This was such a fun adventure with a bunch of lovable characters. I absolutely love pirate stories and this really did deliver.

The sea by Sarah Driver is a great book which I enjoyed and is perfect for the younger reader.

Will look out for books by this author.

For the age range indicated, and excellent and unusual series which will enthral younger readers, although parts may be a little bit scary for the faint of heart!
As a (much) older reader, I still found the plot unusual, the ideas creative, and was quite happy to read this unusual book.

This is the first book in a new fantasy adventure trilogy for young readers (aged 9+) and the publishing company clearly had a lot of faith in it as it was pushed hard when it was released. The blurb recommends it fans of Philip Pullman and Frances Hardinge amongst others. As usual I’ll be completely honest – it is a good book, but not quite in the league of Phillip Pullman or Frances Hardinge.

But don’t let that put you off buying it for the young person in your life – it’s still a good read! It follows the story of Mouse. Since her mother died she has looked after her little brother Sparrow and dreamt of taking over as captain of the Huntress – the ship her mother steered that is currently captained by her Grandmother. Her Dad has also gone missing and now Sparrow is in danger.

Sarah Driver has written a powerful character and a strong adventure. But what really makes this book special is Mouse’s voice. It’s written in first person and the language just captures you and takes you hostage from the first moment. Although Mouse is female this is a book that will appeal to boys too – it has pirates and pterodactyls after all! It’s also packed with high stake risks and the feeling of kids against the adults with the kids managing to outsmart the adults. This feels authentic as mostly the kids win because they don’t believe that they are limited in the same way that adults believe they are.

When kids enjoy a book they always want more so that fact that this is the start of a trilogy is brilliant, and as of writing this the second book is already out. I’m not sure when exactly by so far there’s between about 9 months between each so hopefully it’ll be out Summer 2018.

4 Bites

NB I received a free copy of this book through NetGalley in return for an honest review. The BookEaters always write honest reviews

Mouse, her brother Sparrow and their Grandma Wren are on a voyage to the great TribeMeet.
Mouse, who has her thirteenth moon while on the voyage, is Grandma Wren’s
apprentice and eventually will take over as Captain of the Huntress.
Their journey to reach this gathering is not easy. The Terrodyls, fierce bird-like creatures,
attack and Sparrow must use his special gift – singing the whale song, asking the whales
to save them from this attack. This is not the only obstacle put in their way; the
landlurking Fangtooth Tribe, accompanied by their polar dogs, attack. Mouse’s search for
her father is proving to be impossible, but trouble starts in earnest when Grandma Wren
invites Stag, a long-lost member of their tribe, to join the crew. Little does Grandma
realise what shocking repercussions this is going to have on all their lives.
This is a perfect book to get lost in. To journey to other worlds. Meet people with names
like Mouse, Sparrow, Bear and Crow. It gives you the opportunity to soar with the hawks
and swim with the whales, while meeting some very nasty characters along the way.
This is my first introduction to Sarah Driver and her extraordinary imagination and
hopefully it won’t be the last, because there are sequels to this epic tale. I am off to find
the next book, hoping that Mouse will still have the spunk and spirit to fight for the good
of her people and other creatures who she meets on her quest to find the truth about her
father’s disappearance.
Treebeard
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

I really, really loved this book! The main strength was the strong female heroine that you could read about - it's unusual to read about such a realistic and well-crafted character that seems that they could spring off the page and talk to you. My class loved reading it and are begging me to pick up the second book for them!

This was absolutely brilliant. I didn't realise this was a middle grade book at first and to be honest I can't tell that it is because I enjoyed it all the same.

The writing and characters are complex in an amazing way that I didn't expect going into this book. I'll be honest I didn't expect to love it as much as I did but I know for sure I'll be following this series to its end. Mouse was a brilliant character and I loved how all of their names were the names of animals. Another few of my favourites were Sparrow, Bear and Crow. Although I loved them all. I'm so glad that I requested to review this from netgalley and I'm so annoyed that I'm only just reading it now? I should have read it when I first received it however. This was brilliant.

Stag made an excellent villain he was cunning and wild and generally just someone who you love to hate.

I can't wait to get my claws into the next one.

I'm rarely reading childrens books but when I do, I know I'm usually in for a good treat. And this story is simply wonderful. I feel in love with the main character and her friends and family. I especially loved her grandmother. Mouse is so brave, fearless, compassionate and has so much courage, I really enjoyed her character. She has big dreams and even bigger steps to fill in. I'm not going to go into the plot, since no matter what I say, I would for sure be giving away some of the mystery and joy of discovering this book's potential. All I can say is that it's a pleasure to read and you won't regret doing it.

Unfortunately this wasn't the book for me, I found the long descriptive sections about various creatures or seascapes tedious. However, I am not the target audience, and I suspect that children/younger readers who enjoy Percy Jackson or How to Train your Dragon would find this much more engaging, although I do think it lacks the humour or pace of both these series.

I will recommend Sea to younger readers who I think would enjoy it, but it won't be a gushing recommendation.

Fast-paced fantasy adventure with a feisty heroine and a fabulously vivid fantasy world setting. I like my fantasy to be told sincerely, intensely and with believable characters and this book didn't disappoint. Altered terradactyl type creatures, merwraiths, humans with strange magical powers populate a world rich in superstition, ritual and legend. I can't wait to read the next in the series.

2.5 stars

Mouse lives on a ship, the Huntress, with her brother and father, grandmother, who is the captain, and the crew.
Mouse has been looking after her brother, Sparrow, since Ma died and waits for the day that she will become the captain of the Huntress.
Things go downhill when Da goes missing and a new navigator starts causing trouble.

Sea was an imaginative middle grade novel.
I liked the concept of the book and how stubborn and determined Mouse was.
The plot was good overall and I thought the idea of beast-chatter was interesting.
My attention did wander once or twice but I found the writing style to be unique.

Overall this was a mostly enjoyable middle grade novel.

The story opens with a tense attack on the Huntress from the feared Terrodyls and with Mouse disobeying the captain’s orders (who also happens to be her grandma) to stay below decks, we get the first glimpse of how feisty and strong-willed she is.

Docking at Haggle’s Town port to repair the ship, a new member joins the crew. Stag is from their tribe but hasn’t been seen for 20 years. He brings news that rocks Mouse and Sparrow’s world and it soon becomes clear the real reason he’s re-joining the crew.

Runes reveal the quest Mouse must go on to reunite the Storm-Opals to save Trianukka which of course won’t be easy pitted against Stag. The adventure that follows is full of magic, fear and breathtaking obstacles Mouse must win through which will engage middle grade readers.

The world building in Sea is fabulous. There are tribes with their own morals and purpose, magical skills (I loved Sparrow’s gift of communicating with the whales with his whalesong) and myths/legends … I was reminded of Moby Dick/Jonah and the Whale. The sea folk tribe have an awesome relationship and understanding of what lies beneath the sea with a link to the environment and ecology.

By the end of this first book, 13yo Mouse is just beginning to understand and use her gift of beast-chatter. I’m hoping she will respect that power … she is a strong female lead with plenty of fire and spirit but she doesn’t have much respect for anything, riding roughshod over everyone. There is a glimmer of working as a team at the end of the story, of considering others, so hopefully this will grow in the second book (Sky) and she will become a more likeable character.

Sea is action packed with scenes that are tense and testing. It’s fast paced with non-stop conflict and I found it a quick read. No matter your age you will identify with the characters and engage with the story. I have no doubt that young readers’ will love Sarah Driver’s debut and be excited about the next book in the trilogy!

This was a captivating read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is aimed at a younger audience than me , but I believe that a good story is a good story irrespective of age, and often read "children's books".
It took me a few pages to get into it, but once I was a quarter through I was completely enveloped in Mouse's world.

The closest comparison would be the Septimus Heap books by Angie Sage. I loved the illustrations and the spacing of the illustrations and the text. The goodies are flawed and the baddies are really bad - fantastic. The writing is rich and descriptive, without being self indulgent.

I can't wait to read No.2 in the series. I would recommend this to adults and children alike, who love to lose themselves in a different world.

Plot: Mouse lives on board a trading ship with her younger brother, Sparrow, under the rule of the captain, her grandmother, as part of the Sea tribe. Their father is away, but when they come to realise he’s actually missing and has left clues for Mouse to solve the mystery, she sets out on the adventure of a lifetime to save him.

My thoughts: I need to start by saying that this is primarily a children’s book, aged at around 9+. Despite this (or maybe because of this?!), I enjoyed it. The animal-named characters were cute, it has a beautiful fantasy-feel about it, and a true sense of adventure. There were action-packed scenes as well as emotional ones. Plus it has an awesome strong female lead in the protagonist Mouse, who is a bold and fearless 13 year old girl, a great role model for kids reading this.

With this book it was entirely the cover, and the fact that it is based around the sea, that sold me. The cover is gorgeous. The colour combinations and the font works perfectly for the story inside.

Unfortunately, I struggled with the writing style of this book. The plot was great and has a lot of potential going into the sequels. It’s a shame that some places just felt like they were filler moment.

Due to some of the language used, I’m not sure how many 9year olds would be able to finish and understand it. I do hope that the characters and the plot will be enough for them to enjoy it though!

3 our of 5 stars.

In the sky, the fire spirits dance and ripple. Grandma says they showed our Tribe that I’d be a captain, before I was even born.

Ever since Ma died, Mouse has looked after her little brother, Sparrow, dreaming of her destiny as captain of the Huntress. But now Da’s missing, Sparrow is in danger, and a deathly cold is creeping across Trianukka . . .

What a great story for older children. I loved the imagination in this and the stage is well and truly set in this first book of the trilogy. Mouse is a character full of steely determination and is a brilliant role model for any young girl who has ever been told she cannot achieve something, and yet she also appeals to young boys through her bravery and courage. This is full of magic, mystery and action and should appeal to any reader (young or old) who enjoys the fantasy genre.

Fantastic book! It took a while to get used to the dialogue but the characters were vivid and each lovable in their own way. I loved the sea hawks and the connection that was created between humans and whales. And fantastic to see such a fearless and adventurous young protagonist - I imagine this will be a firm favourite among a lot of young readers.

3.5 Stars in my Sky!

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review!

The story is cute, charming and middle-grade centric. I loved the pirate seafarer theme and quest element. Who doesn't love a big adventure story?

On a side note, one of my best friends nicknames is Mouse, and I could totally see her running her own ship too... Some of the characters reminded me of the sky pirates in Stardust, whilst the plot had a whole The NeverEnding Story 1980s adventure story vibe going on.

The world building is intricate, clever and really fun. I loved all the animal themed names and how the characters back stories/special nuances were woven seamlessly into the story. I did get a little confused at times and found myself questioning who was doing what at certain times.

A lot happens throughout the book so I did find myself having to reread certain parts and I'm still not really sure whats going on with Hammer but I'm sure all will be revealed on due course. Mouse, Sparrow, Captain Wren and Crow will pull you into the story and action.

"Sea" was being compared to "His Dark Materials"... those are very high expectations to live up to. Nonetheless, Sea is an entertaining story, with a unique character in Mouse and a solid new world where the tribes of the sea, land and sky connect in an interesting story. However, and perhaps this is me being overly demanding, a bit more character development (particularly on the villains) and more background would've made this a much much better book. I enjoyed, and will keep an eye out for the next in the trilogy. 4/5.

Sea by Sarah Driver
Publisher: Egmont

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.

In the sky, the fire spirits dance and ripple. Grandma says they showed our Tribe that I’d be a captain, before I was even born.

Ever since Ma died, Mouse has looked after her little brother, Sparrow, dreaming of her destiny as captain of the Huntress. But now Da’s missing, Sparrow is in danger, and a deathly cold is creeping across Trianukka . . .

Sea-churning, beast-chattering, dream-dancing, whale-riding, terrodyl-flying, world-saving adventure. The first book in a stunning new fantasy adventure trilogy, perfect for readers aged 9+ and fans of Philip Pullman, Piers Torday, Abi Elphinstone, Katherine Rundell and Frances Hardinge. *

After a great deal of thought, I decided to DNF Sea at 32%. However, I do not think you should let this deter you if you’re interested in the book.
I really liked the world of Sea and the concept of the trading ships and tribes. The world that Driver builds is familiar, yet filled with moon sprites, shale songs, and terrordyls. The characters speak with a stlightly strange, but understandable dialect. Fortunes are told in the sweeping aurora and you practically feel the spray of the sea on your face.

What didn’t work for me were the characters. The story is told from the perspective of Mouse, a young girl who is destined to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps to become the captain of the Huntress. Mouse is a fierce character with a strong voice and a sense of self that reflects her way of life. I think she’s a character that I would have really liked as a child, but I couldn’t connect with now. I don’t think this is because I’m a boring adult, as I’ve loved many other characters in recent middle grade fiction. I think I struggled more with her attitude. She’s stubborn and does things that are incredibly dangerous simply because she wants to. This is a trait that I really don’t like in any character, adult or child. She felt much younger than her thirteen years. I have to say that I was a big fan of her grandmother, who is a force to be reckoned with despite her age.
Overall, this book wasn’t quite for me. The lovely world building didn’t make up for a slightly convoluted plot, which I don’t feel I can comment much on becauseeven at 32% not much of it was revealed, and my struggles with Mouse as a character. Just because it wasn’t for me doesn’t mean it will not be for you. Rather than recommend passing on this book, I think you should pick it up if the plot sounds appealing to you.

Rating: 3/5

*Copy courtesy of Goodreads