Assassins, pirates, magic… Viper is a seriously impressive collection of basically most of my favourite things! Our main character, Marianne, has been raised at sea by the notorious Viper, who basically has a ship full of assassins who kill for the “good” of the Eastern Isles.

With this in mind though, we quickly see that Marianne isn’t treated fairly by her father or any of the crew because… she’s female. So she’s consistently bullied, ridiculed and suffers emotional abuse from the Viper, Adler. Very quickly though we find out that all isn’t as it seems and suddenly Marianne decides to take action and try to help the Isles, which are suffering from an influx of bandits and terror.

We have a couple of key characters join Marianne on her adventures, including Grace who has acted like a mother figure to her on the ship. Teaching her valuable things like how to fight whilst also telling her stories of the Western Isles. Grace was probably my second favourite character after Marianne, she may be a deadly assassin but her love for Marianne was easy to see. There’s also Bronn, who had originally been very close to Marianne when they were children. He’s another of my favourites but I can’t say that much because, spoilers.

That’s another thing I really enjoyed about Viper too – so many twists and turns! There was a point when Marianne was happy and it was obvious it wouldn’t last (it was less than halfway through) but even the way this happens was shocking. If you didn’t know that this was a debut, you honestly wouldn’t be able to tell. The writing and character development was perfect and Hogan has created a seriously exciting world to match. I’ll definitely be checking out the next books in the series!

Thanks to Orion Children's Group and NetGalley for the Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I went into this. I have read some meh YA seafaring related novels recently *cough*The Beholder and To Kill a Kingdom*cough* so wondered if this would be a similar experience.

HOW WRONG I WAS.



This main character of this book is the seventeen year old daughter of 'The Viper' a pira...nope, a PRIVATEER. Sorry, this history teacher has to be pedantic. The Viper is charged by the King to defend the Twelve Islands with his merry band of assassins, The Snakes. Each island is different geographically and economically e.g. one is known for its medicinal plant life, one is known for its mining etc. Marianne chafes against her father's rules, and struggles to live up to his (completely messed up) expectations. 

There are a lot of really cool things about this novel. I liked, nay loved, Marianne immediately. She seemed so much more rounded and believable as a character than the usual YA heroine. Her motivations, actions and emotions made sense to me given the context of her upbringing and what she has gone through. The author has also done a great job at researching the realities of life at sea and its clear that she's done her seafaring homework. 

The story was fast paced and didn't have that mid story slump that many YA novels can suffer from. Something that also really surprised me with this novel was how brutal it could be. Some of the events were genuinely shocking and the plot has lots of twists and turns and heart thumping moments. The romance doesn't take away from the plot and isn't overbearing and twee. The author has taken some risks with this story and I think its really paid off.

What didn't I like? Well nothing I can think of to be honest, it was all pretty damn great. This is quite simply the best new YA novel I've read so far this year and I can't wait for the next one.

Content warning: Descriptions of parental abuse.

I was expecting to find that this book had been overhyped, that I would find myself utterly dissapointed. I am delighted to say that wasn't even close to being the case. This book was utterly amazing, far better than I could have ever imagined.

For a start, this book was far darker than I would have thought. There are some quite graphic descriptions of various torture methods that at times had me physically recoiling from the page they were so well done. I won't spoil anything for you but the other thing I will say is that this book isn't afraid to put its characters through the wringer. Do not go in expecting a friendly seafaring story or you may find yourself coming out a little shellshocked. This was the main way in which this book defied my expectations. I think this was really well handled. It didn't feel like violence or tragedy for the sake of it, more like this was a genuine depiction of what happened to these characters and it is just horrible at times.

What this book manages to do, which I talk about in reviews a fair bit, is it manages to balance out the good and the bad. There are these moments where everything is so horrible, but that isn't the whole book. There are also some truly positive moments and some real breakthrough character moments tied up within the plot that kept it from feeling unnecessarily bleak as well as ensuring that those moments of sadness had some contrast. A well-balanced book is something we can all love.

I thought that Marianne was a great character, I hugely enjoyed reading her perspective, though there are some side characters who I hope will get a bit of additional page time in later books in the series. Marianne is written as such a lonely person but still manages to feel like someone with whom you might want to be friends (I mean, she would absolutely end up beating me up but I can dream).  With relatively few characters who are what one might consider morally 'good', I found Marianne impressively interesting despite her goodness.

Romance, it is something of an unavoidable factor, isn't it? This book has a fairly nice slow burn romance in it that I have no doubt will build into something more complex in later books - I thought that it was handled in a good way. It manages to avoid any particularly clichéd aspects while still feeling comfortable and familiar in terms of YA fantasy tropes.

This book definitely delivers on its promises. It gives you the grit and the glamour of seafaring and promises to be the start of a truly spectacular series that I will certainly devour. For anyone needing a fix after reading such amazing books as Daughter of the Pirate King I would have to say that Viper makes a great read!

My rating: 5/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Viper is out in the UK in April 18th!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

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?

Review:

I hadn't heard much about Viper before I picked it up, other than that it was one of the upcoming reads in the Fairyloot box but I'm so glad to have been approved to read it, as I loved it. Highly original idea and a very likeable main character made it a quick read for me as I could barely put it down.

I loved Marianne, she is absolutely fantastic and I was rooting for her from the get go. Bronn and Torin were also favourites of mine. I thought that the setting of the book was really cool and I could see myself there alongside the characters. I loved that it wasn't too 'YA' - it was violent and there were alot of on page deaths, something that tends to be fade to black for alot of YA novels and this was refreshing to read.

I cannot wait to read more about Marianne and her crew, and from Bex Hogan.

Marianne is next in line to become the Viper, defender of the Twelve Isles. But the deadly and most dangerous man, the current Viper, stands in her way…and he’s her father. She was born to protect, but in order to save her home, the boy she loves and her family she may have to risk destroying it all, including herself.

I love me some pirates in YA! I tried really hard to not read anything about this book before hand because I really didn’t want to start having an opinion on it before I’d read it. I’m so glad I did! Because Viper is amazing.

Bex Hogan sets an incredible atmosphere and tone right from the first pages. It has the perfect flow. I read over 70% of this book in one sitting whilst travelling on my kindle and it wasn’t until I looked did I realise how much I’d read at once, because it really didn’t feel like I’d read that much. Nothing feels useless or like a filler. Every part has a meaning, but it isn’t all intense or break-neck. It’s an immensely readable pace and story.

I love the characters! Marianne is definitely the type of character that, go too far one way and they become annoying, too far in another direction and they become very stereotypical. Hogan is definitely toeing a thin line but she’s doing it so well. Marianne is a great character and I’m very invested in her story. Another thing Hogan has done so well is avoid the basic love-triangle that we see so many times nowadays and it’s perfect. Bronn is amazing and never gets annoying. He has a purpose and strengths so he isn’t just there to be a love interest and it really shows. Torin and Grace were also amazing and I love them both dearly. It’s rare that I read something and don’t find anyone annoying. Adler was a great villain and he never softened once. He was a continuously brutal antagonist.

I loved the story line. Yes there are a few aspects that are a bit unoriginal but Hogan does great things with it making it interesting and exciting throughout. All the action scenes are very well written and I don’t have to go back and reread things to try to understand what’s happening. I love the world Hogan has started to create. I can’t wait to see what else Hogan has in store for the rest of the trilogy. I’m hoping to see more of the Western Isles and Hogan has only just started to explore the magic within it and it’s making me very intrigued.

In all, Viper was readable and intriguing. Hogan does an amazing job introducing the world and characters and giving many possibilities for the rest of the trilogy. I hadn’t realised it was going to be a trilogy, duology yes, but not a trilogy so I’m even more curious as to what Hogan will do. I hope we’re going to get more political and go even deeper into the magic. Whatever happens I am 100% here for it.

I received a digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a real page-turner of a tale. I personally found it a bit too violent, with a very high body-count. I'm sure it will be really popular with young adults, who will want to read the series to the end.

Firstly, YA Fantasy covers are knocking it out of the park so far this year, Viper has colour and foiling and it's just wonderful. Whilst I read this as an Arc via Netgalley, I then received a copy in my Fairyloot box which was amazing as I absolutely loved this book and to have that cover in my grabby hands is awesome. Viper is the kind of book that grabs you with both hands from the opening lines and pulls you under the waves so you are totally immersed in the story. I knew immediately that this would be a book for me, as the characters, the setting and the use of language were perfect. I found that the author writes in a way that I would speak so the words just worked for me on every level, it truly is a wonderful debut.

Marianne is an amazing character, struggling under the will of the patriarchy but holding her own under the weight of parental irresponsibility. I loved how defiant she was, even in the face of the most feared of men she stayed true to herself and her beliefs, although her recklessness did on occasion bother me as she knew the ways in which her father would be cruel. Life on deck is vivid and brutal, yet she manages it all in full skirts and corset and whilst we know that as the captains daughter she is off limits, there is still a read dread as the crew circle like sharks waiting for her (in their minds) inevitable failure.

Bex Hogan is so good at building up tension, there were parts that I was scared to keep turning the page on as I was willing things I was rightly or wrongly anticipating not to happen, the sense of anticipation was real. Topics aren't shied away from and it gets pretty graphic at times, so I would suggest that this is more of an upper YA age range read. It's also a tough job to world build when your story is set on the ocean but again, I felt that not only were the tumultuous seas wonderfully crafted but I loved the imagination that went into the islands too. They are small but each one is beautifully unique bringing a valued purpose to the story.

The book itself had a YA Game of Thrones vibe and also, this is going to sound weird, a little Assassins Creed: Black Flag as the sea battles are pretty epic. If you enjoy amazing characters, great world building, and high seas adventure then you will love Viper, it's actually a book that I'm happy to know is going to be a trilogy as I can't wait to come back to these characters.

I was sent an eARC of this books from Hachette Children’s Group and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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When I saw the beautiful cover of this book it instantly attracted me and when I saw it was a pirate book, I was sold! And this book did not disappoint! I loved it so much and I’m really looking forward to the next book.

This book is fast paced, action packed and very brutal and bloody and right from the beginning we see how brutal Marianne’s father is and the type of people she has grown up around. Yet, despite growing up like this, seeing all the violence, she still is unwilling to murder someone, which makes her a disappoint to her father. She defies her father in small ways despite knowing she will be punished, and I loved her from the first chapter.

When I started reading I quickly realised that not only is this a story of pirates but of pirate assassins! And I fell in love even more. I will warn you though, it is very violent and there is lots of suffering. It’s a lot darker than I thought it would be. Yet there is still hope in the characters despite everything they go through.

Marianne has to go through a lot to stand up to her father. She doesn’t know who she can trust or who will help her achieve her goal. I loved her determination and how kind she was. She wants to be a healer not a killer yet she is definitely capable of being a killer, she chooses not to. I loved her story as she discovered who she was and who she wanted to be and what she’s capable to being. She chooses her own destiny despite one being laid out in front of her.

One of the things I loved was how distinct each island was that Marianne visits. That we actually get to spend time on the island too and explore them with her. And just like the islands, the people who live there are equally as diverse. And the time spent on the waters was so interesting too, from seeing how powerful her father’s ship and crew is to learning about the sea creatures that are just as scary as the pirates themselves.

I don’t want to say too much about the characters as it will spoil some of the plot for you but I will say that there are several characters that help Marianne and I loved all of them! I hope we get to see more of their stories in the next book.

If you love pirates or assassins and action packed books, I highly recommend picking up Viper when it releases on April 18th.

Marianne has grown up on the ship belonging to the Viper, the King's Assasain. Raised and trained to take his place, she has always known that this life is not for her. But lately things have grown worse. The Viper is crueler, angrier, and he's turning his back on the people he's supposed to protect, using Marianne as a bargaining tool. She knows he must be stopped if she and her people are ever going to be free. But it's difficult to stand against her own father...


Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect from this; there are a lot of variations on 'young girl uses mysterious power to overthrow tyrant'. This was really enjoyable. I liked the characters, the action moved along at just the right speed, and though I know very little about boats I Was able to follow everything that was going on with ease. I'll be looking forward to reading the next two installments; I'm eager to know what will happen to Marianne and the rest of her friends and allies. The tiny sample in the back of this book has only whetted my appetite.

I can't wait to learn more about the Twelve Isles.

I am SO excited about UKYA fantasy this year – I feel like YA fantasy is really overlooked in British publishing, which is bizarre when you think about how a) this is the country that birthed Harry Potter and b) American YA fantasy authors such as Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi etc. are hugely popular here to the point that they have events with hundreds of attendees. But I’m really hoping that’s beginning to change – I’m desperate to see more YA fantasy from UK authors, especially by BAME and queer authors.

So, naturally, I got very excited at the news that Orion were publishing a new UKYA fantasy trilogy from debut author Bex Hogan, and requested a proof as soon as I could. I mean, PIRATES! And look at that gorgeous cover! I’m so glad to say that it lived up to my expectations and I tore through it in a matter of hours.

VIPER is the first book in the ISLES OF STORM AND SORROW trilogy, and follows Marianne, a young woman who is the daughter of the Viper – a man who serves the king by defending the Twelve Isles, although “defending” isn’t exactly the right word when he seems to spend more of his time attacking and plundering the innocents…

Naturally, Marianne isn’t a fan of her father’s methods or motivations, and she’s regularly humiliated by him in front of the ship’s crew for daring to show mercy or empathy towards his victims. She’s supposed to be taking over from him one day, but she’s not convinced it’s the right path for her. When her doubts come to a head, it’s time for her to escape the life she’s known on her father’s ship and take her freedom into her own hands.

VIPER is a fast-paced, bloody story which is wraught with danger and action, but there’s also time for a well-developed friendship between Marianne and Grace – another member of the ship’s crew. I was pleased to see this as I sometimes find that platonic female relationships in fantasy YA can feel tacked on in comparison to the romance, but the friendship is strong with plenty of ups and downs and complications.

THE ROMANCE. It was a little predictable but managed to swerve neatly past a love triangle (which I don’t really mind, though I appreciate it when authors don’t use the simple “girl caught between two guys” because it’s so overdone at this point), and was a sweet slow-burn with a lovely pay-off. It didn’t overtake the main plot, which I appreciated – it actually helped feed into Marianne’s own reservations about how to handle the crew of the Maiden.

I quickly became attached to Marianne. She’s the victim of a ton of emotional and physical abuse by her father and some of the crew and yet remains empathetic and caring – my heart broke for her several times, as she becomes quickly attached to people who show her kindness, only to see them cruelly snatched from her. She’s both scared and intrigued by the power within her – she wants to learn healing, and it seems that she may possess magic, but every time she gets close to learning more, she’s halted in her tracks. It’s a really sad story of a girl who just wants freedom from her abusive situation and wants to understand herself and find peace, but she never can – not with her father and his crew chasing her across the seas until she can be punished for daring to leave.

I really loved the world of VIPER – most of the action takes place at sea, but we also get to visit several of the islands of the kingdom. Marianne’s first adventure alone takes her to an isle covered in flowers – the soft beauty of it contrasts horrifically with the violence that takes place later. All of the isles have their own cultures and trades and I’m excited to see more of them in the sequels. The Eastern and Western isles have been divided for years, with Mages rumoured to be living in the West, and water-raptors dwelling in the ocean that divides them. The water-raptors are fantastic sea monsters – I really loved the scenes where we got to see them in action!

VIPER is an immensely fun, swashbuckling story with a crew of diverse characters (there’s a sweet and sad queer romance between two characters that I loved) and plenty of action and bloody danger. The details of the world really make it stand out – from the crew of the Maiden being known as fierce warriors called Snakes, and the distinct features of the Twelve Isles, and even touches like the horrific binding ceremony Marianne goes through when she’s forcibly betrothed in the early chapters (it involves white-hot chains and burning flesh). It’s a vivid, pacy read that will appeal to anyone who enjoys action-packed YA fantasy stories with pirates, kickass girls, sea monsters, slow-burn romances and lush worlds. I’m so excited to read the rest of the series, and I can’t wait for this to hit shelves and show everyone that UKYA fantasy kicks ass too.