Shannon is a fantastic author and this has to be my new favourite from them. I adore pirate themed books and I think this has to be one of my favourites. The writing was beautiful, the story captivating and intriguing and just highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Shannon Chakraborty has done it again - I could not put this book down, and can't wait for the next installment in the series. Amina al-Sirafi is a genius character, as are all the characters in her crew and family, and the plot drives itself along seemingly without any effort whatsoever. I also loved the narrator twist at the end. Elements of Arabic and Islamic mythology are presented cleverly without being derivative, and blended neatly into a fun pirate romp. I think this is my new favourite series!

Excellent! Shannon Chakraborty is a world-class talent. I was instantly caught up in this unconventional pirate tale. Amina was both fierce and protective. A woman who was sly, seductive and deadly. It was so refreshing to see an older character, especially a mother, take up an adventure. Her band of friends were equally entertaining and lovable. The queer representation was a welcomed delight. As for the adventure itself, it was fast-paced, enchanting and scary, full of twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. A thoroughly enjoyable tale that I will be recommending over and over.

Thank you Netgalley and HaperVoyager for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest opinion and views.

This was my first time reading a book by Shannon Chakraborty; it was also my first pirate adventure. I really enjoyed the story and was able to escape in it's pages with great imagination and wonder.
Amina fierce personality was refreshing and it reminded me of the movie Cutthroat Island, with it's female protagonist ruling over her fleet.
I was captivated by the adventure and read with glee and couldn't wait to read the next chapter I was fully absorbed into the story and was disappointed when it had to end.
A solid four stars for me as sometimes I was a bit lost with all of what was going on.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is the first in a new series (trilogy?). Since I had not yet read anything by her before I was excited for this opportunity and I was not disappointed.

First of all I loved the setting for this new trilogy: it takes place in the Indian Ocean around the time of the crusades. So mostly we move around the coasts of the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa and see places that actually exist. This is the kind of fantasy that is basically historical fiction with a hefty dose of magic. And I loved that Chakraborty picked a setting about whose rich history most readers will know very little and brings it alive. I for one was very happy to read about the cities on the coast of Oman or the island of Socotra. I also thought it great that Islam was naturally given a prominent place in the lives of people as would have been natural for that place and era.

The plot revolves around the eponymous Amina al-Sirafi, a retired captain who sets out for one last adventure to retrieve a kidnapped girl after being offered a sum she cannot possible refuse and thus hoping to provide for her family for the rest of their lives. Of course all sorts of shenanigans ensue as this is very much a novel of adventures.

Amina was a great protagonist and I loved hearing a story told from the POV of an older woman. She has seen the world and already experienced plenty of adventure. Actually, she is pretty tired. She is wary but has managed to retain some curiosity, is fiercely protective of those she loves, with a great sense of self-deprecating humour and a strong moral compass. She has a strong narrative voice and is plenty of fun to listen to.

Also the side characters were great, from her former crewmates she asks to join her on this adventure to the kidnapped girl (or is she??), to the villain and Payasam, the required and absolutely adorable ship's cat. There's also an absolutely terrifying magical sea creature and basically all of the ingredients for a great story. There was also a sub-plot about gender identity that I thought was truly enriching the story as it went straight to the core of what it means to be yourself and doing what feels right.

So, this was a great read and works well as a standalone although the setup is such that more adventures can easily follow. Very much recommended!

I have received an advance review copy via NetGalley from the publisher and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

Shannon Chakraborty delivers an epic tale of adventure, magic, and danger on the high seas. Following the retired pirate Amina Al-Sirafi on her last mission, the story takes readers on a wild ride through treacherous waters and mystical realms. As Amina and her crew set out to rescue a kidnapped girl, they soon discover that the job is not as straightforward as it seems with twists and turns around every corner.

The characters are well-developed in a vivid world based on history. The plot is mostly fast paced, at least for the first half. Towards the ending the story lost me a little bit and I struggled to finish the book.

But overall, this is a solid start to what promises to be a thrilling trilogy. If you're a fan of high-seas adventures and heist novels, this book is definitely worth checking out.

<I> women’s stories are expected to dissolve into a fog of domesticity… if they are told at all. </I>

What a fantastic fun adventure!! When 40 year old ex-pirate captain and single mother is called back to the high seas for one last adventure, she doesn’t quite expect it to be filled with magic, runaways, fires, demons and all round chaos.
This story has lush world building, a diverse cast of lovable characters, humour, family, friendship and epic sea-fearing adventures!
Although I found it a bit slow at times, I really enjoyed the characters and thought this was a wonderful story- I’m looking forward to reading more of Amina’s adventures, and hopefully we will see more of Raksh 🤞

I really enjoyed this epic tale of a female pirate coming back from retirement for one last adventure -- the reward so high she couldn't turn it down. The blend of religion and magic was really well done, the sense of mystery and unanswered questions throughout was also really compelling. I liked that many of the magical creatures were humanoid in nature, meaning the MC could converse with them with her trademark wit and swearing!

