- The cover. Pirates. I couldn’t resist.
- The Fiddler’s Gun by A.S. Peterson
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
Summary from GoodReads:
When Jill finds a rusty sword tip on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued—and little expects it will transport her through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Will a dark enchantment, salty kisses, and a duel with an evil pirate captain leave her stranded in the eighteenth century forever?
Drawing on piratical lore and historical fact, Carrie Vaughn creates a vivid world of swaying masts and swelling seas, where blood magic overrules the laws of nature, romance is in the air, and death can come at the single slip of a sword.
My Review:
I think I am going to be kinder in this review then I want to be for two reasons mostly.
- I read this book after reading a fantastic novel with pirates, seafaring terms and a cast of brilliant characters.
- I really, really loved the cover. It’s gorgeous.
In Steel, Carrie Vaughn sets up a story about Jill, a fencing student who just barely falls short of making the mark. The chapter titles are fencing terms, which is interesting in itself and sets the mood for each chapter well.
However, it also means that the story is set up to fall into predictability right from the start. With a turn of the page, young Jill is whisked back in time and found by a band of… polite pirates. These aren’t the pirates you see in the Pirates of the Carribean movies, these are a much more toned down set of “sort-of-ruffians” complete with a female captain who seeks another pirate captain.
Vaughn, in her author’s notes, openly admits to some far-reaching ideas being present in her book. She couldn’t resist, she said, but far-reaching ideas don’t necessarily make for a good story. In this case, it seemed sort of ridiculous and like I was peering into someone’s flight of fancy.
That all said, this book would definitely capture the imagination of the younger Young Adult set. There’s nothing objectionable in the book, it’s filled with action, a touch of history and some interesting information about fencing. I just can’t see any of the older YA set really enjoying this book without some rolling of the eyes.
