The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi

Chakraborty has created a fantastical world in which females can sail the ocean with marauding bands of thieves and experience little threat of sexual violence. Only one mention of this issue occurs in the novel, and it is dealt with quickly. What may be the author’s reason for eliminating or diminishing this particular reality from the lifestyle depicted?

Chakraborty has mentioned her desire to show how cosmopolitan the medieval Indian Ocean was, and Amina is a good example, for she speaks various languages and is accepting of different religions. How many different nationalities are represented in the novel, and what is the effect of having this mix of cultures, languages, and religions present in the story?

Aside from imitating the classic text of The Thousand and One Nights, why else might Chakraborty have used the frame story as the structure for this novel? How does the frame story affect your understanding of the novel and increase the depth of its larger messages? Use several examples from the text to support your discussion.

One of the major themes of the book is The Power of Teamwork. Compare and contrast Falco’s and Amina’s crews, and pinpoint the differences in their approaches to guiding their respective people. Which approach works best in the novel? Which works best in reality?

Raksh calls himself a “force of discord” and notes that there are also positive forces of discord, such as love or having a child. What other positive forces of discord might exist? What might Marjana’s force be?

Chakraborty includes many monsters and mythological creatures in this novel and in her other series. Her website includes a picture of the monster that inspired Raksh. Pick one other creature from the novel and research its origins. Why might have Chakraborty included this particular creature instead of others?

Amina’s quote promising God that she will stop going on adventures (242) is similar to the quote from Sinbad the Sailor in the epigraph. Chakraborty has discussed the influence that The Thousand and On Nights has had on her work. Are there other ways that this novel is similar to the classic medieval work?

In an interview with the New York Public Library, Chakraborty talks about her intention to craft Amina as a trickster figure, and emphasizes the popularity of characters who rebel against society’s expectations. Which of Amina’s deeds are most consistent with her status as a trickster?