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Lady Pirates #1
Over Raging Tides
The pirate crew of the Lady Luck lives by many rules, but chief among them is this: they do not allow men on board.
That’s a rule that quartermaster Grace Porter is willing to break when a shipwrecked young nobleman offers her information of an omniscient map, stolen from his warship by an enemy vessel. Until now, the map was only the stuff of legend… but with its help, Grace may finally be able to hunt down the Mordgris, the sea monsters who stole her mother away from her.
Unfortunately, some members of her crew have other plans...
To find the map and face the Mordgris, Grace will have to confront her past, put the Luck between warring nations, and uncover treachery aboard the ship. And ultimately, her revenge and the destruction of the Mordgris will come at a hefty price: the betrayal of her crew.
Grace promised them they wouldn’t regret this.
She just isn’t sure that she won’t.
That’s a rule that quartermaster Grace Porter is willing to break when a shipwrecked young nobleman offers her information of an omniscient map, stolen from his warship by an enemy vessel. Until now, the map was only the stuff of legend… but with its help, Grace may finally be able to hunt down the Mordgris, the sea monsters who stole her mother away from her.
Unfortunately, some members of her crew have other plans...
To find the map and face the Mordgris, Grace will have to confront her past, put the Luck between warring nations, and uncover treachery aboard the ship. And ultimately, her revenge and the destruction of the Mordgris will come at a hefty price: the betrayal of her crew.
Grace promised them they wouldn’t regret this.
She just isn’t sure that she won’t.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2018
20 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Ellision
35 books376 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer Ellision writes about daring young women in magical worlds. She survives on a steady diet of books, podcasts, and her favorite magical tropes. Jennifer frequently wakes up early to work before she has to "people" and can often be found squirreled away in her office, getting some writing done--or in her local library, agonizing over revisions.
If all else fails, look under the covers. She's probably hiding out with a good young adult fantasy series.
Leave our world and escape into one of hers. Get the free novelette that introduces Jennifer's first YA fantasy trilogy when you sign up for Jennifer's newsletter at: https://www.jenniferellision.com/get-...
If all else fails, look under the covers. She's probably hiding out with a good young adult fantasy series.
Leave our world and escape into one of hers. Get the free novelette that introduces Jennifer's first YA fantasy trilogy when you sign up for Jennifer's newsletter at: https://www.jenniferellision.com/get-...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
January 28, 2019
Mistakes are far better teachers than rulers are.
Here's the thing about this book: If you've never read a pirate YA book before, Over Raging Tides can be a pretty great read to start you off! But if this isn't your first pirate read, you might not appreciate it as much.
Don't get me wrong: this book has a lot of strong suits, but there are times when it gets a bit obvious that this book is self-published. I'm not hating on self-published authors--I admire them so much--but the lack of editing becomes evident at some point, such as this example:
[...] cowering boy, younger even than John Wesson cowers [...]
REVIEW IN BULLET POINTS
1. The pirate-y tone of the book wasn't over done, and was in fact really easy to get into! I kept turning pages because of how easy Ellision's words are to read. The language is quirky, but at the same time felt relaxed and flowed smoothly.
2. I found it hard to differentiate the side-characters since their personalities kind of blended in for me, but I loved the heroine! Grace was strong and fought for everything she believed in. She never let her crew members' lectures get into her system and stood her ground. She was also a badass fighter!
3. The fantasy aspect in here was interesting. We have the Mordgris, evil creatures who can take the shape of a human to trick you, so they can suck you in to the watery depths of the sea. I would love to see more of them in the sequel, which I'm sure we'll be getting.
4. The overall pacing was way too fast. We have a lot of descriptive, action-packed fight scenes, but the scenes with actual plot and story didn't get enough air-time.
5. I wish this book was longer! Like I mentioned with the characters and with the pacing, this book needed more time to develop on those aspects. Another hundred pages or so would've made this book a killer!
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June 17, 2018
✨3.5 stars✨
I’m confused by this book to be honest. I was hooked from the very start and read it in one sitting- I love a good pirate story- but it was just a bit lacking in some places, in ways I really don’t think it needed to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the pirate focus- the all female crew; the morally grey elements of both the characters and the plot; the main character’s affinity for the freedom of the ocean- and yet a lot of the actual writing and storyline was under-developed.
I’m a hugely character driven reader, and the characters in this were all a bit weak, to be honest. The book really is too short, there’s no reason why the characters couldn’t be much more fleshed out and explored, and it definitely meant that the whole thing suffered a bit. We saw the general role that characters fit- Ilene being Grace’s mother figure, Sam being her friend, Leo being a potential love interest (I assume?? Again, it wasn’t overly developed), Celia being sneaky and suspicious- but no one was really delved into that much, which resulted in people’s actions and motivations seeming slightly unclear and random at times. Ilene could have easily ignored Grace’s attempt to sneak off with the map, especially if she felt so truly miserable about losing her, and yet she didn’t. Had the characters been more developed, it might have been obvious why Ilene did this, but since there wasn’t, it just felt annoying. Leo and Grace were presumably attracted to each other, but I don’t see why or how. They both flirt from the get-go, despite it really not being the time or place, and it‘s too rushed for their dynamic to become clear- although they could be quite cute if there was any clear explanation and real development for the reader to see.
Grace was the only one with any real backstory explained, and even she felt a bit vague. The elements of ‘mystery’ were intriguing and well written right up until the book ended, having given zero answers in preparation for explanations to presumably come in the next book. A move that I’m not overly impressed with. It’s only 226 pages long, and yet it ends in a cliffhanger? W H Y?? It cuts off in what could easily be the middle of a book, and it just doesn’t feel like a natural or necessary splitting up of the story- I don’t see why there’s any need for multiple books when it could have all just gone in one slightly longer book.
Another reason for elongating the book would be improving the world building, as there is very little of it. We’re given phrases like ‘the Eleven Seas’, we’re told in passing about the wars taking place, the Mordgris are a pivotal part of the plot, but none of these things are ever really expanded on beyond brief mentions. This book would really benefit from just slowing the pace a little bit (it felt quite rushed at times), developing the characters and the world some more, and just being edited a couple more times. There were a few things that contradicted themselves, errors in the plot that were so stupid and unnecessary- things that should have easily been spotted and changed, and yet for some reason weren’t.
I endlessly adore books with the focus on pirates, and so female pirates? Even bloody better. I did really love that the crew was so diverse personality-wise, with some being kinder and gentler, some being more ruthless, all of them pirates and yet varying from the norm- I just wish it had been developed more!! That’s all I want!! It has so much potential to be brilliant but it feels half finished and rushed. Since it ends with the (predictable as hell) cliffhanger, I suppose I’ll probably still pick the next one up when it comes out as I really can’t resist a pirate book. I really hope it holds a better pace and has more in depth explorations, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
I’m confused by this book to be honest. I was hooked from the very start and read it in one sitting- I love a good pirate story- but it was just a bit lacking in some places, in ways I really don’t think it needed to be. I thoroughly enjoyed the pirate focus- the all female crew; the morally grey elements of both the characters and the plot; the main character’s affinity for the freedom of the ocean- and yet a lot of the actual writing and storyline was under-developed.
I’m a hugely character driven reader, and the characters in this were all a bit weak, to be honest. The book really is too short, there’s no reason why the characters couldn’t be much more fleshed out and explored, and it definitely meant that the whole thing suffered a bit. We saw the general role that characters fit- Ilene being Grace’s mother figure, Sam being her friend, Leo being a potential love interest (I assume?? Again, it wasn’t overly developed), Celia being sneaky and suspicious- but no one was really delved into that much, which resulted in people’s actions and motivations seeming slightly unclear and random at times. Ilene could have easily ignored Grace’s attempt to sneak off with the map, especially if she felt so truly miserable about losing her, and yet she didn’t. Had the characters been more developed, it might have been obvious why Ilene did this, but since there wasn’t, it just felt annoying. Leo and Grace were presumably attracted to each other, but I don’t see why or how. They both flirt from the get-go, despite it really not being the time or place, and it‘s too rushed for their dynamic to become clear- although they could be quite cute if there was any clear explanation and real development for the reader to see.
Grace was the only one with any real backstory explained, and even she felt a bit vague. The elements of ‘mystery’ were intriguing and well written right up until the book ended, having given zero answers in preparation for explanations to presumably come in the next book. A move that I’m not overly impressed with. It’s only 226 pages long, and yet it ends in a cliffhanger? W H Y?? It cuts off in what could easily be the middle of a book, and it just doesn’t feel like a natural or necessary splitting up of the story- I don’t see why there’s any need for multiple books when it could have all just gone in one slightly longer book.
Another reason for elongating the book would be improving the world building, as there is very little of it. We’re given phrases like ‘the Eleven Seas’, we’re told in passing about the wars taking place, the Mordgris are a pivotal part of the plot, but none of these things are ever really expanded on beyond brief mentions. This book would really benefit from just slowing the pace a little bit (it felt quite rushed at times), developing the characters and the world some more, and just being edited a couple more times. There were a few things that contradicted themselves, errors in the plot that were so stupid and unnecessary- things that should have easily been spotted and changed, and yet for some reason weren’t.
