Arrg-ust Graphic Novel Review of Compass South by Hope Larson & Illustrated by Rebecca Mock

Read for: Graphic Novel & Borrowed Books

Synopsis: "It’s 1860 in New York City. When 12-year-old twins Alexander and Cleopatra’s father disappears, they join the Black Hook Gang and are caught by the police pulling off a heist. They agree to reveal the identity of the gang in exchange for tickets to New Orleans. But once there, Alex is shanghaied to work on a ship that is heading for San Francisco via Cape Horn. Cleo stows away on a steamer to New Granada where she hopes to catch a train to San Francisco to find her brother. Neither Alexander nor Cleo realizes the real danger they are in — they are being followed by pirates who think they hold the key to treasure. How they outwit the pirates and find each other makes for a fast-paced, breathtaking adventure."

My Review: In my search for pirate books I came across this one, I had never heard of it before but was intrigued. I enjoyed the story, it is definitely a journey full of action and mystery. The characters Cleo and Alex really develop a lot as the story moves along and I really like where they end up by the end, having each been on their own personal journeys. It does get a bit confusing once the other set of twins Edwin and his brother (I can't remember his name for the life of me) join up. The art style was great and really suited the era setting of the story. I am curious to see what adventures they set out on next.

My Rating: I enjoyed this one, it was a fairly quick read that could be enjoyed by many age groups. Action and danger kept you turning pages to find out what happened next.  I give it a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag.

Arrg-ust Bedtime Story: Pirasaurs! by Josh Funk and Illustrated by Michael H. Slack

Read for: Children's Book Challenge

Synopsis: "We're Pirasaurs! We're Pirasaurs!

We rule the open seas!

We'll cannon-blast you to the past! 

We do just what we please!

Meet the Pirasaurs, a ragtag team of seasoned pirate dinosaurs looking for adventure and treasure! There's fearsome Captain Rex, golden-toothed Velocimate, one-eyed Bronto Beard, and more fearsome, buccaneering beasts....as well as one new recruit who may be small, but who's eager to prove he can learn the ropes and find his place on the team.

But when a trap is set upon the Pirasaurs while looking for buried treasure, it's up to the littlest recruit to show the team that there's more to a Pirasaur than meets the eye patch!"

My Review: In my search for pirate books for kids I came across this gem at the library. This was an insanely fun book to read. It had great rhymes and rhythm while reading out loud and the pictures were bright and colorful for young children. There is also a lot of repetition that kids will quickly pick up on and will be assisting with by the end of the first read. It is so catchy! It is a great combination of two things many kids love, dinosaurs and pirates. This will quickly become a favorite!

My Rating: This was such a fun book, even though Munchkin has pretty much outgrown picture books, I think I will still need to pick up a copy for our shelves.  I give it a rating of Four Paws and a Stump Wag!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

Arrg-ust Review of The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Pirates by Mackenzi Lee

Read for: Audio Book Challenge & Borrowed Books

Synopsis: "A year after an accidentally whirlwind grand tour with her brother Monty, Felicity Montague has returned to England with two goals in mind—avoid the marriage proposal of a lovestruck suitor from Edinburgh and enroll in medical school. However, her intellect and passion will never be enough in the eyes of the administrators, who see men as the sole guardians of science.

But then a window of opportunity opens—a doctor she idolizes is marrying an old friend of hers in Germany. Felicity believes if she could meet this man he could change her future, but she has no money of her own to make the trip. Luckily, a mysterious young woman is willing to pay Felicity’s way, so long as she’s allowed to travel with Felicity disguised as her maid.

In spite of her suspicions, Felicity agrees, but once the girl’s true motives are revealed, Felicity becomes part of a perilous quest that leads them from the German countryside to the promenades of Zurich to secrets lurking beneath the Atlantic."

My Review: I had enjoyed Gentleman's Guide and really loved Felicity but this book wasn't high on my priority list but then it came up available as an audiobook from the library. I still definitely love Felicity, she is so tenacious and stubborn that I can't help but connect with her. Monty and Percy are beyond adorable in this book with what little we get to see them. This was quite the adventure, it was like reading a female Indiana Jones, full of funny quips and action, shady characters and a constant search for something. The one thing that really stood out to me was female friendships, both old friendships rekindled and new tenuous friendships, but all in all it was ladies helping and supporting ladies in a male dominated world!

My Rating: I really enjoyed this one, more than I was expecting honestly.  It was full of action and adventure, some pirates and a mysterious treasure.  I can't help but give this one a rating of Four Paws!

Review of Dark Shores by Danielle L. Jensen

Read for: Recently Added

Synopsis: "In a world divided by meddlesome gods and treacherous oceans, only the Maarin possess the knowledge to cross the Endless Seas. But they have one mandate: East must never meet West.

A SAILOR WITH A WILL OF IRON

Teriana is the second mate of the Quincense and heir to the Maarin Triumvirate. Her people are born of the seas and the keepers of its secrets, but when her closest friend is forced into an unwanted betrothal, Teriana breaks her people’s mandate so her friend might escape—a choice with devastating consequences. 

A SOLDIER WITH A SECRET

Marcus is the commander of the Thirty-Seventh, the notorious legion that has led the Celendor Empire to conquer the entire East. The legion is his family, but even they don’t know the truth he’s been hiding since childhood. It’s a secret he’ll do anything to protect, no matter how much it costs him – and the world. 

A DANGEROUS QUEST

When an Empire senator discovers the existence of the Dark Shores, he captures Teriana’s crew and threatens to reveal Marcus’s secret unless they sail in pursuit of conquest, forcing the two into an unlikely—and unwilling—alliance. They unite for the sake of their families, but both must decide how far they are willing to go, and how much they are willing to sacrifice."

My Review: This was on the edges of my anticipated releases because that cover is stunning, then I received it in a book box and had to pick it up. It took me a bit to get into this book, I was a little bored with the perspectives of both Teriana and Marcus at the beginning but it quickly picked up steam. I really enjoyed the moral dilemmas both main characters were put into, so many choice of a few or thousands. It was quite the adventure and the touch of romance was a great way to break up the world building and action (I do love a good enemy to lovers trope). This is a rather long book and does take a while to work through but it seems to be doing a lot of setting up for future books, there are a few plot lines left dangling that I would have like to seen a little more development on and it leaves me a bit worried that they might be dropped as the series continues. I will definitely be anticipating the next book!

My Rating: This was such a pleasant surprise! I am so intrigued by the world and the characters. I am also curious about the open plot lines.  I give it a rating of Four Paws!

Its Not Monday Reading List

It is Monday again, and time to update with what I read last week, what I am currently reading and what to look forward to next week.

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook by Christina Henry
One Year Home by Marie Force
Shivers Pirate Stories by John Townsend
Pirate Attack! by Deborah Lock (Early Reader)

 Books Finished Last Week:

Reviews will be posted at a later date

Five Years Gone
One Year Home
Escape the Sea
Pirasaurs
Pirate Attack
Love the Sea
Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Pirates

Currently Reading:

Realm by Alexandrea Weis - Ebook - 11%
The Storyteller by Traci Chee - Multiple Formats - 31%
Fire by Kristin Cashore - Print - on page 143 of 480

Pages Read/ Time Listened
393:01 Hours Listened (15:36 listened this week)
21,591 Pages Read (1,116 this week)

Books Added to Shelves Recently: TBR
The Snow Gypsy
WarDance
Warsong

Lost Boy
Year One
Girl Who Drank the Moon
King of Scars
Dactyl Hill Squad
The Darkdeep
Lord of the Fading Lands

 Crown of Feathers

 Argos: The Story of Odysseus as told by his Loyal Dog

Shadow of Doubt
Gates of Stone
A Conspiracy of Truths
Viper
Vortex Visions
Through the White Wood
Descendant of the Crane
Holy Sister
Dark Harmony
The Sea Queen
The Mountain of Kept Memory
Metamorphica
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 1
Misfits of Avalon Vol. 2
The Sea King
Ride Hard
Ride Rough
Ride Wild
Force of Attraction
Primal Force
Rival Forces
A Rogue by Any Other Name
A Scot in the Dark
The Day of the Duchess
The Pirate Bride
Man Made Boy
This Monstrous Thing
Dear Santa
An Endless Christmas
Christmas Magic
Falling Softly
Christmas Town
The Christmas Star
Gris Grimly's Frankenstein
The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter
We Hunt the Flame
Romanov
Dreaming the Bear
A New Hope
Monsters
The Monsters We Deserve
Strange Star
Ghostly Tales from the Lost Summer of 1816
The Bride Test
Storm and Fury
Queen of Ruin
Stepsister
Kingdom of Exiles
The Thankful Unicorn
Star Wars: Pirate Price
Clue by Clue
Honeybees and Frenemies

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I made up for not reading during vacation by shirking all my duties (except work and bare minimum chores) to read all week long! It felt so good to be picking up so many books, and almost all of them were library books this time around! 

I hope you are enjoying Arrg-ust! I have so many more books to share with you but I don't know if I will even be able to squeeze them all in! I guess that just bodes well for another Arrg-ust next year!