What do you think?
Rate this book
Isle of Swords #1
Isle of Swords
A young lad awakens on an island, alone and brutally injured, with no memory of his past.
Captain Declan Ross searched for riches that will free him and his headstrong daughter, Anne, from the piracy business forever . . . Bartholomew Thorne, an infamously ruthless pirate, seeks to destroy Ross and any who stand in his way of the legendary treasure hidden by a mysterious order of monks. With these intriguing characters and many more, Wayne Thomas Batson weaves a spell-binding adventure filled with high-seas drama where battles rage, storms brew, a long-dormant volcano awakens, and a sea creature slithers in the deep as pirates race for a cliff-top fortress.
344 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2007
51 people are currently reading
3299 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Thomas Batson
43 books926 followersWayne Thomas Batson was born in Seabrook, MD in 1968. He had an adventurous childhood and adolescence that included: building forts in the woods, crabbing and crayfishing in bays, ponds, and bayous, playing lead guitar in a heavy metal band, and teaching tennis lessons at the local recreation center. He attended Gabriel DuVal Senior High School where he wrote for the school’s newspaper and literary magazine. He was voted “Most Talented” in his senior year, and wrote this for his Yearbook Senior Goal: “To become a published author.” Little did he know that God had even greater plans.
Wayne Thomas Batson has spent the last thirty years teaching Reading and English to Maryland middle school students. Wayne Thomas Batson lives in Eldersburg with his extraordinary wife of 26 years. His four adult children intermittently live at home whenever their unexpected adventures lead them.
Batson’s writing career began in 2005 with the publication of fantasy epic, The Door Within. Since then, The Door Within, The Final Storm, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire have all appeared on the CBA Young Adult Bestseller List, including #2 for The Final Storm Fall 2007. To date, Batson has penned or coauthored seventeen novels and has sold well over half a million copies.
Wayne Thomas Batson gives thanks to God for the abundant life he’s been given. He continues to write for the people he cares so deeply about because he believes that, on a deep level, we all long for another world and yearn to do something important.
Wayne Thomas Batson has spent the last thirty years teaching Reading and English to Maryland middle school students. Wayne Thomas Batson lives in Eldersburg with his extraordinary wife of 26 years. His four adult children intermittently live at home whenever their unexpected adventures lead them.
Batson’s writing career began in 2005 with the publication of fantasy epic, The Door Within. Since then, The Door Within, The Final Storm, Isle of Swords, and Isle of Fire have all appeared on the CBA Young Adult Bestseller List, including #2 for The Final Storm Fall 2007. To date, Batson has penned or coauthored seventeen novels and has sold well over half a million copies.
Wayne Thomas Batson gives thanks to God for the abundant life he’s been given. He continues to write for the people he cares so deeply about because he believes that, on a deep level, we all long for another world and yearn to do something important.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews
July 26, 2016
When I first read this book eight years ago, I absolutely loved it. I would have given it 5 stars. But it's funny... now that I'm reading it again, I can tell that it's actually not very well-written. (Technically, at least.) I know Wayne Batson has improved as an author since then... and apparently I've become a more critical reader! :)
That being said, despite the many weak points, it's still a super fun adventure story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. This book is famous among my brothers as "that one book I actually read." They're not readers, but they've all read this book and enjoyed it. It's just so accessible and entertaining for anyone.
The characters are not very fleshed-out, but they are all unique and enjoyable in their own ways. I appreciated the character of Anne more in this re-read. Sometimes I feel like female heroes don't experience as much physical pain as their male counterpoints... almost as if authors subconsciously protect them more. But that was not the case here. Anne was just as vulnerable as the other characters. And I appreciated her spark! ;)
All in all, this book is not necessarily for everyone, especially the more critical readers. But if you want a fun, iconic piraty adventure with treasure, quirky characters, disturbing villains, torture, and a dash of faith, then Isle of Swords may be a real treat.
Also: If you want to convince a dubious little brother that reading is actually fun... this book may be perfect for the job. ;)
That being said, despite the many weak points, it's still a super fun adventure story that keeps you hooked from beginning to end. This book is famous among my brothers as "that one book I actually read." They're not readers, but they've all read this book and enjoyed it. It's just so accessible and entertaining for anyone.
The characters are not very fleshed-out, but they are all unique and enjoyable in their own ways. I appreciated the character of Anne more in this re-read. Sometimes I feel like female heroes don't experience as much physical pain as their male counterpoints... almost as if authors subconsciously protect them more. But that was not the case here. Anne was just as vulnerable as the other characters. And I appreciated her spark! ;)
All in all, this book is not necessarily for everyone, especially the more critical readers. But if you want a fun, iconic piraty adventure with treasure, quirky characters, disturbing villains, torture, and a dash of faith, then Isle of Swords may be a real treat.
Also: If you want to convince a dubious little brother that reading is actually fun... this book may be perfect for the job. ;)
February 21, 2025
Uh... guys, this was really epic! I had to take a break to read some ARCs, but wow! That was fast-paced, action-packed, and I ordered the next two books because yeah... I really enjoyed this one!
Characters:
Cat was such a sweet guy, and he had amnesia, and it's my favorite trope and felt for the poor guy who was trying to remember who he was.
Anne was spunky, but then she'd get herself in trouble, and her dad would have to come save her and found it quite hilarious and enjoyed that aspect.🤣 She all like I can take care of myself, but then her dad and his crew, or Cat, have to come save her.
Declan (such a cool name!) was so cool! I loved that he wasn't a pirate just to be pirate, and his loyalty to his crew and love for his daughter were touching!
Thorne scared me, y'all legit creepy guy... His bleeding stick freaked me out even though he didn't use it thar often.
Themes:
There is no such thing as luck or coincidence... things happen for a reason. I feel like this theme is just the beginning since there are two more books in the series.
Language:
N/A...which is super nice because it's a clean pirate book.
