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Atlas Sea #1
The Phoenix and the Crown
A pirate with a deadly secret.
A princess desperate to save her dying kingdom.
The kingdom of Daera is dying. For the past ten years, rain has poured from the skies and the sun refuses to shine. Crops wither and rot in their fields while the people starve.
Annie is the princess of Daera, desperate to find a solution. Using her knowledge of plants, she experiments in the hope of finding a hybrid that can survive Daera’s harsh weather. But time is running out.
Ben is a pirate, captain of the ship Phoenix, who helps the people of Daera the only way he knows how—by stealing supplies from other ships and delivering them to the starving villagers—all while concealing a deadly secret.
With no other choice, Annie finds herself forced to abandon her work and accept a marriage proposal from Alara, the kingdom to the south, in exchange for much-needed aid. Plagued by witch-hunts and pirates alike, Alara is not the paradise it appears. Even so, Annie believes their southern neighbor is the only hope Daera has—until she meets Ben.
A princess desperate to save her dying kingdom.
The kingdom of Daera is dying. For the past ten years, rain has poured from the skies and the sun refuses to shine. Crops wither and rot in their fields while the people starve.
Annie is the princess of Daera, desperate to find a solution. Using her knowledge of plants, she experiments in the hope of finding a hybrid that can survive Daera’s harsh weather. But time is running out.
Ben is a pirate, captain of the ship Phoenix, who helps the people of Daera the only way he knows how—by stealing supplies from other ships and delivering them to the starving villagers—all while concealing a deadly secret.
With no other choice, Annie finds herself forced to abandon her work and accept a marriage proposal from Alara, the kingdom to the south, in exchange for much-needed aid. Plagued by witch-hunts and pirates alike, Alara is not the paradise it appears. Even so, Annie believes their southern neighbor is the only hope Daera has—until she meets Ben.
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 30, 2024
28 people are currently reading
2066 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Terry
6 books52 followersRachel Terry grew up in a small town where nothing much ever happened, dreaming of grand adventures and far-away places, which she found between the pages of books. When not writing, she can be found reading, making YouTube videos, gaming with friends, or indulging in her love of history. She currently resides in the Midwest with her family and a cat named Crinkles.
Visit her online at: rachel-terry.com
YouTube: RachelTerryAuthor
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Visit her online at: rachel-terry.com
YouTube: RachelTerryAuthor
Instagram: rterrywriter
Facebook: rachelterryauthor
TikTok: rterrywriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
April 4, 2024
✨The Phoenix and the Crown✨
This was such a fun pirate adventure! We have multiple POVs but we mainly focus towards two.
The land of Daera has been cursed for 10 years with rain and famine leading them to forge an alliance with their southern neighbor Alara. Annie, princess of Daera, agrees to marry their prince in trade for help for their dying people. But things aren’t adding up when she gets there and her people are still suffering.
After a negative experience with the Prince, Annie finds herself aboard a pirate ship- twice- where she meets Ben, captain of the Phoenix. Plot twists and an intriguing past cause them to keep bumping into each other and soon find that the past is now facing them head on.
TPATC is a plot driven YA/NA fantasy with a precious romance as a subplot. It has no spice and little language. Tropes include forced proximity, morally grey characters, plot twists, witches/elemental magic, and political intrigue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read; it kept me captivated and intrigued every step of the way. Thank you, Rachel, for gifting me this fantastic arc. It was a great time!
This was such a fun pirate adventure! We have multiple POVs but we mainly focus towards two.
The land of Daera has been cursed for 10 years with rain and famine leading them to forge an alliance with their southern neighbor Alara. Annie, princess of Daera, agrees to marry their prince in trade for help for their dying people. But things aren’t adding up when she gets there and her people are still suffering.
After a negative experience with the Prince, Annie finds herself aboard a pirate ship- twice- where she meets Ben, captain of the Phoenix. Plot twists and an intriguing past cause them to keep bumping into each other and soon find that the past is now facing them head on.
TPATC is a plot driven YA/NA fantasy with a precious romance as a subplot. It has no spice and little language. Tropes include forced proximity, morally grey characters, plot twists, witches/elemental magic, and political intrigue.
I thoroughly enjoyed this read; it kept me captivated and intrigued every step of the way. Thank you, Rachel, for gifting me this fantastic arc. It was a great time!
