Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller {review}

Daughter of the Pirate King 
by Tricia Levenseller
♦publisher: Feiwel & Friends
♦release date: February 28th, 2017
♦hardcover, 320 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Daughter of the Pirate King, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.

Review: This book!  I ended up liking this one more than I thought I would.  I honestly struggle to find fault with it, it's just too much fun. With a fast paced plot, great unexpected characters, and a very cool surprise twist, Daughter of the Pirate King was a fantastic read from beginning to end. 

The setting and characters definitely have a very Hollywood-ized pirate feel, so if you're a big fan of Pirates of the Carribean and not a stickler for a historical portrayal, you'll really be able to enjoy this.  There's much swashbuckling and carousing, sword-fighting and heavy trigger fingers abound, and a few stereotypical piratey types roaming around these pages, but it all adds to the entertainment. 

Alosa is so fierce, I loved her. She just exudes confidence (sometimes overly so!) and knows she's a great pirate, but you really get a sense of who she is as she reflects on the torturous and cruel "lessons" put on her by her father, the pirate king, whom she still stretches herself to please. So her faults are definitely there. I loved how she was so tough and clever (though sometimes she thought herself more clever than she actually was), but still had so much love and respect for her almost all-woman crew. Plus I loved that in the dirty world of pirating, she insisted on, even reveled in, her femininity.  Doesn't take any crap from anyone, but still loves a nice dress. :)

Riden was interesting---a bit more kind and brooding that you would expect to find on the high seas---his brother was jerk enough for the both of them, I guess. He's a bit foolish at times, but in a heroic sort of way, so it was okay.  And he put a great importance on family, even being brought up in cruelty and knowing his brother is awful. He was a perfect sparing partner for Alosa and I loved their bantering and the hate-to-respect-to-love development between them. 

There was one big twist that I didn't see coming and it made this even more the type of story that I love. I don't remember ever feeling a let down in pace--this was a fast and fun read! I truly can't wait to get my hands on the second book so I can see what adventure is next for these characters! 

•ABOUT THE AUTHOR•

Initially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing and is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.

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Purchase the book:  Indiebound  •  BookDepository  •  Amazon