This book was a fun adventure! In Yáquimo, Santo Domingo, Jacquotte Delahaye is a young, up and coming shipwright. She’s at the whims of her society, French father, but when things go south and her life is threatened, she must flee with a motley crew of refugees, one of them the mysterious and beautiful woman with whom she spent a passionate night once. Too bad she’s the governor’s wife.

The bad become indentured servants to the pirate captain Blackhand, and the more time they spend together, the harder it is for Jacquotte to resist Teresa.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s based on the true story of one of the few female pirate captains of color in history. I loved the characters, the story moved quickly and kept me interested, and I’m always here for sapphic activity, throw in pirates, and you’ve got a good time!

The story of a black female pirate had me hesitant but once I started the action kept me locked in. I didn’t think I would enjoy this one as I’m not a fan of historical fiction but the author does an amazing job at storytelling

A fast historical fiction about pirates and defying the odds and her father. Good queer representation. Well written and fast paced a underserved historical fiction based on true events and hello pirates

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this arc. Unfortunately, this was not a book that pulled me in. I'm unsure as to why aside from maybe the historical undertone? Nevertheless, I was unable to bring myself to finish this one and ultimately DNF'd. I do not believe my choice to DNF was anything to do with the writing style, the author, or the goodness of the book. It was simply not a good book to interest me enough to finish it. Thank you again. Beautiful cover work though.

A huge thanks to Goodreads for the physical ARC and Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I loved the premise of this story - a female pirate of color?! Heck ya! The cover is also gorgeous and it’s a very unique storyline, but unfortunately it didn’t work for me. I didn’t connect with Jacquotte or any of the characters (which there were a lot of), and the writing/story really didn’t hook me. It was quite slow. It’s clear that the author put a lot of research into this book, so I’d be curious to see what she writes next!

Rounded down to 2.5 stars.

I wish this book worked for me, as I loved the idea of the story and the action adventure. But the writing style was too stilted and choppy to ever have a flow that could hook me into the story. The characters all seemed to be one-dimensional with no real motivations aside from whatever box they were supposed to check. The moments of peril and conflict were always easily and miraculously solved, as Jacquotte and her team seemed to always have the knowledge and skill necessary for every situation. I also found issue with the combination of meticulously-researched historical accuracy and modern morals/values. Pirates of the golden age of piracy wouldn't care about gender equality, equal pay, democratic representation, etc. yet these pirates all did. It felt fantastical, and in a non-fantasy book, it didn't really work for me.

This novel recounts the story of a 17th-century purported female pirate. Cameron’s imaginative tale features a biracial shipwright who finds herself leading a life of crime on the high seas. The story explores her struggles with her father, a childhood friend’s betrayal, and her quest, as a pirate captain, to find a safe haven for her crew and others who live outside the law. Vivid descriptions of seafaring life and plenty of queer pirates will surely delight readers!

I love a good historical fiction, especially if the lead character is a strong woman. I did not realize this was based on the legend of Jacquotte Delahaye. I did not even know of female pirates of the time. So not only did I read this book I had to start looking up names too. A good story and a history lesson all in one, I liked it. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

With this absolutely stunning cover, I was worried that the book would disappoint. But it did not. This is historical fiction that takes some liberties but also shows some of the less written about history, namely, women pirates. I was captivated by this red-haired bi-racial woman’s struggles and victories. I’ll definitely be looking for more from this author.

I wanted to like this book. I tried really hard to like this book. Unfortunately, I chose to walk the plank before the halfway point, and despite swimming alongside it for a while, wondering if I might give the crew a second chance, I chose to just drift away.

For starters, the writing style was just not for me. It's very short and punchy, with simple sentences upon simple sentences. Personally, I like some complexity, a mix of compound sentences for meaning and short ones for emphasis, and I didn't find that here.

Second, the pacing is very uneven. We open with a great prologue that I hoped would set the stage, but then we slog through nearly 100 pages without actually getting to the swashbuckling.

Third, there were just too many characters, and all were rather thin and one-dimensional, never engaging me on an emotional level. A large cast can work, but you need to have favorites, those who speak to you, those who pull you in and out of the plot, and I didn't find that here.

Sadly, this just was not for me.

THE BALLAD OF JACQUOTTE DELAHAYE by Briony Cameron

What an adventure! A pirate adventure, that is.

This has all the swashbuckling elements of the best pirate stories with a little sapphic romance thrown in. While this was inspired by a legendary Haitian female pirate, it leans heavily into mythological/fantasy fiction.

Here we follow Jacquotte Delahaye, a shipwright who fakes her own death, temporarily assumes a male alias to escape her enemies, rises to power, commandeers a ship to become a successful sea captain. Yas, queen!

Whether Jacquotte was real or not is up for debate, but the cultural and historical implications of her life/story are huge. It’s significant that a 17th century woman was able to achieve such a level of power and independence. To think that her story survived solely through oral storytelling!

I really enjoyed this fast paced, action packed story of redemption, revenge, freedom, love and adventure. It would make for a great movie. If you support women’s rights (and wrongs), this may be the book for you.


Rating: 4/5 ⭐️

First of all I must be honest and say that I did not read to the end. I made it 75% and then stopped. I just wasn't invested.

It took me a while to start the book and then I had to go back to it a few times.

The tale told seemed to be something I would enjoy but I wasn't invested in any of the characters and I didn't particularly feel anything for them.

I did like the details of the travels at sea and of the main character besting the male pirate.

Also, the cover is done really well!

I might read more from this author in the future.

The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye, by Briony Cameron is an action-packed, epic novel based on true events of the life of 17th century, female pirate. Jacquotte, smart, resourceful, and fearless, proves herself to be a trailblazing leader as she and her crew take on the Caribbean sea and the men that hold all the power.

I enjoy historical fiction, but pirate/adventure stories are not my typical reading genre. Nevertheless, I was invested in Jacquotte’s story and was eager to see where each of her adventures would take her.

The many side characters added to my reading experience, although there were so many that I began to lose track of who was who after a while. This book, at 368 pages, felt a little longer than it needed to be. Being a pirate adventure, there are fight scenes, blood and gore.

This book is for readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong, feminist female characters. Additionally, if found family, forbidden love, and action-filled, high adventure scenes make you excited to keep turning the pages, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye will not disappoint.

3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye in exchange for my honest review.

📖 Book Review 📖
🎧📱 "The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye" by Briony Cameron

 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
published June 4, 2024

Thank you @netgalley

A true story about a woman pirate- it definitely piqued my curiosity. In 17th century Santo Domingo, Jacquotte Delahaye is a shipwright, and she can read and write, due to her French father. She is sharp, quick and fierce, but also has no rights as a woman.

When Jacquotte flees on the ship of Captain Blackhand, a ruthless pirate who is beyond violent. Pirates rob, kill and take anyone they want as prisoners or slaves but Jacquotte was much softer, and men seemed to follow her leadership. When she takes a ship for herself and becomes Captain she is very democratic about it, which seemed unbelievable. That is the far fetched, too-good-to-be-true part of the book. But other than that it is a well- written, good character development and backstory novel, plus I loved the romance between Jacquotte and Teresa, who is intelligent, strong and stands up for herself.

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Things I like about this: the concept, the queerness, the engagement with racial identity and colonialism. Things I didn't like: hmm. Well, it wasn't a swashbuckling romance. Which isn't precisely a crime the book's committed, I suppose, but I'm not as big on historical coming of age stories, so.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Briony Cameron’s “The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye” is a captivating historical novel that brings to life the legendary tale of one of the Caribbean’s most enigmatic female pirates. Set in the mid-17th century, this novel is a vibrant blend of adventure, romance, and the relentless pursuit of freedom.

The story follows Jacquotte Delahaye, a mulatto woman who rises from the hardships of her early life in Santo Domingo to become a formidable pirate captain. Cameron’s portrayal of Jacquotte is both powerful and nuanced, capturing her resilience, intelligence, and unyielding spirit. From her beginnings as an apprentice shipwright to her daring exploits on the high seas, Jacquotte’s journey is one of self-discovery and defiance against the oppressive norms of her time.

Cameron’s writing is richly descriptive, immersing readers in the lush landscapes and turbulent waters of the Caribbean. The novel’s pacing is expertly handled, balancing intense action scenes with moments of introspection and emotional depth. The supporting characters, including Jacquotte’s loyal crew and her forbidden love interest, are well-developed and add layers of complexity to the narrative.

One of the standout features of “The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye” is its exploration of themes such as identity, freedom, and the struggle against societal constraints. Cameron delves into the historical context with sensitivity and insight, highlighting the challenges faced by women and people of color in the 17th century. This historical grounding adds authenticity to the story and makes Jacquotte’s triumphs all the more inspiring.

“The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye” is a thrilling and thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and pirate adventures alike. Briony Cameron has crafted a compelling narrative that not only entertains but also sheds light on a fascinating and often overlooked figure in history. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a story of courage, love, and the quest for freedom.

the ballad of jacquotte delahaye is a swashbuckling adventure centered on a woman who is likely more legend than fact. although there is little in the historical record to suggest that delahaye existed, briony cameron brings the folk legend to life as she follows jacquotte’s rise from unknown shipwright to one of the few purported female pirate captains in the caribbean.

this was a fun, action-packed read with pirates of the caribbean vibes (minus the supernatural elements) and an interesting exploration of identity and belonging (jacquotte is a queer, biracial woman, and her crew is just as diverse) woven into a search for home. while it definitely suffers from rushed pacing and some repetition, i enjoyed it and appreciated that cameron didn’t shy away from the brutality of the lifestyle.

I love historical fiction like this because it takes me into a time period that I know almost nothing about and puts me in the shoes of someone living such a different life than me. Pirates books are new to me and this was the perfect entry book! The start was a little slow but the book quickly picked up and didn't stop. I'll be recommending this to my friends!

This was a fast-paced, swash-buckling debut that follows the rise of Jacquotte Delahaye, a queer biracial female pirate as she sails the seas in the Caribbean. Told in three parts and based on true events, Jacquotte climbs her way out of indentured servitude to the ruthless pirate captain, Blackhand, until she and her motley crew of refugees and friends take charge of their own ship and later build their own island home. Filled with action, adventure, betrayals, sword and gunfights, Sapphic love and found family, this was a tender and hugely entertaining read from start to finish. It was also EXCELLENTLY narrated by Angel Pean, who does an amazing job with the full cast of characters in this story, making everyone's voice standout. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Set against the backdrop of colonial upheaval in the Caribbean, this is a story of one woman’s strength and determination to break free from the societal constraints and embrace her own power. Forced to flee her home Jacquotte finds herself transformed into the most powerful female pirate of legendary fame who seeks to revenge old slights, but also create a better life for those who like her have felt the crush of oppression and yearned for freedom.