Alexandra Rowland has been one of my favorite authors ever since I read A Conspiracy of Truths, and their writing has never lead me astray since. Their most popular novel (A Taste of Gold and Iron) is also their weakest in my opinion, but still quite excellent. So this book was an easy pick for me for this card, and it met pretty much every expectation I had for it.
Read if Looking For: Raucously funny pirates, unhinged monologues, seagulls, cake decorating contests, sexual language (but very little actual sex)
Avoid if Looking For: a book that takes itself seriously
Elevator Pitch:
Avra is many things. He’s a recently retired member of the Arasti military, he’s been (allegedly) blessed by the goddess of luck, he always pays his bills promptly, tips well, is a contented slut, and recently stole the most valuable mercantile secret of the richest country in the world (also his former employer). When he finds himself on the pirate ship of his on-again/off-again ex, he’s dragged back to the pirate isles against his will. While at his home away from home, he must contest with sea serpents, a nosy Ambassador, the annual cake decorating contest, and a ridiculously handsome (and criminally celibate) monk.
What Worked for Me
This book really just sang on every page for me. I’ll admit that I wasn’t quite expecting comedic fantasy from Rowland, as it hasn’t been their typical style. I associate Rowland with a writing style that presents very strong character voices to frame stories, but they tend to be more serious. Even their headliner romance book is more grounded than romantasy tends to be. This book keeps the trademark characterization and uses Avra’s captivating personality to carry the narration. He’s rambling, brainless, and a real riot. Combine that with how saturated the book feels with an almost cartoony pirate atmosphere, and you end up with a really fun book.
Putting aside comedy, this book does succeed at preventing the story from careening totally into zany land. Despite being labeled a romance on Goodreads, this book is more focused on the crew’s escapades as they try to figure out the secret behind the Arasti Fleet’s smooth sailing during breeding season, trying to maintain piratical reputations, and avoiding the attention of a nosy ambassador from the Arasti government. Also the cake competition at the end of the book was really masterful. The book succeeds at providing dimensionality to characters (though they never become realistic), a variety of fun conflicts and escalating challenges, and a succession of moments that are funny, wholesome, and just delightful to read.
What Didn’t Work for Me
Nothing. I adored it. However, I can acknowledge that the style of this book is going to put people off. Comedy in general tends to be love it or hate it, so if the snippet below (which is on the more outrageous side of things and is admittedly lacking context) puts you off, this isn’t a good book for you.
“Here are the things I need right now, as a silly little slut, damp and bedraggled in an alley, scrabbling in the dirt with the possums,” he said with an injured little sniffle. “I need you to be interested in the terrible accident that befell me, and I need you to vaguely consider the idea of rescuing the shit out of me so that the maximum amount of Arasti badness does not happen to me. Think of the possums, think of how traumatized they will be. I will be arrested right in front of them, and tortured, and killed, and dismembered, and fed to the tigers, and -“
In Conclusion: A comedic book following a former intelligence operative on his ex’s pirate ship trying to sell state secrets. Features a hot celibate monk and a cake competition. Loved every second of it.
- Characters – 4
- Worldbuilding – 4
- Craft – 5
- Themes – 3
- Enjoyment – 5
Marked for Plot 
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