Oathbound

This story dives right into the action and doesn't let up, with classic pirate-y things like treasure troves, old debts, estranged family, sea beasties, a rough but lovable crew, curses and death, and a girl who really just wants to go back to her nice, peaceful sheep farm. With dual POVs, Emme and Arn both immediately jump off the page. Emme being a farmer turned tavern server with ties to the sea even though she never wants to sail, and Arn, a navy sailor turned pirate captain who thinks the world of Emme and is convinced that maybe not telling her the full truth about why he needs to find some very impressive treasure is going to go over well for them both.

I enjoyed being transported to another world and learning about it while the action unfolds, as well as the cute, mutually oblivious romance, although the relationship pretty much treads water for the entire book (misunderstandings? oh yes). The magic and mystery grow by leaps and bounds around the halfway mark, but I had trouble staying immersed. Oh Emme, Arn, did we make smart choices? Maybe everyone needs a moment to chill and breathe and process what just happened? Admittedly, I was in a hurry to finish because my library book is quite overdue.

Still, as the first book in a YA pirate series, this book hits all the marks - seafaring, spooky islands, high high stakes, first kisses, and dramatic reveals that promise big things for those who continue the series.