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Piracy for Lovers #1
Drowned in the Name of Love
IN THE HEART OF THE NINE SEAS, LOYALTY IS A WEAPON, AND LOVE IS A RISK NONE SURVIVE UNSCATHED.
The tragic murder of her father, the famed Pirate King - and the revolutionary waves it left behind - bound Donna Balboa to a life of privilege within the oppressive walls of Tidia’s court. For years, she’s felt trapped in the place she once called home, secretly breaking a forbidden law that keeps nobles from the shore and ships from the sea. Yet each night, she risks everything to chase her only dream: to sail the seas as a pirate, just as her father once did.
But the call of the waves is undeniable, whispering of something greater beyond the horizon. And after years of praying to the heavens, an unexpected twist shatters what should have been the most important day of her life, entangling her with the crew of a notorious ship - and its infamous, wanted captain. A captain haunted by a past that even the Gods seem unwilling to forgive, and as their bond deepens, so do the nightmares and omens that threaten to expose secrets which could doom any chance at what Donna believes could be love.
Pursued by Kingdoms for embracing the pirate code, Donna Balboa must navigate treacherous waters, caught in tides of vengeance and ancient mysteries. When she discovers she holds the key to unlocking a power the Gods themselves seem to fear, Donna must decide where her true allegiance lies.
BUT THE GODS AND THE SEAS ARE FICKLE, AND LOVE, VENGEANCE, AND SURVIVAL DON’T ALWAYS SAIL THE SAME COURSE.
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Once Upon a Broken Heart in this spellbinding romantic fantasy of adventure, curses, betrayal, and forbidden love on the high seas.
The tragic murder of her father, the famed Pirate King - and the revolutionary waves it left behind - bound Donna Balboa to a life of privilege within the oppressive walls of Tidia’s court. For years, she’s felt trapped in the place she once called home, secretly breaking a forbidden law that keeps nobles from the shore and ships from the sea. Yet each night, she risks everything to chase her only dream: to sail the seas as a pirate, just as her father once did.
But the call of the waves is undeniable, whispering of something greater beyond the horizon. And after years of praying to the heavens, an unexpected twist shatters what should have been the most important day of her life, entangling her with the crew of a notorious ship - and its infamous, wanted captain. A captain haunted by a past that even the Gods seem unwilling to forgive, and as their bond deepens, so do the nightmares and omens that threaten to expose secrets which could doom any chance at what Donna believes could be love.
Pursued by Kingdoms for embracing the pirate code, Donna Balboa must navigate treacherous waters, caught in tides of vengeance and ancient mysteries. When she discovers she holds the key to unlocking a power the Gods themselves seem to fear, Donna must decide where her true allegiance lies.
BUT THE GODS AND THE SEAS ARE FICKLE, AND LOVE, VENGEANCE, AND SURVIVAL DON’T ALWAYS SAIL THE SAME COURSE.
Pirates of the Caribbean meets Once Upon a Broken Heart in this spellbinding romantic fantasy of adventure, curses, betrayal, and forbidden love on the high seas.
463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2025
About the author
Rut S. Díaz
1 book209 followersRut S. Díaz is a spanish art historian and storyteller with a passion for weaving love (a lot of it), art, and adventure into every tale.
Drawing inspiration from the rich textures of history and the sweeping beauty of the sea, her stories brim with heartfelt and creative expression.
When she's not writing, you'll likely find her exploring the mysteries of art, dreaming up new characters, or enjoying the ocean's endless horizon.
Dive into her works and discover stories that celebrate the beauty of human connection and the timeless allure of art.
Drawing inspiration from the rich textures of history and the sweeping beauty of the sea, her stories brim with heartfelt and creative expression.
When she's not writing, you'll likely find her exploring the mysteries of art, dreaming up new characters, or enjoying the ocean's endless horizon.
Dive into her works and discover stories that celebrate the beauty of human connection and the timeless allure of art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 487 reviews
February 10, 2025
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・“𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓪𝓲𝓶, 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓮, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓭𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓭.”・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
➸ 4.75 stars ~spoiler-free review💫~
Pub. Date: OUT NOW!!
Happy Release Day to this wonderful book!🏹🐚🏴☠️✨️ Wow, this book was a breath of fresh air! tbh, when I started this book, I didn't know if I was going to love it because reading stories about pirates had never been my thing since childhood. But this book changed my whole perspective of this genre, and to simply put it, "Aye, I think I love pirates now." 🤭🩷
What to expect 💌:
🐚 YA Romantasy
🐚 Daring Pirates
🐚 Found Family
🐚 Forced Proximity
🐚 Mythology
🐚 Slow Burn
🐚 Morally Grey Characters
It's so adventurous from the very beginning, I was wholly immersed into the story of Donna Balboa, the once famed pirate's daughter now living a life trapped like "a bird in cage" in the royal palace. She has always considered herself a pirate because of her father's legacy. Her kingdom, along with the other three kingdoms, banned sailing in the sea and killed pirates like her father. She longs to travel by the sea in a ship. Her soft-hearted nature, her willingness to do anything, and then how her character develops into a strong pirate is what I loved in this book!!🥹🫶🏻
She meets Captain Calico Pierce, the most wanted pirate of her time, under some unfortunate circumstances, who rescues her and whisks her away into the sea. He has the most "die for it smirks," but behind all his smiles is his own looming past. I really loved seeing him. Together, their banters, their wittiness, made this book a whole lot more beautiful! I was really giggling & kicking my feet whenever Calico had something to say to Donna.😁💓
Alongside them were Calico's crew, Ela, Raaq, Jonah, Efren & Ceol. They showed so much support and belief in Donna when she didn't believe in herself. I loved how because of them, she learned to trust again and love again. They were always there for her whenever she needed them. They made a huge impact on her life when she thought she lost everything!🥺❤️🩹
I hope everyone gives this beautiful piece of writing a chance. Trust me, you'll love it! The ending did really shatter my heart into pieces. The twists weren't something I expected, I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW 😭✋🏼
🌶chps: NONE!!!
Thankyou to the Author for giving me the arc in exchange for an honest review!💖
𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 💌:
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🐚12/02/25
4.75 stars? rtc. sobbing, WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWWWW 😭✋🏻
⤿🐚10/02/25
finally reading this arc, the premise sounds promising! hoping this isn't another disappointing arc for me like the previous one!😭🤞🏻💓
➸ 4.75 stars ~spoiler-free review💫~
Pub. Date: OUT NOW!!
Happy Release Day to this wonderful book!🏹🐚🏴☠️✨️ Wow, this book was a breath of fresh air! tbh, when I started this book, I didn't know if I was going to love it because reading stories about pirates had never been my thing since childhood. But this book changed my whole perspective of this genre, and to simply put it, "Aye, I think I love pirates now." 🤭🩷
What to expect 💌:
🐚 YA Romantasy
🐚 Daring Pirates
🐚 Found Family
🐚 Forced Proximity
🐚 Mythology
🐚 Slow Burn
🐚 Morally Grey Characters
It's so adventurous from the very beginning, I was wholly immersed into the story of Donna Balboa, the once famed pirate's daughter now living a life trapped like "a bird in cage" in the royal palace. She has always considered herself a pirate because of her father's legacy. Her kingdom, along with the other three kingdoms, banned sailing in the sea and killed pirates like her father. She longs to travel by the sea in a ship. Her soft-hearted nature, her willingness to do anything, and then how her character develops into a strong pirate is what I loved in this book!!🥹🫶🏻
She meets Captain Calico Pierce, the most wanted pirate of her time, under some unfortunate circumstances, who rescues her and whisks her away into the sea. He has the most "die for it smirks," but behind all his smiles is his own looming past. I really loved seeing him. Together, their banters, their wittiness, made this book a whole lot more beautiful! I was really giggling & kicking my feet whenever Calico had something to say to Donna.😁💓
Alongside them were Calico's crew, Ela, Raaq, Jonah, Efren & Ceol. They showed so much support and belief in Donna when she didn't believe in herself. I loved how because of them, she learned to trust again and love again. They were always there for her whenever she needed them. They made a huge impact on her life when she thought she lost everything!🥺❤️🩹
I hope everyone gives this beautiful piece of writing a chance. Trust me, you'll love it! The ending did really shatter my heart into pieces. The twists weren't something I expected, I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWW 😭✋🏼
🌶chps: NONE!!!
Thankyou to the Author for giving me the arc in exchange for an honest review!💖
𝓢𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓿𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 💌:
“Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think.”
“The heart of yours, Donna, is what is going to take you everywhere. You could lead armies with it.”
“You owe me a bullet love.”
“What kind of pirate are you?”
“One of those you like to call lovers, I suppose.”
“You do that a lot.”
“Smile?”
“Blushing like a sunlit coral reef.”
“The most beautiful things in the world are like a siren's song, they call you in only to drown you. So be careful, love. Because beauty is the most dangerous lie, a trap that lures you closer to your own undoing.”
“Don't fret, love. I'll get you another diamond. A bigger one.”
“Couldn't have done it without you, love.”
“That last miss was deliberate, wasn't it?”
“More like the last three, I would say.”
“Words like 'kiss'? Who have you been thinking of kissing love?”
“Are you eavesdropping on me, Captain?”
“I wish I was. But no matter the time of day, I find myself on my knees, begging Ventus to give me at least a handful of remnants of what he hears you whisper up there all alone to the waves.”
“Your coral reef blush gives you away, love. As it always does.”
“Only those who are willing to drown in the name of love are heard with sincerity, for they are the bravest souls.”
“There are people out there, terrible people, that kill for many things. For enjoyment, for greed, for power, for religion... But we don't. We kill because we love. As disgusting as you think that might sound.”
“This crew is your family now, we take care of the burdens that each one of us want to share, and the ones we don't, the ones that remain stored deep inside of us, those we understand them from silence.”
“Careful now, love. Or I'll start thinking you pay too much attention to me and nightmares will no longer be what haunts my nights.”
“Try not to smile like that to The King. Or I fear he'll be forced to unleash a war against me.”
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷・❥・𝓟𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀・❥・ˏˋ°•*⁀➷
⤿🐚12/02/25
4.75 stars? rtc. sobbing, WHAT WAS THAT ENDING? I NEED BOOK 2 NOWWWWWW 😭✋🏻
⤿🐚10/02/25
finally reading this arc, the premise sounds promising! hoping this isn't another disappointing arc for me like the previous one!😭🤞🏻💓
November 27, 2024
"Love had always been my creed. I had always believed it was the highest calling, the purest expression of life." 💌🏹⚓️🕊️🐚
Sometimes I like to think that I was made to love and relate to soft, love hearted female main characters in books. There is something so beautiful, comforting and mesmerizing about a character who finds strength in her feelings, in the power of love and all it has to offer: the good and the bad.
When I was introduced to Donna, I knew that she will become one of my favorite, most cherished soul characters: she felt like an extension of myself, someone I could relate to deeply and figuratively. Her character development through the story was astonishing, inspiring and in some way healed something within me, specially seeing her finding a family of her own. She was my favorite part of this story and I hope she became yours too.
The romance was a slow torture, filled with so much banter (my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much), intimate moments that felt so pure that were just for them to see. One of my favorite things about young adult fantasies is that they can make me feel so much just with one single look between the characters: those secretive glances, unspoken words that say so much will always do it for me.
Rut stole my heart with this debut I cannot wait to read the continuation of this story. The ending had me sobbing and I was so pleased with it. This book is for the lovers and the dreamers. If you loved the whimsical aspect of once upon a broken heart by stephanie garber and the fun of pirates of the caribbean, then this is the book for you (I swear calico and donna gave me anastasia and dimitri vibes at times)
Sometimes I like to think that I was made to love and relate to soft, love hearted female main characters in books. There is something so beautiful, comforting and mesmerizing about a character who finds strength in her feelings, in the power of love and all it has to offer: the good and the bad.
When I was introduced to Donna, I knew that she will become one of my favorite, most cherished soul characters: she felt like an extension of myself, someone I could relate to deeply and figuratively. Her character development through the story was astonishing, inspiring and in some way healed something within me, specially seeing her finding a family of her own. She was my favorite part of this story and I hope she became yours too.
The romance was a slow torture, filled with so much banter (my cheeks were hurting from smiling so much), intimate moments that felt so pure that were just for them to see. One of my favorite things about young adult fantasies is that they can make me feel so much just with one single look between the characters: those secretive glances, unspoken words that say so much will always do it for me.
Rut stole my heart with this debut I cannot wait to read the continuation of this story. The ending had me sobbing and I was so pleased with it. This book is for the lovers and the dreamers. If you loved the whimsical aspect of once upon a broken heart by stephanie garber and the fun of pirates of the caribbean, then this is the book for you (I swear calico and donna gave me anastasia and dimitri vibes at times)
June 13, 2025
I am completely baffled. I first heard about this book on TikTok where it was raved about by everybody. Then I see all the amazing reviews on here - hell, it’s got an over 4 star average. I just don’t understand. This was easily the worst written book I’ve ever read. The technical skills of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary were atrocious and at times non-existent. My Kindle highlights/notes are only a fraction of the clear mistakes that any sort of editor - literally just another person reading it - should have caught. Run-on sentences seem to be a favorite device, as if throwing commas in random places suddenly makes the sentence coherent. Also, a dictionary is a great free tool to check that the words you’re using actually mean what you’re intending.
The concept was great; it’s why I picked up the book in the first place. I mean, who doesn’t love pirates and romance? What I didn’t love were the specific pirates in question. I get that the author was trying to create a softer, more feminine FMC in a genre that is currently saturated with strong badasses. However, soft and feminine shouldn’t mean she’s stupid and naïve. Multiple times, Donna does stupid things “in the name of lOvE”…for example, why would she introduce herself during a covert mission as Lady Love, a nickname that has been used for her previously and which has connections to the gods? So much for flying under the radar. Or the whole mermaid thing…your dad has been dead for like 15 years but magically he’s sitting there just waiting for you to call all your friends? Her internal monologue just goes on and on and on…….we GET IT, you love love and sunshine and roses and you’ve got the tinglies re: Calico and you don’t know what’s going on.
Speaking of Calico, why the hell is he smirking every five seconds? Matter of fact, why is everybody laughing all the time? The character interactions felt unnatural and not at all how normal humans act. The writing was soooo flowery to the point of being unrealistic dialogue. Why are the first mate and cook and everybody else always waxing poetic about lOvE like they’re Shakespeare? This plus Donna’s never-ending monologues made this book way longer than it needed to be.
I lost track of how many times I wanted to DNF this book, but I kept going just so I could rate it and have a fully informed negative opinion. The technical writing alone killed me, and the story was in no way able to redeem it even a bit.
The concept was great; it’s why I picked up the book in the first place. I mean, who doesn’t love pirates and romance? What I didn’t love were the specific pirates in question. I get that the author was trying to create a softer, more feminine FMC in a genre that is currently saturated with strong badasses. However, soft and feminine shouldn’t mean she’s stupid and naïve. Multiple times, Donna does stupid things “in the name of lOvE”…for example, why would she introduce herself during a covert mission as Lady Love, a nickname that has been used for her previously and which has connections to the gods? So much for flying under the radar. Or the whole mermaid thing…your dad has been dead for like 15 years but magically he’s sitting there just waiting for you to call all your friends? Her internal monologue just goes on and on and on…….we GET IT, you love love and sunshine and roses and you’ve got the tinglies re: Calico and you don’t know what’s going on.
Speaking of Calico, why the hell is he smirking every five seconds? Matter of fact, why is everybody laughing all the time? The character interactions felt unnatural and not at all how normal humans act. The writing was soooo flowery to the point of being unrealistic dialogue. Why are the first mate and cook and everybody else always waxing poetic about lOvE like they’re Shakespeare? This plus Donna’s never-ending monologues made this book way longer than it needed to be.
I lost track of how many times I wanted to DNF this book, but I kept going just so I could rate it and have a fully informed negative opinion. The technical writing alone killed me, and the story was in no way able to redeem it even a bit.
November 28, 2024
𝟓 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡 (HAPPY RELEASE DAY 🎀🐚✨💌🥂)
"𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒔."
If you’re ready to be embarked on an adventure drowned in prophecies of the sea and piracy, tragic love, and vibrant tales filled with endearing characters, ‘𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒’ is the only right answer.
this isn’t just a tale of stolen treasures and swashbuckling juts; it’s a story infused with salt and fate, where prophecies anchor souls tighter than any rope.
at its heart stands 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚; a tempest clad in pink amidst a world of rust and steel, a flame haired force of nature fierce enough to carve her own legend into the sea. and then there’s 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨; half Flynn Rider’s charm, half Captain Hook’s dangerous allure. he is the storm to Donna’s fire, the smirk behind the sword, a pirate with shadows stitched into his past and a heart that betrays him at every turn.
alongside them sails a crew as wild as the sea, their stories etched in laughter and scars, plus a hilarious parrot with a wit sharper than any cutlass. but beneath the banter and battles lies a love story tangled in storm winds, sacrifice, and whispered promises. It is about the ghosts we chase, the legacies we inherit, and the love that anchors us even when the waves try to tear us apart.
the ending shattered my heart; I sobbed from the sheer impact of the plot twist. just when I thought I had everything figured out. now, I’m left desperately waiting for the next installment to see how it all unfolds.
———-
this was my first beta-read and i was so honored to be one of the very first readers to devour this masterpiece ❤️🩹 it took me some time to gather my thoughts and find all the maritime vocabulary to give this book justice 🩵
——————
a freaking MASTERPIECE
"𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒚, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒔."
If you’re ready to be embarked on an adventure drowned in prophecies of the sea and piracy, tragic love, and vibrant tales filled with endearing characters, ‘𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑁𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒’ is the only right answer.
this isn’t just a tale of stolen treasures and swashbuckling juts; it’s a story infused with salt and fate, where prophecies anchor souls tighter than any rope.
at its heart stands 𝐃𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚; a tempest clad in pink amidst a world of rust and steel, a flame haired force of nature fierce enough to carve her own legend into the sea. and then there’s 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨; half Flynn Rider’s charm, half Captain Hook’s dangerous allure. he is the storm to Donna’s fire, the smirk behind the sword, a pirate with shadows stitched into his past and a heart that betrays him at every turn.
alongside them sails a crew as wild as the sea, their stories etched in laughter and scars, plus a hilarious parrot with a wit sharper than any cutlass. but beneath the banter and battles lies a love story tangled in storm winds, sacrifice, and whispered promises. It is about the ghosts we chase, the legacies we inherit, and the love that anchors us even when the waves try to tear us apart.
the ending shattered my heart; I sobbed from the sheer impact of the plot twist. just when I thought I had everything figured out. now, I’m left desperately waiting for the next installment to see how it all unfolds.
———-
this was my first beta-read and i was so honored to be one of the very first readers to devour this masterpiece ❤️🩹 it took me some time to gather my thoughts and find all the maritime vocabulary to give this book justice 🩵
——————
a freaking MASTERPIECE
Want to Read
May 22, 2025CLEAN YA PIRATE ROMANTASY?? sign me up ✍️
April 30, 2026
𐔌 . ⋮ drowned in the name of love🫧 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
this book honestly felt like saltwater in an open wound (and yes, the irony of that is absolutely intentional 🤧). somehow it managed to be both heartbreaking and weirdly comforting at the same time, and i got so attached to these characters way faster than i expected. the atmosphere, the emotions, the yearning!!! i already know this is going to stay in my head for a while.
what to expect .ᐟ
— pirate romantasy
— found family
— mythology & divine interventions
— aching romance
— banter filled with tension
— betrayal & loyalty
— pink, talking parrot (coco appreciation!!)
