Reviews tagging 'Dysphoria'

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

20 reviews

temperamentalprotagonist's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny informative 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death, Cursing, Blood, Gore, and Murder

Moderate: Cannibalism, Alcohol, Kidnapping, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Dysphoria, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Trafficking

karatics's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny inspiring mysterious 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, Body horror, Physical abuse, Cursing, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual content, Islamophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Cannibalism, Classism, Gore, Grief, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Alcoholism

Minor: Deadnaming, Rape, Slavery, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Infidelity

kappafrog's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative mysterious tense slow-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

4.25

The historical setting was 10/10. I loved how rich the details were and how immersed I felt in the world of the 12th century Indian Ocean. Amina was also a great protagonist, very complex and easy to root for. The choice of setting and characters was exciting and refreshing.

The book got too violent for my tastes at times. Some of the plot armour the main characters had got pretty convoluted. Still, I look forward to seeing more in this series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Death, Gore, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Blood, Body horror, Cursing, Classism, Violence, Alcohol, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Grief, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Dysphoria, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Vomit, and War

Minor: Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Infidelity, and Sexual assault

cheye13's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful 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

3.0

This was a very fun, straightforward adventure tale. It was actually quite a bit more fantasy than I expected, but it was a pleasant development. The author's dedication in her research really pays off in the nearly tangible setting. The characters, having a few years and adventures under their belts, feel more well-rounded and real. Getting flashbacks to their previous adventures was fun, and it's nice to jump straight into a found-family dynamic. The series set-up is straightforward, but still intriguing. I really enjoyed these characters and I look forward to seeing more from them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Animal cruelty, Death, Genocide, Gore, Torture, Grief, Kidnapping, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape, Classism, Dysphoria, Slavery, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Alcohol

incident of mass murder and ritual human sacrifice off page but remains described in brief detail; instance of being stranded at sea; violent threats made against a child on numerous occasion

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

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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

booksdogsandcoffee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious 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

5.0

FIVE GOD DAMN STARS!!

This is one of those rare books that had me laughing, crying, screaming and cheering for more. 

The way this book is narrated, the adventure, the characters. Everything about this book is phenomenal. Amina is a mother who struggles with her Muslim faith, wanting to be a good mother but also go out on adventures with her crew. She’s strong, fights for what she wants, unabashedly in her sexuality as an older woman and is a badass. 

I also love the crew! Dalilah was absolutely amazing. Every single character was written well and just fantastic. I NEED MORE PIRATES!!

Cw
Mild sexual content
Violence
Murder
Misogyny
Torture 
Slavery
Blood 
Death

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Animal death, Death, Gaslighting, Blood, Gore, and Misogyny

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Dysphoria

ezwolf's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Amina Al-Sirafi is a retired pirate trying to live out her retirement in peace with her daughter and family. When the mother of one of Amina's long dead crewmates comes to hire her to retrieve her kidnapped granddaughter, Amina brings her crew together for one last adventure. As you may have guessed, this adventure does not go as planned.

I loved this book SO much! Amina's devotion to her daughter, her sense of humor, and her crew being more than her crew but being her family were what I enjoyed most.  The end of the book had me crying, but and not for the reasons you might think. I can't wait to read about more of Amina's adventures! 

I listened to the audiobook version and I thought it was done in a clever way, where at points the narrator, Amina, would turn away from the recorder and speak to the scribe detailing her adventures. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for making this available in exchange for an honest review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Body horror, Blood, Misogyny, Cursing, Death, Violence, Gore, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Classism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Sexual content

Minor: Dysphoria, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Drug use, Sexual harassment, and Slavery

takarakei's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious 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

4.0

• mid-aged badass main character
• who is also a mother
• swashbuckling pirate adventures
• ancient magic
• reunited found family
• celestial/magical beings
• LGBTQIA+ representation

This book has a wonderful central theme about the complexity and depth of being a woman. How we contain multitudes. How someone can be both a mother and also want to pursue adventure and their own dreams.

The first half is a bit slow, and there's a lot of character set up before the plot gets going. But honestly the characters are so fun, & I really love the dynamic between Amina and her crew. The second half really gets intense and interesting and I didn't want to put it down. There's kiiiiiind of an enemies to lovers thing, it's hard to describe without giving much away: Amina's fourth husband and her are estranged for *reasons* and when he shows back up there is a lot of general animosity, exasperated dialogue and tension which will likely continue through the series. The ending of the main plot is fairly resolved, but it sets up very well for the rest of a series, which I am excited to read.


1.5/5 🌶️ (closed door) My personal preference would be a bit spicier (because Raksh is HOT), but maybe it will go there in future books idk?

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Colonisation, and Death

Minor: Dysphoria, Rape, Transphobia, Alcoholism, Religious bigotry, and Slavery

Minor discussion of rape in historical context, and Amina is threatened to be SA at one point (which doesn't happen)

bethanycrowepowell's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

A rollicking woman-led Sinbad type adventure on glittering, lethal seas.

Amina al-Sarafi left her beloved ship for many good reasons. She’s pulled out of retirement not because those reasons are gone, but because one of her biggest regrets has come knocking. The chance at fabulous wealth (which was missing from her sudden flight to the hinterlands) doesn’t hurt. Amina’s swagger and cynicism captured my heart, while her regrets and maturity made this feel more weighty as a fabulous adventure.

Chakraborty’s skill at turning the screws of stakes and evoking marvelous but dangerous worlds clinch this as a new favorite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Gore

Moderate: Torture, Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Violence, and Body horror

Minor: Transphobia, Xenophobia, Dysphoria, Trafficking, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Religious bigotry

Everything "phobia" in these content warnings are not presented in a positive light. The graphic violence/gore are mainly in the last third of the book when dealing with a horrifying villain, but I was glad to be skimming text instead of listening by audio to that part!

jashanac's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I read a NetGalley e-arc of this and I am simultaneously very happy with that decision and also mad at myself because I LOVED this book and now I have to wait until MARCH to get my hands on a copy! 

This was SUCH a fun read... there was not one single scene or chapter or moment that felt superfluous or like it was dragging on... and I could see everything happening SO VIVIDLY. Chakraborty really wrote the hell out of this book. 

I loved the characters, specifically the Marawati crew and their dynamic together -- top notch! 

I could see everything in this book -- the environment, the characters, the action-- SO vividly... and not because it was overly descriptive or anything. It was just... efficiently descriptive? I loved it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Murder, and Death

Moderate: Xenophobia, Torture, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Transphobia, Islamophobia, and Dysphoria

The "Minor" CWs are quite minor, specifically the transphobia and dysphoria. It's just one character mentioning in one brief conversation that they experience gender dysphoria and that a family member has shut them down any time they try to talk about it.