Name: The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
ISBN: 9780008381363

Shannon Chakraborty

Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, launches a new trilogy of magic and mayhem with this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artefacts and ancient mysteries, and one woman’s quest to seize a final chance at glory...

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Victoria Sutton

Tell me, for you have not a hair on the chin between the both of you, have your balls dropped yet? Or did your members, knowing they would never be inside a woman, not bother to mature thus?"

And yes, I was rewarding myself with food and incentives like a child.

Lizeth Esmeralda

“… I could not help but marvel at the difference decade had made. One of the blessings of age is the waning of certain men’s eyes, of that stare that fixes upon you when you are a girl too young to notice. The men who do not lower their gaze as commanded by our faith, but instead steal second and third glances; the men who hiss the vulgarest of obscenities and when called out, blame their behavior on your clothes, your smile or lack there of, your pretty eyes, your very existence.”

Remmi Ahmed

For this scribe has read a great many of these accounts and taken away another lesson: that to be a woman is to have your story misremembered. Discarded. Twisted. In courtyard tales, women are the adulterous wives whose treachery begins a husband’s descent into murderous madness or the long-suffering mothers who give birth to proper heroes. Biographers polish away the jagged edges of capable, ruthless queens so they may be remembered as saints, and geographers warn believing men away from such and such a place with scandalous tales of lewd local females who cavort in the sea and ravish foreign interlopers. Women are the forgotten spouses and unnamed daughters. Wet nurses and handmaidens; thieves and harlots. Witches. A titillating anecdote to tell your friends back home or a warning.

women’s stories are expected to dissolve into a fog of domesticity . . . if they’re told at all

 I can attest from personal experience that poverty buys nothing. It is a monster whose claws grow deeper and more difficult to escape with each passing season, with even the slightest misstep setting you back years, if not forever. 

First you must understand that there are a great many tales. Stories do that, don't they, branching out like a sapling searching for sunlight? By the time centuries have passed and that sapling is a mighty tree, there are more passed branches than can be counted, sprawling in widely different directions. 

He returned to lead me through a home that felt like an eerie contrast to my own. Where my house was falling apart, Salima's mansion was splendid, the walls covered in tapestries from all over creation and finely polished silver mirrors. Here and there were painted porcelain vases and ivory carvings set upon rosewood tables inlaid with mother-of-pearl designs. The rugs were soft and expensive, depicting dancers and feasts. Lushly planted lime trees and date palms grew in the large courtyard, surrounding a fountain decorated with brightly painted tiles. The perfume of flowers and frankincense competed to delight the nose, a nightingale singing sweetly from one of the trees. And yet as rich and magnificent as the house was, it felt hollow and haunted in a way that made the hairs on the back of ny neck rise. I saw not a soul besides the two men escorting me. The flowers in the vases were dead, the fruit from the courtyard trees left rotting on the ground. The longer one listened, the more the nightingale sounded like it was in despair, calling for a lost mate. Two of the silver mirrors were smashed and a game of chess abandoned in middle of play, the pawns gathering dust. It looked like the sort of family home Asif had claimed to come from: one of faded grandeur he had been determined to reclaim. I struggled to connect it with the fiery, determined grandmother who'd hunted me down and badgered me into helping her. Maybe losing Dunya had torn out the home's heart.

I lifted my gaze to the misty horizon. The rising sun was burning away the morning fog, setting it to a sparkling blush of swiftly evaporating dew. This was typically my favorite part of the morning, the peace and the promise of a new day almost magical.

My head was pounding and the world was spinning in shattered fragments of teal water, amber shores, and and indigo forest. The colors were wrong, overly vibrant and mismatched. I took a couple of deep breaths and then sat up more slowly, the sand that clung to my fingers dripping like honey. It was like no beach Id ever seen. The tide line was marked by stringy bubbles of bloodred waterweeds and needle-sharp blue sea stars. Ahead was a jungle so dense its interior was black, soft, and dangerously inviting. There were palm trees at the edge, their cinnamon-colored trunks gleaming as though the bark were jeweled, the razor-edged fronds shaking in the windless air with the crash of clashing sabers. Birds in unnatural hues dove and careened overhead, emitting grumbly roars. Where in God's name am I? 

