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

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

4.75

At long last complete – I started reading this book over seven months ago, and have just now finished it. I pecked at the first few chapters over most of that time... and read the whole second half in just the last two days! It was a bit slow to start, clearly, but once it had me, I couldn't put it down. Like many young boys, I had a span of time where pirates were my obsession. Treasure Island, Pirates of the Caribbean, and mountains of nonfiction books for young readers. So this, a pirate adventure in a new setting with all kinds of supernatural shenanigans, seems tailor-made for readers like me. Once it gained its momentum, I loved everything about this book. The crew, the setting, the villain, the historical references and in-jokes, the horrible sea beasts, and a protagonist more compelling and unique than any teenager ever could be. It was certainly an incredible adventure, going to more fantastical places than I could have imagined. I have S.C.'s daevabad books on my list, and they've just moved up a few places.