Stories & Sweeties: Daughter of a Pirate King

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller {review}

Daughter of the Siren Queen
by Tricia Levenseller
♦publisher: Feiwel & Friends
♦release date: February 27th, 2018
♦hardcover, 352 pages
♦intended audience: Young adult
♦series: Daughter of the Pirate King, book 1
♦source: from publisher for honest review

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

{My Thoughts}

Although I easily could have jumped aboard for two or three more adventures with Alosa, Ridden, and the entire crew, Daughter of the Siren Queen wraps up this duology with a bang as loud as canon fire. Both books in this series are so much fun to read, although with this second installment, I definitely found the drama and emotional stakes to be higher.

The romance this time around not my favorite. Though they did finally get to a good place with it, and I recognized that Alosa was going through many tough emotional things, I didn't care for how on-again, off-again and sometimes cruel she was toward Ridden. Lots of misplaced anger toward him, only to turn that around the next moment when she needed him. Slight spoiler here: I did eventually love where it led, with him giving (and her finally accepting) the support and love he was offering her all along. (end spoiler).

Once again this series delivers so much adventure and really great battle scenes. The dangerous chase across the ocean, never knowing when their pursuers would catch them added so much intensity to the plot.

I love how much Alosa eventually comes into her own though this story. Her character really makes strides from lashing out to taking charge of her own fate. Loved how so many of the relationships among the crew were really spotlighted and we got to know more about many of them. Also, please let there be a spin-off series featuring little Rosalyn when she grows up!! She is a firecracker and I know she would find some amazing adventure to get herself into!

•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

Friday, March 3, 2017

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!