Customer Reviews

Branded Ann

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book isn't for everyone. It's gritty, very gritty. Unlike most lesbian fiction where a main character starts out evil then immediately their true heart-of-gold comes out when they meet their true love, Captain Ann is a cold-blooded, ruthless pirate, and remains so throughout the book. Even when dealing with Violet, she doesn't soften. Eventually, we are allowed to see what motivates her and in some cases it is surprising. Actions that we would believe unimaginably cruel she finds to be difficult but necessary and sometimes even compassionate.

As the story unfolds, we begin to learn more about the two main characters, Captain Ann and Violet. Every person is a composite of their own experiences, and this is quite true in this book. Both appear at first to be quite simplistic. Slowly their layers are exposed to the reader, but only to the reader. Each layer is carefully pealed away. I said that Captain Ann remains a cold-blooded, ruthless pirate - but that's not entirely true. They both change over the course of the story. Yet every change follows a natural progression, with reasonable and logical justifications.

One thing I really enjoyed about this story is its intensity. This story had just the right amount of tension to keep me reading, but not so much as to make me check the back of the book to see how it ended. When that happens, I generally find I can't finish the book.

Almost everything that happens is foreshadowed, but only slightly. It was just enough that, in retrospect, you could say "I should have seen that coming;" yet not enough so you knew everything before it happened. In fact, there was only one event that I saw clearly when it was foreshadowed - but that was partly due to the synopsis on the back of the book. Other events took me completely by surprise and, in fact, shocked me.

If I had to include a criticism of this book it would be...
I honestly can't think of any.
This is only Merry Shannon's second book. I found her first to be exceptional as well, but this one completely blows me away. I can only look forward to more books from her.

My standard disclaimer - I only give reviews/recommendations of books I consider exceptional.

Making a name for herself as a writer of historical (fantasy) fiction, Merry Shannon has delivered another winner with `Branded Ann.' Ann is a universally-feared pirate on a mission to find her father's gold. In doing so, she captures the seemingly-pious Violet.

The members of Ann's crew believe women are bad luck to pirates, but their captain insists on letting Violet live and work on board. Protecting Violet from the attentions of the male crew, Ann claims her as her own. As they continue their voyage, Violet's not-so-pious past comes to light. Eventually, she and Ann come to an understanding and begin to rely on each other for survival.

A typical pirates-looking-for-treasure story has been wonderfully written to draw the reader in and keep her focused. I started this book on Saturday morning and finished it before bedtime. Although I had other activities on my agenda, the book quickly became top priority. This one is hard to put down one you start, so find a comfy place to curl up and enjoy.

I honestly wish I had more stars to give this book. The story pulls you in from beginning until the very end. Branded Ann is a fabulous adventure/romance novel filled with amazing characters with their virtues and their flaws. I read it in two days, I would've been done sooner if I didn't have to sleep. Merry Shannon is a new voice in literature and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I went into this book with no expectations and was very pleasantly surprised at its quality, its thoughtfulness, and overall just how much fun it was. Not that it's as light-hearted tongue-in-cheek as, say, Pirates of the Caribbean (though if you hated all of those movies you may find yourself annoyed at many of the conventions used here, e.g. liberal use of phrases like "savvy" and "avast" and "my hearties). The fun comes in its immersion in the details of pirate life, the quality character development, and the twists the author puts on familiar scenarios that make them seem fresh.

It's not your typical piratical bodice-ripper full of busty wenches and torrid sex. In fact, the main characters spend most of the book alternately resisting their crackling sexual tension, and consistently getting interrupted before fulfillment. Additionally the characters do not have a smooth time of it. Life is harsh. There is violence, there is torture, there is doing what you have to in order to survive, there is grief and self-flagellation, but ultimately there's triumph.

Ann is not a nice person to start out with. Particularly from Violet's point of view, you're horrified at this hard-bitten woman and wonder how the author will ever bring them together in a believable way. It's a testament to her skill at story-telling that she's able to pull this off so well. Violet is also not a perfect individual, leaping to conclusions and clinging to assumptions. But the author does a remarkable job at bringing understanding to their motivations, making their actions realistic, and the characters sympathetic as they go through an emotional journey almost more harrowing than their ocean-bound one. There is a rich internal voice that buoys the tale along, and it's so refreshing to read a book about characters who *think* about things.

In closing, I didn't realize that I'd read another book by this author: Sword of the Guardian. A good book, but I liked this one a lot better. That bodes well for this author's future. Entertaining pirate story. Interesting ship-living detail. Rotten pirates. Sword fights. Treasure maps. Revenge. Forgiveness. Overall, highly recommended. I can't wait for the next offering from this author.

It took me opening this book three times to get through the first page and a half because I had fear of disappointment. But as soon as the first chapter had ended I was in love with the characters and with the story. I couldn't put it down until the very last page and was left wanting more still! I adored "Sword of the Guardian" and this book was just as charming and riveting!

You won't be able to put it down but force yourself to since this book doesn't deserve to be read in one night. Think of it as an old fashioned serial adventure where you read a couple chapters, put it down, come back, re-read a little bit as a recap and move on to the next couple chapters. I haven't had this much funny since I was a kid and watched Errol Flynn/Basil Rathbone movies on Sunday afternoons. It is even all the better with interesting female characters winding their way through a rigorous plot. Maybe I exaggerated there were some stops in between with Aliens and BSG, but you get the idea. Anyway there has been nothing but pirates out our house for the last few weeks and the kids love it, less the bad behavior after 9 PM. Congratulations to the author for keeping the seafaring details to a minimum and sticking to the adventure with only a couple lapses in attention.

Good show and bring on some more!

Merry Shannon has an amazing gift for story telling. Branded Ann is one of those books that draw you in right from the start, and keeps you there. The characters are believable to the point you feel as if you are sailing the high seas right along side the salty crew of the Ice Queen. I absolutely loved this story. I highly recommend it.

While I don't like the term "lesbian fiction" as giving too much focus to sexual preference, and not enough to love for its own sake, I am a big fan of adventure, fantasy, romance, and (for those rare cases where it is worth reading) erotica.

Merry did a great job on all of the above! Beyond the writing being excellent in general, she keeps the adventure constantly thrilling, the romance building beautifully, and the erotica sweet, loving, and hot.

It is rare enough to find a book that does any of these well, but she seems to have pulled them all off at once! Bravo Merry!

Something else I loved about Branded Ann: the character development was both satisfying and believable. Merry has a real knack for painting complex, multifaceted characters, who all seem to be adorable human creatures--warts and all. This is quite a feat in itself, and usually only present in great literature (if even there). Even more a feat when dealing with murderous cutthroats!

Perhaps it goes to her background in social work, but it's difficult for me to put into words how impressed I am by her handling of each and every character's own motivations, struggles, and challenges. She obviously has a very rich understanding of the human condition, and the ability of the human spirit to grow and endure. Bravo!

Finally, while I am not a religious person, I was very impressed by how she handled the religious sub-theme. To our brave protagonist, religion is never something to impose on others, but rather to draw strength and love into those times when life makes us feel hopeless. Truly inspiring.

My deep thanks to Merry Shannon for bringing me so much excitement, pleasure, and inspiration. This book makes my All Time Top 20 Fiction list, which is saying something for a lifelong avid reader.

I initially didnt think I would like reading about female pirates. Oh how wrong I was.
This book was so captivating I read it form start to end in one sitting. I couldnt put it down.
To the Author I say, Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou...for taking me on this journey. You had me on the edge of my seat, and even caused me to fall out of bed laughing at one stage (this is true BTW).
I find it amazing that new authors can develop a
character, who in any other circumstance would be considered and evil
person, and tell their story in such a way that I feel myself cheering
for them in such a 'hero-worship' sort of way.
I was so happy when the stow away was bought back into the story
after her initial meeting with Ann.
Shannon's descriptive talents had me believing that 'black-dog' actually
existed and I want just reading fiction.
Devlyn

In the never-ending and ever important debate of "pirates vs ninjas" this book has definitely got me liking pirates.

There's not much I can add to all these 5 star reviews but I just wanted to show my own appreciation for a good book. What really fascinated me about reading Branded Ann as well as Sword of the Guardian was the author's talent at writing a story that immersed me in an epic journey and placed me right alongside these fictional people. I felt their frustration, fatigue and joy. It pulled me in enough that I found myself engaging with the characters. I wanted to high-five Violet, slap sense into Ann and superglue Charlie's mouth shut. I wasn't the only one I'm sure.

This engrossing pirate adventure romance reminded me a little of Treasure Island and Les Miserable (don't let Victor Hugo hear that or he'll turn over in his grave). Violet, is by all definition, a victim. When her new fairytale life goes up in flames, as she's taken against her will onto Branded Ann's pirate ship, we see her true strength. She's a woman with a darkly colourful past that makes the best out of any bad situation and she does so with confident flair and alluring tenacity. The reader can't help but admire Violet and feel overprotective of her whenever she's dragged through the mud. Intrigued by her is captain Ann, a cutthroat pirate with a tortured soul and a promise to fulfil. The enigmatic and formidable Branded Ann comes to care and passionately fall for the brightly burning Violet. Together they must overcome bad coffee, mutiny and personal demons to get to the hidden treasure and maybe even find something more valuable than gold.

If you want sex in every other chapter with a mediocre story, this is not your book. If you enjoy a blood boiling build up and even better execution to that sweet tension then you will not be disappointed. Shannon effectively satisfies the reader with some very lustful moments. A scorching one comes to mind: "Let me help." Now I wouldn't deny bookmarking that particular page.

I was impressed by Merry Shannon's first book Sword of the Guardian and though it's not a series connected to Branded Ann, I suggest reading it first so you can see the author's progress at creating a finer piece of fantasy. This second book is even better and less predictable. Pirates, romance and a big red X on a map - all in a good day's read.