Whilst the front cover (both US and UK) suggests a world of magic, high seas and adventure, be prepared for graphic scenes of violence, injury and death. There's also blackmailing, demons and a queen of poisons too so definitely not for the faint-hearted. I always love characters exploring motherhood, sisterhood and the found family trope. The novel has all this and more with a diverse cast of characters and exploration of gender identity (although MC is cis-hetero-female). Lots of action and battle scenes as well as more tender moments of powerful friendship. Fans of Samantha Shannon's Priory of the Orange Tree and Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows would enjoy this.I love learning through fiction, and with this novel I learned more about Islam, Arab culture and the pre-colonial world of the Indian ocean. Read the Author's note for further reading on these subjects!

As a 500-page book, I really struggled at the beginning to stay interested as it felt a lot of pages had passed before the adventure really got going. However, it's worth pushing through as the plot quickly ramps up.

TW: violence, blood/gore/injury, death, threat of sexual violence, torture, body horror, kidnapping, alcoholism, misogyny, slavery

https://lynns-books.com/2023/04/27/the-adventures-of-amina-al-sirafi-by-s-a-chakraborty/
5 of 5 stars
My Five Word TL:DR Review: I loved it. Loved. It.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is, to put it simply, wonderful. Now go and pick up a copy and be happy (pretty please). What are you waiting for? Seriously, this is the sort of book that gave me that glowing feeling that I experienced as a youngster reading a fantasy adventure for the first time, feeling that amazing feeling of excitement and awe and wondering if there are more books like this out there, then sneaking under the covers at night to continue reading by torchlight. It’s just so enjoyable. I loved the characters, I loved the story and frankly, I want more. And more. And, I’m not trying to say that this is a book aimed at a young market (just to be clear) more making the point of that lovely happy feeling that it gave me and that made me feel reminiscent – like, who wouldn’t want to go back and experience that feeling all over again? Well, this book gave me that feeling and it made me smile.

So, plot. What do you get when you have a notorious lady pirate, retired into obscurity and hoping to live a quiet life before she’s bribed/cajoled and outright blackmailed into returning to the high seas to find a young female abducted from a wealthy family? Well you get sea monsters, mysteries, crazy characters, demons, much more, and so much downright entertaining fun that it should be illegal.

Firstly, the characters. I loved Amina, she’s a great character to read. I love her thought processes, she’s brave, she loves her family and clearly she is equally loved by those around her because her most trusty crewmates also join her on this dangerous quest – and they’re also really easy to get along with. Can I say, and I don’t know whether I’m supposed to even enjoy the rogue demon – but I did enjoy the rogue demon. Even the baddie was over the top bad – in a way that fit the story perfectly. Colour me happy.

The writing is superb. I gobbled this up like a hungry teenager. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing is spot on. The attention to detail and backstory flow really well

The setting, well, this is simply the icing on the cake. Clearly this is well researched (not to mention loved) and this comes across. I’m certainly not an expert on anything contained here but the culture and history are so well interwoven into the story and make the story come to life. And this is all managed with a remarkably light touch and surprising ease that I’m sure belies the actual reality.

Overall, I have no criticisms for this. I enjoyed it so much, witty banter, high stakes, high seas shenanigans, skullduggery, family, found family, family you hoped not to find, sea monsters, sorcery and so much more. I’m hoping for quite a few more of these and I won’t deny that I wouldn’t be averse to the demon making an appearance again. Just saying.

I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion freely given.

The Daevebad Trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty is one of my favourite fantasy series of all-time, so when I heard that the author was releasing a new Pirate fantasy series, I was intrigued.

Amina Al-Sirafi is a former pirate who was notorious at the height of her career. Everyone knew her name, but 10 years ago she retired and has been living the quiet life ever since. When someone reaches out to her and offers her a life-changing amount of money to go on one last quest, Amina cannot refuse.

This was such a fun historical fantasy adventure and I really enjoyed my time reading it. Amina is such an interesting and complex character and there's also a found family which I hope gets further development in the sequels. Lots of LGBTQ+ rep too.

