Look, it may not be the highest, most profound piece of fiction...but it made me love pirates, so that has to count for something.

Daughter of the Pirate King is a YA fantasy filled with action, banter, and pirate adventures. While it's nothing particularly nuanced, it's a fast-paced and quick read that I'll keep in mind next time I'm in a reading slump. I've read this two or three times now, and I have to admit that it's enjoyable even once you know the main plot twists.
The story follows Alosa, daughter of the pirate king, as she is captured by another ship...but it's all part of her plan. There's a level of mystery as we discover Alosa's intentions on the ship of her enemies, but there's also action and intrigue as she tries to disguise her true motives. I think the main plot twist is predictable, but some of the others are more difficult to see ahead of time. The ending is satisfying but leaves enough loose ends for the sequel to be intriguing as well. It also contains a fair amount of popular tropes (only one bed, enemies-to-lovers, etc).
The characters are fun and enjoyable if a little trope-y. Alosa is very much the stubborn yet strong female protagonist. Riden is sarcastic but has a hidden soft side, and he has that feminist attitude that helps Alosa fall in love with him. Most of the side characters aren't super interesting on purpose, but I like Enwen and his superstitions.
Daughter of the Pirate King is a fun, fast-paced adventure for YA fantasy fans looking for a quick, easy read.

3.75/5

This is one of the few books with sirens that I've read, and I think I need to look for more...

Daughter of the Siren Queen is the second book in the Daughter of the Pirate King series, and I'm going to be honest: I remember very little about it. I read this two years ago, and apparently, it all faded out of my memory because I felt like I was reading this for the first time again. Again, this is the series that introduced me to pirate books, so I'll give it credit for sparking my brief pirate phase.
Alosa has defeated the pirate Vordan, but now she's on the run from her father, the pirate king himself. Most of this book follows Alosa and her father racing for a treasure. I think I liked the first one better, if only because the subterfuge was more enjoyable than just sailing fast. There were fewer action scenes, which I didn't love either, but it was necessary for the character development. There were a couple of plot twists, but none of them were too unpredictable.
This book focuses more on character development, especially for the members of Alosa's crew we were briefly introduced to in the last book. I liked Mandsy and Sorinda the most, though I wish we got to see more Enwen. Alosa and Riden got on my nerves a few times just because they wouldn't simply talk to each other. I still enjoyed seeing Alosa's arc as she took ownership of her own life, and I also liked seeing Riden's loyalty shift.
Daughter of the Siren Queen is a fast-paced, swoony pirate adventure sure to excite fans of the first book.

3.5/5

Why was the main detail I remembered about this book the part where Kiva calls a dead rat a "kitty!"

The Blood Traitor is the third and final book in the Prison Healer series, and this one has a quest (and Caldon). I remembered very little about this book going into it, but most of it came back as I went. As far as rankings in this series go, I think this falls in the middle because I think there is something special about the first book, but I preferred book 3 to book 2.
What really worked in this book's favor was the expansive adventure that explored parts of the world and shoved the characters into danger that was even more unfamiliar. It starts with Kiva in Zalindov again, this time under the throes of angeldust, an addictive drug. I can't go into much more detail without spoilers, but ultimately, the heroes end up on a quest-type adventure. I thought the resolution was a bit dull, but the ending itself fit well for the series as a whole. There were a few more very convenient plot twists, but at this point, you just expect them.
The characters are why I hesitate to label this as my favorite book in the series. Kiva was better in this book than the last, though she still needs to learn how to simply communicate with people. Jaren got on my nerves, and I agree with the reviews that said he was angsty for too long ... because he was. Also, his personality is still so generic. I love Tipp still, and Cresta became a new favorite as well. Caldon, again, carried this story despite his limited page time. The love-hate relationship is still there (he kinda gives me the ick sometimes), but he's a welcome break from the angst.
Fans of the Prison Healer series will love The Blood Traitor, the heartwrenching and banter-filled conclusion to the series.

4/5

I think this book gets better every time I read it.

This is my third time reading Crown of Bones, and every time I finish it, I say I'll read the sequel but I haven't got around to it yet. This time, I actually intend to read the sequel within the next two weeks because I always forget what a great ending the story has.
The book follows Ash, a scribe, and Marcus, an heir and savant (basically someone with a spirit animal except it's not always an animal), as they make their way to a school meant to train Marcus...only it becomes clear that war is imminent and no one can be trusted. The concept itself doesn't sound amazing, but the action scenes are well written (and there are lots of them) and the end is full of plenty of twists, some predictable and some not so much. I completely forgot how fast-paced and enjoyable the book was.
Besides the action, my favorite parts were the characters and their dynamics. Ash is the main narrator and her chapters are mainly focused on her discovering the lore of the world, which I think was an interesting way to build the world. Marcus is the other main character and I remember disliking him in my past reads, but this time I liked him. I also remember disliking Kaylin, and while he's still not my favorite, I don't hate him. I want to see more Samsen and Piper because their dynamic was mentioned but never really explored. As for my favorite character...it's Belair. He has a leopard that's literally all we really know about him. I don't care that his personality is just "big cat small boy," he's my favorite and you can't change that.
With fast-paced adventure, a cast of great characters, and a story full of twists, Crown of Bones is a novel perfect for fantasy fans looking for a more traditional story.
4/5

So this time it’s not the Percy Jackson musical on repeat in my head, but it’s Epic the Musical Cyclops, Circe, and Thunder Sagas…