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razzamatazzberry's review
medium-paced
3.0
Let's start with what I liked about this book.
1. The MCs were adorable. Cute buttons, I was giddy and really keen for them to get together.
2. It was a fun take on piracy - the front, the taking not killing, the acting and the pain when someone threatened the fascade and they had to prove themselves cruel.
3. The representation. Captain Holt was pan sexual, which made Jane's disguise and their attraction work very well. The other relationships were also sweet and believable.
4. I'm glad that I didn't now the spice level before reading because I wouldn't have picked it up if I had.I usually prefer at least once scene in my romances, and this only gave me kisses and vague hints. It's still pretty brutal, though with blood and gore, death and desperation, so it's absolutely not innocent.
Now onto what I didn't like as much, or, rather, which has me disappointed.
1. I like a good discussion, internal and external about the moral challenges the MCs face. With the fun take on piracy comes the moral dilemma of attempting to be a morally good thief. But if thieving is morally bad, and occasionally leads to you having to kill and maim, how can you be morally good. It is the question of "how can you be good while doing bad things?" I would have liked such a discussion. The MCs sneak past the discussion, dipping a toe into it, but I would have prefered it be taken on completely.
2. Along these lines, there were instances where the FMC's actions felt unsatisfactorally motivated. She'd think of one option, then the other, and then act. There were no considerations for consequences other than her being discovered, which just left me wondering why she was acting the way she was. This was enhanced by the lack of emotions, for example when she considered leaving the Sneaky Lass, she just couldn't do it, but I rarely found her agonising about the thought of it, or mourning the prospective loss, leading her to cling tighter to what she has, or act foolishly, or less carefully, threatening exposure.
3. This leads me to the premise of the story. The Sneaky Lass has the rule that any man who keeps a secret shall be marooned on a deserted island to die of thirst or suicide. This is, to me, an odd rule to have on a pirate ship. Even stranger, no one seems to care about the rule. If it were that important, before every departure, people would be lining up to tell every newcomer their deepest darkest secret. If it were that important, the two people who learn about her secret would have told the captain immediately and felt no regret about it. It just doesn't make sense.
4. This brings me to the climax.One of the sailors, I forget his name, tells the FMC a story in the beginning of her travel with the Sneaky Lass about a captain who fell in love and who changed the rules for his love's sake. This to me was a Chekovs gun. Holt would find out about Jane and, because he's in love with her, would forgive her. This did not happen and I am very disappointed. At every turn I waited for her to be discovered: I wanted her to take the boy's punishment because she was supposed to try to be a good person, but instead she flogged him. I wanted her shirt to become seethrough, causing Holt to ask questions about the binding around her chest. I wanted Holt to see the discomfort when they were at that brothel but it just served as a ploy to cause jealousy. I wanted Holt to sneak into Jane's room when she was bathing and discover it. I wanted him to find her stitching up her wound. Instead, he finds out while Jane is unconsious. I got to see nothing. No expression, no rage, no guilt, not even the need to save face in front of his men. Nothing. I am greatly disappointed. And while I want to know how things end up, I don't think I can bring myself to read the second book.
1. The MCs were adorable. Cute buttons, I was giddy and really keen for them to get together.
2. It was a fun take on piracy - the front, the taking not killing, the acting and the pain when someone threatened the fascade and they had to prove themselves cruel.
3. The representation. Captain Holt was pan sexual, which made Jane's disguise and their attraction work very well. The other relationships were also sweet and believable.
4. I'm glad that I didn't now the spice level before reading because I wouldn't have picked it up if I had.
Now onto what I didn't like as much, or, rather, which has me disappointed.
1. I like a good discussion, internal and external about the moral challenges the MCs face. With the fun take on piracy comes the moral dilemma of attempting to be a morally good thief. But if thieving is morally bad, and occasionally leads to you having to kill and maim, how can you be morally good. It is the question of "how can you be good while doing bad things?" I would have liked such a discussion. The MCs sneak past the discussion, dipping a toe into it, but I would have prefered it be taken on completely.
2. Along these lines, there were instances where the FMC's actions felt unsatisfactorally motivated. She'd think of one option, then the other, and then act. There were no considerations for consequences other than her being discovered, which just left me wondering why she was acting the way she was. This was enhanced by the lack of emotions, for example when she considered leaving the Sneaky Lass, she just couldn't do it, but I rarely found her agonising about the thought of it, or mourning the prospective loss, leading her to cling tighter to what she has, or act foolishly, or less carefully, threatening exposure.
