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Beneath Black Sails #0.5
Across Dark Seas
A gilded cage is still a cage. Will love set her free or trap her forever?
Half-human, half-fae, and with rebellion in her blood, Lady Avice chafes against society’s strict rules. Climbing trees, cursing, and running through the woods with young men are all strictly forbidden. Eloping with a man she’s fairly sure she loves must be the solution to all her problems.
But her white knight quickly loses his lustre when they’re chased across the country by armed men and forced to flee in a pirate ship. With the wind in her hair, sea spray on her face, and magic stirring in her veins, the pirate life might be exactly the freedom she’s been longing for. But what’s freedom when her husband is still chained to tradition?
If you love adventures with magic, romance, and heroines who discover their power, you'll love this prequel to the new adult fantasy series that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Miranda Honfleur. Across Dark Seas is an epic adventure, the full-length prequel to Beneath Black Sails, a pirate fantasy adventure series featuring a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
This prequel book does not feature a HEA, however the series does. As you might expect from pirates, these stories include mild cussing and steamy encounters.
Half-human, half-fae, and with rebellion in her blood, Lady Avice chafes against society’s strict rules. Climbing trees, cursing, and running through the woods with young men are all strictly forbidden. Eloping with a man she’s fairly sure she loves must be the solution to all her problems.
But her white knight quickly loses his lustre when they’re chased across the country by armed men and forced to flee in a pirate ship. With the wind in her hair, sea spray on her face, and magic stirring in her veins, the pirate life might be exactly the freedom she’s been longing for. But what’s freedom when her husband is still chained to tradition?
If you love adventures with magic, romance, and heroines who discover their power, you'll love this prequel to the new adult fantasy series that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Miranda Honfleur. Across Dark Seas is an epic adventure, the full-length prequel to Beneath Black Sails, a pirate fantasy adventure series featuring a sizzling enemies-to-lovers romance.
This prequel book does not feature a HEA, however the series does. As you might expect from pirates, these stories include mild cussing and steamy encounters.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2020
513 people are currently reading
4368 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
December 3, 2025
This book is free on Amazon (Canada) today (12/03/2025). 🙂
✅ Pirates
✅ There is a cute cat, and they are riding giant cats
✅ Quick read
✅ Character development
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 Plot
3.5 stars
This is a light and entertaining quick read. I actually read it after reading the first book of the series, which also works because I could connect some events from the prequel to the information we learned in the first book.
Lady Avice always had a wild streak to her. She was never able to conform to society’s expectations of an 18-year-old well-behaved lady, and all she’s ever wanted was to be free to run and explore the world and to have a great adventure like the ones in the books she reads.
Avice’s father secured a marriage for her, but being the stubborn young lady she is, Avice decides to run away and elope with her one true love instead. She believes in love at first sight when it comes to Evered, but her charming prince quickly loses his appeal when they need to run from the country and board a ship to remain alive. Avice has always craved adventure, so she is ecstatic to find herself on The Morrigan, and she wishes to learn everything there is to know about sailing. Evered, on the other hand, is seasick and grumpy and would love for Avice to stop “debasing herself” by spending time on the deck with peasant sailors and behave like a proper lady instead. Avice soon realizes that she might have made a mistake when she decided to elope with Evered.
The first half felt a little long at times, even though this novella is only 200 pages long. The second half is more focused on the life aboard The Morrigan, and how Avice finally feels like she can be herself, and I loved that second half very much. Avice finds herself very disappointed when she sees that Evered is trying to control her and wants her to be a well-behaved lady. This book is really more character-oriented.
OMG. Please, Evered. Please get your head out of your ass. Nobody enjoys a selfish prick as a partner.
While reading the first book, we learn that Lady Vice was married when she embarked on The Morrigan, but I was led to believe that it was a great love match. It was interesting to see how Evered was a disappointment once Vice started to spend more time with him. I seriously rolled my eyes so many times while reading how he thought Avice was not behaving the way a proper lady should, that she should just sit and expect others to serve her, and how he honestly thought that sex was not meant to be enjoyable for women… Poor naïve Evered.
The plot is simple and nice enough, but it’s really the development of Avice that’s interesting. We can really see her change, and it helps us to better understand why she is the way she is in Beneath Black Sails. We can see her go from a mostly obedient lady to a free, alive, and authentic pirate lady.
