Scan barcode
bookwifereviews's review against another edition
5.0
I want to punch everyone in the face. I thought there was only 2 books and now I have to wait for the next one. At least I think there's another one? I think it kind of ended in a way that could be the end, end but not a completely satisfying one. So I really hope there's more.
Freaking awesome book. I need more pirate books in my life.
Freaking awesome book. I need more pirate books in my life.
krystimuggle's review against another edition
5.0
It’s rare that I enjoy a sequel to a book that I loved even more than the original, but that was certainly the case with Blacksouls. This book is adventurous and swoony but also has some really important messages and themes as well.
Blacksouls was an absolute pleasure to read. I fell in love with this series with Blackhearts, but I actually enjoyed this second book even more. Nicole Castroman took everything great that she had going on in Blackhearts and just really took it to the next level.
One thing that I adored about this book, is how it continued the steady progression through Blackbeard’s origin story that Castroman began in Blackhearts. It takes it time, developing his character at just the perfect pace. There hasn’t been just one sudden, devastating event that turned him from merchant’s son to pirate, but a steady progression of plot points that are pushing his character ever closer to the Blackbeard of legend.
I also love the fact that these books are not just about Blackbeard (Teach). They are equally about Anne, who is an incredible character in her own right. She has her own story that is so important and is applicable both to the time period the story is told in and today. Her story really focuses on the themes of discrimination, feminism, and the horrors of slavery.
The romance between Anne and Teach continues to sizzle. I love the dynamic between the two of them. I adore that Anne is so completely herself with him, and their banter is always so much fun to read. Castroman has done a great job continuing the storyline of the romance into book two, so that it is still just as compelling as it was in book one.
This book does have some high-seas adventure, but a lot of the story does still take place on land, this time in Nassau. The way the setting is progressively taking place more and more at sea perfectly reflects the progression of Teach’s character, and I very much enjoyed that.
I loved this book, and I’m so hoping for another installment in this series!
Blacksouls was an absolute pleasure to read. I fell in love with this series with Blackhearts, but I actually enjoyed this second book even more. Nicole Castroman took everything great that she had going on in Blackhearts and just really took it to the next level.
One thing that I adored about this book, is how it continued the steady progression through Blackbeard’s origin story that Castroman began in Blackhearts. It takes it time, developing his character at just the perfect pace. There hasn’t been just one sudden, devastating event that turned him from merchant’s son to pirate, but a steady progression of plot points that are pushing his character ever closer to the Blackbeard of legend.
I also love the fact that these books are not just about Blackbeard (Teach). They are equally about Anne, who is an incredible character in her own right. She has her own story that is so important and is applicable both to the time period the story is told in and today. Her story really focuses on the themes of discrimination, feminism, and the horrors of slavery.
The romance between Anne and Teach continues to sizzle. I love the dynamic between the two of them. I adore that Anne is so completely herself with him, and their banter is always so much fun to read. Castroman has done a great job continuing the storyline of the romance into book two, so that it is still just as compelling as it was in book one.
This book does have some high-seas adventure, but a lot of the story does still take place on land, this time in Nassau. The way the setting is progressively taking place more and more at sea perfectly reflects the progression of Teach’s character, and I very much enjoyed that.
I loved this book, and I’m so hoping for another installment in this series!
whimsicallymeghan's review against another edition
3.0
Both Anne and Teach have set sails on different ships both hoping to see each other again. When the time does come, the two are set on a dangerous mission that could end either one of their lives. It’s a dangerous game of fate that tests all of their relationships. This, like the first novel was fast-paced and action packed. The plot moved quickly, which gave it that intense feeling. Castroman’s writing was good; this novel was a step above her first. The conflict was better and far more interesting than the previous novel. Now that the reader knows the characters, things didn’t feel so rushed and forced. The main character’s relationship took time to develop and it wasn’t as insta-lovey. It was good to expand a little more into this world and to meet more pirates and sailors. The way that this story ended makes it sound like there is more to come, which only time will tell as it wouldn’t be completely unwelcomed to see more.
punkrockgirlpa's review
4.0
So good even better than the first one! More pirates! More action! And some more love!
jbenando's review against another edition
4.0
I wouldn’t say this was a fun book. It was exciting and nerve racking. And also a bit sad.
I’ll admit that at times I felt myself smiling at the antics of a few characters. One in particular reminded me of Nicholai from the Grishaverse. These were young people so sometimes the snark crept up in the midst of the seriousness.
But now that I am done, I’m feeling a little unsettled. I know what the author was doing with these books but I wanted just a wee bit more. It’s such an open ended series. But I’m very happy I finally read them.
I’ll admit that at times I felt myself smiling at the antics of a few characters. One in particular reminded me of Nicholai from the Grishaverse. These were young people so sometimes the snark crept up in the midst of the seriousness.
But now that I am done, I’m feeling a little unsettled. I know what the author was doing with these books but I wanted just a wee bit more. It’s such an open ended series. But I’m very happy I finally read them.
jeanna's review against another edition
3.0
There's pirates, a gorgeous romance and a swashbuckling adventure!
Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman begins right where we left off in Blackhearts. Anne is sailing to a ruthless island in the Caribbean. And Teach is close behind her, intent on reaching her before anything dire happens. However when they arrive, Teach is charged with mutiny and the only way out is to make a deal with the governor. He must track down a notorious pirate and return him to the island. But all is not what they seem. Blacksouls continues Blackbeard’s origin story in this wild, action packed adventure.
It’s so good to return to the characters I adored in the first book. Anne, brave and wise, has just as much sass as the previous novel, if not more. Her character will make you laugh out loud at some of her thoughtless outbursts and unbelievable antics. However, whereas Anne seemed to run the show in Blackhearts, Teach's story seems to develop much further in this one. After all, the Blackhearts series is a retelling of Blackbeard's origins. Teach has always been a favorite of mine; he has a heart of gold and the obstacles he had to overcome pushed him to his limits. It was interesting to see what direction he chose.
Blacksouls is a superb sequel with a new setting and some new characters, it adds something fresh to the mix, as if starting the story again. Readers get a look at Nassau, the home of Anne's mother, and from the stories told in the previous book, you will be surprised to find—instead of beauty and community—there’s ruthlessness and piracy.
That’s right, there's pirates! I adore any book with pirates. And was a bit disappointed to find that Blackhearts didn't offer many pirates for a book promising just those types of scoundrels. To make up for it, Castroman definitely delivers in Blacksouls. We not only get awesome pirates but there's battles on the open seas and ruthless characters! Blacksouls has the perfect ingredients for a book to enjoy during the warmer months; it is a summer blockbuster, action packed with gorgeous imagery that will make you turn the pages faster.
The new cast of characters is incredibly diverse and as the story progresses, we get to know almost each and every one of their stories. My new favorite pair had to be the sibling duo, Coyle and Cara. Their easy banter back and forth, paired with their outgoing personalities made them so easy to love.
It was interesting how quick Anne made the parallels between her parents and Beth and Alistair. For I didn't really see their relationship for what it was until a little later in the book. Also, it irked me that not only Anne mentioned things I didn't notice until much later, Teach started noticing things that were not initially explained. These claims lacked introduction. How does he know more about this than I do, when I have been with Anne the whole time, and he only just showed up? It seemed that Castroman wanted her characters to be at a certain point without fully leading up to—or developing—such things.
I couldn't help but draw parallels between the ending and Blackhearts' ending. Both made me want to continue reading this story. It's not necessarily a cliff hanger but Castroman leaves you with a lead-in that makes you want to have the next book in your hands as soon as possible.
Nicole Castroman is a great storyteller and definitely raised the bar with this sequel. Blacksouls is sure to keep you on your toes with nonstop action and fantastic characters.
Blacksouls by Nicole Castroman begins right where we left off in Blackhearts. Anne is sailing to a ruthless island in the Caribbean. And Teach is close behind her, intent on reaching her before anything dire happens. However when they arrive, Teach is charged with mutiny and the only way out is to make a deal with the governor. He must track down a notorious pirate and return him to the island. But all is not what they seem. Blacksouls continues Blackbeard’s origin story in this wild, action packed adventure.
It’s so good to return to the characters I adored in the first book. Anne, brave and wise, has just as much sass as the previous novel, if not more. Her character will make you laugh out loud at some of her thoughtless outbursts and unbelievable antics. However, whereas Anne seemed to run the show in Blackhearts, Teach's story seems to develop much further in this one. After all, the Blackhearts series is a retelling of Blackbeard's origins. Teach has always been a favorite of mine; he has a heart of gold and the obstacles he had to overcome pushed him to his limits. It was interesting to see what direction he chose.
Blacksouls is a superb sequel with a new setting and some new characters, it adds something fresh to the mix, as if starting the story again. Readers get a look at Nassau, the home of Anne's mother, and from the stories told in the previous book, you will be surprised to find—instead of beauty and community—there’s ruthlessness and piracy.
That’s right, there's pirates! I adore any book with pirates. And was a bit disappointed to find that Blackhearts didn't offer many pirates for a book promising just those types of scoundrels. To make up for it, Castroman definitely delivers in Blacksouls. We not only get awesome pirates but there's battles on the open seas and ruthless characters! Blacksouls has the perfect ingredients for a book to enjoy during the warmer months; it is a summer blockbuster, action packed with gorgeous imagery that will make you turn the pages faster.
The new cast of characters is incredibly diverse and as the story progresses, we get to know almost each and every one of their stories. My new favorite pair had to be the sibling duo, Coyle and Cara. Their easy banter back and forth, paired with their outgoing personalities made them so easy to love.
It was interesting how quick Anne made the parallels between her parents and Beth and Alistair. For I didn't really see their relationship for what it was until a little later in the book. Also, it irked me that not only Anne mentioned things I didn't notice until much later, Teach started noticing things that were not initially explained. These claims lacked introduction. How does he know more about this than I do, when I have been with Anne the whole time, and he only just showed up? It seemed that Castroman wanted her characters to be at a certain point without fully leading up to—or developing—such things.
I couldn't help but draw parallels between the ending and Blackhearts' ending. Both made me want to continue reading this story. It's not necessarily a cliff hanger but Castroman leaves you with a lead-in that makes you want to have the next book in your hands as soon as possible.
Nicole Castroman is a great storyteller and definitely raised the bar with this sequel. Blacksouls is sure to keep you on your toes with nonstop action and fantastic characters.
seraphina05's review against another edition
3.0
plot: 2.9/5
character: 2/5 The protagonists just fell on their faces. Not even happy with the spoiler: wedding proposal.
world: 3.2/5
intro: 3/5
style: 2.9/5
language:2.9/5
Total 2.78
character: 2/5 The protagonists just fell on their faces. Not even happy with the spoiler: wedding proposal.
world: 3.2/5
intro: 3/5
style: 2.9/5
language:2.9/5
Total 2.78
krystimeyer's review against another edition
5.0
It’s rare that I enjoy a sequel to a book that I loved even more than the original, but that was certainly the case with Blacksouls. This book is adventurous and swoony but also has some really important messages and themes as well.
Blacksouls was an absolute pleasure to read. I fell in love with this series with Blackhearts, but I actually enjoyed this second book even more. Nicole Castroman took everything great that she had going on in Blackhearts and just really took it to the next level.
One thing that I adored about this book, is how it continued the steady progression through Blackbeard’s origin story that Castroman began in Blackhearts. It takes it time, developing his character at just the perfect pace. There hasn’t been just one sudden, devastating event that turned him from merchant’s son to pirate, but a steady progression of plot points that are pushing his character ever closer to the Blackbeard of legend.
I also love the fact that these books are not just about Blackbeard (Teach). They are equally about Anne, who is an incredible character in her own right. She has her own story that is so important and is applicable both to the time period the story is told in and today. Her story really focuses on the themes of discrimination, feminism, and the horrors of slavery.
The romance between Anne and Teach continues to sizzle. I love the dynamic between the two of them. I adore that Anne is so completely herself with him, and their banter is always so much fun to read. Castroman has done a great job continuing the storyline of the romance into book two, so that it is still just as compelling as it was in book one.
This book does have some high-seas adventure, but a lot of the story does still take place on land, this time in Nassau. The way the setting is progressively taking place more and more at sea perfectly reflects the progression of Teach’s character, and I very much enjoyed that.
I loved this book, and I’m so hoping for another installment in this series!
Blacksouls was an absolute pleasure to read. I fell in love with this series with Blackhearts, but I actually enjoyed this second book even more. Nicole Castroman took everything great that she had going on in Blackhearts and just really took it to the next level.
One thing that I adored about this book, is how it continued the steady progression through Blackbeard’s origin story that Castroman began in Blackhearts. It takes it time, developing his character at just the perfect pace. There hasn’t been just one sudden, devastating event that turned him from merchant’s son to pirate, but a steady progression of plot points that are pushing his character ever closer to the Blackbeard of legend.
I also love the fact that these books are not just about Blackbeard (Teach). They are equally about Anne, who is an incredible character in her own right. She has her own story that is so important and is applicable both to the time period the story is told in and today. Her story really focuses on the themes of discrimination, feminism, and the horrors of slavery.
The romance between Anne and Teach continues to sizzle. I love the dynamic between the two of them. I adore that Anne is so completely herself with him, and their banter is always so much fun to read. Castroman has done a great job continuing the storyline of the romance into book two, so that it is still just as compelling as it was in book one.
This book does have some high-seas adventure, but a lot of the story does still take place on land, this time in Nassau. The way the setting is progressively taking place more and more at sea perfectly reflects the progression of Teach’s character, and I very much enjoyed that.
I loved this book, and I’m so hoping for another installment in this series!
More...