I thought this book was so much fun! Full of adventures from beginning to end. I loved it and can’t wait to read the next book.

Title:  Capitana  
Author:  Cassandra James       
Genre: YA        
Rating:  4 out of 5

Ximena Reale has spent most of her life training at La Academia to join the Cazadores, seafaring hunters who track down pirates. But her future is uncertain, thanks to her parents’ questionable reputation. They were traitorous pirates, and though they were executed when Ximena and her sister were young, they permanently damaged the Reale name in the eyes of the Luzan Empire.

Ability alone won’t make Ximena a Cazadoro—or earn her the coveted Cazadoro cloak. So, when the legendary pirate Gasparilla returns and captures the Empire’s queen, Ximena offers to bring back the queen and the notorious pirate in exchange for a cloak. But there’s a catch: Only one cloak is available, and Ximena’s competition is Dante, an infuriating yet handsome classmate with mysterious motives.

With their futures on the line, Ximena and Dante set out on a dangerous quest across the high seas. But no matter how far Ximena sails, her family’s legacy haunts her, and her exposure to a world outside of la academia leads her to question the very laws she’s always fought to uphold. Is it possible she’s been on the wrong side all along?

I have mixed feelings about Ximena. She is so single/narrow-minded about pirates, the Law, and the Empire that she refuses to see anything that doesn’t agree with her worldview—to an extent that’s a little ridiculous. I like her determination, but her willing blindness, not so much. Despite this being billed as historical fiction, women seem to have full rights and opportunities, and they hold positions of power, so that’s a positive. I’d like to know more about the Empire and its oppression of people, as the generalities given in the story were a bit vague, but on the whole, I enjoyed this read. I couldn’t buy the Dante/love angle, though, because that came out of absolutely nowhere.

Cassandra James lives in Florida. Capitana is her debut novel.

(Galley courtesy of HarperCollins/Quill Tree Books in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 2/4).

The world building was pretty good. The plot was decent. I was never bored but....I also didn't like either MCs. Ximena was too..... "I do as I'm told not questions asked" which is dangerous to be when in positions of power. Dante....was a hypocrite. He looked down on Ximena for following the rules and not seeing what was going on around her. Yet, he used his position to cheat and wiggle his was out of everything. He supposedly was against everything his mother did but didn't stop him for using his family to get away with things and hurting others.
By the time they went on their trip to find their villain, Ximena kept to her stubborn ways of thinking and just when Dante was starting to be likable....it got ruined again.
Was disappointed to realize i didn't really care about the MCs. Turning leaf during the last chapter didn't take away the distaste for their behaviors throughout the entire book and their willingness to sacrifice others who didn't view the world the same as they did 🤷‍♀️

This is a YA Fantasy at an Academy focused on pirates. I thought the concept was very unique and fun. The FMC was tough, stubborn and determined, sometimes to an aggravating fault. Overall it feels YA which is fine, and the book is entertaining. Thank you!

Unfortunately this is not for me. The writing is really poorly don’t and the plot is too predictable and boring to be enjoyable.

While I liked this story generally, when I went to mark it complete and rate it in my social platforms, I was disappointed to learn that Cassandra James has made some very public, strong political stances that are harmful and hurtful. It is not that authors' political views need to align with mine, but rather James' statements are hurtful to others. I don't know how many folks read about the authors of the books they choose, but this may influence Capitana readership. The book overall was enjoyable, but after reading from the author, I would not have purchased this book and would struggle to recommend it to others.

I was excited to support a book on piracy from a debut author. Unfortunately, Capitana’s writing style falls into the common pitfalls of early writing, chiefly overwrought prose and heavy-handed metaphors (and, in this case, especially nautical-themed similes, which heightened the cheesiness). I also became aware of the author’s alarmingly ultra-conservative politics after I received an ARC, which soured my reading experience because the story so clearly reflects her stances. It is exceedingly strange to read a pirate story that aligns with the imperial powers rather than the roguish romance of piracy. I couldn’t finish, enjoy, or endorse this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The story hooked me from page 1 and I enjoyed watching how Ximena's character and priorities change and evolve as the story progresses. She starts off so hard headed and righteous, but once the adventures really begin, she starts to see things from a different perspective. Perfect for fans of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Capitana by Cassandra James is a fierce and empowering tale of resilience, ambition, and self-discovery. Set against a vivid backdrop of adventure and intrigue, James introduces a heroine who commands both the seas and readers’ hearts. With rich world-building and unforgettable characters, Capitana is a must-read for fans of strong female leads and epic storytelling.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

I am a sucker for YA pirate books and this did not disappoint. The mix of dark academia was surprising (in a positive way).
I felt connected to the FMC and found my self rooting for her many times.
Overall it was a fun read that I highly recommend.

Capitana was an absolute blast—if you’re in the mood for nonstop adventure with Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, this is the book to grab. There’s never a dull moment, and the pacing is chef’s kiss. Between pirate attacks, daring escapades, and legendary figures returning from the dead, I was hooked from start to finish.

Ximena is a relatable underdog: smart, determined, and brave to a fault, but burdened by her family’s pirate legacy. Her time at La Academia is far from easy—she keeps people at arm’s length, her sister is struggling, and her rival, Dante, seems to have everything handed to him. Her grit shines through, even when her unwavering loyalty to the crown makes her almost insufferable—a flaw that’s intentional and essential to her growth.

Speaking of rivals… Dante is an intriguing counterpart. Their dynamic crackles with tension, snappy banter, and a slow-burn romance (currently one-sided, with Dante pining). He’s grumpy at first, and not immediately likeable, but I’m hoping the sequel will peel back more of his layers and redeem some of his earlier behaviors.

What sets Capitana apart from other pirate books is its perspective. Instead of romanticizing pirates outright, it begins with the Cazadores—law-abiding loyalists—highlighting the systemic injustices that spark rebellion. I love that the sequel will flip to the pirates’ POV, promising even more depth and nuance.

If I had one gripe, it’s that Ximena’s growth could’ve hit harder by the end. I wanted her realizations to dig deeper, though the conclusion left me eager for more—in the best way. It’s clear the next book will push Ximena further into the complexities of rebellion versus loyalty.

Capitana delivers exactly what it promises: pirates, rivals-to-lovers slow burns, and relentless high-stakes adventure. It’s a five-star ride, and I can’t wait to see where Ximena’s journey takes us next.

This romantic fantasy element was fantastic; it had the desired pirate vibe, and I loved the plot as a whole. This world and the way the characters interacted with the novel's plot captivated me. it was a fantastic beginning to this world and fulfilled every need I had since the first chapter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Capitana. I rated 4.5 stars and rounded up to 5 stars. I thought this was a fun story about a girl, Ximena, that wants to escape her parents' scandalous history of turning pirate. She has no friends and few allies in the academy. Her goal is to become a cazador to show that she is loyal to the crown and the law. She and her biggest rival are in competition for a promotion when the legendary pirate Gasparilla attacks the academy and kidnaps the queen.

While I do not share the author's stance on politics, I also do not condone banning or review bombing books. I think that if you do not want to buy a book based on the author, that is your choice and your ethical obligation and support your decision.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was everything I wanted in a pirate book and more. The concepts of pirates as a whole is an act of rebellion and to build that realistically you need a suppressive government to rebel against but also they need to have loyal and brainwashed subjects. Ximena is the perfect candidate to show and explore how deep the loyalties to everything you’ve ever known goes and how it starts to break and crumble the more the truth is exposed. Plus this being inspired by Gasparilla (a pirate ever close to my hometown) I was so excited. I need book 2 ASAP.

I accepted the eARC before learning about who the author is and what their values are. Abortion is health care and bodily autonomy is a basic human right. I will not be reading a book written by someone who does not believe those facts to be true.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Capitana is a fun and easy read, making it a great choice for those looking for a light, engaging story. The pacing is quick, and the plot moves along without dragging, keeping readers entertained from start to finish. Spme charcters are likable more than others and the author does a good job of developing their personalities and motivations, even though some parts of the narrative feel predictable. While it doesn't break new ground in terms of originality, the book is enjoyable for what it is—a breezy and uncomplicated story that doesn't require too much thought. Overall, Capitana is a solid read for those looking for something easy and fun to dive into.

This was a struggle to read. The plot was generic and I was so bored. Ximena was unlikable and the romance with Dante was weak. This was definitely not my favorite pirate fantasy romance.

This was a good take on a pirate story. I enjoyed the plot of the book. Ximena was a likeable, if occasionally frustrating character and I enjoyed her arc.

I really enjoyed this YA pirate adventure fantasy at first. The school angst, the pirate mystery, the pirate attack all kept me glued to the book. The MC starts off rather unlikable and is very pro-empire, blindly following authority like a good imperial soldier, but she slowly starts waking up to the injustice. The book reminded me a little of Some Desperate Glory and A Language of Dragons for its criticism of imperialism and cyclical violence. However, the pirates aren't all altruistic freedom fighters/Robin Hoods. It seemed like most of them weren't even good people (they give silver to the common folk but are totally down to torture and kill teenagers), so yeah. Both sides sucked, and I didn't really buy into Ximena's about-face to the side of good/piracy when there WAS no clear side of good. The real happy ending would be sailing away to another country and not looking back.

I really, REALLY disliked the romantic interest. It's definitely enemies-to-lovers, but I hated Dante so much at first that I thought HE was the villain (or one of them at least) and the real MMC had to be showing up later on. But no, it's Dante, he's the one, and he's only awful because he's so jaded by their government and society and his mom. Cool, he should be jaded, this place sucks and so does his mom, but he was basically a bully. A lazy, irresponsible one, which is much more insulting than a bully with a good work ethic. For me to like him as the romantic lead, he shouldn't have been so unpleasant at first, or maybe there should've been more hints of him pining. I think Pia had the potential to be a better love interest ("Don't worry...I won't let you fail alone"), but I read a lot of sapphic romance so that's the gay in me coming through.

The hook for the sequel was good. This was well-written and entertaining novel, but Ximena's self-awakening arc, her love interest, and the pirate villainy needed more development for me.