Seafire, Book 1

Parents need to know that Seafire is the first book in a planned trilogy by Natalie C. Parker, set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world. An evil warlord keeps everyone enslaved and drug-addled -- except a few hardy families who take to the high seas to avoid him. One such family is brutally murdered by his forces, thanks largely to the judgment of a 14-year-old girl who knows she should kill a captive enemy, but shows him mercy, and loses everything as a result. Four years later, she's racked with guilt, determined to keep her new crew safe and bent on revenge. Redheaded captain Caledonia Styx is an appealing, relatable, conflicted character who shows a lot of positive qualities, including an ability to listen to advice and admit when she's wrong while shouldering the heavy responsibility of leadership. There's a lot of violence and death in the story, with stabbings, gunfire, electrical zapping, and explosions aplenty, and much of the plot involves Silt, the drug used to enslave the warlord's army. Through it all, there are strong themes of family, loyalty, respect, mutual support -- and how sometimes the willingness to break a rule might be what saves you.