Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. *This post contains spoilers*
In the eyes of Ximena Reales there are only two people, Pirates and the Pirate hunters. At the La Academia Ximena is training to become the prestigious Cazador that tracks down pirates and bring them to justice to protect the Luzan Empire. However, there is one problem. Ximena’s reputation is tainted by the traitorous blood of her parents – Cazadors turned pirates. Ximena will do anything in the name of the law to earn her Cazador cloak and earn her place among the elite. When the legendary pirate Gasparilla returns and wages revenge on the empire, Ximena is first to join the esteemed crew. But there’s a catch, she is joined by the insufferable and privileged Dante deLeon. Together they must bring Gasparilla to justice, but their voyage brings hard truths to the surface – can Ximena survive the waves of revelation and confront her pirate blood?
2.5/3 stars.
Firstly, I loved the concept and the focus on Spanish heritage and the golden age of piracy and I particularly liked how this came though the dialogue and world building. The blend of an academic setting and the myth and histiorcal context of piracy is really appealing. I love nautical or pirate fantasies that has subtle fantasy elements of magic, but don’t take a long time to understand or develop, for example the inclusion of sea monsters. I would have like more discussion of how magic or sea monsters work within this world. The main theme of corruption amongst the empire and the elites was well written and was almost like a Robin Hood situation, where the pirates were giving back to the town and people who were destroyed or taken advantage of by the empire. This idea flipped the idea of pirates being selfish and blood thirsty individuals and this helped create a mirror for the crimes of the empire.
At first, I thought Ximena Reales was a really interesting character with her eye patch and strict dedication to the law, especially as she descends from pirate traitors. I loved this back story and her need to prove herself amongst the other candidates at the academy. As the story progressed, I felt that Ximena was one note and didn’t grow as a character and she became flat. Her actions and dedication to the law blind sided her from making choices that were outside of the main plot of becoming a Cazador. Furthermore, the main plot twist involving her sister wasn’t supported with any characterisation previously. I didn’t understand what the relationship was like between the sisters and their personality or views.
Ximena’s rival of Dante was interesting and I enjoyed his haughty persona that soon developed into a deeper character with emotions against the empire. He soon becomes stuck between his loyalty and morals, which added another layer of depth. His love for Ximena grew steadily throughout the book, but wasn’t reciprocated until the very end. Ximena’s sudden change of heart towards Dante was jarring considering her actions throughout the book. The romance element was disappointing and the pacing felt off in placing. I was struggling to continue reading in places and found certain plot points or scene slow and without a focus. Dante is a character I would like to read more about and possibly have a chapter from his perspective. Special mention to the archivist, Pia, who had an emotional and loyal bond to both Ximena and Dante throughout the journey. I would love to see more of her character and personality come through in future books.
Overall, I liked the world building and the concept but would have liked Ximena to have more of a personality and evolve as a character rather than suddenly have a change of heart in the last few chapters. This also contributed to the pacing and how unlikeable Ximena was and how flat her interactions were with other characters. That being said, it was a fun world and adventure to read about, but lacked the execution in some places.
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Amy is a writer and reviewer and is currently querying literary agents with her debut fantasy novel inspired by the magic and adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean. For more content click here to read book reviews, short stories and updates on Amy’s writing journey.
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