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The Devourer
When Adra Dantes’ half-brother Cameron attacks their father and robs him of a priceless treasure map, he leaves him a shell of the pirate captain he once was. Now Adra’s only aim in life is to kill Cameron, retrieve her father's map, and claim the treasure herself.
But her plans are thwarted. A sudden surplus of magic in the world is causing ancient sea monsters to awaken. Worse yet, Adra discovers that the ship she's been chasing for almost a year now is captained by a girl who’s been impersonating Cameron, while Cameron himself is missing.
The two pirate captains will have to work together if they are to find Cameron, but before they can do so, they must vanquish the beast―known as The Devourer―that is sinking ships and causing so much fear. Adra will have to descend leagues beneath the sea to the creature’s lair to strike a deal with her, but she’ll discover she isn’t the only one looking for her brother―and what he stole.
But her plans are thwarted. A sudden surplus of magic in the world is causing ancient sea monsters to awaken. Worse yet, Adra discovers that the ship she's been chasing for almost a year now is captained by a girl who’s been impersonating Cameron, while Cameron himself is missing.
The two pirate captains will have to work together if they are to find Cameron, but before they can do so, they must vanquish the beast―known as The Devourer―that is sinking ships and causing so much fear. Adra will have to descend leagues beneath the sea to the creature’s lair to strike a deal with her, but she’ll discover she isn’t the only one looking for her brother―and what he stole.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
23 people are currently reading
5,428 people want to read
About the author
Alison Ames
3 books146 followersAlison Ames is the author of horror novels for adults and teens. To Break a Covenant, her first novel, was nominated for a Colorado Book Award. Her second novel It Looks Like Us is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection pick. You can find more information and other books on her website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 17, 2025
new ideal niche subgenre alert: bantery indie sapphic horror with perfect covers.
alison ames has this speciality blend of banter / gore / horror / disgusting images / sapphic romance / quirky teens that no one else is doing. she has cornered the market.
this one turned down the horror scale in favor of piracy, which is not a trade i'm mad at.
it was VERY convincingly pirate vibes, although for some reason the price of admission to a ship populated solely by vengeful youth (free band name idea) appears to be that the romance wasn't so great. nor the character development. nor the other relationships.
but it had villainous fish-creatures and awful magic and consuming revenge plots and that's good enough for me!
bottom line: give alison ames her flowers.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
alison ames has this speciality blend of banter / gore / horror / disgusting images / sapphic romance / quirky teens that no one else is doing. she has cornered the market.
this one turned down the horror scale in favor of piracy, which is not a trade i'm mad at.
it was VERY convincingly pirate vibes, although for some reason the price of admission to a ship populated solely by vengeful youth (free band name idea) appears to be that the romance wasn't so great. nor the character development. nor the other relationships.
but it had villainous fish-creatures and awful magic and consuming revenge plots and that's good enough for me!
bottom line: give alison ames her flowers.
(thanks to the publisher for the arc)
January 16, 2025
The Devourer
by Alison Ames completely caught me off guard in the best way. While I wouldn’t necessarily classify it as straight-up horror, the cover alone, featuring a massive, wave-like hand rising from the ocean to engulf a pirate ship, hinted at some strong cosmic horror vibes. And it delivered! This book has everything I love: pirates, mages, and mermaids (not the flawless, Disney-type ones either), along with fierce, complex female characters who balance strength and vulnerability. Plus, there are eerie, spine-chilling creatures lurking in the depths that Alison Ames describes so vividly, it’s enough to haunt anyone with thalassophobia. And, of course, what’s a pirate story without treasure? Though, in this case, I was pleasantly surprised (and slightly thrown) by how the treasure somewhat tied into selkie mythology, giving the tale a fascinating twist.
Seventeen-year-old Adrasteia Dantes becomes captain of the Worldeater after her half-brother Cameron betrays their family, stealing a priceless map to the grave of the first pirate king. Adra vows to kill him and reclaim her family’s honor. But her quest takes a dangerous turn when she discovers Cameron’s crew dead, his ship destroyed, and rumors of a monstrous sea entity called the Devourer. To survive and find her brother, Adra must strike a deadly bargain with the creature, even as she realizes their quests for vengeance might lead to the same fateful end.
~ *SPOILERS!* because Goodreads hates me right now and won’t let me use the spoilers button.~
That said, my biggest gripe was the ending. Adra’s relentless pursuit of Cameron from page one built so much tension, but their final confrontation felt far too brief. She’s spent the entire book determined to kill him, and when they finally meet at the Pirate King’s grave, Cameron’s already there (predictably). Then the Devourer shows up, tells Adra to kill him, and, just like that, it’s over. I would’ve preferred a more drawn-out or complex resolution, hence why I gave the book a four star instead of five. Honestly, it might’ve been better if Cameron hadn’t shown up yet, leaving Adra still chasing him as part of a longer arc. This could’ve set the stage for a duology or trilogy, allowing more time to explore the crew’s journey, Merrin’s blindness, and Diana’s quest to find her mage. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel or series, as I’m desperate to see where the story could go next.
Even so, I absolutely loved this book. It’s stories like this that make me want to dive deeper into fantasy. The writing style is engaging, the cast of characters is warm and inviting (making you feel like part of the crew), and the world-building, while not as detailed as some fantasy epics, is still captivating. I’d love to see future books expand on the magic system, the veil, the old world, and the old gods.
If you’re a fan of pirates and fantasy, The Devourer is a must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!
(Thank you, Page Street, for entrusting me with a physical ARC of this book!)
Seventeen-year-old Adrasteia Dantes becomes captain of the Worldeater after her half-brother Cameron betrays their family, stealing a priceless map to the grave of the first pirate king. Adra vows to kill him and reclaim her family’s honor. But her quest takes a dangerous turn when she discovers Cameron’s crew dead, his ship destroyed, and rumors of a monstrous sea entity called the Devourer. To survive and find her brother, Adra must strike a deadly bargain with the creature, even as she realizes their quests for vengeance might lead to the same fateful end.
~ *SPOILERS!* because Goodreads hates me right now and won’t let me use the spoilers button.~
That said, my biggest gripe was the ending. Adra’s relentless pursuit of Cameron from page one built so much tension, but their final confrontation felt far too brief. She’s spent the entire book determined to kill him, and when they finally meet at the Pirate King’s grave, Cameron’s already there (predictably). Then the Devourer shows up, tells Adra to kill him, and, just like that, it’s over. I would’ve preferred a more drawn-out or complex resolution, hence why I gave the book a four star instead of five. Honestly, it might’ve been better if Cameron hadn’t shown up yet, leaving Adra still chasing him as part of a longer arc. This could’ve set the stage for a duology or trilogy, allowing more time to explore the crew’s journey, Merrin’s blindness, and Diana’s quest to find her mage. I’m still holding out hope for a sequel or series, as I’m desperate to see where the story could go next.
Even so, I absolutely loved this book. It’s stories like this that make me want to dive deeper into fantasy. The writing style is engaging, the cast of characters is warm and inviting (making you feel like part of the crew), and the world-building, while not as detailed as some fantasy epics, is still captivating. I’d love to see future books expand on the magic system, the veil, the old world, and the old gods.
If you’re a fan of pirates and fantasy, The Devourer is a must-read. I can’t recommend it enough!
(Thank you, Page Street, for entrusting me with a physical ARC of this book!)
March 23, 2025
This book has the perfect combination of a book I'd usually love - exciting cover, interesting blurb, magic, pirates...check, check, check and check! It was fun overall but I had a hard time connecting with the characters, and the pacing was a little choppy. Still a worthwhile read, and I'll probably read more by this author. I read this book for a challenge in the Facebook book club Beyond the Bookends.