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✅ Pirates
✅ There is a cute cat, and they are riding giant cats
✅ Quick read
✅ Character development
✅🆗 Pace
✅🆗 Plot
3.5 stars
This is a light and entertaining quick read. I actually read it after reading the first book of the series, which also works because I could connect some events from the prequel to the information we learned in the first book.
Avice was a collector of tales. Highwaymen, pirates, explorers, noble princes battling to save damsels in distress. She had shelves and shelves of adventure stories back at home. As a child, sneaking through the woods, she’d pretended to be Robin Hood or Ser Francis Drake.
Lady Avice always had a wild streak to her. She was never able to conform to society’s expectations of an 18-year-old well-behaved lady, and all she’s ever wanted was to be free to run and explore the world and to have a great adventure like the ones in the books she reads.
Kept at home for eighteen years, Avice was ashamed to say her life had been nothing short of dull. Lessons, reading, embroidery, yes, all the things ladies were meant to do. And the things ladies weren’t meant to do, like writing stories in secret notebooks and helping in the gardens and kitchens.
Avice’s father secured a marriage for her, but being the stubborn young lady she is, Avice decides to run away and elope with her one true love instead. She believes in love at first sight when it comes to Evered, but her charming prince quickly loses his appeal when they need to run from the country and board a ship to remain alive. Avice has always craved adventure, so she is ecstatic to find herself on The Morrigan, and she wishes to learn everything there is to know about sailing. Evered, on the other hand, is seasick and grumpy and would love for Avice to stop “debasing herself” by spending time on the deck with peasant sailors and behave like a proper lady instead. Avice soon realizes that she might have made a mistake when she decided to elope with Evered.
“Outside that cabin, you’re anything but. You laugh and joke and draw attention with every step.” The smile faded, and his dark eyes bored into her. “As soon as you go in there, it’s like you disappear from the world, leaving just a quiet echo.”
The first half felt a little long at times, even though this novella is only 200 pages long. The second half is more focused on the life aboard The Morrigan, and how Avice finally feels like she can be herself, and I loved that second half very much. Avice finds herself very disappointed when she sees that Evered is trying to control her and wants her to be a well-behaved lady. This book is really more character-oriented.
His gaze searched her face, frown intense. “Women don’t—don’t”—he shook his head—“they don’t enjoy you know.”
She blinked. Gods, he couldn’t even say the word.
He cleared his throat. “It’s something to be endured. What is it they say? Lie back and think of Albion?” His expression softened into an apologetic smile.
OMG. Please, Evered. Please get your head out of your ass. Nobody enjoys a selfish prick as a partner.
While reading the first book, we learn that Lady Vice was married when she embarked on The Morrigan, but I was led to believe that it was a great love match. It was interesting to see how Evered was a disappointment once Vice started to spend more time with him. I seriously rolled my eyes so many times while reading how he thought Avice was not behaving the way a proper lady should, that she should just sit and expect others to serve her, and how he honestly thought that sex was not meant to be enjoyable for women… Poor naïve Evered.
She wasn’t too wild, too bold, too loud. She was just right.
The plot is simple and nice enough, but it’s really the development of Avice that’s interesting. We can really see her change, and it helps us to better understand why she is the way she is in Beneath Black Sails. We can see her go from a mostly obedient lady to a free, alive, and authentic pirate lady.
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March 8, 2025
The way I didn't realize this is about the sister, and had the best surprise finding out!
July 13, 2023
I have learned so much about pirates and pirate ships, and all of it was perfectly integrated into the story without info dumps. I love it here!
Across Dark Seas is the prequal to Clare Sager’s Beneath Black Sails series. As the title suggests, we’re hanging out with pirates. Essentially, Lady Avice is everything a lady should not be. She’s loud, likes to swear, and is overall “too much.” Especially when she falls in love with and gets engaged to the person her father did not approve of. Desperate for freedom from her tyrannical father, Avice and loverboy escape her estate, join a pirate ship, and badassary ensues.
Let it be known, I love pirates. I’ve been dying to read this series ever since I found the first book, but last semester of college has been getting in my way of reading. Yet, in getting this book for free after signing up for Clare’s newsletter, (highly recommend, by the way), I knew this was my moment.
