Horn Book

Caledonia Styx lost her ship-captain mother and sea-faring family to villainous Aric Athair and his army of drugged-up soldiers called Bullets. Fast-forward four years later and Caledonia captains her own ship with an all-female crew seeking revenge. Copious detail can sometimes bog down the plot in this otherwise riveting start to a projected series about these swashbuckling feminist pirates.

Kirkus Reviews

An all-female ship of vengeance-seekers sails against a brutal, tyrannical warlord.In a future where only shreds remain of the lost technological advancements of the old world, Aric Athair rules through his massive fleet of Bullets, conscripted, drug-dependent soldiers. On the verge of an attempt to escape Aric's reach, Caledonia and her best friend, Pisces, lose their families to Bullets. Four years later, they've rebuilt Caledonia's mother's ship and have a new family in their large crew. After nearly losing Pisces on a mission to destroy a drug-farming barge, Pisces turns up with a Bullet in tow; he saved her life, so she wants to spare his in turn. He claims to be a deserter and gives information about a bounty on their ship—and says Caledonia's and Pisces' brothers are alive, and he can help rescue them. Caledonia must evade the better-armed fleet that is after her and keep her crew alive while deciding if she should trust him. An obligatory romance is tacked on (and is less compelling than a background, low-key lesbian love story), but the real relationships are the deep bonds between the women of Caledonia's crew. Along with openly feminist themes, the crew is racially diverse—and in this future world, skin color appears to carry no connotations.The cliffhanger promises readers a return to this intriguing setting for more action. (Post-apocalyptic. 12-adult)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Set in a vaguely defined distant future, this tale of sisterhood on the high seas introduces an all-female crew of rebels who survive by raiding the ships of the ruthless warlord who controls the local waters. Ever since Capt. Caledonia Styx-s mother was killed and her brother was forced to serve in the Bullets, an army of drug-addicted soldiers, she has resolved to trust only the young women she-s personally rescued and recruited, including her best friend, Pisces. But when an attack goes wrong and Pisces is saved from death by a Bullet, Caledonia has to face her fears and decide how much she can trust her new prisoner, risking her crew in the process. In this trilogy opener, Parker (Behold the Bones) offers an exciting, action-packed tale featuring a variously diverse cast of resourceful young women surviving against overwhelming odds and a relentless foe. Between Caledonia-s internal struggle to overcome internalized guilt and fear, and the high stakes facing those she loves, this adventure never loses its pace. Ages 12-up. Agent: Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary. (Aug.)

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Caledonia Styx captains the all-female crew of the Mors Navis assisted by her best friend Pisces. They spend their time outrunning Aric Athair's fleet, the Bullets, and doing whatever they can to keep their ship going and stay alive. Caledonia has kept a dangerous secret for four years: she broke one of her mother's rules by letting a Bullet named Lir live instead of killing him immediately. This mercy obliterated everything she and Pisces loved, including their parents and younger brothers. When Pisces is captured by the enemy, then rescued by a rebellious Bullet named Oran, Caledonia is forced to confront her past mistakes and figure out the best thing for her crew. A somewhat rushed backstory propels the plot, leaning heavily on Caledonia's guilt and the question of what her mother would do in her place. There is a feeling of freedom on the vessel from constantly being on the move, but Caledonia is weighed down by her past and responsibilities as captain. The majority of this futuristic dystopian novel is set on the girls' ship, with occasional glimpses of what sedentary life is like in different locales. The crew is made up of young women with a diversity of skin color, backgrounds, and skills. This is sure to appeal to readers looking for strong female characters and fans of Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser and The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig. VERDICT A strong purchase for YA fantasy shelves. Rebecca Greer, Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative, FL