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The Devourer
When Adra Dantes’ half-brother Cameron attacks their father and robs him of a priceless treasure map, he leaves him a shell of the pirate captain he once was. Now Adra’s only aim in life is to kill Cameron, retrieve her father's map, and claim the treasure herself.But her plans are thwarted. A sudden surplus of magic in the world is causing ancient sea monsters to awaken. Worse yet, Adra discovers that the ship she's been chasing for almost a year now is captained by a girl who’s been impersonating Cameron, while Cameron himself is missing.The two pirate captains will have to work together if they are to find Cameron, but before they can do so, they must vanquish the beast―known as The Devourer―that is sinking ships and causing so much fear. Adra will have to descend leagues beneath the sea to the creature’s lair to strike a deal with her, but she’ll discover she isn’t the only one looking for her brother―and what he stole.
403 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 7, 2025
25 people are currently reading
5440 people want to read
About the author
Alison Ames
5 books152 followersAlison Ames is the author of horror novels for adults and teens. To Break a Covenant, her first novel, was nominated for a Colorado Book Award. Her second novel It Looks Like Us is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection pick. You can find more information and other books on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 28, 2025
new favorite niche subgenre alert: bantery indie sapphic horror with perfect covers.
alison ames has this speciality blend of banter / gore / horror / disgusting images / sapphic romance / quirky teens that no one else is doing. she has cornered the market.
this one turned down the horror scale in favor of piracy, which is not a trade i'm mad at.
it was VERY convincingly pirate vibes, although for some reason the price of admission to a ship populated solely by vengeful youth (free band name idea) appears to be that the romance wasn't so great. nor the character development. nor the other relationships.
but it had villainous fish-creatures and awful magic and consuming revenge plots and that's good enough for me!
bottom line: give alison ames her flowers.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
alison ames has this speciality blend of banter / gore / horror / disgusting images / sapphic romance / quirky teens that no one else is doing. she has cornered the market.
this one turned down the horror scale in favor of piracy, which is not a trade i'm mad at.
it was VERY convincingly pirate vibes, although for some reason the price of admission to a ship populated solely by vengeful youth (free band name idea) appears to be that the romance wasn't so great. nor the character development. nor the other relationships.
but it had villainous fish-creatures and awful magic and consuming revenge plots and that's good enough for me!
bottom line: give alison ames her flowers.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
January 16, 2025
The Devourer
by Alison Ames completely caught me off guard in the best way. While I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as straight-up horror, the cover alone, featuring a massive, wave-like hand rising from the ocean to engulf a pirate ship, hinted at some strong cosmic horror vibes. And it delivered! This book has everything I love: pirates, mages, and mermaids (not the flawless, Disney-type ones either), along with fierce, complex female characters who balance strength and vulnerability. Plus, there are eerie, spine-chilling creatures lurking in the depths that Alison Ames describes so vividly, it’s enough to haunt anyone with thalassophobia. And, of course, what’s a pirate story without treasure? Though, in this case, I was pleasantly surprised (and slightly thrown) by how the treasure somewhat tied into selkie mythology, giving the tale a fascinating twist.
Seventeen-year-old Adrasteia Dantes becomes captain of the Worldeater after her half-brother Cameron betrays their family, stealing a priceless map to the grave of the first pirate king. Adra vows to kill him and reclaim her family’s honor. But her quest takes a dangerous turn when she discovers Cameron’s crew dead, his ship destroyed, and rumors of a monstrous sea entity called the Devourer. To survive and find her brother, Adra must strike a deadly bargain with the creature, even as she realizes their quests for vengeance might lead to the same fateful end.
~ *SPOILERS!* because Goodreads hates me right now and won’t let me use the spoilers button.~
That said, my biggest gripe was the ending. Adra’s relentless pursuit of Cameron from page one built so much tension, but their final confrontation felt far too brief. She’s spent the entire book determined to kill him, and when they finally meet at the Pirate King’s grave, Cameron’s already there (predictably). Then the Devourer shows up, tells Adra to kill him, and, just like that, it’s over. I would’ve preferred a more drawn-out or complex resolution, hence why I gave the book a four star instead of five. Honestly, it might’ve been better if Cameron hadn’t shown up yet, leaving Adra still chasing him as part of a longer arc. This could’ve set the stage for a duology or trilogy, allowing more time to explore the crew’s journey, Merrin’s blindness, and Diana’s quest to find her mage. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel or series, as I’m desperate to see where the story could go next.
Even so, I absolutely loved this book. It’s stories like this that make me want to dive deeper into fantasy. The writing style is engaging, the cast of characters is warm and inviting (making you feel like part of the crew), and the world-building, while not as detailed as some fantasy epics, is still captivating. I’d love to see future books expand on the magic system, the veil, the old world, and the old gods.
If you’re a fan of pirates and fantasy, The Devourer is a must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!
(Thank you, Page Street, for entrusting me with a physical ARC of this book!)
Seventeen-year-old Adrasteia Dantes becomes captain of the Worldeater after her half-brother Cameron betrays their family, stealing a priceless map to the grave of the first pirate king. Adra vows to kill him and reclaim her family’s honor. But her quest takes a dangerous turn when she discovers Cameron’s crew dead, his ship destroyed, and rumors of a monstrous sea entity called the Devourer. To survive and find her brother, Adra must strike a deadly bargain with the creature, even as she realizes their quests for vengeance might lead to the same fateful end.
~ *SPOILERS!* because Goodreads hates me right now and won’t let me use the spoilers button.~
That said, my biggest gripe was the ending. Adra’s relentless pursuit of Cameron from page one built so much tension, but their final confrontation felt far too brief. She’s spent the entire book determined to kill him, and when they finally meet at the Pirate King’s grave, Cameron’s already there (predictably). Then the Devourer shows up, tells Adra to kill him, and, just like that, it’s over. I would’ve preferred a more drawn-out or complex resolution, hence why I gave the book a four star instead of five. Honestly, it might’ve been better if Cameron hadn’t shown up yet, leaving Adra still chasing him as part of a longer arc. This could’ve set the stage for a duology or trilogy, allowing more time to explore the crew’s journey, Merrin’s blindness, and Diana’s quest to find her mage. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel or series, as I’m desperate to see where the story could go next.
