Emily’s Reviews > The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi > Status Update

YES! SEA MONSTER! I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it was fantasy rather than historical fantasy as I’ve found a few inaccuracies (I’m picky about historical fiction and certain events are not lining up with being 10-20 years after the first crusade) but a lady pirate, a sea monster, a magical enemy? SIGN ME UP.

I know this may just be a regular character flaw, which is a good thing to have. But I don’t understand why the main character hates being gawked at when she does the exact same thing to attractive men? I feel like most women who don’t like being looked at like a prized hog don’t look at attractive men that way either. They don’t return the behavior that makes them uncomfy in my experience.

I forgot how much I do not care for stories that center an antihero. I know they are supposed to be sympathetic, but to me, without that strong moral compass they just aren’t to me. We’ve got:
1. A Muslim woman who does not stick to the fundamentals of their faith.
2. A Christian woman who doesn’t stick to their fundamentals.
3. A home wrecker
4. And a man cheating on his wife