What do you think?
Rate this book
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin
The Gulf of Mexico, 1702: When pirates of the square-rigger Original Sin steal ashore to abduct a doctor to tend to their wounded, they end up settling for the doctor’s attractive fiancée—Celia Pierce, the town seamstress.Together with Gayle Malvern, daughter of wounded pirate captain “Madman” Malvern, Celia becomes a reluctant participant in an unexpectedly thrilling journey through the Caribbean. For Gayle, Celia’s presence is at first a welcome and shapely distraction, but as her attraction to the seamstress deepens, she realizes that Celia comes to mean more to her than is almost cerntainly prudent. As Celia and Gayle navigate the perilous territories of gypsies, prostitutes, mercenaries, and slave-traders, they forge a partnership born of necessity that Gayle soon hopes will veer away from insurmountable danger—and instead detour directly to her bed.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2009
22 people are currently reading
2467 people want to read
About the author
Colette Moody
5 books75 followersColette Moody has long been an avid bibliophile and fan of history (and swashbuckling). When she isn’t doing research or crafting scenes for her next romp of a novel, she can be found doing one or more of the following: trying to best her high score on Wii Tennis; sequestered in the kitchen eagerly trying to prove that everything DOES taste better with bacon; meticulously recreating classic cocktails from the 30s and 40s; or planning her next trip to Disneyland. While waiting to be generously (and inexplicably) remembered in some wealthy stranger’s will, she begrudgingly bides her time as a corporate lackey, working for the man. She lives in Southeastern Virginia with her beloved dog and her equally Wii-addicted partner. (from the publisher's website)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
February 12, 2025
This is the third book by Colette Moody that I’ve reread – and each of Moody’s three books improved on rereading. Like this one here, the pirate one, I found to have a lot more detail in it that I had recalled. I believe I might have initially read this one too quickly – still enjoyed it on first read, but read it too quickly.
Right, so – the action takes place in various locations in or near the Caribbean Sea. Florida (St. Augustine), Cuba, Jamaica (Kingston, Port Royal (which is actually just across a stretch of water from Kingston)), Bahamas, Santo Domingo (in what is now the Dominican Republic). And the Berry Islands (just north of Bahamas). Action took place during a few months in 1702.
And that action? A pirate ship, the Original Sin is attacked by a military ship and the captain is injured. With the doctor killed in the same action, the crew (and daughter Gayle Malvern, who takes over as acting captain) need to find a doctor. A few are tasked with heading to the nearby coast of Florida to find the lucky fella. Instead they find Celia Pierce, who just happened to be visiting her doctor fiancée – that fella was in the backroom but is quite the coward and hid while the pirates were there. Since Celia is a seamstress, and the doctor apparently is in some other town, the pirates ‘make-do’ with the seamstress.
Dark haired Celia and fiery haired Gayle go to work on Captain Mad Malvern, and the rest of the injured crew. Then start sailing around – dropping Captain pops at a particular tavern where the ex-ship doctor is currently residing. Ex-doctor will tend to injured captain, while the ship bounces around the region. First mission: retrieve a captured sister of another doctor – a doctor who had been following her from England and is willing to work aboard the pirate ship if they go get his sister. And then more fun and exciting things occur as Celia and Gayle take a cruise around a very small portion of the Caribbean (months apart in sailing time, but just a tiny bit of the Caribbean Sea).
There’s much humor, action, romance, and graphic depictions of sex to be found within the pages. Quite fun all around. And the humor was not just reserved for the ‘good characters’ – like, for example, a few bits dribbled out of others. Like right in the beginning with the feckless doctor who talks about his attempts to woo women in Spanish Florida when he himself only knows English (‘luckily’ for him, there’s a British fella there who married a Spanish woman and had an offspring – that being Celia, making her half British and half Spanish).
And while there’s no real romance between Celia and Philip (the doctor), there’s much humor to be found in their interactions. Like when Philip calls Celia his cabbage. And she calls him on it – and he is so dim it takes him a while to understand she’s being sarcastic.
But the humor is not just limited to Phillips and people talking around him (which is good, since he isn’t the main character and is rarely in the book). The humor with Celia by herself, or between Celia and Gayle is also quite good. Like when Celia, after waking up hung-over, asked what happened the night before between herself and Gayle . . .
Right, so, many more moments of humor – better in context, I’m sure, than randomly strewn about my review here.
As mentioned – this is the third book I’ve reread by Moody – and all three improved with rereading. ‘Parties in Congress’ rose from 4.5 (since bumped to 5) stars to 6 stars (and top tier) on reread; while ‘The Seduction of Moxie’ moved from 4.5 stars up to 4.25 stars. Wait. Mmphs. Okay, so now that I actually look at the ratings, they did not actually all improve on rereading. Mmphs. Probably due to all the vomiting, diarrhea, and nastiness* in Seduction that knocked it down a little (* yes, instead of firing your agent – poison him). This book here, ‘Sublime’, was rated 4.75 on first read and 5+ on second read (which rearranges the order of ‘favorite Moody books’ – had been 1) Sublime, 2) Parties; 3) Seduction; and is now 1) Parties; 2) Sublime; 3) Seduction.
