Second in Horsman’s exciting Wyrms of Pasandir series, Pirates of Brisa continues the adventures of young Eskander and his friends. A chance encounter with a pirate in a darkened alley draws Eskander into a search for missing kids. After learning that the pirates kidnapping the orphans of Seatome are doing so for the lich king, he and his friends decide to go after them at the source.

With magic and luck, Eskander and co capture a pirate ship, freeing the kids. As Wings of the Mountains, and Wyrmcaller of Pasandir, Eskander claims the ship as his own, first in the Pasandir Navy. As the ship is being refitted, Eskander, Kellani, and Naudin offer the kids jobs, and a home, and set about training them. An attack on their training fort nets them an airship. Travel to Brisa nets Eskander another ship and brings more people to his cause. It brings dire news as well, for they learn the jinn influence is growing by the day. Even as Eskander builds his army, the lich king is gathering followers as well. Throw in a prophecy he’s somehow supposed to facilitate, without any idea how, and Eskander’s more than got his hands full.

Ok, I’m really getting into this series now! It reminds me a great deal of one of my favourite game series- Suikoden. In each game, your main character must recruit various people to their cause, equipping a castle or some other holdfast (in one case a ship), with all the things it needs to run. Eskander us doing the same, recruiting freed slaves, and orphan children, and seeking out specialised folk like pilots, engineers, and another healer.

Naudin is becoming a favourite. He seems more scholarly, though he’s a fair fighter as well. And Lothi-Mo! Such a sassy little dragon. I like that the dragonlore of Asia was used here, with the number of talons/ toes a dragon has showing its power, with five-toed ones being highest. I hope we see more wyrms soon, and that Eskander can find a way to help the elder ones.

Now that I know to look for it, I can see the undertones of the author’s culture throughout the story. This shows through most in the utterly pragmatic attitude the characters have, tempered with a dry humour. They might have the occasional emotional moments, but most things are taken in stride. The pragmatism and dry humour are two things I’ve come to love in the translated Dutch books I’ve read. I could kick myself for not figuring it out sooner with the previous book!! Definitely looking forward to reading the next in the series!

***Many thanks to Silver Dagger Blog Tours & the author for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.