A couple of petty, nitpicky thoughts before I get into how I really felt: I was, at first, taken aback by the lack of chapters. There were breaks, thankfully, between scenes. After a while, however, it wasn't bothersome. I just wanted chapters, I guess. Also, I'm not sure WHY I thought this was going to be a fantasy. No idea. No one said it would be. It took me a moment to unscramble my brain at the mention of England and the King. Again, though, once I realized I was reading an historical fantasy, I was all in.
The Pirate Queen is a grand, violent, exciting story that follows Callisto, a thief who uses her feminine wiles on rich, horny men. Until she is captured by pirates. That's when her new life begins and it isn't one where she is entirely free, either, thanks to some feisty gods. Regardless of their shennanigans, or perhaps because of them, she captures the hearts and loyalty of the pirates she commands. She is sassy, ruthless, and, in many ways, she has to be to survive.
The story is pure pirate adventure, with gods (Ares and Poseidon, so far), mythical creatures (Sirens) and women with far greater savvy than their male counterparts. Greed is operative word for most of the characters in this book and it is often quite fun to watch them get exactly what's coming to them!
This was a fun, fun romp and ends with several threads still to explore. As far as I'm concerned, I plan on signing up for the next voyage!