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Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom
Twenty-five-year-old Jack Sparrow is a clean-cut merchant seaman pursuing a legitimate career as a first mate for the East India Trading Company. He sometimes thinks back to his boyhood pirating days, but he doesn’t miss Teague’s scrutiny or the constant threat of the noose. Besides, he doesn’t have much choice—he broke the Code when he freed a friend who had been accused of rogue piracy, and he can no longer show his face in Shipwreck Cove.
When Jack’s ship is attacked by pirates and his captain dies in the altercation, he suddenly finds himself in command. The wily sailor’s skillful negotiations with the pirate captain—who turns out to be a woman from his past—result in a favorable outcome that puts Jack in line for an official promotion.
After making port in Africa, Jack is summoned by Cutler Beckett, who makes him captain of a ship called the Wicked Wench . Beckett gives Jack an assignment. He has heard a legend about a magical island named Zerzura whose labyrinthine bowels are said to contain a glorious treasure. Beckett suspects that one of his house slaves, a girl named Ayisha, is from Zerzura. He asks Jack to take her along on his voyage and seduce her into divulging the island’s whereabouts. In payment for his services, Beckett promises Jack a share of the treasure.
But this task isn’t as easy as Jack initially believes. Before she agrees to reveal the location of her home, Ayisha insists that Jack take her to the New World to rescue her brother, who has been sold into slavery in the Bahamas. Their voyage is long and arduous, and as they weather a vicious storm and a surprise attack from an old pirate foe, Jack grows to respect and admire Ayisha’s bravery. He knows that Beckett intends to enslave her people after robbing them of their treasure, and Jack’s moral compass revolts at the idea. It might be possible to deliver Ayisha safely to Zerzura, obtain some of the treasure, and convince Beckett that he never found it . . . but the greedy E. I. T. C. official has eyes everywhere, and if he learns that Jack has foiled his plans, he could take away the thing that Captain Sparrow loves his ship—and his freedom.
When Jack’s ship is attacked by pirates and his captain dies in the altercation, he suddenly finds himself in command. The wily sailor’s skillful negotiations with the pirate captain—who turns out to be a woman from his past—result in a favorable outcome that puts Jack in line for an official promotion.
After making port in Africa, Jack is summoned by Cutler Beckett, who makes him captain of a ship called the Wicked Wench . Beckett gives Jack an assignment. He has heard a legend about a magical island named Zerzura whose labyrinthine bowels are said to contain a glorious treasure. Beckett suspects that one of his house slaves, a girl named Ayisha, is from Zerzura. He asks Jack to take her along on his voyage and seduce her into divulging the island’s whereabouts. In payment for his services, Beckett promises Jack a share of the treasure.
But this task isn’t as easy as Jack initially believes. Before she agrees to reveal the location of her home, Ayisha insists that Jack take her to the New World to rescue her brother, who has been sold into slavery in the Bahamas. Their voyage is long and arduous, and as they weather a vicious storm and a surprise attack from an old pirate foe, Jack grows to respect and admire Ayisha’s bravery. He knows that Beckett intends to enslave her people after robbing them of their treasure, and Jack’s moral compass revolts at the idea. It might be possible to deliver Ayisha safely to Zerzura, obtain some of the treasure, and convince Beckett that he never found it . . . but the greedy E. I. T. C. official has eyes everywhere, and if he learns that Jack has foiled his plans, he could take away the thing that Captain Sparrow loves his ship—and his freedom.
653 pages, Hardcover
First published May 20, 2011
232 people are currently reading
4758 people want to read
About the author
A.C. Crispin
71 books313 followersAnn Carol Crispin (1950-2013) was an American science fiction writer, the author of over twenty published novels. She wrote professionally since 1983. She wrote several Star Trek and Star Wars novels, and created her own original science fiction series called Starbridge.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
Crispin also served as Eastern Regional Director, and then Vice President, of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. With Victoria Strauss, she founded Writer Beware, a "watchdog" group that is part of SFWA that warns aspiring writers about the dangers of scam agents, editors, and publishers. Writer Beware was founded in 1998, and has assisted law enforcement and civil authorities in tracking and shutting down writing scams.
Crispin, who also wrote a prequel providing the back story for the popular Pirates of the Caribbean movie series, died on September 6th, 2013 at the Hospice of Charles County in Waldorf, aged 63.
She was married to science fiction author Michael Capobianco.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
April 20, 2017
If you're a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, you must read this.
Want to read
September 9, 2013Must read because, you know, Jack Sparrow.
February 11, 2011
First, a disclaimer: I'm Ann's friend and colleague, and I haven't just read "The Price of Freedom," I witnessed its creation. But I'm speaking as a reader, not a friend, when I say this is a terrific book.
"The Price of Freedom" covers an earlier period of Jack Sparrow's life--before the first of the POTC movies--and tells the story of how he became a pirate. Ann's an experienced tie-in writer, and she has a unique knack for capturing the heart and soul of familiar characters (there's a reason she's a New York Times best-selling author). Jack, Barbossa, and others come to vivid life on the page, and fans of the movies will be able to see and hear them as they read. Fans will especially enjoy exploring different aspects of Jack's character, and learning about his life in Shipwreck Cove...and what happened to make him leave it.
But make no mistake--this isn't just a novel for POTC fans. It's a complete stand-alone swashbuckling adventure, with mysterious treasure hunts, exciting battle scenes, exotic magics, menacing villains, a touch of romance, enough authentic nautical detail to satisfy even the most die-hard Patrick O'Brian fan, and, of course, pirates. There's humor, suspense, and a serious treatment of the issue of man's inhumanity to man. In other words--something for everyone. You don't need to have seen the POTC movies--or even to have heard of them--to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful novel.
"The Price of Freedom" covers an earlier period of Jack Sparrow's life--before the first of the POTC movies--and tells the story of how he became a pirate. Ann's an experienced tie-in writer, and she has a unique knack for capturing the heart and soul of familiar characters (there's a reason she's a New York Times best-selling author). Jack, Barbossa, and others come to vivid life on the page, and fans of the movies will be able to see and hear them as they read. Fans will especially enjoy exploring different aspects of Jack's character, and learning about his life in Shipwreck Cove...and what happened to make him leave it.
But make no mistake--this isn't just a novel for POTC fans. It's a complete stand-alone swashbuckling adventure, with mysterious treasure hunts, exciting battle scenes, exotic magics, menacing villains, a touch of romance, enough authentic nautical detail to satisfy even the most die-hard Patrick O'Brian fan, and, of course, pirates. There's humor, suspense, and a serious treatment of the issue of man's inhumanity to man. In other words--something for everyone. You don't need to have seen the POTC movies--or even to have heard of them--to enjoy and appreciate this wonderful novel.