I endlessly adore books with the focus on pirates, and so female pirates? Even bloody better. I did really love that the crew was so diverse personality-wise, with some being kinder and gentler, some being more ruthless, all of them pirates and yet varying from the norm- I just wish it had been developed more!! That’s all I want!! It has so much potential to be brilliant but it feels half finished and rushed. Since it ends with the (predictable as hell) cliffhanger, I suppose I’ll probably still pick the next one up when it comes out as I really can’t resist a pirate book. I really hope it holds a better pace and has more in depth explorations, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
April 20, 2018
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Jennifer Ellision for granting me access to a copy of this book. I am truly grateful. It is an honor.
Grace Porter is the quartermaster and first mate of the Lady Luck, their ship. Her mother was taken by hideous and dreadful monsters called the Mordgris when she was young. She still believes that her mother is alive but hidden where the Mordgris lives. One day, their ship encounters a shipwreck, only to find not treasure but men, the last thing their crew wants to see. On the brink of being devoured by the Mordgris, Grace finds herself saving a boy and his brother and taking them in, which is against their rules. After this, a chain of events start, not just for Grace but also for the Luck.
I like the concept of switching the stereotype of men being the usual pirates. This generation is about change, and being different and unique, standing out. This book just makes the right amount of different because it beats certain stereotypes.
The fact that the origin of this concept was from watching a Pirates of the Caribbean movie adds a drop of awesomeness to the mix. Have you seen that cover? Amazing. Pure beauty.
Every chapter has something different and it relates to an article of the Lady Luck. The format was cool. I admired the writing style because it is comfortable and easy on the eyes, nothing too hard.
For me, I think that it lacks details or descriptions of the pirate world, just a little. I could imagine living the pirate life but something’s missing. As for the characters, most characters are molded great but the supporting could’ve had more “book time.” All of them are different in their own way and I want to be able to learn more about them because they all seem so interesting.
Some parts were predictable but some weren't what I expected. I felt bad about is the lack of pages. That ending left me wanting more. More action. More of the pirate-y life. It just screams a sequel. The book could’ve been much better if it was longer. Also... I need more moments of my ship.
This book would give you: (lady) pirates, sea monsters, betrayal, a strong-willed heroine, an adorable relationship of a captain and her first mate, crew of lighthearted and fierce lady pirates, a protective love between two brothers, a few moments of betrayal, a budding romance, andperhaps some treasure. If you’re up for all that and for a quick and fast-paced read, this book would be a good pick.
Grace Porter is the quartermaster and first mate of the Lady Luck, their ship. Her mother was taken by hideous and dreadful monsters called the Mordgris when she was young. She still believes that her mother is alive but hidden where the Mordgris lives. One day, their ship encounters a shipwreck, only to find not treasure but men, the last thing their crew wants to see. On the brink of being devoured by the Mordgris, Grace finds herself saving a boy and his brother and taking them in, which is against their rules. After this, a chain of events start, not just for Grace but also for the Luck.
I like the concept of switching the stereotype of men being the usual pirates. This generation is about change, and being different and unique, standing out. This book just makes the right amount of different because it beats certain stereotypes.
The fact that the origin of this concept was from watching a Pirates of the Caribbean movie adds a drop of awesomeness to the mix. Have you seen that cover? Amazing. Pure beauty.
Every chapter has something different and it relates to an article of the Lady Luck. The format was cool. I admired the writing style because it is comfortable and easy on the eyes, nothing too hard.
For me, I think that it lacks details or descriptions of the pirate world, just a little. I could imagine living the pirate life but something’s missing. As for the characters, most characters are molded great but the supporting could’ve had more “book time.” All of them are different in their own way and I want to be able to learn more about them because they all seem so interesting.
Some parts were predictable but some weren't what I expected. I felt bad about is the lack of pages. That ending left me wanting more. More action. More of the pirate-y life. It just screams a sequel. The book could’ve been much better if it was longer. Also... I need more moments of my ship.
This book would give you: (lady) pirates, sea monsters, betrayal, a strong-willed heroine, an adorable relationship of a captain and her first mate, crew of lighthearted and fierce lady pirates, a protective love between two brothers, a few moments of betrayal, a budding romance, and
July 24, 2018
Over Raging Tides was completely consuming and so easy to devour! The writing had an effortless feel to it, which I loved, and each of the characters stood out easily in my mind. So if you like books filled with adventure, mystery, strong women and a man who is so much more than first glance would seem, you definitely have to give this book a try!
The Lady Luck was an all women's pirate ship. Grace was first mate and the captain of the ship was Captain Ilene. They had what felt like a mother-daughter relationship and I loved learning about their past. Two other woman captured my attention completely and they were Sam, who seemed like Grace's only true friend and Cecilia who wanted Grace's position. While sailing, they ran acros a battle between two ships. And once it was over, The Lady Luck veered towards the loser to hunt for treasure. While searching for treasure Grace saved two brothers, a boy her age and his little brother, and brought them on the ship. Even though no men were allowed on The Lady Luck. And from there an addicting path was torn and I couldn't help but be glued to the pages to see what was going to happen next.
I liked Grace from the start. She was a strong, brave woman and she took care of those she cared for. I loved that she was a hard worker and even if she didn't always show it, she had a lot of compassion in her heart. I could easily see Grace being a captain of her own ship someday. But when Grace found herself around Leo, the boy close to her age she rescued, we got to see a more playful side of her. There was definitely something between them, but it was a slow burn and I'm hoping it will turn into more. And while I quickly liked Leo, I still have so much to learn about him. I feel like we've only scratched the surface and I would have loved to get into his head or had more scenes between him and Grace. Especially since he turned into someone more than Grace or I expected.
Leo and his brother got to stay aboard the Lady Luck since he could help them find a map that would lead them to treasure. But nothing was simple and so many difficulties happened. Between treasure maps, to a male pirate group and even the Mordgris, there was a lot of mysteries and it was fun to look for all of the clues. And while I have some guesses for how it will all pan out, I love that I'm still left unsure if I'm right. Especially in regards to the Mordgris. They were sea creatures who seemed bent on death and had abilities that were terrifying. They could easily haunt ones nightmares.
Over Raging Tides was filled with excitement and intrigue and I devoured this book. When I reached that last page, I couldn't help laughing and covering my face because it ended on a huge cliffhanger. So I can't wait to see what happens next, I'm very excited for what the future holds!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
“Captain?” My voice is low, waiting for the order.
She grins. “Take it.”
Planks are thrown from our ship to theirs, and like animals loosed from a cage, we storm our way across.
The Lady Luck was an all women's pirate ship. Grace was first mate and the captain of the ship was Captain Ilene. They had what felt like a mother-daughter relationship and I loved learning about their past. Two other woman captured my attention completely and they were Sam, who seemed like Grace's only true friend and Cecilia who wanted Grace's position. While sailing, they ran acros a battle between two ships. And once it was over, The Lady Luck veered towards the loser to hunt for treasure. While searching for treasure Grace saved two brothers, a boy her age and his little brother, and brought them on the ship. Even though no men were allowed on The Lady Luck. And from there an addicting path was torn and I couldn't help but be glued to the pages to see what was going to happen next.
He scuffs his foot against the deck, but doesn’t have the cowardice to look away from me. “You’re…pirates,” he says, shrugging.
“And?” I cross my arms, waiting for him to go on.
“And all we ever hear of pirates are the atrocities your kind commit. Theft, death…”
“We’re still human. We laugh. We cry. We love.”
“I see that now. But it would be easier if I could still think of you as a heartless lot.”
I liked Grace from the start. She was a strong, brave woman and she took care of those she cared for. I loved that she was a hard worker and even if she didn't always show it, she had a lot of compassion in her heart. I could easily see Grace being a captain of her own ship someday. But when Grace found herself around Leo, the boy close to her age she rescued, we got to see a more playful side of her. There was definitely something between them, but it was a slow burn and I'm hoping it will turn into more. And while I quickly liked Leo, I still have so much to learn about him. I feel like we've only scratched the surface and I would have loved to get into his head or had more scenes between him and Grace. Especially since he turned into someone more than Grace or I expected.
He’s bold, I think as I step away. Too bold. He goes from spoiled weakling to something just this side of dangerous. And I’d prefer him to stay in the safe zone.
Leo and his brother got to stay aboard the Lady Luck since he could help them find a map that would lead them to treasure. But nothing was simple and so many difficulties happened. Between treasure maps, to a male pirate group and even the Mordgris, there was a lot of mysteries and it was fun to look for all of the clues. And while I have some guesses for how it will all pan out, I love that I'm still left unsure if I'm right. Especially in regards to the Mordgris. They were sea creatures who seemed bent on death and had abilities that were terrifying. They could easily haunt ones nightmares.
“Do you mind the company?” Leo asks.
I grin, tossing him a wink so he knows I’m joking when I say, “I think I can stand the company of a spoiled nobleman. That is, if you’re not terrified to be in such close proximity to a pirate.”
His eyes, warm with an emotion that sets a fire to light in me, rove my body. “I think I’ll manage somehow.”
Over Raging Tides was filled with excitement and intrigue and I devoured this book. When I reached that last page, I couldn't help laughing and covering my face because it ended on a huge cliffhanger. So I can't wait to see what happens next, I'm very excited for what the future holds!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 20, 2018
I was part of the promotional blog tour for this book, head over to my blog to see the full post as well as enter in... Two giveaways!: https://marriedtobooksreviewsandblog....
Over Raging Tides is a fast-paced pirate adventure with great dialogue and an interesting plotline. The main character Grace breaks the rules in a bid to find out the truth about her past, doing this however, could result in the worst possible consequences with confronting her crew about possible lies and deceit on board their ship. I really liked the concept of the Mordgris which added an element of suspense to the novel. With the length of the novel being shorter than your average YA novel, this is perfect for any reader, looking for a quick and satisfying read. The ending was on a cliffhanger but am still interested in the second book. The ship’s rules also tied in nicely with the setting of being on a pirate ship.
Extra notes: It was a little underdeveloped for me personally but can I just mention that we need more YA Pirate books? :D
Over Raging Tides is a fast-paced pirate adventure with great dialogue and an interesting plotline. The main character Grace breaks the rules in a bid to find out the truth about her past, doing this however, could result in the worst possible consequences with confronting her crew about possible lies and deceit on board their ship. I really liked the concept of the Mordgris which added an element of suspense to the novel. With the length of the novel being shorter than your average YA novel, this is perfect for any reader, looking for a quick and satisfying read. The ending was on a cliffhanger but am still interested in the second book. The ship’s rules also tied in nicely with the setting of being on a pirate ship.
Extra notes: It was a little underdeveloped for me personally but can I just mention that we need more YA Pirate books? :D
August 30, 2018
Full review below. Review plus custom cocktail available at The Tome & Tankard Inn.
Over Raging Tides is one of my assigned SPFBO novels that I was super excited to read (I mean, just look at that cover, for a start!) I have always loved pirate stories – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb is one of my favorite trilogies ever, and I loved Treasure Island as a kid. This novel has all the trappings of a great pirate story – a ship inhabited exclusively by lady pirates, a protagonist haunted by her past, creepy sea monsters, a hunt for an elusive mythical treasure map, betrayal and treachery… the list goes on.
Gracie is a driven, single-minded protagonist preoccupied with the kidnapping (and possible death) of her mother at the hands of the Mordgris, unsettling sea monsters who can take on the appearance of their victims. She is Quartermaster of the Lady Luck, and has developed a close relationship with Captain Ilene, who acts as a stand-in mother figure – both are heavily invested in discovering the location of an enchanted treasure map. Ilene (and her fellow pirates) because of the incredible treasures the map is said to locate; Gracie, to track down the Mordgris and destroy them all. When they come across a wrecked war ship and two survivors clinging to the flotsam, it seems that they may have found a path to the mythical map that has eluded them for so long. There’s just one problem – the survivors are men, and men are forbidden on the Lady Luck. They are brought on board at Grace’s command, but this leads to all kinds of conflict and open revolt amongst the crew. Not to mention the fireworks between Grace and the haughty lordling she has rescued. Fun stuff.
Over Raging Tides is a fast-paced adventure with a solid structure and some excellent ideas. I enjoyed the diverse and sympathetic cast, the asides regarding the laws of the Lady Luck, and the general plot. However, it had some issues that diminished my enjoyment and reduced the novel to merely quite good where it could have been great. First and foremost was a lack of development. Gracie is the only character who receives a decent amount of character development, and this is a real shame because the entire cast had bags of potential. I think one reason for this is the first person PoV – we’re placed inside Grace’s head, giving us some insight as to what she’s thinking and why. I think the novel would have benefited enormously from a Multi-PoV approach with Leo, Ilene and Celia, which would have rounded things out a great deal. This is also true of the worldbuilding – some details are mentioned in passing, but we’re not given a whole lot to work with. For me one of the great pleasures of a pirate novel is in the descriptive prose – the smoky, seedy taverns, chaotic towns, wind billowing in sails, lungfuls of salt air, vivid background characters. All of this could have used some work, and I’d have preferred a longer book (ORT is 239 pages) that included more of this type of detail.
Overall I think Over Raging Tides is a somewhat sparse novel but with great potential, and Ellision is clearly a talented writer. This is an enjoyable YA adventure that would make a great introduction to nautical/pirate fantasy for younger readers (around mid-teens would be most appropriate, due to some occasional swearing and coy sex references). Hopefully future entries will develop the world and characters further, as the concept is fabulous.
Over Raging Tides is one of my assigned SPFBO novels that I was super excited to read (I mean, just look at that cover, for a start!) I have always loved pirate stories – The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb is one of my favorite trilogies ever, and I loved Treasure Island as a kid. This novel has all the trappings of a great pirate story – a ship inhabited exclusively by lady pirates, a protagonist haunted by her past, creepy sea monsters, a hunt for an elusive mythical treasure map, betrayal and treachery… the list goes on.
Gracie is a driven, single-minded protagonist preoccupied with the kidnapping (and possible death) of her mother at the hands of the Mordgris, unsettling sea monsters who can take on the appearance of their victims. She is Quartermaster of the Lady Luck, and has developed a close relationship with Captain Ilene, who acts as a stand-in mother figure – both are heavily invested in discovering the location of an enchanted treasure map. Ilene (and her fellow pirates) because of the incredible treasures the map is said to locate; Gracie, to track down the Mordgris and destroy them all. When they come across a wrecked war ship and two survivors clinging to the flotsam, it seems that they may have found a path to the mythical map that has eluded them for so long. There’s just one problem – the survivors are men, and men are forbidden on the Lady Luck. They are brought on board at Grace’s command, but this leads to all kinds of conflict and open revolt amongst the crew. Not to mention the fireworks between Grace and the haughty lordling she has rescued. Fun stuff.
Over Raging Tides is a fast-paced adventure with a solid structure and some excellent ideas. I enjoyed the diverse and sympathetic cast, the asides regarding the laws of the Lady Luck, and the general plot. However, it had some issues that diminished my enjoyment and reduced the novel to merely quite good where it could have been great. First and foremost was a lack of development. Gracie is the only character who receives a decent amount of character development, and this is a real shame because the entire cast had bags of potential. I think one reason for this is the first person PoV – we’re placed inside Grace’s head, giving us some insight as to what she’s thinking and why. I think the novel would have benefited enormously from a Multi-PoV approach with Leo, Ilene and Celia, which would have rounded things out a great deal. This is also true of the worldbuilding – some details are mentioned in passing, but we’re not given a whole lot to work with. For me one of the great pleasures of a pirate novel is in the descriptive prose – the smoky, seedy taverns, chaotic towns, wind billowing in sails, lungfuls of salt air, vivid background characters. All of this could have used some work, and I’d have preferred a longer book (ORT is 239 pages) that included more of this type of detail.
Overall I think Over Raging Tides is a somewhat sparse novel but with great potential, and Ellision is clearly a talented writer. This is an enjoyable YA adventure that would make a great introduction to nautical/pirate fantasy for younger readers (around mid-teens would be most appropriate, due to some occasional swearing and coy sex references). Hopefully future entries will develop the world and characters further, as the concept is fabulous.
April 9, 2019
Over Raging Tides was a super fun and quick pirate story but nothing that blows you away.
I am a sucker for pirate stories. When it's pirate stories about all female crews, I get even more excited. So I really couldn't wait to pick up Over Raging Tides and overall I was not disappointed.
I loved that we had a crew of different kind of women. Some were kind and soft, while others were just as ruthless as we expect a pirate to be.
But I don't think that any of the characters stood out. There's no character in here, not even the main character, that is very memorable. And this could've thrived on being a character driven story as there's some interesting personalities but we only scratched the surface. There's not really anyone in here that I truly care for.
There's several queer side characters and it seems like, at least when it comes to the crew of the Lady Luck, there's no heteronormativity, which was incredibly joyful to read. It would be super cool to see some mention of a less binary spectrum as far as sexuality goes and/or a trans-character introduced. The world seems to really offer a perfect place for it.
The world building wasn't exactly bad but I simply don't know enough about it. I don't really understand the creatures that had a pretty big role in this story. The storyline was entertaining but overall my biggest gripe with this is that it was just too short.
And while this ends on an immense cliffhanger, I'm really not sure if I'm invested enough to continue. Knowing I have to wait for the sequel, I can't see myself still being interested in any of this by the time it comes out. This first book simply had an ending too open for my personal taste. I didn't yet get enough to know if I want more, if that makes any sense.
Overall, if you really like pirate stories and like me, you just constantly crave them, I think this is definitely something you could pick up. It's not a groundbreaking story, but a fun and entertaining read.
I definitely think it had much more potential and could've benefited a lot from 100 pages more.
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I received an ARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a sucker for pirate stories. When it's pirate stories about all female crews, I get even more excited. So I really couldn't wait to pick up Over Raging Tides and overall I was not disappointed.
I loved that we had a crew of different kind of women. Some were kind and soft, while others were just as ruthless as we expect a pirate to be.
But I don't think that any of the characters stood out. There's no character in here, not even the main character, that is very memorable. And this could've thrived on being a character driven story as there's some interesting personalities but we only scratched the surface. There's not really anyone in here that I truly care for.
There's several queer side characters and it seems like, at least when it comes to the crew of the Lady Luck, there's no heteronormativity, which was incredibly joyful to read. It would be super cool to see some mention of a less binary spectrum as far as sexuality goes and/or a trans-character introduced. The world seems to really offer a perfect place for it.
The world building wasn't exactly bad but I simply don't know enough about it. I don't really understand the creatures that had a pretty big role in this story. The storyline was entertaining but overall my biggest gripe with this is that it was just too short.
And while this ends on an immense cliffhanger, I'm really not sure if I'm invested enough to continue. Knowing I have to wait for the sequel, I can't see myself still being interested in any of this by the time it comes out. This first book simply had an ending too open for my personal taste. I didn't yet get enough to know if I want more, if that makes any sense.
Overall, if you really like pirate stories and like me, you just constantly crave them, I think this is definitely something you could pick up. It's not a groundbreaking story, but a fun and entertaining read.
I definitely think it had much more potential and could've benefited a lot from 100 pages more.
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I received an ARC of this through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Want to read
March 20, 2018We are getting lots of pirate ladies this season!
April 17, 2018
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Over Raging Tides is the first installment in author Jennifer Ellision's Lady Pirates series. Onboard the Lady Luck, Grace Porter is both Quartermaster and First Mate under Captain Ilene. Onboard the Lady Luck, there are no loyalties to Kings, or Queens. It is also a ship that is filled with women pirates. The twist? "No man shall board this ship." However, after stumbling upon a wrecked warship & searching for treasure, Grace makes the choice to save survivors Leo and his younger brother John from the horrible monsters known as Mordgris.
*Full Review @ Gizmo's Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
*Genre* Young Adult, Fantasy
*Rating* 3.5-4
*Thoughts*
Over Raging Tides is the first installment in author Jennifer Ellision's Lady Pirates series. Onboard the Lady Luck, Grace Porter is both Quartermaster and First Mate under Captain Ilene. Onboard the Lady Luck, there are no loyalties to Kings, or Queens. It is also a ship that is filled with women pirates. The twist? "No man shall board this ship." However, after stumbling upon a wrecked warship & searching for treasure, Grace makes the choice to save survivors Leo and his younger brother John from the horrible monsters known as Mordgris.
*Full Review @ Gizmo's Reviews*
http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...
Read
May 17, 2018Reread via audiobook review done! I am in love with my narrator... Audio edition coming soon~
June 10, 2018
View review on my blog, Library in the Country
This copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Lady pirates! Secrets! Quests for treasure! Betrayal! Sea creatures!
When I first heard about Over Raging Tides, my first thought was: I need to read this and I immediately added it to my "to-read" shelf on Goodreads.
So, imagine my surprise when I was offered an opportunity by the author to read the book in exchange for an honest review. I could not pass it up and have been left with no regrets.
Stories about pirates, mermaids, sirens, etc. have been all the rage lately and this book sated my desire for another sea-faring story wonderfully. It is a fast-paced adventure with Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, a mysterious backstory and it becomes a delectably interesting tale overall.
The main character - Grace - has spent most of her life aboard the pirate ship, Lady Luck and currently serves as her quartermaster. Unlike other ships sailing the Eleven Seas, the Luck is comprised of an entirely female crew and men are not allowed to step foot onboard. However, after a bending of the rules, a young man named Leo has found himself aboard the Luck and may be the key to finding a map most have believed to be a legend. For this map is enchanted with the ability to show the location of whatever you seek of it. The pirates aboard the Luck wish to use the map to find treasure. Gracie wishes to use the map to find the Mordgris, sea creatures who took her mother years before. To locate the map, the women aboard the Luck must set aside their rules and work beside Leo. However, not everyone on the crew is pleased with this arrangement.
I was not expecting Gracie to be as ruthless and morally grey of a character as she was, but she is a pirate after all and she fit her profession well. Grace and Leo are both cunning in their ways and good counterparts for each other. I only wish their character development was deeper. We do not learn much about Leo, his family or even his story and are not given a strong grasp on Grace's nature outside her interactions with other characters. To say the least, their depth of character is lacking in some ways. They are unique characters, without a doubt, but I'm not sure if they are memorable.
That said - the story overall is strong with a good air of mystery to it. I found myself fascinated by the Mordgris and constantly trying to picture what they look like and what they are. What is the story behind Gracie's mother? What does the captain know? Why do the Mordgris constantly plague Gracie? This book has some fairly good plot twists I did not anticipate, keeping me caught up with the story and always wanting a little more. There are several plotlines running throughout the story and it closes with a cliffhanger ending that is enticing but not shocking or heartbreaking. You'll be left wanting more, but you won't be left in tears or frustration. Over Raging Tides is not a standalone and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes us in the next installment.
If you want a fast-paced, fun, uncomplicated adventure, this is the book for you!
This copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Lady pirates! Secrets! Quests for treasure! Betrayal! Sea creatures!
When I first heard about Over Raging Tides, my first thought was: I need to read this and I immediately added it to my "to-read" shelf on Goodreads.
So, imagine my surprise when I was offered an opportunity by the author to read the book in exchange for an honest review. I could not pass it up and have been left with no regrets.
"Life at sea is not butterflies and daisies.
Her gift is freedom, but it's not something she gives for free."
Stories about pirates, mermaids, sirens, etc. have been all the rage lately and this book sated my desire for another sea-faring story wonderfully. It is a fast-paced adventure with Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, a mysterious backstory and it becomes a delectably interesting tale overall.
The main character - Grace - has spent most of her life aboard the pirate ship, Lady Luck and currently serves as her quartermaster. Unlike other ships sailing the Eleven Seas, the Luck is comprised of an entirely female crew and men are not allowed to step foot onboard. However, after a bending of the rules, a young man named Leo has found himself aboard the Luck and may be the key to finding a map most have believed to be a legend. For this map is enchanted with the ability to show the location of whatever you seek of it. The pirates aboard the Luck wish to use the map to find treasure. Gracie wishes to use the map to find the Mordgris, sea creatures who took her mother years before. To locate the map, the women aboard the Luck must set aside their rules and work beside Leo. However, not everyone on the crew is pleased with this arrangement.
"You have found yourself aboard a pirate ship. Female pirates, yes, but pirates nonetheless. There are many things in our code, but honor is not one of them."
I was not expecting Gracie to be as ruthless and morally grey of a character as she was, but she is a pirate after all and she fit her profession well. Grace and Leo are both cunning in their ways and good counterparts for each other. I only wish their character development was deeper. We do not learn much about Leo, his family or even his story and are not given a strong grasp on Grace's nature outside her interactions with other characters. To say the least, their depth of character is lacking in some ways. They are unique characters, without a doubt, but I'm not sure if they are memorable.
That said - the story overall is strong with a good air of mystery to it. I found myself fascinated by the Mordgris and constantly trying to picture what they look like and what they are. What is the story behind Gracie's mother? What does the captain know? Why do the Mordgris constantly plague Gracie? This book has some fairly good plot twists I did not anticipate, keeping me caught up with the story and always wanting a little more. There are several plotlines running throughout the story and it closes with a cliffhanger ending that is enticing but not shocking or heartbreaking. You'll be left wanting more, but you won't be left in tears or frustration. Over Raging Tides is not a standalone and I am looking forward to seeing where the story takes us in the next installment.
If you want a fast-paced, fun, uncomplicated adventure, this is the book for you!
April 4, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I say hell yes to lady pirates!
Actual rating : 4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I only wish it was longer and that the ending wasn't such a cliffhanger (seriously, how can I wait at least another year to find out what happens?)
I really liked writing style and our heroine Gracie. She was strong and smart, even though I didn't agree with her actions I could see why she did what she did. I also liked how sweet is the romance in this book and the fact that it wasn't overdone. The whole crew is charming and interesting and I'm sorry we didn't get to see more of them and their interactions. My other complaint was that plot twist (you know who I'm talking about) could be seen from miles. I guessed what will happen from the first time that character was mentioned.
I will definitely continue the series.
I say hell yes to lady pirates!
Actual rating : 4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I only wish it was longer and that the ending wasn't such a cliffhanger (seriously, how can I wait at least another year to find out what happens?)
I really liked writing style and our heroine Gracie. She was strong and smart, even though I didn't agree with her actions I could see why she did what she did. I also liked how sweet is the romance in this book and the fact that it wasn't overdone. The whole crew is charming and interesting and I'm sorry we didn't get to see more of them and their interactions. My other complaint was that plot twist (you know who I'm talking about) could be seen from miles. I guessed what will happen from the first time that character was mentioned.
I will definitely continue the series.
October 18, 2018
I was super excited to read this book! It really kept my interest, but I was hoping for so much more! It didn’t really have that ooomph to bring it over the edge.
February 4, 2021
3,25* I was pondering if I'd go with 3 or 4 (as in 3,5*) as I did enjoy it. Considering other books I rated with 4* though I had to go a bit lower with this one.
I did really enjoy the story that was fast paced and fun to read. I liked the "ladies can be pirates too" approach, though at times it didn't fully work out for me. There you have those kickass pirates! And then they say to a young noble "You might be stronger than me, but we have numbers" (paraphrasing as I don't remember the exact quote). If you are a pirate trained for fighting and raiding ships, I'm pretty sure you would think you could easily best one young man...
I enjoyed the characters, but I would have wished for a bit more character development and backstories. Some felt a bit "washed out" and some only started to shine at the end. There is a lot of potential for a great cast here!
The worldbuilding was fine with me - it was a bit shallow, but as the book is more character and plot driven, I didn't mind that much.
The story is pretty short, and ends in a total cliffhanger, that does not feel like the end of a book. More like you simply cut a longer story in half. I'm definitely interested in what's gonna happen next, but the ending left me a bit annoyed rather than hooked, due to the "unfinished" state. I do like series with one big arc, but usually the individual books have their own smaller arcs that give some closure, even if there's a cliffhanger on the big arc.
All in all a really enjoyable book I definitely don't regret spending money and time on!
I did really enjoy the story that was fast paced and fun to read. I liked the "ladies can be pirates too" approach, though at times it didn't fully work out for me. There you have those kickass pirates! And then they say to a young noble "You might be stronger than me, but we have numbers" (paraphrasing as I don't remember the exact quote). If you are a pirate trained for fighting and raiding ships, I'm pretty sure you would think you could easily best one young man...
I enjoyed the characters, but I would have wished for a bit more character development and backstories. Some felt a bit "washed out" and some only started to shine at the end. There is a lot of potential for a great cast here!
The worldbuilding was fine with me - it was a bit shallow, but as the book is more character and plot driven, I didn't mind that much.
The story is pretty short, and ends in a total cliffhanger, that does not feel like the end of a book. More like you simply cut a longer story in half. I'm definitely interested in what's gonna happen next, but the ending left me a bit annoyed rather than hooked, due to the "unfinished" state. I do like series with one big arc, but usually the individual books have their own smaller arcs that give some closure, even if there's a cliffhanger on the big arc.
All in all a really enjoyable book I definitely don't regret spending money and time on!
March 22, 2018
Thanks a lot to the publisher and @NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Over Raging TIdes has everything I've always looked for in a book: pirates? Checked. Strong female characters? Checked. Adventure? Checked. Monstrous creatures? Checked!
I appreciated pretty much everything about the plot: the idea of an exclusively-female pirate crew is amazing, the Mordgris are one of the most frightening species of monsters I've ever read of, and Grace is very likeable, which, alas, is kinda of unusual when it comes to main characters.
Oh, and, despite what I feared, there's no instant love here .
So, why am I rating this with only 3 stars?
Because this book could have been sooo much better.
Leaving aside the not-so-refined writing, Over Raging Tides' main problem is the lenght: I've read the Kindle edition, but I strongly suspect that, once published, it won't exceed 300 pages, which are definitely not enough.
The story is full of action, but the world-building is basically non-existent, the secondary characters aren't as in-depht as they should be (yeah, we know who's the friend and who's the bad guy, but that's pretty much it), and the overall impression is OH GOD WHY IS ALL OF THIS HAPPENING SO FAST?
So, yeah, we could have used one hundred more pages (more or less) for a more thorough description of the world and the characters' personalities.
Anyway, I'm very willing to read the sequel: how could I not be, with an ending like that ?
Over Raging TIdes has everything I've always looked for in a book: pirates? Checked. Strong female characters? Checked. Adventure? Checked. Monstrous creatures? Checked!
I appreciated pretty much everything about the plot: the idea of an exclusively-female pirate crew is amazing, the Mordgris are one of the most frightening species of monsters I've ever read of, and Grace is very likeable, which, alas, is kinda of unusual when it comes to main characters.
Oh, and, despite what I feared, there's no instant love here .
So, why am I rating this with only 3 stars?
Because this book could have been sooo much better.
Leaving aside the not-so-refined writing, Over Raging Tides' main problem is the lenght: I've read the Kindle edition, but I strongly suspect that, once published, it won't exceed 300 pages, which are definitely not enough.
The story is full of action, but the world-building is basically non-existent, the secondary characters aren't as in-depht as they should be (yeah, we know who's the friend and who's the bad guy, but that's pretty much it), and the overall impression is OH GOD WHY IS ALL OF THIS HAPPENING SO FAST?
So, yeah, we could have used one hundred more pages (more or less) for a more thorough description of the world and the characters' personalities.
Anyway, I'm very willing to read the sequel: how could I not be, with an ending like that ?
October 28, 2018
This was fun! It was exactly what I needed after The Oddling Prince. Quick, easy and engaging. (It was one of the ebooks in Faecrate)
But let's start from the beginning. this book is about Grace Porter, the quartermaster of the Lady Luck, a pirate ship that is housing only females. They have many rules and one of the most important ones is: No men are allowed on board.
But that changes when Grace saves two boys from the Mordgris, the sea monsters who also stole her mother away. And they might just help her get her revenge, but for what price?
So, the first thing that drew me to this was obviously the all-female pirate ship. Yes, please!
As I already mentioned, this was a lot of fun. I flew through the pages, which was honestly such a relief after me struggling with my previous read. This was quite predictable though. The main character Grace was interesting enough, but the others fell a bit flat.
Celia was pretty two-dimensional and I wasn't at all surprised by what happened to her. Captain Ilene could become interesting, but she also wasn't that fleshed out in this book. I liked Leo or honestly, I liked Leo's and Grace's conversations. There wasn't a lot of info about him either. To be fair, the book is very short! Just shy of 240 pages.
The plot was nothing I haven't seen before and I could already tell you most of what would happen right from the start. BUT I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.
This is the first book in a series (which I didn't know prior to reading) and I think this series is perfect for binge reading all the books. I would have immediately started the sequel if it was already published. Since it is not, I fear I'll lose my interest in continuing the series when it does come out. It wasn't, after all, anything mindblowing or something that'll stay in my head for a long while.
There is not much else to say about this. Don't read it expecting anything groundbreaking, but if you are in need of a quick and easy read to take your mind off of things, this book might be for you.
But let's start from the beginning. this book is about Grace Porter, the quartermaster of the Lady Luck, a pirate ship that is housing only females. They have many rules and one of the most important ones is: No men are allowed on board.
But that changes when Grace saves two boys from the Mordgris, the sea monsters who also stole her mother away. And they might just help her get her revenge, but for what price?
So, the first thing that drew me to this was obviously the all-female pirate ship. Yes, please!
As I already mentioned, this was a lot of fun. I flew through the pages, which was honestly such a relief after me struggling with my previous read. This was quite predictable though. The main character Grace was interesting enough, but the others fell a bit flat.
Celia was pretty two-dimensional and I wasn't at all surprised by what happened to her. Captain Ilene could become interesting, but she also wasn't that fleshed out in this book. I liked Leo or honestly, I liked Leo's and Grace's conversations. There wasn't a lot of info about him either. To be fair, the book is very short! Just shy of 240 pages.
The plot was nothing I haven't seen before and I could already tell you most of what would happen right from the start. BUT I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.
This is the first book in a series (which I didn't know prior to reading) and I think this series is perfect for binge reading all the books. I would have immediately started the sequel if it was already published. Since it is not, I fear I'll lose my interest in continuing the series when it does come out. It wasn't, after all, anything mindblowing or something that'll stay in my head for a long while.
There is not much else to say about this. Don't read it expecting anything groundbreaking, but if you are in need of a quick and easy read to take your mind off of things, this book might be for you.
September 27, 2018
Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .
When I saw the heading "A Lady Pirates Novel" well of course I had to check this one out. A pirate ship crewed by all women? Well, now that floats me boat. Arrr!! This be a fun and fast little romp.
This story follows Grace Porter, the first mate of the ship, Lady Luck. She has been searching for a way to avenge her mother ever since her mother was stolen away by denizens of the deep. So when rumors of a magic map reach the ears of the ship, the women go off in search of adventure and treasure. Only Grace has a different use of said map in mind.
This be light and fluffy. The main character, Grace, is fun but rather obstinate and seemingly thoughtless at times. I did like all the crew but found all of them to be rather shallow in depth. I also wanted a story of women having adventures without men involved. But of course forbidden men are brought on board from the very first page and a very probable romance begins to develop. I did manage to get over it and become involved in the story.
The plot had some rather interesting elements. Who doesn't love fighting sea monsters, a female Code of Conduct written by and for the women, and a mysterious map? Add in some diversity in terms of sexual identity that, while not the focus, was nice to see. Those were the highlights. The plot also had some predictable points including many of the romance elements, some political/class issues, and pretty much everything about the bad guys. Seriously the crew should have spotted the bad apples from a mile away. But most of all it just felt underdeveloped.
But I didn't really mind as it was exactly the type of readin' I was in the mood for. I even enjoyed the cliffhanger ending which normally makes me crazy. So overall I grant this be a positive experience and I do want to read the next book to find out what happens to Grace next!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
When I saw the heading "A Lady Pirates Novel" well of course I had to check this one out. A pirate ship crewed by all women? Well, now that floats me boat. Arrr!! This be a fun and fast little romp.
This story follows Grace Porter, the first mate of the ship, Lady Luck. She has been searching for a way to avenge her mother ever since her mother was stolen away by denizens of the deep. So when rumors of a magic map reach the ears of the ship, the women go off in search of adventure and treasure. Only Grace has a different use of said map in mind.
This be light and fluffy. The main character, Grace, is fun but rather obstinate and seemingly thoughtless at times. I did like all the crew but found all of them to be rather shallow in depth. I also wanted a story of women having adventures without men involved. But of course forbidden men are brought on board from the very first page and a very probable romance begins to develop. I did manage to get over it and become involved in the story.
The plot had some rather interesting elements. Who doesn't love fighting sea monsters, a female Code of Conduct written by and for the women, and a mysterious map? Add in some diversity in terms of sexual identity that, while not the focus, was nice to see. Those were the highlights. The plot also had some predictable points including many of the romance elements, some political/class issues, and pretty much everything about the bad guys. Seriously the crew should have spotted the bad apples from a mile away. But most of all it just felt underdeveloped.
But I didn't really mind as it was exactly the type of readin' I was in the mood for. I even enjoyed the cliffhanger ending which normally makes me crazy. So overall I grant this be a positive experience and I do want to read the next book to find out what happens to Grace next!
Check out me other reviews at https://thecaptainsquartersblog.wordp...
April 21, 2018
Well damn...that was a quick and cool read. RTC.
Read
June 20, 2018Rating and review to come after Aug 1 when SPFBO officially starts
May 8, 2018
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
*I received an ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review *
I’m quite fond of fantasy books involving pirates, monsters, and sea adventures. I Just couldn’t resist them. When the author approached me with a review opportunity, I didn’t hesitate because after reading that synopsis I was totally sold. Over Raging Tides was really a good short read, I had fun reading it but I also had few issues with it. I liked the plot, the concept, and the characters. It gave Daughter Of The Pirate King vibes because it has some similar aspects but plot-wise they’re different. I think it’s a nice start to a new series and I immensely enjoyed it.
Lady Luck is a pirate ship filled with female crew. They have no loyalty to any King or Queen. They all live by many rules and one of their major rule is that no man should aboard the ship. Grace Porter is the quartermaster and also first mate under Captain Ilene. When they come across a wrecked ship, they were expecting treasure but instead they find two male survivors. Grace saves them from the dangerous sea creatures Mordgris and gets them on-board the Lady Luck even though it’s against the rules. Captain Ilene is ready to throw them out of their ship as soon as they touch the land but It turns out that both of them belongs to a noble family and the older brother Leo offers them a deal that they couldn’t resist. He claims that he has the information on the magical treasure map that they had been searching for years. The map was a myth, but with this new revelation a new set of hopes arises and they’re ready to go against the rebel warships to get the map from them. Grace’s mother was kidnapped by the Mordgris when she was a kid and the map is the only thing that can lead her to their den. During the journey, she confronts her past and also the treachery abroad the ship. While everyone is thirsting for treasure, Grace thirsts for revenge against the Mordgris so she decides to take matter on her own hands which leads to great consequences.
I really liked Grace! She’s a bad-ass heroine who’s smart, strong, sassy, stubborn, and fearless. I quite enjoyed her character even though I didn’t agree with some of her actions. She’s a ruthless pirate who wouldn’t hesitate to shed some blood but she isn’t merciless either. The supporting characters were good but it would’ve been great if they’re more fleshed out. I quite enjoyed the slow budding romance between Leo and Grace but their relationship felt a bit rushed in the second half. I wish there was more interactions between them. They both come from different worlds and it was fun watching them getting attracted to each other even though they don’t want to.
The plot was interesting and engaging throughout! The story moved in a fast pace and I was hooked to it till the end. The whole book was told in Grace’s first person POV. I loved the action, the adventure and the little romance. I liked the Writing and it was very easy to understand. The plot twists were good but some of them were quite predictable to me. My major issue with this book was “Why the hell it was so short?” I wanted it to be a bit longer. Because of this issue some of the aspects felt under developed and rushed. I would’ve given this a full four stars if it was longer, and more detailed. This one really needs more world building, more detailed backstory, and more depth to characters. The Mordgris are creepy and dangerous sea creatures just like Sirens, and I would love to learn more about them.
Overall, I loved it! The whole book was a fun adventurous ride and that cliffy at the end made things even more interesting. I would definitely check out the next book when it comes out. I really hope it is even more better and longer than this one.
Same Review Also Posted On My Blog: Dreamy Addictions
*I received an ecopy from the author in exchange for an honest review *
I’m quite fond of fantasy books involving pirates, monsters, and sea adventures. I Just couldn’t resist them. When the author approached me with a review opportunity, I didn’t hesitate because after reading that synopsis I was totally sold. Over Raging Tides was really a good short read, I had fun reading it but I also had few issues with it. I liked the plot, the concept, and the characters. It gave Daughter Of The Pirate King vibes because it has some similar aspects but plot-wise they’re different. I think it’s a nice start to a new series and I immensely enjoyed it.
Lady Luck is a pirate ship filled with female crew. They have no loyalty to any King or Queen. They all live by many rules and one of their major rule is that no man should aboard the ship. Grace Porter is the quartermaster and also first mate under Captain Ilene. When they come across a wrecked ship, they were expecting treasure but instead they find two male survivors. Grace saves them from the dangerous sea creatures Mordgris and gets them on-board the Lady Luck even though it’s against the rules. Captain Ilene is ready to throw them out of their ship as soon as they touch the land but It turns out that both of them belongs to a noble family and the older brother Leo offers them a deal that they couldn’t resist. He claims that he has the information on the magical treasure map that they had been searching for years. The map was a myth, but with this new revelation a new set of hopes arises and they’re ready to go against the rebel warships to get the map from them. Grace’s mother was kidnapped by the Mordgris when she was a kid and the map is the only thing that can lead her to their den. During the journey, she confronts her past and also the treachery abroad the ship. While everyone is thirsting for treasure, Grace thirsts for revenge against the Mordgris so she decides to take matter on her own hands which leads to great consequences.
I really liked Grace! She’s a bad-ass heroine who’s smart, strong, sassy, stubborn, and fearless. I quite enjoyed her character even though I didn’t agree with some of her actions. She’s a ruthless pirate who wouldn’t hesitate to shed some blood but she isn’t merciless either. The supporting characters were good but it would’ve been great if they’re more fleshed out. I quite enjoyed the slow budding romance between Leo and Grace but their relationship felt a bit rushed in the second half. I wish there was more interactions between them. They both come from different worlds and it was fun watching them getting attracted to each other even though they don’t want to.
The plot was interesting and engaging throughout! The story moved in a fast pace and I was hooked to it till the end. The whole book was told in Grace’s first person POV. I loved the action, the adventure and the little romance. I liked the Writing and it was very easy to understand. The plot twists were good but some of them were quite predictable to me. My major issue with this book was “Why the hell it was so short?” I wanted it to be a bit longer. Because of this issue some of the aspects felt under developed and rushed. I would’ve given this a full four stars if it was longer, and more detailed. This one really needs more world building, more detailed backstory, and more depth to characters. The Mordgris are creepy and dangerous sea creatures just like Sirens, and I would love to learn more about them.
Overall, I loved it! The whole book was a fun adventurous ride and that cliffy at the end made things even more interesting. I would definitely check out the next book when it comes out. I really hope it is even more better and longer than this one.
April 26, 2018
I've wanted to read more books about pirates. Well, I think that I found my new cup of tea.
An ecopy was sent to me by the author in exchange for a review.
I loved the book and found it way too short. I want to read more! It also ends on the perfect cliffhanger and I am just left here, waiting for the next one...
I loved Jennifer Ellision's writing, I loved the story and the plot. There were some predictable twists but I don't mind it because it didn't take from my enjoyment at all. i actually like to be able to see stuff coming, it makes me feel even better when i finally reach that moment and my guess turns out to be right.
I loved the characters, I loved the story. I also repeat myself a lot but the truth is that I find it very hard to review short books, I just don't have much to say.
I loved how before every chapter there was written one of the laws aboard the ship and the way it was connected to the story. I find this very smart and unique.
Gracie is the type of main character I love and I really hope that I get to learn more about her, Sam, and Leo in the next book because I just found the characters' stories not developed enough.
The book is full of action and is very well-written and if you like pirates and want to read about an all-girls crew, I would certainly recommend this book.
An ecopy was sent to me by the author in exchange for a review.
I loved the book and found it way too short. I want to read more! It also ends on the perfect cliffhanger and I am just left here, waiting for the next one...
I loved Jennifer Ellision's writing, I loved the story and the plot. There were some predictable twists but I don't mind it because it didn't take from my enjoyment at all. i actually like to be able to see stuff coming, it makes me feel even better when i finally reach that moment and my guess turns out to be right.
I loved the characters, I loved the story. I also repeat myself a lot but the truth is that I find it very hard to review short books, I just don't have much to say.
