Genre Fiction
![Shannon Chakraborty - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B0B437C45P.jpg)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi: A new fantasy series set a thousand years before The City of Brass
"A thrilling, transportative adventure that is everything promised–Chakraborty's storytelling is fantasy at its best." -- R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel and The Poppy War
Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman's determined quest to seize a final chance at glory-and write her own legend.
Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, she's survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.
But when she's tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she's offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family's future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God's will.
Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there's more to this job, and the girl's disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there's always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.
Shannon Chakraborty, the bestselling author of The City of Brass, spins a new trilogy of magic and mayhem on the high seas in this tale of pirates and sorcerers, forbidden artifacts and ancient mysteries, in one woman's determined quest to seize a final chance at glory-and write her own legend.
Amina al-Sirafi should be content. After a storied and scandalous career as one of the Indian Ocean's most notorious pirates, she's survived backstabbing rogues, vengeful merchant princes, several husbands, and one actual demon to retire peacefully with her family to a life of piety, motherhood, and absolutely nothing that hints of the supernatural.
But when she's tracked down by the obscenely wealthy mother of a former crewman, she's offered a job no bandit could refuse: retrieve her comrade's kidnapped daughter for a kingly sum. The chance to have one last adventure with her crew, do right by an old friend, and win a fortune that will secure her family's future forever? It seems like such an obvious choice that it must be God's will.
Yet the deeper Amina dives, the more it becomes alarmingly clear there's more to this job, and the girl's disappearance, than she was led to believe. For there's always risk in wanting to become a legend, to seize one last chance at glory, to savor just a bit more power…and the price might be your very soul.
Editorial Reviews
"A thrilling, transportative adventure that is everything promised–Chakraborty's storytelling is fantasy at its best." - R.F. Kuang, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Babel
"Chakraborty's seafaring adventure is pure incandescence and adrenaline. Readers will leave these pages with their lungs full of ocean air, their fingertips glittered with magic and their hearts a little heavier for being both smitten and heartbroken by its finely drawn, poignant cast of characters. This is a book I will daydream of for years to come." - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
"Chakraborty delivers again with a captivating story of motherhood, faith, friendship, dangerous magic, and hijinks on the high seas. Amina al-Sarafi is now my favorite pirate captain and I'm on board to follow all her adventures." - Fonda Lee, author of The Green Bone Saga
"If readers are not won over by the playful plot twists and thrilling action sequences, they will fall for the charmingly crooked cast and dry humor. This swashbuckling adventure is sure to delight." - Publishers Weekly
THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI is a rollicking adventure amongst an aging, disreputable crew of pirates. These are characters you'll easily fall in love with, with prose that sweeps you along for the ride. Chakraborty has outdone herself, writing a stirring homage to the dreams we put aside for duty and the love of others, while also daring to ask: why not both?" - Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi sets sail on a breathtaking high-stakes revenge tour filled with rollicking thrills and whiplash twists on a magical reimagining of the Indian Ocean. Amina is the big-hearted, scandalous captain I would follow to the end of the world. Chakraborty gives no quarter as she walks the reader right up to the edge of the plank and then shoves them over."
- Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga
"Readers will...be delighted by the extra, fantasy-filled pages and fresh...
"Chakraborty's seafaring adventure is pure incandescence and adrenaline. Readers will leave these pages with their lungs full of ocean air, their fingertips glittered with magic and their hearts a little heavier for being both smitten and heartbroken by its finely drawn, poignant cast of characters. This is a book I will daydream of for years to come." - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
"Chakraborty delivers again with a captivating story of motherhood, faith, friendship, dangerous magic, and hijinks on the high seas. Amina al-Sarafi is now my favorite pirate captain and I'm on board to follow all her adventures." - Fonda Lee, author of The Green Bone Saga
"If readers are not won over by the playful plot twists and thrilling action sequences, they will fall for the charmingly crooked cast and dry humor. This swashbuckling adventure is sure to delight." - Publishers Weekly
THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI is a rollicking adventure amongst an aging, disreputable crew of pirates. These are characters you'll easily fall in love with, with prose that sweeps you along for the ride. Chakraborty has outdone herself, writing a stirring homage to the dreams we put aside for duty and the love of others, while also daring to ask: why not both?" - Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter
"The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi sets sail on a breathtaking high-stakes revenge tour filled with rollicking thrills and whiplash twists on a magical reimagining of the Indian Ocean. Amina is the big-hearted, scandalous captain I would follow to the end of the world. Chakraborty gives no quarter as she walks the reader right up to the edge of the plank and then shoves them over."
- Wesley Chu, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The War Arts Saga
"Readers will...be delighted by the extra, fantasy-filled pages and fresh...
Readers Top Reviews
BookishSelkie
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is a book that I savored, fell in love with, and already plan to reread. It is the tale of a mother, a pirate, and a woman whose primary goal is now to protect her young daughter. Amina al-Sirafi is given the chance of a lifetime- one last job to guarantee the security of her family. However, nothing is ever that simple and the job has layers of complexity that are soon revealed. As Amina rounds up her old crew and grapples with long-held secrets, she must decide: is one last job worth it if she risks her life? Shannon Chakraborty’s adult debut is an unquestionable triumph. I loved every word and have hundreds if not thousands of highlighted quotes that I’ve marked. Some books speak to your soul and take you on the most epic of adventures and this is one of them. Amina and her crew will capture your heart, make you wish you could sail the high seas with them, and emphasizes the importance of found family. Amina has had many fantastic adventures as a pirate and I really enjoyed how these were recounted. Chakraborty is very inclusive in her writing, realistically making the high seas a diverse and interesting place to be. The writing is extremely clever and witty- I found myself laughing out loud! I loved that the protagonist and crew are older, past their youthful glory days, and must make adjustments as they craft their schemes. Amina’s love and concern for her daughter and family felt genuine and very well-written. I am so curious about what will happen next with her daughter and her mysterious father! I cannot wait to see where Amina’s adventures take her next and am so happy this is a trilogy!! I would recommend this book to anyone, especially for readers who enjoy Samantha Shannon, Roshani Chokshi, and Maiya Ibrahim. If you enjoy adventurous books with epic journeys, hilarious banter, and an outstanding cast of characters then you need to read The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi.
Olivia F.
THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI is a highly entertaining and swashbuckling high seas adventure/fantasy. Amina is a retired pirate whose deeds are legendary, earning her a notorious and unbelievable reputation. She now lives with her family and daughter in a home with a leaky roof that she would love to have repaired if she could spare the money for it. Everything changes when a wealthy woman arrives, having discerned her identity and seeking her help in recovering her granddaughter. The money she offers is undeniably life-changing, but it is her personal connection to a former member of the crew that sways the scales. Amina plans to ask around for the smaller amount of money and expects that this should be a simple and safe enough task. As she returns to her ship, left in the hands of someone she trusted when she retired, and as she regathers key members of her crew, including a woman who is an expert in poisons, she begins to realize nothing could be so simple, and embarks on a new adventure. This story was a slow build into adventure, unexpected twists, and supernatural surprises. The book is told in a conversational tone, as though Amina were conveying the story to a friend. With wry humor and witty sarcasm, this ended up being quite the clever and entertaining read. Amina's voice and character really made the story what it was, and her perspectives on this historical world were really intriguing, providing context for the events ongoing and people involved in the conflicts. The settings were rich, and the history seemed well-researched, coming to life amidst the fantastical story. The main characters were unexpected and absolutely made this into a riveting and entertaining read. Beyond Amina, the expert in poisons was one of my favorites, and I loved seeing how all the characters had changed with her retirement - but also how she brought them back into the world in which they ruled the seas and defined their own moral codes. The strength of the characters and the unique writing style really made this book a stand-out. The writing felt interspersed with gems and interesting stories, such that it took a bit longer to get through than others - there were sections that I delved into and considered more deeply, as they could be quite clever and thought-provoking. While the beginning felt a bit slower, getting the hang of who everyone was and understanding Amina's retirement and the effort in coming out of it, the book began to move more quickly a third of the way in. I ultimately found it quite entertaining and thoughtfully written. Overall, THE ADVENTURES OF AMINA AL-SIRAFI is a unique and humorous fantasy adventure that will take readers on an enthralling journey with high seas stakes and plenty of intrigue. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
