Laney K. — Online Book Club

Cyrus is a blacksmith's apprentice who is only able to return home every few months. He was able to see his friends and family and had just returned to his apprenticeship. However, after witnessing the death of a friend, Cyrus is kidnapped by the murderous pirates who do not want any witnesses. Cyrus finds himself in themiddle of a sea battle, and suddenly, he is on a new pirate ship. The ship's captain, Kaija, is on a quest to save her island. A disease has run rampant and threatens both the people and the trees. Will Cyrus find his way home? Will Kaija's crew be able to find the cure to save her people?

From the first page, I was drawn into this book. Theexpansive world-building was detailed enough that I was able to picture the island nations, but Gray did not present an overwhelming amount of detail. I thought it was interesting to learn how each island had a main industry and how these islands each had such different social structures. For example, Domortis, Cyrus' home, specializes in gems, so there are many miners. Kaija and her crew must travel a great distance to find the cure for her people because of these specialties.

In addition, I thought the characters were well-developed. Cyrus started the book as a simple blacksmith in training. He knew little of the world beyond his island. As he journeyed through the seas, he began to learn more about the rest of theislands and how they were all so interconnected. I thought his character growth throughout the novel was inspiring.

I rate The Pirate Prince by Garrett Gray 5 out of 5 stars. The action-packed sequences, compelling characters, and excellent writing make a book that draws you in from the start. I can think of nothing I disliked about this book. It also appeared to have been professionally edited, as I only came across a few errors. Both teenagers and adults would be able to enjoy this book. If you enjoy reading tales of pirates and epic quests, look no further than The Pirate Prince!