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The Determined
A groundbreaking novel of historical fiction based on the real experiences of two of the Golden Age of Pirates’ most infamous women, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who dared to subvert the rules and gender roles of their time.
1721, Spanish Town, Jamaica. Captured, convicted, and pregnant, 23-year-old Anne Bonny faces the gallows. When writer Captain Charles Johnson enters the garrison, she strikes a she’ll tell this opportunistic fool her story if he sends a doctor to her friend, Mary Read, who’s battling prison fever.
Prior to their arrest, life at sea had offered Anne and Mary freedom that few women knew. Anne, born into scandal in Ireland, seeks home and elusive safety in South Carolina. Discovering the opposite, she makes a bitter bargain for emergency passage to the Bahamas.
Across the Atlantic in England, Mary confronts her own limitations as an illegitimate daughter. She sneaks into a merchant crew, disguised as a cabin boy. But when war sends Mary into the cavalry, she meets a challenge even she might not rival.
When their paths collide in Nassau, a notorious “pirate den,” Anne and Mary find kinship aboard the Revenge—the fastest ship in the Caribbean. With the governor out for blood, every raid brings more risk. From the high seas to the depths of a Jamaican prison, Anne and Mary must navigate impossible choices, each determined to taste freedom again.
1721, Spanish Town, Jamaica. Captured, convicted, and pregnant, 23-year-old Anne Bonny faces the gallows. When writer Captain Charles Johnson enters the garrison, she strikes a she’ll tell this opportunistic fool her story if he sends a doctor to her friend, Mary Read, who’s battling prison fever.
Prior to their arrest, life at sea had offered Anne and Mary freedom that few women knew. Anne, born into scandal in Ireland, seeks home and elusive safety in South Carolina. Discovering the opposite, she makes a bitter bargain for emergency passage to the Bahamas.
Across the Atlantic in England, Mary confronts her own limitations as an illegitimate daughter. She sneaks into a merchant crew, disguised as a cabin boy. But when war sends Mary into the cavalry, she meets a challenge even she might not rival.
When their paths collide in Nassau, a notorious “pirate den,” Anne and Mary find kinship aboard the Revenge—the fastest ship in the Caribbean. With the governor out for blood, every raid brings more risk. From the high seas to the depths of a Jamaican prison, Anne and Mary must navigate impossible choices, each determined to taste freedom again.
389 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 24, 2026
48 people are currently reading
4709 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Rueckert
4 books274 followersRachel Rueckert has been pirate-obsessed since she was a young girl. She wore a plastic sword through her belt loops, drew ships on tests when she didn’t know the answers, and dressed as a pirate every year for Halloween—including in her high school senior picture. She is now an award-winning writer, editor, and teacher who holds an MFA from Columbia University and an M.Ed from Boston University. She is fascinated by unconventional journeys and enjoys excavating real-life people—such as Mary Read, Anne Bonny, and Sam Bellamy—from the sands of history.
Find her books and newsletter: Website
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January 4, 20261720s. Based on real experiences of two most infamous female pirates—one pregnant, the other sick with prison fever—from kinship, raids and bitter bargains, The Determined is supposed to be a story about impossible choices, the chase towards freedom and subversion of rules and gender roles of that time.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author, Rachel Rueckert for sending me this eARC.
Publication date: February 24, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the author, Rachel Rueckert for sending me this eARC.
Publication date: February 24, 2026
March 3, 2026
The Brief, Brutal Brilliance of Bonny & Read
The following ratings are out of 5:
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😋🙂😁😎
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Solo Narration
Audiobook Review: The Determined
Author: Rachel Rueckert
Genre: Historical Fiction
Narrator(s): Polly Lee
Characters, Background, and Plot Dynamics
The story opens in 1721 with Anne Bonny, twenty‑three years old, pregnant, and imprisoned in Jamaica as she awaits execution. Her only hope arrives in the form of Captain Charles Johnson, a man who claims he can help her if she and her fellow prisoner Mary Read will share their life stories for his book. From here, the narrative slips into Anne’s memories, beginning when she was just eight years old in County Cork, Ireland. Though illegitimate and far from an heiress, Anne was already defying expectations: wearing britches, skipping lessons, and fighting the local boys. Her home life was turbulent, marked by her mother’s bitterness and her parents’ constant arguments, especially after a brick shattered her father’s law office window, prompting the family’s move to the Americas. Despite her rebellious streak, Anne had a sharp mind and a talent for languages that her parents never fully recognized.
Mary Read’s story unfolds in parallel. Also pregnant and awaiting the hangman’s noose, Mary is far more ill and weakened by the brutal prison conditions. Her past begins in England at age eleven, when she discovers she is not the boy “Mark” she has been raised to be. Her mother’s deception, intended to secure financial support from a distant relative, collapses, forcing Mary into work as a cabin boy. Her life becomes a series of reinventions, each shaped by necessity and survival.
Highlights
• In Charlestown, South Carolina, Anne Cormack meets sailor James Bonny and marries him out of convenience rather than love. It doesn’t end up quite like marriage of convenience trope you see in many romance books.
• The supporting cast is surprisingly rich, like Anne’s friend Ellen, whose fierce condemnation of the slave trade exposes the brutal economic engine of the colonies. Her scenes add moral weight and historical grounding.
• Though Anne and Mary begin the book in the same dire circumstances, their paths to piracy are strikingly different. Seeing how each woman’s life shaped her choices is one of the novel’s most compelling elements.
• Mary Read emerges as the more relatable and sympathetic of the two. Her resilience, adaptability, and emotional depth make her chapters especially engaging. Anne, by contrast, often feels like a reckless teenager stumbling into trouble, though she ultimately shows remarkable strength when it matters most.
• The writing is consistently engaging, and the emotional beats land with real force. Several scenes brought me to tears, which is always a sign that a story has truly connected.
Limitations
• Anne’s naïveté after her marriage to James Bonny feels at odds with her otherwise bold personality, especially when she becomes infatuated with Calico Jack.
• James Bonny’s attempt to reclaim his “husbandly rights” is deeply unpleasant to read and left a sour taste, even if historically plausible.
• The brevity of Anne and Mary’s actual pirating years was surprising. Historically, they were active for one to two years, but the novel compresses this into mere months. While there are moments of swashbuckling excitement, I found myself wishing for more time at sea.
“Surely being a woman means you have a natural ability to scour chamberpots or serve extra shifts cooking in the galley”
“To be a woman is to be a liability, dependent, vulnerable, trapped, blamed, hunted.”
Narration
The audiobook is performed by Polly Lee in a solo narration. Her voice wasn’t an immediate favorite, but she handles accents and character distinctions well. Though I would have preferred dual narrators—especially for a story with two strong female leads—her performance grew on me as the book progressed, ultimately enhancing the emotional depth of the story.
Final Assessment
This audiobook offers a vivid, emotionally resonant reimagining of two legendary women whose lives were far more complex than their mythologized reputations. The dual narrative structure highlights the stark contrasts between Anne and Mary, one impulsive and fiery, the other grounded and quietly courageous, while still honoring the fierce determination that defined them both. Despite a few character choices that felt uneven and a shorter-than-expected focus on their pirating years, the story is rich, immersive, and often heartbreaking. Combined with a narration that strengthens over time, this is a compelling and memorable listen that brings two extraordinary women out of the footnotes of history and into full, vibrant life.
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The following ratings are out of 5:
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌎🌍
Character development: 😋🙂😁😎
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Solo Narration
Audiobook Review: The Determined
Author: Rachel Rueckert
Genre: Historical Fiction
Narrator(s): Polly Lee
Characters, Background, and Plot Dynamics
The story opens in 1721 with Anne Bonny, twenty‑three years old, pregnant, and imprisoned in Jamaica as she awaits execution. Her only hope arrives in the form of Captain Charles Johnson, a man who claims he can help her if she and her fellow prisoner Mary Read will share their life stories for his book. From here, the narrative slips into Anne’s memories, beginning when she was just eight years old in County Cork, Ireland. Though illegitimate and far from an heiress, Anne was already defying expectations: wearing britches, skipping lessons, and fighting the local boys. Her home life was turbulent, marked by her mother’s bitterness and her parents’ constant arguments, especially after a brick shattered her father’s law office window, prompting the family’s move to the Americas. Despite her rebellious streak, Anne had a sharp mind and a talent for languages that her parents never fully recognized.
Mary Read’s story unfolds in parallel. Also pregnant and awaiting the hangman’s noose, Mary is far more ill and weakened by the brutal prison conditions. Her past begins in England at age eleven, when she discovers she is not the boy “Mark” she has been raised to be. Her mother’s deception, intended to secure financial support from a distant relative, collapses, forcing Mary into work as a cabin boy. Her life becomes a series of reinventions, each shaped by necessity and survival.
Highlights
• In Charlestown, South Carolina, Anne Cormack meets sailor James Bonny and marries him out of convenience rather than love. It doesn’t end up quite like marriage of convenience trope you see in many romance books.
• The supporting cast is surprisingly rich, like Anne’s friend Ellen, whose fierce condemnation of the slave trade exposes the brutal economic engine of the colonies. Her scenes add moral weight and historical grounding.
• Though Anne and Mary begin the book in the same dire circumstances, their paths to piracy are strikingly different. Seeing how each woman’s life shaped her choices is one of the novel’s most compelling elements.
• Mary Read emerges as the more relatable and sympathetic of the two. Her resilience, adaptability, and emotional depth make her chapters especially engaging. Anne, by contrast, often feels like a reckless teenager stumbling into trouble, though she ultimately shows remarkable strength when it matters most.
• The writing is consistently engaging, and the emotional beats land with real force. Several scenes brought me to tears, which is always a sign that a story has truly connected.
Limitations
• Anne’s naïveté after her marriage to James Bonny feels at odds with her otherwise bold personality, especially when she becomes infatuated with Calico Jack.
• James Bonny’s attempt to reclaim his “husbandly rights” is deeply unpleasant to read and left a sour taste, even if historically plausible.
• The brevity of Anne and Mary’s actual pirating years was surprising. Historically, they were active for one to two years, but the novel compresses this into mere months. While there are moments of swashbuckling excitement, I found myself wishing for more time at sea.
“Surely being a woman means you have a natural ability to scour chamberpots or serve extra shifts cooking in the galley”
“To be a woman is to be a liability, dependent, vulnerable, trapped, blamed, hunted.”
Narration
The audiobook is performed by Polly Lee in a solo narration. Her voice wasn’t an immediate favorite, but she handles accents and character distinctions well. Though I would have preferred dual narrators—especially for a story with two strong female leads—her performance grew on me as the book progressed, ultimately enhancing the emotional depth of the story.
Final Assessment
This audiobook offers a vivid, emotionally resonant reimagining of two legendary women whose lives were far more complex than their mythologized reputations. The dual narrative structure highlights the stark contrasts between Anne and Mary, one impulsive and fiery, the other grounded and quietly courageous, while still honoring the fierce determination that defined them both. Despite a few character choices that felt uneven and a shorter-than-expected focus on their pirating years, the story is rich, immersive, and often heartbreaking. Combined with a narration that strengthens over time, this is a compelling and memorable listen that brings two extraordinary women out of the footnotes of history and into full, vibrant life.
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January 15, 2025
I already knew a lot of the history in this book thanks to a general fascination of pirates but specifically female pirates. Down to my favorite book as a little girl being ‘The Pirate Queen’ by Emily Arnold McCully
So reading a more dramatized version of the history I already know was fun!
I think this book will appeal to the lovers of historical fiction and non-fiction alike!
So reading a more dramatized version of the history I already know was fun!
I think this book will appeal to the lovers of historical fiction and non-fiction alike!
April 18, 2025
A gritty game of consequences…
The Determined follows two women, whose personal circumstances mean they hid their gender and passed as men, existing on the fringes of society, doing what they need to survive. Both are morally strong and good people, but the choices they are forced to make go against the rules of law, which eventually catches up with them.
The story is in part a retelling, a recollection of events as Anne and Mary moulder in prison cells as convicted pirates awaiting execution, which is postponed as they are both pregnant. Anne has a plan to escape which depends on access to pen and paper. When a mysterious captain agrees to provide what she needs, in return for a true account of events, Anne agrees – and hence the story unwinds. I especially like how the author had a story within a story, in that the book the captain intends to write actually exists, and does give an account of the lives of Anne and Mary.
This is an engrossing read, a fictionalised account of two real women. The skill of the author was in making it entirely plausible that they, Mary especially, were able to pull off the subterfuge of hiding her gender. It took me a little while to orientate to the story going backwards and forwards in time, between the prison cell and the earlier lives of two characters, but once I got into the swing of it I was hooked.
There are a couple of sensitive love stories in there, which again made complete sense, but this is in no way a romance. I loved how The Determined could be read as an adventure story of sorts, or interpreted at a deeper level about how women are judged and cut down to size, purely because of their gender.
The Determined follows two women, whose personal circumstances mean they hid their gender and passed as men, existing on the fringes of society, doing what they need to survive. Both are morally strong and good people, but the choices they are forced to make go against the rules of law, which eventually catches up with them.
The story is in part a retelling, a recollection of events as Anne and Mary moulder in prison cells as convicted pirates awaiting execution, which is postponed as they are both pregnant. Anne has a plan to escape which depends on access to pen and paper. When a mysterious captain agrees to provide what she needs, in return for a true account of events, Anne agrees – and hence the story unwinds. I especially like how the author had a story within a story, in that the book the captain intends to write actually exists, and does give an account of the lives of Anne and Mary.
This is an engrossing read, a fictionalised account of two real women. The skill of the author was in making it entirely plausible that they, Mary especially, were able to pull off the subterfuge of hiding her gender. It took me a little while to orientate to the story going backwards and forwards in time, between the prison cell and the earlier lives of two characters, but once I got into the swing of it I was hooked.
There are a couple of sensitive love stories in there, which again made complete sense, but this is in no way a romance. I loved how The Determined could be read as an adventure story of sorts, or interpreted at a deeper level about how women are judged and cut down to size, purely because of their gender.
February 10, 2026
This is not a loud, flashy pirate story. It’s a quietly pissed off one. The kind where survival is the rebellion and freedom comes at a cost you can feel in your chest.
At its core, it’s about two women who refuse to disappear. Not legends, just real, complicated people doing whatever they have to do in a world stacked aggressively against them. The piracy isn’t romanticized; it feels practical. Like, this is the option left when society gives you none.
The heart of the book is their relationship, and tat’s where it shines. It’s fierce and loyal and unspoken in that way where you don’t need flowery declarations because the actions say everything. No girlboss sparkle, no performative empowerment just choosing each other over and over while everything else is on fire.
Heads up though: this is a slower, moodier read. It takes its time marinating in atmosphere, history, and emotion. If you’re here for nonstop chaos and cannon fire, you might get antsy. But if you like character-driven stories that sit with you and make you feel things? You’ll be locked in.
Overall, it felt grounded, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. Less “YO HO HO” and more “we’re still standing, somehow.”
Salt in the air, knives hidden in sleeves, women who won’t go quietly. Worth the voyage. 🏴☠️
At its core, it’s about two women who refuse to disappear. Not legends, just real, complicated people doing whatever they have to do in a world stacked aggressively against them. The piracy isn’t romanticized; it feels practical. Like, this is the option left when society gives you none.
The heart of the book is their relationship, and tat’s where it shines. It’s fierce and loyal and unspoken in that way where you don’t need flowery declarations because the actions say everything. No girlboss sparkle, no performative empowerment just choosing each other over and over while everything else is on fire.
Heads up though: this is a slower, moodier read. It takes its time marinating in atmosphere, history, and emotion. If you’re here for nonstop chaos and cannon fire, you might get antsy. But if you like character-driven stories that sit with you and make you feel things? You’ll be locked in.
Overall, it felt grounded, thoughtful, and quietly powerful. Less “YO HO HO” and more “we’re still standing, somehow.”
Salt in the air, knives hidden in sleeves, women who won’t go quietly. Worth the voyage. 🏴☠️
September 26, 2025
in my pirate historical fiction era and loving it
a little slow at the beginning but overall I really enjoyed it, the writing was very captivating and I couldn't out it down past the 50% mark!
a little slow at the beginning but overall I really enjoyed it, the writing was very captivating and I couldn't out it down past the 50% mark!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well written story about two remarkable women who escape difficult lives and eventually join a pirate ship, one disguised as a man. I loved reading about a time and region in history that I know little about. I appreciate the author including an explanation at the end of the book about what is fact and what is filled in for purposes of story continuity. The character development was well done. I loved reading dual timelines and trying to figure out how the storylines would merge. I especially loved reading about Mary's back story. This was an engaging read that paced well. Even more remarkable that the story is based on factual people and events. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"If a soldier could be a female, could a siren be male?"
I will read any book whether it is fatasy or retelling or reimagining featuring the life of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, the two notorious pirates.
Though most stories I have read focus on their lives as female pirates, this one began with their backstory - their childhood, their adulthood, their lives before piracy, how they became pirates.
as much as I enjoyed how these two completely different women came to be, I thought their rushed lives as pirates was sidelined.
Surprisingly, The Author's Note was very very exciting
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing the ARC for this book.
I will read any book whether it is fatasy or retelling or reimagining featuring the life of Mary Read and Anne Bonny, the two notorious pirates.
Though most stories I have read focus on their lives as female pirates, this one began with their backstory - their childhood, their adulthood, their lives before piracy, how they became pirates.
as much as I enjoyed how these two completely different women came to be, I thought their rushed lives as pirates was sidelined.
Surprisingly, The Author's Note was very very exciting
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing the ARC for this book.
March 5, 2026
Book #37
The Determined by Rachel Rueckert
5 Stars ( 4.7 Amazon 4.21 Goodreads)
Release Date 2/24/26
108,000 words
Historical Fiction
Paperback
#whiskersandwordsbookreview #onesentencereview #thedetermined #rachelreukert
--------Another great pirate book by Rachel with strong women and an action packed ending, love the afterward and the attention to detail and history throughout.
The Determined by Rachel Rueckert
5 Stars ( 4.7 Amazon 4.21 Goodreads)
Release Date 2/24/26
108,000 words
Historical Fiction
Paperback
#whiskersandwordsbookreview #onesentencereview #thedetermined #rachelreukert
--------Another great pirate book by Rachel with strong women and an action packed ending, love the afterward and the attention to detail and history throughout.
February 2, 2026
With my only knowledge about pirates being from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, I found this historical fiction absolutely riveting! I love a female main character who overcomes odds to do something great, but TWO of them?? Mary Read and Anne Bonny have piqued my curiosity in their stories because of Rueckert’s depiction of them.
Following Mary and Anne from their very different upbringings, love stories, and motivations to seeing the bravery they yielded to the bitter end was a treat. I will definitely recommend to others. 4.5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
Following Mary and Anne from their very different upbringings, love stories, and motivations to seeing the bravery they yielded to the bitter end was a treat. I will definitely recommend to others. 4.5 stars.
Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 15, 2025
From the swells of the high seas to the decrepit and squalor conditions of the jail, historical fiction author Rachel Rueckert crafts an enjoyable tale set amidst the Golden Age of Piracy in her 2026 release The Determined.
The novel tells the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who were two female pirates swashbuckling their way in a piracy world that was male dominated. Combining a mixture of truth, fiction & myths, Rachel Rueckert delivers an entertaining tale.
Thank you to author & Kensington Publishing via NetGalley for this opportunity to read this in advance via an eARC.
Expected release date is February 24, 2026. All opinions expressed are my own.
The novel tells the story of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, who were two female pirates swashbuckling their way in a piracy world that was male dominated. Combining a mixture of truth, fiction & myths, Rachel Rueckert delivers an entertaining tale.
Thank you to author & Kensington Publishing via NetGalley for this opportunity to read this in advance via an eARC.
Expected release date is February 24, 2026. All opinions expressed are my own.
December 14, 2025
rough unedited review from notes
Received ARC from netgalley.
I had a lot of expectations going in, and was eager to love a book that could return me to my childhood pirates obsession. And it did wonderfully, up until ~50-60% mark where the format changed significantly and almost made me want to rate the book 2*. I will briefly explain below why, but I first want to acknowledge that reading the afterword changed my opinion to a certain degree and resulted in a higher rating.
While finishing the second half of the book, I was ranting how the author completely disregarded her own plans for the book. It started rather factually, presenting itself as a more serious historical fiction, wanting to portray the two famous female pirates in a way they deserved, and not as adjacent to male pirate captains and crews. I loved that the narrative included two separate perspectives, from each character, where we could hear their distinct voices — honest and to the point Mary who has nothing left to lose or gain vs an unreliable narrator Anne, spinning an entertaining tale of her woes for Captain Johnson, who goes from one cell to another. This format was abandoned the moment two women meet and, therefore, it is no longer obvious who's telling the story, or whether it is recollections by Captain Johnson (which would be silly & defeat the purpose of having a standalone book that claims to be its own version of A History of Pyrates).
