Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

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

16 reviews

bel017's review against another edition

adventurous

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

Excellent world building, fabulous characters, a theatrical plot. Exactly what I needed to read right now. There's magic and faraway lands mixed with real historical places, and thoughtful contemplation of being a working mother.

I adore Amina's pragmatic voice. I relate so much to that mentality of getting on with the job in front of you, even though you'd really rather have a lie down. Her competence, humor and practically, and the way she accepts magical forces as just another idiotic thing she has to deal with was a delight.

I loved Amina's pull between motherhood and her own desires, though I would have liked to have seen that more resolved. And the plot points put in to make this the first book of a series felt forced; this is a complete tale, why does everything have to be a series now?

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Death, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Alcohol, Confinement, Slavery, Body horror, Death of parent, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping

torturedreadersdept's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Body horror, Cursing, Religious bigotry, Sexual content, Alcohol, Body shaming, Confinement, Animal death, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Slavery, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, and Sexism

Moderate: Transphobia, Sexual assault, and Rape

Minor: Deadnaming

stormeno's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Colonisation, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Slavery, and Confinement

anxiousnachos's review against another edition

adventurous

5.0

“You look like a fucking prawn.” 

Yes I will be using this insult in future, I cannot stop laughing at Amina saying this in the middle of battle.  

This is just the absolute peak of adventure fantasy, so much rollicking fun with such a wonderful crew onboard a (reformed) pirate ship. Chakraborty’s particular skill lies as usual in her deep historical worldbuilding and character work, making this such an incredible setting to drown yourself in with a brilliant crew to keep you afloat. Their relationships and sassy retorts were a joy. 

Please tell me we have a sequel. 

Content warnings: graphic depictions of blood and gore, violence, torture, confinement, drowning, threats of rape

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Confinement, Blood, Torture, and Violence

Minor: Rape

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

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

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

Minor: Religious bigotry and Slavery