Pirate X

Pirate X  by Sherryl Clark (UQP)

PB RRP $16.95

Reviewed by Jo Burnell

Will’s stepfather’s bullying reaches deadly proportions, so Will has no choice but to run away. In his fight to survive on the streets, Will tries to nick some bread. In his flight from the outraged shopkeeper, Will falls and bumps his head. This is where the adventure begins. He wakes up in the Bahamas in 1717.

Pirate X is not for the fainthearted. There’s a lot of killing, looting and threats of violence. Blackbeard thirsts for blood and riches, in that order. He’s a crook, but also a strategic leader. No one stays on his ship unless they do their bit. That includes fighting and plundering.

What would you do if you landed in Blackbeard’s world? Would you wield a sword for the chance to live, or jump overboard and take your chances with the sharks? Seriously. Will’s survival depends on the choices he makes, but it’s hard to tell who to trust. All is definitely not as it seems.

My heart skips a beat when I stand on a snail, so cold-blooded looting and murdering didn’t sit well with my queasy stomach. However, there will be a lot of boys (and girls) who will be happy to dive into this cut throat world.

Be careful, ‘me hearties’. You’d better watch your back between the pages. A fast moving pirate adventure, embedded with 18^th Century sailing facts.