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Book: “The Tapestry of Fate” by Shannon Chakraborty
Publishing Info: Harper Voyager, May 2026
Where Did I Get this Book: from the publisher!
Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org | Amazon | IndieBound
Book Description: Amina al-Sirafi thinks she’s struck gold. Tasked with hunting down arcane artifacts for the council of immortal peris, she can savor the occasional rollicking adventure on the high seas with her cherished criminal companions while still returning home to raise her beloved daughter, Marjana. But when Raksh, the spirit of discord with whom she is reluctantly wed, provokes the council’s wrath, Amina is charged with a seemingly impossible quest: steal a spindle capable of rewriting fate from a mysterious sorceress on an island no one can escape.
Forced to leave Marjana—who is increasingly frustrated at being peddled what are clearly lies about her mother’s life and her own past—Amina finds her mission almost immediately thrown into peril. But deadly storms, an erratic poison mistress, and old enemies are the least of her worries. For the peris’ story is unraveling, hinting at a far deadlier game whose rules Amina must swiftly puzzle out. A game that sets her against an adversary more cunning and powerful than she has ever faced.
A game that not everyone on her crew wants her to win.
Review: Insert “old lady Titanic gif” here, or something of that effect! But seriously, it’s felt like forever and a day since the first book in this series came out. I know the author has had a lot going on, so I’m sympathetic. But my greedy, book-loving heart kept obsessively checking the Goodreads page for the last few years, hoping for an update. And at last, here we are. And it was well worth the wait!
The story picks up a few months after the first book, and I’ll say right at the top, this was the most challenging part of this book for me. On one hand, I appreciate that the author just jumped right into the action; and for future readers who pick this one up immediately after the first book, this will work even better. But for the rest of us who are reading this now, after it’s been a few years since the first book, some of this transition was rough. Not only was I trying to piece together my memory of the plot of the first book (some of which is crucial to understanding the main character’s current predicament), but I was also struggling with more simple things, like remembering just who everyone was and what their stories were. Perhaps some sort of prologue or even “cast of characters” supporting materials somewhere in the book would have helped. As it stands, the book does very little to reintroduce you to these characters or the current stakes, so for me at least, it took a bit to feel like I was really caught up with exactly what was going on.
That said, even in the midst of my confusion, this was simply an excellently written book and a fun time to read. Amina is a great narrator with a unique voice who immediately drew me back into the story. And beyond that, the plot doesn’t skimp on the action, starting out with an exciting action scene and then delving quickly into the main plot of the story and the various mini-quests that make up that storyline. It was easy enough to simply let myself get caught up in what was going on on the page and trust that it would all come back to me. If possible, I recommend other readers take the same approach: it will all come to you eventually, just enjoy the ride in the meantime!
I also really liked the central plot of this story and the secondary story that was woven throughout the book in chapters that follow another character. I can’t go into much here without getting into spoilers, but there were some really great themes of motherhood, rage, and the gray line when victimhood can turn into villainy. There were some really touching scenes here that were darker than I expected. But this darkness was always balanced nicely by Amina’s narrative that was so strongly rooted in her core characteristics: her determination, bravery, and loyalty to those she loves.
I also really like the storyline we got between Amina and her friend, a woman who is as distrusting as they come. While I was equal parts frustrated as I was intrigued, this storyline took a close look at the complex nature of friendship, as well as the dark underside of self-sacrifice and atonement.
The core mystery and focus of the adventure of the story was also excellent. The magical components were all so unique and interwoven (ha!) in interesting ways, often taking turns that I hadn’t expected. Again, some of these twists and turns were fairly dark, but some of these heavier moments were as beautiful as they were heart-wrenching.
I will say that the middle portion of the book is where I lost the single point in my rating, dropping it from a 10 to a 9. There was a brief period in the middle of the book where it felt like the plot was spinning its wheels. Most of the major players had been well established, the mystery set up, and then it felt like the story took a few too many turns through Amina’s confusion and frustration before getting moving again. But I’ll also say that this slowdown in the pacing at this point in the story also worked very well, narratively, for Amina’s own experience of her situation.
The book does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, I will say. The main plotline is fully wrapped up, but on the very last page, the author drops a major bombshell into the current situation. That being the case, I can only hope that the next book comes quickly! If you were a fan of the first book, I highly recommend you check this one out! I’m sure it will be a massive hit with all fantasy fans!
Rating 9: Full of swashbuckling adventure and sweeping vistas, “The Tapestry of Fate” will catch you up in its rollicking good time before punching you with an emotional hammer of a mother’s rage. Simply fantastic!
Reader’s Advisory:
“The Tapestry of Fate” can be found on these Goodreads lists: All Books with “Tapestry” in the Title and Arabian, Egyptian, and Indian Fantasy.
The Library Ladies 