August 16, 2024
The Phoenix and the Crown by Rachel Terry is the first book in the Atlas series. I really enjoyed this book! The world building and magic was easy to understand. The characters were likable. I thought the plot was interesting and kept me engaged with the story. This book had multiple POVs which I thought made the story even better. There were twists throughout the book that kept the story exciting. This story had romance, political intrigue, suspense, elemental magic, and pirates/witches! This was a fun and easy read! I was never bored. I am looking forward to the next book in this series. Annie was a fantastic FMC! I really loved her characters. She was intelligent, determined, and caring. She is a princess but not a damsel in distress. She was a strong FMC. Ben gave robin hood vibes and was a great MMC! I loved watching Ben and Annie’s relationship progress. Ben was mysterious and I loved getting to know more about him and his secrets throughout the book. I recommend this book if you want a YA fantasy romance with forced proximity, morally grey characters, political intrigue, and elemental magic!!
March 19, 2024
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. As a writer myself I subscribed to Rachel’s YouTube channel and was happy I was chosen for her ARC team! :) The Phoenix and the Crown explores the two Kingdoms of Daera and Alara one on the brink of collapse and the other thriving. The story changes perspectives from multiple characters but the author does so without it being confusing each characters perspective intertwines with the plot beautifully. I could tell the author did her homework on ship battles and pirates and guns it was easy to get immersed in the action. The book itself was structured very well the pacing pretty spot on. I loved Sharpe she was my favorite character through the whole book and if I dare say probably the most fleshed out character. The two main characters are Ben (the pirate) and Annie (the princess) the book starts out with a lot of description and by a lot I mean probably too much. There’s a scene at the beginning where Ben is going to a Brothel to ask for information from Madam Rosa that’s a good example of this there are sprawling details of what everything looks like but the scene is so short and the place and Madam Rosa are never revisited again so I didn’t feel there was much need for so much setting in that sense. Thankfully this overdescription tapers off as the book goes on.
I also have a love hate relationship with the cliches in this book. Love because I feel like it goes along with the kind of old timey pirate charm (for example I loved the sentence “Berchmoore looking for all the world like the cat that caught the cream”)
But at other times using “hook, line and sinker” in a pirate book just seems to be a little too unoriginal along with having the villain say “Well, Well, Well” the maid say “you gave me a right fright Miss” it’s been done too much and I think this book would’ve been better without these things.
I also think Ben and Annie could’ve been fleshed out a little more along with their romance the kissing scene toward the end (along with the wedding night comment) seemed to have come too quickly without much build up. I was almost shipping Ben with Sharpe because I felt like they had more chemistry (though I might be biased because I loved Sharpe lol)
Overall I enjoyed getting lost in the seas between the Kingdoms of Daera and Alara and witnessing the magic and adventure of Ben and Annie’s story though it’s not without its faults (and what book is?) I give this book three stars I enjoyed it and I highly recommend The Phoenix and the Crown for an adventurous read.
I also have a love hate relationship with the cliches in this book. Love because I feel like it goes along with the kind of old timey pirate charm (for example I loved the sentence “Berchmoore looking for all the world like the cat that caught the cream”)
But at other times using “hook, line and sinker” in a pirate book just seems to be a little too unoriginal along with having the villain say “Well, Well, Well” the maid say “you gave me a right fright Miss” it’s been done too much and I think this book would’ve been better without these things.
I also think Ben and Annie could’ve been fleshed out a little more along with their romance the kissing scene toward the end (along with the wedding night comment) seemed to have come too quickly without much build up. I was almost shipping Ben with Sharpe because I felt like they had more chemistry (though I might be biased because I loved Sharpe lol)
Overall I enjoyed getting lost in the seas between the Kingdoms of Daera and Alara and witnessing the magic and adventure of Ben and Annie’s story though it’s not without its faults (and what book is?) I give this book three stars I enjoyed it and I highly recommend The Phoenix and the Crown for an adventurous read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2024
I'm giving this a 3 ⭐️ although I DNF'D it at 56%. I was greatly enjoying the story and the concepts of secrets and the themes of pirates, royalty, and witches had me hooked from the description. But eventually I got lost in the constantly changing points of view especially when they occurred mid chapter. The length of the chapters also had me lost because there were points where the chapter could have been divided into two or three chapters to help the pace of the story. I just started to feel lost. I may need to reread at another time but for now the concepts of the story were interesting but the delivery made me feel lost.
March 21, 2024
(//ARC reader review.)
Spectacular book!
Rachel Terry has nailed the damn genres, the plot, character designs, narrative, perspective, emotions, action, and everything.
Now without spoilers I can only say that it's a really good historical fiction, adventure, and action tale with a touch of romance.
It is written in 3rd person perspective in past tense and explains the story from viewpoint of different characters. This method gives you an overall view of the whole plot while letting you understand why the different characters are doing what they are doing; where they come from, where the story is heading, but of course you can't predict exactly what's gonna happen.
The characters are well fleshed-out and have for the most part definite tendencies and nature, but also their own sound reason, vulnerabilities, and capabilities for personal improvement. They are more real than fictional and you'll be able to pick your favorites.
Mine is Ben! :D He's the MC- a person who's in a bad profession with a good heart and makes the right decision most of the times. He is considerate, kind, confident, and a true protagonist. He learns fear and his own limitations but doesn't abandon his values and friends.
Annie, the FMC, is wise, brave, kind, sweet, and strong with a swag.
This is the story about a pirate and a princess; two kingdoms, dangerous powerful villains; and everyone's attempt to do what they think is best. (Ofc the villains think like it's the best thing ever to kill hundreds of people and starve thousands more).
Ben's past is more complicated that one could ever imagine, and Annie's present is screwed up as she's being forced to marry a man she doesn't even like, in order to save her kingdom's people.
There are pirates & witches; swords, guns, and magic. A lot of plotting and planning done by the wicked characters, and ample struggles for the good ones to test their personal values upon.
This is the kind of stories that Emily R. King writes. Only, this one is better. Way better, because of the characters.
Now of course not everyone can be fully satisfied with everything. Maybe you're a reader who enjoys continuous heavy action, or long steamy romance scenes, or nonstop plot twists. Well; there's enough of everything in this book but only in 'adequate amount'.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book. It's totally awesome. \m/
Spectacular book!
Rachel Terry has nailed the damn genres, the plot, character designs, narrative, perspective, emotions, action, and everything.
Now without spoilers I can only say that it's a really good historical fiction, adventure, and action tale with a touch of romance.
It is written in 3rd person perspective in past tense and explains the story from viewpoint of different characters. This method gives you an overall view of the whole plot while letting you understand why the different characters are doing what they are doing; where they come from, where the story is heading, but of course you can't predict exactly what's gonna happen.
The characters are well fleshed-out and have for the most part definite tendencies and nature, but also their own sound reason, vulnerabilities, and capabilities for personal improvement. They are more real than fictional and you'll be able to pick your favorites.
Mine is Ben! :D He's the MC- a person who's in a bad profession with a good heart and makes the right decision most of the times. He is considerate, kind, confident, and a true protagonist. He learns fear and his own limitations but doesn't abandon his values and friends.
Annie, the FMC, is wise, brave, kind, sweet, and strong with a swag.
This is the story about a pirate and a princess; two kingdoms, dangerous powerful villains; and everyone's attempt to do what they think is best. (Ofc the villains think like it's the best thing ever to kill hundreds of people and starve thousands more).
Ben's past is more complicated that one could ever imagine, and Annie's present is screwed up as she's being forced to marry a man she doesn't even like, in order to save her kingdom's people.
There are pirates & witches; swords, guns, and magic. A lot of plotting and planning done by the wicked characters, and ample struggles for the good ones to test their personal values upon.
This is the kind of stories that Emily R. King writes. Only, this one is better. Way better, because of the characters.
Now of course not everyone can be fully satisfied with everything. Maybe you're a reader who enjoys continuous heavy action, or long steamy romance scenes, or nonstop plot twists. Well; there's enough of everything in this book but only in 'adequate amount'.
Anyway, I highly recommend this book. It's totally awesome. \m/
May 3, 2024
The Phoenix and the Crown
(ARC Review)
Rating: Five Stars
Spice Level: No Spice
Swearing: Minimal but it is there
If you like pirates, morally grey characters, intrigue, and magic then this is a book you'll definitely enjoy!
Daera has been plagued with rain for a decade and their people are starving. In order to make strong ties with the profitable Southern country Alara, the princess, Annie, is sent to marry the prince by her brother the Daeran King. However, Annie soon realizes that this alliance may not be worth it and nothing is as it seems. Through unexpected circumstances, she finds herself taken aboard The Phoenix, the fiercest pirate ship on the Atlas Sea. From there her life and what will become of her kingdom's alliance is uncertain.
Things I Liked:
-It is a multi POV book so it really lets you learn about the nuances of the characters' lives and allows for a lot of lore and worldbuilding than less POVs might. You get to see the ambitions and goals of every character and how that makes them who they are. That being said, it also lets us in on what would otherwise be secret and watch political intrigue unfold.
-The twists and turns were a lot of fun and some of them I was not expecting. It made for an exhilarating read.
