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Romancing the High Seas #1
Take No Prisoners
When passion collides with magic, a pirate finds his heart’s true treasure.
During Captain Efren’s pursuit of his traitorous former first mate, he stumbles upon a captive mage named Niall. While Niall's rare ability will turn the tide against the imperial navy, Efren’s more interested in their instant attraction. Niall leaves him feeling something he hasn't experienced in hope.
As if being saved wasn’t enough, the more Niall learns about the pirate captain, the more he wants to join his motley crew. Niall is drawn to Efren’s commanding nature and sarcastic wit and torn when unexpected family obligations demand his attention.
When Niall is captured by the imperial navy, it’s a race against time and tides to save him from certain death. Efren must team up with the only prisoner he's ever taken. The decision could cost him everything, including Niall.
Take No Prisoners is a male/male age gap (45/25) romance between two consenting versatile adults. It has a grumpy pirate mage, a sunshine virgin apprentice who doesn't know he has magic, and plenty of snark and spice to go around before the happily ever after. If you're looking for a series where magic intersects with swashbuckling adventure and swoon-worthy romance, start reading today!
Content fantasy pirate violence; discussion of past SA.
During Captain Efren’s pursuit of his traitorous former first mate, he stumbles upon a captive mage named Niall. While Niall's rare ability will turn the tide against the imperial navy, Efren’s more interested in their instant attraction. Niall leaves him feeling something he hasn't experienced in hope.
As if being saved wasn’t enough, the more Niall learns about the pirate captain, the more he wants to join his motley crew. Niall is drawn to Efren’s commanding nature and sarcastic wit and torn when unexpected family obligations demand his attention.
When Niall is captured by the imperial navy, it’s a race against time and tides to save him from certain death. Efren must team up with the only prisoner he's ever taken. The decision could cost him everything, including Niall.
Take No Prisoners is a male/male age gap (45/25) romance between two consenting versatile adults. It has a grumpy pirate mage, a sunshine virgin apprentice who doesn't know he has magic, and plenty of snark and spice to go around before the happily ever after. If you're looking for a series where magic intersects with swashbuckling adventure and swoon-worthy romance, start reading today!
Content fantasy pirate violence; discussion of past SA.
420 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
September 19, 2023
I can't wait for the next one!
Who doesn't love a pirate story? This one not only had pirates, but it had magic too! For the win! Niall and Efren are so well matched, and their story was sweet, spicy, and at times a little heartwrenching. The worldbuilding was epic, and the secondary characters jumped off the page, begging for a story of their own. I can't wait for the Saga to continue with Vadim and Klaus' story coming in December.
Who doesn't love a pirate story? This one not only had pirates, but it had magic too! For the win! Niall and Efren are so well matched, and their story was sweet, spicy, and at times a little heartwrenching. The worldbuilding was epic, and the secondary characters jumped off the page, begging for a story of their own. I can't wait for the Saga to continue with Vadim and Klaus' story coming in December.
February 17, 2024
New author to me, in fact this is the first book I've read and so far I really like it.
👍 Recommended
👍 Recommended
September 12, 2023
3.5ish stars. Take No Prisoners had a rough start to the book with some repeated information; this could do with more editing as the story plays out. I wanted to love this book as pirate stories are my auto-click, but the story didn't connect with me.
Efren was a pirate sea captain who had a past lover, Valim, who'd betrayed him and broke his heart; that was five years ago.
Naill, 25 years old, was a potter and wanted to move on to his shop, but he was stuck trying to complete his apprenticeship after ten years. He'd heard pirates were helping the magic weavers flee from the Emperor. He and his friend decide to stow away onboard the Imperial Fool ⛵️, a good and bad decision for Niall.
Ooh, telepathic thoughts and this book gets another star. I love this in books.
Naill and Efren's story includes lots of storylines never a dull moment for the characters. Dangers, sexy switching scenes, secrets, action, magic, and more.
I liked the story's uniqueness, but I'd wished I could have felt the chemistry between them.
Efren was a pirate sea captain who had a past lover, Valim, who'd betrayed him and broke his heart; that was five years ago.
Naill, 25 years old, was a potter and wanted to move on to his shop, but he was stuck trying to complete his apprenticeship after ten years. He'd heard pirates were helping the magic weavers flee from the Emperor. He and his friend decide to stow away onboard the Imperial Fool ⛵️, a good and bad decision for Niall.
Ooh, telepathic thoughts and this book gets another star. I love this in books.
Naill and Efren's story includes lots of storylines never a dull moment for the characters. Dangers, sexy switching scenes, secrets, action, magic, and more.
I liked the story's uniqueness, but I'd wished I could have felt the chemistry between them.
