The Code of Pirates

The Thieves of Arkrindon #2

by Jaiden Phillips

Sometimes, your past becomes your prison. I’d know, because mine had me shackled.

It’s been two years since Dice foiled the plans of Azic, Guild Master of The Guild of Thieves, and though life has moved on, Dice is caught in the repercussions of his actions. Wanted for the theft of the King’s Jewel and a murder he never committed, nowhere feels like home.

Then, his past rises to haunt him. Azic is back with a new plan for bringing the High Rankers to their knees and an insatiable thirst for vengeance against the boy who toppled his empire. Armed with a crew of merciless pirates, led by Captain Bastian of the Unsinkable, Azic makes one thing clear nothing will get in his way this time—including Dice.

When greed leads to a falling out between Azic and the pirates, Azic asks for Dice’s help. The Guild Master alone knows the pirates' schemes, therefore, Dice must decide whether he will work with Azic to stop the pirates or turn his old rival in and be done with the Guild Master once and for all. An impossible decision lies before him, and neither option bodes well for a kingdom on the brink of revolution.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fantasy

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2026

About the author

Jaiden Phillips is a Christian author and artist from Western North Carolina. She's the youngest kid in her family of nine (counting her parents). Often you'll find her bringing a crazy idea to life with her art supplies, or fiercely typing away on her tablet because she refuses to use a laptop. When not lost to the world of her imagination, you can find Jaidie (as her friends call her) hiking with her family, fangirling over LotR and HTTYD, or goofing off with friends.
Jaiden is also part of a writing trio known as Sisters Three, which consists of her and her sisters Kaytlin and Marisa. To learn more about Jaiden, and her books, visit www.sisters-three.com

Reviews

[Jaiden Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's RELEASE DAYYYYYYYY!!!🥳🥳🥳🥳 THE CODE OF PIRATES: THE THIEVES OF ARKRINDON 2 IS OFFICIALLY PUBLISHED TODAY!❤️⚔️🥳
You can purchase it on Amazon or read it on Kindle Unlimited here: https://a.co/d/0hwaQpBn
Also, if you snag your copy of CP in the next 14 days, you can claim your order goodies (which include custom art drawn by me) by filling out this form with your proof of purchase: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

The Code Of Pirates: The Thieves Of Arkrindon 2 is the unplanned but much anticipated sequel (by readers and myself) to The Guild Of Thieves: The Thieves Of Arkrindon 1, if you haven't read The Guild Of Thieves yet, you must do so before reading The Code Of Pirates. You can find The Guild Or Thieves: The Thieves Of Arkrindon 1 on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/04r0N167

Review by author:

I published GT as a standalone novel but after much encouragement from my readers and a comment from my sisters that a certain villain reminded of Jack Sparrow, the idea for The Code Of Pirates was born and I must say, I am very proud with the outcome so, dear readers, I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

Title: The Code of Pirates (The Thieves of Arkrindon Book 2)
Release Date: March 3rd, 2026
Genre: Young Adult Nautical Fantasy/Christian Fantasy/Adventure Fantasy
Author: Jaiden Phillips
Cover Art: Jaiden Phillips
Publisher: Sisters Three Press

Content Warnings for The Code Of Pirates (The Thieves Of Arkrindon Book 2)

Language: N/A. Mentions that characters curse but not what they said, just that they cursed.

Violence: Lots of action and fighting. Characters get injured by both swords and guns, mentions of blood and death but nothing overly descriptive or gory. Character deaths on page, but nothing gory or graphic.
A character gets attacked by sea-dragons.
Fist-fights. A character is in an abusive environment but there is only one on page incident and it is barely described and non-graphic.
These are thieves and pirates so there a lots of death threats.
Some characters almost drown.

Magic: N/A.

(Other: Mentions of pirates and thieves drinking rum and wine, and getting drunk but our MC does not partake in any of this. Character briefly mentions a self-harm thought that they didn’t follow through on.)


Blurb for The Code of Pirates (The Thieves of Arkrindon Book 2):


Sometimes, your past becomes your prison. I’d know, because mine had me shackled.

It’s been two years since Dice foiled the plans of Azic, Guild Master of The Guild of Thieves, and though life has moved on, Dice is caught in the repercussions of his actions. Wanted for the theft of the King’s Jewel and a murder he never committed, nowhere feels like home.

Then, his past rises to haunt him. Azic is back with a new plan for bringing the High Rankers to their knees and an insatiable thirst for vengeance against the boy who toppled his empire. Armed with a crew of merciless pirates, led by Captain Bastian of the Unsinkable, Azic makes one thing clear nothing will get in his way this time—including Dice.

When greed leads to a falling out between Azic and the pirates, Azic asks for Dice’s help. The Guild Master alone knows the pirates’ schemes, therefore, Dice must decide whether he will work with Azic to stop the pirates or turn his old rival in and be done with the Guild Master once and for all. An impossible decision lies before him, and neither option bodes well for a kingdom on the brink of revolution.

[Phoebe Hinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohhhhh boy. What do I say? 😅 I started reading this last night and finished the rest today. Dice (because he will forever be Dice to me) is back and getting in more trouble, along with plenty of wounds lol. We have a smattering of pirates (my instincts were right, at least partly), an annoying monkey, and a pair of hilarious, loveable twins.

Man, I love seeing Dice navigate his new life as a child of the Creator. Turning to Him for help and trying to follow His Word, and sharing the Good News with others, including a certain archnemesis . . . that was really sweet. 🥹

Initially I was unsure how I felt about the end, because I didn't want Dice to leave Arkrindon. But in the end I felt it was really well done, showed how the king still has to uphold justice even in mercy. 🤌 And the epilogue was lovely and felt so cozy and safe. 🫶

Must say, I love the twist with Shadow. ✨

I was kindly provided an ARC copy by the lovely author, and no one slipped me gold or held a knife to my throat to make me write a positive review. All thoughts, emojis, and warm fuzzies in this review came from my own little head; however, because I haven't got a brain, I am unarmed if anyone wants to play a mind game with me.

[Serenity F. Helzerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. Wow. What a sequel!! Those who have read The Guild of Thieves, you will not want to miss this!

My emotions were hopping throughout this story. So many twists and turns. Goodness. Gracious. I felt so much for Dice! It was super amazing to see the true Shadow. And Ach, the new characters. Those twins are so much fun. I just..Jaiden did an amazing job! 🥹
The pirates about drove me crazy, but I’m so so glad with the way it worked out. I knew it would. I had faith in Jaiden. 🤭 😂 But no spoilers!

My advice to you? If you like fantasy, pirates, and themes of forgiving oneself and learning who you are in the Creator…this is the book for you!! But please read the first book first. 😉

***I received an ARC in exchange for a review. These are my full-blown, honest to goodness thoughts on this story***

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Rating: 5

Content Rating
Romance: 2
Violence: 2 (So far Mild)
Faith: 2
Profanity/Language: 2 (mention)
Youth Appropriate: 1 (YA)



Thoughts:
Woah, this was amazing! I love the way this book was written, and the characters, and all of it!
The new characters that we met were amazing, and I loved to be able to see who they were as they acted. And seeing the characters from the Guild of Theaves again and seeing their growth and their next adventure was also awesome!

This is a great story, one that I would highly recommend.

If you like pirates, super sneaky spy like people (that's the best!!), stories of redemption, and kingdom saving adventures this is the book for you!

Many thanks to Jaiden Phillips for the ARC copy of this book. All the thoughts expressed here are my own.

[Barbara Keigher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good 2nd
novel in the series

And yes
there should be a 3rd
there is a LOT more that could be added!!

I loved the Christian content,
and the fact that many children grow up
without their biological parents
( I raise my hand as one of those),

and that it does cause many issues...

But...
some of the issues dealt with in the story
were things suffered by many people:

Like regret for past sins,
thinking you have to pay for them,
all by yourself
and so on!

And again
as in the first of the series......

( 2 books are NOT a series
it HAS to be at least 3
cuz I said so!!)

tho the hero
still got so many wounds etc.
( the 1st one should have had him in the hospital for days
in our time frame)

BUT

It was better than the first in the series
as it became clear
in this book that he was suffering from the wounds terribly
and did get some 'medical' attention
tho still not enough.

But really, he must get married,
perhaps after being called back by the king
for some adventure?
But then,
a goodly lot of novel 3
must be about his married life and children
and his friends.... also need the same.

I won't take no for an answer
Don't even think of it...

OR
I will give this a one star!

AND....
Do not dilly dally!!!

I expect to read the 3rd in the series
before
my 81st birthday
which is Oct 2nd!!!!!

Got that
The operative word was
BEFORE
my Birthday...

and no whining
about how hard it is to write and publish a novel
blah blah blah!

I could talk all day about how hard it is for readers to WAIT
and
Have............ sigh
Patience.....

So anyway, it was great
but
now,
I need more
pronto!!

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a splendid story! I absolutely loved seeing Dice and the other's stories continue on. I loved to mix of dry desert with fascinating creatures to pirate ships on the open seas.
Once again the author did a fantastic job with her characters. So unique, drawing you in to see where they came from and where their story will take them.
Themes of purpose, forgiveness, and redemption shine throughout this story. The characters all responded in different ways to their pain and it led them down very different paths. I was so satisfied with the ending too. It was perfect I do love a satisfying ending.
All in all a very fun paced Middle-Grade fantasy.

**This is an ARC review. I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Carol Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I’m supposed to say that this was an ARC read but I have never done this before. Everything about this book is just so good! I love the setting, and Peter’s inner conflicts, and self-doubting. It’s something that I struggle with myself. I might make this longer later, but I don’t have time rn.

[Madi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. I absolutely loved it and definitely recommend.

[Kaytlin Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the honor of reading this book 3 times since it was originally drafted and with each read through I only fell in love with the characters and the story world more and more!

For those who don't know, this is book 2 in The Thieves of Arkrindon series and you do need to read book 1 (The Guild of Thieves) before reading this one.

Characters:
Dice's journey as a new Christian without a mentor or church family is so relatable: his confusion and the way he feels the need to redeem himself. I loved his growth over the story, the way he wrestles with decisions and whether what he is doing is what God would want.
Shadow played such a brotherly role in this book, and I loved him and that came out about his backstory that flowed so smoothly form book 1!
Mayhem and Discord were new characters and so endearing! The twins are hilarious and just add so much fun to the plot!
Torryn, my heart goes out to that boy! I loved him from day 1!
Azic was just as deviously evil as before in a twisted sort of way where he actually thinks he's right. He has it all justified and worked out in his mind, and it makes sense, in a strange sort of way. He is one of the most impressive and sarcastic villains I have ever read!
Bastain was someone I throughly enjoyed hating...
Shifty, Cheeks, and True-Aim...I can't even. XD They just...you have to read it.

Themes:
Growing as a Christian and realizing that salvation and forgiveness from God are not things you earn, but free gifts you are given.

Langauge:
N/A

Romance:
Mild, slight crushes.

Violence/Gore:
Always handled with care, there are mentions of gunshot wounds, blade wounds, poison darts, scratches, almost getting drowned and eaten by sea dragons, explosions, a brief thought of ending it all that is not acted on, and various fights throughout the book. It is all handled really well and presented in the cleanest manner possible.

Overall:
This is an epically fantastic book that takes you on an amazing journey! With book 1 we learn about redemption, and in book 2 we continue that journey with Dice as he comes to term with what it really means to be saved and forgiven!

Recommend age 12+

[Katja Labonté · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars (4/10 hearts). I honestly remember nothing of The Guild of Thieves, except that I really enjoyed it, so there were many places where I was somewhat lost ;P However, it was super fun to return to this interesting world and dive into a new adventure and plot—with pirates, of course! Azic was again a delightfully terrible villain, and I really appreciated his arc. I struggled with the writing style, but the message was good and Shadow's backstory also added to the story—plus I enjoyed meeting Discord & Mayhem! I'd like to reread these books again soon, back to back this time.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*

[Ember Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I anticipated reading the 2nd book in The Thieves of Arkrindon specifically because I loved the first book, The Guild of Thieves, which included excellent action and themes of redemption and second chances. The 2nd book in this series, The Code of Pirates, draws out those themes and brings more depth to the characters' lives while still maintaining a fast-paced, adventurous read.

From the beginning, the main character's intense struggle to do what's best for everyone really tugged at my heart. Peter (formerly Dice) is not the same man he was in book one. He's changed for the better and wants his actions to reflect those changes. When circumstances force him to make many of the same decisions he made in Book One, both the reader and Peter have to wonder if he's doing the right thing...or simply repeating his mistakes. This was probably the main reason I didn't put the book down. The tension was beautifully high-strung.

I also loved the characters. They were really fun to get to know. My favorite....everyone's gonna hate me but...it was Azic. He was so fascinating! I mean, he's got green-yellow eyes, and these funny little sayings he loves throwing out every few minutes: "Shall we say," "my boy," and so on. He has a compelling personality. And he's one of those characters that everyone assumes is too broken, too far gone. But God's purpose is greater. NO ONE is too far gone. It was a sobering reminder for me. How often do I put a person in that "too broken" category and just shake my head when I think of them? How often do I forget the thief on the cross who was saved the last day of his life? Other characters: Discord is a great name for a dagger-throwing jokester and Mayhem was a the perfect twin sister. It's awesome that the author is an artist because then you get to see her character art if you go to her blog: check it out, everyone! One-Eyed Sye: the best pirate that ever was. Abbi didn't have a huge part in this book but was still amazing - high moral standards, kind, brave. Shadow was complex and mysterious and added a lot to the suspense of the whole book. I loved his story and can't wait to hear more about him in future books, maybe?!

I'd like to give a shout-out to the author for her world-building skills! The animals (lizargons and and baby dragons and those creepy birds!), the ranks of thieves, the pirates, the neighboring country, and the capital all added more life to an already enjoyable read.

Some scenes felt too fast-paced or rushed due to small grammatical errors. But that's mainly because I'm very picky about having commas and periods in certain places. My brother read the book as well and 100% didn't feel the same way so it's really up to the reader's preferences.

I'd recommend The Code of Pirates to fans of The Green Ember Archer series specifically because it's fast-paced, adventure-filled, and full of funny characters. And to anyone who loves second chances, this book will be satisfactory.

[Shekinah Dobony · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I wasn't expecting to get to revisit the team, so The Code of Pirates was a welcome surprise. And that cover! I didn't think anything could be better than The Guild of Thieves until this.
I love how Shadow's character was really developed and brought to light. I absolutely loveee the kid. He's so adorable, and brave, and really just needed love. He's definitely my favorite character in this book. (Sorry, Dice!😁) Addi is awesome, as always, and kind, and good, yet still... relatable.
I had mixed feelings about the new characters, though.

Captain Bastian was an awesome dude. Really, he had that evil-ish-ness down to a T, even better than Azic. Discord and Mayhem were an awesome team and remind me of Merry and Pippin in LOTR. Fun, but solid characters who served as more than just the comedic relief. Nothing vapid about them. And True-Aim is honestly kind of fun as well 😉

Torryn was pretty much the only one who didn't live up to expectations, come to think of it. He'd been advertised as an ISFJ, and I'm really into MBTI and psychology stuff, so this got me hyped, but also nervous, especially since not many of this type of character are written well. With his very first appearance on page, though, he did not feel quite right. As we delved more deeply into his side-plot and learned more about him, the more off his character felt, though I can't place exactly how or why (and that kind of drives me nuts). But he's a great, fleshed-out character, and I came to love him as well.

The last character I want to mention is Azic himself. Ah, yes, this ugly villain who I kind of thought had been vanquished in The Guild of Thieves already 😅
He's... evil, theatrical, pops up at the most inopportune times, and of course reminds me of Alvin the Treacherous (iykyk). I really like this guy as a villain, and his sad backstory didn't make me pity him one iota. Perhaps I am a cruel, hard-hearted reader, or perhaps he just hurt my favorite little 'pikins' three too many times. 😂