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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
I think it would have helped if I’d realised from the outset that this is a fantasy - the “Bridgerton meets Peaky Blinders” tagline didn’t allude to the healthy dose of Howl’s Moving Castle/Miracle Max style of magic that is an essential part of the world.
Once I figured out the genre, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It’s funny, sweet, acerbic, self-aware, romantic and a little bit dangerous - as all great love stories should be.
Once I figured out the genre, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. It’s funny, sweet, acerbic, self-aware, romantic and a little bit dangerous - as all great love stories should be.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably the most fun I’ve had reading a romance. Loved the writing!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Honestly just ridiculously whimsical and fun! I can see how it wouldn’t be for everyone but I loved it, plus the audiobook is really good.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A silly, satirical story about Victorian-era lady thieves. It was fun, over-the-top, and sweet. Clever and goofy all at once, I enjoyed the romp through Britain with these shipless pirates. Just don’t take it too seriously
A hot mess of genres. I added a star for mentioning Hawaii (Queen from Hawaii).
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
I think this might be the funniest book I've read this year??? I cannot count the amount of times I had to pause the audiobook because I was laughing so hard!!
Elizabeth Knowelden is the PERFECT narrator for this book! She kept up with the pacing of jokes and banter with excellent speed, and really brought out the sarcastic/gossipy tone of the novel. So happy to see she narrates the other novels as well!
Absolutely brilliant banter (very gilmore girls levels of speed and wit), fun fight scenes, and an overall fantastic story! The tone of this book is filled with sass and the exposition feels like gossip. Cecilia is a hilarious contradiction as are the rest of the Lady Scoundrels in this alternate victorian era england. She's an easy character to get behind and I really enjoyed her wits and prowess as a pirate. This story leans more into piracy, the witchcraft serves more as a background for the fantastical environment. It all just works so damn well. The women of this book have created their own path in a very patriarchal life, and I love that they consider all men to be stupid lmao oops
Aunty Darlington and other society members are truly hilarious, vicious pirates with a strong loyalty to propriety. I loved how the society even takes time to rob and scheme against each other, with assassination attempts scene as a mark of pride or even a rite of passage. Ned Lightbourne you cheeky fellow, I loved his many roles in this story and his steadfast and unchanging pursuit of Cecilia. Their fight scenese were actually my favorite parts of the book. And captain moravitch....yikes he was actually terrifying.
Now I gotta say something that you may roll your eyes at considering this is historical fiction, but I do not fuck with Queen Victoria's presence in the last 15% of the book. At her party she even has King Leopold II in attendance and its like...I hate these people!! There is also a moment in the beginning where Cecilia says something along the lines of "I wish I were a lesbian..." in response to dealing with a man and dude this is so tired. This book came out in 2021 and this expression has been antiquated for quite some time. This was a debut so I'm definitely curious about the other books in the series.
Overall this book was incredibly charming and genuinely funny as fuck with nods to not only literature but also the reader. If you like Drunk History, pirates, and sarcastic banter, I think you would very much enjoy this. Can't wait to read the other books!
Elizabeth Knowelden is the PERFECT narrator for this book! She kept up with the pacing of jokes and banter with excellent speed, and really brought out the sarcastic/gossipy tone of the novel. So happy to see she narrates the other novels as well!
Absolutely brilliant banter (very gilmore girls levels of speed and wit), fun fight scenes, and an overall fantastic story! The tone of this book is filled with sass and the exposition feels like gossip. Cecilia is a hilarious contradiction as are the rest of the Lady Scoundrels in this alternate victorian era england. She's an easy character to get behind and I really enjoyed her wits and prowess as a pirate. This story leans more into piracy, the witchcraft serves more as a background for the fantastical environment. It all just works so damn well. The women of this book have created their own path in a very patriarchal life, and I love that they consider all men to be stupid lmao oops
Aunty Darlington and other society members are truly hilarious, vicious pirates with a strong loyalty to propriety. I loved how the society even takes time to rob and scheme against each other, with assassination attempts scene as a mark of pride or even a rite of passage. Ned Lightbourne you cheeky fellow, I loved his many roles in this story and his steadfast and unchanging pursuit of Cecilia. Their fight scenese were actually my favorite parts of the book. And captain moravitch....yikes he was actually terrifying.
Now I gotta say something that you may roll your eyes at considering this is historical fiction, but I do not fuck with Queen Victoria's presence in the last 15% of the book. At her party she even has King Leopold II in attendance and its like...I hate these people!! There is also a moment in the beginning where Cecilia says something along the lines of "I wish I were a lesbian..." in response to dealing with a man and dude this is so tired. This book came out in 2021 and this expression has been antiquated for quite some time. This was a debut so I'm definitely curious about the other books in the series.
Overall this book was incredibly charming and genuinely funny as fuck with nods to not only literature but also the reader. If you like Drunk History, pirates, and sarcastic banter, I think you would very much enjoy this. Can't wait to read the other books!
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No