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The Pirate & Her Princess #1
Uncharted
In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinder’s kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georgina’s own history than either of them expect.
Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The prince’s unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinder’s past threatens to drag them both to the deep.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
June 22, 2021
Edit: June 22nd, 2021
As I wrote in my review for the book, there can never be enough lesbian pirates stories, and this one is well worth your time. I don’t have a lot to add to my original review, I’ll focus on the narration.
I have very minor complaints about Emily Woo Zeller’s narration. George’s voice sounds a tad too old at times but the voices are overall really good. The tone is overly dramatic here and there. The drama is already in the words and doesn’t need to be overstated, especially at the end of chapters.
Other than that, the pace is right and the characters really come to life.
A copy of the audiobook by the author to LezReviewBooks in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------------------------
Alli Temple usually writes m/m contemporary romance (as Allison Temple) so I can’t say I was familiar with her work before this book came along. I don’t know why, maybe the cover? Maybe the blurb? Whatever it was, I couldn’t let this book pass me by. I mean, lesbian pirates! There can never be enough lesbian pirates stories.
Since their father passed away, Georgina – George – is under her half-brother’s “protection”, which, in the bleak kingdom they live in, means she’s his property and if he wants to marry her off to the cruel prince, she has no say in the matter. The fact that she’s a spy for the rebellion makes it even more difficult to resist if she doesn’t want to endanger her comrades. Just as she’s trying to find how to use her new position to help her people, she gets kidnapped by pirates and finds herself a prisoner on the infamous Captain Cinder’s ship.
George is a wonderful character, a young woman whose fear won’t stop her from doing what’s right, at any cost. Captain Cinder is not what or who she expects at all and even though her true identity is revealed pretty early in the story, I don’t want to say too much. I’ll just say I liked her a lot too, I liked the complexity, the broken soul, the will to survive.
They’re surrounded by characters I came to love, such as George’s maid Rosie, Ender the giant pirate, Maro the non-binary first mate; and face villains I loved to hate: the prince, George’s brother, at least one other I can’t write about without spoiling.
When I think pirates, I think adventures, and I wasn’t disappointed on that front either. The pace is fast, there’s always something happening, usually ominous. There’s some violence, “largely of a piratical nature”, as the author warns (there are more detailed warnings on her website). The story is darker than I expected, and I probably liked it even more because of that.
I don’t know whether the author plans to give us more of these characters’ voyages but I certainly hope so.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
As I wrote in my review for the book, there can never be enough lesbian pirates stories, and this one is well worth your time. I don’t have a lot to add to my original review, I’ll focus on the narration.
I have very minor complaints about Emily Woo Zeller’s narration. George’s voice sounds a tad too old at times but the voices are overall really good. The tone is overly dramatic here and there. The drama is already in the words and doesn’t need to be overstated, especially at the end of chapters.
Other than that, the pace is right and the characters really come to life.
A copy of the audiobook by the author to LezReviewBooks in exchange for an honest review.
------------------------------------------------
Alli Temple usually writes m/m contemporary romance (as Allison Temple) so I can’t say I was familiar with her work before this book came along. I don’t know why, maybe the cover? Maybe the blurb? Whatever it was, I couldn’t let this book pass me by. I mean, lesbian pirates! There can never be enough lesbian pirates stories.
Since their father passed away, Georgina – George – is under her half-brother’s “protection”, which, in the bleak kingdom they live in, means she’s his property and if he wants to marry her off to the cruel prince, she has no say in the matter. The fact that she’s a spy for the rebellion makes it even more difficult to resist if she doesn’t want to endanger her comrades. Just as she’s trying to find how to use her new position to help her people, she gets kidnapped by pirates and finds herself a prisoner on the infamous Captain Cinder’s ship.
George is a wonderful character, a young woman whose fear won’t stop her from doing what’s right, at any cost. Captain Cinder is not what or who she expects at all and even though her true identity is revealed pretty early in the story, I don’t want to say too much. I’ll just say I liked her a lot too, I liked the complexity, the broken soul, the will to survive.
They’re surrounded by characters I came to love, such as George’s maid Rosie, Ender the giant pirate, Maro the non-binary first mate; and face villains I loved to hate: the prince, George’s brother, at least one other I can’t write about without spoiling.
When I think pirates, I think adventures, and I wasn’t disappointed on that front either. The pace is fast, there’s always something happening, usually ominous. There’s some violence, “largely of a piratical nature”, as the author warns (there are more detailed warnings on her website). The story is darker than I expected, and I probably liked it even more because of that.
I don’t know whether the author plans to give us more of these characters’ voyages but I certainly hope so.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 16, 2023
Unchartered by Alli Temple
A Pirate and Her Princess series #1. Historical F-F romance. Closed door.
Georgina lives in a very strict society of nobles and oppressed. She discreetly carries notes hidden within her petticoats as part of a resistance group. One afternoon, upon returning home, she finds she’s been sold to the Prince as his new bride. When she overhears his plans to have her killed, she manages to escape with the help of friends but ends up in the bowels of a pirate ship, kidnapped. Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear wherever she sails. But Georgina knows this fierce Captain as her childhood friend she thought dead. Maybe she’s not in as much danger as she thought.
An epic adventure of kidnapping, running, hiding, overcoming obstacles and surviving when everything in life is scary, uncontrolled and threatening. Georgina wants to prove herself and ends up swabbing the deck, climbing the lines and trying to reconnect with her first love.
Lots of twists and turns, hardships and continued hope as the ship travels from stop to stop on the way to her future.
Suspenseful and riveting. Resilience. Georgina has it.
A Pirate and Her Princess series #1. Historical F-F romance. Closed door.
Georgina lives in a very strict society of nobles and oppressed. She discreetly carries notes hidden within her petticoats as part of a resistance group. One afternoon, upon returning home, she finds she’s been sold to the Prince as his new bride. When she overhears his plans to have her killed, she manages to escape with the help of friends but ends up in the bowels of a pirate ship, kidnapped. Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear wherever she sails. But Georgina knows this fierce Captain as her childhood friend she thought dead. Maybe she’s not in as much danger as she thought.
An epic adventure of kidnapping, running, hiding, overcoming obstacles and surviving when everything in life is scary, uncontrolled and threatening. Georgina wants to prove herself and ends up swabbing the deck, climbing the lines and trying to reconnect with her first love.
Lots of twists and turns, hardships and continued hope as the ship travels from stop to stop on the way to her future.
Suspenseful and riveting. Resilience. Georgina has it.
April 10, 2021
An Enjoyable pirate adventure story with a sapphic twist. On Kindle Unlimited.
This was very detailed and well written, and I found myself really engaged in what was happening to George aka Georgina and how she had little to no control over anything happening to her! Yet she never gives up, and her spirit remains strong and defiant. Even once she realizes the world and it's decisions aren't always as black and white as she was lead to believe.
We get flashbacks to a childhood friendship she had with another girl, and her being lost at sea. Plus George's own realizations as she ages, that she is not interested in men. But the country and kingdom she lives is a terribly stifling one, where same sex attraction is deemed punishable, as are a lot of moral laws about proprietary and modest dress.
We discover how corrupt the kingdom is, and George's attempts to help the resistance. But when she is unexpectedly betrothed to the Prince set to become King, even more dramatic twists emerge!
The story constantly had me guessing, and being surprised. It doesn't shy away from the truth and actions of piracy, once our pirate Captain Cinders turns up. Even if this does grieve George. She cannot still her attraction to the lady Captain. I was never sure what was going to happen next, and even right up until the end I was on the edge of my seat!
I could absolutely see there being another installment if the writer so chose to. Although it certain stands alone as it is, too. But I do so hope this won't be the last we see of George, Cinder, Lou, Rosie, Ender and Maro.
There's no actual sex scenes on the page, but I felt the action and depth of emotions and angst along the way gave more than enough excitement. I would recommend giving it a go.
This was very detailed and well written, and I found myself really engaged in what was happening to George aka Georgina and how she had little to no control over anything happening to her! Yet she never gives up, and her spirit remains strong and defiant. Even once she realizes the world and it's decisions aren't always as black and white as she was lead to believe.
We get flashbacks to a childhood friendship she had with another girl, and her being lost at sea. Plus George's own realizations as she ages, that she is not interested in men. But the country and kingdom she lives is a terribly stifling one, where same sex attraction is deemed punishable, as are a lot of moral laws about proprietary and modest dress.
We discover how corrupt the kingdom is, and George's attempts to help the resistance. But when she is unexpectedly betrothed to the Prince set to become King, even more dramatic twists emerge!
The story constantly had me guessing, and being surprised. It doesn't shy away from the truth and actions of piracy, once our pirate Captain Cinders turns up. Even if this does grieve George. She cannot still her attraction to the lady Captain. I was never sure what was going to happen next, and even right up until the end I was on the edge of my seat!
I could absolutely see there being another installment if the writer so chose to. Although it certain stands alone as it is, too. But I do so hope this won't be the last we see of George, Cinder, Lou, Rosie, Ender and Maro.
There's no actual sex scenes on the page, but I felt the action and depth of emotions and angst along the way gave more than enough excitement. I would recommend giving it a go.
July 5, 2023
DNF 37%
The exact quote that made me DNF:
“The trousers were easy enough to step into and do up but so loose that even when I pulled the drawstring at the waist, they still fell to the floor. Maro, or whoever had picked out these clothes for me, had apparently anticipated this, because I’d been left a wide, heavy belt made of leather, similar to the one Maro themself wore. It was so long, I had to wrap it around myself twice, but once it was on, the trousers stayed in place.”
Pet peeve is when authors spend this many words on emphasising how skinny someone is. I don’t care. She’s not even supposed to be malnourished so what was the point Alli
This book isn’t great to be honest. I feel like it would have worked as YA with some editing.
Content warnings: world is handmaidens tale level misogynistic, kidnapping, child abuse, death of a parent, death at sea
The exact quote that made me DNF:
“The trousers were easy enough to step into and do up but so loose that even when I pulled the drawstring at the waist, they still fell to the floor. Maro, or whoever had picked out these clothes for me, had apparently anticipated this, because I’d been left a wide, heavy belt made of leather, similar to the one Maro themself wore. It was so long, I had to wrap it around myself twice, but once it was on, the trousers stayed in place.”
Pet peeve is when authors spend this many words on emphasising how skinny someone is. I don’t care. She’s not even supposed to be malnourished so what was the point Alli
This book isn’t great to be honest. I feel like it would have worked as YA with some editing.
Content warnings: world is handmaidens tale level misogynistic, kidnapping, child abuse, death of a parent, death at sea
November 1, 2021
This review contains a spoiler.
Lesbian pirates! Yes please! I have a trilogy with lesbian pirates planned, so I was curious about this book.
What I liked:
Lou/Cinder. She was great. I love me a fierce pirate captain with a legend that precedes her.
Maro was cool too. And the rep was good i.e lesbian MC, lesbian LI, non-binary SC.
The romance was an all right childhood friends to enemies to lovers arc, but it could have been better. Is this the authors first f/f romance?
What I didn't like:
Pretty much everything else unfortunately.
The whole friendship between George and Rosie actually almost made me DNF. They meet and 5 minutes later they're best friends who would die for each other? It was all too ridiculous.
A lot of the decisions characters made seemed strange. Why would Lou actually marry George, the women she's in love with, to the prince? A man she knows is cruel, will kill George, and who George hates? Their 'plan' wasn't much of one at all.
George herself. Every other sentence she was tripping over something or shrieking or crying. I have no idea what Lou saw in her. I came into the book expecting some kind of Elizabeth Swan character arc and it just never happened.
There are flashbacks woven throughout the story. Normally flashbacks don't bother me, but there were no scene breaks to start and finish them, which was annoying.
Lesbian pirates! Yes please! I have a trilogy with lesbian pirates planned, so I was curious about this book.
What I liked:
Lou/Cinder. She was great. I love me a fierce pirate captain with a legend that precedes her.
Maro was cool too. And the rep was good i.e lesbian MC, lesbian LI, non-binary SC.
The romance was an all right childhood friends to enemies to lovers arc, but it could have been better. Is this the authors first f/f romance?
What I didn't like:
Pretty much everything else unfortunately.
The whole friendship between George and Rosie actually almost made me DNF. They meet and 5 minutes later they're best friends who would die for each other? It was all too ridiculous.
A lot of the decisions characters made seemed strange. Why would Lou actually marry George, the women she's in love with, to the prince? A man she knows is cruel, will kill George, and who George hates? Their 'plan' wasn't much of one at all.
George herself. Every other sentence she was tripping over something or shrieking or crying. I have no idea what Lou saw in her. I came into the book expecting some kind of Elizabeth Swan character arc and it just never happened.
There are flashbacks woven throughout the story. Normally flashbacks don't bother me, but there were no scene breaks to start and finish them, which was annoying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2021
“You’re a murderer.”
The one gold tooth flashed wickedly. “I’m a survivor.”
4.5 stars. Maybe more like 4.25, but I usually stick to even numbers and .5s, and this is better than a 4. I can't describe how much I LOVED this book, especially the 25-80% portion of the book. A really great fantasy pirate adventure with an f/f romance that I got a little obsessed with, and wonderful characters all around. I had a couple disappointments, and I didn't love this as much as I could have, but it was still so good. I-took-a-two-hour-lunch-break-so-I-could-continue-reading-shhh-don't-tell-my-boss kind of good.
Georgina is a noblewoman and a spy, doing what she can to clandestinely fight against the wicked regime of the prince, soon to be king. The prince and his father before him have run the kingdom into the ground with taxes and cruel laws and crueller practices. George's job as a spy mostly involves ferrying messages and helping her friend at the print shop, but she soon finds herself betrothed to the prince, and before she knows it, entangled with pirates and a plot that's bigger than anything she'd previously suspected.
This was such an interesting world! It's mostly an adventure tale, one that has a fair share of action and gets surprisingly, but appropriately, dark. The world is pretty much a fictionalised historical Earth, but honestly I'm really glad that the author chose to go this route; I often get annoyed with books about real world piracy. Not all of the details line up perfectly and I did want a bit more out of the world-building, but this is the type of story that's really easy to get into? Oppressive regime, tyrannical ruler, strict laws, and the people who fight against it. I loved George so so much! Even though her agency is taken away from her several times in the story, she's still such a forceful, determined character, and really drives the story forward. There are a couple moments where her stubbornness made me fall in love.
She tasted of saltwater and sunshine. She was mine.
While this is mostly an adventure novel, I'm still tagging it as romance because the romance does play a fairly big role, and it's so flipping good. There are a couple tropes in here that I won't specify because they go into spoilers, but they just made this romance transcendent to me. Cinder isn't exactly good or easily redeemable, but the author does such a specular job writing her, and writing George's often complicated feelings about her. There's a lot of great yearning and the way they talk about how they feel about one another is soooooo... gah. I love falling in love with a romance like I did with these two. There's a lot of stuff here that genuinely wrenched at my heart, with both characters. And for a book with no on-page sex (which was just a teensy disappointment), their chemistry was out of this world.
What I think could have used some work was the pacing of the emotional intensity? The plot climaxes? IDK how to put it. Just, narratively, I feel like we peaked a little too soon, and there were a couple of bleak moments that I felt we didn't really need. Overall, the ending was satisfying, but just not as good as the rest of the book, imo? This is another thing I can't get into without spoilers, but I feel there could have been a more effective way to have all of the action unspooled and then resolved.
Listened to the audiobook as read Emily Woo Zeller, and this was definitely a case where excellent narration elevated a good book into a great book. I loved her voices and characterisations and renditions of all the characters. I liked the writing a lot, but the narration made me love it. The story employs a lot of flashbacks, which isn't my favourite type of storytelling, and the ebook doesn't have really good breaks to indicate the flashbacks; just a lot of text in italics. But the narration completely smoothed that over, and I didn't mind the flashbacks as much as I normally do. So as much as I think this could have been improved, I'm still so enamoured with the story and the characters that I can hardly think of anything else. A peek at the author's website tells me there'll be another book coming, and that has me so excited. I can't wait to see George, Cinder, and everyone else again.
Content warnings: .
“Sometimes there’s no other way but running right at the thing you fear the most.”
December 19, 2021
3 stars. Super underwhelming given the plot. Female pirate and a Princess. Childhood friends to enemies to lovers. Pirates and adventures. Should’ve been a good time. Unfortunately the main character was annoying and lacked any real depth, the romance was boring and the overall plot was just so underwhelming.
Some of the side characters were really cool and honestly carried this book. Georgina is super naive and borderline TSTL. She irked my nerves and her character growth didn’t seem natural. Lous (Cinder) was fine. I wasn’t that crazy about her either but she had a little more depth to her. I just wanted more consistency from her character because she felt all over the place. The romance between her and Georgina was extremely lackluster because there was no chemistry there.
The writing was fine but the flashbacks felt forced in and awkwardly placed but it wasn’t too bad. This is a quick paced read but I wanted more from it.
Some of the side characters were really cool and honestly carried this book. Georgina is super naive and borderline TSTL. She irked my nerves and her character growth didn’t seem natural. Lous (Cinder) was fine. I wasn’t that crazy about her either but she had a little more depth to her. I just wanted more consistency from her character because she felt all over the place. The romance between her and Georgina was extremely lackluster because there was no chemistry there.
The writing was fine but the flashbacks felt forced in and awkwardly placed but it wasn’t too bad. This is a quick paced read but I wanted more from it.
March 10, 2022
3.75⭐
August 9, 2021
UNCHARTED really caught my eye with that cover and interesting sounding blurb. Plus, how can I resist a lady pirate who is the most feared pirate on the sea? What I ended up with was not exactly what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. However, there were a few parts that didn’t really work for me and gave me some mixed feelings about my overall rating.
So to start off with the good, Allie Temple has created a really great world for UNCHARTED that’s gritty and dark and kept me turning pages. I also adored Georgie as our narrator and it was great to see her journey from small time spy, to future Queen, to pirate captive and more. Georgie has seen how her city has fallen under an oppressive regime and she’s lived through the removal of pretty much all her rights as a woman. And to make things even more dangerous, Georgie is attracted to women and anything except a man and woman together is strictly forbidden in Redmere. She wants to help others and do good for her people but her resources are limited. She’s devastated when she finds out her brother has bargained her off to the Prince but she’s determined to make the best of the situation and try to help from within the system. Her resilience and emotional strength, which really comes out after her kidnapping, were so great to read about and one of the highlights of Georgie’s character.
The side characters were also all wonderful -- especially Maro, Ender, and Rosie -- and I fell for them just as much as Georgie. I also give major props to the friendship that develops between Georgie and her maid Rosie who ends up kidnapped with her. I adored Rosie so much for her fiery spirit and it was so nice to see a truly well developed friendship between women in a book. In fact, this relationship was better developed than Georgie’s actual romance with Captain Cinder and this is where I struggled the most with my feelings toward UNCHARTED.
Cinder doesn’t show up on page until about 30% but the build up to this moment was really great so I didn’t have any issues with it. However, after a few arguments between Georgie and Cinder, they hardly spend any time around each other until 70%. Look, I’m a fan of slow burn but I still need to see the characters interacting and slowly falling for each other. After the 70% mark the romance, which has barely been a subplot so far, becomes the main plot with Georgie and Cinder all of a sudden doing everything they can to find a way to stay together. The weird thing for me is that I actually really enjoyed their romance *once it happened* but the transition from never seeing each other to all of sudden loving each other was very abrupt and underdeveloped. Part of the struggle is that UNCHARTED is only told from Georgie’s POV so it seemed like Cinder just suddenly decided to be with Georgie when she had been so resistant up to that point. I will say (without spoiling anything) that Cinder and Georgie do have a connected history and I think this is what Temple was relying on to build the relationship, but it’s been so long since they’ve seen each other and they’re both completely different people now so I don’t think it was enough to build their current relationship on.
A few other minor things, like too many flashbacks and a slightly jumbled ending affected my overall enjoyment of the story but there was still so much to love about UNCHARTED. Georgie is one of the best heroines I've read in a book and I loved going on this journey with her.
Content Warning: The City of Redmere is incredibly oppressive, especially for women, with lots of morality and modesty rules; references to same sex couples being killed or imprisoned; references to past abuse; graphic violence; a pirate tries to assault Georgie
So to start off with the good, Allie Temple has created a really great world for UNCHARTED that’s gritty and dark and kept me turning pages. I also adored Georgie as our narrator and it was great to see her journey from small time spy, to future Queen, to pirate captive and more. Georgie has seen how her city has fallen under an oppressive regime and she’s lived through the removal of pretty much all her rights as a woman. And to make things even more dangerous, Georgie is attracted to women and anything except a man and woman together is strictly forbidden in Redmere. She wants to help others and do good for her people but her resources are limited. She’s devastated when she finds out her brother has bargained her off to the Prince but she’s determined to make the best of the situation and try to help from within the system. Her resilience and emotional strength, which really comes out after her kidnapping, were so great to read about and one of the highlights of Georgie’s character.
The side characters were also all wonderful -- especially Maro, Ender, and Rosie -- and I fell for them just as much as Georgie. I also give major props to the friendship that develops between Georgie and her maid Rosie who ends up kidnapped with her. I adored Rosie so much for her fiery spirit and it was so nice to see a truly well developed friendship between women in a book. In fact, this relationship was better developed than Georgie’s actual romance with Captain Cinder and this is where I struggled the most with my feelings toward UNCHARTED.
Cinder doesn’t show up on page until about 30% but the build up to this moment was really great so I didn’t have any issues with it. However, after a few arguments between Georgie and Cinder, they hardly spend any time around each other until 70%. Look, I’m a fan of slow burn but I still need to see the characters interacting and slowly falling for each other. After the 70% mark the romance, which has barely been a subplot so far, becomes the main plot with Georgie and Cinder all of a sudden doing everything they can to find a way to stay together. The weird thing for me is that I actually really enjoyed their romance *once it happened* but the transition from never seeing each other to all of sudden loving each other was very abrupt and underdeveloped. Part of the struggle is that UNCHARTED is only told from Georgie’s POV so it seemed like Cinder just suddenly decided to be with Georgie when she had been so resistant up to that point. I will say (without spoiling anything) that Cinder and Georgie do have a connected history and I think this is what Temple was relying on to build the relationship, but it’s been so long since they’ve seen each other and they’re both completely different people now so I don’t think it was enough to build their current relationship on.
A few other minor things, like too many flashbacks and a slightly jumbled ending affected my overall enjoyment of the story but there was still so much to love about UNCHARTED. Georgie is one of the best heroines I've read in a book and I loved going on this journey with her.
Content Warning: The City of Redmere is incredibly oppressive, especially for women, with lots of morality and modesty rules; references to same sex couples being killed or imprisoned; references to past abuse; graphic violence; a pirate tries to assault Georgie
September 2, 2021
Based on the blurb and the reviews, I went into Uncharted with high hopes and expectations. A sapphic pirate adventure, yes please! Unfortunately, it ended up being hit and miss for me.
The story starts off strong. The world and character building completely hooked me straight out the gate. The first third of the book focuses on spies working to undermine the corrupt and villainous crown prince and a heroine dedicated to fighting inequitable and harsh social structures. These things are right up my alley. I found the royal treachery a bit predictable and maybe not very original but I was completely there for the underground efforts to destabilize the evil, oppressive, patriarchal crown.
The second third, our introduction to the pirates and life aboard ship was a bit of a miss for me. I enjoyed life aboard ship and many of the pirates but I wasn’t crazy about the captain. I didn’t find Cinder’s introduction and response to Georgina/George very credible or their subsequent interactions compelling. Their interactions seemed lackluster and I didn’t really buy Cinder’s motivations. Moreover, the “romance” was underdeveloped and sparse. That said, the rest of shipboard life was entertaining and I appreciated George and Rosie’s character growth, friendship and growing bonds with each other as well as with Ender and Maro.
Sadly, it’s the final third and series of conflict resolutions that were the biggest disappointments for me. Some of the elements of conflict felt right and satisfying. Other plot points and conflict elements felt over the top and I didn’t really buy some of the choices made. There were also points of conflict that I despised and didn’t feel “fit” at all. The overall conclusion left too much hanging for my tastes.
The parts of the story that I loved the most were George’s original convictions and dedication to righting wrongs. Over time, she maintains her convictions but evolves to see that righting wrongs is a difficult task and challenges her morals and beliefs. I loved the shades of gray and exploration of “right” and “wrong.” Therefore I was disappointed in the wish washy, up in the air conclusion in which her dedication to her love seems to overshadow her desire to heal the wounds of her country, . I guess maybe that’s romantic…? but I wanted the total package! I wanted her love AND her dedication to fighting oppression. The conclusion IS left up in the air however, so I suppose each reader can write their own ending…?
If you KU, it’s worth checking out but this isn’t one I’ll be buying or revisiting.
The story starts off strong. The world and character building completely hooked me straight out the gate. The first third of the book focuses on spies working to undermine the corrupt and villainous crown prince and a heroine dedicated to fighting inequitable and harsh social structures. These things are right up my alley. I found the royal treachery a bit predictable and maybe not very original but I was completely there for the underground efforts to destabilize the evil, oppressive, patriarchal crown.
The second third, our introduction to the pirates and life aboard ship was a bit of a miss for me. I enjoyed life aboard ship and many of the pirates but I wasn’t crazy about the captain. I didn’t find Cinder’s introduction and response to Georgina/George very credible or their subsequent interactions compelling. Their interactions seemed lackluster and I didn’t really buy Cinder’s motivations. Moreover, the “romance” was underdeveloped and sparse. That said, the rest of shipboard life was entertaining and I appreciated George and Rosie’s character growth, friendship and growing bonds with each other as well as with Ender and Maro.
Sadly, it’s the final third and series of conflict resolutions that were the biggest disappointments for me. Some of the elements of conflict felt right and satisfying. Other plot points and conflict elements felt over the top and I didn’t really buy some of the choices made. There were also points of conflict that I despised and didn’t feel “fit” at all. The overall conclusion left too much hanging for my tastes.
The parts of the story that I loved the most were George’s original convictions and dedication to righting wrongs. Over time, she maintains her convictions but evolves to see that righting wrongs is a difficult task and challenges her morals and beliefs. I loved the shades of gray and exploration of “right” and “wrong.” Therefore I was disappointed in the wish washy, up in the air conclusion in which her dedication to her love seems to overshadow her desire to heal the wounds of her country, . I guess maybe that’s romantic…? but I wanted the total package! I wanted her love AND her dedication to fighting oppression. The conclusion IS left up in the air however, so I suppose each reader can write their own ending…?
If you KU, it’s worth checking out but this isn’t one I’ll be buying or revisiting.
July 7, 2023
If you're looking for a series to binge on your vacation, may I humbly recommend The Pirate and Her Princess trilogy from Alli Temple. I heard it described as The Princess Bride, but lesbian, but it's more than that...
Combining a little bit of The Handmaid's Tale, some Pirates of the Caribbean and reuniting childhood sweethearts who were torn from each other at a very young age, The Pirate and Her Princess trilogy is an epic tale set in it's own world of intrigue, deception and greed, in the best possible way.
George and Lou are both destined to be a light and a saving grace for the people who cross their paths, but in such different ways and with different backgrounds... they have to overcome their own histories to create their HEA and save the world... at least their corner of Redmere....
Sometimes fun, often emotional, definitely dangerous, I tore through the series and devoured every word. This series definitely needs to be read in order and now that it's complete, allowed me to sink deep into the depths of the seas and fall in love with the The Pirate and Her Princess!
Combining a little bit of The Handmaid's Tale, some Pirates of the Caribbean and reuniting childhood sweethearts who were torn from each other at a very young age, The Pirate and Her Princess trilogy is an epic tale set in it's own world of intrigue, deception and greed, in the best possible way.
George and Lou are both destined to be a light and a saving grace for the people who cross their paths, but in such different ways and with different backgrounds... they have to overcome their own histories to create their HEA and save the world... at least their corner of Redmere....
Sometimes fun, often emotional, definitely dangerous, I tore through the series and devoured every word. This series definitely needs to be read in order and now that it's complete, allowed me to sink deep into the depths of the seas and fall in love with the The Pirate and Her Princess!
April 1, 2023
3/5stars
I was very excited for Sapphic gay pirates, but alas, this was just okay. I found the writing to be bland and a bit boring, very telly and not showy, as well as the main character was a bit strange to me. She was very one dimensional and her motives in basically everything didng make a ton of sense. Also the gay part of the gay pirates doesn't really start until 3/4 of the way through this book so, it was a bit of a let down. The world was interesting and it was fast paced so I was never bored with the story, though, so I enjoyed it enough for a 3 star.
I was very excited for Sapphic gay pirates, but alas, this was just okay. I found the writing to be bland and a bit boring, very telly and not showy, as well as the main character was a bit strange to me. She was very one dimensional and her motives in basically everything didng make a ton of sense. Also the gay part of the gay pirates doesn't really start until 3/4 of the way through this book so, it was a bit of a let down. The world was interesting and it was fast paced so I was never bored with the story, though, so I enjoyed it enough for a 3 star.
April 25, 2022
I had a LOT of fun reading this.
This is partly me being obsessed with pirates after watching our flag means death, and partly just because a story about a pirate kidnapping a princess who also happens to be her “best friend” as a kid is amazing.
Also just a lesbian main character and a non-binary side character and great female friendships are just good content.
I really liked the storyline and the characters and the world building.
The end was SO filled with action and shocking moments.
On to the sequel :)
This is partly me being obsessed with pirates after watching our flag means death, and partly just because a story about a pirate kidnapping a princess who also happens to be her “best friend” as a kid is amazing.
Also just a lesbian main character and a non-binary side character and great female friendships are just good content.
I really liked the storyline and the characters and the world building.
The end was SO filled with action and shocking moments.
On to the sequel :)
February 18, 2023
My gay awakening was Keira Knightly in Pirates of the Caribbean so obviously I loved reading about a lesbian pirate and her princess… I mean come on
March 4, 2022
I cannot decide whether I simply disliked or totally hated this book, probably because George was an MC that I just simply couldn't connect with and annoyed the living hell out of me. Probably this is just personal preference, but I just couldn't see how, after growing up in a world as she did, she could see everything only in black and white. Like, there is ONLY good and evil, nothing in between. Not to mention her holier than thou attitude that made the hair on my back stand up. And her constant "there is always a choice" phrase that she throws at others, while whining how she never had a choice regarding her forced marriage or anything in her life... Oh and there is basically nothing pirate-y happening till like halfway into the book, you just get lots of whining from George who is barely a spy as is. I don't even understand why she was called a spy in the first place, when she was just a glorified messenger girl.
I did manage to power through the end, but I have to say, George is definitely not the strong female lead I was lead to believe. Cinder was cool though and I wish she rather got together with her first mate in the end. That pairing was just... Yea, didn't really vibe with that either.
All in all, reading this after Escape to Pirate Island was quite the disappointment and I would rather recommend that one. Let's hope the next f/f pirate romance I'm picking up will be more fun and less of a chore to grind through.
I did manage to power through the end, but I have to say, George is definitely not the strong female lead I was lead to believe. Cinder was cool though and I wish she rather got together with her first mate in the end. That pairing was just... Yea, didn't really vibe with that either.
All in all, reading this after Escape to Pirate Island was quite the disappointment and I would rather recommend that one. Let's hope the next f/f pirate romance I'm picking up will be more fun and less of a chore to grind through.
March 1, 2021
This book was provided to the Sapphic Book Club for an honest review.
I enjoyed this read. I'll admit that I don't think I was quiet in the right mindset to enjoy it to the fullest extent. I couldn't put it down and I'm very excited (and hopeful for a sequel!). The book follows George, a Lady in Redmere who ends up being promised to the Prince. Redmere is plagued by a oppressive regime and very strict laws to control the masses. George ends up being the target of the dread pirate Captain Cinder, who isn't all they are made out to be.
To avoid spoilers, I'll keep this sparse. I really liked all of the characters, especially the pirates. George is great and the book is told completely from her POV. Her optimistic and earnest ways are handled well. It can be easy for a character like that to come off as too naive or unrealistically able to survive a harsher world, but Temple does a great job.
There is a bonus scene if you sign up for Temple' newsletter. The bonus scene is from another characters POV and I hope to have more of that in a sequel. While the book ends in a way that a sequel is not necessary, it also ended in a way that could lead to an amazing sequel. So, here is to hoping for a sequel!
A fun read with pirates! I would highly recommend
I enjoyed this read. I'll admit that I don't think I was quiet in the right mindset to enjoy it to the fullest extent. I couldn't put it down and I'm very excited (and hopeful for a sequel!). The book follows George, a Lady in Redmere who ends up being promised to the Prince. Redmere is plagued by a oppressive regime and very strict laws to control the masses. George ends up being the target of the dread pirate Captain Cinder, who isn't all they are made out to be.
To avoid spoilers, I'll keep this sparse. I really liked all of the characters, especially the pirates. George is great and the book is told completely from her POV. Her optimistic and earnest ways are handled well. It can be easy for a character like that to come off as too naive or unrealistically able to survive a harsher world, but Temple does a great job.
There is a bonus scene if you sign up for Temple' newsletter. The bonus scene is from another characters POV and I hope to have more of that in a sequel. While the book ends in a way that a sequel is not necessary, it also ended in a way that could lead to an amazing sequel. So, here is to hoping for a sequel!
A fun read with pirates! I would highly recommend
February 1, 2021
This is a terrific book that quickly drew me and kept me turning the pages. The story is fast paced with plenty of action and adventure. The characters are intriguing, strong, and grow throughout the story. I really don't want to say too much about the book for fear of giving something away. This is a great story that is well worth reading.
May 10, 2021
i really liked! i just wish it had an epilogue
Shelved as 'not-finished'
March 15, 2022DNF @ 15% because a) too much weak sauce dystopia (which is the worst kind of dystopia) and b) one of the FMCs was verging on TSTL.
July 7, 2023
3.5⭐️ rounded up
January 19, 2022
3.5 stars!
June 19, 2021
Uncharted was so beautifully crafted that I struggle to find the right words to convey how happy this book made me. Emily Woo Zeller’s narration was nothing short of amazing. *Chef’s kiss* Perfection! I’m just gonna wrap my feels around me like a blanket.
March 2, 2023
What a fabulous adventure of a book! I absolutely adored George and Cinder and the pirate crew. This story has everything: fantasy lands, swashbuckling, slimy villains and a sweet romance. There's even a sea monster. I devoured it and can't wait to check out the next book in the series!
April 8, 2023
4.25/5
This book had me pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know that much about it going in, which really made it a great experience for me. Also, it got me out of a reading slump.
I liked the writing style. It was very simple (and I mean this as a compliment). Nothing crazy, just perfect to get me really into the story. It felt like I was walking amongst the crew myself.
I really want to continue this series, but sadly the next book is not available in my country. Not as a physical copy or audiobook. Hopefully that will change in the future.
This book had me pleasantly surprised. I didn’t know that much about it going in, which really made it a great experience for me. Also, it got me out of a reading slump.
I liked the writing style. It was very simple (and I mean this as a compliment). Nothing crazy, just perfect to get me really into the story. It felt like I was walking amongst the crew myself.
I really want to continue this series, but sadly the next book is not available in my country. Not as a physical copy or audiobook. Hopefully that will change in the future.
February 11, 2021
(3.5 stars)
If books featuring sapphic pirates and noble ladies spying on a corrupt monarchy don't get your attention, you're definitely not me!
Uncharted was a quick read for me, with a balanced mix of action, world-building, and character development. Whether you want a trip to the dressmaker, a princess scrubbing the decks of a pirate ship, an old-fashioned sword fight, moral dilemmas, going undercover... There's a little bit of everything. Plus the added sapphic friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance between two main characters, and a cast of side characters showcasing different motivations and friendships.
