Chapter 26

This book is about a 17 years old white young woman discovering her powers and the prophecy in which she is the Chosen One, destined to end the Dragon Wars.

No I’m kidding. This book is about a legendary 40 years old Muslim woman pirate torned between her desire to sail the sea after lost treasures, motherhood and religion.

Amina Al-Sirafi is a legendary pirate in the Pacific Sea who retired 10 years ago after a mysterious tragedy involving having to kill one of her dearest crew member. Hidden from old enemies and raising her daughter in poverty, she is forced out of retirement by the threats of a rich woman, whom grand-daughter, Dunya, disappeared. Amina gathers her crew to go hunt the young teenage girl, who allegedly ran away with a Frank wizard to help him find an old lost malefic treasure: the Moon of Sabaa.

Run to your bookstore for Amina Al-Sirafi because that woman is a character like we rarely see in fantasy. It was refreshing for once to root for a middle-age woman, a mother, and a Muslim. First because Amina’s rise to fame is so intriguing. She’s established as iconic, feared and legendary, but the story takes place well after she’s retired. We spend the whole book wondering about the adventures that made her famous. She is now wiser due to age, but we get to see her jump into terribly risky situations, obviously after promising to be reasonable and come home safe to her daughter.

I truly adored reading her story and navigating her struggles. She’s a legendary woman, destined to explore the seas and born to be a legend; a destiny she can’t help being drawn to, while trying to be a good mother, a good daughter and a proper Muslim. You should know Amina never gives up. You’ll find her inevitably close to death, monologuing on her poor life choices, only to be stroked by a surge of hope or a great idea. What else should you know? She’s consumed by guilt, extremely loyal, has a fondness for men and alcohol, her knee hurts and her daughter was born into curious circumstances.

My favourite character was actually Dalida, a very enigmatic Christian woman and Master of poisons. They say she can kill a man while being three days away. Deadliest weapon on the Murawati. Actually, Dalida is not even her real name. She’s tough, mysterious and talented with a hint of sensibility. She better not die in the trilogy, I’m rooting for her.

Finally, you must read this book in order to get to know the character bringing comedic relief, whom I will not name. He is brought into the story under a very chaotically hilarious situation. As I said, Amina’s wisdom is often overcome by a fondness for discutable choices.

Maybe I loved this book so much because of the inspiring women in it: Amina, Dalida, Dunya, Marjana, Salima? Maybe it was the mysteries: why did Amina had to kill her crew member and why is she haunted by it? Which adventures made her a legend? Is a certain-someone entirely human? What is Dalida’s backstory? I could not stop turning the pages, and I am terribly rooting for the second book.

Chapter 26