Cover Image: Viper

Viper

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Member Reviews

The combination of magic; pirate assassins; an awful father; and the most brilliant main character was a winning one! I really loved this book and definitely need to continue with the rest of the series!

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This copy was kindly gifted to me from the publisher in exchange for an honest review (submitted on Instagram)

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I re-watched Pirates of the Caribbean and wanted to read a pirate-y book, so Viper was strongly suggested by Connie. It has pirates, a sea adventure and many great characters that you grow to love.

What I loved most was the world building, and even the hints at secrets we haven’t uncovered yet in this world. I wanted to go off and explore all the different islands as they’re so vastly different. On the Eastern side (the side we stick to in Viper) there’s 6 isles and each of them provides a different key resource to the people.

First Isle – King’s Isle – Resource is mainly trading and manufacturing, and holding the largest population.
Second Isle – Fallow Isle – Resource is agriculture.
Third Isle – Black Isle – Resource is lumber.
Fourth Isle – Floral Isle – Resources are flowers, spices and medicine.
Fifth Isle – Mist Isle – Resource is livestock.
Sixth Isle – Rock Isle – Resources come from mining.
Of all the islands, I loved the floral isle as Marianne spends some time there, but I was also intrigued by the black isle. As Marianne has lived all her life at sea, we know about each of the islands but going with her to explore them was like seeing the islands for the first time. Plus I’m sure we’ll get to explore the western isles in a future book too.

There’s also mentions of magic, monsters and sea creatures which pulled me into this world even more. Unfortunately these aren’t a huge part of Viper, but it seems like a little taster of the future books when we’re moving across to the western isles.

Marianne is our main character and she’s determined to do what she thinks is right. Being the Viper’s daughter she’s been stuck in the ship most of her life, however she somehow retained a little hint at humanity that the Viper tried to crush out of her. I especially love scenes where she has to come up against her father or father’s men as you see her struggle to hurt those she knows (despite them being awful in some cases!).

Speaking of those she knows, we also have Grace who was Marianne’s friend on the ship/potentially the closest thing she has to a motherly figure. Grace has a hidden past that I’m so interested to learn more about (hopefully??) in the next book. It definitely has some weight to the overall storyline, and her relationship with Marianne was written with a lot of background depth that we don’t see at first but understand the loyalty there.

Then we have Bronn, the love interest, and Torin, the Prince. Bronn is a fairly stereotypical love interest in that he can’t show his feelings, and feelings mean the other person can be hurt more etc. But his actions do help move the story forward, and it’s shown that Marianne isn’t totally dependent on the man to save her which I liked. Then there’s Torin, and technically Marianne does need this man to help save her… but it’s written in a way that is more complicated. I kind of wish we’d spent more time focused on Torin, and potentially more on his backstory as he’s at odds with his father.

Overall the storyline is very fast paced and there’s a lot of action packed pirate scenes. It’s very violent in parts, and there’s some blood and gore in case you’re not into reading that. But overall there’s a grip once you start reading that makes you want to finish the book and find out what happens. There’s also some tense scenes, as well as slower paced scenes which add to the characters and world building – but this doesn’t take away from the adventure feel of the book.

Positives of Viper
World building around the isles and creatures of the sea
Fast paced pirate adventures
Negatives of Viper
Minimal magic in first book (mostly pirate, not a lot of fantasy)

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Absolutely stunning little book. Engaging right from the word go. A world that was so immersive and felt so real. Characters you fall in love with. Characters you love to hate. A plot full of so many twists and turns a rollercoaster would be jealous. I absolutely loved every second and am so excited to get into the second book!

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Viper hooked me from the beginning, it was fast paced and full of action. The world building was amazing and intriguing. All the different islands, the detail and the history. I loved the adventure Viper took me on with each Isle. We only had a small glimpse of them but each one is beautifully distinct. I can’t wait to see how the author explores the magic and isles in the future books. This book definitely kept me at the edge of my seat and kept me guessing with the little twists and turns.

Full review on my blog- https://thechroniclesofabookworm.wordpress.com/2019/04/11/viper-by-bex-hogan-book-review/

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Viper is an epic pirate adventure that follows Marianne, the daughter of the infamous Viper - the most dangerous pirate in the ocean. He's supposed to be the defender of the people and protector of the realm, but he has become corrupted and cares only about gaining power. He'll stop at nothing, and remove everyone who gets in his way. But when his own daughter stands up to him, will she be able to stop him and protect the kingdom?

