Welcome to 2057! Pirates! Exciting moments! Action! YESSS!

I really liked Justin Somper’s Vampirates series years ago and so was excited when I saw he had a new series coming up. This time taking place at a pirate academy! YESSS! Boarding school x pirates, I am ready!

In this one we get three POVs, Jasmine and Jacoby, two friends and both have been on the academy since, I believe it was, 7 years old. And then there is our new boy, Neo. I really liked that we not just got to see the POV of two people who are used to this world and the academy but also got to see things through the perspective of someone new. I have to say I liked Jasmine immediately, yes she was an overachiever and sometimes that doesn’t work out for me, but in this one it did. I loved how kick-ass she was and had several solutions at the ready. I loved how she dared to take risks. And I loved that despite knowing that something happened with her parents she didn’t let that stay around her like a heavy rock. She kept going on. Of course she worried, logically, but she didn’t let it take over. And thankfully, because when things get hairy later on they can use someone like Jasmine!
Jacoby, while I could see that he was a good character and he had a nice personality, I didn’t like how harsh he was with Neo. The things he did were just not cool. I get that you just lost your best friend (who had to go back with his family as things were getting dangerous), but that is no reason to act like this. Thankfully, later on things get better and I could see the nice Jacoby again and I found myself happy he was back. Ready to help out his friends, family, and also Neo.
Neo though, well I did like him eventually, but it took a bit to get used to him. He was a good character, but I just didn’t like his attitude. I get that he went through quite a lot of things, but his attitude at times, phew. But as we get to know him more and also learn more about the real him and see him open up more, show the real him? I liked him immensely. He was such a fun character in the end. Strong. Head in the right place. Ready to kick some butts!

I love how the class is a big family. I guess that is what you get when you have been together for so long. I really loved it though. They really bonded and I love how they would go through fire and cannonballs to help out one of their own.

I really love the academy and wish we could have seen even more of it! We get a lot of academy don’t get me wrong, but there was constantly the sense of danger around it and then in the middle/end it was mostly about the baddies. Which is fine, but I just wanted more academy. More lessons. Learning more about the classes. See more of the age groups. Maybe more glimpses to the past. Learn more about the teachers. But I guess for now I am happy. I really loved that knotting class and would LOVE to learn that technique, just um, for interest. Nothing more. Teehee. Oh, and the sailing/running a boat class? So cool! So yeah, I wanted to step into the story quite often.

And then things get more and more heated as the story continues and we meet some baddies. These villains have big plans and don’t shy away from murder, kidnapping, or otherwise. It got quite exciting at points and the author really wrote the action so well it was like I was in the midst of the battle myself! There on deck seeing things explode and fights happening.

The book also had some great illustrations dotted throughout the book and I can just say that I wish we had more. Haha, I just loved them so much!

There were a few things that I just felt were a bit too convenient. Like what happened after the whole battle near the middle/end. Or what was said and done in the end with Jacoby and Neo. Especially the latter one though. I mean, I wouldn’t have minded it that much but it just came out of nowhere and it felt more like oh hey, I know one of my parents did things and we have the same eyes and are around the same age, so we are brothers, hooray. I would have just liked a bit more than that. Now it was like, OK, great for you, but I don’t believe it.

All in all, I would highly recommend this fun pirate story to all. There is action, friendship, family, and lots of heart! I cannot wait to see what is next for our kids, what the next is that the True Pirates are going to do.