Review: Swashbuckling fantasy, enticing summer read!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 21, 2014
First of all, I don't like the book blurb. At the same time it tells too much and too little. I'm not sure how I would rewrite it, but it doesn't give a truly enticing description of the story.Because make no mistake. This in an enticing story.First, you need to read book one of this series to understand the conflicts within this world, the Power of the Light, the Gifts and Implanting... and the sheer goodness and magnetism of Petra. He's an awesome guy, and you don't get his awesomeness at first when you read this story without book one. So go back, read the first book in the series, Queen of Jastain. (Which I loved, by the way.)Where the first book was a time-travel romance, however, this one isn't. This is more of a swashbuckling fantasy with pirates versus royalty set firmly in Kary Rader's world of Jastain and its surrounding islands, seas and territories. Which is fine. And I like it. But it's different. Not really in the same style as the first book, which is more a warning than a criticism.When we first meet Charlee, our erstwhile heroine, she's not a likeable character. In fact, I actively disliked her for a while there, wondering if there might be another heroine lurking somewhere I could root for. But she grows on you. And you do start rooting for her, despite her quirks and insecurities. And there are several twists to the plot that surprised me, even though I thought I had it all figured out.Would I recommend this for summer reading? If you like swashbuckling pirate tales, strong female characters, and a hint of magic sprinkled over it all, definitely toss this one into your beach bag or load it onto your Kindle.