What do you think?
Rate this book
Sails of Black and Blood #1
The Revenge of Captain Vessia
Claire Vessia's been sentenced to death.
The last survivor of a ship of would-be-pirates captured by the navy, she's been accused of all of their crimes.
She will die for it. Determined to go out with her head held high, her plans for a stoic execution are thrown out the window when a highborn lady offers her a chance to escape the noose... if she pays in vials of her own blood.
But she is betrayed.
Hung from the gallows and buried at sea, she rises amidst the waves as a Vampyri, an undead monster. Without a clue of where, or even what she is, and only a terrible hunger to guide her, it's only when she consumes a person trying to help her that she begins to understands what's been done to her.
Swearing revenge against the noble woman that turned her, the nation that accused her, and its people that killed her, Claire makes an oath that she will hunt down anyone under the navy's flag, and carve a blood-strewn path on her quest for vengeance.
But when the perfect chance to strike takes the form of the child of her maker - Claire must ask herself how far she's willing to go for justice.
The last survivor of a ship of would-be-pirates captured by the navy, she's been accused of all of their crimes.
She will die for it. Determined to go out with her head held high, her plans for a stoic execution are thrown out the window when a highborn lady offers her a chance to escape the noose... if she pays in vials of her own blood.
But she is betrayed.
Hung from the gallows and buried at sea, she rises amidst the waves as a Vampyri, an undead monster. Without a clue of where, or even what she is, and only a terrible hunger to guide her, it's only when she consumes a person trying to help her that she begins to understands what's been done to her.
Swearing revenge against the noble woman that turned her, the nation that accused her, and its people that killed her, Claire makes an oath that she will hunt down anyone under the navy's flag, and carve a blood-strewn path on her quest for vengeance.
But when the perfect chance to strike takes the form of the child of her maker - Claire must ask herself how far she's willing to go for justice.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 4, 2024
9 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Allen
3 books12 followersLeslie Allen is a librarian, sailor, amateur astronomer, and has traveled the world. Yet she somehow found herself back home in small town Nova Scotia.
She is often simultaneously plotting her next tattoo while sipping white hot chocolate and plotting the downfall of her characters. She devours stories in every medium she can find, but her favorites are movies and video games, and being eternally frustrated that they never go far enough.
She is often simultaneously plotting her next tattoo while sipping white hot chocolate and plotting the downfall of her characters. She devours stories in every medium she can find, but her favorites are movies and video games, and being eternally frustrated that they never go far enough.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
October 4, 2024
From the top, the author of this book is my writing partner and confidant, so take that with whatever level of bias you believe that deserves.
Leslie Allen’s work won me over when she read my books and delivered me 80k words of GoNaa fanfiction. In those pages was a story that was distinctly thoughtful about what it means to be a queer, traumatised, disabled person ruling the realm of the dead. I already knew she understood what I was trying to achieve with my craft, but I had no idea how deeply that went until that moment. It turned out our objectives were the same, and our creative partnership was obvious from that moment.
Leslie’s work is thoughtful, cathartic, dark, and deeply human. It strives to look at the pain of living and reconstruct it into something hopeful, loving, and full of delicious queer revenge. The Revenge of Captain Vessia is one of several works that I’ve been lucky enough to read, and each time I walk away excited to continue working with her.
Every author has a skillset that they thrive in, and Leslie’s is absolutely worldbuilding and systems. Her understanding of systems of oppression, the workings of a ship, and the intrigue of politics shines in this and her other books. She has a deep love for understanding how the world works, from the way water carves through the land to the ocean, to the systems that govern who among us gets rights. That drive to know is present in all her books.
And no matter how dark the subject matter, there’s an underlying thread of justice, fairness, and a better world for all, something that comes from the core of her. Her work is deeply informed by her experiences and the way she interacts with the world around her with immense care. She’s become her own light in the dark, from her activism to her library stewardship. And because of all that, her books don’t ignore the things that are. It gives the reader room to grieve them and suggests a path forward. It offers the reader a moment of sweet action, a paying of dues, revenge taken for the crimes enacted on each other. And somewhere in all that, she’ll offer you sweet kisses and stolen moments, enough to get your heart through to that delicious rebellion.
If that hasn’t captured your your attention, I can also promise you a grumpy vampire captain, a sassy trans woman with mommy issues, a diversely queer pirate crew, the most functionally accurate pirate ship you’ll ever read about, bloodshed, retribution, and a splash of spice. It’s queer vampire pirates, I don’t know why you haven’t clicked To Read yet, go!
Leslie Allen’s work won me over when she read my books and delivered me 80k words of GoNaa fanfiction. In those pages was a story that was distinctly thoughtful about what it means to be a queer, traumatised, disabled person ruling the realm of the dead. I already knew she understood what I was trying to achieve with my craft, but I had no idea how deeply that went until that moment. It turned out our objectives were the same, and our creative partnership was obvious from that moment.
Leslie’s work is thoughtful, cathartic, dark, and deeply human. It strives to look at the pain of living and reconstruct it into something hopeful, loving, and full of delicious queer revenge. The Revenge of Captain Vessia is one of several works that I’ve been lucky enough to read, and each time I walk away excited to continue working with her.
Every author has a skillset that they thrive in, and Leslie’s is absolutely worldbuilding and systems. Her understanding of systems of oppression, the workings of a ship, and the intrigue of politics shines in this and her other books. She has a deep love for understanding how the world works, from the way water carves through the land to the ocean, to the systems that govern who among us gets rights. That drive to know is present in all her books.
And no matter how dark the subject matter, there’s an underlying thread of justice, fairness, and a better world for all, something that comes from the core of her. Her work is deeply informed by her experiences and the way she interacts with the world around her with immense care. She’s become her own light in the dark, from her activism to her library stewardship. And because of all that, her books don’t ignore the things that are. It gives the reader room to grieve them and suggests a path forward. It offers the reader a moment of sweet action, a paying of dues, revenge taken for the crimes enacted on each other. And somewhere in all that, she’ll offer you sweet kisses and stolen moments, enough to get your heart through to that delicious rebellion.
If that hasn’t captured your your attention, I can also promise you a grumpy vampire captain, a sassy trans woman with mommy issues, a diversely queer pirate crew, the most functionally accurate pirate ship you’ll ever read about, bloodshed, retribution, and a splash of spice. It’s queer vampire pirates, I don’t know why you haven’t clicked To Read yet, go!
December 1, 2024
A splendid pirate story. It makes me happy to see more Trans stories/authors more visible in the space. We need it normalised, we need more visibility, we need more representation.
Focusing on just the story itself - I enjoyed my time with Captain Vessia, her crew and her exploits. The story allowed suspension of reality and allowed me to be in a world where vampires exist and live with their inner struggles of basically not committing mass murder everyday.
I’m not sure specifically where the author could trim some of the story - maybe some of the piracy? So the story could focus on the characters’ stories? Because yes, the readers were given “some” background stories but it didn’t feel deep enough or long enough? This is just me nitpicking.
Piracy, gayness, blood and gore? Yes it’s all here.
Focusing on just the story itself - I enjoyed my time with Captain Vessia, her crew and her exploits. The story allowed suspension of reality and allowed me to be in a world where vampires exist and live with their inner struggles of basically not committing mass murder everyday.
I’m not sure specifically where the author could trim some of the story - maybe some of the piracy? So the story could focus on the characters’ stories? Because yes, the readers were given “some” background stories but it didn’t feel deep enough or long enough? This is just me nitpicking.
