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The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates #2
The Terror of the Southlands: A Hilarious Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure About Pirates, Magic, and a Gargoyle for Kids (Ages 8-12)
Hilary Westfield is a pirate. In fact, she’s the Terror of the Southlands! She’s daring, brave, fearless, and . . . in a rut. Maybe she hasn’t found any treasure lately. And maybe she isn’t fighting off as many scallywags as she’d like. But does that mean she and her loyal crew (including a magical gargoyle) deserve to be kicked out of the ranks of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates?
There is only one thing to do—find a daring mission worthy of her fearless reputation. With the help of first mate Charlie, finishing-school friend Claire, and the self-proclaimed intrepid gargoyle, Hilary sets sail on a swashbuckling expedition that may or may not involve a kidnapped Enchantress, bumbling inspectors, a mysterious group called the Mutineers, and—the most terrifying thing of all—a High Society ball.
Caroline Carlson brings just as much rollicking fun, laughter, and action to this second book of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates as she did with the first, Magic Marks the Spot.
There is only one thing to do—find a daring mission worthy of her fearless reputation. With the help of first mate Charlie, finishing-school friend Claire, and the self-proclaimed intrepid gargoyle, Hilary sets sail on a swashbuckling expedition that may or may not involve a kidnapped Enchantress, bumbling inspectors, a mysterious group called the Mutineers, and—the most terrifying thing of all—a High Society ball.
Caroline Carlson brings just as much rollicking fun, laughter, and action to this second book of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates as she did with the first, Magic Marks the Spot.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
49 people are currently reading
1099 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Carlson
8 books282 followersCaroline Carlson is the author of funny and fantastical books for young readers, including The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates trilogy, The World’s Greatest Detective, and The Door at the End of the World. Her novels have won accolades from the New York Times, the American Booksellers Association, Bank Street College of Education, the American Library Association, and Junior Library Guild, among others.
Caroline holds a BA from Swarthmore College and an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A Massachusetts native, she now lives in Pittsburgh with her family. You can visit her online at http://carolinecarlsonbooks.com.
Caroline holds a BA from Swarthmore College and an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College of Fine Arts. A Massachusetts native, she now lives in Pittsburgh with her family. You can visit her online at http://carolinecarlsonbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 148 reviews
June 6, 2014
Oh Hilary Westfield, you unmitigated delight. My only complaint about this book is that it ended.
October 22, 2020
The narrator really makes these books - not sure they'd have enough substance for me in paperback rather than audiobook. With that being said, did enjoy because of the narrator bringing the characters to life!
July 27, 2019
My kids love listening to the audiobooks for this series while we drive in the car. It's so witty and charming!
June 12, 2022
These aren't my favorite books but my kids love them
November 11, 2014
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
These days, I’m just not all that into middle grade books. That’s what I’m realizing. As they’re becoming, I think, increasingly popular, I’m trending the other way. I found Magic Marks the Spot to be hilarious and full of adventure. Somehow, though, I didn’t feel nearly as invested in this second book. It’s some combination of my mood, my boredom with most middle grade, and the book itself.
The Terror of the Southlands is definitely cute and funny, as the first installment was. Reading it on the heels of Hook’s Revenge was probably a bit of a mistake. I was not in the right mood at all. You can expect to get a book that’s very close in tone to Magic Marks the Spot. This is either a good or bad thing, depending on the type of reader you are. For my part, I really hope to see any sort of middle grade fantasy get a lot darker in the later installments. Book one might be flufftastic, but book two should have higher stakes. The Terror of the Southlands does not; if anything, the stakes are diminished. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn’t what I wanted.
Carlson’s writing continues to be delightful and humorous. My favorite parts of The Terror of the Southlands were actually the letters and newspaper articles at the end of each chapter. Such a technique is really hard to get right, but I think that Carlson makes them so interesting. They tend to have character discussion of what went on in the previous chapter, and they’re so funny. The one exception to this is the gargoyle’s memoir, which is a retelling of book one with him as the hero. Funny in theory, but trying in actuality.
The other thing with middle grade fiction is that there doesn’t tend to be much romance, because obviously they’re very young. Romance really helps engage me in a story and there is none of it here. I think I remember having a ship in the previous book, but there’s no hint of romance here at all. Middle grade ships can be so cute with the handholding and the awkward flirting. Either Charlie and Claire or Charlie and Hilary could have been so completely adorable together, but oh well.
The plot of The Terror of the Southlands is lacking the piratical bent to be honest. Hilary, in fact, receives a notice for unpiratical behavior at the beginning. If she doesn’t do something piratey, she will be removed from the League. This is good. Unfortunately, she goes to rescue her friend, the Enchantress, instead, which frankly is not a pirate thing. The argument made is that pirates watch out for their mates, but I’m not sure that that is actually true and also pirates definitely do like to steal things. In book one, she found treasure at least, but she doesn’t nothing remotely piratey in this book. What’s the point with having her be a pirate if she’s NOT a pirate? Why not have her join the royal navy or something?
For all that, The Terror of the Southlands is definitely cute. I’m probably going to read the next book in the series anyway, but I do hope to see higher stakes and more actual pirate behavior in the next book. Also, is some romance too much to ask?
For more reviews, Cover Snark and more, visit A Reader of Fictions.
These days, I’m just not all that into middle grade books. That’s what I’m realizing. As they’re becoming, I think, increasingly popular, I’m trending the other way. I found Magic Marks the Spot to be hilarious and full of adventure. Somehow, though, I didn’t feel nearly as invested in this second book. It’s some combination of my mood, my boredom with most middle grade, and the book itself.
The Terror of the Southlands is definitely cute and funny, as the first installment was. Reading it on the heels of Hook’s Revenge was probably a bit of a mistake. I was not in the right mood at all. You can expect to get a book that’s very close in tone to Magic Marks the Spot. This is either a good or bad thing, depending on the type of reader you are. For my part, I really hope to see any sort of middle grade fantasy get a lot darker in the later installments. Book one might be flufftastic, but book two should have higher stakes. The Terror of the Southlands does not; if anything, the stakes are diminished. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it wasn’t what I wanted.
Carlson’s writing continues to be delightful and humorous. My favorite parts of The Terror of the Southlands were actually the letters and newspaper articles at the end of each chapter. Such a technique is really hard to get right, but I think that Carlson makes them so interesting. They tend to have character discussion of what went on in the previous chapter, and they’re so funny. The one exception to this is the gargoyle’s memoir, which is a retelling of book one with him as the hero. Funny in theory, but trying in actuality.
The other thing with middle grade fiction is that there doesn’t tend to be much romance, because obviously they’re very young. Romance really helps engage me in a story and there is none of it here. I think I remember having a ship in the previous book, but there’s no hint of romance here at all. Middle grade ships can be so cute with the handholding and the awkward flirting. Either Charlie and Claire or Charlie and Hilary could have been so completely adorable together, but oh well.
The plot of The Terror of the Southlands is lacking the piratical bent to be honest. Hilary, in fact, receives a notice for unpiratical behavior at the beginning. If she doesn’t do something piratey, she will be removed from the League. This is good. Unfortunately, she goes to rescue her friend, the Enchantress, instead, which frankly is not a pirate thing. The argument made is that pirates watch out for their mates, but I’m not sure that that is actually true and also pirates definitely do like to steal things. In book one, she found treasure at least, but she doesn’t nothing remotely piratey in this book. What’s the point with having her be a pirate if she’s NOT a pirate? Why not have her join the royal navy or something?
For all that, The Terror of the Southlands is definitely cute. I’m probably going to read the next book in the series anyway, but I do hope to see higher stakes and more actual pirate behavior in the next book. Also, is some romance too much to ask?
February 10, 2017
The Terror of the Southlands is the second book in a middle grade series about a girl pirate in a land with magic. Hilary is reprimanded several times during the book for “unpiratical behavior” but she cannot help but try and save the Enchantress, who has gone missing. With the help of her crew, she sets off on an adventure to prove her piracy and help save the kingdom.
I love the narration of these audiobooks and adore Katherine Kellgren. I especially love the different letters and newspaper articles that pepper the book, adding another layer to the story. Hilary is a wonderful lead heroine, more hero at times than she is pirate, but she insists on trying her best to be dastardly. I love the hilarious moments within the book, as the characters are a bit over the top and really make you laugh at times with their stupidity.
The Terror of the Southlands was a great follow up to the first novel, giving Hilary an adventure that makes her grow as a character. I love listening to these on audio and would highly suggest them being read this way. Her gargoyle is another favorite part of the stories, often times being a bit cowardly, but stepping up when needed.
Verdict:
A thrilling adventure featuring a strong female hero and a cast of unforgettable characters.
I love the narration of these audiobooks and adore Katherine Kellgren. I especially love the different letters and newspaper articles that pepper the book, adding another layer to the story. Hilary is a wonderful lead heroine, more hero at times than she is pirate, but she insists on trying her best to be dastardly. I love the hilarious moments within the book, as the characters are a bit over the top and really make you laugh at times with their stupidity.
The Terror of the Southlands was a great follow up to the first novel, giving Hilary an adventure that makes her grow as a character. I love listening to these on audio and would highly suggest them being read this way. Her gargoyle is another favorite part of the stories, often times being a bit cowardly, but stepping up when needed.
Verdict:
A thrilling adventure featuring a strong female hero and a cast of unforgettable characters.
November 7, 2014
3.5 stars. Same light hearted writing and tongue in cheek portrayal of pirates and a life on the high seas as the first book. I wasn't quite as entertained, but I'm excited to see where book three goes. Full review on the blog.
March 17, 2019
Já tuhle sérii naprosto miluju. A Chrlič je nejlepší a nejúžasnější. <3
December 5, 2018
The Enchantress is missing, and Hilary, who has earned the name "Terror of the Southlands," and her crew are determined to find her (and rescue her if necessary). Finishing school girls and high society ladies. Queen's investigators and piratical etiquette. Scallywags and wagging tongues.
One of the things I love about this whole series is how seriously every person takes the rules & etiquette that applies to their way of life. The pirates are just as obsessed with style as the high society ladies, so when those expectations are challenged ... humor abounds. I also love how much of the "necessary discourse" is handled by way of the various letters, newspapers articles, gossip columns, and official pronouncements that sprinkle the story.
Much fun. A favorite series.
One of the things I love about this whole series is how seriously every person takes the rules & etiquette that applies to their way of life. The pirates are just as obsessed with style as the high society ladies, so when those expectations are challenged ... humor abounds. I also love how much of the "necessary discourse" is handled by way of the various letters, newspapers articles, gossip columns, and official pronouncements that sprinkle the story.
Much fun. A favorite series.
April 10, 2025
75/100
Fun kid’s pirate book
Fun kid’s pirate book
January 7, 2019
So amazing!! And funny! 😊
December 8, 2018
These books are delightfully clever and fun. I can’t wait to read them to my grandkids someday!
February 15, 2019
From Abby: “This book is an amazing adventure book. It makes you just want to scream; it’s so much fun!”
My girls and I (7 and 5 years old) loved reading this together. So far, it’s their favorite series. It’s so great, we read them every night!
My girls and I (7 and 5 years old) loved reading this together. So far, it’s their favorite series. It’s so great, we read them every night!
February 11, 2015
More fun on the high seas (and on land) with Pirate Hilary Westfield, better known as The Terror of the Southlands. The entire crew is back and tasked with solving the mystery of the missing Enchantress. Old enemies return, new friends are made, and Hilary's standing in the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates may be in jeopardy!
While I think I may have enjoyed the first book more, this one was so much fun to read, with the usual narrative and then the articles, letters, and other correspondences sprinkled throughout. Oh, and excerpts of the gargoyle's memoirs! Hilary (or simply, "Terror") has been found lacking in piratical behavior by the VNHLP, but rather than follow one of the more pirate-like tasks offered by the president of the VNHLP, Hilary opts to instead help her friend, the Enchantress, when she asks for Jasper's help and Jasper is unable to answer. After all, helping one's mates is proper pirate behavior, right?
Hilary again is great fun to read as she tries her best to be a piratical rogue, captain a small but fierce crew, solve a mystery, help her friends, and make everyone happy. Of course, we can't make EVERYone happy and it's a lesson Hilary faces. I love how Hilary may not always know the right answer or right thing to do, but she chooses a path and does her best to stick to it. The cast of characters is as charming as always and I so look forward to the next installment! Upside: pirates AND caterers! Downside: needs more Jasper.
Very recommended, grades 4 and up.
While I think I may have enjoyed the first book more, this one was so much fun to read, with the usual narrative and then the articles, letters, and other correspondences sprinkled throughout. Oh, and excerpts of the gargoyle's memoirs! Hilary (or simply, "Terror") has been found lacking in piratical behavior by the VNHLP, but rather than follow one of the more pirate-like tasks offered by the president of the VNHLP, Hilary opts to instead help her friend, the Enchantress, when she asks for Jasper's help and Jasper is unable to answer. After all, helping one's mates is proper pirate behavior, right?
Hilary again is great fun to read as she tries her best to be a piratical rogue, captain a small but fierce crew, solve a mystery, help her friends, and make everyone happy. Of course, we can't make EVERYone happy and it's a lesson Hilary faces. I love how Hilary may not always know the right answer or right thing to do, but she chooses a path and does her best to stick to it. The cast of characters is as charming as always and I so look forward to the next installment! Upside: pirates AND caterers! Downside: needs more Jasper.
Very recommended, grades 4 and up.
July 19, 2017
Hilary Westfield has finally achieved her ultimate goal in life: she’s an official member of The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates. But life as a pirate has been, as of late, not exactly full of thrills. This has clearly not gone unnoticed as she’s just received her first warning from the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates that her membership is about to be revoked if she doesn’t start acting more pirate-y. Hilary and her crew head off on a search to find the lost Enchantress and she can only hope that this mission helps her reputation as a pirate.
While reading this, the one thing I kept thinking was this would be one adorable Disney movie. We’ve got Hilary, the young girl who wants nothing more than to be a world renowned pirate. There’s her unlikely companion, a talking gargoyle rather than the much-expected parrot. Add to that are the goofy rather than dangerous pirates, the clueless police inspectors, the snobbish patricians that frown upon pirates and the all-together light-hearted storyline that is quite delightful indeed. Definitely a perfect storyline for a Disney movie.
More pirates, more adventures, more magic and of course more gargoyle make this an entertaining second installment in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. There isn’t much in the way of advancement in overall plot but this is such a fun read that readers of this series aren’t likely to mind.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
While reading this, the one thing I kept thinking was this would be one adorable Disney movie. We’ve got Hilary, the young girl who wants nothing more than to be a world renowned pirate. There’s her unlikely companion, a talking gargoyle rather than the much-expected parrot. Add to that are the goofy rather than dangerous pirates, the clueless police inspectors, the snobbish patricians that frown upon pirates and the all-together light-hearted storyline that is quite delightful indeed. Definitely a perfect storyline for a Disney movie.
More pirates, more adventures, more magic and of course more gargoyle make this an entertaining second installment in The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series. There isn’t much in the way of advancement in overall plot but this is such a fun read that readers of this series aren’t likely to mind.
I received this book free from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
October 21, 2014
Miss Pimm, Enchantress to the kingdom has disappeared. The royal inspectors are on the case, but they'll be lucky to find anything if it trips them. And Miss Pimm sent a letter asking Jasper for help, but he seems to have disappeared as well. There's nothing for it, but for the Terror of the Southlands (aka Miss Hilary Westfield) to find Miss Pimm and rescue the kingdom from unsupervised magic. If only she knew where to start! And the constant messages the VNHLP is sending about Hilary's lack of piratey conduct is absolutely not helping things. Thankfully, Hilary does have the help of her trusty gargoyle, Pirate Charlie Dove, Miss Greyson, and Claire.
It's another fun adventure on the high seas (well, and on land too) with Hilary, her trusty and humorous gargoyle and the rest of the crew. This romp is just as fun as the first one, and despite things looking quite bad at times for multiple personages, it tries to remain lighthearted and humorous. The inserts of correspondence letters and periodicals from various sources between chapters is different from most books for this audience, but quite a nice difference and a creative way to build the plot line in my opinion. Fans of Hilary and gang shouldn't be disappoint in this installment.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Most potential violence ends up not being very violent at all, thanks to magic and comic timing. (Hilary and gang are decidedly kindhearted for pirates, and reluctant to cause harm.)
It's another fun adventure on the high seas (well, and on land too) with Hilary, her trusty and humorous gargoyle and the rest of the crew. This romp is just as fun as the first one, and despite things looking quite bad at times for multiple personages, it tries to remain lighthearted and humorous. The inserts of correspondence letters and periodicals from various sources between chapters is different from most books for this audience, but quite a nice difference and a creative way to build the plot line in my opinion. Fans of Hilary and gang shouldn't be disappoint in this installment.
Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content. Most potential violence ends up not being very violent at all, thanks to magic and comic timing. (Hilary and gang are decidedly kindhearted for pirates, and reluctant to cause harm.)
November 29, 2014
A charming sequel to Magic Marks the Spot, with just as much magic, hardtack, manners, unpiratical behavior, hilarious forms/letters/newspaper columns, and the always incredible gargoyle as featured in the first book. However, in this one, we have the added addition of a missing Enchantress who needs some rescuing, Hilary nearly getting kicked out the VNHLP, and some pirates who mostly deal in catering delicious food.
A relevant quote:
One typo discovered:
Missed quotation marks on page 185.
A relevant quote:
"I'm not very good at making friends, but I believe I'm quite good at being one."
One typo discovered:
"Jasper and Miss Greyson aren't wretched or impertinent, Father. Hilary tried to keep her..."
Missed quotation marks on page 185.
July 22, 2015
Fun second installment in the series. Violet loved it; Luke got seriously annoyed at the audio book though on our long drive and was so happy when it was over :).
June 6, 2021
A bold and daring sequel to the first swashbuckling adventure on the high seas. A thoroughly enjoyable family audiobook. Highly recommend.
September 2, 2024
If you liked the first book, you will enjoy this one too! I think I personally liked the first one a little better but I still enjoyed it a lot! The narrator is fantastic and makes for a very entertaining audiobook production. The narrator does unique voices for each character. She does a great job voicing the passion that Hillary has! I still love the mesh of high society and pirates. And that there is both good and bad people in both groups. It’s just like captain Jack sparrow says: “you can be a pirate and a good person.” Same goes with being a member of high society! I love how more boundaries are being crossed between those two groups and that there is more intermingling. There are a lot of prejudices to get over for both sides but they are working on it. I love that a theme is: no matter what you are where you grew up etc, it’s just important to be honorable! I love the pirate talk and pirate threats. For being a pirate book it is very clean! Great middle grade read.
SPOILERS and book notes:
Hillary, first mate Charlie, gargoyle, and Claire are off to find the enchantress! Love this team. They have a small and shabby boat called the Squeaker. Miss Greyson and fletcher are continuing delivering magic items. Claire tried to use magic for the first time with er gold crochet hook and it exploded!! That’s the first time that has ever happened lol. And Cannon Ball Jack is accused of taking her! He is the best. But he and the enchantress has dinner together. And there is a note from the kidnappers! The Mutineers. “BLAST!” Is the quote of the series. Claire made a pirate oath that she would make Charlie her friend by the end of the voyage! Hehe Nicholas Feathering (the most eligible bachelor) (possibly engaged to awful what’s her face) is kind! And his little sister Alice has a boat and wants to be a pirate too!! The featherings have a cool crumbling castle and a butt ton of magic items. But they are cool!! Aw! The Mutineers have taken Jasper!!! They must save him! Ms Greyson found them to tell them! So they all must work together! I love that Charlie calls Hillary “terror”. Bc she is the Terror of the southlands. Blacktooth is Filamenas uncle!! And filamenas mom and Nicholas Feathering were the mutineers!!! The admiral was involved too! They are the ones who kidnapped the enchantress so they could make filamena the new enchantress so they could rule the world. I don’t think Nicholas is all that bad. He seems sucked in without wanting to be and not knowing how to get out! Charlie and Claire have a row but they make up. They apologize and forgive each other. They yelled some hard truths to each other. Claire made Charlie realize that he is scared of magic so he carries a magic gold coin to get over his fear. And he thinks of Claire while he does it hehe. I sense a Ron and Hermione relationship between those two. And Hillary is Harry Potter of course. Claire was blowing things up bc heretic was so powerful the small objects couldn’t contain it! So the enchantress declared her the next one after she is trained! Hillary resigned from the Very nearly Honorable league of pirates bc their leader Blacktooth wasn’t honorable at all! And bc of that her friends resigned too. I like the line at the end where they are on board the pigeon and Charlie asks if Hillary wants to learn a new dueling trick and she says she doesn’t feel like it right now. So he says “ok let’s just look at the sea, bc being a pirate isn’t all about dueling, it’s also looking out into the ocean with your friends.”
SPOILERS and book notes:
Hillary, first mate Charlie, gargoyle, and Claire are off to find the enchantress! Love this team. They have a small and shabby boat called the Squeaker. Miss Greyson and fletcher are continuing delivering magic items. Claire tried to use magic for the first time with er gold crochet hook and it exploded!! That’s the first time that has ever happened lol. And Cannon Ball Jack is accused of taking her! He is the best. But he and the enchantress has dinner together. And there is a note from the kidnappers! The Mutineers. “BLAST!” Is the quote of the series. Claire made a pirate oath that she would make Charlie her friend by the end of the voyage! Hehe Nicholas Feathering (the most eligible bachelor) (possibly engaged to awful what’s her face) is kind! And his little sister Alice has a boat and wants to be a pirate too!! The featherings have a cool crumbling castle and a butt ton of magic items. But they are cool!! Aw! The Mutineers have taken Jasper!!! They must save him! Ms Greyson found them to tell them! So they all must work together! I love that Charlie calls Hillary “terror”. Bc she is the Terror of the southlands. Blacktooth is Filamenas uncle!! And filamenas mom and Nicholas Feathering were the mutineers!!! The admiral was involved too! They are the ones who kidnapped the enchantress so they could make filamena the new enchantress so they could rule the world. I don’t think Nicholas is all that bad. He seems sucked in without wanting to be and not knowing how to get out! Charlie and Claire have a row but they make up. They apologize and forgive each other. They yelled some hard truths to each other. Claire made Charlie realize that he is scared of magic so he carries a magic gold coin to get over his fear. And he thinks of Claire while he does it hehe. I sense a Ron and Hermione relationship between those two. And Hillary is Harry Potter of course. Claire was blowing things up bc heretic was so powerful the small objects couldn’t contain it! So the enchantress declared her the next one after she is trained! Hillary resigned from the Very nearly Honorable league of pirates bc their leader Blacktooth wasn’t honorable at all! And bc of that her friends resigned too. I like the line at the end where they are on board the pigeon and Charlie asks if Hillary wants to learn a new dueling trick and she says she doesn’t feel like it right now. So he says “ok let’s just look at the sea, bc being a pirate isn’t all about dueling, it’s also looking out into the ocean with your friends.”
February 17, 2019
This story is as great as the first one. I still am so in love with the cute gargoyle. He always makes me laugh with his clever comments.
I will say that the author had me guessing on who could have taken the Enchantress. I did suspect Philomena had something to do with it right off tha bat due to the events that happened in the last book with Miss Pimm taking the crochet hook from her. I even thought she was the one that had visited Sargent Westfield in the the dungeons, and it was just to dark for Hilary to recognize her. I had always believed her to be a villain not just an annoying bully.
When it came to Sir Nicholas, I always thought that he was just under a magical spell, because he was so infatuated with Philomena's hair. I was sure once the spell was broken he was going to either fall in love with Claire or Hilary since his sister was so fawned of her. I thought he genuinely cared for his sister.
Philomena's mother never even came to mind that she could be the one who planned the whole thing. Great twist!!! (Crazy to think a High society lady could be the sister of the leader of the VNHLP)
What can I say about Captin Blacktooth. I was disappointed that he was a villain because Hilary looked up to him and the organization so much that it was a bummer to have her heart broken by his poor choices and greed.
Can I say I was so happy that Claire is to be the Enchantress. I always thought she had a high chance of becoming it. If not Hilary was my next best guess. Claire definatly deserves it. She has always been proud of becoming a High Society girl and likes all the weird activities they do. She has an honest heart and protects the ones she cares for.
I hope that maybe Claire and Charlie end up falling in love. How great would that be. More Enchantresses, Governessed and Pirares getting together is a beautiful thing. !!!!
I will say that the author had me guessing on who could have taken the Enchantress. I did suspect Philomena had something to do with it right off tha bat due to the events that happened in the last book with Miss Pimm taking the crochet hook from her. I even thought she was the one that had visited Sargent Westfield in the the dungeons, and it was just to dark for Hilary to recognize her. I had always believed her to be a villain not just an annoying bully.
When it came to Sir Nicholas, I always thought that he was just under a magical spell, because he was so infatuated with Philomena's hair. I was sure once the spell was broken he was going to either fall in love with Claire or Hilary since his sister was so fawned of her. I thought he genuinely cared for his sister.
Philomena's mother never even came to mind that she could be the one who planned the whole thing. Great twist!!! (Crazy to think a High society lady could be the sister of the leader of the VNHLP)
What can I say about Captin Blacktooth. I was disappointed that he was a villain because Hilary looked up to him and the organization so much that it was a bummer to have her heart broken by his poor choices and greed.
Can I say I was so happy that Claire is to be the Enchantress. I always thought she had a high chance of becoming it. If not Hilary was my next best guess. Claire definatly deserves it. She has always been proud of becoming a High Society girl and likes all the weird activities they do. She has an honest heart and protects the ones she cares for.
I hope that maybe Claire and Charlie end up falling in love. How great would that be. More Enchantresses, Governessed and Pirares getting together is a beautiful thing. !!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 16, 2022
This is the second installment off the adventures of Hillary the Terror of the Southlands. I'm going to tell you that it is just as good.
Two things happen in this book. The Enchantress Pim goes missing and Captain Blacktooth tells Hillary that her standing in the VNHLP is on shaky ground.
Captain Blacktooth gives. Hillary a few daring quests to go on to prove she was still a pirate. But when the Enchantress goes missing, Hillary and crew go to find her. Then Jasper Fletcher goes missing and the whole panic goes up a notch.
Claire is a huge part of the story and I can't help but wonder and the at very least static( if not electricity) between her and Charlie. Is this puppy love?
Speaking of Claire, it is quite hysterical that she explodes things when she tries to use magical coins. The explanation for it is awesome!
All of our favorite and least favorite characters are back. I am enchanted by the pirates. I think Jack is my favorite after Jasper and Charlie. Again, I wonder, is there wedding bells?
Two things happen in this book. The Enchantress Pim goes missing and Captain Blacktooth tells Hillary that her standing in the VNHLP is on shaky ground.
Captain Blacktooth gives. Hillary a few daring quests to go on to prove she was still a pirate. But when the Enchantress goes missing, Hillary and crew go to find her. Then Jasper Fletcher goes missing and the whole panic goes up a notch.
Claire is a huge part of the story and I can't help but wonder and the at very least static( if not electricity) between her and Charlie. Is this puppy love?
Speaking of Claire, it is quite hysterical that she explodes things when she tries to use magical coins. The explanation for it is awesome!
All of our favorite and least favorite characters are back. I am enchanted by the pirates. I think Jack is my favorite after Jasper and Charlie. Again, I wonder, is there wedding bells?
June 5, 2018
This is one of my new favorite series. I have loved Harry Potter for so long, but my 6 year old does not want me to read it to them. I started looking for books that I can read with my son. This series is one I think he will enjoy. I absolutely loved it. I bought it on audible and I absolutely love Katherine Kellgren's performance.
This series is about a little girl that wants to be a pirate. There is magic and lots of action. I love how well the characters are written. I laughed so much at Hillary ( the little girl pirate ). I have been recommend this book to my friends that have little girls. There is so much adventure in this series. I am currently reading another series to my 6 year old son, but I think this series will get read to my other son that is 3 in another 2 years. Pirates, treasure, lots of pirate talk, very clean. I cannot say enough about how fun and refreshing this series is.
This series is about a little girl that wants to be a pirate. There is magic and lots of action. I love how well the characters are written. I laughed so much at Hillary ( the little girl pirate ). I have been recommend this book to my friends that have little girls. There is so much adventure in this series. I am currently reading another series to my 6 year old son, but I think this series will get read to my other son that is 3 in another 2 years. Pirates, treasure, lots of pirate talk, very clean. I cannot say enough about how fun and refreshing this series is.
August 3, 2024
This took our family a long time to get into, but the ending was really strong, so I generously rated it 4 stars. In the middle, it seemed that we were going to give up on the series, but instead, we eagerly jumped into the finale after finishing this. I love the writing style of this series. It's so fun and different. The characters are a bit bland at times, but mostly quirky and enjoyable. And I love how you don't even have to suspend disbelief at how ridiculous it is that the main character is somehow a pirate - and a pirate captain at that. Altogether, this series is a lot of fun even if there are better middle grade series out there.
April 7, 2018
If you like witty, swashbuckling pirate adventures, especially when the buccaneer involved is Hilary Westfield, who has left Miss Pimm's Finishing School for Delicate Ladies to set sail on the high seas, you'll love this book--the second in the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates trilogy. With her friends Charlie and Claire, to say nothing of her amazingly funny, trusty companion the gargoyle, Hilary embarks on a quest to rescue the Enchantress of the Northlands. This book is full of magic and fun and is a delightful read for kids and adults alike.
August 22, 2019
This series was partly funny and the story was just amazing! One thing I really was happy about was how the author put in every letter or slip or invitation. Another detail was that each character had a different font for their hand writing. I did not enjoy the scary parts because I am one of those people who imagine they are in the book, so I would not like a pirate shaking a dagger at me (that was what happened in the book). Although it was a series, I was not into it enough to keep going to the 3rd book.
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March 9, 2020What a fun, refreshing read. Hilary is a pirate with a heart of gold and a moral compass that points true North. The cast around her is strong, and that includes the evil Mutineers.
Highly recommended for those who love pirates, adventure, strong girls. This is an exceptional choice as a bedtime story or classroom read-aloud. Read the full review.
Highly recommended for those who love pirates, adventure, strong girls. This is an exceptional choice as a bedtime story or classroom read-aloud. Read the full review.
September 2, 2023
This was just as fun as the first one, if not more so because Hilary is doing more pirate things throughout the book and manages to hold her own against all kinds of different groups. I do think it starts to get a little old that she puts on such a bravado but finds herself in trouble quite often, only to be saved by someone else who arrives just at the right moment, but I guess that is more realistic for a story about a young girl instead of her doing too much above her age.
September 18, 2018
I found this, the second book, more fun and entertaining than the first. Maybe because the characters have already gelled, so the author was able to move the action forward much more quickly. Or maybe because the author was able to set up more layers of intrigue. Either way, I liked the second book more than the first.
December 9, 2018
It was an enjoyable sequel, full of pirates and adventures, but also an investigation. It was entertaining and the characters were as much likable as before, but my focus was on Claire who had a more important role this time and it was very welcome! As previously, I enjoyed the little letters and articles, they were less funny than in the 1st book, but they still added some humor to the read.
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