Weekend Reads: Macario's Scepter by MJ McGriff

 

Source: Amazon.com

Twins. One a nun. One a pirate. One magic scepter. One prophesy. One ex-lover.

Sounds like a formula or a line from a great comedy, "that would be one plus one plus two plus one, not one plus *two* plus one plus one." (Clue, 1985 in case you're curious)

This is the formula for a great pirate tale.

Macario's Scepter is the first book in M.J. McGriff's The Magian Series.

Younger readers and parents, there's a caveat this is a pirate story with language that's a bit, well, salty. There's some romance but no sex or compromising scenarios. There's some violence but none that is graphic or gratuitous. Overall, I'd say it's PG to PG-13 due to intense pace and action. Teens and up. Some scenes take place in a drinking establishment and rum is present in this Caribbean-flavored tale.

A prophesy releases a destructive serpent on the high seas and only a magical scepter can tame it. Samara, a pirate who longs for the sea is the one chosen to wield it. All Samara longs to do is return to the sea even if it means teaming with Baz, her ex-lover.

Seraphina, Samara's twin and voice of reason, fears for her sister and prays Samara will find the peace she has in her life as a cloistered nun. But the curse forces Seraphina to defy her order and escape the convent to help her sister.

The characters and relationships round out this seafaring adventure. Samara and Baz have great chemistry, and I loved the others in the pirating crew. Samara is a feisty heroine, but Seraphina more than holds her own.

Book 2, The Secret Library, released last month, and I can't wait to read more of Samara, Baz, and Seraphina's story.

What better beach read than one with a Pirates of the Caribbean flavor. Stick a paper umbrella in your drink of choice (tropical juice, anyone?) and prepare for the adventure.