The Isle of Gold

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 09 Oct 2018 | Archive Date 06 May 2019

Talking about this book? Use #TheIsleOfGold #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

Mystery, Myth & Magic Meet in an Epic Adventure of Two Women Lost at Sea—

and the Secret that Binds Them Together


AN ORPHAN DISGUISED AS A PIRATE SETS SAIL FOR A MYSTICAL ISLAND IN HOPES OF UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF HER PAST


The year is 1716—the Golden Age of Pirates. An orphan who sleeps in the dusty kitchens of a quayside brothel, Merrin Smith is desperate to unravel the secrets of her past and find the truth about the events that brought her to the Caribbean island of Isla Perla as a child. Disguised as a sailor, and with the help of her longtime friend Claudette, Merrin joins the crew of the pirate ship Riptide, helmed by the notorious Captain Erik Winters. Tenacious and rumored a madman, Winters is known as much for his ruthlessness as for his connection to the enigmatic and beautiful proprietress of the Goodnight Mermaid, Evangeline Dahl, who vanished from Isla Perla two summers before.


        At sunset the Riptide sails for the mythical island of Bracile, a place hidden between air and sea and that exists only for a moment every two years, and which has never returned any man who has sailed for its shores. The journey will be perilous and long, and it will take Merrin far away from the only home she’s ever known. Because she can read, Merrin will serve as the Captain’s apprentice, deciphering old texts for clues to the island’s whereabouts as the ship sails through haunted, frozen waters and into the very heart of the ocean. As she struggles to navigate the rough, seafaring life aboard a pirate ship, Merrin must keep her identity hidden from the scrupulous gaze of not only Captain Winters, but also Mister Brandon Dunn, the ship’s surly, legend-spouting quartermaster, and Tom Birch, the charming boatswain Merrin can’t help but feel drawn to.

        As the Riptide makes its way to Bracile, Merrin begins to suspect that the men she has worked so hard to deceive may in fact be more connected to her than she would have imagined, and that perhaps her own past might have more to do with the Dunn’s legends and myths than she ever could have guessed.


In The Isle of Gold [Black Spot Books, October 9, 2018] Merrin Smith must face perilous waters, cursed sea goddesses, and the embodiments of some of the ocean’s most terrifying legends as she not only struggles to survive her journey, but to find the answers to the mysteries of her past.


A story where history meets fantasy, The Isle of Gold is an epic, emotional adventure of two women—one desperate to save herself, and the other determined to be rescued—and the secret which binds them together.


“For as long as men have sailed the ocean, they have told stories about the sea,” says Jane. “It’s a place of mystery, myth, and magic—and this makes The Isle of Gold a perfect setting for an epic adventure that is not only a tale of historical fiction, but of the very evolution of a woman’s spirit as she seeks to find herself in a world of unpredictability and uncertainty.”


“There is an old saying that ‘the cure for anything is saltwater—tears, sweat, or the sea.’ In The Isle of Gold, Merrin’s journey requires all three.”  

Mystery, Myth & Magic Meet in an Epic Adventure of Two Women Lost at Sea—

and the Secret that Binds Them Together


AN ORPHAN DISGUISED AS A PIRATE SETS SAIL FOR A MYSTICAL ISLAND IN HOPES OF UNRAVELING...


A Note From the Publisher

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. She also regularly writes short stories and poetry that is published in various literary magazines. Seven is a member of The Author's Guild and Women's Fiction Writing Association. She lives in New England. Follow @SevenJaneWrites on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Seven Jane is an author of dark fantasy and speculative fiction. She also regularly writes short stories and poetry that is published in various literary magazines. Seven is a...


Marketing Plan

* National consumer print, online, and broadcast media campaign *

* Publishing trade ARC/galley outreach *

* Author interviews and excerpts available upon request *

* Influencer outreach to Amazon top reviewers & Goodreads librarians, Bookstagrammers, BookTubers, podcasters, and more *

* National consumer print, online, and broadcast media campaign *

* Publishing trade ARC/galley outreach *

* Author interviews and excerpts available upon request *

* Influencer outreach to Amazon top...



Average rating from 39 members


Featured Reviews

The Isle of Gold was an interesting read--one about which I am still pondering as I pen this review. There was a lot to like about it, with pirates and adventure blending with fantasy and mythology. I appreciated the character of Merrin. However, I struggled to feel the connection between her and Tom, which seemed purely physical lust rather than love. To me, the person of greatest interest was Captain Winters, and I would have enjoyed the opportunity to get to know him a little more. I liked the way the story morphed from historical to fantasy, but I thought the pacing could have done with a little work. It was a somewhat plodding beginning, followed by a sudden rush of mad activity towards the end. In conclusion, this was an intriguing story with a lot of good points, but one which missed the mark here and there. I would recommend it to those who enjoy pirate stories with a touch of fantasy (along the lines of Pirates of the Caribbean), and overall I give it 3.5 stars, pushing to 4.

Was this review helpful?

Summary: An girl who was orphaned joins the crew of a pirate ship in search of adventure. 

What I liked: I truly dislike tropey novels and Isle of Gold  fit that bill. It was a fresh take on the pirate adventure with a bit of myth thrown in for good measure. I really enjoyed the pacing of the novel. It reminded me of a wave ebbing and flowing with a big build up to action and retreating to give the reader time to breath before the next wave of action. The characters were well written and three dimensional. The relationships between Tom and Merrin was sweet and I appreciated it. In a time where characters in books rip each others clothing off there was a lot of patience and build up between them and I found that endearing. I love the way myth was woven through the story to craft a back story that I found truly special. 

