Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

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

60 reviews

beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.5

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is a book that does that rare thing -  it lives up to the promise of its title.  And then some.

*slow claps for Shannon Chakraborty*

Seriously, where do I begin with how good this was? It brings together superb character development (and diverse characters!), well-paced action scenes with a real sense of danger, impressive historical detail (with a bibliography to back it up!), and interestingly incorporated fantasy. Oh, and it's a trilogy, so there's more of the same to come (hopefully).

The title character, Amina, practically leaps off the page. She's incredibly complex and defies stereotypes.  She doesn't suffer fools (and anyone who thinks she cannot be a pirate captain because of her gender) and has a fierce instinct to protect those she loves, including her beloved only child, daughter Marjana. 

I also thought that the villain was realistically and compellingly written.

I can't wait to see what Chakraborty has in store for us next.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Body horror, Sexism, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexual content, Slavery, and Transphobia

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, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Sexual content, Torture, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, and Classism

Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Deadnaming, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Trafficking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Dysphoria

korpney's review against another edition

adventurous funny inspiring 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Murder

Moderate: Racism and Religious bigotry

Minor: Sexual content

maregred's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Slavery, Blood, and Kidnapping

Minor: Toxic relationship, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

honeyvee's review against another edition

adventurous emotional 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence and Blood

Moderate: Death, Religious bigotry, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Rape and Sexual harassment

twistykris's review against another edition

adventurous funny 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

5.0

A fantastic pirate book that was so much fun! I started this book before going on a trip, and couldn't bring the physical book with me, so I got the audiobook on Libro for my flights- I have to say I enjoyed both the physical book and listening to the audiobook. The narrator did such a great job of really making you feel like you were listening to Amina tell a story (including moments where she spoke "away" from the mic, as if she were talking to the scribe). 

I loved so many of the characters, even a certain demon ex-husband 😈
Amina felt relatable to me, even if she's a mother in her 40s (and I am not a mother and in my early 30s). The way she spoke about the importance of her blood family and her crew was really sweet, and I really was rooting for her throughout the book.

This was my first Chakraborty novel, so I have not read The Daevabad trilogy, but I will definitely put them on my TBR now, especially knowing there are connections to the series.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual content, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Confinement, Kidnapping, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Slavery and Religious bigotry

cozyscones's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Deadnaming, Slavery, Torture, Religious bigotry, and War

discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

4.5

I loved this!!! What a vivid and gripping display of storytelling. The characters were so strong, and the plot was exciting! 

I selfishly wished that Raksh would find out about his daughter and be redeemed in the end. Even though he was a scoundrel, I still found his character strangely endearing.

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Alcoholism, Slavery, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry

blackcatkai's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny 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

5.0

CW: blood, violence, sexual content (not graphic, fade to black), grief, death, gore, religious bigotry, casual ableism, alcohol use, sexism, war mentioned, some body shaming, a moment with some light trans/homophobia

omg I loved this so so much. it was so much fun, tons of action, great characters with wonderful interactions with each other. exciting and heartwarming, there's even a character who's figuring out their own gender identity and I can't wait to see where we go with him and the rest of the crew in future books of the series.

oh, also a bedraggled ship cat I would die for. may payasam have more scenes going forward. all hail payasam!! 🐈🐾

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Sexism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Sexual content, Transphobia, and War

faduma's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense slow-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? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Murder, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail