Nearly made 4 stars and has given me a great deal of pleasure. Read a little at a time in bed and very calming so saved for those nights when I needed a bit of calming - the verse is charming and informal, if a bit clunky at times and the pictures are a delight. ( )

It was...interesting. It's a good ghost story, and a mildly interesting Elizabethan sea/pirate story (though it was rather simplistic); the third story was less interesting. Part of it was the way he abandoned his friends - literally, leaving them to swim ashore - and stealing their memories. I mean, yay he finally succeeded, but... The afterword was even worse, with the author disclaiming the point - was or wasn't this one story, with one protagonist? I have no idea, says the author...and I say then why write it? Overall - not bad, I enjoyed bits very much, the verse form was pretty good (though it annoyed me when it descended into blank verse now and then - not that I could have sustained verse throughout a story like this), but not a favorite and I doubt I'll reread. ( )

Nearly made 4 stars and has given me a great deal of pleasure. Read a little at a time in bed and very calming so saved for those nights when I needed a bit of calming - the verse is charming and informal, if a bit clunky at times and the pictures are a delight. ( )

An epic poem of pirates, treachery, friendship and treasure that spans two thousand years and follows one man's cursed life.

This tale is about as perfect as any tale can be and the amazing artwork by Nick Poullis simply adds to the magic of the book. Montgomery has created a story so action-packed, so heart-warming, so sad and happy all at once, you can't help but marvel at his skill.

I think the piece on the back of the book says it better than I:

This classic tale of treason, treachery and treasure sweeps across many lands and centuries. At its heart is the ship's skipper, Bruno, cursed to a life of eternal wandering for a moment of greed and betrayal. His quest for release brings him to the court of the King of Spain and a battle with the villianous pirate Mad Dog Morgan...

You will barely be able to leave this story and the beauty of the verse will have you reading to yourself out loud. It is a great tale to read to kids and a book I'd recommend you hunt out and treasure. ( )