Piracy, gayness, blood and gore? Yes it’s all here.
December 18, 2024
Thank you to BookSirens for a copy of this arc. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
3.5⭐️ rounded up
You had me at queer pirate vampire with trans rep 👀 this story contained multitudes: it had love, heartbreak, pain, but also so much joy (and with that, found family). There were times when I had to step away from the book for a bit bc of how heavy the emotions were, but the overall message was of being oneself and finding joy in that
Claire and Moira (among other members of the crew) have been through their fair share of trauma and found a family who accepts and loves them with no stipulations
The writing was extremely descriptive, though sometimes a bit too descriptive in my personal opinion. I think the book could’ve been a bit shorter, though the author does a great job at painting the scene. I found that certain phrases or words got used very often, or would get repeated in the same paragraph (ie., the “looking a gift horse in the mouth” phrase was used 3x before I’d hit the 50% mark, and stood out to me). Definitely not a huge flaw by any means, but something to consider in the future :)
Either way, I recommend reading this story, but please note the TW. and please be aware that several scenes can be triggering for anyone struggling with body dysmorphia or anyone who is triggered by misgendering or deadnaming
3.5⭐️ rounded up
You had me at queer pirate vampire with trans rep 👀 this story contained multitudes: it had love, heartbreak, pain, but also so much joy (and with that, found family). There were times when I had to step away from the book for a bit bc of how heavy the emotions were, but the overall message was of being oneself and finding joy in that
Claire and Moira (among other members of the crew) have been through their fair share of trauma and found a family who accepts and loves them with no stipulations
The writing was extremely descriptive, though sometimes a bit too descriptive in my personal opinion. I think the book could’ve been a bit shorter, though the author does a great job at painting the scene. I found that certain phrases or words got used very often, or would get repeated in the same paragraph (ie., the “looking a gift horse in the mouth” phrase was used 3x before I’d hit the 50% mark, and stood out to me). Definitely not a huge flaw by any means, but something to consider in the future :)
Either way, I recommend reading this story, but please note the TW. and please be aware that several scenes can be triggering for anyone struggling with body dysmorphia or anyone who is triggered by misgendering or deadnaming
July 12, 2024
You can read the first few chapters at https://leslieallen.com/
This is the book I didn't know I always wanted to write.
It's a love letter to the sailing ships that have been a part of the land I call home, the ghost stories my father told me, and my love of the sea. It's the comfort I found in the stories of the monstrous as a trans woman, and it's the struggle I found in a society not meant for me.
This is a book about rebellion, about the cost of revenge, and the community we can find in others who truly understand us. As a result, it is *dark.*
I hope beyond anything that you enjoy it, and find something within it that you can't find somewhere else, and that it shows you that hope is sometimes not just a beautiful thing, but a bloodied thing. That it's getting up after getting knocked down again and again, that quiet determination to exist, despite all that would wish you to just *obey*.
I could say more, but I hope the book will stand on it's own merits, and I want to thank *you* for taking the time to read this, and show interest in my work.
Bless <3
This is the book I didn't know I always wanted to write.
It's a love letter to the sailing ships that have been a part of the land I call home, the ghost stories my father told me, and my love of the sea. It's the comfort I found in the stories of the monstrous as a trans woman, and it's the struggle I found in a society not meant for me.
This is a book about rebellion, about the cost of revenge, and the community we can find in others who truly understand us. As a result, it is *dark.*
I hope beyond anything that you enjoy it, and find something within it that you can't find somewhere else, and that it shows you that hope is sometimes not just a beautiful thing, but a bloodied thing. That it's getting up after getting knocked down again and again, that quiet determination to exist, despite all that would wish you to just *obey*.
I could say more, but I hope the book will stand on it's own merits, and I want to thank *you* for taking the time to read this, and show interest in my work.
Bless <3
August 13, 2024
I was provided with an ARC of Captain Vessel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much, because it was a pleasure.
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies hooked me as a child in a way few movies had. I loved the clash of swords, extravagant costuming, decedent set design, and the twinge of undead magic pushing the plot along in the undercurrent. Replicating the feeling these movies instilled within me proved extremely difficult. In a fit of millennial desperation, I turned to online role plays on Neopets, of all places, to sate the need. This online venture added to my love of the series, but after numerous escapades as my lady pirate, meeting a cast of diverse other pirates piloted by people from around the world. This exposure to so many different viewpoints and individuals inspired me to ask a critical question:
What if they were queer?
In 2024, I have found my answer in Captain Vessia, and the answer is as follows: it fucks.
Drenched in blood and attentive world-building, Captain Vessia tells the tale of the titular pirate from the beginning of her sordid affairs to the end. A healthy dose of vampirism gives this book an extra bit of oomf that it needed. I had a lot of fun with this one, swashbuckling and smiling along the way. Allen stitches together a lovable cast of queer characters who each have their own struggles and victories, although admittedly, some are more explored in the pages of this first entry of the series than others. This is a story of revenge, but it is also a story of love; I really enjoyed the way that this lesbian romance unfolded, as well as the way gender issues were broached with a steady and experienced hand. By the time they finally kissed, I was cheering. You can feel the love put into this world, the well researched seafaring scenes, and especially its two leads. The beginning section’s timeskip comes across a bit jarring at first, but mentions of previous events and the many many that come after override any initial shakiness. Some of Vessia’s inner thoughts can be on the nose with its brooding, but that is her character, but I think it fits the genre and tone of this book perfectly. If you love strong women, you’ll find a ton here, as well as well balanced men and a snappy, horny enby (Charlotte I love you). I had a great time with this and I look forward to seeing any future entries, which the conclusion certainly implies is coming, and I can’t wait to see it.
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies hooked me as a child in a way few movies had. I loved the clash of swords, extravagant costuming, decedent set design, and the twinge of undead magic pushing the plot along in the undercurrent. Replicating the feeling these movies instilled within me proved extremely difficult. In a fit of millennial desperation, I turned to online role plays on Neopets, of all places, to sate the need. This online venture added to my love of the series, but after numerous escapades as my lady pirate, meeting a cast of diverse other pirates piloted by people from around the world. This exposure to so many different viewpoints and individuals inspired me to ask a critical question:
What if they were queer?
In 2024, I have found my answer in Captain Vessia, and the answer is as follows: it fucks.
Drenched in blood and attentive world-building, Captain Vessia tells the tale of the titular pirate from the beginning of her sordid affairs to the end. A healthy dose of vampirism gives this book an extra bit of oomf that it needed. I had a lot of fun with this one, swashbuckling and smiling along the way. Allen stitches together a lovable cast of queer characters who each have their own struggles and victories, although admittedly, some are more explored in the pages of this first entry of the series than others. This is a story of revenge, but it is also a story of love; I really enjoyed the way that this lesbian romance unfolded, as well as the way gender issues were broached with a steady and experienced hand. By the time they finally kissed, I was cheering. You can feel the love put into this world, the well researched seafaring scenes, and especially its two leads. The beginning section’s timeskip comes across a bit jarring at first, but mentions of previous events and the many many that come after override any initial shakiness. Some of Vessia’s inner thoughts can be on the nose with its brooding, but that is her character, but I think it fits the genre and tone of this book perfectly. If you love strong women, you’ll find a ton here, as well as well balanced men and a snappy, horny enby (Charlotte I love you). I had a great time with this and I look forward to seeing any future entries, which the conclusion certainly implies is coming, and I can’t wait to see it.
January 6, 2026
Loved the characters & loved the world. I just honestly had such a good time following Captain Vessia and her crew. Like I mentioned in an update: this book doesn’t feel like I’m reading a book. Every time I pick it up it honestly feels like I am there on that ship. These characters and story just feel so real (even with the whole vampire thing) I was just savoring every word 😍👌🏻
Looking forward to more books from Leslie Allen!
Now to pester everyone I know to read this ✌️
Looking forward to more books from Leslie Allen!
Now to pester everyone I know to read this ✌️
September 23, 2024
I loved the idea of vampire pirates and this book worked perfectly with that concept. It had that element that I was looking for from this type of book. It was a strong start to the Sails of Black and Blood series and did a great job in introducing the world to us the reader. I thought the characters had that pirate feel to them and uses that supernatural element perfectly. It left me wanting to read the next book in the series and from Leslie Allen.
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.
January 21, 2026
The Revenge of Captain Vessia by Leslie Allen throws you straight into a bloody, high-seas tale of vengeance with a deliciously queer twist. Claire Vessia’s journey from condemned prisoner to vampire pirate captain is intense and satisfying, packed with action, sword fights and revenge.
I read it for the BBNYA - Book Bloggers Novel of the Year -blog tour and can see why it was finalist in the competition. Its well written throughout and although I wasn't sure about the pacing in a couple of places I think its an entertaining read
I read it for the BBNYA - Book Bloggers Novel of the Year -blog tour and can see why it was finalist in the competition. Its well written throughout and although I wasn't sure about the pacing in a couple of places I think its an entertaining read
March 31, 2025
A vampire pirate queen, her (mostly) queer crew, and transgender princess.
Swashbuckling action, vampire mayhem and bloodshed, and moments of queer romance.
A historical fantasy, some vampire horror, and deep threads of a political thriller that weaponizes religion.
Yes, The Revenge of Captain Vessia really is all of those things (and more), but thanks to the strength of her character and the depth of her themes, Leslie Allen makes it all work. This is a truly immersive work of fantasy, one in which you’ll easily find yourself fully invested, wrapped up in the characters and their world. Part of what makes it so powerful is how it begins, as we see young Claire Vessia captured by the navy, mistaken for command when she was barely crew, tortured and beaten, and then cruelly toyed with by a woman who promises freedom . . . but with a terrible price. We know how badly she was wronged, we see how deplorably she was treated, and we understand why she holds a grudge that drives her forward.
And yet, at the same time, we see what a strong, capable captain she becomes when she owns the charge of piracy, rising above her abuser to build a crew that’s like family. Allen juxtaposes motives and emotions aplenty here, forcing the reader to confront the good and the bad of our pirate captain, especially under the gaze of Princess Moira. This isn’t grimdark – there’s still hope, still love, still promise – but it’s unsettlingly honest about the horrible things we can do even in the name of something good.
If I were to have one complaint about the book, it’s that I would have liked to read more perspectives, just to understand how the deliberate construction of an entire faith was orchestrated to bring an empire to the brink of ruin. It’s fascinating stuff, and makes for some big ‘ah-hah’ moments near the end, but it also makes the villains very one-sided. For a story that’s so deep and diverse, I would have liked to see a little more humanity amongst Moira’s people.
That small quibble aside, this was a fantastic read. There’s an early lull between Vessia escaping the noose to Moira coming on scene around the 25% mark, but from there on out, it’s a fast-paced, emotional, exciting, compelling read to the finish. I freely admit, I stalled in that lull, putting the book down for a bit, but when I got back to it and encountered Moira, I finished the whole damned thing in a day.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2025/...
Swashbuckling action, vampire mayhem and bloodshed, and moments of queer romance.
A historical fantasy, some vampire horror, and deep threads of a political thriller that weaponizes religion.
Yes, The Revenge of Captain Vessia really is all of those things (and more), but thanks to the strength of her character and the depth of her themes, Leslie Allen makes it all work. This is a truly immersive work of fantasy, one in which you’ll easily find yourself fully invested, wrapped up in the characters and their world. Part of what makes it so powerful is how it begins, as we see young Claire Vessia captured by the navy, mistaken for command when she was barely crew, tortured and beaten, and then cruelly toyed with by a woman who promises freedom . . . but with a terrible price. We know how badly she was wronged, we see how deplorably she was treated, and we understand why she holds a grudge that drives her forward.
And yet, at the same time, we see what a strong, capable captain she becomes when she owns the charge of piracy, rising above her abuser to build a crew that’s like family. Allen juxtaposes motives and emotions aplenty here, forcing the reader to confront the good and the bad of our pirate captain, especially under the gaze of Princess Moira. This isn’t grimdark – there’s still hope, still love, still promise – but it’s unsettlingly honest about the horrible things we can do even in the name of something good.
If I were to have one complaint about the book, it’s that I would have liked to read more perspectives, just to understand how the deliberate construction of an entire faith was orchestrated to bring an empire to the brink of ruin. It’s fascinating stuff, and makes for some big ‘ah-hah’ moments near the end, but it also makes the villains very one-sided. For a story that’s so deep and diverse, I would have liked to see a little more humanity amongst Moira’s people.
That small quibble aside, this was a fantastic read. There’s an early lull between Vessia escaping the noose to Moira coming on scene around the 25% mark, but from there on out, it’s a fast-paced, emotional, exciting, compelling read to the finish. I freely admit, I stalled in that lull, putting the book down for a bit, but when I got back to it and encountered Moira, I finished the whole damned thing in a day.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2025/...
January 25, 2026
This book was provided for review by The Write Reads. Thank you!
Trigger warning: Blood, violence, torture
Claire Vessia is known far and wide as the captain of the pirate ship Wraith. Stories abound about her cruelty, each one more explicit than the last. They call her a monster and they aren’t wrong.
Vessia has sworn revenge on the country that wronged her and the woman who made her. She will stop at nothing until she sees both crumbled at her feet. When an opportunity for revenge comes in the form of her enemies’ only child, she is quick to strike. Her actions soon though leave Vessia questioning herself and how far she is willing to go in the name of revenge.
One of the drawbacks of relying solely on a blurb for a book is that the blurb rarely gives the an accurate picture of the whole story. It highlights what it feels are the most important aspects of the story, hoping to draw the reader in to discover the rest. I can understand why this is done, giving away the whole story defeats the purpose of reading the book itself. However, it can be frustrating when as a reader one goes into a story expecting one thing and finding something different.
Such is the case with The Revenge of Captain Vessia by Leslie Allen. Looking at the blurb alone, one would expect to read a book centered on one person’s revenge as well as the adventure and peril that comes with it. One would expect that if there were any aspects of romance that they would be minimal at best. Alas, this was not the case and the opposite was true. For roughly two-thirds of the book, the main character Claire agonizes over her feelings for her enemy’s daughter, Moira. Her thoughts center almost solely on the other woman and on little else.
Setting story line issues aside, another issue I had came with the writing itself. At times the writing felt clunky and awkward. There were also several instances of incorrect grammar and misspellings. Not enough to make the book unreadable, but enough in my mind to be momentarily distracting.
I can see why The Revenge of Captain Vessia is appealing to many readers. The story minus the romance aspect is an entertaining one. There is a decent amount of action and the characters are for the most part likeable. The villain is a villain and the story ends much as you would expect it to. The epilogue hints to further characters and other story lines, not surprising since this book is the first in a series. While personally, I thought the book was merely okay, I can see that it has a good deal of rave reviews on Goodreads.
So to my dear readers, I encourage them to look at all of the reviews before making the decision on this book. You don’t have to take my word alone for it.
September 18, 2024
This might be my new favorite book, and I am already wanting to re-read it again soon. This is so beautifully written. I inhaled this book, with all the darkness and light that it came with. While this is a dark book, it's also one of adventure, of found family, of murder, or pirates, and so much more. The author creates a wonderful reader experience by providing content warnings and then making those bits of content truly parts of the story that push the plot along.
I can't say anything else without giving too much away, but I gobbled this book up. I am so incredibly impressed with the writing style - it was art through and through. The author draws on her prior life experiences as well and has lived quite some adventures herself.
I am so grateful to have been able to read this beautiful book before its release and will not be shutting up about this book for some time. As it seems to be part of a planned series, I am now highly anticipating the second book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I can't say anything else without giving too much away, but I gobbled this book up. I am so incredibly impressed with the writing style - it was art through and through. The author draws on her prior life experiences as well and has lived quite some adventures herself.
I am so grateful to have been able to read this beautiful book before its release and will not be shutting up about this book for some time. As it seems to be part of a planned series, I am now highly anticipating the second book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 4, 2025
Grappig piratenverhaal. Origineel. Lekker inclusief. Wel veel herhaling.
October 6, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I have to acknowledge going into the book that I am not the biggest fan of pirates, so I knew this was not going to be 100% to my taste. However, I am a MASSIVE fan of vampires and of course, sapphic/trans vampires at that. One of my goals is to consume more indie books by indie queer authors, and so despite my trepidation re: the pirate element, I was thrilled to pick up this book and give it a try!
There was so much in this book that I loved and liked. The author’s knowledge and love of sailing really shines through in a big way, and I admit, that is what ended up endearing me enough to the book to keep at it. The characters are great and I am thrilled to see the sheer depth of queer identities at play here in this book, even if I have to admit some of it feels a bit heavy-handed in the “tell, not show” department, particularly regarding the nonbinary Charlotte (who I, as a nonbinary person, did adore lol). Even when the writing got a bit heavy-handed, though, seeing authentic queer stories told by a queer, trans author told on the page was extremely refreshing! I loved Claire and Moira and was thrilled to watch how their relationship would grow and evolve despite their major roadblocks. Also, a special shoutout to the on-page treatment of trauma—on a personal note, I found it very relatable (if not in the specifics, in the shape of it and how it effected all that experienced it).
My main overarching complaint, and this is a big one, is that the book really could have used several more stringent editing passes, both for typos and content. There were a lot of typos, grammatical mistakes, spelling and other errors, missing words; all of these distracted from the prose, which also fluctuated between absolutely gorgeous and rather lackluster or rushed in portions. Some of the characters felt inconsistent and superfluous, with a lot of the side characters not adding much (if anything) to the narrative as a whole—either they needed more fleshing out, more room to breathe, or they needed cutting. It’s difficult to kill your darlings, so to speak, so I get it, but the fat could have used some trimming, so to speak.
Despite my criticisms, I cannot stress that it is a wonderful book. The worldbuilding is lush, the messages of queer liberation and anti-oppression are loud and wonderful, and the prose was also arresting more often than not. For a debut indie novel, this is a wonderful endeavor, and while I do encourage more thorough editing in the future, I cannot wait to read more of Leslie Allen’s work in the future!
I have to acknowledge going into the book that I am not the biggest fan of pirates, so I knew this was not going to be 100% to my taste. However, I am a MASSIVE fan of vampires and of course, sapphic/trans vampires at that. One of my goals is to consume more indie books by indie queer authors, and so despite my trepidation re: the pirate element, I was thrilled to pick up this book and give it a try!
There was so much in this book that I loved and liked. The author’s knowledge and love of sailing really shines through in a big way, and I admit, that is what ended up endearing me enough to the book to keep at it. The characters are great and I am thrilled to see the sheer depth of queer identities at play here in this book, even if I have to admit some of it feels a bit heavy-handed in the “tell, not show” department, particularly regarding the nonbinary Charlotte (who I, as a nonbinary person, did adore lol). Even when the writing got a bit heavy-handed, though, seeing authentic queer stories told by a queer, trans author told on the page was extremely refreshing! I loved Claire and Moira and was thrilled to watch how their relationship would grow and evolve despite their major roadblocks. Also, a special shoutout to the on-page treatment of trauma—on a personal note, I found it very relatable (if not in the specifics, in the shape of it and how it effected all that experienced it).
My main overarching complaint, and this is a big one, is that the book really could have used several more stringent editing passes, both for typos and content. There were a lot of typos, grammatical mistakes, spelling and other errors, missing words; all of these distracted from the prose, which also fluctuated between absolutely gorgeous and rather lackluster or rushed in portions. Some of the characters felt inconsistent and superfluous, with a lot of the side characters not adding much (if anything) to the narrative as a whole—either they needed more fleshing out, more room to breathe, or they needed cutting. It’s difficult to kill your darlings, so to speak, so I get it, but the fat could have used some trimming, so to speak.
Despite my criticisms, I cannot stress that it is a wonderful book. The worldbuilding is lush, the messages of queer liberation and anti-oppression are loud and wonderful, and the prose was also arresting more often than not. For a debut indie novel, this is a wonderful endeavor, and while I do encourage more thorough editing in the future, I cannot wait to read more of Leslie Allen’s work in the future!
February 7, 2026
I loved this book so much! Captain Claire Vessia is a complex character hell bent on revenge on the woman who turned her into a vampyri 5 years ago. When the perfect opportunity falls into her lap to kidnap the Queen’s son, she puts her crew at risk to perform the biggest hijacking of her life. What she finds on board is a big surprise but one that will change her life forever.
I really loved every single character in this novel. Claire was a brilliant leader of her crew and I loved how the story is told from her POV which was so enthralling that it made sure I always wanted more. Her love interest, Moira, was a trans character along with another crewmate and I loved the range of representation that makes this book so much more interesting and diverse. The slowburn romance was exquisite as they gradually get closer to each other and I loved how genuine their feelings were shown.
This novel is full of action scenes as Claire hijacks multiple ships for their loot and there is one scene in particular that I thought was brilliantly done as it shows Claire’s raw vampyri strength and hunger which took over to protect the one she loves and nothing was going to get in her way. The pure feeling of family and love with the crewmates and their home was so beautiful to read and these moments just felt so wholesome and happy. I loved the bond that everyone had and their love shone through, even when they had disagreements and had no idea what was coming next.
The plot was fascinating from start to finish and I never wanted to put the book down as I was constantly enthralled by the story and didn’t want it to end. Every character had meaning and the reader is provided with various back stories of how they ended up on the ship with Claire. The revenge plot was also very intriguing as it felt like it was building up to a huge moment where she meets her maker again and it didn’t disappoint! The angst and drama was perfect and I was very attached to this group of crazy pirates and was constantly rooting for them all.
I also loved that even though there was quite a lot of ship jargon used throughout, it wasn’t difficult to read and it still made sense to readers who weren’t that familiar with ships and how they work. This is a very fast paced read and although it is quite a chunk at 449 pages, it didn’t feel that long and I devoured every page as I was completely engrossed in the story.
This is an amazing book and I loved reading every second of it. The plot was incredible, the characters were all amazing and every moment had me hooked. This is a standout novel and I can't wait to read book two.