July 8, 2011
When I put The Price of Freedom on hold, it was half as a joke - the thing seemed to me to be a giant, somehow published fanfic tome, and I wanted to see just how nuts it would be. And come on… more Captain Jack? I’m not going to say no to that.
And so the 653 pager sat on my library bookshelf for weeks, untouched. My boyfriend laughed at me, incredulous that I would read something so… so… geeky wasn’t the right word for it - no, he was shocked that I’d read something so ridiculous - and that such a book even existed.
I agreed with him - a 653 page written prequel to the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise? Seriously? Who came up with this idea? Who on earth would read this?
Me, that’s who. I picked it up late one night, figuring I would read 50 pages, then skip to the end and see how it all turned out. I was leaving for vacation the next morning, and needed something inane to get me to sleep - but not the book I was bringing with on vacation (A Clash of Kings); I needed to pay too much attention to that one to read before bed.
Two hours later, I was two hundred and fifty pages deep in Cap’n Jack’s sea jaunt, and had no intentions of putting the book down, ever.
Now, in her acknowledgments, A. C. Crispin extols her editors for their prime work eliminating anachronisms, idiosyncrasies, and anything else that didn’t need to be in the book. And I’m sure on those fronts, they did a great job. On actual grammatical and type error editing… not so much; not that I cared, the only thing the book lacked in my devouring of it was an audio recording of Johnny Depp reading his lines to me in that wonderful Sparrow voice of his.
Okay - so what the heck did Crispin write about for 653 pages that we needed to know and wasn’t in the movie?
First Mate Jack Sparrow, an employee of the East India Trading Company, (YES, I’LL SAY IT AGAIN: AN EMPLOYEE OF THE EITC), is somewhere in the Caribbean when his cargo ship is attacked. Luckily, the pirate captain of the attacking ship is a former lover of Jack’s, and doesn’t steal his entire cargo. Unluckily, Captain Baimbridge, furious at being attacked, boarded, and stolen from by a female pirate, tries to attack la Dona Pirata. In the ensuing swordfight, Baimbridge suffers from a heart attack and dies, leaving Jack in charge of the ship (though not officially captain… yet.)
Across the ocean, a princess and her brother set sail from a magically hidden island in search of their missing father. They are captured and sold into slavery, but not before Princess Amenirdis casts a protective spell over herself, altering her appearance to that of an old ugly hag. Separated from each other by the cruel slave trade, Amenirdis (now calling herself by the name Ayisha) longs for her brother and hopes for a chance at freedom.
Back at port, EITC employee Cutler Beckett comes into possession of a few pieces of golden jewelry he believes are connected to the legendary island of Kerma - and if he can locate the slave these pieces were stolen off of, he can locate Kerma’s treasure. His hunt soon leads him to suspect Ayisha’s involvement with the royal Kerman family, though her disguise and self-imposed language barrier deter Beckett’s ability to question her further.
Upon Jack’s return to shore with the pirate-lightened cargo ship, and explanation to Cutler Beckett the events of the pirate attack, he is promoted to Captain (huzzah! huzzah!) and given command of the vessel Wicked Wench. Beckett, ironically convinced that Ayisha was once a slave on the island of Kerma, tells Cap’n Jack to offer the woman escape from Beckett’s ownership and then charm her into giving up the location of the island. Then, Jack is to return to Beckett with the coordinates and the fabled Kerman treasure - and Beckett will set sail for Kerma with a dozen slave ships, prepared to snatch up the citizens.
Of course, we all know Cap’n Jack to be a moral man. Don’t we? And of course, Cap’n Jack has another plan up his sleeve - one that doesn’t involve stealing an entire population to be slaves or giving Cutler Beckett any treasure at all.
In The Price of Freedom, we see Jack in an entirely new light than the four movies (though I haven’t seen the fourth. Not sure about that one.) - and love him all the more for it. His wobbling morality and quick wit, paired with his prowess at the helm (of both a ship and a woman) make him an entirely lovable, dimensional character. One doesn’t have to have seen the movies to fall in love with this adventurous naval romp. The supernatural, mystical aspects of the book are, as in the movies, important to the characters’ survival, but not overarching. I hope Crispin continues the series where the movies leave off (though I imagine this to be a tricky undertaking what with the promise of five- and sixquels) - for just as in the movies, Captain Jack Sparrow is an addictive character.
And so the 653 pager sat on my library bookshelf for weeks, untouched. My boyfriend laughed at me, incredulous that I would read something so… so… geeky wasn’t the right word for it - no, he was shocked that I’d read something so ridiculous - and that such a book even existed.
I agreed with him - a 653 page written prequel to the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise? Seriously? Who came up with this idea? Who on earth would read this?
Me, that’s who. I picked it up late one night, figuring I would read 50 pages, then skip to the end and see how it all turned out. I was leaving for vacation the next morning, and needed something inane to get me to sleep - but not the book I was bringing with on vacation (A Clash of Kings); I needed to pay too much attention to that one to read before bed.
Two hours later, I was two hundred and fifty pages deep in Cap’n Jack’s sea jaunt, and had no intentions of putting the book down, ever.
Now, in her acknowledgments, A. C. Crispin extols her editors for their prime work eliminating anachronisms, idiosyncrasies, and anything else that didn’t need to be in the book. And I’m sure on those fronts, they did a great job. On actual grammatical and type error editing… not so much; not that I cared, the only thing the book lacked in my devouring of it was an audio recording of Johnny Depp reading his lines to me in that wonderful Sparrow voice of his.
Okay - so what the heck did Crispin write about for 653 pages that we needed to know and wasn’t in the movie?
First Mate Jack Sparrow, an employee of the East India Trading Company, (YES, I’LL SAY IT AGAIN: AN EMPLOYEE OF THE EITC), is somewhere in the Caribbean when his cargo ship is attacked. Luckily, the pirate captain of the attacking ship is a former lover of Jack’s, and doesn’t steal his entire cargo. Unluckily, Captain Baimbridge, furious at being attacked, boarded, and stolen from by a female pirate, tries to attack la Dona Pirata. In the ensuing swordfight, Baimbridge suffers from a heart attack and dies, leaving Jack in charge of the ship (though not officially captain… yet.)
Across the ocean, a princess and her brother set sail from a magically hidden island in search of their missing father. They are captured and sold into slavery, but not before Princess Amenirdis casts a protective spell over herself, altering her appearance to that of an old ugly hag. Separated from each other by the cruel slave trade, Amenirdis (now calling herself by the name Ayisha) longs for her brother and hopes for a chance at freedom.
Back at port, EITC employee Cutler Beckett comes into possession of a few pieces of golden jewelry he believes are connected to the legendary island of Kerma - and if he can locate the slave these pieces were stolen off of, he can locate Kerma’s treasure. His hunt soon leads him to suspect Ayisha’s involvement with the royal Kerman family, though her disguise and self-imposed language barrier deter Beckett’s ability to question her further.
Upon Jack’s return to shore with the pirate-lightened cargo ship, and explanation to Cutler Beckett the events of the pirate attack, he is promoted to Captain (huzzah! huzzah!) and given command of the vessel Wicked Wench. Beckett, ironically convinced that Ayisha was once a slave on the island of Kerma, tells Cap’n Jack to offer the woman escape from Beckett’s ownership and then charm her into giving up the location of the island. Then, Jack is to return to Beckett with the coordinates and the fabled Kerman treasure - and Beckett will set sail for Kerma with a dozen slave ships, prepared to snatch up the citizens.
Of course, we all know Cap’n Jack to be a moral man. Don’t we? And of course, Cap’n Jack has another plan up his sleeve - one that doesn’t involve stealing an entire population to be slaves or giving Cutler Beckett any treasure at all.
In The Price of Freedom, we see Jack in an entirely new light than the four movies (though I haven’t seen the fourth. Not sure about that one.) - and love him all the more for it. His wobbling morality and quick wit, paired with his prowess at the helm (of both a ship and a woman) make him an entirely lovable, dimensional character. One doesn’t have to have seen the movies to fall in love with this adventurous naval romp. The supernatural, mystical aspects of the book are, as in the movies, important to the characters’ survival, but not overarching. I hope Crispin continues the series where the movies leave off (though I imagine this to be a tricky undertaking what with the promise of five- and sixquels) - for just as in the movies, Captain Jack Sparrow is an addictive character.
September 3, 2021
In simple words: It's the "wish.com" version of the movies. It's fun to imagine a prequel to Jack's life and it's not that the book was bad it's that it could have been so easily better.
Too much "eh, love?", "savvy", and of course "oh, Jack! 😍". It lacked the subtlety of Jack's character. What makes Jack, JACK. You know, that je ne sais quoi? Yeah, there's was none of that. This Jack was too obvious and on the nose.
However, I did enjoy the historical knowledge along the way. I recognize all the hard work and research from the author. That was truly enjoyable.
But the book was 300 pages too long. And the writing curt and drowned in useless details.
Too much "eh, love?", "savvy", and of course "oh, Jack! 😍". It lacked the subtlety of Jack's character. What makes Jack, JACK. You know, that je ne sais quoi? Yeah, there's was none of that. This Jack was too obvious and on the nose.
However, I did enjoy the historical knowledge along the way. I recognize all the hard work and research from the author. That was truly enjoyable.
But the book was 300 pages too long. And the writing curt and drowned in useless details.
March 18, 2016
*Original review from 2011... didn't realize it wasn't up here, I plan on re-reading this soon*
It felt like I was right there with Jack & everyone throughout all their adventures, found myself missing everyone soon as I finished the last page *hugs book to chest* I can see myself reading this many more times in the future (i also plan buying this as birthday/Christmas gifts).
The first meeting of Jack/Barbossa was different than I expected but it was interesting... loved having a little more insight into Hector (maybe Disney will commission his back-story as well... i would buy it)
I didn't care for Cutler Beckett in POTC but I wanted to strangle him even more in the book... i had a little sympathy for him in a flashback scene but it was ripped away not very long after... miss crispin did an excellent job fleshing him out and giving him more depth.
Teague is a bit of bastard haha, but he's an intriguing person... definitely wouldn't want to be on his bad side.
The novel answers alot of questions I had about Jack but still leaves a few I'm hoping Disney will answer one day.
Miss Crispin's writing sucks you right in and doesn't let go, I found it very hard to put it down.
Highly recommend this book! :) many kudos to Anne Crispin, hope they tap you for the next 'Pirates' book (if there will be one down the road)She captured the voices of everyone perfectly and the richness of details was amazing!
In my opinion, i would love for Disney to adapt this into a feature film (I could see Jordana Brewster as Esmeralda, what do you think?)
It felt like I was right there with Jack & everyone throughout all their adventures, found myself missing everyone soon as I finished the last page *hugs book to chest* I can see myself reading this many more times in the future (i also plan buying this as birthday/Christmas gifts).
The first meeting of Jack/Barbossa was different than I expected but it was interesting... loved having a little more insight into Hector (maybe Disney will commission his back-story as well... i would buy it)
I didn't care for Cutler Beckett in POTC but I wanted to strangle him even more in the book... i had a little sympathy for him in a flashback scene but it was ripped away not very long after... miss crispin did an excellent job fleshing him out and giving him more depth.
Teague is a bit of bastard haha, but he's an intriguing person... definitely wouldn't want to be on his bad side.
The novel answers alot of questions I had about Jack but still leaves a few I'm hoping Disney will answer one day.
Miss Crispin's writing sucks you right in and doesn't let go, I found it very hard to put it down.
Highly recommend this book! :) many kudos to Anne Crispin, hope they tap you for the next 'Pirates' book (if there will be one down the road)She captured the voices of everyone perfectly and the richness of details was amazing!
In my opinion, i would love for Disney to adapt this into a feature film (I could see Jordana Brewster as Esmeralda, what do you think?)
July 23, 2023
I want to watch Pirates of the Caribbean again so bad now.
This was good. The pacing felt kind of off in some places, but overall it was a good story to consume, considering the recent aggressive return of my potc phase.
This was good. The pacing felt kind of off in some places, but overall it was a good story to consume, considering the recent aggressive return of my potc phase.
March 28, 2017
Fuller review hopefully to come, but let's just say I am a huge A.C. Crispin fan, and am now a huge Pirates of the Caribbean fan ;)
October 8, 2011
I was very excited when I heard this book was coming out. I loved the Pirates of the Caribbean films almost as much as the ride itself. To get some background on Captain Jack Sparrow would be a great treat. I even recommended it to a fellow fan, sight unseen. In other words, I was predisposed to like this book.
But I did not. I gave it a try. I slogged through it to the very end, after a fashion. I fully read the first third, speed read the middle third and skimmed the last. If it weren't for the fan boy in me, yearning to learn what I could about Jack, I wouldn't have bothered.
It's overly long. The first part of the book is filled with flashbacks that bring the story to almost a complete stop. They are interesting bits, but it would have been wise to find another way to tell that even earlier tale of Jack's history. Perhaps that is the main flaw of this volume. It is trying to tell two tales.
There are other flaws. I noticed quite a few annoying word repetitions - multiple sentences on the same page that started with or contained the same phrase two, three, or more times. This offended my inner ear. And I'm not pointing out Jack's constant use of the word 'savvy', which I expected, but also found it annoying after a while.
This is not to say the book is not without its highlights. There is the kernel of a good adventure, or two, here. There are flashes of good characterization, both familiar - Jack, Barbarossa, Cutler Beckett - and new. There is obviously good research into these and into seamanship. The result, however, is overblown, badly structured, poorly written, and over long.
I was disappointed. Your mileage may vary.
But I did not. I gave it a try. I slogged through it to the very end, after a fashion. I fully read the first third, speed read the middle third and skimmed the last. If it weren't for the fan boy in me, yearning to learn what I could about Jack, I wouldn't have bothered.
It's overly long. The first part of the book is filled with flashbacks that bring the story to almost a complete stop. They are interesting bits, but it would have been wise to find another way to tell that even earlier tale of Jack's history. Perhaps that is the main flaw of this volume. It is trying to tell two tales.
There are other flaws. I noticed quite a few annoying word repetitions - multiple sentences on the same page that started with or contained the same phrase two, three, or more times. This offended my inner ear. And I'm not pointing out Jack's constant use of the word 'savvy', which I expected, but also found it annoying after a while.
This is not to say the book is not without its highlights. There is the kernel of a good adventure, or two, here. There are flashes of good characterization, both familiar - Jack, Barbarossa, Cutler Beckett - and new. There is obviously good research into these and into seamanship. The result, however, is overblown, badly structured, poorly written, and over long.
I was disappointed. Your mileage may vary.
November 12, 2011
Just like the films, I thought this book was a lot of fun, but not as good as it could have been. Sometimes the writing seemed very juvenile, almost like something I would have written when I was 13 or 14. The first half of the book dragged, and then all of the really good stuff at the end went by in a flash. I felt like some things were just tacked on to correlate with the films. I also felt like Jack didn't really develop, and I had a very hard time picturing him. I just had hard time reconciling the two characters; the Jack in this book just didn't seem like the same character played by Johnny Depp. So much of it just seemed weak to me. However, it was a really fun read (once you got past the monotonous stuff).
I would definitely read another POTC book by A.C. Crispin, but more because it will be a fun read rather than because it will be well-written.
P.S. If you enjoyed the nautical/piratical aspects of this book, you'll really like the Jacky Faber books by L.A. Meyer. The first book is a bit tough to get through, but after that, they just keep getting better and better.
I would definitely read another POTC book by A.C. Crispin, but more because it will be a fun read rather than because it will be well-written.
P.S. If you enjoyed the nautical/piratical aspects of this book, you'll really like the Jacky Faber books by L.A. Meyer. The first book is a bit tough to get through, but after that, they just keep getting better and better.
September 12, 2011
2.5 stars.
There were a lot of issues with pacing--even though this was an easy read, it felt like I was slogging through it most of the time, in part because the first half of the book is told largely through flashbacks interspersed with the current story. There is also some information about sailing, merchant seamen, and piracy that reads like a bit of a "my research let me show you it" infodump, which is boring if you already know a bit about the Age of Sail (and possibly even if you don't and just aren't very interested).
I also had a lot of issues with Jack's characterization; there were definitely moments where I went, "Yes, this is the Jack Sparrow I know and love," especially during his interactions with Beckett, but there was a lot of characterization I wasn't willing to accept even taking into account that this was a younger and more naive Jack. I felt that both the pacing and characterization were much better towards the end, which I really liked, but I'm not sure it made up for the ~500 pages where I kept asking myself if my dedication to the PotC franchise was strong enough to keep me reading.
On a very pedantic note, early on in the book the Faithful Bride tavern is referred to as being in Port Royal, when it is actually in Tortuga. Not a mistake that most people would notice, but enough to throw a nitpicky, overly-devoted PotC fan like myself out of the story for a moment.
There were a lot of issues with pacing--even though this was an easy read, it felt like I was slogging through it most of the time, in part because the first half of the book is told largely through flashbacks interspersed with the current story. There is also some information about sailing, merchant seamen, and piracy that reads like a bit of a "my research let me show you it" infodump, which is boring if you already know a bit about the Age of Sail (and possibly even if you don't and just aren't very interested).
I also had a lot of issues with Jack's characterization; there were definitely moments where I went, "Yes, this is the Jack Sparrow I know and love," especially during his interactions with Beckett, but there was a lot of characterization I wasn't willing to accept even taking into account that this was a younger and more naive Jack. I felt that both the pacing and characterization were much better towards the end, which I really liked, but I'm not sure it made up for the ~500 pages where I kept asking myself if my dedication to the PotC franchise was strong enough to keep me reading.
On a very pedantic note, early on in the book the Faithful Bride tavern is referred to as being in Port Royal, when it is actually in Tortuga. Not a mistake that most people would notice, but enough to throw a nitpicky, overly-devoted PotC fan like myself out of the story for a moment.
June 22, 2011
I was surprised when I really enjoyed this book--I was expecting to be jarred by inconsistencies in setting, history or voice, but I can only think of one occasion where the book didn't read true to the movies. I think AC Crispin did an excellent job of setting up the Jack that we met in the movies, showing where some of his interesting behaviour patterns came from. What I really liked is that she didn't just rewrite Jack as he appeared in the movies--it was much more believable that his behaviour would be more straight-forward in his younger years, and that life experience is what created the persona that we met on the big screen. She left some tantalising hints about Jack's childhood that I, for one (even as a born cynic), would be willing to read another book to discover.
I also enjoyed how she treated the other characters in the books and, while their integration into this story was not as smooth as Jack's, they were obviously well thought out and the writing was smooth and very accessible.
IMHO, I think Ms. Crispin took a difficult task and performed admirably at it. Congratulations!
I also enjoyed how she treated the other characters in the books and, while their integration into this story was not as smooth as Jack's, they were obviously well thought out and the writing was smooth and very accessible.
IMHO, I think Ms. Crispin took a difficult task and performed admirably at it. Congratulations!
June 22, 2017
A.C. Crispin is basically the lord of fan-fic writers. She takes fan-fic to a while new level.
In glorious fashion that Disney is known for, Crispin makes this story sparkle and opens the door to answers for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise we didn't know we needed answers to.
Enjoyable read!
In glorious fashion that Disney is known for, Crispin makes this story sparkle and opens the door to answers for the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise we didn't know we needed answers to.
Enjoyable read!
August 25, 2025
Non è certo facile prendere un brand di successo e voler scrivere il passato di un personaggio già visto sullo schermo. E altrettanto scrivere una storia interessante senza replicare pari pari quelle che sono state le motivazioni del successo.
Purtroppo, qui la problematica va ben oltre quell'aspetto, per il quale potrebbe essere anche questione di gusti. Semplicemente, è un libro noioso, la cui trama è mal raccontata anche quando le cose potrebbero farsi interessanti, e manca completamente di ritmo e di interesse.