Magic:
A 'cursed' island... but not really.
Romance:
N/A...vague illusion toward the end that two characters might like each other. And mentions that Thorne'a first wife was his only love.
Violence/Gore:
Lots of explosions, people being whipped, knocked out, shot, stabbed, found half dead, tortured...etc...but all done with minimum detail... nothing overly grotesque... nothing that made me squeamish.
Overall:
This is a fun book! Very much something a boy would love! Not that girls can't enjoy because I did...lol...but it's more action/adventure that romance/heartfelt...if you know what I mean.
Recommend for ages 14+
Characters:
Cat was such a sweet guy, and he had amnesia, and it's my favorite trope and felt for the poor guy who was trying to remember who he was.
Anne was spunky, but then she'd get herself in trouble, and her dad would have to come save her and found it quite hilarious and enjoyed that aspect.🤣 She all like I can take care of myself, but then her dad and his crew, or Cat, have to come save her.
Declan (such a cool name!) was so cool! I loved that he wasn't a pirate just to be pirate, and his loyalty to his crew and love for his daughter were touching!
Thorne scared me, y'all legit creepy guy... His bleeding stick freaked me out even though he didn't use it thar often.
Themes:
There is no such thing as luck or coincidence... things happen for a reason. I feel like this theme is just the beginning since there are two more books in the series.
Language:
N/A...which is super nice because it's a clean pirate book.
Magic:
A 'cursed' island... but not really.
Romance:
N/A...vague illusion toward the end that two characters might like each other. And mentions that Thorne'a first wife was his only love.
Violence/Gore:
Lots of explosions, people being whipped, knocked out, shot, stabbed, found half dead, tortured...etc...but all done with minimum detail... nothing overly grotesque... nothing that made me squeamish.
Overall:
This is a fun book! Very much something a boy would love! Not that girls can't enjoy because I did...lol...but it's more action/adventure that romance/heartfelt...if you know what I mean.
Recommend for ages 14+
April 24, 2021
Look, it's not exactly great literature, but I don't think it's meant to be. And as far as being what it is — a fun pirate adventure story with pretty solid themes and a really nice father-daughter relationship — it does a really good job of that. And, yeah, it leans on a lot of pirate tropes-that-are-practically-cliche, but there's also more cleverness in here than I remembered. (That said, the last time I read the book, I was in that stage when I thought it was cool to be overly critical and when I blamed authors for my inability to keep track of spatial anything. I'd grown out of a lot of books, and it took me until now to grow back into them.)
February 17, 2013
Isle of Swords and its sequel, Isle of Fire, are separate books, but I'll be reviewing them together because reasons. It works because I have pretty much the same feelings about both of them. Just so you know, this review contains minorish spoilers (though I hesitate to call them spoilers because the reveals are completely predictable and I had it all figured out right away).
A few years back, I read this author's The Door Within and the rest of the trilogy. I remember enjoying it, so I wanted to give this a try. And anyway, Christian pirates? I wanted to see how that would work.
Ultimately, the not-really-but-kind-of Christian pirates annoyed me much less than the fully Christian characters of Other Books I Will Not Name. I like how the author showed that being Christian isn't about being perfect all the time. Christians make mistakes, too, and Batson doesn't shy away from that.
I still have some problems with the series, though. One major one is its lack of originality.
Similarities between Isle of Swords and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies:
1. Young man is the son of a notorious pirate and is rescued by a girl
2. Spirited girl hangs out with pirates all the time
3. Young man and girl get married
4. "Good" pirates vs. "bad" pirates
5. British officers are generally idiots unless they come in handy
6. Drawn-out sea battles in which many things blow up
7. Said sea battles often involve "good pirates" fighting both the British Navy and the "bad pirates" at the same time
8. Crew members with deformities, included a messed-up eye (and the messed-up eye guy is basically comic relief)
9. Crew with no regard whatsoever for their personal safety
10. MILL WHEELS. (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there was at least a minor escapade in Isle of Swords/Fire involving a mill wheel)
11. There's some sort of awesome treasure on a sketchy magical island
12. The Big Bad Pirate is out to get...everybody
13. Borderline magical things happen
14. Monkeys play a role
15. The girl's dad is overprotective
16. Pirates set ships and towns and everything else on fire
17. Storms at sea during the most dramatic moments
18. Sea monsters
Now, granted, it is hard to write a pirate book without inadvertently borrowing some stuff from Pirates. And some of this stuff almost has to be in a pirate book, anyway. What good is a high-seas adventure without a massive storm during the final battle, and a sea monster? Still, some of these overlaps can't be merely coincidence.
Even without theshameless copying similarities to Pirates, the plot was highly predictable. I figured out who Cat's father was as soon as Cat showed up. Dolphin's parentage was no surprise, either (and why is there a random lady named Dolphin?). The plot's twists and turns weren't unexpected, and some of them felt a bit cheap. For example, they had the map all along, except Cat had never opened his bag? Why would he have not said, "Hey, I've got this weird bag around my neck. I have amnesia, so it might be a good idea to examine not only the bag's contents, but the bag itself"?
It was tough to connect to the characters. Cat was likable enough, but I wish the author would have gone farther with his father-son conflict (especially since I love stories where a "good guy" has a villain father). Anne could have been likable, but she actually bothered me because she had exactly the same traits as Antoinette (the names are even similar) from the author's other series. Thorne and the Merchant were evil just for the sake of being evil, and that also annoyed me. (This, actually, is the difference between having villains thatamass herd of adoring fangirls and are stylish and actually cool and disturbingly lovable *coughLokicough* are well-written, and villains that are just bland.)
Overall, this book is essentially a Christian, PG-rated Pirates of the Caribbean without some of the cool and interesting stuff that happens in PotC, but with monks that blow things up. It was predictable and I struggled to connect to the characters. Still, it was a rather fun, swashbuckling adventure. Three stars.