January 12, 2025
“An eye for an eye doesn’t make your vision any better”
What a ride. Growing up on movies like Treasure Planet, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sinbad, this book felt like a perfect blend of all those adventurous, magical, and daring tales I loved. It transported me entirely—there were so many moments where I could feel the rocking of the ship, smell the salt in the air, and see the endless, mysterious horizon.
At its core, this is Adra’s story. A determined captain shaped by a lifetime of expectations, she’s driven by revenge against her adopted brother Cameron, who stole her father’s prized map to the largest treasure of the seas. Adra has spent the past year on his trail, building a loyal crew and hunting him down. But things take a dark turn when she stumbles upon a string of abandoned ships and discovers something far more sinister than just her brother’s betrayal. With the help of a lone survivor, Adra embarks on a dangerous journey filled with magical curses, lurking sea creatures, and the enigmatic Devourer—a force as alluring as it is terrifying.
I loved how this story didn’t shy away from exploring the burdens of leadership and the complexities of revenge. Adra’s crew—her found family—brings warmth and loyalty, while the Devourer serves as a haunting reminder of what vengeance can cost. There’s something so captivating about the layers of paranormal and magical elements woven into this book, from cursed women to creatures of the deep. It made the story feel textured and alive, much like the sea itself.
The Devourer, in particular, stood out to me. A Calypso-like figure scorned by a pirate lover, she’s a physical embodiment of the destructive path Adra could find herself on. Her presence heightened the stakes and deepened the story’s emotional core, showing that revenge isn’t always as fulfilling as it seems.
This book also has its share of humor, warmth, and even romance, balanced perfectly with the danger and magic. The ending, while not what some might expect, felt absolutely right to me. It better aligns with Adra’s journey and focuses around the larger questions at hand in regards to loyalty, vengeance, sacrifice, and forgiven.
While there are aspects of this book that could be better explored, darker, or given more backstory, like her crew, I was happily along for the ride. If you’re looking for an adventurous, paranormal young adult read that dives deep into the unknown, I highly recommend The Devourer. It’s a thrilling journey from the bottom of the ocean floor to pirate coves and distant lands—and one you won’t forget.
Thank you to @PageStreetYA, @alisonames, and @coloredpagesbt for my copy.
What a ride. Growing up on movies like Treasure Planet, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Sinbad, this book felt like a perfect blend of all those adventurous, magical, and daring tales I loved. It transported me entirely—there were so many moments where I could feel the rocking of the ship, smell the salt in the air, and see the endless, mysterious horizon.
At its core, this is Adra’s story. A determined captain shaped by a lifetime of expectations, she’s driven by revenge against her adopted brother Cameron, who stole her father’s prized map to the largest treasure of the seas. Adra has spent the past year on his trail, building a loyal crew and hunting him down. But things take a dark turn when she stumbles upon a string of abandoned ships and discovers something far more sinister than just her brother’s betrayal. With the help of a lone survivor, Adra embarks on a dangerous journey filled with magical curses, lurking sea creatures, and the enigmatic Devourer—a force as alluring as it is terrifying.
I loved how this story didn’t shy away from exploring the burdens of leadership and the complexities of revenge. Adra’s crew—her found family—brings warmth and loyalty, while the Devourer serves as a haunting reminder of what vengeance can cost. There’s something so captivating about the layers of paranormal and magical elements woven into this book, from cursed women to creatures of the deep. It made the story feel textured and alive, much like the sea itself.
The Devourer, in particular, stood out to me. A Calypso-like figure scorned by a pirate lover, she’s a physical embodiment of the destructive path Adra could find herself on. Her presence heightened the stakes and deepened the story’s emotional core, showing that revenge isn’t always as fulfilling as it seems.
This book also has its share of humor, warmth, and even romance, balanced perfectly with the danger and magic. The ending, while not what some might expect, felt absolutely right to me. It better aligns with Adra’s journey and focuses around the larger questions at hand in regards to loyalty, vengeance, sacrifice, and forgiven.
While there are aspects of this book that could be better explored, darker, or given more backstory, like her crew, I was happily along for the ride. If you’re looking for an adventurous, paranormal young adult read that dives deep into the unknown, I highly recommend The Devourer. It’s a thrilling journey from the bottom of the ocean floor to pirate coves and distant lands—and one you won’t forget.
Thank you to @PageStreetYA, @alisonames, and @coloredpagesbt for my copy.
January 7, 2025
A Joyfully Jay review.
2.75 stars
This book has characters that feel like they play at being pirates. While they have a ship and it’s mentioned that they pillage and loot, they don’t really seem to do anything but sail the ship around. In fact, that’s a lot of this book. The characters say things, hinting at potential plot or character moments … but none of it ever really shows up on page.
The plot feels like nonsense.
This felt like a book with too many tropes and not enough of a story. Pirates for no reason, a pirate king for no reason, Cameron stealing a map to no purpose, and characters who didn’t care about anything.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
2.75 stars
This book has characters that feel like they play at being pirates. While they have a ship and it’s mentioned that they pillage and loot, they don’t really seem to do anything but sail the ship around. In fact, that’s a lot of this book. The characters say things, hinting at potential plot or character moments … but none of it ever really shows up on page.
The plot feels like nonsense.
This felt like a book with too many tropes and not enough of a story. Pirates for no reason, a pirate king for no reason, Cameron stealing a map to no purpose, and characters who didn’t care about anything.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
January 10, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley as well as my tour group for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I really really love this cover. Prob one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed this story. The MC is flawed and sometimes you want to dislike her but you also understand her feelings. The crew had obvious characters that we are more focused on but I liked the dynamic of everyone. The concept of the antagonist was interesting and unique and I loved The Devourer a lot. The only thing I didn’t vibe with was the length. I feel like near the middle it drags on but I did like the twists. The end did feel a little flat. Some parts seemed too convenient and there is an open ending which can be hit or miss with people. If this ever got a sequel I’d be very interested!
I really really love this cover. Prob one of my favorites. I also really enjoyed this story. The MC is flawed and sometimes you want to dislike her but you also understand her feelings. The crew had obvious characters that we are more focused on but I liked the dynamic of everyone. The concept of the antagonist was interesting and unique and I loved The Devourer a lot. The only thing I didn’t vibe with was the length. I feel like near the middle it drags on but I did like the twists. The end did feel a little flat. Some parts seemed too convenient and there is an open ending which can be hit or miss with people. If this ever got a sequel I’d be very interested!
March 24, 2025
Had a really hard time connecting with the characters in this one.
I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.
I wanted to love it but it just wasn't for me.
Want to read
November 16, 2023From the rights report: “in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own”
January 9, 2025
The Devourer is a queer YA horror on the high seas where main character Adra is on a mission to find and destroy her half-brother Cameron who betrayed her family by stealing a priceless treasure map
There were many things I liked about the characters and the story but overall it had some unrealized potential.
I loved the queernorm world and the diversity of character with sapphic, nonbinary, and disability rep. The world was quite imaginative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the horror elements - the creep factor was spot on for a YA novel, and I the descriptions of the magical places/beasts were thorough and kept me fairly engaged throughout the story. I liked the characters and felt they had reasonable depth. It definitely leaned in to the found family trope - but I love a tight pirate crew!
I read a lot of adult fantasy so I try to keep my expectations in check when it comes to the breadth of plot which seems to be more narrow in YA novels generally, and that was definitely the case here. We were dropped into the story "mid-plot" where the inciting incident had already occurred which made it a bit more difficult to connect to the world and story. I also found the climax of the story to be a bit anticlimactic consider so much of the plot is pulled towards this ONE moment. I was also very surprised to not find any confirmation one way or another whether this book is a standalone or a series as it ended quite abruptly with many loose ends.
There is a minor sapphic romance plot and while I actually liked and found the pairing believable, we barely scratched the surface there.
I would definitely try more books by this author as I was impressed with the creativity of the world and likability of the characters, but this was one just needed something a bit MORE.
There were many things I liked about the characters and the story but overall it had some unrealized potential.
I loved the queernorm world and the diversity of character with sapphic, nonbinary, and disability rep. The world was quite imaginative, and I thoroughly enjoyed the horror elements - the creep factor was spot on for a YA novel, and I the descriptions of the magical places/beasts were thorough and kept me fairly engaged throughout the story. I liked the characters and felt they had reasonable depth. It definitely leaned in to the found family trope - but I love a tight pirate crew!
I read a lot of adult fantasy so I try to keep my expectations in check when it comes to the breadth of plot which seems to be more narrow in YA novels generally, and that was definitely the case here. We were dropped into the story "mid-plot" where the inciting incident had already occurred which made it a bit more difficult to connect to the world and story. I also found the climax of the story to be a bit anticlimactic consider so much of the plot is pulled towards this ONE moment. I was also very surprised to not find any confirmation one way or another whether this book is a standalone or a series as it ended quite abruptly with many loose ends.
There is a minor sapphic romance plot and while I actually liked and found the pairing believable, we barely scratched the surface there.
I would definitely try more books by this author as I was impressed with the creativity of the world and likability of the characters, but this was one just needed something a bit MORE.
February 6, 2025
The Devourer weaves together piratical adventure and revenge into a high seas adventure. With plenty of plot twists and a story core founded on Adra’s determination and drive, I definitely recommend The Devourer to fans of dark fantasy with queer characters.
The worldbuilding of The Devourer was one of the highlights for me—as someone who loves complex, well-thought-out worlds, this one pulled me in immediately. The palpable sense of magic being disturbed and out of equilibrium formed a powerful backbone, and I was drawn profoundly in to even its most minute details. The very setting of this book treads the careful line between fantasy and horror, leaning in the latter direction with the feel of uncanny Irish mythology rather than horror for horror’s sake, making it accessible to fans of both genres.
As someone who prefers fantasy with a romance subplot rather than romance with a side of fantasy, I really enjoyed how Ames balanced the developing relationship between Adra and Quinn with the adventure/revenge plot at the heart of this story, never overtaking the latter. I also appreciated the bevy of strong platonic friendships in this book, particularly those between Adra, Merrin and Diana. I would’ve loved spending more time getting to know Adra at the start of this book, but the strength of the relationships she had with other members of the crew allowed my understanding of her to become stronger as the book moved forward.
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for the gifted copy of The Devourer! All opinions expressed here are my own.
The worldbuilding of The Devourer was one of the highlights for me—as someone who loves complex, well-thought-out worlds, this one pulled me in immediately. The palpable sense of magic being disturbed and out of equilibrium formed a powerful backbone, and I was drawn profoundly in to even its most minute details. The very setting of this book treads the careful line between fantasy and horror, leaning in the latter direction with the feel of uncanny Irish mythology rather than horror for horror’s sake, making it accessible to fans of both genres.
As someone who prefers fantasy with a romance subplot rather than romance with a side of fantasy, I really enjoyed how Ames balanced the developing relationship between Adra and Quinn with the adventure/revenge plot at the heart of this story, never overtaking the latter. I also appreciated the bevy of strong platonic friendships in this book, particularly those between Adra, Merrin and Diana. I would’ve loved spending more time getting to know Adra at the start of this book, but the strength of the relationships she had with other members of the crew allowed my understanding of her to become stronger as the book moved forward.
Special thanks to Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for the gifted copy of The Devourer! All opinions expressed here are my own.
January 15, 2025
The Devourer has an interesting concept about a queer pirate captain and her crew on the search for revenge. While the captain of the story had a clear aim of her destination, the story itself seemed to drift of course more than I would have liked. At times it just felt mudded and like it wasn’t sure what to do next. Also the characters didn’t work for me. There’s no character growth for the main character, because being rude and feeling sorry for herself was just her whole personality. I didn’t DNF the book because I hoped it would get better, and there were some really good parts that I enjoyed. But overall The Devourer was a less than exciting pirate adventure.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 8
This book was extremely dynamic and kept me intrigued. The tension, the rivalry, the revenge all added so many layers to this story that made it beyond enjoyable.
Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌈 Rainbow Ratings:
Representation: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Intrigue: 7
Narrative: 7
Build-up: 7
Originality: 8
Wow Factor: 8
This book was extremely dynamic and kept me intrigued. The tension, the rivalry, the revenge all added so many layers to this story that made it beyond enjoyable.
Thanks to TBR & Beyond Tours, Colored Pages Book Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2025
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I don't know what went wrong from me with this one. I think the pacing was a little off and I didn't get into the story. It was okay, the characters were interesting and I liked the premise but in the end I didn't really care. The plot felt a bit messy and I didn't know where it was going and it just felt a bit flat in the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it, so it didn't work for me...
I don't know what went wrong from me with this one. I think the pacing was a little off and I didn't get into the story. It was okay, the characters were interesting and I liked the premise but in the end I didn't really care. The plot felt a bit messy and I didn't know where it was going and it just felt a bit flat in the end. Maybe I just wasn't in the right mood for it, so it didn't work for me...
April 21, 2025
dnf 40% due to struggles to relate to characters, mostly messy characterization of "hmms", "wells" and "..." happening in every dialogue and scene that makes it look like a parody of a plot that is unfortunately not there.
January 31, 2025
I was sent this book by the publisher!
This was a really fun read!! I was immediately hooked into the story and these characters. I was rooting for them to succeed and wanted to know more about everyone. I would've loved to have gotten to know the crew a bit more as certain scenes could've had bigger emotional impact that way. but I was very invested in the main characters! Diana was probably my favourite because who doesn't love a talking bird? I also didn't predict where everything was going and was shocked multiple times which I found very enjoyable. overall, this fairly fast paced story about pirates, sea creatures, revenge, and sapphic relationships hit for me.
This was a really fun read!! I was immediately hooked into the story and these characters. I was rooting for them to succeed and wanted to know more about everyone. I would've loved to have gotten to know the crew a bit more as certain scenes could've had bigger emotional impact that way. but I was very invested in the main characters! Diana was probably my favourite because who doesn't love a talking bird? I also didn't predict where everything was going and was shocked multiple times which I found very enjoyable. overall, this fairly fast paced story about pirates, sea creatures, revenge, and sapphic relationships hit for me.
January 9, 2025
First of all, thank-you so much to NetGalley and Page Street YA Books for letting me read an advanced copy of this book!
I was so excited for this one. I also did not realize it was classified as teen horror 😅 Spoiler, I was not scared at all. Though the story was dark and gritty, as you’d expect from a pirate book.
My biggest issue with this book was that there was hardly any characterization of the crew. I would have loved to have seen a back story as to how the crew was formed. This had the potential to have such a unique and exciting found family aspect. But I literally have no clue what the crew looks like. The author just seems to throw out names without any really defining characteristics, other than their role on the ship. And that they were queer. And women. So everyone was also referred to as “she” and I got so confused as to who was who. I’m hoping this was just a case of it being an uncorrected proof… But since there wasn’t any real scenes with the crew, it was difficult to emphasize when they got hurt near the end. I was like, who is this again??
HOWEVER the general plot of the book was solid. It moved fast and there was a lot of action. The progression of the book worked well. The only thing is that the author, I’m guessing, was trying to be vague in certain areas and I personally don’t like when authors do this excessively. It feels like a very roundabout way of getting to the point 😅
To be completely honest, it was a struggle to finish this book but I’m glad I did finish it! It was a decent read 👍🏻
I was so excited for this one. I also did not realize it was classified as teen horror 😅 Spoiler, I was not scared at all. Though the story was dark and gritty, as you’d expect from a pirate book.
My biggest issue with this book was that there was hardly any characterization of the crew. I would have loved to have seen a back story as to how the crew was formed. This had the potential to have such a unique and exciting found family aspect. But I literally have no clue what the crew looks like. The author just seems to throw out names without any really defining characteristics, other than their role on the ship. And that they were queer. And women. So everyone was also referred to as “she” and I got so confused as to who was who. I’m hoping this was just a case of it being an uncorrected proof… But since there wasn’t any real scenes with the crew, it was difficult to emphasize when they got hurt near the end. I was like, who is this again??
HOWEVER the general plot of the book was solid. It moved fast and there was a lot of action. The progression of the book worked well. The only thing is that the author, I’m guessing, was trying to be vague in certain areas and I personally don’t like when authors do this excessively. It feels like a very roundabout way of getting to the point 😅
To be completely honest, it was a struggle to finish this book but I’m glad I did finish it! It was a decent read 👍🏻
May 2, 2025
This was a great read! There's magic, revenge, romance, humor, warmth, loyalty, sacrifice and much more! The author does a wonderful job of blending all of that together for a fun, emotional and entertaining story. The main character is one that you probably won't like from time to time but you will be able to understand her. She isn't perfect. She definitely has flaws but that always makes me like them even more! This was a great adventure. Thank you Tbr and Beyond Tours and Alison Ames for sharing this book with me!
December 7, 2024
3
This was a highly anticipated read for me, and unfortunately it was... really boring.
*Review to come*
Pre-read comments
"in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own"
yeeeeeeesss
Update THAT COVER?
auto request I'm afraid
This was a highly anticipated read for me, and unfortunately it was... really boring.
*Review to come*
Pre-read comments
"in which a young pirate captain hell-bent on revenge crosses the sea, in the company of her crew and a girl she hates but can't keep her eyes off of, to find and kill her own brother, only to be waylaid by an eldritch creature looking for vengeance of her own"
yeeeeeeesss
Update THAT COVER?
auto request I'm afraid
January 6, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC!~~
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
This one's kinda a weird one for me. There are elements I really liked, but it's all mixed up in things I found lacking and boring? It's confusing, I know.
So, starting with the first thing I liked: the dialogue / character interactions. The conversations between Adra, her quartermaster/adopted sister Merrin, the Cameron captain decoy Quinn, and her human-turned-bird Diana were the scenes I found myself adoring the most, because so many of them put Adra's complexities, her thirst for revenge clashing with her desire to be a good captain, on full display. They also had such good chemistry, too; I love when authors manage to balance moral dubiousness with excellent character interactions and relations. Unfortunately, this is only extends to these four characters, because, despite this whole other crew underneath Adra's wing, the other side characters are rather one noted and dull. Toral's connected to the sea, Kaori is the brainy, gadget one, Rhys is the only boy who's the chef and doesn't have more than 10 lines of dialogue, and the rest don't really matter. I can tell Ames was trying to make everyone as a whole memorable, and when it works, it works, just not for everyone.
It didn't really help that the worldbuilding is given in small chunks that are quickly wiped away before moving onto the next scene. The magic system isn't well explained, either, just that there were old gods that went away, left magic scraps behind, and some, like Merrin and Quinn, can use it. Anything besides the emphasis on the price paid when wielding it felt so vague that I gave up trying to fully understand it and went with whatever what was being said about it at the moment, because that's just how the story worked.
Despite how fast-paced the story was, it was simultaneously slow, too, given the sheer number of lengthy paragraphs describing the landscape or a fight scene. The scenery I get, but action/fight scenes need to be sharp and short, not blocky and overdrawn.
Another thing I liked was the Devourer. The beast's first proper introduction was splendidly creepy and filled with atmosphere; you really felt like the meeting of some Eldritch horror. The descriptions, the mannerisms, the backstory - I was all about it, especially when the narrative parallels the beast with Adra. Even though its presence looms heavily over the story til the end, the Devourer only has three major scenes: The introduction, a memory flashback via other characters having nightmares about it, and in the one of the last chapters. I found this disappointing, because, as the titular character, I wanted the monster to have more of a physical presence.
As for the story - it felt incomplete. From the beginning, we're just dropped in the middle of the narrative where Adra is well on her revenge journey with only a small exposition dump of why/what she's doing. This threw me so much because I felt like I had opened the book fifty or so pages into the story rather than starting on page one.
All in all, conflicted feelings aside, I would still say there are good qualities from this book. In variety, granted, but there, nonetheless. I don't know if I would properly recommend this book to anyone, but if I meet someone who was absolutely diehard for another pirate story to read, I would point them to this book if they want complex woman leads and good dialogue / interaction.
2.5/5 stars rounded up.
This one's kinda a weird one for me. There are elements I really liked, but it's all mixed up in things I found lacking and boring? It's confusing, I know.
So, starting with the first thing I liked: the dialogue / character interactions. The conversations between Adra, her quartermaster/adopted sister Merrin, the Cameron captain decoy Quinn, and her human-turned-bird Diana were the scenes I found myself adoring the most, because so many of them put Adra's complexities, her thirst for revenge clashing with her desire to be a good captain, on full display. They also had such good chemistry, too; I love when authors manage to balance moral dubiousness with excellent character interactions and relations. Unfortunately, this is only extends to these four characters, because, despite this whole other crew underneath Adra's wing, the other side characters are rather one noted and dull. Toral's connected to the sea, Kaori is the brainy, gadget one, Rhys is the only boy who's the chef and doesn't have more than 10 lines of dialogue, and the rest don't really matter. I can tell Ames was trying to make everyone as a whole memorable, and when it works, it works, just not for everyone.
It didn't really help that the worldbuilding is given in small chunks that are quickly wiped away before moving onto the next scene. The magic system isn't well explained, either, just that there were old gods that went away, left magic scraps behind, and some, like Merrin and Quinn, can use it. Anything besides the emphasis on the price paid when wielding it felt so vague that I gave up trying to fully understand it and went with whatever what was being said about it at the moment, because that's just how the story worked.
Despite how fast-paced the story was, it was simultaneously slow, too, given the sheer number of lengthy paragraphs describing the landscape or a fight scene. The scenery I get, but action/fight scenes need to be sharp and short, not blocky and overdrawn.
Another thing I liked was the Devourer. The beast's first proper introduction was splendidly creepy and filled with atmosphere; you really felt like the meeting of some Eldritch horror. The descriptions, the mannerisms, the backstory - I was all about it, especially when the narrative parallels the beast with Adra. Even though its presence looms heavily over the story til the end, the Devourer only has three major scenes: The introduction, a memory flashback via other characters having nightmares about it, and in the one of the last chapters. I found this disappointing, because, as the titular character, I wanted the monster to have more of a physical presence.
As for the story - it felt incomplete. From the beginning, we're just dropped in the middle of the narrative where Adra is well on her revenge journey with only a small exposition dump of why/what she's doing. This threw me so much because I felt like I had opened the book fifty or so pages into the story rather than starting on page one.
All in all, conflicted feelings aside, I would still say there are good qualities from this book. In variety, granted, but there, nonetheless. I don't know if I would properly recommend this book to anyone, but if I meet someone who was absolutely diehard for another pirate story to read, I would point them to this book if they want complex woman leads and good dialogue / interaction.
October 18, 2024
Thank you Netgalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“The Devourer” by Alison Ames is a YA fantasy adventure that takes you on a wild journey through treacherous seas, with captivating pirate captains, ancient sea monsters, and a plot that grips you from the very first line. If you're looking for a story that blends the swashbuckling energy of “Daughter of the Pirate King” with the dark magic vibes of “The Witcher,” then this is a book you won't want to miss. Plus, there is some fantastic LGBTQ representation throughout this book as well as the found family trope, which I absolutely love.
The story follows Adra Dantes, a fierce and morally complex pirate captain, driven by a single goal: to hunt down her half-brother Cameron, who betrayed their family by stealing a priceless treasure map. Her pursuit of vengeance is disrupted when a surge of magic causes ancient sea monsters to rise, and she discovers that the ship she has been chasing is captained by a girl impersonating Cameron. Adra is forced into an uneasy alliance with this rival captain, Quinn, as they both confront the monstrous threat known as The Devourer that’s wreaking havoc on the seas.
One of the strongest aspects of “The Devourer” is its characters. Adra is a standout protagonist—her amoral tendencies, sharp wit, and relentless drive for revenge make her a refreshingly fierce (anti-)heroine. What’s particularly engaging about Adra’s character is that her flaws aren’t excused or softened; instead, they are acknowledged and embraced, adding layers to her personality. Quinn, her hardened love interest, shares Adra’s tough exterior, making their dynamic feel like a meeting of equals rather than a cliché opposites-attract romance. Their relationship has just enough tension and chemistry to keep you invested, and while romance is not the primary focus, the hint of a future together adds a sweet touch to the otherwise fast-paced plot.
The friendships in the story are equally compelling, with side characters Merrin and Diana providing both emotional depth and light-hearted banter. The history and bond between these characters add to the story's richness, showing a blend of camaraderie, grief, and forgiveness that makes their interactions feel real and poignant. The found family aspect with Adra’s shipmates was my favorite part of the book as the different characters are so unique and breathe life into the story.
Ames’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, perfectly suited to the story's action-packed plot. The adventure on the high seas, combined with the incorporation of magic and mythical monsters, creates a world that feels both expansive and immersive. There is some good world building throughout, though the prevalence of magic is a bit overwhelming at first. The tension builds beautifully as the characters race against time, not just to find Cameron but also to face off against the fearsome Devourer lurking beneath the waves.
Overall, “The Devourer” is a fast-paced, addictive read that fans of YA fantasy will devour in one sitting. With its mix of dark magic, pirate battles, and fierce, morally complex characters, this book is sure to captivate anyone who loves a good adventure on the high seas. Alison Ames has crafted a world filled with danger, intrigue, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. This debut is a must-read for anyone looking for a magical and action-packed escape into a world where monsters lurk beneath the waves and pirate captains will do anything for vengeance.
“The Devourer” by Alison Ames is a YA fantasy adventure that takes you on a wild journey through treacherous seas, with captivating pirate captains, ancient sea monsters, and a plot that grips you from the very first line. If you're looking for a story that blends the swashbuckling energy of “Daughter of the Pirate King” with the dark magic vibes of “The Witcher,” then this is a book you won't want to miss. Plus, there is some fantastic LGBTQ representation throughout this book as well as the found family trope, which I absolutely love.
The story follows Adra Dantes, a fierce and morally complex pirate captain, driven by a single goal: to hunt down her half-brother Cameron, who betrayed their family by stealing a priceless treasure map. Her pursuit of vengeance is disrupted when a surge of magic causes ancient sea monsters to rise, and she discovers that the ship she has been chasing is captained by a girl impersonating Cameron. Adra is forced into an uneasy alliance with this rival captain, Quinn, as they both confront the monstrous threat known as The Devourer that’s wreaking havoc on the seas.
One of the strongest aspects of “The Devourer” is its characters. Adra is a standout protagonist—her amoral tendencies, sharp wit, and relentless drive for revenge make her a refreshingly fierce (anti-)heroine. What’s particularly engaging about Adra’s character is that her flaws aren’t excused or softened; instead, they are acknowledged and embraced, adding layers to her personality. Quinn, her hardened love interest, shares Adra’s tough exterior, making their dynamic feel like a meeting of equals rather than a cliché opposites-attract romance. Their relationship has just enough tension and chemistry to keep you invested, and while romance is not the primary focus, the hint of a future together adds a sweet touch to the otherwise fast-paced plot.
The friendships in the story are equally compelling, with side characters Merrin and Diana providing both emotional depth and light-hearted banter. The history and bond between these characters add to the story's richness, showing a blend of camaraderie, grief, and forgiveness that makes their interactions feel real and poignant. The found family aspect with Adra’s shipmates was my favorite part of the book as the different characters are so unique and breathe life into the story.
Ames’s writing is fast-paced and engaging, perfectly suited to the story's action-packed plot. The adventure on the high seas, combined with the incorporation of magic and mythical monsters, creates a world that feels both expansive and immersive. There is some good world building throughout, though the prevalence of magic is a bit overwhelming at first. The tension builds beautifully as the characters race against time, not just to find Cameron but also to face off against the fearsome Devourer lurking beneath the waves.
Overall, “The Devourer” is a fast-paced, addictive read that fans of YA fantasy will devour in one sitting. With its mix of dark magic, pirate battles, and fierce, morally complex characters, this book is sure to captivate anyone who loves a good adventure on the high seas. Alison Ames has crafted a world filled with danger, intrigue, and just enough romance to keep things interesting. This debut is a must-read for anyone looking for a magical and action-packed escape into a world where monsters lurk beneath the waves and pirate captains will do anything for vengeance.
January 8, 2025
Magical, thrilling, and fresh!
The Devourer is a new young adult fantasy by veteran author Alison Ames, and it is a thrilling, high-seas adventure with magic, monsters, and revenge. After her half-brother, Cameron, attacks their father, stealing a precious treasure map in the process, 17-year-old Adrasteia “Adra” Dantes takes possession of her father’s ship, Worldeater, and vows revenge.
In Adra’s world, magic is available to those special few attuned to its presence and it can be unpredictable and dangerous, as she well knows. As she and her crew of young women and one young man pursue their quarry, the veil between the non-magical and the mystical realms is somehow breached, and a creature known to the merfolk as The Devourer has been loosed under the seas to wreak destruction on all who travel above.This novel is an exciting story with a surprising mix of diverse characters, interesting storylines, and relationships. Adra, the young captain of the Worldeater, is morally complex; she enjoys inflicting pain and killing but is secretly kind to her crew, those she loves, who are less fortunate or are in trouble. She is single-minded in her pursuit of her half-brother, and the adventure is filled with incidents of her bravery in protecting the crew while achieving her goals. Her relationship with Quinn, the young woman Cameron coerced into impersonating him and acting as a decoy, is a slow-burn romance that ignites an internal conflict in Adra as well as one more overt with her crew.
An interesting side story involves the creature Diana, a sentient and talking osprey who was once a human sailor, much like those on the Worldeater. While hunting Cameron, Adra and Diana search for the island fortress of the spellcaster who changed Diana’s former crew into animals and compel her to reverse her curse.While the ship’s accidental sojourn in the Doldrums may have been tedious for the fictional crew, the tension in the story builds as the main characters’ backstories come to light and they await the arrival of an ancient being from the deep summoned by a magic-using crew member to help them move to a more favorable latitude. As the creature gets closer and closer, the details of its physical appearance, including its vast size, alarm the stranded sailors. However, the horror of their rescuer pales against what is to come in the form of The Devourer.
I found the story compelling, full of thrilling scenes and constant suspense. Adra was somewhat difficult for me to really like because of her mercurial nature and her joy in inflicting pain, but that aspect of her character is mentioned only once, and for the rest of the story, her decision to punish was more conflicted and thoughtful. I felt like I was dumped a little prematurely into the action, without enough build-up of the world and the existence of magic, so I didn’t have the grounding to engage with the story immediately. I think a reluctant reader would probably set this one aside in favor of a story they didn’t have to work as much to enjoy. However, perseverance proved fruitful in this case.I recommend THE DEVOURER to young adult fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy slow-burn sapphic romances and adventures on the high seas.
I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy through TBR and Beyond Book Tours.
January 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Colored Pages Book Tours and the publisher Page Street YA Publishing.
Due for release on January 7th!
Adra Dantes is determined to get revenge on her brother Cameron after he attacked their pirate father and stole a priceless treasure map. Taking their father’s ship and leaving him a broken man, Cameron vanished and Adra chased. She’s determined to kill him and gain the treasure for herself and her crew (including a woman trapped in the form of a bird). However, Adra’s obsession has led to next to nothing and when an overload of magic begins waking sea monsters from the depths that crush ships, her plans are left in ruins. Catching up to Cameron’s ship, Adra discovers that she hasn’t been chasing him for over a year but instead a proxy: a girl named Quinn who’s been impersonating Cameron since he went missing. Adra and Quinn work together to find Cameron and fulfil the demands of an ancient force known as the Devourer before it sinks even more ships. Forced to go to the very depths of the sea to face the Devourer, Adra soon discovers what exactly Cameron stole and how the treasure is so much bigger than the score she thought it would be.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a slow burn and the character work is excellent. The fraught relationship between Adra and her missing brother Cameron dominates but I also loved how she connects with members of her crew, particularly Diana the bird and Merrin the magician who risks going blind if she uses her magic, and eventually Quinn. Adra is brave and vicious, determined to find her brother and willing to do anything to get him. The disability representation in this is very well written. She’s also deeply kind and caring, I liked how her obsession started to affect her relationship with her crew members and how her choice to ally with Quinn led to further conflict. The sapphic relationship between Quinn and Adra was one of my favourite parts of ‘The Devourer’, they go from enemies and fighting constantly to determined allies; if they weren’t in so much peril and better at communication, they'd be even more lovely together. All the scenes underwater and with the Devourer were claustrophobic, terrifying and deeply atmospheric. I loved how the Devourer was written and their motivations. I did feel a little like we were dropped into this world without much explanation of the magic system at the beginning, the action is essentially nonstop, but as the book went on the more I loved it. I’m so glad I read this, this is a super enjoyable YA with teenage characters who actually feel their age; the adventure and relationships were so much fun. The brutal and intense cover initially drew me in but I stayed for the excellent story.
Due for release on January 7th!
Adra Dantes is determined to get revenge on her brother Cameron after he attacked their pirate father and stole a priceless treasure map. Taking their father’s ship and leaving him a broken man, Cameron vanished and Adra chased. She’s determined to kill him and gain the treasure for herself and her crew (including a woman trapped in the form of a bird). However, Adra’s obsession has led to next to nothing and when an overload of magic begins waking sea monsters from the depths that crush ships, her plans are left in ruins. Catching up to Cameron’s ship, Adra discovers that she hasn’t been chasing him for over a year but instead a proxy: a girl named Quinn who’s been impersonating Cameron since he went missing. Adra and Quinn work together to find Cameron and fulfil the demands of an ancient force known as the Devourer before it sinks even more ships. Forced to go to the very depths of the sea to face the Devourer, Adra soon discovers what exactly Cameron stole and how the treasure is so much bigger than the score she thought it would be.
I really enjoyed this book, it’s a slow burn and the character work is excellent. The fraught relationship between Adra and her missing brother Cameron dominates but I also loved how she connects with members of her crew, particularly Diana the bird and Merrin the magician who risks going blind if she uses her magic, and eventually Quinn. Adra is brave and vicious, determined to find her brother and willing to do anything to get him. The disability representation in this is very well written. She’s also deeply kind and caring, I liked how her obsession started to affect her relationship with her crew members and how her choice to ally with Quinn led to further conflict. The sapphic relationship between Quinn and Adra was one of my favourite parts of ‘The Devourer’, they go from enemies and fighting constantly to determined allies; if they weren’t in so much peril and better at communication, they'd be even more lovely together. All the scenes underwater and with the Devourer were claustrophobic, terrifying and deeply atmospheric. I loved how the Devourer was written and their motivations. I did feel a little like we were dropped into this world without much explanation of the magic system at the beginning, the action is essentially nonstop, but as the book went on the more I loved it. I’m so glad I read this, this is a super enjoyable YA with teenage characters who actually feel their age; the adventure and relationships were so much fun. The brutal and intense cover initially drew me in but I stayed for the excellent story.
January 10, 2025
4.25/5 stars
Pirates, sapphic romance, sea monsters, and revenge—The Devourer by Alison Ames delivers everything I want in a YA fantasy and more. I adored every minute of this story.
Captain Adra is a standout protagonist, deeply flawed yet compelling. Her choices are often reckless and driven by trauma and emotion - the fear of a young woman who has been betrayed by her brother and lost her parents and has fallen into being a Captain much too early - which makes her feel incredibly, genuinely human. What I loved most is that Adra feels guilt for her decisions but doesn’t let it deter her from her goals—this complexity is rarely explored in YA, and it adds so much depth to her character. She's not morally grey, but her actions sure are.
The relationships in this book, both platonic and romantic, are another highlight. Adra’s connections are messy, raw, and realistic, particularly the love story. The romance doesn’t follow a neat trajectory—it’s tangled and hesitant, built on attraction and mistrust in equal measure. It’s exactly the kind of imperfect, layered relationship that feels real, especially for characters navigating the aftermath of betrayal and trauma. Diana, the woman-turned-osprey, deserves her own shoutout as one of the most entertaining and unique side characters I’ve come across.
The world-building is equally impressive, blending magic and tech in a way that feels seamless and immersive. The addition of monstrous creatures and the undercurrent of horror woven throughout taps into the mysterious, terrifying vastness of the ocean. It’s a tone that feels perfectly suited to the story’s themes. Plus, who doesn't love a good sea monster in a story about pirates??
What truly makes this book work, though, is that it leans into its YA roots. The characters’ often impulsive and imperfect choices feel authentic to their age and circumstances, making it easy to forgive them and root for their growth. It’s rare for a book to balance everything so well, but Ames nails it here.
The Devourer is a gripping and satisfying read that combines complex characters, immersive world-building, and a touch of horror. I can’t wait to see what Alison Ames writes next!
Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
Pirates, sapphic romance, sea monsters, and revenge—The Devourer by Alison Ames delivers everything I want in a YA fantasy and more. I adored every minute of this story.
Captain Adra is a standout protagonist, deeply flawed yet compelling. Her choices are often reckless and driven by trauma and emotion - the fear of a young woman who has been betrayed by her brother and lost her parents and has fallen into being a Captain much too early - which makes her feel incredibly, genuinely human. What I loved most is that Adra feels guilt for her decisions but doesn’t let it deter her from her goals—this complexity is rarely explored in YA, and it adds so much depth to her character. She's not morally grey, but her actions sure are.
The relationships in this book, both platonic and romantic, are another highlight. Adra’s connections are messy, raw, and realistic, particularly the love story. The romance doesn’t follow a neat trajectory—it’s tangled and hesitant, built on attraction and mistrust in equal measure. It’s exactly the kind of imperfect, layered relationship that feels real, especially for characters navigating the aftermath of betrayal and trauma. Diana, the woman-turned-osprey, deserves her own shoutout as one of the most entertaining and unique side characters I’ve come across.
The world-building is equally impressive, blending magic and tech in a way that feels seamless and immersive. The addition of monstrous creatures and the undercurrent of horror woven throughout taps into the mysterious, terrifying vastness of the ocean. It’s a tone that feels perfectly suited to the story’s themes. Plus, who doesn't love a good sea monster in a story about pirates??
What truly makes this book work, though, is that it leans into its YA roots. The characters’ often impulsive and imperfect choices feel authentic to their age and circumstances, making it easy to forgive them and root for their growth. It’s rare for a book to balance everything so well, but Ames nails it here.
The Devourer is a gripping and satisfying read that combines complex characters, immersive world-building, and a touch of horror. I can’t wait to see what Alison Ames writes next!
Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours, the author, and Page Street YA for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
January 14, 2025
The Devourer by Alison Ames is a YA pirate fantasy with a splash of horror and a strong female-centric cast. While it has a compelling premise and some genuinely creepy moments, it fell short of its potential in a few key areas, making it an overall decent but not standout read for me.
The story drops readers into the middle of Adra’s journey, with her captaining her father’s ship in a quest to find her brother Cameron. However, much of the emotional toll this journey has taken is told rather than shown, which made it hard to connect with the characters or fully invest in the stakes. Adra’s internal struggle between vengeance and being a good captain is interesting but feels a little one-dimensional at times.
While I enjoyed the dynamic between Adra and her first mate Merrin, as well as the tension with the Cameron impostor Quinn, the other side characters felt underdeveloped and flat. As for the pirate aspect, the story doesn’t delve much into their actual pirate activities beyond their pursuit of Cameron, which felt like a missed opportunity to explore their world further. That said, the scenes featuring The Devourer were the strongest part of the book. The creature brought a foreboding sense of dread and horror that was both thrilling and engaging, and I wish more of the story had focused on this element.
On the positive side, the dialogue was well done, and the premise itself is intriguing. The writing style is strong overall, even if the pacing felt slow, especially with the story starting in what felt like the middle of the action. For readers who enjoy female-led pirate stories with a touch of horror, this is worth picking up, though it’s firmly YA, with characters who often feel a bit immature.
Final Thoughts:The Devourer is an interesting mix of pirate fantasy and horror that delivers on atmosphere but stumbles in character development and pacing. It’s a decent read for fans of female-driven stories with a dark twist, though it didn’t quite reach its full potential for me.
Thank you to Alison Ames and Colored Pages Book Tours for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 15, 2025
I originally wasn't going to rate this, but thought y'all should know how I really feel.
The Pros
- THE COVERRRR
-The premise: Lesbian pirates?!! Lovecraftian creature of the deep?! Magic with physical consequences! A vengeful protagonist?!? How could this not be good??
And then I read it and was so disappointed.
- The lesbian pirates? The romantic side plot was somewhere between insta love and enemies to lovers and never decided which it wanted to be. Neither of their feelings towards each other ever felt earned to me. The majority of the pirate crew felt forgettable. I'm not sure why I was supposed to care about the one death on the team. The few side characters that did get a good amount of development boiled down to stereotypes. I can't believe their motivations for sticking with the ship.
- Unmasking the large mysterious horror underneath the waters midway through the book personally ruined her for me. Having some great unknown force of magic that our main characters have to contend with along with would have been more interesting to me then the reveal we got. This may be more of a personal preference.
- The magic system would have been built out to my satisfaction for this kind of story if not for Diana, the person transformed into a bird. it seemed like the caster of this magic was never delt a punishment for welding it, while the other characters that are only mildly effected by magic can only do minor spells. This character broke the book for me and since her story was never resolved, felt like she belonged in a different book.
- The vengeance plot was done in a way that I wasn't sure if I should be happy with the ending or not. The emotional stakes were told rather than showed and I didn't fully believe them at the end of the day. I just wanted more.
I guess at the end of the day with all the promise this story has, it really seems like we were left with the dullest telling of it, which saddens me. I don't revel in giving this such a low review but here we are.
The Pros
- THE COVERRRR
-The premise: Lesbian pirates?!! Lovecraftian creature of the deep?! Magic with physical consequences! A vengeful protagonist?!? How could this not be good??
And then I read it and was so disappointed.
- The lesbian pirates? The romantic side plot was somewhere between insta love and enemies to lovers and never decided which it wanted to be. Neither of their feelings towards each other ever felt earned to me. The majority of the pirate crew felt forgettable. I'm not sure why I was supposed to care about the one death on the team. The few side characters that did get a good amount of development boiled down to stereotypes. I can't believe their motivations for sticking with the ship.
- Unmasking the large mysterious horror underneath the waters midway through the book personally ruined her for me. Having some great unknown force of magic that our main characters have to contend with along with would have been more interesting to me then the reveal we got. This may be more of a personal preference.
- The magic system would have been built out to my satisfaction for this kind of story if not for Diana, the person transformed into a bird. it seemed like the caster of this magic was never delt a punishment for welding it, while the other characters that are only mildly effected by magic can only do minor spells. This character broke the book for me and since her story was never resolved, felt like she belonged in a different book.
- The vengeance plot was done in a way that I wasn't sure if I should be happy with the ending or not. The emotional stakes were told rather than showed and I didn't fully believe them at the end of the day. I just wanted more.
I guess at the end of the day with all the promise this story has, it really seems like we were left with the dullest telling of it, which saddens me. I don't revel in giving this such a low review but here we are.
January 7, 2025
📖 physical advanced reader copy
⭐ 4.0
The Devourer is a high seas adventure built upon female rage. Seventeen year old captain, Adra, has taken over her father's ship hellbent on finding, and killing, her half-brother Cameron.
Hot on his trail, they find a fleet of ships that were recently attacked, leaving only one person alive. The circumstances of these deaths are strange -- it seems they all drowned while on their ships. The sole survivor tells Adra and her crew about the gigantic fist of water that came out of the sea to swallow the ship whole.
In order to appease the malevolent force in the sea, the crew of the Worldeater must find the grave of the pirate king and steal back his treasure. That's when the adventure truly starts: pirate hideouts, fighting skeletons, carnivorous plants, and a hidden island that's slowly turning to stone.
I had so much fun reading The Devourer. It blends adventure, romance, fantasy and horror; I love the world that the author created and can't wait to come back to it (which I hope happens because this story ends on what could be considered a cliffhanger).
Here's my one bit of negative criticism that I'm chalking up to having read an ARC:
-There was at least one instance where I'm fairly certain a character was speaking who wasn't initially in the scene.
-I found some paragraphs difficult to read. I needed to slow down my reading pace and really focus on the words in order to visualize the action in my head.
I was given an advanced copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you Page Street YA and TBR and Beyond Tours for the opportunity
⭐ 4.0
The Devourer is a high seas adventure built upon female rage. Seventeen year old captain, Adra, has taken over her father's ship hellbent on finding, and killing, her half-brother Cameron.
Hot on his trail, they find a fleet of ships that were recently attacked, leaving only one person alive. The circumstances of these deaths are strange -- it seems they all drowned while on their ships. The sole survivor tells Adra and her crew about the gigantic fist of water that came out of the sea to swallow the ship whole.
In order to appease the malevolent force in the sea, the crew of the Worldeater must find the grave of the pirate king and steal back his treasure. That's when the adventure truly starts: pirate hideouts, fighting skeletons, carnivorous plants, and a hidden island that's slowly turning to stone.
I had so much fun reading The Devourer. It blends adventure, romance, fantasy and horror; I love the world that the author created and can't wait to come back to it (which I hope happens because this story ends on what could be considered a cliffhanger).
Here's my one bit of negative criticism that I'm chalking up to having read an ARC:
-There was at least one instance where I'm fairly certain a character was speaking who wasn't initially in the scene.
-I found some paragraphs difficult to read. I needed to slow down my reading pace and really focus on the words in order to visualize the action in my head.
I was given an advanced copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you Page Street YA and TBR and Beyond Tours for the opportunity
December 27, 2024
Adra has taken over as captain of her father's ship after her half-brother Cameron stole something, threatened her mother, and took off to rob and pillage everywhere he lands.
We meet Adra and her crew after these events and learn about them pretty quickly at the beginning of the story. Adra is hell-bent on tracking Cameron down and gutting him like a fish. To say she is obsessed would be an understatement. We meet a lot of the crew of Worldbreaker Adra's ship, and not too far into the story we locate Cameron's ship which has been destroyed along with a few others everyone has perished except Quinn, the lone survivor who leads her to figure out something in the sea is destroying the ships, and anyone on the sea could be next.
While I enjoyed learning about Adra, her crew, and what was going on with the ships I did find the first half to be quite slow. Adra and her crew read a bit young, but they are all between 16 and 18 so once I realized that (it states it in the beginning but I skipped right over it) the way they act makes a bit more sense. But once we hit chapter 16 we got to meet the Devourer and my interest peaked and I became reinvested in the story. After this point, the tension ramps up, and they are off to get what they need to stop the Devourer, and hopefully Adra will be able to get Cameron at the same time.
I did enjoy that last half immensely. Alison Ames isn't afraid to kill off characters or go a bit on the darker side, and I felt it was true to the characters and the direction the story was going.
We meet Adra and her crew after these events and learn about them pretty quickly at the beginning of the story. Adra is hell-bent on tracking Cameron down and gutting him like a fish. To say she is obsessed would be an understatement. We meet a lot of the crew of Worldbreaker Adra's ship, and not too far into the story we locate Cameron's ship which has been destroyed along with a few others everyone has perished except Quinn, the lone survivor who leads her to figure out something in the sea is destroying the ships, and anyone on the sea could be next.
While I enjoyed learning about Adra, her crew, and what was going on with the ships I did find the first half to be quite slow. Adra and her crew read a bit young, but they are all between 16 and 18 so once I realized that (it states it in the beginning but I skipped right over it) the way they act makes a bit more sense. But once we hit chapter 16 we got to meet the Devourer and my interest peaked and I became reinvested in the story. After this point, the tension ramps up, and they are off to get what they need to stop the Devourer, and hopefully Adra will be able to get Cameron at the same time.
I did enjoy that last half immensely. Alison Ames isn't afraid to kill off characters or go a bit on the darker side, and I felt it was true to the characters and the direction the story was going.
January 7, 2025
There is nothing I didn’t love about this and I am so NOT ready to say goodbye to these characters. I immersed myself into this book so deeply that the hangover is real! I am begging for a series.
Adra, captain of her father’s pirate ship at the age of seventeen is on a revenge mission, searching desperately for her half brother who betrayed them, robbing their father of who he was. If the constant search and burning desire to kill him weren’t enough to fill her plate, old magic from the depths of the sea is rising, destroying entire ships with ease.
When Adra does track her brother’s ship down though, she finds something (someone) least expected. In order to find her brother and stop the Devourer from wreaking more havoc, Adra has to work with this unexpected someone… as well as the rest of her crew.
I freaking loved Adra. She is constantly trying to be who she thinks she is supposed to be. She never got the ability to learn before the helm was thrusted upon her. She is mean and rough around the edges, but she is fiercely loyal and insanely determined.
The rest of the cast of characters are perfect in their own individual way. I love how they interact. There is a decent number of people we are introduced to, but not overwhelming. You get to see each personality come through, differentiating everyone, making the story richer.
Last, the vibe of this book was spot on for me! There is something so desolate, so terrifying about deep sea and open water and Ames capitalizes on that in almost every chapter. I truly adored this book!
Adra, captain of her father’s pirate ship at the age of seventeen is on a revenge mission, searching desperately for her half brother who betrayed them, robbing their father of who he was. If the constant search and burning desire to kill him weren’t enough to fill her plate, old magic from the depths of the sea is rising, destroying entire ships with ease.
When Adra does track her brother’s ship down though, she finds something (someone) least expected. In order to find her brother and stop the Devourer from wreaking more havoc, Adra has to work with this unexpected someone… as well as the rest of her crew.
I freaking loved Adra. She is constantly trying to be who she thinks she is supposed to be. She never got the ability to learn before the helm was thrusted upon her. She is mean and rough around the edges, but she is fiercely loyal and insanely determined.
The rest of the cast of characters are perfect in their own individual way. I love how they interact. There is a decent number of people we are introduced to, but not overwhelming. You get to see each personality come through, differentiating everyone, making the story richer.
Last, the vibe of this book was spot on for me! There is something so desolate, so terrifying about deep sea and open water and Ames capitalizes on that in almost every chapter. I truly adored this book!
August 30, 2024
a very engaging and thrilling read - the plotline is super creative and a real rollercoaster ride that careens from one wild action scene to the next.
there's minimal romance , not much of a relationship is developed as the girls are too busy trying to survive a potential world-ending threat, but at least there's the promise of a future for them as they hold hands once everything is settled at the end so I was content with that.
I appreciate how the main character Adra is allowed to be amoral and have shades of grey, she can be malicious and driven by revenge without that being softened or excused away by the text, I do like my vicious (anti-)heroines. it was cool that her love interest Quinn was similarly hardened by what she's survived and been forced to do so they were kindred spirits in a way (rather than one being sunshine and the other being grumpy) and that Adra looked to Quinn for inspiration even when they hated each other because she saw her as an equal as they were both pirate captains.
the friendships were everything, I adored Merrin and Diana, their history and complicated dynamic with Adra and each other was amazing - there was such fun banter, but also such hurt and grief within their bond as well.
really fun and thought-provoking
there's minimal romance , not much of a relationship is developed as the girls are too busy trying to survive a potential world-ending threat, but at least there's the promise of a future for them as they hold hands once everything is settled at the end so I was content with that.
I appreciate how the main character Adra is allowed to be amoral and have shades of grey, she can be malicious and driven by revenge without that being softened or excused away by the text, I do like my vicious (anti-)heroines. it was cool that her love interest Quinn was similarly hardened by what she's survived and been forced to do so they were kindred spirits in a way (rather than one being sunshine and the other being grumpy) and that Adra looked to Quinn for inspiration even when they hated each other because she saw her as an equal as they were both pirate captains.
the friendships were everything, I adored Merrin and Diana, their history and complicated dynamic with Adra and each other was amazing - there was such fun banter, but also such hurt and grief within their bond as well.
really fun and thought-provoking
January 3, 2025
𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
⚓️ sapphic ya fantasy
⚓️ pirates
⚓️ oceanic monsters
⚓️ action and suspense
Length: 400p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley, Page Street YA
Release Date: January 7, 2025
•••••••
Adra Dantes is a strong willed young pirate who wants nothing more than to hunt down her half brother, Cameron, and find out why he betrayed their family. But magic has begun to awaken monsters in the ocean and Adra, with her crew, must fight for their lives while uncovering a trail of clues and lies.
The premise of this story AND the cover pulled me in. The characters were decently developed, but definitely more on the younger side. Sometimes it was a bit unbelievable that this group of kids were on their own because of that.
We’re both thrown right into the story AND we trudge through almost half the book a bit slowly. Almost too slowly. But once they encounter the Devourer, it definitely picks up and the second half of the story is thrilling!
The romance is sweet and innocent despite the story having its dark moments. Overall I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to more stories from Alison Ames.
{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.} Make sure you head over to https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/ to follow the tour schedule and drop by other hosts!
⚓️ sapphic ya fantasy
⚓️ pirates
⚓️ oceanic monsters
⚓️ action and suspense
Length: 400p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley, Page Street YA
Release Date: January 7, 2025
•••••••
Adra Dantes is a strong willed young pirate who wants nothing more than to hunt down her half brother, Cameron, and find out why he betrayed their family. But magic has begun to awaken monsters in the ocean and Adra, with her crew, must fight for their lives while uncovering a trail of clues and lies.
The premise of this story AND the cover pulled me in. The characters were decently developed, but definitely more on the younger side. Sometimes it was a bit unbelievable that this group of kids were on their own because of that.
We’re both thrown right into the story AND we trudge through almost half the book a bit slowly. Almost too slowly. But once they encounter the Devourer, it definitely picks up and the second half of the story is thrilling!
The romance is sweet and innocent despite the story having its dark moments. Overall I enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to more stories from Alison Ames.
{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.} Make sure you head over to https://tbrandbeyondtours.com/ to follow the tour schedule and drop by other hosts!
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