The best book I read this month was a pirate adventure reminiscent of the legend of Sinbad the Sailor. The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty follows a Amina al-Sirafi as she and her crew sail the Indian Ocean trying to right a wrong. It’s a rollicking adventure, and I enjoyed every word.
At the start of the story, al-Sirafi has retired from the pirate life and is literally trying to keep a roof over her head. She lives in a remote area of Oman with her mother and her daughter. Despite her struggles, she is content with the life she has chosen. Then the mother of a former crew member comes to her in crisis: the crew member’s daughter has been kidnapped. Won’t al-Sirafi save her? The mother, who has vast wealth, promises to reward al-Sirafi with a life-changing amount of money if she succeeds. Al-Sirafi has no choice but to accept the challenge.
Amina al-Sirafi gets the band back together, as the saying goes, and they set off to rescue the damsel in distress. Along the way, they encounter abusive local authorities, demons, sea monsters, magic, and a damsel who is not quite as distressed as they were led to believe.
I loved Amina al-Sirafi as a main character and narrator. Her voice captivated me from the beginning, a perfect mix of snark and self-awareness. Her crew and their voyages are a testament to the vibrancy and diversity of the Indian Ocean region during Europe’s Middle Ages (when this story takes place).
I read that this book is part of a trilogy. The ending certainly left open the opportunity for sequels. I hope that it is the first in a series, because I can’t wait to read about al-Sirafi and crew’s next adventures.