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The Five Kingdoms #1
Privateer
Rani Karden finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes a victim of the "civilized" wars of the Five Kingdoms. Along with her brother's wife and children, she finds herself held hostage for ransom aboard the privateer Fleetwind. Sorri Westmere, captain of the Fleetwind, sets out to tame the fiery redhead, but she is soon captivated herself.
Striving to teach Rani that being a hostage isn't as bad as it might sound, Sorri learns that perhaps her choice of careers is an impediment to personal happiness.
Privateer is a fantasy novel of 140,000 words and is the first in the Five Kingdoms series.
Striving to teach Rani that being a hostage isn't as bad as it might sound, Sorri learns that perhaps her choice of careers is an impediment to personal happiness.
Privateer is a fantasy novel of 140,000 words and is the first in the Five Kingdoms series.
545 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2013
29 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Robin Roseau
114 books213 followersA writer by avocation, Robin has a renaissance interest in many areas. A bit of a gypsy, Robin has called a few places home and has traveled widely. A love of the outdoors, animals in general and experimenting with world cuisines, Robin and partner share their home with a menagerie of pets and guests, although sometimes it is difficult to discern who is whom.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 20, 2013
Privateer is a departure from the Madison Wolves series (or as I call it, the Fox series) and the first in what is supposed to be five novels set in a fantasy realm, The Five Kingdoms. With wars breaking out continuously between the different Kingdoms - the Wizards took charge, set out some rather complex rules of engagement and then removed themselves to some remote island from which they inflict dire punishments for breaking the rules. Enter our heroines - Captain Sorri Westmere, privateer and professional kidnapper, and Rani Karden, the mysteriously self-employed sister of the governor. During their latest retrival mission, Sorri's crew kidnaps Rani, her family and a host of other pretty much nameless other characters. Adventure, humour, love, betrayal and all that follows.
I think I prefer this series over the Madison Wolves one. Not hard to understand since I have so many reservations about that series. There seems to be more room for expanded story lines and the angst wasn't as over the top. I'm hoping that the idea of the wizards coming in and setting up all the rules and threatening the Kingdoms to at least play nicely when at war is something that will be more than a convenient way of making the whole kidnapper/kidnapping thing more palatable - and removing a fair amount of blood, violence and abuse. I'd like to see more of the Kingdoms and hopefully some larger world-building full of machinations and skullduggery. Character-wise, there's some similarity between Rani and Michaela (the fox series), but I must admit I liked Rani a bit better.
My biggest qualm with this one is that the narrative is 1st person POV, alternating between Sorri and Rani and there were a few instances where the names got mixed up ... reading from Rani's perspective and she walks into the room to see Rani tearing through all the drawers and chests. Stuff like that should have been caught before being issued.
Whatever the flaws I might have found in this and the other books, I do find the author's voice easy to read and ... once again, I got sucked into the story. I'd recommend it for those who like a bit of fantasy mixed in with their romance (no ... not that kind of fantasy ... magic and wizard type fantasy)
I think I prefer this series over the Madison Wolves one. Not hard to understand since I have so many reservations about that series. There seems to be more room for expanded story lines and the angst wasn't as over the top. I'm hoping that the idea of the wizards coming in and setting up all the rules and threatening the Kingdoms to at least play nicely when at war is something that will be more than a convenient way of making the whole kidnapper/kidnapping thing more palatable - and removing a fair amount of blood, violence and abuse. I'd like to see more of the Kingdoms and hopefully some larger world-building full of machinations and skullduggery. Character-wise, there's some similarity between Rani and Michaela (the fox series), but I must admit I liked Rani a bit better.
My biggest qualm with this one is that the narrative is 1st person POV, alternating between Sorri and Rani and there were a few instances where the names got mixed up ... reading from Rani's perspective and she walks into the room to see Rani tearing through all the drawers and chests. Stuff like that should have been caught before being issued.
Whatever the flaws I might have found in this and the other books, I do find the author's voice easy to read and ... once again, I got sucked into the story. I'd recommend it for those who like a bit of fantasy mixed in with their romance (no ... not that kind of fantasy ... magic and wizard type fantasy)
January 16, 2014
Very nice read
I enjoyed this book greatly. There were a few poorly written sentences but overall this was a great read. the story was amazing and the characters definitely made me fall in love with them. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
I enjoyed this book greatly. There were a few poorly written sentences but overall this was a great read. the story was amazing and the characters definitely made me fall in love with them. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.
