Title: BlackheartsSeries: Blackhearts #1
Author: Nicole Castroman
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Fiction, Action/Adventure
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Rating:
Series Rating:
Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.
Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.
Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?
From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.
❃ I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
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Review: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman is as incredible as its cover! It is definitely the kind of fantasy book that can be read in a single sitting.This is a captivating Blackbeard origin story with a perfect romance with a shy maid. While the ending is not one that readers will be satisfied with, this novel is a must-read for 2016.
❀ A Blackbeard Origin Story
Blackhearts is exactly as Nicole Castroman describes it: a Blackbeard origin story. When I first saw this book, I was expecting it to take place on a boat the whole time, since it mentions pirates and there is a boat on the cover, but I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that it was more like a regular historical fiction. This book is about young Blackbeard and how he became a pirate, which is a super unique concept. Also, Castroman’s writing is just so enchanting that the story just comes to life in your mind. The descriptions ares so detailed and vivid, making this one of my favourite reads this year.
❀ Anne is an Interesting Main Character
While all of the characters are well-developed and interesting in Blackhearts, I loved Anne, the main character, most of all as she is just so kind and likeable. What is really interesting about Anne is that she is part West Indian and is a maid, but realizes that she isn’t technically supposed to be a maid. I was honestly shocked at the fact that she didn’t want to tell anyone that she wasn’t supposed to be working for them. This just shows how sweet and complex Anne is as a character.
❀ Cliff-hanger Ending
Without spoiling the plot, I will say that the ending of this book does leave the reader hanging. Without a second book to look forward to, there is so much more that I would love to know. I suppose that it can be said that it is up to the reader to come up with a theory as to what happens next. If a second book does become available though, I will definitely be grabbing it up to devour because I just want more of this story and more Nicole Castroman! She is definitely a debut adventure author to watch.
❀ Must-Read
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman is an original Blackbeard origin story with a sweet main character who is a maid. Also, the ending may leave readers scratching their heads and begging for more. Fans of books such as The Selection and The Winner’s Curse will love Blackhearts, as there are a few similarities between these stories. If you read one book this year, Blackhearts should absolutely be it!
Book Quotes: Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
“Anne also prayed that her path would not cross again with that of the sailor’s, for if it did, she knew with certainty that she would not leave the encounter unscathed.”
About Nicole Castroman
Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend...she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.
At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.
She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.
This book seems great and your review is awesome.
I really want to read “Blackhearts”! It sounds so good, and now that you compared it to “The Selection” and “The Winner’s Curse” series in your review, I know that I HAVE to read it! 🙂 Great review!
I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did! <3
I hope so, too!
I’ve seen this book on a few blogs and your review sounds promising
This books sounds very interesting! Great Review! 😀
I hope I’ll enjoy reading this book as much as you did! <3
This book really sounds incredible! The ending does have me a little worried as I like my story to be finished but it sounds too great to pass up!
I love a good pirate story. I am a little concerned about the main character though. I hope that she isn’t just sweet but also strong and smart!
I am looking forward to this one! And if the book really is as good as the cover, then it must be dang good!
You are going to LOVE it! Trust me!! 🙂
Sounds like it lives up to it’s awesome blurb! I’ve seen mostly positive feedback from this book and I’m excited t have a read!
Ahh so glad you love Blackhearts! I’ve read this book and I’m in love with it too, especially the writing-style (and Teach and Anne, of course). I think Nicole’s writing-style is really unique and fit with the setting. Anyway, lovely review!
Ooh this sounds fabulous!! right up my alley! I can’t wait to check it out!!
I can’t wait to read this one! I actually have this one, but I just haven’t read it myself though… yet! The cover is gorgeous and I really like the idea of a great origin story with such developed characters!
Great review! Now, I can’t wait to read this one, especially that it has similarities to The Winner’s Curse and The Selection!!
I’m really excited about this book, the cover is emblematic as Nicole said about it! Great review, I thought you will spoil the plot, like what, no! Lol but it’s really promising story.
Historical fiction. Pirates. Blackbeard. Sounds like the book for me. Can’t wait to check it out. Great review. Thanks for the heads up. ^-^
Sounds great!