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Capitana #2
Libertad
In this conclusion to a sweepingly epic seafaring romantasy duology—perfect for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King, Curious Tides, and The Hurricane Wars—Ximena Reale is trying to bring down an empire. But with her loyalties torn, she finds herself grappling with the true price of freedom...and love.
Alongside her sister, Ximena Reale now sails under the banner of the legendary pirate Gasparilla. But, between the bounty on “Gasparilla’s” head and the Empire’s renewed efforts to stomp out piracy, the sisters’ fellow pirates are suddenly wary of swearing allegiance to their cause.
After a betrayal in the one place they were supposed to be safe, Gasparilla’s crew hits the high seas again and Ximena is reunited with Cazador Dante de León. Her longtime rival has been tasked with capturing her, and Ximena doesn’t know if she can trust the information he’s feeding her about the empire’s plans to take over the Northern Archipelago’s silver mines. “Gasparilla” heads north to rob the robbers, but the Empire has a few nasty tricks up their sleeves—including putting a traitor in the pirates’ midst.
With the armada closing in, Ximena finds herself scrambling to protect the people she loves. The price of freedom is higher than it’s ever been—but is Ximena willing to pay, even if it costs her everything?
Alongside her sister, Ximena Reale now sails under the banner of the legendary pirate Gasparilla. But, between the bounty on “Gasparilla’s” head and the Empire’s renewed efforts to stomp out piracy, the sisters’ fellow pirates are suddenly wary of swearing allegiance to their cause.
After a betrayal in the one place they were supposed to be safe, Gasparilla’s crew hits the high seas again and Ximena is reunited with Cazador Dante de León. Her longtime rival has been tasked with capturing her, and Ximena doesn’t know if she can trust the information he’s feeding her about the empire’s plans to take over the Northern Archipelago’s silver mines. “Gasparilla” heads north to rob the robbers, but the Empire has a few nasty tricks up their sleeves—including putting a traitor in the pirates’ midst.
With the armada closing in, Ximena finds herself scrambling to protect the people she loves. The price of freedom is higher than it’s ever been—but is Ximena willing to pay, even if it costs her everything?
350 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Cassandra James
5 books184 followersCassandra James is the international bestselling author of epic fantasy novels for children and teens. Her debut CAPITANA duology was translated into multiple languages worldwide, and was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection. A graduate of Princeton University’s English and Creative Writing Programs, she now lives in Orlando, Florida, where she wanders Disney World with her husband, collects Colombian recipes, and occasionally swashbuckles.
You can find her on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @authorcassjames. She is represented by Andrea Morrison at Writer’s House.
You can find her on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok at @authorcassjames. She is represented by Andrea Morrison at Writer’s House.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
June 26, 2026
I NEED A MINUTE.
Okay, I'm good now. Here are my thoughts:✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
As with the first of this duology, I ate. this. book. up. When I wasn't reading it, I would wonder what would happen next. I actually felt it in my soul when...I can't even speak of it; it'll bring all the feels back.
The characters were so fun to adventure with. Ximena would drive me insane, but I also totally understand her. Dante. Just Dante. He deserves the world, yet he also caused me many heart attacks.
Huge fan of the author, Cassandra James, for creating such an exciting, family-friendly adventure for us to take with her characters, as well as being an author who sticks to her guns and works her butt off to make her dreams a reality.
Okay, I'm good now. Here are my thoughts:✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨
As with the first of this duology, I ate. this. book. up. When I wasn't reading it, I would wonder what would happen next. I actually felt it in my soul when...I can't even speak of it; it'll bring all the feels back.
The characters were so fun to adventure with. Ximena would drive me insane, but I also totally understand her. Dante. Just Dante. He deserves the world, yet he also caused me many heart attacks.
Huge fan of the author, Cassandra James, for creating such an exciting, family-friendly adventure for us to take with her characters, as well as being an author who sticks to her guns and works her butt off to make her dreams a reality.
June 19, 2026
*Thanks to HarperCollins Children’s Books and NetGalley for this eARC; the review is my own.*
3.5 stars
After thoroughly enjoying the first book, I was very excited to receive an ARC of this one. Overall, I liked it, but I think the first one was a little better. This sequel started out really strong and fizzled a little bit later on. The ending wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite the ending I had expected. However, I didn’t throw it (metaphorically speaking, of course—I was reading on a Kindle) across the room, so that’s good. I would have liked a little more in the first epilogue, though—I think it cut out a little too soon.
This book was a bit more fantastical than the first one. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; it just took me a little while to reframe my view of the the world it takes place in. I felt like the ending came a little to easily and struggled to believe that capitulation, cooperation, and transfer of leadership would come so easily.
I loved Dante’s (20) loyalty, romanticism, and desire to be better. He ended up having a level head when it was needed most. Ximena (19) and Marquesa’s struggle to find a balanced co-captaincy was understandable, especially since Marquesa had held the title for quite some time and Ximena was often blinded by the need she felt to prove she was deserving. I was often frustrated with Ximena because her ambitions became obstacles to other things that mattered, like her relationships with people she cared about. Although Pía played an important role in several parts of the book, her character was one of the weakest. To be honest, she felt a little bit like a tool that was picked up whenever magic was needed but mostly just existed besides that. She was perky and supportive, but her personality didn’t extend much beyond that despite her learning to wield so much power. La Pantera was . . . I don’t know. I liked him for about a minute, and then I just felt disappointed and wanted him out of the way.
In terms of romance, Dante demonstrated repeatedly that he deserved a trophy. Ximena was lucky for Dante’s confidence, perseverance, and (sometimes seemingly unfounded) faith in her. I did not particularly appreciate the introduction of feelings elsewhere (not a fan of love corners/triangles). I suppose the intent was to emphasize how charismatic la Pantera was, but I would have preferred Ximena’s feelings to be steadier and for her to be more cognizant of how her actions would affect others.
I feel like I’ve complained more than I intended to. I did enjoy reading this book, and I would absolutely pick up anything else Cassandra James writes in the future. I think my daughter (12) would enjoy reading this series, and I have no qualms about handing it to her. I love James’s philosophy for her books, which are young adult. She’s posted on Instagram that her desire is to “bring the whole family to the movie” by writing books that anyone would feel comfortable reading. I believe she’s accomplished that.
How it ends:
Language: Mild or none . . . depending on your translation of “pendejo”
Violence: Mild
Alcohol & drugs: Some drinking and smoking (they’re pirates)
Physical Intimacy: Mild kissing
LGBT: None
3.5 stars
After thoroughly enjoying the first book, I was very excited to receive an ARC of this one. Overall, I liked it, but I think the first one was a little better. This sequel started out really strong and fizzled a little bit later on. The ending wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite the ending I had expected. However, I didn’t throw it (metaphorically speaking, of course—I was reading on a Kindle) across the room, so that’s good. I would have liked a little more in the first epilogue, though—I think it cut out a little too soon.
This book was a bit more fantastical than the first one. I’m not saying that’s a bad thing; it just took me a little while to reframe my view of the the world it takes place in. I felt like the ending came a little to easily and struggled to believe that capitulation, cooperation, and transfer of leadership would come so easily.
I loved Dante’s (20) loyalty, romanticism, and desire to be better. He ended up having a level head when it was needed most. Ximena (19) and Marquesa’s struggle to find a balanced co-captaincy was understandable, especially since Marquesa had held the title for quite some time and Ximena was often blinded by the need she felt to prove she was deserving. I was often frustrated with Ximena because her ambitions became obstacles to other things that mattered, like her relationships with people she cared about. Although Pía played an important role in several parts of the book, her character was one of the weakest. To be honest, she felt a little bit like a tool that was picked up whenever magic was needed but mostly just existed besides that. She was perky and supportive, but her personality didn’t extend much beyond that despite her learning to wield so much power. La Pantera was . . . I don’t know. I liked him for about a minute, and then I just felt disappointed and wanted him out of the way.
In terms of romance, Dante demonstrated repeatedly that he deserved a trophy. Ximena was lucky for Dante’s confidence, perseverance, and (sometimes seemingly unfounded) faith in her. I did not particularly appreciate the introduction of feelings elsewhere (not a fan of love corners/triangles). I suppose the intent was to emphasize how charismatic la Pantera was, but I would have preferred Ximena’s feelings to be steadier and for her to be more cognizant of how her actions would affect others.
I feel like I’ve complained more than I intended to. I did enjoy reading this book, and I would absolutely pick up anything else Cassandra James writes in the future. I think my daughter (12) would enjoy reading this series, and I have no qualms about handing it to her. I love James’s philosophy for her books, which are young adult. She’s posted on Instagram that her desire is to “bring the whole family to the movie” by writing books that anyone would feel comfortable reading. I believe she’s accomplished that.
How it ends:
Language: Mild or none . . . depending on your translation of “pendejo”
Violence: Mild
Alcohol & drugs: Some drinking and smoking (they’re pirates)
Physical Intimacy: Mild kissing
LGBT: None
August 3, 2026
Great for teens and tweens, clean read.
August 22, 2026
what an ending 🥹
September 15, 2026
3.5 stars
August 24, 2026
A beautiful ending to this Duology! Ximena’s growth and the challenges were never ending, and the characters were worth every page!
June 19, 2026
“‘It’s because you were a cazadora that you are an excellent pirate. You are not irredeemable. You are a force to be reckoned with!’”
Ximena Reale has spent her whole life in service of the law, trying to prove that she was not like her parents—former protectors of Luza, famous cazadores that became pirates. Knowing the odds were stacked against her, and with no other way to become a cazadora, she set out to capture the infamous pirate martyr Gaspiralla, who kidnapped Luza’s queen. While sailing across the empire with her hero, Admiral Perez, and her rival cazador candidate, Dante de Leon, she starts to see new parts of the empire, the events left out of the news and history books: the truth about the cazadores. After learning how the cazadores have harmed the people of Luza and that her sister, Marquesa, was Gasparilla—set to be publicly hanged—Ximena, the archivist Pía, and Dante race to free Marquesa. The four of them then decide to expose the cazadores’ crimes by stealing the admiral’s log. However, after a famous northern pirate known as la Pantera de la Noche pilfers the log out from underneath them, they must journey to the Isla de Miseria—notorious for its especially cruel treatment of pirates—to get it back. With everything to lose, Ximena must decide what she is willing to risk for freedom.
When reading Libertad, I found myself surprised by the twists and turns of this sequel. While I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, I was enthralled by the direction this novel went. I appreciated how each of the characters interacted, like Marquesa calling Dante ‘gatito’ or seeing Amador fondly teaching Pía el idioma prohibido. I found the relationships to be very realistic, from Ximena and Dante’s complex rivalry turned romance to Ximena and Marquesa learning how to reconnect and rebuild their friendship. I was really drawn to Ximena’s anxieties around her past as a cazadora and wanting to prove herself. Her desire not to let anyone down was relatable and well written. My only note for this novel is that I wish there was more written about the year in between the first novel, Capitana, and this book. I loved the tension of the first chapter and thought the set up worked really well, but I wish I got to see Ximena and Marquesa grow closer. I enjoyed what I got, I just craved more. Additionally, I loved experiencing the different islands and how the characters interacted within the different settings. James really has a way of bringing the setting and her characters to life.
Libertad releases on June 16th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
Ximena Reale has spent her whole life in service of the law, trying to prove that she was not like her parents—former protectors of Luza, famous cazadores that became pirates. Knowing the odds were stacked against her, and with no other way to become a cazadora, she set out to capture the infamous pirate martyr Gaspiralla, who kidnapped Luza’s queen. While sailing across the empire with her hero, Admiral Perez, and her rival cazador candidate, Dante de Leon, she starts to see new parts of the empire, the events left out of the news and history books: the truth about the cazadores. After learning how the cazadores have harmed the people of Luza and that her sister, Marquesa, was Gasparilla—set to be publicly hanged—Ximena, the archivist Pía, and Dante race to free Marquesa. The four of them then decide to expose the cazadores’ crimes by stealing the admiral’s log. However, after a famous northern pirate known as la Pantera de la Noche pilfers the log out from underneath them, they must journey to the Isla de Miseria—notorious for its especially cruel treatment of pirates—to get it back. With everything to lose, Ximena must decide what she is willing to risk for freedom.
When reading Libertad, I found myself surprised by the twists and turns of this sequel. While I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, I was enthralled by the direction this novel went. I appreciated how each of the characters interacted, like Marquesa calling Dante ‘gatito’ or seeing Amador fondly teaching Pía el idioma prohibido. I found the relationships to be very realistic, from Ximena and Dante’s complex rivalry turned romance to Ximena and Marquesa learning how to reconnect and rebuild their friendship. I was really drawn to Ximena’s anxieties around her past as a cazadora and wanting to prove herself. Her desire not to let anyone down was relatable and well written. My only note for this novel is that I wish there was more written about the year in between the first novel, Capitana, and this book. I loved the tension of the first chapter and thought the set up worked really well, but I wish I got to see Ximena and Marquesa grow closer. I enjoyed what I got, I just craved more. Additionally, I loved experiencing the different islands and how the characters interacted within the different settings. James really has a way of bringing the setting and her characters to life.
Libertad releases on June 16th, 2026.
Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change before final publication.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook @pinereadsreview, and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
May 3, 2026
Libertad pulls you straight back into this world and turns the Pirates of the Caribbean energy up even higher than the first book. I put the Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack on while I was reading, and it matched the book perfectly.
The pacing never lets up. There were multiple points where I was convinced we had to be approaching the resolution, only to realize there was still a significant chunk of story left. The story just kept expanding in interesting ways. I expected at least a few quieter stretches, but the story never lost momentum.