𐔌 . ⋮ summary🌊 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
after years of feeling trapped in a life she never truly wanted, donna balboa ends up thrown into the world she’s secretly dreamed about for years: piracy. suddenly she’s aboard a ship full of chaotic pirates, ancient secrets, gods that seem way too involved in everyone’s business, and a captain who is somehow both emotionally unavailable and down horrendous at the same time.
what starts off feeling like a fun sea adventure slowly becomes something much bigger and more emotional, with betrayals, prophecies, found family, and a romance that genuinely had me stressing every other chapter. if pirates of the caribbean and once upon a broken heart had a pink, yearning filled baby, it would probably look something like this.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
donna balboa . . . was honestly one of my favourite parts of this book!! she’s stubborn, emotional, impulsive, and constantly torn between what people expect from her and what she actually wants for herself. i really liked that she didn’t immediately become this fearless, untouchable heroine the second she stepped onto a pirate ship. she still felt scared, frustrated, confused, and very human throughout the story. also, she never abandoned her hope of finding true love, and i really admired her for that.
watching her slowly grow more confident and start carving out her own place in the world was probably one of the most satisfying parts of the book for me. definitely one of the characters i found myself rooting for the entire time 💘
captain calico pierce . . . yeah, i fear i understand the obsession now 🤧
he has a very specific romantasy love interest formula where he’s arrogant, emotionally repressed, secretly miserable, and somehow still charming at the same time. i really liked that beneath all the teasing and confidence, there’s a constant sadness to him that slowly starts peeking through as the story goes on. i can’t wait for his full story to be revealed in book 2!
his dynamic with donna was easily one of my favourite parts of the book. the banter, the tension, the stubbornness, the way they clearly cared about each other long before either of them wanted to admit it 😭 every conversation between them had me giggling one second and stressed the next
𐔌 . ⋮ writing🏹 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the writing felt really atmospheric in a way that made it super easy to picture everything as it was happening. i could see the sea, the ship, the tension between the characters, all of it just unfolded so vividly in my head while i was reading.
that being said, there were a few small moments where the writing style felt a little uneven or pulled me out of the story for a second, but nothing major enough to ruin the experience at all. overall though, it was still really immersive and carried the story beautifully.
𐔌 . ⋮ closing thoughts🐚 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, this was such an atmospheric read and i genuinely had a great time with it 💘 i flew through it in two days because it was so addictive, and even when i wasn’t actively reading it, i kept thinking about it. despite a few small writing hiccups here and there, the experience as a whole really worked for me.
i’m definitely looking forward to the second book because there’s still so much i want to see unfold, especially after that ending ugh 😭 i would 100% recommend this if you’re into pirate romantasy with strong vibes and tension!!
i’ll leave you with my pinterest board ♡ for this book + a few quotes that stuck with me :
”For those who took countless arrows to the heart but still continue to live in the name of love, hoist your colours.”
"Listen to me carefully, Lady Love. Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think."
”I wanted to be all three: the madman, the romantic, and the pirate.”
"That is a very dangerous dress, love."
”Even in suffering, love and beauty are the fruits of our resilience. A rebellion against the darkness that seeks to define us."
"I call them magnificent keepers of secrets and beautiful deceivers of truths that sometimes have to be protected from evil eyes."
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🌊⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
i’ve been seeing this one everywhere lately, and the plot honestly sounds unreal. it follows donna balboa, the daughter of a murdered pirate king, who’s been stuck living a controlled life at court even though all she’s ever wanted is to sail the seas. when something unexpected completely changes her path, she ends up entangled with a notorious pirate crew (and their captain) and gets pulled into a much bigger story.
i’m expecting adventure, tension, found family, and, obviously, a true romance story. judging from the fan art, i don’t think i’ll be disappointed at all!! 🙂↕️
「 ”Only those who are willing to drown in the name of love are heard with sincerity, for they are the bravest souls.” 」
this book honestly felt like saltwater in an open wound (and yes, the irony of that is absolutely intentional 🤧). somehow it managed to be both heartbreaking and weirdly comforting at the same time, and i got so attached to these characters way faster than i expected. the atmosphere, the emotions, the yearning!!! i already know this is going to stay in my head for a while.
what to expect .ᐟ
— pirate romantasy
— found family
— mythology & divine interventions
— aching romance
— banter filled with tension
— betrayal & loyalty
— pink, talking parrot (coco appreciation!!)
𐔌 . ⋮ summary🌊 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
after years of feeling trapped in a life she never truly wanted, donna balboa ends up thrown into the world she’s secretly dreamed about for years: piracy. suddenly she’s aboard a ship full of chaotic pirates, ancient secrets, gods that seem way too involved in everyone’s business, and a captain who is somehow both emotionally unavailable and down horrendous at the same time.
what starts off feeling like a fun sea adventure slowly becomes something much bigger and more emotional, with betrayals, prophecies, found family, and a romance that genuinely had me stressing every other chapter. if pirates of the caribbean and once upon a broken heart had a pink, yearning filled baby, it would probably look something like this.
𐔌 . ⋮ characters⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
donna balboa . . . was honestly one of my favourite parts of this book!! she’s stubborn, emotional, impulsive, and constantly torn between what people expect from her and what she actually wants for herself. i really liked that she didn’t immediately become this fearless, untouchable heroine the second she stepped onto a pirate ship. she still felt scared, frustrated, confused, and very human throughout the story. also, she never abandoned her hope of finding true love, and i really admired her for that.
watching her slowly grow more confident and start carving out her own place in the world was probably one of the most satisfying parts of the book for me. definitely one of the characters i found myself rooting for the entire time 💘
captain calico pierce . . . yeah, i fear i understand the obsession now 🤧
he has a very specific romantasy love interest formula where he’s arrogant, emotionally repressed, secretly miserable, and somehow still charming at the same time. i really liked that beneath all the teasing and confidence, there’s a constant sadness to him that slowly starts peeking through as the story goes on. i can’t wait for his full story to be revealed in book 2!
his dynamic with donna was easily one of my favourite parts of the book. the banter, the tension, the stubbornness, the way they clearly cared about each other long before either of them wanted to admit it 😭 every conversation between them had me giggling one second and stressed the next
𐔌 . ⋮ writing🏹 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
the writing felt really atmospheric in a way that made it super easy to picture everything as it was happening. i could see the sea, the ship, the tension between the characters, all of it just unfolded so vividly in my head while i was reading.
that being said, there were a few small moments where the writing style felt a little uneven or pulled me out of the story for a second, but nothing major enough to ruin the experience at all. overall though, it was still really immersive and carried the story beautifully.
𐔌 . ⋮ closing thoughts🐚 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
overall, this was such an atmospheric read and i genuinely had a great time with it 💘 i flew through it in two days because it was so addictive, and even when i wasn’t actively reading it, i kept thinking about it. despite a few small writing hiccups here and there, the experience as a whole really worked for me.
i’m definitely looking forward to the second book because there’s still so much i want to see unfold, especially after that ending ugh 😭 i would 100% recommend this if you’re into pirate romantasy with strong vibes and tension!!
i’ll leave you with my pinterest board ♡ for this book + a few quotes that stuck with me :
”For those who took countless arrows to the heart but still continue to live in the name of love, hoist your colours.”
"Listen to me carefully, Lady Love. Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think."
”I wanted to be all three: the madman, the romantic, and the pirate.”
"That is a very dangerous dress, love."
”Even in suffering, love and beauty are the fruits of our resilience. A rebellion against the darkness that seeks to define us."
"I call them magnificent keepers of secrets and beautiful deceivers of truths that sometimes have to be protected from evil eyes."
𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🌊⚓️ .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱
i’ve been seeing this one everywhere lately, and the plot honestly sounds unreal. it follows donna balboa, the daughter of a murdered pirate king, who’s been stuck living a controlled life at court even though all she’s ever wanted is to sail the seas. when something unexpected completely changes her path, she ends up entangled with a notorious pirate crew (and their captain) and gets pulled into a much bigger story.
i’m expecting adventure, tension, found family, and, obviously, a true romance story. judging from the fan art, i don’t think i’ll be disappointed at all!! 🙂↕️
July 15, 2025
Ok the vibes were VIBING! I loved the setting, the banter, & all the moments between the FMC & MMC that had me squealing & kicking my feet. Lots of beautiful quotes that I loved!
The pacing was just off?? Once I was halfway through, I got a lot of whiplash & things just felt a little off. There are some editing errors that you also have to try to get past.
Overall, a great concept & fun plot with a super magical setting. I think it just lost me about halfway through & now I’m left with so many questions.
“When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did-unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
The pacing was just off?? Once I was halfway through, I got a lot of whiplash & things just felt a little off. There are some editing errors that you also have to try to get past.
Overall, a great concept & fun plot with a super magical setting. I think it just lost me about halfway through & now I’m left with so many questions.
“When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did-unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
August 15, 2025
No review just these quotes 🩷
” “About how the first thing I thought when I saw her on those shores, was that I had never seen anything more beautiful in my miserable life. About how I had studied and stole every masterpiece, every marble statue, every painting kissed by the hand of a genius, and how nothing I had ever laid eyes on compared to her. About how the first thing I thought when I saw her, was how selfish I felt for being sad because I understood that no artist could ever capture the way she moved and the way she breathed, and therefore her true essence and beauty could never be portrayed in history justly. About how the first thing I thought was that she was beyond anything I had ever known, beyond art itself.
About how I would have gotten down on my knees in that instant and given her the Nine Seas if she had just asked for them.”
““Love. I had always felt like it was only happening around me, and that was the reason I looked for it everywhere: in every corner and little thing, in every day and second, in every book and word, in every rain and drop. I wanted to get lost in it, feeling the need to show everyone where it was because it was true, it was beautiful, and everyone needed to see it, feel it. But I so desperately wanted to be a part of it too.”
““When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did—unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
” “About how the first thing I thought when I saw her on those shores, was that I had never seen anything more beautiful in my miserable life. About how I had studied and stole every masterpiece, every marble statue, every painting kissed by the hand of a genius, and how nothing I had ever laid eyes on compared to her. About how the first thing I thought when I saw her, was how selfish I felt for being sad because I understood that no artist could ever capture the way she moved and the way she breathed, and therefore her true essence and beauty could never be portrayed in history justly. About how the first thing I thought was that she was beyond anything I had ever known, beyond art itself.
About how I would have gotten down on my knees in that instant and given her the Nine Seas if she had just asked for them.”
““Love. I had always felt like it was only happening around me, and that was the reason I looked for it everywhere: in every corner and little thing, in every day and second, in every book and word, in every rain and drop. I wanted to get lost in it, feeling the need to show everyone where it was because it was true, it was beautiful, and everyone needed to see it, feel it. But I so desperately wanted to be a part of it too.”
