The Seahorse Legacy by Serena Chase: REVIEW

ABOUT THE BOOK:

a Pirate

bound by a centuries-old oath

a Knight

determined to prove her calling

a Legacy

demanding surrender

As Keeper of the Seahorse Legacy, Cazien de Pollis is a King among pirates, divinely appointed to dispense justice on the seas. Bound by the sacred oath of a long-dead ancestor, he must fulfill a contract to wed the green-eyed Oracle’s Daughter named therein—or risk losing everything he and his people hold dear. But at nineteen, with the identity of his betrothed only recently revealed, Cazien resents the contract—and the urgency within him to see it satisfied.

Erielle de Gladiel returned from the quest for the Remedy, changed. Not only are her formerly-blue eyes now a brilliant shade of green, but she must don gloves to hide inky evidence that her prophetically-bestowed title, the Oracle’s Daughter, demands more from her than the task already completed. Erielle’s dearest-held dream is realized when she is knighted by her King, but unbeknownst to her, that very honor jeopardizes the prophesied purpose to which she and Cazien have been called.

Just as Cazien summons the courage to collect his bride, dark rumors and darker deeds crawl up the coasts, calling its guardians, the Seahorse Pirates, into action—and Cazien away from Erielle. But even though the Oracle’s Daughter knows nothing of the contract to which she has been consigned, Cazien’s enemies have somehow learned of his interest in Erielle. And if they reach her before his ancestor’s weighty oath is executed, the Seahorse Legacy will be forfeited . . . and darkness will be given reign.

Subtly paying homage to several classic tales including Peter Pan, Robin Hood, The Little Mermaid, Much Ado About Nothing, and even The Three Little Bears, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY begins an epic re-imagining of the classic Grimm fairy tale, The Twelve Dancing Princesses which will conclude in Eyes of E’veria, Book 4: THE SUNKEN REALM. 

My Review:

Excuse me a moment while I gush…I.LOVE.THIS. BOOK!! Author Serena Chase knows how to make a person feel like they are right smack in the middle of the action with her writing! With descriptions like the odiferousness of The Men of Duroc, which had me wrinkling my nose at their stench, to the very vivid action sequences and the fun wordplay between Cazien and Erielle, THE SEAHORSE LEGACY is my favorite so far of the Eyes of E’veria series. 

PIRATES!!! Who can resist them? Especially Cazien de Pollis! I happen to love this particular pirate because he actually seems handsome enough to turn heroine Erielle’s head. He’s witty, and sneaky and actually honorable in that he really does wish to keep the Legacy even though it requires so much of him. Newly knighted Erielle starts out being a bit immature, but by the end of the story I think that her experiences will mature her but not break her. 

Of course there are the “bad guys” throughout the story. There are a couple such characters that I wanted to reach through and smack for Erielle’s sake! One being an uncouth knight who dances like a clod and the other being Cazien’s half-brother whom I’m afraid is going to be a fly in the ointment. But these two characters are mild compared to the smelly Men of Duroc and other pirates out to capture a bargaining chip to use against the Seahorse Captain.

Vivid and descriptive writing set this reader right in the middle of the story and had me staying up way past my bedtime to find out what happens. I found my heart racing and my blood pounding through my veins as the ending neared. Now I’m afraid I am going to find myself stuck on The Meredith(Cazien’s ship) until book 4 comes out in 2015. Not a bad place to be stuck let me guarantee you! 

See post below for contest entries!!