The Vengeance by Emma Newman

A huge thank you to Solaris Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

This story follows Morgane a badass Pirate whose life thus far has been as the daughter of a brutal and fierce Captain, until one day her mother is killed and with her last words changes everything she has ever known by telling her she is NOT her mother.

We follow Morgane through her journey from being a pirate living out at sea to travelling to land and having to adjust to a completely different way of life.

Morgane is searching for her mother but ends up learning so much more about herself. This story is about losing and finding family. It is about not appreciating what you have until it’s gone. It is about trust and how sometimes we trust the wrong people. It is about learning from our mistakes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book although I do remember hitting 60% and wondering when the vampires were coming into it. I had to check the title to be sure I definitely read the word vampire. I really wish we had more of the vampire storyline.

While I did like most of the book I felt that everything happened in the last 10-15% of the book and it all happened very fast. I would have liked if some parts lasted a little longer.

Overall I really enjoyed it and am interested to see where it goes next!

The Vengeance had an awesome premise but overall the book didn't really come together for me. To start with the positives, the early part of the book with all the pirate ship stuff was great and clearly well researched. Had this just been a swashbuckling pirate tale, I think it could have worked well. Where it fell apart was in the latter chapters once Morgane left the ship to seek her mother in France. The introduction of the vampires came far too late to have an impact -- it just felt tacked on -- and I struggled to accept Morgane's fighting ability when she came up against vampires for the first time. The other aspects where this book didn't work for me were the dialogue, which felt really forced, the pacing, which was slow at the start but then rushed at the end, and the romance, which felt too sudden to be believable. It looks like this book is intended to begin a series; however everything felt wrapped up (however swiftly) by the end of the this volume, so there was nothing that made me interested to read on. In conclusion, I am giving this book 3 stars. It's worth a look for the fun pirate stuff at the start, but I feel the inclusion of the vampire element was misguided (and you'll feel let down if you read this expecting a vampire story) and the book could have done with more editing on pacing and dialogue.

5/5 Stars

Usually a chapter or two into a book I have a good feeling on whether I am going to like a book and continue reading or close it up and DNF. The Vengeance is one that hooked me in. I might not be using the correct terminology but to me this was an Epic. I found the writing to be very descriptive. For me as a reader, this really helps me get into the story. No spoiler or context to this quote: "She looked... flawless, as if Anna-Marie had been a clearing of the throat and her mother was a perfectly sung note." This highlights the difference between the two characters being described.

The Vengeance follows a pirate named Morgane who, under unfortunate circumstances, has to go on a journey to find her mother. While out to sea, she receives notification that her mother is in trouble and must come quickly to aide. She ventures on a boat whom she has no affiliation with the crew to make it back to France to start the search for her mother. Once upon land, she runs into trouble and finds herself face-to-face with the man claiming to be her father. She sets out to find her mother with a Governess named Lisette under constant warnings of strange and spooky happenings in the woods. On the journey to find her mother, she finds love along the way.

This book is not listed as romance but there is a small amount of romance in this book. Anything that happens between Morgane and her love are closed-door situations. The book is listed as LGBTQIA+ and I wasn't seeing any of that category until about halfway through the book. If you're looking for a romance, the is not the book for you. If you're looking for pirates, adventure, and paranormal happenings, this is definitely a book for you. I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure and it was a nail biter at the end. Does this book have a happy ending? That's for me to know and you as a reader to find out 😉.

Just a suggestion for the author if she see's this. Your descriptions of pirate life are plentiful. I don't know if this is something that you could add, but maybe add a small index of terms and their meanings. It might be helpful to readers who aren't familiar with the terminology and they can look to see what the word means as they're reading along.

This book was amazing I couldn’t put it down was completely drawn in from the first page and hooked. I loved the characters the writing and the plot so sad it ended

The sea is the only life you have ever known so when it is taken away from you, you realise that you are no one. Morgane has had a good life aboard the Vegeance it hasn’t been easy but it was her family. Now is she off to France to see her parents but she has no idea what she is going to find. Not everyone wants Morgane to make it to get mother and in time she will learn the truth and she will be horrified.
A good read of second chances. And finding love in the strangest way.
Great characters the story is full of adventure and secrets. Morgane is a well man that has grown up on a ship her whole life and she is thrown adrift when she leaves the truth about her life. But even when things look like there is no escape she finds the will to fight.
Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

First I want to thank Solaris for the ARC. This was my first venture in to a fantasy book about pirates and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story captured my attention the entire time and had a twist I was not expecting. The main character Morgana was perfectly flawed and had the perfect curse phrase I will probably be using in real life. Hope to see this as a series. Highly recommend.

A great pirate story! Faced with challenges in the form of both people and be outside works, this was a great and entertaining journey.

Firstly, I should mention that I’ve read Saltblood this year and as a near-perfect 5 star, gender-bending, romantic, beautiful, intelligent pirate adventure, it will affect my judgement of similar books, even if it shouldn’t.

So that’s the first point. Because The Vengeance really is mainly a pirate adventure, and that is definitely its strength, and the part I enjoyed the most. It’s clearly very well researched, with great characters and a good story line, which makes it a joy to read. Post-arrival in France though… meh. Everything unfolds very quickly (the MC meeting the love of her life; the death of her father, etc) even before we get to what’s been advertised as the main part of the story (finding her mother, realising she is a vampire, etc). Spending a relatively short period of time with these new, very significant characters in the MC’s life does make it a bit more difficult to buy into their relationships, as well as feeling like a lost opportunity to indulge a little in the interpersonal here.

As others have already pointed out, the vampire aspect isn’t even introduced until the last 10% of the book, and rather a lot is asked of the reader in terms of suspending their disbelief that a young (however piratey and capable) woman is able to destroy two of the most powerful vampires in the land within mere moments of meeting them. It’s hard to believe, and a lot less enjoyable for it. I would have liked some twists and turns at the end! Maybe these will appear in the sequel, but to be honest, the story is pretty much wrapped up in the end and personally, I think I’ll leave it there.

So I was definitely expecting more vampires but the book its self was still really good I loved everything about the pirates!! If you like pirates and adventure you’ll like this book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I wish the synopsis hadn’t teased the vampires. I spent so long waiting for them just to be disappointed. If I hadn’t gone in expecting that it would have been an enjoyable and interesting world of pirates and mystery with a wild twist. Instead I feel a bit let down.

I feel as though the author had a great idea but a bit lacking in the delivery. If I read a synopsis and vampires are perceived to be involved, I want that part of the story way sooner than it happened here. I wish the first half of the story was shorter, and then the rest wouldn’t have felt as rushed.

This was SO GOOD. I love books that sweep you away immediately from the first page and it had such a fresh voice and world to explore.

My Fair Lady meets swashbuckling high adventure.

If I were to give one piece of advice to any potential reader of this book, I would say not to read the synopsis. The synopsis gives away a spoiler that doesn't happen until the last 90% of the book and I was wondering the entire time when the other shoe was going to drop. It would be a lot more fun to go into the story as blind as the main character.

The beginning was a little bit slow, but the main character Morgane is an entertaining character to follow along with. I had no doubt in my mind whatsoever that she was raised as a pirate and a pirate at heart. Her dialogue was really natural and did a good job of conveying her background.

There were scenes that could have lasted longer, such as the inciting incident, midpoint, and climax, and some scenes that could have been downsized, but the transitions were very seamless and the plot didn't have a lot of fluff to it, which I appreciated.

All in all, this was a really fun and entertaining read and I recommend it!

I appreciate the fact I was accepted for this book. And I’m so sad I’m writing this but it wasn’t for me. I guess we don’t connect to every book we read.

At 53% I wondered where the vampires were.
And since it was a slow start I did start to lose interest.
But I did enjoy the fact 2 of my favourite things were in this book pirates and vampires what more could you want. I do wish this more positive though.

Book Review: The Vengeance by Emma Newman

I want to start by thanking NetGalley for the ARC of The Vengeance, and I have to say, this book swept me away into a thrilling adventure I didn't want to end. Set in a reimagined world inspired by Alexandre Dumas, it perfectly blends swashbuckling piracy with the supernatural elements of vampires.

Morgane, the protagonist, is a fierce and compelling character. Growing up on the high seas as the daughter of a legendary pirate captain, her life takes a dramatic turn when she learns the truth about her lineage. The revelation that the woman she believed was her mother isn’t actually related to her adds a rich layer of complexity to her character. I found myself rooting for Morgane as she grapples with her identity while navigating treacherous waters, both literally and metaphorically.

The world-building is fantastic—Newman has crafted a vibrant setting filled with intrigue, decadence, and danger. The darker elements, particularly the vampire lore, are woven seamlessly into the plot, enhancing the stakes and adding an air of suspense. I was completely absorbed by Morgane’s quest to uncover her past, and the secrets of the Four Chains Trading Company kept me guessing.

One of my favorite aspects of the story is the moral ambiguity of the characters. Morgane’s decisions often challenge conventional notions of right and wrong, and this complexity made her journey all the more engaging. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic captain of the enemy ship, add depth and tension to the narrative, enriching Morgane’s adventure.

The pacing of the novel felt just right; I was kept on my toes without feeling overwhelmed. Each twist and turn in the plot kept me turning the pages, eager to see what would happen next. Newman’s prose is beautifully evocative, bringing both the lush landscapes and gritty realities of this world to life.

Overall, The Vengeance is an exhilarating read that expertly combines adventure, mystery, and a touch of the macabre. If you enjoy stories filled with pirates, vampires, and complex characters, I highly recommend diving into Morgane’s journey. I can’t wait to see where Newman takes us next in this

I loved the story but felt like I needed more from the overall concept of the novel. It seemed a little too rushed overall but the characters were very good to follow along. 3 stars.

My full review is on Instagram and Goodreads (links below) so I’m just putting my only complaint here.

It took FOREVER for Morgane to get to France, and maybe it’s that I have no patience, but I was way more interested in her mother’s backstory than in the pirate stuff, so the first section just felt like it dragged on for me. That being said, it was still entertaining and well written, I just wish it was a bit shorter.

I received this book as an ARC from Solaris Books and NetGalley. Morgane is the daughter of a pirate captain, living on a ship and sharing in the spoils of piracy. She is a very fun character to read, and I appreciated the female main characters. Morgane journeys to France to solve a mystery and to get revenge. She encounters kidnappers, survives by luck and her wits, and finds a new companion in Lisette. Together they set out on Morgane’s mission and discover horrors they never expected. I very much enjoyed this and will read more by this author.

The Vengeance took me on a wild pirate adventure that I didn’t want to end. Morgane, the main character, was the highlight for me. She’s bold, witty, and deeply loyal, and I loved following her journey as she navigates life on the high seas while uncovering secrets about her past. The world-building felt so real, and the pirate aspects were incredibly well-researched, giving the story an authentic edge that I really appreciated.

That being said, I was definitely expecting more of the vampire element. It took almost the entire book for them to even be introduced, and by the time they showed up, I felt like I was already invested in the pirate storyline. The vampire plotline felt a bit rushed and didn’t seem to fit seamlessly into the world that had been so carefully crafted. I wanted to know more about the connection between the vampires and nobility, but I guess that’ll be explored in future books.

The pacing was a bit slow in places, especially when the story shifted to France, but the moments at sea and the action-packed pirate scenes kept me hooked. Morgane’s strong sense of independence and the family she finds along the way are what really made the book for me. Despite the few slow parts, I’m excited to see where the series goes, especially with the vampire twist hanging in the air.

Overall, The Vengeance gave me the pirate adventure I was craving, and I can’t wait to see how Morgane’s story unfolds in the next book.

Really fun sea-faring adventure with a great main character and plenty of action. Not sure tge vampire angle wasn'tva bit misleading but it did make an interesting addition. Great worldbuilding too.