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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
To be honest, this book is a lot. It's over the top. It's a lot of fun at times, but also a lot of wtf at times. Things do make more sense at the end, but there's a lot of shit you have to wade through to get there.
Also, what kind of 30-something adult tells themselves "Me is Boss" unironically? It was a rather immature book a lot of the time, which made it difficult to read.
I love pirate books, but I did not like this one a lot.
Also, what kind of 30-something adult tells themselves "Me is Boss" unironically? It was a rather immature book a lot of the time, which made it difficult to read.
I love pirate books, but I did not like this one a lot.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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:
Complicated
Darren, a soft-hearted pirate who saves people from bad guys, finds herself stuck with Lynn, a young woman whose village has been raided so many times only children remain. Darren and her crew bring the small group to a new life but Lynn won’t leave Darren, insisting she keeps her as her slave. Slave in name only as very soon it becomes obvious that Lynn is the real leader on the ship.
This book is a tour de force in that it tells a gruesome and heart-wrenching story yet got more than a few laughs out of me. Benny Lawrence’s books have been on my TBR for years but I get so many ARCs (not complaining, it’s awesome and I feel very lucky) that I can’t often find time to catch up on books I missed when they were released. Audiobooks give me that opportunity and when I saw the author was giving away review codes for this one, I jumped at the chance.
Lynn is maddening and infuriating and her sarcasm and wit are irresistible. Darren never stands a chance and has no choice but to work on being the pirate queen Lynn sees in her. Behind the one-liners and sword fights and twists, both women’s backstories come out, neither easy but one more tragic than the other. I had a hard time listening to the last part but I also had so much faith in Lynn, in Darren, in their faithful crew, that it held me through the toughest parts.
I’m not sure why two narrators were necessary but since they’re both new to me (and I think both are queer, which is kinda wonderful), I now look forward to listening to them in other books. They both mystify me though, the narration was at times brilliant and at times choppy. Both however were excellent in dialogue and both contributed to my love for the two main characters.
As others have written before me, this is a book like no other, a rollercoaster of adventures and emotions, which at times doesn’t seem to make sense at all but actually really does. Lynn is a fantastic character and Darren is much sweeter than any pirate has a right to be. Like her characters, the author follows no rules or, rather, makes her own, and, amazingly, it works.
It’s safe to say that my first experience with a Benny Lawrence book was a success. Now to make time for the others… 4.5⭐️
I received an audiobook code from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
For no matter what the jurists and philosophers assert
There is just one human duty: it's to help more than you hurt.
And the world must turn and change, whatever gloomy prophets say--
And if you can't accept that? Get the hell out of my way.
I did not expect to like this book so much when I started it. The first third of the book didn't really grip me, and I mentally settled on this as a cute, lighthearted read that I'd chip away over time. Then I finished the last 2/3 of the book...today, in one sitting, so that changed pretty drastically.
The characterization of the leads felt a little weak and tell-not-show to me in the beginning. I have a particularly annoyed note in one of my reading check-ins wondering how So-and-so knows all of this about this-and-that. That gets explained later, and the characterization picks up and feels smart and well-developed in the latter half of the book. The plot is similar. If you like the general idea of the story, stick with it through the beginning. It pays off.
The last third is dark and there are some definite trigger warnings to be aware of, but the first-person POV helps maintain the cozy-read status because obviously they're both alive since they're telling the story. Overall, it's a smart and hopeful story about creating your own destiny and pushing past the arbitrary limits of your family, your society, and your own mind.
There is just one human duty: it's to help more than you hurt.
And the world must turn and change, whatever gloomy prophets say--
And if you can't accept that? Get the hell out of my way.
I did not expect to like this book so much when I started it. The first third of the book didn't really grip me, and I mentally settled on this as a cute, lighthearted read that I'd chip away over time. Then I finished the last 2/3 of the book...today, in one sitting, so that changed pretty drastically.
The characterization of the leads felt a little weak and tell-not-show to me in the beginning. I have a particularly annoyed note in one of my reading check-ins wondering how So-and-so knows all of this about this-and-that. That gets explained later, and the characterization picks up and feels smart and well-developed in the latter half of the book. The plot is similar. If you like the general idea of the story, stick with it through the beginning. It pays off.
The last third is dark and there are some definite trigger warnings to be aware of, but the first-person POV helps maintain the cozy-read status because
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse
Minor: Lesbophobia
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC!!!!!!
I can't believe that a book about lesbian pirates managed to be nothing like what I was expecting and also to be IMMEASURABLY BETTER THAN I HAD EVER HOPED!!! It's funny without being goofy, Darren and Lynn are both so quick witted and sarcastic and hilarious. The romance is perfect without being soppy, no two people could be more perfect together than these two, honestly. The plot is so addictive and enthralling, I literally didn't put it down from start to finish. Nothing at all was as it initially seemed (which is good because for a second there at the beginning I was worried). Both of the main characters are so well developed and have such distinctive, amazing voices. The alternating first person perspective wouldn't have sounded appealing to me before reading it, but after the fact I can see there really was no better way to tell this story, and at no point while I was reading did it pull me out of the story or bother me in any way. sorry I'm rambling but damn this book is such a wonderful time!!!!
If you're going to read this, please be warned of violence/abuse/child abuse. I'm always happy to give more details about content warnings if anyone needs them.
I can't believe that a book about lesbian pirates managed to be nothing like what I was expecting and also to be IMMEASURABLY BETTER THAN I HAD EVER HOPED!!! It's funny without being goofy, Darren and Lynn are both so quick witted and sarcastic and hilarious. The romance is perfect without being soppy, no two people could be more perfect together than these two, honestly. The plot is so addictive and enthralling, I literally didn't put it down from start to finish. Nothing at all was as it initially seemed (which is good because for a second there at the beginning I was worried). Both of the main characters are so well developed and have such distinctive, amazing voices. The alternating first person perspective wouldn't have sounded appealing to me before reading it, but after the fact I can see there really was no better way to tell this story, and at no point while I was reading did it pull me out of the story or bother me in any way. sorry I'm rambling but damn this book is such a wonderful time!!!!
If you're going to read this, please be warned of violence/abuse/child abuse. I'm always happy to give more details about content warnings if anyone needs them.
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I will be writing a proper review later when I'm feeling better. Right now I'm battling a bitch of a flu that takes all my energy.
It's rare for me these days to give such high ratings, even more so if the narrative is in first person. I sighed when I opened the book and saw it followed the pattern of dividing it up in three parts, one for each lead and then one for the both of them. I'm firmly in the camp of people who hate that way of telling a narrative.
But I gamely pressed on, and I'm glad I did.
The story starts when would-be pirate queen who actually doesn't have a clue what the fuck she's doing rescues a girl from a much raided fishing village, only to find said rescued girl demands she be treated as a prisoner and then proceeds to boss the crew around in making that happen. You have to read the rest of the story to see how that works out.
The first two parts are hilarious, with many a laugh out loud moment. We're talking about pirates who brave the high seas and the occasional ocelot and have much swashbuckling going on with ivory figurines of elephants thrown in for good measure.
The third part is much darker, and from what I gather a bit controversial. I can see why, some parts aren't what you expect to find in a comedy. It is disturbing to read, but at the same time portrays the strenght of one of the leads at the same time.
It ends with an epilogue, and I'll be frank here (no pun intended), I hate epilogues. It always seems like a cop-out or something. The main story itself is brilliant, though, so I'll give it rating it deserves. (Which, apparently makes me a fangirl and a lackey, if a certain review is to be believed. Well, I'm neither a girl nor do I answer to anyone).
But I gamely pressed on, and I'm glad I did.
The story starts when would-be pirate queen who actually doesn't have a clue what the fuck she's doing rescues a girl from a much raided fishing village, only to find said rescued girl demands she be treated as a prisoner and then proceeds to boss the crew around in making that happen. You have to read the rest of the story to see how that works out.
The first two parts are hilarious, with many a laugh out loud moment. We're talking about pirates who brave the high seas and the occasional ocelot and have much swashbuckling going on with ivory figurines of elephants thrown in for good measure.
The third part is much darker, and from what I gather a bit controversial. I can see why, some parts aren't what you expect to find in a comedy. It is disturbing to read, but at the same time portrays the strenght of one of the leads at the same time.
It ends with an epilogue, and I'll be frank here (no pun intended), I hate epilogues. It always seems like a cop-out or something. The main story itself is brilliant, though, so I'll give it rating it deserves. (Which, apparently makes me a fangirl and a lackey, if a certain review is to be believed. Well, I'm neither a girl nor do I answer to anyone).