Purtroppo, qui la problematica va ben oltre quell'aspetto, per il quale potrebbe essere anche questione di gusti. Semplicemente, è un libro noioso, la cui trama è mal raccontata anche quando le cose potrebbero farsi interessanti, e manca completamente di ritmo e di interesse.
August 20, 2020
The only thing keeping this from being a five star book for me is that Crispin has a tendency to reuse the same phrase repeatedly. The first time she wrote "It was not a pleasant expression." in response to someone's smile, I had chills. The second time it was fine but lost some of it's edge. The third time, and every time thereafter, the phrases impact was diminished more and more until I rolled my eyes when I read it. Along with an overuse of ellipses, these writing style choices are what bring me down to four stars.
The story itself was amazing, a backstory for my favourite Pirate Captain that I can get behind. While this book doesn't line up with the backstory we were given in the fifth film (Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge) I enjoy this version of events far more. The use of nautical and historical terminology gave the feeling of being on the Wicked Wench with Jack and company, though if you are not familiar with these terms or the golden age of piracy I imagine it could become easy to get lost in the descriptions or to follow the events during storms and battles. The extensive mythology surounding Zerzura and Kerma was captured beautifully and Cutler Beckett was a fantastic villain with his tragic backstory™ and unhinged reaction at the end of the book.
All in all, The Price of Freedom was a spectacular book that, assuming I can get my hands on a copy that isn't borrowed, I will read again and again.
The story itself was amazing, a backstory for my favourite Pirate Captain that I can get behind. While this book doesn't line up with the backstory we were given in the fifth film (Dead Men Tell No Tales/Salazar's Revenge) I enjoy this version of events far more. The use of nautical and historical terminology gave the feeling of being on the Wicked Wench with Jack and company, though if you are not familiar with these terms or the golden age of piracy I imagine it could become easy to get lost in the descriptions or to follow the events during storms and battles. The extensive mythology surounding Zerzura and Kerma was captured beautifully and Cutler Beckett was a fantastic villain with his tragic backstory™ and unhinged reaction at the end of the book.
All in all, The Price of Freedom was a spectacular book that, assuming I can get my hands on a copy that isn't borrowed, I will read again and again.
December 17, 2023
As a lifelong Pirates fan, this was super satisfying. Now I know all the juicy history between Jack and Beckett, so the movies will be totally different now. I'm a little thrown by the idea that the Brethren Court can summon Davy Jones and get his account of things that occur at sea whenever they want. Also the fact that he appears to every man that's dead or dying at Sea suggests that he was doing his duty of ferrying souls at the time that this book occurred. What changed in the 13 years between this book and the movies where he stopped doing that duty? And if he's still doing that duty in this book, why is he so tentacley? There are a bunch of little inconsistencies like this, but overall I accept it as Canon. Highly recommend to anybody who's been curious about the history between Jack and Beckett.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2011
I really wanted to like this book. I tried to like it. While it's obviously well researched, I just found the storyline a bit on the skanky side. To paraphrase a line from one of the Pirates movie...I felt sullied.
This book was twice as long as it needed to be, I want story and a bit of pirate behavior, I don't care about the rigging or details of the ships.
I'd say wait until it's out in paperback to read it. I expected better.
This book was twice as long as it needed to be, I want story and a bit of pirate behavior, I don't care about the rigging or details of the ships.
I'd say wait until it's out in paperback to read it. I expected better.
May 16, 2017
Very educational in the world of POTC. Now I know a lot of things! But I don't like Jacl's character that much. Robby Greene and Chamba were my favorite characters.
Read
September 29, 2025As a massive fan of the films, I was excited to discover there was this prequel book, delving into the interesting backstory that was hinted to in the films. Jack is such a fascinating character, and there was a lot of potential from what was left unsaid when we see him on the screen.
And you know what, this book does satisfy that. It shows Jack in very different lights, both as a young pirate and as an officer/captain in the EITC. You can tell it’s still the same Jack, but hearing his internal thoughts adds a new layer to the story. Cutler Beckett is also very interesting and it certainly adds depth to his character.
The story is a slow start, especially with the constant flashbacks, and one does have to wonder whether there were two novels in here rather than one, although I can see this was probably the only chance there was to write a prequel book, so you might as well try and get as much in as you can!
There was also a slight imbalance with pacing. Some things happened very quickly, including very key plot points. The last chapter covers a lot of ground to get everyone where they needed to be, yet the early chapters are slower paced and take time to detail rather arduous events. There was also a lack of action. There weren’t many battles, sword fights or much piracy. There’s an angle that says well yes, that’s sort of the point, and I get that action isn’t necessarily as good when read, but this is Pirates of the Caribbean! There are certain elements that have to come with that brand.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book. As a canon junky, it fits very well (bar whatever they tried to do with the fifth film flashbacks, but we can ignore that). It gives us more explanation, and more depth to Jack and his relationship with the Pearl and Beckett. It’s an interesting time and doesn’t hide away from the bleaker aspects of being a pirate and sailing in that time period. It seems to be mostly historically sound, and adds a couple of interesting details that you just wouldn’t get in the films. I’m delighted to have read this as another part of the Pirates story, and wish there were a few more to follow!
And you know what, this book does satisfy that. It shows Jack in very different lights, both as a young pirate and as an officer/captain in the EITC. You can tell it’s still the same Jack, but hearing his internal thoughts adds a new layer to the story. Cutler Beckett is also very interesting and it certainly adds depth to his character.
The story is a slow start, especially with the constant flashbacks, and one does have to wonder whether there were two novels in here rather than one, although I can see this was probably the only chance there was to write a prequel book, so you might as well try and get as much in as you can!
There was also a slight imbalance with pacing. Some things happened very quickly, including very key plot points. The last chapter covers a lot of ground to get everyone where they needed to be, yet the early chapters are slower paced and take time to detail rather arduous events. There was also a lack of action. There weren’t many battles, sword fights or much piracy. There’s an angle that says well yes, that’s sort of the point, and I get that action isn’t necessarily as good when read, but this is Pirates of the Caribbean! There are certain elements that have to come with that brand.
On the whole, I really enjoyed this book. As a canon junky, it fits very well (bar whatever they tried to do with the fifth film flashbacks, but we can ignore that). It gives us more explanation, and more depth to Jack and his relationship with the Pearl and Beckett. It’s an interesting time and doesn’t hide away from the bleaker aspects of being a pirate and sailing in that time period. It seems to be mostly historically sound, and adds a couple of interesting details that you just wouldn’t get in the films. I’m delighted to have read this as another part of the Pirates story, and wish there were a few more to follow!
