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nakarem's review
3.0
beautiful images, lovely ideas, I’ll remember this fondly.
Still...I wish there were more connections between the stories, not only (but also) because reading it would have been less “work" to me.
Also there are some concepts that I’d rather...were just left out instead of oversimplified.
Still...I wish there were more connections between the stories, not only (but also) because reading it would have been less “work" to me.
Also there are some concepts that I’d rather...were just left out instead of oversimplified.
araleith's review
4.0
These stories were so much fun. A capybara pirate and all her pirate crew, what more could you want?
irasobrietate's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
shadeyc's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Well this is completely adorable and a massive warm hug! LOVE.
bestack's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
libraryanned's review
2.0
The concept of a lesbian pirate capybara and her rodent friends, including a trans chinchilla with a beard, gets five stars. Unfortunately, the actual book did not live up to the fun concept. I think if there had at least been some adorable illustrations to accompany the subpar stories, it could have been more palatable. Let's just say I was relieved when it was finally over.
pastathief's review
2.0
In many ways, this book was charming, and full of whimsy. I really wanted to love it. However, it just failed to grab me, which made reading it a drawn out chore for me. I stuck with it to the end, hoping that I would gel with it more, but I never did. It seemed to lack everything that makes me want to return to a story -- characters experiencing an arc, a sense of urgency, cause and effect, some sort of comprehensible trajectory. The short stories are all momentary snapshots. The resolutions all have the feeling of Deus ex Machina. Often there's no conflict at all, and the characters do little more than sightsee as wonders happen around them. The writing has a strong style, but one that obscures what's happening as often as it elucidates. The plots are liked those children tell -- full of random events with no rhyme or reason. In the end, I feel less like the book is faulty and more like I'm just entirely the wrong target market. I'm sure many others will love this book. I'm a little sad that I'm not among them.
shanaqui's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I'd heard about this book quite frequently, but only picked it up recently, for some reason. I love the idea of a dapper, polyamorous, lesbian pirate capybara, and the introduction to the book states something really vital: queer joy is important. Yes, we still have fighting to do, to ban conversion therapy and reverse the recent erosion of trans rights... but to do that we need to nourish ourselves. Our joy is needed too. Plus, a happy queer person is one in the eye for the haters.
So... I wanted to love this book, and I definitely did enjoy the diverse cast, the inclusiveness of Cinrak's crew and world.
But it feels a little like a collection of stories based on an existing world that the reader should already be familiar with. Things aren't explained, they just happen. Oh, Cinrak has salt magic -- okay, but what does that mean? What are the bounds on it? I initially got the impression it was all sea-related, then it can also sense danger, then it can bust open other magic to save the day... Cinrak and crew always suddenly had the resources/capabilities needed in any given situation.
There were a lot of gaps, and they weren't the kind that are just part of figuring out the world; I like worldbuilding that makes you do the work, but this wasn't that.
This collection is enjoyable -- and hey, a dapper polyamorous lesbian pirate capybara is a glorious concept and one I'm glad to have met -- just didn't quite work out for me.