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haylzno's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
The easiest 5 starts I've ever given!
This is peak pirate fantasy - filled to the brim with adventure, mystical and celestial beings, found family, and raging sarcasm.
This will easily be a top 5 read for 2023
This is peak pirate fantasy - filled to the brim with adventure, mystical and celestial beings, found family, and raging sarcasm.
This will easily be a top 5 read for 2023
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Cursing, Violence, Religious bigotry, and Blood
Moderate: Slavery, War, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
dnpatterson2's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, Cursing, Body shaming, Pregnancy, and Sexism
boglord's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Murder, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Body horror, Child abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, War, Kidnapping, Vomit, Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent, Rape, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Dysphoria, Ableism, Addiction, Deadnaming, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Pedophilia, Racism, Slavery, and Trafficking
cozycaro's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Blood, Cursing, Death, and Murder
fromjuliereads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I wanted to love it, I really did. I think I gave every book in the Daevabad trilogy a minimum of 4 stars. This one just didn't work for me.
I think part of that was the marketing? I remember seeing so much about it being a pirate book, a seafaring adventure. I felt like we really didn't get that until about... well past halfway. The beginning of the book is incredibly slow. I still don't understand the point of the opening scene to the story, and the first half is basically picking up their crew around different areas and gathering information. There are moments of adventure or these events that happen - but they didn't pull me in or have me stressed for the characters.
I think that was the big thing for me. I didn't feel like the characters were well developed and I think that was due to the format of the storytelling. Since it's Amina telling her story to a scribe, I feel like we never actually get to truly know her character. And the random interjections where she replies to the scribe - who remains off page through the main story - completely pulled me out of the story with a jarring effect.
Everything is tell, not show. Which is evident by the very many long descriptions. So. Many. Descriptions. Don't get me wrong, I love details. But I found myself skimming because I truly didn't care about all of the tiny details in this random library that had nothing to do with the story. Anyways, I did like the side characters, but even they felt underdeveloped.
I will say that there were some unique elements and Chakraborty does have good writing. The ending was also done really well - it was great to have a character from the Daevabad world show up, and the reveal at the end was well done! I'm glad I didn't DNF it, but I'm still not sure if I'd continue with the series.
I think part of that was the marketing? I remember seeing so much about it being a pirate book, a seafaring adventure. I felt like we really didn't get that until about... well past halfway. The beginning of the book is incredibly slow. I still don't understand the point of the opening scene to the story, and the first half is basically picking up their crew around different areas and gathering information. There are moments of adventure or these events that happen - but they didn't pull me in or have me stressed for the characters.
I think that was the big thing for me. I didn't feel like the characters were well developed and I think that was due to the format of the storytelling. Since it's Amina telling her story to a scribe, I feel like we never actually get to truly know her character. And the random interjections where she replies to the scribe - who remains off page through the main story - completely pulled me out of the story with a jarring effect.
Everything is tell, not show. Which is evident by the very many long descriptions. So. Many. Descriptions. Don't get me wrong, I love details. But I found myself skimming because I truly didn't care about all of the tiny details in this random library that had nothing to do with the story. Anyways, I did like the side characters, but even they felt underdeveloped.
I will say that there were some unique elements and Chakraborty does have good writing. The ending was also done really well - it was great to have a character from the Daevabad world show up, and the reveal at the end was well done! I'm glad I didn't DNF it, but I'm still not sure if I'd continue with the series.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Kidnapping, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Torture, Abandonment, Body horror, Misogyny, Slavery, and War
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This book has a lot of what makes for a very enjoyable story: complex storyline; fantastical characters; emotion; strong relationships; family; humor; bad guys; good guys; action; surprising alliances; and beautiful imagery. I listened to the audiobook and was so glad I did because the way the book is written really lends itself to the spoken word, and the narrators were pitch perfect, in my opinion.
The story starts off with the scribe, Jamal al-Hilli, speaking directly to the reader as though they are of the time that the story takes place and will have knowledge of who the main character is with just the mention of a name - the legendary ship's captain and infamous smuggler, Amina al-Sirafi. The scribe is responsible for introducing Amina so she can provide a first-person account of her story. The two are, essentially, telling the story together with the scribe popping up periodically to offer context and additional information that's helpful to the reader. There's some back-and-forth dialogue throughout, and while the production seemed to intentionally make it sound like Amina was turning away from a microphone to interact with Jamal, and I thought that brought a unique realism to the audio version.
One of the things I liked best about Amina is that she's a mature woman, living a quiet life, and raising a beloved daughter... who just happens to be the retired captain of a pirate ship. Unfortunately, her reputation as a ruthless pirate makes her a valuable asset to someone wealthy enough and able to exert sufficient pressure that they're able to force Amina and her crew to go on a quest and help find a missing family member. Amina is able to assemble her most trusted associates to join on the quest, and I adored the dynamic amongst them all, each with a distinct, and usually lovable, personality.
Amina is unapologetic about her heavy-handed behavior and for having goals that will ultimately give her family a better life; she's loyal to those she loves and cares for. She also has a great wit and I found myself laughing out loud often and sometimes even replaying a line I thought was especially funny. But it's important to point out that Amina is also respectful of her faith and wants to be a good Muslim. Faith, folklore, and fantasy are woven throughout the story, with faith being a key aspect that motivates the actions of some of the characters and their conversations speak honestly about the importance of their beliefs.
