Josephine Teversin was fifteen years old when her father was murdered by pirate hunters. She’s the last of her kind—an immortal pirate without a ship or crew, and her magic is unstable at best.
It’s 1773, and tensions are rising between England and the American colonies. Rumors of war are running rampant. But immortal pirates never choose sides…until the hunters find her again.
Josephine is kidnapped and brought face to face with her father’s murderer—Garreck Skulthorpe. Her choices are simple: become his spy or face the hangman’s noose. A female who sword fights and picks pockets will be a useful undercover agent after all.
Armed with a fan, an exploding pocket watch, and erratic powers, Josephine is drawn into a deadly battle between pirate hunters, a rogue witch, and the Patriot rebels. She must risk her very life in order to thwart Skulthorpe and his nefarious plans for the colonies—all while wearing a stuffy ball gown.
And everyone knows…pirates do not wear petticoats.
C.R. Pugh is a writer of young adult fiction who lives just outside Dallas, Texas. She’s a sucker for science fiction, fantasy, and happy endings after a long, drawn-out adventure with several gut-wrenching cliffhangers. While not writing, Pugh is a homeschool mom of one incredible ten-year-old. In her spare time, she obsessively declutters her home while watching Captain America save the world again and again!
The Petticoat Pirate was a heart-pounding, swashbuckling good time.
Set pre-Revolutionary War, this YA historic fiction takes place in Charlestown, where you’ll meet a sassy, headstrong pirate named Josephine.
Jo is the daughter of the late Joseph Teversin, an immortal pirate. As the last of her kind, she’s been in hiding but is soon discovered by the pirate hunter, Garreck Skulthorpe, and his young apprentice, Nathaniel Runik.
Jo finds herself in quite the predicament as she’s forced into espionage–and ball gowns as it were–to gathel intel for the man who killed her father.
Adventure, romance, and action await as Jo gets thrown into the politics of war, all while uncovering more buried secrets and trying to win the trust of her fellow spy, Nathaniel, the man who’s starting to despise her less and less as time goes on.
This book was so much fun. I highly recommend it to all historic fiction and pirate-lovers. I’m eager for the next book in the series.
This was incredibly entertaining. I very much enjoyed Josephine as the main protagonist, being multifaceted, fun, and spunky in all the right ways. Her relationship with Oliver was sweet and her constant back and forth banter with Nathaniel was hilarious. The side characters are a lot of fun too; I absolutely adored Genny. And of course, the antagonist who you can't wait to see get theirs. I was a little sad there wasn't much sea fairing in this book, but it looks like the sequel might deliver on that. It was still a fun and exciting ride, and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy tales of spying and subterfuge.
"The Petticoat Pirate" had been on my radar for months before I finally picked up a copy. The idea of a fun adventure with a female pirate was appealing, but it didn't drive me to read it right away. But then, finally, I did. And holy crap. Literally one chapter in, and I was HOOKED. I read all weekend, sneaking off whenever I had a chance to see what would happen next. Let me break it down for you:
The setting / lore: Taking place in Charleston on the cusp of the American Revolution, history blends with fantasy in the most beautifully satisfying way here. Immortal Pirates and witches are being hunted out of existence, and our MC Josephine appears to be the last of these fascinating, magical pirates. Her controllable powers are pretty damn cool.
The plot: I won't say too much about this, but it was well thought out and perfectly executed. Never once did the story lag or have me questioning its plausibility. And the ending - I could cry it was so good. Also, I'm really, really going to need book 2, like, yesterday.
The romance: One of the things that held me back from reading this book was the fact that I enjoy at least a little romance in my historical fantasy, and there wasn't really any hint of that in the blurb. But DAMN, was there romance. And not just one but two prospective love interests, although I am firmly fixed in my support of Team Oliver. But, I digress. Suffice to say, the romance is good. Really good.
Overall, this book easily makes the top 10 favorite books I've read this year (and this made my 85th book read). I will definitely be ordering a copy to give to my mom for Christmas this year. It's just so good! Go. Read. Now.
I wasn't sure what to expect When I started this book, but I'm very glad I read it! The story was engaging, the characters were funny, and the gadgets were fascinating and fun to see used in the story.
This was a jolly fun read and I'm just shocked it hasn't gotten more attention! It had total Pirates of the Caribbean vibes but was also completely its own story, and the pace was brilliant throughout. Never a dull moment. Pugh has successfully brought this world to life to the extent that you almost forget that there were no magic pirates in the 1700s!
Kudos also for making me genuinely confused as to which male we were supposed to be rooting for at the beginning. I'm rarely unsure of that. Oliver was perhaps a LITTLE possessive for my liking, but very of the time/genre. Nathaniel was the most interesting character and I can't wait to see where his character goes next.
There were just a couple of things that irked me, but honestly they're so minor and largely personal taste I don't think it's worth mentioning. Definitely recommend this tale!
Wow, The Petticoat Pirate is unlike anything I've ever read before! With pre-Revolution Charleston as the story's backdrop, this book is an awesome mixture of fantasy and steampunk. I just loved all the cool gadgets and inventions Josephine used! It was fun how they were disguised as ordinary objects, yet packed a real punch!
Josephine is the perfect protagonist. She's tough and can take care of herself, yet she surrounds herself with people who would do anything to keep her safe. I particularly enjoyed (and related to!) Beau. He was a lot of fun! And although the blurb makes no hint that The Petticoat Pirate contains romance, romance there is!! Oliver is so sweet and I can't wait to read book two to figure out what becomes of him!!
I'm so happy I happened to see this book on Book Twitter and clicked on the link! This was a super fun, romantic, humorous, and thoroughly original historical adventure. Paranormal pirates? Yes, please! I was hooked right from the start! Loved the immortal pirates element, witches, the Charlestown setting, friends to lovers romance, and the ties to true history. I need to know what happens next! Looking forward to the next book!
Who doesn’t need a good old-fashioned pirate adventure?
This was a fantastic adventure set in the revolutionary time period with the magical twist of immortal pirates and witches playing a role in the political aspects of bringing about war in the colonies. As Charleston is one of my favorite cities to visit, I found the setting a perfect place for the story to unfold.
I enjoy reading historical fiction set in this time period, as well as fantasy and this was a perfect mix of both.
I loved the mystery, intrigue and just the right amount of romance interwoven into the plot. The characters are amazing, the villains are terrible and I am left with questions that make me want the next book now!!
I've always enjoyed Pirate stories, and I LOVED C.R. Pugh's last YA series, so I knew this one would be good... AND IT WAS! What a fun read. (And just look at that cover!)
C.R. Pugh has the awesome ability to weave a story with just enough suspense, intrigue, love, and interesting magic/mechanical devices that you are left immensely satisfied each page you read. Each of her stories is perfectly paced. She has a true talent for storytelling, and I'm so excited to continue with this pirate adventure. I just hope the next book comes soon because I want to know what happens next.
If you're looking for a fun escape, jump into this one... though ye be warned, "pirates don't wear petticoats."
This is a great read for teens through adults who love fantasy! CR Pugh has created another winner with her great characters and fast paced adventure throughout this young adult book. A real page turner that leaves you wanting more!
I was fortunate enough to receive an early reading of this book, and its final form is even more fabulous. As a lifelong fan of pirates, history, magic, and strong female protagonists, I loved this story.
Josephine descends from a line of Immortal Pirates, but her own magic is quite unstable. The story begins just before the American Revolution after Jo loses her beloved father to Garreck Skulthorpe. When she's kidnapped by her father's murderer and his apprentice, Nathaniel, she's forced into becoming a spy. Jo complies, learning what she can in order to stay alive, and enters a whole new world of intrigue and adventure.
Jo is a great character and her cast of friends are also so much fun. I loved watching her struggle more to become a lady than anything else, completely sympathizing with the corsets, petticoats, and attempting to learn proper interactions with "polite" society. I also really loved Jo's complex relationship with Nathaniel--enemies to co-workers (so to speak) and then maybe... could there be more? Hard to say.
This books culminates in an exciting climax that absolutely leaves the way open for a book two and maybe more. Another wonderful YA adventure series from the eminently talented Ms .Pugh. Take a ride with Jo and the rest of the crew to see what lurks over the horizon, beyond the shores of Charleston and into one of the most exciting chapters of American history.
Pirates...hunters....possible war....mystery...and love. These ideas are weaved beautifully into the first book of this series by this amazing author. Josephine had to watch her immortal pirate father die for her. Now she is just trying to live a normal life...but pirate hunters will not let her. Nathaniel wants revenge on Josephine for her father's involvement in the death of his father, but not all is as it seems. Set during the time before the American Revolution, this story brings in all the elements of the war, but with a fantasy twist. A must read!
This was a fun read! Loved the concept of immortal pirates! I wish there had been more seafaring and actual piracy in this book, but enjoyed the intrigue and never knowing who was trustworthy! There is a cliffhanger ending. Hoping for even more magic, spying, revolution, and piracy in the next book! This one is well worth your time!
Pirates. History. Magic. If you like tales involving any of these things, this book is for you. And if you enjoy all three of those elements, as I do, then this novel will send you straight to literary paradise! Fast-paced and exciting, with charming characters and effortless prose, this was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I cannot WAIT for the next installment in the series, and I hope that there will be MANY more!!
Set in pre-Revolutionary Charleston, ‘The Petticoat Pirate’ is a unique YA fantasy full of action, intrigue, and romance. The action starts from the first page and continues growing in depth and complication as the story and the protagonist progress.
Our heroine is one Josephine Teversin, a young woman descended from an immortal pirate and something else—something unknown and mysterious but powerful. While not quite the fierce swashbuckler I was anticipating, she is sassy and loyal with a wit that cuts as sharply as any blade. She can be a bit immature at times, but I anticipate based on the growth already developed in this book that she’ll grow into an incredibly fierce leader as the series progresses.
Josephine’s journey begins when she’s forced to go undercover as a lady (hence the petticoats) for the enemy. To play her part, she receives lessons in social etiquette rife with humor and relatability for any woman who hates squeezing into things, getting dolled-up, and playing dumb to humor others. As her time as a spy progresses, secrets are revealed and plots unfold that complicate everything in a way that’s sure to keep readers turning pages.
One such complication is with her love interests. Yes, plural. One is her best friend, Oliver, who’s sworn to do anything to protect her, which her mission and heritage make quite difficult. The other is a man she believes her enemy (and who isn’t exactly fond of her either at first), Nathaniel. Nathaniel is a pirate hunter who hates her kind, but he finds hating Josephine becomes harder and harder as he gets to know her and certain truths are revealed. Their enemies to (potential) lovers arc is one I am decidedly rooting for.
‘The Petticoat Pirate’ is perfect for any fan of YA fantasy romance. It’s got magic. It’s got action. It’s got two love interests that both get moments to make you swoon. Top all that off with interesting lore in a historical background and how could you resist? Don’t miss out on this one. I’m off to check out book 2.
The Petticoat Pirate is an inventive twist on Colonial America. Set in the early 1700s, the story focuses on Josephine Teversin, a girl in her mid to late teens who is half pirate and half.... well, we don't exactly know what her other half is. Her father was an immortal pirate and her mother is a mystery that isn't unraveled in this book. I loved the twist on pirates that Pugh takes with this book.
"A true immortal pirate could not be caught on land after the sun had set or he would turn to sand on the spot."
Basically an immortal pirate is kind of like a vampire. Except the sun doesn't kill them, their physical location at night is what does them in. In addition to the "immortal" pirates there are also regular pirates, witches, colonists, British soldiers and hunters. Hunters of what? Well Pirates of course! While this is mostly a pirate story there is also a wonderful element of suspense to be found. We have political intrigue, espionage, double agents, traitors to the crown, loyalists and more. The timeline for most of The Petticoat Pirate is just prior to the Boston Tea Party. Having the story set just before a huge event in American history lends nicely to the urgency of matters and desperation the characters feel to complete certain tasks.
I found this story very enjoyable. While it does end on a bit of a cliffhanger I found that it sets up all of the events that could happen in book two quite nicely. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next release in this series.
Josephine Teversin is the daughter of an immortal pirate, and her father gave his life for hers, murdered by a cruel Patriot named Garreck Skulthorpe. As war looms in the future between England and the American colonists, Skulthorpe finds Josephine again and blackmails her into working for him. She's trained as a spy and must work with the infuriating agent, Nathaniel. Yet his past and hers are tangled, and Skulthorpe's plans for them are far more nefarious than they could imagine. Can Jospehine figure out his devious plot before she ends up hanging from a noose?
This is a fantastic first book in the YA historical fantasy series, Immortal Pirates. Right off, I loved the worldbuilding. We start right off in the prologue with the daughter of a mysterious immortal pirate and the myths surrounding them. It's a world of swords and magic right when the American colonists are about to revolt against England. Lots of spying and plotting. There is more spy action than pirate action in this book, but it is very well done. There are even spy gadgets! I was immediately rooting for Josephine. She has a lot of spunk and cunning. She was great as a spy, but I really want to see her in her pirate role. (I've already picked up the next two books!) The tension between Jo and Nathaniel was great. There was a marvelous cast of characters, but my favorites are Genny and Beau. Overall, it's a fun adventure and I can't wait to dive into the next book.
I think with every book by CG Pugh I read, I love it even more than the last! THE PETTICOAT PIRATE, set in 1770, charmed me from the very first pages with its magical pirates who command ships and crews with the power in their blood bestowed by witches. Josephine, who is plucky and simply a wonderful character, is half pirate, daughter of the last immortal pirate. When she loses her father, she goes to stay with her Aunt Genevieve and Oliver on land, and gets caught up in a plot of pirate hunters and conspiracies to turn the tide of the impending war brewing between the redcoats and the Americans.
There’s so much going on in this book and it’s very well plotted. Josephine is recruited by Skulthorpe, who she holds responsible for her father’s death, and Nathaniel, who works for him (is it wrong that I ship them?) and is quickly trained in all manner of being a spy and a lady by her new team, Beau, Eleanor and Sophia. I loved this, loved the conspiracy and intrigue, and love what this series has in store! Pirates, witches, magic, war looming on the horizon! So glad we have more books ahead! 5/5 stars.
The Petticoat Pirate is a 1700's set historical fantasy romance that has the vibes of 'Pirates of the Carribean.' If you loved POTC and maybe had a little bit of a thing for Norrington, and maybe might have wanted Elizabeth and Norrington to be together, then this book is for you!
Josephine, daughter of a pirate who has inherited the gumption and adventurous spirit of her father, is being chased by pirate hunters, particularly Nathaniel, the predicted hero of the story. At first, I wanted her to be with Oliver, the nice young man, but as the story progressed and there were more scenes between Josephine and Nathaniel, I got on board with the pairing.
A fun and romantic historical tale. Also, I loved it was set in Charleston, South Carolina! I was there on vacation the other summer, and we saw some of the historical sites along the seashore and on the sea, and so reading this book (though imagining it in the 1700s) gave me some context! 5 stars.
What a fantastic story of pirates and witches! I saw this book while scrolling through Instagram a few months back and placed it on my TBR. Pugh did an amazing job weaving adventure, mystery and romance in this swashbuckling escapade! I loved the characters, especially the scrappy, sarcastic Josephine and her handsome protector Oliver! I enjoyed the slow blooming romance between the two and my heart was tugged as the whisper of possible romance grew between Josephine and Nathaniel. I enjoyed trying to stay two steps ahead of the characters to see if I could figure out the puzzle before they did! I won't say whether or not I did, but I will say I can't wait for the second book to see where these wonderfully written characters end up! Thank you Pugh for taking me on your adventure!
This book was recommended up and down by my writer friends and it’s easy to see why. The story in here is brilliant and it was such fun to go on an adventure like this again!
Josephine is one of the most enjoyable leads I’ve read in a while, striking just the right balance between flawed and charming. I loved following her rationale and how it didn’t always make sense to the reader but absolutely works within the narrative.
The dialogue is some of the best. I felt a distinct voice from each person and the setting was reflected well without being overbearing.
Truthfully, my only complaint is I think some chapters could have been combined. But they work as is just fine.
So glad there’s a sequel for me to lose myself in!
In 18th century America, Josephine survives the murder of her immortal pirate father by loosing unstable magic. Tracked down, she's blackmailed into espionage alongside an infamous hunter with his own personal baggage.
Combining piracy, magic, romance, betrayal and a dose of antiquated Mission Impossible gadgetry, The Petticoat Pirate is enormous fun. Whilst there's no sailing of the high seas, as yet, I suspect it's on the horizon for later books. This landlubbing episode focuses on sneaking about, nefarious plotting and the introduction of what's likely to be a fabulous crew of reprobates.
I really enjoyed this book by C. R Pugh. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, other than it being a YA pirate novel. There wasn't as much romance in the story compared to my normal reads, but what it did have was good. I enjoyed the interaction between the characters and there were a few surprises along the way that I was not expecting at all! A wonderful and engaging read that never seemed dull or stuffed with useless information. The flow was spot on. I'm still rooting for Nathaniel though xD
I mean, just the title and book series name were enough to hook me for this one. But honestly there were so many things to enjoy about this book, I am not fully sure where to begin. The backdrop (The lead up to the Boston Tea Party) was awesome and intriguing all on its own, with then tossing Witches, Pirates, and Spies into the mix? What’s not to love? For me the icing on this wonderful cake was the exquisitely described fight scenes.
I loved this book! It immediately pulled me in and was hard to put down. I loved the characters and the relationships that evolved between them. I enjoyed the red herrings and having all of the pieces as the reader to put it together as the story unfolded. I laughed, I teared up, I thought about it with anticipation when I wasn't reading. I will pick up the next book as soon as it comes out.
4.5 stars really. The plot had me hooked from the first chapter. It’s very imaginative and interesting. I love the dynamic between Jo and Oliver… and the dynamic between Jo and Nathaniel! I think at this point I like Oliver a bit more, but I’m excited to see more with these characters and this fascinating world in book two!
Well developed characters. Well written. The story unfolds very nicely with not knowing who to trust and many challenges for the main character. I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Finally a book who’s heroine doesn’t annoy me with in-decision and worry. This books is very well written and kept me burning the midnight oil since I did not want to put it down! Can’t wait to read the next instalment!
This series is pretty damn close to perfect. Amazing strong female protagonist, addictive writing, brilliant dialogue, conflict, twists, romance, pirates, magic, villains, petticoats ... This series has it all.