Honestly, Avice is a badass. She doesn’t need a man to take care of her, and she eventually learns said man is only stifling her. Everything about the sea and the pirate life calls to her, and I love getting to see how she transforms from the meek lady on shore to the badass sailor on the water. Clare did such a good job of balancing Avice’s learning curve as to how to be a pirate with the immediate feeling of, “I belong here.” I especially love that one of the major contributors to Avice stepping into her inner badass was her new female friendships/found family. This book screams girl power without crossing the line of feeling forced/contrived/overdone, and instead leaves you grinning to yourself and silently cheering them on. There are also swords and pirate battles, so really, what more can you ask for? I will say it took a little bit longer than I would have liked to get to the pirate ship, but Avice was busy being a badass and outsmarting the men around her, so I really can't complain.
Ultimately, if you are looking for a quick read with a competent female lead, pirates galore, and more specifically pirate books that actually give you details into the pirate life without dumping on you, pick this up. Bravo!
(Also, kind of spoilery, but I just have to say: what is going on between Avice and the captain? I sense sparks, but I don't think he is the love interest mentioned in the Beneath Black Sails blurb? Intrigue.)
Beneath Black Sails review - 3.5
Against Dark Tides review - 4
Under Black Skies review - 4.5
Through Dark Storms review - 5
Across Dark Seas is the prequal to Clare Sager’s Beneath Black Sails series. As the title suggests, we’re hanging out with pirates. Essentially, Lady Avice is everything a lady should not be. She’s loud, likes to swear, and is overall “too much.” Especially when she falls in love with and gets engaged to the person her father did not approve of. Desperate for freedom from her tyrannical father, Avice and loverboy escape her estate, join a pirate ship, and badassary ensues.
Let it be known, I love pirates. I’ve been dying to read this series ever since I found the first book, but last semester of college has been getting in my way of reading. Yet, in getting this book for free after signing up for Clare’s newsletter, (highly recommend, by the way), I knew this was my moment.
Honestly, Avice is a badass. She doesn’t need a man to take care of her, and she eventually learns said man is only stifling her. Everything about the sea and the pirate life calls to her, and I love getting to see how she transforms from the meek lady on shore to the badass sailor on the water. Clare did such a good job of balancing Avice’s learning curve as to how to be a pirate with the immediate feeling of, “I belong here.” I especially love that one of the major contributors to Avice stepping into her inner badass was her new female friendships/found family. This book screams girl power without crossing the line of feeling forced/contrived/overdone, and instead leaves you grinning to yourself and silently cheering them on. There are also swords and pirate battles, so really, what more can you ask for? I will say it took a little bit longer than I would have liked to get to the pirate ship, but Avice was busy being a badass and outsmarting the men around her, so I really can't complain.
Ultimately, if you are looking for a quick read with a competent female lead, pirates galore, and more specifically pirate books that actually give you details into the pirate life without dumping on you, pick this up. Bravo!
(Also, kind of spoilery, but I just have to say: what is going on between Avice and the captain? I sense sparks, but I don't think he is the love interest mentioned in the Beneath Black Sails blurb? Intrigue.)
Beneath Black Sails review - 3.5
Against Dark Tides review - 4
Under Black Skies review - 4.5
Through Dark Storms review - 5
June 29, 2022
This story is sneaky, but in a good way. It started out average, veered into the doldrums, then turned everything on its head. The book has 2 distinct faces in the author’s portrayal of traditional gender roles in the first vs second half of the book. To that end, it was refreshing and jarring to read about an MMC who was comically worthless while the FMC was quietly competent and carried on without any drama or tears. Pirates plundering the high seas, old nemeses from land causing problems, and a mix of male/female characters who don’t necessarily conform to expectations. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
4
Kindle
4
Kindle
February 24, 2023
This was a great little book for Vice’s backstory! We know the outlines of what happened from BBS, but it was wonderful to get the details!
October 3, 2025
Normally I don’t rate novellas but this was so much fun
September 8, 2024
⭐️ 4
🌶️ 2
Very mild & non-specific spoilers are in this review.
What an exciting prequel into a fun little world of pirates, fae, magic, and alternative history. Clare Sager has an interesting & more classical writing style, which took me a bit by surprise at first but I ended up largely enjoying. I love a limited perspective of a single character, but especially a story like this...what is the trope called? Crouching moron, hidden badass? Wow, I love Avice, her growth from a timid, dreamy, misunderstood girl with a heart for rebellion (see: sincerity & fairness) into a badass woman who pulled the hatchet out of her own back to carve a place for herself.
I could NOT put this novella down. I wish that the early chapters had a stronger and less childlike voice for Avice, which is the only reason I rated this 5 instead of 5.
For anyone that loves Pirates of the Carribean, One Piece Live Action, or Carnival Row, with a little sprinkling of Bridgerton romantic camp, you will be as hooked as I was reading this. I am supposed to be on a book buying ban until I finish moving next month, but I might have to break that vow to get the next/"first" book in the series. Swashbuckling adventure, extremely cool strong women & their friendships, romance and heartbreak, ancient magic, and seizing one's own power/destiny.
Avice is gifted with her imagination and her fae blood, but she also works hard to maintain her independence and challenge the society she has been beaten by (literally and emotionally) her entire life. To describe Avice as a power-fantasy sells her character short, but I love that she's exceptional because she works hard, and without her dedication to being treated as an equal capable of sharing the burden, she never would have discovered her exceptional abilities. There's a hubris about her that's hinted for her story in the next book, which promises plenty of challenges and consequences as she grows into herself. What more could I ask for? More of her, obviously.
I guessed early on the nature of Avice's fae abilities and was delighted to be correct, as usually I am very bad at picking up on these sorts of things. This series promises to be many of the things I was hungry for watching PotC as a teenager. This is an excellent teaser for the rest of the series but also a great way to get a feel for Sager's writing style. I am excitedly looking forward to how Avice's story & her new chosen identity unfold.
Also: lady pirates! Fae trickery! Historical AU fantasy meets dark-edged romantasy meets feminist power anthem meets gorgeous period outfits meets scary ancient magic. Like me, you should have read this earlier. What are you waiting for?
🌶️ 2
Very mild & non-specific spoilers are in this review.
What an exciting prequel into a fun little world of pirates, fae, magic, and alternative history. Clare Sager has an interesting & more classical writing style, which took me a bit by surprise at first but I ended up largely enjoying. I love a limited perspective of a single character, but especially a story like this...what is the trope called? Crouching moron, hidden badass? Wow, I love Avice, her growth from a timid, dreamy, misunderstood girl with a heart for rebellion (see: sincerity & fairness) into a badass woman who pulled the hatchet out of her own back to carve a place for herself.
I could NOT put this novella down. I wish that the early chapters had a stronger and less childlike voice for Avice, which is the only reason I rated this 5 instead of 5.
For anyone that loves Pirates of the Carribean, One Piece Live Action, or Carnival Row, with a little sprinkling of Bridgerton romantic camp, you will be as hooked as I was reading this. I am supposed to be on a book buying ban until I finish moving next month, but I might have to break that vow to get the next/"first" book in the series. Swashbuckling adventure, extremely cool strong women & their friendships, romance and heartbreak, ancient magic, and seizing one's own power/destiny.
Avice is gifted with her imagination and her fae blood, but she also works hard to maintain her independence and challenge the society she has been beaten by (literally and emotionally) her entire life. To describe Avice as a power-fantasy sells her character short, but I love that she's exceptional because she works hard, and without her dedication to being treated as an equal capable of sharing the burden, she never would have discovered her exceptional abilities. There's a hubris about her that's hinted for her story in the next book, which promises plenty of challenges and consequences as she grows into herself. What more could I ask for? More of her, obviously.
I guessed early on the nature of Avice's fae abilities and was delighted to be correct, as usually I am very bad at picking up on these sorts of things. This series promises to be many of the things I was hungry for watching PotC as a teenager. This is an excellent teaser for the rest of the series but also a great way to get a feel for Sager's writing style. I am excitedly looking forward to how Avice's story & her new chosen identity unfold.
Also: lady pirates! Fae trickery! Historical AU fantasy meets dark-edged romantasy meets feminist power anthem meets gorgeous period outfits meets scary ancient magic. Like me, you should have read this earlier. What are you waiting for?
May 2, 2020
Light, fun read. Perfect for reading during surgery recovery.
October 26, 2023
Oh this was so much fun!! I can't wait to see what Vice is like in the story. I wasn't expecting this prequel to be so long, but do think it is a great origin story and I'm so pumped to read on.
April 14, 2020
Across Dark Seas may be listed as “Beneath Black Sails #0.5”, but at 236 pages it merits the distinction of being a full length novel. This story is action packed and the ultimate page turner! I absolutely loved the mix of victorian era history, mythological creatures, societal expectations, and high seas pirate adventure. Sager provides a unique take on what one can only assume is the 16th or 17th century. There are references to real world events/people with mythological creatures as a day to day, normal occurrence, for the characters. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that dichotomy before and I loved it.
Sager also does a great job of portraying the crushing patriarchal rule that women used to face. The subtle nod to feminism was wonderfully unexpected. Avice struggles to free herself from the crushing bonds of society and what is expected of her in terms of behavior and societal contribution. Her growth as a character was wonderful. She went from a timid girl wanting more out of life to a high seas adventurer by the end of the story. I could vividly picture her screaming into the void that this life isn’t good enough and she refuses to settle.
Across Dark Seas is part love story, part adventure story, and wholly unique. While reading this story before Beneath Black Sails isn’t required I highly recommend it. It was a fantastic read and I think you’ll fall in love with Avice and all of her adventures.
May 3, 2021
Highly enjoyable read and hard to put down for the night.
The first chapter kept me wanting to know more. Avice the main character is different and not the proper lady her father expects her to be. She runs away with a man she believes shes in love with and elopes. They both find themselves on a pirate ship hiding from her father with expectation they will find adventure and happiness together. Will the man she married accept her as she is? Will the pirate life become her new home and the freedom shes be searching for?
"She wasn't too wild, too bold, too loud, she was just right."
The first chapter kept me wanting to know more. Avice the main character is different and not the proper lady her father expects her to be. She runs away with a man she believes shes in love with and elopes. They both find themselves on a pirate ship hiding from her father with expectation they will find adventure and happiness together. Will the man she married accept her as she is? Will the pirate life become her new home and the freedom shes be searching for?
"She wasn't too wild, too bold, too loud, she was just right."
February 10, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
1.5(ish?)🌶️
Who am I posting two reviews back to back? 😂
This was a longer novella but still a quick read! After reading Kiss of Iron and meeting Vice and Knigh I was like I need their story. And voila, it already exists! I decided to start with this one before the main story and I’m glad I did. Avice and Kat both have trauma and they both handle it differently. Avice just wanted to be in love and live a life of adventure, not one of being meek and controlled.
If you want more depth to Vice before her story begins I highly recommend picking this up!
1.5(ish?)🌶️
Who am I posting two reviews back to back? 😂
This was a longer novella but still a quick read! After reading Kiss of Iron and meeting Vice and Knigh I was like I need their story. And voila, it already exists! I decided to start with this one before the main story and I’m glad I did. Avice and Kat both have trauma and they both handle it differently. Avice just wanted to be in love and live a life of adventure, not one of being meek and controlled.
If you want more depth to Vice before her story begins I highly recommend picking this up!
June 2, 2024
Up there in my top 5 worst books of all time.
May 17, 2021
“She wasn’t too wild, too bold, too loud. She was just right”
Across Dark Seas is a pre-equal to Beneath Black Sails, and follows our main character Pirate Queen Lady Vice, and her life before she was on the sea. This novella details Vice’s journey from 18-year-old heiress Lady Avice Ferrers who has an arranged marriage waiting, to her elopement with the man she’s fairly sure she loves, and believes must be the solution to all her problems. But her white knight quickly loses his lustre when they’re chased across the country by armed men and forced to flee in a pirate ship.
I was gifted a copy of this novella, and I am beyond glad I read it, I would recommend starting with this before hitting the main books in the Beneath Black Sails series, as it is a great precursor and a fantastic character building book for Vice, I automatically loved her character, but witnessing in this novella what she had gone through made me root for her more in the following books in the series
I found that this book was highly action packed, but it was lacking in steam or romance, which to be honest was not needed, as I mentioned before this book felt more like a character development and understanding book for Vice, and I think the romance/steam may have taken away fundamental development of her character. I think she is a fantastically written character, and her attitude and personality just seeps through the pages, I have been waiting for such an engrossing pirate based story and my have we got it with this series
There are other characters to mention in this book such at Fitzroy, Lord Lyons and Perry to mention a few, and watching Vice’s relationships with all the other characters is great and its very telling to her as a character, I feel that the author has done a great job in capturing all the possible emotions you could feel towards characters, as I really was rooting for Vice and Evered, until his behaviour became very questionable (I believe this was completely done on purpose) Plus I love Perry, and the fact that there was such a strong friendship there for Vice, as I feel she is such an insecure character to begin with, but with the development she becomes a completely different person, which you see more of this in the following books
I loved this novella and it was so difficult to put down, I was completely gripped and started Beneath Black Sails straight after, and I am already engrossed with that already, this is definitely a series to watch!
Across Dark Seas is a pre-equal to Beneath Black Sails, and follows our main character Pirate Queen Lady Vice, and her life before she was on the sea. This novella details Vice’s journey from 18-year-old heiress Lady Avice Ferrers who has an arranged marriage waiting, to her elopement with the man she’s fairly sure she loves, and believes must be the solution to all her problems. But her white knight quickly loses his lustre when they’re chased across the country by armed men and forced to flee in a pirate ship.
I was gifted a copy of this novella, and I am beyond glad I read it, I would recommend starting with this before hitting the main books in the Beneath Black Sails series, as it is a great precursor and a fantastic character building book for Vice, I automatically loved her character, but witnessing in this novella what she had gone through made me root for her more in the following books in the series
I found that this book was highly action packed, but it was lacking in steam or romance, which to be honest was not needed, as I mentioned before this book felt more like a character development and understanding book for Vice, and I think the romance/steam may have taken away fundamental development of her character. I think she is a fantastically written character, and her attitude and personality just seeps through the pages, I have been waiting for such an engrossing pirate based story and my have we got it with this series
There are other characters to mention in this book such at Fitzroy, Lord Lyons and Perry to mention a few, and watching Vice’s relationships with all the other characters is great and its very telling to her as a character, I feel that the author has done a great job in capturing all the possible emotions you could feel towards characters, as I really was rooting for Vice and Evered, until his behaviour became very questionable (I believe this was completely done on purpose) Plus I love Perry, and the fact that there was such a strong friendship there for Vice, as I feel she is such an insecure character to begin with, but with the development she becomes a completely different person, which you see more of this in the following books
I loved this novella and it was so difficult to put down, I was completely gripped and started Beneath Black Sails straight after, and I am already engrossed with that already, this is definitely a series to watch!
June 7, 2024
The gods had a better story for her.
This was a great page-turner origin story! While the blurb is pretty clear on what to expect, I was surprised to find I didn't feel like any part of this was a drag or a 'I'm only reading to get to book 1' scenario! Watching Avice's gilded cage tarnish and break was soooo rewarding and you can't help but root for her.
It isn’t that life ashore is distasteful to me. But life at sea is better.
There was a lot of really powerful phrasing and something about the sentence structure flowed really well. I took entirely too many highlights.
Now. Knighton Villiers. Anyone who but it was fun making that connection in the past so that in the real-time of the main series, we have this history already made! I'm excited to jump into Beneath Black Sails and see where we pick up in Vice's adventures!
The world calls to you, and I know you’ll answer it.
August 1, 2024
Across Dark Seas is the prequel to Beneath Black Sails however it reads as if it were its own stand alone and not part of a series.
It is understandable that this book is setting the tone for the rest of the series and the world building is likely more developed in the first book however I did find the casual mention of fae and random animals to be quite disconcerting from the get go.
This book reads like it is set in Victorian times with propriety and a ladies marital status being at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The interesting twist is that our main character (at least the female lead) has a great deal of depth which I imagine will develop further throughout the series.
Overall this is a great introduction that feels like a play on Pirates of the Caribbean, if Elizabeth wanted to always be an adventurer. I am keen to see what is next in store in the series.
It is understandable that this book is setting the tone for the rest of the series and the world building is likely more developed in the first book however I did find the casual mention of fae and random animals to be quite disconcerting from the get go.
This book reads like it is set in Victorian times with propriety and a ladies marital status being at the forefront of everyone’s mind. The interesting twist is that our main character (at least the female lead) has a great deal of depth which I imagine will develop further throughout the series.
Overall this is a great introduction that feels like a play on Pirates of the Caribbean, if Elizabeth wanted to always be an adventurer. I am keen to see what is next in store in the series.
July 16, 2024
Across Dark Seas by Clare Sager
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I loved:
🏴☠️Origin story
🏴☠️Kat. I'm so excited to read her story!
