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Pirate's Promise
Freedom's Privateer!
Torius Vin is perfectly happy with his life as a pirate captain, sailing the Inner Sea with a bold crew of buccaneers and Celeste, his snake-bodied navigator and one true love. Yet all that changes when his sometime friend Vreva Jhafae—a high-powered courtesan and abolitionist spy in the slaver stronghold of Okeno— draws him into her shadowy network of secret agents. Caught between the slavers he hates and a navy that sees him as a criminal, can Torius continue to choose the path of piracy? Or will he sign on as a privateer, bringing freedom to others—at the price of his own?
From critically acclaimed author Chris A. Jackson comes a fantastical tale of love, espionage, and high-seas adventure, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
Torius Vin is perfectly happy with his life as a pirate captain, sailing the Inner Sea with a bold crew of buccaneers and Celeste, his snake-bodied navigator and one true love. Yet all that changes when his sometime friend Vreva Jhafae—a high-powered courtesan and abolitionist spy in the slaver stronghold of Okeno— draws him into her shadowy network of secret agents. Caught between the slavers he hates and a navy that sees him as a criminal, can Torius continue to choose the path of piracy? Or will he sign on as a privateer, bringing freedom to others—at the price of his own?
From critically acclaimed author Chris A. Jackson comes a fantastical tale of love, espionage, and high-seas adventure, set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.
467 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published December 1, 2014
10 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Chris A. Jackson
90 books192 followersFrom the sea to the stars, Chris A. Jackson’s stories take you to the far reaches of the imagination. Raised on the back deck of a fishing boat and trained as a marine biologist, he became sidetracked by a career in biomedical research, but regained his heart and soul in 2009 when he and his wife Anne left the dock aboard the 45-foot sailboat Mr Mac to cruise the Caribbean and write fulltime.
With his nautical background, writing sea stories seemed inevitable for Chris. His acclaimed Scimitar Seas nautical fantasies won three consecutive Gold Medals in the ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards. His Pathfinders Tales from Paizo Publishing combine high-seas combat and romance set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Not to be outdone, Privateer Press released Blood & Iron, a swashbuckling novella set in the Iron Kingdoms.
Chris’ repertoire also includes the award-winning and Kindle best-selling Weapon of Flesh Series, the contemporary urban fantasy Dragon Dreams, as well as additional fantasy novels, the humorous sci fi Cheese Runners trilogy of novellas, and numerous short stories.
To learn more, please visit jaxbooks.com.
With his nautical background, writing sea stories seemed inevitable for Chris. His acclaimed Scimitar Seas nautical fantasies won three consecutive Gold Medals in the ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Awards. His Pathfinders Tales from Paizo Publishing combine high-seas combat and romance set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. Not to be outdone, Privateer Press released Blood & Iron, a swashbuckling novella set in the Iron Kingdoms.
Chris’ repertoire also includes the award-winning and Kindle best-selling Weapon of Flesh Series, the contemporary urban fantasy Dragon Dreams, as well as additional fantasy novels, the humorous sci fi Cheese Runners trilogy of novellas, and numerous short stories.
To learn more, please visit jaxbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
unfinished
February 22, 2015I'm not going to rate this one, and I probably wouldn't review it except that I want to remember why I'm putting it down should it come up in future. Basically, this just isn't my thing and for really personal reasons (and nothing to do with the quality of the writing or the story). It turns out that I just can't deal with the slavers. And even though the main characters are fighting against slavery in their way, they're doing so from within and in outward compliance. I'm sorry, but I just can't take that. I get it, and I respect their efforts, but the nature of the story puts me in too close proximity with slavers and I find that intolerably grating. Which is a shame because I really like Torius' relationship with Celeste. I'd love to see more of them. Just not in this story/context.
April 5, 2015
Even though I had been very much looking forward to reading this, even interrupting another book to start it as soon as I got it, I began as I have for the last few years, slowly working my way through this book (as I don't normally get a lot of time to read these days).
That all changed at around the halfway mark. I started reading before bed, intending to only read a Chapter or two, but 5 hours later I was begging for there to be more, as I was staring at the final page in a mixed state of joy and sorrow. Joy for having read such a detailed (the ship to ship battles in this book are truly amazing) and engaging book, and sorrow for there being no more for me to read.
Now begins my anxious wait until the next book is released... for surely that can't be the end of the journey for the mighty crew of the Stargazer!
