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A review by glomdi
Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
3.0
Slight spoilers; most things you can surmise from the blurb.
It has been so ridiculously long since I wrote a review, I hardly know where to start. I'm pretty sure 2014 was my last review. So you can imagine my strong feelings about this book to finally crawl to my computer from my warm, comfortable bed and cat to type out all these paragraphs on my used-to-be-backlit-but-now-I-can-hardly-see-the-keys keyboard.
I guess I should start with my frustration at the reviews I've been reading. I've heard people say Teach is abusive, an asshole, and that this is some cookie-cutter romance cut out of a YA novel; the only one of those things that's true is that Teach is an asshole. But you know what? It makes sense! Sure, he's a douche, but it makes sense for the story. He's been raised in a house that disrespects any colored people, maids, and pretty much anyone without a title. So of course he's not really gonna know how to be nice and pleasant. And abusive? How me one paragraph where he actually hurt Anne.
I'm not defending his actions, not in the slightest. But this is a book that the characters make sense for the background they were given. They all grow and learn as it goes on. Anne starts off rude and unapologetic because she's fighting for what she has and won't let anyone push her around - by the end she's much more willing to compromise, and the same is true for Teach, albeit in a different way.
One thing I will fault majorly is the constant mockery of people who don't like books and care "only" about parties and their looks. It would be different if it appeared that only Teach and Anne saw it this way, but it's pretty clear that the author meant for it to be the truth. I have a Goodreads account, I'm a Goodreads librarian and I have almost 80 reviews in about 2 years. Obviously I love books. But you know what? If someone doesn't like to read, that's okay. It's just not their put of tea. Patience is probably in her late teens(I recall Teach being 19?); it's okay that she wants to party and that she doesn't really take things seriously yet. That doesn't mean she has to be shallow or an idiot. She certainly is in the book, though. And again, if that was just her character that would be fine. But Castoman made it pretty clear out of dialogue that this is just what she thinks of people who don't read and know authors like Milton - they're uncultured, spoiled brats.
Moving off the characters and onto the plot...
...
...
Sorry, I can't seem to remember a plot.
Seriously though, there's practically no plot. It's pretty much a repeat of Anne wants to leave, Teach wants to be captain and not marry patience, and Anne and Teach are in love. Which in all honesty, just kind of... worked. I usually hate books like this. But it was actually kind of enjoyable. Their bickering was cute, the romance not rushed or over the top. I HATE in YA books when they love each other at first site, can only talk about their looks, are the most in love couple ever, blah blah blah. This just seemed much more real. It wasn't instant love - instant attraction maybe, but that's completely realistic.
I honestly think the reason so many people hated this was because they expected something different. I've done that before, but only when a book promised to be one thing and turns out to be another. Just read the blurb and you can figure out for yourself that this is pretty much all romance.
Blackhearts isn't for everyone, for sure. If you want pirate battles, adventure, plot, probably just skip this one. But if you are a fool like me and randomly like books like this and can't figure out why, it's an easy read. Just go for it.
It has been so ridiculously long since I wrote a review, I hardly know where to start. I'm pretty sure 2014 was my last review. So you can imagine my strong feelings about this book to finally crawl to my computer from my warm, comfortable bed and cat to type out all these paragraphs on my used-to-be-backlit-but-now-I-can-hardly-see-the-keys keyboard.
I guess I should start with my frustration at the reviews I've been reading. I've heard people say Teach is abusive, an asshole, and that this is some cookie-cutter romance cut out of a YA novel; the only one of those things that's true is that Teach is an asshole. But you know what? It makes sense! Sure, he's a douche, but it makes sense for the story. He's been raised in a house that disrespects any colored people, maids, and pretty much anyone without a title. So of course he's not really gonna know how to be nice and pleasant. And abusive? How me one paragraph where he actually hurt Anne.
I'm not defending his actions, not in the slightest. But this is a book that the characters make sense for the background they were given. They all grow and learn as it goes on. Anne starts off rude and unapologetic because she's fighting for what she has and won't let anyone push her around - by the end she's much more willing to compromise, and the same is true for Teach, albeit in a different way.
One thing I will fault majorly is the constant mockery of people who don't like books and care "only" about parties and their looks. It would be different if it appeared that only Teach and Anne saw it this way, but it's pretty clear that the author meant for it to be the truth. I have a Goodreads account, I'm a Goodreads librarian and I have almost 80 reviews in about 2 years. Obviously I love books. But you know what? If someone doesn't like to read, that's okay. It's just not their put of tea. Patience is probably in her late teens(I recall Teach being 19?); it's okay that she wants to party and that she doesn't really take things seriously yet. That doesn't mean she has to be shallow or an idiot. She certainly is in the book, though. And again, if that was just her character that would be fine. But Castoman made it pretty clear out of dialogue that this is just what she thinks of people who don't read and know authors like Milton - they're uncultured, spoiled brats.
Moving off the characters and onto the plot...
...
...
Sorry, I can't seem to remember a plot.
Seriously though, there's practically no plot. It's pretty much a repeat of Anne wants to leave, Teach wants to be captain and not marry patience, and Anne and Teach are in love. Which in all honesty, just kind of... worked. I usually hate books like this. But it was actually kind of enjoyable. Their bickering was cute, the romance not rushed or over the top. I HATE in YA books when they love each other at first site, can only talk about their looks, are the most in love couple ever, blah blah blah. This just seemed much more real. It wasn't instant love - instant attraction maybe, but that's completely realistic.
I honestly think the reason so many people hated this was because they expected something different. I've done that before, but only when a book promised to be one thing and turns out to be another. Just read the blurb and you can figure out for yourself that this is pretty much all romance.
Blackhearts isn't for everyone, for sure. If you want pirate battles, adventure, plot, probably just skip this one. But if you are a fool like me and randomly like books like this and can't figure out why, it's an easy read. Just go for it.