Seafire (Seafire, #1) by Natalie C. Parker

Narrated by Rebecca Soler

Synopsis (via Goodreads): After her family is killed by corrupt warlord Aric Athair and his bloodthirsty army of Bullets, Caledonia Styx is left to chart her own course on the dangerous and deadly seas. She captains her ship, the Mors Navis, with a crew of girls and women just like her, who have lost their families and homes because of Aric and his men. The crew has one mission: stay alive, and take down Aric's armed and armored fleet.

But when Caledonia's best friend and second-in-command barely survives an attack thanks to help from a Bullet looking to defect, Caledonia finds herself questioning whether to let him join their crew. Is this boy the key to taking down Aric Athair once and for all . . . or will he threaten everything the women of the Mors Navis have worked for.

“Remember when they call you girl, they're trying to tell you something. They're trying to tell you that they're more than you, that the body you're in makes you less. But you know, and I know, that you're exactly what you need to be.”

I'm really glad I listened to the audiobook for this one, because it's narrated by Rebecca Soler! She's one of my favorite narrators (The Lunar Chronicles, Caraval), and she always delivers an amazing story. It helped that Seafire was a wonderful read all on its own!

Girl power! I really enjoyed reading about an all-female crew! They're not pirates per se, but they did act like them every once in a while. There were some pretty epic battles that included cannons, sword fights, and hand-to-hand combat. The girls are young, but they've already learned how to fight for their lives. The world they live in is cruel and unforgiving, and Cala is determined to keep her girls free while also taking out as many enemy ships as possible. They're smart, calculating, and work well together as a team. It was so much fun to read about!

Cala and crew found themselves in more than one precarious situation, because more often than not, there were no good options available. They had to make do with what they had. I wish I could remember what Redtooth and Cala would say to each other when things were at their worst, but it's been awhile since I listened to the audiobook, and I didn't write it down. I plan on buying a physical copy in the future, so I guess it's a good excuse for a re-read with a pen!

I didn't love or hate the romance, but I wish there had been more or less of it. I think the story would have thrived without it, since it seems to focus on what woman are able to accomplish on their own. Now Caledonia's decisions are being impacted by the Bullet on her ship, and her feelings toward him start to shift over the course of the book. “When I want a kiss, I will be the one to take it.” If his circumstances had been different, I think trusting him would have been easier, and then there would have been a greater potential for romance. As it is, I feel very take-it-or-leave-it about the whole thing.

Pisces, Caledonia's second and sister in every way that matters, felt like a shadow of the person she could be. I understand her relationship with Cala was forged from circumstance and tragedy, but they have known each other for a very long time. However, Pi seemed to be constantly surprised by Cala's decisions, and I was a little annoyed with how protective she was of a Bullet. Yes, she owed him her life, but that's all she knew about him. Cala was being cautious, because she had an entire crew to think about. Pi's blatant disregard for Cala's wishes, and the rules of the ship, made me dislike her a little. She's also a very prominent member of the crew, but she prefers solitude and fighting beneath the waves. I feel like we missed opportunities to get to know her better.

There was another romance between two of the female crew members, or at least I think there was, and I wish that had been explored. Maybe they will have a larger role in the next book, but we were left with our own assumptions for this one. Also, Redtooth was probably my favorite character. I loved her personality, her snark, and her fierce fighting. She cared about the other members of the crew, and she's willing to risk everything to keep them safe.

I really liked the setting for this book, and the story Parker created. All of the characters have distinct voices and personalities, and I enjoyed learning about each of them. Everyone has a role to play, and I cannot wait to see what happens next! “Hoist your eyes!"