For me, three books in June were quite an accomplishment. I hadn't had much time for a good reading session or even social media the first half of the month; while the rest was spent at home because it turned out that I was sick and tested positive for Covid-19. Without further ado, here is what my monthly wrap up looks like in what felt like the most messed up time of the year:
Daughter of the Pirate King follows the story of seventeen-year-old Alosa Kalligan, the only daughter and heir to the pirate king. As his most trusted person, Alosa is sent on a mission to retrieve an ancient map from a notorious ship called the Night Farer. In order to do that, she has to fake a scene in which she deliberately lets her enemies capture her and demand a ransom. Although the ruthless pirates are no match for Alosa, she doesn't count on the fact that the map is very hard to find. And there is also Riden, the first mate of the Night Farer, who turns out to be unexpectedly clever and attractive.
Just like The Shadows Between Us, this book was fast-paced and led by a very badass female main character, but unlike the prior, Daughter of the Pirate King was far more interesting for me. Despite being a super quick read, this book didn't feel rushed nor that it was executed hastily. The plot was intriguing enough to keep me on my toes, and I couldn't stop gushing over how likable Alosa's portrayal was as a badass female lead. The conflict may not be overcomplicated or very hard to guess, but I've got to admit that it's hard not to enjoy something as fun as this. If you want to read something fantasy-fun, you should totally pick this book up. You will adore Alosa and her badass way to deal with problems, or perhaps fall head over heels in love with the broody Riden.
(Please skip this part if you haven't read Daughter of the Pirate King)
Following where we left off in the first book, Daughter of the Siren Queen follows the half-human half-siren Alosa who has now completed the mission from his father, the pirate king. Now that she has Riden under her direct orders and Draxen as well as Vordan in the brigs, Alosa can breathe normally knowing that justice will be brought by her father for the latter. However, when Vordan unexpectedly reveals the secret Kalligan has kept his entire life, Alosa finds herself questioning every truth she has come to believe. With that, follows a deadly race between her crew and her father, though Alosa believes she will find the treasure first considering she is the daughter of the siren queen.
Even though I didn't simp for Riden as much anymore, going through this book through Alosa's lens was still as fun and thrilling as the first. Daughter of the Siren Queen was a quite solid sequel even though a few plot holes could still be found here and there. There were also more details and development about the Ava-lee crew as individuals, which was awesome, but since the pacing of the story was still as fast, the few moments of grief surrounding the loss of crew members didn't feel as painful as they should have been. However, this fast-paced adventure was still a thrilling journey to be embarked on. That being said, it's safe to admit that I had a great time reading Daughter of the Siren Queen.
Skyward follows the story where humankind is almost extinct. Living in the cavern on a planet called Detritus, Spensa longs to see the sky and be a pilot. Most importantly, she longs to follow in her father's footsteps and claim the stars like he used to say. But being labeled as the daughter of a coward makes it almost impossible for her to be one. However, Spensa feels her life is changing when she accidentally finds a broken ship with a very strange machine that can... talk.
Jumping into this book without having even an inkling of what it was all about was certainly a great way to be surprised. Like The Reckoners, Skyward was a thrilling fantasy story that was jam-packed with action and a bit of politics. With a pace as fast as this, it's hard to tone down my reading speed, especially when the book itself felt like it was full of energy. Overall, Skyward was quite a story. It's fun, it's thrilling, and it's also a wee bit touching.
