A review by serendipitysbooks
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty

adventurous funny lighthearted 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

4.75

 The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was an utter delight to read - a rollicking good yarn featuring a pirate on a quest, plenty of adventures on the land as well as the high seas, and battles with magical creatures. It is historical fantasy set in a world reminiscent of the 12th century Middle East. I liked the adventure, the setting, and the cast of supporting characters, which was top-notch and featured some fabulous diversity in terms of ethnicity , religion, and gender. I also liked the strong feel-good family vibes involving both blood and found families. But what I loved, what really made the book a winner for me, was, of course, Amina al-Sirafi. She's a real bad ass - a middle aged Muslim mother and retired pirate, who is persuaded to go one one final adventure, one that promises to financially set up her family (her, her mother, and her daughter) and will perhaps provide a chance for redemption after her last journey went awry. Of course, this adventure proves more challenging than she expected. Amina's smart, savvy, courageous, full of witty, irreverent, and often self-deprecating humour, flawed in many ways (lustful, not averse to profanity...the list goes on), but honest (at least when it counts), loyal, and fully deserving of respect from friends and foes alike. I loved Amina, and I loved her voice. The audio production for this book was excellent and really enhanced my experience. All in all, this was a fabulous fun read that left a long-lasting smile on my face. 
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