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was a worthy read in at least two senses. First, because the context and setting is different from the overdone medieval Europe I've read many times, while still being steeped in soft magic and adventure. Second, for the focus on an unusual protagonist, a mature woman, mother and pirate. Even though I really enjoyed Amina as a character, it was one of her companions, Dalila, that convinced me I was going to like this book from the very beginning. The idiosyncrasies of the main female characters show Shannon Chakraborty's strength as an author and is the reason I will eventually read another book from her, be it al-Sirafi's sequel or other. She was also deft at using the Indian, South West Asian and North East African cultural, religious and mythological inspirations in conceiving and showing Amina's world.

There were some details that felt heavy-handed, less believable or well integrated, such as some conversations about gender identity, even if is refreshing to see this historical setting with such an easy going cast on this matter. It's hard to believe the same people are so hard on women on some issues but so easy on gender fluidity, transgender people and homossexual relationships. But that may be my own never pink-tainted glasses draining my suspension of disbelief. I've read some criticisms about the change of pace and sudden fantasy/surrealism of the last half of the book. If the first point is fair, the second to be honest didn't disturb my reading at all, it was actually fun and exciting to feel the story rapidly change in less predictable ways.

 “Ah yes, a certain degree of rebelliousness is expected from youth. It is why we have stories of treasure-seeking princesses and warrior women that end with the occasional happiness. But they are expected to end—with the boy, the prince, the sailor, the adventurer. The man that will take her maidenhood, grant her children, make her a wife. The man who defines her. He may continue his epic—he may indeed take new wives and make new children!—but women’s stories are expected to dissolve into a fog of domesticity . . . if they’re told at all.”

All in all, a good book, sometimes really good, less of a swashbuckling heist and more magical and mythological than we would expect from pirates, even though it is far from original in that point, but essentially a fun read.

André Nóbrega

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was a worthy read in at least two senses. First, because the context and setting is different from the overdone medieval Europe I've read many times, while still being steeped in soft magic and adventure. Second, for the focus on an unusual protagonist, a mature woman, mother and pirate. Even though I really enjoyed Amina as a character, it was one of her companions, Dalila, that convinced me I was going to like this book from the very beginning. The idiosyncrasies of the main female characters show Shannon Chakraborty's strength as an author and is the reason I will eventually read another book from her, be it al-Sirafi's sequel or other. She was also deft at using the Indian, South West Asian and North East African cultural, religious and mythological inspirations in conceiving and showing Amina's world.
There were some details that felt heavy-handed, less believable or well integrated, such as some conversations about gender identity, even if is refreshing to see this historical setting with such an easy going cast on this matter. It's hard to believe the same people are so hard on women on some issues but so easy on gender fluidity, transgender people and homossexual relationships. But that may be my own never pink-tainted glasses draining my suspension of disbelief. I've read some criticisms about the change of pace and sudden fantasy/surrealism of the last half of the book. If the first point is fair, the second to be honest didn't disturb my reading at all, it was actually fun and exciting to feel the story rapidly change in less predictable ways.
 “Ah yes, a certain degree of rebelliousness is expected from youth. It is why we have stories of treasure-seeking princesses and warrior women that end with the occasional happiness. But they are expected to end—with the boy, the prince, the sailor, the adventurer. The man that will take her maidenhood, grant her children, make her a wife. The man who defines her. He may continue his epic—he may indeed take new wives and make new children!—but women’s stories are expected to dissolve into a fog of domesticity . . . if they’re told at all.”
All in all, a good book, sometimes really good, less of a swashbuckling heist and more magical and mythological than we would expect from pirates, even though it is far from original in that point, but essentially a fun read.

Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean’s most notorious pirates, she’s survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.

But when she’s tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she’s offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade’s kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family’s future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God’s will.

Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there’s more to this job, and the girl’s disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there’s always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.

Amina al-Sirafi #1

I really enjoyed the setting, and learning more about the Arabian Sea geography and cultures, but I didn’t get as pulled in by the pacing or character arcs as I had hoped. 

Kevin Cole

Excellent story. Comedic and cynical and deeply enthralling. 

