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The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray
Storms and pirates are nothing compared to the evil within men’s hearts.
After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of superstitious townsfolk, Ophelia Young, a bastard child of the notorious pirate queen, is tired of paying for the sins of her mother. Despite playing by the rules her whole life, she’s earned nothing but spite and suspicion. So when a naval officer saves her from the jeering crowd at her mother’s hanging, Ophelia hatches a new hope of enlisting in the navy to escape her mother’s legacy and redeem her own reputation for good. But Ophelia soon discovers that a life at sea isn’t as honorable as she hoped.
Betsy Young is as different as she could be from her half-sister Ophelia. She’s a nervous homebody who wants to keep her family safe and longs to be in love. So naturally, she’s devastated when the son of their family’s business partner rejects her hand in marriage and her sister joins the navy. But when her father contracts a life-threatening illness as well, Betsy has to bring Ophelia home to save the family business.
Unfortunately for the Young sisters, Betsy trying to get Ophelia recalled reveals that Ophelia enlisted fraudulently under Betsy’s name, a secret which Ophelia struggles to keep from crewmates who would kill her if they knew she was the pirate queen’s daughter. To save Ophelia from the naval authorities, Betsy will have to board a ship during hurricane season and brave all the dangers of the sea to get them both home safe.
After a lifetime of abuse at the hands of superstitious townsfolk, Ophelia Young, a bastard child of the notorious pirate queen, is tired of paying for the sins of her mother. Despite playing by the rules her whole life, she’s earned nothing but spite and suspicion. So when a naval officer saves her from the jeering crowd at her mother’s hanging, Ophelia hatches a new hope of enlisting in the navy to escape her mother’s legacy and redeem her own reputation for good. But Ophelia soon discovers that a life at sea isn’t as honorable as she hoped.
Betsy Young is as different as she could be from her half-sister Ophelia. She’s a nervous homebody who wants to keep her family safe and longs to be in love. So naturally, she’s devastated when the son of their family’s business partner rejects her hand in marriage and her sister joins the navy. But when her father contracts a life-threatening illness as well, Betsy has to bring Ophelia home to save the family business.
Unfortunately for the Young sisters, Betsy trying to get Ophelia recalled reveals that Ophelia enlisted fraudulently under Betsy’s name, a secret which Ophelia struggles to keep from crewmates who would kill her if they knew she was the pirate queen’s daughter. To save Ophelia from the naval authorities, Betsy will have to board a ship during hurricane season and brave all the dangers of the sea to get them both home safe.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 127 reviews
April 9, 2024
I love stories about siblings and the love between them. This book is a journey of thrilling adventure, family bonds, and self-discovery amidst the backdrop of the high seas. This is an action-packed story about two sisters discovering who they are and who they want to be.
Ophelia's longing for freedom from the shadows of her mother's infamous legacy propels her into the unforgiving world of the navy, where she grapples with the harsh realities of life at sea and the constant threat of discovery. Meanwhile, Betsy's quiet resilience and determination to protect her family propel her into unexpected peril as she embarks on a journey to save her sister.
There are numerous diverse perspectives with representation spanning across various identities and experiences. There is plenty of diversity with an asexual main character, an agoraphobic plus-sized main character, a sapphic side romance, and a bipoc love interest.
While the antagonists lean towards the archetypal and the moral dilemmas may be presented in a more black/white manner, the heartwarming portrayal of sibling love and the adventures on the high seas make this book a captivating read for younger audiences (14+) and lovers of pirate tales alike.
This was a fun read and I really enjoyed being on the tour. Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours, the publisher, and the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
Ophelia's longing for freedom from the shadows of her mother's infamous legacy propels her into the unforgiving world of the navy, where she grapples with the harsh realities of life at sea and the constant threat of discovery. Meanwhile, Betsy's quiet resilience and determination to protect her family propel her into unexpected peril as she embarks on a journey to save her sister.
There are numerous diverse perspectives with representation spanning across various identities and experiences. There is plenty of diversity with an asexual main character, an agoraphobic plus-sized main character, a sapphic side romance, and a bipoc love interest.
While the antagonists lean towards the archetypal and the moral dilemmas may be presented in a more black/white manner, the heartwarming portrayal of sibling love and the adventures on the high seas make this book a captivating read for younger audiences (14+) and lovers of pirate tales alike.
This was a fun read and I really enjoyed being on the tour. Thanks to TBR and Beyond Tours, the publisher, and the author for the copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
April 11, 2024
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a story about finding your place, family ties, and sister bonds. I'm gonna be honest and say that I thought this was going to be completely different than it was, but I'm not mad about it! This book is one that's filled with constant adventure and high stakes, so my anxiety levels were going up and down the whole time. I was so invested in Ophelia and Betsy's journeys and I wanted them to succeed.
My favorite part about this book is the relationship between half sisters Ophelia and Betsy. Many times in books, we're greeted with the purest, deepest bonds between siblings, but in reality, familial relationships are a lot more messy, and The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray perfectly demonstrates that. Throughout the book, Ophelia and Betsy fight a lot, and they disagree about many things, but even so, they love each other. No matter how much they get on the other's nerves, when it comes down to it, they will do what they need to help the other. I have a few siblings, and I rarely relate to those in books. Yet, these two, even if they're nothing like me or my siblings, were relatable in that their relationship felt so genuine.
In addition to family relationships, there are many mysteries in this book. At first, none of them seemed related when they were first presented, but as the book goes on, all of the threads begin to tie together. I was fascinated and always trying to figure out how each new puzzle piece fit into the story.
Those who know me know that I love a good female-lead pirate story, and while the mc of this one isn't exactly a pirate, it definitely scratched that itch for me. Ophelia, while conflicted and unsure of herself at times, was a strong female character who I loved following along with.
I loved watching Ophelia and Betsy grow as characters. They change so much from beginning to end, and their character arcs are executed expertly. I also love the fact that Ophelia is aro-ace. It's not explicitly stated in those terms, but she mentions that she feels no romantic inclination toward anyone and she has no desire to be touched. This was an excellent addition to the story. I'm always looking for more books with aro-ace rep!
The only thing I wish is that the plot line surrounding Ophelia's birth mother (and other parts of it revealed later on) had been expanded on more. I found it so interesting, and I would've loved more information about it!
While this book definitely stands on its own, I think there's potential for a sequel, so I'm excited to see if anything will be announced.
Overall, this was a fun read that had me constantly guessing and always anticipating. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Tours for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
My favorite part about this book is the relationship between half sisters Ophelia and Betsy. Many times in books, we're greeted with the purest, deepest bonds between siblings, but in reality, familial relationships are a lot more messy, and The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray perfectly demonstrates that. Throughout the book, Ophelia and Betsy fight a lot, and they disagree about many things, but even so, they love each other. No matter how much they get on the other's nerves, when it comes down to it, they will do what they need to help the other. I have a few siblings, and I rarely relate to those in books. Yet, these two, even if they're nothing like me or my siblings, were relatable in that their relationship felt so genuine.
In addition to family relationships, there are many mysteries in this book. At first, none of them seemed related when they were first presented, but as the book goes on, all of the threads begin to tie together. I was fascinated and always trying to figure out how each new puzzle piece fit into the story.
Those who know me know that I love a good female-lead pirate story, and while the mc of this one isn't exactly a pirate, it definitely scratched that itch for me. Ophelia, while conflicted and unsure of herself at times, was a strong female character who I loved following along with.
I loved watching Ophelia and Betsy grow as characters. They change so much from beginning to end, and their character arcs are executed expertly. I also love the fact that Ophelia is aro-ace. It's not explicitly stated in those terms, but she mentions that she feels no romantic inclination toward anyone and she has no desire to be touched. This was an excellent addition to the story. I'm always looking for more books with aro-ace rep!
The only thing I wish is that the plot line surrounding Ophelia's birth mother (and other parts of it revealed later on) had been expanded on more. I found it so interesting, and I would've loved more information about it!
While this book definitely stands on its own, I think there's potential for a sequel, so I'm excited to see if anything will be announced.
Overall, this was a fun read that had me constantly guessing and always anticipating. I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Tours for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 11, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: hanging, corporeal punishments (whipping), immolation, strangulation, lip trauma, kidnap
3.5
As a fan of pirates and sibling stories, I was excited about this book.
The sibling dynamics here were interesting. You don't get to see Ophelia and Betsy together all that much, but seeing their differences, how they interact, and how they see each other, is definitely interesting. You can also always see the love, no matter what.
Ophelia's Navy arc was one of the most interesting parts to me, which had more going on with it than many other sections, including the more pirate-focused parts.
I also love Ophelia's implied aro-ace identity and the way it's dealt with in the story, without being out of period. On Betsy's side of things, her romance was surprisingly light and sweet, and balanced other parts of the book out well.
As much as I did like Ophelia's journey, and parts of Betsy's, putting them together didn't feel cohesive. This felt almost like a not fully finished puzzle. There are gaps that leave you feeling a little odd, and it doesn't really feel like a compete story.
The ending, too, was satisfying in one singular way, and then for everything else was dissatisfying and fell flat. It simply couldn't work as an ending to everything brought forward here.
TW: hanging, corporeal punishments (whipping), immolation, strangulation, lip trauma, kidnap
3.5
As a fan of pirates and sibling stories, I was excited about this book.
The sibling dynamics here were interesting. You don't get to see Ophelia and Betsy together all that much, but seeing their differences, how they interact, and how they see each other, is definitely interesting. You can also always see the love, no matter what.
Ophelia's Navy arc was one of the most interesting parts to me, which had more going on with it than many other sections, including the more pirate-focused parts.
I also love Ophelia's implied aro-ace identity and the way it's dealt with in the story, without being out of period. On Betsy's side of things, her romance was surprisingly light and sweet, and balanced other parts of the book out well.
As much as I did like Ophelia's journey, and parts of Betsy's, putting them together didn't feel cohesive. This felt almost like a not fully finished puzzle. There are gaps that leave you feeling a little odd, and it doesn't really feel like a compete story.
The ending, too, was satisfying in one singular way, and then for everything else was dissatisfying and fell flat. It simply couldn't work as an ending to everything brought forward here.
Read
June 1, 2024I thought it was a pirate book but it's more of rich girls joining with colonial navy and ultimately starting a corporation 🥲
February 4, 2024
3.5 rounded up
I want to thank NetGalley for the arc, this has no influence on my opinion whatsoever.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. It felt like a very round up tale, but with room for a sequel.
I especially liked the aroace rep, and how it was mentioned multiple times, instead of being a one off thing.
The dual perspective was nice, cause it told the story from two different perspectives and two people who have different opinions on the same situation.
However I would have liked to have more information about Crays past and the other Cray sisters. It sometimes felt a bit rushed and the characters sometimes changed their minds very quickly.
Overall I liked this book well enough that I would recommend it.
I want to thank NetGalley for the arc, this has no influence on my opinion whatsoever.
Overall I really enjoyed this story. It felt like a very round up tale, but with room for a sequel.
I especially liked the aroace rep, and how it was mentioned multiple times, instead of being a one off thing.
The dual perspective was nice, cause it told the story from two different perspectives and two people who have different opinions on the same situation.
However I would have liked to have more information about Crays past and the other Cray sisters. It sometimes felt a bit rushed and the characters sometimes changed their minds very quickly.
Overall I liked this book well enough that I would recommend it.
April 8, 2024
Got an arc form the publisher! 4.5/5
So this ends up being absolutely WILD and a lot more violent than I expected, very twisty and a lot of fun. I appreciated the aroace rep immensely and I love that the two main sisters were messy and flawed and not perfect in the way they interacted with one another, even though they very clearly loved each other. The pacing was a little janky in places and there were some aspects I had to suspend disbelief on a bit, but overall it kept me engaged and I enjoyed it. I would love a sequel since I feel like there’s more story to tell, or a prequel about the other half sisters since I wanted more of them! But yeah, I had fun!
So this ends up being absolutely WILD and a lot more violent than I expected, very twisty and a lot of fun. I appreciated the aroace rep immensely and I love that the two main sisters were messy and flawed and not perfect in the way they interacted with one another, even though they very clearly loved each other. The pacing was a little janky in places and there were some aspects I had to suspend disbelief on a bit, but overall it kept me engaged and I enjoyed it. I would love a sequel since I feel like there’s more story to tell, or a prequel about the other half sisters since I wanted more of them! But yeah, I had fun!
did-not-finish
May 21, 2024DNF after 150 pages. I struggled through this one for four days, and never felt hooked by the story. The cover description made me believe we were in for a "fun, sea-faring romp"....but I was just kind of bored. I really REALLY wanted to love this one based on the description, which is why I read as far as I did....but alas I'm finding myself dragging my feet to pick it up again.
There were also factual things that bugged me. This is set in an alternate history where women can join up with the navy as readily as men, which was great. Being an *alternate* history (ie, not our world), you can brush a lot of historical details aside but just saying, "Ehhh, that's how it's done in this world." At least, you can do that to a degree. But some things just feel like the author didn't really research the comparable times before writing the book.
For example, the use of stays worn by the characters never felt right: the lacings on one character's stays were readily accessible so that another character could loosen them while she was still wearing her dress....but also the stays were worn right against her skin? No chemise?
Another example is how the main character joins the navy, without any prior experience, and then she's just on the ship and seems to have the responsibilities of a regular crew member with barely any training? She's sent up into the rigging during a hurricane to lower the mainsail by herself....again, with barely any prior training (that we've heard about). When she DOES reach the mainsail, she "loosened the mainsail from the mast, and it fell to the deck with a thump." Whoa, ok, I'm not a sailing expert AT ALL, but I feel pretty confident that when sailors on a square-rigged ship need to reduce sail in high winds....they don't just drop the sail to the deck. It gets carefully reefed (pulled upwards and trussed to the yard, so it's stays in a tidy bundle ready to be deployed again when needed), and isn't a one-person job. It also just seems highly dangerous to just drop a mainsail, which probably weighed several hundred pounds (especially when wet, like during a hurricane), onto the deck where it could hit someone or at least be very much in the way during such a treacherous situation. But then again....she WAS sent up there without any training, so maybe this sail-dropping fiasco was just to demonstrate how incompetent she was?.................Nah, I think the author just didn't know.
Anyway, things like that made me feel like the historical details were based off of, like, watching The Pirates of the Caribbean a few times. Between being bored with the plot and squinting skeptically at those kinds of details, I've decided this book is just not for me. Sadly.
I just remembered what this reminded me of...."The Sea Witch" by Sarah Hennings. Another historical-ish book that was set at sea, but was also written by someone without the most basic understanding. If I recall, in that one there was a schooner sailed by a single main, and later a grand steamship being steered by the coal man. Similar vibes....
There were also factual things that bugged me. This is set in an alternate history where women can join up with the navy as readily as men, which was great. Being an *alternate* history (ie, not our world), you can brush a lot of historical details aside but just saying, "Ehhh, that's how it's done in this world." At least, you can do that to a degree. But some things just feel like the author didn't really research the comparable times before writing the book.
For example, the use of stays worn by the characters never felt right: the lacings on one character's stays were readily accessible so that another character could loosen them while she was still wearing her dress....but also the stays were worn right against her skin? No chemise?
Another example is how the main character joins the navy, without any prior experience, and then she's just on the ship and seems to have the responsibilities of a regular crew member with barely any training? She's sent up into the rigging during a hurricane to lower the mainsail by herself....again, with barely any prior training (that we've heard about). When she DOES reach the mainsail, she "loosened the mainsail from the mast, and it fell to the deck with a thump." Whoa, ok, I'm not a sailing expert AT ALL, but I feel pretty confident that when sailors on a square-rigged ship need to reduce sail in high winds....they don't just drop the sail to the deck. It gets carefully reefed (pulled upwards and trussed to the yard, so it's stays in a tidy bundle ready to be deployed again when needed), and isn't a one-person job. It also just seems highly dangerous to just drop a mainsail, which probably weighed several hundred pounds (especially when wet, like during a hurricane), onto the deck where it could hit someone or at least be very much in the way during such a treacherous situation. But then again....she WAS sent up there without any training, so maybe this sail-dropping fiasco was just to demonstrate how incompetent she was?.................Nah, I think the author just didn't know.
Anyway, things like that made me feel like the historical details were based off of, like, watching The Pirates of the Caribbean a few times. Between being bored with the plot and squinting skeptically at those kinds of details, I've decided this book is just not for me. Sadly.
I just remembered what this reminded me of...."The Sea Witch" by Sarah Hennings. Another historical-ish book that was set at sea, but was also written by someone without the most basic understanding. If I recall, in that one there was a schooner sailed by a single main, and later a grand steamship being steered by the coal man. Similar vibes....
November 14, 2023
Thank you to Page Street YA for the digital ARC!
I went into this one not really knowing what to expect—and read it in a single 4-hour sitting. I don’t think I relaxed even once, that’s how tightly this had me gripped. Every page had a wild new reveal, every character introduced had a surprising twist, every action sequence wasn’t afraid to pull its punches, but above the constantly increasing stakes, the sister relationship at the core shined SO bright. I adored Ophelia and Betsy, and their dynamic felt so true to life as a pair of sisters who don’t always see eye to eye. I think this book with really resonate with readers looking for familial love stories about what it means to be siblings.
I went into this one not really knowing what to expect—and read it in a single 4-hour sitting. I don’t think I relaxed even once, that’s how tightly this had me gripped. Every page had a wild new reveal, every character introduced had a surprising twist, every action sequence wasn’t afraid to pull its punches, but above the constantly increasing stakes, the sister relationship at the core shined SO bright. I adored Ophelia and Betsy, and their dynamic felt so true to life as a pair of sisters who don’t always see eye to eye. I think this book with really resonate with readers looking for familial love stories about what it means to be siblings.
April 22, 2024
2.5
Despite claiming to be a pirate adventure, I spent most of the book waiting for anything exciting to happen.
Points for the family/ sister bond, but the villains were all predictable caricatures.
Ophelia also somehow fights and defeats a whole crew of bloodthirsty pirates with a naval crew with no military training, and we're supposed to believe she's so good with a sword because it's in her blood, or something.
I'm also not opposed to quasi fantasy historical fiction, but the MC not knowing what a "cat of nine tails" is even though she's spent her life wanting to be a sailor and several mentions of tweaking stays aka corsets as if they were bra straps had me rolling my eyes HARD.
Despite claiming to be a pirate adventure, I spent most of the book waiting for anything exciting to happen.
Points for the family/ sister bond, but the villains were all predictable caricatures.
Ophelia also somehow fights and defeats a whole crew of bloodthirsty pirates with a naval crew with no military training, and we're supposed to believe she's so good with a sword because it's in her blood, or something.
I'm also not opposed to quasi fantasy historical fiction, but the MC not knowing what a "cat of nine tails" is even though she's spent her life wanting to be a sailor and several mentions of tweaking stays aka corsets as if they were bra straps had me rolling my eyes HARD.
featured
December 28, 2023https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
Ophelia from The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is asexual!
Ophelia from The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is asexual!
March 10, 2024
Set sail across the high seas with two sisters, some pirates, a handful of useless navy men, and a whole lot of danger and adventure! It was literally impossible to guess where this story would take either Ophelia or Betsy but I’m so glad I got to be along for the ride!
April 16, 2024
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray was equal parts thrilling and heartfelt. I quickly grew attached to the sister heroines, each strong, brilliant, and cunning in their own, complementary ways. Got me thinking about my definition of home and justice. And what color beautiful silk dress I’d ask Betsy for.
August 18, 2024
This was a decent read, but It didn’t particularly wow me. Though I confess part of that is due to the expectations I had about this book, a pirate book about two sisters marketed as queer? I assumed we’d get some main character sapphic content, which there wasn’t. One of our mains is presumably asexual, however, the reference is so minor one could easily fail to infer that's what was intended since all she says is that she’s “not interested in anyone” which doesn’t necessarily mean she’s ace. There’s also a sapphic side couple but they’re pretty minor. So for me, this was a massive letdown.
In terms of the story, it was a well-executed plot but I just didn’t feel hugely invested in it. There were lots of cool pieces like Ophelia’s mother and the island but they just didn’t click as well as they might’ve.
Also never seeing Ophelia finding out about their father seemed a very big missed opportunity for a hugely emotional moment.
Thank you, NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
In terms of the story, it was a well-executed plot but I just didn’t feel hugely invested in it. There were lots of cool pieces like Ophelia’s mother and the island but they just didn’t click as well as they might’ve.
Also never seeing Ophelia finding out about their father seemed a very big missed opportunity for a hugely emotional moment.
Thank you, NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
to-buy-or-borrow
November 18, 2023currently praying that NetGalley accepts my request I NEED TO READ THIS
October 10, 2024
I finished it in morning but I'm still processing how good it was!
Tw: violence, dead of family member, torturing, dead sentence by hanging, mental illness, SA, betrayal, alcohol abuse, bullying.
It has everything you need in great book! Great character development, found family, coming of age, great plot line and plot twist. After long time i finally got book about PIRATES who were actually pirates not some sailors who tried to look like one.
My favorite character was PAPA, cuz he's the purest and most loving parent ever and i cried a lot when he passed...
Ophelia is ace and she struggle with self identity, she doesn't know where she bolongs and author did a great job in writing the helplessness when you're young adult and you're trying to fit in what ever it takes.
At first i didn't like Betsy i actually hated her, cuz even thought i could relate to her struggles i hated how she act towards Ophelia, like she (Ophelia) was the one who cases her the troubles/truma. But after papa passed she started to realize that, ophelia was never the problem and that made her character glow up so much. That at the end i totally love her and their sisters bond, but i also wished her happiness with Ravi.
I won't be specific about the plot bcs i don't want to spoil to much, but the description was so smooth that it made me feel like i was on the ship with them, although some were pretty fcked up how great was described the pain or visual of the action. For example tooth extraction by pirates. That was pretty wild and my jaw hurt like hell.
Only flaw of this book was Ravi's ans Betsy's love story, cuz that was instalove with trauma bond and even though it's believable and I'm happy for them, it was way to short and i would appreciate it if the first kiss was after they found Crays.
At the end i would love to say that it didn't felt like debut, in the best way possible, and i can highly recommend this book.
Tw: violence, dead of family member, torturing, dead sentence by hanging, mental illness, SA, betrayal, alcohol abuse, bullying.
It has everything you need in great book! Great character development, found family, coming of age, great plot line and plot twist. After long time i finally got book about PIRATES who were actually pirates not some sailors who tried to look like one.
My favorite character was PAPA, cuz he's the purest and most loving parent ever and i cried a lot when he passed...
Ophelia is ace and she struggle with self identity, she doesn't know where she bolongs and author did a great job in writing the helplessness when you're young adult and you're trying to fit in what ever it takes.
At first i didn't like Betsy i actually hated her, cuz even thought i could relate to her struggles i hated how she act towards Ophelia, like she (Ophelia) was the one who cases her the troubles/truma. But after papa passed she started to realize that, ophelia was never the problem and that made her character glow up so much. That at the end i totally love her and their sisters bond, but i also wished her happiness with Ravi.
I won't be specific about the plot bcs i don't want to spoil to much, but the description was so smooth that it made me feel like i was on the ship with them, although some were pretty fcked up how great was described the pain or visual of the action. For example tooth extraction by pirates. That was pretty wild and my jaw hurt like hell.
Only flaw of this book was Ravi's ans Betsy's love story, cuz that was instalove with trauma bond and even though it's believable and I'm happy for them, it was way to short and i would appreciate it if the first kiss was after they found Crays.
At the end i would love to say that it didn't felt like debut, in the best way possible, and i can highly recommend this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2024
Thank you Colored Pages Book Tours and Page Street YA for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a dark YA novel about pirates, adventures at sea, sisterhood and curses. It's the dual POV story of Ophelia Cray, daughter of the infamous Pirate Queen who wants to find her place in the Royal Navy, and her half-sister Betsy, an introverted girl who is scared to leave the house most of the time, but won't hesitate to when it comes to saving her sister. The two girls face their own adventures and misadventures at sea, and readers get to explore the naval world through their very distinct perspectives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While some parts made me squeamish, due to graphic torture and fight scenes, I otherwise found myself really immersed in the story. The main characters were really well fleshed out and had their own, very distinctive voices. Ophelia is a fiery and determined young woman, who has felt hated most of her life and wants to find her safe place. It was quite admirable how she stayed true to herself and her beliefs, even when circumstances around her tested her and pushed her in different directions. I also loved the way her aro/ace identity was repeatedly implied and addressed. Betsy has a great character development arc and really endeared herself to me! She loves sewing dresses and is a wonder at it (thank goodness for that - you will see!), and she won't let anything stop her when it comes to saving her sister - not even her fear of strangers and the outside world.
My favourite parts have to be the times when the sisters are together and the scenes on a mysterious island you will encounter later in the book. I wish more time was spent there and with those new characters, as I was so intrigued by them!
What to expect?
⚓️ adventures at sea
🏴☠️ pirates
✨️ curses?
🏳️🌈 aro/ace MC
💗 cute romance
⚔️ betrayal
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a dark YA novel about pirates, adventures at sea, sisterhood and curses. It's the dual POV story of Ophelia Cray, daughter of the infamous Pirate Queen who wants to find her place in the Royal Navy, and her half-sister Betsy, an introverted girl who is scared to leave the house most of the time, but won't hesitate to when it comes to saving her sister. The two girls face their own adventures and misadventures at sea, and readers get to explore the naval world through their very distinct perspectives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While some parts made me squeamish, due to graphic torture and fight scenes, I otherwise found myself really immersed in the story. The main characters were really well fleshed out and had their own, very distinctive voices. Ophelia is a fiery and determined young woman, who has felt hated most of her life and wants to find her safe place. It was quite admirable how she stayed true to herself and her beliefs, even when circumstances around her tested her and pushed her in different directions. I also loved the way her aro/ace identity was repeatedly implied and addressed. Betsy has a great character development arc and really endeared herself to me! She loves sewing dresses and is a wonder at it (thank goodness for that - you will see!), and she won't let anything stop her when it comes to saving her sister - not even her fear of strangers and the outside world.
My favourite parts have to be the times when the sisters are together and the scenes on a mysterious island you will encounter later in the book. I wish more time was spent there and with those new characters, as I was so intrigued by them!
What to expect?
⚓️ adventures at sea
🏴☠️ pirates
✨️ curses?
🏳️🌈 aro/ace MC
💗 cute romance
⚔️ betrayal
August 8, 2025
The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray is a historical young adult pirate tale about the undying love of sisters trying to reunite across a dangerous sea. I love that this book centers a sister relationship, though the two spend most of the story apart, and some of their interactions felt too malicious for me to believe. There is some beautiful diversity in this book, like one aro/ace period-accurate main character and another who is fat and pretty, and while there is mental health representation, it was disappointing that Betsy's (assumed) agoraphobia was forgotten at so many points in the story. The villains were cartoonishly evil, and their monologues felt more for the benefit of a reader piecing the story together instead of the other characters. For a pirate book, the tone was oddly anti-pirate. The ending was too cutely tied up without real resolution to some issues introduced in the story. Overall, this book was fine, though clearly intended for a much younger audience, and while I love the familial love, the diversity, and the strong female leads, I unfortunately couldn't find myself connecting with much of this.
March 4, 2024
4.75 stars
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.
This was a very adventurous book with a lot of surprises. I found it very engaging and easy to read.
There were a few inconsistencies but they did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The language was very modern but as this was a fantasy world and not meant to be the Golden Age of piracy in our world I suppose they didn’t need to speak with 18th century dialect.
Overall a great read and I look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC.
This was a very adventurous book with a lot of surprises. I found it very engaging and easy to read.
There were a few inconsistencies but they did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. The language was very modern but as this was a fantasy world and not meant to be the Golden Age of piracy in our world I suppose they didn’t need to speak with 18th century dialect.
Overall a great read and I look forward to seeing what comes next from this author.
May 7, 2024
I was really intrigued by this one, even though it's out of my usual realm of reads. I'm here for pirates and pirate daughters and sister bonding.
The book was fine, the storyline was fine, but it didn't wow me. Sometimes it pulled my out of the story with "how is this a 16 year old girl?" kind of reaction. Also, it was super anti-pirate which was a bummer.
There were glimpses of a cool story in here, I just feel like the potential wasn't ever fully reached.
The book was fine, the storyline was fine, but it didn't wow me. Sometimes it pulled my out of the story with "how is this a 16 year old girl?" kind of reaction. Also, it was super anti-pirate which was a bummer.
There were glimpses of a cool story in here, I just feel like the potential wasn't ever fully reached.
April 8, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I enjoy a good pirate story, and I thought this would be along the lines of Fable or Daughter of the Pirate King, but it's just.....not. There is some action, and some pirates, but this book is more about two sisters finding themselves than anything else.
With one sister, she is trying her damndest to not end up a pirate like the mother who abandoned her. She did some questionable things over the course of the book, but she mostly stayed true to herself and tried to survive some tough situations. I fully expected her to throw in the towel and embrace the Pirate life, but it just did not happen.
Then the other sister - she is a hermit, and it is really emphasized in the first couple chapters of the book. But then she boards a ship and she is suddenly not that way? She had no introvert tendencies after leaving her island, and it felt a little disingenuine with how quickly her personality shifted. Yes, she was doing this to bring her sister home, but still....I wish she had more of a "coming out of her shell" arc. Still, this sister ended up doing more piratey things and living the life that her half sister always swore never to do.
There are some good moments throughout the book, both between the sisters and pirate-based action in the story, but the pacing felt a little slow and this book had less excitement than I was expecting. Betsy didn't even give Ophelia the news she needed to hear until the epilogue, and that news really could have shifted Ophelia's entire personality if the author went that route...but they really left that nugget of information until the last couple pages of the book, like an afterthought.
Overall, this book was okay - I did not hate it, but I was definitely expecting more. The story is more "magical realism" than fantasy (if not just a string of coincidences), and it is more of a book about finding oneself than a grand pirate adventure. There is little to no romance in the book, it truly is a story about the two sisters trying to get back to each other! I don't know if I would personally recommend it to anyone, but if the description sounds good to you, then I say give this one a try.
Content warnings: abandonment, loss of a loved one, violence, gun violence, animal death, kidnapping, confinement, child death, blood
I enjoy a good pirate story, and I thought this would be along the lines of Fable or Daughter of the Pirate King, but it's just.....not. There is some action, and some pirates, but this book is more about two sisters finding themselves than anything else.
With one sister, she is trying her damndest to not end up a pirate like the mother who abandoned her. She did some questionable things over the course of the book, but she mostly stayed true to herself and tried to survive some tough situations. I fully expected her to throw in the towel and embrace the Pirate life, but it just did not happen.
Then the other sister - she is a hermit, and it is really emphasized in the first couple chapters of the book. But then she boards a ship and she is suddenly not that way? She had no introvert tendencies after leaving her island, and it felt a little disingenuine with how quickly her personality shifted. Yes, she was doing this to bring her sister home, but still....I wish she had more of a "coming out of her shell" arc. Still, this sister ended up doing more piratey things and living the life that her half sister always swore never to do.
There are some good moments throughout the book, both between the sisters and pirate-based action in the story, but the pacing felt a little slow and this book had less excitement than I was expecting. Betsy didn't even give Ophelia the news she needed to hear until the epilogue, and that news really could have shifted Ophelia's entire personality if the author went that route...but they really left that nugget of information until the last couple pages of the book, like an afterthought.
Overall, this book was okay - I did not hate it, but I was definitely expecting more. The story is more "magical realism" than fantasy (if not just a string of coincidences), and it is more of a book about finding oneself than a grand pirate adventure. There is little to no romance in the book, it truly is a story about the two sisters trying to get back to each other! I don't know if I would personally recommend it to anyone, but if the description sounds good to you, then I say give this one a try.
Content warnings: abandonment, loss of a loved one, violence, gun violence, animal death, kidnapping, confinement, child death, blood
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December 20, 2023Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!
April 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!
A tale of sisterhood and piracy. Ophelia is cursed to bear the name and looks of her mother, the pirate queen Ophelia Cray. The inhabitants of the island where she lives and grew up hate her because of this. I understood Ophelia’s resentment. I don’t see why Betsy was confused on why her sister didn’t want to live there anymore. If everyone hated you, why would you want to live there? Also why would her father name her after someone that everyone hated. Did he not know that she would be bullied her entire life? He said he did it because that’s what she wanted, but does it really matter what someone who dumped a baby on your doorstep wanted? Eliza was super chill with that by the way. She’s the real MVP of this story.
There was a lot more action and murder her than I thought there would be. A lot of gore and dying. The cover made it seem like there was way more piracy going on than there really is, which was a bit disappointing. I don’t know if in the end I liked the crew. They were all so wishy washy. I liked that Ophelia is asexual, even though that’s not really said. She just doesn’t like to kiss and isn’t interested in boys.
There were parts where I was so confused on what was happening. Like something would happen and I didn’t think there was any logic to it at all. I also did not like the romance between Ravi and Betsy. Yes they were cute but it just happened. And she said she loved him after like a day. I can never really get behind insta love. At least he was sweet and kind and didn’t have any faults to him.
The villains were so vile I was rooting for their downfall. The evil within men’s hearts is real. I did enjoy this story in the long run. The second half was so engaging I was speed reading it. I just hated how some things seemed rushed so the logic wasn’t all there for me. Also love the rich kid privilege at the end which Ophelia rightfully called out. I would have somehow snuck into his house and punched him in the head if I was her.
A tale of sisterhood and piracy. Ophelia is cursed to bear the name and looks of her mother, the pirate queen Ophelia Cray. The inhabitants of the island where she lives and grew up hate her because of this. I understood Ophelia’s resentment. I don’t see why Betsy was confused on why her sister didn’t want to live there anymore. If everyone hated you, why would you want to live there? Also why would her father name her after someone that everyone hated. Did he not know that she would be bullied her entire life? He said he did it because that’s what she wanted, but does it really matter what someone who dumped a baby on your doorstep wanted? Eliza was super chill with that by the way. She’s the real MVP of this story.
There was a lot more action and murder her than I thought there would be. A lot of gore and dying. The cover made it seem like there was way more piracy going on than there really is, which was a bit disappointing. I don’t know if in the end I liked the crew. They were all so wishy washy. I liked that Ophelia is asexual, even though that’s not really said. She just doesn’t like to kiss and isn’t interested in boys.
There were parts where I was so confused on what was happening. Like something would happen and I didn’t think there was any logic to it at all. I also did not like the romance between Ravi and Betsy. Yes they were cute but it just happened. And she said she loved him after like a day. I can never really get behind insta love. At least he was sweet and kind and didn’t have any faults to him.
The villains were so vile I was rooting for their downfall. The evil within men’s hearts is real. I did enjoy this story in the long run. The second half was so engaging I was speed reading it. I just hated how some things seemed rushed so the logic wasn’t all there for me. Also love the rich kid privilege at the end which Ophelia rightfully called out. I would have somehow snuck into his house and punched him in the head if I was her.
May 28, 2024
3.5 or 3.75 rounded up, not sure which one to go with. It took a while for me to get used to this being a different kind of sibling story than I expected—despite this featuring both sisters on the cover, they’re apart for most of the book—but I acclimated to that aspect at least. I feel like their parallels excused them having arcs separate from each other. (Even if I was a little bummed.)
I predicted the twist villain ahead of time. Even before he became an enemy of Ophelia’s, he was a gross human being, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from an entitled misogynist. That seemed intentional, but I still don’t think there was anything spectacular about the kind of villain he was. He was a little cartoonish.
I wish Ophelia’s other half sisters had been fleshed out more, the island portion felt strangely paced. (Some part of the Cray’s Island wonkiness definitely has to do with the fantasy elements in this book being scarce, though. That also made the “curse” part confusing!! I couldn’t tell which “curses” were legitimate, overthinking, or metaphorical.) I also wanted to see more development for Ravi, his romance with Betsy was incredibly quick and didn’t give the readers time to start rooting for them to get together.
I’m not sure where in my review to put this, but I think the author really nailed the familial grief! (Sure, I would’ve appreciated being able to go without getting some flashbacks to my *own* parent’s death, but that’s a me problem.) Even if the impact wasn’t mentioned very much in the POVs, I appreciated when it was. But I would appreciate a less cryptic trigger warning list at the beginning of the book.
Anyhow. Even if this doesn’t do anything particularly new with the pirate adventure genre(besides having one of the protagonists be asexual and implied aro), I still enjoyed myself for most of the time I read this. It delivers on what it promises to: action, some family drama, high stakes(with surprisingly graphic violence), and of course, piracy. I can be a little disappointed with the delivery, but that’s it.
I predicted the twist villain ahead of time. Even before he became an enemy of Ophelia’s, he was a gross human being, and I wouldn’t expect anything less from an entitled misogynist. That seemed intentional, but I still don’t think there was anything spectacular about the kind of villain he was. He was a little cartoonish.
I wish Ophelia’s other half sisters had been fleshed out more, the island portion felt strangely paced. (Some part of the Cray’s Island wonkiness definitely has to do with the fantasy elements in this book being scarce, though. That also made the “curse” part confusing!! I couldn’t tell which “curses” were legitimate, overthinking, or metaphorical.) I also wanted to see more development for Ravi, his romance with Betsy was incredibly quick and didn’t give the readers time to start rooting for them to get together.
I’m not sure where in my review to put this, but I think the author really nailed the familial grief! (Sure, I would’ve appreciated being able to go without getting some flashbacks to my *own* parent’s death, but that’s a me problem.) Even if the impact wasn’t mentioned very much in the POVs, I appreciated when it was. But I would appreciate a less cryptic trigger warning list at the beginning of the book.
Anyhow. Even if this doesn’t do anything particularly new with the pirate adventure genre(besides having one of the protagonists be asexual and implied aro), I still enjoyed myself for most of the time I read this. It delivers on what it promises to: action, some family drama, high stakes(with surprisingly graphic violence), and of course, piracy. I can be a little disappointed with the delivery, but that’s it.
May 14, 2024
This was different from what I anticipated but I really enjoyed it! It's told from the points of view (third person) of two sisters who share the same father but different mothers- Ophelia is the illegitimate daughter of notorious pirate queen Ophelia Cray, and their small island town treats her as cursed because of it. She uses her sister's identity to enlist in the navy to prove she isn't cursed and try to create her own legacy. Her sister, Betsy, is agoraphobic and unadventurous, but follows Ophelia to sea after their family undergoes a health crisis. The premise reminded me so much of a different take on one of my favorite books of all time, The Two Princesses of Bamarre.
I really liked both sisters' character development throughout the story- I thought Betsy had a better character journey, but Ophelia's story was more exciting, and it was fun to follow their stories in parallel. The villains in this story really could not be more hateable. The only thing that confused me a bit was the intended audience for this book- it's definitely YA, but most of it feels like it skews towards the younger side of YA, but there are a lot of very graphic descriptions of different deaths or injuries suffered, so sometimes it came across a bit tonally inconsistent. I also thought it lost a bit of steam at the end after , but generally, this was a fun read that I liked more than I expected.
I really liked both sisters' character development throughout the story- I thought Betsy had a better character journey, but Ophelia's story was more exciting, and it was fun to follow their stories in parallel. The villains in this story really could not be more hateable. The only thing that confused me a bit was the intended audience for this book- it's definitely YA, but most of it feels like it skews towards the younger side of YA, but there are a lot of very graphic descriptions of different deaths or injuries suffered, so sometimes it came across a bit tonally inconsistent. I also thought it lost a bit of steam at the end after , but generally, this was a fun read that I liked more than I expected.
April 12, 2024
Storms and pirates are nothing compared to the evil within men’s hearts.
🌊 Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with “The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray” by Christine Calella! Join Ophelia Young, a fearless daughter of a notorious pirate queen, as she defies the odds and charts her own destiny.
📖: The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray
🖊️: @christinecalella
🗓️: 4/9/24
⭐️: 5 of 5
⚓️ Against all odds, Ophelia sets sail into the unknown, determined to carve her own path and prove her worth beyond the legacy of her notorious mother.
But when her plans take an unexpected turn, it’s up to her unlikely sister Betsy to navigate the stormy seas of family loyalty and redemption.
Filled with twists, turns, and daring escapades, this book is a thrilling reminder that courage and determination can conquer anything.
Don’t miss this inspiring tale of sisterhood, bravery, and the power of second chances!
——————————————————————
I was captivated by Ophelia’s unwavering resilience and her unwavering commitment to staying true to herself amidst the challenges she faced.
The bond between Ophelia and her sister Betsy adds a touching layer of depth to the narrative, reminding us of the power of love and loyalty.
With shocking twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, this action-packed pirate adventure is a must-read for anyone craving an adrenaline-fueled escape into the high seas! 🌊
Tour organized by @coloredpagesbt
Thank you for the gifted copy @pagestreetya
🌊 Set sail on a swashbuckling adventure with “The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray” by Christine Calella! Join Ophelia Young, a fearless daughter of a notorious pirate queen, as she defies the odds and charts her own destiny.
📖: The Final Curse of Ophelia Cray
🖊️: @christinecalella
🗓️: 4/9/24
⭐️: 5 of 5
⚓️ Against all odds, Ophelia sets sail into the unknown, determined to carve her own path and prove her worth beyond the legacy of her notorious mother.
But when her plans take an unexpected turn, it’s up to her unlikely sister Betsy to navigate the stormy seas of family loyalty and redemption.
Filled with twists, turns, and daring escapades, this book is a thrilling reminder that courage and determination can conquer anything.
Don’t miss this inspiring tale of sisterhood, bravery, and the power of second chances!
——————————————————————
I was captivated by Ophelia’s unwavering resilience and her unwavering commitment to staying true to herself amidst the challenges she faced.
The bond between Ophelia and her sister Betsy adds a touching layer of depth to the narrative, reminding us of the power of love and loyalty.
With shocking twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, this action-packed pirate adventure is a must-read for anyone craving an adrenaline-fueled escape into the high seas! 🌊
Tour organized by @coloredpagesbt
Thank you for the gifted copy @pagestreetya
May 27, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
There were some things I really enjoyed and appreciated about this book, so I'll start with those:
1. Sister bonds: this sister bond was done well! The amount of fighting/arguments balanced well with the love and appreciation for each other, and I liked that the sister bond was the focal point, rather than a romantic bond.
2. Aro/ace rep: Ophelia's implied asexuality felt very in-character and was described in a period-appropriate way, so it didn't take me out of the historical time period. I really loved this aspect of her character!
3. OCD/neurodiverse rep: Again, the way that Betsy's mental struggles were described felt very period-appropriate and added a lot to her character.
Some icks that I had about the book:
1. Simple villains: the villains felt very unbelievable compared to the well-fleshed out main characters. I wish they had more substance to them to balance well with the complex mcs.
2. Pacing: The beginning of this book REALLY lagged. I was not very invested until around 50% of the way into the book, which is too long. For a title that promises a fast-paced piratical adventure, there sure wasn't a lot of fast paced moments or a lot of pirates.
All in all, this was a solid book, but it didn't hook me nearly as much as I had hoped it would because of the two dimensional villains and the slow pacing.
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
There were some things I really enjoyed and appreciated about this book, so I'll start with those:
1. Sister bonds: this sister bond was done well! The amount of fighting/arguments balanced well with the love and appreciation for each other, and I liked that the sister bond was the focal point, rather than a romantic bond.
2. Aro/ace rep: Ophelia's implied asexuality felt very in-character and was described in a period-appropriate way, so it didn't take me out of the historical time period. I really loved this aspect of her character!
3. OCD/neurodiverse rep: Again, the way that Betsy's mental struggles were described felt very period-appropriate and added a lot to her character.
Some icks that I had about the book:
1. Simple villains: the villains felt very unbelievable compared to the well-fleshed out main characters. I wish they had more substance to them to balance well with the complex mcs.
2. Pacing: The beginning of this book REALLY lagged. I was not very invested until around 50% of the way into the book, which is too long. For a title that promises a fast-paced piratical adventure, there sure wasn't a lot of fast paced moments or a lot of pirates.
All in all, this was a solid book, but it didn't hook me nearly as much as I had hoped it would because of the two dimensional villains and the slow pacing.
Publication Date: April 9, 2024
July 2, 2024
Got this mainly for the sapphics and I regret to say that Goodreads lesbian tag did me wrong YET AGAIN 😔 No sapphic MCs to be found here 😔😔 Sometimes I think the GR queer tags mainly exist so people who don't want any queer characters can avoid books that have the slightest whisper of gay in them, instead of helping us who WANT/NEED the gay.
But anyway... I did actually really enjoy this! We have an ace sister (yay!) and a straight sister, both lovely characters, both with their own battles to fight. It took about half the book to get to the good pirate action and then even further for the treasure hunt, but it was a lot of fun. And I love it when good-looking young men turn out to be villains instead of love interests.
(The lesbian tag is there for a very very minor sapphic couple, who were great, but again not a large part at all.)
But anyway... I did actually really enjoy this! We have an ace sister (yay!) and a straight sister, both lovely characters, both with their own battles to fight. It took about half the book to get to the good pirate action and then even further for the treasure hunt, but it was a lot of fun. And I love it when good-looking young men turn out to be villains instead of love interests.
(The lesbian tag is there for a very very minor sapphic couple, who were great, but again not a large part at all.)
May 18, 2024
This was not the book that I was expecting, and I loved it!! I enjoyed that it switched perspectives from each sister. It really showed the growth that both Ophelia and Betsy had. I wanted more about Ophelia's mom, but I understand that there was a lot to get through. I would like to know more about the other children of the Pirate Queen, but again, this book feels like it is set up as a stand-alone. I think this book is a perfect example to show people who dunk on YA novels. This book deals with very heavy topics and shows true growth between the sisters. Even though it is a fictional setting in which pirates run rampant, there are life lessons learned that younger readers now can look to.
March 21, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, both of the main characters were great -- Ophelia is tough but just wants to be liked, Betsy is anxious but also strong and brave. I felt like some of the relationships with other minor characters were rushed and so they didn't ring quite true, and it was vague whether or not magic is actually real in this world. The antagonist makes me think of Hans of the Southern Isles, I swear it makes sense if you read it.
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April 25, 2024@ tay
!!!!!!!! gay pirates !!!!!!!! this book was on every 2024 asexual book list but honestly idk. was one of the mains actuallyyyy ace??? who knows! like i loved the book but im soooooo tired of authors skirting around their characters saying the word “asexual.” i dont care if its not historically accurate language, ITS FICTION. its already fiction!! let the gay pirates self identify as being on the ace spectrum!!!!!
!!!!!!!! gay pirates !!!!!!!! this book was on every 2024 asexual book list but honestly idk. was one of the mains actuallyyyy ace??? who knows! like i loved the book but im soooooo tired of authors skirting around their characters saying the word “asexual.” i dont care if its not historically accurate language, ITS FICTION. its already fiction!! let the gay pirates self identify as being on the ace spectrum!!!!!
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