blacksphinx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Classism, Police brutality, Violence, Gore, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Transphobia, Sexual content, Alcohol, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Religious bigotry, Alcoholism, Torture, and Vomit
Minor: Cannibalism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Dysphoria, Death of parent, Islamophobia, and Homophobia
cragamiel's review against another edition
adventurous
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore
tamara_joy's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Torture, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body horror and Death
Minor: Dysphoria, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Sexual content, Alcohol, and Blood
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: Violence, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Vomit and Alcohol
annie_tonk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
mysterious
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Murder, Body horror, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Kidnapping
Minor: Cursing
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: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Murder, and Gore
Minor: Transphobia and Torture
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: Alcohol, Transphobia, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Torture
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: Gore, Violence, Death, and Body horror
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
lauraglovestoread's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
As a huge fan of her Daevabad series, I was very excited to pick up a copy of The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, the first in a planned new trilogy by Shannon Chakraborty, and it did not disappoint! This installment follows Amina, a middle aged 'retired' pirate captain who is drawn back into the action of the seas as she is hired for a mission she cannot refuse. The plot is a solid well-paced pirate adventure, the cast of supporting characters is fantastic, and the protagonist is one to cheer for who I came to love very quickly. I appreciate Chakraborty's thoughtful inclusion of diverse characters in all her work. Can't wait to read the next in the series!
Compared to Daevabad, so far I would say this series feels a bit lighter in tone -- there is some more comic relief between the serious and heavy aspects, with themes of friendship and found family amongst the protagonist and her crew and the complexities of pursuing one's dreams while also prioritizing being a parent. This book is also more rooted in historical research, with the very vast majority of the action taking place in twelfth century cities surrounding the Indian Ocean. Chakraborty's inclusion of a section on recommended further reading is great.
Content warnings: violence, murder, death, blood, gore, body horror (not extensive or particularly severe), torture, war, colonialism, mention of past massacres and mass killings, sexism, misogyny, sexual assault (mentioned in context of a threat; not described in detail), cannibalism (off page, not described in any graphic or detailed way)
Compared to Daevabad, so far I would say this series feels a bit lighter in tone -- there is some more comic relief between the serious and heavy aspects, with themes of friendship and found family amongst the protagonist and her crew and the complexities of pursuing one's dreams while also prioritizing being a parent. This book is also more rooted in historical research, with the very vast majority of the action taking place in twelfth century cities surrounding the Indian Ocean. Chakraborty's inclusion of a section on recommended further reading is great.
Content warnings: violence, murder, death, blood, gore, body horror (not extensive or particularly severe), torture, war, colonialism, mention of past massacres and mass killings, sexism, misogyny, sexual assault (mentioned in context of a threat; not described in detail), cannibalism (off page, not described in any graphic or detailed way)
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Murder, Misogyny, Blood, Death, and Sexism
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Body horror, Gore, Cannibalism, and Sexual assault