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

adventurous emotional funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

My first official five star read of 2024. I loved everything about this and now feel like I need to get my hands on literally everything that Chakraborty has ever written.

She’s successfully done something that many other offers struggle with. She’s managed to provide enough world-building and backstory to make you feel like the story you’re reading is an entire world that belongs to more than just the characters we see on the page without it feeling like a giant info dump. The characters feel real, they feel like they have actual motivations and drives, like they’ve lived actual lives and not like they just popped into existence at the beginning of the story we’re reading. 

The writing in this is so engaging. Less than 50 pages in and I was already feeling so enamored by this story and the people in it. Amina and Salima feel like real
people with real motivations. 

Also, how often do you get to read a fantasy story where the main character is an older woman with a daughter and not an 18 year old? The hype around this book is entirely warranted. Honestly, I feel like it deserves the level of hype that Fourth Wing got. 

The characters, omg the characters. Amina may be one of my favorite main characters that’s ever existed, she’s flawed, tries her best to be a good person, and is so freaking funny.  “A little madness goes a long way in convincing men that you might stab them if they step out of line.”

I could go on and on about this book forever. If you weren’t planning on it or you were on the fence about reading it, do it! If it’s on your tbr, make it the next book you read. I loved this so much and can’t wait to read what’s next! 
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