The Pirate of Panther Bay by SR Staley is an out-and-out swashbuckling story with a twist. The captain of La Marée Rouge, a pirate vessel operating in the Caribbean in the eighteenth century, was a woman - well, almost just a girl, really. Isabella was the child of slavery but had managed to escape from the sugarcane fields, ultimately finding love and adventure with Jacob, the captain of the La Marée Rouge. When Jacob met his untimely death at the hands of a rival’s subterfuge, Isabella found herself thrust into the role of leading a cutthroat bunch of rogues, most of whom balked at the idea of a mere girl leading them. Well-trained and ably supported by her loyal first mate, Jean-Michel, Isabella continued to be the scourge of Spanish shipping, carrying on her lover’s mission as the Pirate of Panther Bay. But the taking of a mysterious and enigmatic prisoner, Juan Carlos López de Santa Ana, would challenge and change Isabella’s entire life.

The Pirate of Panther Bay is a fast-paced, exciting adventure. What makes it stand out is the captain of the La Marée Rouge being not only a woman but also a former escaped slave. Author SR Staley uses the uniqueness of his principal character to create understandable tension and intrigue. Surrounded by rogues and ne’er-do-wells, Isabella still stands out as a strong, independent young woman despite her own self-doubts at times. I have read other works by this author, and I am always impressed with the way he is able to seamlessly meld great character development with non-stop, fast-paced action. There is no shortage of action and battle scenes for this crew, and adrenaline junkies will definitely get their fill of excitement. Equally, though, there are moments of thoughtful and careful introspection by Isabella as she frequently tests, in her own mind, what direction her life should be taking. Despite being prepared to fight and kill, if necessary, there is a humanity, tenderness, and quality of mercy that ultimately makes her a likeable and enjoyable character despite the violence of her lifestyle. For readers who love a good pirate adventure but also enjoy characters with depth and an underlying love story, this is a fantastic read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

In The Pirate of Panther Bay by SR Staley, Isabella never expected to become the captain of a pirate ship, especially after watching the man she loved and followed into piracy die. Yet after his death, she finds herself taking his place as the Pirate of Panther Bay and quickly becoming one of the most feared figures in the Caribbean. With enemies determined to see her dead and a crew depending on her to keep them alive, Isabella has little time to question whether she is ready for the role she has inherited. Things become even more complicated when she captures Juan Carlos, an arrogant but daring army captain rescued from a burning ship. Keeping him prisoner is necessary, but his presence creates a new threat to the life Isabella is trying so desperately to protect. At the same time, she is struggling with the prophecy she believes she is destined to fulfill, forcing her to choose between giving in to her doubts or embracing the role that fate seems to have chosen for her.

I really enjoyed The Pirate of Panther Bay by SR Staley and thought it was a great mix of pirate adventure, action, romance, and a little bit of mystery surrounding Isabella’s prophecy. What I liked most was watching Isabella try to find her feet as a captain. She is strong and determined, but she also has moments where her uncertainty comes through, which makes her feel much more human. Juan Carlos was another character I enjoyed because his arrogance and confidence made him an interesting contrast to Isabella. I thought the Caribbean setting worked really well too, especially with the pirate ships, battles, islands, and constant feeling that danger could come from almost anywhere. The writing is descriptive and does a good job of making the sea and life aboard the ships feel believable, although there were moments where the nautical details slowed things down a little for me. Overall though, I found the story very easy to get invested in, and I would definitely recommend it.