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The Jupiter Pirates #2
Curse of the Iris
Treasure Island meets Battlestar Galactica in Book 2 of the swashbuckling sci-fi adventure series SLJ called "space opera in the classic style" in a starred review, from New York Times bestselling author Jason Fry. It's been a tough year for Tycho Hashoone and his family. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a boiling point. The privateering business hasn't exactly been booming. And the ongoing contest for the captain's seat of the Shadow Comet has the three Hashoone siblings perpetually on edge. Then the Hashoones intercept a ship—one with a long-dead crew, its final mission a warning to all who seek their fortunes in space. The Hashoones don't have time for ill omens; they need a payday. Following clues from the mysterious ship, they embark on a hunt for the long-lost treasure of the Iris —a treasure that Tycho's own great-grandfather Johannes had a hand in hiding. But in his quest for the Iris cache, Tycho is going to dig up much more than he bargained for. Because like old pirate treasure, family secrets never stay buried for long. Filled with action, intrigue, and one unforgettable family, The Jupiter Curse of the Iris takes readers across the depths of space and brings the Jupiter Pirates saga to new heights.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 16, 2014
10 people are currently reading
226 people want to read
About the author
Jason Fry
122 books296 followersI am the author of The Jupiter Pirates series published by HarperCollins -- visit the official site at http://jupiterpirates.com.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
In addition to Jupiter Pirates, I've written or co-written more than 30 novels and short stories set in the Star Wars galaxy, including The Essential Atlas, The Essential Guide to Warfare, The Weapon of a Jedi, and the Servants of the Empire quartet.
I spent more than 12 years at The Wall Street Journal Online, where I wrote or co-wrote the Real Time and Daily Fix columns. My non-fiction work has appeared on ESPN.com, Yahoo! Sports, Poynter.org, Deadspin and Baseball Prospectus. I blog about the New York Mets at Faith and Fear in Flushing and live in Brooklyn with my wife and son.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 27, 2014
Review originally posted at Views from the Tesseract: http://shanshad1.wordpress.com/2014/0...
When you really love the first book in a series, there’s always the question of whether the next book will live up to the freshness and “magic” that the original work introduced. I admit that I approach series with a mixture of pure readerly excitement and reviewer caution. The first book in a series is a new creation–the second is diving back into that creation–recapping the important stuff for new readers and finding the momentum that will keep the story moving forward with similar energy and excitement. Not every author succeeds at doing this. But some authors? Some manage to write something even better.
Two years after the events in The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra (December 2013), the crew of the Shadow Comet is back! It’s the year 2895 and humankind has expanded their civilization to further reaches of their own solar system. Citizens of the Jovian union have been in conflict with Earth for years, and the Hashoones are a family of privateers that work for the Jovian Union and seize ships belonging to Earth and her allies. Fourteen-year-old Tycho, his twin sister Yana and older brother Carlos are still in competition as to who will ultimately become the next captain of their ship. Things have not been particularly sterling for this family of privateers since their last adventure. Pickings have been slim, and the crew is itching for some kind of excitement and challenge. And that challenge arrives in the form of a treasure hunt. When the Shadow Comet encounters an old ship out in space with clues to an ancient treasure, it proves irresistible to the three Hashoone siblings. The treasure of the Iris was rumored to be worth quite a large sum indeed . . . and it was a treasure that their great-grandfather had a hand in stealing. But delving into the past for treasure may also dig up old family secrets and the Hashoones aren’t the only ones who want to discover where the treasure of the Iris is hidden. . . .
If you enjoyed the first Jupiter Pirates book, I think I can safely say you’ll continue to enjoy the series as it unrolls in this book. Jason Fry has confident stride in his storytelling that is pure pleasure–even for this reading pro. Fans who’ve read the first book will have little trouble picking the story again, but new readers shouldn’t find themselves swimming blind for too long either, I found this to be a second book that can stand on its own. A space-adventure featuring family drama, political and criminal entanglements and a solid treasure hunt as its main story arc. It’s the kind of science fiction or space opera that so rarely is done right for kids–but succeeds here mightily. Given the fact that our characters are two years older, this second story is just on the edge of YA territory, but I think it still falls solidly into middle grade readership.
First off, I love visiting a universe where we can see what’s going on to pilot a spaceship–plenty of nuts and bolts, mundane particulars. These are stories that give you vivid visuals of not only the external, but the internal make up of The Shadow Comet. Rather than give us a glossed over version of the craft and its workings, the author makes you feel like its a real working vehicle–not a spaceship made with magic and moonbeams, but a craft put together with sweat and spit and held together by improvisation and duct tape. These aren’t show pieces, straight off the lot, but the real deal. In fact, these crafts put me in mind of the space-western anime series Cowboy Bebop, or Joss Whedon’s Firefly series.
