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Stolen Crowns #2
Ship of Shadows
He broke my heart once. Now working with him might shatter it for good.
I’m chained to my crown. Queen of a court I don’t want. Ever since my brothers and father disappeared, I’ve been forced to rule, to give up the freedom I crave.
It’s all the pirate lord’s fault. Bastian Lore sailed into my life, charmed me completely—then betrayed me. The scoundrel kidnapped my brothers and delivered them straight to the shadow court, where they’re trapped, their shadows now under the court’s control.
Worse, Bastian has returned—and his offer to rescue my brothers and find my missing father is too good to be true. All he wants in return? My help finding a cure for his mysterious illness. I don’t trust him, but if anyone can navigate the shadow court and get my family back, it’s him.
He’s as charming as ever. But I can’t fall for him again. If I’m not careful, it won’t just be my heart that I lose—it’ll be my family, my court… and my life.
Ship of Shadows is book two in Stolen Crowns, a series of steamy standalone but interconnected fairytale retellings. This enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is perfect for fans of banter, (very) snarky heroines, and slow-burn fantasy romance.
I’m chained to my crown. Queen of a court I don’t want. Ever since my brothers and father disappeared, I’ve been forced to rule, to give up the freedom I crave.
It’s all the pirate lord’s fault. Bastian Lore sailed into my life, charmed me completely—then betrayed me. The scoundrel kidnapped my brothers and delivered them straight to the shadow court, where they’re trapped, their shadows now under the court’s control.
Worse, Bastian has returned—and his offer to rescue my brothers and find my missing father is too good to be true. All he wants in return? My help finding a cure for his mysterious illness. I don’t trust him, but if anyone can navigate the shadow court and get my family back, it’s him.
He’s as charming as ever. But I can’t fall for him again. If I’m not careful, it won’t just be my heart that I lose—it’ll be my family, my court… and my life.
Ship of Shadows is book two in Stolen Crowns, a series of steamy standalone but interconnected fairytale retellings. This enemies-to-lovers, second-chance romance is perfect for fans of banter, (very) snarky heroines, and slow-burn fantasy romance.
352 pages, Paperback
Published April 10, 2024
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April 21, 2024
Ship of Shadows was a beautifully, captivating retelling that was Disney meets romantasy! It was Peter Pan, yet with Hook as the love interest, and wrapped around the tale was also The Little Mermaid. I loved this book! The characters came alive, the story was impossible to put down, and I loved how elements of the original tale played out but also found new light. The twists and turns were fabulous, and the ending had me closing the book smiling!
While this can easily be read as a standalone, I can’t recommend reading Mirror of Malice first. There you meet our main heroine, Princess Gabrielle. Her brothers were taken by the pirate lord, Bastian Lore. And then her father and his men disappeared too. She was to become Queen, yet that wasn’t what her heart wanted. With Bastian back and promising to help get her brothers, in exchange for finding a cure for an illness, Gabrielle’s world was going to get turned upside down. The man had already broken her heart once, how could she trust him? Yet what unfolded was the most fantastical journey that had me glued to the pages!
From those first few words out of Bastian’s mouth, I was a goner. He was protective, ruthless, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect those he cared for. He was feared, yet underneath that gruff exterior was a heart of gold, or at least I hoped. From the moments he seemed to show he cared, like the fireworks, I fell that much more in love with him. Bastian made me laugh, smile and when he shared little pieces of his past, it made the stars shine brighter!
Gabrielle tugged at my heart. She was trapped with a future she didn’t want. Her brothers were taken by the man she had fallen in love with. And when she boarded Bastian’s ship, everyone hated her. Her loneliness pierced deep into me. Yet through it all, she was resilient. I loved watching her use her water magic. I loved her finding a way into those hearts around her. And I loved watching her use her cunningness to try and stay one step ahead of others. Yet, Gabrielle also double crossed Bastian. So there were many shades of gray within the pages!
Bastian and Gabrielle together were explosive. The sexual tension could be seen with every look, touch, and word between them. There was an enemies to lovers vibe there. And the secrets they both kept were numerous. Yet through it all, they both acted like they were trying to protect the other. And while I’m super picky about second chance romance, this one was done fabulously! So when there were moments between them that were more, the steam was perfect too!
Along for the ride were Bastian’s crew, Driscoll and Leoni. I adored the two women on Bastian’s crew and Driscoll. Driscoll made me laugh numerous times! Yet Leoni and I never clicked. I’m hoping that will change with a future book. Within the story, there were so many moments that had me smiling in joy! I loved how elements from the original tales played out. So many of them twisted in ways that were shocking and unique. I’m not going to say much besides walking the plank part and afterwards, the cabin, and many more were some of my top favorites!
Ships of Shadows was filled with twists and turns, moments that will make you laugh and fall in love, and the ending was perfect! This second chance, enemies to lovers vibe romance swept me away! With found family and forced proximity laced within the pages, it just made me love this book even more! I’m so excited to see what happens next in this world, and I have a guess about what two fairy tales it will be. I can’t wait!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
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“Do not speak to me like that,” I said, stepping forward. “I am the princess of Apolis, and you will address me as such, or you’ll lose your tongue.”
Bastian chuckled darkly. “You won’t cut out my tongue, not when you know firsthand all the things I can do with it.”
While this can easily be read as a standalone, I can’t recommend reading Mirror of Malice first. There you meet our main heroine, Princess Gabrielle. Her brothers were taken by the pirate lord, Bastian Lore. And then her father and his men disappeared too. She was to become Queen, yet that wasn’t what her heart wanted. With Bastian back and promising to help get her brothers, in exchange for finding a cure for an illness, Gabrielle’s world was going to get turned upside down. The man had already broken her heart once, how could she trust him? Yet what unfolded was the most fantastical journey that had me glued to the pages!
Our entire relationship was stolen moments. Secret trysts. A lie.
From those first few words out of Bastian’s mouth, I was a goner. He was protective, ruthless, and there was nothing he wouldn’t do to protect those he cared for. He was feared, yet underneath that gruff exterior was a heart of gold, or at least I hoped. From the moments he seemed to show he cared, like the fireworks, I fell that much more in love with him. Bastian made me laugh, smile and when he shared little pieces of his past, it made the stars shine brighter!
Second star to the right, he’d said. That’s our star.
Gabrielle tugged at my heart. She was trapped with a future she didn’t want. Her brothers were taken by the man she had fallen in love with. And when she boarded Bastian’s ship, everyone hated her. Her loneliness pierced deep into me. Yet through it all, she was resilient. I loved watching her use her water magic. I loved her finding a way into those hearts around her. And I loved watching her use her cunningness to try and stay one step ahead of others. Yet, Gabrielle also double crossed Bastian. So there were many shades of gray within the pages!
“I’m trying to be so good,” he whispered, “when all I want is to be so very bad.”
I didn’t move, letting his words, his breath, his scent, wash over me.
Bastian and Gabrielle together were explosive. The sexual tension could be seen with every look, touch, and word between them. There was an enemies to lovers vibe there. And the secrets they both kept were numerous. Yet through it all, they both acted like they were trying to protect the other. And while I’m super picky about second chance romance, this one was done fabulously! So when there were moments between them that were more, the steam was perfect too!
There were a million reasons not to do this. Yet with his voice so soft, so vulnerable, I couldn’t make myself care about a single one.
Along for the ride were Bastian’s crew, Driscoll and Leoni. I adored the two women on Bastian’s crew and Driscoll. Driscoll made me laugh numerous times! Yet Leoni and I never clicked. I’m hoping that will change with a future book. Within the story, there were so many moments that had me smiling in joy! I loved how elements from the original tales played out. So many of them twisted in ways that were shocking and unique. I’m not going to say much besides walking the plank part and afterwards, the cabin, and many more were some of my top favorites!
He dipped his head down, a question in his eyes, and I answered, tipping my head up. He brushed his lips against mine.