Rating: 5+
January 12 2018
Right, so – the action takes place in various locations in or near the Caribbean Sea. Florida (St. Augustine), Cuba, Jamaica (Kingston, Port Royal (which is actually just across a stretch of water from Kingston)), Bahamas, Santo Domingo (in what is now the Dominican Republic). And the Berry Islands (just north of Bahamas). Action took place during a few months in 1702.
And that action? A pirate ship, the Original Sin is attacked by a military ship and the captain is injured. With the doctor killed in the same action, the crew (and daughter Gayle Malvern, who takes over as acting captain) need to find a doctor. A few are tasked with heading to the nearby coast of Florida to find the lucky fella. Instead they find Celia Pierce, who just happened to be visiting her doctor fiancée – that fella was in the backroom but is quite the coward and hid while the pirates were there. Since Celia is a seamstress, and the doctor apparently is in some other town, the pirates ‘make-do’ with the seamstress.
Dark haired Celia and fiery haired Gayle go to work on Captain Mad Malvern, and the rest of the injured crew. Then start sailing around – dropping Captain pops at a particular tavern where the ex-ship doctor is currently residing. Ex-doctor will tend to injured captain, while the ship bounces around the region. First mission: retrieve a captured sister of another doctor – a doctor who had been following her from England and is willing to work aboard the pirate ship if they go get his sister. And then more fun and exciting things occur as Celia and Gayle take a cruise around a very small portion of the Caribbean (months apart in sailing time, but just a tiny bit of the Caribbean Sea).
There’s much humor, action, romance, and graphic depictions of sex to be found within the pages. Quite fun all around. And the humor was not just reserved for the ‘good characters’ – like, for example, a few bits dribbled out of others. Like right in the beginning with the feckless doctor who talks about his attempts to woo women in Spanish Florida when he himself only knows English (‘luckily’ for him, there’s a British fella there who married a Spanish woman and had an offspring – that being Celia, making her half British and half Spanish).
It was astoundingly difficult to woo a lady who thought he was either trying to purchase a chicken or a few tomatoes from her, or ask her for directions.
And while there’s no real romance between Celia and Philip (the doctor), there’s much humor to be found in their interactions. Like when Philip calls Celia his cabbage. And she calls him on it – and he is so dim it takes him a while to understand she’s being sarcastic.
”I find you attractive as well, my cabbage.”
She fought her natural urge to grimace at his unpleasant metaphor. “Cabbage? Might you compare me to a vegetable with a slightly more palatable smell?”
His brow furrowed. “My little . . . mushroom?”
“You would liken me to a fungus?” Celia laughed. “Such wooing, sir. You might make my heart burst within my breast.”
Phillip eyed her with belated suspicion. “Are you mocking me?”
“I? Your devoted mushroom dares not,” Celia replied insincerely. “Were I perhaps a potato or a leek, however, I would be brimming with mockery. They, sir, are victuals of the trickiest sort and are not to be trusted.”
But the humor is not just limited to Phillips and people talking around him (which is good, since he isn’t the main character and is rarely in the book). The humor with Celia by herself, or between Celia and Gayle is also quite good. Like when Celia, after waking up hung-over, asked what happened the night before between herself and Gayle . . .
”Did we…” She jumbled her fingers chaotically together in some sort of peculiar, yet demonstrative hand gesture.
“Milk an animal of some kind?”
Right, so, many more moments of humor – better in context, I’m sure, than randomly strewn about my review here.
As mentioned – this is the third book I’ve reread by Moody – and all three improved with rereading. ‘Parties in Congress’ rose from 4.5 (since bumped to 5) stars to 6 stars (and top tier) on reread; while ‘The Seduction of Moxie’ moved from 4.5 stars up to 4.25 stars. Wait. Mmphs. Okay, so now that I actually look at the ratings, they did not actually all improve on rereading. Mmphs. Probably due to all the vomiting, diarrhea, and nastiness* in Seduction that knocked it down a little (* yes, instead of firing your agent – poison him). This book here, ‘Sublime’, was rated 4.75 on first read and 5+ on second read (which rearranges the order of ‘favorite Moody books’ – had been 1) Sublime, 2) Parties; 3) Seduction; and is now 1) Parties; 2) Sublime; 3) Seduction.
Rating: 5+
January 12 2018
Read
May 3, 2018Hmm. I got this because swashbuckling lesbian pirates sounded like a magnificently fun time and in parts it was. Gayle is a gleeful pirate captain, Celia switches with implausible but enjoyable rapidity from seamstress to hard drinking sweary cutlass-wielder, there is much UST then some hot scenes, a pirate crew, buried treasure, scurvy port taverns, everything you'd expect. Rollicking is the word. Molly the other lady pirate is a fantastic hard-bonking hard-swearing killer and I wanted an entire book about her.
NB there's a lot of reference to the likelihood of rape, whether gang rape by the crew of the ship they're on, by other pirates, by pretty much any random man, also many disparaging references to 'whores' and entire disregard for them as humans. Those things may be a convention of the genre for all I know--I don't read many pirate books--but it detracted from the swashbuckling fun for me. I suppose it's plausible to have a constant threat of sexual violence in this milieu but nothing else about the book is particularly plausible, so eh. YMMV.
However. As far as I could see, in an entire book set in the Caribbean, on a pirate ship that specifically has numerous black crew members, only one black character has a speaking part and she's a villain. Not to mention the villainous swarthy pack of rapist Spaniards, whose depiction reminded me powerfully of Victorian pulp and not in a good way. This aspect read very like the author was channelling 1950s pirate movies and that isn't a bad thing if you pick up the problematic aspects of those movies. If you don't...well, they remain problematic.
This is a book with a publishing house, it's only four years old [edit: I tell a lie, it's 2009, but that's still not 1959], this isn't rocket science, and these things could and should have been picked up. As should the chronic wandering point of view, which ricochets between the leads and frequently bounces off to whoever they're talking to/other random passers-by. It's an exuberant book with vibrant characters, and it would not have been hard for a competent editor to make it all as fun as the parts that do work. Poor show, publisher.
NB there's a lot of reference to the likelihood of rape, whether gang rape by the crew of the ship they're on, by other pirates, by pretty much any random man, also many disparaging references to 'whores' and entire disregard for them as humans. Those things may be a convention of the genre for all I know--I don't read many pirate books--but it detracted from the swashbuckling fun for me. I suppose it's plausible to have a constant threat of sexual violence in this milieu but nothing else about the book is particularly plausible, so eh. YMMV.
However. As far as I could see, in an entire book set in the Caribbean, on a pirate ship that specifically has numerous black crew members, only one black character has a speaking part and she's a villain. Not to mention the villainous swarthy pack of rapist Spaniards, whose depiction reminded me powerfully of Victorian pulp and not in a good way. This aspect read very like the author was channelling 1950s pirate movies and that isn't a bad thing if you pick up the problematic aspects of those movies. If you don't...well, they remain problematic.
This is a book with a publishing house, it's only four years old [edit: I tell a lie, it's 2009, but that's still not 1959], this isn't rocket science, and these things could and should have been picked up. As should the chronic wandering point of view, which ricochets between the leads and frequently bounces off to whoever they're talking to/other random passers-by. It's an exuberant book with vibrant characters, and it would not have been hard for a competent editor to make it all as fun as the parts that do work. Poor show, publisher.
January 1, 2019
Last book of 2018. This is definitely my favorite in the pirate sub-genre. Hugely entertaining, never got bored, great characters, and extremely well paced. Brilliant. Great way to close out the year with 400+ books with a great read. Also my first from this author. Heading into 'The Seduction of Moxie' next.
November 6, 2016
I am really tired of books set in the Caribbean that just use the setting as a playground and care nothing for the people or the environment.
As for the book itself: a complete, disappointing miss. Disappointing because I really wanted to like it. Lesbian pirates! Where could you go wrong, right? Lots of ways, apparently. Really poorly written, so much POV switching, flimsy plot. It's not just that it was silly, because I LOVE silly, it just didn't hold together. It was also weirdly misogynistic/judgemental of all women who weren't the protagonists, and the only black woman in a book set in the Caribbean was the protagonist's evil, bitter ex. Thanks.
I'd skip it.
As for the book itself: a complete, disappointing miss. Disappointing because I really wanted to like it. Lesbian pirates! Where could you go wrong, right? Lots of ways, apparently. Really poorly written, so much POV switching, flimsy plot. It's not just that it was silly, because I LOVE silly, it just didn't hold together. It was also weirdly misogynistic/judgemental of all women who weren't the protagonists, and the only black woman in a book set in the Caribbean was the protagonist's evil, bitter ex. Thanks.
I'd skip it.
March 16, 2017
Loved it. This was a rollicking good time. I'd previously read Colette Moody's Parties in Congress, and I was frequently reminded of that book as I was reading this one. The romances in both were secondary story-lines; While Parties in Congress was largely political satire, ...Original Sin is primarily a pirate romp. Both have a very light tone with razor sharp wit.