That all changed at around the halfway mark. I started reading before bed, intending to only read a Chapter or two, but 5 hours later I was begging for there to be more, as I was staring at the final page in a mixed state of joy and sorrow. Joy for having read such a detailed (the ship to ship battles in this book are truly amazing) and engaging book, and sorrow for there being no more for me to read.
Now begins my anxious wait until the next book is released... for surely that can't be the end of the journey for the mighty crew of the Stargazer!
February 25, 2015
Review originally posted on The Grassy Gnoll.
Pirate's Promise is the sequel to Chris A. Jackson's previous Pathfinder Tales novel, Pirate's Honor, which is up there with James Sutter's Death's Heretic and The Redemption Engine as one of my favourite stories in the series so far. It continues the story of Torius Vin, the pirate captain of the Stargazer, his lover Celeste (a lunar naga) and his crew of pirates. It also throws more focus on Vreva Jhafae, a returning character from the previous story. The story picks up shortly after the events of Pirate's Honor wrapped up, with Torius and Celeste planning on taking a holiday to visit an ancient site known as the Observatory, while Vreva returns to her home in Okeno and resuming her life there.
So, can this pirate live up to the promise that his first adventure held?
Well, I can happily say that Pirate's Promise is a fun read up to the high standard I've come to expect from the Pathfinder Tales series. There's character development aplenty for returning characters Torius, Celeste and Vreva, as well as the introduction of Zarina, an Inquisitor of Abadar, who I both hated to love and loved to hate. Fantasy novels often live or die on the strength of the characters alone, and there is no doubt that Jackson's characters are strong enough to support the story. It's also interesting as a rare example of interspecies love in fantasy, in that normally it's the humanoid races (humans, elves, etc.) that will end up in relationships. The relationship dynamic between Celeste and Torius is as fascinating as it was in the first book, and despite the fact that we're talking about a relationship between a pirate captain and a spellcasting giant snake with a woman's head, it's somehow very believable and sweet. Honestly, the relationships are one of the strongest points of this book. Vreva and Zarina's complicated relationship had me invested within moments of their meeting, but I'll say no more about that now as I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone who hasn't read it yet.
Of course even with strong characters to carry it, the book needs a story, and this one certainly holds up its end of the bargain. Clear, evocatively written action scenes brought all the excitement to life in my mind. The non-action scenes were just as well written, providing enough detail for me to get clear images of the characters and locales without getting bogged down in overly flowery language. The fact that I found myself gasping or muttering about the actions of the characters under my breath as I read through the book is a testament to the way the story was able to draw me in. I found myself cheering quietly when the heroes succeeded, staring at the page in shock when they suffered a defeat and, at a couple of points, nearly tearing up at the heartbreaking emotion in the scene (that last one isn't something I normally expect from a novel based on a fantasy RPG like Pathfinder).
The only problem I have, and the reason that I gave 4 stars instead of 5, is that I felt the story suffered slightly from a lack of focus. The story is split into two major plot lines, one of which could probably be looked at as two separate subplots. You have the trip to the Observatory, and Vreva's work as a spy in Okeno, which can be split further into Vreva's dealings with Zarina and Torius' role in her work. While the threads do tie back together nicely towards the end, and each of them was fascinating in their own way, it felt like each of them got sold a little short on time due to the need to keep all the separate parts moving forward. I almost wish the trip to the Observatory could have been its own tale, since it had two perfect antagonists ready to go. Likewise I would have enjoyed more development of Zarina and Vreva's relationship, and more time to explore Torius' role as part of the abolitionist movement. The need to wrap everything up and bring it all back together unfortunately resulted in the end feeling a bit rushed to me. From the close of the second act through til the end of the story, the pace slams into overdrive, and doesn't let up until the denouement. Not really a big complaint, given that the crux of it is "I found this stuff so fascinating that I wanted to know more", but I really do think the story could have benefited from either a little more length to allow more exploration of some aspects, or more focus on one major plot line, whether that was the Observatory or Vreva's work.
So to sum it up... would I recommend Pirate's Promise? Yes, I would, with no hesitation or doubt. Despite my minor quibbles, it's fun enough, clever enough, and full of swashbuckling adventures, romance and betrayal to keep me enthralled. Plus I love pirate stories, so there's that. I would say that I enjoyed Pirate's Honor more, but it's a close run thing, and this is definitely an excellent continuation of the story. I'm hopeful that Paizo will ask Chris to write a third book in the series, as it's most definitely left open for one.
Pirate's Promise is the sequel to Chris A. Jackson's previous Pathfinder Tales novel, Pirate's Honor, which is up there with James Sutter's Death's Heretic and The Redemption Engine as one of my favourite stories in the series so far. It continues the story of Torius Vin, the pirate captain of the Stargazer, his lover Celeste (a lunar naga) and his crew of pirates. It also throws more focus on Vreva Jhafae, a returning character from the previous story. The story picks up shortly after the events of Pirate's Honor wrapped up, with Torius and Celeste planning on taking a holiday to visit an ancient site known as the Observatory, while Vreva returns to her home in Okeno and resuming her life there.
So, can this pirate live up to the promise that his first adventure held?
Well, I can happily say that Pirate's Promise is a fun read up to the high standard I've come to expect from the Pathfinder Tales series. There's character development aplenty for returning characters Torius, Celeste and Vreva, as well as the introduction of Zarina, an Inquisitor of Abadar, who I both hated to love and loved to hate. Fantasy novels often live or die on the strength of the characters alone, and there is no doubt that Jackson's characters are strong enough to support the story. It's also interesting as a rare example of interspecies love in fantasy, in that normally it's the humanoid races (humans, elves, etc.) that will end up in relationships. The relationship dynamic between Celeste and Torius is as fascinating as it was in the first book, and despite the fact that we're talking about a relationship between a pirate captain and a spellcasting giant snake with a woman's head, it's somehow very believable and sweet. Honestly, the relationships are one of the strongest points of this book. Vreva and Zarina's complicated relationship had me invested within moments of their meeting, but I'll say no more about that now as I don't want to spoil the fun for anyone who hasn't read it yet.
Of course even with strong characters to carry it, the book needs a story, and this one certainly holds up its end of the bargain. Clear, evocatively written action scenes brought all the excitement to life in my mind. The non-action scenes were just as well written, providing enough detail for me to get clear images of the characters and locales without getting bogged down in overly flowery language. The fact that I found myself gasping or muttering about the actions of the characters under my breath as I read through the book is a testament to the way the story was able to draw me in. I found myself cheering quietly when the heroes succeeded, staring at the page in shock when they suffered a defeat and, at a couple of points, nearly tearing up at the heartbreaking emotion in the scene (that last one isn't something I normally expect from a novel based on a fantasy RPG like Pathfinder).
The only problem I have, and the reason that I gave 4 stars instead of 5, is that I felt the story suffered slightly from a lack of focus. The story is split into two major plot lines, one of which could probably be looked at as two separate subplots. You have the trip to the Observatory, and Vreva's work as a spy in Okeno, which can be split further into Vreva's dealings with Zarina and Torius' role in her work. While the threads do tie back together nicely towards the end, and each of them was fascinating in their own way, it felt like each of them got sold a little short on time due to the need to keep all the separate parts moving forward. I almost wish the trip to the Observatory could have been its own tale, since it had two perfect antagonists ready to go. Likewise I would have enjoyed more development of Zarina and Vreva's relationship, and more time to explore Torius' role as part of the abolitionist movement. The need to wrap everything up and bring it all back together unfortunately resulted in the end feeling a bit rushed to me. From the close of the second act through til the end of the story, the pace slams into overdrive, and doesn't let up until the denouement. Not really a big complaint, given that the crux of it is "I found this stuff so fascinating that I wanted to know more", but I really do think the story could have benefited from either a little more length to allow more exploration of some aspects, or more focus on one major plot line, whether that was the Observatory or Vreva's work.
So to sum it up... would I recommend Pirate's Promise? Yes, I would, with no hesitation or doubt. Despite my minor quibbles, it's fun enough, clever enough, and full of swashbuckling adventures, romance and betrayal to keep me enthralled. Plus I love pirate stories, so there's that. I would say that I enjoyed Pirate's Honor more, but it's a close run thing, and this is definitely an excellent continuation of the story. I'm hopeful that Paizo will ask Chris to write a third book in the series, as it's most definitely left open for one.
November 28, 2015
Pirate's Promise is a fitting followup to Pirate's Honor. While we still have the good old crew, we get more information on some smaller characters this time, and the original main people are developed even further. The adventure aspect is still high, with some great battles and promises of intrigue and tension. I love the way Torius's relationship with Celeste has grown, and how he and Vreva get along in this book. But I honestly think my favorite character line in this book was actually Vreva's. She intrigued me from the beginning in Pirate's Honor, and my curiosity was well-sated with this book.
The plot was the rich tapestry I've come to expect from Jackson, with three solid threads (Vreva, Celeste, and Torius) each with compelling trials and conflicts that were just plain excellent. And of course, they all tied together perfectly come the end. I won't lie, I want more of these books. A lot more.
The plot was the rich tapestry I've come to expect from Jackson, with three solid threads (Vreva, Celeste, and Torius) each with compelling trials and conflicts that were just plain excellent. And of course, they all tied together perfectly come the end. I won't lie, I want more of these books. A lot more.
October 7, 2018
At first I was bothered by the Vrevhe character switch. I understand that we see her thoughts from the inside, but even when she is interacting with others and viewed from the outside she isn't the same character. It is like she is the worst Spy. Chris should have showed her in those scenes as she was instead of what she was revealed to be.
That said her interactions with the Inquisitor and how she changes toward the end was probably the best story arc in the book. Her vulnerability and loss of control were handled very well.
I was super excited when the author killed named characters. This helps to make other scenes more intense because the characters aren't all wearing plot armor. There is actual danger and suspense. Of course that is hampered when the Captain is the life on the line.
Bonus: I met Chris at Gencon and he seems really nice and cool. I can't recommend him enough. Hopefully he also goes to Origins.
That said her interactions with the Inquisitor and how she changes toward the end was probably the best story arc in the book. Her vulnerability and loss of control were handled very well.
I was super excited when the author killed named characters. This helps to make other scenes more intense because the characters aren't all wearing plot armor. There is actual danger and suspense. Of course that is hampered when the Captain is the life on the line.
Bonus: I met Chris at Gencon and he seems really nice and cool. I can't recommend him enough. Hopefully he also goes to Origins.
March 17, 2015
Enjoyable but set up some elements then destroyed them far sooner than I would have liked to have seen or expected. Also has some characters that seem to have many loose and unanswered threads - unclear if this is because there is another book planned with the same characters or if some stories just didn't get resolved.
Fun and a fairly quick read, especially enjoyable if you are player of the Pathfinder RPG though there are also some odd choices and depictions in this book if you are such a player.
Fun and a fairly quick read, especially enjoyable if you are player of the Pathfinder RPG though there are also some odd choices and depictions in this book if you are such a player.
March 1, 2023
I'm a Pathfinder enthusiast and rpg player. I read dozens of books based on D&D and Pathfinder and I think Chris Jackson is one of the few writers that takes honest time to study the settings and its spells. The story feels well integrated in the Golarion world.
Concerning the story, this is the second of a trilogy of an atypical pirate, his inter-specie love and a courtesan magical spy.
A couple of plot twist left me breathless here and the inquisitor spells where awesomely described. Very well done!
Concerning the story, this is the second of a trilogy of an atypical pirate, his inter-specie love and a courtesan magical spy.
A couple of plot twist left me breathless here and the inquisitor spells where awesomely described. Very well done!
March 22, 2015
This book is fun to read and continues the story of the characters in Pirate's Honor. However, the sudden plot twists in Pirate's Honor are overused in Pirate's Promise: Torius gets a message from a person he doesn't really like or trust and whom he knows to be deceitful - yet he leaves his love behind to rush to aid. The discovery of his true identity by the inquisitor that happens out of nowhere in just a couple of pages is a bit sudden too.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book. This is the second story featuring Torius Vin and his crew. This time the story focuses on slavers and on the truth about Vreva Jhafae.
While the first book has some parts that seemed to drag on, this time around the pacing seemed to be much better. Chris A Jackson also manages to find the right balance between action, character growth and world exposition. And the end makes me look forward for the next Torius Vin book.
While the first book has some parts that seemed to drag on, this time around the pacing seemed to be much better. Chris A Jackson also manages to find the right balance between action, character growth and world exposition. And the end makes me look forward for the next Torius Vin book.
June 20, 2023
This started as a fairly regular Pathfinder Tales book. Interesting read, me trying to remember the previous book in the series. An enjoyable read. Then it became something so much more. It became a heart-wrenching, painfully good read. I highly recommend it.
December 29, 2014
Another decent Pathinder novel.
January 29, 2017
Very good fantasy novel with complex characters and convincing sail ship action.
September 29, 2019
Listened on Audible.
June 12, 2020
I must admit I love a spy and pirate story. Throw in mystic Nagas and evil slavers and it's a rollicking story that can deliver a few hours of escapism.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews