Tag: 2024 books

Hounds of Gaia

Hounds of Gaia is a 2023 science fiction novel by Sean Tirman. It is the first book in The Marrower Saga. The novel was released in November 2023. I received an advanced copy from the author.

Foxhound doesn’t care about the gaps in her memory. Being a Contractor, a kind of spacefaring mercenary, keeps her occupied enough. Rather than dwelling, she rockets around the farthest reaches of the solar system, earning a steady paycheck hunting down ne’er-do-wells and enjoying a semblance of freedom most folks in the outer colonies can’t dream of. So when she receives an urgent prisoner transfer request from a cult starship, she accepts the gig. She figures that transporting a bone marrow-eating serial killer from the cult’s colony back to Earth is just another well-paying job that’ll keep her mind off things. Upon discovering that the suspect in custody is an orphan girl—one that could pass for her much younger doppelgänger—she decides it’s time to get some answers. But before she can piece together who the girl is, how their lives intertwine, and who orchestrated their implausible rendezvous, a group of violent prisoners aboard Foxhound’s starship breaks free. As the once-peaceful cultists take up arms in response, Foxhound teams up with her mechanized AI assistant and two of the cult’s wayward members to stop the barbaric escapees, elude the grasp of the cult’s radicalized leader, and protect and extract the mysterious, potentially dangerous girl.

The plot of the novel focuses very heavily on action. While the narrative introduces numerous questions about the nature of humanity and our place in the cosmos, it is first and foremost an action-packed adventure through space. The action is undercut with a degree of mystery as well, since Foxhound’s unknown past is tied in with the unnamed girl and her role within the conflict going on. The story starts out a little slow, mostly due to the book needing to establish a wide cast of characters, and ensure the reader understands their role in the world. The plot unfolds as Foxhound, the girl and a few others, try to get off the starship safely while running into conflict with the cultists and the freed prisoners. Along the way, revelations regarding not only Foxhound’s history, but also the cultists’ organization are revealed. The plot, while not overly complex, does a great job of establishing the universe and leaving plenty of unanswered questions to be tackled in future installments. It’s exciting and engaging, and the resolution feels satisfying as it answers some questions, while introducing more to be explored later.

I found the characters to be uniquely compelling in this novel. The author does an excellent job of building up characters and making both their strengths and their flaws evident very quickly. Changes in point-of-view aren’t clearly marked, but it was easy to tell when the narrative switched from Foxhound’s POV to that of the girl or Sister Penelope or another character. The internal conflict each character feels is also very easy to pick up on, without it being forced onto the reader. Foxhound at times feels torn between her role and duties as a Contractor and her desire to try and protect others. Her arc as a character shows her opening herself up over the course of the novel and allowing others to get close to her. She was a very engaging character to follow, as was Sister Penelope, who was torn between her intrinsic beliefs and the actions of the church she’s a part of. The story focuses on action, but the characters leave the reader asking a lot of good questions about human nature and how society develops. The author also delivered a cast of compelling, interesting and unique antagonists for the characters to face off against. The prisoners mentioned in the blurb were all unique, with varied histories and motivations, as well as the more mundane foes the characters had to tackle. Each had a clear and consistent worldview and posed different challenges as the story unfolded.

The writing in this novel is a bit of a mixed bag. The prose is very good, painting a vivid picture that makes it easy to get immersed in the story. There’s a horror element to the novel, mostly surrounding bodies being torn apart. The imagery that’s central to this aspect is chilling and it makes the story tense. At the same time, the exposition is clunky. At a few points in the novel, the story stops dead in order for the history of an organization to be explored. Leading up to the prisoners breaking free, a critical plot point, there is a pause as the author, via a character’s thought-process, walks the reader through the backstory of each and every prisoner. Some elements of what’s told to the reader could’ve been much more impactful as revelations later. The issue with exposition didn’t make the novel as a whole bad, it just slowed things down in a way that wasn’t needed.

Hounds of Gaia was a book that I enjoyed overall. It had an action-packed story with plenty of mystery. The characters were fun and engaging. I had some issues with the writing, but the reading experience was still enjoyable. On the whole, it is an entertaining and exciting piece of science fiction, and a good start to a new series.

Rating: 4 Stars

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The Secret Gift

The Secret Gift is a 2021 young adult fantasy novel by Bethany Atazadeh. It is the first book in the The Queen’s Rise series, which is a spin-off of The Stolen Kingdom, though it can be read as a standalone. It was published by Grace House Press and was released in September 2021.

