The Story Nook

“People have this idea of mothers, that we are soft and gentle and sweet. As thought he moment my daughter was laid on my breast, the phrase I would do anything did not take on  a depth I could have never understood before.” 

I don’t know how it took me so long to read this book. It has been sitting on my shelf for a while, and I can only conclude that I forgot about it. An older female pirate who goes back for a proverbial one last job? Count me in.

The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi is the first book in a low magic pirate trilogy following the titular Amina and her crew on the Marawati. At the beginning of the story, however, Amina is retired in the countryside with her mother and daughter. It isn’t until she gets an offer she couldn’t refuse that she goes to find her old crew.

Plot

We follow Amina on a wild journey that has more twists than it initially seems. The story mostly follows a typical hero’s journey, as Amina goes on a journey to save the granddaughter of a wealthy woman. Amina and the crew of the Marawati encounter obstacle after obstacle in order to complete their mission, and their priorities may change along the way.

The book starts slowly, and ramps up rapidly in the second half as the world and situation becomes more complicated and the stakes get higher. I really enjoyed the pacing, although it may start a little too slowly for some readers. The foreshadowing along the way and the many twists kept me engaged, and I am excited to see where this world goes.

Characters

Probably unsurprisingly, the most developed of characters is Amina herself, and I find her arc refreshing. Amina struggles throughout the story with her past sins and time spent away from family. She is far from a perfect character. Amina walks a tight line guided in part by her faith, sense of justice, and her family (both biological and found). Meanwhile she is tempted by the chance to achieve the dreams she had abandoned when she retired 10 years previously.

The crew of the Marawati is perhaps less developed, but considering the plans for a trilogy I would not be surprised if we are meant to learn more about them later. Even so, we still get hints of their histories and their connections to each other. They are a diverse crew in ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religion.

The diverse background of the crew allows for an interesting lens into the examination of the operations of society. The experiences of the characters allow for examinations of topics including slavery, religion, sexuality, and government.

Worldbuilding

I am often hesitant when a fantasy book takes place in a historical setting. Usually I would prefer that the world be created wholly new. In this case, however, the historical setting works fantastically. The historical research, incorporation of mythology, and the low magic system collaborate perfectly to create a rich and vivid setting.

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