A review by librovermo
Swashbucklers by Dan Hanks

5.0

A character named Michelle! There’s not enough Michelle representation in books so I’m always happy when I come across one. And when the Michelle is a major character? Hell. Yes.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun reading this book, which felt a little more lighthearted than my first Dan Hanks book, The Way Up Is Death, but still gave me plenty to think about.

As someone who has no children and has never had to take care of any beyond babysitting as a young teen, I didn’t relate to any of the characters super easily when it came to juggling their sort of superhero status with their children’s needs, school functions, etc. But luckily, I know how to put myself in other people’s shoes (a dying art), and man did I come away from Swashbucklers with an even greater appreciation for all nonfictional parents who do so much for their children on top of everything else they have to take care of.

There was a lot of action and I’m learning that Dan Hanks has a way of pacing it out in a way I really like. It wasn’t lopsided or so jam packed with no breaks that I got tired. I loved all the video game references, the enemies Cisco and his friends (including Michelle!) fought were super creative, and the story went places I really didn’t expect. Literally. There was traversal through other worlds and I did not expect that.

And the ending! It was both satisfying and left me wanting more, a very strange (but good) mix. I feel like it could easily end there and I’d be okay because (spoiler reasons lol), but I feel more like I don’t want it to end, please write a sequel thanks.