Tycho is our protagonist, though we get to know his butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners sister Yana and his older more practically inclined brother, Carlo. Tycho is the thoughtful one of the three–the one readers are really getting to know and understand. He’s growing into who he’ll be–facing tough choices about his own actions and desires versus how they’ll affect others. Jason Fry has done a marvelous job of putting Tycho into some difficult positions that cause him to question the pirate philosophy his family embraces, and beginning to reveal a darker and dangerous path of intrigue and deals that Tycho has to navigate. He’s no longer a boy just learning how to be a privateer, he’s a young man coming into his own, taking initiative . . .and maybe making some worrying decisions. Likewise, Tycho’s family is shown to be far from perfect, with their own secrets and scandals from the past.
I can’t really predict where any of this will go, which is a lovely thing all on its own. Too often it’s pretty easy to guess where a story arc will end up, but Jason Fry isn’t revealing all his cards in one shot.
**Minor spoiler and speculation**
There’s a slimy character in this book named DeWise that I just feel is going to be trouble for Tycho in the future. Maybe it’s just the fact that he reminds me of Mr Morden from Babylon 5, but I don’t trust him and his plans at all. I hope Tycho can steer clear of DeWise in the future, but I fear we haven’t seen the last of him!
**end of spoiler**
I will point out to readers who may like their science fiction strongly based on actual science fact, this series does take liberties–a fact Jason Fry freely admits in putting these books together. But for readers who enjoy a good adventure, particularly space adventure, this should be a good fit. If you haven’t tried these books yet, you may want to start with the first one, but you can still dive in without reading the original. Be prepared for fun, treasure and pirates! Arrrr!
Want to find out more? Check out the author’s Official Jupiter Pirates website!
Also check out my interview with Jason Fry here.
Note: An advanced uncorrected proof was provided by the author.
When you really love the first book in a series, there’s always the question of whether the next book will live up to the freshness and “magic” that the original work introduced. I admit that I approach series with a mixture of pure readerly excitement and reviewer caution. The first book in a series is a new creation–the second is diving back into that creation–recapping the important stuff for new readers and finding the momentum that will keep the story moving forward with similar energy and excitement. Not every author succeeds at doing this. But some authors? Some manage to write something even better.
Two years after the events in The Jupiter Pirates: Hunt for the Hydra (December 2013), the crew of the Shadow Comet is back! It’s the year 2895 and humankind has expanded their civilization to further reaches of their own solar system. Citizens of the Jovian union have been in conflict with Earth for years, and the Hashoones are a family of privateers that work for the Jovian Union and seize ships belonging to Earth and her allies. Fourteen-year-old Tycho, his twin sister Yana and older brother Carlos are still in competition as to who will ultimately become the next captain of their ship. Things have not been particularly sterling for this family of privateers since their last adventure. Pickings have been slim, and the crew is itching for some kind of excitement and challenge. And that challenge arrives in the form of a treasure hunt. When the Shadow Comet encounters an old ship out in space with clues to an ancient treasure, it proves irresistible to the three Hashoone siblings. The treasure of the Iris was rumored to be worth quite a large sum indeed . . . and it was a treasure that their great-grandfather had a hand in stealing. But delving into the past for treasure may also dig up old family secrets and the Hashoones aren’t the only ones who want to discover where the treasure of the Iris is hidden. . . .
If you enjoyed the first Jupiter Pirates book, I think I can safely say you’ll continue to enjoy the series as it unrolls in this book. Jason Fry has confident stride in his storytelling that is pure pleasure–even for this reading pro. Fans who’ve read the first book will have little trouble picking the story again, but new readers shouldn’t find themselves swimming blind for too long either, I found this to be a second book that can stand on its own. A space-adventure featuring family drama, political and criminal entanglements and a solid treasure hunt as its main story arc. It’s the kind of science fiction or space opera that so rarely is done right for kids–but succeeds here mightily. Given the fact that our characters are two years older, this second story is just on the edge of YA territory, but I think it still falls solidly into middle grade readership.
First off, I love visiting a universe where we can see what’s going on to pilot a spaceship–plenty of nuts and bolts, mundane particulars. These are stories that give you vivid visuals of not only the external, but the internal make up of The Shadow Comet. Rather than give us a glossed over version of the craft and its workings, the author makes you feel like its a real working vehicle–not a spaceship made with magic and moonbeams, but a craft put together with sweat and spit and held together by improvisation and duct tape. These aren’t show pieces, straight off the lot, but the real deal. In fact, these crafts put me in mind of the space-western anime series Cowboy Bebop, or Joss Whedon’s Firefly series.