Ships of Shadows was filled with twists and turns, moments that will make you laugh and fall in love, and the ending was perfect! This second chance, enemies to lovers vibe romance swept me away! With found family and forced proximity laced within the pages, it just made me love this book even more! I’m so excited to see what happens next in this world, and I have a guess about what two fairy tales it will be. I can’t wait!
He placed his hand over mine. “Then who do you need me to be if not your hero?”
A grin spread across my face. “I need you to be what you’re best at. The pirate lord of the Dark Seas.”
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Blog * Personal Instagram * Blog Instagram * Facebook * Twitter * Bloglovin * Feedly
May 7, 2024
Do you know how I can tell I struck it lucky with my ARC? When all I want to do now is read other books from the series❤️ And that is my situation now after I've had the pleasure of ARC reading Ship of Shadows, Book 3 in the Stolen Crown series by Tee Harlowe.
This was the most delightful, fun, interesting, loving fantasy book I've read in a long time. I saw the author say she got a comment once her books are like "Disney for adults" and I couldn't agree more.
Each book in the series represents a retelling of a sort; Ship of Shadows being a Peter Pan retelling. This book has it all – a great FMC who tries to be herself apart from expectations the world has of her, an MMC who is truly morally grey but still tries to be a better man, the most delightful side characters (Driscoll, I'm looking at you ❤️), a beautiful love story for the ages, perfect banter, a heroic quest to save those who need saving, and mysteries and secrets still waiting to be discovered.
What else can you expect to find in Ship of Shadows?
❤️ Peter Pan retelling with a twist
❤️ Second-chance romance
❤️ Morally grey pirate daddy
❤️ Found family
❤️ Betrayal, secrets and mysteries
Ship of Shadows is a part of the series, and the books are interconnected to some degree, but they can be read as standalones. I read it as a standalone, and now I'm ready to binge the other two books and return to the world of Arathia.
This was the most delightful, fun, interesting, loving fantasy book I've read in a long time. I saw the author say she got a comment once her books are like "Disney for adults" and I couldn't agree more.
Each book in the series represents a retelling of a sort; Ship of Shadows being a Peter Pan retelling. This book has it all – a great FMC who tries to be herself apart from expectations the world has of her, an MMC who is truly morally grey but still tries to be a better man, the most delightful side characters (Driscoll, I'm looking at you ❤️), a beautiful love story for the ages, perfect banter, a heroic quest to save those who need saving, and mysteries and secrets still waiting to be discovered.
What else can you expect to find in Ship of Shadows?
❤️ Peter Pan retelling with a twist
❤️ Second-chance romance
❤️ Morally grey pirate daddy
❤️ Found family
❤️ Betrayal, secrets and mysteries
Ship of Shadows is a part of the series, and the books are interconnected to some degree, but they can be read as standalones. I read it as a standalone, and now I'm ready to binge the other two books and return to the world of Arathia.
April 23, 2024
I got bored at the half way point, the characters were just a bit annoying and had no real depth. The writing was fine and it was an interesting take on a Peter Pan retelling but I just wasn’t invested in any of the characters or what was gonna happen.
April 10, 2024
This is one of the hardest reviews I've had to write. Why? Because I find that it's easier to write reviews when there's at least one thing I didn't like about the book 😅
Ship Of Shadows is a thrilling Peter Pan retelling. You get a pirate villain MMC (but is he really?) who betrayed the water court princess who fell for him, lost boys living on an island guarded by shadows, pixies, mermaids, and all the best Neverland vibes.
Gabrielle has no choice but to rely on Bastian, pirate lord of the Dark Seas, the man who captured her heart just before stealing all the boys of her court for the shadow king. She's counting on him and his Lost Boys to help rescue them from the shadow court. But can she really trust him when there is so much he is hiding from her?
This story is one of adventure, second chances, hope and family. It will warm your heart and make you laugh, and you might even shed a few tears. You'll fall in love with Bastian, envy Gabrielle, want Driscoll and Leoni as your best friends, and wish you could sail with the Lost Boys.
If you enjoy witty banter, shameless flirting, snarky side characters and happy endings, then Ship of Shadows will be perfect for you!
Thank you so much Tee for providing me with a copy to review ❤️
Ship Of Shadows is a thrilling Peter Pan retelling. You get a pirate villain MMC (but is he really?) who betrayed the water court princess who fell for him, lost boys living on an island guarded by shadows, pixies, mermaids, and all the best Neverland vibes.
Gabrielle has no choice but to rely on Bastian, pirate lord of the Dark Seas, the man who captured her heart just before stealing all the boys of her court for the shadow king. She's counting on him and his Lost Boys to help rescue them from the shadow court. But can she really trust him when there is so much he is hiding from her?
This story is one of adventure, second chances, hope and family. It will warm your heart and make you laugh, and you might even shed a few tears. You'll fall in love with Bastian, envy Gabrielle, want Driscoll and Leoni as your best friends, and wish you could sail with the Lost Boys.
If you enjoy witty banter, shameless flirting, snarky side characters and happy endings, then Ship of Shadows will be perfect for you!
Thank you so much Tee for providing me with a copy to review ❤️
April 9, 2024
Fairytale Fantasy book ✨ review to come… but ♾️ stars!
March 30, 2024
5⭐️ Ship of Shadows by teeharlowe
Tee, you did it again! How am I more obsessed with this book than your last?!
This is a brilliant retelling of Peter Pan! It also has some Little Mermaid vibes thrown in too! Gabrielle is princess and soon to be queen of the water court. It shouldn’t have the crown, her dad should still be king but he’s gone, and so are both her brothers.
She falls in love with the dark pirate lord, Bastian. That is until he kidnaps all the boys and her brothers to offer their shadows up to the Shadow King. Safe to say Gabby HATES him! But she must work with him to figure out the mystery surrounding the Shadow King, win back their shadows and bring them home!
It’s got hook, the lost boys, Goji (tinkerbell), crocodiles, shadows, and Neverland! You’ll love this one!
Tee, you did it again! How am I more obsessed with this book than your last?!
This is a brilliant retelling of Peter Pan! It also has some Little Mermaid vibes thrown in too! Gabrielle is princess and soon to be queen of the water court. It shouldn’t have the crown, her dad should still be king but he’s gone, and so are both her brothers.
She falls in love with the dark pirate lord, Bastian. That is until he kidnaps all the boys and her brothers to offer their shadows up to the Shadow King. Safe to say Gabby HATES him! But she must work with him to figure out the mystery surrounding the Shadow King, win back their shadows and bring them home!
It’s got hook, the lost boys, Goji (tinkerbell), crocodiles, shadows, and Neverland! You’ll love this one!
April 11, 2024
Second chance. Slow burn. Spicy. Morally grey pirate lord that will do anything for her.
I didn't know I needed fairytale retellings until I started this series, and boy, did I enjoy this one!
Neverland, but Hook gets the girl.
The vibes vibed, and all things, yes!!
A fav quote 😍
"I'm already drowning! Don't you get it? That's all I've been doing since you left me."
Gabrielle and Bastian's story is one that exceeds expectations. I really enjoyed the way the fairytale was represented and how the hints were sometimes subtle, but you just knew. I love how the story is its own but also gives you some nostalgia when you think of watching the fairytales as kids.
I couldn't recommend this series more! Give it a read and don't forget the short story, Spindle of Fire! We find out what happens with Sera!
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review and all of this review is my honest thoughts and feelings.
I didn't know I needed fairytale retellings until I started this series, and boy, did I enjoy this one!
Neverland, but Hook gets the girl.
The vibes vibed, and all things, yes!!
A fav quote 😍
"I'm already drowning! Don't you get it? That's all I've been doing since you left me."
Gabrielle and Bastian's story is one that exceeds expectations. I really enjoyed the way the fairytale was represented and how the hints were sometimes subtle, but you just knew. I love how the story is its own but also gives you some nostalgia when you think of watching the fairytales as kids.
I couldn't recommend this series more! Give it a read and don't forget the short story, Spindle of Fire! We find out what happens with Sera!
I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review and all of this review is my honest thoughts and feelings.
April 7, 2024
Rating: 4.5 stars
This Peter Pan fantasy retelling was such a fun read! It had great enemies to lovers vibes with second chance romance. This had elements of Daughter of the Pirate King as well as some steamy scenes between the two main characters. I enjoyed that a hint of The Little Mermaid aspects were thrown into this one as well. It was a quick and easy read that I just got sucked into. I loved the traveling and pirate aspect of it and enjoyed the simplicity of writing with all the banter. Gabriella was a very stubborn character and I liked that she spoke her mind and stood up to herself with Bastian. At the same time, Bastian had a secretly kind heart even though he was the notorious pirate lord. This book kept me wanting to read more to find out what would happen next. If you love fantasy retellings with pirates, definitely check this one out!
Read if you love:
- Peter Pan retellings with traces of The Little Mermaid
- Enemies to lovers
- Second chance romance
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Pirates
- Traveling
- Magic
- Banter
I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This Peter Pan fantasy retelling was such a fun read! It had great enemies to lovers vibes with second chance romance. This had elements of Daughter of the Pirate King as well as some steamy scenes between the two main characters. I enjoyed that a hint of The Little Mermaid aspects were thrown into this one as well. It was a quick and easy read that I just got sucked into. I loved the traveling and pirate aspect of it and enjoyed the simplicity of writing with all the banter. Gabriella was a very stubborn character and I liked that she spoke her mind and stood up to herself with Bastian. At the same time, Bastian had a secretly kind heart even though he was the notorious pirate lord. This book kept me wanting to read more to find out what would happen next. If you love fantasy retellings with pirates, definitely check this one out!
Read if you love:
- Peter Pan retellings with traces of The Little Mermaid
- Enemies to lovers
- Second chance romance
- Forced proximity
- Found family
- Pirates
- Traveling
- Magic
- Banter
I received a free eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2024
For me as I have been waiting for this book eagerly since I half read book1 and unexpectedly it came out very soon so a big thanks to @tee .
Honestly a beautiful retelling of PeterPan & Pirate of Caribbean
The story picks a fast pace in start with all the events of Gabrielle crowning ceremony (that hahahah actually never get to its finishing 😆)
The quick recounter of Bastian lore (dare he came back with his explanation) & soon we were tagged along on the Voyage of boys that have lost their shadow, and couldn't find their way back home by Shadow king of Sorrengard
𝙈𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙫
💠 Gabrielle and Bastian keep giving me Queen Charlotte and King George vibes 🤌🏻👑
Like two hard-headed adults trynna protect each other knowing very well they're 𝑮𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒅.
💠Then the sibling Banter like who would expect their sibling to be settle after their encounter 🫡
💠Well once the things turn to strike the right track between Gabby and Bastian (ofc took him ages to reveal all the secrets) he somehow shows 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 PEOPLE 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔 🥲
💠Matter of fact the lingering stories of people on the ship looks a bit dragged for me and I was about to drop my planned rating but wohoooo author saved the rest 😄
𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
Without any guesses the title goes to 𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍 like a man belonging to no court yet helping everyone🫠
A boy being sensitive of his beauty though burn his skin on the decks just to help his friends
He's a true definition of 𝑨 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒅 🫶🏻
💠Not to disappoint you all🌶🌶🌶
This book entirely covers the healing and fulfilling desire of the Sea Pirate and his princess so the amount is spice is totally fine for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨
🌊Forbidden Love
🌊Found Family
🌊Second Chance
🌊Anti-hero
🌊 Enemies-to-Lovers
🌊 Fairytale Retailing
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚
💠Bastian stepped forward, and all of us immediately moved back.
He spread his arms out. “𝑶𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆.” He shot a look at me. “𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕"
💠𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆’𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔.” Branches stretched over us, beautiful gold and red leaves dotting them. “𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔.”
💠𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆? I paused, his grip still firm.
"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄" I said. He turn around "𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔". His gaze bored into me "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆?"
His voice dropped low "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑨𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓. "
💠“𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕? 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈.” Bastian pressed his hands to his chest. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈!” My voice broke, and Bastian’s nostrils flared. “𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
Honestly a beautiful retelling of PeterPan & Pirate of Caribbean
The story picks a fast pace in start with all the events of Gabrielle crowning ceremony (that hahahah actually never get to its finishing 😆)
The quick recounter of Bastian lore (dare he came back with his explanation) & soon we were tagged along on the Voyage of boys that have lost their shadow, and couldn't find their way back home by Shadow king of Sorrengard
𝙈𝙮 𝙋𝙤𝙫
💠 Gabrielle and Bastian keep giving me Queen Charlotte and King George vibes 🤌🏻👑
Like two hard-headed adults trynna protect each other knowing very well they're 𝑮𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝑪𝒐𝒓𝒅.
💠Then the sibling Banter like who would expect their sibling to be settle after their encounter 🫡
💠Well once the things turn to strike the right track between Gabby and Bastian (ofc took him ages to reveal all the secrets) he somehow shows 𝑯𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 PEOPLE 𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒔 🥲
💠Matter of fact the lingering stories of people on the ship looks a bit dragged for me and I was about to drop my planned rating but wohoooo author saved the rest 😄
𝘽𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙪𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨
Without any guesses the title goes to 𝑫𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒍𝒍 like a man belonging to no court yet helping everyone🫠
A boy being sensitive of his beauty though burn his skin on the decks just to help his friends
He's a true definition of 𝑨 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝑰𝒏 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒅 🫶🏻
💠Not to disappoint you all🌶🌶🌶
This book entirely covers the healing and fulfilling desire of the Sea Pirate and his princess so the amount is spice is totally fine for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨
🌊Forbidden Love
🌊Found Family
🌊Second Chance
🌊Anti-hero
🌊 Enemies-to-Lovers
🌊 Fairytale Retailing
𝙁𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙎𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙚
💠Bastian stepped forward, and all of us immediately moved back.
He spread his arms out. “𝑶𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆.” He shot a look at me. “𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕"
💠𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝑰 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒘𝒆’𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓.
"𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒖𝒔.” Branches stretched over us, beautiful gold and red leaves dotting them. “𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒊𝒏. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒖𝒔.”
💠𝑴𝒂𝒚 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆? I paused, his grip still firm.
"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆'𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄" I said. He turn around "𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒄, 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔". His gaze bored into me "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆?"
His voice dropped low "𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔. 𝑨𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓. "
💠“𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕? 𝑰’𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈.” Bastian pressed his hands to his chest. “𝑰’𝒎 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅, 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒆.”
“𝑰’𝒎 𝒂𝒍𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈!” My voice broke, and Bastian’s nostrils flared. “𝑫𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒕? 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒅𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝑩𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒏. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒂𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒆. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
June 17, 2024
Spice Level: 3
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
second chance
slow burn
morally grey MMC
found family
forbidden romance
pirate daddy
WHOA. Is it hot in here or is it just the Pirate Lord heating things up?
Book 2 in the Stolen Crowns series was even better than the first one. This time around Tee Harlowe focused on a Peter Pan retelling, with a little Little Mermaid action thrown in. BUT in the best twist of all, instead of Captain Hook being a villian, Captain Bastian Lore is the morally grey Pirate Lord you didn't know you needed.
I think this retelling of Peter Pan is probably my favorite yet. We already know that something is brewing over in the Shadow court-- and I personally think the Shadow King may be Peter Pan himself. Just a theory! It's not a spoiler! But I'm interested to see how this places out in future books!
But in Ship of Shadows, we have Captain Bastian Lore (Hook), the Lost Boys as his crew, and a Shadow King who is stealing shadows from young boys at the Shadow court-- leaving, you guessed it, the Disney version of The Lost Boys. Will Princess Gabrielle and Pirate Daddy, oh I mean Pirate Lord, be able to save the boys and rescue their shadows? You got to read this book and find out!
Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
second chance
slow burn
morally grey MMC
found family
forbidden romance
pirate daddy
WHOA. Is it hot in here or is it just the Pirate Lord heating things up?
Book 2 in the Stolen Crowns series was even better than the first one. This time around Tee Harlowe focused on a Peter Pan retelling, with a little Little Mermaid action thrown in. BUT in the best twist of all, instead of Captain Hook being a villian, Captain Bastian Lore is the morally grey Pirate Lord you didn't know you needed.
I think this retelling of Peter Pan is probably my favorite yet. We already know that something is brewing over in the Shadow court-- and I personally think the Shadow King may be Peter Pan himself. Just a theory! It's not a spoiler! But I'm interested to see how this places out in future books!
But in Ship of Shadows, we have Captain Bastian Lore (Hook), the Lost Boys as his crew, and a Shadow King who is stealing shadows from young boys at the Shadow court-- leaving, you guessed it, the Disney version of The Lost Boys. Will Princess Gabrielle and Pirate Daddy, oh I mean Pirate Lord, be able to save the boys and rescue their shadows? You got to read this book and find out!
April 20, 2024
This story follows a young almost-queen who finds herself reluctantly entangled with a charming yet traitorous pirate lord, as they embark on a journey to rescue her kidnapped family members and uncover the truth behind his mysterious illness.
This is a bit of a Peter Pan retelling, but it's far more interesting and quite difficult from the original. The dynamic between the two main characters is filled with unresolved feelings, creating a compelling dynamic of former lovers- to-enemies-turned-allies and second-chance romance.
As the queen grapples with the complexities of her responsibilities and the allure of forbidden love, readers are drawn into a world of court intrigue, shadowy conspiracies, and high-stakes adventure. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers engaged as they navigate twists and turns alongside the characters.
While "Ship of Shadows" can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, readers may find additional depth and context by starting with the first book in the series. Nevertheless, the story stands strong on its own, offering a satisfying story. I plan to go revisit the first book because I am curious about the secondary characters present in this one.
This is a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption on the high seas and it's a really fun ride.
Thanks to the author for the e-copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
This is a bit of a Peter Pan retelling, but it's far more interesting and quite difficult from the original. The dynamic between the two main characters is filled with unresolved feelings, creating a compelling dynamic of former lovers- to-enemies-turned-allies and second-chance romance.
As the queen grapples with the complexities of her responsibilities and the allure of forbidden love, readers are drawn into a world of court intrigue, shadowy conspiracies, and high-stakes adventure. The pacing is brisk, keeping readers engaged as they navigate twists and turns alongside the characters.
While "Ship of Shadows" can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, readers may find additional depth and context by starting with the first book in the series. Nevertheless, the story stands strong on its own, offering a satisfying story. I plan to go revisit the first book because I am curious about the secondary characters present in this one.
This is a tale of love, betrayal, and redemption on the high seas and it's a really fun ride.
Thanks to the author for the e-copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
April 8, 2024
Thank you so much Tee for a copy of this ARC ❤️
"She's the hero of her own story not me"
This is one of my favourite quotes in the book. It's the perfect insight on what to expect from Gabrielle as a character.
The premise was one I did not expect, as I initially thought it was going to be a Little Mermaid retelling with Gabrielle being from the Sea Court. Anyone else thought this was the case? Or just me?
So if you're after a pirate read, with a twist of Peter Pan, and you enjoyed the Once Upon a Time series then this is perfect for you. It's got everything from second-chance romance, an adventure driven plot, interesting subplot that ties all the different courts in the world, badass FMC, and you guessed it ..a morally grey hottie of a MMC.
4 ⭐ because the subplot hooked me more. The story was still well written and enjoyable. But I think this is me being biased and more in the mood for those shadows.
"She's the hero of her own story not me"
This is one of my favourite quotes in the book. It's the perfect insight on what to expect from Gabrielle as a character.
The premise was one I did not expect, as I initially thought it was going to be a Little Mermaid retelling with Gabrielle being from the Sea Court. Anyone else thought this was the case? Or just me?
So if you're after a pirate read, with a twist of Peter Pan, and you enjoyed the Once Upon a Time series then this is perfect for you. It's got everything from second-chance romance, an adventure driven plot, interesting subplot that ties all the different courts in the world, badass FMC, and you guessed it ..a morally grey hottie of a MMC.
4 ⭐ because the subplot hooked me more. The story was still well written and enjoyable. But I think this is me being biased and more in the mood for those shadows.
April 8, 2024
A 5-star read!✨️
Who doesn't love a good enemies to lovers?
Tee is wonderful in her writing! I'm obsessed with her books, and I devoured every word, every moment I spent reading this one!
Right from the start, you fall in love with her world. You fall in love with her writing and her stories.
Bastian is mysterious and sarcastic, the perfect book boyfriend! If you like morally grey characters, don't wait and run to meet him!
Pssss : stop scrolling, go buy your book!🫣
Who doesn't love a good enemies to lovers?
Tee is wonderful in her writing! I'm obsessed with her books, and I devoured every word, every moment I spent reading this one!
Right from the start, you fall in love with her world. You fall in love with her writing and her stories.
Bastian is mysterious and sarcastic, the perfect book boyfriend! If you like morally grey characters, don't wait and run to meet him!
Pssss : stop scrolling, go buy your book!🫣
March 30, 2024
The world, the characters, the story itself! All so detailed and so amazing! This and Mirror of Malice were books I didn’t even know I needed! I am so thankful I was able to arc read this book because it was amazing! Another 5 ⭐️ read!!! 😍🙌🏻
April 5, 2024
“She’s the hero of her own story, not me.”
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a Peter Pan retelling that also includes inspiration from The Little Mermaid and other fairytales. The story follows Gabrielle, princess of the Water Court and aspiring runaway extraordinaire. Gabrielle is on the cusp of becoming queen, but she wants nothing more than to find her missing brothers and her father who also vanished after leaving to search for them.
However, right before her coronation, an unexpected arrival gives the entire Water Court the surprise of the century and changes the course of events. Princess Gabrielle gets her wish for adventure granted as she embarks on a rescue mission with her former secret lover, Bastian - the ruthless pirate lord who betrayed her.
The world building, the character complexities and development, and the unique approach of weaving multiple fairytale inspirations together are all done fantastically well in this story. If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, pirates, slow-burn romance, forbidden romance with second chances, obsessive/protective morally gray MMCs, and found family, you’re going to love this!
And if you’re a fan of Killian from Once Upon a Time, you’re *definitely* going to want to read this, love 😉🖤
I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the next book!
Thank you SO MUCH to the author for sending me an eARC!
I really enjoyed this book! It’s a Peter Pan retelling that also includes inspiration from The Little Mermaid and other fairytales. The story follows Gabrielle, princess of the Water Court and aspiring runaway extraordinaire. Gabrielle is on the cusp of becoming queen, but she wants nothing more than to find her missing brothers and her father who also vanished after leaving to search for them.
However, right before her coronation, an unexpected arrival gives the entire Water Court the surprise of the century and changes the course of events. Princess Gabrielle gets her wish for adventure granted as she embarks on a rescue mission with her former secret lover, Bastian - the ruthless pirate lord who betrayed her.
The world building, the character complexities and development, and the unique approach of weaving multiple fairytale inspirations together are all done fantastically well in this story. If you’re a fan of fairytale retellings, pirates, slow-burn romance, forbidden romance with second chances, obsessive/protective morally gray MMCs, and found family, you’re going to love this!
And if you’re a fan of Killian from Once Upon a Time, you’re *definitely* going to want to read this, love 😉🖤
I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the next book!
Thank you SO MUCH to the author for sending me an eARC!
May 7, 2024
It started off a little bit slow for me as it was setting the scene and introducing all of the characters, but once everyone boarded the ship it really sucked me in and kept me wanting more! I also haven’t read the first book in the series yet since they can all be read as stand alones, but I REALLY want to go back read about Liliath and Penn so that I can fill in a few gaps.
This was a really unique Peter Pan retelling, the magic and the world building was done beautifully. I think it really captures the essence of the story, adds in adult elements, and changes it just enough to keep it interesting!
I loved Bastian and Gabrielle, but Leoni and Driscoll really took the cake for me as my favorite characters. Their non-stop banter kept me laughing even through some of the darker moments of the book. I really missed seeing more from them towards the end of the book on the shadow island.
The one thing that was a little tough for me is that the ending felt a little like a cliff hanger. There were a few things left open ended for the next book, which is great and I’m interested to see where my favorite characters are going to come into play in the next book. However, I do feel like there’s a lot of questions still and not enough answers! Can’t wait for the next book!
This was a really unique Peter Pan retelling, the magic and the world building was done beautifully. I think it really captures the essence of the story, adds in adult elements, and changes it just enough to keep it interesting!
I loved Bastian and Gabrielle, but Leoni and Driscoll really took the cake for me as my favorite characters. Their non-stop banter kept me laughing even through some of the darker moments of the book. I really missed seeing more from them towards the end of the book on the shadow island.
The one thing that was a little tough for me is that the ending felt a little like a cliff hanger. There were a few things left open ended for the next book, which is great and I’m interested to see where my favorite characters are going to come into play in the next book. However, I do feel like there’s a lot of questions still and not enough answers! Can’t wait for the next book!
August 29, 2024
The Princess and the Pirate 👸🏻🏴☠️
Thank you Tee Harlowe for the advance reader copy of this one! 💖
First and foremost, I really like the concept of this and was really into the plot and storyline of the shadow island. However, this was ultimately a 2.5 star read for me. The interactions between characters did not flow easily, and at some points this felt like a sitcom.
The fairytale retelling was such a fun concept, and I really liked how there were multiple fairytale overlaps. Speaking of overlaps, there were also some plot and timeline inconsistencies that got a bit confusing. (Three times seeing the Shadow King, the original kidnapping and fear of the sea but that story seemingly changed at one point). It was a lot to follow and sometimes didn’t add up.
My main gripe with this though is that I felt like instead of being shown and getting to feel with the characters, I was just being told the bare minimum. Most chapters ended on a line that was intriguing, only to be followed with “so after that happened”. There were just too many instances of past occurrences that we didn’t get to experience as readers that I would have loved to have gotten an extra chapter for.
The spice (🌶️🌶️) also felt forced and didn’t always fit with the surrounding scenes. It did not feel sexy or romantic the way it should have.
Ultimately I think I just didn’t click with this book the way I wanted to. I really did enjoy the shadow island plot and think this was such a fun idea. I haven’t read Mirror of Malice yet, so I’m looking forward to venturing into the world more and getting some more perspective on some of the characters. Driscoll has a way of latching on, huh?
Thank you Tee Harlowe for the advance reader copy of this one! 💖
First and foremost, I really like the concept of this and was really into the plot and storyline of the shadow island. However, this was ultimately a 2.5 star read for me. The interactions between characters did not flow easily, and at some points this felt like a sitcom.
The fairytale retelling was such a fun concept, and I really liked how there were multiple fairytale overlaps. Speaking of overlaps, there were also some plot and timeline inconsistencies that got a bit confusing. (Three times seeing the Shadow King, the original kidnapping and fear of the sea but that story seemingly changed at one point). It was a lot to follow and sometimes didn’t add up.
My main gripe with this though is that I felt like instead of being shown and getting to feel with the characters, I was just being told the bare minimum. Most chapters ended on a line that was intriguing, only to be followed with “so after that happened”. There were just too many instances of past occurrences that we didn’t get to experience as readers that I would have loved to have gotten an extra chapter for.
The spice (🌶️🌶️) also felt forced and didn’t always fit with the surrounding scenes. It did not feel sexy or romantic the way it should have.
Ultimately I think I just didn’t click with this book the way I wanted to. I really did enjoy the shadow island plot and think this was such a fun idea. I haven’t read Mirror of Malice yet, so I’m looking forward to venturing into the world more and getting some more perspective on some of the characters. Driscoll has a way of latching on, huh?
October 17, 2025
Ship of shadows
⭐⭐.75 (2.75/5)
It was a fine fairy tale kind of book whose concept I really loved hence I had high expectations for...
So I am obsessed with pirates romances hence my expectations are always high...and I love the pirates with compromised morals and an unhinged FMC- on par with him in the level of craziness and power..
Like if he could slay an army with his machete then she could claw out hearts and rip throats...❤️🔥
• It was fast paced, very fairytale- esque with a pirate lord, a betrayal and a quest!
• The writing was fun with a well a thought plot!
• And leoni and driscoll? Enjoyed them so so much and I'm definitely shipping them.
• Dris is the character I want to be!!🤭 The fun character who is all jolly and fun, also can sometimes save the day!
• The Vibes were immaculate I enjoyed, flew through the entire book...
BUT
• This kind of gave me whiplash, clocking me like a pendulum with one time Gabrielle being really feral & unhinged and then going back to a reckless princess. ( No I don't have anything against it...) But could've been done better.
• She was too reckless, never thinking of the consequences and all her actions made me unable to connect to them enough to root for them or feel all that angst.
• And Bastian, I wanted to like him but the way he was acting- emotionally unavailable, professing his love and being indifferent, doing for her own good ( i hate this), doing it to protect her? Nah. I love it more when they understand their problems and work together instead of running away!
• And Gabrielle? She has so much potential to be angry young woman with power and all that feminine rage- her brothers and boys of the kidnapped, father missing and the cause? Her lover!? How amazing it was and how unfortunate it didn't happen well!😞
• She felt like a princess, not like I'm the future queen of my court, all calm cunning, scheming and always having ways to save everyone- not just every hint, every mystery and solution put on her lap.
• Since the quest to get her brothers back was the focal point of the book it should've been executed with much more depth..
Also I read these books because most of the time the morals here are really compromised and I love the freedom that comes with not being bound by morals... And this work had a lot of morals which I get. You are good because you want to be good!
But man, I was here down bad dirty caption hook! 🫣
Despite all that, I enjoyed it.💖
My reading journey:
At 45.0%
"You think I’m going to just rely on the word of a pirate?”
“No. You lost the privilege of me listening to you when you betrayed me. So go back into your fucking cabin and just leave me alone.”
-oh yeah!!!"
At 59.0%
“We don’t need the pirate lord.”
“We can do this ourselves. Make a plan and go get them back.”
-yes girl! that's the ideal-I don' need a man!
At 59.0%
"He’s trying to protect me...He’s keeping these secrets because he doesn’t want me to get hurt.
.decides to go after him..
“Because I love him & I’m not going to run from that. My gut is telling me that Bastian isn’t bad..
-I take all that back? What do you mean?! he's keeping secrets from her, publically outed their affair and mentioned multiple times he's using her & put kidnapped her brother! Proper plans? where?"
At 67.0%
“I know he’s protecting me,” I said. “But I’m a grown woman. I don’t need protecting, and I’m tired of chasing after him. A woman can only be rejected so many times.”
-okay so maybe I judged too early but this book is giving whiplash-sometime good, fun and then there are times when it makes me bang my head to the wall (tho..now that might be a tad bit dramatic)
⭐⭐.75 (2.75/5)
"My fierce princess"
"My fearsome pirate"
It was a fine fairy tale kind of book whose concept I really loved hence I had high expectations for...
So I am obsessed with pirates romances hence my expectations are always high...and I love the pirates with compromised morals and an unhinged FMC- on par with him in the level of craziness and power..
Like if he could slay an army with his machete then she could claw out hearts and rip throats...❤️🔥
• It was fast paced, very fairytale- esque with a pirate lord, a betrayal and a quest!
• The writing was fun with a well a thought plot!
• And leoni and driscoll? Enjoyed them so so much and I'm definitely shipping them.
• Dris is the character I want to be!!🤭 The fun character who is all jolly and fun, also can sometimes save the day!
• The Vibes were immaculate I enjoyed, flew through the entire book...
BUT
• This kind of gave me whiplash, clocking me like a pendulum with one time Gabrielle being really feral & unhinged and then going back to a reckless princess. ( No I don't have anything against it...) But could've been done better.
• She was too reckless, never thinking of the consequences and all her actions made me unable to connect to them enough to root for them or feel all that angst.
• And Bastian, I wanted to like him but the way he was acting- emotionally unavailable, professing his love and being indifferent, doing for her own good ( i hate this), doing it to protect her? Nah. I love it more when they understand their problems and work together instead of running away!
• And Gabrielle? She has so much potential to be angry young woman with power and all that feminine rage- her brothers and boys of the kidnapped, father missing and the cause? Her lover!? How amazing it was and how unfortunate it didn't happen well!😞
• She felt like a princess, not like I'm the future queen of my court, all calm cunning, scheming and always having ways to save everyone- not just every hint, every mystery and solution put on her lap.
• Since the quest to get her brothers back was the focal point of the book it should've been executed with much more depth..
Also I read these books because most of the time the morals here are really compromised and I love the freedom that comes with not being bound by morals... And this work had a lot of morals which I get. You are good because you want to be good!
But man, I was here down bad dirty caption hook! 🫣
Despite all that, I enjoyed it.💖
My reading journey:
At 45.0%
"You think I’m going to just rely on the word of a pirate?”
“No. You lost the privilege of me listening to you when you betrayed me. So go back into your fucking cabin and just leave me alone.”
-oh yeah!!!"
At 59.0%
“We don’t need the pirate lord.”
“We can do this ourselves. Make a plan and go get them back.”
-yes girl! that's the ideal-I don' need a man!
At 59.0%
"He’s trying to protect me...He’s keeping these secrets because he doesn’t want me to get hurt.
.decides to go after him..
“Because I love him & I’m not going to run from that. My gut is telling me that Bastian isn’t bad..
-I take all that back? What do you mean?! he's keeping secrets from her, publically outed their affair and mentioned multiple times he's using her & put kidnapped her brother! Proper plans? where?"
At 67.0%
“I know he’s protecting me,” I said. “But I’m a grown woman. I don’t need protecting, and I’m tired of chasing after him. A woman can only be rejected so many times.”
-okay so maybe I judged too early but this book is giving whiplash-sometime good, fun and then there are times when it makes me bang my head to the wall (tho..now that might be a tad bit dramatic)
THE END
April 13, 2024
Tee Harlowe excels at fairytale reimaginings; she goes far beyond just retelling the original stories, instead taking the elements of the originals, blending in parts of others, and putting her own magical spin to them. It is easy to identify which fairytale(s) the books are based on, but the final products are unique and stand on their own. Ship of Shadows is further proof of that fact. It is a Peter Pan reimagining with a little bit of The Little Mermaid mixed in.
This book is a fun, engaging, and fast paced read. It is a story of adventure, betrayal, and redemption with plenty of banter, action, and intrigue to go around, along with twists and turns that keep you turning the page. But there is so much more to it than that. It is an emotional rollercoaster. There is passion, steam, angst, humor, sorrow, tension, heartbreak, joy, hope, and love of all kinds and forms. It will make you feel all of the things.
The main characters in this book are beautifully done. I often find one MC more likable than the other, at least initially, but that was not the case at all here. Both Gabrielle and Bastian are complex, compelling, and likable, and I loved them both from the beginning. Gabrielle bears the weight of a crown she doesn't want and the guilt from wanting something else for her life. She is fierce, strong, resilient, and such a fighter for those she loves. And Bastian is the ultimate morally grey pirate lord that may not be exactly what he seems. He too struggles with guilt and the weight of those whom he feels responsible for. He is cocky, protective, ruthless, and swoony. They both constantly put others above themselves and are always prepared to sacrifice for the ones they love. Their relationship is fraught with challenges and mistakes, but the way they love one another is intense, sweet, and all-encompassing. It was impossible not to root for them and their success.
The side characters are also really well written; they don't just fade into the background, but are dynamic characters that add a lot to the story. If you read the first book in the Stolen Crowns series, Mirror of Malice, you are well acquainted with Driscoll and his antics. He features more prominently in Ship of Shadows, and absolutely stole the show in some of the scenes. His character reminds me so much of Hadriel from K.F. Breene's Deliciously Dark Fairytale series in that he is hilarious, a little bit extra, and a whole lot sassy, but also incredibly sweet and endearing. His character offered a lot of comic relief in this book, but he also had some poignant moments as well. I adore him, and am so glad that we will get to see more of him in future books. I can't wait for the next one!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
This book is a fun, engaging, and fast paced read. It is a story of adventure, betrayal, and redemption with plenty of banter, action, and intrigue to go around, along with twists and turns that keep you turning the page. But there is so much more to it than that. It is an emotional rollercoaster. There is passion, steam, angst, humor, sorrow, tension, heartbreak, joy, hope, and love of all kinds and forms. It will make you feel all of the things.
The main characters in this book are beautifully done. I often find one MC more likable than the other, at least initially, but that was not the case at all here. Both Gabrielle and Bastian are complex, compelling, and likable, and I loved them both from the beginning. Gabrielle bears the weight of a crown she doesn't want and the guilt from wanting something else for her life. She is fierce, strong, resilient, and such a fighter for those she loves. And Bastian is the ultimate morally grey pirate lord that may not be exactly what he seems. He too struggles with guilt and the weight of those whom he feels responsible for. He is cocky, protective, ruthless, and swoony. They both constantly put others above themselves and are always prepared to sacrifice for the ones they love. Their relationship is fraught with challenges and mistakes, but the way they love one another is intense, sweet, and all-encompassing. It was impossible not to root for them and their success.
The side characters are also really well written; they don't just fade into the background, but are dynamic characters that add a lot to the story. If you read the first book in the Stolen Crowns series, Mirror of Malice, you are well acquainted with Driscoll and his antics. He features more prominently in Ship of Shadows, and absolutely stole the show in some of the scenes. His character reminds me so much of Hadriel from K.F. Breene's Deliciously Dark Fairytale series in that he is hilarious, a little bit extra, and a whole lot sassy, but also incredibly sweet and endearing. His character offered a lot of comic relief in this book, but he also had some poignant moments as well. I adore him, and am so glad that we will get to see more of him in future books. I can't wait for the next one!
I received an advanced reader copy of this book, and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
April 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 - I was fortunate to be selected as part of the ARC team for this book, and this is my honest review.
This book has pirates!
Sold, right? I would be on that alone, not gonna lie.
But Ship of Shadows has pirates, elemental magic, slow burn romance, high-seas adventures, and second chances - all wrapped up in a fantastical reimagining of Peter Pan! (Yes, there are Lost Boys, pixie dust, and the second star to the right.)
Plucky, headstrong Princess Gabrielle is a reluctant queen-to-be who would much rather be ruled by her heart than rule a court, and she ultimately finds herself in trouble because of it - but *not* in me of saving because she's no damsel-in-distress. Pirate lord Bastian is the morally grey villain of our collective dreams - hot, witty, charming, tinged with more than a hint of darkness from a tragic backstory, and with just enough of a soft side to keep us on the hook. They're accompanied by a cast of supporting characters that shine bright and you can't help but adore (well, some more than others but that's by design). Driscoll is a particular standout as the cheeky, funny one every friend group needs.
Tee Harlowe weaves a masterful tale that feels as familiar as a childhood favorite while breathing new life into a classic with a unique twist. The world she takes us on a journey through in Ship of Shadows is part of a larger world that's interconnected throughout the Stolen Crowns series (which can be read as standalones), and you will be left wanting to spend more time in Arathia. I'm adding Mirror of Malice (Book 1 in the series) to my TBR immediately!
This was such a fun read, packed with adventure, intrigue, secrets, romance, and so much more! I cannot wait to see where Tee's brilliant pen takes us next.
This book has pirates!
Sold, right? I would be on that alone, not gonna lie.
But Ship of Shadows has pirates, elemental magic, slow burn romance, high-seas adventures, and second chances - all wrapped up in a fantastical reimagining of Peter Pan! (Yes, there are Lost Boys, pixie dust, and the second star to the right.)
Plucky, headstrong Princess Gabrielle is a reluctant queen-to-be who would much rather be ruled by her heart than rule a court, and she ultimately finds herself in trouble because of it - but *not* in me of saving because she's no damsel-in-distress. Pirate lord Bastian is the morally grey villain of our collective dreams - hot, witty, charming, tinged with more than a hint of darkness from a tragic backstory, and with just enough of a soft side to keep us on the hook. They're accompanied by a cast of supporting characters that shine bright and you can't help but adore (well, some more than others but that's by design). Driscoll is a particular standout as the cheeky, funny one every friend group needs.
Tee Harlowe weaves a masterful tale that feels as familiar as a childhood favorite while breathing new life into a classic with a unique twist. The world she takes us on a journey through in Ship of Shadows is part of a larger world that's interconnected throughout the Stolen Crowns series (which can be read as standalones), and you will be left wanting to spend more time in Arathia. I'm adding Mirror of Malice (Book 1 in the series) to my TBR immediately!
This was such a fun read, packed with adventure, intrigue, secrets, romance, and so much more! I cannot wait to see where Tee's brilliant pen takes us next.
April 8, 2024
Diving into this reimagined tale of Peter Pan was an absolute blast! It skillfully blended the tension-filled journey from enemies to lovers with a second chance at romance. This narrative also shimmered with intimate and passionate moments shared between the compelling main characters. I appreciated the subtle infusion of The Little Mermaid elements, adding a delightful touch of whimsy to the story.
The fast-paced plot effortlessly swept me away, immersing me in a world punctuated by thrilling travels and daring acts of piracy. The straightforward yet engaging writing style, brimming with witty exchanges, further heightened my enjoyment of the book. Gabriella's unwavering determination and outspoken nature resonated with me, especially in her interactions with the morally grey Bastian. Despite his reputation as a formidable pirate lord, Bastian revealed a surprisingly compassionate core, deepening the complexity of his character.
Fans of fantastical retellings featuring swashbuckling pirates will undoubtedly find this novel a captivating read, rich with elements of magic, camaraderie, and romantic tension.
Key Points:
- Unique blend of Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid influences
- Compelling enemies-to-lovers and second-chance romance dynamics
- Riveting forced proximity scenarios and found family themes
- Engaging portrayal of pirates, adventurous travel, and magical elements
- Lively banter that adds depth to character interactions
I had the pleasure of receiving an advance eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review, which I wholeheartedly recommend to fellow fantasy enthusiasts seeking an enchanting escape into a world of high-seas adventures and intertwining destinies.
March 29, 2024
Tee Harlowe continues to amaze me and blow me away with each book of hers I read. I LOVED the first book of this series, Mirror of Malice, and loved the novella, Spindle of Fire, even more!! Ship of Shadows did NOT disappoint and you are going to want to be sure to read this one. It follows Gabrielle, Princess of Apolis, and her journey to try and save her brothers and the boys of her court. As learned in the first book, Gabrielle meets and falls for the feared and evil Pirate Lord, Bastian, who betrays her and her court by taking all of their boys to the Shadow court, the island of Sorrengaurd. They become trapped on the island and their shadows are taken from them. Bastian makes a surprise reentrance into Gabrielle’s life and she plans to make good on her threat to kill him if he ever returned… and she does even though all she can think about is his offer to help her save her brothers. Somehow he survives and she decides she has to take him up on his offer to save her brothers, and although he may not be aware, all the boys of her court as well. Luckily for Gabrielle, she already knows Bastian and knowing she can’t trust him will make it a lot easier to keep her distance from him…. Or so she thought. Can Gabrielle save her brothers and other boys trapped in the Shadow Court? Can Gabrielle work with Bastian and all the meanwhile protect her heart?
April 4, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
🌶️🌶️
“𝑶𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆. 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕.”
Princess Gabrielle did ye olde “fuck around and find out” when it came to love. I honestly can’t blame her…the Pirate Lord, Bastian Lore, sounds like one tasty treat. Well, except for the whole mass kidnapping thing. But I’m sure he had a good reason!!
Gabrielle does not want to be Queen, but she doesn’t really have a choice after 90% of the royal family goes missing. Luckily for her, her ex-boyfriend crashes back into her life and offers her a way out: run away, save the boys, avoid the crown. Easy peasy right? I’m sure nothing at all will go wrong.
Bastian didn’t exactly think things through when he invited Gabby and her sassy besties to sail the Dark Seas with him and the Lost Boys. The mission is dangerous, but so is the unavoidable pull they both still feel toward each other. He can’t make up his mind if he wants to push her away or cling to her and never let go. The piratey angst is real.
This was such a fun re-imagination of Peter Pan (with some Little Mermaid sprinkled in). I was immediately obsessed with Bastian, and Driscoll had me cackling like a lunatic the whole book. I also loved the way Gabrielle stood up for herself and demanded to be seen as the hero of her own story, not a damsel in distress.
Thank you to Tee for allowing me to read this ARC! Make sure you get your hands on Ship of Shadows next Wednesday, April 10th. It’s such a good time!
𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓.
🌶️🌶️
“𝑶𝒉, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒊𝒕𝒆. 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕.”
Princess Gabrielle did ye olde “fuck around and find out” when it came to love. I honestly can’t blame her…the Pirate Lord, Bastian Lore, sounds like one tasty treat. Well, except for the whole mass kidnapping thing. But I’m sure he had a good reason!!
Gabrielle does not want to be Queen, but she doesn’t really have a choice after 90% of the royal family goes missing. Luckily for her, her ex-boyfriend crashes back into her life and offers her a way out: run away, save the boys, avoid the crown. Easy peasy right? I’m sure nothing at all will go wrong.
Bastian didn’t exactly think things through when he invited Gabby and her sassy besties to sail the Dark Seas with him and the Lost Boys. The mission is dangerous, but so is the unavoidable pull they both still feel toward each other. He can’t make up his mind if he wants to push her away or cling to her and never let go. The piratey angst is real.
This was such a fun re-imagination of Peter Pan (with some Little Mermaid sprinkled in). I was immediately obsessed with Bastian, and Driscoll had me cackling like a lunatic the whole book. I also loved the way Gabrielle stood up for herself and demanded to be seen as the hero of her own story, not a damsel in distress.
Thank you to Tee for allowing me to read this ARC! Make sure you get your hands on Ship of Shadows next Wednesday, April 10th. It’s such a good time!
𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓.
April 6, 2024
"Standing up for ourselves can be hard," I said. "But sometimes it's the hardest things that brings us the most peace."
**ARC REVIEW**
A spicy Disney story retelling that had me captivated the moment I finished the first chapter.
*this is a standalone series but i do recommend reading Mirror of Magic before this!*
Gabrielle is a strong, funny, and slightly reckless princess, who has a mission that is near impossible. She endures physical, mental, and emotional battles as she tries to rescue the men & boys of her court. Her biggest hurdle? The love of her life. Who also happens to be her enemy.
Bastian Lore is a ruthless, flirtatious, and definitely dangerous pirate thief who will strike down anyone who stands in his way. He betrayed Gabrielle, and while he knows he will never receive forgiveness, nothing will stop him from protecting the one he loves.
This story had my mouth dropping to the floor, while tears were streaming down my face. It made me mad, sad, happy. It made me feel it all! When the main characters(s) were driving me crazy, the side characters came through for the comedic relief to get through. I am truly impressed with my first ever arc read!
**ARC REVIEW**
A spicy Disney story retelling that had me captivated the moment I finished the first chapter.
*this is a standalone series but i do recommend reading Mirror of Magic before this!*
Gabrielle is a strong, funny, and slightly reckless princess, who has a mission that is near impossible. She endures physical, mental, and emotional battles as she tries to rescue the men & boys of her court. Her biggest hurdle? The love of her life. Who also happens to be her enemy.
Bastian Lore is a ruthless, flirtatious, and definitely dangerous pirate thief who will strike down anyone who stands in his way. He betrayed Gabrielle, and while he knows he will never receive forgiveness, nothing will stop him from protecting the one he loves.
This story had my mouth dropping to the floor, while tears were streaming down my face. It made me mad, sad, happy. It made me feel it all! When the main characters(s) were driving me crazy, the side characters came through for the comedic relief to get through. I am truly impressed with my first ever arc read!
April 1, 2024
4.5⭐
3.1🌶️
Disclaimer: I was on the ARC team for this book. However, this does not give my review any form of bias, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book!! This is a good second chance romance with a cast of lovable and relatable characters. Bastian and Gabrielle are definitely a couple that you want to root for!! Watching their story unfold was very enjoyable, and there are quite a few questions by the end of the book I would love answers for in the next part of the series (particularly I would LOVE a book based on Mal and Marian... actually I NEED a story with those two as the main characters!!!!!!!). I liked the mix of Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid that was used in this story (also I kind of got a little tiniest bit of Pied Piper vibes from Bastian, idk just me?)
I was very happy to see Driscoll again and for me he was a highlight in this story, I like how we got to see more of him and his funny personality in this book!!
I'm excited to see more from this wonderful world created by Tee Harlowe!!
3.1🌶️
Disclaimer: I was on the ARC team for this book. However, this does not give my review any form of bias, my thoughts and opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this book!! This is a good second chance romance with a cast of lovable and relatable characters. Bastian and Gabrielle are definitely a couple that you want to root for!! Watching their story unfold was very enjoyable, and there are quite a few questions by the end of the book I would love answers for in the next part of the series (particularly I would LOVE a book based on Mal and Marian... actually I NEED a story with those two as the main characters!!!!!!!). I liked the mix of Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid that was used in this story (also I kind of got a little tiniest bit of Pied Piper vibes from Bastian, idk just me?)
I was very happy to see Driscoll again and for me he was a highlight in this story, I like how we got to see more of him and his funny personality in this book!!
I'm excited to see more from this wonderful world created by Tee Harlowe!!
April 8, 2024
This Peter Pan (with a hint of Little Mermaid) reimagining is the second book in a the Stolen Crown series, a set of standalone but interconnected fairytale retellings. I will say if you read book two before book one, it will spoil some of book one for you. Tropes include morally gray MMC, second chance romance, found family, banter, and forbidden romance. This is a steamy novel with adult content.
The Lovely: I loved how the story played out in terms of the steps it took for the characters to get to the end goal. There was a good tug and pull with the main characters as they tried to work through their issues. They, and the side characters were hysterical at times, especially Driscoll. The world is lush and we got to visit new parts of it in this story.
The Mundane: I liked the plot (and sub-plots) but at times what happened felt predictable. This was, for me, more of a feel-good, cute romantasy with a bit of angst, mostly because I strongly suspected how it would turn out. Sometimes the pacing seemed to slow as the story focused on the repetitive arguments between the main characters.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. If you like fairytale reimaginings with strong leads, this is the series for you. The world the author created for these books encapsulates multiple fairytales, which makes this fun and interesting to read.
The Lovely: I loved how the story played out in terms of the steps it took for the characters to get to the end goal. There was a good tug and pull with the main characters as they tried to work through their issues. They, and the side characters were hysterical at times, especially Driscoll. The world is lush and we got to visit new parts of it in this story.
The Mundane: I liked the plot (and sub-plots) but at times what happened felt predictable. This was, for me, more of a feel-good, cute romantasy with a bit of angst, mostly because I strongly suspected how it would turn out. Sometimes the pacing seemed to slow as the story focused on the repetitive arguments between the main characters.
Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Recommendation: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. If you like fairytale reimaginings with strong leads, this is the series for you. The world the author created for these books encapsulates multiple fairytales, which makes this fun and interesting to read.
April 10, 2024
I loved the first book in the series, and somehow it just keeps getting better.
This story follows the adventures of the Pirate lord Bastian and Princess Gabrielle of the water court.
Their relationship is as turbulent as the sea, but it's relentless and inevitable.
It's a beautiful fairytale with inspiration from Peter Pan and a splash of the little mermaid.
It's full of adventure, mystery, drama and romance, and I absolutely love the banter and antics from Driscoll and Leoni!
These stories are a perfect mix of enemy to lover romance, magic, found family, sarcasm, swoony moments, kick ass FMC, and redemptive MMC.
I can't wait to read the next story in the series!
⚓"You can tell yourself whatever you want, love, but I saw you, the real you. I saw your hopes, your dreams....and so much more"
⚓"I'm trying to be so good...when all I want is to be so very bad"
⚓"You're mine... I will always choose you, love"
⚓"You consume me...love isn't a strong enough word to describe it. What I feel for you isn't love - it's magic"
This story follows the adventures of the Pirate lord Bastian and Princess Gabrielle of the water court.
Their relationship is as turbulent as the sea, but it's relentless and inevitable.
It's a beautiful fairytale with inspiration from Peter Pan and a splash of the little mermaid.
It's full of adventure, mystery, drama and romance, and I absolutely love the banter and antics from Driscoll and Leoni!
These stories are a perfect mix of enemy to lover romance, magic, found family, sarcasm, swoony moments, kick ass FMC, and redemptive MMC.
I can't wait to read the next story in the series!
⚓"You can tell yourself whatever you want, love, but I saw you, the real you. I saw your hopes, your dreams....and so much more"
⚓"I'm trying to be so good...when all I want is to be so very bad"
⚓"You're mine... I will always choose you, love"
⚓"You consume me...love isn't a strong enough word to describe it. What I feel for you isn't love - it's magic"
April 8, 2024
I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down making me finish this wonderful masterpiece in just one day. Now I feel a bit lost, maybe I'm missing my shadow? Yeah, I definitely left it in Neverland and is now sailing a ship with the pirate lord.
In this story we get to visit the water court and the shadow court. With that said, Ship of Shadows is a retelling of Peter Pan and I couldn't get Hook from Once Upon a Time out of my head. There's also a rep from The Little Mermaid.
A lot of parts about this book is making it one of my favorite reads this year - the elemental magic being one of those things. The emotional roller-coaster another. I love that it's a unique retelling with some reslly special twists and turns. These lovable and funny characters making it all the more enjoyable. The adventure, being on the open sea and discovering new places speak to me. Spice is also never wrong. I can't praise this enough!
In this story we get to visit the water court and the shadow court. With that said, Ship of Shadows is a retelling of Peter Pan and I couldn't get Hook from Once Upon a Time out of my head. There's also a rep from The Little Mermaid.
A lot of parts about this book is making it one of my favorite reads this year - the elemental magic being one of those things. The emotional roller-coaster another. I love that it's a unique retelling with some reslly special twists and turns. These lovable and funny characters making it all the more enjoyable. The adventure, being on the open sea and discovering new places speak to me. Spice is also never wrong. I can't praise this enough!
April 9, 2024
A fun and easy read! If you love fairy tale retellings, pirate adventures, and morally grey love interests with irresistible smolder, then this is the perfect book for you. A beautiful Peter Pan retelling, if Wendy were running from a crown rather than a nursery (oh, and she has water magic), and Hook plays a more central (and spicy) role in the story. A fun and flirty story with plenty of tension and adventure -- I read it in a single day! It's part of a series and playfully hints at the previous book and the one to come, but the story fits perfectly as a standalone.
May 9, 2024
A beautifully written story filled with twists and turns that keep you glued to the page.
Within this story you get a thrilling romantasy filled with depth, adventure, and spice. I found myself entranced while reading. Ship of Shadows is part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone!
What to love:
- Peter Pan retelling (with some Little Mermaid crossover)
- Morally grey pirates
- Enemies to lovers
- forbidden romance
- thrilling adventure
- BANTER
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Magic
Within this story you get a thrilling romantasy filled with depth, adventure, and spice. I found myself entranced while reading. Ship of Shadows is part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone!
What to love:
- Peter Pan retelling (with some Little Mermaid crossover)
- Morally grey pirates
- Enemies to lovers
- forbidden romance
- thrilling adventure
- BANTER
- Found family
- Forced proximity
- Magic
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