Shiver me timbers and swash those buckles! The Curse of Dragon Tail Island by Jonathan Nevair was so much piratey fun! A heartwarming tale filled with love and a dedication to the romance of a pirate’s life at sea.
Trusty Jack, the captain of the Lady Luck, is an unusual pirate. I found him to be more like Robin Hood than Captain Jack Sparrow. His band of merry men is a collection of different races that seems more like a cast for a game of Dungeons and Dragons than your traditional group of scurvy dogs. They are each lovable in their own way. The drunkard half-orc Lana is the muscle of the group, as dedicated to her fellow crewmates as she is to finding Mollie’s Molasses, the best rum in the world. Big Rig, the dwarf quartermaster, is the saltiest seadog who can accurately tell compass point directions wherever he may be. Scarlett the gnome is an organised member of the Thieves Guild and the ‘fixer’ on this adventure. Mage Marian is Jack’s love interest and a powerful magic user. Like her namesake, Robin Hood’s Marian, she is fair of face and temperament, coming from a powerful family whose selfish values she has cast aside. Sian the bard is a nocsi, a race that believes strongly in preserving the environment and protecting the reef from which their food is harvested. Environmental protection is not the only cause championed by this group. They are also anti-taxation and pro democracy and are fighting to overthrow the current tyrannical regime.
The adventure involves them in action-packed prison breaks, meticulously thought-out heists, swordfights at sea, romantic liaisons, heartbreaking losses, and so much more, all with the aim of bringing justice and fairness to the Jewel Archipelago, while keeping some treasure for themselves. They are pirates, after all!
The Curse of Dragon Tail Island is the author’s first foray into fantasy fiction, but I hope it will not be his last! I devoured this book over a snowy and wet weekend. It was just the escape I needed.
I was given a paperback review copy of this book by the author. Thank you, Jonathan! My review is honest, and my opinions are my own!
Find more information about Jonathan Nevair’s books on his website.
