Piracy can only survive for so long. Through turbulent times and mismanaged leadership, Sebastian Teach (Blackbeard's Great Grandson) takes the helm to steer the I.I.C (The Independent Islands of the Caribbean) away from danger. However, rumblings inside the Captain's cabinet threaten to sabotage his success. With his love of piracy compromised, what will he resort to to keep piracy the dominant threat of the seas?

Charting the tumultuous waters of piracy laced with historical fiction, George A. Thorn tells the tale of Sebastian Teach (Blackbeard's Great Grandson) as he takes the helm of the I.I.C. (Independent Islands of the Caribbean) in a story rife with pirates, deceitful leaders and a fight for a domain of the high seas. Black Hearts Be Damned was a fast-paced, high-seas adventure that has you holding the deck as it ploughs through the waves of history and legacies rising from the depth, refusing to be forgotten. If you're in need of some high-seas comradery, Black Hearts Be Damned is the tale for you.

Thank you, NetGalley and Grosvenor House Publishing Limited for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In Black Hearts Be Damned, the author navigates the tumultuous waters of historical fiction with finesse, bringing to life the gripping tale of Sebastian Teach, Blackbeard's Great Grandson. Set against the backdrop of the Independent Islands of the Caribbean, the story unfolds in a vivid tapestry of piracy, mismanaged leadership, and the struggle for dominance on the high seas. Black Hearts Be Damned is a thrilling journey through a bygone era, and I found myself captivated by the high-stakes drama and the relentless pursuit of a legacy that refuses to be forgotten.

Avast, me hearties! Dive headfirst into the wild world of Black Hearts Be Damned – a swashbuckling adventure that'll shiver your timbers and leave you yelling 'Yo-ho-ho!' from the rooftops. Picture this: Sebastian Teach, Blackbeard's Great Grandson, is steering the ship through choppy waters in the Independent Islands of the Caribbean. But hold onto your tricorn hats, because there's trouble brewing in the Captain's cabinet! It's a pirate party turned upside down, with betrayal, mismanaged leadership, and a whole lot of scheming that'll make your head spin faster than a compass in a tornado. As Sebastian fights to keep piracy ruling the waves, the plot twists hit you like a cannonball out of the blue. The characters are as bold as a Jolly Roger, and the historical vibes are so on point, you'll swear you can hear the creaking of old pirate ships. If you're up for a salty adventure filled with danger, deceit, and the quest for pirate glory, Black Hearts Be Damned is the buried treasure you've been searching for! So, strap on your eyepatch, grab your cutlass, and set sail for a historical fiction escapade that's more thrilling than a barrel of rum!

Historical fiction is my jam. Historical non-fiction is my jam. Pirates are certainly my jam, whether non-fiction or rampaging across the Caribbean (see what I did there?)

I digress. Black Hearts Be Damned is a glorious caper and certainly one to be devoured. There is an entertaining wit throughout and the dynamic between Sebastian (the new Captain) and Edward (his Usurped father) is really quite intriguing.

The writing style is engaging and short chapters are always a plus for me, even in longer books. The chapters worked well with the scene changes and that is certainly a bonus plus plus

The book is a fun read, I would absolutely recommend it to anyone to enjoy

Thank you to NetGalley for this glorious eArc. The review is left with a big smile and of my own volition

When Sebastian Teach, a young inexperienced but full of ambition and confidence man takes up the title of “captain” among the pirates of his little island, he must up his game and also look after the people of the island. With silent and slow wars taking place on his own table, he must resort to some play to keep the pirates at the heart of the sea.


I never thought I would actually complete the book in one night, also I had to write the review being a little sleep deprived because I cannot wait.


I started this book with a lot of hope and expectations since I had only heard of pirates and had not one experience of a “pirates of Caribbean” movies, the only things I knew (before the book obvious) was pirates were unhygienic, which they are, and they had long hair with braided small sections of hair and small metal ornaments on it. Anyway I am not here to describe the stereotypical things I knew about them but I would like to tell, I went into the book with little to no information of Pirates and their ways of life.


But I was surprised to say the least, no chapter in the book bored me (since they were already quite small), they were well structured and the book felt complete after reading.
The language was understandable and descriptive. Recently, I have read some book in different genre and I realised authors tend to write some ridiculous description of very normal things just for the book to have a “literary” kind of language. I found this book to be good because it does not attempt to be too complicated, it's just a story of a young man trying to get some things done for his people.


I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend for a light hearted read.


Also I am definitely getting the physical copy of the book the day it releases.


Thank you NetGalley, the publishers BookBuzz and the author George A. Thorn to provide this wonderful ARC for me to Review.


Truthfully, Aarohi S