Scan barcode
A review by lpleitera
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by S.A. Chakraborty
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
4.25
After loving Chakraborty's debut Daevabad trilogy, I have been eagerly awaiting the release Amina al-Sirafi. Overall, it did not disappoint. Chakraborty is as skilled at writing historical fiction as fantasy, and she is at her best when she lingers on the details: unpacking her characters' intricate loyalties, dropping nautical factoids, or seamlessly integrating the customs, prayers, greetings, and history of the ancient Islamic world. I felt completely immersed in this setting and quickly came to love Captain Amina and her crew.
The introduction of a certain character at about the halfway point was, for me, one of the book's only stumbles. This character is not supposed to be likable -- in fact, he has a mysterious, villainous backstory that readers slowly learn about as the adventure unfolds. My issue was: his interactions with Amina felt off, and made her character read a little too "YA" for my liking. This wouldn't usually bother me too much, except that one of the major themes of the book is Amina's "older" age: unlike a lot of fantasy protagonists, she is over 40 and a mother. In fact, most of the cast is middle aged. For the most part, this is handled well and makes for an interesting dynamic, as each character struggles to balance what they want from their lives with their family obligations. There were times, however, when I had to forcibly remind myself that Amina was a fully-grown adult as she endlessly bickered with this completely reprehensible character. All of her interactions with him felt out-of-character and immature, and made me wonder where the rational, wise Amina of the early chapters went.
Regardless, I loved the adventure and "heist" elements of the plot. I loved the crew. I thought the framing device - Amina telling her story aloud to a scribe named Jamal - was executed perfectly. And finally, I appreciate that this book can be read as a standalone fantasy story. Though it teases sequel novels to follow, it still ends on a satisfying note.
The introduction of a certain character at about the halfway point was, for me, one of the book's only stumbles. This character is not supposed to be likable -- in fact, he has a mysterious, villainous backstory that readers slowly learn about as the adventure unfolds. My issue was: his interactions with Amina felt off, and made her character read a little too "YA" for my liking. This wouldn't usually bother me too much, except that one of the major themes of the book is Amina's "older" age: unlike a lot of fantasy protagonists, she is over 40 and a mother. In fact, most of the cast is middle aged. For the most part, this is handled well and makes for an interesting dynamic, as each character struggles to balance what they want from their lives with their family obligations. There were times, however, when I had to forcibly remind myself that Amina was a fully-grown adult as she endlessly bickered with this completely reprehensible character. All of her interactions with him felt out-of-character and immature, and made me wonder where the rational, wise Amina of the early chapters went.
Regardless, I loved the adventure and "heist" elements of the plot. I loved the crew. I thought the framing device - Amina telling her story aloud to a scribe named Jamal - was executed perfectly. And finally, I appreciate that this book can be read as a standalone fantasy story. Though it teases sequel novels to follow, it still ends on a satisfying note.