The Voyages of Cinrak the Dapper

Fitzwater’s fanciful and optimistic debut collection follows the whimsical adventures of Cinrak, a lesbian capybara pirate. Cinrak first takes to the high seas in “Young Cinrak,” and the plucky capybara rises the ranks of the newly unionized crew between stories, leaving readers to fill in the blanks of how she went from cabin kit, this universe’s equivalent of cabin boy, to captain of the Impolite Fortune. Cinrak’s subsequent adventures see her finding romance and entering into a three-way relationship with a queen and an actor in “The Wild Ride of the Untamed Stars,” befriending the kraken in “Search for the Heart of the Ocean,” and witnessing oceanic wonders in “Cetaceous Secrets of the Jewelled Nadir” and “Flight of the Hydro Chorus.” Colorful nautical exclamations (“skittering baby seahorses!”) add to the fun, and Cinrak’s wisdom, kindness, and loyalty are on display throughout, making her an easy heroine to root for. This delightful diversion will reel in anyone in need of a quirky break from reality. (Apr.)