This is Heidi Heilig's debut. Its strengths far outweigh its weaknesses. 
 Strengths include a winning premise, descriptive writing, and a boatload of fantastic ingredients like a diverse cast of interesting characters, a tall ship, pirate antics, time travel, magic, mythology, romantic comedy and a heist. Like others report, Kashmir often stole the show. However, Nix, was no slouch. I understand the complaints, but female main characters can't all start as material for the late, great Carrie Fisher. In the meantime, Nix's a hard worker, damn it, and a reader! She's quiet and thoughtful, a planner and observer. Once she steps out of her father's shadow, I think we'll see more of her own attitudes and opinions. We'll learn more about her passions. 
 As far as weaknesses goes, I experienced the confusion others describe about some events, but I did not think the plot as a whole boomeranged all over the place without purpose. I was surprised when they ended up in China once the climatic end sequence was underway, but I did not mind, especially after what happened when they returned to Hawaii. That really made me smile. 
 The slow beginning and occasionally odd pacing did not lose me because the characters and their world were worth a long look. Heilig's themes about love and letting go and parental responsibility and social justice are not expressed and integrated with a master craftperson's flair, but they're there and they're important enough to give me the warm fuzzies. 
 // I've never inserted a gif into a review. I was almost inspired to insert one of warm fuzzies here. Maybe later. // 
 Definitely, Heidi Heilig is an author to keep an eye on.