Jezebel’s newfound shapeshifting gift breaks every rule in Jinn. She’s forced to keep it secret or risk having her ability severed, stolen from her completely. Despite the danger, part of her is desperate to embrace her power. When Jezebel’s friends discover a portal to the human world, she follows them into the strange place, unable to resist the temptation to explore her gift where no one will see. Except someone does. Someone Jezebel thought she could trust. His betrayal comes in whispers at first. But all too quickly, those whispers become demands. And he’ll stop at nothing—not even blackmail—to use Jezebel’s power for himself. One dark decision leads to another, until Jezebel stands to lose something she can’t live without—either her freedom, or her innocence.

The premise of this novel promises a very intriguing story. It promises betrayals and Jezebel having to make impossible choices and a loss of innocence. While the plot does deliver on these things, it’s not in the way I expected. The story starts off very strong, with Jezebel’s status in life leaving something to be desired and sets up a coming-of-age story very well. The forbidden journey to the human world presents an intriguing opportunity and creates possibilities within the narrative that didn’t previously exist. It was compelling. Her having to hide her gift from everyone adds stakes. Somewhere between the 1/3 mark and the halfway point, however, the story starts to drift from the promises of the premise. The “betrayal” mentioned in the blurb happens not far into the story, and it’s not as devastating as one might expect. From there, Jezebel doesn’t find herself slowly making questionable and then eventually darker decisions, but instead she goes straight to making a very dark decision and repeating that choice again and again. As a result, there’s no tension in the second half of the book. Jezebel might worry about getting caught, but there are no external factors causing that worry. The climax of this novel is overall uneventful, because the stakes feel so low. With an uneventful climax, the resolution feels less satisfying. I’m aware this novel is the first in a series, but the novel left very little unresolved to prompt a sequel.

I have very mixed feelings about the characters in this book. Jezebel was a good protagonist to follow. At the beginning of the novel, she’s very unsure of herself and scared of her abilities. Over the course of the story, the reader sees her come into her own as a person and become more confident. She also begins to stand up for herself against people in her life that might take advantage of her, or seek to exploit her. She becomes willing to do almost anything to keep her secret, regardless of who it hurts. An issue I had with her character arc, however, was that it felt a bit rushed. Her transition into someone who values her survival above all else happens very quickly to the point that it feels impulsive more than anything else. In terms of her dynamics with other characters, she more or less jumps straight from “I want to help my friends” to “I will destroy you if I have to” which feels extreme. There wasn’t enough in-between for Jezebel’s descent into becoming morally grey or outright villainous to feel believable. The supporting cast of characters had no real depth. Jezebel’s friends are not deep characters, and the reader is told things about them rather than shown. It’s difficult to connect with any side character, which becomes an issue as the story progresses. Since the reader doesn’t get invested in the side characters, it’s hard to care about what happens to them.

I thought the writing in this novel was good. The prose flowed very well, being descriptive, but not flowery. The author had a strong and distinct voice. There were some pacing issues I had, but I chalk those up to issues I had with the plot, rather than the writing itself. The novel works fine as a standalone. I’m sure people who have already read The Stolen Kingdom will get more out of this novel than I did, but it can stand pretty well on its own. There’s enough world-building for new readers to find it approachable.

The Secret Gift was a book that I have mixed feelings about. The blurb promised an interesting premise, but the execution didn’t quite match my expectations. The narrative as a whole was missing something. The protagonist had a compelling arc, though not perfectly executed, but other characters lacked depth. It was a quick read, and the novel works well as a standalone, but it wasn’t a good fit for me.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

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Shadows of the Dark Realm

Shadows of the Dark Realm is a 2024 epic fantasy novel by Tyler Edwards. It was independently published by the author and is scheduled for release on January 31st. I received an advanced copy from the author.

The idyllic kingdom of Parisia sat nuzzled securely in the Great Emerald Mountains. For generations Parisia had known nothing but peace and prosperity. When the elder dragon Darka Mors, steals the Darkstone, the entire realm is threatened. Without the Darkstone, the magic sealing away the Shadow King would fail. His return would bring death and destruction to the world of men. Desperate, the king of Parisia calls on an unlikely hero, the Disgraced Knight Vale Lox to lead a group of Seekers on the most important quest in a thousand years. To save the realm and everyone they have ever known from the rising shadows of darkness, these misfits must survive hostile lands, enemy armies, unspeakable monsters, and each other in order to retrieve the stone from the dragon’s lair before it’s too late.

This book has a fairly straightforward plot. Vale, and a small group, are tasked with going on a quest to retrieve a magical artifact to save their kingdom. While the overarching plot isn’t unique, I enjoyed the surprising directions the plot went in and the risks the author took in telling this story. There are exciting action scenes, startling reveals and shocking betrayals along the way. The narrative takes the characters farther than the reader might initially expect. Events move at a steady, even pace, with the stakes getting higher as the book progresses. While the journey isn’t a straight drive from Point A to Point B, the stakes are never forgotten. Most of the twists and turns in the plot were well-executed. They were surprising, but they didn’t feel like they came out of nowhere, and left me wanting to go back and see what little hints I might’ve missed on my first read. The one twist I found disappointing was a letdown not because it was poorly foreshadowed but because of the way it impacts the ending of the story. The revelation in question leads directly into the resolution of the story, but completely changes the status quo which makes the ending less impactful. I liked the ending, and the way it sets up a potential sequel, but I didn’t love it. It was satisfying in some senses, but didn’t feel fully earned.

For the most part, I enjoyed the characters in this novel. Vale and his companions Dante, Azalea and Caelan were well-written protagonists. Each had flaws that played off the others very well. I also loved that the characters, mainly Vale and Caelan, had complicated or dark pasts that played an important role in the story, and didn’t simply exist for the sake of it. Each of the four characters were different kinds of morally grey individuals, with some leaning more towards a “light grey” morality while others were closer to “dark grey”. Despite the seriousness of the situation, they’re able to be funny or sardonic without those moments feeling out of place. The development of each of those four characters was well-executed and planned out very well. Celeste, the final member of the main cast, was a character that I wasn’t a huge fan of, because her arc doesn’t quite work. She’s a character that’s not meant to be liked, but the reason I hated at the beginning of the book and the reason I hated her at the end feel disconnected from each other. The indications of her true nature don’t make themselves known early enough in the book for her transformation to feel earned. The supporting cast of characters were complex and engaging. Many were easy to connect with and root for, and the ones that were easy to hate were also fun to hate. Seeing how their motivations aligned with, and at times conflicted with, the main group’s made the story more fascinating and engaging. It added a later of depth to the dynamics between everyone.

The world-building and magic system of this novel was intriguing and felt unique. I enjoyed reading about the different people and cultures that exist in this world. This wasn’t a world with just humans, elves and dragons, but a variety of beings. There also wasn’t just one kind of “magic” that existed, which kept the story interesting. The world felt fully realized, but at the same time, the author didn’t slow the story down to provide exposition, so the reader learns more about some aspects of the world than others, but it’s still a solid world. If this novel gets a sequel, there’s plenty of room for the author to expand the world.

Shadows of the Dark Realm was a novel I found to be incredibly engaging. The plot was exciting and action-packed, though the ending didn’t quite blow me away. The characters, for the most part, were entertaining, fun and complex, with a variety of moralities and motivations. I enjoyed the writing and the world-building. I don’t know if this novel is intended to be the first in a series, or a standalone, but it works either way. Overall, it was a fun, compelling story, and one I can see a lot of fantasy fans enjoying.

Rating: 4 Stars

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The Bullet Swallower

The Bullet Swallower is a 2024 magical realism western by Elizabeth Gonzalez James. It was published by Simon & Schuster. It was released today, though I was able to get an early copy through Book of the Month.

In 1895, Antonio Sonoro is the latest in a long line of ruthless men. He’s good with his gun and is drawn to trouble but he’s also out of money and out of options. A drought has ravaged the town of Dorado, Mexico, where he lives with his wife and children, and so when he hears about a train laden with gold and other treasures, he sets off for Houston to rob it—with his younger brother Hugo in tow. But when the heist goes awry and Hugo is killed by the Texas Rangers, Antonio finds himself launched into a quest for revenge that endangers not only his life and his family, but his eternal soul. In 1964, Jaime Sonoro is Mexico’s most renowned actor and singer. But his comfortable life is disrupted when he discovers a book that purports to tell the entire history of his family beginning with Cain and Abel. In its ancient pages, Jaime learns about the multitude of horrific crimes committed by his ancestors. And when the same mysterious figure from Antonio’s timeline shows up in Mexico City, Jaime realizes that he may be the one who has to pay for his ancestors’ crimes, unless he can discover the true story of his grandfather Antonio, the legendary bandido El Tragabalas, The Bullet Swallower.