I particularly appreciated George's character development as she is forced to evaluate her position in society, and the fact that moral decisions can't all be considered a binary "good vs evil". I also liked the romance between George and Cinder (for anyone wondering, Uncharted does not contain any sexually explicit scenes, but you can subscribe to the author's newsletter after reading the epilogue to receive an R-rated angsty bonus scene from Cinder's point of view.)
The main reason I couldn't rate this book higher is that I did have some issues with the (lack of) racial diversity. In the first chapter, a woman is described as having "tawny gold" skin "noticeably darker than nearly anyone else's in Redmere". I'm not sure if it's because the author interprets "tawny" as darker than me - the dictionary definition of tawny is light brown - or because she chose to make her fictional setting so overwhelmingly white that light brown is considered dark-skinned, but this didn't sit right with me. The only dark-skinned character I can think of in the whole book is a side character with a violent career, who also happens to be the book's only nonbinary character by dint of coming from a genderless culture. As much as I liked that character, the fact that they fulfill so many stereotypes shouldn't be ignored. I would suggest that the author includes greater diversity in her work in the future to avoid marginalised characters acting as a trope or stereotype, and that she also seeks out BIPOC sensitivity readers for future works.
Content warnings for Uncharted, in no particular order: forced marriage, homophobia, misgendering, misogyny, sexual violence, attempted rape, allusions to past rape & CSA, death, murder, blood, gore, vomit, confinement.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to access an eARC of this book through BookSirens for free. My review is honest and given voluntarily.
If books featuring sapphic pirates and noble ladies spying on a corrupt monarchy don't get your attention, you're definitely not me!
Uncharted was a quick read for me, with a balanced mix of action, world-building, and character development. Whether you want a trip to the dressmaker, a princess scrubbing the decks of a pirate ship, an old-fashioned sword fight, moral dilemmas, going undercover... There's a little bit of everything. Plus the added sapphic friends-to-enemies-to-lovers romance between two main characters, and a cast of side characters showcasing different motivations and friendships.
I particularly appreciated George's character development as she is forced to evaluate her position in society, and the fact that moral decisions can't all be considered a binary "good vs evil". I also liked the romance between George and Cinder (for anyone wondering, Uncharted does not contain any sexually explicit scenes, but you can subscribe to the author's newsletter after reading the epilogue to receive an R-rated angsty bonus scene from Cinder's point of view.)
The main reason I couldn't rate this book higher is that I did have some issues with the (lack of) racial diversity. In the first chapter, a woman is described as having "tawny gold" skin "noticeably darker than nearly anyone else's in Redmere". I'm not sure if it's because the author interprets "tawny" as darker than me - the dictionary definition of tawny is light brown - or because she chose to make her fictional setting so overwhelmingly white that light brown is considered dark-skinned, but this didn't sit right with me. The only dark-skinned character I can think of in the whole book is a side character with a violent career, who also happens to be the book's only nonbinary character by dint of coming from a genderless culture. As much as I liked that character, the fact that they fulfill so many stereotypes shouldn't be ignored. I would suggest that the author includes greater diversity in her work in the future to avoid marginalised characters acting as a trope or stereotype, and that she also seeks out BIPOC sensitivity readers for future works.
Content warnings for Uncharted, in no particular order: forced marriage, homophobia, misgendering, misogyny, sexual violence, attempted rape, allusions to past rape & CSA, death, murder, blood, gore, vomit, confinement.
Thank you to the author for allowing me to access an eARC of this book through BookSirens for free. My review is honest and given voluntarily.
February 25, 2021
A copy of the book was provided to Sapphic Book Club for free in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked this booked and had a hard time putting it down even when my body was begging me to sleep lol. I'm a sucker for pirates and this story did not disappoint! One of my favorite things was the various twists and turns the story took. It had good plot twists that weren't too predictable but completely made sense once you were in the thick of it. The ending was a bit abrupt but not unfitting (I do wish there had been an epilogue though).
I absolutely fell in love with the characters, both the main ones and the supporting cast. They were very well defined and easy to connect to. As a protagonist George was everything I wanted her to be. I loved her kind heart and stubbornness in sticking to her morals. She also provided a good foil to her love interest and their relationship did a good job of showing how we are a product of our circumstances.
I would love to see a sequel to this book and look forward to reading the author's future works. I'd definitely recommend this to any fantasy lovers!
I really liked this booked and had a hard time putting it down even when my body was begging me to sleep lol. I'm a sucker for pirates and this story did not disappoint! One of my favorite things was the various twists and turns the story took. It had good plot twists that weren't too predictable but completely made sense once you were in the thick of it. The ending was a bit abrupt but not unfitting (I do wish there had been an epilogue though).
I absolutely fell in love with the characters, both the main ones and the supporting cast. They were very well defined and easy to connect to. As a protagonist George was everything I wanted her to be. I loved her kind heart and stubbornness in sticking to her morals. She also provided a good foil to her love interest and their relationship did a good job of showing how we are a product of our circumstances.
I would love to see a sequel to this book and look forward to reading the author's future works. I'd definitely recommend this to any fantasy lovers!
March 28, 2022
Well, if you are a hopeless romantic, lesbian and into pirate stories, like me, you'll have a hard time finding an epic story like this.
I have read some that were good, but none kept me spellbound to almost the last page like this. Read the blurb if you want to know some of what it's about, but you don't really need to know much to fall in love with at least the first two female characters, who appear here, one lesbian and one straight, but both being thrown together by destiny and then bound by necessity, later replaced by deep friendship, even though one is straight and the other lesbian.
The plot is inventive and the world building conclusive and without any gaps that I would have noticed. The romance keeps you in the dark if it is going to have a happy ending until almost the last page. Very well done, that. The final twist could have at least two satisfying endings, although one would be with a Queen, who would have to fight on the side of a rebellion for her throne at a high price.
I highly recommend this novel, that seems to be a first effort at publishing a story, what makes it even more impressive.
I have read some that were good, but none kept me spellbound to almost the last page like this. Read the blurb if you want to know some of what it's about, but you don't really need to know much to fall in love with at least the first two female characters, who appear here, one lesbian and one straight, but both being thrown together by destiny and then bound by necessity, later replaced by deep friendship, even though one is straight and the other lesbian.
The plot is inventive and the world building conclusive and without any gaps that I would have noticed. The romance keeps you in the dark if it is going to have a happy ending until almost the last page. Very well done, that. The final twist could have at least two satisfying endings, although one would be with a Queen, who would have to fight on the side of a rebellion for her throne at a high price.
I highly recommend this novel, that seems to be a first effort at publishing a story, what makes it even more impressive.
February 2, 2021
As a pirate book, this pretty much hit the mark, but the romance aspect of the book was lacking. I wasn't a big fan of the main character and she felt a bit underdeveloped. The other characters ended up more interesting and carrying the story. There was a heavy amount of focus on the loss of her best friend and her feelings for that friend, but when that aspect came to the forefront of the story it was extremely forgettable. I understand that romance may not be the point of the story, but it was brought up, resolved, and glossed over so casually that it almost felt a little bit pointless.
November 2, 2021
3.75 stars, rounded up - If you want to read a book with rich and grounded world building and a well paced plot that flows logically but keeps some surprises in hand, you may want to try another book. If, however, you want a nice little popcorn read involving lesbian pirates with a lead relationship that is tumultuous, sometimes angsty, sometimes steamy, sometimes tender, this is a good one. (Also, more than one plot point that feels like it was lifted from
This book takes a while to get going; it follows Georgina, a noblewoman in a fictional society with strict morality laws that severely restrict the freedoms of women (and queer people). Georgina fights back by delivering messages and news for the Resistance — until she learns that her brother has arranged a marriage between her and the Prince, who would see her executed for her treason. However, soon after her engagement, Georgina finds herself self swept up in the plot of the feared pirate, Captain Cinder.
The book doesn’t really pick up until Cinder enters the mix, and even after sometimes the plot plods. A lot happens, but each event feels very one-after-another, rather than building together. There are also some pretty flimsy plots holding the whole thing together.
That said, I really enjoyed the characters. Georgina is fine, but Cinder is layered, complex, and angsty. She’s often unlikable and incredibly morally gray. I was impressed by the book’s willingness to lean into that complexity (because the plot itself is pretty thin sometimes), as well as the complicated feelings between our leads. I loved when the book leaned into the high energy moments - high drama, high angst, high tropeyness, high romance. I think if the plotting had been tighter, the world richer, and there was a little more action in the climax, it would have been spectacular. As it was, generally a pretty entertaining read with some shining gems of romantic tension. A nice adventure following up on a lot of dark Halloween reading.
Listened to on audio as read by Emily Woo Zeller, who is a fantastic narrator but maaaaaybe sounds a tad bit mature for Georgina, who is supposed to be about 20. Wonderful Cinder voice, however.
This book takes a while to get going; it follows Georgina, a noblewoman in a fictional society with strict morality laws that severely restrict the freedoms of women (and queer people). Georgina fights back by delivering messages and news for the Resistance — until she learns that her brother has arranged a marriage between her and the Prince, who would see her executed for her treason. However, soon after her engagement, Georgina finds herself self swept up in the plot of the feared pirate, Captain Cinder.
The book doesn’t really pick up until Cinder enters the mix, and even after sometimes the plot plods. A lot happens, but each event feels very one-after-another, rather than building together. There are also some pretty flimsy plots holding the whole thing together.
That said, I really enjoyed the characters. Georgina is fine, but Cinder is layered, complex, and angsty. She’s often unlikable and incredibly morally gray. I was impressed by the book’s willingness to lean into that complexity (because the plot itself is pretty thin sometimes), as well as the complicated feelings between our leads. I loved when the book leaned into the high energy moments - high drama, high angst, high tropeyness, high romance. I think if the plotting had been tighter, the world richer, and there was a little more action in the climax, it would have been spectacular. As it was, generally a pretty entertaining read with some shining gems of romantic tension. A nice adventure following up on a lot of dark Halloween reading.
Listened to on audio as read by Emily Woo Zeller, who is a fantastic narrator but maaaaaybe sounds a tad bit mature for Georgina, who is supposed to be about 20. Wonderful Cinder voice, however.
February 2, 2021
Loved this fantasy f/f romance between a pirate and princess! I was on it like white on rice when I heard it had a sapphic pirates!
It's a classic pirates' tale but the feared Captain Cinder is a woman and the fierce first mate is non binary character named Maro. The world building is fascinating and each element is described so beautifully that it will suck you in.
It was interesting to watch George grow and become stronger throughout. The character development is just *chefs kiss*
Captain Cinder and George have an amazing bond and I'm so glad my guess on her identity was correct. Uncharted also has endearing friendships, the one that immediately comes to mind is between George and Rosie. Her loyalty is unparalleled.
It is action filled with seafaring adventures, cannons, flogging and lots of pirates! It is also written entirely in George's POV. I would have loved to see some chapters from Cinder's POV but, alas, it was not to be. As for the heat, there's a bit of kissing and touching. Also a steamy scene from Cinder's POV in the bonus, so definitely read that!
*ARC provided by the author via Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
It's a classic pirates' tale but the feared Captain Cinder is a woman and the fierce first mate is non binary character named Maro. The world building is fascinating and each element is described so beautifully that it will suck you in.
It was interesting to watch George grow and become stronger throughout. The character development is just *chefs kiss*
Captain Cinder and George have an amazing bond and I'm so glad my guess on her identity was correct. Uncharted also has endearing friendships, the one that immediately comes to mind is between George and Rosie. Her loyalty is unparalleled.
It is action filled with seafaring adventures, cannons, flogging and lots of pirates! It is also written entirely in George's POV. I would have loved to see some chapters from Cinder's POV but, alas, it was not to be. As for the heat, there's a bit of kissing and touching. Also a steamy scene from Cinder's POV in the bonus, so definitely read that!
*ARC provided by the author via Gay Romance Reviews in exchange for an honest and unbiased review
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