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deathmetalheron's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.75
Sea of Ruin has a lot going for it. The setting is great, the character dynamics are certainly there, the author knows her chops. The romantic tension is palpable.
But the delivery of many of these aspects is disappointingly subpar. The characters go through humiliation parade after parade. The garnish of shipping and naval vernacular immediately gives way to crude words for sexual interaction, the transition between the two being jarring at best and non-existent at worse.
The height of this book comes at Bennett's capture by Ashley Cutler--the dynamics indicated before suggest a conflict between Bennett as a character and her struggle between two loves. I daresay the second fifth to quarter of this book is pretty much phenomenal.
You could see it in my reading journal, but at the halfway point this book goes from a high tension pirate romance to an absolute slog. Some critical decision are made of Ashley's character that really draw the line and make him seem a bit more manipulative and Bennett (who's been characterized as being headstrong and skeptical) brushes them off. I get this is the appeal of a captor-captive romance but the characterization is quite literally strewn off the deck into the sea, NSFWsquirted into the ocean much like Ashley is described as doing repeatedly.
The final act is an absolute slog where Bennett is NSFWkidnapped and raped and then she is kidnapped and tortured. The end of the story basically just happens to her. I was turned off from this book at the halfway point, but by the end I was uniquely frustrated.
Even during the good times, the way sexual interaction is written is hysterical and I saved numerous quotes. In a better story, they would be a fun aspect to giggle about and another layer to add to the story's atmosphere, but given the dark humiliating train to the end they come across as severely out of place and way too lighthearted. I was really hoping this book would be it, but MAN it was not.
But the delivery of many of these aspects is disappointingly subpar. The characters go through humiliation parade after parade. The garnish of shipping and naval vernacular immediately gives way to crude words for sexual interaction, the transition between the two being jarring at best and non-existent at worse.
The height of this book comes at Bennett's capture by Ashley Cutler--the dynamics indicated before suggest a conflict between Bennett as a character and her struggle between two loves. I daresay the second fifth to quarter of this book is pretty much phenomenal.
You could see it in my reading journal, but at the halfway point this book goes from a high tension pirate romance to an absolute slog. Some critical decision are made of Ashley's character that really draw the line and make him seem a bit more manipulative and Bennett (who's been characterized as being headstrong and skeptical) brushes them off. I get this is the appeal of a captor-captive romance but the characterization is quite literally strewn off the deck into the sea, NSFW
The final act is an absolute slog where Bennett is NSFW
Even during the good times, the way sexual interaction is written is hysterical and I saved numerous quotes. In a better story, they would be a fun aspect to giggle about and another layer to add to the story's atmosphere, but given the dark humiliating train to the end they come across as severely out of place and way too lighthearted. I was really hoping this book would be it, but MAN it was not.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Death, Torture, Rape, Kidnapping, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Confinement, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Colonisation, Racism, Slavery, Alcohol, and Infidelity
carrie_bize's review
3.0
In dieser spicy Piraten-Liebesgeschichte geht es um eine Piratin, deren (Ex?)Mann ihr Ärger macht und die schon bald danach in die Hände eines sexy Piratenfängers fällt. Ihr Plan, sich zu retten gestaltet sich dann schwieriger als gedacht.
Öfter mal ein bisschen drüber aber insgesamt süß-trashig. Zwischendurch hat es sich mal etwas gezogen aber dafür war das Ende nach meinem Geschmack. Ich hatte jedenfalls Spaß beim Lesen und mochte die Charaktere sowie das Piraten-Setting.
Wenn man weiß, was einen genremäßig erwartet, ist es echt unterhaltsam.
Öfter mal ein bisschen drüber aber insgesamt süß-trashig. Zwischendurch hat es sich mal etwas gezogen aber dafür war das Ende nach meinem Geschmack. Ich hatte jedenfalls Spaß beim Lesen und mochte die Charaktere sowie das Piraten-Setting.
Wenn man weiß, was einen genremäßig erwartet, ist es echt unterhaltsam.
paigeantonacci's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Gun violence, Death of parent, Vomit, Rape, Slavery, and Physical abuse
jennn_3's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mallowmelt_butterblasts's review against another edition
challenging
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
angelsrock's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bridgetdavis's review against another edition
Maybe it’s bc I’m not in the mood? I’m looking for more angst and slow burn, this comes with a marriage already in place. Not what I’m looking for right now.
calliek927's review
4.0
A new kinda Pam Godwin vibe here, and I loved it! I've never really given pirate books a thought at all, but since I love PG and her writing, I figured why not!
Bennett Sharp is a female pirate who shunned her proper upbringing and followed in her dad's footsteps. She is secretly married to Priest, who betrayed her and she hasn't seen him for 2 years. Bring on the British Navy and Lord Ashley Cutler, a notorious pirate hunter, and things take a sharp turn.
Lots of angst and some truly dark moments, so if that's not your thing, you'll want to steer clear of this one.
4.5 + for sure!
Bennett Sharp is a female pirate who shunned her proper upbringing and followed in her dad's footsteps. She is secretly married to Priest, who betrayed her and she hasn't seen him for 2 years. Bring on the British Navy and Lord Ashley Cutler, a notorious pirate hunter, and things take a sharp turn.
Lots of angst and some truly dark moments, so if that's not your thing, you'll want to steer clear of this one.
4.5 + for sure!