🏴☠️Found family
This was such a great prequel to the Beneath Black Sails series. I loved seeing where Avice came from and how she came to be Vice. This prequel was everything I wanted. It really helped me understand Avice better. There's so much of her background that a reader wouldn't understand without reading this.
All the characters were well developed, and I loved Avice's arc. She really grew up and quickly. This poor FMC goes through it in this and the first book, but she continually grows and learns, and it's endearing and real. She's a stellar FMC, and I can't wait to see what is thrown at her next. The found family was heartwarming and helped to clarify relationships for me(since I read the first book prior to this one).
This prequel was short, sweet, flowed well and had the perfect amount of action and suspense. The pacing was great, I was never bored! I was a little surprised and sad when it ended. I could have absolutely kept reading!
The world building was phenomenal, especially when the prequel is this short. It was impressive, so much happened, and yet Sager still excellently developed the world.
This was an awesome prequel to this series, and even though I read the first book first, not a whole lot was spoiled. There was so much information given here that I didn't previously know, and it helped me understand the characters better. Theres quite a few characters I really hope I get to see again! This has been such a great series so far, and it's everything I want from a pirate fantasy. I can't wait to keep reading this series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What I loved:
🏴☠️Origin story
🏴☠️Kat. I'm so excited to read her story!
🏴☠️Found family
This was such a great prequel to the Beneath Black Sails series. I loved seeing where Avice came from and how she came to be Vice. This prequel was everything I wanted. It really helped me understand Avice better. There's so much of her background that a reader wouldn't understand without reading this.
All the characters were well developed, and I loved Avice's arc. She really grew up and quickly. This poor FMC goes through it in this and the first book, but she continually grows and learns, and it's endearing and real. She's a stellar FMC, and I can't wait to see what is thrown at her next. The found family was heartwarming and helped to clarify relationships for me(since I read the first book prior to this one).
This prequel was short, sweet, flowed well and had the perfect amount of action and suspense. The pacing was great, I was never bored! I was a little surprised and sad when it ended. I could have absolutely kept reading!
The world building was phenomenal, especially when the prequel is this short. It was impressive, so much happened, and yet Sager still excellently developed the world.
This was an awesome prequel to this series, and even though I read the first book first, not a whole lot was spoiled. There was so much information given here that I didn't previously know, and it helped me understand the characters better. Theres quite a few characters I really hope I get to see again! This has been such a great series so far, and it's everything I want from a pirate fantasy. I can't wait to keep reading this series.
May 20, 2020
I wish I read Beneath Black Sails after Across Dark Seas. I would have appreciated Beneath Black Sails more if I had. It was a treat seeing Lady Avice develop from the meek obedient lady to the Vice I know and love. I also enjoyed seeing the beginning of her friendship with Perry. I didn't like Lord Lyons one bit, but I think Sager did that on purpose. He wasn't worthy of Vice's love. It would have been nice if their love was a bit more developed. As Evered is, I had a hard time believing a wild girl with a thirst for adventure, would fall in love with such a boring man. He wasn't even there for the majority of the book.
All in all, an enjoyable light read. I couldn't put it down. My only complaint is that it was too rushed, and there wasn't enough development.
All in all, an enjoyable light read. I couldn't put it down. My only complaint is that it was too rushed, and there wasn't enough development.
September 25, 2025
I don't know how to put it into words, but for me there are two kinds of prequels: the ones that really add to the story and deepen my understanding for the characters and those that give me “the main series was written without specific back stories in mind and now said story has to be constructed somehow”vibes.
Unfortunately , this one felt like the later. Especially her love interest felt so flat as a character and everything revolving him, felt so predictable to me.
Moreover, many things felt a bit rushed and uninspired? Like her reasons to leave her family, their escape, the captain’s reason for letting her join and the ending/ fight especially.
Nevertheless, I got hooked on the idea of fairy touched pirates. So I added the main series to my wishlist.
Unfortunately , this one felt like the later. Especially her love interest felt so flat as a character and everything revolving him, felt so predictable to me.
Moreover, many things felt a bit rushed and uninspired? Like her reasons to leave her family, their escape, the captain’s reason for letting her join and the ending/ fight especially.
Nevertheless, I got hooked on the idea of fairy touched pirates. So I added the main series to my wishlist.
August 12, 2020
I loved getting to know Lady Avice and her rebellious nature. She falls in love with Evered and decides to elope with him after her father forces to marry someone else. They get on a pirate ship and here Avice discovers she can be herself but her relationship with Evered isn't going great due to them being to different. I love the different adventure story with pirates and look forward to reading Book 1.
August 26, 2020
How does a highborn well bred lady becomes a pirate legend? This prequel to Beneath Black Sails tell this story and it’s amazing just as it’s sequel. Reading the authors notes at the end of beneath black sails you get to know how this was her way to kind of develop the characters, and boy, hats off on a job well done. It’s really awesome! And if anything it adds a lot of depth to our beloved Lady Vice and more color to her world. I really loved it! 5 big fat stars.
March 26, 2020
A glimpse into the past when Miss Avice Ferrers is still young nieve and oppressed by a life that although hers does not fit her comfortably. In her greatest act of rebellion she elopes with her dashing beau, but love's young dream isn't all she hopes it to be and soon she must take the lead and become who she was always meant to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2021
I really like Avice! A strong girl, ready to act instead of listening. She pulls herself through, no matter what life throws at her. A dominating father, a brutal uncle, a mother too meek for her own good, a young noble who likes her spirit, a captain who doesn't want women on board his ship and eventually a storm that could break the ship apart.
April 3, 2020
After finishing Beneath Black Sails, I wanted more and this little prequel happened to be in my tbr pile. I was happy to have just a little more time in this fantasy world. It was great learning about how Avice became Lady Vice. I would highly recommend reading this short story.
October 23, 2024
I NEED MOOOOOOOOORE GIVE IT TO ME
Just kidding, but not really. I will be reading the rest of this series as if my life depended on it.
I do wish she'd have fallen for the captain though. Would love to see what he looks like under that gruff exterior, if you catch my drift.
Just kidding, but not really. I will be reading the rest of this series as if my life depended on it.
I do wish she'd have fallen for the captain though. Would love to see what he looks like under that gruff exterior, if you catch my drift.
March 18, 2025
Super short book but it took me a while to finish because it was so slow. Luckily I know where this is headed so I endured. Curious to see if this book was even necessary before starting Beneath Black Sails.
May 23, 2021
Avice reminds me of me as a child. Wild and rebellious! I love everything about this story! Can't wait to see where Lady Vice goes from here 💕
June 12, 2021
This is not my usual type of fantasy read, but I had heard such high praise for this book that I thought I would give it a try, and boy am I glad I did. This book is about a young woman who rebels against the rules of nobility in Albion, and against the rigid rules imposed on her by her brutal father. She is a free spirit and in her society she is seen as a wild child, and she dreams of breaking free and living a life of adventure. The sea calls to her in the books she reads, so when she has to elope with the man she fell in love with, in order to escape a marriage her father had planned for her, she and her new husband flee towards the docks, intending on buying passage on a ship and travelling away from Albion and her father. Once out at sea, on a pirate ship Avice blooms and thrives, she works with the crew whilst her husband sulks in their cabin. Their romance soon starts to turn sour yet she has no intention on giving up on her man. This is a story full of hope, magic, adventure and a feisty heroine who had to accept that she really was fae-blooded, as she was put to the test and came through for the Morrigan and her crew! I am so glad I read this first book and hope to go on reading further into Lady Vice's adventures on the high seas which she loves!
June 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
✅fae
✅ pirates
✅ adventure
✅ hints of a slow burn romance
The main character is very likeable: rebellious misunderstood lady born into a world that just doesn’t see her potential.
Love the idea of a fantasy pirate novel as well (who doesn’t love a roguish pirate captain?)
It definitely felt like the set up of the series to come, especially because I was eager by the end to read the next one. Even if the first half is a bit slow and filled with characters that I have a sneaking suspicion we won’t meet again I would definitely say it’s worth reading if you’re going to enter into the larger series
✅fae
✅ pirates
✅ adventure
✅ hints of a slow burn romance
The main character is very likeable: rebellious misunderstood lady born into a world that just doesn’t see her potential.
Love the idea of a fantasy pirate novel as well (who doesn’t love a roguish pirate captain?)
It definitely felt like the set up of the series to come, especially because I was eager by the end to read the next one. Even if the first half is a bit slow and filled with characters that I have a sneaking suspicion we won’t meet again I would definitely say it’s worth reading if you’re going to enter into the larger series
August 5, 2024
DNF - Perhaps I am difficult to please
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