Scan barcode
gremlinboogy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Colonisation, and Addiction
Moderate: Drug abuse
aimnorth's review
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Absolutely loved this book. It's got darker themes, but they are presented in lighthearted and funny ways. There are lots of diverse, well-written characters you love. It has some surprise twists as well.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, Colonisation, and Death of parent
A few main plot points are the death of the main character's mother before the events of the book and her father's struggle with an opium addiction.katherine_alexis's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse and Drug use
sarah984's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
I had high hopes for this book but it just did not come together at all. None of the characters are fleshed out at all, which makes their drama (yes this book has a love triangle) very boring and many of them come off as ethnic stereotypes. In theory Nix's mother is a driving factor of the story but she's such a non-character they could have been looking for buried treasure with essentially the same effect. Nix is so reactive and never really seems to make choices; she's always being buffeted around by the narrative.
The author also makes the baffling decision to include no major Native characters, have her POV characters participate (with a small amount of reluctance) in what is essentially cultural genocide, and make the voice of Hawaii a white boy whose father is in the Hawaiian League. The way the Hawaiian culture is written about in this book as this thing that will inevitably die was disappointing.
The author also makes the baffling decision to include no major Native characters, have her POV characters participate (with a small amount of reluctance) in what is essentially cultural genocide, and make the voice of Hawaii a white boy whose father is in the Hawaiian League. The way the Hawaiian culture is written about in this book as this thing that will inevitably die was disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Colonisation, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, and Racism
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Violence
Minor: Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
laurenleigh's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Lately my reading challenge prompts have lead to some reads I didn’t love, but this was a reminder of why I do them—to discover great new authors I wouldn’t have otherwise sought out! This absolute joy of a read blended together fantasy and historical fiction in such a fun way. Nix, her father, and their crew time travel on a pirate ship, and I was fascinated by how Heilig combined fiction with fact. I gained a totally new insight on Victorian-era Hawaii, as the native population was seeing the end of their self governance and American/British forces were gaining more power in the region. Nix was such a lovable main character, and I adored how she peppered in her knowledge of literature and mythology. Truly right up my alley! The ship’s crew was a delightfully diverse found family, a trope I always appreciate. I definitely think I’ll read the sequel!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Drug use, and Violence
mrclaire's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, and Mental illness
Moderate: Racism
More...