I've read a number of pirate-themed lesbian novels, and all have a somewhat similar plot: there's a rough-and-tumble captain who's known for her debauchery, there's the straight-seeming high-born lady who's somehow captured and brought aboard, and there's a hidden treasure. All of those elements are present here, but the character of Celia Pierce makes every difference in the world. She's not the prim, reserved ice princess we usually see. Her rapier wit is a weapon the equal of any cutlass or pistol, and she leaps into her new life with few reservations.
The story itself is very well paced, and it has an almost campy tone. While there is a romance between the two leads, it tends to be similarly campy. There's not much emotional depth, but the pair are still enjoyable together. Their banter frequently caused me to emit various sounds ranging from light giggling to full-blown laughing snorts. Yeah, that's right, I'm not ashamed. Much.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a laugh and an all-around good feeling. It may not be high art, but it provides a very welcome break from the angsty drama that's so very common in lesbian fiction and romances.
I've read a number of pirate-themed lesbian novels, and all have a somewhat similar plot: there's a rough-and-tumble captain who's known for her debauchery, there's the straight-seeming high-born lady who's somehow captured and brought aboard, and there's a hidden treasure. All of those elements are present here, but the character of Celia Pierce makes every difference in the world. She's not the prim, reserved ice princess we usually see. Her rapier wit is a weapon the equal of any cutlass or pistol, and she leaps into her new life with few reservations.
The story itself is very well paced, and it has an almost campy tone. While there is a romance between the two leads, it tends to be similarly campy. There's not much emotional depth, but the pair are still enjoyable together. Their banter frequently caused me to emit various sounds ranging from light giggling to full-blown laughing snorts. Yeah, that's right, I'm not ashamed. Much.
I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a laugh and an all-around good feeling. It may not be high art, but it provides a very welcome break from the angsty drama that's so very common in lesbian fiction and romances.
September 24, 2019
Not usually my go-to for content, but boy was this a fun read! You gotta fully suspend all reality while reading this and take it as it is. Unless women bedding women really WAS way cool and fully acceptable to pirates and parents and basically everyone back in the early 1700s but somehow I don't believe that.
The one-liners were hilarious, the action fast-paced, the story a delight. This was a short read that I found refreshing after becoming somewhat disillusioned with so much of the same content. Thanks to Corrie once again for recommending yet another great author!
Do yourself a favour and pack this in a bag for an overseas trip. Fantastic travel read.
The one-liners were hilarious, the action fast-paced, the story a delight. This was a short read that I found refreshing after becoming somewhat disillusioned with so much of the same content. Thanks to Corrie once again for recommending yet another great author!
Do yourself a favour and pack this in a bag for an overseas trip. Fantastic travel read.
April 28, 2018
Colette Moody is one of my favorite authors. Not only does she write fun and humorous stories, but they are absolutely unique.
August 18, 2018
Gayle's dad is the captain of a pirate ship, Original Sin, who gets injured so Gayle, who has been on the ship since she was like 13 (her mom passed away and her dad does love her), becomes temporary captain. The crew actually respects her, she's proven her worth, even though pirates typically believed that women on ships were bad luck, let alone taking orders from one? It takes place in 1702.
They want to abduct a Dr, but Celia's fiance, a Dr, is a coward who doesn't actually care about Celia, hides and let's her, a Seamstress, get taken instead.
There is adventure. Everything does make sense (I don't want to spoil things) in the narrative. It's a historical lesbian pirate romance adventure novel with some feminist themes in it and I freaking loved every second of it!
The writing flowed so well, I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved the plot and pace, I was never bored (and coming from someone with Aphantasia reading about swashbuckling adventure, that actually says a lot!). The romance was believable and so swoon worthy! I was definitely saying "KISS ALREADY!". The amount of pink (romance) tabs I have in this book omg!! <3 There are some explicit sex wlw scenes. I love my women loving other women! It's more than just the romance though that is a large part of it too, and it was so well done and I just want to gush about it!
It did get me to tear up at times and also worry about the characters, I fell in love with them. This book will be on my favorites list of 2018 no doubt about it!
Content Warnings: Fire, Death, Bloodshed, Explicit sex (f/f), rape (mentioned, never done)
Blog | Youtube | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram
They want to abduct a Dr, but Celia's fiance, a Dr, is a coward who doesn't actually care about Celia, hides and let's her, a Seamstress, get taken instead.
There is adventure. Everything does make sense (I don't want to spoil things) in the narrative. It's a historical lesbian pirate romance adventure novel with some feminist themes in it and I freaking loved every second of it!
The writing flowed so well, I was hooked from beginning to end. I loved the plot and pace, I was never bored (and coming from someone with Aphantasia reading about swashbuckling adventure, that actually says a lot!). The romance was believable and so swoon worthy! I was definitely saying "KISS ALREADY!". The amount of pink (romance) tabs I have in this book omg!! <3 There are some explicit sex wlw scenes. I love my women loving other women! It's more than just the romance though that is a large part of it too, and it was so well done and I just want to gush about it!
It did get me to tear up at times and also worry about the characters, I fell in love with them. This book will be on my favorites list of 2018 no doubt about it!
Content Warnings: Fire, Death, Bloodshed, Explicit sex (f/f), rape (mentioned, never done)
Blog | Youtube | Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram
Read
April 22, 2023This one is different from all the other lesbian pirate stories out there. It’s a light, entertaining read with some great dialogue and lots of humor. The author managed not to stop the story by dumping information about the setting on us.
The only irritating thing for me was the point of view, which included head hopping and wasn’t very deep — little reflection and no deep insight into the characters’ emotion. But then again, maybe it fits the light feel and quick pace of the novel.
The only irritating thing for me was the point of view, which included head hopping and wasn’t very deep — little reflection and no deep insight into the characters’ emotion. But then again, maybe it fits the light feel and quick pace of the novel.
June 25, 2018
when i said i want more trashy lesbian novels i didnt mean i want Absolute Garbage™
January 30, 2018
I started reading this a year ago, got bored and stopped. I have no idea why I got bored. I'm so glad I picked it up again. It's fun, witty, sexy and a really good story. Recommended.
July 20, 2017
Overall a nice, pleasant reading with humour, witful banter and some "sexyness".
But it lacks depth, both of characters and the plot.
A bit more daring (), a bit more magic (for example ) and it would have been richer.
But it lacks depth, both of characters and the plot.
A bit more daring (), a bit more magic (for example ) and it would have been richer.
July 5, 2013
Fun, fun read! A reverse bodice-ripper** featuring a colorful cast of one dashing captain, a horde of repulsive pirates and quite a handful of fetching wenches. Lots of swashbuckling action on the high seas, tons of double-entendres, and the most scurrilous pre-fight insults pirates can muster. And of course, no pirate book is complete without the treasure hunt. If you're looking for fun, action, adventure, romance and stormy sex (read it urself ;) ), this book has it all.
**the bodice wearer was the ripper :)
**the bodice wearer was the ripper :)
June 12, 2016
Lesbian pirates. 'nough said.
***
Ahh well, I'll give you some more, should you not be convinced yet ;-)
Pirates! Lesbian pirates! Hot lesbian pirate sex!
***
Still need more?
A kidnapping. A prophecy. A pirate hoard. Cutlass duells. Whores. Sinister, cocky enemy pirates.
Oh and don't forget about the love. Lesbian pirate love. So romantic, sigh.
***
The characters, the dialogue, the plot... Everything was good and likeable. Nothing blew me away, though. That's why I don't give a higher rating. But I don't really have anything to complain about. There is a bit of a head hopping in the writing style, but once you know it, that's quite okay, too.
If you're looking for a fun and entertaining adventure with lovable female (!) characters and a nice slow burning romance, you've found your book!
3.5 stars
***
Ahh well, I'll give you some more, should you not be convinced yet ;-)
Pirates! Lesbian pirates! Hot lesbian pirate sex!
***
Still need more?
A kidnapping. A prophecy. A pirate hoard. Cutlass duells. Whores. Sinister, cocky enemy pirates.
Oh and don't forget about the love. Lesbian pirate love. So romantic, sigh.
***
The characters, the dialogue, the plot... Everything was good and likeable. Nothing blew me away, though. That's why I don't give a higher rating. But I don't really have anything to complain about. There is a bit of a head hopping in the writing style, but once you know it, that's quite okay, too.
If you're looking for a fun and entertaining adventure with lovable female (!) characters and a nice slow burning romance, you've found your book!
3.5 stars
April 8, 2017
LESBIAN PIRATES?! What more could you ask for? A likeable protagonist for one. Less misogyny for another. If the women weren't in love with each other, they were catty and hated each other. It was disappointing. Captain Gayle was likeable, but a little too generic? I think the most interesting character was Molly, and book would have been more interesting if it focused on her.
September 2, 2017
Listen to Les Do Books episode: http://thelesbiantalkshow.podbean.com...
Want to read
September 30, 2017*stumbles upon lesbian pirates book*
*aggressively adds to TBR*
*aggressively adds to TBR*
January 14, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
A really fun read Pirate yarn, with the humour and wit that seems typical for this author.
Gayle - a pirate captain - and Celia - a seamstress - meet under somewhat unusual circumstances. Gayle's father has been injured and she sends crew to find a surgeon/ doctor to treat his wounds. They return with the doctor's fiancee Celia instead. Celia might be a young seamstress and know nothing of the buccaneers' world, but she is never helpless and no damsel in distress. I loved that about the book. Celia grows as a person and as an adventurer and gets to rescue herself from many a pickle. Splendid! Gayle is a dashing lesbian who is a real hit with all the ladies. She is aware of her precarious situation as a female captain and uses her considerable intelligence, strategy, understanding of the human condition, and fighting skills to manage her crew, protect the innocent and avenge the wronged. There is a surprising amount of killing in this book, but in the words of True Lies Arnie Schwarzenegger "yes, but they were all bad people". I mean they really were.
In amongst all the adventure, gypsies prophecies, rescuing whores, and not whores, slaves and orphans, finding treasure and losing it, dealing with scheming women and lovelorn doctors, there is of course the romance. And it is great. Gayle and Celia fall for each other. They spar. They banter. They pine. They dream. They bathe. And then... well, they finally have sex. And they still spar and banter and pine and dream. It's a really nice romance.
Why 4.5 stars rather than 5? Well, it was the ending that annoyed me. It's not that it's not happy. It just requires me to think of another epilogue a few months/ years down the line. But I cannot say more without serious spoilers so I won't.
It's a great romance/ adventure story. Where bad things do happen but mainly to very bad people. A fun romp for all who like their adventure with lashings of humour and romance.
A really fun read Pirate yarn, with the humour and wit that seems typical for this author.
Gayle - a pirate captain - and Celia - a seamstress - meet under somewhat unusual circumstances. Gayle's father has been injured and she sends crew to find a surgeon/ doctor to treat his wounds. They return with the doctor's fiancee Celia instead. Celia might be a young seamstress and know nothing of the buccaneers' world, but she is never helpless and no damsel in distress. I loved that about the book. Celia grows as a person and as an adventurer and gets to rescue herself from many a pickle. Splendid! Gayle is a dashing lesbian who is a real hit with all the ladies. She is aware of her precarious situation as a female captain and uses her considerable intelligence, strategy, understanding of the human condition, and fighting skills to manage her crew, protect the innocent and avenge the wronged. There is a surprising amount of killing in this book, but in the words of True Lies Arnie Schwarzenegger "yes, but they were all bad people". I mean they really were.
In amongst all the adventure, gypsies prophecies, rescuing whores, and not whores, slaves and orphans, finding treasure and losing it, dealing with scheming women and lovelorn doctors, there is of course the romance. And it is great. Gayle and Celia fall for each other. They spar. They banter. They pine. They dream. They bathe. And then... well, they finally have sex. And they still spar and banter and pine and dream. It's a really nice romance.
Why 4.5 stars rather than 5? Well, it was the ending that annoyed me. It's not that it's not happy. It just requires me to think of another epilogue a few months/ years down the line. But I cannot say more without serious spoilers so I won't.
It's a great romance/ adventure story. Where bad things do happen but mainly to very bad people. A fun romp for all who like their adventure with lashings of humour and romance.
March 28, 2018
Who would have thought a book about the adventures of lesbian pirates in the Caribbean would be so banal?
Gayle Malvern is the acting captain of the Original Sin after her father is wounded in a skirmish and then decides that his days of sailing and plundering are over. Celia is a seamstress, the fiancée of a doctor, who is taken by those pirates when they come ashore in search of a doctor. She joins the pirates in their adventures, seeking plunder, killing other pirates, and eventually chasing after the treasure that Captain Malvern buried long ago in order to become rich beyond dreams of avarice. And all the while, Celia's father is looking for her, and Gayle and Celia develop an affection for each other that is more than just the kinship of being the lone women on a ship full of male pirates.
If only it was actually interesting. The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin is full of short dialogue and what's supposed to be quick repartee, but almost all of it fell completely flat. I think it was supposed to be in the style of a Dumasian rolicking adventure, but to me it sounded more like people cosplaying pirates, or like if the puppets in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride came to life. Despite the battles and the maimings, it never felt like I was dealing with actual pirates who steal and murder for a living.
Similarly, the flirting was wooden. I think part of the problem I had was that everyone who wasn't either Gayle or Celia is depicted as disgusting. The men are all either ugly, rapacious, craven, or some combination of the above, but even the other women suffer from this. Anne is a succubus trying to steal Gayle away, Molly is a competent fighter and pirate but the one time she's depicted having sex the only thing commented on is how dirty her feet are, and most of the minor female characters are either jealous of Celia or nonentities. It's an attempt to make Celia and Gayle's relationship look better by giving it nothing to compare it to whatsoever.
Speaking of nonentities, I was surprised at how nearly everyone seems to have an English name even though the book takes place in the Caribbean during the golden age of piracy. There are a few people with Spanish names here and there, and people are often described as having darker skin, but most of the people explicitly of African descent are the group of freed slaves that the Original Sin picks up, many of whom offer to serve on her crew. Then they become the equivalent of the background actors milling around crowd scenes, occasionally referenced but never given names or speaking parts. This is pretty odd for the Caribbean!
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin didn't deserve either of its adjectives.
Gayle Malvern is the acting captain of the Original Sin after her father is wounded in a skirmish and then decides that his days of sailing and plundering are over. Celia is a seamstress, the fiancée of a doctor, who is taken by those pirates when they come ashore in search of a doctor. She joins the pirates in their adventures, seeking plunder, killing other pirates, and eventually chasing after the treasure that Captain Malvern buried long ago in order to become rich beyond dreams of avarice. And all the while, Celia's father is looking for her, and Gayle and Celia develop an affection for each other that is more than just the kinship of being the lone women on a ship full of male pirates.
If only it was actually interesting. The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin is full of short dialogue and what's supposed to be quick repartee, but almost all of it fell completely flat. I think it was supposed to be in the style of a Dumasian rolicking adventure, but to me it sounded more like people cosplaying pirates, or like if the puppets in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride came to life. Despite the battles and the maimings, it never felt like I was dealing with actual pirates who steal and murder for a living.
Similarly, the flirting was wooden. I think part of the problem I had was that everyone who wasn't either Gayle or Celia is depicted as disgusting. The men are all either ugly, rapacious, craven, or some combination of the above, but even the other women suffer from this. Anne is a succubus trying to steal Gayle away, Molly is a competent fighter and pirate but the one time she's depicted having sex the only thing commented on is how dirty her feet are, and most of the minor female characters are either jealous of Celia or nonentities. It's an attempt to make Celia and Gayle's relationship look better by giving it nothing to compare it to whatsoever.
Speaking of nonentities, I was surprised at how nearly everyone seems to have an English name even though the book takes place in the Caribbean during the golden age of piracy. There are a few people with Spanish names here and there, and people are often described as having darker skin, but most of the people explicitly of African descent are the group of freed slaves that the Original Sin picks up, many of whom offer to serve on her crew. Then they become the equivalent of the background actors milling around crowd scenes, occasionally referenced but never given names or speaking parts. This is pretty odd for the Caribbean!
The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of Original Sin didn't deserve either of its adjectives.
February 1, 2018
Ooh, lesbian pirates! Actually this was an engaging story that featured all sorts of characters, with intrigue and battles, swords and cannons, and sex in several variations, though not enough of it.
This was well written and descriptive. A few too many coincidences, but the bad guys weren't evil - the evil guys were! I'll read more by this author.
Thanks Lexxi.
This was well written and descriptive. A few too many coincidences, but the bad guys weren't evil - the evil guys were! I'll read more by this author.
Thanks Lexxi.
November 14, 2016
Verily, this was fun.
January 13, 2023
what a strange little book this was.
the book opens with a flurry of changing POVs, a rather pompous dickhead of a man, and the need of a surgeon. from there the reader is thrown full force into what i would call an outright comedy. this book does not take itself seriously in the slightest, as we’re hit by joke after joke after joke.
how many sexual innuendos can one woman fit in a book? the answers are limitless (and are not bound by yellow fever)
i’m more of a fan of a book with a bit more angst unless it’s a full blown romance book so this comedy of errors was not what i was expecting when i picked this book up. however, if you’re looking for a witty sapphic pirate novel where a muscular female pirate captain falls head over heels for seamstress/one-time doctor who embodies the useless lesbian trope then look no further.
the book opens with a flurry of changing POVs, a rather pompous dickhead of a man, and the need of a surgeon. from there the reader is thrown full force into what i would call an outright comedy. this book does not take itself seriously in the slightest, as we’re hit by joke after joke after joke.
how many sexual innuendos can one woman fit in a book? the answers are limitless (and are not bound by yellow fever)
i’m more of a fan of a book with a bit more angst unless it’s a full blown romance book so this comedy of errors was not what i was expecting when i picked this book up. however, if you’re looking for a witty sapphic pirate novel where a muscular female pirate captain falls head over heels for seamstress/one-time doctor who embodies the useless lesbian trope then look no further.
August 13, 2016
Who says lesbians don’t have a sense of humor? The opening pages of the The Sublime and Spirited Voyage of the Original Sin had me chortling. Failing to obtain the services of a doctor to tend their wounds, a gang of pirates makes off with his fiancé, the town seamstress. Emerging from hiding after the kidnapping, the doctor is relieved to discover the pirates didn’t take anything of real value. Not surprisingly, Celia, his fiancée, is dissatisfied with his tepid response to her peril.
Being able to cut and sew, Celia patches up the pirates, then becomes their not entirely unwilling passenger for a Caribbean cruise aboard the aptly named ‘Original Sin.’ The Original Sin is now commanded by Captain Gayle Malvern, daughter of Madman Malvern, who is laid up ashore with serious wounds. Capt. Gayle must prove herself to her cutthroat crew, but fortunately, she’s even better at wenching than they are, and there’s nothing that impresses a straight man more than a woman who gets more pussy than he does. Capt. Gayle sets her sights on Celia, but determined not to be another conquest, Celia at first resists. Romance blooms.
Along the way, they acquire the services of James, a doctor who is searching for his sister Anne who was abducted while visiting a whorehouse to sample the wares. Yes, she’s another lesbian, and a not very useful one, shrieking and crying when not plotting to supplant Celia in Gayle’s affections. Meanwhile James is all googly-eyed for Celia, but he doesn’t mind tupping crewwoman Molly while he waits.
Celia’s gallant but feckless father shows up intending to rescue her but needs rescuing himself; Capt. Gayle goes in search of her father’s fabulous horde but loses it and Molly to an evil pirate rival. She goes in pursuit, wins the day, wins her woman, gets revenge on the wench who sold her out, and everybody lives happily ever after, presumably including even Anne who is packed off to a nunnery full of virgins just waiting to be seduced.
Original Sin is a silly story intended to entertain and I greatly enjoyed the waggish humor and banter. Sadly, the rest of the book didn’t maintain the buoyancy of the first several chapters. The author doesn’t intend that we should take her pirates seriously (and I didn’t), but it’s hard to stay with the story when Celia, her father, and Anne wind up stranded on a ‘quay’ and must light a signal fire to get rescued. I found myself thinking, “What? Are there no taverns along that quay?” I knew she meant ‘cay,’ but I had the urge to shake the author--and her editor--and shout, “Dictionary! Use it!”
4 stars for humor and entertainment. If you think the world needs more lesbian pirate romances, this is the book for you.
Being able to cut and sew, Celia patches up the pirates, then becomes their not entirely unwilling passenger for a Caribbean cruise aboard the aptly named ‘Original Sin.’ The Original Sin is now commanded by Captain Gayle Malvern, daughter of Madman Malvern, who is laid up ashore with serious wounds. Capt. Gayle must prove herself to her cutthroat crew, but fortunately, she’s even better at wenching than they are, and there’s nothing that impresses a straight man more than a woman who gets more pussy than he does. Capt. Gayle sets her sights on Celia, but determined not to be another conquest, Celia at first resists. Romance blooms.
Along the way, they acquire the services of James, a doctor who is searching for his sister Anne who was abducted while visiting a whorehouse to sample the wares. Yes, she’s another lesbian, and a not very useful one, shrieking and crying when not plotting to supplant Celia in Gayle’s affections. Meanwhile James is all googly-eyed for Celia, but he doesn’t mind tupping crewwoman Molly while he waits.
Celia’s gallant but feckless father shows up intending to rescue her but needs rescuing himself; Capt. Gayle goes in search of her father’s fabulous horde but loses it and Molly to an evil pirate rival. She goes in pursuit, wins the day, wins her woman, gets revenge on the wench who sold her out, and everybody lives happily ever after, presumably including even Anne who is packed off to a nunnery full of virgins just waiting to be seduced.
Original Sin is a silly story intended to entertain and I greatly enjoyed the waggish humor and banter. Sadly, the rest of the book didn’t maintain the buoyancy of the first several chapters. The author doesn’t intend that we should take her pirates seriously (and I didn’t), but it’s hard to stay with the story when Celia, her father, and Anne wind up stranded on a ‘quay’ and must light a signal fire to get rescued. I found myself thinking, “What? Are there no taverns along that quay?” I knew she meant ‘cay,’ but I had the urge to shake the author--and her editor--and shout, “Dictionary! Use it!”
4 stars for humor and entertainment. If you think the world needs more lesbian pirate romances, this is the book for you.
January 13, 2018
I reallly enjoy this book so much! I really love every important characters in this. The story flow so well. I really enjoy the adventures that they had been through. Even though, to be honest, i dont really sit well with the third party try to get in the way between my two favorite main characters. To my surprise, i really like the out come. Celia is such a strong woman, combination with Gayle. They really suit each other. :)
April 3, 2017
Fun adventure! Loved the spirit and characters in this book. The dialogue was excellent. Definitely worth the read.
nope
May 3, 2018Sigh. Lesbian pirates sound awesome, but misogyny and poor treatment of characters of color do not. Will be skipping this one.
December 21, 2023
Pros: pretty well-written battle scenes, some witty banter, really good attention to historical detail
Cons: I cannot cope with the fact that the lesbian pirate captain calls her girlfriend a 'powerfully sexual woman' and then tells the girl's father that she 'helped [his daughter] to realise her natural sexual endowments' over the soup course. There were some really weird choices made in the dialogue and characterisation here that stopped me from ever being fully pulled into the story, and that's a real shame when it's a story with so much potential
Cons: I cannot cope with the fact that the lesbian pirate captain calls her girlfriend a 'powerfully sexual woman' and then tells the girl's father that she 'helped [his daughter] to realise her natural sexual endowments' over the soup course. There were some really weird choices made in the dialogue and characterisation here that stopped me from ever being fully pulled into the story, and that's a real shame when it's a story with so much potential
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews