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tamara_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Murder
Moderate: Body horror and Death
Minor: Sexual content, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
annie_tonk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing
jasminn_perez's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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? No
4.5
I loved how story book this felt. It was like I was reading myself a bedtime story and I love love love that. I loved Amina and I loved Raksh he was so funny. Amina is THE girl boss. the only reason I didn't give it five stars was because I didn't feel 100% connected to it. like my book club cried but I didn't. also I cannot believe that they didn't get their money. that shit blew my mind like that was the whole reason they took the job in the first place HUUH. trans representation slayed so good. I would looove to have this one on my shelf it just feels so classic and amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Gore, Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture and Transphobia
meganpbell's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
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
4.5
This swashbuckling, Middle Eastern mythology inspired historical fantasy follows a middle-aged single mom and former pirate captain as she’s coerced out of retirement for one more adventure. I loved the rep here—the older (and funny and caring and badass) main character, Muslim, Jewish, and Christian rep, and fantastic queer rep too! The length and the emphasis on plot over character development took this from a 5 star to a 4.5 star for me, but highly recommended if you’re in the mood for an adventure on the high seas!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Transphobia, and Murder
rhi_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Misogyny, Torture, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, and Alcohol
palmkd's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
This is definitely a new favorite for me. Amina retired from her life on the seas 10 years ago to live a quiet and peaceful life with her daughter. Obviously things did not go as planned or we wouldn't be setting off on this adventure!
Join Amina as her scribe tells her riveting story full of pirates, religion, multiple ex-husbands, demons (and/or other supernatural beings of creative names), adventure, spells, magical creatures, potion masters and previously untold legends.
The audio is masterfully done, really awesome job by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal.
The first in a new trilogy, this is not one to miss!
Join Amina as her scribe tells her riveting story full of pirates, religion, multiple ex-husbands, demons (and/or other supernatural beings of creative names), adventure, spells, magical creatures, potion masters and previously untold legends.
The audio is masterfully done, really awesome job by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal.
The first in a new trilogy, this is not one to miss!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Torture and Kidnapping
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
The Details:
Narrated by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal
Unabridged
Buddy read with Ellie (Bibbidi bobbidi books).
Blended reading (physical + audio).
I really enjoyed my time journeying through the adventures (quite epic in proportions) of Amina.
What a strong character she was, and one that was beautifully mirrored by her fierce love for her daughter and family. I love that she even made mention that even though she had put aside her sailing days after having her child, it didn't stop her from being a nakhudha. I thought that was a strong and inspiring way of thinking - you can wear many hats as you go through different life stages.
This was an exciting and fun read. During the portions where I listened to the audiobook, i found the narrator to be an excellent carrier of tone and inflection and brought even more life to the story.
I was really intrigued by the origins of Amina's child and how her heritage could shape her as she ages. I hope we get more of this in a sequel.
There had been some good little twists that built up the air of being on edge and lack of trust, which I thought was handled really well and applied an uncomfortable amounr of tension to the scene. During these times, I enjoyed Amina's inner reflections on how she would have handled the situation 10 years ago (rash, hasty, full on violence) compared with now (always having her family and their safety in her mind).
I thought all the characters were exceptionally written and the banter added to the believability of their arcs. I would love to see even more magic explored in sequential plots.
Narrated by Lameece Issaq and Amin El Gamal
Unabridged
Buddy read with Ellie (Bibbidi bobbidi books).
Blended reading (physical + audio).
I really enjoyed my time journeying through the adventures (quite epic in proportions) of Amina.
What a strong character she was, and one that was beautifully mirrored by her fierce love for her daughter and family. I love that she even made mention that even though she had put aside her sailing days after having her child, it didn't stop her from being a nakhudha. I thought that was a strong and inspiring way of thinking - you can wear many hats as you go through different life stages.
This was an exciting and fun read. During the portions where I listened to the audiobook, i found the narrator to be an excellent carrier of tone and inflection and brought even more life to the story.
I was really intrigued by the origins of Amina's child and how her heritage could shape her as she ages. I hope we get more of this in a sequel.
There had been some good little twists that built up the air of being on edge and lack of trust, which I thought was handled really well and applied an uncomfortable amounr of tension to the scene. During these times, I enjoyed Amina's inner reflections on how she would have handled the situation 10 years ago (rash, hasty, full on violence) compared with now (always having her family and their safety in her mind).
I thought all the characters were exceptionally written and the banter added to the believability of their arcs. I would love to see even more magic explored in sequential plots.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Hate crime, Torture, and Murder
cameronreads's review against another edition
4.0
There is a lot to like about this book. If you like pirate stories, you’ll love this; if you’re looking for an adventure with a middle-aged protagonist, you’ll love this; if you want a story with a rich magic and vibrant setting, you’ll love this. Chakraborty has the most wonderful way of writing setting. It really made this book for me. You can tell the amount of careful research that went into this book, but also the care that went into bringing the research to life. It feels so vibrant and magical.
I really liked Amina as a protagonist. It felt like such a rich perspective to follow a middle-aged mother who very much feels like her adventures are over into this magical adventure. However it was very clear that she was the centre of this book, and whilst I liked the moments of the other characters we get and the established found family they formed years ago, I wanted a bit more out of the side characters.
For some reason it took me a while to get into this book. I think it’s partially due to the first person perceptive - whilst the writing in this book is truly wonderful, I do tend not o struggle with first person regardless, especially when there’s only one POV. It makes the story feel very linear to me, which is fine but struggles to hold my personal short attention span. It also definitely picked up nearer the end - the beginning feels more historical, and it slowly morphs into a fantasy nearer the end, which I personally prefer more, so that might be another reason.
Still, I really enjoyed this book, and it will become a go-to recommendation for me.
I really liked Amina as a protagonist. It felt like such a rich perspective to follow a middle-aged mother who very much feels like her adventures are over into this magical adventure. However it was very clear that she was the centre of this book, and whilst I liked the moments of the other characters we get and the established found family they formed years ago, I wanted a bit more out of the side characters.
For some reason it took me a while to get into this book. I think it’s partially due to the first person perceptive - whilst the writing in this book is truly wonderful, I do tend not o struggle with first person regardless, especially when there’s only one POV. It makes the story feel very linear to me, which is fine but struggles to hold my personal short attention span. It also definitely picked up nearer the end - the beginning feels more historical, and it slowly morphs into a fantasy nearer the end, which I personally prefer more, so that might be another reason.
Still, I really enjoyed this book, and it will become a go-to recommendation for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Misogyny, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Addiction, Deadnaming, Rape, and Death of parent
indigoriverboat's review against another edition
adventurous
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
What a joyous romp! I loved reading about Amina Al-Safir, her reunited, old crew, the choices from her past that haunt her, and her love of her daughter. This book spins a wild, mystical tale with plenty of twists and turns, adventures both magical and mundane, and flawed, lovable characters. The pace really picks up in the last half of the book. I could not put it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Sexual assault, Slavery, and Torture
deathmetalpainter's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Awesome fantasy novel with historical backing. It's not often I get to read of Arabian pirates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Gore, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail