Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Pirate Princess #1

Pirate Princess

Rate this book
As the daughter of the Pirate King, Tilia Swanson has an unusual upbringing learning skills that aren’t often available for women. As the heir apparent for the Kingdom of Crilan, her skills set her apart as she is trained by the best in the land and taught to harness her magic. However, piracy is in her blood, and draws danger to Tilia in the way that treasure draws pirates. Some treasures are more valuable than others. Will this lesson be learned in time or will the betrayal of those around her be her undoing?

This is the first book in a new YA Fantasy trilogy.

http://catherinebanks.wix.com/catheri...

423 pages, Paperback

First published November 2, 2015

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Catherine Banks

78 books820 followers
Catherine Banks is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling fantasy author who writes in several romance subgenres under multiple pseudonyms. She began writing fiction at only four years old and finished her first full-length novel at the age of fifteen. She is married to her soulmate and best friend, Avery, who she has two amazing children with. After her full time job, she reads books, plays video games, and watches anime shows and movies with her family to relax. Although she has lived in Northern California her entire life, she dreams of traveling around the world. Catherine is also C.E.O. of Turbo Kitten Industries™, a company with many hats including being a book publisher and store full of nerdy fun.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
39 (36%)
4 stars
43 (40%)
3 stars
12 (11%)
2 stars
7 (6%)
1 star
5 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Anna (Enchanted by YA).
361 reviews423 followers
December 21, 2015
***I received the eBook free as a review copy from the publisher through Enchanted Book Promotions in exchange for an honest review***

This is the best kind of book that sucks you in until you lose yourself in the fantastical world, filled with pirates, magic, intrigue, battles, heroines and love. It’s the kind of book that you not only don’t want to, but can’t make yourself put down. Basically it’s epic and I’m thrilled to have had the chance to read it.

A major reason is because the characters in this book are like no others. What makes them even better is that the family relationships I’ve often missed in YA are not just present, but genuine and heart-warming and absolutely hilarious (the amount of banter in this book is unparalleled) and I couldn’t stop grinning whenever they sparked up conversations. The King and Queen could be deadly one moment, single-handedly taking down a whole kingdom’s army and then teasing each other by recanting their courtship the next. The love between everyone was undeniable, often coming across in extreme protectiveness that was amusing to say the least!

I immediately fell in love with all the characters, particularly Finn who is the epitome of charming. At first I was hesitant because time-wise it very easily could have felt like insta-love which is a complete turnoff, but that quickly changed as his relationship with Tilia developed through multiple (near death) obstacles.

Tilia herself is awesome full stop. She is smart and resourceful, brutal yet compassionate and Pirate Princess is very much a coming of age story where she learns to embrace all those qualities and her roles – adapted to suit her of course. The girl will stand up for what she wants as well as for those she loves.

I also couldn’t get enough of the beautifully written world where so many fantastic events take place (the pirate festival sounds like so much fun! I would be pretty terrible in it but I can always pretend through Tilia…) There was always something to capture my attention and keep the pages turning. I cannot wait for the next instalment along with more from one of my new favourite authors Catherine Banks.



description

Posted on: http://enchantedbyya.blogspot.co.uk
Profile Image for Ivey Byrd.
146 reviews18 followers
November 2, 2015
A pirate princess with deadly skills with a dagger, rival pirates, dashing pirate captains, and life threatening adventures. What could go wrong?

I was so excited when Catherine asked me to review her book, Pirate Princess for her because I love her books. For this book, the title instantly had my attention, as well as the cover. I usually don't like covers with faces on them, but with the sword and ship on the cover too it all comes together to create a mysterious atmosphere that screams a fun adventure. THERE WAS ALSO A MAP. I love bookish maps, and when a book has a map in the beginning of it, a fun and exciting journey is bound to be in store.

I was hooked onto this story from the first paragraph, no lie. I immediately dove into Tilia's world, and there was no looking back after that. Just from the first chapter I became emotionally invested in Tilia, and her father, the king of pirates, due to their heartfelt farewell in the beginning. I wanted to know what would happen to Tilia and how she would fair with her aunt, the queen of Crilan. I have to say that the women in this novel were BADASS. The queen herself was a firecracker, a master swordsman, a powerful Mage, and she readily charged into battle along with her husband and the rest of the soldiers. Women were seen as equal in this novel, which is rare for the era it was set in, and I freaking loved it. I also loved Talia's character.

I loved how fiery and quick-witted she was. Talia was a character that made me laugh a lot as the story went on. She was also an amazing fighter. She didn’t take crap from anyone, and she scared most of the men around her, which I happened to love. She was full of surprises, and she was strong, which was obvious. However, she also had a soft side which wasn’t so obvious at first. I really loved getting to see things from her POV for sure. Honestly, all the characters in this book were amazing. They were fun, fiery, sarcastic, thoughtful, and so protective of Talia.

Speaking of being protective, I loved how overprotective everyone was of Talia too even though she was more than capable of protecting herself. It was funny seeing her uncle and father get mad over possible suitors, and Finn, her pirate suitor, who had my heart doing all kinds of crazy things. Finn was the smoothest of all smooth talkers, and he had the confidence to back it up. He was a fierce pirate captain and he was protective of Talia as well. I loved how he and Talia interacted. Their first meeting was hilarious, and I knew then that together sparks would fly and they would take the kingdoms by storm, all the while stealing kisses and being awesome.

And I was right to assume that they would take the kingdoms by storm. This book was FULL of action and fun adventures. I couldn't put it down because I was so engrossed in it, and I would have finished it in a day, but I had to sleep. This was the kind of book that you lose yourself in. I entered the world of Crilan, Pirates, magic, kingdoms, badass women, and fight scenes that will have you on the edge of your seat. We got to see Talia explore the ocean with Finn, fight angry pirates and kings, protect those she loved, and sacrifice everything to save them. This is a book that will satisfy everyone who loves a story that can captivate you and hold onto your attention until long after you've finished it.

I cannot express to you how much I loved this book to be honest. Pirate Princess had everything I love a book to have in it. It had a badass heroine who frightened most people with her skills, a protective family that was hilarious and crazy all at one, a pirate father who instilled fear into everyone with just his name, a jealous pirate captain who threatened everyone who touched what was his, and adventures that kept my attention locked onto every page of the book. If THAT doesn't prompt you to read this book then I don't know what will. HOWEVER, I will mention that my fellow Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas fans will freaking adore this book. Talia and Aelin are so similar in attitude and demeanor that they would definitely be best friends if they ever met in real life. So there is that. Basically, this is the kind of book where I will get multiple copies of it just because I love it so much, and I've only done that with The Fault in Our Stars and Sarah J. Maas' books so you KNOW it's good.

I've read Cathrine's Artemis Lupine series and her other novel, Daughter of Lions, and loved them all, and Pirate Princess was no different! I give it five out of five stars and a place on my favorites list!
Profile Image for aikaterine.
568 reviews51 followers
October 3, 2020
Originally posted on Book-o-Craze, on a tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours.

BlogYouTubeInstagramFacebookTwitter

I had never really read a book about pirates before, but now that I have, I am totally planning on making it a habit!

In this novel, we follow through Tilia's, Princess of Crilian and the daughter of the most feared and mighty pirate, who just so happens to be called the King of Pirates, exciting and adventurous life.

There are several events taking place in the pages of this book, with lots of funny, heart-breaking, agonizing moments. There were even several surprises taking places, with some revelations I hadn't really expected. This only added to the book's appeal!

As for the characters, they were all well-developed, interesting personalities. I even loved the fact that the author was realistic about it, showing that sometimes bad guys can be found in unexpected places, in the face of people the heroine wanted to trust and love.

Tilia was a strong heroine, quite feisty at times, but very brave and full of surprises. I liked watching the events unfolding through her eyes.

One of my favorite characters was also Esmeralda, the Queen, and also Tilia's aunt! She wasn't like the queens I'ved been used to read about, something that I greatly enjoyed. And don't even get me started about her dear, loving husband, Jared, the King! He, along with Faxon the Mage were my favorite male heroes while reading this novel!

I also loved Tilia's love interest and the drama that surrounded the couple at times! Finn was a brave boy who proved to care deeply for the Pirate Princess, even if their love was tested through a number of circumstances.

The plot flowed quite easily and the amount of events taking place in the book didn't allow for the reader to feel bored.

All in all, 4,5 stars for quite an amazing experience that connects two of my favorite things, a Pirate and a Princess, all in one!
Profile Image for Becca.
Author 5 books7 followers
June 17, 2016
This book has everything I could have hoped, romance, adventure, magic, and pirates. It is a lot of fun and I love the interplay of all of the characters.
Profile Image for Leslie.
Author 8 books32 followers
November 17, 2015
A valiant first effort, but unfortunately not the best debut I have ever read. Too many tropes to be good YA fiction, too many "adult suggestive" scenes and violence to be a fair middle-grade... Though the reading level does not use too many advanced-vocabulary words without explaining them almost immediately.
That was my biggest concern, I guess: I have been known to forgive a multitude of tropes in the face of good, solid prose. I can appreciate a madcap, helter-skelter, mixed-bag of randomized adventures of there is at least some semblance of continuity and reasonable character development. But things were just too *obvious* in this book. Tilia was OBVIOUSLY "impressive" (overused term) at absolutely everything; Finn was OBVIOUSLY her love interest and no other guy is going to come between them (trope-ish). There were the OBVIOUS villains and the OBVIOUS good guys—and of the latter, I came away not particularly attached to any of them.

I hope Catherine Banks continues writing, because her creativity is boundless, and only needs the consistency and focus that comes with practice!
Profile Image for Jamie.
309 reviews47 followers
July 17, 2017
Pirate Princess, well for starters the title was enough to draw me in. Add the fact that it was written by one of my favorite authors and I knew I needed to read this. I don't even know where to begin, this has been by far one of my favorite books and one of the best stories I have read in a while.

Tilia has lived most of her life on a pirate ship with her father. Her mother died when Tilia was very young. That is until she turns ten and then he sends her to live with her aunt and uncle, King Jared and Queen Esmeralda of Crilan. Fast forward six years and Tilia has become a force to be reckoned with. Not only can she fight against the best of them, she is also improving her magic.

Finn is one of the youngest pirate captains on the seas. I absolutely loved him, not only is he totally hot but he is just one of those characters that you fall in love with. I mean he is a pirate so yeah I would for sure. The king and queen are something else. While they can be quite deadly when they need to be there are also so loving and quite humorous throughout the book. Faxon, the top Mage is so powerful but so funny at times. I love his sense of humor.

The story itself is so full of emotions, family, friendship, magic and love. This book kept me up late at night reading because I just couldn't put it down. There were plenty of jaw dropping moments and so many twists and turns. I was quite shocked numerous times throughout at the revelations the story provided. I loved the adventurous times that Tilia and Finn had and I really enjoyed the Pirate festival.

I did not want this book to end, it was so fantastically amazing. I can't wait to read the next book in this trilogy. This is a must read and I highly recommend it!!!
Profile Image for Azilys.
13 reviews
July 1, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this novel.
The main characters have great personalities. The plot is complex: there is a lot of twists and turns.
At the end of the novel there are still lots of mysteries, so it's frustrating and you want to know what will happen next! For example, I would really like to know more about Finn, and what's going to happen to Tilia. But I guess I'll just have to wait for the next novel now...

However:
- I would have liked to see more of Tilia (the main character) learning and practicing magic. It is an important part of this character and I think it is not enough developed. (I must admit I love the learning process of the skills the MCs acquire in stories: the trials and errors etc.)
- I feel that (sometimes) some slow passages are too long and the ones with lots of actions are not long enough and thus feel kind of rushed.
- I think Rocco, the Pirate King and Tilia's father, should have been more important and present than he is.

Despite these negative aspects for me, I'll still recommend this story. :-)
Profile Image for Michelle Fritz PA.
1,222 reviews93 followers
October 16, 2017
Superb Story Telling... in Epic Proportion!!!

This was one amazingly, excited, well thought out and captivating tale ♡♡♡ I loved every single character, no matter their moral compass as they were so detailed and absolutely individual. Together these characters helped to paint one epic, never-ending adventure! The banter between the characters was witty, imaginative and laugh out loud hilarious! The action just kept on coming, but not in a chaotic manner. This novel was well paced and excellently crafted ♡ Dying to see this as a movie.... I can so see this having a huge fan following!!! Thank you Ms. Banks for taking me on this adventure with you ♡♡♡♡ I've loved every single book you've written!!
Profile Image for A_MOTUS.
328 reviews46 followers
February 6, 2017
I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.

An epic journey for a non-ordinary princess in a world of magic, knights and pirates.
We follow a strange girl with with more secrets than dress hiden in her closet. Tillia heir, of more than one crown, powers and huge personality, lead us in her quest of her place in the world, love and family. Big characters, a bunch of places to travels, conspiracy to foil, islands to discover, jails to evade, country to visits and ennemies to battle for a fantastic saga.
I really was sad when it was time to dock the book and come back to more serious matter (I would have love to stay longer with Jared to blow things).
Profile Image for Stan Faryna.
Author 5 books15 followers
August 7, 2017
A load of magic, silliness, and derring do!

A fun trot across the country of YA Fantasy, Coming of Age Chick Lit, Catherine Bank's Pirate Princess is going to fuel unlady-like aspirations and unrealistic expectations. But it will all work out in the end. Right? Maybe not for your daughter, but it does for Princess, Arch Mage, and swashbuckler Tilia!

Recent books I can recommend with strong, young heroines: Morgan Smith's A Spell in the Country, Madolyn Locke's Silent Love and Judith Rook's Planet Woman.
Profile Image for Alyssa Rasmussen.
1 review3 followers
February 20, 2018
Too much dialogue.

Normally I love books about female pirates, and add in a dash of magic and I'm hooked. This book though had way too much dialogue and very little world building. It was very predictable and truly could have been over by chapter 8.
Profile Image for Julie Bird.
1,012 reviews12 followers
November 29, 2018
Maybe this gets better, but at 35% I was just sick of little miss perfect pirate getting everything she wants with no regard for anyone else. And all the people around her letting her get away with it. UGH!
DNF
60 reviews1 follower
March 25, 2018
Great book

I read the book in a day and half as it was very intertaining and kept my attenþion all through the book am looking forward to next book in series
Profile Image for Clare.
561 reviews2 followers
April 12, 2018
>Fun read

Really enjoyed this fun action packed book. Looking forward to the second one. If you like magic, pirates and fighting, this is for you.
Profile Image for E.A. Shanniak.
Author 45 books19 followers
October 7, 2019
Simply.... fucking wow!!! Can I say more?! I love everything Catherine Banks has written and she has out done herself with Pirate Princess. It's a MUST read.
Profile Image for Daryl Ball.
Author 9 books28 followers
March 10, 2017
A girl raised as a pirate now flung into the world of learning how to be a princess from two of the deadliest royals alive - her aunt and uncle. It's a book that follows her finding a way to be true to her pirate and royal sides all while growing up. She learns not only her limitations but how dangerous the world can be. On more than one occasion her life or the life of somebody she cares about is in danger and in getting through those situation she learns much. The scope and depth of the personalities of all the characters are thoroughly enjoyable and help bring the story to life. There are plenty of twists throughout that on more than one occasion may make you do a double-take. It is a series of adventures set in a richly imagined world of swords and spells, that all build gradually to a very satisfying finish.
Profile Image for Tina.
612 reviews24 followers
November 17, 2015
Sometimes a girl just needs to read a book with a strong female character and a fun fantasy twist that is both exciting and daring. Pirate Princess is a fantastic young adult story that will appeal to readers both young and old. This story has a fantastic set of people and exciting adventures that will take you on a ride that you did not see coming.

This book has everything I expected and more. Tilia is a fantastic young adult heroine. She is smart, resourceful, and kind. She is a young woman who embraces who she is and learns to be true to herself, no matter the cost. Tilia has a strong female role that is a great example of a fierce warrior and beautiful princess. I loved how she pushed against the stereotypical norms of society in her world and was loved and supported by those around her. Tilia's character is what makes this story so great. She is a girl seeking adventure and learning to step into her role in life. I loved watching her experience life and grow into a young woman. In this book we see her fall in love and embrace her magical abilities and fighting skills. We see her learn to balance every part of who she is and learn to thrive in that role.

I loved the excitement of the pirate realm and the world this book presents in general. There is danger, intrigue, and magic. When you roll all those aspects into one, you are bound to have an exciting tale of adventure. This book took several twists and turns I did not anticipate, giving the reader more than they expected. I loved how Catherine takes the world we dive into and makes it tangible. You see the realities of a girl growing up and her excitement for what is next. When that is coupled with magic and pirates, you know that there is going to be some exciting themes to enjoy.

Another aspect I loved of this story is the community around Tilia. Every person that we meet in this story is significant. They all weave in and out of Tilia's story, enlightening the reader on more of her who she is and explaining the way that she reacts. I loved her Aunt and Uncle and Faxon. These three are so important in her life and to see them interact and have fun was heartwarming. I love getting to meet the different pirates and friends Tilia comes into contact with. Each encounter adds depth to the story and many times allows for a new direction in the story. There are plot twists you expect and some that you will not see coming.

Pirate Princess is a daring young adult story of a young woman who is growing into her rightful place in the world. Tilia is fierce and lovable, surrounding herself with characters that enhance her life. This story is not short on exciting destinations and stories of old, all of which create a book that will grab your attention. I am excited to see more of Tilia, Finn, Captain Rocco, and all the royalty of the land in future stories from Catherine Banks!
Profile Image for Britney (BookDrunkSloth).
325 reviews6 followers
December 4, 2015
Review Originally Posted at Ramblings From This Chick
http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...

Pirate Princess is a young adult fantasy romance. It centers around a teenage girl named Talia. Up to the age of ten she has lived with her pirate father and his crew. According to her deceased mother's wishes, the King of Pirates leaves her with her aunt and uncle, the King and Queen of Crilan.

Tilia must keep her father's identity a secret for her and his safety. This creates a lot of conflict in the beginning. For Tilia's seventeenth birthday, her aunt and uncle have a ball. Potential suitors come to meet the princess. She meets a young man named Finn out on the balcony, and he steals her necklace. This sparks an exciting romance.

Honestly, this book was mostly a disappointment for me. I was expecting some Pirates of Carribean ruthless pirates. What I got was kindhearted mostly fatherly pirates. There were a few "bad guys" but they were usually defeated early. I felt the book was ending about 6 different times. There just wasn't a clear plot line. I also felt conversations were very drab and choppy.

It wasn't the worst Young Adult book I've ever read but it wasn't anywhere near the ranks of Divergent or The Giver. Thank goodness though, there wasn't any love triangle. If that had showed up it would have been a dnf. However, the romance was way too simple. I found Finn to be too much of a flatterer. I got annoyed by it.

There was quite a bit of action which made parts of the book exciting.There wasn't anything unique about the magic of the world. The author would create a conflict (like a sea dragon) and then Tilia would miraculously have an ability to counter it (she could talk to it because she is royalty) and then the ability is never really mentioned again.

I really thought this premise for a book had so much potential. I was able to stay interested enough until the end, but I have no desire to continue the series. I think possibly that actual Young Adults might find the story entertaining, but it's not one that many adults would like.

**ARC provided by Tasty Book Tours**
Profile Image for Ani.
257 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2015
*** I received this ARC for a fair and honest review***

This debut novel from Catherine Banks is rock solid and a great YA read. Ms. Banks breathes life into the Realm of Olanze and the land of Crilan with absolute brilliance and mastery. For a first book, all I can say is awesome work!

Pirate Princess is an imaginative coming of age story of young Tilia. Under the early tutelage of her father, Tilia finds that the pirate life is the best way to live. However, her father has other plans and sends her to live with her Aunt Esmeralda, the Queen. Unhappy and feeling abandoned, Tilia immerses herself in learning as much as she can in how to become a great fighter and mage. While she leans towards one more than the other, when Tilia is given the boost to see her potential by Faxon, she is blown away by what she can do. She doesn't just blow her self image away, she opens the doorway to respect from the Order of Elders. Not long after, Finn appears in her life. Finn, a skilled, cocky young pirate is just the person to challenge and love Tilia for who she truly is: a powerful, fiesty, smart and absolutely beautiful woman. Amidst lies, betrayal, and a kidnapping or two, Finn and Tilia find love in each other.

I really liked this book for several reasons. First, because it spoke to the feminist side of me. Tilia aptly represents the idea that a woman can do anything if they simply try. Simpering and wilting in the presence of men nonsense was absolutely not for her. No, Tilia wanted to not only to live a life of adventure and freedom, but also, she wanted to be the next Dragon of Crilan in the Kings Steel. Being a woman was not a deterrent in her mind in any way. Another thing I loved about the book is the vivid description Ms. Banks give in every setting of the book, especially the fight scenes.

All in all, this was a job well done and I look forward to reading more from this author. The Realm of Olanze is definitely worth visiting via Pirate Princess. Read this one today.

#abfabcamila
Profile Image for C.A. King.
Author 105 books2,671 followers
February 23, 2017
You can find my full review at http://booksandquillsmag.com/reviews/...

When I was a little girl, I loved to pretend to be a princess, but only some days. Other days were reserved for playing pirate or wizard. Never once did I consider being all three at once. That is exactly what Catherine Banks gives us in Pirate Princess.

Join a high seas adventure. Tilia is a young girl being brought up by her pirate father. Her mother, who passed away, was royalty and heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Crilan. As per her mother’s request, Tilia goes to live with her aunt and uncle to learn the finer points of being a lady. It is soon learnt that one can put a lady in a pirate, but can’t take the pirate out of the lady.

Tilia is the best of all fantasy characters. Not only is she a strong female protagonist, but she is an enjoyable one as well. The side of her that is a pirate does occasionally overtake the magical and fairy-tale princess roles, but overall, Banks has blended the three into one well-rounded personality.

The side characters are equally as fun. The current King and Queen (Tilia’s Uncle and Aunt) are regal and proper one minute and deadly the next.

As with most young adult fantasy books, readers may find falling in love a little too easy for the main characters. Hold onto your hats though, this sets up some large adventures later in the book.

The cover art, in my opinion, is a smidgen too grown up for the story. A younger model may benefit potential readers.

The language and subject matter is geared towards young adult audiences. More mature readers may find that the outcome is a little too easy to predict. The story, however, is enjoyable for all ages.

Recommended read for pirate lovers!

Rated: 4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kelsey.
321 reviews3 followers
December 21, 2015
I chose this novel to read due to the fantasy aspect of it. I am all over fantasy wen it comes down to it, and this was a rather well-written, riveting story, that captured the readers attention throughout the novel. Miss Catherine Banks, brought a time period back to life within this novel, and it was a nice touch to have that strong heroine captured in the main character, Tilia.

We are introduced to Tilia within the first few pages of the novel. A strong-headed gal, she is the Pirate King's daughter, Princess of Crilian, and overall seems to be a pretty kick-ass person throughout the novel. I did like that the characters kicked right off. I felt as if Miss Banks did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life within a matter of pages, BUT they still had the depth that was needed to create the story line, and keep it where she wanted it. I enjoyed the fact that Miss Banks used names from previous time frames; Esmeralda being one of them.

The story line was awesome because it jumped from one emotion to another. There was not a moment that the story line was flat, or lacked emotion. From laughing out loud, to agonizing tearful moments, this novel really captured a lot of what I think the author was looking for from the reader. There wasn't a dull moment - it is based on a Pirate King's daughter after all! This was certainly an interesting read, and I am going to give it a strong 4 bars due to the fact that there were times that I thought the story line could have had a bit more umph to it.

Overall, this was a well-written debut novel by a new author, and I will be on the lookout for her other work. I was drawn to this book due to its cover, and the appeal that the synopsis held upon first glance. Job well done to Miss Banks on a great debut novel!
Profile Image for Megan | A Page to Turn.
558 reviews20 followers
January 14, 2018
I truly enjoyed this book for what it was, a pirate book about a pretty strong heroine. That is what I expected from the title and blurb, and for the most part that is what I got! The author, Catherine Banks, put a lot of effort into building this world and creating some very believable and strong characters. That being said, I'm not really a fan of her writing style - it's a little more middle grades for my taste, while the actual story is more suited for an older teen audience. It's a simple story that leaves you wanting to know more at the end.

This book is long. Very long. Longer than most YA books I've read - but for the most part held my interest all the way up to the end. I just wish I'd have gotten more of my questions answered. There were also a lot of typical YA trophs used... and most of the plot was extremely predictable. (While that doesn't really bother me, I just felt like I was re-reading another YA book SET in a pirate world).

There were some exciting adventures - magic, fighting, and even love. The world/universe that Banks created was interesting and left a lot of room for some really great plot ideas. I feel like she could have done more in less words, overall. I felt like there was way more potential! I'm not sure if I would pick up a sequel. I just didn't connect or relate to this book like I wanted to, or to the way that Banks writes.

564 reviews3 followers
December 12, 2015
This is the first time reading anything by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The story follows Tilia's princess Crlian and the daughter of the most feared pirate king . You will see several events that take place in these amazing pages of this story, you'll find lots of funny things ,heartbreaks, agonizing moments. Theirs is even some surprises that take place , these things just make the story even some special. The characters are well developed and interesting personalities .And then there is Finn ,who is her pirate suitor, who grabbed my heart by doing some crazy things. Finn was the smooth of smooth talkers , and he could back it up with his confidence he had. He was the pirate captain that was fierce, a protector of his beautiful Tilia .Their meet the first time was so hilarious, and wow did the sparks fly between them. This story has everything you want in a story ,it has a bad ass heroin, a father that frightened everyone that heard his name, a protected family, and a jealous pirate captain.I could go on and tell you more of this amazing story ,but that would spoil the story for you. I highly recommend you read this amazing story, because you won't be disappointed.
December 11, 2015
I dived into Pirate Princess without knowing what I was going to get and I have to say that I was pleasently surprised by it =)

Pirate Princess transports you to a magical world in every sense of the word. It will captivate, charm and capture your whole being. I loved every character and the uniqueness in each of them. I was infenitely delighted with both the setting and the characters. It has been quite some time since I encountered such complex yet charming characters at the same time.

Truthfully Pirate Princess had me glued to its pages from the way to go. It is full of magic, adventure, action, romance and passion. Though I missed some more passion and spicy scenes among Finn and Tillia. The only thing that led me down was the narrative, at times it was fine but others it was jumping from a scene to another without a connection and it made me lose the track a couple of times.

I sincerely can´t wait to read its sequel. And I would love to read a book about how Esmeralda and Jared got together!
Profile Image for Ive2.
77 reviews
March 7, 2016
3.75 stars
When I have read blurb I was like OMG! Pirate book! I like them but not every pirate book is good pirate book and not
everyone has eye catching blurb. This one catched my eye, but it wasn't what I have expected. Yes, it was good book,
only good.
We have King of Pirates, Captain Rocco. He has a daughter, but when she was ten years old he left her with her aunt
Esmeralda and her husband Jared also they are Queen and King of Crilan Kingdom. Of course Tilia wanted to stay with her
father but her pleas weren't heard. When Tilia became 17 years old she mets pirate name Finn and fell in love.
Now I will tell you why it was only good book. It was too long. Like seriously TOO LONG! And it has a lot of questions
unanswered. Like from where Finn is? why he isn't on good terms with his brother? why Jared and Esmeralda have no kids?
Also that end...Tillia acted like a spoiled brat. She really thought that Finn will leave her...
But like I said before it was good book.
Profile Image for misplacedselchie.
88 reviews9 followers
July 10, 2016
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tilia Swanson is the only daughter of Captain Rocco, the Pirate King. At the age of 10, he sends her to her aunt and uncle, the King and Queen of Crilan to be raised as a royal and Heir Apparent. Expecting to find herself learning to be a demure woman, she is pleasantly surprised to find that women in Crilan are taught to be just as strong as the men.

Keeping the secret of who her father is, she begins training under the Arch Mage Faxon and gets swept off her feet by a young Pirate captain . She finds herself trying to stay balanced between everything she loves while a betrayal threatens everything.

This is a great fantastical world. Pirates, royalty, magic, sea dragons and a lot of sass. While all the characters are complex, the women are particularly awesome. This is a great "girl power" book and I can't wait for the next one to come out.
670 reviews1 follower
March 16, 2023
This is absolutely one of the worst books I have ever read! Everything about his book is horrible! This book is very boring and very slow paced! This book felt nothing like a pirate book. It at times felt like it belonged in the Marvel or DC universe. The author went way overboard with the magic. Pirates and magic are not a good mix. There was a character in the story whose name sounds nothing like a pirate's name. This character's name sounded more like a name for a wrestler. I do not recommend this book! I will not be reading the next book in this series or anything else by this author!
Read
January 8, 2017
When I started reading this book, I was completely drawn in. But it got queasy after a point. It was little droll and felt like it was being dragged out.
The character Tilia was also a bit unreal. Everything goes right for her- she can fight, has magic(except at the end) , is bold and beautiful.
I think that if there was more suspense, more pirate-ness and maybe a plot twist, it could be a better book.
Profile Image for Chelsy Mcgee.
2 reviews
February 4, 2016
Pirate Princess by: Catherine Banks was beautifully written and left me on the edge of my set till the very end. There was twists and turns and unexpected romance between a young pirate captain and a young pirate princess that I just loved. If you love action and adventure this is the perfect book for you. I give this book five stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

Join the discussion

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.