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

Black & Mist by Thomas J. Radford
While their ship is in for much needed repairs, Violet's curiosity uncovers something impossible, but everyone is too busy to warn about the danger. The skipper is searching for new crew members. The navigator is irritated at having to share his duties. The captain is sometimes muddled, sometimes gambling, and sometimes trying to find a paying cargo. Sent on an errand, Violet happens to be in the right place at the right time to arrange that cargo, but doing so eventually gives rise to life-threatening accidents, hidden pursuers, and treachery from within.

Once a Scoundrel by Mary Jo Putney
Banished for dishonoring his family, Gabriel Hawkins Vance has made his own way in the world as a merchant captain who does what he must to accomplish his goals. His skills are needed to extricate Lady Aurora Octavia Lawrence from her current predicament -- captive of a Barbary pirate who will either ransom her or sell her to a harem to raise an outrageous sum to satisfy a cruel relative's demands.

The Devil's Wind by Steve Goble
Once again, Spider John's desire to return to his beloved family is thwarted when the ship's captain dies in a locked cabin. It appears to be suicide, but Spider John thinks not. There are a plethora of suspects; he just can't figure out who has the most to gain and time is running out. Instead getting as far from pirates as he had hoped, the ship now heads toward an island where pirates often prey, including the most bloodthirsty of them all, the sails in water frequented by the vicious Ned Low.

The Terran Privateer by Glynn Stewart
When Annette Bond joins Alpha Squadron to destroy invading aliens, she does so with special orders. She commands the only ship likely to survive the battle, which is why she and her crew are Earth's last hope. Provided with a letter of marque, she becomes a privateer in unknown regions of outer space, where it's difficult to know who to trust as they encounter slavers, pirates, kidnappers, and traitors -- many of whom care only about themselves and how much profit they can make.

The Pirates of Scurvy Sands by Jonny Duddle
Matilda joins the Jolley-Rogers at a resort just for pirates. Her presence sets tongues wagging since she's obviously a landlubber. But she and Jim Lad are determined to have fun and try to do what no one else has for centuries -- find Mad Jack McMuddle's buried treasure.

Black Flags, Blue Waters by Eric Jay Dolin
Authors and Hollywood have made the pirates of the 18th century more legendary than they were when they lived. This history examines those who impacted and interacted with the American colonies. Within these pages meet the real pirates, some famous (Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard) and some little known (Dixie Bull and John Rose Archer), as well as those who associated with the pirates and those determined to eradicate them from the seas.

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.