3. This leads me to the premise of the story. The Sneaky Lass has the rule that any man who keeps a secret shall be marooned on a deserted island to die of thirst or suicide. This is, to me, an odd rule to have on a pirate ship. Even stranger, no one seems to care about the rule. If it were that important, before every departure, people would be lining up to tell every newcomer their deepest darkest secret. If it were that important, the two people who learn about her secret would have told the captain immediately and felt no regret about it. It just doesn't make sense.
4. This brings me to the climax.
caseyflemingo's review
5.0
I was interested in this book from the premise alone, but it was even better than I hoped. I’ve been looking for a good book for a mental escape for awhile, and finally found it here. I got lost in the story and enjoyed the world and the characters so much. I cannot wait for the sequel.
moukinnokage's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
cisco's review
fast-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
4.0
booknerdymom's review
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
kassiebetweenpages's review
5.0
Reread 2024: yup I am still in love with this book! I did the audio book this time around and omgahhh does it really bring the story to life!
Original read 2022:
"I envy those men, and all men. No matter how dire their situations, they will never sink so low as me."
Kennedy Sutton crushed her first book The Sneaky Lass! this book gave me serious book hangover. one of the best historical romance stories I have read. the world building and little details really submerge you fully into the story.
I loved the Female Main character you can really see the struggle she goes through in the beginning as a prostitute, when she decides to change her circumstances she takes up with a group of pirates under the guise of a man. it has LGBTQ+ representation, slow burn/forbidden love, and all the things you love about Pirates and adventure regarding the sea.
that ending though! half of me left along with that ending and I will not be whole again until I have book two in my hands!
Original read 2022:
"I envy those men, and all men. No matter how dire their situations, they will never sink so low as me."
Kennedy Sutton crushed her first book The Sneaky Lass! this book gave me serious book hangover. one of the best historical romance stories I have read. the world building and little details really submerge you fully into the story.
I loved the Female Main character you can really see the struggle she goes through in the beginning as a prostitute, when she decides to change her circumstances she takes up with a group of pirates under the guise of a man. it has LGBTQ+ representation, slow burn/forbidden love, and all the things you love about Pirates and adventure regarding the sea.
that ending though! half of me left along with that ending and I will not be whole again until I have book two in my hands!
whiskeywoman79's review against another edition
4.0
⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5
Pirates / Fantasy / Romance / Slow burn / No burn
I wanted to love this book. I love pirates. I have a pirate license plate that my sister had made for me at Disney World on my wall. There are multiple inside jokes with old friends about pirates.
This fell short on the pirate side of life for me. So my actual rating would be 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4 for ratings and reviews.
Had this been an epic fantasy over romance, I might have enjoyed it a little bit more. It was interesting learning about Jane's backstory, bits and pieces felt misplaced like learning about Bryce?
I think to call this a slow burn is BS!! This is a no-burn book. There is angst. There are secrets. There is love I'm not going to go into details of all those things because it would give so many spoilers away, but there is no uniting.
I know it's a series but I would rather have a cliffhanger than the ending given in this book, I felt it could have been a longer book and told more of the story and left off in a place that made me more intrigued on what was going to happen next. That kind of sucks because I read this book in one day. I didn't want to put it down but I was let down as the story revealed itself.
Pirates / Fantasy / Romance / Slow burn / No burn
I wanted to love this book. I love pirates. I have a pirate license plate that my sister had made for me at Disney World on my wall. There are multiple inside jokes with old friends about pirates.
This fell short on the pirate side of life for me. So my actual rating would be 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4 for ratings and reviews.
Had this been an epic fantasy over romance, I might have enjoyed it a little bit more. It was interesting learning about Jane's backstory, bits and pieces felt misplaced like learning about Bryce?
I think to call this a slow burn is BS!! This is a no-burn book. There is angst. There are secrets. There is love I'm not going to go into details of all those things because it would give so many spoilers away, but there is no uniting.
I know it's a series but I would rather have a cliffhanger than the ending given in this book, I felt it could have been a longer book and told more of the story and left off in a place that made me more intrigued on what was going to happen next. That kind of sucks because I read this book in one day. I didn't want to put it down but I was let down as the story revealed itself.
queenofthefae17's review against another edition
5.0
SO GOOD!!!
This book is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The plot is gripping and it’s impossible to not fall in love with the characters. I’m just glad that I only have to wait a week for the next one because if not I would go mad.
This book is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The plot is gripping and it’s impossible to not fall in love with the characters. I’m just glad that I only have to wait a week for the next one because if not I would go mad.
queenofnothing17's review
5.0
SO GOOD!!!
This book is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The plot is gripping and it’s impossible to not fall in love with the characters. I’m just glad that I only have to wait a week for the next one because if not I would go mad.
This book is the best book I’ve read in a long time. The plot is gripping and it’s impossible to not fall in love with the characters. I’m just glad that I only have to wait a week for the next one because if not I would go mad.