Tycho is our protagonist, though we get to know his butt-kicking, take-no-prisoners sister Yana and his older more practically inclined brother, Carlo. Tycho is the thoughtful one of the three–the one readers are really getting to know and understand. He’s growing into who he’ll be–facing tough choices about his own actions and desires versus how they’ll affect others. Jason Fry has done a marvelous job of putting Tycho into some difficult positions that cause him to question the pirate philosophy his family embraces, and beginning to reveal a darker and dangerous path of intrigue and deals that Tycho has to navigate. He’s no longer a boy just learning how to be a privateer, he’s a young man coming into his own, taking initiative . . .and maybe making some worrying decisions. Likewise, Tycho’s family is shown to be far from perfect, with their own secrets and scandals from the past.
I can’t really predict where any of this will go, which is a lovely thing all on its own. Too often it’s pretty easy to guess where a story arc will end up, but Jason Fry isn’t revealing all his cards in one shot.
**Minor spoiler and speculation**
There’s a slimy character in this book named DeWise that I just feel is going to be trouble for Tycho in the future. Maybe it’s just the fact that he reminds me of Mr Morden from Babylon 5, but I don’t trust him and his plans at all. I hope Tycho can steer clear of DeWise in the future, but I fear we haven’t seen the last of him!
**end of spoiler**
I will point out to readers who may like their science fiction strongly based on actual science fact, this series does take liberties–a fact Jason Fry freely admits in putting these books together. But for readers who enjoy a good adventure, particularly space adventure, this should be a good fit. If you haven’t tried these books yet, you may want to start with the first one, but you can still dive in without reading the original. Be prepared for fun, treasure and pirates! Arrrr!
Want to find out more? Check out the author’s Official Jupiter Pirates website!
Also check out my interview with Jason Fry here.
Note: An advanced uncorrected proof was provided by the author.
February 23, 2019
Review by James, age 9, 2/23/19
This book is about a group of space privateers. These are different from pirates because they are authorized to do it by the Jovian Union with a letter of marque. Pirates don't have a letter and seize the ship by force. Privateers just seize the cargo. Some ships are licensed and have a letter defending themselves from privateers. Of course this doesn't matter to pirates. It caused a huge problem in the first book.
In this book they're hunting for a lost treasure that had been carried by a mailboat that was ambushed years ago by pirates. Along the way several other people are also looking for the treasure and things get pretty violent when the Hashoone family's old enemy Mox shows up and starts taunting them. He meets up with them on an asteroid with a crashed ship on it. The Hashoones raid the crashed ship and find the captain's strong box, which has a key card that allows them to access the captain's account and find some scanners and stuff that leads them on the treasure hunt across the galaxy to find the Iris cache.
I loved this book because it's a perfect mixture of sci-fi and pirates. I want to read more books in this series!
This book is about a group of space privateers. These are different from pirates because they are authorized to do it by the Jovian Union with a letter of marque. Pirates don't have a letter and seize the ship by force. Privateers just seize the cargo. Some ships are licensed and have a letter defending themselves from privateers. Of course this doesn't matter to pirates. It caused a huge problem in the first book.
In this book they're hunting for a lost treasure that had been carried by a mailboat that was ambushed years ago by pirates. Along the way several other people are also looking for the treasure and things get pretty violent when the Hashoone family's old enemy Mox shows up and starts taunting them. He meets up with them on an asteroid with a crashed ship on it. The Hashoones raid the crashed ship and find the captain's strong box, which has a key card that allows them to access the captain's account and find some scanners and stuff that leads them on the treasure hunt across the galaxy to find the Iris cache.
I loved this book because it's a perfect mixture of sci-fi and pirates. I want to read more books in this series!
January 6, 2015
Read This Review & More Like It At Ageless Pages Reviews
In an exciting and joyful sequel that will delight sci-fi fans of all ages, we once again join the Hashoone family on their privateer ship around Jupiter. Two years have passed since the first book, and the Shadow Comet has fallen on some hard luck. The Hydra is embroiled in a nasty legal battle, ensuring the Hashoone’s haven’t seen their money for capturing the infamous pirate ship, and with tensions heating up between the Jovian Union and Earth, they’re not capturing many merchant vessels, either. But when a long dead ship turns up with a clue to a buried treasure, Tycho and his siblings are once again on the hunt.
It’s a great plot that brings to mind classic adventure stories, a’la Treasure Island, and Star Trek. In addition to treasure hunting and space battles, there’s espionage as a mysterious government figure joins the search and a real focus on the individual strengths of each of the kids. Possibly my favorite part was a solid explanation for something I found arbitrary in the first novel: the contest for captain. The kids’ deeds are still being entered in The Log, but they’re also starting to question why only one can be Captain. The reason being, that while the kids may respect each other if they all get their own ships, will the respect their cousins? Second cousins? Soon space would be full of Hashoones fighting each other, and family has to be there to support, not tear down. Great message, though I think Tycho made it clear it’s not so cut and dried.
There are very few negatives this time around. I’m not sure the time skip of two years works, as I don’t know if the twins felt any older. Everyone still has the same roles on the ship and still talks about the Hydra, so it didn’t feel like any time had actually passed. This isn’t a huge issue that detracts from the book, just a little quibble. Additionally, the universe feels smaller this time, as most of the traveling either takes place off screen or is between Jupiter’s moons. There is a time limit on the treasure hunt, that ends up feeling kind of silly and rushed,
The time skip could have been used to introduce more mature plot elements, but it’s not. There are still no love interests, though the crew get a bit more screen time, so there are other characters than the immediate family. There is a side plot dealing with an ex-spacer who’s developed substance abuse problems, which might be a bit heavy for some younger readers. It’s used to teach a really good lesson, though, and all actual use takes place off screen. There are some fight scenes, again with off screen deaths, but nothing more intense than an episode of TNG.
Comparing the book to Star Trek is both a huge compliment and the best description I can give. It lives up to Roddenberry’s desire to mix Gulliver’s Travels’ adventure and morals with the mystery of space. I know the author writes for the Star Wars EU, but perhaps he should consider a move to the better Star franchise*.
*This is of course said in love and jest. Except that it’s not. Trekkie 4 Lyfe.
Whatever he writes for, I hope he continues the Jupiter Pirates, as it has the potential to inspire a lot more wonder.
In an exciting and joyful sequel that will delight sci-fi fans of all ages, we once again join the Hashoone family on their privateer ship around Jupiter. Two years have passed since the first book, and the Shadow Comet has fallen on some hard luck. The Hydra is embroiled in a nasty legal battle, ensuring the Hashoone’s haven’t seen their money for capturing the infamous pirate ship, and with tensions heating up between the Jovian Union and Earth, they’re not capturing many merchant vessels, either. But when a long dead ship turns up with a clue to a buried treasure, Tycho and his siblings are once again on the hunt.
It’s a great plot that brings to mind classic adventure stories, a’la Treasure Island, and Star Trek. In addition to treasure hunting and space battles, there’s espionage as a mysterious government figure joins the search and a real focus on the individual strengths of each of the kids. Possibly my favorite part was a solid explanation for something I found arbitrary in the first novel: the contest for captain. The kids’ deeds are still being entered in The Log, but they’re also starting to question why only one can be Captain. The reason being, that while the kids may respect each other if they all get their own ships, will the respect their cousins? Second cousins? Soon space would be full of Hashoones fighting each other, and family has to be there to support, not tear down. Great message, though I think Tycho made it clear it’s not so cut and dried.
There are very few negatives this time around. I’m not sure the time skip of two years works, as I don’t know if the twins felt any older. Everyone still has the same roles on the ship and still talks about the Hydra, so it didn’t feel like any time had actually passed. This isn’t a huge issue that detracts from the book, just a little quibble. Additionally, the universe feels smaller this time, as most of the traveling either takes place off screen or is between Jupiter’s moons. There is a time limit on the treasure hunt, that ends up feeling kind of silly and rushed,
The time skip could have been used to introduce more mature plot elements, but it’s not. There are still no love interests, though the crew get a bit more screen time, so there are other characters than the immediate family. There is a side plot dealing with an ex-spacer who’s developed substance abuse problems, which might be a bit heavy for some younger readers. It’s used to teach a really good lesson, though, and all actual use takes place off screen. There are some fight scenes, again with off screen deaths, but nothing more intense than an episode of TNG.
Comparing the book to Star Trek is both a huge compliment and the best description I can give. It lives up to Roddenberry’s desire to mix Gulliver’s Travels’ adventure and morals with the mystery of space. I know the author writes for the Star Wars EU, but perhaps he should consider a move to the better Star franchise*.
*This is of course said in love and jest. Except that it’s not. Trekkie 4 Lyfe.
Whatever he writes for, I hope he continues the Jupiter Pirates, as it has the potential to inspire a lot more wonder.
April 9, 2014
Who knew space pirates could be so fun? ("WE DID," say the 11 and 10 year olds in the audience, for whom this book is PERFECT.)
Okay, so I didn't even REALIZE this was a sequel, so my review is basically going to treat it as the first in a series or a stand-alone. This is actually an excellent quality in a series-based book, because despite getting it out of order I didn't feel lost at all. - Okay, slightly, upon reflection. There were moments when they'd talk about particular incidents or characters (all, I realize now, surrounding the Hydra) when I felt a little lost, but mostly I was able to cobble it together.
"Curse of the Iris" follows Tycho and his family (twin sister, older brother, parents and half-cyborg grandfather) and crew and (in the case of Tycho's mother) captain their starship Shadow Comet. Tycho and his siblings are competing for the captaincy of the ship - per family tradition, one child will inherit the ship, while the others move dirtside to the family holdings.
The Hashoone family catches wind of a "cursed" treasure and sets out to find it, following leads that dig up long-dead family history as well as much less dead politics.
Most of all, I loved that this was an exciting, space pirate-y tale that meshed perfectly with family dynamics and strong relationships that categorize good middle grade.
Okay, so I didn't even REALIZE this was a sequel, so my review is basically going to treat it as the first in a series or a stand-alone. This is actually an excellent quality in a series-based book, because despite getting it out of order I didn't feel lost at all. - Okay, slightly, upon reflection. There were moments when they'd talk about particular incidents or characters (all, I realize now, surrounding the Hydra) when I felt a little lost, but mostly I was able to cobble it together.
"Curse of the Iris" follows Tycho and his family (twin sister, older brother, parents and half-cyborg grandfather) and crew and (in the case of Tycho's mother) captain their starship Shadow Comet. Tycho and his siblings are competing for the captaincy of the ship - per family tradition, one child will inherit the ship, while the others move dirtside to the family holdings.
The Hashoone family catches wind of a "cursed" treasure and sets out to find it, following leads that dig up long-dead family history as well as much less dead politics.
Most of all, I loved that this was an exciting, space pirate-y tale that meshed perfectly with family dynamics and strong relationships that categorize good middle grade.
December 20, 2021
This was just as enjoyable as the first book. I really do love the family dynamics here; all of them have such clear and distinct personalities, and the way they deal with being a crew and a family is great to read. And I really, REALLY love Yana.
I really liked the treasure hunt aspect of this book, and I'm glad that we got to see a little more of their world as well.
I really liked the treasure hunt aspect of this book, and I'm glad that we got to see a little more of their world as well.
October 4, 2014
Awesome space opera for kids!!!!
September 29, 2017
Bookworm Speaks!
Jupiter Pirates: Curse of the Iris
by Jason Fry
****
Acquired: Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Series: Jupiter Pirates (Book 2))
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
Subject: Science Fiction
****
The Story: It's been a tough year for Tycho Hashoone and his family. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a boiling point. The privateering business hasn't exactly been booming. And the ongoing contest for the captain's seat of the Shadow Comet has the three Hashoone siblings perpetually on edge. Then the Hashoones intercept a ship—one with a long-dead crew, its final mission a warning to all who seek their fortunes in space. The Hashoones don't have time for ill omens; they need a payday. Following clues from the mysterious ship, they embark on a hunt for the long-lost treasure of the Iris—a treasure that Tycho's own great-grandfather Johannes had a hand in hiding. But in his quest for the Iris cache, Tycho is going to dig up much more than he bargained for. Because like old pirate treasure, family secrets never stay buried for long.
The Review: One of the best things about this book and series is that is very refreshing for a young adult novel to take place in a setting that is not a dystopic hellhole or some knight and castle fantasy. Bookworm’s favorite setting is space opera and genuinely hopes that more authors will take this writer’s lead and put more teenagers in space.
Now on to the book itself.
For a book that is ostensibly marketed toward children, this is a surprisingly (not to mention refreshingly) mature novel that even adults can find something to enjoy. Sibling rivalry is nothing new in the world of fiction (or nonfiction, for that matter) but here it is given a bittersweet edge.
Something that Tycho and his siblings have been taught since they were too young to really understand was that: The ship is family. It has been this way for generations and Tycho never really questioned it. Until now.
Every Hashoone sibling is vying to become Captain of the Shadow Comet. It is the driving force of their lives. Tycho wants it, Yana wants it, and so does Carlo. What comes after, on the other hand remains foggy. It seems like, up until this point, Tycho never really considered what would happen to him if one of his siblings became captain and vice versa.
It’s always the silver medalists that are the unhappiest.
For book that takes place in outer space, with spaceships and cyborg pirates, this novel is actually a lot more grounded in regards to pirate lore than what many other novels in the genre can say. The Hashoone’s are not true pirates anymore, they are privateers and their actions have political repercussions for the powers-that-be.
Not to mention, there is a lot minutiae in their line. The book takes time to mention paperwork and meetings and dealing with bureaucrats as necessary part of their line of work. All of the Hashoones hate this though.
Pirates are idealized in popular culture due to the image of freedom they represent and the universal sentiment of ‘sticking it to the man.’ What people tend to forget is that the man can’t stick back. Tycho is starting to understand his place in the world is not as simple as he though it was.
This is no more exemplified than the enigmatic character of DeWise, an agent for a shadowy organization that does help Tycho every now and then but may skew the deal too heavily in his favor as time goes by. The author does a good job of putting DeWise firmly in the grey area of characterization. There is a lot of intrigue to be found in this solar system and it makes sense considering the powers that rule this future
Realism can coexist with fantastical settings. The key is striking the right balance.
Finally there is the biggest factor of all: Second-Volume Syndrome. A common criticism of the second volume, whether it be a book or a movie, is that the story doesn’t really move forward but rather take time to introduce new elements to the story that will come into play later on. There are shades of this syndrome in this book but thankfully, the aforementioned new elements are given to us as part of the coherent storyline. Tycho is definitely going through some changes but it is presented in a natural way. No training montages here.
Final Verdict: For the record, Bookworm thinks Tycho should be Captain. It may seem obvious, but Tycho has the heart of a captain. This book has plenty of heart, about growing up, finding your place, and power of family.
Rating: Four Icons of Jupiter out of Five
Jupiter Pirates: Curse of the Iris
by Jason Fry
****
Acquired: Barnes and Noble Booksellers
Series: Jupiter Pirates (Book 2))
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Reprint edition (May 17, 2016)
Language: English
Subject: Science Fiction
****
The Story: It's been a tough year for Tycho Hashoone and his family. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a boiling point. The privateering business hasn't exactly been booming. And the ongoing contest for the captain's seat of the Shadow Comet has the three Hashoone siblings perpetually on edge. Then the Hashoones intercept a ship—one with a long-dead crew, its final mission a warning to all who seek their fortunes in space. The Hashoones don't have time for ill omens; they need a payday. Following clues from the mysterious ship, they embark on a hunt for the long-lost treasure of the Iris—a treasure that Tycho's own great-grandfather Johannes had a hand in hiding. But in his quest for the Iris cache, Tycho is going to dig up much more than he bargained for. Because like old pirate treasure, family secrets never stay buried for long.
The Review: One of the best things about this book and series is that is very refreshing for a young adult novel to take place in a setting that is not a dystopic hellhole or some knight and castle fantasy. Bookworm’s favorite setting is space opera and genuinely hopes that more authors will take this writer’s lead and put more teenagers in space.
Now on to the book itself.
For a book that is ostensibly marketed toward children, this is a surprisingly (not to mention refreshingly) mature novel that even adults can find something to enjoy. Sibling rivalry is nothing new in the world of fiction (or nonfiction, for that matter) but here it is given a bittersweet edge.
Something that Tycho and his siblings have been taught since they were too young to really understand was that: The ship is family. It has been this way for generations and Tycho never really questioned it. Until now.
Every Hashoone sibling is vying to become Captain of the Shadow Comet. It is the driving force of their lives. Tycho wants it, Yana wants it, and so does Carlo. What comes after, on the other hand remains foggy. It seems like, up until this point, Tycho never really considered what would happen to him if one of his siblings became captain and vice versa.
It’s always the silver medalists that are the unhappiest.
For book that takes place in outer space, with spaceships and cyborg pirates, this novel is actually a lot more grounded in regards to pirate lore than what many other novels in the genre can say. The Hashoone’s are not true pirates anymore, they are privateers and their actions have political repercussions for the powers-that-be.
Not to mention, there is a lot minutiae in their line. The book takes time to mention paperwork and meetings and dealing with bureaucrats as necessary part of their line of work. All of the Hashoones hate this though.
Pirates are idealized in popular culture due to the image of freedom they represent and the universal sentiment of ‘sticking it to the man.’ What people tend to forget is that the man can’t stick back. Tycho is starting to understand his place in the world is not as simple as he though it was.
This is no more exemplified than the enigmatic character of DeWise, an agent for a shadowy organization that does help Tycho every now and then but may skew the deal too heavily in his favor as time goes by. The author does a good job of putting DeWise firmly in the grey area of characterization. There is a lot of intrigue to be found in this solar system and it makes sense considering the powers that rule this future
Realism can coexist with fantastical settings. The key is striking the right balance.
Finally there is the biggest factor of all: Second-Volume Syndrome. A common criticism of the second volume, whether it be a book or a movie, is that the story doesn’t really move forward but rather take time to introduce new elements to the story that will come into play later on. There are shades of this syndrome in this book but thankfully, the aforementioned new elements are given to us as part of the coherent storyline. Tycho is definitely going through some changes but it is presented in a natural way. No training montages here.
Final Verdict: For the record, Bookworm thinks Tycho should be Captain. It may seem obvious, but Tycho has the heart of a captain. This book has plenty of heart, about growing up, finding your place, and power of family.
Rating: Four Icons of Jupiter out of Five
September 15, 2018
Absolutely amazing concepts. Conception wise, this book was fabulous. I loved the old world feel, the political situation, the blend of technologies. Making the kids officers on the ship, ala Horatio Hornblower was a great move....good descriptions. A true sense of setting and a fabulous story line. I also personally loved the fact that the kids were kind of 'home schooled' by the ships computer. The battles and action sequences are plenty exciting and there's enough tech talk to steep in the setting, without getting bogged down in jargon.
This could have been an unbelievable good book.
What kept is from being an unbelievably good book:
The characterization is pretty one dimensional, the kids especially are supposed to be smart and talented, but just come off as bratty. I didn't like all the bickering and competition, it was disappointing to see what could have been a book about the strength of family written as if this was normal family dynamic.
There was a lot of feminist propaganda. The mother is the captain and her husband and children practically bow down to her....The sister is really obnoxious but is almost always portrayed as right, while her males counterparts are portrayed as stupid. She is written like she is supposed to be an admirable character, just because she is rebellious....as if this was a good trait to see in a woman/girl. She and her mother are constantly arguing and the kids overall have a very bad relationship with their parents and one another.
There's a lot of dubious moral decision about lying, cheating and so on. The kids disobey orders constantly but are always portrayed as being justified in their actions, even when they take absurd risks.
A few violent parts.
Also a few religious parts involving priests who have a quasi feel good ‘faith’…..
This could have been an unbelievable good book.
What kept is from being an unbelievably good book:
The characterization is pretty one dimensional, the kids especially are supposed to be smart and talented, but just come off as bratty. I didn't like all the bickering and competition, it was disappointing to see what could have been a book about the strength of family written as if this was normal family dynamic.
There was a lot of feminist propaganda. The mother is the captain and her husband and children practically bow down to her....The sister is really obnoxious but is almost always portrayed as right, while her males counterparts are portrayed as stupid. She is written like she is supposed to be an admirable character, just because she is rebellious....as if this was a good trait to see in a woman/girl. She and her mother are constantly arguing and the kids overall have a very bad relationship with their parents and one another.
There's a lot of dubious moral decision about lying, cheating and so on. The kids disobey orders constantly but are always portrayed as being justified in their actions, even when they take absurd risks.
A few violent parts.
Also a few religious parts involving priests who have a quasi feel good ‘faith’…..
December 7, 2017
I mean, turns out that I was actually reading the uncorrected proof (so the occasion awkward sentence makes sense after all!). But it was really good! The world and its people are interesting and fun to read about, the plot is a fun space adventure, the characters aren't stupid (like in SOME series I'm reading *cough cough KotLC cough*), and while some loose ends leave it open to a sequel, the adventure gets concluded.
November 29, 2025
This is a good sci-fi series for tweens and teens about how humanity has spread across the solar system, but not everyone is as fortunate as those living on earth.
See my full review at "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
See my full review at "https://cooperhite.com/book-reviews/"
September 8, 2017
Asher (11yo) read. "Really cool - though I would have kept some of the treasure instead of selling it all. Great battle at the end."
Read
September 11, 2019great
Read
July 5, 2021
Trigger & Content Warnings
Alcoholism, including death from alcohol poisoning
Gun violence
Near-drowning
Imprisonment mentioned
Spaceship accidents
Alcoholism, including death from alcohol poisoning
Gun violence
Near-drowning
Imprisonment mentioned
Spaceship accidents
February 28, 2017
This adventure was totally wicked!
It's been 2 years since the last adventure and the Hashoone's are facing some tough times out there in space. Bounty is scarce and tensions are high between the siblings. Suddenly they stumble onto a strange mystery that leads the whole family onto a centuries old treasure hunt. But the treasure brings about a lot of old family secrets, secrets that are better left in space, is the treasure really worth the possibility of breaking up the clan??
The answer is yes, yes it is, read this book [read the first one beforehand]!!
[I read it on the bus to and from school, I am not this slow at reading, I promise]
It's been 2 years since the last adventure and the Hashoone's are facing some tough times out there in space. Bounty is scarce and tensions are high between the siblings. Suddenly they stumble onto a strange mystery that leads the whole family onto a centuries old treasure hunt. But the treasure brings about a lot of old family secrets, secrets that are better left in space, is the treasure really worth the possibility of breaking up the clan??
The answer is yes, yes it is, read this book [read the first one beforehand]!!
[I read it on the bus to and from school, I am not this slow at reading, I promise]
May 10, 2015
Review originally posted on Children's Atheneum
In the future, pirating isn't just a space thing, but a family affair. Tycho Hashoone's family has been pirating for centuries except now they have a privateer's license and their pirating business is completely legal. Tycho and his two siblings are not only part of one of the greatest pirate...err...privateer vessels this side of Jupiter, but they are also in competition with one another to see who will become the next ship's captain. It has been a tough year since we last saw the Hashoone family. Since we last saw the Hashoones, it has been a tough year. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a tipping point. They have had a run of terrible luck in the privateering department. But none of them realize that their next haul, a derelict ship floating through space, may be just what they need. Soon they are on the track of a long lost treasure, one with ties to their family, one that may reveal the truly piratical and cruel nature of what it means to be a pirate.
As I reviewed in the first book, The Hunt for Hydra, this is a high seas adventure set in space. As I had hoped, this second book did give us a bit more of the politics surrounding this "world" and as I suspected, it slowed down the plot considerably. Instead of a space race treasure hunt, this story was bogged down in political maneuverings.
This book has a lot of positives though. I still love the family dynamic, how well everyone works together and I find it almost sad by the prospect that they may all be split up one day. Tycho too is bothered by this and as this book progresses, he becomes more and more convinced that there has to be another way. They aren't pirates anymore. They have helped the Jovian Union numerous times. There has to be a way that his entire family can still sail among the stars rather than forcing them planetside, which would be a real waste of talent. I desperately want Tycho to become the captain (which is what I think the author is leading toward), but can also see that Tycho could do a lot of good if he were forced down to earth. He is not as headstrong as his sister nor as brash as his brother and he has just the right amount of compassion and intelligence to make him brave.
As in the first book, I also love that the children are given a lot of free reign with their parents permission to learn and grow. This is seen as necessary if they are to ever become captain. I wish there had been a bit more interaction with the people below decks as they are just mysterious people who obey and follow with seemingly no traitors among them, but perhaps that will be in the next book?
On the whole, another fun space adventure with a bit more politics than I would have liked, but plenty of space battles to make up for it.
In the future, pirating isn't just a space thing, but a family affair. Tycho Hashoone's family has been pirating for centuries except now they have a privateer's license and their pirating business is completely legal. Tycho and his two siblings are not only part of one of the greatest pirate...err...privateer vessels this side of Jupiter, but they are also in competition with one another to see who will become the next ship's captain. It has been a tough year since we last saw the Hashoone family. Since we last saw the Hashoones, it has been a tough year. Hostilities between the Jovian Union and Earth have reached a tipping point. They have had a run of terrible luck in the privateering department. But none of them realize that their next haul, a derelict ship floating through space, may be just what they need. Soon they are on the track of a long lost treasure, one with ties to their family, one that may reveal the truly piratical and cruel nature of what it means to be a pirate.
As I reviewed in the first book, The Hunt for Hydra, this is a high seas adventure set in space. As I had hoped, this second book did give us a bit more of the politics surrounding this "world" and as I suspected, it slowed down the plot considerably. Instead of a space race treasure hunt, this story was bogged down in political maneuverings.
This book has a lot of positives though. I still love the family dynamic, how well everyone works together and I find it almost sad by the prospect that they may all be split up one day. Tycho too is bothered by this and as this book progresses, he becomes more and more convinced that there has to be another way. They aren't pirates anymore. They have helped the Jovian Union numerous times. There has to be a way that his entire family can still sail among the stars rather than forcing them planetside, which would be a real waste of talent. I desperately want Tycho to become the captain (which is what I think the author is leading toward), but can also see that Tycho could do a lot of good if he were forced down to earth. He is not as headstrong as his sister nor as brash as his brother and he has just the right amount of compassion and intelligence to make him brave.
As in the first book, I also love that the children are given a lot of free reign with their parents permission to learn and grow. This is seen as necessary if they are to ever become captain. I wish there had been a bit more interaction with the people below decks as they are just mysterious people who obey and follow with seemingly no traitors among them, but perhaps that will be in the next book?
On the whole, another fun space adventure with a bit more politics than I would have liked, but plenty of space battles to make up for it.
November 27, 2016
I believe that this was a good book it had a lot of action and it was kind of like a mystery also I gave it a 4 star because I believe that it was good but not great. the words was not difficult it was very descriptive and it was going on and on about things I did not think that was really not needed. This book kind of reminded me about a movie it was outer space and like Star Wars. They were fighting in Cyber space and looking for like a gem called an iris that was really powerful. One of the strengths of this book to me was that the book was really descriptive. one of the weakness were that they were giving a little bit too much details going on to the story. I would totally recommend this book to people that like mysteries and people that like a lot of action because there is a lot of it in all 19 chapters. This book is apart of a series called the Jupiter pirates and there are 3 books in the series.
October 9, 2015
Tycho is back at the navigation station, a little bit older and wiser. Things are tough for the family business when he runs across a couple of risky opportunities. While hunting for treasure, he also digs up some not-so-pleasant secrets about the past. With tense battles, visits to unfamiliar worlds, and a hilarious encounter with a philosophical banker, this is another great space pirate yarn! And I can't wait for more.
April 14, 2016
A fun sci-fi thriller, that has a few "morals of the story" bits. Most enjoyable.
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