Pirates and Privateers

There is no frigate like a book to take us lands away. ~ Emily Dickinson

Avast there! The Bookaneer sails the High Seas in search of books of interest to pirates young and old. Feel free to browse the latest reviewed titles or click on the links below the latest reviews to access specific sections.

A special note to authors and publicists

More than two decades ago, I began reviewing books for Appraisal: Science Books for Young People, The Book Report, Library Media Connection, and School Library Journal. Later, I reviewed books online for Ivy Quill Reviews and Simply E-Books. Today, I review historical novels and history books for Historical Novels Review, Discovering Diamonds, and Goodreads.com, and piratical and maritime fiction and non-fiction for Pirates and Privateers. If you would like me to review your latest pirate or maritime book, please contact me. ~ Cindy Vallar

The Distant Ocean by Philip K. Allan
Captain Alexander Clay returns in this fifth adventure that takes him to the Gold Coast and Indian Ocean. French privateers and warships wreak havoc on British merchant ships. Clay joins a squadron of two warships and two sloops to stop the depredations. But an old nemesis still seeks justice for a murder.

Emily Windsnap and the Pirate Prince by Liz Kessler
After pirates plunder the cruise ship and her boyfriend turns up missing, Emily must join forces with some of the pirates to unravel mysterious clues that lead to a treasure. It's the only way she can save her friend.

How to Survive in the Georgian Navy by Bruno Pappalardo
This guide for sailors and anyone else with an interest in the Royal Navy during the 18th and 19th centuries covers a wide range of topics from manpower to ships, from food and drink to medicine at sea, and other subjects pertaining to life at sea.

The Whydah Pirates Speak by Laura Nelson
Nelson's second volume about Sam Bellamy looks at some members of his crew and two of his associates, Paulsgrave Williams and Olivier Levasseur.

Additional Reviews

Books for Young Pirates

Books for Pirate Apprentices and Young Adults

Books for Adults - Fiction

Books for Adults - Non-fiction

A special note to readers

The United States Federal Trade Commission has issued new guidelines for online reviewers, which include disclosing to you that publishers, publicists, and authors send me review books and media for free. Sometimes I request these review copies, sometimes I don't. In either case, I am free to choose whether or not I publish a review of these items, although the sender hopes that I will do so. Sometimes I add these free review copies to my personal library collection. Other times I donate them to libraries or other worthy causes, or use them as prizes I award to contest winners. If anyone wishes to know what I did with a specific title reviewed here, I'll be happy to disclose that information.