What do you think?
Rate this book
A Prince Among Pirates
An instant New York Times bestseller!
“Clever, action-packed, and gloriously queer.” —C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Captive Prince, Dark Rise, and Fence
A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut that’s perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Our Flag Means Death.
Kit Davenport is in trouble—not that this would surprise anyone who knows him. Headstrong, reckless, and utterly unsuited for the stodgy House of Lords, Kit has spent years dodging his father’s stern disapproval and delighting in clandestine rendezvous. But time is running out. With an arranged marriage looming and the confines of white wigs and stiff decorum closing in, Kit is desperate to escape a life that feels completely wrong for him.
His solution? A wildly impulsive decision that lands him aboard the Deliverance, a galleon captained by the infuriatingly charismatic Reggie Sharpe. With a devil-may-care attitude and a delicious grin, Captain Sharpe commands the waves with his crew of misfits…who all turn out to be pirates. Before Kit can say “wrong ship,” he’s trading ballroom etiquette for rum-soaked camaraderie, explosive gunfights, and, perhaps most excitingly, heart-stopping kisses under the stars.
But life at sea holds just as many secrets as treasures. And when Kit’s past catches up with him, he’ll have to decide who he truly wants to a gentleman or a pirate?
“Clever, action-packed, and gloriously queer.” —C. S. Pacat, New York Times bestselling author of Captive Prince, Dark Rise, and Fence
A charming nobleman accidentally joins a pirate ship and falls for its debonair captain in this swashbuckling queer debut that’s perfect for fans of F.T. Lukens and Our Flag Means Death.
Kit Davenport is in trouble—not that this would surprise anyone who knows him. Headstrong, reckless, and utterly unsuited for the stodgy House of Lords, Kit has spent years dodging his father’s stern disapproval and delighting in clandestine rendezvous. But time is running out. With an arranged marriage looming and the confines of white wigs and stiff decorum closing in, Kit is desperate to escape a life that feels completely wrong for him.
His solution? A wildly impulsive decision that lands him aboard the Deliverance, a galleon captained by the infuriatingly charismatic Reggie Sharpe. With a devil-may-care attitude and a delicious grin, Captain Sharpe commands the waves with his crew of misfits…who all turn out to be pirates. Before Kit can say “wrong ship,” he’s trading ballroom etiquette for rum-soaked camaraderie, explosive gunfights, and, perhaps most excitingly, heart-stopping kisses under the stars.
But life at sea holds just as many secrets as treasures. And when Kit’s past catches up with him, he’ll have to decide who he truly wants to a gentleman or a pirate?
Audible Audio
First published June 16, 2026
About the author
Katie Abdou
1 book186 followersKatie Abdou is a Lebanese American born and raised in historic coastal Massachusetts, where she cultivated a love of history, the occult, and piracy. She aims for her books to be a safe place for teens and young adults to find representation and to understand the experiences of trauma, hardship, romance, and adventure through her characters within the safety of fiction. Katie lives in historical Massachusetts with her four fuzzy wee dragons. She is a writer, a costumer, a hiker, a baker, a winemaker, and most importantly: the Best Auntie in the World. A Prince Among Pirates is her debut novel.
www.katieabdou.com
www.kaitlynabdou.com (alternate URL)
www.katieabdou.com
www.kaitlynabdou.com (alternate URL)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 531 reviews
Read
March 21, 2026Edit: After I wrote this review, the author announced that Kit will be 18 and turns 19, instead of 17 turning 18.
----------------------
I’m really torn on this one. A Prince Among Pirates was one of my most anticipated reads, and from the moment I started, I fell in love with Kit. He’s mouthy and sassy, sometimes immature, but with a heart of gold. He’s the kind of person you end up loving whether you want to or not. He grows a lot over the course of the story, learning from his mistakes and finding his place on the ship among a diverse group of misfits. I especially loved Tristan, one of the twins. Katie Abdou just mentions that he’s… actually, no, I won’t spoil that.
This story had everything to be an easy five-star read, maybe even a new favorite. But in the end, I have no clue how to rate it.
I had a lot of fun while reading, and like I said, Kit is a main character to root for. But a few things started to bother me. The first is the romance. The story doesn’t focus much on it, but it’s still there, and that part didn’t work for me. Kit is 17 and still young and naive at the start, while Captain Sharpe is older at 23 and in a position of authority. The nickname ‘kitten’ didn’t help either. I love kittens. They’re playful and enthusiastic, but also immature, and that comparison only highlighted the imbalance instead of making the dynamic feel romantic. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if Kit had been around 19, and if it had been marketed as adult or new adult. Or written without the romance.
Also, Captain Sharpe (why do we only learn his first name in the last part of the book?) seems like a great guy, but more like an older brother. For me he sadly lacks depth. He’s the captain of the ship, 23, his skin is a rich brown, he has long locs he wears in a ponytail, and has silver in his beard (which made him feel older). That’s about it. I wanted to know more about his descent. There was one thing about him that I found interesting, but that part didn’t get explored further.
My second point is the writing. I loved it, especially the pacing, except for one thing. I know this is personal and most readers won’t notice, but it stood out to me. The number of adverbs, double adjectives, and filter words like “realize” pulled me out of the story.
And third, I wasn’t a fan of some of the plot twists. I love twists that make me think, “d*mn, I should have known.” Here, they felt a bit too obvious.
So even though the book kept my eyes glued to the pages and my jaw hurt from smiling, I still found myself frowning quite a few times. For that reason, I decided not to rate it. Still, if there were a sequel, I’d pick it up right away.
Thank you, Harper Fire and NetGalley for this ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
----------------------
I’m really torn on this one. A Prince Among Pirates was one of my most anticipated reads, and from the moment I started, I fell in love with Kit. He’s mouthy and sassy, sometimes immature, but with a heart of gold. He’s the kind of person you end up loving whether you want to or not. He grows a lot over the course of the story, learning from his mistakes and finding his place on the ship among a diverse group of misfits. I especially loved Tristan, one of the twins. Katie Abdou just mentions that he’s… actually, no, I won’t spoil that.
This story had everything to be an easy five-star read, maybe even a new favorite. But in the end, I have no clue how to rate it.
I had a lot of fun while reading, and like I said, Kit is a main character to root for. But a few things started to bother me. The first is the romance. The story doesn’t focus much on it, but it’s still there, and that part didn’t work for me. Kit is 17 and still young and naive at the start, while Captain Sharpe is older at 23 and in a position of authority. The nickname ‘kitten’ didn’t help either. I love kittens. They’re playful and enthusiastic, but also immature, and that comparison only highlighted the imbalance instead of making the dynamic feel romantic. I think I would have enjoyed the story more if Kit had been around 19, and if it had been marketed as adult or new adult. Or written without the romance.
