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lmkennedy 's review for:
The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi
by S.A. Chakraborty
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.75 stars
This was such a refreshing fantasy. Magic and pirates are obviously a major part of this story, but the author weaves such a new telling of a story like this by interjecting the voices of Jamal and Amina at different points in jest, and I absolutely loved it.
The choice to make Amina older also was so refreshing, we often get fantasies about young people going off on new adventures. Not middle aged people who have children getting back together. It was so much more original in that way. Allowing the POV to be from someone we do not traditionally see/hear from was as I said earlier, refreshing.
Also, the setting and inclusion of the Muslim faith was once again refreshing. So often fantasy worlds create new religions entirely or will focus solely on Christians. This change of pace was welcome and felt very good to read.
A strong, independent, mother who is trying her best to be a devout muslim is not the story I thought I was getting when I started this book but boy am I glad it is what I got.
Major spoilers ahead:
Dunya’a ending, or rather Jamal’s ending was so fantastic I was left smiling like an idiot for hours after finishing. I did not see the scribe twist coming and loved it, as well as Amina and all her crew’s affection and compassion for Jamal as he became who he was meant to be.
This was such a refreshing fantasy. Magic and pirates are obviously a major part of this story, but the author weaves such a new telling of a story like this by interjecting the voices of Jamal and Amina at different points in jest, and I absolutely loved it.
The choice to make Amina older also was so refreshing, we often get fantasies about young people going off on new adventures. Not middle aged people who have children getting back together. It was so much more original in that way. Allowing the POV to be from someone we do not traditionally see/hear from was as I said earlier, refreshing.
Also, the setting and inclusion of the Muslim faith was once again refreshing. So often fantasy worlds create new religions entirely or will focus solely on Christians. This change of pace was welcome and felt very good to read.
A strong, independent, mother who is trying her best to be a devout muslim is not the story I thought I was getting when I started this book but boy am I glad it is what I got.
Major spoilers ahead:
Dunya’a ending, or rather Jamal’s ending was so fantastic I was left smiling like an idiot for hours after finishing. I did not see the scribe twist coming and loved it, as well as Amina and all her crew’s affection and compassion for Jamal as he became who he was meant to be.