Overall: 3/5

I initially expected the book to be centered around pirates and adventure but found it focused more on 17th century England and arranged marriages. Overall, it was cute and had a lot of potential but fell short. I didn’t have a real connection with it; I didn’t regret reading it but at the same time wasn’t dying to read the next one or obsessing over the characters.

Strengths: The Relationship

Weaknesses: Plot, Character development

Favorite Quote:

“You shouldn’t say such things,” She said, placing the book on the bedside table.

“Why not?” Teach asked.

“Because I am not a princess.” She picked up the supper tray, preparing to leave.

He grinned, unabashed, clutching his hand to his chest.

“Oh, forgive me. You’re quite right. You’re not a princess.”

Anne shook her head at him, trying to suppress a smile.

“You’re a queen…”

The Relationship:

Let’s be real – it was hella cute

I wish their relationship was a bigger part of the plot line since it was a central part of the book – meaning I felt their relationship was stuck in the honey moon phase and there wasn’t a lot of relationship development itself (it went from friends to “we’re together” and then stopped). Although they had the same enemies/obstacles, it never felt like Teach and Anne were working together to overcome said obstacles, but fighting the same enemy separately. I wish Teach and Anne could’ve fought for their own independence together and grown into their own persons together rather than focusing on the fact they found each other and therefore no longer needed to grow independently.The relationship grew from a friendship into a romantic relationship which I think is super important, (rather than there be an instantaneous “omg I love you”) but, again, I wish it kept growing after that stage as well. That being said! THEIR RELATIONSHIP WAS THE BEST PART OF THE BOOK. They were adorable. I shipped them the ENTIRE time. The relationship wasn’t rushed which allowed for really cute/charming and good dialogue as well as some truly sweet moments that made the book entirely worth it. Their relationship was the diamond in the rough when it came to ‘book’ development and is the sole reason I decided to read the sequel.

The Plot:

The plot was not what I expected and wasn’t exactly boring, but since there was no main storyline per say, it didn’t have a lot of substance. There were too many villains/enemies which just created confusion as to what the principal obstacle was; it kept switching what the ture problem was and where the story was going as if the author couldn’t decide what she wanted to write about. There was no everlasting lesson that was instilled in the reader.

Conclusion: Castroman tried to fit too much into one book instead of taking her time to slowly ingrain her values and lessons into the reader’s heart over the course of the entire series or even just book one.

 

The Character development:

So, simply, there wasn’t any (or at least very much).

I felt that Anne started off as a stronger prideful, albeit a young, female character that was resolute in her independence. She had a lot of potential to grow into an empowered woman that wouldn’t allow the fact that she was a woman of color in the 17th century England stop her from achieving her dreams and goals. She was young and slightly naïve, but I was excited to see her grow… That didn’t happen. There was no real change in her mentality, identity, or strength throughout the book. The poor girl just kept getting thrown around by everyone else’s decisions, whether they be Teach’s, Drummond’s, or Margery’s…(basically everyone else’s decisions ended in Anne’s misfortune).

Teach was a boy who was arrogant, but kind hearted. He just wanted to pursue his dreams and simultaneously please his father. He struggled throughout the book to choose between his own life and his father’s, and kinda just dragged Anne along for the ride without actually considering what it would mean for Anne… He was a selfish boy who wanted the best of both worlds. He didn’t grow much as a character either until at the very end of the book in which he made his decision between living his own life and father’s his father made the decision for Teach to pursue what he really wanted in the world.

Feminist Quality:

She was more of a princess still learning how to believe in herself rather than a Queen knowing to go after what she wanted.