Also, Captain Sharpe (why do we only learn his first name in the last part of the book?) seems like a great guy, but more like an older brother. For me he sadly lacks depth. He’s the captain of the ship, 23, his skin is a rich brown, he has long locs he wears in a ponytail, and has silver in his beard (which made him feel older). That’s about it. I wanted to know more about his descent. There was one thing about him that I found interesting, but that part didn’t get explored further.
My second point is the writing. I loved it, especially the pacing, except for one thing. I know this is personal and most readers won’t notice, but it stood out to me. The number of adverbs, double adjectives, and filter words like “realize” pulled me out of the story.
And third, I wasn’t a fan of some of the plot twists. I love twists that make me think, “d*mn, I should have known.” Here, they felt a bit too obvious.
So even though the book kept my eyes glued to the pages and my jaw hurt from smiling, I still found myself frowning quite a few times. For that reason, I decided not to rate it. Still, if there were a sequel, I’d pick it up right away.
Thank you, Harper Fire and NetGalley for this ARC.
Follow me on Instagram
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
I'm not very familiar with either of the two media that Katie Abdou's young adult pirate novel is compared to, so maybe that already set me sail on a stormy voyage. For if I were already well-versed with the vibes those deliver, maybe I would not have had more issues with it than expected. 🌩️
As is in YA, at the helm of the narrative is the coming-of-age of charming and irresistible 18yo Kit Davenport, the accidental gentleman pirate, in his pursuit of adventure and determined to be meant for something more , lands him aboard the pirate ship—unbeknownst to him, Deliverance—as one of the crew, led by 23yo Captain Reggie Sharpe. 🏴☠️
Kit was an engaging narrator, eager to embrace buggery and lawlessness, he took to every challenge with a noble heart and determination. 👌🏻 His voice was fresh and honest, with a dash of humor and sass, plus longing sprinkled into his thoughts and emotions. His interactions with the crew were enjoyable— mainly, Tristan and Thomas, bless his tender heart—and it was nice to see him grow more confident and capable with his time spent with them.
“It's something I've never allowed myself to openly want... but it's something I know I've always yearned for.”
Even with the attempted meaningful connections, tender confessions, and mutual attraction (although limited physical intimacy occurred only once Kit was officially 18 — without hesitation, and without regret; the pointedness of stressing upon that fact also threw me off 🙄), I just did not enjoy the romance. It felt forced.
Maybe it was their five-year age gap that bothered me (but, considering I've read far more problematic pairings, it shouldn't have), or Reggie's endearing nickname for Kit, Kitten, that made me cringe. Or maybe I just did not like the captain. 😣
Despite being deemed A Prince Among Pirates by his crew for being honest, down-to-earth, and loved by all, he had no presence. He had a flat personality, convinced that his word was the righteous true one. Nothing of substance made me care about his well-being or believe he truly saw Kit as a paramour. 🫤 Kit sparked more chemistry with the rest of the miscreants, imo. I just failed to feel anything for the flutters and stutters he evoked in Kit. 🙅🏻♀️
“I know what love feels like now. I have felt it into the marrow of my bones, and I won't settle for less ever again.”
The writing was alright; it flowed well enough. Although, at one point, I felt no real compulsion to continue. As a reader, the twists are painstakingly obvious. 🙄 There was also an imbalance in the narrative. Too much time was invested in Kit's journey to uncover the truth about himself and his birthright toward the end, and not enough time was spent on swashbuckling action and danger on the tempestuous seas. ⚓
Personal religious trauma aside, the ending felt rushed and hastily shoved aside to wrap things up, made the final reveal to be rather anticlimactic. 📜 The dark and serious tone diminished the sense of conflict to the life-changing decisions Kit would have to make. However, unsatisfying as it was, I understand what the author was attempting to convey: the irony inherent in both piracy and nobility.
For to unlawfully seize what is not rightfully yours does not solely exist on the high tides but on land, too. How it doesn't only mean in the literal sense of seafaring, but a violation of will. Even if the title relates moreso to the two main characters, the opposite can occur among high-ranking officials in a lesser, yet equally incriminating, fashion. ☠️ A harsh unsettling truth that makes you reflect on a pirate's unconscionable actions. It's an abstract take—purposefully vague, but I saw the connection (unless I'm just reaching 🙍🏻♀️), and it merited a mention. 🥀
“Come hell or high water, I will make something of myself... It's time I drew my own path in the sand.”
I'm not very familiar with either of the two media that Katie Abdou's young adult pirate novel is compared to, so maybe that already set me sail on a stormy voyage. For if I were already well-versed with the vibes those deliver, maybe I would not have had more issues with it than expected. 🌩️
As is in YA, at the helm of the narrative is the coming-of-age of charming and irresistible 18yo Kit Davenport, the accidental gentleman pirate, in his pursuit of adventure and determined to be meant for something more , lands him aboard the pirate ship—unbeknownst to him, Deliverance—as one of the crew, led by 23yo Captain Reggie Sharpe. 🏴☠️
Kit was an engaging narrator, eager to embrace buggery and lawlessness, he took to every challenge with a noble heart and determination. 👌🏻 His voice was fresh and honest, with a dash of humor and sass, plus longing sprinkled into his thoughts and emotions. His interactions with the crew were enjoyable— mainly, Tristan and Thomas, bless his tender heart—and it was nice to see him grow more confident and capable with his time spent with them.
“It's something I've never allowed myself to openly want... but it's something I know I've always yearned for.”
Even with the attempted meaningful connections, tender confessions, and mutual attraction (although limited physical intimacy occurred only once Kit was officially 18 — without hesitation, and without regret; the pointedness of stressing upon that fact also threw me off 🙄), I just did not enjoy the romance. It felt forced.
Maybe it was their five-year age gap that bothered me (but, considering I've read far more problematic pairings, it shouldn't have), or Reggie's endearing nickname for Kit, Kitten, that made me cringe. Or maybe I just did not like the captain. 😣
Despite being deemed A Prince Among Pirates by his crew for being honest, down-to-earth, and loved by all, he had no presence. He had a flat personality, convinced that his word was the righteous true one. Nothing of substance made me care about his well-being or believe he truly saw Kit as a paramour. 🫤 Kit sparked more chemistry with the rest of the miscreants, imo. I just failed to feel anything for the flutters and stutters he evoked in Kit. 🙅🏻♀️
“I know what love feels like now. I have felt it into the marrow of my bones, and I won't settle for less ever again.”
The writing was alright; it flowed well enough. Although, at one point, I felt no real compulsion to continue. As a reader, the twists are painstakingly obvious. 🙄 There was also an imbalance in the narrative. Too much time was invested in Kit's journey to uncover the truth about himself and his birthright toward the end, and not enough time was spent on swashbuckling action and danger on the tempestuous seas. ⚓
Personal religious trauma aside, the ending felt rushed and hastily shoved aside to wrap things up, made the final reveal to be rather anticlimactic. 📜 The dark and serious tone diminished the sense of conflict to the life-changing decisions Kit would have to make. However, unsatisfying as it was, I understand what the author was attempting to convey: the irony inherent in both piracy and nobility.
For to unlawfully seize what is not rightfully yours does not solely exist on the high tides but on land, too. How it doesn't only mean in the literal sense of seafaring, but a violation of will. Even if the title relates moreso to the two main characters, the opposite can occur among high-ranking officials in a lesser, yet equally incriminating, fashion. ☠️ A harsh unsettling truth that makes you reflect on a pirate's unconscionable actions. It's an abstract take—purposefully vague, but I saw the connection (unless I'm just reaching 🙍🏻♀️), and it merited a mention. 🥀
July 12, 2026
Did I just stay up to 1am finishing this? Yes. Yes I did. Monday Kate is going to hate my life choices.
THE PREMISE: a posh chaotic bisexual in the 1700s runs away and accidentally becomes a pirate. It’s as hilarious as it sounds.
TROPES & VIBES:
- The loveliest found family and supporting cast
- Slowburn
- “Kitten”
- Young/new adult MM pirate adventure with poignant notes on class, race and oppression
- I had the best, most joyful time reading this. I quite literally couldn’t put it down.
READ IF YOU LOVE: In Other Lands, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and Our Flag Means Death.
4.5⭐️ No 🌶️
Arc received from Harper Collins NZ in return for an honest review
THE PREMISE: a posh chaotic bisexual in the 1700s runs away and accidentally becomes a pirate. It’s as hilarious as it sounds.
TROPES & VIBES:
- The loveliest found family and supporting cast
- Slowburn
- “Kitten”
- Young/new adult MM pirate adventure with poignant notes on class, race and oppression
- I had the best, most joyful time reading this. I quite literally couldn’t put it down.
READ IF YOU LOVE: In Other Lands, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue, and Our Flag Means Death.
4.5⭐️ No 🌶️
Arc received from Harper Collins NZ in return for an honest review
June 19, 2026
─── ୨ৎ 1 star
⤿ .ᐟ not a spoiler free review
i have a lot of thoughts about this book, and most of them aren’t good. i was easily sold on the premise, the cover, and the trope of pirate x noble. but the execution of the plot and characters really lost me. it’s not even that katie abdou’s writing itself is bad — in fact, i really enjoyed her overall writing voice.
first and foremost, kit is just an intolerable protagonist. he’s pretentious, shallow, whiny, and naive. while all of these traits could be blamed on his pampered upbringing, i think he’s just genuinely a shitty person. he bounces back and forth between this need to be praised (that i don’t believe for one second is a facade) and self-deprecation. i think that he has the ability to be a complex and multilayered character, but the development through the plot (or lack thereof) just isn’t quite there.
then there’s the ‘romance’ between kit and captain sharpe. i’m glad that the author decided to change the problematic age gap between them (kit being seventeen and reggie being twenty-three) before publishing this book. though the whole scene on kit’s eighteenth birthday where they begin flirting gave me the total ick. it was giving “i’ll wait till you’re legal” vibes. on top of that, captain sharpe’s nickname for kit happens to be kitten. in case you’re wondering, he calls him “kitten” a total of 71 times throughout this whole book. yes, i counted because i’m petty and annoyed.
the plot itself feels all over the place as well. for a good portion of the book, they’re literally doing nothing aboard the ship. it feels like every passing day they eat, kit complains, and then goes to bed. when kit realizes that the crew of the deliverance are pirates, i found his shock a bit comical and valid — because what do they even do? there’s barely any adventure or excitement that typically comes with pirate stories until a little over halfway through the book.
both parts one and two of the book felt alarmingly slow to me but picked up towards the second half of the book, and i found myself actually enjoying a bit of the mystery and sneaking around. but the third half of the book really fell flat. all the drama was shoved into the tail end of the book and felt like it was too much thrown at me at once. which is why the conclusion to the story felt so rushed and unsatisfying in the long run.
this book had a few other things i didn’t like, such as how kit initially spoke about his betrothed. he equated her to only a pretty face and a handsome dowry, but ironically, he’s the one who constantly refers to himself as just a pretty face to be used. misogyny at its finest! because we can’t have an mlm romance without dunking on women.
on top of that, i really disliked how the revelation of the one trans character in this book was handled. instead of it casually coming up, this character is forced to pretend to be a woman and show off his cleavage. tristan was one of the more tolerable characters in this book and deserved better than dysphoria-inducing antics.
overall, this is not a book i would recommend to anyone who wants to have a fun time reading a queer historical seafaring romance. look elsewhere unless you want to have a migraine and make yourself unnecessarily mad like i did.
massive thanks to netgalley, katie abdou, & simon and schuster children's publishing / atheneum books for young readers for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
⤿ .ᐟ not a spoiler free review
i have a lot of thoughts about this book, and most of them aren’t good. i was easily sold on the premise, the cover, and the trope of pirate x noble. but the execution of the plot and characters really lost me. it’s not even that katie abdou’s writing itself is bad — in fact, i really enjoyed her overall writing voice.
first and foremost, kit is just an intolerable protagonist. he’s pretentious, shallow, whiny, and naive. while all of these traits could be blamed on his pampered upbringing, i think he’s just genuinely a shitty person. he bounces back and forth between this need to be praised (that i don’t believe for one second is a facade) and self-deprecation. i think that he has the ability to be a complex and multilayered character, but the development through the plot (or lack thereof) just isn’t quite there.
then there’s the ‘romance’ between kit and captain sharpe. i’m glad that the author decided to change the problematic age gap between them (kit being seventeen and reggie being twenty-three) before publishing this book. though the whole scene on kit’s eighteenth birthday where they begin flirting gave me the total ick. it was giving “i’ll wait till you’re legal” vibes. on top of that, captain sharpe’s nickname for kit happens to be kitten. in case you’re wondering, he calls him “kitten” a total of 71 times throughout this whole book. yes, i counted because i’m petty and annoyed.
the plot itself feels all over the place as well. for a good portion of the book, they’re literally doing nothing aboard the ship. it feels like every passing day they eat, kit complains, and then goes to bed. when kit realizes that the crew of the deliverance are pirates, i found his shock a bit comical and valid — because what do they even do? there’s barely any adventure or excitement that typically comes with pirate stories until a little over halfway through the book.
both parts one and two of the book felt alarmingly slow to me but picked up towards the second half of the book, and i found myself actually enjoying a bit of the mystery and sneaking around. but the third half of the book really fell flat. all the drama was shoved into the tail end of the book and felt like it was too much thrown at me at once. which is why the conclusion to the story felt so rushed and unsatisfying in the long run.
this book had a few other things i didn’t like, such as how kit initially spoke about his betrothed. he equated her to only a pretty face and a handsome dowry, but ironically, he’s the one who constantly refers to himself as just a pretty face to be used. misogyny at its finest! because we can’t have an mlm romance without dunking on women.
on top of that, i really disliked how the revelation of the one trans character in this book was handled. instead of it casually coming up, this character is forced to pretend to be a woman and show off his cleavage. tristan was one of the more tolerable characters in this book and deserved better than dysphoria-inducing antics.
overall, this is not a book i would recommend to anyone who wants to have a fun time reading a queer historical seafaring romance. look elsewhere unless you want to have a migraine and make yourself unnecessarily mad like i did.
massive thanks to netgalley, katie abdou, & simon and schuster children's publishing / atheneum books for young readers for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 5, 2026
Gosh I had a lot of fun with this. I will always have a soft spot for seafaring adventures. It’s honestly a little shocking how pirate books aren’t as popular as other sub genres. A Prince Among Pirates opens with our main character Kit dreading his impending arranged wedding. The only son of a viscount, his nuptials will mark the end of his youth as he’ll be quickly swept into the duties befitting an heir. Unsuited for such a dull life, Kit spontaneously decides to run away and finds passage aboard the first available ship. Unbeknownst to him, the ship is maned by a pirate crew captained by the handsome Reggie Sharpe. Off they set for a year full of adventure!
This is definitely a very romantic depiction of piracy, which Katie Abdou addresses in her author’s note. There’s much more swashbuckling than pillaging. They have various little adventures as they dock at multiple ports. There’s a heavy emphasis on found family as Kit is welcomed with fairly open arms despite being an aristocrat. He is able to find a freedom and camaraderie out at sea that he never had in England. It’s a pretty wholesome novel with only the occasional maiming and death.
Kit is my favorite type of character. He’s a pretty boy. Charming, pouty, and sassy. Or as Captain Sharpe likes to say, “bitchy.” He’s prone to dramatics and is a big softy at heart. He believes himself to be cursed to never find love, but he gives his affections away like candy. He cries a lot more often than you’d expect, and just wants to be cherished. Seeing his desire for connection and love from his parents was heartbreaking. At times he feels very young, and at others we see how much he has grown into an exceptional young man. Through his travels, he becomes more worldly and open minded. He is able to get in touch with his mother’s heritage and figure out what kind of man he wants to be.
I wouldn’t recommended going into this specifically for the romance. It’s definitely more of a side plot, and Captain Sharpe maintains this kind of mysterious aura around himself until the end. We get a few looks into who he is as a person, but we don’t really know much about him or his past outside that. All of Kit’s conversations with him felt very one sided. Their dynamic was cute but I would have liked to delve more into Reggie’s head.
This is definitely a very romantic depiction of piracy, which Katie Abdou addresses in her author’s note. There’s much more swashbuckling than pillaging. They have various little adventures as they dock at multiple ports. There’s a heavy emphasis on found family as Kit is welcomed with fairly open arms despite being an aristocrat. He is able to find a freedom and camaraderie out at sea that he never had in England. It’s a pretty wholesome novel with only the occasional maiming and death.
Kit is my favorite type of character. He’s a pretty boy. Charming, pouty, and sassy. Or as Captain Sharpe likes to say, “bitchy.” He’s prone to dramatics and is a big softy at heart. He believes himself to be cursed to never find love, but he gives his affections away like candy. He cries a lot more often than you’d expect, and just wants to be cherished. Seeing his desire for connection and love from his parents was heartbreaking. At times he feels very young, and at others we see how much he has grown into an exceptional young man. Through his travels, he becomes more worldly and open minded. He is able to get in touch with his mother’s heritage and figure out what kind of man he wants to be.
I wouldn’t recommended going into this specifically for the romance. It’s definitely more of a side plot, and Captain Sharpe maintains this kind of mysterious aura around himself until the end. We get a few looks into who he is as a person, but we don’t really know much about him or his past outside that. All of Kit’s conversations with him felt very one sided. Their dynamic was cute but I would have liked to delve more into Reggie’s head.
January 18, 2026
Just such a fun good time read. It’s not heavy, or overly complicated and that just really hit the spot for me. A MM romance at sea? Yes please. The love interest is the captain and he’s actually the biggest teddy bear of a green flag (to him) ? And the chosen/found family with the crew? So good.
At just shy of 18, Kit thinks his life is about to be over. Betrothed and set to follow in his father’s legacy - Kit knows he will be trapped in the life set before him. So what does the spoiled high born rake do? He runs away the day of his wedding, onto the first ship he can find. Having never spent a moment doing labour or working for his living, it’s a rude awakening - but not as rude as when he finds out the ship he boarded is actually a pirate ship. Even more dangerous is the flirtation he develops with its Captain. But as they voyage the seas and different ports, Kit learns more about life at sea and himself, and stumbles across schemes and plots that have been hidden for far too long - it’s time for Kit to do what he’s great at - and cause a scandal or two.
At just shy of 18, Kit thinks his life is about to be over. Betrothed and set to follow in his father’s legacy - Kit knows he will be trapped in the life set before him. So what does the spoiled high born rake do? He runs away the day of his wedding, onto the first ship he can find. Having never spent a moment doing labour or working for his living, it’s a rude awakening - but not as rude as when he finds out the ship he boarded is actually a pirate ship. Even more dangerous is the flirtation he develops with its Captain. But as they voyage the seas and different ports, Kit learns more about life at sea and himself, and stumbles across schemes and plots that have been hidden for far too long - it’s time for Kit to do what he’s great at - and cause a scandal or two.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🏴☠️⚓ A Prince Among Pirates ⚓🏴☠️
One of my favorite queer romances of the year!
I am absolutely obsessed with Kit & Sharpe.
While Sharpe could be a ruthless pirate, he was an absolute teddy bear with Kit aka Kitten 😻
And Kit was such a little punk who was lucky he was so funny and adorable! He was also so clueless because he didn't realize he was on a dang pirate ship lol!
The ending went in a direction that was a bit meh! But it didn't take away from how adorable the rest of the book was. So I am still rating 5 stars and will absolutely be listening the audiobook once released!
🌊 What to Expect
• Queer YA romance
• Nobleman MMC
• Pirate captain
• Pirate ship escape
• Found family
_ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2026
📝 Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
One of my favorite queer romances of the year!
I am absolutely obsessed with Kit & Sharpe.
While Sharpe could be a ruthless pirate, he was an absolute teddy bear with Kit aka Kitten 😻
And Kit was such a little punk who was lucky he was so funny and adorable! He was also so clueless because he didn't realize he was on a dang pirate ship lol!
The ending went in a direction that was a bit meh! But it didn't take away from how adorable the rest of the book was. So I am still rating 5 stars and will absolutely be listening the audiobook once released!
🌊 What to Expect
• Queer YA romance
• Nobleman MMC
• Pirate captain
• Pirate ship escape
• Found family
_ _ _
⭐ Final Rating: 5 Stars
📅 Pub Date: June 16, 2026
📝 Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
July 30, 2026
Considering the premise (gay pirates), this should have been a five-star book regardless of the quality of writing. However, there were too many loose ends, and I was very dissatisfied with how protagonist-centric it was.
First and foremost, Captain Sharpe is the deuteragonist and the male lead, yet his past is never explained or discussed (beyond what he does to free slave ships), and his life seems to amount to barely a footnote, with readers getting only small glimpses or insinuations. His main role is to provide the protagonist, Kit, with validation and a positive environment so he can realize he is capable of love and of being loved, which, to me, gave more of a parental vibe than a romantic one. His personality beyond being a good captain (and even that is limited considering we barely see him interact with the crew outside of Mr. Tides) and being amused by Kit's posh attitude seems to be absent, and that is due entirely to his missing backstory and individuality.
As for the other characters, they also exist as a way for Kit to confront his privilege and whiteness. While I understand that's a good lesson, there isn't enough time or care placed into ensuring they are their own people with goals, desires, and futures. Tristan and Trevor are mostly their own people, but Billy felt like he was used as a plot device more than as a character. That was disappointing.
Overall, I understand what the author was trying to do. She wanted to create a pirate story, but that's impossible to do without confronting racial and cultural barriers and bias. I believe that she truly attempted to address these things sensitively, but unfortunately, she didn't quite manage to prioritize the other characters and the story over Kit's awakening to social awareness.
It wasn't a bad book, but there were too many shortcomings for me to give it a higher rating.
First and foremost, Captain Sharpe is the deuteragonist and the male lead, yet his past is never explained or discussed (beyond what he does to free slave ships), and his life seems to amount to barely a footnote, with readers getting only small glimpses or insinuations. His main role is to provide the protagonist, Kit, with validation and a positive environment so he can realize he is capable of love and of being loved, which, to me, gave more of a parental vibe than a romantic one. His personality beyond being a good captain (and even that is limited considering we barely see him interact with the crew outside of Mr. Tides) and being amused by Kit's posh attitude seems to be absent, and that is due entirely to his missing backstory and individuality.
As for the other characters, they also exist as a way for Kit to confront his privilege and whiteness. While I understand that's a good lesson, there isn't enough time or care placed into ensuring they are their own people with goals, desires, and futures. Tristan and Trevor are mostly their own people, but Billy felt like he was used as a plot device more than as a character. That was disappointing.
Overall, I understand what the author was trying to do. She wanted to create a pirate story, but that's impossible to do without confronting racial and cultural barriers and bias. I believe that she truly attempted to address these things sensitively, but unfortunately, she didn't quite manage to prioritize the other characters and the story over Kit's awakening to social awareness.
It wasn't a bad book, but there were too many shortcomings for me to give it a higher rating.
July 15, 2026
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing for providing an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
'A prince among pirates' and there is literally no piracy happening.
I enjoyed following Kit on his self discovering journey and it was really nice to experience his growth, that being said Kit feels like the only self realised character. We have some side characters that are quite loveable but there really isn't much to them besides their 'comforting Kit at all times' job, and the love interest is as flat as a cardboard cut-out. And that may be too generous, besides giving Kit a nickname and hugging him there wasn't anything going on with him.
The plot was predictable, sometimes I got really frustrated with Kit because of his lack of awareness, the red flags were right in his face and he just didn't catch on.
Now the ending, slightly abrupt, kind of zero pay off plot wise and the darkening of the tone was just brushed off quite quickly.
It wasn't the worst book definitely, and maybe it suffered from my expectations when I thought of pirates
'A prince among pirates' and there is literally no piracy happening.
I enjoyed following Kit on his self discovering journey and it was really nice to experience his growth, that being said Kit feels like the only self realised character. We have some side characters that are quite loveable but there really isn't much to them besides their 'comforting Kit at all times' job, and the love interest is as flat as a cardboard cut-out. And that may be too generous, besides giving Kit a nickname and hugging him there wasn't anything going on with him.
The plot was predictable, sometimes I got really frustrated with Kit because of his lack of awareness, the red flags were right in his face and he just didn't catch on.
Now the ending, slightly abrupt, kind of zero pay off plot wise and the darkening of the tone was just brushed off quite quickly.
It wasn't the worst book definitely, and maybe it suffered from my expectations when I thought of pirates
June 19, 2026
I, like many people, had a moment where I dreamt of being swept away by a dashing pirate captain to a life at sea, storming ships, sailing across the oceans, finding buried treasure… and then I remembered that I would probably get scurvy, seasick, or end up falling overboard and eaten by sharks. And while those fantastical dreams may have been nothing more than that, I will always have a fond place in my heart for pirate stories. Especially when there’s a hot captain to drool over.
A Prince Among Pirates had everything I needed to make me fall in love with not 1, but 2 men, and yet again wish for a life of swashbuckling. (Not important, but I’d need a fancy hat, because I don’t need a bald head burn for the rest of my life) Most queer books have me falling in love with the love interest or the MC, but rarely both. You’re meant to feel the emotions that the main character feels, in turn seeing the positives in the person they’re interested in. But this book did such an amazing job at making me not only feel an emotional connection with Kit, quickly understanding, relating, and seeing the strength in him, but the sexy and charismatic Captain Sharpe, who would do anything for his crew… ANYTHING!
Something I love about queer people is that we are good at finding community. We look for places and people like us, so that we don’t feel alone. That’s shown in the books that represent us with a found family trope. Mainly because many people find their place with the family you choose more than the one you are born into. You can see that embodied in the people that Kit meets and surrounds himself with. The entire crew of the ship (well all but one, with who I’d like to punch squarely in his nose) welcome and adopt him into the fold (including the brotherly banter and roasting you see throughout the story). He also has Kitty and Francis, as well as Thomas in the later chapters, who help him to find himself again.
For this being a debut, I feel like I know who Katie Abdou is as an author and to be perfectly Frank (which is my name, if you didn’t know), I like what I see. I do need another book immediately, though. I don’t know if I can get enough. More pirates and more hot men on ships, pleaseeeeee!!! I need them IMMEDIATELY!
Thank you to Simon Teen and the author for my gifted ARC.
A Prince Among Pirates had everything I needed to make me fall in love with not 1, but 2 men, and yet again wish for a life of swashbuckling. (Not important, but I’d need a fancy hat, because I don’t need a bald head burn for the rest of my life) Most queer books have me falling in love with the love interest or the MC, but rarely both. You’re meant to feel the emotions that the main character feels, in turn seeing the positives in the person they’re interested in. But this book did such an amazing job at making me not only feel an emotional connection with Kit, quickly understanding, relating, and seeing the strength in him, but the sexy and charismatic Captain Sharpe, who would do anything for his crew… ANYTHING!
Something I love about queer people is that we are good at finding community. We look for places and people like us, so that we don’t feel alone. That’s shown in the books that represent us with a found family trope. Mainly because many people find their place with the family you choose more than the one you are born into. You can see that embodied in the people that Kit meets and surrounds himself with. The entire crew of the ship (well all but one, with who I’d like to punch squarely in his nose) welcome and adopt him into the fold (including the brotherly banter and roasting you see throughout the story). He also has Kitty and Francis, as well as Thomas in the later chapters, who help him to find himself again.
For this being a debut, I feel like I know who Katie Abdou is as an author and to be perfectly Frank (which is my name, if you didn’t know), I like what I see. I do need another book immediately, though. I don’t know if I can get enough. More pirates and more hot men on ships, pleaseeeeee!!! I need them IMMEDIATELY!
Thank you to Simon Teen and the author for my gifted ARC.
June 19, 2026
had such high expectations for this one especially after ofmd comparison but frankly it seemed liked the book didn't quite know what it wanted to be and thus didn't succeed in being any of those things- it could've been an adventure novel but the plot was almost non-existent and what action we did get was just so brief and then we were back to nothing-really-happens-endless-repetitive-descriptions-of-clothing galore or it could've been romance but it barely touched that aspect at all or at least it could've been funny and it occasionally was but like with the plot- just not enough and don't even get me started on the plot twists- they were just so very obvious right from the second it was merely hinted at i've yet to encounter more terrible twists in a book tbh. also fyi: i'm def too old for this book (but it doesn't change anything bout the twists like it's obvi not middle grade and even that age group would see it coming from a mile away). so dissapointed still finished it quickly so 3 starts it is (for now)
Read
August 16, 2026I WON A GOODREADS GIVEAWAY FOR A PHYSICAL COPY LETS GOOOOO
Want to Read
August 25, 2026our flag means death novelization??? reading this asap
Want to Read
April 22, 2025“pitched as Our Flag Means Death … with the irreverent voice of MY LADY JANE,”
say no more. take my money.
say no more. take my money.
June 21, 2026
„Kitten.“
4.5*
4.5*
August 3, 2026
KATIE ABDOU PLEASE WRITE ANOTHER BOOK WITH THESE CHARACTERS!!!! 🙏🙏🥺
March 31, 2026
Now THIS is how you do a debut!
If you are a fan of Our Flag Means Death, then this is the book for you!
Kit, running from a loveless arranged marriage and his dickhead of a father, boards the first ship he comes across at port, The Deliverance, and this sweet privileged boy takes forever to realize that he has joined the crew of a pirate ship. He discovers a found family aboard The Deliverance, and a tension between him and Captain Reggie Sharpe.
This story is lighthearted and fun, but thoughtfully tackles the real life subjects of colonialism, racism, and the politics surrounding piracy. Kit grows so much throughout this book, realizing what privileges he has been afforded in life based on his station, and seeks to right the wrongs he and his family have perpetrated.
(Low context spoiler ahead)
Me a the start of the book: “wait, he’s the son of a Viscount. Who’s the Prince Among Pirates?”
Me, later: “oh that’s a sweet epithet.”
Me, later later: “OH!!!”
If you are a fan of Our Flag Means Death, then this is the book for you!
Kit, running from a loveless arranged marriage and his dickhead of a father, boards the first ship he comes across at port, The Deliverance, and this sweet privileged boy takes forever to realize that he has joined the crew of a pirate ship. He discovers a found family aboard The Deliverance, and a tension between him and Captain Reggie Sharpe.
This story is lighthearted and fun, but thoughtfully tackles the real life subjects of colonialism, racism, and the politics surrounding piracy. Kit grows so much throughout this book, realizing what privileges he has been afforded in life based on his station, and seeks to right the wrongs he and his family have perpetrated.
(Low context spoiler ahead)
Me a the start of the book: “wait, he’s the son of a Viscount. Who’s the Prince Among Pirates?”
Me, later: “oh that’s a sweet epithet.”
Me, later later: “OH!!!”
August 24, 2026
Lo pasé tan bien leyendo esto, es más, me desvelé leyendo A Prince Among Pirates. Valieron totalmente esas horas sin dormir.
Pero antes de entrar en las cosas que me gustaron del libro creo que es bueno mencionar algunas advertencias, en el mejor sentido posible. Aunque el libro cuenta con romance, diría que es un plot de fondo (a pesar de lo que pueda sugerir la hermosa portada). Y prefiero decirlo de frente para evitar expectativas que luego no se cumplen. A Prince Among Pirates es por sobre todo una historia de aventura en el mar, de piratas, de conocer el mundo y cambiar tu destino. Y aunque hay elementos históricos más o menos reales, creo que la historia se toma varias libertades, así que no busquen un relato realista en ese sentido jajaja esto no es un documental, es una aventura
¿hay romance? sí ¿es lindo? sí ¿es lo central de la historia? no, ni de cerca.
Y si no han huído espantadas porque no es un libro enfocado en romance, déjenme decirles las otras cosas asombrosas que trae este libro:
- Kit como protagonista es gracioso, desastroso, imperfecto y encantador de una forma que solo le sale bien a él.
- Los personajes secundarios (incluído el interés amoroso) enriquecen muy bien la historia, entregan profundidad y un buen contraste con el protagonista, no hay personajes “rellenos o de fondo”, todos cumplen una función dentro de la historia.
- No hay momentos aburridos en la historia, con cada capítulo que terminaba pensaba “¿y ahora qué va a pasar?” y como les dije al inicio, me desvelé leyendo así que claramente no podía parar jajaja
- Hay misterio y peleas, aventura en cada esquina, peligro, malas decisiones, plot twist y más. En definitiva, no van a tener un minuto de descanso.
- Y el romance (aunque bien al fondo) es lento, es sútil, no es el foco pero cuando toma un paso al frente acapara toda tu atención. Me gustó la pareja que hacen Kit y su capitán pirata.
- Y no puedo olvidar destacar la entretenida narración que logró escribir la autora, me encantó su forma de relatar la historia y estaré atenta a cualquier otro libro que publique.
Si tuviera que dar algunas críticas (que para mi son detalles mínimos) es que el inicio y el final son un poco apresurados (lo cual no me molestó porque el 90% del libro se toma su tiempo en desarrollar sus elementos y eso hace balance con las partes que yo encontré apresuradas), creo que un epílogo hubiera sido perfecto. Y si la autora decide sacar una mini historia u otros libros (con Kit o con los otros personajes como protagonistas) estaré más que feliz.
Ya para cerrar, A Prince Among Pirates lo leí en su formato escrito y de audio, y debo aplaudir al narrador del audiolibro. Recomiendo mucho que usen ese formato si les acomoda porque el narrador le da en el clavo a los acentos de cada personaje y sus personalidades, su actuación fue espectacular y pueden apostar que estaré buscando más libros narrados por Joe Jameson
Pero antes de entrar en las cosas que me gustaron del libro creo que es bueno mencionar algunas advertencias, en el mejor sentido posible. Aunque el libro cuenta con romance, diría que es un plot de fondo (a pesar de lo que pueda sugerir la hermosa portada). Y prefiero decirlo de frente para evitar expectativas que luego no se cumplen. A Prince Among Pirates es por sobre todo una historia de aventura en el mar, de piratas, de conocer el mundo y cambiar tu destino. Y aunque hay elementos históricos más o menos reales, creo que la historia se toma varias libertades, así que no busquen un relato realista en ese sentido jajaja esto no es un documental, es una aventura
¿hay romance? sí ¿es lindo? sí ¿es lo central de la historia? no, ni de cerca.
Y si no han huído espantadas porque no es un libro enfocado en romance, déjenme decirles las otras cosas asombrosas que trae este libro:
- Kit como protagonista es gracioso, desastroso, imperfecto y encantador de una forma que solo le sale bien a él.
- Los personajes secundarios (incluído el interés amoroso) enriquecen muy bien la historia, entregan profundidad y un buen contraste con el protagonista, no hay personajes “rellenos o de fondo”, todos cumplen una función dentro de la historia.
- No hay momentos aburridos en la historia, con cada capítulo que terminaba pensaba “¿y ahora qué va a pasar?” y como les dije al inicio, me desvelé leyendo así que claramente no podía parar jajaja
- Hay misterio y peleas, aventura en cada esquina, peligro, malas decisiones, plot twist y más. En definitiva, no van a tener un minuto de descanso.
- Y el romance (aunque bien al fondo) es lento, es sútil, no es el foco pero cuando toma un paso al frente acapara toda tu atención. Me gustó la pareja que hacen Kit y su capitán pirata.
- Y no puedo olvidar destacar la entretenida narración que logró escribir la autora, me encantó su forma de relatar la historia y estaré atenta a cualquier otro libro que publique.
Si tuviera que dar algunas críticas (que para mi son detalles mínimos) es que el inicio y el final son un poco apresurados (lo cual no me molestó porque el 90% del libro se toma su tiempo en desarrollar sus elementos y eso hace balance con las partes que yo encontré apresuradas), creo que un epílogo hubiera sido perfecto. Y si la autora decide sacar una mini historia u otros libros (con Kit o con los otros personajes como protagonistas) estaré más que feliz.
Ya para cerrar, A Prince Among Pirates lo leí en su formato escrito y de audio, y debo aplaudir al narrador del audiolibro. Recomiendo mucho que usen ese formato si les acomoda porque el narrador le da en el clavo a los acentos de cada personaje y sus personalidades, su actuación fue espectacular y pueden apostar que estaré buscando más libros narrados por Joe Jameson
June 19, 2026
2 Stars
The concept wasn't enough to carry this one. I liked the idea, but with how immature the main character reads, the romance feels... uncomfortable. And I'm not one to demand every book have female characters, but if you're writing a book that features primarily men, you should be really, really careful that the few women characters you do have are more than just plot devices. And that, unfortunately, wasn't the case here...
Anyway, I didn't really like it, but that's not to say it's all bad. My full review will go over the highs and lows of this one next Friday, June 26 over at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you feel so inclined!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
The concept wasn't enough to carry this one. I liked the idea, but with how immature the main character reads, the romance feels... uncomfortable. And I'm not one to demand every book have female characters, but if you're writing a book that features primarily men, you should be really, really careful that the few women characters you do have are more than just plot devices. And that, unfortunately, wasn't the case here...
Anyway, I didn't really like it, but that's not to say it's all bad. My full review will go over the highs and lows of this one next Friday, June 26 over at Gateway Reviews. Stop by if you feel so inclined!
Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
June 22, 2026
So I loved this (getting four stars only because I wanted more Captain Sharpe), I think this book really just has cemented that pirates are absolutely my jam. I adored the side characters and hearing about the different ports they all visit. I'm glad Kit had some MAJOR character growth. He for sure was an insufferable brat at the beginning of the story but by the end 10/10. I would honestly love to read more stories about this crew.
August 25, 2026
I really should have been reading more pirate romances this summer- what was I thinking?!?
This was so lovely and fun and swoony 🙂↕️
This was so lovely and fun and swoony 🙂↕️
July 11, 2026
disappointment of the year. I kept trying to reframe what I was reading by thinking, "It's YA" (and what a plot twist that was!! to me at least), "It's not meant to be that profound, come on, it's YA." But don't teens and young adults deserve not to be talked down to, too?
May 22, 2026
Thank you NetGallery for the eARC! 2.5 ⭐️
What does this book have?
A beautiful cover, a great plot premise, but everything else lost me.
Let’s start with the ages. Kit begins the book at 17…while Sharpe is 23. Now, I know that this is set in the 1700s and times are different…but as my friend pointed out although it’s set in a different time, the author wrote it today. I feel like that speaks enough to itself.
Secondly, Kit’s nickname…I got a kick out of it the first time, but then Sharpe just keeps calling him Kitten…I really couldn’t stand it. Like at all.
Thirdly, the plot lacks strength. Kit just straight up runs away (which like, hell yeah!), but that doesn’t become an issue until wayyy later in the timeline of the story itself (like months and months later). And the twist… like yes, of course the King is his bio-dad. Obviously.
Overall, I simply believe this book can be fantastic, it’s just not ready to be published yet. The plot needs to be reworked slightly and there’s this need for slight edits (like their ages..). I definitely see the inspiration drawn from Our Flag Means Death, but it’s way too similar (Kitty being a plot device especially). The show also works excellently because they are older gentlemen, and this book is very centered around the youth.
If you don’t mind the cringe, I would pick it up! Just be prepared is all.
What does this book have?
A beautiful cover, a great plot premise, but everything else lost me.
Let’s start with the ages. Kit begins the book at 17…while Sharpe is 23. Now, I know that this is set in the 1700s and times are different…but as my friend pointed out although it’s set in a different time, the author wrote it today. I feel like that speaks enough to itself.
Secondly, Kit’s nickname…I got a kick out of it the first time, but then Sharpe just keeps calling him Kitten…I really couldn’t stand it. Like at all.
Thirdly, the plot lacks strength. Kit just straight up runs away (which like, hell yeah!), but that doesn’t become an issue until wayyy later in the timeline of the story itself (like months and months later). And the twist… like yes, of course the King is his bio-dad. Obviously.
Overall, I simply believe this book can be fantastic, it’s just not ready to be published yet. The plot needs to be reworked slightly and there’s this need for slight edits (like their ages..). I definitely see the inspiration drawn from Our Flag Means Death, but it’s way too similar (Kitty being a plot device especially). The show also works excellently because they are older gentlemen, and this book is very centered around the youth.
If you don’t mind the cringe, I would pick it up! Just be prepared is all.
remind-me-once-out
March 27, 2026😏
July 23, 2026
3.25⭐
I thought it would be a fun concept to read about a nobleman stowing away with a motley crew of pirates and following their adventures, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much of that. The strongest part of the story was the camaraderie between Kit and the crew. Most of his interactions were with them. I enjoyed seeing them accept Kit as their own and teach him the pirate way. His friendship with Tristan was one of my favorites.
When it came to the story, I didn’t feel there were enough high stakes to keep me fully invested. Most of it was Kit getting used to his bearings and getting to know everyone. There was a minor plot point at the end that I didn’t see coming. Looking back, maybe it was obvious, but for me, it went right over my head. I liked the reveal but didn’t spend much time processing it, so I didn’t care much about it.
Kit, as a whole, was chaotic but lovable. Because of his privileged upbringing, he had to learn the meaning of hard work and not to be judgmental of others. I enjoyed seeing him go from a spoiled rich boy to a journey of self-discovery.
Sad to say, I was disappointed in the romance. I love that it was a slow burn, but I didn’t feel any chemistry. They had their flirty moments, but nothing that would indicate an established relationship. They weren’t even in enough scenes together to make me believe there was a romantic connection. I also wanted more personality for Captain Sharpe and a backstory for him. I feel like I didn’t know anything about him or his past to make me feel any connection to his character.
It was a solid debut. It just needed more work on the plot and some character development.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC.
I thought it would be a fun concept to read about a nobleman stowing away with a motley crew of pirates and following their adventures, but unfortunately, there wasn’t much of that. The strongest part of the story was the camaraderie between Kit and the crew. Most of his interactions were with them. I enjoyed seeing them accept Kit as their own and teach him the pirate way. His friendship with Tristan was one of my favorites.
When it came to the story, I didn’t feel there were enough high stakes to keep me fully invested. Most of it was Kit getting used to his bearings and getting to know everyone. There was a minor plot point at the end that I didn’t see coming. Looking back, maybe it was obvious, but for me, it went right over my head. I liked the reveal but didn’t spend much time processing it, so I didn’t care much about it.
Kit, as a whole, was chaotic but lovable. Because of his privileged upbringing, he had to learn the meaning of hard work and not to be judgmental of others. I enjoyed seeing him go from a spoiled rich boy to a journey of self-discovery.
Sad to say, I was disappointed in the romance. I love that it was a slow burn, but I didn’t feel any chemistry. They had their flirty moments, but nothing that would indicate an established relationship. They weren’t even in enough scenes together to make me believe there was a romantic connection. I also wanted more personality for Captain Sharpe and a backstory for him. I feel like I didn’t know anything about him or his past to make me feel any connection to his character.
It was a solid debut. It just needed more work on the plot and some character development.
Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the ARC.
August 18, 2026
This book was charming and hilarious, and exactly what I needed after a few too many heavy books in a row. Kit is a disastrously lovable narrator (even if makes astoundingly stupid decisions most of the time) and Sharpe was such a well-written love interest, I adored both of them.
The writing was quick and the plot moved at a great pace, never once did I feel like it dragged. I feel that the two plot twists were a bit predictable (one of them got so obvious I was a little irritated at Kit for not figuring it out sooner), but I think that a slightly predictable plot is a hallmark of the cozy fantasy genre—does this count as fantasy? historical drama? unsure. There were certainly moments that got a little dark and intense, but I greatly appreciate that the author didn't white wash or water down the truths of this historical period the way some pirate-centered narratives tend to.
I had a great time with this book, and I think anyone who enjoys Taika Waititi's Our Flag Means Death, disaster bisexual narrators, and charming pirate stories will adore it as much as I did.
The writing was quick and the plot moved at a great pace, never once did I feel like it dragged. I feel that the two plot twists were a bit predictable (one of them got so obvious I was a little irritated at Kit for not figuring it out sooner), but I think that a slightly predictable plot is a hallmark of the cozy fantasy genre—does this count as fantasy? historical drama? unsure. There were certainly moments that got a little dark and intense, but I greatly appreciate that the author didn't white wash or water down the truths of this historical period the way some pirate-centered narratives tend to.
I had a great time with this book, and I think anyone who enjoys Taika Waititi's Our Flag Means Death, disaster bisexual narrators, and charming pirate stories will adore it as much as I did.
August 18, 2026
AHHGG POURQUOI SI COURT
Read
June 22, 2026cute and super fun, but you have to be willing to accept that the love interest calls the protagonist “kitten” unironically, which is asking a lot of anyone. I liked the criticism of classism/racism/colonialism underlying the narrative which did a lot to save the book from being entirely kitschy and forgettable. Still, I had fun, which is all I wanted from this one. 3 to 3.5 stars.
June 30, 2026
I was enjoying this book a lot until I reached the third act, but honestly that part seemed unnecesary convoluted for me. The sudden tonal shift felt a little jarring, and it frustrated me because it took away from exploring the main couple’s relatioship further. The book pulled the brakes on the slow burn romance just when it was starting to gain momentum, and in the end I was left with no idea of how they work as a couple. And if at least the plot had been handled better, it might have been a little less underwhelming, but most of it didn’t make sense to me.
Although I love Kit and his evolution as a character, I feel that I by the end of the book I didn’t really get to know Sharpe at all. His entire personality seems to be “perfect boyfriend”. No background, no deep dive into his motivations, just a few glimpses here and there that there must be more about him than meets the eye. I got a much clearer picture of some secondary characters than of the main love interest.
Also, a subplot that I thought was going to be pretty important ended up being totally forgotten, and I don’t know why.
To summarize, it was a cute and entertaining read, but it kinda flopped towards the end.
Although I love Kit and his evolution as a character, I feel that I by the end of the book I didn’t really get to know Sharpe at all. His entire personality seems to be “perfect boyfriend”. No background, no deep dive into his motivations, just a few glimpses here and there that there must be more about him than meets the eye. I got a much clearer picture of some secondary characters than of the main love interest.
Also, a subplot that I thought was going to be pretty important ended up being totally forgotten, and I don’t know why.
To summarize, it was a cute and entertaining read, but it kinda flopped towards the end.
June 20, 2026
E'la prima volta che leggo un'ARC quindi immagino che diverse cose un po' strane che ho riscontrato verranno corrette nella versione definitiva.
L'ho trovata una lettura carina, non eccezionale, che mi ha ricordato tanto da vicino "The Gentlemen's guide to vice and virtues" (stesso tipo di protagonista e di sviluppo, pure con i problemi irrisolti col padre) ma con meno trama di mezzo, anzi, la poca che c'è alla fine si rivela inconcludente (anche qui, non so se è una cosa che verrà risolta nella versione definitiva). E soprattutto è molto meno un romance e più un coming to age, quindi la relazione e l'interesse amoroso sono un po' meh.
L'ho trovata una lettura carina, non eccezionale, che mi ha ricordato tanto da vicino "The Gentlemen's guide to vice and virtues" (stesso tipo di protagonista e di sviluppo, pure con i problemi irrisolti col padre) ma con meno trama di mezzo, anzi, la poca che c'è alla fine si rivela inconcludente (anche qui, non so se è una cosa che verrà risolta nella versione definitiva). E soprattutto è molto meno un romance e più un coming to age, quindi la relazione e l'interesse amoroso sono un po' meh.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 531 reviews