And with that, we have our first 5-star read of 2026! 🎉 Excuse this rambly review — I wrote it fresh off finishing the book so my main thoughts were: LOVED IT SO MUCH. EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS. I WANT MORE ASAP. 😂

TL;DR: All the hype you’ve heard about The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi were spot on. This was a swashbuckling good time and I’m so sad that it had to end (seriously, can’t wait until book two is out)! With an incredibly vast, historically and culturally rich medieval setting, a world full of magic and the supernatural, and a crew of fantastic characters—with Amina at its heart—this is a story that will keep you up reading all night and racing to the end. If you love banter-filled adventure and all of the above, then you need check this out immediately!

I admit to being concerned at first when I started reading and this didn’t immediately pull me in. But patience was my friend because following the first 1.5 chapters, I was a fish well and truly hooked and Amina al-Sirafi reeled me in quickly! I loved that we’re following older protagonists who might not be as spry or strong as they used to be, but who still yearn for the open seas and the life-changing adventures that await beyond the shore. Amina is such an incredible MC to follow! She’s equally feared and respected, knows how to wield a sword as effectively as any young upstart, and while you don’t want to mess her around (cos she won’t think twice about ending you), she’s also got a kind and fair heart. I loved that she’s a fierce pirate but also a mother, and how important her daughter is to her. There’s such complexity to her character and the things she thinks about and contends with emotionally, and it made her a very interesting character! Certainly not one you’d feel bored reading about—at least I know I certainly didn’t.

As she sets off on this rescue mission that’s forced upon her, she’s gathers together her closest companions who were part of her crew before they all retired. I loved Dalila, Tinbu and Majed! There are strong found family vibes with this group of misfits. They all have fascinating, albeit traumatising, backstories and they all had fantastic chemistry with Amina. Oh, the banter! 😂 There were plenty of times when the witty humour in this book either had me laughing out loud or grinning with amusement. I love sharp banter, especially when a characters monologue is full of it, and Chakraborty does an excellent job giving that to Amina’s character. Despite their history, but also because of it, these four made an excellent team and I enjoyed every moment of them together on page.

The adventures they embark upon are life-threatening and absolutely wild! You feel the tension every time Amina and the crew find themselves in situations with impossible odds, but there’s always hope, too! The way Chakraborty brings to life the paranormal elements—ghouls, Djinn, demons, and all sorts of fantastical magical creatures of the other world—was so well done. These were terrifying and fascinating creatures that I can’t wait to read more about. Which brings me to the world-building, which turned out to be my favourite aspect of this book.

There was a point while I was reading that I felt absolutely giddy with joy—especially learning more about the medieval Indian Ocean setting, a time period you don’t hear, see, or read much about in any books today. I admit to falling down a bit of a historical hole trying to place what was “real” and not, and I think that’s a testament to Chakraborty’s ability to bring this historical period and her fantasy world to life. It’s such a fantastic combination! I love that she gave even more resources for historical nerds to check out in her acknowledgements (I know what I’ll be doing soon).

Overall, there was so much to love about this. I also have to note that this was an immersive read and I was listening to the audiobook while following on my Kindle. The narrator does a really great job voicing all the characters and bringing their distinct personalities to life. What I really enjoyed was how they made a bit of a production of the story. As there were “stories within the story” moments, that came through with the narrator almost breaking scene—either with movements stepping away from the mic so it sounds like they’re talking to someone a distance away or by whispering certain characters’ voices. The whispering took a bit of time to get used to because it was so difficult to hear what was being said, but all around, a fantastic job done. I would recommend checking it out!

All that being said, it’s no surprise that this has become my first 5-star read of the year. 🎉 I’m so excited to see where Amina’s adventures take her and the crew next!

Have you read The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi or is it on your TBR?

• Follow me on Goodreads!
• Follow me on Bluesky
• Follow me on Instagram!
• Follow me on Twitter!