Anyway, let us discuss the things I liked about this book first!
- The characters, both old and new. The characters were absolutely the strongest part of the first book, and this one is no different. Anne has already gone through so much in her life, and this just... wow, Anne has to deal with a lot. She goes through a pretty solid character growth, and I love how she adapts to challenges. The new characters, especially that we meet with Anne, are fabulous additions to the story. They make the stakes higher, because Anne has found people who she can consider real friends in Teach's absence. I liked Teach's story arc too, I just have always loved Anne a little bit more :)
- Changing it up from England to Nassau and the actual ocean sailing was really refreshing. Now, I adored the setting of the first book, but let's be real, we needed some pirate-y vibes, and this delivers. And the author does an amazing job of really making the reader feel the difference, not just in location, but overall atmosphere. It was quite well done, and I loved it.
- This book was grittier, but in a very realistic way. It dealt a lot with slavery, which was really hard to read about, but historically accurate, unfortunately. And Anne really got a look into this world, and the reader was able to see the horror from her point of view. There were also a lot of moral gray areas that the characters had to navigate in their new surroundings, and watching them grapple with these decisions was really gripping.
- I still ship (ha, ship in a book about ships, it never gets old) Anne and Teach so much! While we don't see as much of them together, I still adore them, and how much they care for each other.
So, what didn't work for me? Honestly, I am having a hard time pinpointing that! I think there were parts that were a little too much pirate-like action for me, and I was so much more invested in the characters' stories, that I kind of felt a little bored during some of the longer action sequences. Also, there is no announced third book yet, and there needs to be. Like, no question, I need a third book.
Bottom Line: If you enjoyed Blackhearts, you're going to need this sequel in your life. And if you wanted more pirate shenanigans, you'll love this one even more!