Review by Booklist Review
Ximena Reale, a bold, brave, and sassy seafarer, is determined to overcome her family's tainted legacy of notorious piracy and prove herself worthy to join the cazadores--hunters set to capture pirate outlaws. Dante DeLeon, as infuriating as he is handsome, proves to make this more difficult, as he has a similar goal: capture the infamous pirate Gasparilla, rescue the Luzan Empire's kidnapped queen, and secure his future. Pitted against each other, they may find that working together may be the only way to meet their goals, so a terse dynamic develops with the potential of romance. Fast-paced and brimming with tension, intrigue, and twists, James crafts a vivid setting where murky alliances and questionable motives keep readers guessing. This debut and duology opener features a richly developed, highly driven heroine and a plot full of peril, with themes of courage and resilience lingering long after the last page. A fast-paced adventure set against a backdrop as treacherous as it is mesmerizing.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Teenage Ximena Reale, who has one eye, strives to overcome her family's reputation--her parents, who were once allied to the Luzan Empire, were executed for their crimes against their country as Robin Hood--like pirates, the Reales. Now attending La Academia de los Cazadores, the training center for Luzan's Naval recruits, Ximena seeks to reach the coveted rank of Cazador. The return of Gasparilla, a notorious pirate, could be Ximena's only opportunity to rise above her infamous parents' legacy; if she defeats Gasparilla, she could prove her bravery and loyalty to the empire. But her resolve begins to crumble as those around her start exposing Luzan's dark secrets, particularly Dante de León, her rival and the son of the empire's high minister, who opens her eyes to the misery of her people. Lengthy narration and the protagonists' lackluster developing romance sometimes sap tension and forward momentum from the enticing plot. Nevertheless, debut author James employs elucidating prose to craft a rich imaginary world inspired by 18th-century Latin America in this swashbuckling adventure, a duology starter. Ages 14--up. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Feb.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 8 Up--This fantasy is awash with pirates and pirate hunters. Ximena Reale, the daughter of pirates and traitors to the Luzan Empire, has spent the last four years trying to prove her loyalty to the Empire by becoming one of the top students of La Academia de los Cazadores. Ximena's dedication and research earns her a spot on the mission to capture Gasparilla, the only pirate to successfully besiege the capital. Fellow candidate Dante de Leon is also assigned to the hunt but only one of them will earn the Cazadoro cloak. Ximena has been on many pirate-hunting voyages before, but the journey to arrest Gasparilla will challenge everything she knows about her family and her role in the Empire. Life at La Academia is cutthroat and unforgiving. Ximena knows there is no room for weakness in her goal of becoming a Cazadoro and upholding the Law. She is unyielding in her defense of the Empire even as other characters reveal the negative effects of Luzan imperialism. The fast-paced plot doesn't leave much time for Ximena to really process these new discoveries, but readers will cheer as she comes to her own conclusions about the Empire's influence. This book is the first in a duology and ends with an exciting cliffhanger that will once again pit Ximena and Dante against each other in the second book. The novel is set in a fantasy world; James liberally sprinkles Spanish throughout the book and characters have Latinx names. VERDICT A treacherous, seaworthy tale full of adventure.--Maria Martin
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An aspiring pirate hunter sails in pursuit of an infamous pirate; her quest takes her further than she could ever imagine. Seventeen-year-old Ximena Reale is a promising young candidate at La Academia de los Cazadores, a feat she's achieved against the odds posed by her stained last name: Five years ago, her parents were hanged on La Academia's gallows as pirates. The apparent resurrection of Gasparilla--history's most notorious (and long-dead) pirate--brings the opportunity to prove herself once and for all. Armed with her unwavering commitment to the Law of the Luzan Empire, Ximena chases vengeance, honor, and a Cazodoro cloak of her own. She's in competition with Dante de León, an arrogant and infuriatingly handsome classmate. The journey tests not only her skill and bravery but her faith in the Law itself. James delivers her fast-paced and convincing debut narrative in an accomplished third-person voice. She layers her prose with Spanish vocabulary, immersing readers in the cadences of the Luzan Empire and trusting those unfamiliar with the language to navigate by context. The story resounds with messages of the harm done by imperialism, bringing readers along as Ximena learns to question authority, consider new perspectives, and seek alternatives to violence. Budding romance and soaring stakes keep the tension simmering through the last page and marvelously tee up the second book in this duology. The characters are cued as Latine. A shimmering, piratical fantasy with real-world teeth.(Fantasy. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
