I forgot to leave a review for this when I first read it. I gave this book to one of my teens who had just come out to me as trans and they felt seen by this book for the first time.

When Mar was born, it seemed they wouldn't get even one day on this Earth. But Mar's father was a pirate, one who stole back treasures from the Spanish that had been looted from the Caribbean. Not one to give up on his child, he made a bargain with El Diablo-- his child and 16 years of legendary pirating for his soul. Now, on Mar's 16th birthday, the debt comes due during a colossal storm.

The only survivor of the ensuing shipwreck, Mar takes an immediate dislike to the light-hearted pirate Sebastián who engineers their rescue. Amid their horrible grief, Bas insists on joking and playing and being generally good-looking. On top of their loss, Mar has several pressing concerns. One is the new bargain dangled by El Diablo to save their father's soul. The problem is that they know their father would never want them to give up their own soul in return. Mar has a very short time window to come up with an alternative that sees their father free. In the meantime, they have to be careful on this new pirate ship that took them in-- completing the menial tasks of a lowly cabin person, making sure their transness doesn't come to light, and hiding the innate magic that has endangered them and others many times. Mar's dual magics of fire and ice have warring personalities and express themselves through tattoo-like birthmarks. When Mar goes too long without using their abilities (say, when they're in hiding on a pirate ship), they start to sicken. As if this all wasn't quite enough to keep Mar up at night, they start to be visited by a demonio, a lesser bargain-maker to El Diablo, who offers their help and interference with unknown motives. Fabulously gender fluid and less fabulously untrustworthy, the demonio pops up at moments both fortuitous and disastrous to meddle in Mar's affairs.

This is a fun story with high stakes and big adventures. You can expect pirate boarding parties, tavern gunfights with Spaniards, and an epic prison break against all odds. There's a night at an inn with  ~only one bed~, a grumpy/sunshine connection, and a great mixture of flirtation and squabbling. There are queer people everywhere living their best lives, usually pirating. There are Caribbean islands both bustling with everyday life and full of mysterious, ancient power. And there are fierce people putting up resistance to colonial forces. I'm excited to read more from Gabe Cole Novoa because this book is a delight and a half. Thanks to Random House for my copy to read and review!

This reminded of all of the shenanigans of The Daughter of the Pirate King but make it queer, Latinx, and chock full of elemental magic.

This book was a phenomenal pirate book that is perfect for any fans of either the Pirates of the Caribbean series and especially of any fans of Our Flag Means Death.

The character relationships between Mar and the other characters are definitely the highlight of this book. While the prose, the action, and the world itself are phenomenal, the book would not have worked nearly as well as it does without seeing both how Mar's relationship with their now deceased crew as well as their new relationship with their crew has been impacting them emotionally and mentally. It is very clear that Gabe Cole Novoa really understood what makes pirate books work and seamlessly incorporated both the rich cultural elements as well as the conversations on gender identity into the rich and emotionally fraught adventure.

Every single character worked for me from the menacing El Diablo to the kind Bas to the mischievous Dami. This really elevated the found family aspects of the book and helped to really deliver exactly what was promised in the synopsis. I adore how this book also did not shy away from the conversations about colonialism and slavery that were important just in the time period but to piracy itself and it helped both the characters and the world feel that much more developed. On top of that, the book maintains a tone and level of depth that is perfect for teens who desperately are wanting an interesting and emotional adventure.

I would honestly read anything else this author writes in the future and I certainly hope this is not Novoa's last foray into writing fantasy.

This was an excellent queer magical pirate adventure. I was hooked from the very beginning, and loved watching Mar grow into themselves and their magic. Bas and Dami were excellent additions and injected a lot of humor and fun into the story when Mar got a little too overwhelmed or serious.

The story was fast paced and very enjoyable. The audiobook narrator did a great job bringing the characters and story to life. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

I also love how the queerness is so inherent in the story. Mar (transmasculine nonbinary) is self-conscious about binding his chest but there are no other indications that there is anything wrong with being queer in this world. Bas is clearly gay, Dami is genderfluid, and there are mentions of queer couples on the pirate ships. It is refreshing to read an obviously queer story without all of the drama centering on whether being queer is ok / acceptable / etc.

Also! It was so nice to get Latinx pirates in the Caribbean! Pirate stories almost always heavily feature white characters which seems improbable, given the setting.