Honestly I loved this book. I really love pirate stories and this was just the perfect swashbuckling adventure. High stakes, fast paced action and a brilliant cast of characters. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. Bex Hogan has created a vivid and fascinating world in Viper, the islands were such interesting places and I loved the dash of magic added to the story too (the Sea Serpents were so cool). It was so easy just to get completely swept up in the story and I ended up racing though this book.

This is quite a dark tale and there was a bit more gore and violence that I would typically expect from a YA book. It fit well with the story though and made the atmosphere even more tense as Marianne fought to survive. The story does feature some romance and while I don't particularly enjoy romances I thought it was a really nice addition to the story. It added another layer without detracting from the main plot.

Viper is the swashbuckling adventure you didn't know you needed. It's a heart pounding read and if you're anything like me it's going to have you running to pick up the sequel.

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When I first started this I noticed immediatley that it was written in quite a simplistic writing style. No purple prose or flowers here! I wasn’t sure I’d get on with it for that very reason, but I ended up flying through it and I think the writing style was definitely responsible for that. It was so easy to absorb, and whilst I often personally prefer more flair in writing, I think the style of this would make it a fantastic choice for readers on the younger side just starting to get in to YA.

Some parts were a bit predictable, which I think goes along with the simplistic writing style, but I really wasn’t that mad about it. I think there were certain traumatic aspects that were so obviously going to end a certain way, but that almost made them more effective because ther whole time I could see how it would end up and that made me even more sad for the characters in the build up to those events. This story definitely does start of with a fair amount of trauma to our main character, Marianne, so please be aware of that (CW: abuse, neglect, drowning, murder). I think this served to set up the trilogy really well though – often that trauma would happen prior to the story beginning, but here we really get to see Hogan tear Marianne down to get her to place she needs to be in for the story to take place.

One thing I was super impressed with was the amount of detail in the scenes aboard ships. The research was clearly so thorough and the descriptions were so accurate and detailed that I felt so drawn in to the setting – despite having never sailed on an 18th Century warship, I could picture it perfectly and felt like I was there. It really warmed my pirate-loving heart.

Marianne was a really interesting character. She’s caught between her sense of duty and her personal desire for happiness. Wherever she went in the story, these two sides of her were warring. There’s something I really love in a character who is strong enough to put duty and the good of their people first, and that’s exactly who Marianne is. This also made for a really hearwrenching and interesting romance, as Marianne had to decide between her romantic love and political alliance – I can’t wait to see where this goes in book 2!

Overall, this was an exciting political pirate fantasy, with a splash of romance. It was brutal, with a fantastic villain and brilliant side characters. I can’t wait to read more in this series – it was so bingeable and quick that I definitely think this will be my go-to reread when I’m in a piratey mood. I definitely think you’ll enjoy this one if you’ve read Daughter of the Pirate King!

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2.5 stars

Seventeen-year-old Marianne is the daughter of the Viper - the captain of a ship of highly skilled assassins, who is supposed to defend the Twelve Isles.
However, instead of protecting people, the current Viper inflicts pain and fear.
Marianne wants to help people and to escape from her cruel father.
Can the Viper be stopped?
Can Marianne break free from her father's grasp?

Going in to Viper I was certain I would love it - it's about assassin pirates and I'd heard lots of people rave about it. However, it was one of those books where I seem to be the odd one out.
Marianne was a likeable protagonist. I felt sorry for her and was rooting for her to get away from her father. I liked that she wanted to help and protect people.
Grace was probably my favourite character, but no one else really stood out for me.
The plot was enjoyable to begin with, but then I found that it became very predictable, and it wasn't until near the end that something happened that surprised me and I started liking the book a bit more. The plot also failed to fully hold my attention and I grew bored more than once.
The romance wasn't one of my favourites - I didn't dislike it but I couldn't feel the connection between the characters, so it felt a bit forced.
The writing style was also not one of my favourites and was hit or miss for me - there were times when I thought it was good, and times when I wanted to re-word things.
I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy Viper more.

Overall, this was an okay read.

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VIPER was a read packed with adventure and high-sea daring. It follows the story seventeen-year-old Marianne, who after disobeying orders, is forced to flee for her life. Now on the run from her father - the renowned and villainous pirate king - Marianne is pursued across the kingdom as she searches for a way to end her fathers bloody reign. Yet along the way, she uncovers friends and secrets that could change the course of her life - and the fate of the kingdom - forever…

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and the world building throughout the story was fantastic. The many islands that make up the kingdom are each singularly unique and serve a specific purpose, and I love the way each place painted itself into my minds eye.

The fact that Marianne’s father was also a real tried and true villain also helped up the stakes of the story. We see his cruelty and bloodthirstiness from the beginning, which really helped you cheer for Marianne… who I have to admit, was not my most favourite heroine.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get along with her. Naive and whinny, she often came across as helpless which rankled me, especially considering the arsenal of badass skills at her disposal. However I liked the clever way she thought (when she remembered to keep a cool head) and despite the issues I had with her character, I still ultimately enjoyed the story and will be curious to pick up the next book.

The story also has a sweet, back burn sort of romance, and handfuls of magic here and there. However I didn’t fully follow the logic behind the magic system, so fingers crossed that it will be explained more in book two.

Overall a nice read. Not mind-blowing, but by no means bad. 3 stars!

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Pirates. Magic. And twists that will have you falling off the edge of the seat.

This book was THRILLING. It was a wild ride about a girl on a boat of assassins, with a father that no one would envy.

The stakes were high, and I loved the politics of the world and the fact that so much rested on Marianne’s shoulders, and we saw her grow over the course of the book, questioning the life she’s been brought up to live, but questioning her own morals as well.

Marianne makes some really questionable decisions, she’s lived a sheltered life and Bex Hogan doesn’t shy away from that. She sees some harsh consequences for her actions, but we watch her learn from them and learn about herself in the process.

I did get a little lost towards the end of the book, but I think this was more one me, as I went through a bit of a reading slump for a while. I out-fantasy-ed myself by reading this and ‘Children of Blood and Bone at the same time’ however the action picked up and I was drawn straight in again for the conclusion of this book.

I can’t wait to read the sequel to this book ‘Venom’ where it looks like we will be delving deeper into magic, and the lore of the different islands and I have already pre-ordered it.

I definitely recommend this swashbuckling fantasy. It’s full of beautiful friendships, thrilling relationships and so much adventure that I loved every minute spent out on the vast oceans and on the unique islands with Marianne and her crew.

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Viper by Bex Hogan | 5 Star Book Review
Is this me actually reviewing a book not that long after I read it? I THINK IT MIGHT BE!

LOL I wrote that opening sentence after I finished the book… it’s now over a month since I read it. Ah well, better late than never right?

I’ve talked about it on social a bit but this year I’ve been in such a reading slump and therefore a blogging slump that I’ve really struggled with regular posts. I’m hoping to have sorted that out though.

For a while there I could only read space books, which isn’t a bad thing, but Viper was the book that kicked me well and truly out of that slump and I loved it so much. I started reading it months ago and slowly, ever so slowly, read a page at a time, then suddenly read the rest of it in one sitting. So. Let me tell you all why I loved it so much!

As always this review will be spoiler free.

Pirate Ship Viper by Bex Hogan

Book Review Synopsis

Viper by Bex Hogan | 5 Star Book ReviewViper (Isles of Storm and Sorrow #1) by Bex Hogan
Published by Orion Children's Books on April 18, 2019
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
Pages: 400
Format: Paperback
Goodreads

He will make me a killer. Or he will have me killed. That is my destiny.

Seventeen-year-old Marianne is fated to one day become the Viper, defender of the Twelve Isles.

But the reigning Viper stands in her way. Corrupt and merciless, he prowl...
more
Book Review Overview

This book broke my heart in places, honestly I was… just whyyyyy did some things have to happen? Needless to say, this book isn’t a happy go lucky kind of tale. Viper by Bex Hogan is a YA pirate’s tale, with quite a few differences. I’m not one that’s obsessed with pirates & it usually puts me off a bit, not sure why. Either way, Viper did is beautifully. There is a lot of brutality so be prepared, but it sets the scene wonderfully.

Immediately Viper is intriguing, with hints to magic happening very early on. With the main character, Marianne, being so different to her Father and pretty much everyone on the ship she’s on. She lives in a very rough and scary environment, yet despite this she holds on to who she is and her beliefs, which you have to admire.

The world building is amazing, and I’m invested in it’s future and what the next book will bring!

Book Review Structure

Viper follows Marianne and there are some very notable differences in setting which sets the tone and pace for each section. I won’t say too much about that for fear of spoilers, but we get to see a lot of the world Bex Hogan has created, and created well. I look forward to seeing more of it in the next book! There was plenty of fast paced action that had me reading nearly the entire book in one sitting.

I enjoyed that the focus of this story wasn’t shitty male suitors. Yes there were a lot of bad men, but some weren’t, and I liked that. Also the romance was definitely not the focus of the book, there’s a lot of twists and turns, plots, death, violence and a lot of the history of the world thrown in.

Book Review Character

There are a whole lot of characters in this book that I think are done very well, and I don’t think my heart has recovered from becoming attached to some of them…

I enjoyed that Marianne wasn’t this fierce girl who was strong in the face of adversity. Yes, she stuck to her guns about things, but she was afraid and not all powerful. She struggled, which makes the reader value her successes, and failures, all the more. Don’t get me wrong, she makes some stupid decisions because of her morality, but I liked that she was steadfast in her beliefs.

I enjoyed that Bronn isn’t just there as a typical love interest. There’s nuance and depth to his choices and actions, and I found myself loving and hating him numerous times throughout the story. I’m still not sure I stan them though…

I loved that one of the most badass people on the ship was a woman. Grace was an interesting character, and I could tell there was more to her than meets the eye.

Prince Torin is the other ‘love interest’, who we meet early on. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to spoil it, but I enjoy his character a lot. He has faults but also has a genuine streak to him which I respect.

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I received a copy from Netgalley.

This was also an additional book in one of my Fairyloot subscription boxes so I got a signed paperback as well.

I didn’t dislike it, I wasn’t particularly blown over with it either. It’s just another generic YA fantasy set on the high seas. In this one the heroine Marianne lives on her father’s ship. Her mother died when she was a young child. Her father is the Viper, the protector of the 12 Isles. But they’re more like pirates and assassins – ruthless, cruel and brutal. Marianne is supposed to take over one day.

However, she doesn’t seem to have the violent streak a Viper needs. She’s not dim by any means. She has a conscience and thinks things could be done better. Because she’s a girl she’s treated like crap by the crew. She has one companion – an older lady who has helped train her who treats her like a person. She was once close to one of the boys her age, but circumstances made him turn his back on her.

She’s betrothed to the Prince of the royal family the Viper serves. The prince appears to be condescending and arrogant. On the night of her official initiation as a Viper everything goes wrong and things happen and Marianne is forced to flee. Pursued by her father’s crew over the 12 isles she discovers nefarious plots and a secret about her own past that could have a massive impact on the 12 Isles and the Eastern Lands they’re on the brink of war with.

The prince isn’t the asswipe he seems to be – and there’s much more too him. Alliances are drawn, plots are uncovered, other Royalty is determined to be selfish and useless and things need to massively change. It’s up to Marianne and her companions to make this happen.

It wasn’t by any means a bad book, - it was just kind of okay. I liked Marianne as a character, she had a code of honour and a brain and thought logically. She was emotional but wasn’t ruled by her emotions. The prince turned out to be a really interesting character as well. The writing was okay, the story was okay. There just wasn’t anything about this book that really stood out to bring it apart from other sea based YA fantasies.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hatchette Children’s Books for the review copy.

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This book just wasn’t for me. From writing style choices and graphic violence I struggled to enjoy what I was reading or invest in the story.

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This was very disappointing. It tells the story of Marianne, daughter of the Viper, as she tries to overthrow her father. Firstly, the narrative is in first person present tense, which always throws me out straight away because it seems unrealistic that someone would be narrating events as they happen to them. Secondly, there is an awful lot of gratuitous violence, which felt unnecessary and an attempt to inject some grit into the narrative. Thirdly, this is not particularly original in theme or plot. Overall, I just didn't enjoy it at all I'm afraid.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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This book hurt me, and then KEPT hurting me, and (you guessed it) KEPT ON hurting me. Viper, why?

This book is epic, and brutal, and everything I wanted it to be. And more! Pirates (more or less), assassins that are ALSO PIRATES, a thoroughly developed world that's unique and stands out, magic that's INTERESTING and not run of the mill, fricking sea serpent bird dragon things? Romance that stabs you in the heart a few times? A plot twist or two just for fun? Suffering upon suffering upon suffering (poor Marrianne, you guys, she goes through some things)? PLUS a cast of characters that all stand out, are well rounded, and utterly memorable? Is this book even real???

I need the next book now, please and thank you.

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Wow!

PROS:
--Viper has the perfect ingredients of magic, pirates, assassins, romance and action! It was a wild, thrilling ride that had me on the edge of my seat rooting for Marianne.
--Lots of tension, drama and suspense!
--The world building was great! I loved the idea of the Isles and the Maiden ship stalking the seas.
--The characters were believable (Crying gifs for all the great characters who died! :( Hogan kills her darlings, don’t get attached to anyone!)
--Grace was a sweetheart, Torin was a brave cutie pie, and Tomas was an angel!
--The romance was a slow-burner and utterly perfect.
--Exciting, fast-paced plot with a great ending. Looking forward to Venom, I enjoyed the snippet at the end.

CONS:
--The magic system wasn’t explained a lot, but I’m guessing that’s because Marianne didn’t really know much about it.
--I wanted to know more about the Western Isles and what made them so great.

Overall, incredible! 5 out of 5 stars!

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Rep: LGBTQ+, DISABILITY, POC | TWs: CHILD ABDUCTION, BRUTAL MURDER, DEATH, TALK OF POTENTIAL SEXUAL ASSAULT

The world:

The story takes place in the Eastern Isles. There are 12 in all, but we only really get the eastern 6 in this story. Most of the tale is on The Maiden, Adler's ship, but also on a few of the isles. My favourite was the Sixth Isle, but followed closely by the Fourth. The world was rich in detail and multi-faceted, so much so I could clearly visualize them. The isles sounded amazing - mostly - and there are a few I wouldn't mind visiting. Everything is explained beautifully and I am hooked on Hogan's writing!

The characters:

Marianne has lived her whole life on a ship under her father's command. He's the Viper, which is basically the King's hand of justice on the sea. Marianne has been pretty oppressed her whole life because she's not a killer like the rest of the crew. Her compassion and capacity for forgiveness is inspirational and I really loved her. She had loads of depth and was flawed, but so well-written. Definitely a favourite heroine. Her best friend (if you can call her that), Grace, is the best woman on the ship. She's a highly skilled assassin who is usually assigned to look after Marianne. Grace is also in charge of Marianne's training, so they are as close as can be on a ship full of secrets. Torin, the prince, is also a pretty major character, interestingly enough. I really loved his role in the whole story and look forward to getting more of him in the next installation. Bronn, Marianne's ex-best friend, and also a Snake, was surprising! Hogan wrote him so well! I really didn't like him in the beginning, which is exactly what she wanted, I believe, but then my opinion of him changed. The Viper, Adler, was such a phenomenal villain. I actually hated him! So well done, Hogan! Amazing writing.

The plot:

Essentially, this was a coming-of-age tale about a girl who discovers things are not all they seem on the surface. Once she begins to uncover the truth, there's a lot more hiding than she initially expected and it turns out her entire world is upended. It's a really good thing she has so many great friends at her back. The Viper expects her to succeed him one day, but only if she can get over her aversion to brutal murder. The real question is: will Marianne find her strength in time to save the isles and avoid getting herself killed?

Final thoughts:

This wasn't what I expected at all. In fact, it's absolutely 100 times better than I ever could have imagined! It has an amazing heroine, pirate life on the high seas, betrayal and deceit, and phenomenal supporting characters. The story is well-paced and such a fast read, but it was never boring and everything contributes to furthering the story. I was shocked by one of the scenes at the end and was highly upset about it, but won't tell you why because that would be a spoiler! WAH! Anyway, I really loved this story and cannot wait to get more of Marianne and the gang.

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I really enjoyed this book! The world building was done in great detail and Marianna was an interesting character that I really wanted to follow after the last page! I'm excited to see the rest of the series as Hogan is such a promising writer. The characters are well created and Hogan creates a bond between reader and character that hurts at time because of what is happening.

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When I first read the synopsis for Viper I was instantly intrigued. Having not read any YA Fantasy featuring pirates before I went in to it looking forward to seeing how it was going to be tackled and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. This book was one full of action, suspense and thrills. The tension that builds up throughout the story does have you at times, captivated.

The plot, every now and then, I found was slightly unoriginal (it felt like a plot that I had read many times before in YA Fantasy) and some parts that you thought were going to end up being important ended up being skimmed over quite quickly, making you lose interest. The world building, however, was been done with extreme precision. I really did enjoy finding out about the different islands, and found each one to be extremely detailed with it's own personality, and I do commend the author for this. I would guess that a lot of time was taken on the building of this unique world and it does certainly show.

The diversity in Viper is something else that needs to be mentioned. It is great to see a POC as the main character in a YA Fantasy and it's something that has been seen more and more in current times. It is important for everyone to be represented in fiction and this was definitely done in Viper. Also, kudos to the author for adding some casual LGBTQ+ representation into the story. It is always good when this happens and yet again it is something that is becoming more prominent in YA fiction today.

Marianne, as a main character was strong-willed and determined but I did feel like a lot of her personality was taken from other powerful female characters from other YA Fantasies. Mind you, I did really respect her decisions throughout the story. She didn't want to be cruel like her father and wanted to choose her own destiny, which in my eyes in highly inspirational. The Viper on the other hand was a cruel, sadistic character whose actions I found difficult to read about every now and then. He was brutal and was a terrifying but terrific villain all at the same time.

Viper overall, was a suspenseful, action packed read that has set the table in motion for what looks set to be an exciting trilogy. If you want a story that has pirates, assassins and fantastic world building, this is the book for you.

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Review: Viper by Bex Hogan
The Isles of Storm and Sorrow #1
Genres: Young Adult, Fantasy
336 pages
Published April 18th 2019 by Orion Children’s Books
You can purchase this book from bookdepository, waterstones, and amazonUK. If you order from bookdepository, I would appreciate if you used my affiliate link
My rating: ★★★★★ (4.5/5 stars)

I received this proof copy via a trade with Lauren

The Goodreads synopsis of Viper

Marianne has been training to be the Viper for her entire life – to serve and protect the King and the citizens of The Twelve Isles – but to become the Viper and protect the islands she loves she must find the strength to defeat her father. A new fantasy trilogy perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas.

He will make me a killer.
Or he will have me killed.
That is my destiny.

Seventeen-year-old Marianne is fated to one day become the Viper, defender of the Twelve Isles.

But the reigning Viper stands in her way. Corrupt and merciless, he prowls the seas in his warship, killing with impunity, leaving only pain and suffering in his wake.

He’s the most dangerous man on the ocean . . . and he is Marianne’s father.

She was born to protect the islands. But can she fight for them if it means losing her family, her home, the boy she loves – and perhaps even her life?

A brave heroine. An impossible dilemma. An epic new fantasy trilogy set on the high seas.

Have you seen the cover?! There was nothing stopping me from picking up this beauty to read and review. Also, following Bex on twitter, I felt like I needed to read this, so I could understand her as an author a little bit more. I hope this review does the book justice, as I would love to get as many people as possible to read this book. Anyway, let’s get started!
Let’s meet the characters:

Marianne is the protagonist of this story, and this book focuses on her journey of self-discovery, including finding out where she came from and her history. Above all, Marianne has to come to terms with so much during this book, and there were times when I was ready to get on a boat and stand by her side while she fought her demons. I just love her so much.

Bronn is not the typical love interest in this book. I found his past interesting, and look forward to learning more about him in the second and third books. Certainly there were times when I wanted to yell at Bronn to just back off, but then there was the discussion with Scurve and how he protected Marianne and just…my heart.

I knew that Grace had a back story, but I was not expecting that, especially when her back story became aware to the reader. Grace is strong because she has to fight to deserve her place on the ship. Furthermore, being a female who is one of the right-hand men of the captain, she has to overcome a lot of sexist behaviour.
My thoughts

I found this book to be different to the other fantasy books I have read lately. The characters were easy to get along with, and I felt like I was on the journey with them. The pace of the book was quick, and there were a couple of plot twists that kept me guessing.

The magic in this book was only just touched upon, so seeing where it all goes from there will be interesting, especially as I think Bex has some secrets up her sleeve.

There was the issue of toxic masculinity. I mentioned earlier that Grace has to fight harder to be appreciated and respected. However, when the captain is a man, and the majority of his crew are men, being a woman makes living on the ship a daily struggle.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Bex wrote a cracking debut, and I cannot wait until it is in the shops and hands of fellow readers. However, I only rated it 4.5 stars as I predicted the plot twists, and wanted more of the magic. I can definitely see this being a series I will enjoy. Bring on book two!

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