Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Swashbuckling, snarky pirate-girl romp has gore galore.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Based on 29 kid reviews
Kids say that this book offers an engaging mix of adventure, romance, and strong female characters, particularly appreciating the protagonist's cleverness and empowerment. However, many reviewers caution that it contains mature themes, including violence and sexual content, making it more suitable for older teens rather than younger readers.
- strong female character
- adventure and romance
- mature themes
- reader enjoyment
- caution advised
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Seventeen-year-old Princess Alosa, DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING and a Siren, has just fallen into the clutches of her father's rivals, the young pirate captain Draxen and his 18-year-old brother Riden. But it's all part of an elaborate plan to please her brutal father (and probably avoid torture and imprisonment) by recovering a map he's convinced is stashed somewhere on Draxen's ship. Threats, imprisonment, beatings, hypnotic magic, deception, and intrigue ensue as the body count rises. Meanwhile, Alosa and Riden grapple with each other's deceit, rising romantic tension, and inexplicable twinges of conscience.
Is It Any Good?
Princess Alosa tells a fine tale, has many adventures, and takes care of herself, but the sheer overwhelming carnage as the story unfolds goes way beyond piratical genre-driven window-dressing. First-time author Tricia Levenseller delivers a spirited, snarky heroine who's quite at home in a murderously dysfunctional environment:
"'Kill the rest,' I say.
"Sorinda is the first to take out her sword. She starts stepping behind the men and slitting throats one after the other. Killing is practically an art for her. The way she moves is magical."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the pirates in Daughter of the Pirate King. How does this pirate story compare with others you know? Why are pirate stories so popular?
What do you think is the appeal of being a pirate? What might be a downside?
What other stories do you know that involve the Sirens? How do those stores turn out? Does anyone ever get the best of the Sirens?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Adventure
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Pirates
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel and Friends
- Publication date : February 28, 2017
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 18
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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