(Review) Blacksouls

Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman

Publication Date: April 11, 2017

Pages: 400 (hardcover)

Genre: Young Adult Fiction

My Goodreads Rating: 4 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Nicole Castroman brings the dangerous pirate ports of the Caribbean to life in this vibrant sequel to Blackhearts—the reimagined origin story of history’s most infamous pirate, Blackbeard.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is setting sail to the Caribbean as first mate on the most celebrated merchant ship in the British fleet—until he rebels against his captain. Mutiny is a capital offense and Teach knows it could cost him his life, but he believes it worth the risk in order to save his crew from the attacking Spanish ships.

Sailing on the same blue waters, Anne barely avoids the Spanish attack, making it safely to Nassau. But lawless criminals, corrupt politics, and dangerous intentions fill the crowded streets of this Caribbean port. Soon, Anne discovers that the man entrusted to keep the peace is quite possibly the most treacherous of them all—and he just happens to hold Teach’s fate in his terrifying hands.

Life and death hang in the balance when Teach and Anne are given a dangerous mission. It’s a mission that will test their love, loyalty and devotion, forcing them down a path neither one could have ever imagined.

My Review:
Before we get started, let's get in the right pirate mindset.

Okay. Now I'm ready. 

So, Teach and Anne are back again and everything is very, very bad for them. Teach is stuck under a terrible captain and Anne is struggling on a ship that was the only thing she could afford passage on. 

When Anne sees a ship being attacked just days before they are set to land in Nassau she knows something is wrong. Once on land she isn't immediately reunited with Teach, but when they are finally back together cue the swoons! 

I love love them together so much. Teach is so protective and Anne wants nothing to do with it, but she humors him most of the time. Of course, the Anne that Teach now knows is different than the girl he knew back in England. She's tougher and braver, and ready to fight for what's hers. 

The obstacles that the two of them fight are devastating and beloved characters fall. This book was definitely more emotional that the first for me, and also much more fast-paced. So many things happen in the span of four hundred pages! I loved the pacing of it all and the alternating points of view. Being able to know what was going on with both of the main characters and having them be so close but so far is pretty stressful for a reader, but it works here. 

Anne and Teach are faced with so much pain and suffering but their love only continues to grow and that is the kind of love story I, well, love. They are two strong-willed characters who are completely unselfish and want to take care of each other and those around them. This story is full of events that should have broken them, but they stayed strong. 

The drama is thick in this book and it will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat and have you guessing. I can't wait for the third installment and to see what's in store for these two.