grizzlysnack's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A fantastical pirate story that is sure to keep you hooked from the first chapter! The characters are practically jumping off the pages as you read, and the world building in this book is both enthralling and terrifying!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, and Torture
Minor: Alcohol and Kidnapping
sofiadanielle's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
This book was just honestly delightful to read. I had been a bit weary when the book opened with the narrator directly talking to the reader, because I usually hate that type of writing style, but oh wow am I glad I decided to continue on.
I have never thought myself to have a taste for pirate stories, never mind ones with humor at the forefront, but this book was utter perfection in that sense. Amina and her crew all seemed so alive and distinct as characters. The creatures and spirits, the fantastical otherworldly elements, all so colorfully written.
And can I say, what a breath of fresh air to have a whimsy, fantasy story featuring characters of color and folk lore not Euro-centered. I love my fantasy stories, really, but seldom find ones that are as popular as this one, that really puts these types of characters as the main characters/storyline.
Love, love, loved this read!
I have never thought myself to have a taste for pirate stories, never mind ones with humor at the forefront, but this book was utter perfection in that sense. Amina and her crew all seemed so alive and distinct as characters. The creatures and spirits, the fantastical otherworldly elements, all so colorfully written.
And can I say, what a breath of fresh air to have a whimsy, fantasy story featuring characters of color and folk lore not Euro-centered. I love my fantasy stories, really, but seldom find ones that are as popular as this one, that really puts these types of characters as the main characters/storyline.
Love, love, loved this read!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Death, Blood, and Toxic relationship
queengab's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
5.0
Oh my goodness
So perfectly captivating.
I could adventure with Amina all day every day and never grow tired.
So perfectly captivating.
I could adventure with Amina all day every day and never grow tired.
Her adventures are not only being told as evidence of God’s marvels. They are being told to entertain.
Pg. 3
A feminist story of a mother who would do anything for her family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Gore
niamhyjay'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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Transphobia
readingatbedtime's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
tense
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
I have to say….5 🌟 ALLLLLL THE WAAAAYYYY!!! I’m not a huge 1st person POV kind of reader but this was written so beautifully and wonderfully that I hardly noticed it was in that POV!! It was absolutely fantastic with romance (not too much, though!) adventure with life or death scenarios all while having a Muslim pirate as the main character. I LOVED all of the characters and could not get enough of them! I can’t wait for the next installment of this novel because I need more of all of them!!
Family bonds, friends new and old, sarcasm, and bad ass characters were all apart of this fabulous book!!
Please don’t sit on this one like I did. Read it ASAP!!!
Family bonds, friends new and old, sarcasm, and bad ass characters were all apart of this fabulous book!!
Please don’t sit on this one like I did. Read it ASAP!!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Physical abuse
achingallover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
Slow start but SO GOOD
I need to reread the daevabad trilogy now
I need to reread the daevabad trilogy now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Classism, Grief, Alcohol, Death, Gore, Murder, Torture, Violence, and Vomit
wordsofclover's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death
arantzazureads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
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
I’ll have to write more later, but suffice it to say this was the best book I’ve read in a long-ass time. Funny and witty and smart and fascinating, this reading experience felt like I was on an empowering D&D adventure. I loved that the colonizer was the bad guy and the research that went into the culture and lore and history and geography. It all felt so vividly real and rich without being purple prose or world building info dumps. I loved loved loved it. I hope we get more Amina! Maybe with Marjana in tow…! And OMG JAMAL!!!!! Seriously. New favorite author unlocked.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Classism, and Grief
Minor: Xenophobia, Gore, Pedophilia, Religious bigotry, Misogyny, and Death of parent
kurumipanda's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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
Amina, an infamous smuggler/pirate, comes out of retirement and gets her crew back together for one last job. Plans go awry and both danger and hilarity ensue. Great adventure story with funny, distinct, and lively characters. Excellent as an audiobook; it has a frame narrative from a scribe who is relating Amina’s story as she told it to him, and Amina’s asides to him really come to life in audio.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture, Transphobia, War, Alcohol, Cannibalism, Classism, Sexual violence, and Slavery
ienbdri's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
It started off so strong but then it kinda morphed into your average fantasy novel. I loved the narration and following a hero that isn't 16, but the story just fell flat at some point. It was clearly preparing stuff for the next volumes but lost sight of the main adventure on the way. I literally forgot why they were traveling in the first place?
Spoiler
The magic birds just deciding her fate? A place between worlds without an explanation that really wasn't necessary for the story? Random magic without any system? Naaaaah.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Cursing, Gore, Violence, and Torture
Moderate: Death of parent, Transphobia, Death, Sexism, and Slavery