Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean
AMAZON # 1 Best Seller in Teen & Young Adult Military Historical Fiction eBooks
Reviews
Dan E. Hendrickson’s Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean is the second book in the Saga of the Pirate Princess series. The plot follows an adventurous course, moving forward with great panache and considerable action. In this historical novel, the author demonstrates his knowledge of the period, especially regarding pirates and worthy men and women who dominated the seas. The descriptive narrative provides a beautiful view of the Caribbean in this era. Dialogue is used well to develop the characters and set the scene. There is some romance woven into the plot, adding to its engaging quality. The main character, Brandy, is the epitome of a strong female role model. The story is a real page-turner.
Emily-Jane Hills Orford
Readers’ Favorite
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean is a work of fiction for young adult and new adult readers by author Dan E. Hendrickson in the historical, adventure, and action genres, and is the second novel in the Saga of the Pirate Princess. Brandy Erasmus Edwards, the fierce abolitionist and daughter of notorious pirates, sails with her husband, Captain John Edwards, on the Morning Star. Trained by Shaolin Master Zhang Yong, she wields the revered Master’s Swords. Set in 1854, with tensions rising over the impending U.S. Civil War, Brandy and John face numerous enemies with wild results. Amidst the turmoil, a threat from Zhang’s past surfaces, requiring Brandy to confront the dreaded Jaded Empress. What follows is a truly thrilling blend of abolitionist action, martial arts, and high-seas adventure.
Author Dan E. Hendrickson utilizes a keen sense of adventure and a talent for action-packed descriptions to craft a thrilling and captivating novel. Brandy’s transformation from the daughter of feared pirates into a leading abolitionist is a powerful narrative arc, dripping in atmosphere, emotion, and realism. We get to know her through the author’s intricate portrayal of the challenges she faces, deepening her heroism by showing her attitudes and moments of vulnerability. The backdrop of 1854, with its rising tensions over slavery, added historical depth and urgency to the story that keeps you focused on the seriousness of the plot. Brandy’s character, fiercely independent and skilled in martial arts, was both inspiring and engaging, and her relationship with Captain John Edwards brought a compelling romantic element to the tale that balances the intense action sequences and gives us more variation and some brilliant dialogues. The looming threat from the Jaded Empress and the intricate political and personal conflicts kept me on the edge of my seat as the plot unfolded. Overall, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean is a masterful mix of history, adventure, and martial arts that fans of historical fiction are sure to enjoy.
K.C. Finn
Readers’ Favorite
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean: Saga of the Pirate Princess Book 2 by Dan E Hendrickson is the latest iteration of the swashbuckling adventures of Captain John Edwards and his fearsome, fighting wife Brandy Erasmus Edwards. Trained by Shaolin Master Zhang Yong in the ways of Kung Fu, Brandy is feared across the Caribbean as someone never to cross swords with. Along with her husband John, Brandy has been at the forefront of the abolitionists transporting escaped slaves from the U.S. South to freedom in “maroons” located across the Caribbean and in South America. Their continued efforts for the past decade have made them many enemies both in the South and in Britain. With talk of secession by the South and the Civil War imminent, tensions are ratcheted up to an all-time high. With their protector and friend Vice Admiral Arthur Joshua’s health declining and a hostile takeover of the Vice Admiral’s family business back in England, not to mention Master Zhang Yong’s former pupil hell-bent on killing her former master and uncle, the scene is set for another non-stop, action-filled Caribbean adventure.
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean, like the first novel, is compelling reading that will capture your attention from the get-go and take you on a non-stop ride of emotions and action that will be impossible to put down. I have read this author’s books from the beginning of his career and it has been my privilege to watch him grow and mature as a writer. It has reached the point where I consider any new offerings to be a must-read. Although this book is the second in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel with the author dropping gems of information about the characters’ previous exploits throughout the story. Perhaps what always stands out with these two main characters is their morality and their determination to ensure that everyone is entitled to a fair chance, especially when confronted by classism, sexism, or racism. The setting takes readers all around the world from the Caribbean to South America, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan, and the United States, which allows for plots and subplots to be developed, adding immensely to the breadth of the story. I particularly appreciated the generational aspect with characters evolving across several generations of their family, adding a sense of continuity to the adventure. If you love swashbuckling antics, there are plenty here at a frenetic pace, but there is also a deep sense of community and family that will give you a gentle embrace. I loved this book and cannot wait to see where this talented author will head next. I highly recommend this read.