Similar Books: It has pirates, like Steel. We've already talked about the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Also, this series has a similar structure (and basically the same characters with different names) as Batson's other series, The Door Within.
A few years back, I read this author's The Door Within and the rest of the trilogy. I remember enjoying it, so I wanted to give this a try. And anyway, Christian pirates? I wanted to see how that would work.
Ultimately, the not-really-but-kind-of Christian pirates annoyed me much less than the fully Christian characters of Other Books I Will Not Name. I like how the author showed that being Christian isn't about being perfect all the time. Christians make mistakes, too, and Batson doesn't shy away from that.
I still have some problems with the series, though. One major one is its lack of originality.
Similarities between Isle of Swords and the Pirates of the Caribbean movies:
1. Young man is the son of a notorious pirate and is rescued by a girl
2. Spirited girl hangs out with pirates all the time
3. Young man and girl get married
4. "Good" pirates vs. "bad" pirates
5. British officers are generally idiots unless they come in handy
6. Drawn-out sea battles in which many things blow up
7. Said sea battles often involve "good pirates" fighting both the British Navy and the "bad pirates" at the same time
8. Crew members with deformities, included a messed-up eye (and the messed-up eye guy is basically comic relief)
9. Crew with no regard whatsoever for their personal safety
10. MILL WHEELS. (somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure there was at least a minor escapade in Isle of Swords/Fire involving a mill wheel)
11. There's some sort of awesome treasure on a sketchy magical island
12. The Big Bad Pirate is out to get...everybody
13. Borderline magical things happen
14. Monkeys play a role
15. The girl's dad is overprotective
16. Pirates set ships and towns and everything else on fire
17. Storms at sea during the most dramatic moments
18. Sea monsters
Now, granted, it is hard to write a pirate book without inadvertently borrowing some stuff from Pirates. And some of this stuff almost has to be in a pirate book, anyway. What good is a high-seas adventure without a massive storm during the final battle, and a sea monster? Still, some of these overlaps can't be merely coincidence.
Even without the
It was tough to connect to the characters. Cat was likable enough, but I wish the author would have gone farther with his father-son conflict (especially since I love stories where a "good guy" has a villain father). Anne could have been likable, but she actually bothered me because she had exactly the same traits as Antoinette (the names are even similar) from the author's other series. Thorne and the Merchant were evil just for the sake of being evil, and that also annoyed me. (This, actually, is the difference between having villains that
Overall, this book is essentially a Christian, PG-rated Pirates of the Caribbean without some of the cool and interesting stuff that happens in PotC, but with monks that blow things up. It was predictable and I struggled to connect to the characters. Still, it was a rather fun, swashbuckling adventure. Three stars.
Similar Books: It has pirates, like Steel. We've already talked about the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Also, this series has a similar structure (and basically the same characters with different names) as Batson's other series, The Door Within.
November 24, 2010
1.5 to 2.0 stars. Not quite all the way to "okay" but I felt it was better than a 1 star effort so I went with two stars. I seem to disagree with most reviewers of this book so let me begin by saying that from a technical standpoint, this book is competently written and moves along at a nice pace. Additionaly, while I did not know that this was a "Christian fantasy" when I picked it up, the fact that it was didn't effect my enjoyment (or lack thereof) one way or the other.
The reason for the reluctant 2 star rating is that the story just never grabbed me from the beginning. Despite a few "dark" moments I thought the writing was a little too YA for me. Thus, while I was not groaning from displeasure while reading it, I just found myself blandly go from page to page and never really finding myself hooked on the story. Bottom-line, not a bad book, just one that didn't interest me enough to be able to rate it higher.
The reason for the reluctant 2 star rating is that the story just never grabbed me from the beginning. Despite a few "dark" moments I thought the writing was a little too YA for me. Thus, while I was not groaning from displeasure while reading it, I just found myself blandly go from page to page and never really finding myself hooked on the story. Bottom-line, not a bad book, just one that didn't interest me enough to be able to rate it higher.
August 14, 2025
Um…*stares at wall, considers throwing book but then hugs it instead* That was INTENSE! IN ALL THE BEST WAYS!
Language: A few uses of he-double-hockey-stick as in referring to down under. Mentions of people cursing but not what they said.
Violence: Lots of fighting and injuries. Characters receive multiple injuries, people die on page, some mentions of blood, not overly graphic just mentions that people were bleeding, or there was blood pooled on the ground, but no gory details just that it was there or someone was bleeding a lot from an injury. Mentions of cruel torturing, sometimes to death, but none of it was on page, just mentions that it happened.
Magic: N/A.
Wow, wow, wow…that was like…Pirates of the Caribbean on redbull without the magic…lol…in all the best ways of course. From page one its just bam, bam, bam, one thing after another which I thoroughly enjoyed because that's pretty much how I write my books😂
The messes these characters got themselves into, I think they need to be bubble-wrapped, especially Cat, that poor kid.😅 And maybe Anne just so she can't make everything worse for everyone else (no offense, Anne, but chill out, girl.)
These characters were so great tho, I loved the crew of the Wallace and how they interacted, they had me cracking up on multiple occasions despite the dire situations…lol…Nubby, Stede, Midge, Jules, and Red Eye, I loved them all! Nubby was especially funny, but always very caring and sweet, and Red Eye was super cool! And I loved how he took Cat in under his wing!
Declan was great! I usually get uninterested in the adult pov's but I actually really liked Declan's chapters and his character! An honorable pirate who cares very deeply for his daughter and crew? Yes please! Declan for the win!💖
Cat was probably my favorite! I mean how can you not love the cinnamon roll characters, especially when they've been through so much trauma and can't remember who they are! *hugs him* Poor guy! He was such a great character and that plottwist…oh my!😭
Anne was good too, a strong female character who just makes everything worse, but hey at least she lives up to her mistakes and tries to better herself, and by the end, she won me over.
Also, really love Jacques, he was so funny!😂 Loved that guy!😂💖 and I even liked Commodore Blake, he was a nice guy.
Don't even get me started on the villains…*shudders* pure evil, I can't even….
But anyway, this was so great! If you're looking for non-stop action, explosions, trauma, and somehow humor then look no further! It will keep you on the edge of your seat!
15+
Language: A few uses of he-double-hockey-stick as in referring to down under. Mentions of people cursing but not what they said.
Violence: Lots of fighting and injuries. Characters receive multiple injuries, people die on page, some mentions of blood, not overly graphic just mentions that people were bleeding, or there was blood pooled on the ground, but no gory details just that it was there or someone was bleeding a lot from an injury. Mentions of cruel torturing, sometimes to death, but none of it was on page, just mentions that it happened.
Magic: N/A.
Wow, wow, wow…that was like…Pirates of the Caribbean on redbull without the magic…lol…in all the best ways of course. From page one its just bam, bam, bam, one thing after another which I thoroughly enjoyed because that's pretty much how I write my books😂
The messes these characters got themselves into, I think they need to be bubble-wrapped, especially Cat, that poor kid.😅 And maybe Anne just so she can't make everything worse for everyone else (no offense, Anne, but chill out, girl.)
These characters were so great tho, I loved the crew of the Wallace and how they interacted, they had me cracking up on multiple occasions despite the dire situations…lol…Nubby, Stede, Midge, Jules, and Red Eye, I loved them all! Nubby was especially funny, but always very caring and sweet, and Red Eye was super cool! And I loved how he took Cat in under his wing!
Declan was great! I usually get uninterested in the adult pov's but I actually really liked Declan's chapters and his character! An honorable pirate who cares very deeply for his daughter and crew? Yes please! Declan for the win!💖
Cat was probably my favorite! I mean how can you not love the cinnamon roll characters, especially when they've been through so much trauma and can't remember who they are! *hugs him* Poor guy! He was such a great character and that plottwist…oh my!😭
Anne was good too, a strong female character who just makes everything worse, but hey at least she lives up to her mistakes and tries to better herself, and by the end, she won me over.
Also, really love Jacques, he was so funny!😂 Loved that guy!😂💖 and I even liked Commodore Blake, he was a nice guy.
Don't even get me started on the villains…*shudders* pure evil, I can't even….
But anyway, this was so great! If you're looking for non-stop action, explosions, trauma, and somehow humor then look no further! It will keep you on the edge of your seat!
15+
February 16, 2012
Set sail on a rip roaring adventure on the high seas! From the blue Caribbean to the wild North Atlantic, follow Captain Declan Ross and the fierce (but loveable) crew of the William Wallace. Originally forced to turn to piracy, Declan Ross seeks enough wealth to leave behind the so called “sweet trade” and settle down ashore with his daughter Anne.
Anne, however, does not share her father’s desire. To top it all off, the Wallace is short of supplies, leaking water, and caught in the hunting grounds of the worst pirate in history: Bartholomew Thorne. It couldn’t get much worse, right?
Until the discovery of a brutally beaten lad abandoned on an island, a fateful fight against Thorne’s second in command and a strange meeting with an even stranger Priest result in Declan Ross and the Wallace ranking number one on Thorne’s most wanted list. A desperate race to find the legendary treasure of Constantine could give Ross the wealth he seeks. If Thorne doesn’t find it first…
When Wayne Thomas Batson’s book Isle of Swords came out several years ago, I literally devoured it. Flipping from page to page as fast and as long as I could! So, I figured it was high time I wrote a review.
True to form, Isle of Swords opens with a bang. Writers often talk about putting their characters into the worst possible situations and letting them work their way out again. Batson leaves nothing to be desired in this respect. From the start, there is absolutely no doubt as to what is at stake.
Batson’s characters fairly jump off the page. Determined Declan Ross, headstrong Ann, and poor Cat who can’t even remember his own name! Not to mention the fierce Red Eye who can’t seem to collect enough weapons or Nubby (named for the stump of his missing arm) who serves as the Wallace’s cook and whose favorite dish is Iguana Stew.
Isle of Swords is a story full of color and spice that will whisk you out of your chair and transport you to the swaying deck of a ship or drop you into the overarching palms and thick underbrush of a muggy jungle. Quick paced action, vivid settings, and characters you can’t help but love, make Isle of Swords a story well worth reading. Due to violent content and evil pirates who are sometimes disturbingly cruel, I recommend Isle of Sword for readers 12+.
Anne, however, does not share her father’s desire. To top it all off, the Wallace is short of supplies, leaking water, and caught in the hunting grounds of the worst pirate in history: Bartholomew Thorne. It couldn’t get much worse, right?
Until the discovery of a brutally beaten lad abandoned on an island, a fateful fight against Thorne’s second in command and a strange meeting with an even stranger Priest result in Declan Ross and the Wallace ranking number one on Thorne’s most wanted list. A desperate race to find the legendary treasure of Constantine could give Ross the wealth he seeks. If Thorne doesn’t find it first…
When Wayne Thomas Batson’s book Isle of Swords came out several years ago, I literally devoured it. Flipping from page to page as fast and as long as I could! So, I figured it was high time I wrote a review.
True to form, Isle of Swords opens with a bang. Writers often talk about putting their characters into the worst possible situations and letting them work their way out again. Batson leaves nothing to be desired in this respect. From the start, there is absolutely no doubt as to what is at stake.
Batson’s characters fairly jump off the page. Determined Declan Ross, headstrong Ann, and poor Cat who can’t even remember his own name! Not to mention the fierce Red Eye who can’t seem to collect enough weapons or Nubby (named for the stump of his missing arm) who serves as the Wallace’s cook and whose favorite dish is Iguana Stew.
Isle of Swords is a story full of color and spice that will whisk you out of your chair and transport you to the swaying deck of a ship or drop you into the overarching palms and thick underbrush of a muggy jungle. Quick paced action, vivid settings, and characters you can’t help but love, make Isle of Swords a story well worth reading. Due to violent content and evil pirates who are sometimes disturbingly cruel, I recommend Isle of Sword for readers 12+.
May 21, 2019
A little help here? My heart is still pounding. O.O
Wow! What an incredible book! The plot was solid, the descriptions vivid, and the story suspenseful. But the characters were my favorite part. Somehow Batson managed to pull together a huge cast while making each character distinct and dynamic. He also succeeded in creating a villain that scared the daylights out of me! (Probably wise not to read this before bed. ;) )
I can't wait to continue this high seas adventure! Especially since book two features my favorite character. ^-^ I just have to wait a bit for my shipmate (aka buddy reader) to get her copy. ;)
Note: There were some gruesome/bloody scenes... They weren't so much described as implied, but it's something to be aware of for more sensitive readers. :)
Wow! What an incredible book! The plot was solid, the descriptions vivid, and the story suspenseful. But the characters were my favorite part. Somehow Batson managed to pull together a huge cast while making each character distinct and dynamic. He also succeeded in creating a villain that scared the daylights out of me! (Probably wise not to read this before bed. ;) )
I can't wait to continue this high seas adventure! Especially since book two features my favorite character. ^-^ I just have to wait a bit for my shipmate (aka buddy reader) to get her copy. ;)
Note: There were some gruesome/bloody scenes... They weren't so much described as implied, but it's something to be aware of for more sensitive readers. :)
December 12, 2015
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. There aren't very many modern books that feature pirates of the colonial era. This is a pleasant combination of Pirates of the Caribbean and Treasure Island. I do like that it fast-paced and has a fun crew to follow. The actual main characters of this book are a little bit tired. I enjoyed the secondary characters more, but it was a light enjoyable read and good enough for me to want to read the sequel.
October 16, 2018
I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Written very well, and a great Pirate story!
I love how the author put christ in it! It was just a great book (P.S. not going to do spoilers ;))
Highly Recommended!!!
I love how the author put christ in it! It was just a great book (P.S. not going to do spoilers ;))
Highly Recommended!!!
Read
February 13, 2025this is everything i could want in a pirate book. and a Christian pirate book? that should not have worked but my oh my yes it did! and without being preachy or smacking you in the face with its morals! this was just good fun, complete with treasure, all the ship lingo, and wow i just really want to be a pirate. the story may have been predictable, but the plot was just so engaging and twisty, i didn't really care. and the underlying themes were very heartful and well-executed. cheers, wtb, you pulled off a delightful adventure story that feels like much more than fluffy fast food reading. my one gripe: i could have appreciated a few more women? not that i can't appreciate a good wife/mother somehow speaking from beyond the grave/in a hallucination, but i prefer them living... but hey, historical context and whatnot, so i get it.
i'd highly recommend the audiobook narrated by rudy sanda; the accents were perfection and added so much to the characters.
i'd highly recommend the audiobook narrated by rudy sanda; the accents were perfection and added so much to the characters.
June 4, 2020
I think the dad really loves his daughter one example is when she was cold and terrified and he wrapped her in his jacket and hugged her another example is when she told him that there were monsters in the sea and he said there wasent it was the storm even through he knew that there were monsters this shows that he will do anything to comfort his daughter
June 26, 2020
that was an enjoyable adventure...one of the good pirate-y themed novels..a little predictable , but not boring at all , the characters likable.
March 6, 2020
2.5 stars
Okay, okay. Where do I begin? First I shall say that I picked this book up not realizing the age category it was for. I'm definitely too old for it. But that's okay. Let the review come!
Characters:
I never really liked any of the characters that much. Nubby was okay and I'm not sure why I kinda liked him. He was just the best, I suppose.
Cat was super confusing. He would often have conflicting ideas go through his head. First, he knew they needed to and wanted to leave a place because it wasn't safe, but then he also had to stay because he thought it was connected to his past. His whole past/memory thing was a bit confusing to me overall. I did have a suspicion who he was, and yes, my suspicions were right.
Anne was just...bleh. I feel like she was supposed to be one of those heroines who save the story and do all that, blah blah, but she...she just felt kind of dry and unfinished.
Overall, the characters didn't act as realistically as they could have. Perhaps this is because it's for younger audiences, and younger audiences don't really care about this (maybe they do). Most of them seemed to have the same personalities and ways to react to scenarios. All the bad guys acted one way, the good guys the other.
The monks were annoying. Sorry guys. They just were.
The Other Stuff
I guess I don't have a lot more to say about this book, but I think that overall, if the plot had been developed more, it would have proven to be much more interesting. With better realistic characters, it also would have been more enjoyable. If I had picked this up when I was about 11 or 12 I might have found it more interesting. That said, let's get on with the content review.
WHAT KEPT HAPPENING WITH ROSS??? Literally, I thought he died twice! First he was apparently blown up but he survived, and then second he was shot in the neck, in the neck,, and was totally fine!! And that was without any like immediate stitching! He would have DIED! That confused me. XD
CONTENT:
Language--mild, if any. A few rude things like "dolt." Also "son of a gun." But nothing worse. There might have been a few other words.
Sexy stuff/Romance--None.
Violence--yes, but it was "muted." Not very graphic. Blood is mentioned, but not very often. One character is tortured, but again, the descriptions aren't very graphic. Pirates fight each other with guns and swords. People die, but usually it's just where "they fall to the deck."
Okay, okay. Where do I begin? First I shall say that I picked this book up not realizing the age category it was for. I'm definitely too old for it. But that's okay. Let the review come!
Characters:
I never really liked any of the characters that much. Nubby was okay and I'm not sure why I kinda liked him. He was just the best, I suppose.
Cat was super confusing. He would often have conflicting ideas go through his head. First, he knew they needed to and wanted to leave a place because it wasn't safe, but then he also had to stay because he thought it was connected to his past. His whole past/memory thing was a bit confusing to me overall. I did have a suspicion who he was, and yes, my suspicions were right.
Anne was just...bleh. I feel like she was supposed to be one of those heroines who save the story and do all that, blah blah, but she...she just felt kind of dry and unfinished.
Overall, the characters didn't act as realistically as they could have. Perhaps this is because it's for younger audiences, and younger audiences don't really care about this (maybe they do). Most of them seemed to have the same personalities and ways to react to scenarios. All the bad guys acted one way, the good guys the other.
The monks were annoying. Sorry guys. They just were.
The Other Stuff
I guess I don't have a lot more to say about this book, but I think that overall, if the plot had been developed more, it would have proven to be much more interesting. With better realistic characters, it also would have been more enjoyable. If I had picked this up when I was about 11 or 12 I might have found it more interesting. That said, let's get on with the content review.
WHAT KEPT HAPPENING WITH ROSS??? Literally, I thought he died twice! First he was apparently blown up but he survived, and then second he was shot in the neck, in the neck,, and was totally fine!! And that was without any like immediate stitching! He would have DIED! That confused me. XD
CONTENT:
Language--mild, if any. A few rude things like "dolt." Also "son of a gun." But nothing worse. There might have been a few other words.
Sexy stuff/Romance--None.
Violence--yes, but it was "muted." Not very graphic. Blood is mentioned, but not very often. One character is tortured, but again, the descriptions aren't very graphic. Pirates fight each other with guns and swords. People die, but usually it's just where "they fall to the deck."
October 19, 2020
This, to my surprise, was pretty good.
I read The Sword in the Stars by this same author, and didn't really enjoy it too much. I found to be pretty boring and didn't care a lot for the characters. So I was going into this book thinking it will probably be just as bad as The Sword in the Stars, but I actually enjoyed this a lot!
Very fast paced. You get thrown into the story from the first chapter, and from there you learn all about the characters and their backgrounds and stuff like that, especially Cat. If you've read this, you probably know what I mean, but I was completely shocked by his character reveal at the end.
"Thump. Thump. THUMP! Sudden, sharp banging at the door made Ross jump. He skidded in
the black powder and almost fell. "Ah, our guests are here," said St. Pierre.
"Open up in the name of the British Royal Navy!" came a voice.
Ross grabbed St. Pierre by the shoulders. "Have you lost your mind, Jacques?"
"A long time ago, my friend. Ha-ha!"
I saw a few reviews saying that they didn't care a whole heap for the characters, and found them pretty bland and basic. I actually quite liked them. Jacques St. Pierre is, by far, my favourite character in the book. He's just so funny and...well, French!
I also enjoyed the basic plot of the story. It really kept me reading to the point I didn't want to put the book down! Now, reading the description, you'd probably think it's just another pirate story about finding treasure, but it's so much more. No spoilers...but just read the flippin' book!
Also the action scenes were really good. That's something I can actually say I liked in the other book I read by this author, the action scenes were done incredibly. Especially the battle scenes in The Sword in the Stars were really good. Classic sword fighting never gets old.
Wayne Thomas Batson is definitely an author I'll buy more books from.
Now, I need the second book...NOW!
I read The Sword in the Stars by this same author, and didn't really enjoy it too much. I found to be pretty boring and didn't care a lot for the characters. So I was going into this book thinking it will probably be just as bad as The Sword in the Stars, but I actually enjoyed this a lot!
Very fast paced. You get thrown into the story from the first chapter, and from there you learn all about the characters and their backgrounds and stuff like that, especially Cat. If you've read this, you probably know what I mean, but I was completely shocked by his character reveal at the end.
"Thump. Thump. THUMP! Sudden, sharp banging at the door made Ross jump. He skidded in
the black powder and almost fell. "Ah, our guests are here," said St. Pierre.
"Open up in the name of the British Royal Navy!" came a voice.
Ross grabbed St. Pierre by the shoulders. "Have you lost your mind, Jacques?"
"A long time ago, my friend. Ha-ha!"
I saw a few reviews saying that they didn't care a whole heap for the characters, and found them pretty bland and basic. I actually quite liked them. Jacques St. Pierre is, by far, my favourite character in the book. He's just so funny and...well, French!
I also enjoyed the basic plot of the story. It really kept me reading to the point I didn't want to put the book down! Now, reading the description, you'd probably think it's just another pirate story about finding treasure, but it's so much more. No spoilers...but just read the flippin' book!
Also the action scenes were really good. That's something I can actually say I liked in the other book I read by this author, the action scenes were done incredibly. Especially the battle scenes in The Sword in the Stars were really good. Classic sword fighting never gets old.
Wayne Thomas Batson is definitely an author I'll buy more books from.
Now, I need the second book...NOW!
November 7, 2009
This is an excellent book and it definitely ranks among my top ten.
The story is fabulous. The book is stuffed with humor, unique and endearing characters, oceans of peril, and the whole thing is saturated in mystery. Secrets shroud the tale. However, the author meters out the answers to those secrets carefully, just enough at a time to satisfy the reader and make him/her come back for more. I have never read books that do this so well. I highly, highly recommend Isle of Swords.
Sea monsters, standoffs, pirates, explosions, escapes, duels, incredible treasure and monkeys. I can almost guarantee that this book will be unlike anything you have ever read before.
The story is fabulous. The book is stuffed with humor, unique and endearing characters, oceans of peril, and the whole thing is saturated in mystery. Secrets shroud the tale. However, the author meters out the answers to those secrets carefully, just enough at a time to satisfy the reader and make him/her come back for more. I have never read books that do this so well. I highly, highly recommend Isle of Swords.
Sea monsters, standoffs, pirates, explosions, escapes, duels, incredible treasure and monkeys. I can almost guarantee that this book will be unlike anything you have ever read before.
April 21, 2022
I normally read science fiction and fantasy and when I finished the book I realized that I had read and really liked a book that wasn’t quite in those categories.
The book follows a pirate crew as they try to get to the treasure before the evil pirates do. (Of course the British are trying to capture the pirates too.)
This book was a lot like a Christian Pirates of the Caribbean and this book had good morals so you could actually like the characters.
There isn’t anything in this book for parents to worry about besides violence.
Update as of 2022: I reread this, and while it was still good, I don't like it as much as I did when I read it a decade and a half ago.
The book follows a pirate crew as they try to get to the treasure before the evil pirates do. (Of course the British are trying to capture the pirates too.)
This book was a lot like a Christian Pirates of the Caribbean and this book had good morals so you could actually like the characters.
There isn’t anything in this book for parents to worry about besides violence.
Update as of 2022: I reread this, and while it was still good, I don't like it as much as I did when I read it a decade and a half ago.
January 9, 2017
I would have loved this book if I had read it in Middle School. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite enthrall me as much as an adult. I would definitely give it to a younger audience to read, but I don't think I'll ever come back.
May 27, 2012
Easy to read but too boring to keep me into it. Not as good as I was hoping.
September 4, 2018
I was hesitant to read this, but it was better than I expected. If you want a rollicking, high seas adventure packed with intrigue, danger, wit, and sass, give it a shot!
What did I like? Other reviewers have said that it was predictable and that they'd figured the plot out at once. I, however, did not. And I guess all the plots. All of them. There were a few instances where the writer had used the same device before, so I knew it was coming, but for the most part I was surprised at the amount of twists the story took. I liked the insanity of Bartholomew Thorne. I LOVED Jacques St. Pierre. I liked the twist on church history. I liked the subtle Christian theme throughout.
What didn't I like? I thought Anne was a little too tame for the character she was clearly designed to be. The writing itself was a bit juvenile.
What did I like? Other reviewers have said that it was predictable and that they'd figured the plot out at once. I, however, did not. And I guess all the plots. All of them. There were a few instances where the writer had used the same device before, so I knew it was coming, but for the most part I was surprised at the amount of twists the story took. I liked the insanity of Bartholomew Thorne. I LOVED Jacques St. Pierre. I liked the twist on church history. I liked the subtle Christian theme throughout.
What didn't I like? I thought Anne was a little too tame for the character she was clearly designed to be. The writing itself was a bit juvenile.
May 18, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! It took me a few chapters to get into it but I really had a lot of fun reading it! Pros- it reminded me a lot of the pirates that Caribbean, and I loved that! The characters were each really memorable, and I loved how the little details of the plot all came together in the end. It wasn't too predictable and I still easily understood what was going on. I really only have two cons. The first one is that literally every female characters described has red hair- and on that note there's only three females in the whole book! So you would think that the author would make them all look a little different, but he didn't. The other con is that I felt as if 2/3 of the book were purely action scenes which I like, but I also really enjoy character development scenes. (Though I did get a lot of those near the end of the book.) All and all, I really enjoyed it! The characters were fun, the adventure was awesome, and I can't wait to read the second one!
June 27, 2025
This was a good middle school read full of fast-paced adventure and drama. Maybe a little cruel and gory at times, but overall the plotline was engaging and strong.
September 24, 2024
I again am lead to write a review borne of confliction rather than praise.
Let it be known at the outset that this book isn't bad, despite the rating. Two stars is admittedly low for me, but the book is not two stars throughout. If I could I would rate some sections at 3 (which is my "good" rating) and some others at 1 (which...isn't). Part of the reason, I'm sure, is that I'm not in the age bracket this book was intended for. It has literally been on my reading list since the beginning - since before I was even on GR - and I've only just gotten around to it. Had I read it back then, I would likely have thought differently about it.
The Good: The characters and plot are the strongest aspects of the book, and would make up the previously mentioned '3 star sections.' The characters are distinct and the stronger ones make up for others. The plot kicks along at a good pace, which is one of the books saving graces. It doesn't drag things out unnecessarily and the chapters are nice and short - something I greatly prefer in books; It all comes together to make it feel like it's always moving and that the weaker sections don't kill the pacing.
The Less Good: If I were lazy I would say "it is a Young Adult book" and leave it at that. While much of the plot is fine, some points here and there are predictable and vapid. Not uncharacteristic for the genre, but still, these sections drag the rest of the plot down. The dialog and imagery is the area that I would have to finger as the weakest. Some scenes are stilted and awkward, some even woefully so. I understand this was one of Batson's earlier works, which would explain why I rated the Berinfell Prophecies - the series which came after this - higher; Clearly the practice here had an effect down the line. The last element, which I'd wager is less of the crushing blow to others as it was to me, is the occasional, woeful historical inaccuracies. I am a self-proclaimed nautical history buff and the Golden Age of Piracy is a favorite period of mine. With that background, there are some truly abysmal scenes which fly in the face of historical realism. Again, I imagine the average reader wouldn't realize or care about such things - suspension of belief and all that - but they leapt out at me and rammed my immersion to a dead halt. They jump out all the more because it's clear that a certain amount of research was done going into the book, but it isn't enough and tends to feel all surface and no iceberg, if you follow me.
I've gone on long enough, but to reiterate, the book isn't bad. It's often good, with characters and a plot compelling (and most importantly, fast-paced) enough to make it easy to read. Despite my aging out of the target audience and my embarrassment at the ahistorical elements, there was evidently still a part of me that was able to engage. When the pendulum swings, though, it swings hard and if you are like me, it might clean you out when it does.
Let it be known at the outset that this book isn't bad, despite the rating. Two stars is admittedly low for me, but the book is not two stars throughout. If I could I would rate some sections at 3 (which is my "good" rating) and some others at 1 (which...isn't). Part of the reason, I'm sure, is that I'm not in the age bracket this book was intended for. It has literally been on my reading list since the beginning - since before I was even on GR - and I've only just gotten around to it. Had I read it back then, I would likely have thought differently about it.
The Good: The characters and plot are the strongest aspects of the book, and would make up the previously mentioned '3 star sections.' The characters are distinct and the stronger ones make up for others. The plot kicks along at a good pace, which is one of the books saving graces. It doesn't drag things out unnecessarily and the chapters are nice and short - something I greatly prefer in books; It all comes together to make it feel like it's always moving and that the weaker sections don't kill the pacing.
The Less Good: If I were lazy I would say "it is a Young Adult book" and leave it at that. While much of the plot is fine, some points here and there are predictable and vapid. Not uncharacteristic for the genre, but still, these sections drag the rest of the plot down. The dialog and imagery is the area that I would have to finger as the weakest. Some scenes are stilted and awkward, some even woefully so. I understand this was one of Batson's earlier works, which would explain why I rated the Berinfell Prophecies - the series which came after this - higher; Clearly the practice here had an effect down the line. The last element, which I'd wager is less of the crushing blow to others as it was to me, is the occasional, woeful historical inaccuracies. I am a self-proclaimed nautical history buff and the Golden Age of Piracy is a favorite period of mine. With that background, there are some truly abysmal scenes which fly in the face of historical realism. Again, I imagine the average reader wouldn't realize or care about such things - suspension of belief and all that - but they leapt out at me and rammed my immersion to a dead halt. They jump out all the more because it's clear that a certain amount of research was done going into the book, but it isn't enough and tends to feel all surface and no iceberg, if you follow me.
I've gone on long enough, but to reiterate, the book isn't bad. It's often good, with characters and a plot compelling (and most importantly, fast-paced) enough to make it easy to read. Despite my aging out of the target audience and my embarrassment at the ahistorical elements, there was evidently still a part of me that was able to engage. When the pendulum swings, though, it swings hard and if you are like me, it might clean you out when it does.
April 19, 2016
Sword fights.
Evil Villains.
Humor.
Explosions.
A hint of romance.
What more could you ask for in a novel?
I read--and loved--Batson's The Door Within , so when I saw this book, I had to try it. And Isle of Swords did not disappoint!
The characters in this book were brilliant. As with The Door Within , Batson weaves in some great friendships. We really get a sense of loyalty between Ross and his crew. I also enjoyed seeing Ross and Anne's father-daughter relationship develop. Cat was, by far, my favorite character.
Some parts of Isle of Swords were a little dark/violent, showing us how evil and twisted antagonist Thorne is. Batson does include silly antics and witty one-liners throughout the novel, which relieve some of the tension. Even so, younger readers may find the more violent chapters unsettling.
Isle of Swords forces us to question where our trust lies and what we believe is most valuable to us. The world's definition of "treasure" is so different from the Bible's definition of "treasure", as Cat, Anne, and the crew learn. Faith in Christ is so much more valuable than material possessions.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book, but I think fantasy readers will, too.
Evil Villains.
Humor.
Explosions.
A hint of romance.
What more could you ask for in a novel?
I read--and loved--Batson's The Door Within , so when I saw this book, I had to try it. And Isle of Swords did not disappoint!
The characters in this book were brilliant. As with The Door Within , Batson weaves in some great friendships. We really get a sense of loyalty between Ross and his crew. I also enjoyed seeing Ross and Anne's father-daughter relationship develop. Cat was, by far, my favorite character.
Some parts of Isle of Swords were a little dark/violent, showing us how evil and twisted antagonist Thorne is. Batson does include silly antics and witty one-liners throughout the novel, which relieve some of the tension. Even so, younger readers may find the more violent chapters unsettling.
Isle of Swords forces us to question where our trust lies and what we believe is most valuable to us. The world's definition of "treasure" is so different from the Bible's definition of "treasure", as Cat, Anne, and the crew learn. Faith in Christ is so much more valuable than material possessions.
Fans of historical fiction will enjoy this book, but I think fantasy readers will, too.
April 12, 2014
I chose this book based on its GoodReads rating (4.2ish), but was disappointed by it. The plot jumps along quickly but spends little to know time introducing the characters or exploring their motivations. The characters are about as bland as I have ever seen (and I've read a lot of books) and the writing is nothing special. I only read about 20% of the book so maybe it improves, but I doubt it. 1.5 stars rounded down because it does not deserve its 4.2ish goodreads rating.
March 22, 2020
This is one of the best pirate books I've ever read. It has awesome fight scenes, badass characters, and some well-placed romance. If you are religious, the characters believe in God and mention it several times, but if you are not then it is also okay because the religion is not a main focus and can easily be overlooked
May 18, 2025
this was a pretty good pirate novel, kind of a mix between Pirates of the Carribean and Raiders of the lost ark. however, there were some glaring historical inaccuracies regarding word usage (18th century pirates using words like "OK" and "Uh"), and the plot was a bit slow towards the end. Overall though, not a bad read.
December 19, 2015
Although I can't say I enjoyed the first book in his more popular series The Door Within; I really became invested in Isle of Swords.
(Read full review here.)
http://sutorinohana.blogspot.com/2015...
(Includes content advisory.)
(Read full review here.)
http://sutorinohana.blogspot.com/2015...
(Includes content advisory.)
August 2, 2020
I greatly enjoyed this book. I’d read the second one first, so it was interesting to see the characters’ start. The Isle is Swords was an interesting place and I was intrigued on how Jacques joined the party. However, I wasn’t exactly sure in the point of the first chapter. I guess it kind of tied up at the very end, because that was Blake’s intro to his wife, it turns out. But still kind of odd. The secret tunnels and treasure throughout was also quite interesting. Cat trying to find his identity was cool and all the little mysterious hints dropped. It was kind of strange how the author seems to be obsessed with red hair.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 215 reviews