PIRATE ACADEMY. SWORD ECHOES

Written by  Justin Somper

                            

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An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week a Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, casting off what looks like her knitting rather than the bow and stern ropes – though her cable knit sweater has been known to look similar, let's set sail on another awesome adventure….

AUTHOR:  Justin Somper

 

Illustrations by:  TEO SKAFFA

 

Published by:  UCLan Publishing

 

Publication date Paperback:  30 May 2025 – OUT NOW!

 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978-1916 747 579

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £7.99

Amazon KINDLE price:  3.99

 

Pages: 293

 

Age range: 8+  

 

SPOILER ALERT

Yes, as to books 1 & 2 and some as to plot direction and characters in book 3.

 

 

Thank you to... 

We are exceedingly grateful to publicist, Graeme Williams, and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review this story. 

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

The plot

Book three of this future set ocean-going adventure finds our three heroes each set sail on a separate course. Jacoby is still at the pirate academy, and is horrified, along with fellow Barracuda Class members, when one of their favourite teachers defects to the League of True Pirates aka LoTP. They are intent on bringing back the old ways with a thirst for adventure and violence, and it stuns the kids to the core, leaving them wondering who amongst the teachers will be next to defect. Worse, when Jacoby finds a document file in the cabin of the defected teacher, he fears Ocean, Jasmine’s friend at the academy, will be targeted by LoTP to defect and thus under suspicion and untrustworthy.

Meantime, Neo Splice is on a mission with Captain December Wilde and her pet boar, Pickle. He is following a trail left by his late mother and hopes it will lead to an amazing treasure. Where it does lead eventually is to another pirate academy. In the wall safe of the headmaster Neo finds his mother’s gift to him, a falcata sword. But not just any sword as Neo later finds out when he returns home. This is the Sword of Echoes, and he is a Sword Reader. The sword holds memories of his family and allows Neo to see these echoes, memories of his family line. But the reason he can see them is that he has the power to do so. It is a very rare gift. The memories reveal Neo as the one his family has been waiting for. The power to change the tide of events unfolding around about him. How and when, he has yet to discover. But as the sword is one of three that belonged to his kin, there is a lot more adventure in the pipeline. And he is ready to wield his sword and new talent to find out. But the reader will glean others are interested in the sword, too!

Jasmine has a map, and this one leads to a different sort of treasure. Given by a fellow student who supposedly defected to LoTP but actually is under cover, it will lead Jasmine to the location of her father who she desperately wishes to see again. What Jasmine discovers is that he is undercover for the Pirate Federation to discover LoTP’s plans. The latest plan is called Operation Kraken, and involves amazing new and deadly pirate ships. Jasmine’s mother however remains a high ranking and dedicated LoTP follower and will stop at nothing to overthrow the Federation.

Jacoby and Jasmine go off on a reconnaissance mission at the LoTP boat building yard where the new pirate ships are being built and the first is just about to be launched. With them is a teacher and Cheng Li, a senior student. But things go badly off course, and all thanks to Jacoby whose cocky attitude ends up getting Cheng and himself signed up as members of LoTP!
Complications aplenty ensue as the Pirate Federation launches a deadly bombardment of the ship and yard. As to the outcome, which is far from what even we expected, you will just have to set sail with the Pirate Academy.


So, what did we think?

Pirating for the future age, with academies for the kids of the world’s most famous and notorious pirating families. In some school adventures we have clear definitions as to who is good and bad from the outset, Harry Potter is the obvious example. Here though the author has let the tale and circumstances create and also change the divisions and loyalties as we read along with our three primary protagonists, Jasmine, Jacoby, and Neo.

Initially in the series the characters are competing with their classmates to show who is best, to find their place and to show them, and us, their strengths, and weaknesses. But quickly this changes, and as outside influences from the adult world of pirate politics comes into play so the lives of all the students at the school change.

It is a smart move, provides realism, and creates an amazing seat of the pants ride through stormy waters of life, relationships, choices, and priorities. None of which are easy for any eleven-year-old.

This adventure series has been building from the off. Books one and two brought together our cast and then sowed the seeds for tearing them apart by the end of book two. In book three, we see each of the three find something they have sought, be it family, memories, belonging and truth. But it doesn’t stop there and brings fresh challenges also. They have, as all kids must, found within themselves greater confidence. In some cases, they are also discovering to not be overly confident, to temper wild enthusiasm and arrogance. That is a big ask for Jacoby.

The sea can be tempestuous, deadly, and yet also calm. This is mirrored brilliantly in the ever-changing imperatives and foundations of the protagonist’s lives. We see very real adult peril for them as a storm of change starts to rip apart not only their world at pirate school but also their friends and family. The current order is being challenged by the old, and arguably more dangerous and deadly bad side of pirates. A side that had in the story been long since banished when the Pirate Federation had been created by the major pirate families across the globe.

LoTP provides the perfect baddie vibe. The big dangerous organisation that contains both good, those fighting it from within and without, and the bad, those bent on the power and treasure it promises.

It would be easy for this to become a heavy read, and in fact most adults will see many parallels through human history past and present. But it is far from weighed down by this. It is a hearty kids adventure, with growing hints of magic, as well as more than a little but well-placed humour along the way. I can’t help but think of this as Mission Impossible meets Pirates of the Caribbean, done kids style.

By the end of book three we were rooting for all our team as they tackle both personal and far wider matters. But this isn’t the end of the adventure, far from it. The author has left the characters poised to remain, for the time being at least, on their own distinct paths of growing up and discovery. Which means to us that there will be a meeting of the way sometime soon with an explosive ending. At least that is what we are hoping for.

So . . . . Crunch time.

An excellent, entertaining, inclusive, swashbuckling adventure that even adults can be excused for joining in with. The perfect series read, or stand-alone read thanks to the marvellous summary of the adventure thus far.

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, please sail or saunter down to your local independent bookshop. No particular dress code is needed, but please do remember to leave cutlasses and boars at home!

Justin Somper's Vampirates web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.vampirates.co.uk/captain-somper/justin-somper/

UCLan Publishing's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

Teo Skaffa's author page web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Teo-Skaffa/179183401 

For those that just want a selfie on a Sunday, here's one of me posing in a bit of a crater. Let me assure you that this was neither left by Me or Mrs H. Ol' Ned the gardener had been in for a cup of tea and sat here and his weight caused a lasting impression. It was however rather warm, and thankfully compost free, so I jumped up to settle down for a new nap. 

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. CLICK THIS LINK to vist their site and to get the code to add to your own blog . . . 

 

I hope you enjoyed that adventure. 

Till laters!

ERin

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WENDINGTON JONES and the LOST LEGACY

Written by  DANIEL DOCKERY

                            

                                                    

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week an Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review. This week, we return to the 1920s and book two in the Wendington Jones series. I have included a short summary of book one below and a link to our review. 

Mrs H and I found this new adventure incredible. Better than the first, which is saying something given the high bar that was set. It is steeped in action as well as multiple plot twists and turns and u-turns, which means we can't, nor do we wish, to spoil it for you by even attempting to give our more usual detailed plot outline. Instead, we are opting for a broad approach.

So, with Mrs H and me already making plans to review book three, and there absolutely has to be one after this, especially given the ending, let's get on with the review!

AUTHOR:  Daniel Dockery

Illustrations by: Marco Guadalupi

Published by:  UCLan Publishing

Publication date Paperback: 

Paperback 13 digit ISBN:  978 - 191 674 7531

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £8.99

Amazon KINDLE price:  £4.99

Pages: 329

Age range:  10-14 but an amazing adult read too.

SPOILER ALERT

Yes, lots as to plot direction and characters in this and book one.

Thank you to... 

Our gratitude to Graeme Williams and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to Read & Review both books in this series. We are so glad we did. As ever, those books we review and share are those we select, find delight in, and feel you will also enjoy. 

The plot

SPOILER ALERT. Please read book one first if you don't wish to have too much given away as to the back story! See my review HERE. 

Book two starts off a matter of weeks after book one. In book one, recently orphaned 15-year-old Wendington, aka Wendi, heads off to complete her mother Penni's last adventure: the search for the fabled Tree of Life. 