December 29, 2022
sorri westmere…
I enjoyed the character of Rani most of the time. She reminded me of a combination of Michaela (Madison Wolves) and Nicole (Fitting In). She also annoyed me in ways that they did as well. I felt a bit too controlling when it came to Sorri at times. I guess her being the captain of their relationship rubbed me the wrong way at times. But her vulnerabilities made her endearing. I was very pleased that she was able to make a relationship with her extended family. Pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sorri in all ways. She indulged Rani to no end. She went through the paces. And Minori held no punches.
I envied Minori the most. I loved everything about her. Absolutely everything.
I enjoyed the character of Rani most of the time. She reminded me of a combination of Michaela (Madison Wolves) and Nicole (Fitting In). She also annoyed me in ways that they did as well. I felt a bit too controlling when it came to Sorri at times. I guess her being the captain of their relationship rubbed me the wrong way at times. But her vulnerabilities made her endearing. I was very pleased that she was able to make a relationship with her extended family. Pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed Sorri in all ways. She indulged Rani to no end. She went through the paces. And Minori held no punches.
I envied Minori the most. I loved everything about her. Absolutely everything.
March 27, 2016
Privateer
I have read one other book by this writer, and enjoyed it, so I thought I'd read this.
Alas, I am very disappointed in this story. Pirate stories with the lesbian slant are so hard to find; this one felt very forced and passive in writing. It started out very bad, got better (if you could ignore the Stockholm Syndrome overtures,) and ended OK.
I just couldn't get involved in the story at all. I thought it would read faster than it did. Maybe it was the pretense, as I mentioned above. Maybe it's because the author could have cut atleast one hundred pages from the story; it would've tightened it up, and nothing in the plot would have been lost. (Oftentimes, I felt like the dialog was talked in circles...over and over again.) Sorri's justification for kidnapping was lame. It was like: "I'm a criminal, yes...but a nice, gentle, generous one." I didn't buy into it. Maybe it's because the author used the exact same formula with the first book I read. I mean, this story was very formuletic and while I sometimes really like that, when it comes to a prisoner falling in love with captive: well that really bothers me. It ended up leaving me with a sour taste in my mouth. Rani's story was puzzling to me. I didn't understand it completely and sometimes the dialog was confusing.
And then it ended: on a cliffhanger! If I knew this was a first in series, I don't think I would have even bought it. It would have been better if there was some kind of closure at the end...but there was none.
There were several typos and grammaticals errors. And sometimes the author switched characters around (wrote Sorri, when really meant Rani, and visa versa.) This might annoy some readers. The other plot/development issue I had was the the author used two main character that started with R (Radha and Rani,) and read a lot a like. I enjoy stories more when there are only one letter per character. To have two characters with similar spellings and names can get confusing.
I'm glad to have checked this off my reading list after having it for a couple of years. However, I don't think I will be reading anymore from this author. I would have been wise to have stopped with that first book I read; I just never guessed this one would be written exactly the same way, minus name and setting changes.
Two stars.
I have read one other book by this writer, and enjoyed it, so I thought I'd read this.
Alas, I am very disappointed in this story. Pirate stories with the lesbian slant are so hard to find; this one felt very forced and passive in writing. It started out very bad, got better (if you could ignore the Stockholm Syndrome overtures,) and ended OK.
I just couldn't get involved in the story at all. I thought it would read faster than it did. Maybe it was the pretense, as I mentioned above. Maybe it's because the author could have cut atleast one hundred pages from the story; it would've tightened it up, and nothing in the plot would have been lost. (Oftentimes, I felt like the dialog was talked in circles...over and over again.) Sorri's justification for kidnapping was lame. It was like: "I'm a criminal, yes...but a nice, gentle, generous one." I didn't buy into it. Maybe it's because the author used the exact same formula with the first book I read. I mean, this story was very formuletic and while I sometimes really like that, when it comes to a prisoner falling in love with captive: well that really bothers me. It ended up leaving me with a sour taste in my mouth. Rani's story was puzzling to me. I didn't understand it completely and sometimes the dialog was confusing.
And then it ended: on a cliffhanger! If I knew this was a first in series, I don't think I would have even bought it. It would have been better if there was some kind of closure at the end...but there was none.
There were several typos and grammaticals errors. And sometimes the author switched characters around (wrote Sorri, when really meant Rani, and visa versa.) This might annoy some readers. The other plot/development issue I had was the the author used two main character that started with R (Radha and Rani,) and read a lot a like. I enjoy stories more when there are only one letter per character. To have two characters with similar spellings and names can get confusing.
