Pirates of Aletharia by Britney Jackson is an enemies to lovers, forced proximity romance between a dangerous pirate and a magic user on the run after escaping the gallows.
The whole world is against Emilia Drakon, who was once known for being a sweet hearted dragon sorcerer. Steeling her heart she violently escapes a public hanging but is on the run, trying to return to the dragons she left at her decimated island village.
Captain Maria Welles is not someone you want as an enemy. She embraces her reputation as the sea’s most violent and feared pirate and tricks Emilia into joining her crew. They’ll need a reliable surgeon to patch her crew together when the going gets brutal. And there will be violence when she catches up to a certain navy admiral.
Despite treachery, secrecy, and the ongoing threat of piratical violence, Em and Captain Maria Welles slowly find themselves drawn to each other, but Em needs to find her dragons and the captain doesn’t want to lose the woman she has come to love.
Writing
The pirates in this book are the real deal. They live a fierce, cramped life aboard a ship at sea, but with a solid code of honor that keeps everyone – mostly – in line. While there is a lot of no holds barred violence, not a little of it directed at Em, there is also humor and great camaraderie.
Not that I would ever personally want to live on a pirate ship, but the depiction in this book is spirited and compelling. Everything seemed very real, even when it became super gritty. The world building is first rate, giving the characters a vivid canvas. Fluidity between modern gender politics and pirate fantasy makes Aletharia even more interesting to a modern reader.
Pros And My Favourite Parts
Generally when someone says a book is Enemies to Lovers it just means two people get off on the wrong foot or really dislike each other before falling in love. In this book, Em is literally in physical danger with the pirate captain renowned for her murderous and treacherous nature. So it’s not surprising that Em never loses her hatred of the captain, even after falling in love with her.
I enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Judith the cook and Helen the master gunner. Rat Slayer the feral shipboard cat meddles in an adorable way. All the characters have hidden depths and their well-rounded natures create a stronger story.
Pirates have often been used as trope in a lot of different ways, from hilariously goofy to bloodthirsty savages. In this world they can be goofy, but only amongst themselves because they’re like an improbable family. A bloodthirsty, savage family. It can spin your head a little, in a good way.
Heads Up
Not a little gritty violence. These are for real pirates.
The Conclusion
This is the first book in a series that has not yet seen the second book released. There is everything you could want in a pirate novel, from shipboard life to swords and violence and sometimes hilarious mishaps. A hint of dragons and some meddling ship’s cats feature in a strong supporting cast of characters. I’m looking forward to the second book, which I hope picks up at the super dramatic cliffhanger at the end.
I was impressed with just how much Em and Captain Maria Welles began as serious enemies. The captain has earned her reputation for treachery and murder, and Em is not safe after being tricked into joining the pirate crew as their surgeon.
Danger, deep secrets, and hidden motivations keep the romance at a very slow boil. Em hates Captain Maria Welles, even after they’ve fallen in love, and it’s well worth the wait.
Excerpt from Pirates of Aletharia by Britney Jackson
“Kill the witch!”
“Kill the witch!”
Almost as if she actually cared enough to feel uneasy about those chants, Catherin cleared her throat. “You’ve lost some weight.”
Not that it was much in the grand scheme of things but they had at least allowed Emilia to trade her rags from the dungeon for the clothing she’d worn before her arrest.
And those clothes hung loosely from Emilia’s curves now, no longer fitted to her form.
“Yes,” Emilia said, her voice like ice, “that tends to happen when you’re not allowed to eat.”
Catherine sighed. “They offered you food in exchange for information,” she reminded Emilia. “It was your own choice to starve, instead.”
Emilia forced a bitter smile. “Perhaps the only good choice I’ve made recently.”
Catherine narrowed her eyes at that.
The clouds shifted in the sky, and Emilia cringed away from the sunlight. She hadn’t left the dungeons in weeks, and the mid-afternoon sun burned her eyes.
Perhaps sensing weakness, Catherine stepped closer. “Emilia,” she said, using that same gentle tone she’d used when they were lovers, “I have a lot of power now.”
“So I’ve heard,” Emilia sneered, “Admiral Rochester.”
Again, Catherine sighed at her tone. “I don’t want to see you hang.”
Emilia lifted her wrists, the heavy shackles rattling in protest. “They, maybe you shouldn’t have put these on me.”
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Series: Lesbians, Pirates, and Dragons
Pirates of Aletharia
Bits and Bobs
ISBN number: 9798790135699
Publisher: Noctem Publishing
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