The plot of the novel was entertaining and engaging. Told in dual timelines, the plot moves in an interesting and compelling way, keeping the mystery of what might happen next, for both Antonio’s story and Jaime’s, alive for a great deal of the book. Jaime, and thus the reader, doesn’t know how Antonio’s story ends, so that plot is kept mysterious for quite a while, keeping the reader engaged in both timelines. The dual timelines also allows for the reader to see every aspect of the story come together at once, in a way that feels unique and satisfying. In both eras, the narrative weaves a compelling narrative about each man and his notions of his legacy. Antonio’s story has more twists and turns in it than Jaime’s, mainly due to the nature of his quest for revenge, and most are executed very well. There was only one twist that disappointed me, and it was only because it seemed obvious to me. The climax of Antonio’s story was exciting and invigorating, while Jaime’s was more subdued, but still satisfying. I enjoyed the way the conclusion of the two storylines dovetailed into each other, and how each informed the other.

Antonio was a fantastic protagonist, though an imperfect character. He was ruthless and unapologetic, yet the reader sees glimpses of a softer side to him. He has no delusions about which side of the law he’s on, yet few of his actions are destructive or threatening for the sake of being so. His character development was intriguing, as his experience seeking revenge forces him to rethink his life, and evaluate the choices and mistakes he’s made. Jaime wasn’t a protagonist that I connected with as much. He begins the story as a good man, and a good father, with a bit of an ego, among some other flaws. His development as a character is more subtle, as it centers around him learning of his family history and coming to terms with the damage his ancestors have caused. He was a good protagonist, but wasn’t quite as dynamic or memorable as Antonio. Remedio is a mysterious stranger that encounters both Antonio and Jaime in their respective timelines. The reader isn’t told much about him, by design, which makes each encounter more tense and more interesting, as his intentions are unknown and unfathomable to the reader. Other characters could’ve been a little more fleshed out, such as Antonio’s wife, but at the same time, their lack of depth doesn’t harm the story too much. Certain moments might lack an abundance of weight, but the reader still feels some weight.

The writing in this novel was beautiful. The prose flowed very well and helped build a descriptive, dynamic image of the world of the story. It was beautifully paced, with the stakes slowly raising with each chapter. While magical realism is central to the story, the writing didn’t rely too heavily on that angle, making it approachable for many different kinds of readers. It was an easy read, and an entertaining one.

The Bullet Swallower was a fun, wild read. It had a compelling plot, with interesting twists and turns. The characters were fascinating and complex. The writing was beautiful, and brought the intriguing story to life. All in all, it was a fantastic, unique story and I’d recommend it to anyone even slightly curious, based on the blurb.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

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Hand of Midas

Hand of Midas is a 2022 science fiction novella by Richmond Camero. It is the first book in the Chronicles of Kenji series. The novella was independently published by the author and released in October 2022.

A mercenary. A mission. A decision that may change his life forever. Kenji Kawasaki is a renowned Hand in a group of mercenaries called Midas Guild. After returning from a mission slaying the Diger Dragon, he discovers another task is waiting for him. A mission that may shake the stability of their country, Vesper. The life of a Hand of Midas is dictated by his contracts. With this new mission, not only is his reputation as one of the best Hands of Midas at stake, but his life may also be in danger. A choice between two evils: will Kenji be the catalyst of chaos in Vesper, or will he betray his Guild?

The plot of this novella is engaging and fun. The story overall reminded me of a handful of “spaghetti western” films from decades past. Kenji is given a mission that seems off, and debates whether or not to fulfill his contract. There are some great action scenes and the story doesn’t get too bogged down by a complicated plot. The story itself is intriguing, but there weren’t many surprises in how it unfolded. It wasn’t difficult to know where things were headed, but the journey was still a fun ride. The big plot twist, the client Kenji is working for, wasn’t poorly executed, or overly foreshadowed, but it didn’t come as a surprise due to the limited cast of characters. The ending felt satisfying to an extent, and left enough room for future books in the series.

