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A review by thatgirlwho_reads
Saltblood (Waterstones Edition) by Francesca De Tores
5.0
Wow this book was incredible. De Tores' writing is magnificently beautiful, portraying a different perspective on the pirate world I thought I knew. I absolutely loved the themes surrounding identity (specifically gender and sexuality), grief, and the power of storytelling. I loved the symbolism of the crow throughout and how this was incorporated. A wonderfully crafted novel with a deeply perceptive quality to it.
I had heard of Mary Read and Anne Bonny prior to this book but wasn't familiar with their stories or the actual history of pirating beyong the sensetionalised fiction. I really appreciated the historical note included at the end. The world felt familiar but not cliche, it offers something fresh whilst also delivering the pirate content we know and love. I learnt a lot as I read and I felt like I lived Read's life and really understood her. The pacing of the plot was well balanced with a good proportion of light and dark. I was hooked from start to finished and struggled to put it down.
There were a vast number of characters and yet they were all so distinctive and memorable. I found myself getting quickly attached and felt emotional as the events unfolded. The descriptions of Anne were particularly captivating. I could feel her presence so strongly through the pages and adored reading about her through Read's eyes.
This book truly exceeded all expectations I had and the reading experience was a journey. As a bonus, the cover art is absolutely stunning and the Waterstones exclusive sprayed edges are one of my favourites!
I had heard of Mary Read and Anne Bonny prior to this book but wasn't familiar with their stories or the actual history of pirating beyong the sensetionalised fiction. I really appreciated the historical note included at the end. The world felt familiar but not cliche, it offers something fresh whilst also delivering the pirate content we know and love. I learnt a lot as I read and I felt like I lived Read's life and really understood her. The pacing of the plot was well balanced with a good proportion of light and dark. I was hooked from start to finished and struggled to put it down.
There were a vast number of characters and yet they were all so distinctive and memorable. I found myself getting quickly attached and felt emotional as the events unfolded. The descriptions of Anne were particularly captivating. I could feel her presence so strongly through the pages and adored reading about her through Read's eyes.
This book truly exceeded all expectations I had and the reading experience was a journey. As a bonus, the cover art is absolutely stunning and the Waterstones exclusive sprayed edges are one of my favourites!