Song of the Current absolutely blew me out of the water with its levels of epic.
Also please pause for a moment because I just made a PUN. HA! Because it’s a book about smugglers, pirates, ships and rivers, get it? Yes you get it. You’re clever.
I’m always really keen to find delicious pirate-esque books and this one doesn’t disappoint! I mean, I need to train for my future career of course! Haha…Just, um, kidding. This book features a lot of smuggling, ships, river gods, aesthetically pleasing settings, badass female captains, personified rivers and seas, and the tiniest squish mention of a water drakon — and so many delicious fish fingers. *
It’s ABOAT time I found a FERRY impressive book about sailing, because OH BUOY are we in sore need of REELY good ship books in our lives. I’d LAKE to say I’m in love and leave it at that….buuuuut SCHOONER or later I’ll need to actually get on and write a sensible review.
Let’s carry on before I kill us with puns. ARMADA here. **
* I’m lying. Fish fingers are NOT delicious. All fish is gross and should not be eaten.
** A little contrived? All of it? YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT WAS. BOOM.
One of my favourite things has to be the world building!
Which is a big deal for me because usually I find world building hopelessly lacking in YA fantasy. But the aesthetics were awesome, okay?!? Most of the book is set trawling through rivers, and I could just feel the murky depths and the jungles and the wherries catching the right tides as they slink up and down jungle infested rivers. I COULD SEE IT ALL. It was perfect and brilliant. #aesthetic
And to top off the world-building win, it had a unique and interesting magic system AND an intoxicatingly vicious political backstory. I didn’t even get confused or overwhelmed! Details were sparse but pointed. I was HOOKED. *
* Haha okay I promise I’ll stop.
The characters were also buckets of splendour.
I particularly loved our leading lady, Caro. She’s stubborn and feisty and loyal and brave. She’s in love with the water and her boat and when her dad gets thrown into jail for not smuggling something for the royalty? CARO DOES IT. Aka she gets a letter of the marque and becomes a privateer. Caro…my hero. She’s also biracial! And she will stab you in the eye if you insult her ship, which seems fair.
I also loved the romance!
It’s a hate-to-love fest with Caro getting entangled with an important and stuffily vain boy who needs her help. Their banter is EXCEPTIONAL. Mostly because they hate each other. I ship these two onboard their little ship as the most aesthetic of ships. #PetitionToDrownCaitIfSheSaysSHIPOneMoreTime Markos is forever my favourite. He dresses nicely, he has no idea what anything does on a ship (#relatable), and he fiercely loves his family (who aren’t so great but what can you do) and he is badass when he’s finished being vain. Basically: the most insufferable and beautiful boy.
I can’t but help appreciating someone who wears a nice coat before charging into a fight.
The plot was engaging the whole time!
Although all the sea/ship explanations lost me. However it did make the book feel REEL. * I mean, oh look there’s a piece of rope and the ship has a bow and stuff goes boom. But you can also tell the author really knows her ships! And I loved that there was plenty of sailing, sneaking, gunshots, and everyone skulking around like pirates. Which they kind of were, so #nice. Also plenty of FIGHTS and moments of direness.
* Haha you thought I was going to stop punning. HA @ you.
- I did guess all the plot twists. So either I read too much or they were a little predictable.
- It didn’t really grab me emotionally? But then I am also a Vulcan.
- But I just felt SAFE the whole time and I would’ve like to have me timbers shook.
This is definitely a book I thoroughly shout at you to read!
It is a murky stories of rivers and pirates, smugglers and guns, sea gods and monsters. It was beautifully and engagingly written with characters I fell totally in love with! I WANT MORE. I love love looooved the ending.
I adored how much it empowered women and just gave us the badass female sea captains we’ve all been longing for.
I am in oar.
THANK YOU TO BLOOMSBURY FOR THE REVIEW-COPY. Song of the Current by Sarah Tolscer is published July, 2017.
★★★★☆
Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. For generations, her family has been called by the river god, who has guided their wherries on countless voyages throughout the Riverlands. At seventeen, Caro has spent years listening to the water, ready to meet her fate. But the river god hasn’t spoken her name yet—and if he hasn’t by now, there’s a chance he never will.
Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.
\\ Click to read reviews //
This looks so good. I’m adding it to my TBR 📚. And the cover, I donno why I like it so much… 😍😍😍
It’s just such a pleasing shade of blue, isn’t it?!😍
I saw this at the store yesterday and was SO TEMPTED to break my book-buying ban. (But I am also tryinnggggg to save up for another lens for my camera…so I resisted. JUST.) But needless to say that I’ll be getting a copy of this somehow. Eventually. I mean, who doesn’t like a good book about pirates, right??? (and they’re aren’t that many out there tbh. A shame.) Also almost everything I’ve heard about this has been so, so positive, and I’m like 100% sure I’ll enjoy it. I can’t remember if you’ve read it or not, but TRUTHWITCH (Susan Dennard) has some pirate-y themes. (I LOVED that book.)
Maybe your library would have it?! BUT LIKE IT’S TOTALLY WORTH ACQUIRING IF YOU CAN. BECAUSE PIRATES. 😍😍
*adds book to wishlist* It sounds like an interesting book! It’s also a new release that has a medium size paperback available (my favourite format), which is somewhat rare #praiseforpublisher.
I LOVED all the puns in this review :D. I don’t know a lot of good books about pirates to be honest. It’s not my favourite thing to read about but it can be nice to read about from time to time :). I did read a nice Belgian (Flemish) book that involved pirates, but you won’t be able to read it as it’s in Dutch. And I read and liked A. S. King’s The Dust of 100 Dogs, but you’ve already determined she’s not an author for you (the book does involve pirates though).
I’m not a big seafood fan at all. I dislike most fishfood (with a passion lol). I like tuna, smoked salmon (it must be smoked) and seaweed (ie. in sushi). But I don’t like to eat most types of fish or other seacreatures. I cannot stand the smell of fish. It’s just.. ugh. I’d never eat seafood that smells like it’s seafood and I don’t like things like shrimp where you can see what creature it was. It’s hard to be on a market and see all the fish laid out for you to buy – I don’t understand why people would want to eat something that smells so bad and stares at you with its eyes. Oh, and a lot of fish have fishbones and I can’t stand it if I have to dissect my food before eating it to make sure there’s no nasty fishbones in it #theprincessandthepea. It’s nice to hear about someone who also doesn’t like fish! Most people in my family like fish, I’m kind of on my own with my dislike for it.*high fives*
Hahah! Yes! It’s a lovely size and a lovely colour too. 😀
And unfortunately I only read/speak English yes, so I don’t think I’ll be ever getting to that. 😭
Seafood is just..nooooooo. I tried crab and nearly died and all fish just has me running for the moon. Although I’ve had fried and battered octopus and that was kind of tasty. 😂 But what ISN’T tasty if it’s deep fried?😂
That sounds quite interesting. if you like pirate books, then you should look for a series by Orson Scott Card, i dont remember it’s name, but it is definatively a pirate series
Ohhh, I didn’t know he had a pirate series! I loved Ender’s Game so I should definitely look it up!
oooooh, that book sounds cool! and I don’t mind puns, they don’t really bother me unless the speaker follows me around for hours, trying to explain why their pun was amusing until i get tired and hit them with a book. so my siblings don’t really do it anymore.
hmmmm….recomondations….ERAGON!! oh wait, thats not pirate-y. just dragon-y. hmm. the only thing I can think of is the true confessions of charlette doyle, its pretty short, but great none the less. I absolutely LOVE the ending, it makes me so happy. 🙂
Most crazily, ~Olive
Bahaha I always explain my puns just to be EXTRA annoying.😂😂
Oh come now, Olive, Eragon is not about pirates. 😉 I have seen the movie so I now that much bahaha.
Oh, yay! I really wanted this book to be great because… RIVER PIRATES! Much better than sea pirates in my book. I got hooked on river pirates in the Redwall books. Have you read those? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this one. I will snag the ebook if I see it on sale! 🙂
I haven’t read the Redwall books but I’ve heard of them. Another series for the endless TBR, right?!😂
It’s MG/Children’s chapter-ish, so I think you can skate on that series and no one will even care. XD
This one is on my shelf and after reading your review I am so prepared to read it. It sounds amazing, and even just looking at the cover hooked me in. I’m glad that you enjoyed it. We all need a few more pirates in our lives.
OMG THIS MAKES ME VERY HAPPY, EMMA. I hope you adore it. :’) More pirates = exactly what the literary universe needs.
I love the puns!!! so much!!!!
I might just have to check this book out. I have a certain weakness for pirates, though I haven’t read many books about them. The only books I can remember reading were “Isle of Swords” and “Isle of Fire” by Wayne Thomas Batson.
And, since you asked, I don’t like seafood. It’s disgusting.
I’m so glad you appreciate my pun level here. :’) I AM PROUD.😂 And yesss to weaknesses for pirates. :’) My sister read the Isle of Swords but wasn’t impressed so I never got around to it. (I loved his other series the Door Within though!)
do you like books with pirates and/or sea settings?!
Why, yes, I do.
(please i need more recommendations!)
~’Treasure Island’
The Baroque Cycle {A Trilogy}
-Quicksilver
-The Confusion
-The System of the World
-The Two Faces of Temperance
are you going to read Song Of The Current?!?
??? Maybe. You sure do make it sound good!
and finally…do you like seafood?
If I see food, I eat it. I never met a food I did not like. Whether it comes from the land, air, or sea, makes no matter to me. 😉
Yarr,
Ye hungry olde shipmate,
~Ichabod. :-/
ALL THE PIRATE AND SEA BOOKS!! *cheers* And I love Treasure Island but I haven’t read any of the others. *gasps* I shall look them up. Thanks for the recs. 😀
Fish fingers are only good with custard.
WHAAAT OH MY NO. THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE.😂😂😂
Pssst…..it’s a clever Dr. Who reference.
Tell me honestly, Cait: was or was not this review just an excuse for you to make a boatload of ship-related puns?
Anyway. I’m now super excited to read Song of the Current, since you say it’s so marvelous! Also, between your comments on Kell previously and on Markos now, I’m starting to think you just have a thing for guys in awesome coats.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN.
*whispers* ummm yes. Yes it was. And I’m not even ashamed. I mean I barely talked about the book, I just needed room to make endless and horrible sea-flavoured puns. I just couldn’t KELP myself.
*DIES LAUGHING*
(YES I AM ACTUALLY IN LOVE WITH COATS. I’M GLAD YOU’VE NOTICED.😂)
LOL. This was gold just for the GIF’s. I had no idea there were so many fun YA Fantasy reads with pirates!
I’m always on the look out for more sea/piratey books, that’s for sure.😂 THANKS!
Yaaasss I also really enjoyed this book, so I cannot wait for the sequel! Plus, the cover is just so darn gorgeous 😀 Amazing review, as always!
Brittany @ Brittany’s Book Rambles
Eeeep, THANK YOU, KIND SOUL. <3 And eeeep I will need all the sequels of ever. I can't wait to see what Captain Caro does with her new awesomeness. 😀
YES TO ALL THE PUNS. I LOVE PUNS. I DID A WHOLE POST OF BOOK PUNS ONCE AND IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EXPERIENCE (for me, at least). THANK YOU FOR THE PUNS.
Okay seriously, I really love puns. BUT I DIGRESS.
I love pirates and the sea and ships and water and everything pirate-y. One pirate book I keep stumbling across is the one by Daniel Handler/Lemony Snicket. Like, I’m just really interested because Lemony Snicket?? But I still haven’t grabbed it up yet? I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. I’m at a loss.
I’m absolutely going to read Song of the Current! I’ve been wanting to devour it.
NO NO NO. NO SEAFOOD. NO. This is one of the hills I will fight and die on. I do NOT like seafood.
I REMEMBER YOUR PUN POST. IT WAS GLORIOUS. I wrote a book once where 78% of the humour was puns while every single character took turns trying to strangle the protagonist. It was beautiful. :’)
Ohhh yes I do want that Lemony Snicket one! I’m actually super mad at myself because I meant to borrow it from my library before I moved, but I FORGOT. *cries*
Okay good. We can still be friends. Because seafood is evil.
PUNS: The highest form of humor.
I’ve had this on my TBR ever since it was announced on Goodreads, and I am disappointed it has taken me this long to remember to read it. Surprised? No. XD Half of the books on my TBR are mystery to me, especially the mysteries. Who even remembers what’s on there? Not me.
SO MUCH WIT. SO MUCH CLEVER. *falls on face* Excuse me.
Haha, I’m disappointed in myself, generally, for all the books I should’ve read but I haven’t yet.😂 I actually read this one first off a netgalley approval while I was roadtripping without wifi and I’m really glad I read it so soon!!
Oh my God this sounds so fricking beyond amazing! I am obsessed with pirates and did a course at uni on maritime history and shipbuilding so a female starring pirate novel is #GOALS. Also world building is my number one YA bugbear so this makes me happpyyyyy. As of this review I am bumping this novel up my TBR!! 😀 😀 have you read The Redwolf Conspiracy? It’s probably the best other YA book set on the high seas which I’ve ever read, full of magic weasels, talking rats, reality altering books and all sorts of other amazing stuff !
OMG THAT IS SO AMAZING?!? I AM IN AWE OF YOU RIGHT NOW!! I’ve always been mildly obsessed with ships and I used to watch all the sailing movies I could obsessively as a kid.😂 I haven’t read The Redwolf Conspiracy but I shall like totally go find it IMMEDIATELY.😍
Ahh that’s so cool! Yeah I can’t sail at all but am super keen to learn what all the mega confusing ship words mean 😛
I for one loved all of the nautical puns, haha!
This definitely seems like a book I’d read, plus I trust your judgement so I will give it a shot!
(Also, this book and my book share the character name of Markos so i’m like ahhhhh)
Aww, you trust my judgement. I’M HONOURED.😂 (Oh Markos is such a cool name though, that’s really awesome!! I hadn’t heard it in a book before and I definitely think it should come up more. 😉 )
I really loved this one too! I didn’t go into it with the highest of hopes, but this one really surprised me! I need the next one in my hands right now!!! lol! I also really loved the banter between them. So good! Great review!
Yes same! I didn’t have a ton of expectations, but it really captured me. :’) But then anything with banter just wins me over EVERY TIME.😂
i waNT to rEaD this SO BAD. I WAAANNNNT ITTT MY PRECCCCIIOOUSSSSSSSSSS
I’m a huge advocate for feminine female warrior boss queens SLAY QUEEN SLAY
YOU DO WANT IT. It calls to you. :’)
Your photos are always SO amazing (+200 points for color coordination. Also, really love the photo with all of the maps from the fronts of all of the books.
And your puns….. were on POINT!
Aww, thank you Hannah! YOU ARE TOO KIND.😂 I did have a lot of fun with this one haha!
YAAAY MORE PEOPLE TO FLAIL OVER THIS BOOK WITH. I LOVEDDD how sassy the characters were and their banter! I can’t think of a more perfect couple! I can’t wait to see what shenanigans they get into in the next book!
YES YES IT WAS SO PERFECT RIGHT?!? THE ABSOLUTE LEVELS OF BANTER AND WIT WERE THE BESSSST. I loved how ridiculously perfect those two were together.😂 Once Caro got passed wanting to drown him.😂
Ooh, I want to read this book now! I’ve never really read much with pirates, because when I was little I decided I didn’t like pirates (I don’t even know WHY) and so now I have it in my mind that I don’t like them… despite the fact that I’ve read basically nothing with pirates. Ever.
I’m not a huge fan of most seafood, but I can tolerate it, and I’ve always really liked salmon.
OH OH YOU CAN’T NOT LIKE PIRATES. PIRATES ARE MARVELLOUS. Although this is more smuggling than pirating at the beginning. :’) But it’s still so glorious.
I will leave ALL the seafood to you then. 😂 Whenever my family eats fish, I take a short trip to another galaxy.
I might actually have to read this one… this sounds really good.
IT IS SUPER GOOD. 🎉🎉
Oh wow, I wasn’t familiar with this book but it sounds AMAZING! I love pirate adventures so I’m definitely adding this to my TBR. Great review!
A most EXCELLENT life decision, Suzanne. *nods wildly*
I’ve been getting more interested in pirate books lately, so I suppose that’s a yes. My favorite is The Search for Aveline by Stephanie Rabig and Angie Bee. It’s VERY diverse and interesting because each chapter goes back and forth between the past and present day for various characters. I loved that book a lot.
I’m reading The Song of the Current myself right now. I like the frog person (whose name escapes me right now). Have you seen any fan art for her? I think that would be neat to see.
Yes, I LOVE seafood! I’m sorry you don’t like it, but it’s my favorite. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive. I like crab, lobster, scallops, salmon, tuna, etc. It’s all so delicious and there are so many applications you can use the different proteins in.
Yaaas pirates are everything. 😍 I’m sure my interest in them is NOTHING to be concerned about at all. *twirls majestically* I can’t remember the Frog Lady’s name either but she was super interesting! I hope they talk a bit more about her people in the next books?! *fingers crossed*
You can have all the seafood and I’ll pass.😂 Forever.
Ahhh give me please!!
I don’t eat anything with a face. Just sayin.
The Ascendance Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen has some great pirates, and very “stabby” characters in general. I also read Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller recently, which was fun.
Who likes puns? It’s (also) me.
I just refuse to eat anything that’s been swimming. It seems super wrong. *shudders* Oh and I loved The False Prince! I never read the rest (but I need to) but it was so funny and good. 😉 I also have the Daughter of the Pirate King but haven’t read it yet either. #SadFace
I’M SEA PLEASED YOU LIKED MY PUNS.
They were REELY good! (No, I did not just steal that pun from you… This did not happen. I was not here.)
Another perfect review, I need to put this one on my list.
Eeep, I’m glad you liked the review, Skye! yOU ARE LOVELY.
I DO like seafood, Cait, and I am sad you are missing out on its deliciousness. Ahem. Anyway, I liked this one too! I do wish, like you said, it was a little more… high stakes feeling? I mean- it wasn’t that the stakes weren’t high, but they never FELT very high? I was like, 99% confident that all the lovely little characters would be just FINE, so I wasn’t particularly anxious, even during the parts that were supposed to make me feel scared. But I looooved the atmosphere, it was SO well done! And I liked the characters and romance, too! I just wish it had evoked a bit more of the feels. Definitely a good book though! Great review 😀
EW C’MON. SEAFOOD IS GROSS. IF SOMETHING IS SWIMMING, WE SHOULD NOT EAT IT😝
Same though! Like I mean, even when they left Markos I was like “well he’ll be fine”. 😂 I don’t know what it was?!? The stakes totally did seem high but I just got the vibe that nothing bad would really happen haha. Sooooo much a fan of this series though. I NEED SEQUELS.
Gorgeous review as always, Cait! 😀 I don’t even know what to say… Haven’t read this book yet, but glad that you liked it even despite those low-points!
Aww, thanks, Cass! You are super nice!😊 I hope you might get a chance to try it someday!
Yay, I’m glad that the main character is biracial although I’m not sure I’ll be too keen on the level of ship details. But yay the pirating sounds great! A shame it was slightly predictable tho.
It was definitely still worth it though. 😍 And it’s always super nice to see diversity included in fantasy. FINALLY.
Pirates? Explosions? Banter? *pre-orders book*
and reely, cait, since ye be making pirate-y puns that are rather bad, I’ll throw ye overboard.:p
THE BADNESS OF THESE PUNS IS WHAT’S GIVING US LIKE. Or death. Who can say.😂
Very punny! Can’t say I’ve read all that many pirate stories, but wouldn’t mind having me timbers shook! (unless there might be splinters. I don’t like splinters).
I don’t like splinters either, tbh. (And did I make a Dr. Who reference?!😂I have no idea I’ve not seen it😂)
Those puns are actually rather impressive. And the GIF is rather perfect.
I actually saw this book at the bookstore a couple of weeks ago (it must’ve come out earlier in the US) because the spine was so sparkly and I bought it. #shallowamiright I can’t wait to actually read it now though!
I AM SO PLEASED YOU LIKE MY PUNS. Your kind words are such an ANCHORAGE-ment to me. :’)
*laughs at self and then dies*
I think it did come out a few weeks earlier in the US? And yES. Buying it because it’s also hugely pretty is totally acceptable.
HEH. HEH. HEH.
That makes sense! I appreciate it. I need to be validated. #prettybooksaresoprettythough
NEVER STOP WITH THE PUNS OKAY. NO MATTER WHAT, N E V E R S T O P. If you do, I will cry, because your puns are too good to not be shared.
Love your review — I definitely need to read more pirate books! The only one I can remember is ADSOM and that really wasn’t focusing on the pirate aspect. BUT STILL. <3
And DUDE I only like some fish (and I like it crispyyyyy) but that's pretty much all the seafood I will eat. No sushi. Or lobster. Or weird seaweed that is apparently healthy for you but no.
I WILL NEVER STOP PUNNING. PUNS ARE MY LIFE.
And ADSOM is glorious but not enough pirates in there tbh. We needed way more of Lila and her piratage. (Shh that’s totally a word.😂)
Oh Cait, you’re so punny! XD
I am for SURE adding this to my list on Goodreads!
Also…I like seafood, to a degree. I like fish sticks, and popcorn shrimp.
Well anything deep fried CAN be good, I admit. BUT STILL NO TO THE FISH.😭
And I hope you like this if you get a chance to read it!
OMG your title just sucked me in I love ocean-ship-pirate-swashbuckling books!
I”m excited and I really should put this on my exceedingly high tower of TBR books. “clicks over to Amazon”
btw I love your reviews you have a very transparent and quirky and silly personality that comes out beautifully when you write. Thanks for sharing.
Yaaas, I’m glad you like the sound of this one! And I relate very hard to the “exceedingly high tower of TBR books”.😂 MY LIFE TOO.
lol Yes. I”m not alone! Well I keep downloading all these enticing free books from blogs/newsletters promos and they accumulate faster than I can read – also some of them are more books I’m only in the mood for once in a while.. And then there’s the books i actually want to buy which is a ridiculously long list.. And then there’s the paperbacks at home. My vision is slightly poor so I don’t usually read paperbacks anymore, even though I can, My apartment has terrible lighting. Outside is much better of course.
All that combined = way too many books in my TBR pile(s) lol I keep having to reorganize, what do I really want to read next, v. what I will probably read next. I also have a Goodreads list but I don’t really go on there as much so I built lists on Amazon instead
I’ve never seen so many puns in one post LOL
I have this out from the library right now! Nothing is better than a good bantery romance and Caro sounds awesome! I also like the sound of the worldbuilding- descriptive but not overwhelming details are key because I get confused with fantasy easily sometimes. Ahhh pirate books are awesome, great review!
Yesss, bantery romance/friendships are the BEST.😂 They totally suck me in every time. 😀
I’m adding this book to my TBR. I read “Daughter of the Pirate King” and was searching for another pirate book people liked. I do like a good pirate story. Aww, seafood. Would like some shrimp.
Oh oh I really want to read Daughter of the Pirate King! I MEAN, I OWN IT. WHY HAVEN’T I READ IT YET.😂
If you review something you like, I invariably add it to my TBR…. you just make it sound so delightful!!!
I don’t know that I have read many pirate books… but I do like pirate… but I enjoy the sea. I like lighthouse settings…
Anyhow. This has been added to the list!
…and i do like seafood, but i feel like that is the wrong answer here… :/
I’M VERY CONVINCING I KNOW.😂 But this one is so so good!!! So much recommend!!