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booksofbells's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
a story about survival and resilience of Wanda, a girl born in the midst of a hurricane Wanda, hence the name was given. i picked this up out of the blue and instantly liked the writings. throughout the book i was immensely impressed with the story. the relation between the changes in nature and human's survival was perfectly done. the wordings, the settings, characters, it feels so familiar when i read this book. i can't describe exactly what i felt but all i can say is that i've never read a literary fiction before cause i don't like it but this one is different. it was so good. highly recommend it if you want to read for leisure.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Pregnancy, Bullying, and Animal death
jessismoore's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Murder, Dementia, Gun violence, Violence, Death of parent, and Car accident
Minor: Animal death
Natural disasterskelseylee123's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Dementia, Gun violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Bullying, Child death, Death, Violence, Animal death, and Body horror
hmatt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It's a rarity, at least in the range of speculative fiction that I usually read, to encounter a book that so thoroughly looks at the "in-between times". So often, we're plopped into a near-future where things have mostly transitioned to a "new" way of being post-climate disaster/pandemic/whatever. The Light Pirate doesn't do this: It takes the reader through the before, mid, and after in heart-wrenching detail, and is a much better story for it.
That said, this book is definitely a slower burn. Very, very dramatic things happen but they almost feel muted because of how they're described. I didn't hate this, it's just something to note. We're taken through the entire life of the main character (who is "The Light Pirate") from multiple perspectives.There are maybe supernatural elements to this story, but I thought the author did a great job of keeping that mostly vague, as though they could also be explained through science. I've tagged the book as hopeful because it is - despite experiencing incredible loss throughout her life, the main character persists.
I've started and not finished one of the author's other novels multiple times, and my enjoyment of this one may just be the push I need to actually push through it this year
Loved the little romance at the end.
That said, this book is definitely a slower burn. Very, very dramatic things happen but they almost feel muted because of how they're described. I didn't hate this, it's just something to note. We're taken through the entire life of the main character (who is "The Light Pirate") from multiple perspectives.
I've started and not finished one of the author's other novels multiple times, and my enjoyment of this one may just be the push I need to actually push through it this year
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dementia, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, Death, Bullying, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death
nutmegandpumpkin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It made me anxious about the future of Florida but was beautifully written and sad but not without hope. The way the decline of society / structure is shown in the book feels very realistic.
Some quick info:
• spans over an entire lifetime
• set in a fictional town in SE Florida
• a little sapphic
• post apocalyptic? The fall of society? Nature taking back?
• SAD :(
• but brings up important points and ideas
Some quick info:
• spans over an entire lifetime
• set in a fictional town in SE Florida
• a little sapphic
• post apocalyptic? The fall of society? Nature taking back?
• SAD :(
• but brings up important points and ideas
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Pregnancy, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, and Dementia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Gore
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Child death
tifftastic87's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Light Pirate follows Wanda who is born in a devastating hurricane that changes not only the trajectory of her family but signals the change in the world itself. We follow Wanda as she grows up in a Florida ravaged by climate change. She learns to survive, guided by her mentor and adoptive mother, Phyllis. Phyllis is an ecologist and a bit of a prepper, but she was right. As Florida slips further away, Wanda becomes more isolated and the rest of the country follows.
This book is beautifully written, it reminds me a lot of Mink River in that it is very much about the environment as much as the characters. Its a love letter to a world slipping away.
Wanda is such a wonderful character and she suffers so much loss throughout her life. The climate anxiety underlaying the whole story gave it an edge that made it border on post apocalyptic. But the moments of Wanda doing basic survival things, mending nets, drying fish etc gave it a quiet element that most disaster movies and post-apocalyptic stories don't have. It was a quiet survival. In parts it reminded me of Water World.
The pacing was great and the "chapters" that were just from the perspective of the environment were a wonderful touch.
This book is beautifully written, it reminds me a lot of Mink River in that it is very much about the environment as much as the characters. Its a love letter to a world slipping away.
Wanda is such a wonderful character and she suffers so much loss throughout her life. The climate anxiety underlaying the whole story gave it an edge that made it border on post apocalyptic. But the moments of Wanda doing basic survival things, mending nets, drying fish etc gave it a quiet element that most disaster movies and post-apocalyptic stories don't have. It was a quiet survival. In parts it reminded me of Water World.
The pacing was great and the "chapters" that were just from the perspective of the environment were a wonderful touch.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Child death, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, and Bullying
Moderate: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Animal death
brianna_moye's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Grief, Animal death, Bullying, and Pregnancy
lndsmcarter's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Blood, Car accident, and Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content and Animal death
oceanwriter's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
3.0
Choosing to read this book while vacationing in Florida was perhaps not the wisest decision, but I guess it did give me a certain level of appreciation that I might not have had otherwise...
Set sometime in a not-so-distant future in an ever-shrinking Florida, Wanda is born in the midst of a terrible storm. The story sees this extraordinary child through to adulthood. In her lifetime she's privy to constant changes in her family and climate. Even when things reach total disaster, she's reluctant to leave her home.
I loved the writing. It was atmospheric and created vivid imagery. What lacked for me was the characterization. I didn't connect to anyone which kept me from getting fully immersed into the story. A 'me' issue, I'm sure. I did like it, I just didn't latch onto it.
Set sometime in a not-so-distant future in an ever-shrinking Florida, Wanda is born in the midst of a terrible storm. The story sees this extraordinary child through to adulthood. In her lifetime she's privy to constant changes in her family and climate. Even when things reach total disaster, she's reluctant to leave her home.
I loved the writing. It was atmospheric and created vivid imagery. What lacked for me was the characterization. I didn't connect to anyone which kept me from getting fully immersed into the story. A 'me' issue, I'm sure. I did like it, I just didn't latch onto it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, and Grief
Minor: Animal death and Dementia
theverycraftyvegan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
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? Yes
5.0
I can’t praise this book enough.
The stories of Frida, Kirby, Lucas, Flip, Wanda, Phylis, and Bird Dog will fill you with love and hope then rip your heart apart; both beautifully and tragically.
I openly wept while listening to this audiobook not only because of the story and the characters, but also because of its not-so-fictional plot and not-so-distant-future setting. This book is about how a select few struggled to survive its rapid changes while so many others couldn’t.
The stories of Frida, Kirby, Lucas, Flip, Wanda, Phylis, and Bird Dog will fill you with love and hope then rip your heart apart; both beautifully and tragically.
I openly wept while listening to this audiobook not only because of the story and the characters, but also because of its not-so-fictional plot and not-so-distant-future setting. This book is about how a select few struggled to survive its rapid changes while so many others couldn’t.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Blood, Bullying, Child death, and Death of parent
Moderate: Chronic illness, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, and Dementia
Minor: Cursing and Vomit