Similarly, the addition of romance and the way it felt out of place and as an afterthought in Anne's sections left me with a bad aftertaste. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Mary's romance, discovering the characters for who they were. Anne and Rackham read as cardboards from a smutty YA, relying on tropes and "told not shown" handsomeness. While I get author's desire to focus more on Mary as a more forgotten person from this duo, it felt like disrespecting her own craft.
Finally, one last point that I personally find utterly distasteful in modern historical fiction, is proselytising about XXI century morals in a past century setting. Nothing undermines suspension of disbelief more than being preached on how this thing that's long been banned in our reality is bad. WE KNOW, THANK YOU FOR TELLING. The "tell vs show" balance is skewed very much towards the former.
Now, the afterword did affect my judgement, because the prose was reminiscent of the early chapters and sounded more sophisticated than the YA-type structure and expressions at the 50-75% mark. I genuinely wish the entire book read this way and hope maybe final editing will adjust it before it's published in February 2026. I appreciate author's transparency in including references as well as an account of facts/myths that were used as they were recorded vs those that were adjusted or invented for narrative purposes.
While the book itself would've likely put me off this author for good, the afterword gives me hope in author's writing skill, so I'd happily give another try in the future.
Received ARC from netgalley.
I had a lot of expectations going in, and was eager to love a book that could return me to my childhood pirates obsession. And it did wonderfully, up until ~50-60% mark where the format changed significantly and almost made me want to rate the book 2*. I will briefly explain below why, but I first want to acknowledge that reading the afterword changed my opinion to a certain degree and resulted in a higher rating.
While finishing the second half of the book, I was ranting how the author completely disregarded her own plans for the book. It started rather factually, presenting itself as a more serious historical fiction, wanting to portray the two famous female pirates in a way they deserved, and not as adjacent to male pirate captains and crews. I loved that the narrative included two separate perspectives, from each character, where we could hear their distinct voices — honest and to the point Mary who has nothing left to lose or gain vs an unreliable narrator Anne, spinning an entertaining tale of her woes for Captain Johnson, who goes from one cell to another. This format was abandoned the moment two women meet and, therefore, it is no longer obvious who's telling the story, or whether it is recollections by Captain Johnson (which would be silly & defeat the purpose of having a standalone book that claims to be its own version of A History of Pyrates).
Similarly, the addition of romance and the way it felt out of place and as an afterthought in Anne's sections left me with a bad aftertaste. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Mary's romance, discovering the characters for who they were. Anne and Rackham read as cardboards from a smutty YA, relying on tropes and "told not shown" handsomeness. While I get author's desire to focus more on Mary as a more forgotten person from this duo, it felt like disrespecting her own craft.
Finally, one last point that I personally find utterly distasteful in modern historical fiction, is proselytising about XXI century morals in a past century setting. Nothing undermines suspension of disbelief more than being preached on how this thing that's long been banned in our reality is bad. WE KNOW, THANK YOU FOR TELLING. The "tell vs show" balance is skewed very much towards the former.
Now, the afterword did affect my judgement, because the prose was reminiscent of the early chapters and sounded more sophisticated than the YA-type structure and expressions at the 50-75% mark. I genuinely wish the entire book read this way and hope maybe final editing will adjust it before it's published in February 2026. I appreciate author's transparency in including references as well as an account of facts/myths that were used as they were recorded vs those that were adjusted or invented for narrative purposes.
While the book itself would've likely put me off this author for good, the afterword gives me hope in author's writing skill, so I'd happily give another try in the future.
August 1, 2025
Really enjoyed the advanced copy of this pirate novel about Mary Read and Anne Bonney. Told to a captain whilst the ladies are in jail, we learn of how they ended up to be pirates and the loves along the way. Having watched the tv show Black Sails, I was familiar with Anne’s relationship with Jack Rackham but this book also fleshed out her early years too. Really enjoyed this book and found the afterword really informative.
January 19, 2025
The Determined by Rachel Rueckert is a great historical fiction that takes us deep into what it might have been like being a female pirate in the 18th century.
This is a fascinating HF that take sus into the lives of two females during the height piracy in the 1700s.
I have listened to a few podcasts on some of the real life female pirates, but I have never read anything like this before.
The author does a great job blending fact and fiction when presenting this story of female friendship, societal expectations, the risks, rewards, and what it must have been like risking, and hoping, for more out of life. Seizing the moment…taking a chance…to find happiness and a better life than what is handed to you at birth.
Loved it.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/29/25.
This is a fascinating HF that take sus into the lives of two females during the height piracy in the 1700s.
I have listened to a few podcasts on some of the real life female pirates, but I have never read anything like this before.
The author does a great job blending fact and fiction when presenting this story of female friendship, societal expectations, the risks, rewards, and what it must have been like risking, and hoping, for more out of life. Seizing the moment…taking a chance…to find happiness and a better life than what is handed to you at birth.
Loved it.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG and Kensington Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 4/29/25.
February 25, 2026
Thank you @rachelrueckert and @kensingtonbooks for the gifted copy!
The Determined
Rachel Rueckert
Publishing Date: February 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rachel Rueckert has done it again. I stumbled upon her previous novel, If the Tide Turns, almost two years ago and loved it. I’ve been anticipating this new release and it was well worth the wait.
Rachel tells a fictionalized, but thoroughly researched, story of the infamous female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
“𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚢, 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗’𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 — 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔, 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙𝚜 — 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚎𝚍.” - Rachel Rueckert
Rachel does such a fantastic job of telling the stories of historical female figures in a way that gives back the power that history and the patriarchy have stripped from them. Her stories are told with such care and sensitivity to all people.
This book was absolutely fantastic. The pacing was perfect, the characters well developed, the setting was vivid, and the story hooked me in and never let go. I was so invested in these two women. There is plenty of action, but also emotional depth, which hits a peak as you near the end. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this book.
As if the novel itself wasn’t enough, the Afterword where Rachel provides additional information about her research and process is also a must read. The respect that Rachel shows her characters, the transparency she gives her readers, and the research she does to ensure accuracy, is commendable.
Rachel is an amazing human and storyteller. If she writes it I’ll read it. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
.
.
“The world is not kind to women.”
“And whoever I am – whatever it means that I was born a female and go about the world as such – I resist being caged, confined and cornered, fixed into a time and place, stuck in a certain way or position. Determined.”
“They were two women who dared to subvert the rules and roles of the world.”
“She was power, unapologetic. A warrior. A woman. A myth and a fact — for herself and for all those voiceless others. A force to make the whole earth shake.”
“What of bravery? Kindness? Intelligence? The ability to listen?... I daresay you’ll make a fine mother because you’re a fine person.”
The Determined
Rachel Rueckert
Publishing Date: February 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rachel Rueckert has done it again. I stumbled upon her previous novel, If the Tide Turns, almost two years ago and loved it. I’ve been anticipating this new release and it was well worth the wait.
Rachel tells a fictionalized, but thoroughly researched, story of the infamous female pirates, Anne Bonny and Mary Read.
“𝙷𝚘𝚠 𝚍𝚘 𝚠𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚗 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚝𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏, 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚢, 𝚒𝚜 𝚊 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗? 𝚃𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚎𝚟𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚛𝚊 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗’𝚜 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 — 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚔, 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚐𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚙𝚜 — 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚟𝚎𝚍.” - Rachel Rueckert
Rachel does such a fantastic job of telling the stories of historical female figures in a way that gives back the power that history and the patriarchy have stripped from them. Her stories are told with such care and sensitivity to all people.
