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Legends of Vioria #0.5
Seabird
In this prequel to WINDFALL, Liana Foley begins a journey of self-discovery that turns a lost princess into a pirate captain.After the king and queen of Caerwyn are killed in a coupe, their children escape to the Island colony of Madzetal. Liana and her brother Ivan are adopted by the Foley family. As a scrappy almost-sixteen-year-old, she’s spent her life struggling to fit in like her foster sister, Nellie. When Liana acts out, Ivan and their foster father decide that she needs friends in higher places.Liana is introduced to Asha Ganem, history enthusiast and the daughter of a controversial member of the Island Council. As they comb through the tense aftermath of colonization, young romance takes hold of the girls. It sends them on a journey to find their place in a world that doesn’t quite fit either of them. But the further down the way they go, the clearer it is that their lives are set on much different paths.
Kindle Edition
Published May 28, 2021
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Shawna Barnett
4 books37 followersShawna Barnett is a mother, life-long advocate and author of swashbuckling tales. After receiving a BA in Politics from UC Santa Cruz, Shawna worked in victim advocacy and behavioral health. Born in San Diego, California, her experiences have taken her all over the United States. After settling in Tennessee with her daughter, Shawna seeks to speak out through writing and contribute to a world where everyone is safe and respectfully represented.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
May 26, 2021
Very well-written! A charming coming-of-age story. The author does an excellent job of depicting the confusion and delight of discovering new love, as well as introducing tension and mild danger. It's an excellent prequel to set the stage for Windfall.
March 24, 2021
Seabird by Shawna Barnett is a sweet introduction to the world the author has created, an island called Madzetal in the era of pirates. Essentially this Novella is a love story between the book’s main character Liana and the daughter of an upper-class politician Asha.
The pair spend the summer together and fall in love. It is a lovely story arc that I think a wide range of readers would enjoy. There are many layers to this book that felt like foreshadowing for the first full book in the series “Windfall”. Layers such as Liana and her brother Ivan coming from a royal heritage but raised by pirates. Which is pretty bloody cool.
The author does a fantastic job at creating fantastic visuals and great dialogue. “keep your hands off me, you smelly git!” being one of my particular favs. Although it is in a pirate setting there is quite a lot of reality sewn in, like Liana’s adoptive family having a cat and her drinking coffee in a scene. I also liked the jealously that Liana had over Brielle. It reminded me of Kvothe getting jealous of Denna in the Name of the Wind.
My only criticism would be the peril came right at the end and was brief. But it sets up the first book perfectly. Overall, the author is very talented, and I will look forward to future works. If you are going to read Windfall, I would recommend grabbing seabird first.
The pair spend the summer together and fall in love. It is a lovely story arc that I think a wide range of readers would enjoy. There are many layers to this book that felt like foreshadowing for the first full book in the series “Windfall”. Layers such as Liana and her brother Ivan coming from a royal heritage but raised by pirates. Which is pretty bloody cool.
The author does a fantastic job at creating fantastic visuals and great dialogue. “keep your hands off me, you smelly git!” being one of my particular favs. Although it is in a pirate setting there is quite a lot of reality sewn in, like Liana’s adoptive family having a cat and her drinking coffee in a scene. I also liked the jealously that Liana had over Brielle. It reminded me of Kvothe getting jealous of Denna in the Name of the Wind.
My only criticism would be the peril came right at the end and was brief. But it sets up the first book perfectly. Overall, the author is very talented, and I will look forward to future works. If you are going to read Windfall, I would recommend grabbing seabird first.
May 18, 2021
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I really enjoyed this. It's an exciting and enticing little story which feels exactly like a prequel should. It gives us a sense of the adventure to come from Windfall, the main novel, without giving any of the main characters a solid conclusion.
Liana is feisty and determined, but does seem quick to make assumptions—an excellent mix for a main character! The supporting characters are well developed and distinctive, with their contrasting values and tendency to lie. I think this cast are about to get into some huge drama!
All in all, this is a great introduction to a vibrant world. I'm looking forward to the novel!
I really enjoyed this. It's an exciting and enticing little story which feels exactly like a prequel should. It gives us a sense of the adventure to come from Windfall, the main novel, without giving any of the main characters a solid conclusion.
Liana is feisty and determined, but does seem quick to make assumptions—an excellent mix for a main character! The supporting characters are well developed and distinctive, with their contrasting values and tendency to lie. I think this cast are about to get into some huge drama!
All in all, this is a great introduction to a vibrant world. I'm looking forward to the novel!
July 18, 2021
I was honored to receive an ARC of Shawna Barnett’s upcoming novella, Seabird.
Seabird is a delightful jaunt into the young love of a girl whose fate hasn’t always been kind. Orphaned at a young age and taken in by foster parents, Liana is no stranger to trouble, and getting into it all on her own. After a tangle with some pirates, her adopted father tasks her with staying by her older brother’s side for the summer. As luck would have it, that’s the summer she meets the charming islander Asha, daughter of one of the councilors.
Liana at once finds Asha both intriguing and enticing, and it doesn’t take long for the two girls to find adventure, and love. Their longing is both sweet and breathtaking, and a beautiful look into the innocence of a first love. As fate would have it, Liana is once again dealt a tragedy. In the end, she realizes that there is a path calling to her: piracy.
If you enjoy political intrigue, young love, and queer representation, this novella is for you. You can pick up Seabird and the rest of Liana’s story in the novel Windfall from Hansen House, an LGBTQ+ indie publishing press, later this year.
Seabird is a delightful jaunt into the young love of a girl whose fate hasn’t always been kind. Orphaned at a young age and taken in by foster parents, Liana is no stranger to trouble, and getting into it all on her own. After a tangle with some pirates, her adopted father tasks her with staying by her older brother’s side for the summer. As luck would have it, that’s the summer she meets the charming islander Asha, daughter of one of the councilors.
Liana at once finds Asha both intriguing and enticing, and it doesn’t take long for the two girls to find adventure, and love. Their longing is both sweet and breathtaking, and a beautiful look into the innocence of a first love. As fate would have it, Liana is once again dealt a tragedy. In the end, she realizes that there is a path calling to her: piracy.
If you enjoy political intrigue, young love, and queer representation, this novella is for you. You can pick up Seabird and the rest of Liana’s story in the novel Windfall from Hansen House, an LGBTQ+ indie publishing press, later this year.
April 4, 2021
I just want to say I loved this book! I was hooked from the very beginning and just fell in love with the main character. She was very well written and I’m very excited to continue reading her story.
March 23, 2021
I was sent the ARC and it was said to be a sapphic romance with a Pirates of the Caribbean twist.
While the writing was well done and the story well constructed, I didn’t particularly enjoy the novella. Hence, why it took me two weeks to finish. I had a hard time wanting to pick it back up.
1. My first issue—the dates at the top of each chapter—they mean nothing to me. I do not know the difference between Brydlefest and Candelath as a brand new (to this sort of genre) reader. They were just a distraction that could be easily fixed with the mention of “a few weeks/months later”. Unless the author wants to add a calendar for reference.
2. The world building was fantastic, I felt like I was on the island, but as a novella there was not enough character building for me to care enough to want to pick up the first novel.
3. The “romance” was a few interactions that felt swept under the rug. Liana apparently loved Asha so much but I didn’t feel that at all. It didn’t feel like love or romance, it felt like teenagers hooking up. I’m sure Windfall will answer some of these questions—at least I hope, because there’s a line that says their relationship changes the world later on. Not sure how 🤷🏼♀️
4. The pirates are mentioned two, maybe three, times and then at the end Liana wants to be a pirate? It felt more like she was being built as a character to want to make amends for the atrocities of her ancestors...she mentions her enjoyment of sailing and that she knows how but again that comes to spending too much of the prequel on world building and not character building.
All that said, had I gone into this novella with different expectations, I’d likely have enjoyed it for what it was. The likely hood of me running to pick up Windfall? Pretty low.
While the writing was well done and the story well constructed, I didn’t particularly enjoy the novella. Hence, why it took me two weeks to finish. I had a hard time wanting to pick it back up.
