I liked the first book in this middle grade science fiction pirate series quite a bit, and Curse of the Iris is a great follow up. The characters get hashed out a little more, I was glad to see some more diversity in the overall world, and there are SECRETS and MYSTERIES and BURIED TREASURE.
Book Description.....
"When four spirited young women
find themselves orphaned and alone in an unforgiving world, they are forced to
defend not only their honor but their very lives. Ivory Shepard, has made a name for herself as the notorious pirate "Ivory Razor," while she and her handy cousins; Cass, Keara and Miranda are building a life in Port Royal, Jamaica. When she takes a merchant ship and finds a bag full of rare diamonds, including one very large blue one, she never imagined she'd end up captured and held prisoner by a rival pirate.
Maddox Carbonale aka "Blacksnake" intends to collect a fifty thousand pound bounty on her head and earn a pardon in the process, until a fiery attraction ignites between them. Regardless of their first passionate night together, by the time the sun rises the next morning, Ivory is reminded why she trusts no one and she's left wondering if her fate is sealed due to Blacksnake's greed or Maddox's wounded ego.
Ultimately unable to deny his feelings for her, Maddox offers his loyalty and his guns. but no one can take anything from Ivory Shepard that she doesn't want to give; certainly not her freedom, and most of all, her heart.
Will she prove she can have it all on her own terms; the man, the blue diamond and her freedom?"
Title: The Blue Diamond: The Razor's Edge
Author: P.S. Bartlett
Publisher: Libertine Press/Ravenswood Publishing
Series: The Razor's Edge #1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: 5
Review:
"The Blue Diamond: The Razor's Edge" By P.S. Bartlett
What I liked from this novel.....
"The Blue Diamond: The Razor's Edge" was captivating from all of its historic adventures and pirates and even a women pirates in this romantic story. This author really knows how to hold and keep your attention turning the pages as you will be caught up in this storyline about what is going on with these pirates. You will find some were good and some weren't good pirates. You will have to pick up this good read to see just who is who! I found all of the characters for the most part being so well developed, well portrayed as well as believable especially the heroine and hero when these two pirates captains meet and their adventure begins. I only wished the ending would have had an epilogue so we could have known what was going to happen next for these two Pirate Captains but I guess that will be for another read. Would I recommend? If you are into romantic pirate reads....YES, this one would be recommended for YOU!
Sequel to Magic Marks the Spot. I liked this one less than the first, mostly because the characters seem a bit stuck in their roles. I did very much appreciate how Carlson makes Hilary an adventurous character without presenting her as the Right Way To Be A Girl. In fact, Claire and Miss Pimm are powerful magic users who also enjoy embroidery and traditionally feminine things.
From Publishers' Weekly, a cheat sheet to the highlights of the Fall 2014 season in children's picture books, MG, and YA.
Featuring! Quest, a followup to the very lovely wordless picture book Journey, by Aaron Becker, from Candlewick Press.
And!
A new Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates book!
A new Septimus Heap series!
A 50th anniversary edition of The Book of Three.
From Eos and Mani, illus. by Lindsey Yankey (Simply Read Books)
And!
...and like a hundred more.
Basically, get excited.
This is an extremely enchanting middle grade book. I liked the main character, Hilary Westfield, a lot–she wants to be a pirate and practices knots, etc, but she’s also good at waltzing and she never comes across as a Strong Female Character. The plot is generally a bit ridiculous, but you know, pirates! Sensible plots need not apply. 11-year-old Maureen would have enjoyed this book immensely.
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