Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter – David Owen

Not so long ago, the water of the bay had been poisoned, so that no animals could live there, and tourists had stopped visiting the town.

The Water Dragon had yielded every last drop of its power to dissolve the pollution.Many of the animals who had joined the rescue effort stayed behind and now called the bay home.Dolphins were frequently seen skipping through the waves, seals lounging on sun-baked rocks, schools of fish shimmering like treasure beneath the surface. Tourists had returned in force too.The summer was over but the high street on top of the sea wall behind them still bustled during the day, the multicoloured guesthouses further up the hill still fully booked.

After his heroic adventure in Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief, Alex Neptune is grappling with his powers. When Haven Bay is attacked by pirates, who are seeking a missing Water Dragon egg, Alex and his friends must locate it before they do. Standing in their way however are three monstrous challenges…

I thoroughly enjoyed Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief last year (you’ll find my review here!) and have eagerly awaited this sequel, Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter, to be released so thank you Usborne for the gorgeous book and goodies I was sent. This is a series which finds its sea legs in Pirate Hunter: you know the characters so in this story, the mythology of the water dragon is deepened and the adventure becomes more perilous. Equally though, this book could be read as a standalone adventure. I previously mentioned that book 1 was perfect for Malamander and The Peculiar Tale of the Tentacle Boy fans and I felt that even more so with Pirate Hunter – it has a gorgeous seaside setting like Eerie-on-Sea but with a more vital environmental message about how we are treating our oceans.

In my review of book 1, I compared the end to Free Willy; this time around, Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter heightens the tension with a thrilling Indiana Jones-style finale which will have you on the edge of your seat. It will hook readers with its puzzles to solve, many twists and lovable characters. Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter is a perilous journey on the high sea where ocean protection, friendship and bravery are interwoven so beautifully. I can’t wait for book 3 in August!

Suggested reading age: 8+

Alex Neptune: Pirate Hunter is written by David Owen and is published by Usborne. It’s available now, along with book 1 in the series (Alex Neptune: Dragon Thief). Look out for Alex Neptune: Monster Avenger in August 2023!