jack sparrow is a woman!

If I had a time machine, I would go back and do a lot of things, but first I'd go back and read this book sooner because I waited way too long to finally pick it up! And let me tell you - I couldn't put it down! Luckily for me, I was on spring break and could finish almost all of it before heading back to school, which means classes and virtually no time to sit and read for fun. I was most intrigued with the premise of this story because I've always been drawn to nautical, swashbuckling narratives; I think that's a large part of why I'm currently writing a novel that rests on the very human desire to explore as well as marvel and fear the mysteries of the sea and the many stories of lore and mythology that have resulted from its inspiring presence. This story realistically portrays pirates, uses nautical language in a way that is possible to visualize and grasp, and possesses a love interest who is definitely swoonworthy and would give Will Turner a run for his money. This book's general aesthetic is Pirates of the Caribbean-esque in almost every way without dancing too closely to clichés that Levenseller could have leaned into if she wanted to regurgitate a story that has already been told. And while this story contains classic pirate lore, a fascination with the legend of Sirens (which is one of my favorite parts, if I might add), and the kind of vibe you'd expect from a story about a girl who plans her own capture upon her enemy's ship to be able to steal a sacred map, it houses a female heroine that seems too good to be true (I'll admit she seemed unrealistic at times) until aspects of her character and identity are revealed that make her into that much more of a volatile, strong, and unique woman as well as pirate. I am incredibly overjoyed that the sequel, Daughter of the Siren Queen, is already released and only wish I had more time to devour it like I did the first book!



Some of my favorite quotes from Daughter of the Pirate King:

“Lass, you've the face of an angel but the tongue of a snake.”

“Oh, the ridiculous things one has to do when one is a pirate.”

“Even a man who’s spent his whole life at sea has reason to fear her when she’s angry."

“When fancy strikes, a man gets this notion in his mind that everything a woman does is for him.”

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