The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane Book Review and Giveaway

SYNOPSIS

Mystery, Myth and Magic Meet in an Epic Adventure of Two Women Lost at Sea—
and the Secret that Binds Them TogetherAN ORPHAN DISGUISED AS A PIRATE SETS SAIL FOR A MYSTICAL ISLAND IN HOPES OF UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF HER PAST
The year is 1716—the Golden Age of Pirates. An orphan who sleeps in the dusty kitchens of a quayside brothel, Merrin Smith is desperate to unravel the secrets of her past and find the truth about the events that brought her to the Caribbean island of Isla Perla as a child. Disguised as a sailor, and with the help of her longtime friend Claudette, Merrin joins the crew of the pirate ship Riptide, helmed by the notorious Captain Erik Winters. Tenacious and rumored a madman, Winters is known as much for his ruthlessness as for his connection to the enigmatic and beautiful proprietress of the Goodnight Mermaid, Evangeline Dahl, who vanished from Isla Perla two summers before.

At sunset the Riptide sails for the mythical island of Bracile, a place hidden between air and sea and that exists only for a moment every two years, and which has never returned any man who has sailed for its shores. The journey will be perilous and long, and it will take Merrin far away from the only home she’s ever known. Because she can read, Merrin will serve as the Captain’s apprentice, deciphering old texts for clues to the island’s whereabouts as the ship sails through haunted, frozen waters and into the very heart of the ocean. As she struggles to navigate the rough, seafaring life aboard a pirate ship, Merrin must keep her identity hidden from the scrupulous gaze of not only Captain Winters, but also Mister Brandon Dunn, the ship’s surly, legend-spouting quartermaster, and Tom Birch, the charming boatswain Merrin can’t help but feel drawn to.

As the Riptide makes its way to Bracile, Merrin begins to suspect that the men she has worked so hard to deceive may in fact be more connected to her than she would have imagined, and that perhaps her own past might have more to do with the Dunn’s legends and myths than she ever could have guessed.

In The Isle of Gold [Black Spot Books, October 9, 2018] Merrin Smith must face perilous waters, cursed sea goddesses, and the embodiments of some of the ocean’s most terrifying legends as she not only struggles to survive her journey, but to find the answers to the mysteries of her past.

A story where history meets fantasy, The Isle of Gold is an epic, emotional adventure of two women—one desperate to save herself, and the other determined to be rescued—and the secret which binds them together.

“For as long as men have sailed the ocean, they have told stories about the sea,” says Jane. “It’s a place of mystery, myth, and magic—and this makes The Isle of Gold a perfect setting for an epic adventure that is not only a tale of historical fiction, but of the very evolution of a woman’s spirit as she seeks to find herself in a world of unpredictability and uncertainty.”

“There is an old saying that ‘the cure for anything is saltwater—tears, sweat, or the sea.’ In The Isle of Gold, Merrin’s journey requires all three.”

AMAZON | BARNES and NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for THE ISLE OF GOLD

“Part fairytale, part fantasy, part romance, Jane’s debut is full of colorful characters [and] a plot that will thrill the heart of any lover of magic, legends, and epic adventure.” —Booklist

"Jane weaves a tale of myth and magic . . . This tempting novel will entrance." —Publishers Weekly

"A delightful, well researched and evocative historical fantasy that succeeds in bringing a fascinating era to life.” —Midwest Book Review

MY BOOK REVIEW

Taken on the tale of myths of a love affair between Mistress Evangeline Dahl and Captain Winter. Evangeline disappeared causing Captain Winter to never stop searching for her. He does anything in his power to find her. An orphaned girl Merrin Smith disguises herself as the male sailor "Westley Rivers" in hopes of working on the Riptide, navigated by the notorious Captain Winter.
Will Westley land the job? Will she work with Captain Winter? The articles of the Pirate code strictly forbids women from sailing aboard pirate ships with a penalty of death. Will she get caught?

This book reminds me a lot of Pirates of the Caribbean, Treasure Island. Seven Jane did a great job of making a great example of a strong female lead; mentally tough, strong, but also vulnerable with her physical limitations of a male crew. The details of each character make this book very captivating. The way it is written allows you to escape into this world and the life of the characters. Each character has their own dialogue. These characters are very relatable. There are so many exciting plot twists. It is an emotional tale of family and longing to find one's place in the world. This is a fun fantasy book with romance and life struggles. I would highly recommend reading this book. I am hoping there will be a book 2.

I received a digital copy from Jean Book Nerd in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

PHOTO CONTENT FROM SEVEN JANE

Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. Her debut novel, The Isle of Gold, was published by Black Spot Books in October 2018.

Seven is a member of The Author's Guild and Women's Fiction Writing Association. She writes a weekly column for WFWA's Industry News newsletter, and is a regular contributor to The Nerd Daily.

She is represented by Gandolfo Helin & Fountain Literary Management and supported by Smith Publicity.