No pirates in the book, but there is a complicated love story!
The Book: 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. (from Goodreads)
My Feels: Do you like historical YA? Do you like diverse books? Do you love stories with heart and vibrant characters? This is for you.
And oh the ending! I'm still a little hurt about it!
The two main leads in this book were well done, the plot well thought out, and very current to the time in which it took place. Society plays a key part in this book but speaks volumes to our present day. Cue discussion about class, sexism, and etc.
I will admit that the majority of this story focused on romance. Good for me because I like that kind of thing, but those seeking historical fantasy may not want to ride the third wheel. The romance, I felt was genuine and believable so I didn't mind. I liked how both characters who were unhappy in their current circumstances came together and provided a deep companionship.
All in all, a pretty enjoyable read for a stormy Sunday :)
