Reviews

The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper by A.J. Fitzwater

minervacerridwen's review

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring relaxing 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

5.0

This book is everything I've always wanted. Pirate adventures, talking animals, diverse queer representation, magic, kindness, and beautiful descriptions that often feel like poetry but still make you laugh. I hope this will turn into an animated TV series one day and reach lots of new fans. And if time travel were to be invented, this would definitely be a book I'd like to send to my teenage self. 

mariahaskins's review

5.0

A.J. Fitzwater’s new book contains seven linked tales about Cinrak, a very dapper lesbian capybara pirate. My short and quick review of the book is this: if you’re looking for fantasy full of dazzling fun with a joyful and giddy sense of adventure, set in a world where everything from the stars to the wind to the whales and the chinchilla cabin kit, sparkle and glisten with magic (and that is also very queer), then this book is everything you need and more.

Full review: https://mariahaskins.com/2020/02/10/book-review-the-voyages-of-cinrak-the-dapper-by-a-j-fitzwater/

krakentoagoodbook's review

4.0

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

If you're looking for an extremely wholesome, cheerful book to read, this is it! It reminded me of Redwall, but if it was much more chill and diverse. We certainly have a found family element here where everyone feels welcome. There's lots of diversity with LGBTQIA+ characters. Cinrak is a lesbian capybara who's seeing both a rat queen and a marmot. We have a trans chinchilla, as well as some nonbinary critters. There was some highly entertaining word play that I definitely enjoyed! My favorite part of these stories is obviously Agnes the kraken - she is absolutely wonderful!

I received a copy of this for review from the publisher - thank you! All opinions are my own.

beansandfungi's review

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

andicbuchanan's review

adventurous hopeful inspiring medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

Cinrak is a delight. It gets you right from "lesbian capybara pirate" but there's some solid worldbuilding and linguistic playfulness to back up the high concept adventure. This is an episodic book - a short story collection, technically, though it effectively works as a novella as well - but there's character growth across the arc which makes a definite difference. And, yknow, it's a world where queer/trans people can be rodent pirates and hang out with kraken, I really don't know what else one could need.

[Disclaimer: I know the author and beta read some of these stories, however I bought the book with my own money and this review has been left entirely voluntarily.]

apostrophen's review

5.0

Joyful, queer, and magical. More thorough reviews of the stories to come.

(When they're up, you'll be able to find them at this link.)

arifel's review

4.0

This is, as the subject matter would suggest, a very warm and fuzzy book in alll the senses. Cuddly krakens and star voyages and rodent-cat-fae-mer diplomacies!