I really loved every single character in this novel. Claire was a brilliant leader of her crew and I loved how the story is told from her POV which was so enthralling that it made sure I always wanted more. Her love interest, Moira, was a trans character along with another crewmate and I loved the range of representation that makes this book so much more interesting and diverse. The slowburn romance was exquisite as they gradually get closer to each other and I loved how genuine their feelings were shown.
This novel is full of action scenes as Claire hijacks multiple ships for their loot and there is one scene in particular that I thought was brilliantly done as it shows Claire’s raw vampyri strength and hunger which took over to protect the one she loves and nothing was going to get in her way. The pure feeling of family and love with the crewmates and their home was so beautiful to read and these moments just felt so wholesome and happy. I loved the bond that everyone had and their love shone through, even when they had disagreements and had no idea what was coming next.
The plot was fascinating from start to finish and I never wanted to put the book down as I was constantly enthralled by the story and didn’t want it to end. Every character had meaning and the reader is provided with various back stories of how they ended up on the ship with Claire. The revenge plot was also very intriguing as it felt like it was building up to a huge moment where she meets her maker again and it didn’t disappoint! The angst and drama was perfect and I was very attached to this group of crazy pirates and was constantly rooting for them all.
I also loved that even though there was quite a lot of ship jargon used throughout, it wasn’t difficult to read and it still made sense to readers who weren’t that familiar with ships and how they work. This is a very fast paced read and although it is quite a chunk at 449 pages, it didn’t feel that long and I devoured every page as I was completely engrossed in the story.
This is an amazing book and I loved reading every second of it. The plot was incredible, the characters were all amazing and every moment had me hooked. This is a standout novel and I can't wait to read book two.
September 3, 2024
To begin, I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I read this book in about four days, so that might tell you a little something. If you like vampires, pirates, tons of LGBTQIA+ representation, revenge, or epic battles at sea you should pick up The Revenge of Captain Vessia.
This book has own voice rep, trans rep, nonbinary rep, lesbian rep, asexual rep, casual bisexuals, ptsd, grief, death, torture, blood drinking, sexual content, needles, deadnaming and purposeful misgendering, public hanging, starvation, abuse, drowning, food restriction/hunger, poverty, fire, alcohol/smoking/drug use, guns, and lots of blood and gore. It is a book that is unafraid to get dark, but one that makes you fall in love with its characters.
I loved how badass Claire was and watching her become the person that she does. Seeing how circumstances can change a person and then continue to change them. Watching her try so hard to find her own peace and realize that she'd been fighting the wrong battle all along. I loved how sassy Moira was and how cute her and Claire were together, when they allowed themselves to be. I loved all of the crew and how individually fleshed out their personalities were. They were each given space on the page, even if the story wasn't fully centered on them. You were able to understand why Claire loved them like she did. The mixture of vampires and pirates was interesting to watch, especially seeing how Claire dealt with her affliction at sea.
I did feel that some of the pacing was a little off, which is a very common issue and not a deal breaker by any means. The beginning and the end were incredible, but the middle lost the thread a little and wasn't quite as gripping. I think probably because there was quite a bit of time jumping that needed to happen to advance the story, but then left me feeling like we'd missed out on some important things. Especially where Claire and Moira's relationship was concerned. I ended up really liking them and rooting for them, but did feel like we lost out on some of what was needed between them to make the relationship feel less rushed. Moira seemed to be really wishy washy at times. Going back and forth from hating Claire, to wanting her, and then back again. Which isn't necessarily a negative, just made me want to flick her forehead sometimes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will pick up the next book to see where they all end up. I have so many questions about lore and the mysterious origin of vampires!
4.5 stars, rounded up.
I read this book in about four days, so that might tell you a little something. If you like vampires, pirates, tons of LGBTQIA+ representation, revenge, or epic battles at sea you should pick up The Revenge of Captain Vessia.
This book has own voice rep, trans rep, nonbinary rep, lesbian rep, asexual rep, casual bisexuals, ptsd, grief, death, torture, blood drinking, sexual content, needles, deadnaming and purposeful misgendering, public hanging, starvation, abuse, drowning, food restriction/hunger, poverty, fire, alcohol/smoking/drug use, guns, and lots of blood and gore. It is a book that is unafraid to get dark, but one that makes you fall in love with its characters.
I loved how badass Claire was and watching her become the person that she does. Seeing how circumstances can change a person and then continue to change them. Watching her try so hard to find her own peace and realize that she'd been fighting the wrong battle all along. I loved how sassy Moira was and how cute her and Claire were together, when they allowed themselves to be. I loved all of the crew and how individually fleshed out their personalities were. They were each given space on the page, even if the story wasn't fully centered on them. You were able to understand why Claire loved them like she did. The mixture of vampires and pirates was interesting to watch, especially seeing how Claire dealt with her affliction at sea.
I did feel that some of the pacing was a little off, which is a very common issue and not a deal breaker by any means. The beginning and the end were incredible, but the middle lost the thread a little and wasn't quite as gripping. I think probably because there was quite a bit of time jumping that needed to happen to advance the story, but then left me feeling like we'd missed out on some important things. Especially where Claire and Moira's relationship was concerned. I ended up really liking them and rooting for them, but did feel like we lost out on some of what was needed between them to make the relationship feel less rushed. Moira seemed to be really wishy washy at times. Going back and forth from hating Claire, to wanting her, and then back again. Which isn't necessarily a negative, just made me want to flick her forehead sometimes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will pick up the next book to see where they all end up. I have so many questions about lore and the mysterious origin of vampires!
October 13, 2024
Claire Vessia was sentenced to death when the navy captured her on a ship full of would-be pirates; as the only survivor, she was blamed for all their crimes. A highborn lady offers to help her escape the oncoming execution, but she's still hung and buried at sea. Claire rises as a Vampyri and only understands what happened to her after she consumes the person who tried to help her. Now Claire is out for revenge against everyone who had wronged her. Her quest for vengeance is in jeopardy after meeting her maker's other child, and she questions how far she's willing to go.
Leslie acknowledges this isn't a kind book, as it's full of blood and vengeance as well as a list of potential triggers. It's kind of a given with vampires and pirates, but it's nice that she gives readers an understanding of what they're up against. Lady Ameritia was known for making bargains with those headed to the gallows, and Claire is one of the few to rise from her experiments. She eventually becomes a pirate captain in truth, and much like pirates of our history, they're a ragtag band of misfits that didn't fit into their birth homes, bodies, or genders. Working to kidnap the royal grandson, Ameritia's son, is Claire's goal to get back at her and the Kitaxian kingdom that destroyed her human life. Her crew is loyal to her and push past their reservations, and then discovers the truth about that child.
Of course, there's such a big difference between planning revenge and enacting it, as well as seeing what the child is like. We know exactly what will happen, from the first shock of discovery to the "oh no, she's hot" moment when they see each other. There are further complications as various members of the crew make friends, Claire contends with her thirst, and there are various attempts to trap Claire and her crew. There's a lot of loss, blood, sacrifice, and emotion in this novel, as well as a fitting end that hints at the possibility of far more to come. Claire wasn't aware of the wider politics at play, but they're out there and could become more important if future books are written.
Leslie acknowledges this isn't a kind book, as it's full of blood and vengeance as well as a list of potential triggers. It's kind of a given with vampires and pirates, but it's nice that she gives readers an understanding of what they're up against. Lady Ameritia was known for making bargains with those headed to the gallows, and Claire is one of the few to rise from her experiments. She eventually becomes a pirate captain in truth, and much like pirates of our history, they're a ragtag band of misfits that didn't fit into their birth homes, bodies, or genders. Working to kidnap the royal grandson, Ameritia's son, is Claire's goal to get back at her and the Kitaxian kingdom that destroyed her human life. Her crew is loyal to her and push past their reservations, and then discovers the truth about that child.
Of course, there's such a big difference between planning revenge and enacting it, as well as seeing what the child is like. We know exactly what will happen, from the first shock of discovery to the "oh no, she's hot" moment when they see each other. There are further complications as various members of the crew make friends, Claire contends with her thirst, and there are various attempts to trap Claire and her crew. There's a lot of loss, blood, sacrifice, and emotion in this novel, as well as a fitting end that hints at the possibility of far more to come. Claire wasn't aware of the wider politics at play, but they're out there and could become more important if future books are written.
January 15, 2026
Leslie Allen transports us to the high seas in this swashbuckling debut!
Pirate, vampire, sapphic, and fantasy, are four of my favourite words when it comes to books, so it’s no surprise that I absolutely HAD to read this one! All of the different genres and themes were blended together so well that none them outweighed the other. It didn’t feel like a vampire story with a sapphic twist, or a fantasy story with some pirates thrown in for good measure. Everything about this story felt fully realised, so it was a bit like stepping into the story rather than having it explained to us.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
I really loved Allen’s approach to inclusivity in this book, especially when it came to trans and non-binary characters. While the pirate crews are incredibly inclusive, not all of the different towns and countries in this world are, and the tension between these different areas is often a driving political force in this world, and affects the lives of the characters. I appreciated how the fantasy aspect was used in this, with trans characters using magic to aid their transition.
My one complaint is that after over 400 pages of being in a single first person perspective, the narrative switched to a different first person at the eleventh hour, and then back again, and then to third person. It’s a bit of a bug bear of mine when new perspectives are brought in at the very end, and I would have preferred to switch to third person rather than a new first person perspective. The epilogue, though, did an excellent job of both wrapping up this story, and setting up the sequel.
This is an incredibly strong debut novel, full of imagination and creativity, while still feeling incredibly grounded. It’s definitely one to pick up and lose yourself in!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
Pirate, vampire, sapphic, and fantasy, are four of my favourite words when it comes to books, so it’s no surprise that I absolutely HAD to read this one! All of the different genres and themes were blended together so well that none them outweighed the other. It didn’t feel like a vampire story with a sapphic twist, or a fantasy story with some pirates thrown in for good measure. Everything about this story felt fully realised, so it was a bit like stepping into the story rather than having it explained to us.
📚Blog📖YouTube📖Instagram📚
I really loved Allen’s approach to inclusivity in this book, especially when it came to trans and non-binary characters. While the pirate crews are incredibly inclusive, not all of the different towns and countries in this world are, and the tension between these different areas is often a driving political force in this world, and affects the lives of the characters. I appreciated how the fantasy aspect was used in this, with trans characters using magic to aid their transition.
My one complaint is that after over 400 pages of being in a single first person perspective, the narrative switched to a different first person at the eleventh hour, and then back again, and then to third person. It’s a bit of a bug bear of mine when new perspectives are brought in at the very end, and I would have preferred to switch to third person rather than a new first person perspective. The epilogue, though, did an excellent job of both wrapping up this story, and setting up the sequel.
This is an incredibly strong debut novel, full of imagination and creativity, while still feeling incredibly grounded. It’s definitely one to pick up and lose yourself in!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
March 2, 2025
Thank you to BookSirens and the publisher for access to an ARC!!! All thoughts below are genuine and my own.
A vampiric revenge tale focusing on a falsely accused pirate who elects to embrace the title once arising from the ocean's waters undead.
Claire Vessia wasn't a pirate when she was sentenced to death... well not really anyway. Her Captain had decided to embrace a life of crime, not her, but she couldn't very well do anything about it. As the sole survivor onboard after an attack, the Navy—needing someone to shackle and blame—chose to promote her.
The gallows await her, but a mysterious noblewoman with even more secretive motives alleges that her help will free Claire from the noose. Dying, betrayed twice-over, she arises as a vampire who will allow an ocean of blood to trail behind her in the quest for justice or perhaps more fittingly, vengeance.
I was delighted to be given an ARC, as the bloodier a vampire novel the better. Couple that with a diverse cast of characters and a female lead with serial killer tendencies and you've described my ideal story. The action scenes were absolutely fascinating and palpable, I could almost feel the ocean's spray and hear the cannons' roar as The Wraith set her sights on fresh prey.
The work to truly understand the life of a pirate was done here, and stupendously at that. I'd like to commend the author for the level of detail and authenticity in this novel. Piracy wasn't just set-dressing here to pick up or put down as needed for flavor text, it oozed off every page. Combining piracy and vampirism wasn't something I'd ever considered before and it worked beautifully!!
I loved every minute reading this story, and can't wait to see what the author shares with us next!!
A vampiric revenge tale focusing on a falsely accused pirate who elects to embrace the title once arising from the ocean's waters undead.
Claire Vessia wasn't a pirate when she was sentenced to death... well not really anyway. Her Captain had decided to embrace a life of crime, not her, but she couldn't very well do anything about it. As the sole survivor onboard after an attack, the Navy—needing someone to shackle and blame—chose to promote her.
The gallows await her, but a mysterious noblewoman with even more secretive motives alleges that her help will free Claire from the noose. Dying, betrayed twice-over, she arises as a vampire who will allow an ocean of blood to trail behind her in the quest for justice or perhaps more fittingly, vengeance.
I was delighted to be given an ARC, as the bloodier a vampire novel the better. Couple that with a diverse cast of characters and a female lead with serial killer tendencies and you've described my ideal story. The action scenes were absolutely fascinating and palpable, I could almost feel the ocean's spray and hear the cannons' roar as The Wraith set her sights on fresh prey.
The work to truly understand the life of a pirate was done here, and stupendously at that. I'd like to commend the author for the level of detail and authenticity in this novel. Piracy wasn't just set-dressing here to pick up or put down as needed for flavor text, it oozed off every page. Combining piracy and vampirism wasn't something I'd ever considered before and it worked beautifully!!
I loved every minute reading this story, and can't wait to see what the author shares with us next!!
October 4, 2024
Thank you so much for the ARC! It was an absolute honor to receive and read your work!
Up until the 70% mark or so, I'd been on the fence about the whole thing. Don't get me wrong -the characters and world building are pretty great, and enjoyable down to the last. But for me, personally, it took a really long time to get to the main conflict. There's almost too much backstory, at least at first, that might have been better formatted as sprinkled throughout the book as opposed to a linear scale.
It's a bit hard to explain.
There is one small bit of criticism I'd like to leave, in good faith. As a LGBT person myself, (trans, pan), I would like to say that some of the LGBT content was too-heavy handed. There's a lot of telling instead of showing, like with Charlotte's pronouns, for example. Representation is so important for people like us, but I feel like it could be edited to flow with the story a bit better, and blend in with the over-arching theme of the book!
However, once the book kicked off and went over that hill, it sped up FAST. And it was fantastic. It resolves in a satisfying way that I won't spoil for you, and overall the book left me drowning in my feelings as a trans person myself.
It sounds like there might be another book and if so, count me in!!
Up until the 70% mark or so, I'd been on the fence about the whole thing. Don't get me wrong -the characters and world building are pretty great, and enjoyable down to the last. But for me, personally, it took a really long time to get to the main conflict. There's almost too much backstory, at least at first, that might have been better formatted as sprinkled throughout the book as opposed to a linear scale.
It's a bit hard to explain.
There is one small bit of criticism I'd like to leave, in good faith. As a LGBT person myself, (trans, pan), I would like to say that some of the LGBT content was too-heavy handed. There's a lot of telling instead of showing, like with Charlotte's pronouns, for example. Representation is so important for people like us, but I feel like it could be edited to flow with the story a bit better, and blend in with the over-arching theme of the book!
However, once the book kicked off and went over that hill, it sped up FAST. And it was fantastic. It resolves in a satisfying way that I won't spoil for you, and overall the book left me drowning in my feelings as a trans person myself.
It sounds like there might be another book and if so, count me in!!
August 19, 2024
Thank you to the author for an arc! If Cat Rector recommends it, I'm reading it, and I'm glad I did!
I'm a sucker for morally grey vampires and/or pirates, but morally grey vampire pirates? Yes, please.
My gauge for fantasy reads is how badly I'd want to see it on screen, and this book would be amazing on screen with all the kick-assery Captain Vessia hands out.
Vessia is out for revenge against the woman who turned her, and she will stop at nothing. A love interest almost does, but she sails on to find her answers.
I loved how each chapter began with insight into background players and action, and especially the insight into Vampyri lore by one Valerie Du Bois, Scholar Lord of Draculesti. Like, come on!!!!! Chef's kiss on that rank title, I want to go to Draculesti academy. I volunteer as tribute!
I also really appreciated the glossary of naval terminology at the end, I didn't know port from starboard.
I gave this book four starts only because I want more of Captain Vessia and more of Vampyri lore, and maybe a spin-off of Valerie Du Bois, but there are plans for a sequel, with, what seems like, another kick-ass main character, so I will wait with bated breath and update the rating to five stars then!
I'm a sucker for morally grey vampires and/or pirates, but morally grey vampire pirates? Yes, please.
My gauge for fantasy reads is how badly I'd want to see it on screen, and this book would be amazing on screen with all the kick-assery Captain Vessia hands out.
Vessia is out for revenge against the woman who turned her, and she will stop at nothing. A love interest almost does, but she sails on to find her answers.
I loved how each chapter began with insight into background players and action, and especially the insight into Vampyri lore by one Valerie Du Bois, Scholar Lord of Draculesti. Like, come on!!!!! Chef's kiss on that rank title, I want to go to Draculesti academy. I volunteer as tribute!
I also really appreciated the glossary of naval terminology at the end, I didn't know port from starboard.
I gave this book four starts only because I want more of Captain Vessia and more of Vampyri lore, and maybe a spin-off of Valerie Du Bois, but there are plans for a sequel, with, what seems like, another kick-ass main character, so I will wait with bated breath and update the rating to five stars then!
January 2, 2025
Gods I loved this book!
I rarely find books that have me so enthralled from the first few chapters and make me like a character so fast. Having read the blurb and knowing what was coming for Claire in the first few chalters made for such excellent tension that I had to take a break from reading ( because if you don't read it, it didn't happen, right??).
I am however very happy I continued reading! There are many things I liked about this book from the way it treated the vampyri, the plot, the adventures, the ending… to fact that I experienced a roller coaster of emotions reading this book from worry to amusement to butterflies to so much warmth in my heart.
But most of all I loved, loved, loved the pirate crew and the wonderful bond between them. So diverse, so colourful, so piratey. I love them so much I want to learn to draw just so I can make all the fanart.
So anyway - gushing over - time to go make my friends read it.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I rarely find books that have me so enthralled from the first few chapters and make me like a character so fast. Having read the blurb and knowing what was coming for Claire in the first few chalters made for such excellent tension that I had to take a break from reading ( because if you don't read it, it didn't happen, right??).
I am however very happy I continued reading! There are many things I liked about this book from the way it treated the vampyri, the plot, the adventures, the ending… to fact that I experienced a roller coaster of emotions reading this book from worry to amusement to butterflies to so much warmth in my heart.
But most of all I loved, loved, loved the pirate crew and the wonderful bond between them. So diverse, so colourful, so piratey. I love them so much I want to learn to draw just so I can make all the fanart.
So anyway - gushing over - time to go make my friends read it.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2025
This was an amazing story. I loved Claire right from the beginning. The cast of this book is well developed, with each named character having depth. There is a lot more to each of these characters and I hope there is some exploration of that in further books. Ameritia Got the end she deserved and I was here for it. The way Moira had to disguise herself to get there was absolutely heartbreaking and devastating.
I did really like the slow burn romance of this and wish we had a more graphic description of Claire and Moira's first night together. Quite the intriguing ending, leaving a lot of room to grow as a series.
On the negative side, this book does a lot of telling versus showing, especially in the first couple of chapters. Also, this book needed a better editor. The grammar was often lacking and made it difficult to understand some parts of the story. It also impacted heavy scenes, which was jarring to read and disrupted my flow of reading several times.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I did really like the slow burn romance of this and wish we had a more graphic description of Claire and Moira's first night together. Quite the intriguing ending, leaving a lot of room to grow as a series.
On the negative side, this book does a lot of telling versus showing, especially in the first couple of chapters. Also, this book needed a better editor. The grammar was often lacking and made it difficult to understand some parts of the story. It also impacted heavy scenes, which was jarring to read and disrupted my flow of reading several times.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2025
I was given this book complimentary from Book Sirens in e-book form in return for my honest review. Everything stated in this review is of my own opinion and I was not compensated monetarily for providing this review.
The story of a vampire's search for revenge and finding love along the path. Claire Vessia starts the story almost as a plaything of fate, escaping from a bad home situation she heads to sea as seems to be the route of preference for young girls in this world to escape bad relationships. Stumbling into piracy with the rest of her crew she end up sentenced to death as the sole survivor, her captor gives her the title Captain to increase his personal glory - which as the last one still living I guess she is. She is turned into a vampire on death row and this is her turning point where she starts to take control. This much is in the book description an here I stop as to go on would enter into the realms of spoilers and I would not wish to ruin anyone's enjoyment of this excellent book.
This book succeeds for me as it is the personal journey of Claire Vessia all the rest including the romance is secondary and it works. Leslie Allen has written a hard to put down page turner.
If this is Book #1 in a series I am very interested to see where the author takes his characters
Five stars and recommend this book
The story of a vampire's search for revenge and finding love along the path. Claire Vessia starts the story almost as a plaything of fate, escaping from a bad home situation she heads to sea as seems to be the route of preference for young girls in this world to escape bad relationships. Stumbling into piracy with the rest of her crew she end up sentenced to death as the sole survivor, her captor gives her the title Captain to increase his personal glory - which as the last one still living I guess she is. She is turned into a vampire on death row and this is her turning point where she starts to take control. This much is in the book description an here I stop as to go on would enter into the realms of spoilers and I would not wish to ruin anyone's enjoyment of this excellent book.
This book succeeds for me as it is the personal journey of Claire Vessia all the rest including the romance is secondary and it works. Leslie Allen has written a hard to put down page turner.
If this is Book #1 in a series I am very interested to see where the author takes his characters
Five stars and recommend this book
December 24, 2025
"Claire... When am I going to convince you you're worth more than the destruction you carve through seas?"
It started off being a potentially entertaining pirate - vampire story, but it's a bit misleading. In the beginning there was intense chemistry between Captain Vessia and Lady Ameritia, which made me think something romantic was going to blossom. But turns out Captain Vessia's love interest is Lady Ameritia's daughter, which in my head kind of results in an odd dynamic.
In comparison to the bold and brazen Vessia, Moira, is a dainty, sheltered princess who tries to learn about the world of piracy. It seems like their contrasting nature serves as a yin-yang binary that pushes the "opposites attract" narrative, but it doesn't feel very organic to me. It just lacks depth and adopts the unoriginal cishet romance trope in fantasy books, one needing to be super masculine vs the fragile feminine girl. I did enjoy the tidbits of quotes in the beginning of each chapter by the scholars/other important figures that reveal the lore of the world.
It started off being a potentially entertaining pirate - vampire story, but it's a bit misleading. In the beginning there was intense chemistry between Captain Vessia and Lady Ameritia, which made me think something romantic was going to blossom. But turns out Captain Vessia's love interest is Lady Ameritia's daughter, which in my head kind of results in an odd dynamic.
In comparison to the bold and brazen Vessia, Moira, is a dainty, sheltered princess who tries to learn about the world of piracy. It seems like their contrasting nature serves as a yin-yang binary that pushes the "opposites attract" narrative, but it doesn't feel very organic to me. It just lacks depth and adopts the unoriginal cishet romance trope in fantasy books, one needing to be super masculine vs the fragile feminine girl. I did enjoy the tidbits of quotes in the beginning of each chapter by the scholars/other important figures that reveal the lore of the world.
October 4, 2024
A lesbian vampire pirate captain on a trauma revenge mission falling in love with a badass trans princess with mommy issues, while surrounded by a very queer found family pirate crew? Oh yes, this was good.
The main character, Claire Vessia, is a delight to follow. She's morally grey and there is a lot of exploration of whether she's a monster or not and if yes, if she was made that way or not. I have a weakness for main characters who struggle with trauma, so I loved her character a lot. I wish we got to see more of how the end of this story impacted her, but maybe it will be in a next part, because I hear this will be a series! Yay!
I liked that the pirate crew was so queer. There were so many fun characters. The writing style was also great and the story was engaging throughout. Even though I loved Pirates of the Caribbean as a teen, I hadn't found a pirate fantasy I really liked until this book. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series brings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The main character, Claire Vessia, is a delight to follow. She's morally grey and there is a lot of exploration of whether she's a monster or not and if yes, if she was made that way or not. I have a weakness for main characters who struggle with trauma, so I loved her character a lot. I wish we got to see more of how the end of this story impacted her, but maybe it will be in a next part, because I hear this will be a series! Yay!
I liked that the pirate crew was so queer. There were so many fun characters. The writing style was also great and the story was engaging throughout. Even though I loved Pirates of the Caribbean as a teen, I hadn't found a pirate fantasy I really liked until this book. I can't wait to see what the rest of the series brings.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 13, 2024
I received an ARC of this book for free for an honest review
A vampire pirate and a princess… what’s not to love. Captain Claire Vessia was wronged and The Revenge of Captain Vessia takes you on Claire’s journey of how she survives, thrives, and conquers. You’ll meet a diverse group of characters that have their own issues, but they are so real and relatable you can’t help but root for them. In fact, you might even find yourself wanting to join their crew. There is so much going on in this book that it will keep you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put it down. The angst between Claire and Moira is intense with the love, hate, and trust issues going on. I loved watching Claire’s growth and decisions she made as the story went on.
I loved this book! Well done Leslie Allen and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! She made a fan out of me. It is a must read book if you like pirates or vampires!
***I would love to see this made into an audiobook***
A vampire pirate and a princess… what’s not to love. Captain Claire Vessia was wronged and The Revenge of Captain Vessia takes you on Claire’s journey of how she survives, thrives, and conquers. You’ll meet a diverse group of characters that have their own issues, but they are so real and relatable you can’t help but root for them. In fact, you might even find yourself wanting to join their crew. There is so much going on in this book that it will keep you on the edge of your seat and not wanting to put it down. The angst between Claire and Moira is intense with the love, hate, and trust issues going on. I loved watching Claire’s growth and decisions she made as the story went on.
I loved this book! Well done Leslie Allen and I can’t wait to read what she writes next! She made a fan out of me. It is a must read book if you like pirates or vampires!
***I would love to see this made into an audiobook***
February 9, 2025
I can’t believe this is a debut novel. This book was bloody brilliant (pardon the pun
🩸 🦷 🤣 🧛🏻♀️) It’s gripping from beginning to end and I think like Moira, I also fell in love with Captain Claire Vessia. This is a little spicy 🌶️
This story has so many layers, and if you are triggered easily it can be sad, as someone who was a teen in the 90’s and not able to come out as a lesbian out of shame and fear, this book hits home a lot, the shame of thinking there is something wrong with you and then having your family reject you because you are simply you is heartbreaking and we get to feel these feelings through Moira.
A true example that sometimes the family we forge ourselves are the ones that matter the most over the ones who make us.
I urge you to read this book. It’s beautiful and exhilarating.
I received an advance review copy for free, thanks to book siren and the author. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🩸 🦷 🤣 🧛🏻♀️) It’s gripping from beginning to end and I think like Moira, I also fell in love with Captain Claire Vessia. This is a little spicy 🌶️
This story has so many layers, and if you are triggered easily it can be sad, as someone who was a teen in the 90’s and not able to come out as a lesbian out of shame and fear, this book hits home a lot, the shame of thinking there is something wrong with you and then having your family reject you because you are simply you is heartbreaking and we get to feel these feelings through Moira.
A true example that sometimes the family we forge ourselves are the ones that matter the most over the ones who make us.
I urge you to read this book. It’s beautiful and exhilarating.
I received an advance review copy for free, thanks to book siren and the author. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 17, 2024
This sapphic dark fantasy is a well-written vampire pirate x princess enemies-to-lovers romance.
The characters have such depth, from the main to the secondary characters. Claire's plight in having to choose between the family she's built for herself and her quest for revenge is well set out and well developed. The book also does a good job, in my opinion, of delivering a beautiful trans character. Often I find some authors' depiction of trans characters to be a bit cringe. It was not the case here. The story and the characters are beautifully written.
I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters have such depth, from the main to the secondary characters. Claire's plight in having to choose between the family she's built for herself and her quest for revenge is well set out and well developed. The book also does a good job, in my opinion, of delivering a beautiful trans character. Often I find some authors' depiction of trans characters to be a bit cringe. It was not the case here. The story and the characters are beautifully written.
I am looking forward to the next installment in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 7, 2025
Sapphic pirates and Vampires? Yes, please! Along with those two fabulous things, the world building is fantastic, the romance is a sweet slow burn, lots of swashbuckling action and the best pirate found family! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The story begins with ‘Captain’ Vessia being sentenced to death in a week's time. While in the dungeon awaiting that fate, we are introduced to a mysterious woman that makes promises in unexpected ways. After being hanged, Vessia awakens to a new ‘life’ with vengeance in her heart and a hunger for blood. The story continues five years later.
Wonderfully written. Strong storyline. Well rounded characters. Well paced, interesting and exciting. Recommend!
The story begins with ‘Captain’ Vessia being sentenced to death in a week's time. While in the dungeon awaiting that fate, we are introduced to a mysterious woman that makes promises in unexpected ways. After being hanged, Vessia awakens to a new ‘life’ with vengeance in her heart and a hunger for blood. The story continues five years later.
Wonderfully written. Strong storyline. Well rounded characters. Well paced, interesting and exciting. Recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews