The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Can I say I loved this book because it was just a lot of fun? I hope so! I usually reserve my 5 stars for books that put me through all the emotions: laughter, crying, and being moved deeply by something in the story. I wouldn't say that this book did that entirely, but it was just such a fun romp of an adventure which I enjoyed very much and walked away highly entertained.
I also think that there are a few unique things in this book that I haven't really come across in the fantasy genre, but highly appreciated and felt like a breath of fresh air. Amina herself is a middle-aged woman, mother, and past the years of her youthful exploits. As someone who just turned 40, it was awesome to see an older woman represented as the main protagonist and highly relatable in a lot of ways. I loved the exploration of her internal conflict between her responsibilities as a mother and wanting to pursue a life that she loves outside of that role or how to balance the two. While the circumstances are fantastical, I think that is a very relatable conflict for many.
I also appreciated the inclusion of the Muslim faith in the story. A lot of fantasy deals with made-up religion to make a point or just as part of the make-up of the world, but there isn't a lot that I've read that includes an existing faith and how someone who is trying to follow that faith would integrate that into their decisions or thought process. While I don't share this faith, it is so rare to see it included in this way, that I felt it was a welcome difference.
Overall, I just enjoyed the ride of it all. It reminded me of the fun and adventure I felt when I first went to see POTC in the theatre, the mix of quest, mystery, magic, and mayhem you encounter and never sure what is coming next, but you're highly entertained. While I loved Amina as a character, many of the side characters were also a joy. I can't wait to see where Amina's adventures take her next!