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Bloody Black
He stole her throne, she's come back to reclaim it.
Anne was a reckless, arrogant royal who had never tasted defeat. After a brutal betrayal on her wedding night, Anne vanishes from the kingdom she was meant to rule. Years later, she’s returns from the grave—no longer a princess, but a terror of the seas. Known only as Blackbeard, she’s hunting down the men who destroyed her, one by one. Vengeance doesn’t come without a cost. Brutal bargains with a demon collar her, and bind her to a dark promise.
When she captures Lieutenant Robb Maynard—a too-handsome, too-calm officer loyal to her enemy—Anne intends to trade him for leverage. Instead, she finds herself locked in a dangerous game of secrets and seduction, where the greatest threat isn’t a blade—but the way he looks at her.
Like she’s still a woman worth loving.
And while she knows better than to believe in anything but pain... Anne must decide if life is worth the risk—or if trusting the wrong man will cost her everything she has built.
A full list of trigger warnings can be found on the author's website. Your mental health is important; read at your own risk.
Anne was a reckless, arrogant royal who had never tasted defeat. After a brutal betrayal on her wedding night, Anne vanishes from the kingdom she was meant to rule. Years later, she’s returns from the grave—no longer a princess, but a terror of the seas. Known only as Blackbeard, she’s hunting down the men who destroyed her, one by one. Vengeance doesn’t come without a cost. Brutal bargains with a demon collar her, and bind her to a dark promise.
When she captures Lieutenant Robb Maynard—a too-handsome, too-calm officer loyal to her enemy—Anne intends to trade him for leverage. Instead, she finds herself locked in a dangerous game of secrets and seduction, where the greatest threat isn’t a blade—but the way he looks at her.
Like she’s still a woman worth loving.
And while she knows better than to believe in anything but pain... Anne must decide if life is worth the risk—or if trusting the wrong man will cost her everything she has built.
A full list of trigger warnings can be found on the author's website. Your mental health is important; read at your own risk.
541 pages, Paperback
First published August 25, 2025
792 people are currently reading
24063 people want to read
About the author
Rhiannon Hargadon
10 books532 followersThere was a willow I loved by a creek; sometimes I slept there. I was never afraid, alone in the dark. There was nothing to fear from water and trees and fairytales.
The real monsters were always people.
...
Can we forgive injustice?
Do we accept the fate forced upon us?
Should we fight, no matter the cost?
How do we move on from great loss?
What would you trade to relive one moment?
I write folklore and mythology inspired dark fantasy. Emphasis on dark. I don't shy away from serious issues and emotions: suicide, depression, mental illness, abuse, death, infertility, and assault are all in my books. These are not for pleasure or shock value, but because I want to write about authentic pain and suffering, and how we heal ourselves through the bad things that have been done to us.
My books will probably make you cry. I hope it helps more than it harms.
Official Site: https://www.rhiannonhargadon.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonhar...
Email: hello AT rhiannonhargadon.com
Tiktok: rhiannonhargadon
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rhian...
Thanks for reading.
The real monsters were always people.
...
Can we forgive injustice?
Do we accept the fate forced upon us?
Should we fight, no matter the cost?
How do we move on from great loss?
What would you trade to relive one moment?
I write folklore and mythology inspired dark fantasy. Emphasis on dark. I don't shy away from serious issues and emotions: suicide, depression, mental illness, abuse, death, infertility, and assault are all in my books. These are not for pleasure or shock value, but because I want to write about authentic pain and suffering, and how we heal ourselves through the bad things that have been done to us.
My books will probably make you cry. I hope it helps more than it harms.
Official Site: https://www.rhiannonhargadon.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhiannonhar...
Email: hello AT rhiannonhargadon.com
Tiktok: rhiannonhargadon
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/rhian...
Thanks for reading.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,083 reviews
September 26, 2025
If Buttercup from the Princess Bride became a feral pirate queen…
October 14, 2025
4 stars
First line: "'Are your feet made of iron?' Ben yanks me out of the arena, cursing my clumsiness."
I found myself not enjoying fantasy for a while earlier this year so, I took a break and read mostly horror and thrillers. I figured my love for the genre would return soon enough - and this book did a good job of reigniting it. I always enjoy any type of ocean / siren / pirate / mermaid setting. I would highly recommend skipping the summary on this one if possible and going into it blind because I think the premise gives away a bit too much. And definitely check the trigger warnings - most things don't bother me personally but there's some particularly sensitive subject matter early on in the story.
I really liked Anne. I related to her zest for life as a young adult and the mistakes she made due to her naivety and her ability to look back on them after some life experience. I rooted for her to get sweet revenge against those that wronged her. I also appreciated the side characters, the author did a good job giving them all unique personalities and making me care for them as individuals. I think Xandretta was probably my favorite - but I liked Prudence a lot too, and the banter among the crew in general was just fun.
I was a bit apprehensive about the romance at first, but the way it progressed felt natural to me. Anne needed a lot of time and patience, understandably. The Blackbeard / Jolly Roger bits were interesting too. This book is over 500 pages and I blew through in a few days so, for me, that says a lot. I will be looking into Hargadon's other titles for sure.
First line: "'Are your feet made of iron?' Ben yanks me out of the arena, cursing my clumsiness."
I found myself not enjoying fantasy for a while earlier this year so, I took a break and read mostly horror and thrillers. I figured my love for the genre would return soon enough - and this book did a good job of reigniting it. I always enjoy any type of ocean / siren / pirate / mermaid setting. I would highly recommend skipping the summary on this one if possible and going into it blind because I think the premise gives away a bit too much. And definitely check the trigger warnings - most things don't bother me personally but there's some particularly sensitive subject matter early on in the story.
I really liked Anne. I related to her zest for life as a young adult and the mistakes she made due to her naivety and her ability to look back on them after some life experience. I rooted for her to get sweet revenge against those that wronged her. I also appreciated the side characters, the author did a good job giving them all unique personalities and making me care for them as individuals. I think Xandretta was probably my favorite - but I liked Prudence a lot too, and the banter among the crew in general was just fun.
I was a bit apprehensive about the romance at first, but the way it progressed felt natural to me. Anne needed a lot of time and patience, understandably. The Blackbeard / Jolly Roger bits were interesting too. This book is over 500 pages and I blew through in a few days so, for me, that says a lot. I will be looking into Hargadon's other titles for sure.
September 16, 2025
We have another pirate romantasy banger🏴☠️
This one is definitely up there with the Ever King for me and had all the makings of a book I’d love! The best way I can describe this book is a Blackbeard retelling but make it a revenge story full of feminine rage. Bloody Black is perfect for the dark romantasy readers who love pirates, found family, revenge quests, morally grey characters, and a steamy enemies to lovers romance (aka me🙋🏻♀️). So naturally I binged this in 2 days, I could not put it down!
This book follows our morally grey FMC Anne, a queen hellbent on vengeance against all the men who have brutally wronged her. Anne’s story is rife with betrayal, which has left her with one singular purpose: plotting and exacting her revenge. With the help of her crew, she crafts the reputation of a ruthless, brutal pirate captain who goes by the name of Blackbeard. As she sails the seas hunting down the men responsible for her downfall, she takes captive an enemy captain, who stirs in her something she thought was forever lost. With the realization that she now has something to lose, Anne finds herself questioning the lengths she’ll go to for her own revenge. And in her quest to avenge herself and other victims like her, Anne unexpectedly finds her path to healing and a new beginning.
Disclaimer: This romantasy is on the darker side with some heavy themes and graphic scenes, so definitely check the trigger warnings before reading.
This one is definitely up there with the Ever King for me and had all the makings of a book I’d love! The best way I can describe this book is a Blackbeard retelling but make it a revenge story full of feminine rage. Bloody Black is perfect for the dark romantasy readers who love pirates, found family, revenge quests, morally grey characters, and a steamy enemies to lovers romance (aka me🙋🏻♀️). So naturally I binged this in 2 days, I could not put it down!
This book follows our morally grey FMC Anne, a queen hellbent on vengeance against all the men who have brutally wronged her. Anne’s story is rife with betrayal, which has left her with one singular purpose: plotting and exacting her revenge. With the help of her crew, she crafts the reputation of a ruthless, brutal pirate captain who goes by the name of Blackbeard. As she sails the seas hunting down the men responsible for her downfall, she takes captive an enemy captain, who stirs in her something she thought was forever lost. With the realization that she now has something to lose, Anne finds herself questioning the lengths she’ll go to for her own revenge. And in her quest to avenge herself and other victims like her, Anne unexpectedly finds her path to healing and a new beginning.
Disclaimer: This romantasy is on the darker side with some heavy themes and graphic scenes, so definitely check the trigger warnings before reading.
August 25, 2025
I feel empty now that I’ve finished this book, but in a good way. This book took a part of me with it. It latched on to me, and when it ended, it took that part of me and left me sad, happy, devastated, smiling, satisfied, and unsure what to do now.
This book is incredibly good. Before I read it, I kept seeing 5 star review after 5 star review. I became skeptical that it could possibly be that good, and I also thought there’s no way I’m going to like it if this many people do. But it really is that good, and I really really loved it.
If you like the Mindf*** Series, you will absolutely love this book. Anne, our FMC, is Lana Meyers if she were a super cool pirate who was murdered and came back to life to get revenge against every single person who wronged her.
The action, the plot, the characters, the romance: it all combines so effortlessly and sucks you right into the world. I genuinely liked all the characters, except of course the ones you’re supposed to hate. I also loved that there’s actual, historical names in this book that almost ground it in reality while still very much keeping it as a work of fiction.
There’s a single thing about this book that bugged me. There’s a time jump, because there needs to be, but it’s placed so strangely. I feel like we need one more chapter before the jump so it wasn’t so awkward. We’re like in the middle of something big, then suddenly it’s three years later. That part didn’t make much sense to me. It didn’t impact my rating, but I just want to prepare others for the slightly awkward jump.
If you’re looking for a dark fantasy that will rip your heart out multiple times, this one is definitely for you. Just make sure you check your triggers, and don’t force yourself to read chapter six if you aren’t comfortable with it.
Thank you very much to Rhiannon Hargadon for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is incredibly good. Before I read it, I kept seeing 5 star review after 5 star review. I became skeptical that it could possibly be that good, and I also thought there’s no way I’m going to like it if this many people do. But it really is that good, and I really really loved it.
If you like the Mindf*** Series, you will absolutely love this book. Anne, our FMC, is Lana Meyers if she were a super cool pirate who was murdered and came back to life to get revenge against every single person who wronged her.
The action, the plot, the characters, the romance: it all combines so effortlessly and sucks you right into the world. I genuinely liked all the characters, except of course the ones you’re supposed to hate. I also loved that there’s actual, historical names in this book that almost ground it in reality while still very much keeping it as a work of fiction.
There’s a single thing about this book that bugged me. There’s a time jump, because there needs to be, but it’s placed so strangely. I feel like we need one more chapter before the jump so it wasn’t so awkward. We’re like in the middle of something big, then suddenly it’s three years later. That part didn’t make much sense to me. It didn’t impact my rating, but I just want to prepare others for the slightly awkward jump.
If you’re looking for a dark fantasy that will rip your heart out multiple times, this one is definitely for you. Just make sure you check your triggers, and don’t force yourself to read chapter six if you aren’t comfortable with it.
Thank you very much to Rhiannon Hargadon for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2025
“ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴀʟᴋ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛɪᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱ ᴅɪʀᴛʏ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜰɪɢʜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ʀɪɢʜᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ’ʀᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴀꜰʀᴀɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴀ ꜱᴡᴏʀᴅ.”
This is the first standalone I’ve picked up in forever (maybe ever??) and ohhh my gosh did it deliver. This book had me wanting to drop everything, run to the beach, feel the seabreeze on my face, and binge-watch my all-time favorite pirate movies (yes, I’m talking Pirates of the Caribbean 🏴☠️).
We’ve all heard the story of Blackbeard—but what if Blackbeard was a woman? What if pirates didn’t just steal and destroy, but instead sailed to save and bring safety back to those who’d been harmed? Rhiannon Hargadon took that “what if” and spun it into a story that was both so fierce and sooo beautiful.
Anne. My queen. Our strong, morally gray FMC. She might have grown up in a castle, she might be a princess, but she does not bend, she does not break. She carries so much on her shoulders—doing her best to protect the people she’s come to love. She takes the awful thing that happened to her (please please please check the trigger warnings, my loves 💌) and instead of letting it consume her, she transforms it into strength, into leadership, into a mission. And the best part? Her crew refuses to let her fight those demons alone. They stand with her, lift her up, and become the kind of found family that makes your heart ache in the best way.
And then there’s Robb. Sweet, cinnamon-roll, puppy-eyed Robb. The way he’s patient and kind with Anne, the way he respects her fears and boundaries, the way their banter had me giggling while their tender moments had me clutching my chest—I am obsessed.
Tropes you’ll find in here:
✦ Morally gray FMC
✦ Revenge
✦ Found family
✦ Cinnamon roll MMC
✦ Pirates (!!!)
Between the witty banter, the raw emotions, the healing, and the absolute adventure of it all, this book gave me everything I wanted and more. I adored it. And I can’t wait to read it all over again!!
Huge thank you to Rhiannon for the opportunity to be an early reader of Bloody Black. I feel so lucky to have sailed on this adventure before release day—this story will stick with me for a long time. ♥︎
This is the first standalone I’ve picked up in forever (maybe ever??) and ohhh my gosh did it deliver. This book had me wanting to drop everything, run to the beach, feel the seabreeze on my face, and binge-watch my all-time favorite pirate movies (yes, I’m talking Pirates of the Caribbean 🏴☠️).
We’ve all heard the story of Blackbeard—but what if Blackbeard was a woman? What if pirates didn’t just steal and destroy, but instead sailed to save and bring safety back to those who’d been harmed? Rhiannon Hargadon took that “what if” and spun it into a story that was both so fierce and sooo beautiful.
Anne. My queen. Our strong, morally gray FMC. She might have grown up in a castle, she might be a princess, but she does not bend, she does not break. She carries so much on her shoulders—doing her best to protect the people she’s come to love. She takes the awful thing that happened to her (please please please check the trigger warnings, my loves 💌) and instead of letting it consume her, she transforms it into strength, into leadership, into a mission. And the best part? Her crew refuses to let her fight those demons alone. They stand with her, lift her up, and become the kind of found family that makes your heart ache in the best way.
And then there’s Robb. Sweet, cinnamon-roll, puppy-eyed Robb. The way he’s patient and kind with Anne, the way he respects her fears and boundaries, the way their banter had me giggling while their tender moments had me clutching my chest—I am obsessed.
Tropes you’ll find in here:
✦ Morally gray FMC
✦ Revenge
✦ Found family
✦ Cinnamon roll MMC
✦ Pirates (!!!)
Between the witty banter, the raw emotions, the healing, and the absolute adventure of it all, this book gave me everything I wanted and more. I adored it. And I can’t wait to read it all over again!!
Huge thank you to Rhiannon for the opportunity to be an early reader of Bloody Black. I feel so lucky to have sailed on this adventure before release day—this story will stick with me for a long time. ♥︎
September 1, 2025
✨Bloody Black✨
Author: Rhiannon Hargadon
Release: September 29, 2025
This book was more than a good time. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking message. It was terror and hope all wrapped in one. A story of the horror that is sexual assault, the pain and sacrifice that is vengeance, and the joy and freedom that is love and friendship. This standalone Blackbeard retelling isn’t for the faint of heart (read the TW and skip chapter 6, if needed- I know I did), but it is moving and important and a salute to all those who have experienced darkness… ringing one loud anthem cry: you are more than the things that have happened to you.
Bloody Black is a unique retelling of Blackbeard if he were a well, a she. The events that lead up to our crown princess selling her soul to a demon for vengeance was dark, evil, and hit too close to home in some areas. Anne is innocent in the games evil men play for revenge yet used as a marker of success towards their victory. The betrayal she experiences by those she trusted hurt so badly it felt visceral.
Rhiannon, however, doesn’t let us sit in the hurt. No, she continues to weave a tale that makes us think deeper than the act of vengeance. Alongside our dysfunctional and mythical found family, we follow Anne as she claims retribution on those that used her as a step in their plans. And while it feels so good to see her acquire moments she’s worked so hard towards, we also see what happens after justice is taken: emptiness. Bring in our golden retriever captive, Lieutenant Robb, and Anne finds herself having to choose between her path back to the throne and healing.
I found myself GLUED to these pages and that last 20% had me SICK trying to figure out how this could all possibly end up good in some way. But Rhi does a PHENOMENAL job at navigating really difficult topics and bringing tears and healing not only to our characters… but also to me. This is a story that will sit near to my heart.
Tropes you may find in BB are forced proximity, captive x captor, bargains with a demon, mythical creatures, found family, lots of banter, medium spice, SA/trauma/panic attack rep and healing, comfort and trust, he falls first, hidden identities and plot twists, check TW, and a HEA.
Rhi, thank you for the opportunity to be an arc reader for you. It’s such an honor and pleasure.
Author: Rhiannon Hargadon
Release: September 29, 2025
This book was more than a good time. It was a beautiful and heartbreaking message. It was terror and hope all wrapped in one. A story of the horror that is sexual assault, the pain and sacrifice that is vengeance, and the joy and freedom that is love and friendship. This standalone Blackbeard retelling isn’t for the faint of heart (read the TW and skip chapter 6, if needed- I know I did), but it is moving and important and a salute to all those who have experienced darkness… ringing one loud anthem cry: you are more than the things that have happened to you.
Bloody Black is a unique retelling of Blackbeard if he were a well, a she. The events that lead up to our crown princess selling her soul to a demon for vengeance was dark, evil, and hit too close to home in some areas. Anne is innocent in the games evil men play for revenge yet used as a marker of success towards their victory. The betrayal she experiences by those she trusted hurt so badly it felt visceral.
Rhiannon, however, doesn’t let us sit in the hurt. No, she continues to weave a tale that makes us think deeper than the act of vengeance. Alongside our dysfunctional and mythical found family, we follow Anne as she claims retribution on those that used her as a step in their plans. And while it feels so good to see her acquire moments she’s worked so hard towards, we also see what happens after justice is taken: emptiness. Bring in our golden retriever captive, Lieutenant Robb, and Anne finds herself having to choose between her path back to the throne and healing.
I found myself GLUED to these pages and that last 20% had me SICK trying to figure out how this could all possibly end up good in some way. But Rhi does a PHENOMENAL job at navigating really difficult topics and bringing tears and healing not only to our characters… but also to me. This is a story that will sit near to my heart.
Tropes you may find in BB are forced proximity, captive x captor, bargains with a demon, mythical creatures, found family, lots of banter, medium spice, SA/trauma/panic attack rep and healing, comfort and trust, he falls first, hidden identities and plot twists, check TW, and a HEA.
Rhi, thank you for the opportunity to be an arc reader for you. It’s such an honor and pleasure.
August 31, 2025
ARC reader here!
Plot 3.5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️/5
Editing: 2/5
While the premise of the story is intriguing, the first 20% was difficult to get through. The FMC was incredibly unlikable and quite annoying. Uses of modern phrases in a magical/pirate world threw me off as well.
After the time jump, she becomes more mature and somewhat likable. However, this is when more of the editing issues come into play. On numerous accounts, one sentence will be in present tense, the following in past. Things don’t match up. Then, statements such as “Domino dodges, but not fast enough, and the blade grazes her on MY right side, slicing open MY skin”…..it’s Domino who is cut. Not Anne. So it should be “her” not “my”.
Genevieve is also referred to as Anne’s stepsister….but they have the same father. She should be referred to as her half sister.
The MMC is charismatic and charming at first, and the banter enjoyable. But then it just dies off. The promise that Anne makes with Rokhur isn’t explained real well either. And for how fearsome Blackbeard is portrayed to be…the ruthless pirate taking down slave ships…she gets her ass handed to her pretty easily. She doesn’t live up to the badassery I was hoping for. Someone else seems to always come in and save the day.
All in all, it was a descent story, unique premise. But the editing and modern language at times threw me off quite a bit. I think it needs another round of editing.
Plot 3.5/5 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️/5
Editing: 2/5
While the premise of the story is intriguing, the first 20% was difficult to get through. The FMC was incredibly unlikable and quite annoying. Uses of modern phrases in a magical/pirate world threw me off as well.
After the time jump, she becomes more mature and somewhat likable. However, this is when more of the editing issues come into play. On numerous accounts, one sentence will be in present tense, the following in past. Things don’t match up. Then, statements such as “Domino dodges, but not fast enough, and the blade grazes her on MY right side, slicing open MY skin”…..it’s Domino who is cut. Not Anne. So it should be “her” not “my”.
Genevieve is also referred to as Anne’s stepsister….but they have the same father. She should be referred to as her half sister.
The MMC is charismatic and charming at first, and the banter enjoyable. But then it just dies off. The promise that Anne makes with Rokhur isn’t explained real well either. And for how fearsome Blackbeard is portrayed to be…the ruthless pirate taking down slave ships…she gets her ass handed to her pretty easily. She doesn’t live up to the badassery I was hoping for. Someone else seems to always come in and save the day.
All in all, it was a descent story, unique premise. But the editing and modern language at times threw me off quite a bit. I think it needs another round of editing.
November 17, 2025
5 stars! ✨ By far one of my favorite romantasy books of the year. Similar to Mindf*ck series but fantasy and pirates. Our FMC is betrayed and makes a deal with a demon and becomes a legendary pirate to seek her revenge. Great romance. Some spice, standalone.
August 29, 2025
i loved this book SO viscerally
full review to come!
full review to come!
November 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon
I am still floating at sea with this book, with this crew. Every time I opened it, I swear I could taste salt air and hear boots thudding across the deck…surrounded by a crew of broken souls who became the beating heart of the story.
This is an immersive, brutal, beautifully written Dark Fantasy Blackbeard retelling, but Blackbeard is a woman, and that alone made the legend feel more compelling to me.
Anne (our morally grey FMC) is the kind of character who sticks with you long after the story is over. A princess turned pirate captain, broken by betrayal and built back out of rage, love, and revenge. Anne’s rebirth comes with a price though. She makes a deal with a demon, and that binds her and shapes every step she takes from that point forward. She is sharp, loyal, angry, and deep down still human under all her power. I rooted for her. I feared her a little.
"I'll hunt them down. Every man who helped, and every man who knew. Anyone who failed me, who didn't warn me. I'm going to rip out their hearts, the way they did mine."
There is a big theme of found family engraved in this story. Her crew doesn’t just sail with her, they protect her, call her out, bleed with her. The loyalty, the humor, the tenderness hidden under all their grit had me connecting with multiple characters in this story, not just our FMC.
And then there’s Lieutenant Robb Maynard. He was supposed to be a pawn, a prisoner, and instead he becomes the only person who truly sees her. Not the legend, not the rage, not the ghost she turned herself into… but the woman underneath, still fighting to believe she’s worth loving. He gives her back her power, little by little, on her own terms…his flirting had me kicking my feet like a teenager.
"You're not broken," he tells me. "Not even close."
There are heavy themes in this book. Ugly ones. And the author doesn’t use them lightly, they shape the story, the world, and these people in a way that feels painful but meaningful.
This isn’t just a revenge story. It’s about survival, found family, fury, and the terrifying, hopeful act of letting someone love you again.
I’m obsessed. Utterly and completely.
I am still floating at sea with this book, with this crew. Every time I opened it, I swear I could taste salt air and hear boots thudding across the deck…surrounded by a crew of broken souls who became the beating heart of the story.
This is an immersive, brutal, beautifully written Dark Fantasy Blackbeard retelling, but Blackbeard is a woman, and that alone made the legend feel more compelling to me.
Anne (our morally grey FMC) is the kind of character who sticks with you long after the story is over. A princess turned pirate captain, broken by betrayal and built back out of rage, love, and revenge. Anne’s rebirth comes with a price though. She makes a deal with a demon, and that binds her and shapes every step she takes from that point forward. She is sharp, loyal, angry, and deep down still human under all her power. I rooted for her. I feared her a little.
"I'll hunt them down. Every man who helped, and every man who knew. Anyone who failed me, who didn't warn me. I'm going to rip out their hearts, the way they did mine."
There is a big theme of found family engraved in this story. Her crew doesn’t just sail with her, they protect her, call her out, bleed with her. The loyalty, the humor, the tenderness hidden under all their grit had me connecting with multiple characters in this story, not just our FMC.
And then there’s Lieutenant Robb Maynard. He was supposed to be a pawn, a prisoner, and instead he becomes the only person who truly sees her. Not the legend, not the rage, not the ghost she turned herself into… but the woman underneath, still fighting to believe she’s worth loving. He gives her back her power, little by little, on her own terms…his flirting had me kicking my feet like a teenager.
"You're not broken," he tells me. "Not even close."
There are heavy themes in this book. Ugly ones. And the author doesn’t use them lightly, they shape the story, the world, and these people in a way that feels painful but meaningful.
This isn’t just a revenge story. It’s about survival, found family, fury, and the terrifying, hopeful act of letting someone love you again.
I’m obsessed. Utterly and completely.
August 31, 2025
I want to start off by saying that I did enjoy the book, and I wanted to see how things were going to wrap up.
With that being said, I think the book did not live to it's premise.
One thing that put me off, right off the bat was the trigger warnings. They are important, yes, for the people that need to know it to be forewarned, however, they should not be in a place where people who do not need them, or don't want to know them, can see them by accident. Which was what happened to me. One of the key TW was not only stated, but also in which chapter it happened, and that spoiled my Reading experience of the first couple of chapters.
Moving on to the actual story, reading this book felt more like seeing a slide show put together than a movie. There was little to no fluidity between the scenes. We were also promised piracy and revenge. The piracy part was non-existent and the revenge felt very lackluster.
We start the book living the moments that made Anne, a princess preparing to become queen, into Blackbeard, a feared pirate. And then we are transported a couple of years into the future, when she is exacting her revenge.
In the past, she met and saved the people that made up her crew. In the future they were already a set group. Having scenes between the demise of Anne and the rising of Blackbeard would make the story line much more cohesive. Moments where we could see her crew grow from inexperienced sailors into seasoned pirates, all their misses and hits, the way they healed their traumas and helped others in the same boat as them. Moments where we could see their ties building up and where the reader could also create ties with the characters. Because we did not have that, it was hard to feel anything when something bad happened to them.
For the revenge part, we are told that the has been collecting information about the people that she wanted to get revenge on, and all she does is go to the places where they are and torture/kill them. This is kind of unbelievable, because where did she get time to learn how to be a pirate, build a net of spies from nothing and collect all the information she needed to find the men that betrayed her? Once more, maybe if we had in between scenes that showed us this, when she put her revenge in practice, it might have felt much more satisfying.
Anne's relationship with Robb was kind of weird and the plot twist was kind of lacking plot, and twist.
I believe that, if the book was longer, or maybe divided into a duology, with a first part focusing on the past, her learning how to be a pirate and doing piraty things, as well as starting to collect all the info of the men who hurt her, and a second part about how she put her plans in action, the story would have been on a whole other level.
I received an Arc from BookSirens in exchange of an honest review.
With that being said, I think the book did not live to it's premise.
One thing that put me off, right off the bat was the trigger warnings. They are important, yes, for the people that need to know it to be forewarned, however, they should not be in a place where people who do not need them, or don't want to know them, can see them by accident. Which was what happened to me. One of the key TW was not only stated, but also in which chapter it happened, and that spoiled my Reading experience of the first couple of chapters.
Moving on to the actual story, reading this book felt more like seeing a slide show put together than a movie. There was little to no fluidity between the scenes. We were also promised piracy and revenge. The piracy part was non-existent and the revenge felt very lackluster.
We start the book living the moments that made Anne, a princess preparing to become queen, into Blackbeard, a feared pirate. And then we are transported a couple of years into the future, when she is exacting her revenge.
In the past, she met and saved the people that made up her crew. In the future they were already a set group. Having scenes between the demise of Anne and the rising of Blackbeard would make the story line much more cohesive. Moments where we could see her crew grow from inexperienced sailors into seasoned pirates, all their misses and hits, the way they healed their traumas and helped others in the same boat as them. Moments where we could see their ties building up and where the reader could also create ties with the characters. Because we did not have that, it was hard to feel anything when something bad happened to them.
For the revenge part, we are told that the has been collecting information about the people that she wanted to get revenge on, and all she does is go to the places where they are and torture/kill them. This is kind of unbelievable, because where did she get time to learn how to be a pirate, build a net of spies from nothing and collect all the information she needed to find the men that betrayed her? Once more, maybe if we had in between scenes that showed us this, when she put her revenge in practice, it might have felt much more satisfying.
Anne's relationship with Robb was kind of weird and the plot twist was kind of lacking plot, and twist.
I believe that, if the book was longer, or maybe divided into a duology, with a first part focusing on the past, her learning how to be a pirate and doing piraty things, as well as starting to collect all the info of the men who hurt her, and a second part about how she put her plans in action, the story would have been on a whole other level.
I received an Arc from BookSirens in exchange of an honest review.
December 5, 2025
Wow what a total breath of fresh this standalone was! 🏴☠️ In a sea of hastily penned and published romantasies this slow burn beauty sailed in (😉) with a compelling revenge pirate queen storyline, delicious suspense, even pacing, fun banter, character development, dark themes that just toed the line, and fun fantasy touches. 🚢
In her kingdom, if a princess wins 100 duels she wins the right to choose her own husband. Princess Anne picks the charming and handsome solider from her last duel who woos her. After being overthrown, attacked and left for dead she becomes the dread pirate Blackbeard and vows revenge on everyone involved to take back her kingdom from the perpetrators freeing slaves and wreaking havoc. Lots of feminine rage and gore here, triggers for rape and death. I thought it was handled well but it’s dark for certain and changes her irrevocably.
“It must be difficult,leading two lives-pretending to be a man.
-Not that difficult. I merely imagine someone violent, unable to understand emotions or control common impulses, and I’m more than halfway there.”
The romance is a slow smolder and Robb is so patient and consistently there for her.
In the authors notes she thanked her developmental editor and various others including her author group she workshopped with and you can really tell all the effort and love put into this book.
On KU now and looks like Audiobook in Feb 2026. Not affiliated with author just happened upon this on the ‘zon.
In her kingdom, if a princess wins 100 duels she wins the right to choose her own husband. Princess Anne picks the charming and handsome solider from her last duel who woos her. After being overthrown, attacked and left for dead she becomes the dread pirate Blackbeard and vows revenge on everyone involved to take back her kingdom from the perpetrators freeing slaves and wreaking havoc. Lots of feminine rage and gore here, triggers for rape and death. I thought it was handled well but it’s dark for certain and changes her irrevocably.
“It must be difficult,leading two lives-pretending to be a man.
-Not that difficult. I merely imagine someone violent, unable to understand emotions or control common impulses, and I’m more than halfway there.”
The romance is a slow smolder and Robb is so patient and consistently there for her.
In the authors notes she thanked her developmental editor and various others including her author group she workshopped with and you can really tell all the effort and love put into this book.
On KU now and looks like Audiobook in Feb 2026. Not affiliated with author just happened upon this on the ‘zon.
September 22, 2025
4.75 🌟
“I’ll hunt them down. Every man who helped, and every man who knew. Anyone who failed me, who didn’t warn me. I’m going to rip out their hearts, the way they did mine.” (Ch 8)
Grimdark | Dark Romantasy | Black Beard Reimagining/Retelling
"To the victors go the spoils! To the losers go the scars!" (Mentioned several times)
Charged with tense anticipation....
And Anne she seethes with and is blinded by all that need for vengeance. All that feminine rage!
And oh, the betrayals! Of which there were many.
Was a little bit puzzled over the demon entity, though. It took on such an intermittent passive role, I thought it would be much more actively present and deviant. She did serve her purpose, however subdued as it was the majority of the time.
“Listen here. I will murder anyone who touches you. I will cut their throat and paint the floor with their blood. Understand?” (Ch 33)
But Robb... that charming jaw-dropping sexy man with a honeyed voice and smoldering deep sea green eyes. Swoon-worthy.
"His heart calls to mine, a safe harbor in the midst of storms." (Ch 37)
This book had you guessing on the loyalties of EVERYONE. Who can one trust in such a bloodthirsty world... it kept me on edge, riveted, and nail-biting or flinching all the way.
eARC voluntary review.
“I’ll hunt them down. Every man who helped, and every man who knew. Anyone who failed me, who didn’t warn me. I’m going to rip out their hearts, the way they did mine.” (Ch 8)
Grimdark | Dark Romantasy | Black Beard Reimagining/Retelling
"To the victors go the spoils! To the losers go the scars!" (Mentioned several times)
Charged with tense anticipation....
And Anne she seethes with and is blinded by all that need for vengeance. All that feminine rage!
And oh, the betrayals! Of which there were many.
Was a little bit puzzled over the demon entity, though. It took on such an intermittent passive role, I thought it would be much more actively present and deviant. She did serve her purpose, however subdued as it was the majority of the time.
“Listen here. I will murder anyone who touches you. I will cut their throat and paint the floor with their blood. Understand?” (Ch 33)
But Robb... that charming jaw-dropping sexy man with a honeyed voice and smoldering deep sea green eyes. Swoon-worthy.
"His heart calls to mine, a safe harbor in the midst of storms." (Ch 37)
This book had you guessing on the loyalties of EVERYONE. Who can one trust in such a bloodthirsty world... it kept me on edge, riveted, and nail-biting or flinching all the way.
eARC voluntary review.
November 22, 2025
I am beyond frustrated with this book! After waiting a month AFTER release day(I purchased a whole ass month before release day) to receive my book bundle(art work included), I was beyond excited to read this! The anticipation was very high!
What an absolute let down! The story had plot holes so deep that it affected the world building and character development. You get absolutely no info on how the fmc goes from victim and not knowing anything about sailing, to being this infamous feared pirate.
I completely understand the trauma the fmc endures in the beginning but this entire book is based on that trauma leading to revenge driven plans only to end up in an anticlimactic situation in the end.
The graphic artwork I received for this book is NOT at all like anything within the book and is very misleading. I was lead to believe the spice in this is something hot. It is NOT in fact. It is very sub par!
The fmc was portrayed to be this badass female who goes through some very traumatic stuff only to come out of it with toughness and spunk. Taking down her enemies with the brutality of a man. Nope! Anytime she is in a personal altercation with someone, she has to be saved by someone else. Not really living up to the Blackbeard persona.
This book needed more world building, more character development and relationship building in order to allow readers to get emotionally attached to them. Too much was skimmed over or left out. Just overall severely disappointed with this book. Wayyyyyy over hyped in my opinion!
What an absolute let down! The story had plot holes so deep that it affected the world building and character development. You get absolutely no info on how the fmc goes from victim and not knowing anything about sailing, to being this infamous feared pirate.
I completely understand the trauma the fmc endures in the beginning but this entire book is based on that trauma leading to revenge driven plans only to end up in an anticlimactic situation in the end.
The graphic artwork I received for this book is NOT at all like anything within the book and is very misleading. I was lead to believe the spice in this is something hot. It is NOT in fact. It is very sub par!
The fmc was portrayed to be this badass female who goes through some very traumatic stuff only to come out of it with toughness and spunk. Taking down her enemies with the brutality of a man. Nope! Anytime she is in a personal altercation with someone, she has to be saved by someone else. Not really living up to the Blackbeard persona.
This book needed more world building, more character development and relationship building in order to allow readers to get emotionally attached to them. Too much was skimmed over or left out. Just overall severely disappointed with this book. Wayyyyyy over hyped in my opinion!
December 4, 2025
FMCs:
• Anne / Blackbeard: ♾️ 🌟
MMCs:
• Robb: ♾️ 🌟
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
LIKES
• Anne -- From princess to feared Blackbeard, she’s a force of nature! She's so strong-willed, smart, and relentless, and I LOVE her!!
• The crew -- found family vibes for days! Every member is layered, damaged, complex, and each brings unique chaos, skill, or moral ambiguity to the story
• Revenge arcs done RIGHT 😈
• Robb + Anne -- a slow-burn romance that respects trauma and builds trust. Robb is patient, loyal, witty — a perfect complement to Anne’s intensity
• The plot itself -- political scheming, betrayals, curses, magic, and shipboard chaos all collide in a wildly entertaining adventure! I couldn’t put this book down!!
DISLIKES
• Minor pacing quibbles in the middle — a few moments of flashbacks or repetitive introspection slowed the action slightly, but the story quickly pulled me back in
OVERALL
This book was dark, bloody, and incredibly fun! A thrilling pirate romantasy with unforgettable characters, devastating revenge, and a beautiful slow-burn romance ❤️ Anne has officially made my list of favorite FMCs ever!
• Anne / Blackbeard: ♾️ 🌟
MMCs:
• Robb: ♾️ 🌟
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
LIKES
• Anne -- From princess to feared Blackbeard, she’s a force of nature! She's so strong-willed, smart, and relentless, and I LOVE her!!
• The crew -- found family vibes for days! Every member is layered, damaged, complex, and each brings unique chaos, skill, or moral ambiguity to the story
• Revenge arcs done RIGHT 😈
• Robb + Anne -- a slow-burn romance that respects trauma and builds trust. Robb is patient, loyal, witty — a perfect complement to Anne’s intensity
• The plot itself -- political scheming, betrayals, curses, magic, and shipboard chaos all collide in a wildly entertaining adventure! I couldn’t put this book down!!
DISLIKES
• Minor pacing quibbles in the middle — a few moments of flashbacks or repetitive introspection slowed the action slightly, but the story quickly pulled me back in
OVERALL
This book was dark, bloody, and incredibly fun! A thrilling pirate romantasy with unforgettable characters, devastating revenge, and a beautiful slow-burn romance ❤️ Anne has officially made my list of favorite FMCs ever!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 14, 2025
I don’t know how to write this review, but im going to try.
If I could give it infinite stars, I would—not because it was "enjoyable" in the light sense, but because it reached into my chest and held my heart still. I couldn’t put it down. The worldbuilding? Rich, haunting, and deliberate—dark bargains and supernatural elements that never overshadowed the raw, bleeding heart of the story.
But Anne… Anne is why this book will live in my bones.
I saw my own anger in her—the kind that simmers beneath "socially acceptable" smiles. The anger I swallow because the world calls it "too much" and says to "get over it." But Anne? She wields hers like a blade. Her fury isn’t performative; it’s survival. And reading her journey? Catharsis doesn’t begin to cover it. It felt like permission. Permission to rage. To grieve. To refuse to be small.
And Robb? Maybe, just maybe, he restored a little hope for me to find someone who will treat me that gently, without making me feel broken.
Were parts uncomfortable? Yes. Deeply. But that discomfort was the point. It was the book refusing to look away from the ugliest parts of survival—and in that refusal, it gave me something rare: validation.
If you’re a fighter who’s ever been told to "get over" your trauma, or a survivor who’s had to shrink themselves to feel safe—this book sees you.
As Holly said: "You are more than the bad things that happened to you."
With that being said, please check all trigger warnings before diving into this dark pirate fantasy. Your mental health matters and should always come first 🫶🏽.
Thank you, Rhiannon Hargadon, for writing a story that doesn’t just break readers—it validates them.
This gifted copy changed me. All thoughts are my own, but I hope other survivors feel seen in these words, too.
If I could give it infinite stars, I would—not because it was "enjoyable" in the light sense, but because it reached into my chest and held my heart still. I couldn’t put it down. The worldbuilding? Rich, haunting, and deliberate—dark bargains and supernatural elements that never overshadowed the raw, bleeding heart of the story.
But Anne… Anne is why this book will live in my bones.
I saw my own anger in her—the kind that simmers beneath "socially acceptable" smiles. The anger I swallow because the world calls it "too much" and says to "get over it." But Anne? She wields hers like a blade. Her fury isn’t performative; it’s survival. And reading her journey? Catharsis doesn’t begin to cover it. It felt like permission. Permission to rage. To grieve. To refuse to be small.
And Robb? Maybe, just maybe, he restored a little hope for me to find someone who will treat me that gently, without making me feel broken.
Were parts uncomfortable? Yes. Deeply. But that discomfort was the point. It was the book refusing to look away from the ugliest parts of survival—and in that refusal, it gave me something rare: validation.
If you’re a fighter who’s ever been told to "get over" your trauma, or a survivor who’s had to shrink themselves to feel safe—this book sees you.
As Holly said: "You are more than the bad things that happened to you."
With that being said, please check all trigger warnings before diving into this dark pirate fantasy. Your mental health matters and should always come first 🫶🏽.
Thank you, Rhiannon Hargadon, for writing a story that doesn’t just break readers—it validates them.
This gifted copy changed me. All thoughts are my own, but I hope other survivors feel seen in these words, too.
September 12, 2025
Hell hath no fury like a princess who is broken, betrayed and left for dead.
After a brutal attack, devastating betrayal and murder, a bargain is stuck in dark magic. With vengeance on her mind, Anne frees a group of misfits who have been abused and are thirsty for revenge too, and together they form the new crew of the infamous Queen Anne's revenge.
Her new purpose is to right the wrongs, she frees slaves, murders abusers, and plans on tracking down everyone who betrayed her and making them pay. Now she just needs to build the legend of Blackbeard, the new alias for her dark revenge.
I loved how it blended history with fantasy, and all the clever pirate references it throws in like Jolly Roger.
It's a raw and harrowing journey, but also a healing romance. Robb is patient, tender, understanding and sarcastic, and it balances so well against Anne's hostility and vulnerability.
You will love and hate these characters, enjoy their wild adventures and banter, and be shocked at the twists.
There is plenty of trauma, violence and darkness, but it's also a story of justice, healing, and a second chance at living.
After a brutal attack, devastating betrayal and murder, a bargain is stuck in dark magic. With vengeance on her mind, Anne frees a group of misfits who have been abused and are thirsty for revenge too, and together they form the new crew of the infamous Queen Anne's revenge.
Her new purpose is to right the wrongs, she frees slaves, murders abusers, and plans on tracking down everyone who betrayed her and making them pay. Now she just needs to build the legend of Blackbeard, the new alias for her dark revenge.
I loved how it blended history with fantasy, and all the clever pirate references it throws in like Jolly Roger.
It's a raw and harrowing journey, but also a healing romance. Robb is patient, tender, understanding and sarcastic, and it balances so well against Anne's hostility and vulnerability.
You will love and hate these characters, enjoy their wild adventures and banter, and be shocked at the twists.
There is plenty of trauma, violence and darkness, but it's also a story of justice, healing, and a second chance at living.
August 27, 2025
First, thank you to Rhiannon for giving me an opportunity to read her book! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I’m pretty sure this book has forever changed me! ❤️🩹
Bloody Black was such a wild ride, and honestly one of those books that reminded me why I love falling into dark, twisty stories. From the very first chapter, Rhiannon hooked me with her writing—sharp, vivid, and full of atmosphere that made me feel like I was living right inside the book.
What really stood out for me was how layered it was. Yes, it’s bloody, eerie, and chilling, but it’s also so much more than just shock value. The characters felt real in their flaws and choices, and I found myself completely wrapped up in their arcs. The tension kept me turning pages late into the night, but there were also those quieter, unsettling moments that lingered with me long after.
I love when a book can make me both uncomfortable and completely obsessed, and Bloody Black did exactly that. It’s haunting, addictive, and the kind of story that sticks in your head well after you’re done. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
Bloody Black was such a wild ride, and honestly one of those books that reminded me why I love falling into dark, twisty stories. From the very first chapter, Rhiannon hooked me with her writing—sharp, vivid, and full of atmosphere that made me feel like I was living right inside the book.
What really stood out for me was how layered it was. Yes, it’s bloody, eerie, and chilling, but it’s also so much more than just shock value. The characters felt real in their flaws and choices, and I found myself completely wrapped up in their arcs. The tension kept me turning pages late into the night, but there were also those quieter, unsettling moments that lingered with me long after.
I love when a book can make me both uncomfortable and completely obsessed, and Bloody Black did exactly that. It’s haunting, addictive, and the kind of story that sticks in your head well after you’re done. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year.
November 28, 2025
4.5⭐️
“Dead men tell no tales. But, with women, you never know.”
Ok, this book was nowhere on my radar until I asked for pirate romantasy recs and holy shit, was it good! First, love that this was a standalone! This is a gender-swapped Blackbeard reimagining where a left-for-dead princess strikes a bargain with a demon for vengeance.
Can I be mean for a sec?? I really didn’t find the FMC particularly likable at all. However, the MMC and Blackbeard’s crew really steal the show in this story. And the villain is a truly villainous asshole. Despite some of the dark themes (check the triggers!) there is lots of funny banter between crew and captain and steamy enemies-to-lover’s action.
Even though I found the FMC a little problematic, I still really enjoyed this book!
“Dead men tell no tales. But, with women, you never know.”
Ok, this book was nowhere on my radar until I asked for pirate romantasy recs and holy shit, was it good! First, love that this was a standalone! This is a gender-swapped Blackbeard reimagining where a left-for-dead princess strikes a bargain with a demon for vengeance.
Can I be mean for a sec?? I really didn’t find the FMC particularly likable at all. However, the MMC and Blackbeard’s crew really steal the show in this story. And the villain is a truly villainous asshole. Despite some of the dark themes (check the triggers!) there is lots of funny banter between crew and captain and steamy enemies-to-lover’s action.
Even though I found the FMC a little problematic, I still really enjoyed this book!
August 27, 2025
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟| 2.5-3 🌶️
Sweet mother of emotional turmoil, THIS FCKING BOOK!!!😭 I have been downright salivating for this book for months, waiting with bated breath until the minute it fell into my greedy little hands. Well, fell it finally did, and it was everything I dreamed it would be, and more.
This story is a dark fantasy retelling of Blackbeard the pirate, if he was in fact a she… a kind, worthy princess named Anne, who was assaulted, betrayed, and left for dead, by the men she trusted most. After enduring the most horrific, gut wrenching abuse, Anne, with the help of a bargain struck through dark magic, embraces a new life. Hellbent on vengeance, she forges a new path, one born of heartache, and the sorrow of betrayal.
As Blackbeard, Anne dedicates her life not only to hunting down the men who have wronged her, but to rescuing those who suffer similar abuse along the way. Some of those she rescues become her crew, and eventually her family. Bonded through trauma and pain, they help each other heal, and cheer each other on as they enact revenge on treacherous men. It’s fucking beautiful. But as her plan to take back her crown is finally nearing fruition, things begin to unravel when the crew takes Lieutenant Robb Maynord as a prisoner. Robb, with his kind eyes, sexy smirk, calming energy, and instant devotion to Anne, is more dangerous than any demon. He makes her feel things she never thought she’d never feel again. This gorgeous man will either damn her or save her, and HOLY SHIT the chemistry between these two was god tier. Being an SA survivor, feelings of intimacy and trust do not come easily to Anne. Watching her slowly start to lower her walls and open up to him, was fucking everything. Yes, there was hot as hell spice. But more than that, their connection was emotionally charged, and wholly moving. I was absolutely swept away.
Not only was I completely lost in the romance, but I was utterly invested in every single character in this book. I laughed, and I cried my eyes out like a fucking baby on more than one occasion. I screamed, chucked my Kindle, I jumped up and down on my bed. To me, all of this means an unequivocal five star read.
This book was romantic, tragic, exciting, and entertaining in equal measure. Were there sexy pirates, and intimate scenes that caught my kindle on fire? Fuck yeah there were. But there was so much more. Anne’s story is one of revenge and retribution. It’s about reclaiming your power, knowing your worth, and having the strength to go on after enduring unspeakable pain. Learning how to trust again, to love and allow others to love you in return. How to not let those motherfuckers who broke you win. And learning how to do balance the scales without losing yourself, and the life you’ve rebuilt. If you’re someone who’s experienced pain, loss, suffered, unimaginable, betrayal, I feel like this book would resonate with you. I know it did with me.
Check the trigger warnings, clear your schedule, and then dive the fuck in. Good luck trying to put it down when real life comes a calling.
RELEASES 9/29/25
✨Tropes:
🏴☠️SA survivors
🏴☠️Morally grey FMC
🏴☠️Alpha cinnamon roll MMC
🏴☠️Pirates and fantastical creatures
🏴☠️Dark magic
🏴☠️Found family
🏴☠️Open door spice 🥵
🏴☠️Learning to love again
🏴☠️Action and adventure
🏴☠️Revenge quest
Sweet mother of emotional turmoil, THIS FCKING BOOK!!!😭 I have been downright salivating for this book for months, waiting with bated breath until the minute it fell into my greedy little hands. Well, fell it finally did, and it was everything I dreamed it would be, and more.
This story is a dark fantasy retelling of Blackbeard the pirate, if he was in fact a she… a kind, worthy princess named Anne, who was assaulted, betrayed, and left for dead, by the men she trusted most. After enduring the most horrific, gut wrenching abuse, Anne, with the help of a bargain struck through dark magic, embraces a new life. Hellbent on vengeance, she forges a new path, one born of heartache, and the sorrow of betrayal.
As Blackbeard, Anne dedicates her life not only to hunting down the men who have wronged her, but to rescuing those who suffer similar abuse along the way. Some of those she rescues become her crew, and eventually her family. Bonded through trauma and pain, they help each other heal, and cheer each other on as they enact revenge on treacherous men. It’s fucking beautiful. But as her plan to take back her crown is finally nearing fruition, things begin to unravel when the crew takes Lieutenant Robb Maynord as a prisoner. Robb, with his kind eyes, sexy smirk, calming energy, and instant devotion to Anne, is more dangerous than any demon. He makes her feel things she never thought she’d never feel again. This gorgeous man will either damn her or save her, and HOLY SHIT the chemistry between these two was god tier. Being an SA survivor, feelings of intimacy and trust do not come easily to Anne. Watching her slowly start to lower her walls and open up to him, was fucking everything. Yes, there was hot as hell spice. But more than that, their connection was emotionally charged, and wholly moving. I was absolutely swept away.
Not only was I completely lost in the romance, but I was utterly invested in every single character in this book. I laughed, and I cried my eyes out like a fucking baby on more than one occasion. I screamed, chucked my Kindle, I jumped up and down on my bed. To me, all of this means an unequivocal five star read.
This book was romantic, tragic, exciting, and entertaining in equal measure. Were there sexy pirates, and intimate scenes that caught my kindle on fire? Fuck yeah there were. But there was so much more. Anne’s story is one of revenge and retribution. It’s about reclaiming your power, knowing your worth, and having the strength to go on after enduring unspeakable pain. Learning how to trust again, to love and allow others to love you in return. How to not let those motherfuckers who broke you win. And learning how to do balance the scales without losing yourself, and the life you’ve rebuilt. If you’re someone who’s experienced pain, loss, suffered, unimaginable, betrayal, I feel like this book would resonate with you. I know it did with me.
Check the trigger warnings, clear your schedule, and then dive the fuck in. Good luck trying to put it down when real life comes a calling.
RELEASES 9/29/25
✨Tropes:
🏴☠️SA survivors
🏴☠️Morally grey FMC
🏴☠️Alpha cinnamon roll MMC
🏴☠️Pirates and fantastical creatures
🏴☠️Dark magic
🏴☠️Found family
🏴☠️Open door spice 🥵
🏴☠️Learning to love again
🏴☠️Action and adventure
🏴☠️Revenge quest
September 8, 2025
“To the victors go the spoils, and to the losers go the scars.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
A bloody and adventurous journey of trauma, feminine rage, healing, found family, and love!
Anne has been baited—tricked into marrying William, who then attempts to murder her, slaughters her family, steals her crown and kingdom, and lets his men have their way with her before tossing her aside to die. But a demon intervenes, striking a bargain that gives her a second chance—an opportunity for vengeance against every man who wronged her.
This standalone was absolutely fantastic! Perfectly researched and brilliantly strategized from beginning to end the language, the world-building, the plot, the settings, it all came together seamlessly. You follow a raw, powerful journey of trauma, rage, and healing from start to finish.
The characters? Total badasses. These women may be battered, tortured, and broken, but they rise from the ashes stronger than ever finding resilience, friendship, and love within the family they build along the way.
And I need a moment for our MMC, Robb. The sweetest cinnamon roll of a man wrapped in tattoos, muscle, and razor-sharp wit. He’s patient, kind, nurturing, protective… honestly, he’s perfect.
✨ What you’ll find:
🗡️ Witty banter
🏴☠️Enemies to lovers
🗡️Found family
🏴☠️Feminine rage
🗡️Dark magic
🏴☠️Pirates
🗡️A dark, gothic setting
I also loved the excerpt about the history of Blackbeard and his pirate affiliations. It shows just how much thought and creativity Rhiannon poured into this story.
⚠️Do check the trigger warnings first and take care of your mental health.
Thank you, Rhiannon, for the eARC! I thoroughly enjoyed this dark, bold, and beautifully crafted tale. Highly recommend! I’ll definitely be reading anything else you write!
September 10, 2025
What a wild ride!
First off, thank you to Rhiannon and her team for the ARC of Bloody Black.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. First off this is definitely a 5 star read for me. I hate to use the phrase "fun adventure" to label this book because there are many dark and gritty themes that unfortunately are still topical in the time we live.
If a book is supposed to elicit emotion then this book over-delivered. I laughed, cried, and held my breath. I was irritated, angry, and anxious. I've never read a book that delivered so many emotions for me. (I had to restrain myself from throwing my kindle a couple of times.)
Also, if you have a trope you are looking for, this book has it. Whether it's enemies to lovers, or forced proximity, or found family, you will find it. If you want revenge, vengeance, and redemption you will find that too!
This was a fast paced adventure that I read too quickly and I'm now sorry to say it's over. I will most certainly be adding a physical copy of this book to my "trophy wall".
First off, thank you to Rhiannon and her team for the ARC of Bloody Black.
I have such mixed feelings about this book. First off this is definitely a 5 star read for me. I hate to use the phrase "fun adventure" to label this book because there are many dark and gritty themes that unfortunately are still topical in the time we live.
If a book is supposed to elicit emotion then this book over-delivered. I laughed, cried, and held my breath. I was irritated, angry, and anxious. I've never read a book that delivered so many emotions for me. (I had to restrain myself from throwing my kindle a couple of times.)
Also, if you have a trope you are looking for, this book has it. Whether it's enemies to lovers, or forced proximity, or found family, you will find it. If you want revenge, vengeance, and redemption you will find that too!
This was a fast paced adventure that I read too quickly and I'm now sorry to say it's over. I will most certainly be adding a physical copy of this book to my "trophy wall".
August 31, 2025
i am utterly obsessed with this story, its a dark fantasy retelling of the story of Blackbeard... but our FMC is Blackbeard. yeah, we've got a deeply tortured, violent and morally grey FMC, who's sole purpose is to seek revenge against those who harmed her.
Our MMC Robb, is her captive (she ties him up ;)) and slowly helps her overcome her past trauma, he pines, defends and protects her.
The story, romance and setting is incredible, fast paced and high stakes - what really sold me on this is the links to actual historical names, places and events. As a lil history nerd, the nods to the original story of Blackbeard had me giggling (who knew magical realism was a sub genre?!)
"I want to know what perfume you're wearing, because it haunts me."
SCREAMS
Bloody Black is out September 29th !!
(do note there is on page SA at the beginning of this so check the tw at the start))
Our MMC Robb, is her captive (she ties him up ;)) and slowly helps her overcome her past trauma, he pines, defends and protects her.
The story, romance and setting is incredible, fast paced and high stakes - what really sold me on this is the links to actual historical names, places and events. As a lil history nerd, the nods to the original story of Blackbeard had me giggling (who knew magical realism was a sub genre?!)
"I want to know what perfume you're wearing, because it haunts me."
SCREAMS
Bloody Black is out September 29th !!
(do note there is on page SA at the beginning of this so check the tw at the start))
December 23, 2025
I liked this book much more than anticipated. A really imaginative retelling of Blackbeard the pirate.
There are a few minor things I wish had been cleaned up in edits, but the story is so great you hardly notice.
There are a few minor things I wish had been cleaned up in edits, but the story is so great you hardly notice.
August 29, 2025
Happy to get the ARC and experience this pirate adventure Blackbeard retelling early. Loved the story and seeing how characters dealt with trauma. This story is on the dark side and make sure to read the trigger warnings before diving in 🖤
Thank you for the advanced copy
Thank you for the advanced copy
September 18, 2025
I'm so upset it's over!
You're certainly in for a ride with this one. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to throw it to just quickly pick it up to keep reading and you'll love it!
Defintely read the trigger warnings before starting this book. I will say though, I have read a lot of stories with SA in them and this was probably the most well written one I've ever read.
You're certainly in for a ride with this one. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll want to throw it to just quickly pick it up to keep reading and you'll love it!
Defintely read the trigger warnings before starting this book. I will say though, I have read a lot of stories with SA in them and this was probably the most well written one I've ever read.
August 23, 2025
ARC Review
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Bloody Black is, simply put, a masterpiece. You will smile, laugh, cry and curse (you might even make a pirate blush). A tale of a woman scorned and out for revenge. Along the way, she finds there is more to herself than she thought and perhaps she wasn’t completely broken after all. The story is full of banter, found family, romance and very dark elements. Please check the trigger warnings before diving in, because this is a very heavy book. Bloody Black will undoubtedly be the top read of the year for many people. Deservedly so.
No Quarter. No Mercy. ⚔️
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️
TRIGGER WARNINGS
Bloody Black is, simply put, a masterpiece. You will smile, laugh, cry and curse (you might even make a pirate blush). A tale of a woman scorned and out for revenge. Along the way, she finds there is more to herself than she thought and perhaps she wasn’t completely broken after all. The story is full of banter, found family, romance and very dark elements. Please check the trigger warnings before diving in, because this is a very heavy book. Bloody Black will undoubtedly be the top read of the year for many people. Deservedly so.
No Quarter. No Mercy. ⚔️
September 9, 2025
This book. THIS BOOK. This book is absolutely phenomenal. It hooks you from the first pages and doesn’t let go until it’s last breath.
“They left me for dead. They should have made sure I actually was.”
Not only is this an engrossing retelling of a female Blackbeard, filled with fantasy, battles, and intriguing characters, but it also holds so much depth an heart. A story of survivors, revenge, and of our main character, Anne, learning to trust others (and herself) again.
“Every scar, every plan, every night at sea has led me here. Back to where it all began.”
This book is a love letter to survivors, with a strong main character who is, herself, a reckoning.
Each side character is carefully crafted to hold their own stories and pain, not just living as supporting characters to Anne’s revenge plot. So many layers of pain, sorrow, strength, healing, and peace are woven into Bloody Black’s story. This will be one that lives in my head for a long time.
🏴☠️ Pirate Fantasy
🏴☠️ Blackbeard Retelling
🏴☠️ Revenge & Feminine Rage
🏴☠️ Betrayals
🏴☠️ Healing Through Friendship & Love
🏴☠️ Learning to Trust
🏴☠️ Powerful Friendships
🏴☠️ Enemies to Lovers
“You’re not broken,” he tells me. “Not even close.”
I love that this book can capture a fun pirate fantasy setting, manage to invoke that same feeling that Pirates of the Caribbean brings, while also providing the gift of feminine rage and revenge, and simultaneously being heartbreaking. Showcasing that fine line of how easy it is to lose yourself to revenge and anger, and how important others can be in the healing journey to pull yourself up from the depths of rage.
I will definitely be hunting for a physical copy of this one and adding it to the reread pile!
Make sure to check content warnings. Your mental health is important 🖤
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an advance copy from the author. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
“They left me for dead. They should have made sure I actually was.”
Not only is this an engrossing retelling of a female Blackbeard, filled with fantasy, battles, and intriguing characters, but it also holds so much depth an heart. A story of survivors, revenge, and of our main character, Anne, learning to trust others (and herself) again.
“Every scar, every plan, every night at sea has led me here. Back to where it all began.”
This book is a love letter to survivors, with a strong main character who is, herself, a reckoning.
Each side character is carefully crafted to hold their own stories and pain, not just living as supporting characters to Anne’s revenge plot. So many layers of pain, sorrow, strength, healing, and peace are woven into Bloody Black’s story. This will be one that lives in my head for a long time.
🏴☠️ Pirate Fantasy
🏴☠️ Blackbeard Retelling
🏴☠️ Revenge & Feminine Rage
🏴☠️ Betrayals
🏴☠️ Healing Through Friendship & Love
🏴☠️ Learning to Trust
🏴☠️ Powerful Friendships
🏴☠️ Enemies to Lovers
“You’re not broken,” he tells me. “Not even close.”
I love that this book can capture a fun pirate fantasy setting, manage to invoke that same feeling that Pirates of the Caribbean brings, while also providing the gift of feminine rage and revenge, and simultaneously being heartbreaking. Showcasing that fine line of how easy it is to lose yourself to revenge and anger, and how important others can be in the healing journey to pull yourself up from the depths of rage.
I will definitely be hunting for a physical copy of this one and adding it to the reread pile!
Make sure to check content warnings. Your mental health is important 🖤
*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with an advance copy from the author. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!
January 5, 2026
So I was intrigued with the dark topics that we encountered in the beginning… BUT THEN IT WENT TO SHIT.
The writing was… not good. It was disjointed and confusing. I couldn’t tell who was speaking half the time, and people were coming and going from sentences and paragraphs with no rhyme or reason. Like there were no transition scenes where a character enters a room or joins a conversation. They’re just THERE. You never know who is present, who is speaking, or what is happening. And the big cast makes it complicated and hard to understand.
This book has zero depth and is SO HAM FISTED. This book is the definition of show, not tell. Being inside this FMC’s head was so infuriating. I don’t even want to get into the many reasons this FMC was awful…
And the relationship was SO dumb. Like what do you mean a trained captain from the King’s army can’t keep himself from drooling every time the FMC is around? And that banter?! CRIMINALLY bad.
All these ARC readers did me dirty AGAIN.
The writing was… not good. It was disjointed and confusing. I couldn’t tell who was speaking half the time, and people were coming and going from sentences and paragraphs with no rhyme or reason. Like there were no transition scenes where a character enters a room or joins a conversation. They’re just THERE. You never know who is present, who is speaking, or what is happening. And the big cast makes it complicated and hard to understand.
This book has zero depth and is SO HAM FISTED. This book is the definition of show, not tell. Being inside this FMC’s head was so infuriating. I don’t even want to get into the many reasons this FMC was awful…
And the relationship was SO dumb. Like what do you mean a trained captain from the King’s army can’t keep himself from drooling every time the FMC is around? And that banter?! CRIMINALLY bad.
All these ARC readers did me dirty AGAIN.
October 11, 2025
What a journey, I went into this book blind thinking I was just gonna get a fun lil pirate tale but NO it is so much more. This story explores the intricacies of how one’s desire for revenge can consume our lives. How trauma can root in us in ways we might not be able to recognize in ourselves. I was fully consumed by this story and felt immediately connected with its characters, as a standalone it is perfectly paced with a tragic story but happy ending. My heart hurt a lot throughout this book, I cried, and honestly that in itself makes my rating go higher⭐️4.25
Also Lieutenant “If you drowned me in the sea, I’d bless the tide that brought me to your arms. I would break every oath. Cross every ocean, kill and steal and lie. Just have a place at your side” Maynard, had me drooling. We love a patient but tastefully persistent man
It is DARK so please please read trigger warnings and go in with the knowledge that this is not a sweet tale.
Also Lieutenant “If you drowned me in the sea, I’d bless the tide that brought me to your arms. I would break every oath. Cross every ocean, kill and steal and lie. Just have a place at your side” Maynard, had me drooling. We love a patient but tastefully persistent man
It is DARK so please please read trigger warnings and go in with the knowledge that this is not a sweet tale.
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