After dodging various villains who seemed to include her grandma's valet, Rohan, she boards a ship to Australia, the last place the tree was seen. On board, she comes across a French family called Domino. There are other factions on board; some are friendly, and others are not. Some are there to protect Wendi, and others are determined to find the tree first irrespective of the price paid in blood. After one heck of an adventure worthy of Adèle Blanc-Sec and Enola Holmes, Wendington arrives in Australia and heads inland to the last known location of the tree.   

Rohan has turned out to be a long-term friend and ally of Wendi's mother, and also a bit of a white knight cum dark horse. He is the perfect adult foil and friend for the inexperienced Wendi. But even he is not enough to fend off Madam Domino. She is hell-bent on finding the tree to save her own life from a genetic illness that also threatens her two children. They feature in the story, in their own way, providing both passion and drama to balance Wendi's. 

In a big shoot-out with the now-present police in the outback, Madam Domino shoots and kills Rohan. Turning her attention back to Wendi, Madam Domino forces Wendi into the cave where Penni discovered it. Yes, her mother had found the tree. And it seems she promised her friends they would share in the slithers of the tree's amber sap that cures all. But there was a falling out, and we find out the Domino's were behind Penni's death and that of others along the way. 

Unable to supply what Madam Domino wants, Wendi, is shot and killed in the cave and left there. But in death, Wendington finds the true location of the tree, and she is saved. She is given three tiny pieces of amber by the tree's keeper, with the knowledge that they are medicine and not a cure. Resurrected, she saves Rohan with one of the pieces. With the Domino's having exited the scene, our heroine and Rohan head home. 

Book two starts a matter of weeks later, back in Oxfordshire. Rohan has stayed with Wendi's grandmother and acts as the family's valet, etc. One night, Wendi spots a light in the snow-covered gardens. 

It turns out to be Grigori Rasputin, returned from the dead it seems, and up to no good. Later, on researching him, Wendi's friend, Cordelia, makes an amazing discovery. In a picture of the Russian royal family, she recognises another face. One of the girls at their school, Octavia, is identical to Princess Anastasia Romanov who had been killed with her family by the nasty revolutionaries some four years before. Not unlike Rasputin himself! 

Things start barreling along very quickly from here on in. Octavia has suddenly and for no seeming reason, run away from school. Could this be because of her history, and the sudden reappearance of Rasputin who the girls feel is out for revenge? Wendi and Cordelia return to school to check for evidence of Octavia's past, to confirm if she is Anastasia, and thus try to understand why Rasputin should be skulking around. In their search, a part of the building is set alight by Rasputin and the girls are lucky to escape with their lives.

What follows is a trail of evidence that Wendi and friends follow, first to the horse race track and a horse owned by Penni, then on to Venice and finally to Paris. However, ever-present are the Domino's. They are, as the friends soon discover, bent on bloody revenge and obtaining from Wendi the pieces of life-restoring amber that she got from the keeper of the Tree of Life. Pieces of amber they feel are rightly owed to them. And they have enlisted Rasputin to aid them.

Who ends up chasing who is rather a moot point as staying alive long enough to save Octavia/Anastasia, is the main issue. And let me tell you, that is not going to be easy for the friends. Especially as new parties join the fray and hunt, parties with social power, powers and motivation and agendas of their own. Deals must be brokered, sacrifices made, and not just for the amber, but to stay alive and in the chase.

So, what did we think?

Immensely competent, intense, and a hugely enjoyable, engaging, and action-packed adventure. This redefines adventure reads as we now see them for this age group, and beyond. 

Filled with delightful world-building and characterisations that run deep and would not be out of place in the most able of adult fiction. 

We could not believe how involved we got with this story; how impassioned we felt about the rights, wrongs, and injustices thrown upon our characters, the resulting decisions they had to make, and the consequences they endured. 

Book 1 was very much about Wendington's loss of her mother. During that tale, which was hugely dramatic, heartfelt and entertaining, the reader experiences her loss and journey to final acceptance that she can't bring her mother or those that died alongside her, back. Here in book two, we find friendship, resilience, and sacrifice as key themes, for all the cast.

The plot IS immensely enjoyable, very clever, and with more twists and turns than all others we have read. It slots beautifully into the period but is not consumed by it. There is also some amazing use of dialogue to look out for along the way. It isn't just the dry wry wit of Jeeves to Bertie Wooster that Rohan shares with Wendi. It does, as the reader will find out as they head towards the end, conceal clues as to things – alternate meanings. Which we think will, and does, elevate this to a suitable adult read. 

So . . . . Crunch time. 

Buy and enjoy what has to be the 'best-in-class' adventure that so very ably bridges middle-grade and young-adult reading and makes a jolly good adult read, too. 

For those who loved the Alice Eclair Spy Extraordinaire series that we have reviewed, by the awesome Sarah Todd Taylor, this will be a must-read progression. 

For those who liked the Adventure on Train series by M.G. Leonard (soon to be a film franchise) and who now want to try a period adventure with more feel, teeth and stylish drama, this is an excellent choice.

Available through Amazon and all good bookshops.

Daniel Dockery's website, specific to Wendington Jones, contains a lot of information as to Daniel himself and the thought process for this book. Well worth a read. A link to that web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.wendingtonjones.com/

UCLan Publishing's web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

Marco Guadalupi's Instagram page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.instagram.com/marcoguadalupi85/

For those that just want a selfie on a Sunday, here's one of me keeping a weather eye on the black bucket. It happens to contain a new bag of one of my brands of cat biscuits. Trouble is, Mrs H often leaves the patio door open and a few strays have been known to sneak in and try, unsuccessfully, to pinch my food!

Kibble-nappers, I suppose they are. Unlike me who is a napper-after-kibble kind of gal.

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. CLICK THIS LINK to vist their site and to get the code to add to your own blog . . . 

 

I hope you enjoyed this adventure review and selfie. 

Till laters!

ERin

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PIRATE ACADEMY. NEW KID ON DECK

Written by JUSTIN SOMPER.  

                            

                                                           

An Adventure Book Review by Erin the Literary Cat©, International Book Reviewer.

Hello, and welcome to my latest Book Review featuring this week a High Seas, High Stakes Adventure in Middle Grade Fiction.

Without further ado, and with my trusty housekeeper, Mrs H, unfurling the sails and heading to the galley, let’s leave port for a first-series review. . .

 

AUTHOR:  Justin Somper

 

Illustrations by:  TEO SKAFFA

 

Published by:  UCLan Publishing

 

Publication date Paperback:  7 March 2024

 

Paperback ISBN:  978-1915 235 886

UK Cover price for Paperback:  £7.99

Amazon KINDLE price:  £3.99

 

Pages: 210

 

Age range: 8+  

Any dogs or cats? Alas, no. But some manta rays make an appearance

 

 

SPOILER ALERT

Some as to plot direction and characters.

 

 

Thank you to... 

We are exceedingly grateful to Graeme and UCLan Publishers for offering us a chance to read not one but two of these BRAND NEW adventures for our Read & Review. As our own book is a pirate adventure, we just had to say yes. We haven't been disappointed.

As ever, our views are our own, and we only share reviews of books we have bought, received as gifts, or received in exchange for an impartial review.

First and foremost, the books we review are those we select to read, like, and feel our global readers deserve to know about and that we hope they, their family, friends and students will enjoy.

 

The plot

Welcome to the year 2507. The earth's waters have risen, continents have changed, and as a result, a new age of piracy on the high seas has come about. The many oceans are ruled by pirate families under the rules of The Pirate Federation. These are more than just guidelines.

The various pirate families have a reputation to uphold. Standards need to be set and maintained for their dominance and security. And where better to begin than with their own children? 

Sending them off to a pirate school is precisely why we readers find ourselves at the Pirate Academy, Coral Sea Province. Run by some of the most fearsome and talented pirates, we meet our key protagonists, Jasmine Peacock and Jacoby Blunt, two of the fifteen students who form the Barracuda Class (ages 11-12).

Pirating is a serious and tiring business, so the younger students start daily with a 5K run. Sailing, knot-tying, and combat lessons are just part of a typical day's education.

Like every school, the academy holds a special evening for each year class, a parent evening. For the Barracudas, it is Captain's Evening, and the fifteen ships of their parents gather 10km from land and race each other into the harbour.

It is at this scene we join our protagonists as they wait to see which of their parents will have the kudos of arriving first. But Jasmine's parent's ship is nowhere to be seen, causing her much worry. More so as she's been having nightmares of some tragedy befalling their vessel.

As for Jacoby, he has been failing in his lessons and cruising along. So much so that despite being a highly skilled student, he could be kicked out of school! A threat the academy's Head Captain, Commodore Kuo, and Jacoby's father have a sword fight over in Kuo's study! 

When one of the close-knit Barracuda class, Wing, is whisked away in the night by his mother, muttering to Jacoby that these are dangerous times and they must be careful, the essential adventure of this tale really kicks in. 

As the last of the pirate ships leaves the harbour that evening, an eleven-year-old boy, who has been spying on the harbour from a lowly craft, makes his way to shore to take his place amidst Barracuda Class. The boy fears what has been chasing him and hopes that he has found anonymity and safety under the assumed name of Neo Splice. But the dark forces of evil have his location...

When Neo is introduced as Jacoby's new roommate, Jacoby is peeved, to say the least. He feels Neo is the cause of his old roommate's departure and makes it very clear Neo isn't welcome, to the point that he sabotages Neo's sword-fighting sparring practice.

 

As the acrimony quickly grows, so does the peril. The forces tracking Neo come ashore and trash his and Jacoby's room. Their black calling card indicates the masked intruders are from LOT P, aka League of True Pirates. They are after something Neo has of theirs. These insurgents believe in nothing but the old pirate ways. Live fast, die by the sword and to hell with the rules. They mean to do away with the Pirate Federation and destroy the families within, by whatever fell means. Killing kids is not beneath them. 

I can't tell you much more save to say that another incursion by LOT P takes place, but this time, the Barracuda students are to hand. But this escalates the story to a whole swashbuckling high, right up the mainmast, and soon, the staff and older students are battling to save their school, friends, and even their families. Canon will be fired, and swords swung. But traitors abound, and LOT P has grown, so they are everywhere, even in the academy itself. But who???

So, what did we think?

We both fell in love with this as soon as we set foot aboard. This series has received many plaudits, and every one is deserved, so far as we can see. It comes from a well-respected UK author noted for an impressive 'Vampirates' kids series. 

There is very little lag between starting this book and being knee-deep in briny-based adventure. There are plenty of names to get to grip with, both students and teachers, but this was OK, and soon passed as we became absorbed in the actual happenings. There was a hint of comedy about this, though I'm not entirely sure it was intentional. This could be because this straddles/borders a mainly adult genre that has so very recently been dominated by a particular small bird with a huge, flamboyant character. Thankfully, and I do mean that, this does not go down a 'crazy' path. 

We actually read this in a day and were thoroughly entertained. Such was the pleasure that we picked up the sequel and made a start on that, too. Which we will review ASAP. 

All in all, this bettered our expectations and whetted our appetite for future books in the series. You can't really say better or expect more. 

So . . . .

Crunch time. 

This tale achieves in one book what Potter took seven to do. It is full of zest, camaraderie, action, and adventure from the moment we set sail. A healthy mix of classic and modern pirate movies done for middle-grade readers. Less of the Depp and more of the Flynn with a hint, at least for us, of the Swallows and Amazons. 

Want to buy a copy?

To get a copy, please sail or saunter down to your local independent bookshop. Of course, a feline on the shoulders is optional. There are plenty out there (both book shops and cats), and each shop is just waiting to serve you whatever kind of mystery, fun and adventure you desire.

Justin Somper’s Vampirates web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.vampirates.co.uk/captain-somper/justin-somper/

UCLan Publishing’s web page can be found HERE or type this: https://uclanpublishing.com/

Teo Skaffa’s author page web page can be found HERE or type this: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Teo-Skaffa/179183401 

I hope you enjoyed that adventure. Head to safe waters and treat yourselves to a hearty flagon of grog! Next up will be book two in this series, entitled Pirate Academy, Missing at Sea

Time for a snoozy selfie!

 

We are joining the Sunday Selfies, hosted by the wonderful Kitties Blue and their mum, Janet Blue, from the Cat on My Head blog in America. Click this sentence to visit Janet Blue's site.

 

Till Laters!

ERin

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