was one of my most anticipated releases! After reading the Daevabad series, I was so excited to start another adventure by Shannon Chakraborty! I really enjoyed this one!

Although slightly slow to start, once this book picks up, it doesn’t stop! It was incredibly compelling and fast paced! I loved the world building and the concept of different realms, it was fascinating! Also, who doesn’t love a good pirate story?!

The characters were also phenomenal! It centered around a group of older adults being badass pirates! They were written with such a beautiful balance of wisdom and youthful longing for adventure. So refreshing to read about older adults living out their adventurous dreams!

If you enjoy fantasy seafaring stories, totally check this one out! I promise you won’t be disappointed!

It took me longer to get into this book than I expected which lent a hint of disappointment to my reading experience of this hyped (in general and for myself) book. In retrospect, I see how that hint of disappointment affected my enjoyment of this book that I actually really loved. Chakraborty clearly did her research and threw the reader into a rich, vibrant historical world that so many educated in most Western countries know nothing about. At the end, when the fantastical comes into play, the plot sped up and I breathed a sigh of relief with the return of the breakneck fantastical world that Chakraborty builds.

Thank you so much to the publisher and net galley for sending me a copy of this book. It is my favorite book of the entire year. I cannot explain how much this books means to me. I wish that I had a story like this when I was young.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is such a beautifully written fantasy. The world-building is outstanding. The story is well written with an enchanting storyline and well-developed characters that engage from start to finish. The world is atmospheric and feels real with vivid descriptions and rich imagery. I cannot get enough. Highly recommended. Be sure to check out The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi today.

This one was kind of disappointing to me. I was... bored? There was a lot of "go to a place, do a thing. Go to another place, do a thing." and that isn't my type of fantasy. I did like the cultural aspects of it. But we kept getting TOLD that she was this badass scary pirate, but I really would've liked some flashback scenes showing that she was a badass.

4.25 Stars 🏴‍☠️ -- What a swashbuckling tale! This book follows Amina, a retired pirate captain who takes a one last mission to save her family. After she gets her crew back together again, much chaos ensues: facing down a vicious villain, fighting an unearthly sea creature, and trying to track down a lost child of her former shipmate.

I think the best part of this book is either the humor and comedy at certain moments with Amina’s beloved crew OR the totally eastern centric take on pirates and their practices. Amina is a badass but she’s also willing to go to bat for her people, unapologetically. My love of the book jumped up at the end for a very specific reason and I didn’t see that fun little paradigm shift(?) of the narration coming so soon but I LOVED it and the way it walks treated. I was smiling like a fool when I read that part. The representation here is truly great and it’s such a special read! Will definitely be reading the rest.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers Harper Voyager and Avon for the advanced e-arc. This did not affect my review in any way!</i>

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi has me talking in short, loud, exclamatory statements. It's so good! It's so much fun! I want more immediately! I would die for [insert almost any character here, really, they're all fantastic]!

I haven't read Chakraborty's previous work (yet!), so while I always hope for a book to be a new favorite, of course, I didn't have any particular expectations for Amina. I was hoping for a fun high-seas adventure with piracy and magic in a 12th century Indian Ocean setting...and I got that (boy, did I) as well as so much more. It does such a beautiful job of blending the fantastical and the completely down-to-earth (including questions of motherhood, sacrifice and balance, and what we owe to ourselves or to others), describing a rich, vibrant world populated with so many intriguing and fully-realized characters, chief among them Amina herself, bigger than life and deeply human all at once. It's a splendidly written story, as big and dramatic and fantastical as any legend, but solidly rooted in human reality.

I fell happily into this story and didn't come up for air until I reached the end, hungry for more and basically yelping incoherently at everyone I know to read this marvelous book.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the advance review copy!