Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman

Blackhearts

by Nicole Castroman

In this stunningly creative debut “filled with well-drawn characters…and smoldering passion,” (Booklist) Nicole Castroman reimagines the origins of history’s most infamous pirate—Blackbeard.

When Edward “Teach” Drummond, son of one of Bristol’s richest merchants, returns home from a year at sea, he finds his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, all Teach wants is to return to the vast ocean he calls home. There’s just one problem: he must convince his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following the death of her parents, Anne Barrett is left penniless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne takes a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks and Anne longs to escape the confines of her now mundane life. How will she ever achieve her dream of sailing to Curaçao—her mother’s birthplace—when she’s trapped in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn together by a shared desire for freedom, but kept apart by Teach’s father, their love is as passionate as it is forbidden. Faced with an impossible choice, Teach and Anne must decide whether to chase their dreams and leave England forever—or follow their hearts and stay together.

Reviewed by readingwithwrin on

3 of 5 stars

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"I've seen some rather questionable characters who claim to be educated and well-bred act far more maliciously than any pirate. Nobles claim that the poor and uneducated cannot govern themselves, yet I've witnessed destitute men do just that, obeying their own laws like a priest obeys the word of God"

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This is told in two perspectives first we have Anne Barret who is a house maid who used to live a somewhat luxurious life.
Then we also have Edwards 'Teach' Drummond who is Master Drummonds son who has just gotten back from a year at sea.

Anne and Teach seem like an unlikely pair, but as they both spend more time together and get to know one another they start to grow in like with each other. There is one big problem though. Teach is to be married and he can't seem to get out of it no matter how hard he tries. That is until Anne overhears something that will change Teachs life for the better. But what she overhears also has bad consequences that lead to one of Anne's own secrets being told. One that not only changes her life, but Teachs as well and makes them become separated.
"I believe if you truly love someone, then the most important thing should be their happiness, not yours."
"And I believe if you truly love someone, you let that person know you will always be there for them, no matter the circumstances."
Overall I did enjoy this story. It does focus more on the love in this book instead of on a certain pirate. But I have a feeling the next book will be more about the pirates and things like that. Where as this one was more so what could have caused him to become a pirate and to what extent people will go to for the ones they love. Surprisingly enough as well I actually liked Teach and Anne together. Sure the way they got together wasn't the best considering certain things, but you could also tell that they should be together. They make a good couple and actually care about each other which isn't something that was easy to find back then. Castroman did a wonderful job of making me become invested in the story and I can't wait to read the next book to see what happens to Anne and Teach next.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 30 November, 2016: Finished reading
  • 30 November, 2016: Reviewed