Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Capitana

Audiobook
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks
0 of 1 copy available
Wait time: About 4 weeks

Prepare to set sail with this riveting romantasy—the first in a duology—that's filled with complex characters, sizzling chemistry, and evocative action. A must-read for fans of Daughter of the Pirate King and Fable!

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?

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      November 18, 2024
      Teenage Ximena Reale, who has one eye, strives to overcome her family’s reputation—her parents, who were once allied to the Luzan Empire, were executed for their crimes against their country as Robin Hood–like pirates, the Reales. Now attending La Academia de los Cazadores, the training center for Luzan’s Naval recruits, Ximena seeks to reach the coveted rank of Cazador. The return of Gasparilla, a notorious pirate, could be Ximena’s only opportunity to rise above her infamous parents’ legacy; if she defeats Gasparilla, she could prove her bravery and loyalty to the empire. But her resolve begins to crumble as those around her start exposing Luzan’s dark secrets, particularly Dante de León, her rival and the son of the empire’s high minister, who opens her eyes to the misery of her people. Lengthy narration and the protagonists’ lackluster developing romance sometimes sap tension and forward momentum from the enticing plot. Nevertheless, debut author James employs elucidating prose to craft a rich imaginary world inspired by 18th-century Latin America in this swashbuckling adventure, a duology starter. Ages 14–up. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House.

    • Kirkus

      December 15, 2024
      An aspiring pirate hunter sails in pursuit of an infamous pirate; her quest takes her further than she could ever imagine. Seventeen-year-old Ximena Reale is a promising young candidate at La Academia de los Cazadores, a feat she's achieved against the odds posed by her stained last name: Five years ago, her parents were hanged on La Academia's gallows as pirates. The apparent resurrection of Gasparilla--history's most notorious (and long-dead) pirate--brings the opportunity to prove herself once and for all. Armed with her unwavering commitment to the Law of the Luzan Empire, Ximena chases vengeance, honor, and a Cazodoro cloak of her own. She's in competition with Dante de Le�n, an arrogant and infuriatingly handsome classmate. The journey tests not only her skill and bravery but her faith in the Law itself. James delivers her fast-paced and convincing debut narrative in an accomplished third-person voice. She layers her prose with Spanish vocabulary, immersing readers in the cadences of the Luzan Empire and trusting those unfamiliar with the language to navigate by context. The story resounds with messages of the harm done by imperialism, bringing readers along as Ximena learns to question authority, consider new perspectives, and seek alternatives to violence. Budding romance and soaring stakes keep the tension simmering through the last page and marvelously tee up the second book in this duology. The characters are cued as Latine. A shimmering, piratical fantasy with real-world teeth.(Fantasy. 14-18)

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • Booklist

      January 16, 2025
      Grades 9-12 Ximena Reale, a bold, brave, and sassy seafarer, is determined to overcome her family's tainted legacy of notorious piracy and prove herself worthy to join the cazadores--hunters set to capture pirate outlaws. Dante DeLeon, as infuriating as he is handsome, proves to make this more difficult, as he has a similar goal: capture the infamous pirate Gasparilla, rescue the Luzan Empire's kidnapped queen, and secure his future. Pitted against each other, they may find that working together may be the only way to meet their goals, so a terse dynamic develops with the potential of romance. Fast-paced and brimming with tension, intrigue, and twists, James crafts a vivid setting where murky alliances and questionable motives keep readers guessing. This debut and duology opener features a richly developed, highly driven heroine and a plot full of peril, with themes of courage and resilience lingering long after the last page. A fast-paced adventure set against a backdrop as treacherous as it is mesmerizing.

      COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

Languages

  • English

Loading