By Cassandra James (author)
"A swashbuckling, richly-imagined piratical adventure shot-through with personal conflict and themes of imperialism."
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February 2025 Debut of the Month
Though billed as romantasy, Cassandra James’ Capitana debut is so much more than that classification suggests. Yes, there are fantastical elements, and simmering frissons of romance through a thrilling adventure that sees a young woman, Ximena, fight pirates in the name of the law. But Capitana is, at its core, a story of intense conflict between family bonds and loyalties to its protagonist’s zealous dedication to her empire.
While Ximena is devoted to her ambition to become a cazador — a highly-skilled, fearless seafarer whose mission it is to rid the Luzan Empire of pirates — she also faces the personal issue of her parents having been executed as pirates. After serving the empire, they switched sides, leaving Ximena fiercely faithful to the laws of her land, and to proving she’s different from her parents, and deserving of cazador rank.
Into this, Gasparilla, the most feared pirate from way back in the empire’s history seems to have risen to capture the Luzan capital and Ximena is set on capturing him in exchange for receiving her longed-for cazador rank. Add to that having to compete with the irritating, entitled Dante de Leon, being thrown into navigating notoriously treacherous waters, and discovering shock revelations that compel Ximena to question everything she believes in, and Capitana amounts to an exhilarating edge-of-your-seat voyage of a novel. Bring on book two in a duology that defies romantasy conventions and tackles themes of imperialism.
A captivating and swashbuckling romantasy for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King and To Kill a Kingdom.
Read the full description
Ximena Reale is certain of one thing: the only good pirate is a dead one.
Ximena has spent her life training to become one of the black-cloaked cazadores, seafaring hunters who capture the pirates pillaging the Luzan Empire. But although Ximena is the top candidate at la academia, that will not be enough for a daughter of the notorious Reales - pirate captains who were executed for their crimes against the Empire.
So when Gasparilla, the most infamous pirate in Luza's history, attacks the capital, Ximena offers to catch him in exchange for being named a cazadora. The Empire accepts, on one condition: she must compete for her cloak against Dante de León, the pompous and infuriating son of the High Minister.
Knowing this is her chance to prove herself once and for all, Ximena must set out on a dangerous quest across the archipelago to hunt Gasparilla. But no matter how far she sails, her family's pirate legacy continues to haunt her, and she soon has to question the very laws she's always fought to uphold . . .
Cassandra James grew up in a mixed immigrant family with a penchant for storytelling, so becoming a writer was almost inevitable. She recently graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English focusing on creative writing. After traveling solo around the world for several months, she landed in Orlando, Florida, where she now spends her days cooking Colombian food, obsessing over Broadway musicals and occasionally swashbuckling.
Capitana is her debut novel.
The LoveReading4Kids Best Children's Books of the Year 2025
Debut Author Cassandra James on her swashbuckling romantasy Capitana
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A captivating and swashbuckling romantasy for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King and To Kill a Kingdom.Ximena Reale is certain of one thing: the only good pirate is a dead one.Ximena has spent her life training to become one of the black-cloaked cazadores, seafaring hunters who capture the pirates pillaging the Luzan Empire. But although Ximena is the top candidate at la academia, that will not be enough for a daughter of the notorious Reales - pirate captains who were executed for their crimes against the Empire.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Capitana and determined it is suitable for children aged 15-18 years old
Capitana features in the following genres: Featured Books for Young Adults, Debuts of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Fantasy / Magical, History, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Fantasy romance, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Pirates, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Adventurers and outlaws, Children’s / Teenage: General interest
Paperback, Hardback. £8.99, down from the £9.99 cover price. In Stock.
Capitana was written by Cassandra James and published by Hot Key Books
Capitana has 384 pages
£8.99, reduced from £9.99. In Stock.
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