““When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did—unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
May 23, 2026
#... 2.75 stars rounded up!
⤷ "piracy is for lovers."
spoiler free + mini review!
──★..
⤷ @demolitionlover is sharing her thoughts
despite my low rating, this was not a bad book at all it was a cute romantasy, and involved pirates and chemistry between the two main characters. which was exactly what I was looking for. The writing was easy to follow and it was an entertaining read overall. but, I do have some thoughts. this was a romantasy, so obviously the romance was the focus, and I knew that, but the world building was barley explained and I felt like I was reading a historical romance with magic realism. also, I didn't feel much emotion reading this, there were a few scenes which were supposed to be emotional but I didn't feel anything. but I did feel the chemistry between the two main characters. it was so good!! speaking of the main character's, donna, the main character was boring. She was sweet and the reason I picked this up was because I love reading about sweet fmcs, but she was kind ofreally boring. I didn't find myself entertained by her. I liked her but she's definitely a boring fmc with no depth. as for the mmc, calico, I don't have much to say about him since his pov wasn't included but it was very much needed. I don't care if the mmc's pov is included or not, but I feel like we really needed his pov. We barely find out anything about him because the author tried to make him this mysterious character but that didn't work out since we barely know calico and he's supposed to be the love interest. The author can make him mysterious since that's what she wants and can give him a pov since we really needed that. Not so I can swoon over him and what he says about donna, but we barely understand his character because the author tried so hard to make him mysterious which made him fall flat. Also, this was waaayy too short for a romantasy, 350 pages? For a first book? and a fantasy at that? I've read romance books longer. And speaking of the plot and pages, the plot was so dragged, if it wasn't this book could've been 250 pages MAX. which doesn't work for a romantasy. The ending was so rushed. And the plot twist was the most boring plot twists I've ever read in my life and I expected that plot twist since the first chapter. I would've preferred if this "plot twist" wasn't included in the first place. You know the feeling when you read a book with a dragged plot which is somehow fast paced? I don't know how to put it into words but it was EXACTLY THAT. I would recommend this book for people getting into fantasy/romantasy since it doesn't have much world building and for people who want a fast paced read. Despite my criticism I did enjoy it. And I very much would recommend it !
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🧸࿐
⤷ "piracy is for lovers."
spoiler free + mini review!
──★..
⤷ @demolitionlover is sharing her thoughts
despite my low rating, this was not a bad book at all it was a cute romantasy, and involved pirates and chemistry between the two main characters. which was exactly what I was looking for. The writing was easy to follow and it was an entertaining read overall. but, I do have some thoughts. this was a romantasy, so obviously the romance was the focus, and I knew that, but the world building was barley explained and I felt like I was reading a historical romance with magic realism. also, I didn't feel much emotion reading this, there were a few scenes which were supposed to be emotional but I didn't feel anything. but I did feel the chemistry between the two main characters. it was so good!! speaking of the main character's, donna, the main character was boring. She was sweet and the reason I picked this up was because I love reading about sweet fmcs, but she was kind of
𓂃 ࣪˖ ִֶָ🧸࿐
August 24, 2025
𓏲 ๋࣭ ࣪ ˖4.75 🌟
I don't know if I should happy or crying rn because
one - WHAT WAS THAT ENDING ? I NEED BOOK 2 NOW
two- JUST FINISHED MY 2025 READING GOAL !
I SWEAR IF DONNA AND CALCICO DONT END TOGETHER AND HAVE THEIR HEA , AM DONE (lie) ..
---
the cover and the concept seem amazing so yes let's go 🙈🤭
I don't know if I should happy or crying rn because
one - WHAT WAS THAT ENDING ? I NEED BOOK 2 NOW
two- JUST FINISHED MY 2025 READING GOAL !
I SWEAR IF DONNA AND CALCICO DONT END TOGETHER AND HAVE THEIR HEA , AM DONE (lie) ..
---
the cover and the concept seem amazing so yes let's go 🙈🤭
August 23, 2026
5⭐️
˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ “𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓪𝓲𝓶, 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓮, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓭𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓭.” ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH WTF
went into this 100% blind & completely enamoured by the fanarts for this series (they're ABSOLUTELY STUNNING please check them out on Rut's socials) 🥺🌸💘 so so SO criminally underrated.
“𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓽𝔂, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓼.”
this was such a breath of fresh air, and really unique take on Piracy with a magic system!! this was a true testatement of Love, written for the ones who wear ther hearts on their sleeves.
when I first picked this up, I didn't think I would love it his much but I was hooked onto this from the very first page till the end. Rut's author note itself already spoke SO MUCH volumes to my broken & once-avoidant heart; i just KNEW that this book will hit me in the feels & that I'll love this.
"𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨.” 🏴☠️
Rut's writing is absolutely beautiful, just like the character art, this felt like a Disney Princess film, with Go The Distance (from Hercules) playing throughout. this was beautiful, immersive, highly atmospheric, and Rut managed to capture so many intricate details of the world building and personalities of each character through whimsical poetry - the imagery was SO VIVID in my head, and I could picture everything including the locations very quickly, along with that magical touch, with love found in every corner of every page.
how is this a debut novel?? Rut has so much talent because I could hear her voice throughout the book, and this exceeded my expectations by MILES. I'm so in love with this series, and this might be one of my favourite reads in 2026???
think of this as Metal Slinger but with pirates and an even yummier, top-notch slow burn & LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARNING. this was executed so PERFECTLY.
always trust these YA novels to deliver gut-wrenching yearning with so much palpable tension!!!! IT MADE ME WANT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT AHHHHHH
(btw, they haven't confessed their feelings or even kissed in this first book, so you KNOW the burn is good, GOOD.) the longing stares, the stolen glances, the lingering touches - it literally made me feel like I was going to combust for real. UGH.
I honestly couldn't expect what was coming next, and I certainly DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING WTF? the plot was thoroughly fleshed out and cleverly twisted with mystery that got me wanting more as it progressed. My guesses for the plot twists were proven wrong, and I loved the actual reveal so much more!!! 🥹💔
love love loveeee the found family aspect, it was so wholesome & heartwarming ugh
we got a glimpse of the everyday pirate life, and the sense of belonging and "family" spirit held so much conviction true to Love; i guess Piracy is truly for lovers . oh, and there's a talking adorable parrot named Coco aboard 🦜💘)
“𝓐 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪.”
now onto my favourite part of the review:
my brave, sweet, gorgeous, kindhearted Donna Balboa - the woman that SHE IS!!!! 🩷💘 i loved her from the very moment she was described in the author's notes, and boy, did I connect so much with her. She made it so so easy to love her, and I will forever & always be grateful to have met her at this vulnerable point in my life.
she's a character that is a lover, and finds her strength in feeling things deeply, turning it into her very own superpower, which is overwhelmingly surprising & emotional to read about when all you've been taught to believe while growing up, is that you're too sensitive, too gentle, feeling too much, or just too much in general. her soul is so soft, so PINK.
i love you Rut, for creating a FMC that cherishes her ability to love so freely and deeply, and sees it not as a weakness, but as a strength. thank you, for seeing and recognizing people like us, for cherishing them, and for giving them a safe space to escape to, when the weight of the world we actually live in gets too heavy.
such a timely reminder that this doesn't make us weak, but only stronger and braver. I really loved seeing her grow into the fierce pirate that she was always meant to be, and she truly is meant for so so much more!!!
"𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚."
lastly, my dearest, dreamy handsome Captain Calico Pierce 💘 UGH WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN. my Flynn Ryder of the seas.
he's easily one of my new favourite MMCs as well, and he is everything you could ask for in a MAN (yes, a man). he has tattoes, rings, and piercings (!!)
he's the definition of HE FALLS FIRST, AND HE FALLS HARDER 😭 this man should be ILLEGAL UGH he made me blush and giggle so many times together with Donna, like the seductive charmer he is. the way he always calls Donna by "Love" got me swooning EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
bro, I was S(CREAMING) every time he opened his filthy mouth lmao
MR TOUCH HER AND YOU DIE - he's so protective of Donna, and places her safety and needs first. Calico is also one for the anxious gurlies like me & Donna 🥺
I really really love the fact that he also creates such a safe space for Donna, knowing how she gets overwhlemed sometimes, to the point of anxiety attacks, and is able to tell when she's about to tip over the edge, even with his own dark struggles. this is honestly such an attractive trait in a man, and I felt so safe with him, though i was witnessing this through the pages.
"𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜," 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜. "𝙞𝙛 𝙞 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙚."
I always look forward to their scenes together because they are THAT buzzy.
but what I loved most about Calico is the depth to his character, because beneath the smirks and smiles, he's actually such a tortured soul with such a complex back story 💔 the ending got my heart WRENCHING IN PAIN TILL NOW.
I'm so glad that I don't need to wait for book 2 because after that ending??? I would be left thinking about it for MONTHS. fortunately, I just managed to get the ARC, but honetsly I didn't know what I was getting into while signing up for it, but NO FRICKING REGRETS AT ALL. a huge pat on my back because I wouldn't have discovered this beautiful series and characters 😭💘 so i guess it's true: Piracy is for lovers; & it might just be the strongest and most magnificent force in this entire universe.
what a magical masterpiece. 🥹🏴☠️🌊🧜🏼♀️🪸🐚🫧🎀🪞💘
──── ୨୧ ────
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆“Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "The sea’s restless heart finds solace in the wind’s tender touch."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Love had always been my creed. I had always believed it was the highest calling, the purest expression of life."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “And for some reason, my full name coming out of a renowned pirate captain’s mouth, was enough to hearten me and start to believe, once and for all, that yes, I was born to be one of those. That I was ready and willing, and that I did have what it took to be a pirate, because after all and before all else, I loved.
I wanted to be all three: the madman, the romantic, and the pirate.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "That’s what it cost me. Seventeen doubloons.”
I swallowed. He bought it? A notorious thief—wanted across all Four Kingdoms of Marethys for his crimes—bought me a dress. A pirate, infamous for stealing, spent his own money on this. On me."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "That is a very big amount of gold, Captain.”
His eyes examined the dress. Up and down, then up again, and then he clenched his jaw, and muttered, “Not enough.”
I had no heart anymore. Surely it must have already exploded from beating too much."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Listen to me carefully, Lady Love. Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Careful now, love. Or I'll start thinking you pay too much attention to me and nightmares will no longer be what haunts my nights.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Try not to smile like that to The King. Or I fear he'll be forced to unleash a war against me.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “The heart of yours, Donna, is what is going to take you everywhere. You could lead armies with it.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "No? Are you calling your books liars?”
“I call them magnificent keepers of secrets and beautiful deceivers of truths that sometimes have to be protected from evil eyes.”
He smirked. “That is a very long name.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "It was in the way he let me be myself, even when I wasn’t sure who that was anymore, even when I was in the process of finding her and he didn't ask me for justifications for simply trying to be. I could feel his care in the way he watched me from afar, not as if I was fragile, but as if I was something he understood without explanation."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "He murmured with disgust, “What a waste of ammunition.”
He faced me, put an arm around my waist, and pulled me extremely close to his chest as he said, “You owe me a bullet, love.”"
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Tell me… Did you invent it just for me? That look of yours?”
"Could you lie to me, if perhaps the answer is no? Just this once. I would never ask you to lie again. Never. I’d believe any lie from your lips tonight… just tonight."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “What kind of pirate are you?”
“One of those you like to call lovers, I suppose.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “What has he offered you?” “I know how he can be, whatever it is, I'll try to double it. Hell, triple it. I will steal every last piece of art left in the Four Kingdoms even if it's the last thing I do. Don't go with him.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚ "Oh, you beautiful torment… What a delightful agony to die in your hands.”
˚𝜗𝜚˚ “Did you smell it? Salt and sugar… all at once. Like having the crisp, briny tang of sea air mixed with a soft undertone of honey.”“Just like you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “Light yet lingering. So lingering that I smell it everywhere, even in my dreams. Especially in my dreams.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “You do that a lot.”
“Smile?”
“Blushing like a sunlit coral reef.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Your coral reef blush gives you away, love. As it always does.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Can you please say it?” he interrupted. “Can you? I said please, isn't that how you like it?” He was smiling again, and my stomach turned upside down."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “About how the first thing I thought when I saw her on those shores, was that I had never seen anything more beautiful in my miserable life.
About how I had studied and stole every masterpiece, every marble statue, every painting kissed by the hand of a genius, and how nothing I had ever laid eyes on compared to her.
About how the first thing I thought when I saw her, was how selfish I felt for being sad because I understood that no artist could ever capture the way she moved and the way she breathed, and therefore her true essence and beauty could never be portrayed in history justly.
About how the first thing I thought was that she was beyond anything I had ever known, beyond art itself.
About how I would have gotten down on my knees in that instant and given her the Nine Seas if she had just asked for them.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “I don’t give a bloody damn about tomorrow. Let me have this night. Just this one.”
“You can make it a secret for the rest of your days. Hell, you can even erase it from your mind, I don't care as long as the memory remains alive in mine. And believe me, love… it will. Just… let me have this one kiss.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Are you eavesdropping on me, Captain?”
“I wish I was. But no matter the time of day, I find myself on my knees, begging Ventus to give me at least a handful of remnants of what he hears you whisper up there all alone to the waves.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Only those who are willing to drown in the name of love are heard with sincerity, for they are the bravest souls.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "This crew is your family now, we take care of the burdens that each one of us want to share, and the ones we don't, the ones that remain stored deep inside of us, those we understand them from silence."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “There are people out there, terrible people, that kill for many things. For enjoyment, for greed, for power, for religion... But we don't. We kill because we love. As disgusting as you think that might sound.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Love. I had always felt like it was only happening around me, and that was the reason I looked for it everywhere: in every corner and little thing, in every day and second, in every book and word, in every rain and drop. I wanted to get lost in it, feeling the need to show everyone where it was because it was true, it was beautiful, and everyone needed to see it, feel it. But I so desperately wanted to be a part of it too.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "How could someone have lived so much in so little time? But then again, it wasn’t that, was it? It was not about little time, it was about me not having lived enough."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Just because something is beautiful doesn't mean it wasn't built out of hate.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did-unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Every part of me ached, not just from the fear or the pain, but from the weight of the truth, from the unbearable sorrow in calico's eyes. he had known me before i knew myself. and yet, here we were, both chained, both helpless. the liar and the betrayed: a drowning tale."
──── ୨୧ ────
some of Rut's words from her author's note:
♡⸝⸝ "it's about the transformative power of love, how one rises no matter how many times the waves try to pull them under."
♡⸝⸝ "those who have been diminished for loving & feeling so much, so fully, and so unapologetically. With those who, as children, hesitated to embrace the colour pink, because the world told us there was no strength in it, when in truth, it is within that very colour where the truest bravery resides."
♡⸝⸝ “There is profound bravery in vulnerability and in choosing love, even when it feels like an impossible risk.”
♡⸝⸝ “this is a story about finding one's place in a world where lines between right and wrong blur, where the heart must navigate treacherous waters both literal and metaphorical, and where love becomes the compass that guides through the storm."
♡⸝⸝ "My greatest hope is that this story reminds you of your own strength—the kind that exists in your tenderness, your vulnerability, and your love.”
˚˖𓍢ִ໋🦢˚ “𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓽, 𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓮 𝓲𝓷 𝓪𝓲𝓶, 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓫𝓮𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓻𝓲𝓼𝓮, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓭𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓭.” ⋆.ೃ࿔*:･
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH WTF
went into this 100% blind & completely enamoured by the fanarts for this series (they're ABSOLUTELY STUNNING please check them out on Rut's socials) 🥺🌸💘 so so SO criminally underrated.
“𝓞𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓭𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓷𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓽𝔂, 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓪𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓼𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓼.”
this was such a breath of fresh air, and really unique take on Piracy with a magic system!! this was a true testatement of Love, written for the ones who wear ther hearts on their sleeves.
when I first picked this up, I didn't think I would love it his much but I was hooked onto this from the very first page till the end. Rut's author note itself already spoke SO MUCH volumes to my broken & once-avoidant heart; i just KNEW that this book will hit me in the feels & that I'll love this.
"𝙁𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙪𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚, 𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙡𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨.” 🏴☠️
Rut's writing is absolutely beautiful, just like the character art, this felt like a Disney Princess film, with Go The Distance (from Hercules) playing throughout. this was beautiful, immersive, highly atmospheric, and Rut managed to capture so many intricate details of the world building and personalities of each character through whimsical poetry - the imagery was SO VIVID in my head, and I could picture everything including the locations very quickly, along with that magical touch, with love found in every corner of every page.
how is this a debut novel?? Rut has so much talent because I could hear her voice throughout the book, and this exceeded my expectations by MILES. I'm so in love with this series, and this might be one of my favourite reads in 2026???
think of this as Metal Slinger but with pirates and an even yummier, top-notch slow burn & LOTS AND LOTS OF YEARNING. this was executed so PERFECTLY.
always trust these YA novels to deliver gut-wrenching yearning with so much palpable tension!!!! IT MADE ME WANT TO RIP MY HAIR OUT AHHHHHH
(btw, they haven't confessed their feelings or even kissed in this first book, so you KNOW the burn is good, GOOD.) the longing stares, the stolen glances, the lingering touches - it literally made me feel like I was going to combust for real. UGH.
I honestly couldn't expect what was coming next, and I certainly DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING WTF? the plot was thoroughly fleshed out and cleverly twisted with mystery that got me wanting more as it progressed. My guesses for the plot twists were proven wrong, and I loved the actual reveal so much more!!! 🥹💔
love love loveeee the found family aspect, it was so wholesome & heartwarming ugh
we got a glimpse of the everyday pirate life, and the sense of belonging and "family" spirit held so much conviction true to Love; i guess Piracy is truly for lovers . oh, and there's a talking adorable parrot named Coco aboard 🦜💘)
“𝓐 𝓹𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓱𝓮, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓪𝓻𝓻𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓪.”
now onto my favourite part of the review:
my brave, sweet, gorgeous, kindhearted Donna Balboa - the woman that SHE IS!!!! 🩷💘 i loved her from the very moment she was described in the author's notes, and boy, did I connect so much with her. She made it so so easy to love her, and I will forever & always be grateful to have met her at this vulnerable point in my life.
she's a character that is a lover, and finds her strength in feeling things deeply, turning it into her very own superpower, which is overwhelmingly surprising & emotional to read about when all you've been taught to believe while growing up, is that you're too sensitive, too gentle, feeling too much, or just too much in general. her soul is so soft, so PINK.
i love you Rut, for creating a FMC that cherishes her ability to love so freely and deeply, and sees it not as a weakness, but as a strength. thank you, for seeing and recognizing people like us, for cherishing them, and for giving them a safe space to escape to, when the weight of the world we actually live in gets too heavy.
such a timely reminder that this doesn't make us weak, but only stronger and braver. I really loved seeing her grow into the fierce pirate that she was always meant to be, and she truly is meant for so so much more!!!
"𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚."
lastly, my dearest, dreamy handsome Captain Calico Pierce 💘 UGH WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN. my Flynn Ryder of the seas.
he's easily one of my new favourite MMCs as well, and he is everything you could ask for in a MAN (yes, a man). he has tattoes, rings, and piercings (!!)
he's the definition of HE FALLS FIRST, AND HE FALLS HARDER 😭 this man should be ILLEGAL UGH he made me blush and giggle so many times together with Donna, like the seductive charmer he is. the way he always calls Donna by "Love" got me swooning EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
bro, I was S(CREAMING) every time he opened his filthy mouth lmao
MR TOUCH HER AND YOU DIE - he's so protective of Donna, and places her safety and needs first. Calico is also one for the anxious gurlies like me & Donna 🥺
I really really love the fact that he also creates such a safe space for Donna, knowing how she gets overwhlemed sometimes, to the point of anxiety attacks, and is able to tell when she's about to tip over the edge, even with his own dark struggles. this is honestly such an attractive trait in a man, and I felt so safe with him, though i was witnessing this through the pages.
"𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜," 𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙞𝙙, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙚𝙮𝙚𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜. "𝙞𝙛 𝙞 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙝𝙚."
I always look forward to their scenes together because they are THAT buzzy.
but what I loved most about Calico is the depth to his character, because beneath the smirks and smiles, he's actually such a tortured soul with such a complex back story 💔 the ending got my heart WRENCHING IN PAIN TILL NOW.
I'm so glad that I don't need to wait for book 2 because after that ending??? I would be left thinking about it for MONTHS. fortunately, I just managed to get the ARC, but honetsly I didn't know what I was getting into while signing up for it, but NO FRICKING REGRETS AT ALL. a huge pat on my back because I wouldn't have discovered this beautiful series and characters 😭💘 so i guess it's true: Piracy is for lovers; & it might just be the strongest and most magnificent force in this entire universe.
what a magical masterpiece. 🥹🏴☠️🌊🧜🏼♀️🪸🐚🫧🎀🪞💘
──── ୨୧ ────
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆“Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "The sea’s restless heart finds solace in the wind’s tender touch."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Love had always been my creed. I had always believed it was the highest calling, the purest expression of life."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “And for some reason, my full name coming out of a renowned pirate captain’s mouth, was enough to hearten me and start to believe, once and for all, that yes, I was born to be one of those. That I was ready and willing, and that I did have what it took to be a pirate, because after all and before all else, I loved.
I wanted to be all three: the madman, the romantic, and the pirate.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "That’s what it cost me. Seventeen doubloons.”
I swallowed. He bought it? A notorious thief—wanted across all Four Kingdoms of Marethys for his crimes—bought me a dress. A pirate, infamous for stealing, spent his own money on this. On me."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "That is a very big amount of gold, Captain.”
His eyes examined the dress. Up and down, then up again, and then he clenched his jaw, and muttered, “Not enough.”
I had no heart anymore. Surely it must have already exploded from beating too much."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Listen to me carefully, Lady Love. Always go where your heart points, it is your compass. You are destined for more things than you think."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Careful now, love. Or I'll start thinking you pay too much attention to me and nightmares will no longer be what haunts my nights.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Try not to smile like that to The King. Or I fear he'll be forced to unleash a war against me.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “The heart of yours, Donna, is what is going to take you everywhere. You could lead armies with it.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "No? Are you calling your books liars?”
“I call them magnificent keepers of secrets and beautiful deceivers of truths that sometimes have to be protected from evil eyes.”
He smirked. “That is a very long name.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "It was in the way he let me be myself, even when I wasn’t sure who that was anymore, even when I was in the process of finding her and he didn't ask me for justifications for simply trying to be. I could feel his care in the way he watched me from afar, not as if I was fragile, but as if I was something he understood without explanation."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "He murmured with disgust, “What a waste of ammunition.”
He faced me, put an arm around my waist, and pulled me extremely close to his chest as he said, “You owe me a bullet, love.”"
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Tell me… Did you invent it just for me? That look of yours?”
"Could you lie to me, if perhaps the answer is no? Just this once. I would never ask you to lie again. Never. I’d believe any lie from your lips tonight… just tonight."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “What kind of pirate are you?”
“One of those you like to call lovers, I suppose.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “What has he offered you?” “I know how he can be, whatever it is, I'll try to double it. Hell, triple it. I will steal every last piece of art left in the Four Kingdoms even if it's the last thing I do. Don't go with him.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚ "Oh, you beautiful torment… What a delightful agony to die in your hands.”
˚𝜗𝜚˚ “Did you smell it? Salt and sugar… all at once. Like having the crisp, briny tang of sea air mixed with a soft undertone of honey.”“Just like you,” he whispered, his breath warm against my ear. “Light yet lingering. So lingering that I smell it everywhere, even in my dreams. Especially in my dreams.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “You do that a lot.”
“Smile?”
“Blushing like a sunlit coral reef.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Your coral reef blush gives you away, love. As it always does.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Can you please say it?” he interrupted. “Can you? I said please, isn't that how you like it?” He was smiling again, and my stomach turned upside down."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “About how the first thing I thought when I saw her on those shores, was that I had never seen anything more beautiful in my miserable life.
About how I had studied and stole every masterpiece, every marble statue, every painting kissed by the hand of a genius, and how nothing I had ever laid eyes on compared to her.
About how the first thing I thought when I saw her, was how selfish I felt for being sad because I understood that no artist could ever capture the way she moved and the way she breathed, and therefore her true essence and beauty could never be portrayed in history justly.
About how the first thing I thought was that she was beyond anything I had ever known, beyond art itself.
About how I would have gotten down on my knees in that instant and given her the Nine Seas if she had just asked for them.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “I don’t give a bloody damn about tomorrow. Let me have this night. Just this one.”
“You can make it a secret for the rest of your days. Hell, you can even erase it from your mind, I don't care as long as the memory remains alive in mine. And believe me, love… it will. Just… let me have this one kiss.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Are you eavesdropping on me, Captain?”
“I wish I was. But no matter the time of day, I find myself on my knees, begging Ventus to give me at least a handful of remnants of what he hears you whisper up there all alone to the waves.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Only those who are willing to drown in the name of love are heard with sincerity, for they are the bravest souls.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "This crew is your family now, we take care of the burdens that each one of us want to share, and the ones we don't, the ones that remain stored deep inside of us, those we understand them from silence."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “There are people out there, terrible people, that kill for many things. For enjoyment, for greed, for power, for religion... But we don't. We kill because we love. As disgusting as you think that might sound.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “Love. I had always felt like it was only happening around me, and that was the reason I looked for it everywhere: in every corner and little thing, in every day and second, in every book and word, in every rain and drop. I wanted to get lost in it, feeling the need to show everyone where it was because it was true, it was beautiful, and everyone needed to see it, feel it. But I so desperately wanted to be a part of it too.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "How could someone have lived so much in so little time? But then again, it wasn’t that, was it? It was not about little time, it was about me not having lived enough."
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Just because something is beautiful doesn't mean it wasn't built out of hate.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ “When the world gave me nothing, the pages gave me everything. Between the lines I discovered all the things life denied me. When the world failed to offer what I craved, the stories did-unwavering, dependable, and mine. I was never alone again.”
⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆ "Every part of me ached, not just from the fear or the pain, but from the weight of the truth, from the unbearable sorrow in calico's eyes. he had known me before i knew myself. and yet, here we were, both chained, both helpless. the liar and the betrayed: a drowning tale."
──── ୨୧ ────
some of Rut's words from her author's note:
♡⸝⸝ "it's about the transformative power of love, how one rises no matter how many times the waves try to pull them under."
♡⸝⸝ "those who have been diminished for loving & feeling so much, so fully, and so unapologetically. With those who, as children, hesitated to embrace the colour pink, because the world told us there was no strength in it, when in truth, it is within that very colour where the truest bravery resides."
♡⸝⸝ “There is profound bravery in vulnerability and in choosing love, even when it feels like an impossible risk.”
♡⸝⸝ “this is a story about finding one's place in a world where lines between right and wrong blur, where the heart must navigate treacherous waters both literal and metaphorical, and where love becomes the compass that guides through the storm."
♡⸝⸝ "My greatest hope is that this story reminds you of your own strength—the kind that exists in your tenderness, your vulnerability, and your love.”
July 19, 2025
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!!! FAVORITE OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!! RUT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!!!!!!!
November 28, 2024
i was lucky enough to be included in the group of beta readers and review this book before it is released.
will this review be a tiny bit biased because of the fact that one of my best friends wrote this? no.
when i tell you i was googled and immersed in the story since page one. I MEAN IT.
the plot line and world building is so wonderfully done and rut gives us the most descriptive writing.
my personal favourite location: loro.
we have found family, we have soft hearted but badass fmc, we have gods we have powers we have BEAUTFIFUL NINE SEAS. everything about this story is incredible and i can’t wait for everyone to read it!!
let’s get back to the writing. rut has the most perfectest writing style that fits this book so well. she does a wonderful job of describing the locations and feelings and characters. truly this was a highlight in ditnol.
easy 5 stars for donna balboas story
will this review be a tiny bit biased because of the fact that one of my best friends wrote this? no.
when i tell you i was googled and immersed in the story since page one. I MEAN IT.
the plot line and world building is so wonderfully done and rut gives us the most descriptive writing.
my personal favourite location: loro.
we have found family, we have soft hearted but badass fmc, we have gods we have powers we have BEAUTFIFUL NINE SEAS. everything about this story is incredible and i can’t wait for everyone to read it!!
let’s get back to the writing. rut has the most perfectest writing style that fits this book so well. she does a wonderful job of describing the locations and feelings and characters. truly this was a highlight in ditnol.
easy 5 stars for donna balboas story
June 4, 2025
the reviews on the book have actually dumbfounded me. i was looking forward to reading this and being swept away in the pirate fantasy. if you know me, you know all i crave is a good pirate book - this was not it.
the book was boring, i'm sorry, but it was. the characters were underdeveloped and the plot was underwhelming. the repetitiveness drove me crazy. this felt like it was written for children more so than for the YA audience. maybe i've been spoilt by other authors and their ability to turn words into art, but to me, this book was extremely lacklustre. if i read this on my kindle, i would've 100% dnf'ed.
i bought the physical copy from amazon to support the author, but there were so many typos, it was genuinely insane.
the book was boring, i'm sorry, but it was. the characters were underdeveloped and the plot was underwhelming. the repetitiveness drove me crazy. this felt like it was written for children more so than for the YA audience. maybe i've been spoilt by other authors and their ability to turn words into art, but to me, this book was extremely lacklustre. if i read this on my kindle, i would've 100% dnf'ed.
i bought the physical copy from amazon to support the author, but there were so many typos, it was genuinely insane.
January 14, 2025
5 FREAKING STARS🌟!!!
did i finish this book or did it finish me??? i am actually speechless. my jaw is on the floor. that ending had me SCREAMING. oh my god i have no thoughts right now it’s 2 am and i’m losing my fucking my mind all i can say is my friend Rut is a genius and i need a second book NOW. i’ll come back tomorrow once i make my brain function normally again. right now i feel like disassociating
*okay now it’s the morning after and i’ve had some time to sleep on it and gather my thoughts so here we go😮💨*
this book was everything i expected and more. i haven’t had great experiences reading ARCs in the past, but i had a feeling this one would entirely CONSUME me, and it did. i knew my friend Rut was talented and i trusted her with my life, i believed in her power and i knew she would blow my mind with this book based on the snippets and vibes she was giving us, but this??? oh this exceeded my high expectations and that’s not an easy task, especially considering this is HER DEBUT NOVEL!!!
i have to start by highlighting the beautiful, immersive and unique writing style she has. she portrayed the intricate details of the world building and the personality of each character like poetry, and it made me feel like i was part of the story. the images were vivid inside my head and i could picture everything very clearly. i was mesmerized by every line and the meaning behind every scene, and the plot felt so refreshing that it got me hooked 24/7, without being able to anticipate what would happen but needing to discover every mystery.
the found family aspect was also so whole and heartwarming, i loved the glimpses of the pirate life aboard the Rebecca, the unity and sense of belonging the characters made us feel, and it felt like you were also part of the crew (shoutout to Coco and Ela, you’re the real main characters here!🙂↕️🦜💘)
and now, the most important part of my review!!! the main characters. first, my brave, beautiful, softhearted and kind Donna Balboa, the woman that you are!!! i loved her from the very beginning, and i connected sooo much with her. i’ll be forever grateful for her and her vulnerability. she was courageous, and was not afraid to love with all that she is. i often struggle to find fantasy FMC that i strongly relate to, but she made it so easy! i found so many pieces of myself in her, in so many aspects. her pure and soft heart works the same as mine but that doesn’t make us weak, only braver. i felt an immense sense of protection towards her and i loved seeing her grow into the fierce pirate she was meant to become🩷
and last but not least, my dearest Captain Calico Pierce. oh man where do i start!!! he means the WORLD to me. he was all that you could ask for a man. i’m a huge fan of a good slow burn romance and this was executed PERFECTLY. the longing stares, the yearning, the stolen glances, the brief touches that made us feel like we were on fire… UGH!!! he made me blush and giggle and kick my feet like the seductive and charming man he is, and boy i never had enough of him!!! but what i loved most about him was that he had depth, and a complex background that was just really unraveled at the end (PAIN. PAIN. AND MORE PAIN), so now i’m left needing and wanting to know more because i was pacing around my room at 2 am blow minded and i might combust if i don’t read more of him!!!😭😭😭
anyways, a HUGE thank you to my friend Rut S. Díaz for creating this beautiful and magical masterpiece and letting me be one of the privileged people who got to read it before its release. i cannot wait for the world to meet Donna and Calico’s story, and the rest of the crew as well. this story deserves to be read in every part of the world and i’m sure you will all fall in love with it as much as i did. now i’m going to try and figure out a way to exist in the real world without them in it.
bye mates!🥹🏴☠️🌊🧜🏼♀️🪸🐚🫧🎀🪞💘
did i finish this book or did it finish me??? i am actually speechless. my jaw is on the floor. that ending had me SCREAMING. oh my god i have no thoughts right now it’s 2 am and i’m losing my fucking my mind all i can say is my friend Rut is a genius and i need a second book NOW. i’ll come back tomorrow once i make my brain function normally again. right now i feel like disassociating
*okay now it’s the morning after and i’ve had some time to sleep on it and gather my thoughts so here we go😮💨*
this book was everything i expected and more. i haven’t had great experiences reading ARCs in the past, but i had a feeling this one would entirely CONSUME me, and it did. i knew my friend Rut was talented and i trusted her with my life, i believed in her power and i knew she would blow my mind with this book based on the snippets and vibes she was giving us, but this??? oh this exceeded my high expectations and that’s not an easy task, especially considering this is HER DEBUT NOVEL!!!
i have to start by highlighting the beautiful, immersive and unique writing style she has. she portrayed the intricate details of the world building and the personality of each character like poetry, and it made me feel like i was part of the story. the images were vivid inside my head and i could picture everything very clearly. i was mesmerized by every line and the meaning behind every scene, and the plot felt so refreshing that it got me hooked 24/7, without being able to anticipate what would happen but needing to discover every mystery.
the found family aspect was also so whole and heartwarming, i loved the glimpses of the pirate life aboard the Rebecca, the unity and sense of belonging the characters made us feel, and it felt like you were also part of the crew (shoutout to Coco and Ela, you’re the real main characters here!🙂↕️🦜💘)
and now, the most important part of my review!!! the main characters. first, my brave, beautiful, softhearted and kind Donna Balboa, the woman that you are!!! i loved her from the very beginning, and i connected sooo much with her. i’ll be forever grateful for her and her vulnerability. she was courageous, and was not afraid to love with all that she is. i often struggle to find fantasy FMC that i strongly relate to, but she made it so easy! i found so many pieces of myself in her, in so many aspects. her pure and soft heart works the same as mine but that doesn’t make us weak, only braver. i felt an immense sense of protection towards her and i loved seeing her grow into the fierce pirate she was meant to become🩷
and last but not least, my dearest Captain Calico Pierce. oh man where do i start!!! he means the WORLD to me. he was all that you could ask for a man. i’m a huge fan of a good slow burn romance and this was executed PERFECTLY. the longing stares, the yearning, the stolen glances, the brief touches that made us feel like we were on fire… UGH!!! he made me blush and giggle and kick my feet like the seductive and charming man he is, and boy i never had enough of him!!! but what i loved most about him was that he had depth, and a complex background that was just really unraveled at the end (PAIN. PAIN. AND MORE PAIN), so now i’m left needing and wanting to know more because i was pacing around my room at 2 am blow minded and i might combust if i don’t read more of him!!!😭😭😭
anyways, a HUGE thank you to my friend Rut S. Díaz for creating this beautiful and magical masterpiece and letting me be one of the privileged people who got to read it before its release. i cannot wait for the world to meet Donna and Calico’s story, and the rest of the crew as well. this story deserves to be read in every part of the world and i’m sure you will all fall in love with it as much as i did. now i’m going to try and figure out a way to exist in the real world without them in it.
bye mates!🥹🏴☠️🌊🧜🏼♀️🪸🐚🫧🎀🪞💘
January 11, 2025
꒰🧾꒱ 𝚍𝚛𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚖𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎
ᝰ.ᐟ ⪼ feb 14
um i loved thiss
this was actually adorable and giving a pirate version of ouabh in the best way
i literally binged this last night since i couldn't sleep and ugh so good
💌 ┆⌗ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𖦹
this book looks SO cute and the bio is like so interesting, i can't wait to read this!! <33
thank you so much to the author for the arc!!
ᝰ.ᐟ ⪼ feb 14
um i loved thiss
this was actually adorable and giving a pirate version of ouabh in the best way
i literally binged this last night since i couldn't sleep and ugh so good
💌 ┆⌗ 𝐩𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𖦹
this book looks SO cute and the bio is like so interesting, i can't wait to read this!! <33
thank you so much to the author for the arc!!
December 1, 2024
EVERYONE GO READ THIS RIGHT NOW.
August 10, 2026
loved the aesthetic but it was hard to get immersed into the story
December 11, 2024
tears. nothing but tears. i’m so proud of you rut!! and i’m so honored to be lucky enough to read this novel before the rest of the world falls in love with it 🩷🌟🌊⚓️🐚
if you’re looking for a new fantasy romance read, this one is perfect for lovers of pirates and once upon a broken heart
the book is pure magic, perfectly capturing the beauty of adventure and love
♾️/5 stars. i can’t wait for what’s to come 🩷
if you’re looking for a new fantasy romance read, this one is perfect for lovers of pirates and once upon a broken heart
the book is pure magic, perfectly capturing the beauty of adventure and love
♾️/5 stars. i can’t wait for what’s to come 🩷
April 16, 2026
HE FELT FIRST AND HARDER 🤝🏽
December 29, 2024
ohhhhhh how much i love this story <3
my friend and author of this book was kind enough to let me read this before the release and i will forever be grateful to get this book at an earlier point in my life.
first of all, the way rut describes the world she creates, the imagery she uses and the visions she portrays on the pages, is so incredibly immersive, captivating, but most importantly relatable and the whole thing played in my head like a movie. i adore the way her brain works so much and i truly can’t believe this is her first book!
and then most importantly, the characters- OH!! the CHARACTERS! they feel like family to me now and i can’t wait to reconnect with them soon in the future. donna, a girl who feels so close to my heart, who i can relate to on so many levels!! i adore her and am also so proud of who she became throughout the course of her story. and calico UGH i adore him, he’s perfect and a pirate, i feel like that’s all i need to say here.
reading this truly felt like a privilege to me and i will forever be thankful for you believing in your dreams rut <3 5 million stars from me
my friend and author of this book was kind enough to let me read this before the release and i will forever be grateful to get this book at an earlier point in my life.
first of all, the way rut describes the world she creates, the imagery she uses and the visions she portrays on the pages, is so incredibly immersive, captivating, but most importantly relatable and the whole thing played in my head like a movie. i adore the way her brain works so much and i truly can’t believe this is her first book!
and then most importantly, the characters- OH!! the CHARACTERS! they feel like family to me now and i can’t wait to reconnect with them soon in the future. donna, a girl who feels so close to my heart, who i can relate to on so many levels!! i adore her and am also so proud of who she became throughout the course of her story. and calico UGH i adore him, he’s perfect and a pirate, i feel like that’s all i need to say here.
reading this truly felt like a privilege to me and i will forever be thankful for you believing in your dreams rut <3 5 million stars from me
November 28, 2024
PIRACY IS TRULY FOR LOVERS!!!!!!
this work of art depicts love the way i wished more people would recognize. it is a true testament of love, written for the poets who wear their hearts on their sleeves and their words on their tongue. it is truly magic. it is poetically written, with love found in every crevice of every page.
i've loved donna as a fmc from the very first second she was introduced. a character that is a lover, and finds her strength in feeling things deeply, turning it into her superpower is overwhelmingly surprising and emotional to read about when all you've been taught is that you're too sensitive, too gentle, feeling too much, or too much in general. her soul is so soft, so pink. and i can only thank you, dear author, from the very bottom of my heart for creating a fmc that cherishes her ability to love so freely and deeply, and sees it not as a weakness, but as a strength. thank you, for seeing and recognizing people like us, for cherishing them, and for giving them a world to escape to when the weight of the world we actually live in gets to heavy.
oh captain, my captain. calico pierce. i never knew i had a thing for morally grey, cynic sailors but i guess here we are now lmao. this man should be illegal, god, i've loved every aspect of him!!! a perfect example of a "men written by women" and the mouth on him???? jesus christ, save us all. y'all are not read for what is to come, i was screaming every time he opened his mouth lmao (i don't know whether i should be excited for you or scared).
now the only question left is:
are you ready to hoist the colors of love on february, 14th? for the world needs more lovers roaming the earth. 💌
i fear that i will never be entirely able to express my love for this book because these words have yet to be invented. and looking at your work through your eyes, it really is true: piracy is for lovers. and it might just be the strongest and most magnificent force in this entire universe.
this work of art depicts love the way i wished more people would recognize. it is a true testament of love, written for the poets who wear their hearts on their sleeves and their words on their tongue. it is truly magic. it is poetically written, with love found in every crevice of every page.
i've loved donna as a fmc from the very first second she was introduced. a character that is a lover, and finds her strength in feeling things deeply, turning it into her superpower is overwhelmingly surprising and emotional to read about when all you've been taught is that you're too sensitive, too gentle, feeling too much, or too much in general. her soul is so soft, so pink. and i can only thank you, dear author, from the very bottom of my heart for creating a fmc that cherishes her ability to love so freely and deeply, and sees it not as a weakness, but as a strength. thank you, for seeing and recognizing people like us, for cherishing them, and for giving them a world to escape to when the weight of the world we actually live in gets to heavy.
oh captain, my captain. calico pierce. i never knew i had a thing for morally grey, cynic sailors but i guess here we are now lmao. this man should be illegal, god, i've loved every aspect of him!!! a perfect example of a "men written by women" and the mouth on him???? jesus christ, save us all. y'all are not read for what is to come, i was screaming every time he opened his mouth lmao (i don't know whether i should be excited for you or scared).
now the only question left is:
are you ready to hoist the colors of love on february, 14th? for the world needs more lovers roaming the earth. 💌
i fear that i will never be entirely able to express my love for this book because these words have yet to be invented. and looking at your work through your eyes, it really is true: piracy is for lovers. and it might just be the strongest and most magnificent force in this entire universe.
August 7, 2025
2.5 Stars :(
Okay I hate to give a newer book a bad rating but I just felt confused??? I wanted to like it so bad because the aesthetic was great but I just felt like I couldn’t be fully immersed because I kept being so confused as to what was happening?? But the captain was okay so I guess there’s that
Okay I hate to give a newer book a bad rating but I just felt confused??? I wanted to like it so bad because the aesthetic was great but I just felt like I couldn’t be fully immersed because I kept being so confused as to what was happening?? But the captain was okay so I guess there’s that
November 28, 2024
My new fav book
February 5, 2025
Truly, Drowned In The Name Of Love is a love letter. To the sea, to pirates, to art and the colour pink, to softhearted fmcs, YA fantasy, and every shade of love, both romantic and platonic.
Rut S. Díaz has created such a vibrant world, complete with gods, kingdoms, and prophecies galore. The writing is richly descriptive, and at times, I felt I was really aboard The Rebecca, watching the adventure unfold from the deck.
Though I found the second half of the book more engaging than the first, the only thing that made it so was the development of relationships between characters. Found family will always be one of my favourite tropes, and it was shown so well here! The Rebecca’s crew work (and laugh) together like cogs in a well oiled machine, and each side character had a distinct personality. Of course, I loved them all, but Ela was most definitely my favourite, with her pistols and fiery words. I’m hoping she gets POV chapters as the series continues, as I can’t wait to see where her story goes.
And of course, Donna Balboa (Lady Love herself) was such an amazing FMC. Softhearted yet still strong, a little naïve, and so wondrously enamoured with the world around her. Her love interest, Captain Calico Piece of The Rebecca, was every inch a pirate, with all the rakishly good looks and an ever-present smirk. The budding romance between Donna and Calico may have only blossomed a little over the course of th book, but their connection and feelings for each other are evident in their every interaction and touch. That ending had me immediately wanting more, and I can’t wait for the next book!
My only criticism would that there were a few typos and several passages that I needed to reread a few times to understand. However, I do have a very editorially focused brain, so in reality, this probably only bothered me.
Rut S. Díaz has created such a vibrant world, complete with gods, kingdoms, and prophecies galore. The writing is richly descriptive, and at times, I felt I was really aboard The Rebecca, watching the adventure unfold from the deck.
Though I found the second half of the book more engaging than the first, the only thing that made it so was the development of relationships between characters. Found family will always be one of my favourite tropes, and it was shown so well here! The Rebecca’s crew work (and laugh) together like cogs in a well oiled machine, and each side character had a distinct personality. Of course, I loved them all, but Ela was most definitely my favourite, with her pistols and fiery words. I’m hoping she gets POV chapters as the series continues, as I can’t wait to see where her story goes.
And of course, Donna Balboa (Lady Love herself) was such an amazing FMC. Softhearted yet still strong, a little naïve, and so wondrously enamoured with the world around her. Her love interest, Captain Calico Piece of The Rebecca, was every inch a pirate, with all the rakishly good looks and an ever-present smirk. The budding romance between Donna and Calico may have only blossomed a little over the course of th book, but their connection and feelings for each other are evident in their every interaction and touch. That ending had me immediately wanting more, and I can’t wait for the next book!
My only criticism would that there were a few typos and several passages that I needed to reread a few times to understand. However, I do have a very editorially focused brain, so in reality, this probably only bothered me.
May 26, 2025
Genuinely don’t know how people are rating this book higher than a three max. The storyline and plot felt very chop-y, nothing was laid out in a cohesive manner and the amount of grammatical errors alone sent me in a spiral. I think this story could have had so much potential but it was just rushed and not peer reviewed, edited, or looked at by anyone prior to being published.
Did Not Finish
March 8, 2026edit : i love ruth very much she's AHMAYZING!! unfortunately the book wasn't for me but i really truly wish her the best the best!! congrats her sm on being agented!! i'm following her and will be reading her other works ♡
February 14, 2025
Piracy is indeed for the lovers. For those who aren’t afraid to dip their feet in the frigid waters of the universe. For those who dream, big and bright and aren’t afraid to go after what they want.❤️🔥
From the very first page, I was stolen away to this beautifully crafted world, alongside the equally beautiful Donna Balboa. This story is so rich and so vivid, I was enthralled. We were taken on this grand adventure, with all these well rounded characters and the most wonderful places. I didn’t wanna get off this ship. I demand to be let back in, I will walk the plank 15 times if I need to. 🏴☠️
The details, and the way it made me feel is priceless. I felt like a kid again (in the best way possible). I was reminded why I love my whimsical, soft and girly stories. This book is the definition of pink in its entirety and I’m so happy it exists. Suddenly I was 12 again, wishing I was a pirate-fairy-princes (in that order).
And Donna… My sweet girl, what kind of pirate are you? The best one, I’ll tell you that. I loved her from the very beginning, my courageous, strong-willed, and big hearted girl. I wanted to protect her from everything, but she had Captain Calico Pierce for that. I love them both so much, the story, their love, the yearning. No tengo palabras. ✨
This book is for the girlies, the softies, the ones in love with the Flynn Ryders of the world. This book is for all my Barbie lovers, my Tinker Bell lovers (specially The Pirate Fairy movie). This book is for the dreamers and the adventures, but above all… this book is for the romantics who look for the moon and long to be by the sea. 🎀
From the very first page, I was stolen away to this beautifully crafted world, alongside the equally beautiful Donna Balboa. This story is so rich and so vivid, I was enthralled. We were taken on this grand adventure, with all these well rounded characters and the most wonderful places. I didn’t wanna get off this ship. I demand to be let back in, I will walk the plank 15 times if I need to. 🏴☠️
The details, and the way it made me feel is priceless. I felt like a kid again (in the best way possible). I was reminded why I love my whimsical, soft and girly stories. This book is the definition of pink in its entirety and I’m so happy it exists. Suddenly I was 12 again, wishing I was a pirate-fairy-princes (in that order).
And Donna… My sweet girl, what kind of pirate are you? The best one, I’ll tell you that. I loved her from the very beginning, my courageous, strong-willed, and big hearted girl. I wanted to protect her from everything, but she had Captain Calico Pierce for that. I love them both so much, the story, their love, the yearning. No tengo palabras. ✨
This book is for the girlies, the softies, the ones in love with the Flynn Ryders of the world. This book is for all my Barbie lovers, my Tinker Bell lovers (specially The Pirate Fairy movie). This book is for the dreamers and the adventures, but above all… this book is for the romantics who look for the moon and long to be by the sea. 🎀
February 12, 2026
5/5 💘🛶🐙
WHY DO WE CHOOSE TO MAKE THE BEST BOOKS UNDERRATED..!? THIS DESERVES SO MUCH MORE. 😭
THE FMC AND MMC ARE SO LOVEABLE 😔💞
LIKE THE WORLD BUILDING, THE PLOT, THE PINK ARROW.. JUST YES.
AND I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I LOVEEE PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN AND IF YOU DO AS WELL THEN READ THIS.
UGHHH I COULD I WRITE A WHOLE ANOTHER BOOK JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD THIS WAS.
ITS YA SO NO SPICE AT ALL!!!!
REVIEW COMING SOON 💞🤭
WHY DO WE CHOOSE TO MAKE THE BEST BOOKS UNDERRATED..!? THIS DESERVES SO MUCH MORE. 😭
THE FMC AND MMC ARE SO LOVEABLE 😔💞
LIKE THE WORLD BUILDING, THE PLOT, THE PINK ARROW.. JUST YES.
AND I DONT KNOW ABOUT YOU BUT I LOVEEE PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN AND IF YOU DO AS WELL THEN READ THIS.
UGHHH I COULD I WRITE A WHOLE ANOTHER BOOK JUST TALKING ABOUT HOW GOOD THIS WAS.
ITS YA SO NO SPICE AT ALL!!!!
REVIEW COMING SOON 💞🤭
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