This month’s book review is The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty.
I really want to try and be that distance, slightly aloof, analytical book reviewer, but there are times when it’s just not possible. I always remember very fondly reading the Tales of 1001 Arabian Nights. It was some years ago, and the stories themselves are lost to my memory, but I remember how I felt when I read them. Excited and exuberant.
Despite reading them as an English translation (I am not much of a linguist) there was something about the style of writing that shone through the pages and transported me to a whole new time and place. The experience encapsulated everything I enjoy about reading fantasy, finding myself into a new world full of intrigue and daring do.
I suspect, dear reader, that you have a strong suspicion you know where this is going… and it is. Life’s simply too sort, some times, to beat around the bush. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi was released in 2023, but beautifully emulates a much older flow of storytelling. It is a gripping yarn about pirates, sea monsters, demons, and deals – what more could anyone really want? A historical fantasy set in the medieval period sees retired pirate captain Amina al-Sirafi gather a crew for one last adventure around the Indian ocean. I loved it and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys similar stories.
The best thing is, at least from my point of view, is that I understand it’s the first book in a trilogy.
The Wizard's Bookshelf 