After this and Most Ardently, which I also loved, Gabe Cole Novoa is going immediately on my auto-buy list.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Books for Young Readers for providing an early copy for review.

Magic! Pirates! Queer characters! In this captivating YA book, we follow Mar, a transmasc nonbinary pirate, on a thrilling quest to save their father from the clutches of the Diablo. Accompanied by a Demonio and a charming fellow pirate, the narrative unfolds in a way that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The world-building, intricately interwoven with Latino culture, added a layer of richness that I adored. The fast-paced adventure had me hooked, and even when I wasn't reading, the story lingered in my thoughts.

Throughout the fun of this fantasy book, the exploration of themes such as self-acceptance and healing from past wounds stuck with me. Mar's character arc was a particular highlight, offering a relatable journey that I believe many readers will connect with on a personal level.

While the romance involving Bas added a cute element to the story, I found myself wishing for more depth in Bas' characterization. Beyond his apparent arrogance and attractiveness, a deeper exploration of his personality could have enriched the romantic subplot even further.

Overall, this YA adventure not only delivers on the magic and pirate front but also manages to delve into universal themes, making it a delightful and enjoyable read.

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0

Lots of Spanish on this so keep your translator handy if you don't know Spanish or are a bit rusty!

Highly enjoyable and definitely a wild ride through the ups and downs. Characters are captivating and the story pulls you in quickly and doesn't let go.

I am a sucker for pirate books and this one did not disappoint. Mar was an absolute delight as a main character. I don't think I've ever read a pirate book with a nonbinary main character, and I was totally here for it! While many pirate books focus on the roughened, violent, and brutal aspects of piracy, the author allowed Mar's character to also feel, show emotions, and explore more sensitive pieces of their personality. I also loved that genderfluidity and queerness were normalized in this world. It allowed the characters to just be themselves. At the same time, Mar shared their insecurities and disconnectedness with some parts of their body. It was never made into a *huge deal* but did explore these experiences. It felt organic to Mar's character. I loved that Mar and Bas were fighting so fiercely for their crews and families. Though I loved both Mar and Bas, I think Dami was my favorite character. They were the perfect demonio; charming yet annoying, funny yet frustrating, popping up at the most inopportune times and never being quite clear about their intentions. I am so very excited to read the companion novel, The Diablo's Curse, which features Dami as the main character. Highly recommend this adventurous, thrilling, and sweet pirate novel!

What I liked about this pirate story is that it featured latinx characters. It took me a while to get into this diverse read. I did want to finish the story so that I could know what happened. However, I did not feel invested in the characters and their adventures.

Honestly, I did not expect to love this one as much as I did but considering this felt like a mix between Cemetery Boys and Our Flag Means Death its absolutely no surprise that I do.

Firstly, what fantastic rep this novel held, from the trans masc, non-binary Latinx pirate to the genderfluid demonio leaving them through it.. This story held so much heart and character and heartbreak that managed to link it to what we owe ourselves and each other, whilst also focusing on forgiveness and second chances. The Wicked Bargain is a story built on culture, and piracy and identity. Interweaving all of these different parts and following a story of coming to terms with your powers, fighting for those you love and giving yourself room to forgive. I loved it. Dearly.

Even the binding aspects, how even amidst it all, what more does a transmasc kid want than to feel free, to have a body they love and cherish and to get to feel fully authentic throughout it all. Dami and Mar together offered to different sides of the transgender experience and this representation meant the world to me. I'm not the biggest fan of magical transitioning usually but the way it was done here was gentle, thoughtful and felt realistic for both of the characters. This world was incredible and I'm so excited to know the next story follows Dami who I loved so much!

the only reason this book reached a 4.75 star and not a 5 star for me was because the pacing often times felt off, and chapters ended in strange places making for a more disjointed reading experiences. As well as a few sentences seeming less polished and out of place in comparison to the rest of the story but a story I loved and strongly recommend regardless!!

I'm so annoyed that it took me so long to get around to reading this one, because it was SO GOOD. Standalone fantasy is hard to do well without the pacing feeling off. It's easy to either be bogged down in too much world building or for things to feel too rushed and unexplained. The Wicked Bargain balances the fantastical elements with the heart and swashbuckling pirate adventure perfectly! I loved the characters immediately and the queer, enby, and trans representation was excellent! My only complaint at the end was truly, I want more! I just recently learned the author is writing a spin-off story about Dami that comes out in Feb 2024 and I will be awaiting it anxiously!

The Wicked Bargain
WRITTEN BY GABE COLE NOVOA
REVIEW BY MELISSA WARREN

Gabe Cole Novoa’s The Wicked Bargain is an action-packed pirate adventure and so much more. It is a tale of acceptance and transformation. Novoa’s main character, sixteen-year-old Mar León de la Rosa, is a seasoned Caribbean pirate who is part of an unstoppable crew captained by Mar’s father. Together, they raid Spanish ships and aid revolutionaries throughout the region, working fearlessly to end Spanish rule. However, it all ends one terrible night when el Diablo arrives to settle a deal he made with the captain long ago.

Mar is the sole survivor of el Diablo’s wrath and is plucked out of the wreckage by the last pirate crew on the Caribbean Sea. Wracked with grief and overwhelmed by the task of hiding both their transmasculine nonbinary identity and supernatural abilities from the crew, Mar embarks on a secret journey to save their father. Despite Mar’s godlike abilities to control the elements, their self-loathing is nearly their undoing. It takes the unlikely team of a handsome pirate and stylish demonio to help Mar accept themself and unearth the magic required to save their father.

This novel is an excellent addition to any classroom library. The themes of family, acceptance, and friendship leap off the page with the same intensity as the swashbuckling action. The pirates are as kind as they are fierce, and this novel reminds readers that queer people have existed throughout history. Inclusive stories teach all of us that self-acceptance is the path to belonging.

I love having books with so much representation, especially in sci-fi and fantasy. I was so excited to see a book with queer and nonbinary pirates. And I mostly very enjoyed it. It was so interesting watching this world come together and to learn a little more about these powers, tho I wish there was more surrounding it a bit. There are parts that I have mixed feelings on and will have to sit on it a while before I know exactly how I feel about it. But I enjoyed this book more than not.

Pirates! Demons! Trans masc non-binary main character!

In The Wicked Bargain, Mar ends off on another pirate ship after a storm wrecks the one captained by their father. The cause of the storm? Oh, just El Diablo coming to collect on the soul of Mar’s father. This leads to Mar teaming up with Bas, the son of the captain on their new ship, and Dami… a demon with questionable motives. Mar has to learn to harness their powers of fire and ice in order to try and trick El Diablo.

I was so interested in this book that I ignored my complex relationship with fantasy books. Nothing could stop me from reading this, and I’m so glad I did. Mar’s story struck such a chord in me that I devoured this book. I almost didn’t need Mar to have the powers, but that’s probably my non-fantasy brain talking. I would have loved to just live in this space of Mar, Bas, and their third-wheeling demon trying to outmaneuver El Diablo.

If you love pirates, fantasy, or demons, I can’t imagine this wouldn’t be for you. It is so good.

4 stars

The Wicked Bargain is fun, fast-paced, and queer. And has pirates. And a delightfully infuriating genderfluid demonio. So definitely read this.

I think this book falls into a special category I have:

Books That Aren't Perfect for Various Reasons But I'm Just Really Glad They Exist in the World Anyway Because Mirrors and Windows Matter

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

I read and enjoyed this queer, swashbuckling story, so I’m sharing 5 reasons y’all should read it, too!

1. Nonbinary pirate mc. Mar deals with so much in the story, from losing and finding family to exploring their identity.

2. Queernorm world. There are so many gays!! And none of it is questioned or seen as “weird.” We stan a historical novel without homophobia.

3. Latinx history. While this was a work of fiction, the author was inspired by real-world history and brought to light a lot of problems caused by colonization.

4. Sassy genderqueer demon. Constantly changin
g their form and stirring up trouble… yes, please.

5. Fire and ice magic. Mar doesn’t quite *love* having this magic, but boy, is it awesome.

This had amazing representation, a fleshed out cast and everything else I could have wanted. This is so good and I look forward to reading more of the authors books.

This book gave me everything I didn't know I wanted or needed. I couldn't devour it quick enough and I am desperate for a sequel. It was like Daughter of the Pirate King but make it queer, Latinx, and full of elemental magic and let me tell you, I was SO here for it.

4.25 rounded down.

I was incredibly excited for this book and I was in no way disappointed. Mar was such a fantastic protagonist, their grief felt real and visceral and I loved the way it didn't hold them back from experiencing moments of joy in the rare moments they popped up, it felt like such a true-to-life depiction. Bas is my favourite type of secondary character and the rest of the cast was well-fleshed out. It was also really interesting to watch out characters discover the magic system together, it's so common in fantasy for the characters to either a) already know everything or b) have a mentor that does so reading Mar figure things out by themself was refreshing. I highly recommend you pick this one up if you like pirates, semi-historical fantasy, and protagonists that steal your heart.

(3.5 Stars)

Don't let the rating fool you. Even though this may not be a new all-time favorite book for me personally, I think it's a hell of a lot of fun to read and absolutely delivers as an exciting queer pirate adventure story!

What I love the most about this story is absolutely the characters. Mar is a fantastic character who I very much relate to. It’s still quite rare to see stories about transmasc nonbinary folks period, but it's even more rare for those stories to be about Mexican transmasc nonbinary characters. So that's very meaningful representation for me, and I think it's going to hit home for so many other readers as well.

I think Mar is undergoing a really worthwhile emotional journey in this story as they go from fearing their own power to trying to embrace it. That’s definitely a powerful character arc for young queer and trans folks to see, especially, because we do live in a world where we’re expected to negotiate our power and our visibility for so many different reasons. And sometimes there comes a point where it’s not someone else telling us to silence our joy, and power, and magic, but rather something we learn to do to ourselves.

So I feel like Mar’s story arc is trying to pinpoint where exactly that divide happens, how to navigate that line between living in fear and inflicting your own oppression. In that sense, the story is using magic as a metaphor for visibility, self-expression, self-actualization, and happiness. Their magic is something Mar feels they have to hide from the world, for fear of being persecuted or hunted, but the more they hold it—and, by extension, themself—back, the more it fights to break free.

I also really love Dami, the genderfluid demonio, who’s next move you can never quite predict. Dami and Bas bring some really great relief to the story. They’re funny, they’re charming, they challenge Mar to go against the grain, rethink their beliefs, and take risks. I really did love the dynamics between all three of them. Reading about them trying to navigate this impossible journey together was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book.

To recap: there’s a lot of really good things happening here: fantastic representation—especially in regards to dysphoria and passing—delightful characters, really strong thematic work, and the story is just really fun to read. It’s exciting, it’s fast-paced, it’s incredibly adventurous. There’s no shortage of action or drama. And full disclosure: I read this entire book is less than 24 hours, because I simply had no incentive to stop.

All that said, I still feel torn about it, because there’s something off about it that I can’t quite put my finger on. I think the story doesn’t quite strike the right balance when it comes to both world-building and the establishment of stakes.

I feel like there’s so much to this world that is under-explored in some ways. It feels like there’s a lot more to this whole dynamic of demonios versus humans that we don’t get to see. We don’t really know what the demon world is like or what happens to people who have bargained their souls away. Do they die? Are they imprisoned? Are they experiencing some kind of eternal punishment? We don’t know.

There’s also an implication that there’s more people in the world like Mar who have some sort of powers, but we never actually encounter anyone else who has magic.

Mar is very insistent that their magic is dangerous. If anyone found out about it, they would be hunted and killed. There’s some backstory about why they fear their power, and that’s absolutely valid, but we don’t really see anything reinforcing those fears, which kind of skews the stakes.

On the one hand, it’s necessary because part of the wonderful thematic work is Mar exploring how to move past their own self-imposed limitations and belief, but then that isolation makes them seem like the one and only person having these experiences.

I can’t say much more without getting into spoiler territory, so I won’t. More importantly, it’s not my intention to make you think this is a badly written story or that it’s not worthwhile. It absolutely is.

There’s adventure, there’s action, there’s romance, there’s gender feels, there’s pirates, and found family, and a great revenge arc to top it all off. I still think it could have been better or maybe it just needed to be a duology in order to fully explore this world, which is deeply fascinating as has so much potential. But it was still incredibly solid as whole.

Also I would recommend the audiobook if you can access it, because it’s read by the one and only Vico Ortiz! While I don’t think it would’ve changed my overall opinion, I do think listening to the story would have made it a really special experience!