Sophie Reads YA: Pushkin

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Daughter of the Siren Queen (Daughter of the Pirate King #2) by Tricia Levenseller

11:00

Daughter of the Siren Queen
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #2
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Published November 24th 2022 by Pushkin Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After succeeding in her aim to gather the three pieces of the map, Alosa is ready to travel to the mysterious island and seek out her mother's treasure. However, she soon discovers her father has been lying to her, and after angering him, Alosa and her crew need to flee and hope to arrive at the isle before her father's fleet catches up to them. Alosa worries that everything she once believed in was false, and that her siren side may overpower her human nature.

I'm glad I had this book to read straight after Daughter of the Pirate King. We pick up the action not long after the first book ends, and Alosa is now back in control of her own ship, with a few new crew members. She wants revenge against Vordan, and seeks out his piece of the map, thinking that by doing so, her father will be pleased. But even after she's done that, her father isn't supportive, and Alosa learns that he's kept bigger secrets from her than she could ever have imagined. I loved that she really developed a backbone here, and stood up against her father. It wasn't easy, and there were losses along the way, but Alosa had her crew, and Riden, there to support her. The ending of the book was the perfect way to finish the series, though I have noticed that apparently there will be a companion book released some time in 2023. Hopefully Alosa and Riden make an appearance.

Dates Read:
December 28-30, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Daughter of the Pirate King (Daughter of the Pirate King #1) by Tricia Levenseller

10:00

Daughter of the Pirate King
Series: Daughter of the Pirate King #1
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Published September 29th 2022 by Pushkin Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
There will be plenty of time for me to beat him soundly once I’ve gotten what I came for.

Sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient hidden map—the key to a legendary treasure trove—seventeen-year-old pirate captain Alosa deliberately allows herself to be captured by her enemies, giving her the perfect opportunity to search their ship.

More than a match for the ruthless pirate crew, Alosa has only one thing standing between her and the map: her captor, the unexpectedly clever and unfairly attractive first mate, Riden. But not to worry, for Alosa has a few tricks up her sleeve, and no lone pirate can stop the Daughter of the Pirate King.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Alosa is the daughter of the ruthless Pirate King, and a notable pirate captain in her own right. As her father's heir, she's the only one he trusts to find and steal one third of an ancient hidden map. Allowing herself to be captured by her enemies, she works to escape her captors and find the map, before reaching her father, right on plan. However, as much as she can best the pirate crew, her main captor, first mate, Riden, is keeping an extremely close eye on her, and Alosa finds she doesn't mind it.

From the first few pages in Daughter of the Pirate King, I knew this was a book for me. Alosa was such a feisty and strong character, who used her knowledge, and her powers, to gain what she wants. That's not to say she's not vulnerable too, though. Because of her parentage and her upbringing, she has weaknesses, and Alosa doesn't ever allow anyone to see them. Even so, when she's with Riden, parts of her true self come out, and they both reveal aspects of themselves that they would never expect. I did work out some of the twists before the big 'reveals' but all in all, a really good YA book. Roll on book 2!

Dates Read:
December 26-28, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

3 Stars

ARC Review: Maresi (The Red Abbey Chronicles #1) by Maria Turtschaninoff

10:00

Maresi
Series: The Red Abbey Chronicles #1
Author: Maria Turtschaninoff
Published January 14th 2016 by Pushkin Children's Books

Goodreads Synopsis
Maresi came to the Red Abbey when she was thirteen, in the Hunger Winter. Before then, she had only heard rumours of its existence in secret folk tales. In a world where girls aren't allowed to learn or do as they please, an island inhabited solely by women sounded like a fantasy. But now Maresi is here, and she knows it is real. She is safe.

Then one day Jai tangled fair hair, clothes stiff with dirt, scars on her back arrives on a ship. She has fled to the island to escape terrible danger and unimaginable cruelty. And the men who hurt her will stop at nothing to find her.

Now the women and girls of the Red Abbey must use all their powers and ancient knowledge to combat the forces that wish to destroy them. And Maresi, haunted by her own nightmares, must confront her very deepest, darkest fears.

A story of friendship and survival, magic and wonder, beauty and terror, Maresi will grip you and hold you spellbound.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I first heard about this book through some bloggers via Twitter. Because I trust their judgement on books, I decided to try and request a copy, and was lucky enough to receive one. I had next to no knowledge what the book was actually about, other than the fact this was it's first time being published in English, rather than its native Finnish. Most of reviews I've since seen have been extremely complimentary, and I was hoping I'd feel the same way - unfortunately, this was not the case.

Maresi is about a young girl, living in a secluded nunnery, on a female only island. The only men who are allowed anywhere near are merchants delivering goods, and taking items manufactured and sold by the nunnery. And, even then, they are met at a jetty, and don't disembark the ships. For many years, everything has ran very smoothly. Once Jai, a bedraggled young girl, arrives at the convent, things change, and not for the better. Maresi and Jai become quick friends, but Jai's history soon catches up with them.

I did like Maresi, but there was just something lacking. She was a proper role model for young girls, both in the book and otherwise, but I never really felt the whole 'feminist' aspect of the book that a lot of other reviewers have mentioned. The nuns were really great characters, and I enjoyed how much learning was a part of the story. Jai, however, I never really warmed up to. I understood she'd had such an awful life, and really sympathised with her for that, but I still didn't connect with her character.

The book also seemed really slow, for the most part. Nothing really happened for about three quarters of the book, and then when it did, it was over in a short space of time. Even when I had just finished the book, I forgot pretty much all that had happened in it: it just wasn't memorable, at all. I'm not sure whether it was just a bit too young for me.

I'm still glad that I read the book, though I wouldn't be in a hurry to read it again. I think younger readers would probably prefer it more than I did, but I know people my age, and older, have also loved it.

Dates Read:

December 23-25, 2015

Rating
3 Stars