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Phoenix Rising #1
Caraway of the Sea
A Grim Pirates Fantasy With A Slow-Burn Island Romance And A Lot Of Paranoia...
Caraway Auclair has devoted herself to protecting her brother, serving as the ship’s first mate and enforcer. Sacrificing nearly all she is to ensure that he becomes the most fearsome pirate Captain to ever sail the Carnelian Sea. She realizes too late, that the seas have only grown darker, and the waves more fearsome, they threaten to pull her under completely and mold her into something akin to a nightmare.
After Caraway's closest friend dies in a brutal storm, grief puts Caraway and her brother at odds more than ever before.
When they dock on Isla Dalia after the devastating storm, Caraway is surrounded by both friend and foe, oftentimes unable to distinguish between the two. She must navigate a torrent of emotions unlike any she has weathered before. Seeking out any and all distractions, she begins to grow dangerously close to a rival Captain, despite her brother's warnings.
As another storm looms, ever encroaching upon her crew's uncertain future, her fears are laid bare for all to see. Caraway struggles to face the demons of her past ... only to discover that they pale in comparison to the monster that she had a hand in creating.
As she drifts further away from all that she once knew, secrets slowly begin to surface, and the tides of her life as she knew it begins to shift ...
A shift that just might destroy the life she's worked so hard to protect, and her future with it.
Caraway Auclair has devoted herself to protecting her brother, serving as the ship’s first mate and enforcer. Sacrificing nearly all she is to ensure that he becomes the most fearsome pirate Captain to ever sail the Carnelian Sea. She realizes too late, that the seas have only grown darker, and the waves more fearsome, they threaten to pull her under completely and mold her into something akin to a nightmare.
After Caraway's closest friend dies in a brutal storm, grief puts Caraway and her brother at odds more than ever before.
When they dock on Isla Dalia after the devastating storm, Caraway is surrounded by both friend and foe, oftentimes unable to distinguish between the two. She must navigate a torrent of emotions unlike any she has weathered before. Seeking out any and all distractions, she begins to grow dangerously close to a rival Captain, despite her brother's warnings.
As another storm looms, ever encroaching upon her crew's uncertain future, her fears are laid bare for all to see. Caraway struggles to face the demons of her past ... only to discover that they pale in comparison to the monster that she had a hand in creating.
As she drifts further away from all that she once knew, secrets slowly begin to surface, and the tides of her life as she knew it begins to shift ...
A shift that just might destroy the life she's worked so hard to protect, and her future with it.
358 pages, Paperback
First published June 21, 2023
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3502 people want to read
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August 25, 2024Thank you so much to the author for sending me a copy and a PR package of this book! These are my honest opinions!
Caraway of the Sea is a sweet self-published pirate story featuring a diverse cast and found family. I enjoyed the writing, and for a self-pub book, I found the work to be quite polished and readable! I loved our MC, Caraway, who is so incredibly snarky and stubborn and guarded, and her journey throughout the story was really compelling.
Though this isn't a fault of Burget's writing, as this is a pirate book, I was expecting more of a plot-heavy fast narrative with lots of swashbuckling adventure and sailing action, but the majority of the story takes place on land (and the parts that are on a boat are just mostly in contained rooms below cabin, so we don't get much of a feel for the ship itself) and is driven by slow-burn interpersonal conflict. I think that for folks who aren't super into pirate-y content but want the general vibe, or people who want to dip their toes into pirates but prefer more intimate dynamics, this book may be up your alley. But because I pick up pirate books to be immersed in the pirate ship ambience, the sailing lingo, and gritty action, I felt this one wasn't quite as much up mine.
I also want to mention that this book is marketed as fantasy but it isn’t. It’s a second world book, but without any actual fantasy elements or world building, this just seems like a tool to avoid handling any historical elements. It takes away rather than adds imo.
I'm really grateful I was sent a copy and got to have a little taste of a pirate story this summer (no summer is complete without one pirate book imo), and I'm happy to see on here that this book seems like it's found its audience!
CW: violence, blood & gore, sexual assault, drowning, dismemberment, character death, death, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, PTSD, gun violence, injury detail, confinement, depression, narcissism, alcohol, alcoholism
Caraway of the Sea is a sweet self-published pirate story featuring a diverse cast and found family. I enjoyed the writing, and for a self-pub book, I found the work to be quite polished and readable! I loved our MC, Caraway, who is so incredibly snarky and stubborn and guarded, and her journey throughout the story was really compelling.
Though this isn't a fault of Burget's writing, as this is a pirate book, I was expecting more of a plot-heavy fast narrative with lots of swashbuckling adventure and sailing action, but the majority of the story takes place on land (and the parts that are on a boat are just mostly in contained rooms below cabin, so we don't get much of a feel for the ship itself) and is driven by slow-burn interpersonal conflict. I think that for folks who aren't super into pirate-y content but want the general vibe, or people who want to dip their toes into pirates but prefer more intimate dynamics, this book may be up your alley. But because I pick up pirate books to be immersed in the pirate ship ambience, the sailing lingo, and gritty action, I felt this one wasn't quite as much up mine.
I also want to mention that this book is marketed as fantasy but it isn’t. It’s a second world book, but without any actual fantasy elements or world building, this just seems like a tool to avoid handling any historical elements. It takes away rather than adds imo.
I'm really grateful I was sent a copy and got to have a little taste of a pirate story this summer (no summer is complete without one pirate book imo), and I'm happy to see on here that this book seems like it's found its audience!
CW: violence, blood & gore, sexual assault, drowning, dismemberment, character death, death, anxiety, emotional abuse, physical abuse, manipulation, PTSD, gun violence, injury detail, confinement, depression, narcissism, alcohol, alcoholism
June 13, 2023
Let me start off by saying I NEED book 2 now! I need more stories set in this world with these characters like yesterday.
Madeline has written one of the best no wait THE BEST Pirate books I have read in many years. I could not put this book down and legit tried to slow down reading bc I did not want it to end.
I would say if you're curious to know a comparison, that this book gives me Black Sails vibes in season 1.
In this book, we follow Caraway Auclair, who has devoted herself to protecting her brother and serving as his executioner.
After losing a friend to the cold and cruel mistress, that is the sea. She is put at more odds with her brother, the Captain.
They make their way and dock at the island of Isla Dalia. Here, Caraway must decide who is friend and who is foe. She must decide if her brother is still the loving family she once thought he was.
Can she learn to stand on her own, or is she destined to be the monster lurking in the shadows.
As the storm rages on in her own heart and at sea, Caraway will learn that sometimes the life you strive to protect is sometimes the one you must leave behind.
I gave this book 5 stars as I devoured every single word and was heartbroken when it ended bc I wanted the story to keep going. For a debut novel, this feels like it was written by a seasoned author who's written for years. I'm utterly impressed at how amazing the plot world building and character development this had. For a debut novel, I am defn blown away, and this author now has my undying allegiance to buy every book they ever write.
Madeline has written one of the best no wait THE BEST Pirate books I have read in many years. I could not put this book down and legit tried to slow down reading bc I did not want it to end.
I would say if you're curious to know a comparison, that this book gives me Black Sails vibes in season 1.
In this book, we follow Caraway Auclair, who has devoted herself to protecting her brother and serving as his executioner.
After losing a friend to the cold and cruel mistress, that is the sea. She is put at more odds with her brother, the Captain.
They make their way and dock at the island of Isla Dalia. Here, Caraway must decide who is friend and who is foe. She must decide if her brother is still the loving family she once thought he was.
Can she learn to stand on her own, or is she destined to be the monster lurking in the shadows.
As the storm rages on in her own heart and at sea, Caraway will learn that sometimes the life you strive to protect is sometimes the one you must leave behind.
I gave this book 5 stars as I devoured every single word and was heartbroken when it ended bc I wanted the story to keep going. For a debut novel, this feels like it was written by a seasoned author who's written for years. I'm utterly impressed at how amazing the plot world building and character development this had. For a debut novel, I am defn blown away, and this author now has my undying allegiance to buy every book they ever write.
April 16, 2024
Rating: 2.63 leaves out of 5
-Characters: 2.75/5
-Cover: 3.75/5
-Story: 3/5
-Writing: 1/5
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Pirates
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Maybe
Hated|Disliked|Eh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
This is Madeline's first book so I won't go as harsh as I would usually go. The story was pretty good, I did like some of the characters, and I mean pirates are a fun time most of the time. There were some spots where I had to push through but I can't say the story itself is bad.
What really bumped it down to a 2 was the 1st person POV. It is a VERY HARD POV to write. I think this view is one to be studied A LOT before being done. I have seen great stories go down to 1 stars because of it.
It was choppy and A LOT of telling us things instead of showing us. A small example, "I fixed him with one of my signature scowls and he was quick to clarify."
What does this scowl look like? We can't picture what you see in your own head.
Another example, "Angrily, I refused to look his way." Show us the anger.
I hope Madeline can grow in her writing the more she publishes because there isn't a doubt that she can tell good stories.
-Characters: 2.75/5
-Cover: 3.75/5
-Story: 3/5
-Writing: 1/5
Genre: Fantasy, LGBT, Pirates
Type: Ebook
Worth?: Maybe
Hated|Disliked|Eh|It Was Okay|Liked|Really Liked|Loved
This is Madeline's first book so I won't go as harsh as I would usually go. The story was pretty good, I did like some of the characters, and I mean pirates are a fun time most of the time. There were some spots where I had to push through but I can't say the story itself is bad.
What really bumped it down to a 2 was the 1st person POV. It is a VERY HARD POV to write. I think this view is one to be studied A LOT before being done. I have seen great stories go down to 1 stars because of it.
It was choppy and A LOT of telling us things instead of showing us. A small example, "I fixed him with one of my signature scowls and he was quick to clarify."
What does this scowl look like? We can't picture what you see in your own head.
Another example, "Angrily, I refused to look his way." Show us the anger.
I hope Madeline can grow in her writing the more she publishes because there isn't a doubt that she can tell good stories.
January 19, 2024
I was initially hooked by the premise that this is a pirate book and was loosely inspired by Black Sails (one of my favorite shows). Madeline herself describes it as a grim cozy pirate novel. Well, sign me up, this will be fun! And boy did I get taken on an emotional ride in the BEST way possible. It's not every novel that gets me so emotionally invested in the characters or my heart racing as I traverse through the plot. My heart goes out to Caraway and everything she goes through.
Madeline did an amazing job crafting all her characters and weaving them into the story. Even some of the smaller side characters were written so uniquely that I did not have an issue mistaking or forgetting them or what part they play in the plot. Caraway's character development was well written and very heart wrenching for me since I personally related to her journey. I did not feel that any part of the book was "filler", all the scenes had an important part to play in the main plot so none of the novel ever felt slow or like it was dragging.
I have seen some others ask "how couldn't Caraway see the blatant signs of what was going to happen?" and I think this is missing a big plot point. If you have never been in a codependent, abusive relationship (whether familial or romantic), it's easy to see things from the outside that might seem obvious, but when you're in that type of a situation you're stuck in a proverbial fog. This is how I interpreted Caraway missing some of the things we as readers pieced together through the story. She is so loyal to her brother and in turn he has taken advantage of that by alienating her from everyone else so he can be her only friend and confidant in order to achieve full control of her. The ending was very fast paced and I'm glad Cara got the happy ending she deserved.
I am eagerly awaiting book 2 so I can see what adventures Caraway & co. get up to next!
Madeline did an amazing job crafting all her characters and weaving them into the story. Even some of the smaller side characters were written so uniquely that I did not have an issue mistaking or forgetting them or what part they play in the plot. Caraway's character development was well written and very heart wrenching for me since I personally related to her journey. I did not feel that any part of the book was "filler", all the scenes had an important part to play in the main plot so none of the novel ever felt slow or like it was dragging.
I have seen some others ask "how couldn't Caraway see the blatant signs of what was going to happen?" and I think this is missing a big plot point. If you have never been in a codependent, abusive relationship (whether familial or romantic), it's easy to see things from the outside that might seem obvious, but when you're in that type of a situation you're stuck in a proverbial fog. This is how I interpreted Caraway missing some of the things we as readers pieced together through the story. She is so loyal to her brother and in turn he has taken advantage of that by alienating her from everyone else so he can be her only friend and confidant in order to achieve full control of her. The ending was very fast paced and I'm glad Cara got the happy ending she deserved.
I am eagerly awaiting book 2 so I can see what adventures Caraway & co. get up to next!
June 23, 2023
Thank you to the author for the eARC. These opinions are my own.
In "Caraway of the Sea" by debut author Madeline Burget, readers are transported into the violently exciting world of pirates and the tumultuous waters of the Carnelian Sea. Caraway Auclair, a devoted first mate and enforcer, sacrifices everything she has to ensure her brother becomes the most formidable pirate captain on the high seas. But as grief over a lost crewmate consumes her, the complex relationship between Carway and Marcel seems to be fracturing in ways she never anticipated.
It's a testament to the author's skill that readers may feel a sense of frustration and anxiety, desperately wanting to warn Caraway of the looming dangers that surround her. The deteriorating trust between the siblings adds an intriguing (and dark) layer to the story. Another positive is Caraway herself, a fearsome and dangerous pirate who has earned herself deep respect among her kind. Delving into her backstory through carefully placed flashbacks, the author reveals the events that have shaped her into the formidable person she has become. These glimpses into Caraway's past not only deepen her character but also intensify the investment in her journey.
One of the book's standout aspects is the diverse and well-developed cast of secondary characters. Caraway identifies on the asexual spectrum and there is an inclusion of an Achillean romance in the story. The respectful and endearing advances of Enzo demonstrate his understanding of Caraway's worth and create moments of sweetness and connection amidst the chaos and heartbreak.
This book weaves a tale of high stakes and emotional turmoil, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. The author skillfully balances the pirate theme with themes of loss, the complexity of family dynamics, and self-discovery. The blend of action, character-driven storytelling, asexual representation, and intriguing flashbacks make this a must-read.
In "Caraway of the Sea" by debut author Madeline Burget, readers are transported into the violently exciting world of pirates and the tumultuous waters of the Carnelian Sea. Caraway Auclair, a devoted first mate and enforcer, sacrifices everything she has to ensure her brother becomes the most formidable pirate captain on the high seas. But as grief over a lost crewmate consumes her, the complex relationship between Carway and Marcel seems to be fracturing in ways she never anticipated.
It's a testament to the author's skill that readers may feel a sense of frustration and anxiety, desperately wanting to warn Caraway of the looming dangers that surround her. The deteriorating trust between the siblings adds an intriguing (and dark) layer to the story. Another positive is Caraway herself, a fearsome and dangerous pirate who has earned herself deep respect among her kind. Delving into her backstory through carefully placed flashbacks, the author reveals the events that have shaped her into the formidable person she has become. These glimpses into Caraway's past not only deepen her character but also intensify the investment in her journey.
One of the book's standout aspects is the diverse and well-developed cast of secondary characters. Caraway identifies on the asexual spectrum and there is an inclusion of an Achillean romance in the story. The respectful and endearing advances of Enzo demonstrate his understanding of Caraway's worth and create moments of sweetness and connection amidst the chaos and heartbreak.
This book weaves a tale of high stakes and emotional turmoil, keeping the reader on the edge of their seats. The author skillfully balances the pirate theme with themes of loss, the complexity of family dynamics, and self-discovery. The blend of action, character-driven storytelling, asexual representation, and intriguing flashbacks make this a must-read.
March 12, 2024
HOOOOLY SHIT?? ngl i wasn’t expecting that kind of twist from Marcel but i knew i hated him from the start. Live laugh love Lorenzo
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2025
I was really looking forward to this book, and so I cannot overstate how disappointed I was to discover how much I didn't like it. Personal opinions aside, this is just objectively not a well-crafted book. I've never written a review before, so I don't even know where to start. That's how mad this book made me. I am actually putting in the effort to write a review.
I hate how harsh this review will probably come across, but I don't want anyone to make the same mistakes I did. I was so hyped, seeing a pirate low-fantasy with an asexual main character -- I will ALWAYS dive in for a book with ace rep, and it's burned me more than once with an absolutely awful reading experience -- and my disappointment was immeasurable when this turned into a spite-read before I was even three chapters in.
I'll do my best to keep at least the first part of this review spoiler-free, maybe I'll do a spoilery bit after.
This book needed several more editing passes, of every kind. Developmental, structural, line, etc., etc. Even just another round of proofreading could have really improved this book, to fix all the weird punctuation mistakes (half the time -- or more -- there would be a forgotten space between a piece of punctuation and the next word. It was extremely distracting) or the weird wording mistakes (there is a difference between "ruckus" and "raucous," which I know the author and editor have to know, because the word "raucous" was used correctly only pages later).
This book reads like a second draft, maybe a third draft at best. The plot is all over the place (when it's even happening, which so often it just feels like we are being dragged around a series of random events), the characters hardly have any motivations or goals for most of the book, we are almost constantly told things over being shown them, and the writing feels incredibly juvenile for what is supposed to be an adult novel. I'm not sure if it's the first-person POV (which is an incredibly difficult POV to do right in my opinion, and not one that's done right here at all) or the writing style, but it feels more like I'm in the head of a 15-16 year old girl rather than a grown woman. All the characters fall flat when you look at them for more than a few seconds at a time, even our main character, and there's very little that any of them do that I found compelling.
Also, this book calls itself "low-fantasy." It is not. There is not a single fantastical element in this novel, low-level or not. Taking place in a secondary setting does not a fantasy novel make.
Honestly, I'm not even sure how to keep going without spoilers at this point, so if you want some details on some of my above thoughts and you don't mind spoilers, feel free to keep reading.
So yeah, I was genuinely really excited for this book actually, only to have it all crash down in the most disappointing first read of the year ever. I cannot recommend this book to anyone in good conscience.
Also, sorry again for how disjointed and disorganized this whole entire review is. I have never written a review for a book in my life and also I just read 40% of this book in one sitting to get it over with and my brain is completely fried.
The author had some good ideas here, and I'm sad to see that they weren't executed well. I can only hope she improves with her future books and I do truly wish her success in her future writing career, but after my experience with Caraway of the Sea, I will not be joining in for the rest of this writing journey.
November 24, 2024
this book was so fun to read i had such a good time! badass fmc and pirates and rival crews and betrayal and the one bed trope (!!!) everything was just so much fun i really enjoyed reading it and i defo will continue the series!
i found the pacing a little weird, sometimes it felt slow, sometimes ridiculously fast but it didnt take too much from the book so i still loved it :3
i found the pacing a little weird, sometimes it felt slow, sometimes ridiculously fast but it didnt take too much from the book so i still loved it :3
June 1, 2023
This was my first ever Advanced Reader Copy I have ever received. And by golly, I would not change it for anything. I absolutely loved this book! You can bet your bottom dollar that a physical copy will be appearing in my mini library! All the twists and turns that happened, and the LGBTQ+ representation in it, was phenomenal!
August 18, 2025
3.5*
Uma fantasia indie, delicada e lírica, com alma marítima e ambiente cozy. Madeline Burget cria uma maré de emoções suaves numa história sobre identidade, magia e pertença.
Uma fantasia indie, delicada e lírica, com alma marítima e ambiente cozy. Madeline Burget cria uma maré de emoções suaves numa história sobre identidade, magia e pertença.
August 13, 2023
Caraway Auclair has devoted herself to protecting her brother, serving as the ship’s first mate and enforcer. Sacrificing nearly all she is to ensure that he becomes the most fearsome pirate Captain to ever sail the Carnelian Sea. She realizes too late, that the seas have only grown darker, and the waves more fearsome, they threaten to pull her under completely and mold her into something akin to a nightmare.
After Caraway's closest friend dies in a brutal storm, grief puts Caraway and her brother at odds more than ever before. When they dock on Isla Dalia after the devastating storm, Caraway is surrounded by both friend and foe, oftentimes unable to distinguish between the two. She must navigate a torrent of emotions unlike any she has weathered before. Seeking out any and all distractions, she begins to grow dangerously close to a rival Captain, despite her brother's warnings.
As another storm looms, ever encroaching upon her crew's uncertain future, her fears are laid bare for all to see. Caraway struggles to face the demons of her past...only to discover that they pale in comparison to the monster that she had a hand in creating.
As she drifts further away from all that she once knew, secrets slowly begin to surface, and the tides of her life as she knew it begins to shift...
A shift that just might destroy the life she's worked so hard to protect, and her future with it. (Description from Goodreads)
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
Burget created an enjoyable read, though not one that sucked me in and kept me enthralled. I'll start with what could have been improved so that we can end on the happy note the author deserves.
I think it is important to note that this is a pirate novel that does not take place at sea for the vast majority of the time. The description of the novel does say that Caraway and her crew dock on an island, so while this was not a complete shock, it was a bit disappointing to learn that nearly the entire book takes place on the island. The parts that do take place out at sea were underwhelming; it is way too easy to forget that the characters are on a ship. I think a book about pirates should have had more inclusion of the sea with some very strong descriptors that, unfortunately, I feel this book was lacking.
The book lacked strong worldbuilding that you would normally desire in a fantasy novel. I mentioned a lack of descriptors in terms of the sea, but I feel that could be applied in a general sense as well. I do not feel like I had a good grasp on what the island and all of the main settings looked like or how the world functioned fully.
If you are looking for a fast-paced pirate novel, I think there are other options that would suit you better. This book is a bit slow. For a pirate novel, there are not a ton of scenes with a lot of action--more like little bursts of action every now and then with more toward the end. It felt like the author was dragging some things out unnecessarily. This led me to catch on to things faster than the characters, making it feel predictable. When Caraway is shocked by revelations, I had already known they were coming well in advanced. This felt like it took away from the book's impact.
I wish that we had some stronger characters and character development. There were some characters, such as Annecherie, Coen, and Zacharia, that could have been really great characters but fell flat because they weren't developed enough. I liked all of these characters and was interested in their story, and I feel like we didn't get enough of that. I think it is possible that giving Marcel more backstory and explanation for why he is the way he is would have made him a better "villain" and more believable. It was hard to get attached to any of the characters.
Caraway herself felt naïve to me; as I said before, the book felt predictable so it was very hard for me to believe that Caraway could so easily be blind to what was going on. However, I would like to note that Caraway is a victim of domestic abuse and, based on my knowledge, it can be very difficult for people who have experienced this to come to terms with what they are going/ have gone through. Caraway seemed to be trying to rationalize and diminish things that Marcel has done to her, another common thing domestic abuse survivors do especially when they are still dealing with their abuser. Therefore, I believe it was the author's intention to explore what being a victim of domestic abuse can be like through Caraway. I do believe, however, that a better balance is necessary. I like the exploration of mental health, but I think I would have enjoyed it more and been more understanding if the pacing of the book was better and the book was less predictable.
One last thing to note is that this book really could have used another round of proofreading and editing. I found a lot of mistakes that should be caught during proofreading, and I think a lot of the lacking areas discussed above could have been improved with more editing.
Those were the biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel.
I did appreciate that the book was trying to spotlight abusive domestic relationships between siblings because I think that is something that doesn't get discussed enough. Having a focus on Caraway's struggle with facing the reality of who her brother is is another nice aspect of the book that I appreciate. These two things tie in with the plot, which I found enjoyable. Another thing I appreciated was the focus on being a woman in a male-dominated field and everything that goes with that.
If you are looking for a book that has romance but no spice, this is a good option. The central romance and the sideline romance were both very cute to read, and I personally found the lack of spice refreshing. I think that the central romance was fairly well done and believable (though I would note that I felt Santoro fell a bit too fast--a little too love-at-first-sight on his end for me). I wish that the side romance had a bit more development, but I still found myself cheering the romance on easily. I also think that the author did a nice job in her attempts to portray a healthy romantic relationship. I loved how Santoro handled various aspects of the relationship and kept thinking about how that is how I would want m boyfriend to handle those situations. He was a great mix of sweet, protective, funny, and respectful of what Caraway wanted.
Overall, while this book definitely has a few areas that could use improvement, it was an enjoyable read and one worth looking into if you want to support an indie author. It is one I enjoyed well enough even though I do not feel like I'll have the urge to reread it. Just make sure that you don't go into it expecting a fast-paced pirate novel. It is much more about exploring an abusive domestic relationship and the inner turmoil that accompanies that. If you want a book focused on family dynamics and emotional/mental wellbeing interwoven with a not-spicy romance and some nice bursts of action, I'd check this out.
Thank you to the kind author, Madeline Burget, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 3/5 stars
Author: Madeline Burget
# of Pages: 347
Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy, Queer
Series: Phoenix Rising (Book 1)
Publication Date: June 21, 2023
After Caraway's closest friend dies in a brutal storm, grief puts Caraway and her brother at odds more than ever before. When they dock on Isla Dalia after the devastating storm, Caraway is surrounded by both friend and foe, oftentimes unable to distinguish between the two. She must navigate a torrent of emotions unlike any she has weathered before. Seeking out any and all distractions, she begins to grow dangerously close to a rival Captain, despite her brother's warnings.
As another storm looms, ever encroaching upon her crew's uncertain future, her fears are laid bare for all to see. Caraway struggles to face the demons of her past...only to discover that they pale in comparison to the monster that she had a hand in creating.
As she drifts further away from all that she once knew, secrets slowly begin to surface, and the tides of her life as she knew it begins to shift...
A shift that just might destroy the life she's worked so hard to protect, and her future with it. (Description from Goodreads)
Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion, and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this book as a free advanced reading copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:
Burget created an enjoyable read, though not one that sucked me in and kept me enthralled. I'll start with what could have been improved so that we can end on the happy note the author deserves.
I think it is important to note that this is a pirate novel that does not take place at sea for the vast majority of the time. The description of the novel does say that Caraway and her crew dock on an island, so while this was not a complete shock, it was a bit disappointing to learn that nearly the entire book takes place on the island. The parts that do take place out at sea were underwhelming; it is way too easy to forget that the characters are on a ship. I think a book about pirates should have had more inclusion of the sea with some very strong descriptors that, unfortunately, I feel this book was lacking.
The book lacked strong worldbuilding that you would normally desire in a fantasy novel. I mentioned a lack of descriptors in terms of the sea, but I feel that could be applied in a general sense as well. I do not feel like I had a good grasp on what the island and all of the main settings looked like or how the world functioned fully.
If you are looking for a fast-paced pirate novel, I think there are other options that would suit you better. This book is a bit slow. For a pirate novel, there are not a ton of scenes with a lot of action--more like little bursts of action every now and then with more toward the end. It felt like the author was dragging some things out unnecessarily. This led me to catch on to things faster than the characters, making it feel predictable. When Caraway is shocked by revelations, I had already known they were coming well in advanced. This felt like it took away from the book's impact.
I wish that we had some stronger characters and character development. There were some characters, such as Annecherie, Coen, and Zacharia, that could have been really great characters but fell flat because they weren't developed enough. I liked all of these characters and was interested in their story, and I feel like we didn't get enough of that. I think it is possible that giving Marcel more backstory and explanation for why he is the way he is would have made him a better "villain" and more believable. It was hard to get attached to any of the characters.
Caraway herself felt naïve to me; as I said before, the book felt predictable so it was very hard for me to believe that Caraway could so easily be blind to what was going on. However, I would like to note that Caraway is a victim of domestic abuse and, based on my knowledge, it can be very difficult for people who have experienced this to come to terms with what they are going/ have gone through. Caraway seemed to be trying to rationalize and diminish things that Marcel has done to her, another common thing domestic abuse survivors do especially when they are still dealing with their abuser. Therefore, I believe it was the author's intention to explore what being a victim of domestic abuse can be like through Caraway. I do believe, however, that a better balance is necessary. I like the exploration of mental health, but I think I would have enjoyed it more and been more understanding if the pacing of the book was better and the book was less predictable.
One last thing to note is that this book really could have used another round of proofreading and editing. I found a lot of mistakes that should be caught during proofreading, and I think a lot of the lacking areas discussed above could have been improved with more editing.
Those were the biggest negatives I noticed, so it's time to move into all of the good things about this novel.
I did appreciate that the book was trying to spotlight abusive domestic relationships between siblings because I think that is something that doesn't get discussed enough. Having a focus on Caraway's struggle with facing the reality of who her brother is is another nice aspect of the book that I appreciate. These two things tie in with the plot, which I found enjoyable. Another thing I appreciated was the focus on being a woman in a male-dominated field and everything that goes with that.
If you are looking for a book that has romance but no spice, this is a good option. The central romance and the sideline romance were both very cute to read, and I personally found the lack of spice refreshing. I think that the central romance was fairly well done and believable (though I would note that I felt Santoro fell a bit too fast--a little too love-at-first-sight on his end for me). I wish that the side romance had a bit more development, but I still found myself cheering the romance on easily. I also think that the author did a nice job in her attempts to portray a healthy romantic relationship. I loved how Santoro handled various aspects of the relationship and kept thinking about how that is how I would want m boyfriend to handle those situations. He was a great mix of sweet, protective, funny, and respectful of what Caraway wanted.
Overall, while this book definitely has a few areas that could use improvement, it was an enjoyable read and one worth looking into if you want to support an indie author. It is one I enjoyed well enough even though I do not feel like I'll have the urge to reread it. Just make sure that you don't go into it expecting a fast-paced pirate novel. It is much more about exploring an abusive domestic relationship and the inner turmoil that accompanies that. If you want a book focused on family dynamics and emotional/mental wellbeing interwoven with a not-spicy romance and some nice bursts of action, I'd check this out.
Thank you to the kind author, Madeline Burget, for giving me an advanced reading copy in exchange for this review!
Rating: 3/5 stars
Author: Madeline Burget
# of Pages: 347
Genre: Fantasy, Fantasy, Queer
Series: Phoenix Rising (Book 1)
Publication Date: June 21, 2023
November 5, 2024
This is my desperate letter to the author to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE release the 2nd book now.
I loved all of the characters, especially Enzo and Caraway. My only complaint is that I wanted to read more about their budding love story, however, I hope that will happen in the next book as this is a series!
I loved all of the characters, especially Enzo and Caraway. My only complaint is that I wanted to read more about their budding love story, however, I hope that will happen in the next book as this is a series!
September 1, 2025
1.5 ⭐️
I could not bring myself to care for any of these characters. Not a single one. We're thrown into the story (although there doesn't really seem to be much plot?) and are left wondering who these characters are. I could not tell you a single thing about Caraway, the FMC, other than her brother made her into a 'nightmare' - not at one point did I think she was worthy of the title - and she wanted to leave piracy behind and become a healer that also trains people. That's it. There is no connection to these characters.
The plot was extremely predictable. As soon as Gilroy was taken by the storm it was incredibly obvious that Marcel had thrown him overboard. He was also just a c*nt to be honest.
For a pirate book, majority of this story was set on land.
Overall, I unfortunately did not enjoy this book at all. The romance was bland, the main characters felt 2 dimensional, and the world building did not exist. Enzo had potential. That's about it.
I could not bring myself to care for any of these characters. Not a single one. We're thrown into the story (although there doesn't really seem to be much plot?) and are left wondering who these characters are. I could not tell you a single thing about Caraway, the FMC, other than her brother made her into a 'nightmare' - not at one point did I think she was worthy of the title - and she wanted to leave piracy behind and become a healer that also trains people. That's it. There is no connection to these characters.
The plot was extremely predictable. As soon as Gilroy was taken by the storm it was incredibly obvious that Marcel had thrown him overboard. He was also just a c*nt to be honest.
For a pirate book, majority of this story was set on land.
Overall, I unfortunately did not enjoy this book at all. The romance was bland, the main characters felt 2 dimensional, and the world building did not exist. Enzo had potential. That's about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2023
**ARC REVIEW**
Name: Caraway of the sea
Release date June 21, 2023
Author: Madeline Burget
I had the opportunity to review this book early as an ARC reader. I give this book a five star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and to be honest I really enjoyed it, was just speechless and blown away!!! This book was different from any of my current genre reads. Yes, this book did not have any spice but that didn’t bother me at all. It’s a slow burn pirate romance novel with a bit of secrets and betrayal. Caraway is the main character who is the first mate and strongest sword women that men feared!!! After a big storm they dock on an island on where she meets captain Santoro that made her feel feelings that she didn’t know she had! Don’t wanna give much spoilers but I totally recommend this novel if you’re into Pirate of the Caribbean!!! Thank you again for this opportunity!!!
Name: Caraway of the sea
Release date June 21, 2023
Author: Madeline Burget
I had the opportunity to review this book early as an ARC reader. I give this book a five star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and to be honest I really enjoyed it, was just speechless and blown away!!! This book was different from any of my current genre reads. Yes, this book did not have any spice but that didn’t bother me at all. It’s a slow burn pirate romance novel with a bit of secrets and betrayal. Caraway is the main character who is the first mate and strongest sword women that men feared!!! After a big storm they dock on an island on where she meets captain Santoro that made her feel feelings that she didn’t know she had! Don’t wanna give much spoilers but I totally recommend this novel if you’re into Pirate of the Caribbean!!! Thank you again for this opportunity!!!
December 8, 2024
Uhhhm why isn’t this more talked about hello?!?
If you ever decide to read a pirate book let it be this one
If you ever decide to read a pirate book let it be this one
December 31, 2024
Action, family drama, piracy, and a little dash of romantic interest all made for good storytelling, not to mention a strong female protagonist. I will keep my eyes out for the sequel.
Goodreads review published 31/12/24
January 15, 2025
I was so surprised at how invested in this book I was. I looked forward to reading it everytime i had to stop!
January 11, 2025
A quick and fun little pirate adventure.
January 25, 2025
I got this book on a stuff your Kindle day and I’m so glad I did! I know they say don’t judge a book by its cover but the cover art instantly caught my attention, it’s stunning. I couldn’t put the book down once I started it and have recommended to so many of my friends! Can’t wait for book 2!!
October 27, 2024
Cute åsånn, men jævli my feil tegnsetting og skriving i både presens og preteritum om hverandre uten meining, og det vart irritasjonsmoment gjennom heile boka
Og alt for lite spice tihihi
Og alt for lite spice tihihi
July 16, 2023
I was given this eARC by the author herself to read and give an honest review (sorry I couldn't get to it sooner, I apologize), and I thank her for letting me read this amazing book!!! When is book 2 coming out? 😃
Caraway of the Sea is the first Pirate book that I’ve read, and I loved every part of it. Loved it, frustrated over it, got anxious through it, hoped and thought the worst in some parts…
It really gave me Black Sails vibes, and I was all for that series as well!
In the book we follow Caraway Auclair, the main character. She has devoted her life to protect her brother, to serve as the ship’s first mate and also as the enforcer.
In a horrible storm she has lost her closest friend to the sea, and right after Caraway is struck with grief. It seems grief puts her and her brother even more at odds than before.
After that devastating storm they dock at Isla Dalia where Caraway finds both friend and foe. When she is looking for distraction she begins to grow closely, dangerously close to a rival captain, despite her brother’s warnings.
Slowly she is learning who is friend, and who is foe. Caraway will learn that they’re both in the most unexpected places… And why is her brother acting more strange and more closed-up, and even more hostile it seems? What is going on??
This was a fabulous debut! I’m now craving more pirate fantasy books!!
I love Caraway as FMC, she is strong, and yes very much also physical.. She is fierce and nobody will get in her way. Her reputation is well known and people fear her, and are careful to even look at her wrong.
I love the banter Caraway also has, and she can give some amazing comebacks!
This book made me frustrated over a certain person, made me hope and love, made me laugh too, and fear too sometimes.
It is a great 5 star read for me, and I hope to read more from Madeline Burget soon!
Caraway of the Sea is the first Pirate book that I’ve read, and I loved every part of it. Loved it, frustrated over it, got anxious through it, hoped and thought the worst in some parts…
It really gave me Black Sails vibes, and I was all for that series as well!
In the book we follow Caraway Auclair, the main character. She has devoted her life to protect her brother, to serve as the ship’s first mate and also as the enforcer.
In a horrible storm she has lost her closest friend to the sea, and right after Caraway is struck with grief. It seems grief puts her and her brother even more at odds than before.
After that devastating storm they dock at Isla Dalia where Caraway finds both friend and foe. When she is looking for distraction she begins to grow closely, dangerously close to a rival captain, despite her brother’s warnings.
Slowly she is learning who is friend, and who is foe. Caraway will learn that they’re both in the most unexpected places… And why is her brother acting more strange and more closed-up, and even more hostile it seems? What is going on??
This was a fabulous debut! I’m now craving more pirate fantasy books!!
I love Caraway as FMC, she is strong, and yes very much also physical.. She is fierce and nobody will get in her way. Her reputation is well known and people fear her, and are careful to even look at her wrong.
I love the banter Caraway also has, and she can give some amazing comebacks!
This book made me frustrated over a certain person, made me hope and love, made me laugh too, and fear too sometimes.
It is a great 5 star read for me, and I hope to read more from Madeline Burget soon!
January 27, 2024
I cannot think of any pirate books that I have read before, but something about the cover and the description stood out to me when I saw it pop up on Instagram, and I am so glad that I did. This is such a great story that covers a very important topic of toxic non-romantic relationships and also includes my favorite trope of found family.
This book is not a high-seas adventure but instead handles a bit more of the politicking of pirates when they dock at the same port and how the crews stay together or fall apart. I love Caraway’s overall attitude and how strong of an FMC she is. Because the world of piracy is mostly a toxic man-dominated arena, Caraway goes through a lot and grows her persona to disabuse the male pirates from pursuing her. Her character development and challenges are well-developed.
There were some very tragic deaths (no spoilers on who, but if it were a pirate book with no deaths I would be surprised), that caught be by surprise and brought some tears to my eyes. I also very much loved Coen, Zacharia, and Lorenzo and how they helped Caraway grow and become who she needed to be by the end.
This book is not a high-seas adventure but instead handles a bit more of the politicking of pirates when they dock at the same port and how the crews stay together or fall apart. I love Caraway’s overall attitude and how strong of an FMC she is. Because the world of piracy is mostly a toxic man-dominated arena, Caraway goes through a lot and grows her persona to disabuse the male pirates from pursuing her. Her character development and challenges are well-developed.
There were some very tragic deaths (no spoilers on who, but if it were a pirate book with no deaths I would be surprised), that caught be by surprise and brought some tears to my eyes. I also very much loved Coen, Zacharia, and Lorenzo and how they helped Caraway grow and become who she needed to be by the end.
September 3, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. Caraway of the Sea is a great pirate story, especially for a debut.
Are there some issues? Yeah for sure. But overall the story dragged me along and I wanted to keep reading. I didn’t notice my discussion points until after I finished and was thinking about the story. So for me it’s still a 5 star read.
Caraway is a great character. I do love some snark in a story. I like how the story unravelled. It’s a slow burn driven by Caraway’s relationships. For a pirate book almost all of it takes place at shore. The scenes that are on the pirate ships are in a cabin and really don’t feel like they are on a ship. While that didn’t bother me while reading it, I would love to see more high seas adventures, different ports and ship battles in the next books.
I’ve also seen this book advertised as a fantasy. Fantasy pirates sound amazing to me. Sadly there really aren’t any fantastical elements in this story. It’s set in a fantasy world of course but really this story could have taken place anywhere and would have worked. Again not a huge issue but can’t wait to see more of the world building that would fit this into a more solid fantasy story.
Overall highly recommend this one. Oh and did you see the cover? So darn cool.
Are there some issues? Yeah for sure. But overall the story dragged me along and I wanted to keep reading. I didn’t notice my discussion points until after I finished and was thinking about the story. So for me it’s still a 5 star read.
Caraway is a great character. I do love some snark in a story. I like how the story unravelled. It’s a slow burn driven by Caraway’s relationships. For a pirate book almost all of it takes place at shore. The scenes that are on the pirate ships are in a cabin and really don’t feel like they are on a ship. While that didn’t bother me while reading it, I would love to see more high seas adventures, different ports and ship battles in the next books.
I’ve also seen this book advertised as a fantasy. Fantasy pirates sound amazing to me. Sadly there really aren’t any fantastical elements in this story. It’s set in a fantasy world of course but really this story could have taken place anywhere and would have worked. Again not a huge issue but can’t wait to see more of the world building that would fit this into a more solid fantasy story.
Overall highly recommend this one. Oh and did you see the cover? So darn cool.
June 17, 2023
There is so much I loved about this book, but naturally I'm going to forget to mention all of the best parts.
Hands down, the best part is Caraway Auclair (FMC). She is incredibly fierce, doesn't take crap from anyone and has the reputation and loyalty to match. No matter what was thrown at her, she didn't back down and cower, she stood tall and pushed forward. Even though she at times took some guidance and comfort from others, she still plowed her own path and persevered. Caraway also has the greatest comebacks and banter, so you're in for a good laugh too.
I haven't read many pirate books, but I'm really glad that I gave this book a chance. I started following the author during the writing process, so it's really cool to see the final result of so much hard work and dedication. I am very thankful I was able to ARC read this and be a part of the authors launch into the book world.
Fabulous debut!!
Exceptionally well done!
This review was 100% my choice and my own thoughts and opinions. Happy Reading :)
Hands down, the best part is Caraway Auclair (FMC). She is incredibly fierce, doesn't take crap from anyone and has the reputation and loyalty to match. No matter what was thrown at her, she didn't back down and cower, she stood tall and pushed forward. Even though she at times took some guidance and comfort from others, she still plowed her own path and persevered. Caraway also has the greatest comebacks and banter, so you're in for a good laugh too.
I haven't read many pirate books, but I'm really glad that I gave this book a chance. I started following the author during the writing process, so it's really cool to see the final result of so much hard work and dedication. I am very thankful I was able to ARC read this and be a part of the authors launch into the book world.
Fabulous debut!!
Exceptionally well done!
This review was 100% my choice and my own thoughts and opinions. Happy Reading :)
June 22, 2023
To say I adored every aspect of this book is an understatement. This book is now one with my soul the rage, the sadness, the everything. I did not want to go to bed last night, I needed to consume this book like it was the last piece of some delicious sweet that I may never see again.
Caraway is so strong despite all the doubt she has in herself searching for that approval from her brother. For those that have spent their whole life trying to do everything for someone else be a Caraway when she's healed from all of that. Maybe without the murder though. The characters had their own personalities and traits and I adored most of them (the ones I didn't, they know who they are)
Anywhooooo I'll be waiting for book two.
Caraway is so strong despite all the doubt she has in herself searching for that approval from her brother. For those that have spent their whole life trying to do everything for someone else be a Caraway when she's healed from all of that. Maybe without the murder though. The characters had their own personalities and traits and I adored most of them (the ones I didn't, they know who they are)
Anywhooooo I'll be waiting for book two.
June 10, 2023
Holy crap! This book! Caraway of the Sea is a well written pirate story that I had no idea I’d fall in love with! This is my first time reading a book like this and I can’t wait to read any other books that are written in this series! The author did an amazing job with details and helping to paint the perfect picture of the characters and locations. I fell in love with so many characters and got so close to DNFing when a few things happened but I am so glad that I continued on reading. This is a story that will leave you wanting more once you are done! I’m looking forward to reading more about Caraway and the adventures and situations she finds herself in in the future ❤️
March 20, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! I have not devoured a book like I did for this one in a while. I love the world Madeline Burget created and the characters. I am so happy I was able to read this before it came out. Caraway is such a great character, and I loved being able to see a badass female pirate. Caraway's loyalty to family is one of her greatest strengths but also a great weakness. The character development of Caraway was great. I cannot wait to read the other books in this series when they come out and other books from her. This is a must read.
July 30, 2024
A pirate story with a FMC, family trauma, and emotional upheaval with romantic subplot!
This book did not disappoint! I loved the characters and the story itself was so interesting when looking at family dynamics and the deep dive into how people change for the good and bad over time. The motivations from these characters start out clear and then as time passes begin to change and warp as minds shift. I love that Caraway is a baddie and has a found family at the end of this. She deserves it whole heartedly!
This book did not disappoint! I loved the characters and the story itself was so interesting when looking at family dynamics and the deep dive into how people change for the good and bad over time. The motivations from these characters start out clear and then as time passes begin to change and warp as minds shift. I love that Caraway is a baddie and has a found family at the end of this. She deserves it whole heartedly!
June 13, 2023
Absolutely loved it! It was perfect! I always get a little nervous about stepping outside of my normal genre because I don't know if you need a bunch of background knowledge of a genre to be able to enjoy it, but this was absolutely perfect! Even if pirate stories aren't your usual go-to this is so well done that anybody can enjoy it. 10/10 will be ordering a physical copy when it is available! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2023
I devoured this book! This is a absolutely phenomenal pirate book that will have you intrigued from page one! The writing is amazing! I can not wait for book two!!!
The characters are astonishing! They will make you fall in love with them and have you missing them as soon as you finish the book.
Warning there are a few spots in the book the book that may have you wanting to put it down, but I promise you continue to the end and it will be worth it.
The characters are astonishing! They will make you fall in love with them and have you missing them as soon as you finish the book.
Warning there are a few spots in the book the book that may have you wanting to put it down, but I promise you continue to the end and it will be worth it.
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