Michael Barnes
I read and enjoyed S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy I enjoyed her The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi even more. On the surface it's a trope we have read before a retired pirate of the twelfth century Indian Ocean who seeks a quite family life with her young daughter, she’s offered a deal that can’t be refused, forcing her to don her adventuring mantle and embark on one last reckless journey through the high seas.
The story is crafted in a world steeped in the tales like the Arabian nights amidst the Islamic past as the story is told to Jamal a scholar who in subsequent found to be a key character in this story. I loved its language and terms drew on non-European works referencing Indian, Persian, Chinese, and Greek sages. The oaths sworn were the more flowing than in traditional fantasy
"Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him! To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth—will you get off of me?” I elbowed the creature hard, and it spit in my face. “Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills!”
An our titular hero is neither young nor beautiful anymore – a rare thing for a heroine these days. It is great to read a book about a middle aged heroine, driven by her personality rather than her looks, but she fills the page with her larger than life adventures and the horror that lead to her retiring is slowly revealed and finally announced near the climax.
Later in the story supernatural being offers her tea, reminds me where and when this story takes place. Sucha minor thing built helps build the verisimilitude
Do I take what?” “Tea?” I blinked. “What is tea?” The peri wrinkled a beak-like nose. “Ah, I forget how far I am from home sometimes. Tea is a drink, a wondrous one. It will undoubtedly make its way to this part of the world in another century or two, but I shall give you an early taste.”
We spend most of the story with Amina and her motley crew of sailors, reassembled by necessity. The cast is also delightful non-judgmental of sexual pleasure and embracing of queer, including transgender, characters within the historical and religious context of the story. There are multiple characters that identify on the queer spectrum, and I loved discovering their identities as the story went on – and found that it added a layer of joy to the story that I didn’t expect.
The resolution sets up a clear direction to justify the further adventures Amina Al-Sirafi and her crew/friends I look forward to reading more of her chemical assassin Dalila (I do love a fantasy chemist) and her 4th and current husband Raksh (not a daemon).
Definitely a tale for those of us who like our buckling swashed.
I read and enjoyed S.A. Chakraborty's Daevabad Trilogy I enjoyed her The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi even more. On the surface it's a trope we have read before a retired pirate of the twelfth century Indian Ocean who seeks a quite family life with her young daughter, she’s offered a deal that can’t be refused, forcing her to don her adventuring mantle and embark on one last reckless journey through the high seas.
The story is crafted in a world steeped in the tales like the Arabian nights amidst the Islamic past as the story is told to Jamal a scholar who in subsequent found to be a key character in this story. I loved its language and terms drew on non-European works referencing Indian, Persian, Chinese, and Greek sages. The oaths sworn were the more flowing than in traditional fantasy
"Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him! To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth—will you get off of me?” I elbowed the creature hard, and it spit in my face. “Who could possibly intercede with Him without His permission? He knows what is ahead of them and what is behind them, but no one can grasp any of His knowledge—except what He wills!”
An our titular hero is neither young nor beautiful anymore – a rare thing for a heroine these days. It is great to read a book about a middle aged heroine, driven by her personality rather than her looks, but she fills the page with her larger than life adventures and the horror that lead to her retiring is slowly revealed and finally announced near the climax.
Later in the story supernatural being offers her tea, reminds me where and when this story takes place. Sucha minor thing built helps build the verisimilitude
Do I take what?” “Tea?” I blinked. “What is tea?” The peri wrinkled a beak-like nose. “Ah, I forget how far I am from home sometimes. Tea is a drink, a wondrous one. It will undoubtedly make its way to this part of the world in another century or two, but I shall give you an early taste.”
We spend most of the story with Amina and her motley crew of sailors, reassembled by necessity. The cast is also delightful non-judgmental of sexual pleasure and embracing of queer, including transgender, characters within the historical and religious context of the story. There are multiple characters that identify on the queer spectrum, and I loved discovering their identities as the story went on – and found that it added a layer of joy to the story that I didn’t expect.
The resolution sets up a clear direction to justify the further adventures Amina Al-Sirafi and her crew/friends I look forward to reading more of her chemical assassin Dalila (I do love a fantasy chemist) and her 4th and current husband Raksh (not a daemon).
Definitely a tale for those of us who like our buckling swashed.