Now that a tentative agreement has been reached in the HarperCollins stike, I'm so excited to finally review this title :)

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was an absolute delight to read. After my yearly reread of City of Brass, I was starting to go into Daevabad withdrawal and this came to me at the perfect time. Chakraborty's sophomore series will appeal to fans of the Daevabad trilogy and new readers alike. It contains equally endearing, nuanced, and feisty characters you can't help but root for, but is also a low fantasy with a more colloquial narrative style that's easy for new readers, especially those who aren't as accustomed to adult fantasy, to ease their way into without having to invest themselves in intricate worldbuilding.

While nothing will quite match my love for the characters and world of the Daevabad trilogy, it feels almost criminal to compare Amina al-Sirafi to Chakraborty's first series, as it occupies a register completely its own.

Shannon Chakraborty, author of the recommended THE DAEVAVAD TRILOGY, is back with the start of a new series, and if the first book, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, is any measure, it’s sure to be as fun and magic filled as the first (sharp-eyed readers will at one point note it’s actually set in the same universe as the first as well, albeit much earlier).

Some years ago Amina Al-Sirafi was a famed smuggler and pirate before going into retirement to care for her daughter, Marjana. Though, as our frame narrator — the scribe Jamal al-Hilli — tells us, she came out of retirement to “become more than a pirate. She became a legend.” A reality that may surprise her audience, Jamal notes, because even a rebellious or adventurous woman’s stories is “expected to end — with the boy, the prince . . . The man that will take her maidenhood, grant her children, make her a wife. The man who defines her.” Even, of course, as his story is allowed to continue, while her is “expected to dissolve into a fog of domesticity.” Amina’s story, though did not, as in truth no woman’s does, Jamal insists, even if their stores are never told or, as is usually the case if they are, those tales are “misremembered. Discarded. Twisted.”

What follows this introductory section is the story of how Amina is drawn out of retirement and hired to reassemble her crew and seek out the kidnapped daughter of a former, now-dead, shipmate. A task easier said than done, as it turns out the kidnapper is a powerful magic user who seeks an ancient artifact (the Moon of Saba) that will give him even more power and allow him to remake the world in his vision.

The ensuing plot is mostly an exuberant joy (the “mostly” due to a few pacing hiccups here and there that detract hardly at all from the overall pleasure), filled with various and sundry magical creatures, wry banter, shipwrecks, battles at sea, a former husband who is more than he seems and funnier than he has any right being. The main character is richly realized, a strong woman who refuses to be constrained by society’s expectations of women or mothers, one who is upfront about her sexuality and her ambition for fame and adventure even as she is conflicted over how it interferes with her being a full-time mother to Marjana. She loves her daughter utterly, loves being a mother, but also misses her former life on the seas and Chakraborty displays a wonderfully balanced touch in handling that dilemma.

The other characters are mostly strong as well, introduced one by one in the usual “let’s get the band back together” narrative, with two particular stand-outs amongst Amina’s found family: Dalia, the Mistress of Poisons who is delightfully sharp and dangerous, but with hidden emotional depths that are gradually revealed; and Majed, the Father of Maps, who gives us another parent figure as well as acting as a representative figure of both loyalty and curiosity. And then there’s that former husband, Raksh, of whom I don’t want to say too much save to note that nearly every scene with him evokes at least one laugh-out-loud moment. Our villain, the Frankish crusader and madman Falco Palamenestra, meanwhile, is suitably and deeply disturbing.

Thematically, Chakraborty weaves in lots of discussion of women in society and the complexities of motherhood, as previously noted, and dips as well into other issues of maintaining (or finding) one’s identify despite societal pressure. Storytelling is another theme: the power of stories, as well as their unreliability, the ways they can be warped, sometimes naturally and sometimes intentionally. Within that vein, the plot is sometimes entertainingly digressive, as we get various versions of some tales.

I won’t say anything about the ending except to note that it, and our frame narration, make it clear that this is merely the jumping off point for the adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. A revelation that should make nearly any reader happy. I, for one, look forward to the several promised.

I absolutely LOVED this book!! It was a slow start for me and it took me awhile to get through the introduction to everything but once the action started, I was immediately hooked.

The characters were everything. They were by far my favorite part of the book and I loved every single one of them. Amina is an amazing protagonist and it was so interesting reading through her storytelling. The format of how the story was told made it even more entertaining. Amina is a strong and badass pirate and I was extremely invested in her journey. We see the tough side of her as the ship's captain but we also get to see the more genuine and emotional part of her character, and the author did an amazing job creating her story. I loved being able to see how close the characters are with each other, given their history, as well as the genuine unspoken care for each other. I won't say much about the other characters specifically, but Raksh is 100% my favorite character and I couldn't get enough of him (honestly, they're all amazing but Raksh's humor is right up my alley).

This book definitely made a lasting impression on my and I am SO anticipating the rest of the series. The author creates such an immersive and vivid world and her writing style is very easy to follow. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is full of heartfelt and epic quests that also touches upon deeper meanings and messages. The diversity in the characters and their dynamics made it all the more exciting. This was my first book by Chakraborty and I was completely invested in the characters, the plot, and the world of Amina al-Sirafi. The pirates, the demons, the magic, and the humor are things that you don't want to miss out on!

An incredibly fun fantasy with a great cast of characters. I loved reading a fantasy book with a main character in her 40s. So charming and just good fun

Oh, I loved this. Hard-bitten, tough-as-nails former pirate captain and infamous criminal Amina al-Sirafi has given up her life at sea and spent the last 10 years keeping a very low profile and quietly raising her daughter. She is tempted (and not a little blackmailed) out of retirement for one last adventure. The criminal coming out of retirement for one last score/great heist, narratively speaking, is practically a cop two weeks from retirement; of course the reader can't help feeling steeped in foreboding. What follows is a tale of grand adventure and swashbuckling, derring-do and misdeeds, that's full of both action and memorably colorful characters. The story is framed as al-Sirafi recounting the tale to a scribe, and the framing is done well. Occasional asides or complaints made to the scribe remind the reader just often enough of the framing story without feeling intrusive.

Amina's narrative voice is an absolute treat: wry and cynical, a bit world-weary, and with a humor when observing human (and in some cases supernatural) stupidity that ranges from dry and scathing to exasperated and long-suffering. I laughed out loud more than once, and spending time in Amina's head kept making me think of why I love spending time in Murderbot's head, despite these being wildly far-removed from one another in most other ways.

If the Daevabad books weren't for you, this is a very different book and absolutely worth your time to try. I had mixed feelings about that trilogy; I loved the rich world-building and reading a fantasy set in the Muslim world instead of the ubiquitous thinly-veiled Western Europe, but the romance, characters, and pacing didn't consistently work for me.
I loved The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi without reservation.

There are far too few stories written about female protagonists over 40, never mind those who are complex enough to be mothers, semi-reformed criminals, and foul-mouthed sea captains who by their own admission are relying heavily on the "Most Merciful" aspect of their God. This is the second ARC in a row that I'm going to be buying a physical copy of for adding to my limited shelf-space when it's available.

I was offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review; I'm far too opinionated for anything else. Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the opportunity.

Oh, one last note: Chakraborty's research for this book's time period and area of the world was extensive and impeccable; her notes directing curious readers to English-translated sources for further reading about the period and its peoples are worth the price of admission alone, in my opinion.

Update to add: Striking Harper Collins workers dont want to harm authors and have set up a bookshop.org site where responsible consumers who would like part of their purchase to support striking workers can do so:
https://bookshop.org/shop/hcpunion
#HCPONSTRIKE

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4/5 stars

I really enjoyed how well the author described everything in this book. It was rich in detail and adventure! The magic world was fun to explore and different from any other book I’ve read! I enjoyed that they actually feared the magic rather than running straight for it.

Amina was a complex character who had a hard time splitting her love for being a mother and pirate. The challenges she had were not easy and I appreciated how serious she took decisions. It was amusing watching the banter with her husband. I also enjoyed seeing how she would get out of the situations she put herself in.

Overall this book was filled with rich details that really did take you to another place. The adventure was wild and I wasn’t quite sure how they were going to pull it off!

Thank you to Harper Voyager for sending me an advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review!

This took me a really long time to finish, this book had little to no world building and is very character driven and so it took me a bit to get into. But once i did, it was fantastic. The story itself is very fast paced and the characters are fantastic. I loved their banter and the found family aspect of the story. plus there's pirates, demons and magic? what more could you want from a high fantasy book?

Thank you Harper Collins/ NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Amina is a notoriously famous pirate and she retired to bring up her daughter. Ten years later, when an "opportunity" presents, she thinks 'what's one more?' I thoroughly enjoyed being able to return to Shannon's lush writing. This book comes as a breath of fresh air since it portrays older characters who are returning for a last voyage. I'm so happy to be back in the world though about multiple hundreds years in past. We do see a character from Daevabad Trilogy in here.

I loved the camaraderie between friends that was portrayed. They felt comfortable with each other and it showed through their constant teasing of each others mature age. It made me want to be friends with them as well. Also, I appreciated the portrayal of different religions and everyone's respect towards each other's customs.

Further, I admired the fact that not all supernatural beings were shown to be brave and powerful. One in particular being a straight-up coward. It was different than what I have usually seen and I liked that.

Shannon's writing is so lush that it will bring the whole world to life and I felt a part of it while reading. The first 20% of the book did drag on but don't give up, continue reading and you'll be in for an adventure.

I can't wait for the next installment and in particular, see the growth of one character.

4.5 stars - This is a fantastic and unique tale that reminds you that women’s lives don’t end when they have children. Amina is a reluctant hero throughout our story for a variety of reasons but in the end, all she wants is to protect her daughter. Her love for Marjana is a beautiful portrayal of how deeply a mother loves her children.

Amina also reunites with her crew, who she realizes are truly her family as well. She is finally able to let go of some of her guilt from her prior adventures and realize what she means to them.

I love how emotional this story is, and the mix of relationships portrayed. A lost friendship reunited, an estranged couple, strong familial bonds, and varying degrees of religious practice among the crew.

Shannon Chakraborty created such a complex and beautiful magical world. Her inclusion of religion and Muslim mythology is so fun to read.

I think this one starts slow, the first half dragged a bit. However, I think the second half is fantastic and the stakes are so high, I couldn’t put it down. If you’re a fan of City of Brass, you’ll definitely be a fan of this one too.

Fantastic. I had been eagerly awaiting this release and now I can’t wait for the sequel. The writing, the plot, and the characters were all wonderful and I love that we are seeing so much more representation in the fantasy genre recently.

This book was refreshing and action-packed. Well at least at the end, the first half was a little slow for me; the end however was quick and filled with plot. I enjoyed the take on a female pirate and the fantasy aspects of magical artifacts and creatures tied into religious beliefs in the supernatural. The characters were all flawed, no one was perfect, and that made them even more relatable. This was a great book and I am definitely looking forward to the next book(s) in the series.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is possibly one of the best books I have ever read.

Amina is called out of retirement to find the daughter of a fallen comrade and chaos ensues.

I absolutely loved the character development and I think that is something that Chakraborty does extremely well. I felt like these characters were so vivid and each one seemed to get a good amount of the spotlight.

The story was a bit slow to start but I appreciate that the author too their time to build up the characters, the world and some back story before launching into the absolute wild ride that this book was.

If you enjoyed City of Brass I think that you will enjoy this book.

DNF at 20%
I absolutely loved the Daevabad trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty, so I was really looking forward to The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi. In fact, it was my most anticipated book of 2023. Sadly, the first 20% was a lot of descriptions, and it just wasn't holding my interest. I might come back to it at a later date, but for now it's a DNF for me. I do think people who love descriptive books will enjoy it!

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.