I loved how before every chapter there was written one of the laws aboard the ship and the way it was connected to the story. I find this very smart and unique.
Gracie is the type of main character I love and I really hope that I get to learn more about her, Sam, and Leo in the next book because I just found the characters' stories not developed enough.
The book is full of action and is very well-written and if you like pirates and want to read about an all-girls crew, I would certainly recommend this book.
March 26, 2018
My blog: A Magical World Of Words
This is a brilliant example of a good pirate book. Forget Daughter of the Pirate King (I had issues with that one) - read this instead.
The writing is great. The descriptions are a bit too colourful, but otherwise the atmosphere is rich, the dialogue witty, entertaining, and realistic, and the humour delightfully quirky. I love it. The whole "pirate-ness" is also so natural and realistic; the slang and "pirate talk" is there without being overdone, and the author doesn't lay it on too thick. It's immersive, and well researched.
The plot is fantastic. There's action, but there's also intrigue and wonderful character interactions. I thoroughly enjoyed getting swept away in this story.
The characters are all very cute and compelling. I absolutely love the idea of a female pirate crew, and everywhere you turn there are epic, dynamic women who are capable and human. It's so awesome to see. The feminism isn't forced, either. I also love the brotherly relationship between Leo and John, and the romance between Grace and Leo is so sweet. Their chemistry is terrific, and their banter is gold.
The only negative about the characters is their lack of depth. They're vivid, but they don't bounce off the page.
This is a brilliant example of a good pirate book. Forget Daughter of the Pirate King (I had issues with that one) - read this instead.
The writing is great. The descriptions are a bit too colourful, but otherwise the atmosphere is rich, the dialogue witty, entertaining, and realistic, and the humour delightfully quirky. I love it. The whole "pirate-ness" is also so natural and realistic; the slang and "pirate talk" is there without being overdone, and the author doesn't lay it on too thick. It's immersive, and well researched.
The plot is fantastic. There's action, but there's also intrigue and wonderful character interactions. I thoroughly enjoyed getting swept away in this story.
The characters are all very cute and compelling. I absolutely love the idea of a female pirate crew, and everywhere you turn there are epic, dynamic women who are capable and human. It's so awesome to see. The feminism isn't forced, either. I also love the brotherly relationship between Leo and John, and the romance between Grace and Leo is so sweet. Their chemistry is terrific, and their banter is gold.
The only negative about the characters is their lack of depth. They're vivid, but they don't bounce off the page.
April 23, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and chose to review it. This in no way impacts my opinion.
That was kind of... lackluster. I will have a full review up on Books and Ladders!
That was kind of... lackluster. I will have a full review up on Books and Ladders!
May 31, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley and Weapenry Co-Op for giving me this book to review
Over Raging Tides is an enjoyable pirate fantasy book. It had adventure, potential romance and betrayal. However, it felt like hardly anything happened in the book, when I felt like it was in the middle part of the book it was almost the end, which meant that the story and characters were underdeveloped. Grace was an interesting character who is willing to discover the truth about what happened to her mother. I couldn’t connect with Leo as I felt his loyalty to Grace were unrealistic, especially when he chose her over his brother. While this wasn’t as good as I had hoped I am looking forward to reading more about Grace’s story and I would recommend it to those who like YA pirate adventures.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
Over Raging Tides is an enjoyable pirate fantasy book. It had adventure, potential romance and betrayal. However, it felt like hardly anything happened in the book, when I felt like it was in the middle part of the book it was almost the end, which meant that the story and characters were underdeveloped. Grace was an interesting character who is willing to discover the truth about what happened to her mother. I couldn’t connect with Leo as I felt his loyalty to Grace were unrealistic, especially when he chose her over his brother. While this wasn’t as good as I had hoped I am looking forward to reading more about Grace’s story and I would recommend it to those who like YA pirate adventures.
This and my other reviews can be found at Amethyst Bookwyrm
April 21, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book from NetGalley
This was definitely a bit underdeveloped, but I still really enjoyed it because LADY PIRATES! That's a surefire way to get me to pick up any book. It was a pretty fun story and I liked the addition of the killer-mermaid creatures and the hunt for the treasure map, I just wish it was a bit longer because there were definitely some holes that needed filling in. Also I wasn't really into the main guy character they rescued for most of the book, but he's definitely growing on me at this point. I'll definitely check out the sequel.
This was definitely a bit underdeveloped, but I still really enjoyed it because LADY PIRATES! That's a surefire way to get me to pick up any book. It was a pretty fun story and I liked the addition of the killer-mermaid creatures and the hunt for the treasure map, I just wish it was a bit longer because there were definitely some holes that needed filling in. Also I wasn't really into the main guy character they rescued for most of the book, but he's definitely growing on me at this point. I'll definitely check out the sequel.
March 31, 2018
**Review can be found on https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/ **
Gracie is the Quartermaster on the pirate ship Lady Luck, second in command to the all female crew of pirates. After narrowly escaping a battle between ships, the crew approaches the remains to scavenge for treasure when Gracie stumbles across survivors- 2 male survivors.
To add to the troubles, there are creatures afoot as well, the gray skinned Mordgris who swim in the ocean and appear to be following Gracie. When the possibility of a legendary map pops up, the crew jump at the chance to seek out treasure...
I was surprised by how realistic this story was for the times as well as the job (pirating is a job, right?), regardless of them being females (yes, I know, very gender stereotype of me!) I kinda expected refined and clean ladies- nope, that was not this crew. They cussed and discussed sex on a regular basis and could handle there own be it drinking run or using a sword. These are your typical pirates, they just so happen to be female. Go girl power!
I thought it was very interesting that there is a superstition mentioned in the story that women aboard a ship would bring bad luck, which is a crazy idea as well as a great plot device for the premise of an all female pirate crew. So of course I had to google it and discovered that Pirates in general were quite a superstitions bunch- starting a voyage on a Friday means your doomed, whistling on a boat causes storms, bananas on board are bad luck- and yes, women were not allowed on any kind of ship since they would anger the Sea Gods and bring misfortune to the crew (what kind of sea gods don't like women??). Well, I love how Jen took that tidbit and created this entire world of kickass female pirates, way more capable than anyone gives them credit for.
Overall I found this to be a great adventure filled with danger and strong compelling characters and there will be more to come from Gracie and her crew since is just the beginning of the hunt. It is the perfect read for those needing their pirate fix or anyone wanting a lot of action in their reads!
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.
"By now, I think the older boy has worked out what we are. There isn't a uniform among us. Just weapons and dirt; boats, and breasts "
Gracie is the Quartermaster on the pirate ship Lady Luck, second in command to the all female crew of pirates. After narrowly escaping a battle between ships, the crew approaches the remains to scavenge for treasure when Gracie stumbles across survivors- 2 male survivors.
To add to the troubles, there are creatures afoot as well, the gray skinned Mordgris who swim in the ocean and appear to be following Gracie. When the possibility of a legendary map pops up, the crew jump at the chance to seek out treasure...
"...But even a decision made in haste is a decision made, and I'll be damned if I'm not going to stand by it."
I was surprised by how realistic this story was for the times as well as the job (pirating is a job, right?), regardless of them being females (yes, I know, very gender stereotype of me!) I kinda expected refined and clean ladies- nope, that was not this crew. They cussed and discussed sex on a regular basis and could handle there own be it drinking run or using a sword. These are your typical pirates, they just so happen to be female. Go girl power!
"I don't guess that ladies talk that way where you're from?" I ask.
"No one talks that way where I'm from," he says.
"Shame. Our brand of honesty can be...refreshing."
I thought it was very interesting that there is a superstition mentioned in the story that women aboard a ship would bring bad luck, which is a crazy idea as well as a great plot device for the premise of an all female pirate crew. So of course I had to google it and discovered that Pirates in general were quite a superstitions bunch- starting a voyage on a Friday means your doomed, whistling on a boat causes storms, bananas on board are bad luck- and yes, women were not allowed on any kind of ship since they would anger the Sea Gods and bring misfortune to the crew (what kind of sea gods don't like women??). Well, I love how Jen took that tidbit and created this entire world of kickass female pirates, way more capable than anyone gives them credit for.
Overall I found this to be a great adventure filled with danger and strong compelling characters and there will be more to come from Gracie and her crew since is just the beginning of the hunt. It is the perfect read for those needing their pirate fix or anyone wanting a lot of action in their reads!
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.
May 22, 2018
This was fun! It was exactly what I needed after The Oddling Prince. Quick, easy and engaging.
But let's start from the beginning. this book is about Grace Porter, the quartermaster of the Lady Luck, a pirate ship that is housing only females. They have many rules and one of the most important ones is: No men are allowed on board.
But that changes when Grace saves two boys from the Mordgris, the sea monsters who also stole her mother away. And they might just help her get her revenge, but for what price?
So, the first thing that drew me to this was obviously the all-female pirate ship. Yes, please!
As I already mentioned, this was a lot of fun. I flew through the pages, which was honestly such a relief after me struggling with my previous read. This was quite predictable though. The main character Grace was interesting enough, but the others fell a bit flat.
Celia was pretty two-dimensional and I wasn't at all surprised by what happened to her. Captain Ilene could become interesting, but she also wasn't that fleshed out in this book. I liked Leo or honestly, I liked Leo's and Grace's conversations. There wasn't a lot of info about him either. To be fair, the book is very short! Just shy of 240 pages.
The plot was nothing I haven't seen before and I could already tell you most of what would happen right from the start. BUT I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.
This is the first book in a series (which I didn't know prior to reading) and I think this series is perfect for binge reading all the books. I would have immediately started the sequel if it was already published. Since it is not, I fear I'll lose my interest in continuing the series when it does come out. It wasn't, after all, anything mindblowing or something that'll stay in my head for a long while.
There is not much else to say about this. Don't read it expecting anything groundbreaking, but if you are in need of a quick and easy read to take your mind off of things, this book might be for you.
But let's start from the beginning. this book is about Grace Porter, the quartermaster of the Lady Luck, a pirate ship that is housing only females. They have many rules and one of the most important ones is: No men are allowed on board.
But that changes when Grace saves two boys from the Mordgris, the sea monsters who also stole her mother away. And they might just help her get her revenge, but for what price?
So, the first thing that drew me to this was obviously the all-female pirate ship. Yes, please!
As I already mentioned, this was a lot of fun. I flew through the pages, which was honestly such a relief after me struggling with my previous read. This was quite predictable though. The main character Grace was interesting enough, but the others fell a bit flat.
Celia was pretty two-dimensional and I wasn't at all surprised by what happened to her. Captain Ilene could become interesting, but she also wasn't that fleshed out in this book. I liked Leo or honestly, I liked Leo's and Grace's conversations. There wasn't a lot of info about him either. To be fair, the book is very short! Just shy of 240 pages.
The plot was nothing I haven't seen before and I could already tell you most of what would happen right from the start. BUT I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this.
This is the first book in a series (which I didn't know prior to reading) and I think this series is perfect for binge reading all the books. I would have immediately started the sequel if it was already published. Since it is not, I fear I'll lose my interest in continuing the series when it does come out. It wasn't, after all, anything mindblowing or something that'll stay in my head for a long while.
There is not much else to say about this. Don't read it expecting anything groundbreaking, but if you are in need of a quick and easy read to take your mind off of things, this book might be for you.
January 11, 2022
* A copy was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Lady pirates, mythical creatures, missing mothers, magical maps, and (potential) mutiny!
That sounds like a good combination of things, but this one wasn't working for me. I think part of the reason was that this feels like an somewhat early draft of a novella. I can appreciate a shorter book where we cut out pointless scenes, but I have a harder time appreciating books where the characters and the world-building fall flat because there just isn't enough time devoted to them. We never really get a sense of the world around them, outside of that there is a war going on, and we know there IS magic but nothing more beyond that. There's one species of mythical creature mentioned, and they are supposedly absolutely terrifying but for the first part of the book, I was trying to determine how they were any different from sharks. They are very different from sharks, and rightfully scary, but it was left too long without explaining what they were or why they were concerning.
I didn't connect with any of the characters, so they ended up being very forgettable. Most of the "lady pirates" hardly had any dialogue, which helped to squash my hope of an abundance of tight female friendships. Grace, Leo, and John were the best of the bunch, but even so, I didn't feel like we knew them very well. Grace gets the most characterization, as well she should, but she still has one mission in mind, and that's the main facet of her whole personality. Other than, arrrgh I'm a female pirate fear me.
Speaking of, I respected that there was a only a bit of pirate speak, but I wasn't totally on board with the general vibe the lady pirates were giving off. It's talked about a couple times that what a good number of the gals were actually after was freedom, but I couldn't help but get the feeling that they really just think they're better than male sailors/pirates because they're female.
There was a plot twist near the end that was the only thing that actually sparked my interest, but it still wasn't enough to make me pick up the sequels.
Lady pirates, mythical creatures, missing mothers, magical maps, and (potential) mutiny!
That sounds like a good combination of things, but this one wasn't working for me. I think part of the reason was that this feels like an somewhat early draft of a novella. I can appreciate a shorter book where we cut out pointless scenes, but I have a harder time appreciating books where the characters and the world-building fall flat because there just isn't enough time devoted to them. We never really get a sense of the world around them, outside of that there is a war going on, and we know there IS magic but nothing more beyond that. There's one species of mythical creature mentioned, and they are supposedly absolutely terrifying but for the first part of the book, I was trying to determine how they were any different from sharks. They are very different from sharks, and rightfully scary, but it was left too long without explaining what they were or why they were concerning.
I didn't connect with any of the characters, so they ended up being very forgettable. Most of the "lady pirates" hardly had any dialogue, which helped to squash my hope of an abundance of tight female friendships. Grace, Leo, and John were the best of the bunch, but even so, I didn't feel like we knew them very well. Grace gets the most characterization, as well she should, but she still has one mission in mind, and that's the main facet of her whole personality. Other than, arrrgh I'm a female pirate fear me.
Speaking of, I respected that there was a only a bit of pirate speak, but I wasn't totally on board with the general vibe the lady pirates were giving off. It's talked about a couple times that what a good number of the gals were actually after was freedom, but I couldn't help but get the feeling that they really just think they're better than male sailors/pirates because they're female.
There was a plot twist near the end that was the only thing that actually sparked my interest, but it still wasn't enough to make me pick up the sequels.
March 21, 2018
*3.5 stars*
This could have been one of my favorites if only it was a bit longer!
“Over Raging Tides” takes us on an adventure with the all female crew of the Lady Luck with our lead Grace plagued by the loss of her mother and the mysterious creatures who taunt her every move using her mothers voice and face beneath the waves. When the opportunity arises to find a map that can be used to find whatever the owner desires she breaks all the rules and defies her crew in the hopes of seeking revenge.
This book has so many great opportunities but because of the length some parts are wrapped up rather quickly causing the overall pacing to seem a bit rushed in places, that said however I am so happy that a love story wasn’t thrown into the mix because that definitely would have been pushing the instant love trope a bit further than that already goes.
A positive however is the crew of all female pirates! I love anything dealing with the open waters and having a crew of strong women doing what the need to and holding their own among the male counterparts is always going to be a favorite and this book had it all I just wish we would have gotten to spend more time with them!
Fans of “Daughter of the Pirate King” should be able to slip into this world easily and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series and hopefully there’s a bit more to the remaining books so we really get to enjoy this world and these characters for all that they’re worth!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
This could have been one of my favorites if only it was a bit longer!
“Over Raging Tides” takes us on an adventure with the all female crew of the Lady Luck with our lead Grace plagued by the loss of her mother and the mysterious creatures who taunt her every move using her mothers voice and face beneath the waves. When the opportunity arises to find a map that can be used to find whatever the owner desires she breaks all the rules and defies her crew in the hopes of seeking revenge.
This book has so many great opportunities but because of the length some parts are wrapped up rather quickly causing the overall pacing to seem a bit rushed in places, that said however I am so happy that a love story wasn’t thrown into the mix because that definitely would have been pushing the instant love trope a bit further than that already goes.
A positive however is the crew of all female pirates! I love anything dealing with the open waters and having a crew of strong women doing what the need to and holding their own among the male counterparts is always going to be a favorite and this book had it all I just wish we would have gotten to spend more time with them!
Fans of “Daughter of the Pirate King” should be able to slip into this world easily and I look forward to seeing what comes next in the series and hopefully there’s a bit more to the remaining books so we really get to enjoy this world and these characters for all that they’re worth!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
August 15, 2018
2.5 Stars
I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I was so excited to pick this up because I've been wanting a book about a crew of lady pirates forever! Sadly this wasn't the lady pirate book for me; the majority of this book was lackluster after that stunning cover.
I don't even know how to beginning talking about all the ways this disappointed me; the writing was pretty basic, the plot was full of tropes and given away almost entirely by the synopsis, the world-building felt like an afterthought, the character motivations and choices weren't believable nor did the progression of relationships between characters feel organic. In fact we hardly saw any relationships between the lady pirates being developed, all the focus was on Grace and Leo...
There was casual mentions of Grace also being attracted to women but there was no evidence to support this other than Grace having said she had slept with women in previous ports.
This felt like the first third of a large volume, not a self contained story which requires its own book. There was nothing truly awful or offensive about this book, it just wasn't great.
I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I was so excited to pick this up because I've been wanting a book about a crew of lady pirates forever! Sadly this wasn't the lady pirate book for me; the majority of this book was lackluster after that stunning cover.
I don't even know how to beginning talking about all the ways this disappointed me; the writing was pretty basic, the plot was full of tropes and given away almost entirely by the synopsis, the world-building felt like an afterthought, the character motivations and choices weren't believable nor did the progression of relationships between characters feel organic. In fact we hardly saw any relationships between the lady pirates being developed, all the focus was on Grace and Leo...
There was casual mentions of Grace also being attracted to women but there was no evidence to support this other than Grace having said she had slept with women in previous ports.
This felt like the first third of a large volume, not a self contained story which requires its own book. There was nothing truly awful or offensive about this book, it just wasn't great.
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