This is a queer historical fiction based on true events by author Briony Cameron. This book was moving and powerful and I devoured it in one sitting.

The Ballad of Jacquotte was a retelling of a purported queer female pirate of legend in the Caribbean Sea around 17th century. She was a war hero and her exploits worth a good storytelling. This book will introduce readers to interesting life of this amazing legend.

The writing style is good, we can follow Jacquotte's story from beginning easily and gradually absorbing into all struggles, twist and turn of her life. I appreciate the romance but need stronger chemistry. At least alot action plot and historical details make this story entertaining enough for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Piatkus from Little Brown Book Group UK for providing copy of this ebook. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Expecting release date : 6 June 2024

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye takes until the third part to get into some full-on swashbuckling, but I greatly enjoyed it right the way through - even if sometimes the antagonists veered towards the pantomime villain. There were parts where something Jacquotte said, or did, would make me want to cheer. Though this is not a light-hearted tale by any means, there are some really uplifting points within it. There's a huge cast of characters within the book, and I feel that some of the key-players could have been developed more fully - this is very much a plot-lead novel. That said, I found myself invested in the characters regardless. For a debut, this is exceptionally well-crafted, and I can't wait to see what Briony Cameron writes next.

I love this so much, I haven’t read such a fantastic, swashbuckling read in many years, I love a good story about pirates and this was so well done, engaging and captivating, you really won’t want to put this down. Thoroughly recommended for the adventure seekers in your life

It was only at the end of the book that I discovered that Jacquotte was a real person, but knowing that made me love this interpretation of her story more. Cameron has written an exciting and riveting tale of piracy and self-identity and acceptance, and I truly enjoyed the book. A must read for fans of historical fiction!

This was a great read. Jacquotte was an intriguing and riveting character and I loved the side characters and the bonds between all of them. I love pirate stories in general but they can be hit or miss and this was definitely a hit.

I found the writing to be strong and compelling and the world building was well done. It was also well paced.

Overall I really enjoyed this and would read more from this author in the future.

The Ballard of Jacquotte Delahaye

A brilliant , epic story of a female pirate ( who knew ! ) great characters and story which kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't stop thinking about it . Would make a great film or t.v. Series

Well plotted, gripping and highly entertaining.
I loved the FMC and the plot kept me hooked
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an action-packed seventeenth-century tale of a biracial girl from Hispaniola, whose French emissary father has allowed her to work as a shipwright. When her father gets in hot water and there is serious political unrest, Jacquotte flees with her workmates, her brother and the governor’s wife - unfortunately straight into the service of a feared pirate band.

What follows is a sometimes brutal and violent tale of Jacquotte and her friends’ fight for survival, as well as a sometimes tale of queer love between Jacquotte and Teresa, the governor’s wife.

This was a fantastically researched imagining of a story from legend which felt very immersive and evocative, I felt I could imagine the sights, sounds and smells on the ships and the island towns.

I felt the romantic storyline was a little rushed, which was a shame as I felt it could have been explored in more detail. In general I felt that character development took a back seat for action, which to be fair the story was packed with!

Cameron rightly refuses to shy away from the brutal realities of enslaved peoples, the racism facing indigenous peoples and those who are mixed race - as well as the oppression women faced from sexism and the patriarchy.

Overall I enjoyed this story - but please be aware of strong content warnings for violence and detailed depictions of serious injury.

I will post on my instagram @charlottereadshistory on Wednesday 19 June.

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an unusual novel because it’s based on the ‘true story’ of someone who may or may not have actually existed! One of a very small number of 17th century female pirates, Jacquotte Delahaye is not mentioned in any contemporary sources and appears in writing, possibly for the first time, in the 1940s in stories by Léon Treich, a French fiction writer. However, she has become part of pirate folklore and although her existence hasn’t been proved, it hasn’t been disproved either. In this new novel, Briony Cameron has taken the few ‘facts’ about Jacquotte that have found their way into the legends – such as her place of birth and the colour of her hair (red, leading to the nickname Back from the Dead Red) – and imagined a story around them.

At the beginning of the book, twenty-year-old Jacquotte is living in the town of Yáquimo, Santo Domingo, in 1655. As the daughter of a Frenchman exiled to the Caribbean for treason, all Jacquotte knows about her mother is that she was a free black woman who died after giving birth to her younger brother. When her father is implicated in another treasonous plot, Jacquotte’s world falls apart and she is forced to flee the island. Her life of piracy begins when she is captured by the brutal Captain Blackhand and finds herself an indentured servant aboard his ship, but eventually Jacquotte will become a pirate captain in her own right, with her own ship and crew to command.

There’s also a romantic element to the novel, with Jacquotte falling in love with Teresa, wife of the Governor of Yáquimo, but this was one of my least favourite aspects of the book. They seemed to rush into things very quickly, with no time for the reader to see their feelings for each other developing and I felt that the relationship lacked emotional depth. In fact, apart from Jacquotte herself, I thought all of the characters in the book lacked depth – the good characters were very good and the bad ones were very bad, with little in between. I would describe this as much more of a plot-driven book. Although it takes a while to get started, once Jacquotte is at sea there’s lots of action, with sea battles, fight scenes and all the swashbuckling adventure you would expect from a pirate novel.

Sadly, despite the fascinating protagonist, I wasn’t very impressed with this book. I did enjoy the first section, which describes Jacquotte’s life in Yáquimo and the events that lead to her becoming a pirate, but as I read on I felt I was reading the author’s fantasy of how she would have liked 17th century society to have been, rather than how it actually was. I don’t think many people in the 1650s had such progressive ideas on race, gender and sexuality, however nice it is to imagine that they did! If you’re not too bothered about historical accuracy and just want to read an entertaining story, then you’ll probably enjoy The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye, but it wasn’t really for me. On a more positive note, I liked the descriptions of the various ports Jacquotte and her crew visit as they sail around Hispaniola, Jamaica and Tortuga, which is the closest I’ll get to visiting the Caribbean this summer!

Firstly thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

This swashbuckling adventure was really and enjoyable read . The characters were well rounded and the main female character showed strength and resilience against all adversity to get exactly what she wanted .

The sea battle descriptions made you feel like you were taking part and I found the writing really easy to understand and you always wanted to read on to find out what happened. Would highly recommend anyone who enjoys pirate adventures and/or historical fiction to give this one a read .

Title:The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron
Release Date: June, 6rh, 2024

3.5 Stars

"The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye" is an epic tale based on true events, showcasing a woman of color's rise to power as one of the Caribbean's few female pirate captains.

Set in the tumultuous town of Yáquimo, Santo Domingo, Jacquotte Delahaye, an aspiring shipwright, finds herself fleeing her home alongside a diverse crew, including the enigmatic Teresa. As they become indentured servants to the ruthless pirate captain Blackhand, Jacquotte grapples with forbidden feelings for Teresa amidst the dangers of piracy and treachery.

With themes of friendship, love, and the quest for freedom, this thrilling adventure unfolds in three parts, weaving together siege, battle, and tender moments of exploration.

So, "The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye" kicks off with a bang, introducing us to Jacquotte, a fierce woman of color navigating the dangerous waters of piracy while also grappling with her own identity and forbidden love.

The idea of black, queer, feminist pirates had me hooked from the start, but I have to admit, some parts felt a bit repetitive, and the dialogue seemed a bit too youthful for my taste. Although the action scenes were well done, I found myself wanting more depth from the characters, especially in terms of their emotions and development.

The romance subplot didn't quite hit the mark for me either – it felt a bit rushed and lacking in nuance. And let's talk about pacing – it took quite a while to really dive into the heart of the pirate adventure, which left me feeling a bit impatient.

Overall, while the premise was promising, the execution fell short for me, and I was left wanting more from this epic tale.


Thank you to The Publisher Little, Brown Book Group UK | Piatkus ,The Author Briony Cameron & NetGalley for an advanced reader copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest review.