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teri_b's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I expected to like or even love this book given the subject of a pirate getting back into business and going on some kind of heist, put in its link into A thousand and one Arabian nights with its magical tales I could not wait to listen to the audiobook from my local library.
However, I found the beginning very slow. Only when the magic started to show up on the page I felt the pacing getting faster and the story got more interesting.
There are beautiful moments about motherhood and women's chitchat amongst themselves that I really loved.
However, as a whole, the book did not come together for me as I would have liked. It felt like several parts that did not make a whole.
However, I found the beginning very slow. Only when the magic started to show up on the page I felt the pacing getting faster and the story got more interesting.
There are beautiful moments about motherhood and women's chitchat amongst themselves that I really loved.
However, as a whole, the book did not come together for me as I would have liked. It felt like several parts that did not make a whole.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
saucy_bookdragon'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? It's complicated
4.0
An absolute blast of a pirate novel that is both familiar and fresh. This time the fantastical journey on the high seas is lead by a mother in the Indian Ocean. Amina herself is the highlight of the book, she’s a witty badass who’s trying to move on from her not so great past. The world she lives in is richly detailed, magical, and diverse in cultures and people.
The plot is a lot of fun, including a treasure hunt for a magical artifact that monsters and backstabbing get in the way of. It could’ve been a little tighter though, the pacing at times being uneven and the book takes a very jarring fantasy shift in the second half.
Once done with the book I immediately wanted more of Amina and her crew. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but does promise more to come that I wish would come sooner.
The plot is a lot of fun, including a treasure hunt for a magical artifact that monsters and backstabbing get in the way of. It could’ve been a little tighter though, the pacing at times being uneven and the book takes a very jarring fantasy shift in the second half.
Once done with the book I immediately wanted more of Amina and her crew. This doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, but does promise more to come that I wish would come sooner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit and Alcohol
froukjemelenhorst's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Deadnaming and Sexual violence
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
quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Gore, and Violence
Minor: Transphobia
ireadinbed's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
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
This book was so good! I can definitely see myself reading more if it continues into the series.
So many beautiful settings and interesting characters! Just a great example of one of my favorite subgenres.
I think reading it as an ebook was a mistake. Formatting was a bit weird and also too easy to fall away for a moment because i read on phone. It somewhat dulled the impact.
A book to be binged for sure!
So many beautiful settings and interesting characters! Just a great example of one of my favorite subgenres.
I think reading it as an ebook was a mistake. Formatting was a bit weird and also too easy to fall away for a moment because i read on phone. It somewhat dulled the impact.
A book to be binged for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore and Violence
Minor: Sexual violence
mahra's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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
4.5
"To be a woman is to have your story misremembered. Discarded. Twisted."
Amina Al-Sirafi, the Legend that you are.
Oh, I loved this so much. Incredible read.
Amina Al-Sirafi is a fierce pirate captain who retired and spent the past few years raising her daughter. A mysterious benefactor offers her a mission and a prize that no pirate worth their salt would refuse. She is then forced to reunite with her former crew and embarks on a long journey across the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
This book is essentially a heist story, set on the sea, in a fantasy world.
We finally have a middle-aged female main character. She is a muslim woman, and the author does not make her turn against her religion or remove her hijab. Who would have thought this was possible? *eyeroll* And for that, S. A. Chakraborty, I thank you. How refreshing!
The prose? Immaculate. The worldbuilding? Immersive. The characters? Captivating.The twist at the end with the narrator was very heartwarming.
Why not a five stars then? Well, the story took a crazy turn(the bird people etc. lol) . I was VERY worried. And while the author ultimately stuck the landing, it was really perplexing. It actually took me out of the story.
Still, it is one of my favorite reads of 2023. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Amina Al-Sirafi, the Legend that you are.
Oh, I loved this so much. Incredible read.
Amina Al-Sirafi is a fierce pirate captain who retired and spent the past few years raising her daughter. A mysterious benefactor offers her a mission and a prize that no pirate worth their salt would refuse. She is then forced to reunite with her former crew and embarks on a long journey across the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean.
This book is essentially a heist story, set on the sea, in a fantasy world.
We finally have a middle-aged female main character. She is a muslim woman, and the author does not make her turn against her religion or remove her hijab. Who would have thought this was possible? *eyeroll* And for that, S. A. Chakraborty, I thank you. How refreshing!
The prose? Immaculate. The worldbuilding? Immersive. The characters? Captivating.
Why not a five stars then? Well, the story took a crazy turn
Still, it is one of my favorite reads of 2023. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Kidnapping, Murder, and War
Moderate: Sexual content