From Capitana to Libertad, we saw two very different perspectives through the same character. Ximena’s shift from Cazador to pirate changed how she viewed everything around her. The first book stayed anchored in La Academia and the Cazadores, while this one fully leaned into pirate life. That shift opened the world up to the sea, islands, and more fantastical/magical elements, expanding on the world. Even though it had been a while since I had read Capitana, I never felt lost. The reminders were subtle and showed up only when they were needed.
Ximena tested my patience at times in this book, but it fit where she was. She went from being rigid, rule driven, and loyal to something very specific, to actively rebelling against everything she had believed in. That kind of change is messy, and her thoughts reflected it. Her priorities had shifted so drastically that it would have felt wrong if she had stayed the same emotionally. Pirates think differently, and she was a pirate now.
There is a love triangle element, but it never felt like the point of the story. It functioned more as a way to show Ximena’s internal conflict than to create drama for the sake of it. The attraction was there, but the real focus stayed on her trying to sort out what she thought she wanted versus what she was actually feeling. Those moments made her struggle feel very human and tied closely into her need to prove herself and define who she was becoming.
Libertad builds confidently on everything Cassandra James set up in the first book while expanding the world, deepening the character work, and keeping the pace sharp from start to finish. It feels adventurous, a little chaotic, and very intentional.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
The pacing never lets up. There were multiple points where I was convinced we had to be approaching the resolution, only to realize there was still a significant chunk of story left. The story just kept expanding in interesting ways. I expected at least a few quieter stretches, but the story never lost momentum.
From Capitana to Libertad, we saw two very different perspectives through the same character. Ximena’s shift from Cazador to pirate changed how she viewed everything around her. The first book stayed anchored in La Academia and the Cazadores, while this one fully leaned into pirate life. That shift opened the world up to the sea, islands, and more fantastical/magical elements, expanding on the world. Even though it had been a while since I had read Capitana, I never felt lost. The reminders were subtle and showed up only when they were needed.
Ximena tested my patience at times in this book, but it fit where she was. She went from being rigid, rule driven, and loyal to something very specific, to actively rebelling against everything she had believed in. That kind of change is messy, and her thoughts reflected it. Her priorities had shifted so drastically that it would have felt wrong if she had stayed the same emotionally. Pirates think differently, and she was a pirate now.
There is a love triangle element, but it never felt like the point of the story. It functioned more as a way to show Ximena’s internal conflict than to create drama for the sake of it. The attraction was there, but the real focus stayed on her trying to sort out what she thought she wanted versus what she was actually feeling. Those moments made her struggle feel very human and tied closely into her need to prove herself and define who she was becoming.
Libertad builds confidently on everything Cassandra James set up in the first book while expanding the world, deepening the character work, and keeping the pace sharp from start to finish. It feels adventurous, a little chaotic, and very intentional.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2026
Libertad was very good. I loved finally getting the portion of this story that really dives into piracy at sea. It was one of the things I had been waiting for after the first book, and I loved getting to see Ximena fully immersed in that world.
And while so much of this book is about freedom, freedom from the Empire, freedom from La Pantera, and even Ximena finding freedom from herself, the better story, in my opinion, was Ximena and Dante.
These two absolutely broke my heart 💔. I wish so badly that Ximena hadn’t spent so much of the book upset with Dante and pushing him away. He loved her SO much, which made watching her repeatedly shut him out even more tragic. Every time I thought she was finally coming around, like during that incredible beach scene 🥹, she would go and self sabotage all over again. 😑
So many years that they could have had together are wasted throughout this series, and knowing that made their story even more heartbreaking. I just wanted to grab Ximena by the shoulders and tell her to LET THAT MAN LOVE YOU. 😤😢
Outside of their love story, I really enjoyed the twists and turns surrounding La Pantera, and the huge secret Elena has been keeping from Dante. I also liked seeing more of the magic through Pia. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Pia herself nearly as interesting this time around. She seemed to exist mostly as a way to bring magic into the story, whereas I thought there was much more to her character in the first book.
My biggest disappointment was probably the lack of exploration of Dante and Mateo’s relationship. There was so much potential there. Dante has lived with the trauma of losing his brother, only to discover that he’s alive, and then to discover exactly who he has become. But we never really get to see Dante wrestle with any of that.
He almost seems indifferent to having his brother back AND to finding out his brother is essentially the bad guy. The strongest emotion we really see from him regarding Mateo comes when he’s jealous of the attention Mateo gives Ximena. I really wish we had gotten more because that relationship could have added another emotional layer to the story.
And PLEASE tell me this isn’t the end of the series because that epilogue left me needing so much more. 😭After everything these characters have been through, I desperately wanted more time with them at the end. Especially Ximena. I want to know what her future actually looks like after all of this.
Basically, I finished Libertad heartbroken, slightly frustrated with Ximena, still completely invested in her and Dante. That ending nearly took me out. 😭
Cassandra James, I need more. 😫
And while so much of this book is about freedom, freedom from the Empire, freedom from La Pantera, and even Ximena finding freedom from herself, the better story, in my opinion, was Ximena and Dante.
These two absolutely broke my heart 💔. I wish so badly that Ximena hadn’t spent so much of the book upset with Dante and pushing him away. He loved her SO much, which made watching her repeatedly shut him out even more tragic. Every time I thought she was finally coming around, like during that incredible beach scene 🥹, she would go and self sabotage all over again. 😑
So many years that they could have had together are wasted throughout this series, and knowing that made their story even more heartbreaking. I just wanted to grab Ximena by the shoulders and tell her to LET THAT MAN LOVE YOU. 😤😢
Outside of their love story, I really enjoyed the twists and turns surrounding La Pantera, and the huge secret Elena has been keeping from Dante. I also liked seeing more of the magic through Pia. Unfortunately, I didn’t find Pia herself nearly as interesting this time around. She seemed to exist mostly as a way to bring magic into the story, whereas I thought there was much more to her character in the first book.
My biggest disappointment was probably the lack of exploration of Dante and Mateo’s relationship. There was so much potential there. Dante has lived with the trauma of losing his brother, only to discover that he’s alive, and then to discover exactly who he has become. But we never really get to see Dante wrestle with any of that.
He almost seems indifferent to having his brother back AND to finding out his brother is essentially the bad guy. The strongest emotion we really see from him regarding Mateo comes when he’s jealous of the attention Mateo gives Ximena. I really wish we had gotten more because that relationship could have added another emotional layer to the story.
And PLEASE tell me this isn’t the end of the series because that epilogue left me needing so much more. 😭After everything these characters have been through, I desperately wanted more time with them at the end. Especially Ximena. I want to know what her future actually looks like after all of this.
Basically, I finished Libertad heartbroken, slightly frustrated with Ximena, still completely invested in her and Dante. That ending nearly took me out. 😭
Cassandra James, I need more. 😫
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2026
Without possessing the hidden log in the Calzadore commander’s office of the well-guarded fortress, Ximena Reale cannot prove that she is worthy of the title of Captain Gasparilla. Yet not all the pirates believe she deserves that honor, including her sister Marquesa and her first mate. Having once been a Calzadore herself, Ximena finds self-doubts and guilt creeping into her thoughts when least expected. Nor does it help that Dante de León, also a former Calzadore who was once her nemesis, professes his feelings for her. Their love is mismatched and can never be from Ximena’s perspective.
Fraught with risk and danger, the intricate plan to bring Libertad (freedom) to all people seems to go off with only minor hitches – until Ximena opens the case holding the secret log. It’s gone! In its place is a note from La Pantera de la Noche. If Ximena wants the log, the pirates must come to la Isla de la Miseria at the next full moon. Are rumors of a northern resistance against the Calzadores true? Has one pirate rallied all the contrary tribes into a single force? If so, why does the Night Panther need Captain Gasparilla?
Failure to recover the document is not an option. Without it, she and Dante, as former Calzadores (pirate hunters who enforce the empire’s laws) and her friend Pía (an archivist of the empire) will be the scapegoats, the ones blamed for her failure. Yet the North is a world beyond their experience, where magic still exists, creatures lurk beneath the seas, and danger hides in plain sight. The charismatic Night Panther claims they have a common goal, but Marquesa and Ximena disagree on whether the three of them truly want the same thing.
Libertad picks up a year after Ximena joins the pirates in Capitana, the first book in this duology. James artfully weaves pirate lore into a tale of fantasy and magic spiced with romance. Although written for teens, even adults will enjoy a story that is rife with edge-of-your-seat highs and thought-provoking lows, where characters are three-dimensional, and the world is populated with erupting volcanoes, vicious sea monsters, and extraordinary tree houses. Unexpected reunions, jaw-dropping betrayals, and trials that forge both lasting relationships and steadfast leaders make for a compelling journey as Ximena learns to trust herself and those she loves.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/James.html...)
Fraught with risk and danger, the intricate plan to bring Libertad (freedom) to all people seems to go off with only minor hitches – until Ximena opens the case holding the secret log. It’s gone! In its place is a note from La Pantera de la Noche. If Ximena wants the log, the pirates must come to la Isla de la Miseria at the next full moon. Are rumors of a northern resistance against the Calzadores true? Has one pirate rallied all the contrary tribes into a single force? If so, why does the Night Panther need Captain Gasparilla?
Failure to recover the document is not an option. Without it, she and Dante, as former Calzadores (pirate hunters who enforce the empire’s laws) and her friend Pía (an archivist of the empire) will be the scapegoats, the ones blamed for her failure. Yet the North is a world beyond their experience, where magic still exists, creatures lurk beneath the seas, and danger hides in plain sight. The charismatic Night Panther claims they have a common goal, but Marquesa and Ximena disagree on whether the three of them truly want the same thing.
Libertad picks up a year after Ximena joins the pirates in Capitana, the first book in this duology. James artfully weaves pirate lore into a tale of fantasy and magic spiced with romance. Although written for teens, even adults will enjoy a story that is rife with edge-of-your-seat highs and thought-provoking lows, where characters are three-dimensional, and the world is populated with erupting volcanoes, vicious sea monsters, and extraordinary tree houses. Unexpected reunions, jaw-dropping betrayals, and trials that forge both lasting relationships and steadfast leaders make for a compelling journey as Ximena learns to trust herself and those she loves.
(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/James.html...)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
I have really mixed feelings about this book. Parts of this book were just so good, and I was having a blast reading it. Other parts were just not it for me. I feel like my biggest issue with this book was Ximena. We had this amazing arc in the Capitana where we got to see her really come into her own and decide to defy the Empire and become a pirate. She was confident, she was strong, she was herself. But almost all of this is lost in Libertad. For most of the book, Ximena was a shadow of who she was in the first book, and I just did not enjoy it. It was like reading a first book all over again, where she had to change and discover who she was--like we already did this. Libertad should have been about who Ximena is as a pirate, but instead, she falls into the same patterns she had in the first one, and we have to wait hundreds of pages for her to figure out that once again she was wrong and change. I also had some issues with the romance. Like Ximena, the romance in this book was very reminiscent of a first book, where the characters are still deciding and exploring their connection, instead of a sequel where they should be deepening their relationship, and we get to see them be together. I thought that after the end of Capitana, we would get to see Ximena and Dante be together, but no, they spend most of the book with Ximena avoiding their relationship and Dante flirting. Once again, we have already done this, and I would have liked to see their relationship grow. And don’t even get me started on La Pantera. I hated how the author tried to make this a love triangle for absolutely no reason.
All of that said, I did enjoy the storyline (for the most part), seeing more of this world, and the writing. I loved the beginning, and once the plot started really going, I was super captivated. I just wish the characters were better. It felt like everyone became so surface-level, where they were so deep and engaging in the first one. The ending was also super rushed, and I did not particularly like some of the choices made. Though it does have a HEA, so there is that.
I know I ranted about everything I didn’t like, but this was still a solid book and a pretty good conclusion that I enjoyed reading.
I have really mixed feelings about this book. Parts of this book were just so good, and I was having a blast reading it. Other parts were just not it for me. I feel like my biggest issue with this book was Ximena. We had this amazing arc in the Capitana where we got to see her really come into her own and decide to defy the Empire and become a pirate. She was confident, she was strong, she was herself. But almost all of this is lost in Libertad. For most of the book, Ximena was a shadow of who she was in the first book, and I just did not enjoy it. It was like reading a first book all over again, where she had to change and discover who she was--like we already did this. Libertad should have been about who Ximena is as a pirate, but instead, she falls into the same patterns she had in the first one, and we have to wait hundreds of pages for her to figure out that once again she was wrong and change. I also had some issues with the romance. Like Ximena, the romance in this book was very reminiscent of a first book, where the characters are still deciding and exploring their connection, instead of a sequel where they should be deepening their relationship, and we get to see them be together. I thought that after the end of Capitana, we would get to see Ximena and Dante be together, but no, they spend most of the book with Ximena avoiding their relationship and Dante flirting. Once again, we have already done this, and I would have liked to see their relationship grow. And don’t even get me started on La Pantera. I hated how the author tried to make this a love triangle for absolutely no reason.
All of that said, I did enjoy the storyline (for the most part), seeing more of this world, and the writing. I loved the beginning, and once the plot started really going, I was super captivated. I just wish the characters were better. It felt like everyone became so surface-level, where they were so deep and engaging in the first one. The ending was also super rushed, and I did not particularly like some of the choices made. Though it does have a HEA, so there is that.
I know I ranted about everything I didn’t like, but this was still a solid book and a pretty good conclusion that I enjoyed reading.
February 26, 2026
The fast paced thrilling conclusion to Capitana!
A year after her transformation from Cazadore to Pirate, Ximena has reunited with her sister and created a plan with Pia and Dante to expose the Empire’s dirty deeds and bring them down once and for all using the Admiral’s Log: the record of all the crimes the cazadores have committed over the years in the name of the Empire. Except once they steal the log they find out it has been stolen from them by another pirate: La Pantera. But is he a friend, or is he a foe?
Ximena wasn’t the confident leader that I had come to know from Capitana. She was supposed to be co-captain with Marquesa but the crew disrespected her constantly and her sister frequently made decisions without consulting her. I understand Ximena’s desire to prove herself as a pirate and live up to her parents’ sacrifice, but she felt like she had lost a bit of her character in this one.
Dante too felt a bit off. He was rather irritating in the way he would flirt and declare his love in one scene and the very next he was ready to leave Ximena or betray her because she couldn’t say she loved him our loud. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle with Mateo either. I would have rather seen more of Dante’s rekindling his relationship with his brother and his conflict between his love for Mateo and his hurt that he let him believe he was dead for so long.
This book definitely has a darker vibe than the first, with Pantera’s blind devotion to vengeance and the sisters constantly at each other’s throats. We learned how evil Dante and Mateo’s mother really was, so it made no sense that they would trun back to her for help. The ending just felt rather cliche to me. Why would the cazadores help Ximena after she betrayed them? I also feel the ending was a bit rushed as well, especially with Dante’s sacrifice coming out of nowhere.
Overall I felt the book had some pacing issues and the characters still needed some development work, but I can say I was happy with the epilogue. It is still very different from anything trending on the market right now so I hope the duology is able to pull in some new fans.
A year after her transformation from Cazadore to Pirate, Ximena has reunited with her sister and created a plan with Pia and Dante to expose the Empire’s dirty deeds and bring them down once and for all using the Admiral’s Log: the record of all the crimes the cazadores have committed over the years in the name of the Empire. Except once they steal the log they find out it has been stolen from them by another pirate: La Pantera. But is he a friend, or is he a foe?
Ximena wasn’t the confident leader that I had come to know from Capitana. She was supposed to be co-captain with Marquesa but the crew disrespected her constantly and her sister frequently made decisions without consulting her. I understand Ximena’s desire to prove herself as a pirate and live up to her parents’ sacrifice, but she felt like she had lost a bit of her character in this one.
Dante too felt a bit off. He was rather irritating in the way he would flirt and declare his love in one scene and the very next he was ready to leave Ximena or betray her because she couldn’t say she loved him our loud. I wasn’t a fan of the love triangle with Mateo either. I would have rather seen more of Dante’s rekindling his relationship with his brother and his conflict between his love for Mateo and his hurt that he let him believe he was dead for so long.
This book definitely has a darker vibe than the first, with Pantera’s blind devotion to vengeance and the sisters constantly at each other’s throats. We learned how evil Dante and Mateo’s mother really was, so it made no sense that they would trun back to her for help. The ending just felt rather cliche to me. Why would the cazadores help Ximena after she betrayed them? I also feel the ending was a bit rushed as well, especially with Dante’s sacrifice coming out of nowhere.
Overall I felt the book had some pacing issues and the characters still needed some development work, but I can say I was happy with the epilogue. It is still very different from anything trending on the market right now so I hope the duology is able to pull in some new fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2026
Thank you to the author, Cassandra James, and NetGalley for the ARC. This book was thrilling and honestly starts right in the action. There were some plot twists I did not expect at all, and I found myself flipping back and forth between the last pages just to make sure I read it right.
This story felt really unique and I truly enjoyed the journey. I usually like shorter series, but this is one where I wish it had been longer. I wanted more moments between Ximena and Dante without so much focus on their internal battles, especially Ximena’s.
But wow, I need a Dante in my life. He was so sweet and caring toward Ximena, and honestly she didn’t deserve him at times. Ximena came off more stubborn and insecure, which sometimes felt a little out of character but also realistic since we all go through moments like that.
As for La Pantera, I was getting a little worried there for a bit. I did enjoy the plot twist, but I wasn’t a big fan of introducing him as a potential love interest.
Overall, I’m glad they got their happy ever after, but I definitely teared up before getting there. I just wish we had seen more of Ximena and Dante together at the end as a couple and pirates. The side characters were great and really brought the story together. Amador especially made me mad a lot, but everyone had depth.
Overall, this was a really good conclusion to an amazing duology.
This story felt really unique and I truly enjoyed the journey. I usually like shorter series, but this is one where I wish it had been longer. I wanted more moments between Ximena and Dante without so much focus on their internal battles, especially Ximena’s.
But wow, I need a Dante in my life. He was so sweet and caring toward Ximena, and honestly she didn’t deserve him at times. Ximena came off more stubborn and insecure, which sometimes felt a little out of character but also realistic since we all go through moments like that.
As for La Pantera, I was getting a little worried there for a bit. I did enjoy the plot twist, but I wasn’t a big fan of introducing him as a potential love interest.
Overall, I’m glad they got their happy ever after, but I definitely teared up before getting there. I just wish we had seen more of Ximena and Dante together at the end as a couple and pirates. The side characters were great and really brought the story together. Amador especially made me mad a lot, but everyone had depth.
Overall, this was a really good conclusion to an amazing duology.
August 23, 2026
I really enjoyed Libertad! I loved the first book, and this was such a great continuation of Ximena’s story. The pacing kept me hooked; there’s plenty of adventure and mystery, and I loved getting to see familiar characters again—especially sweet Pia and the charming but incredibly frustrating Dante de Leon.
Ximena remains such a fantastic main character. The more we learn about her past and everything she has faced, the more interesting she becomes. I especially love the way her mind works and how she approaches problems. She doesn’t always take the obvious path, which makes watching her figure her way out of some truly impossible situations so much fun.
But I was also VERY invested in Ximena and Dante. 😂 Their personalities are so different, and this book really puts their relationship through it. I loved seeing how those differences affected them, and whether what they built in the first book could survive everything thrown at them.
There’s adventure, danger, pirates, fantasy, complicated relationships, and characters I genuinely cared about. Most importantly, this felt like a satisfying conclusion to the story instead of simply reaching the end.
If you love fantasy adventures with pirates, great characters, and a relationship that gets seriously tested along the way, I absolutely recommend giving this series a try!
Ximena remains such a fantastic main character. The more we learn about her past and everything she has faced, the more interesting she becomes. I especially love the way her mind works and how she approaches problems. She doesn’t always take the obvious path, which makes watching her figure her way out of some truly impossible situations so much fun.
But I was also VERY invested in Ximena and Dante. 😂 Their personalities are so different, and this book really puts their relationship through it. I loved seeing how those differences affected them, and whether what they built in the first book could survive everything thrown at them.
There’s adventure, danger, pirates, fantasy, complicated relationships, and characters I genuinely cared about. Most importantly, this felt like a satisfying conclusion to the story instead of simply reaching the end.
If you love fantasy adventures with pirates, great characters, and a relationship that gets seriously tested along the way, I absolutely recommend giving this series a try!
September 8, 2026
Despite being disappointed by the first book, Capitana, I had hope for this one. My main complaint had been that Ximena’s whole character and arc in the first book was centered around her blind loyalty, but she got some last minute character development that made me willing to try out this sequel. It was set up to be an action packed and exciting read.
The beginning definitely did have much better action and excitement, but sadly it didn’t last. It felt like the characters spent half the book on an island while slowly getting more information revealed to them. The end had some intense ship battles but I’m surprised by how easy it was to overthrow the empire.
Ximena’s character seemed alright at first, but she ended up unlikable again as she was so focused on herself and proving she was a good pirate captain. She also made some very stupid decisions and managed to get betrayed by someone who was obviously withholding information the whole time.
The romance had some good moments and I would have really liked it if Ximena’s character didn’t keep messing it up.
I liked the moments we had with Ximena and her sister but wish they were explored a bit further.
So slightly better action than the first book but not much better like I had hoped. Thanks EpicReads/HarperCollins for sending me this book to review.
2.25/5 ⭐️
The beginning definitely did have much better action and excitement, but sadly it didn’t last. It felt like the characters spent half the book on an island while slowly getting more information revealed to them. The end had some intense ship battles but I’m surprised by how easy it was to overthrow the empire.
Ximena’s character seemed alright at first, but she ended up unlikable again as she was so focused on herself and proving she was a good pirate captain. She also made some very stupid decisions and managed to get betrayed by someone who was obviously withholding information the whole time.
The romance had some good moments and I would have really liked it if Ximena’s character didn’t keep messing it up.
I liked the moments we had with Ximena and her sister but wish they were explored a bit further.
So slightly better action than the first book but not much better like I had hoped. Thanks EpicReads/HarperCollins for sending me this book to review.
2.25/5 ⭐️
June 27, 2026
I received a physical and audio edition of this book and switched between the two. I mostly listened to the audio and really enjoyed hearing all the Spanish pronounced well.
This is the second and final book in this young adult fantasy series and it was a satisfying conclusion! The first book Captiana is also now available in paperback. I previously described that book as a female teen version of Javert (from Les Mis) set in a Latinx inspired pirate world. No spoilers for book 1, but I was very curious to see the main character’s journey in book 2!
Libertad is full of plenty of pirate intrigue with swashbuckling action, questioning motives, and schemes on top of schemes. Along with all of that there are strong elements of personal development, family relationships, and some romance. Just as I did for the first book, I loved the rich Latinx inspired world with Spanish language woven throughout. The content level stays teen friendly throughout the series and I would happily pass this on to the teens I know.
Trigger/content notes: Some violence (not gratuitous). Spice level is kissing.
This is the second and final book in this young adult fantasy series and it was a satisfying conclusion! The first book Captiana is also now available in paperback. I previously described that book as a female teen version of Javert (from Les Mis) set in a Latinx inspired pirate world. No spoilers for book 1, but I was very curious to see the main character’s journey in book 2!
Libertad is full of plenty of pirate intrigue with swashbuckling action, questioning motives, and schemes on top of schemes. Along with all of that there are strong elements of personal development, family relationships, and some romance. Just as I did for the first book, I loved the rich Latinx inspired world with Spanish language woven throughout. The content level stays teen friendly throughout the series and I would happily pass this on to the teens I know.
Trigger/content notes: Some violence (not gratuitous). Spice level is kissing.
September 3, 2026
The second book to Capitana, I enjoyed this one as well...although not as much as the first one. I like how Ximena still had internal conflict, it wasn't the same as the first book, but connected the two stories. I think it worked well.
I do think the ending fell a bit flat though. It felt like the won too easily. The first book the Empire felt huge, daunting and evil. This impossible enemy to overtake. Yet in the second book, they escaped multiple times from their impossible prison, they defeated them so many times (like how were was Dante's brother able to kill 200 Cazadores? Would no one fight back?) And then at the end when they finally take over the Empire, its literally Dante's mum telling all the ministers, "Sorry, we're not in control anymore." All these occurrences just made the whole Empire completely shrink in size and feel completely weak.
Also, I felt no remorse when Dante sacrificed himself. I don't know what went wrong with how he was written, but I just did not care. And how did his brother steal the scroll from them? I never got that, it didn't make any sense.
Otherwise, this book was still fun to read. Just not as good as the first one.
I do think the ending fell a bit flat though. It felt like the won too easily. The first book the Empire felt huge, daunting and evil. This impossible enemy to overtake. Yet in the second book, they escaped multiple times from their impossible prison, they defeated them so many times (like how were was Dante's brother able to kill 200 Cazadores? Would no one fight back?) And then at the end when they finally take over the Empire, its literally Dante's mum telling all the ministers, "Sorry, we're not in control anymore." All these occurrences just made the whole Empire completely shrink in size and feel completely weak.
Also, I felt no remorse when Dante sacrificed himself. I don't know what went wrong with how he was written, but I just did not care. And how did his brother steal the scroll from them? I never got that, it didn't make any sense.
Otherwise, this book was still fun to read. Just not as good as the first one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a start, it had me hooked and didn't let up. The pace was quick and the action sharp. If you love pirates of the Caribbean and strong FMCs then this is one to try for definite.
The writing was just as good in this book as the first and the characters see real growth in this part of the story. We see the headstrong and sure Ximena suddenly doubting herself as she tries to find herself and her spot in this new world. She really endeared herself to me in this book, her decisions and growth were just so necessary for where this story takes you.
Dante is divine! I can't say more about this confident Cazador, he is a wonderful edition to this book.
The story was interesting, not just a throw your life over and start again as a pirate, it felt like a quest to live up to their parents legacy, to start a rebellion and to really bring a change in the world.
All in all I enjoyed this audiobook version, the narrator is amazing and does such a good job of breathing life into these pages.
Thank you to the author, Harper audio and Netgalley for my copy
The writing was just as good in this book as the first and the characters see real growth in this part of the story. We see the headstrong and sure Ximena suddenly doubting herself as she tries to find herself and her spot in this new world. She really endeared herself to me in this book, her decisions and growth were just so necessary for where this story takes you.
Dante is divine! I can't say more about this confident Cazador, he is a wonderful edition to this book.
The story was interesting, not just a throw your life over and start again as a pirate, it felt like a quest to live up to their parents legacy, to start a rebellion and to really bring a change in the world.
All in all I enjoyed this audiobook version, the narrator is amazing and does such a good job of breathing life into these pages.
Thank you to the author, Harper audio and Netgalley for my copy
July 1, 2026
I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.