Grant Leishman
Readers’ Favorite
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean by Dan E. Hendrickson is a deftly executed, swashbuckling follow-up to Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess. In this action-packed second installment of the Brandy saga, Hendrickson expands upon the abolitionist theme established in the first book. In Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean, it is fifteen years later (1854, to be precise) and Brandy and Captain John Edwards are now married with a son and daughter; in addition, Brandy has received fifteen years of training from the Shaolin Master Zhang Yong – training which puts her in a perfect position to serve as the heroine of this epic tale. Zhang Young’s niece Kailli Yong betrayed her uncle by stealing Shaolin swords which she did not earn, thereby dishonoring her uncle, trained for years with the Black Demon ninjas, and now employs her dark gifts as the Caribbean’s most feared pirate – the Jaded Empress – making her an ideal antagonist. Zhang Yong must return to China to right the wrong of his disciple niece’s betrayal and restore the purloined Shaolin swords to their rightful clan. Brandy, his beloved protégée, must make the dangerous journey by his side. The adventure that unfolds is both compelling and unforgettable and is sure to delight readers of all ages.
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean incorporates many powerful themes and motifs – feminine empowerment, racism, slavery, moral and ethical codes, accountability, honor, duty, and a host of other vices and virtues of vital importance. Apart from being exceedingly well crafted, Hendrickson’s narrative is historically accurate and thoroughly researched. The plot is complex; to that end, Hendrickson has included a summary of the first book in the series and a handy glossary of characters to help keep track of important players and events. Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean by Dan E, Hendrickson is a prime example of just how much excitement and adventure can be squeezed into a few hundred pages. Readers of all ages will be delighted with the myriad plot twists and suspenseful surprises and will no doubt find themselves longing for book three as soon as they have turned the last page of this rollicking, epic adventure.
Golder Hazelton
Readers’ Favorite
A year ago, I read the first book in this saga, Brandy, Ballad of a Pirate Princess, and loved it, so I was excited to read Dan E. Hendrickson’s sequel, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean. Set a decade after the events of the first book, Brandy still commands a strong presence in the Caribbean. Brandy, her husband, Captain John Edwards, and their comrades still fight against the slave trade industry. Their successes lead them to be well-known amongst their enemies and the anti-slavery movement, but more importantly, they are folk heroes to people who have been ensnared as slaves.
In this book, two forces are working against them. In London, John’s father has temporarily taken ownership of the most prominent shipyard while waiting to hear from the deceased owner’s successor, his brother and John’s mentor in the Caribbean. Greedy nobility plot to wrest control of the shipyard by eliminating the competition in the Caribbean while also supporting the slave trade in America. Part of their plan includes hiring an infamous Chinese pirate, the Jaded Empress, and her partner, Captain Thomas Williams. What they do not realize is that the Jaded Empress is the niece and former student of Brandy’s mentor, Zhang Yong, and she has a hatred in her heart for her uncle. When she learns that Zhang Yong awarded his prized master’s swords to Brandy, her rage burns brighter and she becomes determined to kill Brandy and take the swords for herself. To further entwine the relationships between friend and foe, Captain Thomas Williams is John’s former superior and friend who turned traitor.
I loved the characters in the first book because they felt real, and that authenticity continues into this one. The interactions between the characters are genuine and their actions and motivations are believable. I adore the addition of Brandy and John’s children and that the book opens with them engaging in a training fight with Brandy. It mirrors the first book that opens with Brandy doing the same with her mother. Another aspect I admired from the first book was the action and how the good guys did not hold back, but killed if needed. Again in this book, if the heroes needed to kill, they absolutely did.
The areas of opportunity I saw in the first book are absent from this one, so I am very excited to give this book a 5 out of 5 star rating.
Online Book Club
Across the sea in London, the owner of Joshua Shipyards, Christopher Joshua, has passed, and the ownership falls to his brother, Arthur Joshua, who is already frail but has descendants to assume control of the company. Lady Adriana, the late Christopher’s second wife, is also in a race with Lord Alfred Frederick to secure the company for themselves and use it to carry out their sinister plans. They recruit the services of Kailli Yong, the Jaded Empress, and her lieutenant, Thomas Williams, to kill Arthur’s heir so that the company would come to them. What happens when they all collide in the ultimate battle for family and good? Will Brandy emerge unscathed? Or would the cost be too great?
This book’s title and its description drew me in; I’ve always had a love for the sea and naval adventures, and this book gave me just that. The author outdid himself with the beautiful narrations and descriptions of different activities in this book; they were so realistic that I was able to conjure a mental picture of the characters and what they were up to most of the time. The character development was solid; each character was developed with sufficient backstory, and their roles were perfectly exploited. This book’s plot progresses at a steady pace and gradually unravels the mysteries it has in store for its audience; the narrative intrigued me most times, and I found myself glued to the story and never wanting it to stop.
I didn’t like how easy the final showdown turned out for the main character; I would have loved a bit more sass and strength from the Jaded Empress, though this is subjective and just my opinion. Meanwhile, the plot, setting, character development, and narrative make for an interesting read, and the strong themes of family, resilience, and courage leave the reader with one or two lessons to ponder on. My reading experience with this book was smooth; I didn’t encounter any grammar errors. Due to the overwhelming positives I highlighted above, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean receives 5 out of 5 stars from me, and I wholly recommend it to audiences who enjoy fiction, sea adventures, and mystery.
Online Book Club
The synopsis of this book is what convinced me to pick it up. A strong female lead, pirates, and adventure? Yes, please. I must say, it did not disappoint me. Before getting into the majority of my review, I’d like to provide my rating, which is 5 out of 5 stars.
The book is the second in a series about Brandy, a fierce pirate in the Caribbean, sailing with her husband, family, and friends to help bring runaway slaves from the US to freedom. All is well until the past comes knocking. Will Brandy be able to use all her training and skills to save her family? I guess you’ll have to read the book to find out.
I loved the author’s style of writing. It was clear and easy to understand. The author paints a beautiful picture of the scenery and blends ‘show and tell’ into their writing seamlessly. I loved how each character had their own distinct voice and personality. It made reading about interactions between characters seem life-like and believable. The plot of the story kept me hooked. I sat at the edge of my seat, unable to turn the page fast enough. The book had a number of intense fight scenes, but they added the necessary drama that the book led up to. However, the depictions of family relations, friendships, and overall vibe gave this book a beautiful, homey feel. I also enjoyed how well-researched it seemed to be; you could tell while reading that the author had put a lot of thought behind each character, their background, and every scene. I only noticed one error, but it did not deter from my reading experience and seems to be a simple mistake missed by the editing team. Everything else that I thought may have been an error was, in fact, the author’s voice for particular characters and something I got the hang of the more I read. Furthermore, the characters are incredibly likeable, especially Brandy, and I found myself cheering for the whole cast.
As mentioned earlier, this book is a sequel, and while it might feel like you’d miss things if you don’t read the first, the author made sure no reader would feel that way. They provide a detailed and quick summary of the first book at the beginning and seamlessly weave in details the reader might need to know throughout the novel, without it feeling overwhelming or taxing.
I think the one thing I did not really enjoy was the time jumps throughout the book. They are absolutely necessary for the backstory, but it felt a little disorienting to keep going back and forth every chapter or so. However, because they were necessary, I did not feel like this negative was enough to dock a point from my rating.
All the reasons I’ve mentioned above are why I have rated the book the way I did. There isn’t anything I would change, and I loved it.
I recommend this book to lovers of thrillers, adventures, and cozy reads.
Online Book Club
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting Sequel
I really enjoyed the first book, but loved this one even more. The characters are very well developed and fun to follow, and the action is fantastic. Highly recommend both books!
Kathy Smith
Amazon
Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean is a pulse-pounding, swashbuckling sequel to The Pirate Princess Saga, and it never lets up. Dan Hendrickson deftly combines historical fiction, martial arts mysticism, and classic pirate tale into one exciting package — and Brandy, again, takes the helm with courage and fire.
Against the background of high-puffing tensions in the Americas in 1854, Brandy’s journey is not just survival — it’s a search for justice. Brandy and Captain John Edwards are not just pirates; they’re abolitionists, fighting freedom in an age still clinging to savagery. This built-in social awareness lends the action to actual emotional depth, transcending just adventure.
Where this book truly flies, however, is in its worldwide scope. When the Jaded Empress — a ruthless South China Sea pirate and deadly assassin of Brandy’s Shaolin master, Zhang Yong — rolls into town, the stakes get real to an entire new level. The East-meets-West dynamic brings a depth of culture that’s just terrific, and poses some intriguing questions regarding honor, loyalty, and legacy. The action scenes are gritty, cinematic, and nastily up-close-and-personal.
Brandy herself is among the finest heroines of current-day historical adventure fiction — intelligent, capable, fiercely independent and yet driven by compassion and justice. She’s not battling for her crew or herself this time — she’s battling for something greater.
This is not a pirate novel. This is a story of resistance, of redemption, and of a woman who will not be intimidated and silenced. And the Morning Star? She is no ship — she is a ray of hope cutting through the storm.
If you’re looking for a high-octane character-driven epic with historical grit, martial arts action, and an unstoppable female heroine, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean is a page-turner, through and through.
Humberto
Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars A Bold Step Deeper into Brandy’s World
Jenni
Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story!
Brandy has it all! An abolitionist, a master of martial arts, and a warrior princess. And it part of history that most are not aware of. A feat story for all ages
JJohnson
Amazon
Well-Researched and Richly Told
The historical and cultural elements shine in this book. You can tell the author put in the work to bring this era and its conflicts to life. I learned a lot while enjoying a fantastic adventure.
Greg Devis
Goodreads
Martial Arts Meets Maritime Drama
The Shaolin subplot is captivating, and Brandy’s connection to Priest Zhang Yong adds unexpected depth. The inclusion of the Jaded Empress as a formidable foe makes this story both global and personal.
Adam Dev.
Goodreads
Emotionally Grounded and Fiercely Entertaining
Beyond the sword fights and political schemes, the book has heart. Brandy’s past, her bond with Zhang Yong, and her unwavering convictions give the story soul.
Mary Murphy
Goodreads
Epic in Scope, Intimate in Detail
Whether it’s a battle on the high seas or a quiet conversation on deck, every scene feels meticulously crafted. The writing is atmospheric, transporting you to the heart of the 19th-century Caribbean.
Anna Wolfe
Goodreads
Captain John Edwards and his wife Brandy Erasmus Edwards have been using their ship, the Morning Star, to carry runaway slaves to safety. When Christopher Joshua, chairman of the board of the Joshua Shipyards, dies, Lady Adriana, Christopher’s greedy trophy wife, clashes with Terrence Edwards, the company’s manager (and John Edwards’ father). Control of the shipyard should fall to Christopher’s younger brother Arthur, but Vice Admiral Arthur Joshua—John’s former captain—has no interest in business, nor is he in much better shape physically than his brother. Arthur’s only male heir is Reggie, the young son of his daughter Davonte, who is the product of Arthur’s relationship with a former slave. The crew of the Morning Star must safely return Reggie to London to fight for his inheritance—but all is not smooth sailing as Adriana conspires with Lord Frederick, a member of the Joshua board who doesn’t want a commoner in charge of the shipyards (“With this new male heir in the equation, we have a real problem to deal with”). Hendrickson has assembled all the essentials for a seafaring yarn—adventure, romance, pirates, and even ninjas—delivering an entertaining, spirited chase around the Caribbean. He begins with appealing characters, especially the couple at the heart of this narrative, and the wise teacher Zhang (Brandy’s martial arts instructor). Hendrickson has also created detestable villains, such as Lord Frederick and the Empress (Zhang’s vengeful niece), who let petty grievances guide their actions. Readers will be intrigued by the story’s reminders of how much longer it took to travel long distances—and how communications were so much slower—during the era depicted. The most enjoyable sections feature pairings of characters racing to the climactic battles. The novel’s epilogue suggests that this is the final volume in this series; if so, that’s a shame, as the author has perfected a winning formula with this extended Morning Star family.
This romping escapade succeeds on the backs of its well-developed characters.
Kirkus Reviews
A high-seas drama packed with pirate power struggles and bloody betrayals, Brandy, Dame of the Caribbean by Dan E. Hendrickson is the second swashbuckling chapter of his Pirate Princess Saga.
Brandy and Captain John Edwards have carved out their piece of the azure Caribbean in recent years, battling the slave trade aboard The Morning Star and raising their children in paradise, but their idyll can’t last forever. Zhang Yong, Brandy’s dear friend and ally, abruptly leaves his chosen family in Jamaica to track down his niece – a notorious pirate queen of the South China Sea named the Jaded Empress. Not only does she still possess the master swords she stole from Zhang three decades earlier, but her reign of chaos and blood in the East threatens to spill over to the rest of the world.
When this vicious marauder is tasked with a conspiratorial scheme to prevent the heir to the Joshua Shipyards empire from returning to England, she sails into direct conflict with Brandy and her extended family. Brandy may have mastered her fiery rages over the past ten years, but when this merciless legend from her husband’s past threatens the peace she has found, the Shaolin Kung fu-trained dame of this series is plunged into a deadly whirlpool of assassins and emotions. Drawing on the alliances she has forged and her years of training under Zhang, Brandy must confront the most relentless and passionate enemy she and John have ever faced.
Embodying the tenacity of Mulan and the derring-do of Captain Jack Sparrow, Brandy is a captivating protagonist, but the secondary cast is just as fully developed, from Captain Neseem and the wily Lady Adriana to the irascible Terrence Edwards and the sagely clever Zhang. Every scene drives the story forward, while the complex web of intrigue, motives, and loyalties makes it hard to predict the twists of the tale. The author’s attention to detail regarding maritime history, naval procedure, and the cutthroat nature of ship life makes the novel deliciously immersive, as do the cross-cultural themes of Eastern vs. Western philosophy, self-discipline, the toxicity of revenge, and familial honor.
While the prose is rigorously detailed and moves the plot along at a healthy clip, it does tend towards telling, rather than showing, with the narration inconveniently skipping over seemingly dramatic moments, such as when John pilots The Morning Star through a hurricane, which can make some of the writing feel incomplete, rushed, or choppy. The dialogue can also be unrealistic, and heavy-handed, like a Bond villain explaining his dastardly scheme more for the benefit of the audience than the actual characters in the scene. This isn’t always the case, however, as there are stretches of seamless prose and dialogue, but there are moments of flat or procedural language, which leads to a scene feeling less organic and immediate.
Despite these technical critiques, this second book of the series is an entertaining whirlwind of high-stakes emotion, wild fight sequences, heroic exploits, and unpredictable adventure with an unforgettable heroine at the helm.
Self Publishing Review
Purchase book Copies
About
Born in Sheridan Wyoming in 1962 near the rustic Big Horn mountain range, to Carl and Helen Hendrickson. Dan went to school in…
Subscribe to the Journey's Newsletter
Enter your information to receive email updates on the latest releases