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May 12, 2026
The Tapestry of Fate
Summary
Shannon Chakraborty’s novel The Tapestry of Fate, the second installment in the The Adventures of Amina-al Sarafi, encounters the titular Amina at a time of transition. trying to balance her work on her ship chasing arcane artifacts and time on land spent raising her daughter Marjana. After interference from her estranged husband, Amina finds herself and her crew on a possibly futile quest to steal a spindle from a mysterious sorceress on an island that no one can escape. Despite the presence of magic that complicates the perception of reality itself, Amina remains determined to find a way home for herself and her crew.
In this interview, Chakraborty describes her longstanding affection for the history of the Indian Ocean in the 12th century, the wealth of primary sources we have from that time period, and the process of sharing her love of history with readers. She discusses the role of magic and gender in the medieval Islamicate world, research rabbit holes, and the importance of middle aged protagonists in fantasy. We also chat about crafting a fun adventure story and the role of textiles and religion across time.
The Tapestry of Fate is a joyful and empathetic novel full of adventure and a deep appreciation for the past. It was an absolute joy discussing it with the author.
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A. E. Lanier
A. E. Lanier is a short fiction writer and educator living in Central Texas. More about her work can be found at aelanier.com.
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