Jessica Zadwarny

Do you love hot middle aged mothers coming out of their retirement as a famous pirate captain & reuniting with their former crew to go on a bewitching and heartfelt adventure full of mysterious magics? Do you also love incredible immersive writing, witty banter, lgbtq+ rep, and exploring culture through fantasy and folklore? READ THIS

Genuinely one of the best stories I’ve read in years, Amina’s voice is lived in and writing is so sharp, I’ll be rereading this for years.

Caitlin

Do you love hot middle aged mothers coming out of their retirement as a famous pirate captain & reuniting with their former crew to go on a bewitching and heartfelt adventure full of mysterious magics? Do you also love incredible immersive writing, witty banter, lgbtq+ rep, and exploring culture through fantasy and folklore? READ THIS

Genuinely one of the best stories I’ve read in years, Amina’s voice is lived in and writing is so sharp, I’ll be rereading this for years.

GAHH this book is amazing! I am in love with Amina as a character and a narrator. The relationships between the assorted criminals of her crew are adorable, and Amina's love for her daughter is especially heart-warming. Even though Amina herself isn't (explicitly) queer, other characters in the book are openly gay and trans, which is wonderful! I'm so excited for future books, but also appreciated that this book ended on a wholesome note (and not a cliff hanger). 

Niza Contreras

marie

If Pirates of the Caribbean and CWs Supernatural had a love child that was set in the Indian Ocean during th 12th century then this would be it. It got me out of a 2 year reading slump and was one of the best books I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Alana May

Exciting adventure with a main character who is not only a pirate, but a middle aged woman and a mom! Love a woman who knows her own power

Maria Fernanda Arnay

I couldn’t put it down! Such a delightful mixture of cultural references and fiction derived from culture. 

Erin

The book began really strong - it set the world up really well, had excellent prose and introduced the character in a satisfying way. I love that novel revolved around an older protagonist, as opposed to a teenager, and that it gives Pirates of the Caribbean. I also really enjoyed how the novel does not simply come to an abrupt as soon as the climactic scene is over. There is a slow and gradual end that sets up the next book. However, saying all this, I do feel the narrative quality dropped significantly in the second half of the novel, and it went from being enjoyable to just something I had to get through. The writing became less beautiful, less sensical and more urgent. 

2 Days, 1 Audiobook and what an Adventure this one was. After a suggestion from a Friend that I should check this one out I found a Lonny looking copy on the Table in my Local Bookshop and the Bookseller saw me eyeing it up and again sold me on the story. I started it and realised that I need the Audio Book and what a Great decision this was to help bring this to life for me. And here I am on the other side of my first Shannon Chakraborty and what a journey this one was.

Amina Al Sarafi, one of the most notorious pirates to ever live, is retired and living tucked away with her young daughter in a remote mountainside but when her old life and reputation catches up to her, she finds herself back in action and surrounded by dangerous enemies and even more dangerous friends! She must complete a task in order to keep her loved ones safe but if she is being really honest, the yearning to be the formidable Nakhudha seeking adventure on the high seas once again sings in her blood. Surrounded by her faithful and cunning friends and one not so faithful and trustworthy companion, will Amina accomplish her goal and will there be a cost.

This is a funny, engaging and such an action packed read, and Audiobook helped me to feel really immersed into this book and the world so much so that I just could not stop listening. I become transported into this unique and brilliant world. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but the pace quickly picked up. The world building was awesome, the author spent a great deal of time crafting this world with some audible gasps from me on a walk (Sorry to the People around me!!) The plot was very interesting, I loved how unique the story was and it kept me engaged the whole time. I appreciated that the author incorporated important social issues into this book.

All the Characters in this one are complex and unlike any I have come across in Fiction before. I loved Amina, she is strong, brave, ambitious, loyal, resilient, fierce, loving and protective of the people she cares about, and I loved how relatable she is having gone through so much in her life with so many challenges, but she has become a better person through it all.

I loved that the women in this book are shown as strong and resilient. The ending was so action-packed and surprising! I can't wait to read the next book! I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, excellent storytelling, awesome characters, and great world building.

Ian Brakspear

2 Days, 1 Audiobook and what an Adventure this one was. After a suggestion from a Friend that I should check this one out I found a Lonny looking copy on the Table in my Local Bookshop and the Bookseller saw me eyeing it up and again sold me on the story. I started it and realised that I need the Audio Book and what a Great decision this was to help bring this to life for me. And here I am on the other side of my first Shannon Chakraborty and what a journey this one was.

 

Amina Al Sarafi, one of the most notorious pirates to ever live, is retired and living tucked away with her young daughter in a remote mountainside but when her old life and reputation catches up to her, she finds herself back in action and surrounded by dangerous enemies and even more dangerous friends! She must complete a task in order to keep her loved ones safe but if she is being really honest, the yearning to be the formidable Nakhudha seeking adventure on the high seas once again sings in her blood. Surrounded by her faithful and cunning friends and one not so faithful and trustworthy companion, will Amina accomplish her goal and will there be a cost.

 

This is a funny, engaging and such an action packed read, and Audiobook helped me to feel really immersed into this book and the world so much so that I just could not stop listening. I become transported into this unique and brilliant world. The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but the pace quickly picked up. The world building was awesome, the author spent a great deal of time crafting this world with some audible gasps from me on a walk (Sorry to the People around me!!) The plot was very interesting, I loved how unique the story was and it kept me engaged the whole time. I appreciated that the author incorporated important social issues into this book.

 

All the Characters in this one are complex and unlike any I have come across in Fiction before. I loved Amina, she is strong, brave, ambitious, loyal, resilient, fierce, loving and protective of the people she cares about, and I loved how relatable she is having gone through so much in her life with so many challenges, but she has become a better person through it all.

 

I loved that the women in this book are shown as strong and resilient. The ending was so action-packed and surprising! I can't wait to read the next book! I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, excellent storytelling, awesome characters, and great world building.

It’s been a long time since I read a fantasy book that I had so much fun with. Weirdly I’m not into seascape books but this one was a fantastic escapist read. I’ve thoroughly missed being whisked away into grand far off adventures filled with magic and the necessary danger.  

I loved reading seeing so many cultural and religious reflections being stared back at me, from the foods described to the simple prayer rituals. It just made my little Middle Eastern heart happy and seen. 

I’m so excited for the second book and we NEED more mythology from that world; so many great tales and monsters to uncover!

Jawahir M

It’s been a long time since I read a fantasy book that I had so much fun with. Weirdly I’m not into seascape books but this one was a fantastic escapist read. I’ve thoroughly missed being whisked away into grand far off adventures filled with magic and the necessary danger.  

I loved reading seeing so many cultural and religious reflections being stared back at me, from the foods described to the simple prayer rituals. It just made my little Middle Eastern heart happy and seen. 

I’m so excited for the second book and we NEED more mythology from that world; so many great tales and monsters to uncover!

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi

Filipa Carvalho

It's unreal how much I love pirate stories, and this one was no different. Following the 40-year-old female retired nakhuda, pulled out of retirement for one last adventure was absolutely fantastic.I loved how adventurous the story felt with its, out of left field, plans to get what they wanted, that are such a big part of why I love pirate stories. The storytelling was really fun, I love when the main character is recounting their adventures, with all the little interjections and breaking of the fourth wall moments.The cast of characters is absolutely fantastic, effortlessly diverse, and so, so much fun. I actually laughed out loud so many times while reading this book. I loved all of them with all my earth.Amina's relationship with her friends was fantastic and felt so true to what friend groups are like.
<spoiler>But my favorite dynamic has to be, by far, Amina and her demon husband. THEY. ARE. SO. MUCH. FUN. TOGETHER. And again, felt very true to what I love about pirate stories, the backstabbing, the 'I care about you, so I won't kill you', but I care about myself way more, so I WILL betray you.</spoiler>The world felt wonderfully magical, and to me, there's very few things more delightful than a main character neck deep in a magical world they hate and would do anything to get away from, but still power through.I honestly can't wait for the next book to be released, I just want to be back in this world!

Izabela Borges

A very good fantasy pirate book, that explores and discusses identity in multiple ways and point of views, as well as argues about gender norms and the expectations that come with it, as well as how you shouldn’t be bound to those just because they exist.
It’s a very fun book to read, although it is a bit slow in the beginning. 
The only thing I can complain about is the lack of a more complete glossary, considering I spent a good part of my reading searching for some words on Google.

kayla 

I'm really glad I read this book, even if I didn't give it the highest rating. It was wonderfully written and unique in so many ways -  I just felt.. empty when I'd finished reading, the characters weren't well fleshed out as their relationships & dynamics felt forced + I had no emotional attachment to any character, so in tense moments I was unable to immerse myself in their world. However, the world building was excellent - I loved learning about the different creatures, items, magic 'systems', islands, rituals and more. The pacing was also enjoyable. :) As I mentioned, despite it's flaws I'm very glad I've read this book!
<spoiler>I would've loved to learn more about the Mistress of Poisons, I need to hear more about her part in the adventures.</spoiler>

Rated using the CAWPILE system. :3

Absolutely amazing. I haven’t read any fantasy books in a while and this blew my mind. Wonderful characters, great plot, and so funny all while weaving in fascinating and historically accurate settings. One of those books you wish you could forget just so you can read it all over again. I look forward to reading more of her books soon!

Erin Goss

A Novel

Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

i don't think i've EVER read a book where the female protagonist gets to be OLD. amina's age and motherhood is incredibly important to her character, and she's also becoming the greatest explorer to ever live. i loved reading an adventure from that perspective. this world is full of unique detail and personalities -- recommend to any fantasy lover

julia

Consider me now in my pirate girl era. Chakraborty creates such a vibrant, rich world that is so well-written; it’s just a joy to be in her mind. I found Amina to be intensely likable, and subverted many of the genres well-known tropes of being young, single, weak, and a virgin. This is a woman who has lived life and not apologized for (most) of it. She has scars and made mistakes but she wants what many of us also do - to be surrounded by her loved ones and do what she loves. The story is compelling and paced well, with moments of sadness and comedy spread throughout. I really hope we get another book in this series. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Katie Allard

Hands down one of my favourite books this year. So many themes were covered in this that even though it’s a fantasy novel the mc was so relatable. Also it being written as an interview/retelling with bickering between the scribe and story teller made it so charming. Love love love. 

Renae Morran

Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, launches a new trilogy of magic and mayhem with this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artefacts and ancient mysteries, and one woman's quest to seize a final chance at glory...

I will say it now, Shannon Chakraborty likes writing slow paced books. While the plot is fuller for this one, it is written in such a way that it takes a long time to feel like it's moving forward.

But it's Amina's character that really got me hooked in this one! She is such a fiercely protective mother and friend, and I really enjoyed reading about such a strong female character!

I ended up switching to the audiobook for this, and it was honestly the best decision I made. The audiobook is fantastic, and the narrator manages to bring each character to life in a way I haven't encountered before!

Victoria Justice

I will say it now, Shannon Chakraborty likes writing slow paced books. While the plot is fuller for this one, it is written in such a way that it takes a long time to feel like it's moving forward.

But it's Amina's character that really got me hooked in this one! She is such a fiercely protective mother and friend, and I really enjoyed reading about such a strong female character!

I ended up switching to the audiobook for this, and it was honestly the best decision I made. The audiobook is fantastic, and the narrator manages to bring each character to life in a way I haven't encountered before!

I was craving a pirate adventure, and this delivered. It had so many tropes I love, like getting the band back together and found family. I also liked the world-building and lore. There was a supernatural aspect that I wasn't expecting but enjoyed, and I'm interested to see how that'll develop more in coming books. The characters were also well-written, and I loved the tight-knit unit they created. I liked all the banter between them. My issue with this was the pacing. It felt pretty slow, so it never captured my full attention. The action did ramp up towards the end, which I appreciated. I felt the book, as a whole, was average, but I'm still intrigued enough to pick up the next one.

Heather Harrington

Astounding!! Both fantastical and vibrantly real, with a middle aged mom protagonist, this book proves you’re never too old for adventure! There were a lot of names and places to keep track of, but honestly not 

 many were critical aside from the core cast.

Liz Griffin

Astounding!! Both fantastical and vibrantly real, with a middle aged mom protagonist, this book proves you’re never too old for adventure! There were a lot of names and places to keep track of, but honestly not that many were critical aside from the core cast.

Really enjoyed the historical setting, take on magic, and the characters.  MC is a middle-aged mother, which was refreshing to read, and relatable.  Side characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the funny banter.

Jenny Engel

Loved it! Can’t wait for the next book.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Reviews

Popular highlights