1. My first issue—the dates at the top of each chapter—they mean nothing to me. I do not know the difference between Brydlefest and Candelath as a brand new (to this sort of genre) reader. They were just a distraction that could be easily fixed with the mention of “a few weeks/months later”. Unless the author wants to add a calendar for reference.
2. The world building was fantastic, I felt like I was on the island, but as a novella there was not enough character building for me to care enough to want to pick up the first novel.
3. The “romance” was a few interactions that felt swept under the rug. Liana apparently loved Asha so much but I didn’t feel that at all. It didn’t feel like love or romance, it felt like teenagers hooking up. I’m sure Windfall will answer some of these questions—at least I hope, because there’s a line that says their relationship changes the world later on. Not sure how 🤷🏼♀️
4. The pirates are mentioned two, maybe three, times and then at the end Liana wants to be a pirate? It felt more like she was being built as a character to want to make amends for the atrocities of her ancestors...she mentions her enjoyment of sailing and that she knows how but again that comes to spending too much of the prequel on world building and not character building.
All that said, had I gone into this novella with different expectations, I’d likely have enjoyed it for what it was. The likely hood of me running to pick up Windfall? Pretty low.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2021
I enjoyed this book, although I felt it meandered a little bit in the beginning. However, by the end, I was checking when Book 1 of the series comes out since this one is a prequel.
This book follows Liana who had a penchant for finding trouble (totally on accident!)
I was a bit confused as her back story came out, to be completely honest. She and her brother were found as stow-aways when they were quite small. They were the fallen King's children. (I expected this to play a bigger part in the story than it did. Maybe they are gonna circle back to this in later books?)
I digress... The orphans were taken in by a sailor and adopted. Liana is happy but now faces an uncertainty about her future now that her mother has passed when Liana is in her teens. When she is forced to hang out with Asha all summer she prepares herself for a boring summer in the hopes of getting to go sailing with her Father. Instead, she falls in love with her. When tragedy strikes her hopes for the future are lost in many ways and she is forced to leave the island home she loves.
There are hints at piracy and colonization and important topics such as what makes us who we are and how we chose our own paths.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Liana who had a penchant for finding trouble (totally on accident!)
I was a bit confused as her back story came out, to be completely honest. She and her brother were found as stow-aways when they were quite small. They were the fallen King's children. (I expected this to play a bigger part in the story than it did. Maybe they are gonna circle back to this in later books?)
I digress... The orphans were taken in by a sailor and adopted. Liana is happy but now faces an uncertainty about her future now that her mother has passed when Liana is in her teens. When she is forced to hang out with Asha all summer she prepares herself for a boring summer in the hopes of getting to go sailing with her Father. Instead, she falls in love with her. When tragedy strikes her hopes for the future are lost in many ways and she is forced to leave the island home she loves.
There are hints at piracy and colonization and important topics such as what makes us who we are and how we chose our own paths.
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2021
Love, adventure, pirates, and discovering who you are - all wrapped up in this novella. It's so easy to get lost in the story, and it was a bit strange when you get dropped back into the real world at the end. I love how strong and independent Liana is, she's a wonderful heroine. An excellent introduction to the world, with a cast of characters you won't soon forget. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series!
September 22, 2021
Seabird is a coming-of-age prequel to Windfall, and it serves well as an introduction to the main character, Liana, our confident bipirate in the making. I like that Liana isn’t overly competent in everything, allowing for character development, but she still has a strong core of confidence. I love self-assured characters. The romance is so sweet and sapphic, which is my preferred romance dynamic.
January 18, 2022
This is the prequel I was looking for after having read Windfall. This works well as a standalone too, so no worries if you haven't read Windfall yet. Not only is this a story about an incident mentioned in Windfall, but also a fun look in on some other well known characters that deepens the relationships between them and Liana.
July 1, 2021
such a fun read! the author does SUCH a good job packing a lot of punch
May 17, 2021
I really enjoyed reading Seabird! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC copy. Given that it's a prequel novella, I knew that it wouldnt be a super long story but I found myself wanting more! My only complaint would be that I needed more sensory details. Often times I couldnt quite tell where the characters were or what was happening. All in all, a great story that left me wanting to read more. I cant wait for Windfall!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews