Tricia Levenseller's vivacious debut novel, the first in a duology, boasts stormy seas, sexy pirates, swordplay and a heroine who conquers all three with aplomb.
Although her father is the Pirate King, 17-year-old sea captain Alosa isn't a typical princess. After years of rigorous training under the king's tutelage, Alosa can fight, sail and scheme better than any man. When her father asks her to be captured by rival pirate Draxen so she can search his ship for a coveted treasure map, Alosa obliges, confident she'll be back with her own ship and crew in no time. Unfortunately, she doesn't anticipate having Draxen's brother and first mate Riden as her interrogator. His shrewd eyes see through her pretenses, and his handsome face and quick wits prove distracting in ways she hadn't expected. If Alosa can keep him from guessing the true reason she's on his ship, she might pull off the plan, but their growing attraction threatens her focus, and his loyalty to Draxen.
Levenseller captures all the adventure and chemistry of a classic pirate romance novel, but unlike the bodice rippers of old, this leading lady never plays the role of damsel in distress. Anti-heroine Alosa will light up readers' imaginations with her tough attitude, constant snark and remorseless adherence to her own moral code, but she lights up most in her verbal and physical spars with Riden. A rip-roaring high seas escapade with a tinge of fantasy, Daughter of the Pirate King will engage and enthrall its teen audience. --Jaclyn Fulwood, lead librarian at Del City Public Library, Okla.