Steel [Paperback]

Carrie Vaughn (Author)

Book Description

Release date: March 13, 2012

A mysterious broken sword transports a modern teen through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past, and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as she learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home—one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Throughly enjoyable” (Kirkus )

“Vivid period details add to the appeal of this unusual swashbuckler.” (ALA Booklist )

“This unique story should have broad appeal.” (Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) )

About the Author

Carrie Vaughn survived her air force brat childhood and managed to put down roots in Colorado. Her first book, Kitty and the Midnight Hour, launched a popular series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk-radio advice show. She is also the author of Voices of Dragons, her debut novel for teen readers. Ms. Vaughn lives in Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen; Reprint edition (March 13, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061956503
• ISBN-13: 978-0061956508
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in California, but grew up all over the country, a bona fide Air Force Brat. I currently live in Colorado, with my miniature American Eskimo dog, Lily. I have a Masters in English Lit, love to travel, love movies, plays, music, just about anything, and am known to occasionally pick up a rapier.

I've never been a DJ, but I love writing about one.

Here's my website: www.carrievaughn.com

Amazon Author Rankbeta 

(What's this?)

#79 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

#79 in Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Adventure March 15, 2011

By SciFiChick TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Sixteen-year-old Jill is devastated when she loses her fencing tournament. So instead of enjoying her family vacation in the Bahamas, Jill spends her time sulking. On a stroll down the beach, Jill discovers an old, rusted sword fragment. But the sword tip is magical and transports Jill back in time to pirate infested waters. Rescued by a pirate ship with a female captain, Jill is given a chance to join the crew. But the longer she's there, the more Jill wants to find a way home.

When story begins, Jill is a moody girl, constantly feeling sorry for herself. But when she's forced into a hard life on a pirate ship, Jill's outlook changes dramatically. She's a hard worker and compassionate. Vaughn's pirates are not overly dramatized nor made into Hollywood-like heroes. Though at times Jill's captain makes heroic choices. The pirates are still thieves and murderers, yet governed by a democracy of sorts, live by a code, and cherish their freedom.

Steel is a surprisingly fantastic adventure for teens and adults alike. A time-travel fantasy with swashbuckling pirates, danger, and suspense - this is a must read. This exciting voyage was well-paced and impossible to put down. This is a story I didn't want to end. Full of swordplay, strong characters, and a bit of romance, I enjoyed every minute of it.

16 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre March 24, 2011

By S. C. Lehman

Format:Hardcover

Maybe I've been reading too much Cormac McCarthy lately or was expecting this to have more action like Crichton's Pirate Latitudes, but I was not impressed by Steel. I can normally pick out the flow and ending of a story from the very beginning. So as the action started to rise in Steel, I was anticipating a lot more than a fizzle out. For example, one of the pirate confrontations has them screaming and waving their weapons around getting ready for battle. But before the ship even gets close, the other crew surrenders with barely a word. This happens several times and I understand this is for young adults, but there's a difference between toning down violence and just letting the action die before it even starts. Although I must give Vaughn credit for the origin of the sword -- quite demented.

Overall, Vaughn's research is wonderful. The details on fencing are elementary enough for someone who is just beginning an interest in fencing to fall in love with the sport. And for those already involved, the fight scenes are described well so that the reader can easily picture the movements. There's also a nice glossary. At the end of the book, Vaughn describes her researching methods, so I was a little disappointed to find out how much she'd researched on pirates but didn't include in more depth.

This is a great read for someone who is around 10-12 and even better for someone wanting to get into fencing. But if you're over 14 looking for a swashbuckling adventure, pass this one up.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This is swashbuckling for MY generation! March 16, 2011

By Essie

Format:Hardcover

This is not swashbuckling from the 80s or 90s. This is today's swashbuckling adventure for today, for me, and I love it. This book makes me want to learn fencing!

Jill is the sports competitor that 99% of us were... not the best, but good at what we liked to do. And the rest of the adventure is... well... fantasy. But it is fantasy that springs from the tradition of the old Captain Blood and Muskateers and Zorro films. Not the dark gritty 90s cheeze that was trying way too hard, but an honest adventure. Yes there are dark and scary moments, but our hero Jill takes on her problems with an intelligent bravado that would make Errol Flinn and Scaramuche proud. But still there is a modernity to it that makes it the book for US and not the baby boomers... the protagonist-gains-superpowers-and-returns-from-the-adventure-to-triumph of the 80s is gone here, supplanted with a much more believable and real gain.

I hope lots of young girls get inspired by the characters in this book... be a Jill when you're my age (Okay I'm 22 so a little older but not THAT much!) and be a pirate captain when you're older. (I googled it... there really were women captains!)

So yeah, this book is fantastic. The plot is carefull, the characters are steady and consistent, and while the good guys and bad guys might be a little black and white, it just feels like a reckognition of the black and white of the movies that this book makes you imagine... and I hope if it ever gets made into a movie the pirate parts are filmed in black and white, like a reverse wizard of Oz.... Anyways with a feel that leaves the 70s and 80s trend towards "gritty" and "dark" behind in favor of just good story and a heroic growth that real people can really learn from, this author has just won me over as an author of the future shining out in a world where other books are still clinging to the past. Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Very mediocre June 12, 2011

By Amanda TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

Oddly enough, I've never read a Carrie Vaughn novel before. Considering many of my books tastes, this is really strange, so I think it was time that I gave Ms. Vaughn a try, and her newest novel, Steel, seemed like the natural place to start.

Jill has dedicated much of her life to perfecting the art of fencing, with the hopes of one day competing in the Olympics. But when Jill gets the the bronze metal round of the championships, she finds that she just isn't good enough. Disheartened, Jill considers giving up fencing. To help her unwind, her family takes a trip to the Caribbean, where Jill finds part of an old rapier which transports her back in time to the world of pirates and swashbuckling.

I would say that I was a little surprised by Steel, and not really in a good way. It started out somewhat interesting, with quick pacing, and Jill was presented as a fully dimensional character with realistic issues. However, it just didn't hold together. Once Jill joined the pirate world, the action seemed to slow down, her character became so flat it didn't seem to be going much of anywhere and (one thing that really bugged me) Jill's reaction to suddenly finding herself on a genuine pirate ship is far too calm and accepting you would think that she (and the crew) would have been a little more freaked out.

I will admit that the research into fencing and pirates did feel very real here, and I appreciate Vaughn's attention to historical accuracy. But unfortunately, everything else about this book just seemed average, mediocre and somewhat dull. The book wasn't even that long, but seemed to go on forever.

With a mediocre plot, poor characterization and an overall weak delivery, I'd suggest passing on Steel.