August 30, 2023
I’d like to have been able to give this more stars, but the pacing is so choppy in places that I actually lost the thread of the plot. Just when I expected the tension to build, it was broken by an unnecessary interruption. The characters have promise, as does the world the author introduces us to, but the plotting is just too inconsistent.
September 15, 2023
This was the first book by Edie Montreux that I had the opportunity to read. For someone who’s not well-versed with reading Fantasy, I had a hard time imaging what the abilities were. For example, I couldn’t picture what a Dream Weaver does. But aside from that, the story was very good! The plot in the story was awesome! I enjoyed reading to find out what happens at the end. I’d give it 4.5 stars for the story, the plot, and how the story flowed.
The story focuses on Niall, a young orphan guy who was stuck doing apprenticeship for a shop owner who would spend the money that should’ve gone to Niall. One night, he and his friend decided to run away on a ship but was caught by this villain who had Niall’s parents killed when he was younger.
In the meantime, Captain Efren was chasing a ship and got it disabled so they could overtake it. While the ship was sinking, they rescued several people. When the ship was sinking, Niall was trying to save a young girl and her brother from drowning. In the process of the brother dying, Niall conjured some magic and saved him. They all were saved from the sinking ship.
Captain Efren’s ex (the villain who killed Niall’s parents) was on that ship and he was captured. There’s a history between Efren and the villain. That’s for you to find out. After Niall was rescued, he had the hots for Captain Efren but Efren kept trying to resist Niall’s charms. There’s lot that happens after all that. That’s for you to pick up the book and read to find out what all happens! A very good reading!
The story focuses on Niall, a young orphan guy who was stuck doing apprenticeship for a shop owner who would spend the money that should’ve gone to Niall. One night, he and his friend decided to run away on a ship but was caught by this villain who had Niall’s parents killed when he was younger.
In the meantime, Captain Efren was chasing a ship and got it disabled so they could overtake it. While the ship was sinking, they rescued several people. When the ship was sinking, Niall was trying to save a young girl and her brother from drowning. In the process of the brother dying, Niall conjured some magic and saved him. They all were saved from the sinking ship.
Captain Efren’s ex (the villain who killed Niall’s parents) was on that ship and he was captured. There’s a history between Efren and the villain. That’s for you to find out. After Niall was rescued, he had the hots for Captain Efren but Efren kept trying to resist Niall’s charms. There’s lot that happens after all that. That’s for you to pick up the book and read to find out what all happens! A very good reading!
March 26, 2026
As a potter’s apprentice, Niall hopes to get his own master mark one day. He has only one friend from the orphanage he grew up up in, Klaus, after his parents were hung by decree of the evil General Coryn.
He’s kidnapped by Vadim, who works for the General but is actually undercover. Then they’re captured by pirates and returned home for Vadim to go on trial for betraying the pirates.
Efren is a pirate captain and used to be with Vadim but now sees him as a traitor. Meeting Niall is a breath of air, especially when they return home and it’s found that Niall can master all 8 of the magical powers possible.
Niall has never had feelings for anyone as strongly as Efren and he pursues him, knowing he’s his person. He meets his grandmother, who helps him learn his magic, and he understands Vadim’s position, trying to free the ruler whom the General has under her control.
The General captures Niall and Klaus, who escape, and they manage to destroy the General’s ship as she’s trying to uncover a powerful relic using magic.
Niall and Efren agree to help rescue the young ruler from the horrible General, but also move in together on land and sea.
I enjoyed this story, but at times it was confusing understanding the plot and difficult to know the characters’ connections until I was partway through the book.
It was a good story, but could be improved by a cleaner plot and a more concise book.
August 21, 2023
I was privileged to read an earlier version of Take No Prisoners by Edie Montreux and it was fascinating to see how they tightened up the story, plus setting up the scenario for the next book in the series. It is easy to fall in love with the main characters in Take No Prisoners, Efren the pirate and Niall the unbeknownst-to-him mage. They are both genuinely nice guys and well-suited to each other. Efren has sworn off relationships and Niall has never had one, so they each are starting something new. While I’m not a fan of power-play stories, I could understand why Niall needed some strength in his partner. All the elements of pirate stories are part of this book, including pirate islands. I thought the pirate culture and world-building was well done, making it clear the different roles the pirates fulfill. And there is enough swashbuckling to add excitement to the book. As always with the start of a new series, it is fun to meet all the characters, deciding who deserves their own story and who the villains are. Since there is an overarching plotline, there is at least one villain who does not get their just desserts in Take No Prisoners, but we know that will happen in the last book. It was fun to see where the title of the book came from, something that could be considered a departure from other pirate tales.
September 10, 2023
“Love can overcome anything. It can heal the hardest of hearts. It can turn the worst anger into the highest pleasure.”
I love the dedication in this book, “To everyone who needs more pirate fantasy in their lives.” That’s definitely me!
Take No Prisoners is an Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine, first times, Pirate romance full of magic & adventure. There is so much to this book, interwoven and detailed world building and blurred lines between good and evil. Seriously there is one hell of a cast of supporting characters and excellent examples of found family. The main couple in this book, Efren & Niall are both absolute sweethearts. I did feel that their feelings developed a little to quickly for my taste but they were both precious and had wonderful chemistry.
I’m so glad I picked up this book. And I can’t wait for book two! You meet the characters in book one and these two are going to be fire!
I love the dedication in this book, “To everyone who needs more pirate fantasy in their lives.” That’s definitely me!
Take No Prisoners is an Age Gap, Grumpy/Sunshine, first times, Pirate romance full of magic & adventure. There is so much to this book, interwoven and detailed world building and blurred lines between good and evil. Seriously there is one hell of a cast of supporting characters and excellent examples of found family. The main couple in this book, Efren & Niall are both absolute sweethearts. I did feel that their feelings developed a little to quickly for my taste but they were both precious and had wonderful chemistry.
I’m so glad I picked up this book. And I can’t wait for book two! You meet the characters in book one and these two are going to be fire!
August 22, 2023
I love both fantasy stories and pirate stories so but them together and it is a no-brainer for me. This story was fabulous!!! I was so enthralled with Niall and Efren’s tale that I couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much! The magic in this world fascinates me too. (I am a sucker for elemental magic type stories.) I can’t wait to see how this plot unfolds through the trilogy. I have ambivalent feelings about Klaus and Vadim. All of the characters in this book were so well written. The relationship between Efren and Niall and Klaus and Vadim is a complex one and I don’t think I could forgive those two as easily as our main heroes do. But that is part of what makes this book so good. What actually makes someone wrong or makes them a traitor? What would you do if faced with impossible choices? This isn’t a simple book and I think I loved it all the more for it.
August 24, 2023
I am not a fan of pirates or fantasy stories but I received an ARC of this book and I am giving my honest review.
So as I said generally I am not a fan of pirate tales, however, I fell in love with the main character Efren the pirate in this book so easily which really surprised me.
The storytelling around the pirate world was fantastic and helped me to understand what the various roles / responsibilities of the pirates were, that I had been worried that I wouldn't necessarily understand.
There is enough spice in the book but it was the plot and the story that kept me reading. I don't want to post any spoilers but I will be recommending this book to my friends
I will be interested to see which of the other characters gets their own story moving forward.
So as I said generally I am not a fan of pirate tales, however, I fell in love with the main character Efren the pirate in this book so easily which really surprised me.
The storytelling around the pirate world was fantastic and helped me to understand what the various roles / responsibilities of the pirates were, that I had been worried that I wouldn't necessarily understand.
There is enough spice in the book but it was the plot and the story that kept me reading. I don't want to post any spoilers but I will be recommending this book to my friends
I will be interested to see which of the other characters gets their own story moving forward.
December 22, 2023
Certainly not my usual reading material but this was a very spicy and thrilling adventure on the high seas with magic and mayhem thrown in for good measure. Efren is trying to catch his former first mate who turned on him when he encounters Niall. Niall is much younger than Efren and doesn't appear to have any magic. Despite their differences these two are drawn to each other and when Niall finds his magic in ushers in a whole other set of difficulties as his kind are being sought by the emperor. These two mut now fight for each other and for their freedom as well. Will the come out the other side stronger together?
March 26, 2024
Five stars for this review feels like an immediate no brainer for me. Especially when you consider that I have already moved the next book to the top of my TBR queue.
With a fantasy MM romance, it hit all the important areas with high marks. The spice level was lower than my favorites, but it worked for these main characters. I found it easy to visualize the magic and other elements necessary for this story to work.
I cared about the majority of the important characters, which is very important with a series in my opinion.
It is a Happily For Now that gave me a couple of surprises along the way.
Ultimately, a 4.5 that deserved being rounded up instead of down.
With a fantasy MM romance, it hit all the important areas with high marks. The spice level was lower than my favorites, but it worked for these main characters. I found it easy to visualize the magic and other elements necessary for this story to work.
I cared about the majority of the important characters, which is very important with a series in my opinion.
It is a Happily For Now that gave me a couple of surprises along the way.
Ultimately, a 4.5 that deserved being rounded up instead of down.
August 25, 2023
It's difficult to say what I liked more here; the love story between Niall and Efrén, the original system of magic, the amazing world building, the secondary characters...