Even so, I absolutely loved this book. It’s stories like this that make me want to dive deeper into fantasy. The writing style is engaging, the cast of characters is warm and inviting (making you feel like part of the crew), and the world-building, while not as detailed as some fantasy epics, is still captivating. I’d love to see future books expand on the magic system, the veil, the old world, and the old gods.
If you’re a fan of pirates and fantasy, The Devourer is a must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!
(Thank you, Page Street, for entrusting me with a physical ARC of this book!)
March 23, 2025
This book has the perfect combination of a book I'd usually love - exciting cover, interesting blurb, magic, pirates...check, check, check and check! It was fun overall but I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and the pacing was a little choppy. Still a worthwhile read, and I'll probably read more by this author. I read this book for a challenge in the Facebook book club Beyond the Bookends.
September 3, 2025
I went into this mostly blind and found that I really enjoyed it. Fun story, interesting characters, and I liked the magical elements.
October 14, 2025
this was a no for me…the writing was poor, the characters were shallow, the MAIN character was wildly unlikable, the plot was pointless, and the world building was nonexistent.
this book just doesn’t work. theres random magic and fantastical elements that randomly pop up out of convenience, and there is really no antagonist…Adra is looking for Cameron but we only see him in the end??? and the scene lasts like two seconds??? idk. this needs a lot more work—it almost felt like a very rough first draft that got copy edits and was just thrown out there.
edit: if you think this is a sapphic romance ITS NOT. I’m not sure why it’s marked as romance because there is none at all. I get the “romance” was supposed to be between Quinn and Adra, but they hold hands like once or something 😭😭
this book just doesn’t work. theres random magic and fantastical elements that randomly pop up out of convenience, and there is really no antagonist…Adra is looking for Cameron but we only see him in the end??? and the scene lasts like two seconds??? idk. this needs a lot more work—it almost felt like a very rough first draft that got copy edits and was just thrown out there.
edit: if you think this is a sapphic romance ITS NOT. I’m not sure why it’s marked as romance because there is none at all. I get the “romance” was supposed to be between Quinn and Adra, but they hold hands like once or something 😭😭
January 12, 2025
“An eye for an eye doesn’t make your vision any better”
What a ride. Growing up on movies like Treasure Planet, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sinbad, this book felt like a perfect blend of all those adventurous, magical, and daring tales I loved. It transported me entirely—there were so many moments where I could feel the rocking of the ship, smell the salt in the air, and see the endless, mysterious horizon.
At its core, this is Adra’s story. A determined captain shaped by a lifetime of expectations, she’s driven by revenge against her adopted brother Cameron, who stole her father’s prized map to the largest treasure of the seas. Adra has spent the past year on his trail, building a loyal crew and hunting him down. But things take a dark turn when she stumbles upon a string of abandoned ships and discovers something far more sinister than just her brother’s betrayal. With the help of a lone survivor, Adra embarks on a dangerous journey filled with magical curses, lurking sea creatures, and the enigmatic Devourer—a force as alluring as it is terrifying.
I loved how this story didn’t shy away from exploring the burdens of leadership and the complexities of revenge. Adra’s crew—her found family—brings warmth and loyalty, while the Devourer serves as a haunting reminder of what vengeance can cost. There’s something so captivating about the layers of paranormal and magical elements woven into this book, from cursed women to creatures of the deep. It made the story feel textured and alive, much like the sea itself.
The Devourer, in particular, stood out to me. A Calypso-like figure scorned by a pirate lover, she’s a physical embodiment of the destructive path Adra could find herself on. Her presence heightened the stakes and deepened the story’s emotional core, showing that revenge isn’t always as fulfilling as it seems.
This book also has its share of humor, warmth, and even romance, balanced perfectly with the danger and magic. The ending, while not what some might expect, felt absolutely right to me. It better aligns with Adra’s journey and focuses around the larger questions at hand in regards to loyalty, vengeance, sacrifice, and forgiven.
While there are aspects of this book that could be better explored, darker, or given more backstory, like her crew, I was happily along for the ride. If you’re looking for an adventurous, paranormal young adult read that dives deep into the unknown, I highly recommend The Devourer. It’s a thrilling journey from the bottom of the ocean floor to pirate coves and distant lands—and one you won’t forget.
Thank you to @PageStreetYA, @alisonames, and @coloredpagesbt for my copy.
What a ride. Growing up on movies like Treasure Planet, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sinbad, this book felt like a perfect blend of all those adventurous, magical, and daring tales I loved. It transported me entirely—there were so many moments where I could feel the rocking of the ship, smell the salt in the air, and see the endless, mysterious horizon.
At its core, this is Adra’s story. A determined captain shaped by a lifetime of expectations, she’s driven by revenge against her adopted brother Cameron, who stole her father’s prized map to the largest treasure of the seas. Adra has spent the past year on his trail, building a loyal crew and hunting him down. But things take a dark turn when she stumbles upon a string of abandoned ships and discovers something far more sinister than just her brother’s betrayal. With the help of a lone survivor, Adra embarks on a dangerous journey filled with magical curses, lurking sea creatures, and the enigmatic Devourer—a force as alluring as it is terrifying.
I loved how this story didn’t shy away from exploring the burdens of leadership and the complexities of revenge. Adra’s crew—her found family—brings warmth and loyalty, while the Devourer serves as a haunting reminder of what vengeance can cost. There’s something so captivating about the layers of paranormal and magical elements woven into this book, from cursed women to creatures of the deep. It made the story feel textured and alive, much like the sea itself.
The Devourer, in particular, stood out to me. A Calypso-like figure scorned by a pirate lover, she’s a physical embodiment of the destructive path Adra could find herself on. Her presence heightened the stakes and deepened the story’s emotional core, showing that revenge isn’t always as fulfilling as it seems.
This book also has its share of humor, warmth, and even romance, balanced perfectly with the danger and magic. The ending, while not what some might expect, felt absolutely right to me. It better aligns with Adra’s journey and focuses around the larger questions at hand in regards to loyalty, vengeance, sacrifice, and forgiven.
While there are aspects of this book that could be better explored, darker, or given more backstory, like her crew, I was happily along for the ride. If you’re looking for an adventurous, paranormal young adult read that dives deep into the unknown, I highly recommend The Devourer. It’s a thrilling journey from the bottom of the ocean floor to pirate coves and distant lands—and one you won’t forget.
Thank you to @PageStreetYA, @alisonames, and @coloredpagesbt for my copy.
January 7, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.75 stars
This book has characters that feel like they play at being pirates. While they have a ship and it’s mentioned that they pillage and loot, they don’t really seem to do anything but sail the ship around. In fact, that’s a lot of this book. The characters say things, hinting at potential plot or character moments … but none of it ever really shows up on page.
The plot feels like nonsense.
This felt like a book with too many tropes and not enough of a story. Pirates for no reason, a pirate king for no reason, Cameron stealing a map to no purpose, and characters who didn’t care about anything.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.75 stars
This book has characters that feel like they play at being pirates. While they have a ship and it’s mentioned that they pillage and loot, they don’t really seem to do anything but sail the ship around. In fact, that’s a lot of this book. The characters say things, hinting at potential plot or character moments … but none of it ever really shows up on page.
The plot feels like nonsense.
This felt like a book with too many tropes and not enough of a story. Pirates for no reason, a pirate king for no reason, Cameron stealing a map to no purpose, and characters who didn’t care about anything.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
March 24, 2025
Had a really hard time connecting with the characters in this one.
I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.
I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.
January 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley as well as my tour group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I really really love this cover. Prob one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed this story. The MC is flawed and sometimes you want to dislike her but you also understand her feelings. The crew had obvious characters that we are more focused on but I liked the dynamic of everyone. The concept of the antagonist was interesting and unique and I loved The Devourer a lot. The only thing I didn’t vibe with was the length. I feel like near the middle it drags on but I did like the twists. The end did feel a little flat. Some parts seemed too convenient and there is an open ending which can be hit or miss with people. If this ever got a sequel I’d be very interested!
I really really love this cover. Prob one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed this story. The MC is flawed and sometimes you want to dislike her but you also understand her feelings. The crew had obvious characters that we are more focused on but I liked the dynamic of everyone. The concept of the antagonist was interesting and unique and I loved The Devourer a lot. The only thing I didn’t vibe with was the length. I feel like near the middle it drags on but I did like the twists. The end did feel a little flat. Some parts seemed too convenient and there is an open ending which can be hit or miss with people. If this ever got a sequel I’d be very interested!
February 10, 2025
It's a struggle to finish this book. I contemplated DNF, but I already DNF one, and I didn't want to do it again so soon.
The writing was mediocre as best. Most of the crew were bland, names on pages, and when one of them died I didn't feel anything.
Adra pissed me off so bad. She got angry at everything for no reasons. She was unnecessary rude to her crew and her love interest. She's a shitty captain who barely gave a shit about her crew. It's always about what she wanted, but never for the crew's best interest.
The romance was underdeveloped and they had no chemistry at all. I think it'd be better if Adra and Merrin got together. Throughout the book, it's clear that their bond was stronger than whatever the author trying to do with Adra and Quinn.
The plot was all over the place. I can't believe the author made pirates so boring.
The writing was mediocre as best. Most of the crew were bland, names on pages, and when one of them died I didn't feel anything.
Adra pissed me off so bad. She got angry at everything for no reasons. She was unnecessary rude to her crew and her love interest. She's a shitty captain who barely gave a shit about her crew. It's always about what she wanted, but never for the crew's best interest.
The romance was underdeveloped and they had no chemistry at all. I think it'd be better if Adra and Merrin got together. Throughout the book, it's clear that their bond was stronger than whatever the author trying to do with Adra and Quinn.
The plot was all over the place. I can't believe the author made pirates so boring.
January 15, 2025
The Devourer has an interesting concept about a queer pirate captain and her crew on the search for revenge. While the captain of the story had a clear aim of her destination, the story itself seemed to drift of course more than I would have liked. At times it just felt mudded and like it wasn’t sure what to do next. Also the characters didn’t work for me. There’s no character growth for the main character, because being rude and feeling sorry for herself was just her whole personality. I didn’t DNF the book because I hoped it would get better, and there were some really good parts that I enjoyed. But overall The Devourer was a less than exciting pirate adventure.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
November 16, 2023From the rights report: “in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own”
April 21, 2025
dnf 40% due to struggles to relate to characters, mostly messy characterization of "hmms", "wells" and "..." happening in every dialogue and scene that makes it look like a parody of a plot that is unfortunately not there.
January 9, 2025
The Devourer is a queer YA horror on the high seas where main character Adra is on a mission to find and destroy her half-brother Cameron who betrayed her family by stealing a priceless treasure map
There were many things I liked about the characters and the story but overall it had some unrealized potential.
I loved the queernorm world and the diversity of character with sapphic, nonbinary, and disability rep. The world was quite imaginative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the horror elements - the creep factor was spot on for a YA novel, and I the descriptions of the magical places/beasts were thorough and kept me fairly engaged throughout the story. I liked the characters and felt they had reasonable depth. It definitely leaned in to the found family trope - but I love a tight pirate crew!
I read a lot of adult fantasy so I try to keep my expectations in check when it comes to the breadth of plot which seems to be more narrow in YA novels generally, and that was definitely the case here. We were dropped into the story "mid-plot" where the inciting incident had already occurred which made it a bit more difficult to connect to the world and story. I also found the climax of the story to be a bit anticlimactic consider so much of the plot is pulled towards this ONE moment. I was also very surprised to not find any confirmation one way or another whether this book is a standalone or a series as it ended quite abruptly with many loose ends.