This book was absolutely fantastic. The pacing was perfect, the characters well developed, the setting was vivid, and the story hooked me in and never let go. I was so invested in these two women. There is plenty of action, but also emotional depth, which hits a peak as you near the end. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about this book.
As if the novel itself wasn’t enough, the Afterword where Rachel provides additional information about her research and process is also a must read. The respect that Rachel shows her characters, the transparency she gives her readers, and the research she does to ensure accuracy, is commendable.
Rachel is an amazing human and storyteller. If she writes it I’ll read it. I can’t wait to see what she does next.
.
.
“The world is not kind to women.”
“And whoever I am – whatever it means that I was born a female and go about the world as such – I resist being caged, confined and cornered, fixed into a time and place, stuck in a certain way or position. Determined.”
“They were two women who dared to subvert the rules and roles of the world.”
“She was power, unapologetic. A warrior. A woman. A myth and a fact — for herself and for all those voiceless others. A force to make the whole earth shake.”
“What of bravery? Kindness? Intelligence? The ability to listen?... I daresay you’ll make a fine mother because you’re a fine person.”
November 23, 2025
Mary knit her brow. “You’re suggesting that it isn’t a women’s competency that prevents them from joining crews, but rather men’s fear of them?”
“Yes. Some rubbish like that. It threatens a man’s strength. His way of being in the world. The natural order of things.” - Anne, The Determined
The Determined is a historical fiction novel exploring the stories of the two most famous female pirates - Mary Read and Anne Bonny - who lived and fought in the Caribbean during the fading Golden Age of Piracy. It draws from one of the only known authentic historical source on the history of piracy - A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson.
The Determined alternates between the background stories of each of these women. Mary Read was born in England to a father who was hung for being a pirate. In order to survive, Mary’s mother had her dress as a boy, a practice she kept up for much of her life. Anne Bonny was born in Ireland and grew up there, England and South Carolina before escaping to a life at sea. When the two women meet, Mary uncharacteristically offers help thus beginning the brief but intense friendship between the two women. Each experienced making difficult choices, grieving losses, and struggling to find safety. Further bonding them is being the only two female pirates in the
man’s world of piracy.
I never wanted to be approved to read a book so badly as this one and it did not disappoint. This novel was highly engaging and informative. I love when I learn history that I didn’t know before starting to read the book. Both women are strong and independent people who exhibit resilience, intelligence and courage especially when the pirate leading them, Calico Jack, falters in his leadership role. The author incorporates the real event of Captain Charles Johnson visiting the two pirates when they are captured and imprisoned separately to write down their story as a tool to reveal the women’s respective backgrounds within the novel. (And the history of Captain Johnson is just as fascinating - make sure you read the author’s note at the end!) The Determined also provides a window into what it meant to being a woman in the 1700’s - restricted roles, lack of respect, don’t push back against men, and don’t dare to be different or want more because you will be ostracized.
Anne sighed. “Being a burden - not a son…To be a woman is to be a liability. Dependent. Vulnerable. Trapped. Blamed. Hunted.” Then she sighed. “No, that’s not right - not the better part, anyway. But to give it language somehow feels…small. Limiting. And whoever I am - whatever it means that I was born a female and go about the world as such - I resist being caged, confined and cornered, fixed into a time and place, stuck in a certain way or position. Determined. I’m as much in flux as the shifting tides, as a ship aching to make way.”
The Determined is a powerful and moving story that highlights women who are bold and risk much to secure their rightful place in the volatile world of piracy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
“Yes. Some rubbish like that. It threatens a man’s strength. His way of being in the world. The natural order of things.” - Anne, The Determined
The Determined is a historical fiction novel exploring the stories of the two most famous female pirates - Mary Read and Anne Bonny - who lived and fought in the Caribbean during the fading Golden Age of Piracy. It draws from one of the only known authentic historical source on the history of piracy - A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson.
The Determined alternates between the background stories of each of these women. Mary Read was born in England to a father who was hung for being a pirate. In order to survive, Mary’s mother had her dress as a boy, a practice she kept up for much of her life. Anne Bonny was born in Ireland and grew up there, England and South Carolina before escaping to a life at sea. When the two women meet, Mary uncharacteristically offers help thus beginning the brief but intense friendship between the two women. Each experienced making difficult choices, grieving losses, and struggling to find safety. Further bonding them is being the only two female pirates in the
man’s world of piracy.
I never wanted to be approved to read a book so badly as this one and it did not disappoint. This novel was highly engaging and informative. I love when I learn history that I didn’t know before starting to read the book. Both women are strong and independent people who exhibit resilience, intelligence and courage especially when the pirate leading them, Calico Jack, falters in his leadership role. The author incorporates the real event of Captain Charles Johnson visiting the two pirates when they are captured and imprisoned separately to write down their story as a tool to reveal the women’s respective backgrounds within the novel. (And the history of Captain Johnson is just as fascinating - make sure you read the author’s note at the end!) The Determined also provides a window into what it meant to being a woman in the 1700’s - restricted roles, lack of respect, don’t push back against men, and don’t dare to be different or want more because you will be ostracized.
Anne sighed. “Being a burden - not a son…To be a woman is to be a liability. Dependent. Vulnerable. Trapped. Blamed. Hunted.” Then she sighed. “No, that’s not right - not the better part, anyway. But to give it language somehow feels…small. Limiting. And whoever I am - whatever it means that I was born a female and go about the world as such - I resist being caged, confined and cornered, fixed into a time and place, stuck in a certain way or position. Determined. I’m as much in flux as the shifting tides, as a ship aching to make way.”
The Determined is a powerful and moving story that highlights women who are bold and risk much to secure their rightful place in the volatile world of piracy.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
![Profile Image for Jamey [Longhollow.Lore].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1751370206i%2F7284478._UX200_CR0%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 5, 2026
The Determined follows the lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read, and it ended up being a story I didn’t realize I needed. Historical figures can sometimes feel distant, almost mythic, as if their lives belong more to legend than to reality. This novel does the opposite. It brings Anne and Mary into sharp focus as women navigating impossible expectations in a world that offered them very few choices.
Anne’s early story struck me in a surprisingly personal way. The pressure she places on herself to somehow protect and stabilize her family felt so oldest daughter coded that I caught myself shaking my head. Why do we take on burdens that were never meant to be ours? In a time when parents were meant to provide security, Anne instead finds herself trying to hold everything together.
Mary’s devotion to her mother carries a different kind of weight. Her care feels deeply sincere, even when her mother’s choices are imperfect. There’s a quiet altruism there that grounded her journey before the story ever reached the sea.
From there, the adventure begins. What follows feels expansive and epic, even though it only spans a handful of years. Reading about these women while sitting comfortably in my own routine made the stakes feel even sharper. Anne and Mary constantly place their safety, identity, and future in the hands of circumstances they can barely control. The tension of what happens if someone discovers the truth never really lets go.
