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A review by ruthypoo2
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
funny
informative
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
4.0
This book has a lot of what makes for a very enjoyable story: complex storyline; fantastical characters; emotion; strong relationships; family; humor; bad guys; good guys; action; surprising alliances; and beautiful imagery. I listened to the audiobook and was so glad I did because the way the book is written really lends itself to the spoken word, and the narrators were pitch perfect, in my opinion.
The story starts off with the scribe, Jamal al-Hilli, speaking directly to the reader as though they are of the time that the story takes place and will have knowledge of who the main character is with just the mention of a name - the legendary ship's captain and infamous smuggler, Amina al-Sirafi. The scribe is responsible for introducing Amina so she can provide a first-person account of her story. The two are, essentially, telling the story together with the scribe popping up periodically to offer context and additional information that's helpful to the reader. There's some back-and-forth dialogue throughout, and while the production seemed to intentionally make it sound like Amina was turning away from a microphone to interact with Jamal, and I thought that brought a unique realism to the audio version.
One of the things I liked best about Amina is that she's a mature woman, living a quiet life, and raising a beloved daughter... who just happens to be the retired captain of a pirate ship. Unfortunately, her reputation as a ruthless pirate makes her a valuable asset to someone wealthy enough and able to exert sufficient pressure that they're able to force Amina and her crew to go on a quest and help find a missing family member. Amina is able to assemble her most trusted associates to join on the quest, and I adored the dynamic amongst them all, each with a distinct, and usually lovable, personality.
Amina is unapologetic about her heavy-handed behavior and for having goals that will ultimately give her family a better life; she's loyal to those she loves and cares for. She also has a great wit and I found myself laughing out loud often and sometimes even replaying a line I thought was especially funny. But it's important to point out that Amina is also respectful of her faith and wants to be a good Muslim. Faith, folklore, and fantasy are woven throughout the story, with faith being a key aspect that motivates the actions of some of the characters and their conversations speak honestly about the importance of their beliefs.
This book is the beginning of a series and I'm anxious to find out what Amina and her motley crew will encounter next. The author, S.A. (Shannon) Chakraborty, has magnificently created a world that seems of ancient times (12th Century) with modern sensibilities. In the Author's Notes the precede and follow the conclusion of the story, Ms. Chakraborty expresses the value of understanding the history of the Indian Ocean and making every effort to ensure the historical accuracy of the story and provides resources for additional reading. The author also expresses how the accounting of history is shaped by the individual who documents it, which is why it's important for Amina herself to be the storyteller since she owns the adventure. And thank goodness for the Glossary included in the digital version of this book that helped clarify unfamiliar words.
Highly recommend this book, even if you're not a fan of the fantasy genre. As I started this review, there's a lot to like about this book and at its core it's a good and entertaining story.
The story starts off with the scribe, Jamal al-Hilli, speaking directly to the reader as though they are of the time that the story takes place and will have knowledge of who the main character is with just the mention of a name - the legendary ship's captain and infamous smuggler, Amina al-Sirafi. The scribe is responsible for introducing Amina so she can provide a first-person account of her story. The two are, essentially, telling the story together with the scribe popping up periodically to offer context and additional information that's helpful to the reader. There's some back-and-forth dialogue throughout, and while the production seemed to intentionally make it sound like Amina was turning away from a microphone to interact with Jamal, and I thought that brought a unique realism to the audio version.
One of the things I liked best about Amina is that she's a mature woman, living a quiet life, and raising a beloved daughter... who just happens to be the retired captain of a pirate ship. Unfortunately, her reputation as a ruthless pirate makes her a valuable asset to someone wealthy enough and able to exert sufficient pressure that they're able to force Amina and her crew to go on a quest and help find a missing family member. Amina is able to assemble her most trusted associates to join on the quest, and I adored the dynamic amongst them all, each with a distinct, and usually lovable, personality.
Amina is unapologetic about her heavy-handed behavior and for having goals that will ultimately give her family a better life; she's loyal to those she loves and cares for. She also has a great wit and I found myself laughing out loud often and sometimes even replaying a line I thought was especially funny. But it's important to point out that Amina is also respectful of her faith and wants to be a good Muslim. Faith, folklore, and fantasy are woven throughout the story, with faith being a key aspect that motivates the actions of some of the characters and their conversations speak honestly about the importance of their beliefs.
This book is the beginning of a series and I'm anxious to find out what Amina and her motley crew will encounter next. The author, S.A. (Shannon) Chakraborty, has magnificently created a world that seems of ancient times (12th Century) with modern sensibilities. In the Author's Notes the precede and follow the conclusion of the story, Ms. Chakraborty expresses the value of understanding the history of the Indian Ocean and making every effort to ensure the historical accuracy of the story and provides resources for additional reading. The author also expresses how the accounting of history is shaped by the individual who documents it, which is why it's important for Amina herself to be the storyteller since she owns the adventure. And thank goodness for the Glossary included in the digital version of this book that helped clarify unfamiliar words.
Highly recommend this book, even if you're not a fan of the fantasy genre. As I started this review, there's a lot to like about this book and at its core it's a good and entertaining story.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cursing