I enjoyed the characters in this novella overall. Kenji as a character didn’t stand out much to me, as he didn’t have a strong personality. He felt flat, in moments when he wasn’t interacting with other characters. His interactions with other characters were entertaining and engaging though, especially his dynamic with Cervan, his partner for his assignment. Cervan surprisingly had the most depth as a character, as well as a fun personality. He was snarky, he had a complicated history and it was clear there was a lot more to him than met the eye. He reminded me of characters from other works, which made him more enjoyable than Kenji, but also made him feel less unique. He was a fun character, in the end. The other characters in this novella are little more than the roles they serve. Kenji’s professional rival is the typical rival character, who refuses to allow anyone to be his equal. Politicians are either idealists or conniving opportunists. The eccentric billionaire is amusing, if not a shallow character. The story doesn’t delve into the antagonist’s reasons for what happens, so they’re the bad guy because that’s the role in the story.

The world of this story felt very familiar. A few sources of the author’s inspiration became clear while reading, including a heavy Star Wars influence. Despite the world feeling familiar, the world-building was nearly non-existent. The reader knows the story takes place in the distant future, on another planet, but little beyond that. Politics and politicians play a major role in this story, but little is shared with the reader about the politics of the world or how the society operates. This lack of context removes some of the tension from the story, as the stakes might be high, but they quickly become unclear. The Midas Guild is given some exposition, but very little else is. The author seems to rely on the reader making a lot of assumptions when it comes to world-building, since the world already feels familiar.

Hand of Midas is an entertaining read. The plot is fun and action-packed, and the story moves quickly, but doesn’t have many surprises. The characters are fun, but not particularly memorable. The world feels familiar, and is reminiscent of settings from other works. It’s a fast read, and a fun story, so it’s great for a reader looking to kill some time, or something that isn’t too heavy.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

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Teleosis

Teleosis is an upcoming 2024 fantasy novel by Amy W. Vogel. The novel is scheduled for release on January 16, 2024 and is being independently published by the author. I received an advanced copy from the author for review purposes.

Inira Boehme was on the brink of her ascension to the role of High Priestess and Supreme Ruler of Teleosis, an ancient civilization born at the moment of Creation to bring hope, vision, and abundance to the whole world. Until her future was destroyed and left in as much ruin as the capital city. Twenty years later, she finds herself face to face with the life she worked tirelessly to hide. Destiny comes in the form of a mysterious man who promises to redeem all she lost, but it will require immense sacrifice. Fraught with hidden agendas, betrayal, and enemies as old as Creation itself, Inira must confront the sinister forces threatening to destroy all that she loves while fighting the darkness within herself to find her way to transformation and freedom.

The author gives some trigger warnings at the beginning of the book for a number of things, including sexual assault, gun violence, suicide bombings, stalking and alcoholism.

The plot of the novel was very creative, and it’s easy to see that the author had a lot of ideas for this story. It’s difficult to talk about the plot in-depth without spoiling important aspects of the story, and this is one of those instances where the story should be experienced. At its core, the novel is about Inira confronting the traumas of her past, and moving forward to rebuild the life she once thought was lost. The narrative builds towards the climax slowly but steadily, setting the important groundwork for both twists in the story and a satisfying resolution. Most of the twists and turns in the story are well-executed and each takes the plot in a new and interesting direction. I wasn’t completely in love with the overall plot, because it felt a bit rushed. The novel was balancing several ideas, several themes, all at once, meaning a lot more happens in this novel than you might expect. Some of the themes and underlying messages are very important and I wish they’d been given a little more time to breathe. With that said, the story does a good job of building tension and when the more exciting, action scenes happen, they’re thrilling.

I enjoyed the characters in this novel immensely. Inira initially seems like a very straight-forward character but it soon becomes clear how nuanced she is. Her backstory is incredibly compelling. She’s a perfectionist, she’s dealing with multiple sources of trauma, she’s a somewhat of a hypocrite. She’s a complex, nuanced, three-dimensional character and while the story centers around her, she’s an imperfect character. Matthias, her love interest, is a well-executed morally grey individual in the sense that, even when I opposed his morality, it wasn’t difficult to understand how his morality impacted his decisions and worldview, and vice versa. Supporting characters, such as Inira’s daughter Emerie, are less nuanced, but overall complex. There was only one character, the antagonist, I found to be a shallow character, and it was mostly due to a writing choice. Gender and the gender binary are a big focus in the novel, and the worldview of the antagonist doesn’t leave much room for nuance or complexity on the issue.

The fantasy aspects of the novel are rather subtle. The novel takes place in a slightly alternate version of the real world. For the most part, there isn’t extensive world-building needed for the story. The magic and mysticism focuses on the religion Inira was raised to one day lead, and aspects of that faith, and how it interacts with the world. Important information about the religion is revealed to the reader slowly and in pretty digestible ways. The religion itself, the associated magic, and how it fits into the story felt very unique and was fascinating to me.

The writing in this novel was beautiful. The prose was very vivid and the author did an excellent job not only telling a compelling story, but building a complex world. The descriptions were vivid, without resorting to “purple prose”. The writing style was distinct and becoming immersed in the story was easy. The one criticism I have of the writing is that some of the dialogue doesn’t quite work. At times, it can feel a bit clunky, but it wasn’t distracting overall.

Teleosis was a good book, but it didn’t quite fit my tastes. It’s a beautifully written book, with compelling characters, but the story didn’t resonate as much with me. The author had a lot of fantastic ideas, and some of those ideas were executed better than others. The fantasy elements were fascinating and unique. I didn’t feel blown away by the novel on the whole, but other readers will definitely enjoy it.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

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The Ship of Blood and Curses

The Ship of Blood and Curses is a 2023 fantasy romance novel by Mary Raven. It’s the first book in the series The Ship of Curses. It was released in July 2023 and was independently published by the author.

When her father’s ship is savagely taken down by god-controlled vampire pirates, Hannah and her father are the sole survivors. Kane O’Brien is more than just a captain—he’s a man trapped in an immortal nightmare. Once human, Kane is now cursed to transform into a vampire under the spectral glow of the full moon. As Hannah battles for her freedom and Kane for his salvation, an irresistible bond grows between them, uniting their destinies in ways they could never have imagined.

This book had some characters that I loved, and quite a few that I didn’t. Kane was a very compelling and engaging character. He has a complex personality and a compelling backstory which kept me invested. He contrasts against the main antagonist , Palmer, in an interesting way, while also sharing similarities which makes him both a flawed character and one that’s easy to root for. Hannah’s characterization wasn’t handled quite as well. She’s indecisive, she comes across as somewhat whiny and her character arc feels rushed. It was easy to see what her character development would be over the course of the novel, but she didn’t begin to evolve until too late into the story. The romance that develops between Kane and Hannah fell flat because there isn’t chemistry between them. I found quite a few of the supporting cast of characters to be interesting. They weren’t complex, per se, but they had distinct and intriguing personalities. A secondary antagonist, for example, wasn’t a well-written character on his own, but the author wrote him in a way where he was very easy to hate. The main antagonist Palmer’s entire character is that he’s brutal and thirsty for revenge, which makes him a simple villain and character overall. I wish he’d had a little more depth, but his simple reasoning fits the story pretty well.

The plot of this novel was fun and exciting, for the most part. The story consists mostly of an adventure on the high seas, reminiscent of blockbuster films like the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie, and the story is clearly inspired by that film. The action scenes feel fast-paced and exciting. The narrative mostly does a good job of building tension and making the stakes apparent. The climax of the story feels very tense and action-packed, with a resolution that sets up a sequel novel very well, while also giving a sense of resolution for part of the story. I was anticipating the vampire aspect of this story to play a more central role in the plot. It’s treated as important, but there were points where I forgot the pirates in this book were vampire pirates. The over-arching plot was handled pretty well, but I cannot say the same for the romantic subplot. The romance slowed the whole story down quite a bit at points. I didn’t find it to be particularly interesting, either and the author used certain tropes that are cliche. Additionally, the romance stalls at a few points. It felt like the two leads were stuck in this cycle of “I want you” and “I don’t want you” for far too long and it happened too many times in a book with so many other things going on.

Since this is the author’s debut novel, I’m a little more lenient when it comes to how I view the writing. The writing is digestible, but somewhat disjointed. The prose don’t really stand out, but I can tell the author hasn’t yet figured out her voice as a writer. She tends to repeat certain words and phrases, which stood out to me. The biggest issue has to be the lack of description, though. The writing doesn’t paint a vivid picture of the setting, or make it easy to visualize how certain moments unfolded. The world-building suffers from the same issue. Very little is said to build out the world, and the author seems to rely on the reader filling in gaps. The little world-building that’s done is told to the reader through exposition-heavy dialogue, which feels clunky to read.

The Ship of Blood and Curses is a fun read and an easy read. The story is exciting, and a great choice for readers just looking for some entertainment, but the plot is nothing too complex. Some of the characters are very engaging. The writing and world-building needed some improvement. It was overall a fun read, and I’d recommend it to Pirates of the Caribbean fans first and foremost.

Rating: 2 Stars

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