There is a minor sapphic romance plot and while I actually liked and found the pairing believable, we barely scratched the surface there.
I would definitely try more books by this author as I was impressed with the creativity of the world and likability of the characters, but this was one just needed something a bit MORE.
There were many things I liked about the characters and the story but overall it had some unrealized potential.
I loved the queernorm world and the diversity of character with sapphic, nonbinary, and disability rep. The world was quite imaginative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the horror elements - the creep factor was spot on for a YA novel, and I the descriptions of the magical places/beasts were thorough and kept me fairly engaged throughout the story. I liked the characters and felt they had reasonable depth. It definitely leaned in to the found family trope - but I love a tight pirate crew!
I read a lot of adult fantasy so I try to keep my expectations in check when it comes to the breadth of plot which seems to be more narrow in YA novels generally, and that was definitely the case here. We were dropped into the story "mid-plot" where the inciting incident had already occurred which made it a bit more difficult to connect to the world and story. I also found the climax of the story to be a bit anticlimactic consider so much of the plot is pulled towards this ONE moment. I was also very surprised to not find any confirmation one way or another whether this book is a standalone or a series as it ended quite abruptly with many loose ends.
There is a minor sapphic romance plot and while I actually liked and found the pairing believable, we barely scratched the surface there.
I would definitely try more books by this author as I was impressed with the creativity of the world and likability of the characters, but this was one just needed something a bit MORE.
February 6, 2025
The Devourer weaves together piratical adventure and revenge into a high seas adventure. With plenty of plot twists and a story core founded on Adra’s determination and drive, I definitely recommend The Devourer to fans of dark fantasy with queer characters.
The worldbuilding of The Devourer was one of the highlights for me—as someone who loves complex, well-thought-out worlds, this one pulled me in immediately. The palpable sense of magic being disturbed and out of equilibrium formed a powerful backbone, and I was drawn profoundly in to even its most minute details. The very setting of this book treads the careful line between fantasy and horror, leaning in the latter direction with the feel of uncanny Irish mythology rather than horror for horror’s sake, making it accessible to fans of both genres.
As someone who prefers fantasy with a romance subplot rather than romance with a side of fantasy, I really enjoyed how Ames balanced the developing relationship between Adra and Quinn with the adventure/revenge plot at the heart of this story, never overtaking the latter. I also appreciated the bevy of strong platonic friendships in this book, particularly those between Adra, Merrin and Diana. I would’ve loved spending more time getting to know Adra at the start of this book, but the strength of the relationships she had with other members of the crew allowed my understanding of her to become stronger as the book moved forward.
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for the gifted copy of The Devourer! All opinions expressed here are my own.
The worldbuilding of The Devourer was one of the highlights for me—as someone who loves complex, well-thought-out worlds, this one pulled me in immediately. The palpable sense of magic being disturbed and out of equilibrium formed a powerful backbone, and I was drawn profoundly in to even its most minute details. The very setting of this book treads the careful line between fantasy and horror, leaning in the latter direction with the feel of uncanny Irish mythology rather than horror for horror’s sake, making it accessible to fans of both genres.
As someone who prefers fantasy with a romance subplot rather than romance with a side of fantasy, I really enjoyed how Ames balanced the developing relationship between Adra and Quinn with the adventure/revenge plot at the heart of this story, never overtaking the latter. I also appreciated the bevy of strong platonic friendships in this book, particularly those between Adra, Merrin and Diana. I would’ve loved spending more time getting to know Adra at the start of this book, but the strength of the relationships she had with other members of the crew allowed my understanding of her to become stronger as the book moved forward.
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for the gifted copy of The Devourer! All opinions expressed here are my own.
January 14, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 8
This book was extremely dynamic and kept me intrigued. The tension, the rivalry, the revenge all added so many layers to this story that made it beyond enjoyable.
Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 8
This book was extremely dynamic and kept me intrigued. The tension, the rivalry, the revenge all added so many layers to this story that made it beyond enjoyable.
Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2025
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what went wrong from me with this one. I think the pacing was a little off and I didn't get into the story. It was okay, the characters were interesting and I liked the premise but in the end I didn't really care. The plot felt a bit messy and I didn't know where it was going and it just felt a bit flat in the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it, so it didn't work for me...
I don't know what went wrong from me with this one. I think the pacing was a little off and I didn't get into the story. It was okay, the characters were interesting and I liked the premise but in the end I didn't really care. The plot felt a bit messy and I didn't know where it was going and it just felt a bit flat in the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it, so it didn't work for me...
January 31, 2025
I was sent this book by the publisher!
This was a really fun read!! I was immediately hooked into the story and these characters. I was rooting for them to succeed and wanted to know more about everyone. I would've loved to have gotten to know the crew a bit more as certain scenes could've had bigger emotional impact that way. but I was very invested in the main characters! Diana was probably my favourite because who doesn't love a talking bird? I also didn't predict where everything was going and was shocked multiple times which I found very enjoyable. overall, this fairly fast paced story about pirates, sea creatures, revenge, and sapphic relationships hit for me.
This was a really fun read!! I was immediately hooked into the story and these characters. I was rooting for them to succeed and wanted to know more about everyone. I would've loved to have gotten to know the crew a bit more as certain scenes could've had bigger emotional impact that way. but I was very invested in the main characters! Diana was probably my favourite because who doesn't love a talking bird? I also didn't predict where everything was going and was shocked multiple times which I found very enjoyable. overall, this fairly fast paced story about pirates, sea creatures, revenge, and sapphic relationships hit for me.
August 6, 2025
Absolutely amazing, the whole story was exciting and kept me engaged, andi I initially felt kind of empty after the ending, but after some reflection I found it really good.
Adrasteia's character was very well written, and very complex, and the ending served her character really well. She is the prime example of a morally grey character.
I seriouslly need this to become a series, because I need more of these characters and this world!!
Fantastic book, 10 out of 10!!
Adrasteia's character was very well written, and very complex, and the ending served her character really well. She is the prime example of a morally grey character.
I seriouslly need this to become a series, because I need more of these characters and this world!!
Fantastic book, 10 out of 10!!
May 17, 2025
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: violent punishment (branding), strangulation, mass death,
2.8
This was a disappointment for me, as someone who really enjoyed Ames' debut. However, the vibes from that YA horror were just not present in this one.
Here's what I liked- the idea of "The Devourer" and the whole weird magic threads and their consequences, and the little bit of body horror we get to explore. That, and the cool cover.
However, a lot of this feels very slow while also feeling like we've skipped the entire intro and got thrown right into the thick of the action- conflicting? Yeah, but I'm sticking with that. It was also boring because the horror itself was so infrequent, and often thin. If the characters had more depth than there would have been more stakes, but since they don't feel more than 2-dimmensional most of the time, there really aren't.
There are enough characters that they needed good, unique dynamics that you can care abut to really make them interesting, but nearly none of them have that. I'll admit that the romance at least attempts it, though there's not a lot going on there, and I maintain that falling for someone who has repeatedly passed as your half brother is like Freudian weird.
I honestly feel that a lot of my issues with this book, and the pacing, could have been fixed by keeping the mystery of The Devourer for longer, or by making the island trek the main plot. Instead, it unmasks the monster, and then float back and forth for awhile until they decide the plot needs a conclusion.
Pre-review comments below
This was a highly anticipated read for me, and unfortunately it was... really boring.
*Review to come*
Pre-read comments
"in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own"
yeeeeeeesss
Update THAT COVER?
auto request I'm afraid
TW: violent punishment (branding), strangulation, mass death,
2.8
This was a disappointment for me, as someone who really enjoyed Ames' debut. However, the vibes from that YA horror were just not present in this one.
Here's what I liked- the idea of "The Devourer" and the whole weird magic threads and their consequences, and the little bit of body horror we get to explore. That, and the cool cover.
However, a lot of this feels very slow while also feeling like we've skipped the entire intro and got thrown right into the thick of the action- conflicting? Yeah, but I'm sticking with that. It was also boring because the horror itself was so infrequent, and often thin. If the characters had more depth than there would have been more stakes, but since they don't feel more than 2-dimmensional most of the time, there really aren't.
There are enough characters that they needed good, unique dynamics that you can care abut to really make them interesting, but nearly none of them have that. I'll admit that the romance at least attempts it, though there's not a lot going on there, and I maintain that falling for someone who has repeatedly passed as your half brother is like Freudian weird.
I honestly feel that a lot of my issues with this book, and the pacing, could have been fixed by keeping the mystery of The Devourer for longer, or by making the island trek the main plot. Instead, it unmasks the monster, and then float back and forth for awhile until they decide the plot needs a conclusion.
Pre-review comments below
This was a highly anticipated read for me, and unfortunately it was... really boring.
*Review to come*
Pre-read comments
"in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own"
yeeeeeeesss
Update THAT COVER?
auto request I'm afraid
April 15, 2025
I originally wasn't going to rate this, but thought y'all should know how I really feel.
The Pros
- THE COVERRRR
-The premise: Lesbian pirates?!! Lovecraftian creature of the deep?! Magic with physical consequences! A vengeful protagonist?!? How could this not be good??
And then I read it and was so disappointed.
- The lesbian pirates? The romantic side plot was somewhere between insta love and enemies to lovers and never decided which it wanted to be. Neither of their feelings towards each other ever felt earned to me. The majority of the pirate crew felt forgettable. I'm not sure why I was supposed to care about the one death on the team. The few side characters that did get a good amount of development boiled down to stereotypes. I can't believe their motivations for sticking with the ship.
- Unmasking the large mysterious horror underneath the waters midway through the book personally ruined her for me. Having some great unknown force of magic that our main characters have to contend with along with would have been more interesting to me then the reveal we got. This may be more of a personal preference.
- The magic system would have been built out to my satisfaction for this kind of story if not for Diana, the person transformed into a bird. it seemed like the caster of this magic was never delt a punishment for welding it, while the other characters that are only mildly effected by magic can only do minor spells. This character broke the book for me and since her story was never resolved, felt like she belonged in a different book.
- The vengeance plot was done in a way that I wasn't sure if I should be happy with the ending or not. The emotional stakes were told rather than showed and I didn't fully believe them at the end of the day. I just wanted more.
I guess at the end of the day with all the promise this story has, it really seems like we were left with the dullest telling of it, which saddens me. I don't revel in giving this such a low review but here we are.
The Pros
- THE COVERRRR
-The premise: Lesbian pirates?!! Lovecraftian creature of the deep?! Magic with physical consequences! A vengeful protagonist?!? How could this not be good??
And then I read it and was so disappointed.
- The lesbian pirates? The romantic side plot was somewhere between insta love and enemies to lovers and never decided which it wanted to be. Neither of their feelings towards each other ever felt earned to me. The majority of the pirate crew felt forgettable. I'm not sure why I was supposed to care about the one death on the team. The few side characters that did get a good amount of development boiled down to stereotypes. I can't believe their motivations for sticking with the ship.
- Unmasking the large mysterious horror underneath the waters midway through the book personally ruined her for me. Having some great unknown force of magic that our main characters have to contend with along with would have been more interesting to me then the reveal we got. This may be more of a personal preference.
- The magic system would have been built out to my satisfaction for this kind of story if not for Diana, the person transformed into a bird. it seemed like the caster of this magic was never delt a punishment for welding it, while the other characters that are only mildly effected by magic can only do minor spells. This character broke the book for me and since her story was never resolved, felt like she belonged in a different book.
- The vengeance plot was done in a way that I wasn't sure if I should be happy with the ending or not. The emotional stakes were told rather than showed and I didn't fully believe them at the end of the day. I just wanted more.
I guess at the end of the day with all the promise this story has, it really seems like we were left with the dullest telling of it, which saddens me. I don't revel in giving this such a low review but here we are.
January 9, 2025
First of all, thank-you so much to NetGalley and Page Street YA Books for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!
I was so excited for this one. I also did not realize it was classified as teen horror 😅 Spoiler, I was not scared at all. Though the story was dark and gritty, as you’d expect from a pirate book.
My biggest issue with this book was that there was hardly any characterization of the crew. I would have loved to have seen a back story as to how the crew was formed. This had the potential to have such a unique and exciting found family aspect. But I literally have no clue what the crew looks like. The author just seems to throw out names without any really defining characteristics, other than their role on the ship. And that they were queer. And women. So everyone was also referred to as “she” and I got so confused as to who was who. I’m hoping this was just a case of it being an uncorrected proof… But since there wasn’t any real scenes with the crew, it was difficult to emphasize when they got hurt near the end. I was like, who is this again??
HOWEVER the general plot of the book was solid. It moved fast and there was a lot of action. The progression of the book worked well. The only thing is that the author, I’m guessing, was trying to be vague in certain areas and I personally don’t like when authors do this excessively. It feels like a very roundabout way of getting to the point 😅
To be completely honest, it was a struggle to finish this book but I’m glad I did finish it! It was a decent read 👍🏻
I was so excited for this one. I also did not realize it was classified as teen horror 😅 Spoiler, I was not scared at all. Though the story was dark and gritty, as you’d expect from a pirate book.
My biggest issue with this book was that there was hardly any characterization of the crew. I would have loved to have seen a back story as to how the crew was formed. This had the potential to have such a unique and exciting found family aspect. But I literally have no clue what the crew looks like. The author just seems to throw out names without any really defining characteristics, other than their role on the ship. And that they were queer. And women. So everyone was also referred to as “she” and I got so confused as to who was who. I’m hoping this was just a case of it being an uncorrected proof… But since there wasn’t any real scenes with the crew, it was difficult to emphasize when they got hurt near the end. I was like, who is this again??
HOWEVER the general plot of the book was solid. It moved fast and there was a lot of action. The progression of the book worked well. The only thing is that the author, I’m guessing, was trying to be vague in certain areas and I personally don’t like when authors do this excessively. It feels like a very roundabout way of getting to the point 😅
To be completely honest, it was a struggle to finish this book but I’m glad I did finish it! It was a decent read 👍🏻
May 2, 2025
This was a great read! There's magic, revenge, romance, humor, warmth, loyalty, sacrifice and much more! The author does a wonderful job of blending all of that together for a fun, emotional and entertaining story. The main character is one that you probably won't like from time to time but you will be able to understand her. She isn't perfect. She definitely has flaws but that always makes me like them even more! This was a great adventure. Thank you Tbr and Beyond Tours and Alison Ames for sharing this book with me!
March 11, 2025
The premise of this book sounds awesome. Lesbian pirates?? Sign me up!
However, I didn't get very far. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series. Nothing was explained and we were just supposed to accept it and move on.
Also, this is silly but the font is so thin. I have dyslexia and the font is very important for readability. Some people will love this book, i was just not one of them.
However, I didn't get very far. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of a series. Nothing was explained and we were just supposed to accept it and move on.
Also, this is silly but the font is so thin. I have dyslexia and the font is very important for readability. Some people will love this book, i was just not one of them.
Read
May 7, 2025This book might be set in the middle of the ocean but don’t let that fool you! It’s DRY. It is an absolute travesty that a sapphic queer pirate horror novel was so full of nothing. Underdeveloped characters, flimsy chemistry between love interests, and almost 400 pages of hinting at a possibility of a whisper of a plot that barely comes to fruition had me wishing to walk the plank.
April 1, 2025
Tbh, I bought it for the cover, and I was not disappointed but not entirely blown away either. The plot pacing was a little hard to follow, but the story was fun and imaginative - it had some really good parts 🏴☠️
May 9, 2025
This book should’ve been a hit for me but I just couldn’t get behind the MC. She was just standoffish and meh to me.
The plot as well was a little slow at first. The end was very action packed.
The plot as well was a little slow at first. The end was very action packed.
January 6, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
This one's kinda a weird one for me. There are elements I really liked, but it's all mixed up in things I found lacking and boring? It's confusing, I know.
So, starting with the first thing I liked: the dialogue / character interactions. The conversations between Adra, her quartermaster/adopted sister Merrin, the Cameron captain decoy Quinn, and her human-turned-bird Diana were the scenes I found myself adoring the most, because so many of them put Adra's complexities, her thirst for revenge clashing with her desire to be a good captain, on full display. They also had such good chemistry, too; I love when authors manage to balance moral dubiousness with excellent character interactions and relations. Unfortunately, this is only extends to these four characters, because, despite this whole other crew underneath Adra's wing, the other side characters are rather one noted and dull. Toral's connected to the sea, Kaori is the brainy, gadget one, Rhys is the only boy who's the chef and doesn't have more than 10 lines of dialogue, and the rest don't really matter. I can tell Ames was trying to make everyone as a whole memorable, and when it works, it works, just not for everyone.
It didn't really help that the worldbuilding is given in small chunks that are quickly wiped away before moving onto the next scene. The magic system isn't well explained, either, just that there were old gods that went away, left magic scraps behind, and some, like Merrin and Quinn, can use it. Anything besides the emphasis on the price paid when wielding it felt so vague that I gave up trying to fully understand it and went with whatever what was being said about it at the moment, because that's just how the story worked.
Despite how fast-paced the story was, it was simultaneously slow, too, given the sheer number of lengthy paragraphs describing the landscape or a fight scene. The scenery I get, but action/fight scenes need to be sharp and short, not blocky and overdrawn.
Another thing I liked was the Devourer. The beast's first proper introduction was splendidly creepy and filled with atmosphere; you really felt like the meeting of some Eldritch horror. The descriptions, the mannerisms, the backstory - I was all about it, especially when the narrative parallels the beast with Adra. Even though its presence looms heavily over the story til the end, the Devourer only has three major scenes: The introduction, a memory flashback via other characters having nightmares about it, and in the one of the last chapters. I found this disappointing, because, as the titular character, I wanted the monster to have more of a physical presence.
As for the story - it felt incomplete. From the beginning, we're just dropped in the middle of the narrative where Adra is well on her revenge journey with only a small exposition dump of why/what she's doing. This threw me so much because I felt like I had opened the book fifty or so pages into the story rather than starting on page one.
All in all, conflicted feelings aside, I would still say there are good qualities from this book. In variety, granted, but there, nonetheless. I don't know if I would properly recommend this book to anyone, but if I meet someone who was absolutely diehard for another pirate story to read, I would point them to this book if they want complex woman leads and good dialogue / interaction.
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
This one's kinda a weird one for me. There are elements I really liked, but it's all mixed up in things I found lacking and boring? It's confusing, I know.
So, starting with the first thing I liked: the dialogue / character interactions. The conversations between Adra, her quartermaster/adopted sister Merrin, the Cameron captain decoy Quinn, and her human-turned-bird Diana were the scenes I found myself adoring the most, because so many of them put Adra's complexities, her thirst for revenge clashing with her desire to be a good captain, on full display. They also had such good chemistry, too; I love when authors manage to balance moral dubiousness with excellent character interactions and relations. Unfortunately, this is only extends to these four characters, because, despite this whole other crew underneath Adra's wing, the other side characters are rather one noted and dull. Toral's connected to the sea, Kaori is the brainy, gadget one, Rhys is the only boy who's the chef and doesn't have more than 10 lines of dialogue, and the rest don't really matter. I can tell Ames was trying to make everyone as a whole memorable, and when it works, it works, just not for everyone.
It didn't really help that the worldbuilding is given in small chunks that are quickly wiped away before moving onto the next scene. The magic system isn't well explained, either, just that there were old gods that went away, left magic scraps behind, and some, like Merrin and Quinn, can use it. Anything besides the emphasis on the price paid when wielding it felt so vague that I gave up trying to fully understand it and went with whatever what was being said about it at the moment, because that's just how the story worked.
Despite how fast-paced the story was, it was simultaneously slow, too, given the sheer number of lengthy paragraphs describing the landscape or a fight scene. The scenery I get, but action/fight scenes need to be sharp and short, not blocky and overdrawn.
Another thing I liked was the Devourer. The beast's first proper introduction was splendidly creepy and filled with atmosphere; you really felt like the meeting of some Eldritch horror. The descriptions, the mannerisms, the backstory - I was all about it, especially when the narrative parallels the beast with Adra. Even though its presence looms heavily over the story til the end, the Devourer only has three major scenes: The introduction, a memory flashback via other characters having nightmares about it, and in the one of the last chapters. I found this disappointing, because, as the titular character, I wanted the monster to have more of a physical presence.
As for the story - it felt incomplete. From the beginning, we're just dropped in the middle of the narrative where Adra is well on her revenge journey with only a small exposition dump of why/what she's doing. This threw me so much because I felt like I had opened the book fifty or so pages into the story rather than starting on page one.
All in all, conflicted feelings aside, I would still say there are good qualities from this book. In variety, granted, but there, nonetheless. I don't know if I would properly recommend this book to anyone, but if I meet someone who was absolutely diehard for another pirate story to read, I would point them to this book if they want complex woman leads and good dialogue / interaction.
October 18, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Devourer” by Alison Ames is a YA fantasy adventure that takes you on a wild journey through treacherous seas, with captivating pirate captains, ancient sea monsters, and a plot that grips you from the very first line. If you're looking for a story that blends the swashbuckling energy of “Daughter of the Pirate King” with the dark magic vibes of “The Witcher,” then this is a book you won't want to miss. Plus, there is some fantastic LGBTQ representation throughout this book as well as the found family trope, which I absolutely love.
The story follows Adra Dantes, a fierce and morally complex pirate captain, driven by a single goal: to hunt down her half-brother Cameron, who betrayed their family by stealing a priceless treasure map. Her pursuit of vengeance is disrupted when a surge of magic causes ancient sea monsters to rise, and she discovers that the ship she has been chasing is captained by a girl impersonating Cameron. Adra is forced into an uneasy alliance with this rival captain, Quinn, as they both confront the monstrous threat known as The Devourer that’s wreaking havoc on the seas.
One of the strongest aspects of “The Devourer” is its characters. Adra is a standout protagonist—her amoral tendencies, sharp wit, and relentless drive for revenge make her a refreshingly fierce (anti-)heroine. What’s particularly engaging about Adra’s character is that her flaws aren’t excused or softened; instead, they are acknowledged and embraced, adding layers to her personality. Quinn, her hardened love interest, shares Adra’s tough exterior, making their dynamic feel like a meeting of equals rather than a cliché opposites-attract romance. Their relationship has just enough tension and chemistry to keep you invested, and while romance is not the primary focus, the hint of a future together adds a sweet touch to the otherwise fast-paced plot.
The friendships in the story are equally compelling, with side characters Merrin and Diana providing both emotional depth and light-hearted banter. The history and bond between these characters add to the story's richness, showing a blend of camaraderie, grief, and forgiveness that makes their interactions feel real and poignant. The found family aspect with Adra’s shipmates was my favorite part of the book as the different characters are so unique and breathe life into the story.
Ames’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, perfectly suited to the story's action-packed plot. The adventure on the high seas, combined with the incorporation of magic and mythical monsters, creates a world that feels both expansive and immersive. There is some good world building throughout, though the prevalence of magic is a bit overwhelming at first. The tension builds beautifully as the characters race against time, not just to find Cameron but also to face off against the fearsome Devourer lurking beneath the waves.
Overall, “The Devourer” is a fast-paced, addictive read that fans of YA fantasy will devour in one sitting. With its mix of dark magic, pirate battles, and fierce, morally complex characters, this book is sure to captivate anyone who loves a good adventure on the high seas. Alison Ames has crafted a world filled with danger, intrigue, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. This debut is a must-read for anyone looking for a magical and action-packed escape into a world where monsters lurk beneath the waves and pirate captains will do anything for vengeance.
“The Devourer” by Alison Ames is a YA fantasy adventure that takes you on a wild journey through treacherous seas, with captivating pirate captains, ancient sea monsters, and a plot that grips you from the very first line. If you're looking for a story that blends the swashbuckling energy of “Daughter of the Pirate King” with the dark magic vibes of “The Witcher,” then this is a book you won't want to miss. Plus, there is some fantastic LGBTQ representation throughout this book as well as the found family trope, which I absolutely love.
The story follows Adra Dantes, a fierce and morally complex pirate captain, driven by a single goal: to hunt down her half-brother Cameron, who betrayed their family by stealing a priceless treasure map. Her pursuit of vengeance is disrupted when a surge of magic causes ancient sea monsters to rise, and she discovers that the ship she has been chasing is captained by a girl impersonating Cameron. Adra is forced into an uneasy alliance with this rival captain, Quinn, as they both confront the monstrous threat known as The Devourer that’s wreaking havoc on the seas.
One of the strongest aspects of “The Devourer” is its characters. Adra is a standout protagonist—her amoral tendencies, sharp wit, and relentless drive for revenge make her a refreshingly fierce (anti-)heroine. What’s particularly engaging about Adra’s character is that her flaws aren’t excused or softened; instead, they are acknowledged and embraced, adding layers to her personality. Quinn, her hardened love interest, shares Adra’s tough exterior, making their dynamic feel like a meeting of equals rather than a cliché opposites-attract romance. Their relationship has just enough tension and chemistry to keep you invested, and while romance is not the primary focus, the hint of a future together adds a sweet touch to the otherwise fast-paced plot.
The friendships in the story are equally compelling, with side characters Merrin and Diana providing both emotional depth and light-hearted banter. The history and bond between these characters add to the story's richness, showing a blend of camaraderie, grief, and forgiveness that makes their interactions feel real and poignant. The found family aspect with Adra’s shipmates was my favorite part of the book as the different characters are so unique and breathe life into the story.
Ames’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, perfectly suited to the story's action-packed plot. The adventure on the high seas, combined with the incorporation of magic and mythical monsters, creates a world that feels both expansive and immersive. There is some good world building throughout, though the prevalence of magic is a bit overwhelming at first. The tension builds beautifully as the characters race against time, not just to find Cameron but also to face off against the fearsome Devourer lurking beneath the waves.
Overall, “The Devourer” is a fast-paced, addictive read that fans of YA fantasy will devour in one sitting. With its mix of dark magic, pirate battles, and fierce, morally complex characters, this book is sure to captivate anyone who loves a good adventure on the high seas. Alison Ames has crafted a world filled with danger, intrigue, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. This debut is a must-read for anyone looking for a magical and action-packed escape into a world where monsters lurk beneath the waves and pirate captains will do anything for vengeance.
January 8, 2025
Magical, thrilling, and fresh!
The Devourer is a new young adult fantasy by veteran author Alison Ames, and it is a thrilling, high-seas adventure with magic, monsters, and revenge. After her half-brother, Cameron, attacks their father, stealing a precious treasure map in the process, 17-year-old Adrasteia “Adra” Dantes takes possession of her father’s ship, Worldeater, and vows revenge.
In Adra’s world, magic is available to those special few attuned to its presence and it can be unpredictable and dangerous, as she well knows. As she and her crew of young women and one young man pursue their quarry, the veil between the non-magical and the mystical realms is somehow breached, and a creature known to the merfolk as The Devourer has been loosed under the seas to wreak destruction on all who travel above.This novel is an exciting story with a surprising mix of diverse characters, interesting storylines, and relationships. Adra, the young captain of the Worldeater, is morally complex; she enjoys inflicting pain and killing but is secretly kind to her crew, those she loves, who are less fortunate or are in trouble. She is single-minded in her pursuit of her half-brother, and the adventure is filled with incidents of her bravery in protecting the crew while achieving her goals. Her relationship with Quinn, the young woman Cameron coerced into impersonating him and acting as a decoy, is a slow-burn romance that ignites an internal conflict in Adra as well as one more overt with her crew.
An interesting side story involves the creature Diana, a sentient and talking osprey who was once a human sailor, much like those on the Worldeater. While hunting Cameron, Adra and Diana search for the island fortress of the spellcaster who changed Diana’s former crew into animals and compel her to reverse her curse.While the ship’s accidental sojourn in the Doldrums may have been tedious for the fictional crew, the tension in the story builds as the main characters’ backstories come to light and they await the arrival of an ancient being from the deep summoned by a magic-using crew member to help them move to a more favorable latitude. As the creature gets closer and closer, the details of its physical appearance, including its vast size, alarm the stranded sailors. However, the horror of their rescuer pales against what is to come in the form of The Devourer.
I found the story compelling, full of thrilling scenes and constant suspense. Adra was somewhat difficult for me to really like because of her mercurial nature and her joy in inflicting pain, but that aspect of her character is mentioned only once, and for the rest of the story, her decision to punish was more conflicted and thoughtful. I felt like I was dumped a little prematurely into the action, without enough build-up of the world and the existence of magic, so I didn’t have the grounding to engage with the story immediately. I think a reluctant reader would probably set this one aside in favor of a story they didn’t have to work as much to enjoy. However, perseverance proved fruitful in this case.I recommend THE DEVOURER to young adult fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy slow-burn sapphic romances and adventures on the high seas.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews