The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway

The Black Wraith #1

by T.J. Rose, Michele Notaro

Three rules for surviving aboard The Black Wraith

Rule 1: Never dare to challenge the wicked captain.

Rule 2: Never reveal your secret magical powers.

Rule 3: Absolutely don’t fall in love with the mysterious, unfairly attractive first mate…


Kaspar

How in the world did I end up in the cargo hold of the most notorious pirate ship ever?

Holy phoenix tails, I’m in trouble.

Running from the law is bad enough, but now I’m terrified of the scary pirate captain and his petrifying crew. One wrong move, and I'm sea serpent bait.

I’m not sure I can find my place among this crew of cunning pirates. But then there’s him—Maximus Blackwood. The first mate, known as The Reaper to all others, pulls me in with his sad eyes, his hidden kindness, and those rare smiles he saves only for me. Between battles and secret meetings in the crow's nest, something undeniable grows between us.

I should keep away. But when he looks at me like I'm the freedom he's been searching for, how can I possibly resist?


Maximus
I found him in the cargo hold.

Pale skin, freckles, and a defiance that outweighed his fear.

For years, I've kept The Black Wraith's aeronauts in line, my reputation as The Reaper ensuring our survival. I don't have time for distractions—especially not stowaways with secrets and an irritating talent for seeing through me.

Kaspar Ward is trouble personified. He doesn't belong in our world of air battles and plunder, asking questions, watching me with those perceptive, pretty green eyes.

Now I find myself teaching him how to survive Captain Van Jagger's brutal command while fighting my own battle—keeping my growing fascination with him hidden from a crew that shows no mercy to weakness.

Danger and desire collide in The Sky Pirate's Stowaway, the first book in The Black Wraith series, an MM romantasy which will sweep you off your feet and into the endless skies.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romance, LGBT, Pirates, Queer, Magic

455 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 23, 2025

About the author

TJ Rose is steadily turning her wild imagination into alternate universes, one happily-ever-after at a time.

By day, she weaves action-packed queer romances packed with vivid worlds and characters who dance between sugar, spice, and pure chaos. By night, she's either plotting doomsday scenarios or binging horror movies—sometimes simultaneously.

When not writing or daydreaming, you'll find her wandering through the British wilderness, coffee in hand, sunlight optional but strongly preferred.


Visit her website www.tjrosebooks.com to join her mailing list to stay up-to-date!

Reviews

[Betsy]

TJ Rose's books always have gorgeous cover art that draw me in, plus the tropes & blurbs always seem so promising & sound right up my alley. so i'm at a loss for why their writing just doesn't do it for me :c i want to love their books so badly but always find myself spacing out, bored bc i can't connect to the story, its characters, and their chemistry doesn't feel palpable either.. i thought this book could be different, the one to break this curse on me, lol, as it's a co-writing, but sadly i came across the same issues here as well.. i'm sad to dnf it but it just doesn't make sense for me to force myself anymore at this point.. bc my other issue is that the pacing doesn't usually help these (unnecessarily) long books by TJ Rose, it always ends up dragging for me, unfortunately.. :/

i thought it would be fun to at least list some things i liked:
- interesting world building
- flying ships
- the concept of a pirate airship (not exactly a fan of the execution)
- disability rep (especially in a fantasy world)
- secret magical power (which was unique)
- pirate nicknames (faves: Reaper, Ghost, Sage)
- Kaspar, the Ghost (get it? like Casper👻 lol. idk if this was a coincidence)
- dragons (they were pretty mythical, they sounded cool but they didn't really appear in the book?? which feels like a missed opportunity. also confusing bc i thought that was a dragon on the cover?? i really expected more dragon action..)

but while i was listing these ☝︎, i unfortunately realized more & more things i disliked:
- insta attraction/heart eyes/love (in an almost 500 pgs long book.. where the plot is veryy slow too)
- the pacing (again, doesn't help that it's soo long..)
- predictable dialogues (which makes it feel less organic)
- repetitive narration/inner monologues (why does this book need to be so long?? did the authors need to hit a word count?? as if this were a school essay ;o;)
- the non-existent goal of the plot
- the unfathomable & weak objective/motivation of the MCs
- predictable (side & main) characters
- predictable villain (& the resolution)

not every book is gonna work for everyone ik, but i'm pretty bummed about this one.. :c

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this!!!! It was exciting and reminded me of a story I may have read as a child (minus the sex).

I love a found family story and that happened for both Max and Kaspar. The crew on the Black Wraith had some amazing and very supporting people.

I loved Kas and Max’s love story. These two men deserved love. They are so good together!

I will say the book was a tad too long and could’ve been shorter. There was a lot of repetitiveness. It seemed like the authors were trying too hard to make a flowery and sweet fantasy story at times when they didn’t need a lot of the extra wording. The story itself is a strong one. That was my one complaint.

I’m very exciting for the next book!

ARC received for review
All thoughts and opinions are my own

[reverie]

dnf @6%

i feel so guilty but i just cannot read another page. the writing feels more like bullet points rather than flowing prose and getting through two chapters was a challenge i did NOT want to keep on with. i'm so goddamn jealous that others are loving because this should be something right up my alley 😭

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, you do not understand how excited this book made me before I even started. I have been aching for more gay pirate romances. GOOD gay pirate romances that perfectly suited my tastes. And this one delivered, okay? The whole thing gave me Treasure Planet vibes. (The animated movie by Disney, which you should check out if you haven’t yet, it’s so good and so underrated.) It just made me so happy to have the chance to beta read it and now read it again as an ARC.

I instantly liked both main characters. Kaspar is a secret badass, so feisty and fierce and loyal, with plenty of sass. Meanwhile, Maximus is the brooding one with the terrifying reputation who’s just a secret softie, hahaha. Such a good pairing, these two. Their romance is absolutely beautiful and perfectly paced, I loved it! And the side characters were amazing too! Well, some I hated because they were stupid mean assholes, but still… The characters leap off the pages, as does the world these two have created.

I am truly amazed at how well both of their writing styles mix together. It’s beautiful and seamless, which is SO HARD TO DO! Giving each MC a distinct voice but not sacrificing anything in the process? Keeping the flow of the story, the feeling/atmosphere/vibe of it all… it’s all so in sync and that’s amazing. Because I read plenty of co-authored books where all of it just felt so disjointed and where it didn’t mix well. But that wasn’t an issue here at all and major props to that, honestly.

If I had to sum up this book in one word, it’d be fantastical. It’s romantic, it’s thrilling, awe-inspiring, and everything a fantasy book about sky pirates should be. It made me want to find a way to dive into this world and go fly right along with this crew, okay? Really though, this is the gay pirate romance of my dreams and I’m so absolutely thrilled and honoured I got a chance to beta-read it for these two wonderful people. Highly recommended!

I beta-read this book and received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.

[Magne Einar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love Kaspar and Max! 🥹 Kaspar’s sweet, slightly awkward personality and how he turns into a total fanboy for Max — it’s just adorable! The tension between them, the glances, the way they circle around each other… it’s all written so beautifully and vividly.

What I especially love is Kaspar’s growth. You can really see him becoming braver and more confident with every chapter, and it’s impossible not to root for him. And then there’s Max — my poor soft-hearted tough guy! After what he went through, he’s closed himself off from everyone… except Kaspar. Watching him slowly open up again was so heartwarming.

Both characters are written so well — deep, emotional, and real. I loved every single page of this story. 🥹👏

[Romina Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

"[...] Sometimes the most precious treasures were the ones we never set out to find."

When Kaspar is escaping Sunada's guards, afraid of being captured and enslaved because of his powers, he becomes a stowaway in the most renowned and dangerous pirate ship, getting to know not only the fearsome captain of the ship, but also his intimidating (and insanely hot) second mate, Maximus "The Reaper".

This romance is insanely cute, the action scenes are nice, and the world and plot are very thrilling, but while I really liked the book as a whole, there's some things that... well...
Let me just explain:

Romance: While it starts slow, Kas and Max are instantly attracted to each other; in other books I don't really have a problem with that, but I don't think it worked really well here. It would have been nice to see the attraction starting to have relevance once they got to know each other more, and that would've made it smoother, in my opinion. That's why I think I didn't end up loving them even if they have everything to win my whole heart. I love the intensity and deep affection and love they have for each other, but I didn't felt it, y'know? It felt like they were just attracted to each other at the start, because as much as the book says their feelings run deep, the authors don't really show it (in the development stages of the relationship, I mean), or at least they don't show enough of the building of that connection for a lot of those words and actions to be believable or cut deep.
Maybe showing more of those conversations they were having before even attempting to kiss would've been better. That would've let me see more of their chemistry before they were a thing.
I think what I'm saying is, even though I'm not really fan of the trope, this would've worked better if it was a stranger to friends to lovers. And even if it seems they are exactly that, they're not, not really.

Aside from that, I like them as a pair, they definitely are made for each other, and they're so sweet sometimes my teeth hurt lol.

Characters: Viper felt too 2D. We don't know ANYTHING about the guy other than he is an evil piece of shit. And that's it. Disappointing. Same with his minions (talking about Butcher and company).
And while I'm on it, Butcher's death felt super underwhelming and not really logical. Are you telling me that Ariella and Willy killed him in no longer than 1 minute 30 seconds while Max and Kas couldn't? Sure, they were surrounded and Ariella and Willy weren't but still, you'd think it would have been harder, no? Anyway, it's not even that important, it's just a little thing that bugged me.
Next, Hawk-eyes: Loved the girl, didn't felt her death because she wasn't really present nor developed.
Maximus... While I really like him, and his POV was my favourite to read, I didn't fully believe his Reaper persona, because they tell us more about it than showing us. He has his moments of coldness, I'll give you that, but nothing that warrants the reputation he supposedly has except a single moment at the start of the book where he immediately apologizes to Kas; and here goes my next problem, that connects with the issues I have with the romance; he is too soft since the start when it comes to Kas, WHY? Is it just because Kas it's pretty???? I'm sure in his 5 years of being a pirate the redhead it's not the only beautiful guy Max has seen, so it doesn't even make sense. Again, it would've been better if the connection was more nuanced, slowly showing us Max's walls as they crumbled, REALLY showed it.
I don't have much to say about Kaspar. I love him, he needs to be protected. Periodt.
I'm looking forward to see more of Ariella and Willy, I'm very interested in what fate has for them. Ariella it's probably my favourite character after SPROCKET, THE FREAKING MVP OF THE WHOLE BOOK!

...I fucking love Sprocket.

Oh, I LOVED the magic creatures and monsters, MORE PLEASE.

Writing: A little bit reiterative for my taste. Even repeating the same sentence in the same way it was written 2 pages ago. I think that affected some of the pacing a little bit in some parts. Aside from that, not much to say.

So my final rating is: 3.6⭐
This has a lot of potential. It's really enjoyable, and I'm looking forward to the next one, especially to see more of this world developed, because I got a sense that we only got a tiny feel for it as we spent most of our time on a ship in the sky lol, AND MORE MAGIC POWERS PLEASE.
I know this is a romantasy, and it's not mainly focused on the fantasy aspect, but I'll take whatever the authors give me :D

If you like pirates, fantasy, hearts beating hard because of a little hand holding, a relationship that has to be secret and thrilling action scenes, don't mind that much everything I said before, it's definitely worth a reading, SO READ IT.


I was given an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion.

[Sav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I already had high hopes for this book and it ended up blowing them away completely. I don’t even know where to start with this one! The world building? Gorgeous! The characters? I’m obsessed! The writing? Captivating! I love a good pirate romance, and this was such a unique take on the classic genre. Airships, dragons, sea serpents, magical abilities, and a corrupt government — what more could you want!

Max and Kaspar are both a little lost when they find each other. Max is stuck behind the scary facade of Reaper and Kas is running from the threat of exploitation. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I love how they are able to be exactly what the other needs. Max needs someone that sees him, not the notoriety of the Reaper name or the betrayal of his past. And Kas needs someone who doesn’t see him as a resource to be extracted, but rather as an actual person.

As the romance simmers, we see how each of these men grow. Max starts to finally let down his walls, trusting someone else and letting them see the real him. Kas starts to find his own confidence and bravery, standing up for himself and protecting the ones he cares for. Ugh, I could go on for ever about how much I’m obsessed with them.

The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway was a beautiful read! If you love gay pirates, grumpy x sunshine pairings, found family, and breathtaking world building, you will love this book! The couple gets their HEA, but it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger, setting the stage for the next book in the series. Ahh I can’t wait!

[Em (Diversify Your Shelf) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I got an arc from GRR*

CW: one mmc shakes the other and it results in a minor head injury (accidental and pre relationship); flashbacks of leg amputation; internalised ableism due to needing a prosthetic; 18 year old (not MC) getting whipped; betrayal by a love interest in a higher position (flashback); death of a side character, cliffhanger

Hmmm... I'm not quite sure how to feel about this book. I think this could totally be a *me* thing and just not the vibe I was looking for so feel free to disregard if the cons I list are not things you're bothered by!

The pros: PIRATES! GAY PIRATES! The world-building was incredibly interesting, prominent female characters existed (an issue in MM), and the magic system was unique enough to stand out but not so off the wall to be confusing. There was some good tension between MCs and each had their own struggles separate from those they had as a couple. Kaspar is delightfully cheeky and I really enjoyed watching his interactions with the entire crew. I was very invested as I was reading and I will definitely pick up the second book (thought probably not as an arc as that seems unfair to the authors).

Cons: the pacing of the central conflict was off. Kaspar & Maximus (and the rest of the crew) are afraid of the ship's captain because he's an abusive power-hungry jerk. It is understandable that when people are downtrodden it takes *a lot* of emotional and physical effort to stand up against oppressors. However, the longer the tension went on the less sympathy I had for Maximus's inaction. Instead of feeling sympathetic to the abuse he was facing, I was becoming more and more disgusted by his lack of action and his refusal to understand his own complicity. The book would have been much stronger if this conflict had taken up less page space and devoted more time to secondary plots and conflicts.

The other con for me is likely completely subjective but I felt the tone was a bit unbalanced. I felt there could have been much more joy in the piracy and flying through the skies and maybe some dastardly sword fighting (for fun!) to make the reader long to share the experiences of the crew. For a book without world-ending stakes, it was incredibly stressful to read.

[Abel Searor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book. This was a really entertaining story with great characters, beautiful relationships and immersive world building. The love story that blossoms throughout the course of the novel never overshadows the plot but is woven throughout in a way that draws the reader in and advances the action of the plot. It is truly an integrated romantasy.

Once we arrive onboard the ship (which happens very quickly) we are introduced to a great collection of characters that are well developed and all have their own unique characteristics and relationships with one another and with Ghost. We are also introduced to the villain of the story - a completely unredeemable character that we learn very quickly to hate. As the story unfolds we watch the relationship between Kas and Max grow and bloom. There are moments of spice but it is pretty mild and flows logically out of the relationship and story.

This is the first book in a series (something that I forgot at times while reading it) and it ends on a cliffhanger. This was very gratifying because there are two plot points introduced that are developed but not fully addressed and I am excited to see the next steps in those storylines. I am also curious to see the story of Las and Max continue to unfold.

My only real qualms with the book are that it dragged a bit in the middle. We spend a lot of time on the ship and I find myself feeling as trapped as our main character. I would have liked a bit more advancement of the plot during those sections but it did serve the “slow-burn” feel of the novel. I was initially annoyed at the lack of resolution of a couple of story lines that are introduced and then dropped but I am sure they will factor into subsequent books in the series. I also hope that there will be more exploration of the very interesting and dangerous world and magic system that was introduced but felt underdeveloped in this book.

[Alastair H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sky pirates!! I knew I had to read this one and I was not disappointed! I love the entire aesthetic. It's a steampunk espw adventure in the skies instead of the high seas. Reaper, Max, was much more soft hearted than I was expecting but I wasn'tad about it. He's less of the roguish pirate archetype and more the honorable, tender hearted public servant forced through unfortunate circumstances to be a scallywag.

I feel like Kasper's personality didn't get quite the attention Max's did but I still enjoyed him. He develops more the further you get into the story and by the end I felt like we knew him well enough. There's no shortage of excitement in this story, with battles and monsters and surprise attacks hidden behind every chapter. It will keep you engaged and on the edge of your seat (sometimes I was STRESSED lol)

I did get a little annoyed at the choices Reaper was making towards the end, like I get the conflict of mutiny against Viper but come on guys, the man is throwing teenagers overboard, he needs to go and the rest can get sorted out once he's not a threat anymore. But that's just me.

Anyway the world is 10/10, the setting is 10/10, I love the steampunk sky pirates. They're exactly like the pirates from A Castle in the Sky and it was the best. I'm so excited we get a whole series.

Be warned, some sad things do happen in this book, including death of side characters you are attached to, which does cast a shadow on the fun romance a bit. I feel like it comes with the genre, but it's still worth mentioning so you're prepared.

[Kayla (anxietea-reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sky Pirate's Stowaway was such a blast. Very much Treasure Island meets Pirates of the Caribbean in the best possible way. I don't even fully know how to describe this book. All I know is I need the second book like yesterday.

This world felt so lush despite the fact that the majority of the book takes place on the ship itself. The mythical creatures that the authors tease and show you throughout the book just add to the fantasy environment and I just love that.

The characters are stars here. You have Kaspar and Max as the main cast but the side characters truly shine as well. It really leaves you wondering who the next book will be about and how the characters you adore will be seen in those other POVs which is honestly some of my favorite things about interconnected series that follow different couples.

Kaspar and Max, you could feel the connection immediately which I loved. And the YEARNING ugh I am such a sucker for yearning and longing and that was front and center here. These two just felt right and the journey you go on with them is such a good hard fought one.

Like I said earlier, the way this book ended has me needing the second one yesterday.

thank you to GRR for sending me with arc and allowing me to experience this book early. such a blast

[Plaguedoll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gahhhh I love a good romantasy! Since I, admittedly, DO judge books by their covers (more than I'd like to admit), I had super high hopes for this book (I mean, LOOK at this cover) and it didn't disappoint. However, there were a few issues that I'll get to later.

The good: I loved the MC's and their romance was so freaking sweet. The world-building was on point, and there is so much creativity here! The secondary/side characters were fun, diverse, and most were really well developed.

The not so good: I felt like the pacing was kind of weird, and there were a few areas where the story kind of dragged, and was repetitive. The conflict was...I don't know. I felt like some things (and characters, now that I think of it) were a lot of buildup and a bit anticlimactic. Not a huge deal at all, but just an observation.

If you love pirates, romantasy, adventure, grumpy/sunshine, and found family, you'll love this book! It does, however, end on a cliffhanger, so be ready to pout about it 😂

*arc review, my opinions are my own!

[Mandy Beyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 1st in series, this novel follows a blacksmith's apprentice running from his own magic that stows away on a ship that turns out to be the most dreaded pirate ship in his world. Kasper (Ghost) finds a new family (and enemies) and is drawn to the first mate while trying to stay alive in this new world. I loved that this world is full of monsters so that the ships are sailing in the air (yay, magic!), and although it took me a little while to get into the story, once the secrets started being revealed I was very interested in seeing these two find an HEA. Again, the inciting incident to lead into a book 2 shocked me, but I'm fully invested now in seeing Kas' family reunited and away from Sunada.

[Ella Aileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this was so much fun! I absolutely adored Kas and Max - they were absolutely wonderful! A perfect mix of grump and sweet with a little bit of pining thrown in too. The crew of pirates were so unique and fun, and they really did have the best found family vibes. I loved the different types of magic, the adventure and excitement, the mystical animals (dragons!), and the slow burning relationship between Kas and Max too. I can't wait to read more from this world!

Loved The Black Wraith so much!

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kas (Ghost) secret is found out forcing him to become a stowaway on an air ship, what Kas doesn't know its one of the most notorious pirate ships in the air! Reaper (Max) never planned to be a pirate yet life doesn't always work out the way you planned. These two are immediately drawn into one another and slowly allow the other in even when Kas plans in leaving as soon as he is able. This is one of those slow burns that draws you in and holds on til you're full stopped hooked. And than you hit 80% and be ready for a ride! The thrills are next level that make you not be able to put your kindle down until you finish.
A great debut of the duet of TJ Rose & Michele Notaro, the two authors play beautifully off one another. You can feel each of their voices yet they mingle so well you're jlnot quite sure who is writing what. I cannot wait to see what's next in this world.

This does end on a soft cliffhanger with a HFN for the couple.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway is the first book in the new The Black Wraith series by Michele Notaro and TJ Rose. This is the story of Kaspar and Max. This is just the chef's kiss of stories. First it's gay pirates but not sea pirates no they are pirates in an airship. I loved the characters, all the characters and the world building that went into this book. Both main characters had me falling for them from the beginning. I should also say I couldn't put this book down once I started it because it was that good. It's hard to believe that this was a book written by two separate authors because it flows so seamlessly. It was just a perfect story, with plenty of action, character growth, and found family. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book as a 5 star read.
received a free review copy

[anna_79_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these pirates 🏴‍☠️! Kaspar and Max are so adorable together. Kaspar is such a sweet character and Max is a grump with a tough exterior but has a soft heart.

I love the character growth that happens during this story, how Kaspar finds more of his inner confidence and how Max slowly begins to open his heart.

The found family is adding so much to the story as well.

This book is so beautifully written with characters that evolve and have depth. I loved every page!!

Thank you for the arc. My review is honest and voluntary.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

sky pirates should be fun

I liked the idea of this book more than I liked the book. The premise was good, it just wasn’t very well executed. The characters were mildly interesting. I get the feeling that a story that could be well told in one book is being stretched out to several books. I’m not sure if I’ll read any more.

[Heather Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unicorn horns, this was an absolute blast! I had no idea I needed sky pirates in my life but I’m already itching for more! One of my favorite movies is Treasure Planet and this reminded me of that.

All of the characters were amazing. I loved the two main characters. They were both so sweet and their romance was beautiful. I loved all of Kaspar’s creative ways for cursing.

The authors writing styles fit so well together! Everything flowed and was well paced. I was not ready for that cliff hanger though. I can’t wait for the next book! Thank you to the authors for my ARC copy!

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

What’s not to love when you get a story with danger, magic, and romance! I always enjoy T.J. Rose’s writing and this story was no different. This was my first read by Michele Notaro and I will be going back or more!

The story follows Kaspar, a stowaway running for his life, who never expected to find safety or attraction in the arms of the protective first mate, Max. Their chemistry was so good. 🔥

The world-building pulled me right and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next. If you love MM pirate fantasy romance with grumpy/sunshine dynamics, found family, and plenty of action, you’ll want to climb aboard this one. ⚓️✨

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE GAY PIRATES!!!!!

[Danna Iuliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I managed 25% bf I gave up, it bored me to death. Takes forever to get to a point, a lot of useless dialog

Update: For some.reason I came back to this and managed to finish it. It got better around the middle but overall was tedious AF. I was surprised bc I usually like Michelle's writing style, now I see there are 2 authors for it so that must be the reason for why I didn't enjoy this as much.

[P Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

I adored Kasper and his colourful vocabulary made me crack up - it’s something that made him unique and stand out from everyone else.

Max and Kasper found something truly precious together but are they strong enough to fight for their love? Read it and find out!

Ends in a cliffhanger - but damn I’m looking forward to the next one - hopefully it won’t be a long wait.

*I voluntarily read this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else's*

[Devoted❤️Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Holy phoenix tails, I need more pirates in my life! The Black Wraith’s newest voyage (at least for me) is simply fantastic. Adventures, magic, evil villains, burgeoning love, piratical battles, and that’s only the beginning.

“You were so defiant, standing there in the cargo hold. Terrified, but refusing to show it.” My thumb traced the curve of his lower lip. “I wanted to know what that courage tasted like...”
“And?” he asked softly. “What does it taste like?”
I pretended to consider, tilting my head. “Like sunrise,” I finally said. “And dragons. And freedom.”

Kaspar and Max are completely lovable and I’m all the way in love with and hallway in love with everyone else. I am so excited for what’s next (that ending, gah) and to sail away on new adventures with the Reaper and his stowaway.

[S a n d r a · Rating 4 out of 5]

❊ Blog | Instagram | ❊

A fantasy world full of magic, pirates, and terrible monsters that forced cities to be surrounded by enormous walls to keep their citizens safe, and ships to sail through the clouds instead of the sea to avoid beasts like sea serpents or the dreadful kraken.

Reaper (aka Max) is the first mate of a pirate ship that travels the skies in search of riches. Although he never dreamed of, or even imagined, ending up on a pirate ship, life left him no other choice, and after suffering a massive betrayal that resulted in public disgrace, a bounty on his head, and the loss of both his military career and his left leg, he can only be grateful to have survived and been given a second chance. Life has dealt him a bad hand, but he is determined to slowly earn enough money to but a high-quality prosthetic while enjoying the one pleasure he has always loved: sailing the skies.

Kaspar is a young man who has known since childhood that his life depended on no one in the kingdom discovering his greatest secret: he is a fluxweaver, in other words, he has the ability to control the "flux". And why is that a secret? Because the universe they live in relies on the use of fluxstones, stones that contain said flux and allow people to perform different tasks, such as making a ship fly through the skies, for example.

The country Kaspar comes from is very wealthy because it is where these fluxstones are created, and the kingdom has learned to exploit everything related to fluxstones to the fullest, for which they need fluxweavers, people capable of charging fluxstones so they can be sold. All children who show signs of being able to charge fluxstones must give themselves to be plugged in (literally) and used as human batteries to fill the kingdom’s coffers.

Kaspar’s life takes a turn for the worse when his secret is exposed and he must to flee home, so he sneaks aboard what he believes is a merchant ship… but turns out to be a pirate ship. There, he takes on the name Ghost and must find a way to survive among a very volatile pirate crew and a cruel, spiteful captain, while searching for a way to reach a safe place where he can reunite with his family while avoiding his secret being discovered once again or the king’s guards finding him.

The worldbuilding is promising and interesting, although the authors do not delve too deeply into most of the elements that make up the universe. That is, it focuses more on the characters’ situation than on the development of the dynamics of how everything works. Of course, that is not necessarily negative, it simply is. The elements you need to understand and know in order to grasp how this world or its different aspects function do become clear, but we do not go into more detail, which some readers will appreciate and others will not.

And when I say it focuses on the characters’ situation, I mean both their individual personal stories and the romance.

Individually, in this first book we focus more on Kaspar than on Max, although I understand this will change in the next book or books (I don’t know if the authors plan to write more than two books, to be honest. As of today only two are confirmed, and we’ll have to wait to see what happens in this one to find out). Which is understandable because Kaspar is on the run to save his life and is in a state of absolute vulnerability and uncertainty, while Max’s wounds (both physical and emotional) are like an infected cut that festers but does not threaten his life.

For me, the romance gets better as the story goes. In part it makes me a little sad, because what I enjoyed least was that first part of the relationship, the beginning, the moment when they meet and the tension grows until they can’t resist anymore and take that inevitable step... which is what I usually enjoy the most. For me, however, the beginning leans a little too much toward instalove. While the relationship takes its time and both resist their attraction due to personal issues and hesitations, the truth is that the interest is mutual from almost the very beginning, and I think it would have fit better to have a more conflictive dynamic between them at first (specially from Kaspar's POV) that gradually changes through contact and proximity.

But leaving that personal consideration aside, their relationship has a good pace and is perfectly integrated with the rest of the plotlines. For a first book in a series that will also follow the adventures of Max and Kaspar in the next book, many interesting situations take place that unfold while we delve deeper into the worldbuilding and discover new characters, such as the other members of the pirate crew.

And the ending! What an ending! I admit I did not see that final twist coming, and I was left counting te days until the next book comes out (in October, according to Amazon) so I can find out what will become of all of them and how they’ll escape the predicament they’ve found themselves in.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaspar's sky pirate adventure was a delight to read. I loved how unique the concept of this universe was, and it was genuinely fun to hunt for breadcrumbs of lore to explain how their society had ended up hidden behind walls or soaring through the air to keep the monsters out. Kaspar's reasons for stowing away on the Black Wraith made my heart hurt, but as he began interacting with the pirate crew there was plenty to keep him going. From the scary pirates like Butcher and Viper to the quietly kind ones like Sparrow, Ariella, and Willy to the mysterious and mercurial Reaper, Kaspar had to be quick on his feet to fit in with the crew and not raise suspicion. I found it endlessly entertaining to see what life on the airship was like, and I grew to really love their motley crew with vastly different personalities.

Reaper was especially interesting to me -- a pirate who wasn't so morally corrupt after all, who was hiding a deep well of pain from past betrayal and who made Kaspar's heart race every time they had a private moment to talk. I absolutely adored the dynamic that started building between Max and Kaspar: their indignant sniping that turned to stolen conversations and romantic nights in the crow's nest. Both of them had a lot of emotional baggage to unpack throughout the book, and because of that their romance was slow to build but oh so satisfying to experience. Max was such a romantic at heart, and I felt like I was swooning left and right at the thoughts he had about Kaspar. For all of the looting and heart-pounding monster escapes and tap-dancing to keep each other safe from Viper's wrath, there were a scattering of magical, sweet experiences that left me with hearts in my eyes. Max and Kaspar started opening up to each other in ways I didn't think they were capable of at the start of the book, and it made me so happy to see the two of them carve out a slice of happiness amidst everything else that was going on.

Kaspar's fluxweaving was, of course, the biggest secret he was keeping and the one that had the potential to destroy everything he'd built for himself on the Black Wraith. I felt his inner struggle throughout the book, the constant fear that left him on guard and isolated from everyone else. It didn't particularly surprise me that the main conflict of the story started and ended with Kaspar's fluxweaving, but man if you thought the first chapter escape scene was suspenseful, it had nothing on the events at the end of the book. I felt like my heart was going to shatter in a million pieces as Max and his friends scrambled to find a way out of their situation, and just when I thought they'd gotten past the worst of it, a message from home arrived to set the stage for the next desperate quest in book 2. I am so excited and ansty to see where this series is headed next, because while Max and Kaspar's journey ended in in a good spot, they still have a long way to go before they'll be ready to ride off into the sunset together.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy phoenix tails, this book absolutely soared! 🪽 I’ve always been a sucker for pirates, and The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway delivered everything I wanted and so much more. From the first page, I was completely swept into this breathtaking world of airships, danger, magic, and slow-burn yearning that made my heart ache in the best possible way. ⚔️⛅

Kaspar never meant to end up as a stowaway on The Black Wraith, the most notorious pirate ship in the skies. But between the terrifying captain, his ruthless crew, and his own dangerous secret—his hidden magical powers—he’s barely holding it together. Then there’s Maximus Blackwood, the infamous first mate known as The Reaper. With his scars, shadows, and quiet strength, he should have been someone Kaspar avoided at all costs… but instead, he became someone Kaspar couldn’t stop thinking about. 🥺💔

And oh, the chemistry between them! 🔥 The tension, the stolen glances, the quiet moments of care—it was all so beautifully written. Kaspar’s sweet, slightly awkward personality had me grinning like an idiot 😍, especially when he turned into a total fanboy around Max. And Max—my poor, soft-hearted tough guy—he broke me in all the best ways. Watching him slowly open up, letting himself feel again after everything he’d been through, was so emotional. I loved every second of it.

Kaspar’s growth was one of my favorite parts of this story. 🌠 He started out scared and uncertain, but with every chapter, he became braver, sharper, and more confident. You could really feel his journey—from stowaway to someone who belonged among the stars. His loyalty, his quiet courage, and his spark made him unforgettable. And together, Kaspar and Max were pure magic.

What truly amazed me was how perfectly T.J. Rose and Michele Notaro’s writing blended together. ✨ Co-authored books can sometimes feel uneven, but this one? Seamless. Each main character had a distinct voice, and yet the story flowed like one beautifully written melody. The worldbuilding was lush and cinematic—it genuinely gave me Treasure Planet vibes (💫 one of my favorite underrated Disney movies!). I could practically feel the wind rushing past as the Black Wraith soared through the skies.

The side characters added so much depth too—some I adored, some I wanted to throw overboard 😤—but they all made the world feel alive. And that ending?! 😭 Let’s just say I need the sequel immediately because I refuse to be left hanging like that.

💎 Tropes & Vibes 💎
⚓ Grumpy x Sunshine
💔 Hurt/Comfort
🛡️ Found Family
💫 Secret Powers
❤️‍🔥 Slow Burn
🏴‍☠️ Pirate Adventure
🌌 Enemies-to-Lovers (with major soft moments!)
🕊️ Healing & Hope
🌠 For fans of Treasure Planet and The Gentlemen’s Guide to Vice and Virtue

This book was everything—romantic, thrilling, emotional, and utterly spellbinding. It made me laugh, made me cry, and made me wish I could join the crew of the Black Wraith and soar right alongside them. 🥹💖

Huge thank you to T.J. Rose and Michele Notaro for the ARC opportunity 💌 —I adored every second aboard this sky pirate adventure. ⛵✨

[Sussu {Romance Obsessed} · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ty GRR for the arc!

I'm going to try to write a review that gives this book justice, but currently super sick and my brain has been replaced by snot. 😭 


I absolutely adored Max and Kaspar! Or should I say Reaper and Ghost?


You'll like this book if you enjoy:

Enemies to lovers

Closed off, complex characters who grow!

Banter 

Sky pirates and raiding 

Forbidden romance / star-crossed lovers/ secret 

High stakes world 

Mythical monsters 

Found family

Soft for only him

Caretaking 

Magical powers 

Creative swearing 


Kaspar is being hunted, so he tries to escape via an airship as a stowaway. He picks this particular ship, as it is heading towards a new place: Asteris, where he can hopefully be safe and send for his family to join him.


 Unfortunately, the ship happens to be full of pirates. He is soon discovered by the first mate, Reaper, after items and food go missing.


He's able to work out a deal with the fearsome captain, Viper: he pays his way via cleaning, and they let him stay on the ship. 



I've been meaning to read more pirate romances, and when I saw TJ Rose made one, I was immediately on board. Michelle Notaro is a new to me author, bit now I'm curious to check out their other work.


This book had so much action and suspense, and felt like treasure planet, but even better.

This world is brutal! There are feuding pirates, flying ships and a whole lot of mythical monsters who want to have you for supper. It's a dog eat dog world, full of betrayal, violence and death. 



There's danger at every turn, and not to mention that nearly everything runs off of these charged stones that deplete with use.

They help keep the ships in the air, as well as the cannons, etc.

The stones are in high demand, and $$$. 


Max and Kaspar immediately have chemistry, but they can't act on it. Max, aka Reaper has built a reputation of being ruthless, and he cannot be seen being soft on a member of the crew. 


So they're limited to stolen moments in the nights and early mornings, when the rest of the crew is asleep.

The pining is off the charts, these two have it baaad for each other.


I loved how shy Kaspar was at first, he really comes out of his shell as he gets to know Max as well as the rest of the crew. 


They show their affection by little things, and play up their banter whenever others are around.

There's only one issue: The ship gets closer to Asteris each day.

Kaspar doesn't want to be a pirate, and Max/ Reaper isn't able to settle down somewhere.

 with the odds against them, they know that they have something special and it's worth fighting for.

[That One Romance Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC Review* Thank you to T.J. Rose and Michele Notaro for sending me a copy!

Intro:
This book is an MM romance between Kaspar, a man on the run from a kingdom who wants his power and the Reaper (AKA Max), the notorious second in command pirate aboard the deadly Black Wraith ship.


Tropes/Highlights:
-MM
-Open Door Spice
-On The Run
-Unique Powers
-Hurt/Comfort
-Secret Relationship
-Found Family
-Amputee Rep


Likes:
-Max's backstory and his betrayal by an ex lover, that story was wild
-The way the characters describe each other in such adoring detail
-The not so secret spot for the two of them
-The villain was easy to hate
-The constant struggle for survival and pull between what's right and what will keep one's self safe
-The first chapter was intriguing and caught my attention
-The world building was done really well
-Kaspar's pirate name

My Dislikes:
-A few of the sentences were weirdly structured
-The repetition of the "swear" phrases was a little annoying at times because they were used frequently and close together

Quotes:
-"This red head with a nice smile would not be my undoing."
-"I wanted to know what that courage tasted like."
-"I wanted to consume him, to be consumed by him to fuse our souls together in this perfect moment suspended between earth and sky."
-"The stars would remember what we shared here, even when we could only hold the memory in our hearts."
-"My stowaway"
-"Oh, okay. I see how it is. Just when things get interesting, duty calls."
-"Kasper had now stowed away in the most heavily guarded compartment I possessed: my heart."
-"We might not be the smartest bunch, but we're not quite that stupid either."


I enjoyed reading this book and already can't wait for the second book. This book was not afraid to charm you into a false sense of security before striking. This book has action, adventure, magic and most importantly, a sweet love story. I love how Kaspar and Max treat each other with such care and respect. I loved the struggles all of the characters faced, with new ones popping up in almost every chapter. Max and Kasper had to fight for their happiness the entire book just to be left with a major problem at the end. The ending is a nice set up to the second book and I hope that book is just as adventurous and sweet as this book.

[Demian Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway is the first book in The Black Wraith series.

Kaspar and Max (Ghost and Reaper) are really lovely together, both dealing with their own past betrayals and learning to trust again.❤️ The attraction between them is instant, but their relationship grows slowly. There's teasing banter, late-night talks (in the crow’s nest, of all places 😊), and moments of tenderness under the cover of darkness. Max built his persona as the intimidating first mate Reaper out of necessity. He is grumpy (the pain doesn’t help with that), tough and formidable, but he is also loyal and cares about his crew in many subtle ways. He is far softer and more honourable than his reputation suggests, but he (thinks) has an image to uphold. In contrast, Kaspar is more sunshiney (in both looks and personality). He’s weighed down by secrets he’s (rightfully) desperate to keep, but he’s also friendly and a people person. I really enjoyed watching them open up to each other and fall in love. ❤️

As Kaspar slowly earns his place among the Black Wraith crew, we also get to know many of its members. There’s a good mix of scary, vile, kind, and mysterious personalities.

While I liked the book, I have to say the first two chapters read more like notes or a list than the writing these authors are known for. But once the story moves forward and we’re aboard the pirate ship, the story really takes off. There’s also a bit of repetitiveness, and it can be overly wordy (is that the correct phrase? 🤔) at times, and all that makes the book feel a little longer than it needs to be. However, you quickly get lost in the sky pirates, action, and romance, so it balances itself out (a bit). 😉

The worldbuilding is rich and imaginative, and full of small details that pull you into this universe. I also loved the peek at mythical creatures and the hints of a wider, more dangerous world that I hope we get to explore more in the next books.

The Sky Pirate’s Stowaway is a strong start to a series, and since the book ends on a cliffhanger, I’m sure we’re in for a wild ride.

I received a copy of this book from the authors, and this is my unbiased review.