Nicholas Stephens

I stumbled across this book and I have to say it is very entertaining. I am surprised that I haven't heard of it before. This is a collection of a few short stories, that are all connected to each other through Sharkheart Sam and the legacy of his treasure. This collection is based on the ride, The Pirates of the Caribbean, as it came out long before the movies of the same name and same inspiration did. As a fan of both the ride and pirates in general, I found this book to be a very fun read.

Five stories, with illustrations, that center on an old house with an adjoining graveyard. The location of the house could be in any town, but the local children know the place is haunted. In one, two boys are invited inside to meet creepy Madame Blackheart and have their fortunes told. In another, a young clarinet student is thrilled to be invited to join a band for his first public performance, but the audience turns out to be exceptionally demanding, and the last story provides a history show more for the ghostly bride with the beating heart.
These stories are much better than I expected them to be. 3.8 stars show less

Short, fascinating and satisfying.
Here is another proof that this is not the number of words that make a plot bigger than life but the ability of the writer alone to tell it correctly.

Stefan Zweig conveys the reader's sense of fear and thereby unites him with the same fate as the heroine of the book.
The plot is familiar and straightforward, but the burgeoning descriptions made me very pleased.

I enjoyed it, an excellent book.