I'm glad to have checked this off my reading list after having it for a couple of years. However, I don't think I will be reading anymore from this author. I would have been wise to have stopped with that first book I read; I just never guessed this one would be written exactly the same way, minus name and setting changes.
Two stars.
January 21, 2016
I started out really wanting to love this book. 100 pages in or so I realized that I was just hate reading it. I felt obligated because I did pay for it, but honestly I don't even think the amount of time I put into it was worth it. One character (Rani) is essentially an obnoxious 30+ year old petulant child, a self righteous hypocrite with deep seated trust issues, no general understanding about life or ability to exercise common sense. She is so unlikable that I found myself hoping that the ship would take a sharp turn at one point and she'd fall overboard and drown. The captain (Sorri) was a refreshingly wonderful character, but a lot of her back story seemed to be lost in the wind. The niece, I assume, is supposed to be endearing but shes just plain rude and comes across as irritating. The supporting characters are actually great, but they don't appear often. Overall, the main characters became very repetitive early on. Which would not be a problem if what they were saying was actually interesting. The story itself seemed to drag on halfway through with unnecessarily mundane conversations, pointless disagreements and no general sense of intrigue. At some point (if you do get through it) you're going to realize that the story somehow became a Pirate-esque 50 shades of grey. An actual lesbian dom/sub story sans the whips and chains. Never in my life did I think that I would see the word gag so many times and actually hate it. And just when you didnt know if you can handle it anymore, the story seems to reach an abrupt end (seriously managing to wrap up the 500 page story within the last 10). At least it provided hope for a second book, yay. But you should know that the "cliffhanger" is confusing, the characters end up saying things and acting in a way very different to how they were portrayed through the whole story, and, honestly, it is a bit idiotic in its own right.
April 29, 2022
This story illuminates the importance of seeing the value in someone, when everyone else chooses rejection over acceptance. That kind of love is capable of changing what those characters believe about their own capabilities, worth, and ability to see value in others.
Rani is a woman who has been rejected and betrayed her entire life due to what our society would label, "a disability." Only her young niece understands she has great value. That she is different in a way that makes people feel righteous when they ridicule her and banish her from their lives.
The stigma Rani faces is very much like the challenges of the autism spectrum or Tourette's Syndrome. Although she is highly intelligent, fiercely loyal, and protective even of those who mock her, society (both in the story and in the review section) judges her as worthless, because she is differently-abled.
Rani accepts herself for being different, yet is embarrassed when others see her behave in a way she cannot control. Once characters accept that while Rani needs their help to endure her moments of weakness, the moments that really count are all the ones between those episodes.
The story is full of poignant moments when Sorri tries to prove to Rani that her love is forever, while realizing she needs years and decades to do so.
SPOILER ALERT:
The ending doesn't have to be sad. If you need the author to spell out what happens next, just skip the last two chapters.
Rani is a woman who has been rejected and betrayed her entire life due to what our society would label, "a disability." Only her young niece understands she has great value. That she is different in a way that makes people feel righteous when they ridicule her and banish her from their lives.
The stigma Rani faces is very much like the challenges of the autism spectrum or Tourette's Syndrome. Although she is highly intelligent, fiercely loyal, and protective even of those who mock her, society (both in the story and in the review section) judges her as worthless, because she is differently-abled.
Rani accepts herself for being different, yet is embarrassed when others see her behave in a way she cannot control. Once characters accept that while Rani needs their help to endure her moments of weakness, the moments that really count are all the ones between those episodes.
The story is full of poignant moments when Sorri tries to prove to Rani that her love is forever, while realizing she needs years and decades to do so.
SPOILER ALERT:
The ending doesn't have to be sad. If you need the author to spell out what happens next, just skip the last two chapters.
March 11, 2015
The main plot is pretty much the same as every other book of Robin Roseau and after the third or fourth book when you start reading and get the sense it's going to be the same you are like
... so that's that
... so that's that
October 21, 2015
Worst ending
I loved the book until it ended. Even the best book with a lousy ending sucks. I don't care if there are twenty sequels , this book ended without any redeeming or satisfying conclusions. This is the second time this author has disappointed me by manipulating my emotions for shock value.
I loved the book until it ended. Even the best book with a lousy ending sucks. I don't care if there are twenty sequels , this book ended without any redeeming or satisfying conclusions. This is the second time this author has disappointed me by manipulating my emotions for shock value.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews