Review of Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess
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Melyssa Dennis
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Review of Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess
[Following is a volunteer review of "Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess" by Dan E. Hendrickson.]
I found Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess by Dan E. Hendrickson to have a very original story line with engaging characters an a satisfying level of action. The book was somewhat short in my opinion and could certainly do with increased volume. I feel that would have given the author time to focus on character growth and would increase the level of believability in several of the interactions.
There are several things I enjoyed about this book, the first aspect being the strength of the main character. I liked the character herself and felt the author did an excellent job of making her likable, down to earth, empathetic, and strong enough to face danger for those she loves. I also thoroughly enjoyed the premise of the story, the idea of a pirate princess setting out to save the seas was something that sparked imagination. Lastly, I truly loved the descriptions of the people and environments, I feel that that is a true skill that is all too often missing in many books found today.
I felt there were some areas that the book could use some work, the first being that the writing felt overly simplistic with each component feeling separate and stand alone rather than as part of the overall flow of the story. I also felt that the characters were almost overly trusting and willing to offer love and friendship with little to no actual consideration. While the characters did have some internal thoughts on several important interactions, it all felt like there was no real doubt where it would go from the start. Lastly, I admit that this one is completely a personal preference but it felt as the book went on that it was less about Brandy and more about the men. It seemed like by the end she was a token part of the story and I felt that was something of a disservice to such an amazing character.
To rate this book I have to admit I enjoyed it overall, as a result I think it has a huge amount of potential and with some work could be something that should be out in the world. As a result I would say it is a 3 out of 4 stars. I would nudge it into a 4 out of 4 stars if the writing were to be smoothed out and the characters given more depth and their personal growth being show with more subtlety and less overt phrasing.
For a recommended audience, I would suggest this be a book for pre-teen to early twenties women. I feel that young men could learn a great deal from reading it but I am not terribly certain that many would pick it up, which in my humble opinion is a shame.
******
Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
I found Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess by Dan E. Hendrickson to have a very original story line with engaging characters an a satisfying level of action. The book was somewhat short in my opinion and could certainly do with increased volume. I feel that would have given the author time to focus on character growth and would increase the level of believability in several of the interactions.
There are several things I enjoyed about this book, the first aspect being the strength of the main character. I liked the character herself and felt the author did an excellent job of making her likable, down to earth, empathetic, and strong enough to face danger for those she loves. I also thoroughly enjoyed the premise of the story, the idea of a pirate princess setting out to save the seas was something that sparked imagination. Lastly, I truly loved the descriptions of the people and environments, I feel that that is a true skill that is all too often missing in many books found today.
I felt there were some areas that the book could use some work, the first being that the writing felt overly simplistic with each component feeling separate and stand alone rather than as part of the overall flow of the story. I also felt that the characters were almost overly trusting and willing to offer love and friendship with little to no actual consideration. While the characters did have some internal thoughts on several important interactions, it all felt like there was no real doubt where it would go from the start. Lastly, I admit that this one is completely a personal preference but it felt as the book went on that it was less about Brandy and more about the men. It seemed like by the end she was a token part of the story and I felt that was something of a disservice to such an amazing character.
To rate this book I have to admit I enjoyed it overall, as a result I think it has a huge amount of potential and with some work could be something that should be out in the world. As a result I would say it is a 3 out of 4 stars. I would nudge it into a 4 out of 4 stars if the writing were to be smoothed out and the characters given more depth and their personal growth being show with more subtlety and less overt phrasing.
For a recommended audience, I would suggest this be a book for pre-teen to early twenties women. I feel that young men could learn a great deal from reading it but I am not terribly certain that many would pick it up, which in my humble opinion is a shame.
******
Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: E M P Honeymoon by Dorothy May Mercer