The writing style is very different to the Daevebad Trilogy. The introduction is written as if a scribe is recounting Amina's story, before switching to first person POV (told from Amina's perspective). I don't usually like second person perspective, and there were times where the narrative would break the fourth wall and it would jolt me out of the story. However I do think the writing style added to the atmosphere of the story, so I eventually got used to it.

If you usually read YA fantasy and are looking to get into adult fantasy then I think this could be a good option.

I will definitely be picking up future books in this series!

I think a good fantasy stories doesn't always have to be overcomplicated. Sometimes a simple theme, the overused plot but combined with memorable characters with sarcastic hilarios banter and engaging storytelling capable to turn an ordinary story into an extraordinary one.

The adventures of Amira al Sirafi, a middle-aged woman who is a former pirate captain who was forced to go down to the sea and handle another adventure also give the same vibes. The story pace kinda slow at beginning because up to 30 percent the plot still in the crew gathering stage. But after that the plot story shot with endless breathtaking adventures.

Amina and her team are older but I really like when they interact. Their banter is hilarious, super sarcastic and sometimes make giggles in middle nowhere. Thir characteristic also have depth and unique qualities. They are grey characters with doubtful moral compas. In my opinion, these characters are like the hidden gems of this story, there are many of them but all of them easy to remember. Their quirks make me mad, but they make me miss them too. I also like the friendship and family aspects that become heart of the relationship on the Amina's ship.

Pirate adventures stories always full of bloody battles, sea monsters and precious magical treasures. This one does too. I really enjoyed my time I spent with this book and highly recommend it for fellow fantasy lover. This isnt fast read type book but it worth each minute your time.

Thank you Harper Voyager, Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction, and Netgalley for provided my copy. My thoughts and opinions always become my own

Really fun enjoyable read - the audiobook was fab too as I also checked that out. Really loved the main character.
Just didn’t wow me like I expected. 3.5 from me

Review coming soon. Preliminary 5 star rating. Cannot wait to start! Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read

Wow wow wow

This book now has a hold on me that I cannot believe. I have been thinking about this one for a long time and I imagine it is going to stick with me.

The author has an impeccable writing style being able to draw you into this incredible world she has built. I love the characters and definitely could imagine every scene.

BRB just going to pick up every Shannon Chakraborty book ever.

THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!

I'm a sucker for an adventure and this book was all of it rolled into one. We had an incredibly morally-grey crew, a super OP and magical villain with his cronies, a sprinkling of demands, a few djinns, a load of mythical creatures and about 7 different side quests. The characters themselves were so well developed and you fell in love with each one individually. The gang was brought back, and you were individually introduced to each, whilst learning about their history, and titbits about what happened for them to have broken apart.

There is one clear plotline in this book, but Chakraborty has managed to create a story which delves into each characters past and future, so you really get to know them. Amina herself is a mystery until the end but a great one. When meeting her old and new crew, you learn so much about her personality and you get to watch her rediscover her love for the sea, and 'pirating'. It is fantastic to see a middle-aged woman find herself, despite having believed her life was over, and being able to enjoy and live her life again.

One of the greatest things about this book was how deeply ingrained Islam was into it. Even though it is a fantasy, I felt like I learned so much about modern Islam. It was beautifully embedded, and didn't jump out at you, and it really helped you to not only understand the characters on a surface level, but a much deeper, personal level. The majority of the crew had different religions and it was a large portion of the book, was discovering and accepting each other, despite the difference that separated them. And it made the book a so much safer space.

This book was a piece of art, not just for the safe (and educating) spaces, but also the worldbuilding and storytelling. Chakraborty managed to create such vivid images, despite this being such a fast paced book. Every location was meticulously described, and you really felt like you were there. This book drew you in and didnt let you go.

If you read one new release this year, make it this one!!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An exciting tale with many moving parts, the Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi begin after she has retired from the life of being a nakhudha. After years of being a pirate, she lives quietly with her family until she is enticed, through greed and coercion, back into the life. Narrating her tale to a scribe, she tells of hiw she was lured back into the shadowy world she loves.

What I loved about this was that is took well-known tropes and turned it on their heads. Amina is a woman but is the captain. Not only is she a captain but she is a mother to boot. Rambunctious, sarcastic and stubborn, she is a swindler and a thief. And she glories in it. Although she loves her daughter fiercely, it is evident that her home is on the sea and it is where she is most comfortable. She is the defintion of Strong Woman but not without her flaws. And has terrible taste in men.

The majority of pirate books are set in the Caribbean but not this one. Set upon the Indian Ocean, we are treated to locations such as Yemen and Ethiopia. While unusual, to me this was delightful. Set in the medieval period, we are treated to countries such as Yemen and Ethiopia, with some beautiful descriptions. The research that has gone into this is in depth and it shows. I loved this break with tradition and would be delighted to learn more.

It's true that some of the side characters are maybe a little flat. The villian of the piece is just that, a villian. Some of the crew are there just to tug ropes but other than that, the main characters are rich in both personality and history. The pacing of the book is also a little off. It takes a while to get going and there are some slow points but the action, when it happens, really goes!

All in all, a lovely book to read. An unusual setting with some brilliant characters, it was extremely enjoyable. The ending suggests more to come. I would enjoy reading more of Amina's adventures.

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

This book follows Amina, one of the most famous and scandalous nakhudhas in Western India. She has lived a fabulous life at sea with her friends onboard the Marawati and is enjoying retirement and motherhood. That is until she receives an offer no pirate could refuse. Back aboard her beloved ship Amina is thrown into one final adventure that may be too much for her and her crew to handle…

Aminas story was stunning from start to finish and if I didn’t do this as part of a buddy read I’d say I would have devoured this book. Character wise it was amazing how diverse they were! Middle aged, queer and disabled characters shone all through the story and the representation was fantastic. In terms of the story itself it flowed so effortlessly and was not lacking in adventure or mishaps in the slightest.

Mothers are sorely underrepresented characters in books and when they are written about it’s done in a way that belittles them or pushes them to the side. This book threw that narrative out the window. The fact that Amina was a mother was not a side story in this and I was so happy to see motherhood portrayed the way it was. Amina was a mother, yes, but that didn’t stop her from living her life, her child just played a big part in it.

If you’re looking for a gripping, fast paced fantasy novel this is the one for you. I’d recommend this book to anyone.

Thank you so much to @netgalleyuk for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is available to buy now.

I really enjoyed this swashbuckling take of pirates, particularly the inclusion of a core set of diverse characters, particularly in regards to nationality and faith. Amina was incredibly compelling and I'd love to see another book with her at the forefront, with more Dalila too (I'm particularly intrigued by her). I was less fond of the demon angle but I'd be interested to see where this goes in future books. 4-4.5*

DNF'ed at about 35%. Just could not get into this and it was taking so long to get to where it was going. Not writing it off completely, I may go back to it; the 1 star is just because I have to provide a rating but I don't feel comfortable rating an ARC I didn't finish.

Amina al-Sirafi is retired. She's not the infamous pirate she once was. She has settled down for a peaceful life with her family. But when a rich client tracks her down with an offer she can't refuse, she's thrown right back into the life she left behind, but she soon learns there's more to the story and forbidden magic threatens everything she holds dear.

I need 100 more of Amina al-Sirafi's adventures, immediately. This was such an incredible adventure, I was immediately immersed in Amina's world and invested in her story.
Amina's narrative voice was so so beautifully crafted, she's become one of my favourite protagonists from any book, ever. Her dry wit and humour in the face of various life threatening situations was really well balanced. Her observations on the people and the world around her-the societal and class structures that shaped it and her opinion on them were all really neatly woven in.
Chakraborty's writing here absolutely blew me away, the skill it takes to balance a first person narrative like this with such intricate world building, while also maintaining that sense of an oral dictation-you never forget that this is Amina recounting her story to a scribe. It's all so beautifully done and really feels like an homage to traditions of oral storytelling-myths and legends passed down through generations. From the way in which the story is told, to the power its world and its characters put in such stories, the ambition to a famed adventurer a recurring theme throughout. Combined with Amina's own complicated relationship with such ambitions and her character arc coming to terms with her place in history, all made this really really interesting.
The world building was so well done, no massive info dumps that lift you out of narrative, but you get such a vivid picture of this world and all its diverse culture and history as these characters move through it.
Speaking of the characters, they were truly the heart and soul of this story, as individuals and in their relationships with one another. I need more of them all immediately, I want to hear more about their adventures together in the past, their lives before they joined Amina's crew, their lives in the 10 years they went their separate ways, and all the adventures to come-I need it all.
I also really appreciated the exploration of a woman's place in the world, of motherhood, of stories and history, and faith, and how all these things intersect and interact with one another to shape our lived experience-it was really beautifully done.

Pirates, mothers, poison mistresses, scribes and sorcerers, casual queerness, all wrapped in an epic adventure in a rich and vivid world - I'm honestly just in awe of Chakraborty's writing, this book is a must-read.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Harper Voyager for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.