Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
so... pirate sapphics, anyone??
// god this was perfect, rtc!
// god this was perfect, rtc!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Death of parent
Moderate: Child abuse, Homophobia, Blood
Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rating 3.5 ⭐
.......
I really really enjoyed this story! The main reason I didn't give it 4 full stars is because of the predictability. Somehow, I would've enjoyed it much more of the twist was different. During the revelation part I was really struggling to enjoy the story but after it picked up again right after that, I started loving it again.
There's something about these stories that captivates me. I love learning more about the history and the culture and I also love the queerness and how normal it is.
While the beginning was slow, building up for the pain plot, it was still enjoyable and well-written. I could really hear Xiang's voice in my head. However, reading a book written in the 1st person present is never easy for me as the tense takes me out of the story in a jarring way. I'd defo recommend the book if you enjoy reading in the present tense though.
I loved Xiang and Ahn's dynamics and how well they worked together. Loved the found family in it as well. The journey of finding like-minded people who you feel at home with was so well done, I loved it.
The last 50-80 pages definitely redeemed the parts before them that I didn't enjoy and while my rating is still at 3.5 I will consider changing it to 4 after I've slept on it.
.......
I really really enjoyed this story! The main reason I didn't give it 4 full stars is because of the predictability. Somehow, I would've enjoyed it much more of the twist was different. During the revelation part I was really struggling to enjoy the story but after it picked up again right after that, I started loving it again.
There's something about these stories that captivates me. I love learning more about the history and the culture and I also love the queerness and how normal it is.
While the beginning was slow, building up for the pain plot, it was still enjoyable and well-written. I could really hear Xiang's voice in my head. However, reading a book written in the 1st person present is never easy for me as the tense takes me out of the story in a jarring way. I'd defo recommend the book if you enjoy reading in the present tense though.
I loved Xiang and Ahn's dynamics and how well they worked together. Loved the found family in it as well. The journey of finding like-minded people who you feel at home with was so well done, I loved it.
The last 50-80 pages definitely redeemed the parts before them that I didn't enjoy and while my rating is still at 3.5 I will consider changing it to 4 after I've slept on it.
adventurous
inspiring
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny
adventurous
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Keyword descriptors: leisurely paced, family-centered, detailed setting
I would call this a "retelling" heavy on quotation marks. I'm I big "Treasure Island" fan, so I was excited to see someone take up this story in a different context. While it does contain a treasure on an island, some very vague sense of pirates, and a young person as the protagonist, not much of "Clash of Steel" calls to mind "Treasure Island."
For one thing, this book is 400 pages. I have no idea why this book is so long because ultimately the story is very simple and straightforward, with not much going on. The author takes so much time even getting to the story. We spend 100+ pages just setting up the main character's life, hopes, and dreams. I wish this book had been shorter because the pacing is just so slow and when you finally get to action sequences, you are let down because they end so quickly and it takes another 50-90 pages to get to anything else exciting.
For another, what this book ultimately lacks is a "Long John Silver" character, a deeply morally gray character, complex, mysterious, so interesting that you want to trust them, but aren't entirely surprised when they betray you...but then they somehow still have redeeming qualities. I think Long John is one of the core reasons why Treasure Island is such an amazing story, one of the most compelling elements. But you just don't get that with this book. Ultimately, this book is a basic villain story, one that isn't even surprising and in the end, leaves you let down and without any desire to feel happiness at the end because you just got through reading 400 page story for a predictable ending.
Lastly, this story is more a romance than a true pirate adventure story. Sure, that's fine at the end of the day. Pirates fall in love, too. But Treasure Island doesn't have a love story and I can't help but feel like the fact that this book is YA means that, of course, there has to be a romance plot. I mean, there are so few YA books out there that manage to tell a story without one. I shouldn't have been surprised. Half of the reason why this book is so long is that the author has to provide ample time for the main character to fall in love with the girl pirate. It's not really that subtle - in fact, almost everyone else can tell that she's in love with another girl, and I'm surprised there wasn't even a whiff of homophobia in this book, given that it takes place in the 1800s. The romance was okay, but nothing to write home about.
Part of the problem with it is that the rest of the writing is so juvenile. This book feels middle-grade in the strongest way. I almost forgot this girl was 16, because most of the time, she acts, speaks, and thinks like a 12yo. I don't mind a young protagonist. I mean Jim, from the original story is young, too, but he also isn't distracted from what's going on in the story every time he sees even a hint of skin. He doesn't spend so many dazed moments thinking about someone's arm around his waist, and he doesn't spend critical moments when he's trying to survive imagining his life with another person.
The last thing I'll say about this book is that it just doesn't feel like a pirate story. I mean, the author was inspired by an actual pirate and goes on to do her best to demonize that pirate. Sure most of the book is spent referencing this historical figure, Zheng Yi Sao, and how amazing she was and all of her accomplishments. But at the end of the day, this story doesn't really make you want to know more about her. She becomes a caricature of a person, a scapegoat, and doesn't come off well at the end of the day. I think the author was really inspired by this historical figure, and not by Treasure Island, and did her best to work in a wlw romance just because. And she ended up writing a really basic pirate adventure story where almost nothing dangerous happens. It's just very juvenile and not well executed. I wish I hadn't had to get through 400 pages just to be left with this.
I would call this a "retelling" heavy on quotation marks. I'm I big "Treasure Island" fan, so I was excited to see someone take up this story in a different context. While it does contain a treasure on an island, some very vague sense of pirates, and a young person as the protagonist, not much of "Clash of Steel" calls to mind "Treasure Island."
For one thing, this book is 400 pages. I have no idea why this book is so long because ultimately the story is very simple and straightforward, with not much going on. The author takes so much time even getting to the story. We spend 100+ pages just setting up the main character's life, hopes, and dreams. I wish this book had been shorter because the pacing is just so slow and when you finally get to action sequences, you are let down because they end so quickly and it takes another 50-90 pages to get to anything else exciting.
For another, what this book ultimately lacks is a "Long John Silver" character, a deeply morally gray character, complex, mysterious, so interesting that you want to trust them, but aren't entirely surprised when they betray you...but then they somehow still have redeeming qualities. I think Long John is one of the core reasons why Treasure Island is such an amazing story, one of the most compelling elements. But you just don't get that with this book. Ultimately, this book is a basic villain story, one that isn't even surprising and in the end, leaves you let down and without any desire to feel happiness at the end because you just got through reading 400 page story for a predictable ending.
Lastly, this story is more a romance than a true pirate adventure story. Sure, that's fine at the end of the day. Pirates fall in love, too. But Treasure Island doesn't have a love story and I can't help but feel like the fact that this book is YA means that, of course, there has to be a romance plot. I mean, there are so few YA books out there that manage to tell a story without one. I shouldn't have been surprised. Half of the reason why this book is so long is that the author has to provide ample time for the main character to fall in love with the girl pirate. It's not really that subtle - in fact, almost everyone else can tell that she's in love with another girl, and I'm surprised there wasn't even a whiff of homophobia in this book, given that it takes place in the 1800s. The romance was okay, but nothing to write home about.
Part of the problem with it is that the rest of the writing is so juvenile. This book feels middle-grade in the strongest way. I almost forgot this girl was 16, because most of the time, she acts, speaks, and thinks like a 12yo. I don't mind a young protagonist. I mean Jim, from the original story is young, too, but he also isn't distracted from what's going on in the story every time he sees even a hint of skin. He doesn't spend so many dazed moments thinking about someone's arm around his waist, and he doesn't spend critical moments when he's trying to survive imagining his life with another person.
The last thing I'll say about this book is that it just doesn't feel like a pirate story. I mean, the author was inspired by an actual pirate and goes on to do her best to demonize that pirate. Sure most of the book is spent referencing this historical figure, Zheng Yi Sao, and how amazing she was and all of her accomplishments. But at the end of the day, this story doesn't really make you want to know more about her. She becomes a caricature of a person, a scapegoat, and doesn't come off well at the end of the day. I think the author was really inspired by this historical figure, and not by Treasure Island, and did her best to work in a wlw romance just because. And she ended up writing a really basic pirate adventure story where almost nothing dangerous happens. It's just very juvenile and not well executed. I wish I hadn't had to get through 400 pages just to be left with this.