What I didn't like: There wasn't anything I didn't like....well there was one...the story ended. 

Star Rating: 5

My thoughts: Jane has left a bit to the imagination with this story and I truly loved it. I thought that the pacing was cleverly done and there wasn't a time throughout the book that I was bored or wanting to read something else.

Was this review helpful?

Captain Winters has been searching for his lost love Evangeline for two years. He swears the sea has taken her and is determined to sail into the heart of the ocean to bring her back. Merrin, an orphaned girl who scrubs floors in a brothel on Isla Perla, also feels a strange connection to the lost Evangeline. Disguising herself as a man, Merrin joins Winters' pirate crew. They begin an adventure of mythological proportions as Merrin discovers just who her parents are and why she was abandoned in the first place. 

Davy Jones, Melusine, selkies, sirens, and other lore from the sea build the world of this unique historical fantasy. Even with many elements reminiscent of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, the story was still unique. The pacing of the story was odd in parts, with large descriptive passages occurring during action scenes. The love interest also fell a little flat and was far less interesting than other parts of the story. On the whole, however, I enjoyed this adventure and may look out for more books by this author in the future.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a book that had a lot of potential, and could have been a really, really good story. It had a unique plot, a main protagonist that I could actually get behind, and all the makings of my Next Favorite Book. There were just too many words that got in the way, unfortunately. 

Merrin Smith, an orphan, has never felt like she belonged anywhere. However, she has always felt a strange connection to Evangeline Dahl, the proprietress of the Goodnight Mermaid. So when Evangeline goes missing, Merrin decides that she will be part of the group that finds her... even if it means pretending to be a man and joining the crew of the mysterious Captain Winters. Throughout her journey, Merrin will discover the truth about herself, her family, and the world around her--because nothing is as it seems.

I really did like the direction that this book was going in, especially because there were several moments when I went "hey, that was actually pretty cool/unique/awesome." Merrin, the protagonist, is actually quite independent and resourceful, and doesn't need a man to help her survive (there is a man but... see paragraph below). She can hold her own, defend herself, and do all of the things without having her hand held. So that made me happy. And the plot of the book was actually quite original despite some of the quibbles I had about it, and I genuinely wanted to know what was going to happen next, who was going to survive, etc.

I had 3 main issues with this book: the wordiness, the romance, and Pirates of the Caribbean. This book could have been amazing, but there were just too many description chunks that distracted from the story, and I could feel my attention drifting. This was honestly what made it hard for me to finish the book, since I couldn't quite focus on the story. The romance also bothered me because I feel like this story would have flowed perfectly without one, and the introduction and development of the romance seemed forced and awkward. As for the Pirates of the Caribbean... this may be unfair to this particular book, as my entire knowledge of Davy Jones and all that come from those (amazing) movies, but there were several plot points or descriptions that seemed a little too similar to the Pirates franchise for my liking. Maybe they aren't connected at all, but it detracted from the otherwise unique setting and story.

Overall this book had a ton of potential, it just fell a tad short mostly because of the excessive descriptions provided in the text. The plot itself was interesting, the characters were interesting, and there definitely were some points where I felt drawn into the story. It was the words that got in the way.

3/5 Stars

The Isle of Gold is slated for release on October 9th, 2018.

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way affected my feelings towards, review of, or opinions on the book.

Was this review helpful?

ARC PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY FOR AN HONEST REVIEW


Y’all are SLEEPINNNG on this right now. This is an AMAZING fun, fast paced bad ass pirate story with mythology all wrapped in!

I absolutely fucking loved this! From the very first page I was in awe of how fast and fun this was.

So much vivid details of the ships, oceans and the characters. I really pictured everything that was happening and the world.
This book has diversity in amazing ways, it isn’t over powering and shoving it in your face to prove that its diverse. It’s casual, a mention of Merrin possibly having women lovers to all different race of characters and creatures. I loved that about it.
I loved Captain Winters and Bullet, I thought Tom was a nice character in the fact that he was so unlike a pirate character or any other pirate on the ship.

The plot twist smacked me in the face. I thought I had it figured out very early and I didn’t at all and then the other plot twist smacked me around too and I LOVED it!! Absolutely loved it


Such an amazing book!!!! Y’all! Please don’t sleep on this book when it comes out October, 9th!!!


5/5 Stars!!!


Blog review to come closer to release date!

Was this review helpful?

I'm afraid the writing in this book just did not work for me. Within the first couple of chapters I noticed a few clichés that were completely jarring. For example, at one point the narration says "and so it was to be a pirates life for me". These kind of sayings don't make sense within the world of the story and so hindered my ability to be immersed whenever they appeared. There were also many uncomfortable similarities between this and Pirates of the Caribbean.

I'm giving a three star rating only because I have to give something.

Was this review helpful?

When I first was notified by NetGalley that Black Spot Books had granted me permission to read The Isle of Gold I was ecstatic! The cover and synopsis of this book pulled me in right away, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I was also incredibly bummed because I had several other book review deadlines that I had already been given from other entities, that I had to put this one on hold for a while.

Finally, my reading schedule slowed down (however, only by a smidge!) enough that I finally could sit down with this high anticipated book! However, now that I've read it, I have mixed thoughts, feelings and reviews about it. Was it worth the hype I was giving it?

In short: yes, and here's why:

I have found that I really enjoy stories about pirates. I've never read a pirate story until I read the Rogue Elegance trilogy by KA Dowling (you can find my review for it here), but here I am, I've read yet another and I'm looking forward to getting to pick up my next! There is just something different about an epic adventure on the high seas that you don't get from one that takes place on land. Maybe that's because its such a different and alien world to me? I don't know, but I do thoroughly enjoy them!

The amount of imagery that Seven Jane puts into this novel is amazing. She really knows how to paint a picture for you! My most favorite examples of her imagery was not of the depictions of the way people or places looked, but of their behaviors:

"Their love, it was said, was ardent and dangerous, the sort that would compel one to hold a knife to their lover's neck while kissing with such passion that the edges of their blades cut at their own throats."
"He was waiting for something, what I couldn't tell, but I imagined it was for the moment that the ocean would swallow us whole and lead us to an island that was not charted on any map and could never be found in the same place twice, and had never returned any man that had sailed for its shores."

But more than the imagery and the fact that the story is about pirates, I enjoyed the story of Merrin Smith: an orphan who hides her identity to join the crew of the Riptide to sail the seas. She was a sensible and smart girl, although a bit naive, that really grows into a beautiful woman who stands up for her beliefs. A very enjoyable story.

My only complaints about the entire book, and hence the mixed thoughts, feelings and reviews:

-The story drug in several places. While I loved the imagery, it sometimes got in the way of the story. So much so at times I would find myself pages ahead and not know what had happened (if anything) because I would find my mind wondering while going through the motions of reading.
-Because of this drag, there was a very slow build. All of the action happens within that last few chapters (Part III).
-I still have a million unanswered questions. And I'm sure most readers will. While the book didn't end like there will be a sequel, I hope that there is one and that it answers most, if not all, of those questions. Many of them Merrin asks herself during the story, but never receives any answers. This was very frustrating.

I greatly enjoy The Isle of Gold. There are a few qualms, but overall, I found it to be an exciting new adventure, complete with some old friends (such as Davy Jones) and some new ones I hope to get to know better in the future.


From one bookaholic to another, I hope I’ve helped you find your next fix.
—Dani

Dani's Score out of 5: 📚📚📚📚

Was this review helpful?

Prendre la mer sur un bateau pirate, c’est savoir où commence le voyage, mais rarement où il finira. Et lire un roman autour de la piraterie, surtout The Isle of Gold de Seven Jane, offre peu ou prou la même expérience aventureuse, les dangers des océans en moins. Quand la narratrice de The Isle of Gold commence son récit, le voyage qu’elle entame semble classique. Jeune orpheline sur une île des Caraïbes à l’âge d’or de la piraterie, elle cherche à échapper à sa carrière toute trouvée dans un bordel et s’engage sur un bateau pirate en se faisant passer pour un adolescent. Sauf que… Ce bateau ne navigue pas à la recherche d’or ou de richesse, mais d’une île mystérieuse aux confins de l’océan et de la femme perdue de son capitaine.
Avec The Isle of Gold, Seven Jane crée un roman surprenant glissant peu à peu du roman d’aventures classique à l’épopée mythologique. En effet, la première partie concernant les premiers pas de la narratrice en mer est plutôt bien documentée d’un point de vue historique. Et peu à peu, à mesure que le récit avance et que la narratrice progresse dans sa quête personnelle, des éléments fantastiques apparaissent. Petit à petit, Seven Jane va convoquer toutes les mythologies européennes liées à la mer : Circé, les selkies, le Kraken ou le capitaine Davy Jones et son vaisseau fantôme. Même cette pauvre Mélusine (d’origine pourtant bien terrestre) répond à l’appel et se trouve mêlée à cette histoire de famille fantastique. Comme tout bon récit de voyage en mer, l’aventure dans The Isle of Gold va crescendo jusqu’à l’épilogue final. Seven Jane a même le talent de nous éviter le calme plat, ce moment du voyage ou du récit où rien n'arrive et tout stagne faute de vent ou d’action. Elle passe alors du déroulé des évènements à une galerie de portraits aussi variés les uns que les autres, et loin des clichés classiques de la piraterie. À l’abordage ?

Was this review helpful?

Finally, a pirate novel that I absolutely loved! Marrin Smith disguises herself and boards a ship looking for Evangeline. Merrin discovers that she is not an orphan and that her parents are things of pirates tales. This journey full of twists and turns was unique and amazing. Recommended for fans for Pirates of the Carribean.

Was this review helpful?

The Goodnight Mermaid Tavern was "teeming with raucous sailors and their purchased women". Captain Erik Winters and crew of his pirate ship "Riptide" are readying their vessel to sail from the tropical Caribbean island of Isla Perla. The year is 1716. The crew consists of men united by a desire for treasure and love of the sea. Captain Winters and crew will sail in search of Winters' lost love, Evangeline, arguably stolen by the gods of the sea.

The Goodnight Mermaid Tavern once belonged to Evangeline Dahl, a wild, beautiful, unpredictable lass. She cleverly negotiated trades between pirates and merchants visiting Isla Perla. Evangeline had been missing for two years. Was she enchanted by the mythical island of Bracile from whence no sailors have ever returned?

Besides Captain Winter's dogged determination to find Evangeline, orphan Merrin Smith is consumed with the desire to search for her. Disguised in young man's garb, Merrin convinces Winter that "Westley Rivers" aka Merrin would be an asset to his hostile crew. Young Mister Rivers is told to keep his head down, do his job and hope for acceptance. What compels Merrin to undertake this journey? The Pirate Code penned by Black Bart forbids women from sailing aboard pirate ships under penalty of death. She has many unanswered questions. How did she end up on the island of Isla Perla? Perhaps this voyage will provide answers.

"The Isle of Gold" by Seven Jane is a historical/fantasy novel filled with mysterious sea creatures. Evil lurks in the depths of the sea. "The sea takes what it wants". What does it want this time? Read "The Isle of Gold" and find out!

Thank you Smith Publicity and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Isle of Gold".

Was this review helpful?

The Isle of Gold is a delightful, well researched and evocative historical fantasy that succeeds in bringing a fascinating era to life. I absolutely adore pirate based fantasy so you’ll have to excuse me if I fangirl about this one a bit. It’s very much my jam. 🙂

We open with our main character, Merrin Smith, and her closest friend Claudette – Merrin is (for want of a better word) absolutely shitfaced drunk and about to do something very stupid indeed. Believing that the key to uncovering her mysterious past lies on the mythical island of Bracile, she has disguised herself as a man (an act punishable by death if she is discovered) and plans to join the crew of the Riptide, helmed by the notorious and unpredictable pirate Captain Winters. He intends to sail for Bracile in search of his lost love, the wild and tempestuous beauty Evangeline Dahl, who he believes has been kidnapped by the sea gods themselves. Though he is suspicious of Merrin’s disguise, Brandon Dunn, the ship’s formidable quartermaster, agrees to give her a place on board the ship. At first she tries to keep her head down while she struggles to find a position within the crew, but it soon emerges that Merrin is able to read – a rare and valuable skill. This leads to her being recruited by the Captain to aid in deciphering the many texts he has gathered for his research. Whether or not this is a good thing remains to be seen, for the Captain has grown cruel and bitter since Evangeline’s disappearance. Merrin’s situation is complicated further when she finds herself drawn to the ship’s kind and handsome boatswain, Tom Birch. Will she blow her cover for love? Will she find out the truth of who she really is? Will the crew of the Riptide succeed in their quest to find Evangeline? Why is the rum gone?

It’s an enchanting read, reminiscent of classic tales I grew up on, such as Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe. Merrin is a charismatic protagonist and a good example of a strong female lead: capable and mentally tough, yet vulnerable and constantly aware of her physical limitations in a crew manned by muscular and morally ambiguous men. The supporting characters are distinct and captivating in their own right, each one receiving a vivid description that makes picturing them very easy. Indeed, one of the great strengths of the novel is in Jane’s exquisite descriptive prose. If, like me, you find that a large part of the joy in reading a nautical fantasy lies with the arresting imagery of billowing sails, turbulent seas, tropical islands and colorful characters, you’ll definitely want to give this one a look. 🙂

The worldbuilding is another area in which The Isle of Gold excels. Featuring many real life sailor superstitions and details, Jane touches on everything from ghosts to sea monsters to Davy Jones himself. It’s clear that she did a lot of research on not just pirates, but the day to day running of a ship – at one point she even takes a playful dig at some of the common misconceptions about life onboard a pirate ship via Merrin’s inexperience. The dialogue is strong, each character given quirks, interests and a distinct manner of speaking based on their region of origin – the crew is a ragtag group made up of characters from all over the world, some having joined the crew voluntarily and others having been captured during battle. There are exciting twists and turns throughout, though the pacing does suffer a little in the latter half during some of the big reveals. The ending in particular is a little abrupt, but the epilogue does an excellent job of softening the blow and setting up for the next installment.

It is an often emotional tale of the importance of family (both blood and chosen), and of longing to find one’s place in the world – while there is some grey morality, The Isle of Gold is largely a hopeful affair, and most of the characters are good people at heart. If you’re looking for something purely gritty and grim, this isn’t it. However, if you enjoy highly visual nautical fantasy with a healthy dose of romance and whimsy, I strongly recommend it.

For me it was incredibly enjoyable and I’ll look forward to the next entry.

Was this review helpful?

This is a fun book; fans of Pirates of the Caribbean probably will like it! I'm not sure how many die-hard pirate readers will, though, because it has a number of pirate-based cliches. As a reader who dabbles in historical novels and doesn't read sailing/pirate books regularly, it was an easy, enjoyable read, though the pacing was occasionally awkward.

I wanted to love this book based on the cover alone. Maybe that was my mistake; it looked like the main character would be a POC. A pirate novel about a woman of color blurring gender lines? Sign me up! Sadly, Merrin is your standard blonde; the crew of the Riptide are all sailing to rescue yet another blonde. Beauty matters in this book, and beauty in the book is white and blonde (aside from the prostitute Claudette, Merrin's closest friend. Can I read her book, please?).

I'd recommend it for someone who seems receptive. It's a light read filled with mystical creatures, legends from the deep, and infamous and legendary pirates. Just don't look for much below the surface (pun intended)..

Was this review helpful?

Ok, this book may not be for everyone. I totally enjoyed this book. I even took my time to savor this story. It was a delight to read a very different novel for once. History (think of 1700s), missing woman, mad man captain, mythology, girl disguised as a lad, a beautiful ship with at least 5 masts, Caribbean sea, islands, and mystery does this gal's heart good. Love how the author tied in the story with the title. Her prose is so beautiful causing me to absorb them gently and carefully. This isn't intended for a light reading but you'll be glad that you read this beautiful story. Also, I love the cover. Uniquely designed and perfect for this novel!
I received this copy from Net Galley and The Black Spots Books in an exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The first aspect of this book that stood out to me was the prose. Isle of Gold has a beautifully rich and descriptive prose that gives both the setting and tone of the book so much life. We get lush descriptions of appearances and settings, especially of the ship and her crew through for the majority of the story. Through the writing, we get a very good sense of how Merrin feels at all times, especially because this is a very introspective novel.

Due to that, however, I found the pacing a little slow for my tastes. The story itself is rather short and simple, but pages and pages are filled simply with descriptions of how the boat was run and what each character was doing. For a large portion of the book after Merrin joins the crew and the Riptide sets sail, the story becomes a simple slice-of-life story about life on a pirate ship. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, I did wish that for a book about pirates, there would be a little more action going on. For a time, I thought Merrin's identity would play a factor into this, but the crew seemed to accept her pretty readily and there wasn't much conflict there. In general, until the last 40%, there wasn't a lot of action.

I thought the characters in this book were incredibly fleshed out and realistic. While we don't always get a lot of backstory to each character, we learn a lot about their personalities and behavior. Merrin is an orphan who's ended up where she, with no idea of her past, and inexplicably pulled toward the sea. The two men she befriends, Dunn and Tom, are interesting people who both clearly have fascinating backstories that they're not quite willing to share. I loved the relationship between Evangeline Dahl and Captain Winters have. They this push and pull relationship that I couldn't quite describe as romance but more a dance between two people accustomed to wielding power and not quite willing to relinquish it. Merrin describes them in such a way that keeps me fascinated with them and I wish they had more screentime.

Finally, while I don't read many books about sailing nor know much about sailing, the way running a pirate ship was described in this book was incredibly in-depth and, though I can't say for certain, the author seems to have done her research. I learned about the quality of the food eaten would get worse and worse as the trip goes longer, when and how you should mop a deck and more. In general, I felt like after reading this, I could confidently work on a ship and not get yelled at.

Overall, I rate this book a 4/5. I found this book enjoyable, if slow in pacing and plot. If you're interested in pirates, heavy prose, and books with realistic descriptions of sailing, this book is definitely for you.

Review posted on my blog on 21 September 2018

Was this review helpful?

Orphan Merrin Smith was brought to the Carribean island Isla Perla as a small child.  She's slept in the local brothel and been raised by its occupants since that time but now she's ready to set sail for answers to her past.

Disguised as a man, she visits the Goodnight Mermaid Tavern and joins the crew of the pirate ship Riptide.  Led by the legendary Captain Erik Winters, the ship is headed to the mythical island Bracile (also called Ogygia and said to appear only once every two years) to search for Evangeline Dahl, a beautiful woman who disappeared from La Perla two years prior.

"The very gods of the seas, Winters insisted, had stolen Evangeline away, and he would sail to the heart of the ocean to bring her back." *

With little skill for ship work, Merrin is given the job of Captain's apprentice after the quartermaster learns she can read.  Together, the two search old texts full of myths and legends for clues to Bracile's exact location.
The Greek myths and stories of fabled Captain Davy Jones captivate her and as they sail ever closer to their mysterious destination, Merrin wonders how much truth resides in the tales and how she may be connected to them as well as the crew of the Riptide.

"I had wanted more than anything to find that mystical island, to find Mistress Dahl and myself in the process, but that was before I'd learned of Dunn's legends and had seen the secrets of the oceans made real with my own eyes.  Perhaps the mysteries of my beginnings were too dangerous to ever be known, or perhaps I was not as brave as I had wanted to believe." *

Through perilous waters, the Riptide sails through storms, lost souls, angry sea goddesses, and ghost ships to rescue Evangeline, while Merrin learns the secrets of her past and why it has led her to the Riptide and its crew on the epic journey in search of Evangeline Dahl.

The Isle of Gold is an entertaining adventure tale of the high seas with bold female characters connected to Greek myths and pirate legends.  I enjoyed the magical/fantasy aspects Jane included in this novel but the plot relies heavily on the well known myths and legends we've read (classic: The Odyssey) and watched (modern: Pirates of the Caribbean).  Still, Jane has done a fine job of weaving her characters and their motivations into the story.

The epilogue disappointed me because what should've been (in my opinion) the climax of the tale is completely glossed over: 
"What happened between Merrin Jones and the depths of the sea is a story that has not yet been told." *

I'm so confused because I feel like the whole point of this story was supposed to be what happened between Merrin and the sea, explaining how she saved her crew and Evangeline (and other characters that I haven't mentioned to prevent spoilers).  Instead, we're told that that part of the story hasn't yet been told, though it had to be pretty epic based on what we learned up to that anti-climax.
So while the ending has a resolution, we don't actually get to be a part of that adventure for whatever reason.  

Thanks to Black Spot Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.  The Isle of Gold is scheduled for release on October 9, 2018.

*Quotes included are from an advance readers copy and are subject to change upon final publication.

Was this review helpful?

1716, Merrin Smith is an orphan desperate to unravel the secrets of her past. Disguised as a sailor, she joins the crew of a pirate ship helmed by the tenacious (and rumored a madman) Captain Erik Winters. They will sail for the island of Bracile, a place hidden between air and sea that exists only for a moment every two years, and which has never returned any man who has sailed for its shores. Since Merrin can read, she becomes the Captain’s apprentice, looking for clues to the island’s location as the ship sails to the heart of the ocean. She will have to keep her identity hidden from the Captain, as well as the ship's quartermaster who speaks of legends of the sea, and boatswain that Merrin feels drawn to. During the journey, she begins to suspect that her own past might have more to do with Dunn’s legends and myths than she ever could have guessed.

I lucked out when I was approved for Seven Jane's debut historical fantasy novel entitled The Isle of Gold. The genre is quickly becoming one of my favorites, especially when pirates are involved. Anyway, this adventure quickly pulled me in and didn't let go. The author's writing is incredibly visual and it's incredibly easy to see the characters, the world they inhabit, and the stuff of legends that they encounter. It's just under 250 pages long, but Jane truly excels at world-building and character development. I mean, I could just about feel the ship beneath my feet and the sea spray in my face. Plus, each character, not just Merrin, felt fully fleshed out and completely. Unfortunately, it isn't all that original or unique, but I can say now that it's over I wish the story hadn't concluded so quickly. I wouldn't say no to seeing more from this world in the future.

Overall, The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane is a marvelous debut historical fantasy novel set during the Golden Age of Piracy. If you like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Girl From Everywhere by Heidi Heilig, and Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller, I have a feeling you would also enjoy diving into the world of The Isle of Gold. I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

“An orphan left behind like waste on an island. Who cares that I am not a man when the ship is about to be swallowed by the ocean?”

1716, Isla Perla in the Caribbean is a bustling place for merchants, traders, seafarers & explorers. It is the place where myths and tales of those born at sea are told, spread and learned to be feared. One of those is the legend born of the rumors of a love affair between Mistress Evangeline Dahl and Captain Winter. Her disappearance swept the shores of Isla Perla two summers before, as Winter ransacked every inch of the island in search of her. Consumed by his need to find her, he is determined to sail to the heart of the ocean to bring her back, as some old texts told of the fabled Ogygia, the surreptitious Isle of Gold, where Calypso had held Odysseus prisoner and it is believed that that is where Evangeline might be held.

Merrin Smith, orphaned, makes a home in a scratchy hammock of a seaside brothel kitchen. She has her eye set on the Riptide in the harbor being readied to set sail soon. Disguised as the male sailor ‘Westley Rivers’ she is planning to find employment on that ship, navigated by the notorious Captain Erik Winter.

“Not everythin’ be pretty fish and songs, lad. There be evil things that live in the deep.”

Westley lands a job to assist Winter in his quarters to read documents and maps, since he is the only other person on board versed in reading. If there were things Merrin was afraid of at sea, she certainly wasn’t most comfortable around Winters all day and night, considering the rumors she’s heard.

“Mind ye keep your wits about, Mister Rivers,” the older man counseled in a softer voice. He rested one hand upon my shoulder in a fatherly manner and pushed a thin woolen blanket inside my arm with the other. “In here ye be safe from the likes of them outside, but don’t let that fool you. The one you should really be afraid of is the one you’re locked in here with.”

The Riptide heads out to sea and Merrin as Rivers learns her way around. These sailors were made for the sea and they all had their ways about them. There is Jomo the cook, rescued from a slave traders ship, she learns to come to an agreement to exchange food for beads or little treasures. There is the handsome boatswain Tom Birch with piercing green eyes that Merrin is undeniably drawn to and Mister Brandon Dunn, the ships surely, her closest ally.

As the Riptied embarks through the perilous waters towards the hidden place between air and sea, Merrin will not only find out of more legends of the Deep to fear, but also her own connection to them and her powers to ultimately reunite those perished from reality.

How will this all unfold without anyone ever finding out the truth about her disguise? After all, the articles of the Pirate code strictly forbade woman from sailing aboard pirate’s ships with penalty of death! This, you will have to find out for yourself and read the novel.

***

I really, really liked this novel. It is filled with legends & myths and hunky, cranky, fearless, terrifying and sully pirate sailors! An adult novel to make you feel like a kid again.

The plot never lost its shroud of mysteriousness, while the characters gain in persona and the disasters of the perilious journey unfolds. The characters become likeable in their own way and I found myself rooting for all of them.

I absolutely recommend this book. It’s under 300 pages long and easy to read. I only wished there was a sequel to the story!
Enjoy :)

Was this review helpful?

I have always been fascinated by stories of pirates. I literally took an entire college course on piracy in the Atlantic while completing my undergraduate degree. So, it’s hardly surprising that Seven Jane’s new novel, The Isle of Gold, captured my interest immediately. Relying heavily on sea myths to support the swashbuckling plot, it should have been right up my alley… but despite having so much to recommend it on paper, The Isle of Gold failed to dazzle—more fool’s gold than genuine treasure.

Merrin Smith is determined to pass herself off as a boy and join the crew of the Riptide, captained by the infamous and feared Erik Winters, who is searching for his lost lady love, Evangeline Dahl. Rumored to have been kidnapped a few years before by the sea herself, Evangeline has always held a surprising and inexplicable fascination for Merrin—as has the lure of a life at sea. Though she is successful in her ruse and finds a place among the crew, maintaining her disguise is trickier than Merrin originally anticipated, especially as she begins to develop feelings for one of her fellow crew members. But she’s more terrified of what Captain Winters and his quartermaster, Mister Dunn, will do to her if they discover the truth of her identity.

The Isle of Gold is one of those perfect examples of the difference between showing and telling in writing. The characters should be strong, the plot is enjoyable, and the blend of mythology with the golden age of piracy setting should work. But too much of the writing is hollow and informed rather than organic. The reader is told about the relationships between various characters—Captain Winters and Mistress Dahl, Merrin and Evangeline, Merrin and her friend Claudette from Isla Perla, etc. There is very little of these relationships that the reader sees in action, and that makes it really difficult to connect to the characters or invest in any of the relationships, which might not be a problem except that so much of what drives the plot’s action is supposed to be those relationships.

A big chunk of where and why the novel winds up telling more than showing is the way it’s told. Limited to Merrin’s point of view, it’s surprising how much of her own story and the legends she’s aware of that are kept from the reader until they become relevant. A few are sprinkled in earlier, but I think too much is held back to make things more shocking than is truly necessary, especially when the action taking place at those moments is factored into the equation. It proves distracting rather than supportive, to have those key bits of information revealed at times when the reader’s attention is on following the basics of what exactly is taking place.

I believe the pacing of the whole novel could have been better if more time was taken throughout and if more perspectives were included. Merrin doesn’t know her true and full identity through much of the book but there are others who do and seeing them watch her and how she handles herself would round out her character more too. The novel really wasn’t very long for what happens (and for a plot that is, in the end, so straightforward and predictable as to be almost boring) and including more points of view and more time with various relationships would make the novel feel less forced, less one sided and flat. The plot and its ultimate resolution would feel more thrilling and natural, less anti-climactic.

The Isle of Gold is available as of October 9, 2018.

Was this review helpful?

[Review to be published October 22]

Seven Jane’s novel The Isle of Gold draws on oceanic mythology, folklore, and mystery. Original pirate stories are hard to find but this book manages to bring an original take. Brilliantly researched and crafted, The Isle of Gold brings the pirates and era to life.

Pirate stories have always been favourites of mine because of the action, adventure, and swoon-worthy romance, and this book did not disappoint.

The Isle of Gold is about an orphan girl named Merrin Smith, who was brought to the Caribbean island Isla Perla as a small child. Ever since then, she’s been living in the local brothel, but now she’s ready to find answers about her past. She disguises herself as a boy in order to try and gain passage on the most ruthless pirate ship in the seas, under Captain Erik Winters. His ship is headed for the mythical island Ogygia which is said to appear only once every two years. They are in search of Evangeline Dahl, a woman who had disappeared from La Perla two years before.

Merrin is an incredibly strong female character, although she has to keep her identity hidden from the Captain and his crew because being a woman on a pirate ship is punishable by pain of death. Merrin also begins to suspect that her own past has to do with the legends and myths told to her which could compromise her life and place on the ship. Merrin, as well as the other characters, felt fully fleshed out and real.

Seven Jane’s debut pulls the reader in and doesn’t let them go until it’s over. Her writing is very visual and immerses you completely in the world and story. Although, the novel isn’t long, Seven Jane manages to capture the reader’s attention easily.

The Isle of Gold is a historical fantasy novel that centers around pirates in their golden age. If you like the Pirates of the Caribbean movies or Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller, you are sure to enjoy Seven Jane’s debut novel.

Was this review helpful?

Took a bit for me to get into this story, but then I couldn’t stop! A little disappointed in the ending, but overall it was a good read!

Merton Smith is the heroine in this book, Evangeline is mentioned but doesn’t have a big role as the description says. All characters were well presented/described.
Liked the “fantasy” but too, more like pirate tales to be honest. Would recommend this read.

I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Isle of Gold was a great and fresh read, very different from the books I'm used to read - which is a good thing, it took me from my confort zone and put me in a adventure I didn't really expected, and I really enjoyed it.
It was a interesting take on the pirate story, and my favorite thing was Merrin, but I really liked how well written the characters were, I truly felt I knew them and it made me even more interested in the story, it made me invest a lot in it.
The narrative was great, too, the fast paced rithym makes hard to close the book without finishing it, and it was also a very fun read, with vivid details and a strong plot.
I really do recomend the book. If anything felt short was the romance, I didn't invest so much in it as I did with the characters alone. It wasn't bad, but also didn't made me fangirl about it. But in no way disrupted the reading.
It's the kind of read that you really want to make.

Was this review helpful?

Who doesn't love a good pirate story, and to watch as a young girl sets sail from the Caribbean to find answers makes it even more fun.

Was this review helpful?

Pirates, mermaids, and myths, oh my! I don't think I've read a book about pirates since Treasure Island but I had heard some great things about The Isle of Gold and the cover is GORGEOUS, so I decided to give it a shot. I was not disappointed! Merrin Smith is a bit of a badass even though she is scared for most of the book. There are a ton of different twists and turns that it definitely shocked me a few times. But before I tell you everything about the book here, let's get to the review!

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

The year is 1716—the Golden Age of Pirates. An orphan who sleeps in the dusty kitchens of a quayside brothel, Merrin Smith is desperate to unravel the secrets of her past and find the truth about the events that brought her to the Caribbean island of Isla Perla as a child. Disguised as a sailor, and with the help of her longtime friend Claudette, Merrin joins the crew of the pirate ship Riptide, helmed by the notorious Captain Erik Winters. Tenacious and rumored a madman, Winters is known as much for his ruthlessness as for his connection to the enigmatic and beautiful proprietress of the Goodnight Mermaid, Evangeline Dahl, who vanished from Isla Perla two summers before.

At sunset the Riptide sails for the mythical island of Bracile, a place hidden between air and sea and that exists only for a moment every two years, and which has never returned any man who has sailed for its shores. The journey will be perilous and long, and it will take Merrin far away from the only home she’s ever known. Because she can read, Merrin will serve as the Captain’s apprentice, deciphering old texts for clues to the island’s whereabouts as the ship sails through haunted, frozen waters and into the very heart of the ocean. As she struggles to navigate the rough, seafaring life aboard a pirate ship, Merrin must keep her identity hidden from the scrupulous gaze of not only Captain Winters, but also Mister Brandon Dunn, the ship’s surly, legend-spouting quartermaster, and Tom Birch, the charming boatswain Merrin can’t help but feel drawn to.

As the Riptide makes its way to Bracile, Merrin begins to suspect that the men she has worked so hard to deceive may in fact be more connected to her than she would have imagined, and that perhaps her own past might have more to do with the Dunn’s legends and myths than she ever could have guessed.

Merrin Smith has lived and worked in a brothel for most of her life. She cleaned for the women while they saw customers but the sea has been calling to her for longer than she can remember. And when Captain Winters takes off to go look for his lost love, Evangeline Dahl, Merrin decides she is going to get herself on his ship. How does she do this when most of the sailors are suspicious of having a woman on board? She disguises herself as a man of course!

But once she gets on the ship, life becomes harder than she could have expected. The ship's quartermaster, Brandon Dunn, is a mystery and she can't figure out why he pays so much attention to her. But there is also Tom Birch, the handsome boatswain, that Merrin wouldn't mind if he paid her more attention (get it, girl!!). And don't get her started on Captain Winters. At times, he can be lovely and teach her things she could have never imagined, but then there are times when he kills one of the men on the ship for simply insulting Evangeline. But as his assistant, Merrin is just trying to keep her life and not get in his way.

As they make their way to the land that apparently no one has ever returned from (isn't that always the case?), Merrin's secret comes out, but not the one you might be expecting. Yes, they figure out she is a girl (some of the crew knew from the beginning), but the secret of her parentage and her family is also revealed. #nospoilers

I enjoyed reading The Isle of Gold. I loved Merrin's eventual camaraderie with the crew and I loved her willingness to learn even while she was kind of scared shitless a lot of the time. I absolutely LOVE when a character is scared but does what they need to do anyway. It is my favorite character trait in any book and am so glad that was one of Merrin's most prominent qualities.

I also enjoyed the big personalities of Dunn, Winters, and Birch. They were fun to see through Merrin's eyes but also just brilliant characters on their own. Seeing Winters without Evangeline and then with her was an interesting window into why he pushes so hard to get to this magical island.

Overall, The Isle of Gold was exactly the kind of fun, adventure, pirate book I wanted. I did feel like the story began to lag a bit at the end, especially with what happens to Tom Birch (#nospoilers) but other than that, this was such an entertaining read. I am giving The Isle of Gold 3.5 out of 5 stars. Definitely give this one a try!

The Isle of Gold by Seven Jane (show me a cooler author name! I dare you!) came out October 9, 2018.

Thank you to NetGalley and Black Spot Books for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fast-paced fun pirate story! It’s filled with adventure, magic, and strong heroines! I highly recommend this for those who love Pirates, Daughter of the Pirate King, and A Touch of Gold!

Was this review helpful?

Seven Jane's The Isle Of Gold is a truly magical novel that will transport you far away, and long ago, to the Golden Age of Piracy. Disguised as a man, orphan Merrin Smith joins the pirate crew of the Riptide. Captained by Erik Winters, the Riptide is setting sail for the mystical island of Bracile in hopes of finding Winters' love, Evangeline Dahl who disappeared two years ago. Merrin wants to help find Evangeline, but more than that, she's convinced that answers to her own life lay there. Though at first the established crew are hostile or indifferent towards Merrin, they eventually warm to her. She finds particular friendship with Tom Birch, Brandon Dunn, Jomo the cook, and even Winters himself.

As Riptide sails, she avoids all other ships, taking neither prizes nor treasure. It is a focused mission for sure, and in this way, didn't feel like a pirate tale to me at all. Not to say they didn't find treasure. They found what could be argued the greatest of treasures. Family and friendship. Love. Experiences otherworldly and unheard of. They face legends and myths and lived to tell the tale (mostly). As such, there are times where the story seems surreal, and yet it is written well enough to allow for thorough imagination. I found it easy to picture the story in my mind.

My favourite characters were Jomo, with his fierce appearance and love of trinkets, especially red ones, and quartermaster Dunn, with his wealth of legend and lore. I was so sad to learn the truth about Dunn and glad things worked out for him in the end. It's hard to lose an essential part of yourself. Thankfully, he wasn't a bitter person over it. I'd love to know the story behind how he ended up on Isla Perla, and sailing with Winters. This was also a different take than any I've seen before on a popular sea myth. Saying more would be telling, but I loved how that ended. Much happier than I'd expect.

***Many thanks to Netgalley & Black Spot Books for providing an ecopy in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for JBN Tours.

Was this review helpful?

The Isle of Gold is a good fantasy and adventure story. The tale of Merrin Smith draws you in, as she sets sail in discover of her past. I pretty much always enjoy a pirate story, and this book was no exception. The descriptions and story was intriguing and kept me on the edge of my seat for most of the time. Sometimes the story was a little predictable and boring, but not overall. If you are a fan of pirates I would recommend this read for sure.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: