Seafire, Book 1
By Mary Eisenhart,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Swashbuckling all-girl crew fuels thrilling dystopian tale.

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What's the Story?
In the dystopian, post-apocalyptic world of SEAFIRE, evil warlord Aric Athair has used brutality and a drug called Silt to enslave just about everyone, except for some hardy souls like the families aboard the Mors Navis, who take to the high seas to get away from him. Redheaded Caledonia Styx, daughter of the captain, and her best friend, Pisces, are ashore gathering provisions when they meet a Bullet, one of Aric's drug-addicted boy warriors. In a moment of mercy, Caledonia doesn't kill him -- which quickly results in the massacre of everyone on the ship and leaves her and Pisces as the only survivors. Four years later, with Pisces and a determined, ragtag all-girl crew, Caledonia and the rebuilt Mors Navis are doing as much as they can to damage Aric's forces. But a raid brings unexpected complications when Pisces' life is saved by a different Bullet, who wants to defect. And he tells them something about their lost families that could change everything.
Is It Any Good?
Natalie C. Parker concocts a thrilling, relatable series opener featuring redheaded 18-year-old sea captain Caledonia Styx, her intrepid all-girl crew, and their struggles against the evil warlord who enslaved and killed their families. Seafire's characters, their internal conflicts, and the frequent surprises as new challenges emerge all add up to an exciting plot with complex ethical issues and a conclusion that sets up the next installment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dystopian, futuristic stories. How does Seafire compare to others you've read? What's their appeal -- and how are they used to comment on the world we actually live in?
Caledonia has to decide when it's best to follow the rules and when it's best to ignore them. And often there aren't easy answers. Have you ever been in this position? How did you deal with it?
What do you think might work better with an all-girl (or all-boy) crew? What might not go so well?
Book Details
- Author: Natalie C. Parker
- Genre: Adventure
- Topics: Adventures, Friendship, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Razorbill
- Publication date: August 28, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 12 - 18
- Number of pages: 384
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 8, 2020
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