At first, the idea of women disguising themselves as men almost felt far-fetched. But as the story unfolds and their motivations become clearer, it makes complete sense. Their choices are not reckless fantasy but determined acts of survival, agency, and freedom in a world that denied them both.
By the time their paths finally converge, their determination feels undeniable. What Rachel Rueckert captures so well is not just their legend as pirates, but their humanity. Their courage, their compassion, and their willingness to fight for even a sliver of freedom made this story feel both powerful and deeply real.
A special thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Anne’s early story struck me in a surprisingly personal way. The pressure she places on herself to somehow protect and stabilize her family felt so oldest daughter coded that I caught myself shaking my head. Why do we take on burdens that were never meant to be ours? In a time when parents were meant to provide security, Anne instead finds herself trying to hold everything together.
Mary’s devotion to her mother carries a different kind of weight. Her care feels deeply sincere, even when her mother’s choices are imperfect. There’s a quiet altruism there that grounded her journey before the story ever reached the sea.
From there, the adventure begins. What follows feels expansive and epic, even though it only spans a handful of years. Reading about these women while sitting comfortably in my own routine made the stakes feel even sharper. Anne and Mary constantly place their safety, identity, and future in the hands of circumstances they can barely control. The tension of what happens if someone discovers the truth never really lets go.
At first, the idea of women disguising themselves as men almost felt far-fetched. But as the story unfolds and their motivations become clearer, it makes complete sense. Their choices are not reckless fantasy but determined acts of survival, agency, and freedom in a world that denied them both.
By the time their paths finally converge, their determination feels undeniable. What Rachel Rueckert captures so well is not just their legend as pirates, but their humanity. Their courage, their compassion, and their willingness to fight for even a sliver of freedom made this story feel both powerful and deeply real.
A special thank you to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 3, 2026
Thank you @rachelrueckert @kensingtonbooks #partner for the gifted copy of this amazing book!
Ahoyyyy because I have another pirate tale to rave about ⚓🏴☠️
I just finished The Determined by Rachel Rueckert and let me tell you...I am officially a forever fan of her swashbuckling stories. Consider me part of this crew for life. Woot!
This one dives into the legendary lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read who are two women who defied every societal expectation. They disguised themselves as men and went about their business to make pirate history. I am talking life at sea, lots of danger, hidden identities and loyalty. Of course all with enough grit that would make any sailor tip their hat. Yes ma’am.
What I love most about Rachel’s books is her character work. She didn’t just drop me into history...she made me a part of their lives and I felt like I lived there. Her author’s notes are always a favorite part for me because I can feel the research and care poured into these women’s stories.
I loved watching Anne and Mary navigate brutal sea life while hiding their gender. The determination, the fire, the refusal to bend to the rules of the time — I ate it up. I will always love getting a peek into the lives of women in history who didn’t stick to the “acceptable” path. The rule breakers are always a favorite of mine!
Rachel’s writing is immersive and so detailed. It’s so easy to become invested in her characters and I personally loved exploring a time period I don’t often read about. This book felt fresh and bold!
This is perfect if you love:
⚓ pirate adventures
🔥 strong-willed women
📜 historical fiction with a unique edge
🌊 stories about women who refused to stay below deck
Hoist the sails and add this to your TBR, matey! This book is a treasure worth finding.
Ahoyyyy because I have another pirate tale to rave about ⚓🏴☠️
I just finished The Determined by Rachel Rueckert and let me tell you...I am officially a forever fan of her swashbuckling stories. Consider me part of this crew for life. Woot!
This one dives into the legendary lives of Anne Bonny and Mary Read who are two women who defied every societal expectation. They disguised themselves as men and went about their business to make pirate history. I am talking life at sea, lots of danger, hidden identities and loyalty. Of course all with enough grit that would make any sailor tip their hat. Yes ma’am.
What I love most about Rachel’s books is her character work. She didn’t just drop me into history...she made me a part of their lives and I felt like I lived there. Her author’s notes are always a favorite part for me because I can feel the research and care poured into these women’s stories.
I loved watching Anne and Mary navigate brutal sea life while hiding their gender. The determination, the fire, the refusal to bend to the rules of the time — I ate it up. I will always love getting a peek into the lives of women in history who didn’t stick to the “acceptable” path. The rule breakers are always a favorite of mine!
Rachel’s writing is immersive and so detailed. It’s so easy to become invested in her characters and I personally loved exploring a time period I don’t often read about. This book felt fresh and bold!
This is perfect if you love:
⚓ pirate adventures
🔥 strong-willed women
📜 historical fiction with a unique edge
🌊 stories about women who refused to stay below deck
Hoist the sails and add this to your TBR, matey! This book is a treasure worth finding.
February 28, 2026
I gave The Determined four ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you Kensington Publishing, Net Galley and Rachel Rueckert for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.
I really enjoyed reading about Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two real life female pirates in the very early 1700s during the Golden Age of Pirates.
The story opens with Anne in prison in Spanish Town Jamaica in 1721, but then goes back to her childhood in County Cork, Ireland in 1705. It goes back and forth like that until it introduces Mary Read in London England in 1695. Mary’s chapter opens with “Mary was eleven years old the day she learned she was a girl and wasn’t named Mark.” 😳 (*please note, I am quoting from the ARC version, so that could change by final publication). Then, we find out Mary is also in prison in Spanish Town, Jamaica and both Anne and Mary are pregnant.
The author does a good job of explaining how each woman got to where they are, from childhood until the present day in prison. It was difficult, at first, to keep track of the timeframe as the author goes back and forth from the prison to each woman and their time leading up to prison.
There was some lax writing around the 60% mark, where it was more about a romance that didn’t really lend itself well to the story, in my opinion.
The author’s afterward was well worth the read and explained a lot to tie up some lose ends and separate fact from fiction.
Well worth the read! It published February 24, 2026.
I really enjoyed reading about Anne Bonny and Mary Read, two real life female pirates in the very early 1700s during the Golden Age of Pirates.
The story opens with Anne in prison in Spanish Town Jamaica in 1721, but then goes back to her childhood in County Cork, Ireland in 1705. It goes back and forth like that until it introduces Mary Read in London England in 1695. Mary’s chapter opens with “Mary was eleven years old the day she learned she was a girl and wasn’t named Mark.” 😳 (*please note, I am quoting from the ARC version, so that could change by final publication). Then, we find out Mary is also in prison in Spanish Town, Jamaica and both Anne and Mary are pregnant.
The author does a good job of explaining how each woman got to where they are, from childhood until the present day in prison. It was difficult, at first, to keep track of the timeframe as the author goes back and forth from the prison to each woman and their time leading up to prison.
There was some lax writing around the 60% mark, where it was more about a romance that didn’t really lend itself well to the story, in my opinion.
The author’s afterward was well worth the read and explained a lot to tie up some lose ends and separate fact from fiction.
Well worth the read! It published February 24, 2026.
February 25, 2026
I received The Determined in return for an honest review from the author.
Anne and Mary have been captures and if not for being pregnant they would have never made it as long as they did. Anne is visited by a writer who’s determined to write her story at any cost and strikes up a deal for it. The story bounced between her current situation and back in time as the two woman’s lives are changed. They both grew up in different worlds but fate places them together.
I loved Anne and Mary they both had to overcome so much but they didn’t give up. I think I liked that fact that Mary pretended to be a man in order to survive even joining a war. I found them both easy to connect with and cheered them on through the whole story. I loved that this is an action packed adventure with just a little sweet romance.
I devoured this in just one reading session I was hooked right from the start till the very last page. I’ve not read a lot of historical fiction but for this author she’s on my auto-read list. This book is beautifully written it captivated my imagination and stole a place in my heart. This was a emotional read for me and it pulled at my heart strings. I loved every moment of the book it was such a fun read and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
Anne and Mary have been captures and if not for being pregnant they would have never made it as long as they did. Anne is visited by a writer who’s determined to write her story at any cost and strikes up a deal for it. The story bounced between her current situation and back in time as the two woman’s lives are changed. They both grew up in different worlds but fate places them together.
I loved Anne and Mary they both had to overcome so much but they didn’t give up. I think I liked that fact that Mary pretended to be a man in order to survive even joining a war. I found them both easy to connect with and cheered them on through the whole story. I loved that this is an action packed adventure with just a little sweet romance.
I devoured this in just one reading session I was hooked right from the start till the very last page. I’ve not read a lot of historical fiction but for this author she’s on my auto-read list. This book is beautifully written it captivated my imagination and stole a place in my heart. This was a emotional read for me and it pulled at my heart strings. I loved every moment of the book it was such a fun read and I can’t wait to see what the author comes up with next.
August 18, 2025
This was a good historical fiction novel focused on Anne Bonny and Mary Read, as well as Captain Charles Johnson. I chose this book having thoroughly enjoyed Saltblood by Francesca de Tores, and I don’t want to compare them too much but this did influence my experience of reading The Determined. I liked how Rueckert stayed quite true to many of the historical points for which we have evidence, while also adding various fictional flairs where necessary and/or desirable. The afterword provided good detail on the fact vs fiction of the story.
I did find the jumping timelines slightly jarring at times, but this did enable more context to be provided. Additionally, the author talks in the afterword about wanting to portray both Anne Bonny and Mary Read, since most historians and other fictional portrayals focus on just Anne Bonny or characters like her, but I felt like after the backstory for Mary early on in the book, the rest of it really focused on Anne. Saltblood focused a lot more on Mary and less on Anne, so I guess reading both gives you more insight into both of them, but the two books have fairly different characterisations of them. Rueckert also chooses a different fate for Mary to the one de Tores used in Saltblood, but this seems to be one of the points where there is little to no historical evidence, so the two authors have made different decisions on how to tie that up.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction, retellings focused on women who have been somewhat overlooked, and/or have an interest in pirates!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
I did find the jumping timelines slightly jarring at times, but this did enable more context to be provided. Additionally, the author talks in the afterword about wanting to portray both Anne Bonny and Mary Read, since most historians and other fictional portrayals focus on just Anne Bonny or characters like her, but I felt like after the backstory for Mary early on in the book, the rest of it really focused on Anne. Saltblood focused a lot more on Mary and less on Anne, so I guess reading both gives you more insight into both of them, but the two books have fairly different characterisations of them. Rueckert also chooses a different fate for Mary to the one de Tores used in Saltblood, but this seems to be one of the points where there is little to no historical evidence, so the two authors have made different decisions on how to tie that up.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you enjoy historical fiction, retellings focused on women who have been somewhat overlooked, and/or have an interest in pirates!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review!
February 25, 2026
We need to talk about The Determined by Rachel Rueckert and narrated by Polly Lee. I need to thank Net Galley, Kensington Publishing, and Dreamscape Media for my e-arc and advance listener copy. I enjoyed the narration in the audio book. The change in accents for the characters is well done. I'm in my female pirate era, because every story that comes around, I pick it up and read it. In this story, we are focused on two women who become pirates because in the 18th century, there were not a lot of options for women who are forced to eek out a life because they don't have any other choice. I loved the relationship between the two women, Mary and Anne, and I love their grit and determination. This is a retelling of the events of their lives, and I definitely enjoyed this read. It is definitely a slower moving read and it is a bit uneven in its pacing. I definitely wish the retelling is what really happened.
Thank you so much Net Galley, Kensington Publishing, and Dreamscape Media for my advance listener copy. This book is out today, February 24, 2026.
Thank you so much Net Galley, Kensington Publishing, and Dreamscape Media for my advance listener copy. This book is out today, February 24, 2026.
November 18, 2025
The Determined reimagines the lives of two of piracy's most compelling figures, Anne Bonny and Mary Read. Women whose real stories sit somewhere between fact and legend. The story begins with both women imprisoned in Jamaica in 1721, pregnant and awaiting execution after being convicted of piracy.
Their lives appear to have come to a halt, but the arrival of Captain Charles Johnson, who plans to record their stories for a book, opens the door to a fantastical recounting of their pasts.
As Anne bargains for ink, paper, and news of her ailing friend, the story shifts between her present confinement and the years that shaped her: her upbringing in Ireland as the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man, her family’s move to the Carolinas, and her eventual entanglement with James Bonny and the notorious pirate Calico Jack. Her chapters trace how a girl boxed in by social expectations transforms into a fiercely independent woman forced to carve out a place for herself in a world not meant for her.
Mary’s journey moves along its own striking trajectory. Raised as “Mark Read” in London to preserve her and her mother’s survival, Mary grows up believing herself a boy until circumstances force the truth into the open. Her story spans naval service, the cavalry, and a brief but deeply meaningful love that reshapes her sense of self. When tragedy pushes her toward the sea once more, she finds herself in the Caribbean, where her path finally intersects with Anne’s aboard Rackham’s ship.
Their intertwined narratives are told through alternating flashbacks alongside their tense, uncomfortable days in prison. Creating a portrait of two women who didn’t set out to be rebels, but refused to accept the limits placed on them and women of the time. Rueckert mixes documented history with imaginative reconstruction, filling in the gaps left in between. Both women’s backstories feel believable and rawly emotional, and the imagined details fit seamlessly into the known historical framework.
Rueckert tells an amazing story, she brings Anne and Mary to life as full, complex people rather than the caricatures history often reduces them to. Their motivations feel fully set in the realities of the early 1700s, especially the stark curtailments placed on women. The book balances adventure, hardship, and introspection, and while it has moments of violence and darkness true to the era, it also highlights female resilience and friendship in a genuinely moving way.
The Determined is an engrossing historical novel that is rich with research and anchored by two unforgettable protagonists. There is both adventure and insight into what it meant to survive as a woman in a harsh, unforgiving world. Fans of historical fiction, maritime stories, or women’s history will find this a compelling and worthwhile read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.
"A scene of two women, pregnant, fighting for their lives while their drunken crewmates and ship leadership cowered in the hold. It is almost like these women had something more to fight for."
Their lives appear to have come to a halt, but the arrival of Captain Charles Johnson, who plans to record their stories for a book, opens the door to a fantastical recounting of their pasts.
As Anne bargains for ink, paper, and news of her ailing friend, the story shifts between her present confinement and the years that shaped her: her upbringing in Ireland as the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy man, her family’s move to the Carolinas, and her eventual entanglement with James Bonny and the notorious pirate Calico Jack. Her chapters trace how a girl boxed in by social expectations transforms into a fiercely independent woman forced to carve out a place for herself in a world not meant for her.
Mary’s journey moves along its own striking trajectory. Raised as “Mark Read” in London to preserve her and her mother’s survival, Mary grows up believing herself a boy until circumstances force the truth into the open. Her story spans naval service, the cavalry, and a brief but deeply meaningful love that reshapes her sense of self. When tragedy pushes her toward the sea once more, she finds herself in the Caribbean, where her path finally intersects with Anne’s aboard Rackham’s ship.
Their intertwined narratives are told through alternating flashbacks alongside their tense, uncomfortable days in prison. Creating a portrait of two women who didn’t set out to be rebels, but refused to accept the limits placed on them and women of the time. Rueckert mixes documented history with imaginative reconstruction, filling in the gaps left in between. Both women’s backstories feel believable and rawly emotional, and the imagined details fit seamlessly into the known historical framework.
Rueckert tells an amazing story, she brings Anne and Mary to life as full, complex people rather than the caricatures history often reduces them to. Their motivations feel fully set in the realities of the early 1700s, especially the stark curtailments placed on women. The book balances adventure, hardship, and introspection, and while it has moments of violence and darkness true to the era, it also highlights female resilience and friendship in a genuinely moving way.
The Determined is an engrossing historical novel that is rich with research and anchored by two unforgettable protagonists. There is both adventure and insight into what it meant to survive as a woman in a harsh, unforgiving world. Fans of historical fiction, maritime stories, or women’s history will find this a compelling and worthwhile read.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.
"A scene of two women, pregnant, fighting for their lives while their drunken crewmates and ship leadership cowered in the hold. It is almost like these women had something more to fight for."
October 27, 2025
W🏴☠️W- what a story! I didn’t want to put this ARC down, and I learned so much about the 1700’s, piracy, and social constructs surrounding identity. To be a woman served very little advantage, so we see the family dynamics that lead both Anne and Mary to the sea and piracy. Based on truth, legend, and myths, this historical fiction read unveils how the sea is personified as females as well as the sirens who lure men away from home, but no ships allowed females on them for superstition, except one.
Told through flashback, we learn both Mary and Anne’s backstories and gain a love for Bjorn, Jack, the captain, and other characters along the way, who all transform the journey of piracy. Definitely an action-packed book that reminds us all heroes didn’t wear pants, or if they did, they might have been disguising their femininity to succeed along with the men.
“Can memories be a home?”
“You’re suggesting that it isn’t women’s competency that prevents them from joining a crew, but men’s fear of them?”
Told through flashback, we learn both Mary and Anne’s backstories and gain a love for Bjorn, Jack, the captain, and other characters along the way, who all transform the journey of piracy. Definitely an action-packed book that reminds us all heroes didn’t wear pants, or if they did, they might have been disguising their femininity to succeed along with the men.
“Can memories be a home?”
“You’re suggesting that it isn’t women’s competency that prevents them from joining a crew, but men’s fear of them?”
August 1, 2025
Firstly thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.
Coming from the town where Blackbeard was born I was really interested to read this book . I had heard of Ann Bonney though the TV show Black Sails but did not know much about Mary Read.
This book only took me 48 hours to complete and I was really engaged throughout . Found their lives really interesting how they came to piracy and what happened to them. Really enjoyed it . Highly recommend
Coming from the town where Blackbeard was born I was really interested to read this book . I had heard of Ann Bonney though the TV show Black Sails but did not know much about Mary Read.
This book only took me 48 hours to complete and I was really engaged throughout . Found their lives really interesting how they came to piracy and what happened to them. Really enjoyed it . Highly recommend
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for this Arc! I found the book a really interesting historical fiction and a nice change from what I usually read. I really liked the quick chapters which made it engaging and quick to read and I loved Mary and Anne's friendship and the piracy of course was fun but I found it abit hard to keep up with the storyline and occasionally boring in some chapters and hard to focus espically before Anne and Mary met but other than that it was a really good read and I loved reading about Anne and Mary's stories simultaneously
February 28, 2026
I devoured this book. It’s not just pirate debauchery, it’s a reimagining of how history’s most infamous women of the sea, Anne Bonny and Mary Read, may have ended up sailing beside John “Calico Jack” Rackham. Anne and Mary were real, but their lives leaves us with more questions than answers. And the author gives us a raw and consuming story for them… I had to remember at times that I was reading fiction, though bits and pieces are true. Want a tale of strongly independent woman who will do anything to survive?! Read this immediately. And I highly advise not to skip the afterword either.
December 16, 2025
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.
I genuinely enjoyed this story, especially the focus on Mary and Anne, but I couldn’t help wishing they had been given more time together on the page. Their relationship was the core of the book, yet the ending felt rushed, with several plot threads and character arcs wrapped up far too quickly.
What truly worked for me was the portrayal of their friendship. The story details that the most enduring and meaningful love in a person’s life doesn’t have to be romantic—or male—but can exist in the form of a powerful, loyal friendship. Mary and Anne complemented each other perfectly, balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Their dynamic was the heart of the narrative, and it’s what stayed with me after I finished reading.
However, nearly every male character in the book was annoying. They were portrayed as cowardly, self-serving, and obnoxious, often acting as obstacles rather than fully realized characters.
I genuinely enjoyed this story, especially the focus on Mary and Anne, but I couldn’t help wishing they had been given more time together on the page. Their relationship was the core of the book, yet the ending felt rushed, with several plot threads and character arcs wrapped up far too quickly.
What truly worked for me was the portrayal of their friendship. The story details that the most enduring and meaningful love in a person’s life doesn’t have to be romantic—or male—but can exist in the form of a powerful, loyal friendship. Mary and Anne complemented each other perfectly, balancing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Their dynamic was the heart of the narrative, and it’s what stayed with me after I finished reading.
However, nearly every male character in the book was annoying. They were portrayed as cowardly, self-serving, and obnoxious, often acting as obstacles rather than fully realized characters.
January 11, 2026
A roller coaster of emotions with perfect comedic timing! Despite understanding the general direction of the story, I was still delightfully surprised with the intricacies and life the author brought to the characters, I could not put it down. One I would definitely read again to catch more of the nuance. You feel like Mary and Anne are two women you know and love personally by the end and their sorrows are your own, this book did leave me in tears.
February 9, 2026
I received this book as an ARC and was so excited because it hit two of my main interests: pirates and women (!!!) Unfortunately the front half of the book was quite slow, and it took me a while to get to a point where I wanted to KEEP reading.
At about the 50% mark, Anne and Mary come together to maximize their joint slay and I was quite invested. This only lasted until about 75% when the pace fell back off again for the rest of the book. I’m not sure if all my issues lied in the pacing, but it is definitely a large part of why this didn’t quite work for me.
At about the 50% mark, Anne and Mary come together to maximize their joint slay and I was quite invested. This only lasted until about 75% when the pace fell back off again for the rest of the book. I’m not sure if all my issues lied in the pacing, but it is definitely a large part of why this didn’t quite work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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