April 5, 2025
An epic journey and lots of Jack Sparrow. Loved his interactions, although the ending was bittersweet. I don't agree with people saying it was slow the first 300 pages, I was sucked in from the get-go. I have lost many hours of sleep to this story and do not regret it one bit. Learning about Beckett's life was very interesting and I find historical details such as table etiquette and hygiene habits adding a lot to the ambience. However there was one thing bothering me: at times I felt the trope of magical black person (there were three in particular) here a bit strong, although not enough to deter me. Definitely a strong book to let the mind wander!
May 28, 2020
It was a little slow at first, detailing the backstories of some of the characters, but once it got started, it really got started. This book shows Jack Sparrow’s life before the movies, how he met Cutler Beckett and Davy Jones, as well as the lovely Esmeralda. It shows some of his adventures before The Black Pearl and his history with the EITC. It’s a truly wonderful story.
February 21, 2025
You know what, if I could get paid to write 650-page Pirates of the Caribbean fanfiction, I would do it too.
June 25, 2011
When I was a kid, I read Tim Powers' On Stranger Tides, and loved its mix of pirates and magic. When the Pirates of the Caribbean movies came out, I became a huge fan for the same reasons. I wanted more stories along those lines, so when this tie-in novel (the first Pirates of the Caribbean novel not aimed at grade school readers) came along, I couldn't wait to read it.
Unlike many tie-in novels, it's a substantial read, at over 650 pages. It's also satisfying, without feeling overlong or superfluous. It tells the story of young Jack Sparrow at a couple of turning points in his life. In it, A.C. Crispin captures the feel of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and the voice of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, without directly copying stuff from the movies.
What makes this novel interesting to me is the focus on Sparrow himself. In the movies, he's entertaining, but the sort of character who can't grow or develop or change. The movies are about his adventures, but they aren't about him. This novel gives fans a unique opportunity to see Jack develop into the man we see on the screen. It wouldn't necessarily make a good Pirates movie, because it deviates too far from that formula. But as a novel, it makes a good supplement.
My one real complaint is that Crispin alludes to numerous events in Jack's childhood which really should be as important as the stuff we actually do see in the book. I have to guess that these events are depicted in the juvenile chapter books that have already been published. That's fine, but those books are mostly out of print now, and also aimed at a different audience than this novel. So it would have been nice, as an older reader, to get some more detail in this book.
Overall, this is a surprisingly well-written tie-in novel, and one I very willingly recommend to fans of the movie series. I don't want to see a series of Jack Sparrow adventure novels; those are the stories the movies should tell, and just doing more in books would take the specialness away from both. But as a one-off story fleshing out the background of Jack Sparrow, this is pretty cool.
Unlike many tie-in novels, it's a substantial read, at over 650 pages. It's also satisfying, without feeling overlong or superfluous. It tells the story of young Jack Sparrow at a couple of turning points in his life. In it, A.C. Crispin captures the feel of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and the voice of Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow, without directly copying stuff from the movies.
What makes this novel interesting to me is the focus on Sparrow himself. In the movies, he's entertaining, but the sort of character who can't grow or develop or change. The movies are about his adventures, but they aren't about him. This novel gives fans a unique opportunity to see Jack develop into the man we see on the screen. It wouldn't necessarily make a good Pirates movie, because it deviates too far from that formula. But as a novel, it makes a good supplement.
My one real complaint is that Crispin alludes to numerous events in Jack's childhood which really should be as important as the stuff we actually do see in the book. I have to guess that these events are depicted in the juvenile chapter books that have already been published. That's fine, but those books are mostly out of print now, and also aimed at a different audience than this novel. So it would have been nice, as an older reader, to get some more detail in this book.
Overall, this is a surprisingly well-written tie-in novel, and one I very willingly recommend to fans of the movie series. I don't want to see a series of Jack Sparrow adventure novels; those are the stories the movies should tell, and just doing more in books would take the specialness away from both. But as a one-off story fleshing out the background of Jack Sparrow, this is pretty cool.
July 29, 2014
This is a surprisingly difficult review to write. Probably because when I think of this book, my mind kind of goes "Yeah...no...I don't...maybe...Yeah."
That to say, my approach to the entire thing is a bit 'meh'. There was nothing outrageously bad about The Price of Freedom - in fact, I enjoyed some aspects, such as the curtained approach to the Teague and Jack relationship and some of the flavours of the famous Jack Sparrow we know in his otherwise different character here. I also liked the use of flashbacks to build up to Jack's turning point.
But there were weaknesses... The writing had a very juvenile feel to it, and I can't quite put my finger on what made it so. The plot wasn't the most creative thing I have ever read, and the novel just generally didn't have that touch of fun that the movies have made millions off of. In fact, I think it took about 300 pages for anything to really happen. The events themselves were also very precariously plotted. The book began with a glimpse of what was happening to Ayisha's family, but after a few hundred pages or Jack-Esmerelda-Beckett Backstory, you easily forget that it's even a critical part of the story. If it even was a critical part of the story. To be frank, there wasn't much of a main 'plot' as it were - rather one steadily building problem, that was rather quickly solved so a few more trivial things could lead to what everybody (I'm assuming) was reading to see in the first place: the birth of our Pirate Jack!
Then there was Jack's 'burning' relationship with Esmerelda, which quickly moulds into his one with Ayisha, with no significant differences between their dynamics in the slightest.
All in all, the story was bland. In both plot and characters, and especially when one holds it up against Curse of the Black Pearl, or even On Stranger Tides (yes, I did just say that).
So let's just finish this with a resounding 'meh'.
That to say, my approach to the entire thing is a bit 'meh'. There was nothing outrageously bad about The Price of Freedom - in fact, I enjoyed some aspects, such as the curtained approach to the Teague and Jack relationship and some of the flavours of the famous Jack Sparrow we know in his otherwise different character here. I also liked the use of flashbacks to build up to Jack's turning point.
But there were weaknesses... The writing had a very juvenile feel to it, and I can't quite put my finger on what made it so. The plot wasn't the most creative thing I have ever read, and the novel just generally didn't have that touch of fun that the movies have made millions off of. In fact, I think it took about 300 pages for anything to really happen. The events themselves were also very precariously plotted. The book began with a glimpse of what was happening to Ayisha's family, but after a few hundred pages or Jack-Esmerelda-Beckett Backstory, you easily forget that it's even a critical part of the story. If it even was a critical part of the story. To be frank, there wasn't much of a main 'plot' as it were - rather one steadily building problem, that was rather quickly solved so a few more trivial things could lead to what everybody (I'm assuming) was reading to see in the first place: the birth of our Pirate Jack!
Then there was Jack's 'burning' relationship with Esmerelda, which quickly moulds into his one with Ayisha, with no significant differences between their dynamics in the slightest.
All in all, the story was bland. In both plot and characters, and especially when one holds it up against Curse of the Black Pearl, or even On Stranger Tides (yes, I did just say that).
So let's just finish this with a resounding 'meh'.
June 15, 2012
A surprisingly engaging, exciting, and fairly mature read. Having just re-read all of Rob Kidd's Young Jack Sparrow books I think I was expecting something sort of in keeping with that series, but that was not at all the case. Then again, this is a 657 page novel, so perhaps I should have known better.
What I love best about any book is when you can tell the author did their homework, and Crispin definitely did hers. Her descriptions of life aboard a ship, as well as her usage of nautical terms, phrases, orders, slang, etc. is both perfect and seamless. More than that, you're never left wondering what the hell she's talking about, like they're speaking a foreign language - something I've struggled with in writing of a similar nature. Crispin introduces each new bit of lingo in such a way that non-sailors will at least have an impression of what it means to tack into the wind or to reef the sails.
The plot is both interesting and in keeping with the established lore of the PotC universe. Those familiar with Kidd's body of work will find some minor divergences between them, but I think you'll agree, they hardly matter. Jack's link to Cutler Beckett, the Pearl, and Davy Jones are expanded upon, taking the basic backstory Disney has given and turning it into something fuller and with much more color and depth.
There are a few questions still left unanswered, making me wondered if there will ever be another novel in this series. The book ends at the beginning of Jack's thirteen year Captaincy of the Black Pearl. While the movies tell us that he has the Pearl for three years before he's "viciously mutinied upon", then spends the next ten or so trying to get it back (before the movies take place), so what happened between? Also, a character appears here who is the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean, a title Jack holds by the first PotC movie. How does this title pass to him?
I would very much like to know.
What I love best about any book is when you can tell the author did their homework, and Crispin definitely did hers. Her descriptions of life aboard a ship, as well as her usage of nautical terms, phrases, orders, slang, etc. is both perfect and seamless. More than that, you're never left wondering what the hell she's talking about, like they're speaking a foreign language - something I've struggled with in writing of a similar nature. Crispin introduces each new bit of lingo in such a way that non-sailors will at least have an impression of what it means to tack into the wind or to reef the sails.
The plot is both interesting and in keeping with the established lore of the PotC universe. Those familiar with Kidd's body of work will find some minor divergences between them, but I think you'll agree, they hardly matter. Jack's link to Cutler Beckett, the Pearl, and Davy Jones are expanded upon, taking the basic backstory Disney has given and turning it into something fuller and with much more color and depth.
There are a few questions still left unanswered, making me wondered if there will ever be another novel in this series. The book ends at the beginning of Jack's thirteen year Captaincy of the Black Pearl. While the movies tell us that he has the Pearl for three years before he's "viciously mutinied upon", then spends the next ten or so trying to get it back (before the movies take place), so what happened between? Also, a character appears here who is the Pirate Lord of the Caribbean, a title Jack holds by the first PotC movie. How does this title pass to him?
I would very much like to know.
September 20, 2024
Soundtrack: Cracks (Flux Pavilion Remix) by Freestylers
“Obedient to her captain's will, The Black Pearl followed her dark angel over the azure water; as fast as the wind, as free as the men who sailed her. It was almost as though she knew she was a legend in the making, destined for adventures both great and terrible...”
A boisterous adventure of rogues, romance, and mayhem, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom is a fantastic look at Jack Sparrow's life before piracy.
I remember reading this a few years ago and feeling such joy and affection for it. It was such a wild ride and extremely well-researched; it far exceeded my expectations, and they were high enough that I paid quite a bit for this book without knowing too much about it. Giving a whole new layer to the infamous captain of the Black Pearl, the story drags you into the whirlwind of what came before and why. It dives into the character and peels him open to show you what ticks beneath his surface, including his many flaws and many horrors that are only briefly mentioned in the films.
Sometime soon, I hope to read this again. Honestly, it is one of the best piracy novels I have read. There was a spirited air to this book that has really stayed with me, and A.C. Crispin's charming magical world of seafaring and plundering is something that I need to revisit!
“Obedient to her captain's will, The Black Pearl followed her dark angel over the azure water; as fast as the wind, as free as the men who sailed her. It was almost as though she knew she was a legend in the making, destined for adventures both great and terrible...”
A boisterous adventure of rogues, romance, and mayhem, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Price of Freedom is a fantastic look at Jack Sparrow's life before piracy.
I remember reading this a few years ago and feeling such joy and affection for it. It was such a wild ride and extremely well-researched; it far exceeded my expectations, and they were high enough that I paid quite a bit for this book without knowing too much about it. Giving a whole new layer to the infamous captain of the Black Pearl, the story drags you into the whirlwind of what came before and why. It dives into the character and peels him open to show you what ticks beneath his surface, including his many flaws and many horrors that are only briefly mentioned in the films.
Sometime soon, I hope to read this again. Honestly, it is one of the best piracy novels I have read. There was a spirited air to this book that has really stayed with me, and A.C. Crispin's charming magical world of seafaring and plundering is something that I need to revisit!
July 10, 2017
An entertaining story of Captain Jack Sparrow's "P" pirate branding and how he came to make his deal with Davy Jones to captain the Black Pearl for 13 years!
It's also great to see how he comes by certain "Jack" items, such as: his compass from Tia Dalma, his red bandanna from Esmeralda, and his red stripped scarf from Princess Amenirdis.
I would have like to see more of what happens after he the Pearl is resurrected from the sea, for those three years before Barbossa munitnied.
Definitely, in the beginning, when I read the Jack Sparrow lines, I could hear Johnny Depp saying them as Captain Jack Sparrow. Then through the book, it kinda loses the "Jack" flare.
The bit about learning the past of Cutler Beckett and how he wanted a title through the EITC was extraneous, it tried to soften him, instead of giving him the backbone to who he becomes, the evil conniving man we see in the movies. And his resolution of a title is thwarted, it is not rewarded, so it does not answer how he becomes "Lord" Cutler Beckett. Though, there are several years between this book and the start of The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Overall, a fun Pirates of the Caribbean cannon book and one that the new writers should have read when they crafted the film script Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
It's also great to see how he comes by certain "Jack" items, such as: his compass from Tia Dalma, his red bandanna from Esmeralda, and his red stripped scarf from Princess Amenirdis.
I would have like to see more of what happens after he the Pearl is resurrected from the sea, for those three years before Barbossa munitnied.
Definitely, in the beginning, when I read the Jack Sparrow lines, I could hear Johnny Depp saying them as Captain Jack Sparrow. Then through the book, it kinda loses the "Jack" flare.
The bit about learning the past of Cutler Beckett and how he wanted a title through the EITC was extraneous, it tried to soften him, instead of giving him the backbone to who he becomes, the evil conniving man we see in the movies. And his resolution of a title is thwarted, it is not rewarded, so it does not answer how he becomes "Lord" Cutler Beckett. Though, there are several years between this book and the start of The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Overall, a fun Pirates of the Caribbean cannon book and one that the new writers should have read when they crafted the film script Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017).
March 29, 2020
My good God. Soy totalmente imparcial con este libro, a little disclaimer, y ahora pasaré a explicar por qué.
Un poco de backstory pues me siento locuaz en esta mañana de insomnio y cuarentena. Soy muy fanática de las películas de Piratas del Caribe excepto la quinta cuya existencia ignoramos en esta casa, I know I know, shame on me. Amo la historia, a los personajes, el sublime soundtrack por el maestro Hans Zimmer; vi las películas más veces de las que puedo contar, arrasé con todo material extra con el que me topé y, como no podría ser de otra forma, el capitán Jack Sparrow es uno de mis personajes favoritos de todos los mundos y tiempos ficticios con los que me he cruzado.
Pensando que era sólo una narración escrita de las películas no le presté mucha atención, pero el año pasado, por alguna razón me encontré con el título de nuevo vagando por internet y descubrí que en realidad es una precuela de la saga que cuenta la historia de Jack Sparrow desde pequeño, aunque obviamente centrándose en una aventura en particular que básicamente es la historia entre Cutler Beckett y Jack. Desde entonces quise conseguirlo pero no pude, ni siquiera en BookDepository que recientemente había empezado a usar. Hasta que hace dos semanas recordé la existencia de mi tablet y de los ebooks y me encomendé a la tarea de hallar este libro en formato electrónico, which I obviously did.
Mi objetivo contando este interminable cuento es que se vea la vehemencia con la que quería leer este libro. Esa es en parte la razón tanto de que me gustara como lo hizo como de que me decepcionara en otros ciertos aspectos.Para empezar con la escritura... podría haber sido mucho mejor. Esperaba un poco más. Algo más maduro. Also, la distribución de la historia por así decirlo no fue la mejor; se desarrolla bastante lentamente la historia y lo interesante de verdad pasa volando en las últimas cien páginas. Hacia los capítulos finales ya quería que terminara (pues 653 páginas) pero quería leer más y más de las cosas que estaban pasando porque las había esperado todo el fucking libro y hasta me quedaron cosas sin cerrar . Having said that, fue ligero y divertido de leer. Ergo, aunque objetivamente no fue lo más gramatical o literariamente sofisticado que he leído fue muy entretenido de todas formas y sirvió justito para la historia.
La mayor parte del pasado pirata de Jack se cuenta a través de flashbacks durante la primera parte del libro (¿la mitad quizá?) hasta que las dos historias, la pasada y la actual, convergen y dejan de aparecer los flashbacks. Repito lo que dije antes, no estuvo armado de la mejor manera pero tampoco fue lo peor del mundo. Los flashbacks podrían haber sido capítulos aparte entre los que narraban la historia del presente en vez de decir "y entonces recordó la última vez que vio un barco así..." y que en el medio de un capítulo te metan una parte completa de otra historia. Pero tampoco me pasó que se me mezclaran los tiempos o fuera difícil de seguir la cronología u know?AMÉ con pasión a las mujeres poderosas e independientes de este libro ok? Cada vez que Esmeralda aparecía en mi mente se repetía QUÉ MUJER como mantra. Me encantó que Amenirdis y ella fueran las que siempre salvaban a todos. Inteligentes, fuertes, valientes y las amo mucho. Justo lo que quería leer de un libro sobre piratas, mujeres piratas siendo badass bitches.
"He washed the last swallow of his repast down with more of the tea—plain bloody tea; she hadn't allowed him to put so much as a drop of rum in it! Bossy woman. Beautiful, competent, bossy woman..."En partes se me hacía difícil conciliar la imagen que tenía de Jack interpretado por Johnny Depp (mi amorcyto) con la versión que presenta A.C. Crispin acá, pero considero que eso fue porque en realidad esta es la construcción del que conozco y estuvo muy bueno poder ver eso. La verdad que la composición de los personajes sí estuvo muy bien, no había personajes planos sino que todos tenían dimensión y se les dio un lugar para desarrollarse aunque no fueran protagonistas. I liked dat. Todos los que quiero un montón se van igual y eso ME DOLIÓ pero por lo menos no murieron.
Así que en fin, todo esto para decir que es uno de esos libros que si bien no es técnicamente perfecto es una lectura divertida y, si te gustan las pelis de PoTC con toda raz��n tenés que leerlo. Me parecieron un toque excesivas la cantidad de páginas en relación con la cantidad de preguntas que quedan AÚN sin responder, pero si hubieran sido menos hubiera sufrido porque me encantó leer tanto del capitán Jack Sparrow. My baby. Da muchas explicaciones a cosas de la saga que me hacen amarla todavía más y lo amé no puedo evitarlo soy fan cambio y fuera porque esta verborragia no se quita.
August 27, 2012
I picked this up because I LOVE all things pirates, and I especially love Pirates of the Caribbean and I have to say, this book did not disappoint. The first paragraph sucks you in, and ends with the ever-classic line by Jack Sparrow asking why the rum is (half) gone. Throughout the story I found myself giggling as I recognized names from the movies, getting very excited when A.C. Crispin referenced REAL Pirates of the Caribbean with amazing historical accuracy. I absolutely loved reading about Jack's adventures as a young man that led to him becoming the CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow that we all know and love. Crispin seamlessly weaves this story into the life of Jack Sparrow from the movies and gives enough background information that we learn where Jack got items that are recognizable as his (the sash around his waist, his red bandana, etc.). I am hoping that there will be more Jack Sparrow based stories from Crispin in the future covering more of Jack's adventures prior to us meeting him in the first movie.
Seriously, read this book.
Seriously, read this book.
March 4, 2011
This was an ARC my good friend K. Marie gave me, just for fun. This story is all about Captain Jack Sparrow before he got the Black Pearl. Okay, it's more like HOW he got the Black Pearl. If you enjoyed the movies, even remotely, you'll have fun with this.
It took me while to get through because the chapters are a bit lengthy, and I like to read in chapters if I can. Since I've been busy, it's been hard to find the time lately. But finish it, I did- enjoyably so.
FYI- This book is being published as an official Disney edition story and is marked for ages 13 and up- as it should be. The language is pretty clean, but there are some fairly suggestive love scenes that really would be inappropriate for younger children. Oh, and killing. Not too graphic though.
It took me while to get through because the chapters are a bit lengthy, and I like to read in chapters if I can. Since I've been busy, it's been hard to find the time lately. But finish it, I did- enjoyably so.
FYI- This book is being published as an official Disney edition story and is marked for ages 13 and up- as it should be. The language is pretty clean, but there are some fairly suggestive love scenes that really would be inappropriate for younger children. Oh, and killing. Not too graphic though.
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