I ended this book and wished to stay in this wonderful pirate world, keaving It behind had me looking to ser if there was a date to the next story un this series.
Seeing how Efrén confronts his fears and allows himself to love and be loved, and how strong, fearless and forgiving Niall can be is a treat you can't miss.
A sure bet to enjoy a great book!
I ended this book and wished to stay in this wonderful pirate world, keaving It behind had me looking to ser if there was a date to the next story un this series.
Seeing how Efrén confronts his fears and allows himself to love and be loved, and how strong, fearless and forgiving Niall can be is a treat you can't miss.
A sure bet to enjoy a great book!
October 20, 2023
Fantastic story!
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a true world building, many character driven, great read.
The characters were very fleshed out with their own personalities, and much more than a one page and done mention.
The two main characters: you could feel the angst, and then the determination that they had for each other.
The story is just that- and the author has a great storytelling ability.
I could go on and on, but won't 😀
I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
I enjoyed this book a lot. It is a true world building, many character driven, great read.
The characters were very fleshed out with their own personalities, and much more than a one page and done mention.
The two main characters: you could feel the angst, and then the determination that they had for each other.
The story is just that- and the author has a great storytelling ability.
I could go on and on, but won't 😀
I'm looking forward to the next in this series.
August 23, 2023
I love pirates and I love magical stories, put them together with romance? I am very happy to say that, in this instance, this has created, well, literally, magic!
I loved this. I was hooked straight away.I loved the world building. Loved all of the characters, in this great adventure!
I want to say so much more about this, but I won't, as I don't want to spoil this absolute delight for anyone.
I received an arc copy of this book from the author herself and this is my honest review.
I loved this. I was hooked straight away.I loved the world building. Loved all of the characters, in this great adventure!
I want to say so much more about this, but I won't, as I don't want to spoil this absolute delight for anyone.
I received an arc copy of this book from the author herself and this is my honest review.
August 25, 2023
This ended up being so much more than just the pirate romance I was craving! There is actually a very complex fantasy world that even includes some elemental magic! Efren finds more than he bargained for when he saved pirate Niall but now that he has developed feelings there is nothing he will not do for his mage! I enjoyed all of the characters, and the adventure was actually page turning suspense and action with some spice and romance woven in. This is going to be an exciting series.
August 27, 2023
I am so excited for this series I mean, who doesn't enjoy a swashbuckling pirate romance...and then add in magic to boot? I am so on board (pun intended.😎). This book is a great start to the series, and I want more...now...or as soon as possible.(Please.) Great action, romance, and some suspense. I absolutely loved it!
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review
I received an ARC from the author and am voluntarily leaving this honest review
August 16, 2023
Take No Prisoners by Edie Montreux imprisoned me with their amazing world building and their ingenuity in weaving paranormal fantasy with heroic adventures of pirates. Of course, the main characters, Efren and Niall were likable and I couldn’t wait for them to discover their love for each other. And I even liked the baddies, Vadim and Klause.
September 8, 2023
Magic and pirates
This was a rollercoaster of a ride.
There's swashbuckling adventures on the high seas mixed with fantasy and magic.
There's a very clear villain manipulating people and political machinations behind the scenes.
There's plenty of fast paced action, danger, drama, betrayal and lots of twists and turns.
I can't wait to continue the adventures.
This was a rollercoaster of a ride.
There's swashbuckling adventures on the high seas mixed with fantasy and magic.
There's a very clear villain manipulating people and political machinations behind the scenes.
There's plenty of fast paced action, danger, drama, betrayal and lots of twists and turns.
I can't wait to continue the adventures.
July 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. The plot was interesting and exciting. It had intrigue. The insta-love feel of the characters isn't usually my thing, but it didn't really detract from my enjoyment of this book.
Read
August 26, 2023I struggled to finish it
July 14, 2024
Incredible boring, I had to skip most of it to actually finish it.
dnf-skim
July 11, 2025DNF 10%
September 8, 2023
I really enjoyed this story. Efren could be really dense sometimes and I felt for Niall as he had gone through so much in his life. There is so much left to do and I look forward to more of this series.
August 25, 2023
Take No Prisoners is a fantasy MM pirate story. Efren is the captain of a pirate ship who rescues Niall a young mage. The story pulled me in and captured me from the beginning. This book has a bit of everything I enjoy in a good book and age gap, plenty of snark, some steam, and a great plot driving it. Edie Montreux did an amazing job with character development and world building. I really want to read more books by Edie. I would definitely recommend this book.
Read
December 17, 2025A good discovery. I enjoyed this first book very much and read the other two right after. Each book follows a different couple but the plot is ongoing through the 3 books.
A good world building, not just a romance story.
A good world building, not just a romance story.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews