Saltblood

I discovered a new guilty pleasure. Give me any historical fiction based on true events, including some kind of shipwreck or pirates and I'm head over heels in love. This storytelling is absolutely brilliant, vivid and immersive, following the life of the infamous female pirate Mary Read. I did some research myself and you can definitely tell the author did so as well. Her writing is really beautiful and I loved how she depicted this little known woman and her love for the sea. I'm just really impressed about Mary Read and all she's been through, from signing up to the Navy, the Army and then finally ending up as a pirate. You know, as you do... You have to READ it!!

Mary Read and Anne Bonny were two real life pirates, who roamed the West Indian Sea in the 18th Century. This book is written fom Mary's perspective and narrates her whole life - from having to pretend to be her dead brother growing up to becoming a pirate. "Saltblood" is a beautiful blend of fiction and facts, which creates an interesting read. It explores the concept of gender and sexuality beautifully, while reminding the reader of the harsh reality back then. A must read for all pirate and/or history fans!