This book is the beginning of a series and I'm anxious to find out what Amina and her motley crew will encounter next. The author, S.A. (Shannon) Chakraborty, has magnificently created a world that seems of ancient times (12th Century) with modern sensibilities. In the Author's Notes the precede and follow the conclusion of the story, Ms. Chakraborty expresses the value of understanding the history of the Indian Ocean and making every effort to ensure the historical accuracy of the story and provides resources for additional reading. The author also expresses how the accounting of history is shaped by the individual who documents it, which is why it's important for Amina herself to be the storyteller since she owns the adventure. And thank goodness for the Glossary included in the digital version of this book that helped clarify unfamiliar words.
Highly recommend this book, even if you're not a fan of the fantasy genre. As I started this review, there's a lot to like about this book and at its core it's a good and entertaining story.
The story starts off with the scribe, Jamal al-Hilli, speaking directly to the reader as though they are of the time that the story takes place and will have knowledge of who the main character is with just the mention of a name - the legendary ship's captain and infamous smuggler, Amina al-Sirafi. The scribe is responsible for introducing Amina so she can provide a first-person account of her story. The two are, essentially, telling the story together with the scribe popping up periodically to offer context and additional information that's helpful to the reader. There's some back-and-forth dialogue throughout, and while the production seemed to intentionally make it sound like Amina was turning away from a microphone to interact with Jamal, and I thought that brought a unique realism to the audio version.
One of the things I liked best about Amina is that she's a mature woman, living a quiet life, and raising a beloved daughter... who just happens to be the retired captain of a pirate ship. Unfortunately, her reputation as a ruthless pirate makes her a valuable asset to someone wealthy enough and able to exert sufficient pressure that they're able to force Amina and her crew to go on a quest and help find a missing family member. Amina is able to assemble her most trusted associates to join on the quest, and I adored the dynamic amongst them all, each with a distinct, and usually lovable, personality.
Amina is unapologetic about her heavy-handed behavior and for having goals that will ultimately give her family a better life; she's loyal to those she loves and cares for. She also has a great wit and I found myself laughing out loud often and sometimes even replaying a line I thought was especially funny. But it's important to point out that Amina is also respectful of her faith and wants to be a good Muslim. Faith, folklore, and fantasy are woven throughout the story, with faith being a key aspect that motivates the actions of some of the characters and their conversations speak honestly about the importance of their beliefs.
This book is the beginning of a series and I'm anxious to find out what Amina and her motley crew will encounter next. The author, S.A. (Shannon) Chakraborty, has magnificently created a world that seems of ancient times (12th Century) with modern sensibilities. In the Author's Notes the precede and follow the conclusion of the story, Ms. Chakraborty expresses the value of understanding the history of the Indian Ocean and making every effort to ensure the historical accuracy of the story and provides resources for additional reading. The author also expresses how the accounting of history is shaped by the individual who documents it, which is why it's important for Amina herself to be the storyteller since she owns the adventure. And thank goodness for the Glossary included in the digital version of this book that helped clarify unfamiliar words.
Highly recommend this book, even if you're not a fan of the fantasy genre. As I started this review, there's a lot to like about this book and at its core it's a good and entertaining story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing
anniehayez's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I have heard people say that it took them a while to get into this book but I was hooked by the prelude. This was epic and intimate. The characters were funny and well fleshed out. I loved the concept of it being scribed as a story to the “author”. This book also has a ton of unique representation with an over arching theme of acceptance. I would absolutely recommend this to everyone. My only complaint is some of the first half of the book was paced weirdly and I wished the time jumps were less jarring. Otherwise a really great story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Gore
Moderate: Slavery, Cursing, and Sexual assault
shaipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an incredibly exciting and action filled book. I haven't been reading as much this year so I rushed to finish this before the archive date. As a result, there are still some parts of the book I have to come back to in order to call it fully finished. However, I did overall really enjoy this! I think if I'd read it at a more reasonable pace I probably would have enjoyed it slightly more but overall I really enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the potential for more stories in this world. I also really loved the minor plot twist at the very end I found that to be really fun :)
I was personally not expecting anywhere near the amount of fantasy that ended up being in this book as I originally thought it was mostly just a pirate book, but I wasn't mad about discovering that just not what I originally expected.
Overall would definitely recommend! 4.5 stars
This was an incredibly exciting and action filled book. I haven't been reading as much this year so I rushed to finish this before the archive date. As a result, there are still some parts of the book I have to come back to in order to call it fully finished. However, I did overall really enjoy this! I think if I'd read it at a more reasonable pace I probably would have enjoyed it slightly more but overall I really enjoyed the characters, the storyline, and the potential for more stories in this world. I also really loved the minor plot twist at the very end I found that to be really fun :)
I was personally not expecting anywhere near the amount of fantasy that ended up being in this book as I originally thought it was mostly just a pirate book, but I wasn't mad about discovering that just not what I originally expected.
Overall would definitely recommend! 4.5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Gore
Moderate: Alcohol, Body horror, Colonisation, Murder, Cursing, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Islamophobia, Rape, Transphobia, Slavery, Kidnapping, and Religious bigotry
streetnectarines's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing
nexusgoblin's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This did everything I needed it to, to bring me out of a reading slump. We get a badass middle-aged pirate captain who is as foul-mouthed as she is impressive, a wonderfully diverse cast of characters with a range of backgrounds, myths, and monsters, and the high seas adventures that I don't get enough of in modern fantasy. I admit to being hesitant to commit to this at first bc I found City of Brass to be very average for me, but Chakraborty really proved me wrong and gave me something that I was completely engrossed in.
I honestly can't wait for book two bc this was so much fun.
I honestly can't wait for book two bc this was so much fun.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Cursing and Body horror
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual content