Yet again the Pirate Academy is battling against mysterious and evil forces and the students are preparing to face even more obstacles to their survival.
Neo, one of the three central characters in this action-packed adventure series, has left the academy to follow clues his renowned pirate mother left him on her trails, in order to understand his own destiny. With help from Captain December Wilde, aboard her ship Brave as the Waves, Neo follows the coordinates left for him to claim a sword bestowed to him by his mum. But now he needs to know what is the significance of the sword?
His fellow classmates and friends at the academy, Jacoby and Jasmine, are continuing to face the ongoing threats from LOT P - the League of True Pirates - a rebel group determined to undermine the good works of their Pirate federation. Family members, students and even a teacher have all defected to LOT P as its reach becomes even more expansive and divisive in the pirate world.
All three have so many questions about their families, their friends, their teachers and even more puzzling, what is happening at the Pirate Academy Okinawa?
Jasmine decides she needs to track down her father and find out the true reason why her mother has defected to LOT P - they are her family after all. But who can she trust and how can they stay safe? It is not long before the three pirate students find themselves separated and alone, needing to put their pirate skills to work to outwit and overcome enemies all around them.
All is set for yet another fast packed swashbuckling story with many twists and turns.
Integral to these books are the strong themes of families, friends and building relationships in the face of danger and uncertainty. Each character in this story finds themselves in situations that require them to use every bit of their training and to seek out who they can rely on. Threats seem to be coming from every direction - thick and fast.
As he has done in his previous books in the series, Justin continues to provide the reader with engaging storylines that are exciting and engaging. Following the different characters along their individual storyline is handled so well and adds to the suspense throughout the story. And yet the lessons learnt are so intertwined - trust your instincts and being brave does not mean you don’t feel fear.
Fans of this series will be excited to travel along with their favourite characters ready to discover answers to questions and also begin new journeys into unknown territory. For the new reader there is concise but informative summary at the start that immediately immerses them into the story so far.
We know there is more to come in this series (finishes with To be continued …) as we begin to piece together who and what has gone before, wonder how they will overcame the next challenges and look forward to a fabulous heroic ending.
Title: Sword Echoes: Pirate Academy 3
Author: Justin Somper
Publisher: Allen and Unwin, $16.99
Publication Date: 2 June 2026
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781761182242
For ages: 8 - 12 years
Type: Middle Grade Fiction