-The princess, Annie, is a strong female lead and she is definitely not a damsel in distress. She is willing to stand up for what she believes in. Ben, the captain of The Phoenix, is a likeable male lead and is essentially a pirate version of Robin Hood (probably an oversimplification of his character but I don't want to spoil anything). The forced proximity trope is strong in this book (excuse the mild Star Wars joke).
Overall this has been a good read and I would suggest it to anyone that loves historical fiction that involves royalty and/or pirates.
(ARC Review)
Rating: Five Stars
Spice Level: No Spice
Swearing: Minimal but it is there
If you like pirates, morally grey characters, intrigue, and magic then this is a book you'll definitely enjoy!
Daera has been plagued with rain for a decade and their people are starving. In order to make strong ties with the profitable Southern country Alara, the princess, Annie, is sent to marry the prince by her brother the Daeran King. However, Annie soon realizes that this alliance may not be worth it and nothing is as it seems. Through unexpected circumstances, she finds herself taken aboard The Phoenix, the fiercest pirate ship on the Atlas Sea. From there her life and what will become of her kingdom's alliance is uncertain.
Things I Liked:
-It is a multi POV book so it really lets you learn about the nuances of the characters' lives and allows for a lot of lore and worldbuilding than less POVs might. You get to see the ambitions and goals of every character and how that makes them who they are. That being said, it also lets us in on what would otherwise be secret and watch political intrigue unfold.
-The twists and turns were a lot of fun and some of them I was not expecting. It made for an exhilarating read.
-The princess, Annie, is a strong female lead and she is definitely not a damsel in distress. She is willing to stand up for what she believes in. Ben, the captain of The Phoenix, is a likeable male lead and is essentially a pirate version of Robin Hood (probably an oversimplification of his character but I don't want to spoil anything). The forced proximity trope is strong in this book (excuse the mild Star Wars joke).
Overall this has been a good read and I would suggest it to anyone that loves historical fiction that involves royalty and/or pirates.
August 28, 2024
👸🏻Pirate ships, witch hunts, secret identities, and adorable, spice-free romance. I LOVED this YA Pirate-Fantasy SO much and I dare say it is one of my favorites of the year.
⚓️I so thoroughly enjoy the YA genre, and the plot/storyline of this book was SO engaging and well-done from beginning to end. There are some books that just grip you and are such a delight to read and this was one of them. There were several POV’s which allowed the story to be so much more expansive and I loved seeing how all the characters intersected and connected. From secret witches that must hide from persecution to a charming, pirate with Robin Hood vibes.
🤴🏻My favorite was the King with a mysterious ailment that effects his memory and the political intrigue and corruption of the Alaran Kingdom. The kingdom of Daera on the other hand has been suffering from years of incessant rain and no sun which has decimated their crops and left much of the population starving. Throw in an arranged marriage between the two kingdoms full of secrets and turmoil and the pirates and privateers sailing the sea that connects the two and you have such an exciting and enthralling story!
I really truly loved this one and will definitely continue with the series!🏴☠️
⚓️I so thoroughly enjoy the YA genre, and the plot/storyline of this book was SO engaging and well-done from beginning to end. There are some books that just grip you and are such a delight to read and this was one of them. There were several POV’s which allowed the story to be so much more expansive and I loved seeing how all the characters intersected and connected. From secret witches that must hide from persecution to a charming, pirate with Robin Hood vibes.
🤴🏻My favorite was the King with a mysterious ailment that effects his memory and the political intrigue and corruption of the Alaran Kingdom. The kingdom of Daera on the other hand has been suffering from years of incessant rain and no sun which has decimated their crops and left much of the population starving. Throw in an arranged marriage between the two kingdoms full of secrets and turmoil and the pirates and privateers sailing the sea that connects the two and you have such an exciting and enthralling story!
I really truly loved this one and will definitely continue with the series!🏴☠️
September 16, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was a super fun book to read! I enjoyed that there are multiple POV’s. The world building in the narration of this story is chef’s kiss. I also enjoy that this book has pirates and witches! It’s a bit of fresh air from what I am used to reading. It is a YA novel, and so if you’re looking for something that has spice, this is not it. This book has zero spice. Despite the zero spice, this book was very enjoyable. However, you will not be disappointed. This book has tons of action that won’t leave you bored. I enjoyed the political intrigue in the book. I also don’t know so much about pirates, ships, and that era. However, it seems as if the author did lots of research. The story and point of view seem well written when it comes to these scenes in the book. The story also felt fairly unique to me. There is a lot of adventure, magic, and romance. The novel is reminding me a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean, with a mix of Robin Hood. I enjoy that our main character takes initiative to push herself to do what she needs to do. She isn’t a weak character, and we love a boss lady. Overall, this is a fun read!
This was a super fun book to read! I enjoyed that there are multiple POV’s. The world building in the narration of this story is chef’s kiss. I also enjoy that this book has pirates and witches! It’s a bit of fresh air from what I am used to reading. It is a YA novel, and so if you’re looking for something that has spice, this is not it. This book has zero spice. Despite the zero spice, this book was very enjoyable. However, you will not be disappointed. This book has tons of action that won’t leave you bored. I enjoyed the political intrigue in the book. I also don’t know so much about pirates, ships, and that era. However, it seems as if the author did lots of research. The story and point of view seem well written when it comes to these scenes in the book. The story also felt fairly unique to me. There is a lot of adventure, magic, and romance. The novel is reminding me a little bit of Pirates of the Caribbean, with a mix of Robin Hood. I enjoy that our main character takes initiative to push herself to do what she needs to do. She isn’t a weak character, and we love a boss lady. Overall, this is a fun read!
April 30, 2024
“He was nothing if not weak. She made him weak.
But if this is what weakness feels like, then I never want to be strong.“
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
*ARC review*
Story starts with series of unfortunate events connecting our characters: prince, princess, queen, pirates, witches and much more. Nice mix, i would say.
World is divided into two kingdoms: one which was previously lavish now is under curse so rains haven’t stopped for almost 10 years. (Sure there were some happy days when people have hours without a drop of water, but cloudy, rainy weather is on a way to destroy whole kingdom.)
Sympathetic neighbor sends aid, but pirates simply don’t care and don’t think about people.
Princess of a cursed country should marry prince, so his kingdom will continue sending air and will add more guards to the ships. Will it really help?
What could go wrong when this sweet girl, who wants to help her people, will meet prince with cruel and sinister side?
What would happen when kind pirate decided to help his kingdom and return stolen aid to the poor people?
What secrets and betrayals of the past will be revealed? Can actions of the past finally catch up with our main characters and change their and kingdom’s lives?
Everything felt like an ancient fairytale, with nice plot twists, sudden revelations of betrayals and interesting villains.
But if this is what weakness feels like, then I never want to be strong.“
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
*ARC review*
Story starts with series of unfortunate events connecting our characters: prince, princess, queen, pirates, witches and much more. Nice mix, i would say.
World is divided into two kingdoms: one which was previously lavish now is under curse so rains haven’t stopped for almost 10 years. (Sure there were some happy days when people have hours without a drop of water, but cloudy, rainy weather is on a way to destroy whole kingdom.)
Sympathetic neighbor sends aid, but pirates simply don’t care and don’t think about people.
Princess of a cursed country should marry prince, so his kingdom will continue sending air and will add more guards to the ships. Will it really help?
What could go wrong when this sweet girl, who wants to help her people, will meet prince with cruel and sinister side?
What would happen when kind pirate decided to help his kingdom and return stolen aid to the poor people?
What secrets and betrayals of the past will be revealed? Can actions of the past finally catch up with our main characters and change their and kingdom’s lives?
Everything felt like an ancient fairytale, with nice plot twists, sudden revelations of betrayals and interesting villains.
August 28, 2024
I loved this mashup of pirates, witches, and royals! I really enjoyed my read of The Phoenix and the Crown and the adventure it took me on. The author did a great job with the writing and kept me entertained from start to finish! There were multiple points of view given, which I quite liked. It wasn't difficult to keep track of who's who, and it did focus more so on two main characters. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. There's the fmc Princess Annie and mmc Pirate Ben, as well as a large number of side characters. One of the side characters I've taken a particular interest in is Sharpe. Another thing I've enjoyed is reading about the elemental magic some of the characters have. There's twists, revelations, and action scenes. It was quite fun getting lost in this story. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the Atlas Sea series and discovering what the author has in store for us next!
If you're looking for a magical pirate adventure to dive into, and/or you're a fan of YA fantasy, I recommend checking this one out sometime!
If you're looking for a magical pirate adventure to dive into, and/or you're a fan of YA fantasy, I recommend checking this one out sometime!
August 30, 2024
I was planning on doing a pirate summer until I got distracted by other deadlines, but this book has fully pulled me back into my pirate era 🏴☠️
There are a ton of POVs giving you a kind of birds-eye view at this world, including from the villains which I always enjoy! Each POV felt really unique, I liked getting to learn about so many different kinds of people. Some of the main characters are a princess and a Robin Hood-esque pirate, and if you’re a Will and Elizabeth fan omg are you going to love them 😍
I liked the combination of pirates and witches, and thought it was done really well! The politics of this world were complex and interesting, and getting to see the POVs of the characters making these decisions made me feel even more involved.
There was political scheming, adventure on the high seas, romance, magic, and danger, making for a really fun read that I didn’t want to put down!
Thanks to the author for the copy of the book. This review was left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
There are a ton of POVs giving you a kind of birds-eye view at this world, including from the villains which I always enjoy! Each POV felt really unique, I liked getting to learn about so many different kinds of people. Some of the main characters are a princess and a Robin Hood-esque pirate, and if you’re a Will and Elizabeth fan omg are you going to love them 😍
I liked the combination of pirates and witches, and thought it was done really well! The politics of this world were complex and interesting, and getting to see the POVs of the characters making these decisions made me feel even more involved.
There was political scheming, adventure on the high seas, romance, magic, and danger, making for a really fun read that I didn’t want to put down!
Thanks to the author for the copy of the book. This review was left voluntarily and all opinions are my own.
April 30, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantasy that not only follows a Princess and a pirate but several other interesting characters. I absolutely could see this book be turned into a film! All the different perspectives are so interesting and diverse. I genuinely found that I cared about all the characters not just the main protagonists. No character felt like a waste of time or a fill in. Usually when I read fantasy, I get confused by the new made up setting but I found it easy to understand the world building in this book! This is a perfect book for a cozy day of reading. The book cover is a;so absolutely stunning! This is a very well thought out plot and while so many fantasy books have predictable beats I found things happening in this book that I did not predict or expect. It is a unique story that is written creatively and thoughtfully. I would highly recommend it!
May 6, 2024
A starving kingdom desperate for help, alliances are formed by promising the princess’s hand in marriage…. but things aren’t what Princess Annie thinks when she arrives in the new kingdom. Magic, pirates, privateers, royalty, found family…what’s not to like?
This is a fun YA read, with enough twists and turns and characters plotting to keep your interest. It’s a mild enemies-to-lovers budding romance, which was cute. Some of the relationship stuff advanced a bit fast in my opinion, but otherwise really well written and engaging story!
I’ll give this a 3.5 in the places I can (like Story Graph), but round up to a 4 for Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks to StoryOrigin for the digital ARC. I didn’t receive anything in exchange for this review.
This is a fun YA read, with enough twists and turns and characters plotting to keep your interest. It’s a mild enemies-to-lovers budding romance, which was cute. Some of the relationship stuff advanced a bit fast in my opinion, but otherwise really well written and engaging story!
I’ll give this a 3.5 in the places I can (like Story Graph), but round up to a 4 for Amazon and Goodreads.
Thanks to StoryOrigin for the digital ARC. I didn’t receive anything in exchange for this review.
August 27, 2024
Es un 3.5⭐️
Recibí este libro por medio de un book tour para poder reseñarlo.
Es una historia interesante en donde tendremos una aventura pirata, que nos presentará diversos personajes, un pirata con un secreto, y una princesa que está dispuesta por hacer todo por su reino.
El libro tiene múltiples POV, pero lo que no me convenció es que no te señala quién te está narrando, creo que casi que a mediados del capítulo podías saber quién te estaba hablando, hubiera preferido que al inicio del capítulo me dijeran quién iba a hablar
En general fue una historia entretenida, fluyó bien, hubo algunas cosas que no terminé de entender y de conectar, pero siento que para ser el primer libro de una serie está bien fundamentado✨
Recibí este libro por medio de un book tour para poder reseñarlo.
Es una historia interesante en donde tendremos una aventura pirata, que nos presentará diversos personajes, un pirata con un secreto, y una princesa que está dispuesta por hacer todo por su reino.
El libro tiene múltiples POV, pero lo que no me convenció es que no te señala quién te está narrando, creo que casi que a mediados del capítulo podías saber quién te estaba hablando, hubiera preferido que al inicio del capítulo me dijeran quién iba a hablar
En general fue una historia entretenida, fluyó bien, hubo algunas cosas que no terminé de entender y de conectar, pero siento que para ser el primer libro de una serie está bien fundamentado✨
September 9, 2024
If you are looking for a swashbuckling tale from multiple POVs this is the book for you! This book includes:
🏴☠️Pirates
🏴☠️witches
🏴☠️royal intrigue
🏴☠️reluctant allies
🏴☠️slow burn romance
🏴☠️forced proximity
🏴☠️morally gray characters
🏴☠️elemental magic
I love that Annie took on an active role as a leader and tried to find a viable solution to her kingdom’s troubles. She is not a passive Princess and I admired her character for it.
I correlated Ben to Robin Hood and loved his character!
The world building is easy to follow and I liked that the reader gets the info they need as the story progresses.
Thank you Book of Matches Media for the copy! Thoughts expressed are my own
🏴☠️Pirates
🏴☠️witches
🏴☠️royal intrigue
🏴☠️reluctant allies
🏴☠️slow burn romance
🏴☠️forced proximity
🏴☠️morally gray characters
🏴☠️elemental magic
I love that Annie took on an active role as a leader and tried to find a viable solution to her kingdom’s troubles. She is not a passive Princess and I admired her character for it.
I correlated Ben to Robin Hood and loved his character!
The world building is easy to follow and I liked that the reader gets the info they need as the story progresses.
Thank you Book of Matches Media for the copy! Thoughts expressed are my own
August 29, 2024
Pirates, I mean that is what called me to this book right away. I love me a good pirate book but add witches to it…yep this is such a me book for sure!I found this book rather adorable and full of world building. It is spice free but the romance was still great. I love the mulit pov, though sometimes I had to reread something since I needed to make sure I knew which character it was, the povs did help me get a better feel for each of the characters. Annie, is that strong female character who does what she believes is right and stands up for it. It fit her character so much. Ben, Ben, is everything I love in a main male character. I cannot wait for the next book!
August 30, 2024
This book is such an easy read and so enjoyable! A great kick off to a series. You all know how much I love pirates and this book was right up my alley. I love that we had multiple POVs that helped with character development right off the bat and I really got to know and see where the story was going. The world is so fascinating with all of the magic and the witches as well as the pirates. Ben is such a strong MMC and I love how feisty Annie is. AND FORCED PROXIMITY!! Give me all of it!! The adventure is only starting and I’m totally hooked.
January 15, 2026
Once I got into it I really enjoyed this adventure!
I love the inclusion of witches in a story about pirates and the explanation behind the Phoenix being such a fast ship was clever.
Bellavexis is a cool name for a flower and the writing was really good. I only wish we could have seen more of Ben and Annie after the Epilogue!
If you enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean or Fantasy Adventure with a side of romance I recommend giving this a try.
Thank you to the author for the free ebook!
I love the inclusion of witches in a story about pirates and the explanation behind the Phoenix being such a fast ship was clever.
Bellavexis is a cool name for a flower and the writing was really good. I only wish we could have seen more of Ben and Annie after the Epilogue!
If you enjoyed Pirates of the Caribbean or Fantasy Adventure with a side of romance I recommend giving this a try.
Thank you to the author for the free ebook!
May 22, 2024
4.5 Stars
An impressive pirate adventure, this historical fantasy novel blew me away. The MCs and the supporting characters are well-written, the plot is enticing, and the worldbuilding is superb. The author has crafted a wonderful story that's part swashbuckling quest, part witch's curse, and part family drama. I hope there is a sequel because I look forward to it. Loved the book, gorgeous cover as well.
GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway
An impressive pirate adventure, this historical fantasy novel blew me away. The MCs and the supporting characters are well-written, the plot is enticing, and the worldbuilding is superb. The author has crafted a wonderful story that's part swashbuckling quest, part witch's curse, and part family drama. I hope there is a sequel because I look forward to it. Loved the book, gorgeous cover as well.
GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway
July 2, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this, it had that pirate element that I wanted. I thought the characters worked in the historical setting and was enjoying the adventure element. Rachel Terry wrote this perfectly and I was glad I got to read this.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great, fun pirate adventure with multiple POV’s. The world building was easy to understand and I was rooting for the characters.
This book has easy world building, magic, witches, and pirates. If you like any of these these things, I recommend this book to you 💯
This book has easy world building, magic, witches, and pirates. If you like any of these these things, I recommend this book to you 💯
May 3, 2024
2⭐️
Likes
- Private filled adventure
- Multiple POV
- Charming characters
Dislikes
- The writing style was difficult for me to get into. The story itself was compelling but I found myself having to go back and reread sentences.
Likes
- Private filled adventure
- Multiple POV
- Charming characters
Dislikes
- The writing style was difficult for me to get into. The story itself was compelling but I found myself having to go back and reread sentences.
August 4, 2024
A wonderful adventurous tale full of mystery and suspense! A well written book set a perfect pace. It kept me hooked but allowed space for me to take breaks from reading. Highly recommend if you love fantasy adventure and romance with a lot of mystery and a splash of piracy and witch lore!
August 11, 2024
The multiple POVs in this book give unlock your experience to a whole other level! The plot and the character buildup is amazing! The pirate world is so much fun to read!!
I honestly loved Kain’s redemption arc. I wasn’t expecting it. But Annie melted mt heart. Such an amazing character and the love story is so cute! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
Thank you to the author for the gifted ARC ❤️❤️
I honestly loved Kain’s redemption arc. I wasn’t expecting it. But Annie melted mt heart. Such an amazing character and the love story is so cute! I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!
Thank you to the author for the gifted ARC ❤️❤️
September 8, 2024
This book was so good. I was thrown at first by how much it gave me pirate of Caribbean vibes. A princess who just wants to save her kingdom is something I was able to emphasize with. I was in awe of how smooth the story flowed. How well rounded the characters seemed this book was amazing. 🤩
October 26, 2024
A magical pirate romp
I enjoyed reading The Phoenix and the Crown overall. It’s a multiple POV romance with a mix of witch and wizard magical kingdoms and swashbuckling pirates. It’s a fun combo but the plot was predictable.
I enjoyed reading The Phoenix and the Crown overall. It’s a multiple POV romance with a mix of witch and wizard magical kingdoms and swashbuckling pirates. It’s a fun combo but the plot was predictable.
September 11, 2024
This is the start of a duology featuring pirates and witches—what more could you ask for?
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The multiple points of view added depth to the story, weaving a richer narrative that kept me captivated. A lingering mystery kept me hooked from start to finish, and the world-building was nothing short of exquisite. I’ve always been drawn to stories of divided kingdoms and those in betweenn, and this one delivers with a sea teeming with pirates!
The balance between political intrigue, a subtle magical system, and a truly formidable villain was masterfully handled. The author blended different tropes creatively, using just the right amount of each to enhance the story without overcomplicating it. This is a great example of how to execute complex ideas with finesse. 👌
The characters were compelling and well-developed, with voices that felt mature and authentic. The soft romance was tastefully done, without any unnecessary steam, and I appreciated that the author remained true to her vision. This is a fantastic start to what promises to be a great trilogy.
I’ve found a new author to follow, and I’m already planning to read more of her work in the future! I’ll definitely be ordering a physical copy because, let’s be honest, the cover is stunning! 🤩
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The multiple points of view added depth to the story, weaving a richer narrative that kept me captivated. A lingering mystery kept me hooked from start to finish, and the world-building was nothing short of exquisite. I’ve always been drawn to stories of divided kingdoms and those in betweenn, and this one delivers with a sea teeming with pirates!
The balance between political intrigue, a subtle magical system, and a truly formidable villain was masterfully handled. The author blended different tropes creatively, using just the right amount of each to enhance the story without overcomplicating it. This is a great example of how to execute complex ideas with finesse. 👌
The characters were compelling and well-developed, with voices that felt mature and authentic. The soft romance was tastefully done, without any unnecessary steam, and I appreciated that the author remained true to her vision. This is a fantastic start to what promises to be a great trilogy.
I’ve found a new author to follow, and I’m already planning to read more of her work in the future! I’ll definitely be ordering a physical copy because, let’s be honest, the cover is stunning! 🤩
March 20, 2025
Devoured this book
From the first chapter, I was hooked!
I went in blind minus I knew this was about Pirates. Great story, a few surprises.
From the first chapter, I was hooked!
I went in blind minus I knew this was about Pirates. Great story, a few surprises.
August 1, 2024
A magical, swashbuckling adventure full of political intrigue!
“A pirate with a deadly secret.
A princess desperate to save her dying kingdom.“
This book had me eagerly turning the pages early on. Its large cast of varied characters and rich world building held my interest to the very end. Some of the story elements ultimately left me wanting for more, but it was an enjoyable, engaging read that makes me want to pick up Rachel’s duology and give it a try!
Full review on my blog! tiffanydavisauthor.com
“A pirate with a deadly secret.
A princess desperate to save her dying kingdom.“
This book had me eagerly turning the pages early on. Its large cast of varied characters and rich world building held my interest to the very end. Some of the story elements ultimately left me wanting for more, but it was an enjoyable, engaging read that makes me want to pick up Rachel’s duology and give it a try!
Full review on my blog! tiffanydavisauthor.com
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