Ximena and her sister now sail under the banner of the pirate Gasparilla, but with enemies lurking closer than they think, she'll have to put her faith in Dante -- her rival turned love. And as things continue to grow deadlier for her and her crew, Ximena is more determined than ever to finally bring the Empire down, no matter the cost.
I really liked the pirates and the action and the whole world building, which is something that I enjoyed in the first book. I think if I had reread book one, then maybe I would have enjoyed this a little bit more? And only because I forgot a couple of the side characters and random events that were brought up in this book from the first one. Other than that, I found this book to be fast paced and entertaining -- I loved the romance and the characters and the plot, but most of all, I enjoyed the way that this book and series ended. Would recommend for a fun pirate read.
Ximena and her sister now sail under the banner of the pirate Gasparilla, but with enemies lurking closer than they think, she'll have to put her faith in Dante -- her rival turned love. And as things continue to grow deadlier for her and her crew, Ximena is more determined than ever to finally bring the Empire down, no matter the cost.
I really liked the pirates and the action and the whole world building, which is something that I enjoyed in the first book. I think if I had reread book one, then maybe I would have enjoyed this a little bit more? And only because I forgot a couple of the side characters and random events that were brought up in this book from the first one. Other than that, I found this book to be fast paced and entertaining -- I loved the romance and the characters and the plot, but most of all, I enjoyed the way that this book and series ended. Would recommend for a fun pirate read.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thanking Cassandra James so much for the ARC☠️
Libertad is such a refreshing take on romantasy—full of pirate adventure, high stakes, and a real sense of freedom running through every page.
What stood out most to me, though, are the themes at its core. This isn’t just a story about the sea and rebellion—it’s about learning not to give in to your insecurities, about choosing courage even when self-doubt is loud, and about carving out your own path. Those messages feel especially powerful for young women, and it’s been amazing to share that with my pre-teen as we’ve read it together.
The romance is another highlight—deep, loyal, and genuinely loving without relying on spice, which feels so rare in the genre. It makes the connection feel all the more meaningful.
And yes, Dante has officially become my daughter’s first “book boyfriend”—the bar has definitely been set high.
An adventure with heart, freedom, and something real to say—*Libertad* is one we’ll both remember.
Libertad is such a refreshing take on romantasy—full of pirate adventure, high stakes, and a real sense of freedom running through every page.
What stood out most to me, though, are the themes at its core. This isn’t just a story about the sea and rebellion—it’s about learning not to give in to your insecurities, about choosing courage even when self-doubt is loud, and about carving out your own path. Those messages feel especially powerful for young women, and it’s been amazing to share that with my pre-teen as we’ve read it together.
The romance is another highlight—deep, loyal, and genuinely loving without relying on spice, which feels so rare in the genre. It makes the connection feel all the more meaningful.
And yes, Dante has officially become my daughter’s first “book boyfriend”—the bar has definitely been set high.
An adventure with heart, freedom, and something real to say—*Libertad* is one we’ll both remember.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get this review written up until a little after I finished Libertad, so my thoughts are a little sporadic.
-Ximena’s struggle with feeling like she needed to prove herself made sense and fit with her arc from the first book. There were some moments though where her actions didn’t quite make sense, but that’s likely due to different personality types between her and me. :)
-Libertad takes the characters and readers to new islands and further explores a few things that were introduced in the first book, which was fun.
-The climax and ending felt a little too simple. Not necessarily bad, but maybe unrealistic.
Overall:
Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean or Victoria McCombs’s Royal Rose Chronicles will likely enjoy this duology.
(I received an eARC from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.)
-Ximena’s struggle with feeling like she needed to prove herself made sense and fit with her arc from the first book. There were some moments though where her actions didn’t quite make sense, but that’s likely due to different personality types between her and me. :)
-Libertad takes the characters and readers to new islands and further explores a few things that were introduced in the first book, which was fun.
-The climax and ending felt a little too simple. Not necessarily bad, but maybe unrealistic.
Overall:
Fans of Pirates of the Caribbean or Victoria McCombs’s Royal Rose Chronicles will likely enjoy this duology.
(I received an eARC from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.)
June 3, 2026
⭐️3.75⭐️
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a solid sequel and pretty good ending to the story! It picks up just shy of a year after the ending of the first book and throws your right into the story which I loved! On this one we have our main girls fighting to prove they are fit to be co-captains and the best way to do this is the expose all the dirty little secrets of the Empire which is easier said than done!
I loved getting more of a freer Pia who is exploring the forbidden and pirate Ximena but I felt that her character growth was stunted a little - she’s going through the same growth again from the first book and her transition from cazador to pirate but this time it’s weather or not she’s a good enough pirate to be captain.
The introduction of La Pantera was a great twist and added something fresh and exciting into the story but I hated the weird shoed-in love triangle and the thought process that she’s needs the right man to define who she is as a person and pirate.
The pacing of the story was really good, full of action and there was always something we were racing towards which helped more the story along. Getting to see the north and the little touches of magic coming through was so fun to see I wish we could have had more of it!
Overall it was a solid ending to the story and I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up in the end
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
This was a solid sequel and pretty good ending to the story! It picks up just shy of a year after the ending of the first book and throws your right into the story which I loved! On this one we have our main girls fighting to prove they are fit to be co-captains and the best way to do this is the expose all the dirty little secrets of the Empire which is easier said than done!
I loved getting more of a freer Pia who is exploring the forbidden and pirate Ximena but I felt that her character growth was stunted a little - she’s going through the same growth again from the first book and her transition from cazador to pirate but this time it’s weather or not she’s a good enough pirate to be captain.
The introduction of La Pantera was a great twist and added something fresh and exciting into the story but I hated the weird shoed-in love triangle and the thought process that she’s needs the right man to define who she is as a person and pirate.
The pacing of the story was really good, full of action and there was always something we were racing towards which helped more the story along. Getting to see the north and the little touches of magic coming through was so fun to see I wish we could have had more of it!
Overall it was a solid ending to the story and I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up in the end
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Libertad is the final book in the duology (after Capitana) and it follows Ximena as she becomes the pirate, Gasparilla. I really enjoyed Libertad and felt like it came to a satisfying conclusion. There was plenty of action, backstabbing, and revealed secrets that you were on the edge of your seat. There were times I was frustrated with Ximena’s decisions and willingness to put some people to the sidelines. One part I wanted to jump into the book so I could ask her what the heck she's doing.
The narrator did a wonderful job – I got lost in the story. It sounded like she was Ximena and not just reading Ximena's story.
Read if you like:
Pirates
Action/Adventure
Standing against corruption
He falls first
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The narrator did a wonderful job – I got lost in the story. It sounded like she was Ximena and not just reading Ximena's story.
Read if you like:
Pirates
Action/Adventure
Standing against corruption
He falls first
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Audio for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2026
Kinda anticlimactic romance - like I expected them to become a couple slowly but within the first couple chapters they were already kissing again! But then again, there was a year gap between the first and second book where they get closer and explore that intimacy so it makes sense but booooo.
Most annoying part was when Ximena Marquesa and Pia are purposefully left marooned on an island with a high tide that sinks the whole island and the sirens come out. But they don't untie each other's hands by using their rapiers ???? Come onnnnn. Why did y'all just accept your fate??
Anyway Dante's sacrifice and "death" didn't feel super impactful, then one year later he shows up with two peg legs and asks Ximena to marry her. It's kinda sweet but it didn't have the same oompf as The Jasad Crown, not sure why.
Most annoying part was when Ximena Marquesa and Pia are purposefully left marooned on an island with a high tide that sinks the whole island and the sirens come out. But they don't untie each other's hands by using their rapiers ???? Come onnnnn. Why did y'all just accept your fate??
Anyway Dante's sacrifice and "death" didn't feel super impactful, then one year later he shows up with two peg legs and asks Ximena to marry her. It's kinda sweet but it didn't have the same oompf as The Jasad Crown, not sure why.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Second part of an action packed fantasy duology, set in a conquistador pirate story. You really should to read book one first.
How to make your parents proud? That’s Ximena’s wish. She’s found her sister, and maybe the love of her life. She has a reputation as a pirate, she has a ship, bringing down the empire is next, following her parents’ dream.
But she is a pirate and life for a pirate is never certain as we find the sisters at the start of this book. Wishes don’t always come true. But they are certainly worth fighting for.
I think the ending is a little rushed. But the whole is very enjoyable.
Thank you to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
How to make your parents proud? That’s Ximena’s wish. She’s found her sister, and maybe the love of her life. She has a reputation as a pirate, she has a ship, bringing down the empire is next, following her parents’ dream.
But she is a pirate and life for a pirate is never certain as we find the sisters at the start of this book. Wishes don’t always come true. But they are certainly worth fighting for.
I think the ending is a little rushed. But the whole is very enjoyable.
Thank you to Bonnier Books and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
August 6, 2026
Not as predictable as the first one. Again, the story was enjoyable, but the climax felt very rushed. And there were elements that felt forced. I didn’t like the way Ximena was so confused and torn between Dante and Mateo, but then the twists kept turning, getting worse and worse. Ultimately, the story ends without any solid closure with “la Pantera” and a very short, unsatisfying epilogue in my opinion. Too many loose ends that don’t feel resolved.
These two books, overall, are an impressive debut from Cassandra James! I appreciate that they’re clean - no sex, swearing, or graphic violence. I know she stood her ground to maintain clean writing for publication and I applaud her for that! Story is enough without smut!
These two books, overall, are an impressive debut from Cassandra James! I appreciate that they’re clean - no sex, swearing, or graphic violence. I know she stood her ground to maintain clean writing for publication and I applaud her for that! Story is enough without smut!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books | Quill Tree Books for the ARC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cassandra James’ sequel to her debut YA novel, Capitana, sets sail on June 16th! In this conclusion too the duology, Ximena Reale sails the high seas and must decide between the Empire and the people she loves.
I read a lot of YA, and this felt almost geared towards the younger side of its normal 12-17 age range. Perhaps more for readers ages 10-14. The plot is very much spelled out and some of the dialogue feels very kids’ movie.
Overall, a very fun high seas duology, but not one I’ll go back to soon.
Cassandra James’ sequel to her debut YA novel, Capitana, sets sail on June 16th! In this conclusion too the duology, Ximena Reale sails the high seas and must decide between the Empire and the people she loves.
I read a lot of YA, and this felt almost geared towards the younger side of its normal 12-17 age range. Perhaps more for readers ages 10-14. The plot is very much spelled out and some of the dialogue feels very kids’ movie.
Overall, a very fun high seas duology, but not one I’ll go back to soon.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to HarperAudio Children’s | Quill Tree Books for the ALC through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Cassandra James’ sequel to her debut YA novel, Capitana, sets sail on June 16th! In this conclusion too the duology, Ximena Reale sails the high seas and must decide between the Empire and the people she loves.
I read a lot of YA, and this felt almost geared towards the younger side of its normal 12-17 age range. Perhaps more for readers ages 10-14. The plot is very much spelled out and some of the dialogue feels very kids’ movie.
Overall, a very fun high seas duology, but not one I’ll go back to soon.
Great narration work by Frankie Corzo!!
Cassandra James’ sequel to her debut YA novel, Capitana, sets sail on June 16th! In this conclusion too the duology, Ximena Reale sails the high seas and must decide between the Empire and the people she loves.
I read a lot of YA, and this felt almost geared towards the younger side of its normal 12-17 age range. Perhaps more for readers ages 10-14. The plot is very much spelled out and some of the dialogue feels very kids’ movie.
Overall, a very fun high seas duology, but not one I’ll go back to soon.
Great narration work by Frankie Corzo!!
July 31, 2026
This hit the ground running and didn't really let up, until it got to the end and then was super anticlimactic and unrealistic (like, people in power don't give it up that easily nor are people who scheme and manipulate and lie the kind of people who follow through on one iota of an honorable deal. It just all toppled in, like, three seconds and kind of painlessly and that's not how anything works ever??) then there's this huge 'and here's a year-long break' to get to a weak-ass epilogue. The ending just felt really slapped together and shoddy, which is a shame because - before that - everything was really satisfying.
September 11, 2026
I wanted so much to like this sequel as I thoroughly enjoyed the first. And there were lots of good things about it, namely Ximena, who remains a multi-faceted character who makes believable mistakes and straight-up bad choices and learns by experience. But this book felt underdeveloped, like it really should have been two books or better, a book between it and the first. The first few chapters of Libertad feel rushed and more tell than show in order to fill the reader in and get them up to speed in order to accept the opening events of this book. Where’s the book that chronicles the Reale sisters’ escape and shared captainhood as Gasparilla, their efforts to win over support in the pirate republic, their tanglings with the cazadores after Ximena’s infamous departure? There was lots of potential there, and I’m sad we didn’t get to see it actualized.
Also, I think Ximena needed to do a lot more to earn Dante’s trust and develop a mature relationship built on mutual respect and care. He’s always swooping in to save her, but she doesn’t sacrifice or show her love for him on the same order of magnitude scale.
Still, this duology is one I’ll remember for its creativity as well as adventure and romance without being explicit. The premise, the imagery, and the characters were captivating, and I hope to read more of James’ work in the future.
Also, I think Ximena needed to do a lot more to earn Dante’s trust and develop a mature relationship built on mutual respect and care. He’s always swooping in to save her, but she doesn’t sacrifice or show her love for him on the same order of magnitude scale.
Still, this duology is one I’ll remember for its creativity as well as adventure and romance without being explicit. The premise, the imagery, and the characters were captivating, and I hope to read more of James’ work in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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