Villains of Merit

Silver Locket Legacies #1

by Kennedy Sutton

After a young life as a pirate evolved into one on a family merchant ship, Jon Holt is itching to become a captain in his own right. Tired of never living up to his stepfather’s expectations and withering in the shadow of Captain Hugh Digby, Jon's anxious to arrive home, where Hugh can retire and Jon can step into his dream of running the ship, Blessed Gun. He's sure that all he needs is a chance to prove his worth and his life will be smooth sailing.

Adrift after the death of her twin sister, the deep ache of loneliness urges Effie to find an escape from the life of petty crime she’s lived among the scoundrels and thieves employed by her father. She finds hope in the form of Alexander Keightley, a sweet-talking pirate captain whose pockets are heavy with secrets and gold. When their relationship ends, she steals from Keightley, runs to the nearest ship, and boards Blessed Gun. Instead of being a refuge, each day they sail brings her closer to the wrath of Keightley. Trapped and out of options, Effie is more lost than ever.

Until she meets Jon.

Love might be strong enough to overcome all obstacles, but nothing is ever smooth or easy with vengeful pirates on the horizon and ghosts of the past haunting every step they take. Fate has brought Jon and Effie together, but luck has never been kind to either of them. Perhaps this time will be different, or will they lose their dreams, and each other, to the dangers lurking in their wake?

374 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2026

Reviews

[B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this ARC. I ran through 85% just dying to read the next paragraph, the next page... then, I had to put it down to stare at a wall for a while. Kennedy Sutton knows what she's doing, as always. I look forward to book 2—as in, I am DESPERATE for book 2. Thank goodness this is supposed to be rapid release!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

── .✦ Poor Jon could choose anyone in the world to love and he has chosen me. And how cruel of gods and fates to make me love him back.

~

˗ˏˋ˗ˏ 4.25 🌟 ● 1.5 🌶

~

This gave me vibes of a story I read as a kid, and yet didn't. The pirates/sailor characters and the civilian/thief feel familiar. I think maybe Pirates of the Carribean, but I'm not sure I've got that right.

Anyway, this was a really enjoyable story. The idea of Jon, a sailor who is gunning for captain of the Blessed Gun and Effie, a thief-turned-stowaway was refreshing to me. I don't often read stories set in the past and on the sea.

I find it cute that the first time they meet, he gives her a ring and they play spouses. It was adorable, and you get the feeling that it was the first and only time either of them get to be themselves.

I also loved the way she ended up on the ship. I thought she'd sneak aboard and be found when they were in open sea, but Jon actively taking her aboard himself was so much better. Fit with him as a character as well.

I really enjoyed watching Effie soften toward Jon (who'd been down bad, crying at the club the whole time) and actually consider allowing him to court and ask her to marry him. It was so good to watch her trust him, who had been kind since the start.

Also, that end??? Effie, babes!! We almost got there! We were almost free!! And Lil changing sides! Wow.

[Alyson Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was given to me as an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

My gods, this book is JUST as captivating as the Silver Locket Series. I was a bit disappointed to find out the two I wanted to get together wasn’t gonna happen, but then I fell in love with the FMC while holding the nostalgia that I had for the MMC from the Silver Locket Series.

This book had me all over the place, and while I wasn’t as wrecked with emotions as I was with the other series, this one kept me on my toes just waiting for the next set of happenings to happen.

I honestly can’t wait for the rest of this series, and will probably be buying physical copies just to have on my shelves on top of in my kindle.

[De Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. This was an outstanding read. I was hooked from the very start and was on the brink the whole time. I found myself just as enraptured by this book as I was with the Silver Locket Series. I came in wishing and wanting but wasn’t given what I thought I wanted. I was, however, given what I needed. Jon is an absolute golden retriever for Effie and it’s beyond adorable. It’s beyond cute. The intersections between these two are endearing. It feels so real and unhurried. Per the usual for this author, we get the longing and gut wrenching in equal measure. I just needed more of…well everything. And that cliffhanger ending?! I absolutely have to have the next book. I’m not sure if I can wait that long. Can’t we have it now?

[Distracted Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Kennedy Suttons writing. I have never been so happily sucked into melancholy. The characters are flawed and tragic, so real they step out of the pages and occasionally into your heart which is then ripped to shreds on thier behalf. I will say I've read the prequels and when starting the meat of the story paused after Feathers at Sea. ( if you know you know) While fully intending to continue I decided Legacies might be a good segue back into the series. It was, I absolutely must know what happened between events. Some new faces and some old ones mingle making it a lovely balance of new and familiar adventures. The ending has me counting down to spring. Thank the stars and winds and whatever else that these are rapid release!

[Sary_loves_books · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Everything stated below is my OPINION.

I liked the story as a whole (even though the cliffhanger is wild) but, I had issues with our main players. Lil seemed impulsive and hard-headed to the detriment of herself and others. Jon seemed too naive, and then there's Effie who hasn't dealt with her demons.

All that out of the way, I feel like this book shows us that no what our circumstance we are worthy of love. That sometimes you have to make you own moves, regardless of others, to get what you want. And that maybe, just maybe love at first sight might be possible for anyone.

There's also deceit, betrayal, and violence ( come on, there are pirates!).

And yes, I would recommend reading it for yourself.

Happy Reading!!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new series! I love the chemistry between Jon and Effie. Jon and Lil were fleshed out well as characters, expanding on what we knew of them from the first series. The last 10% of the book took me forever to finish, because I could sense the train wreck that was about to happen, and that everything would end on a cliffhanger. I had to look away 🙈 Everything was set up well though, and I could see the characters reasoning for their decisions. I just wanted to yell at a few of them.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an advanced copy. I've been on Kennedy's ARC team for a few books now and this one doesn't disappoint. I might love this series better than the original Silver Locket Books already just because it's so cute! Jon is kissable, so sweet, a little dorky, and madly in love with Effie. She stands no chance at playing hard to get with a golden retriever like him!

The next book is coming in a big hurry and I cannot wait!

[Sefri Kuehn · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG. I’ve been waiting forever it seems to read this book! I first went into it excited for lil and Jon finally. But sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. Effie though, is an amazing character, and I love the interactions she has with all the characters. Some people though, never change (like Hugh). Which is comforting at times. I need to read the next book in this series though, and I’m sad that I need to wait for it to come out.

[Becca Levy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was amazing read that starts out a bit slow at first but ends on a bit of a cliff hanger that just makes you want to scream. Jon’s “ruin me” vibes are equally endearing and make me want to scream. I love how Jon and Effie’s relationship isn’t rushed, they organically get closer in a way that seems natural. Which is getting harder to find these days in books. I enjoyed Effie and loved when she finally became friends with Lil! Can’t wait to see where the author goes next!!

[Haylee Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy Sutton is an auto buy author for me, and they prove to be worth of that yet again with Villians of Merrit. It is so great to read of the beloved character of the Silver Locket Series again. I will tell anyone that listens to read Kennedy Suttons books! All of them, there's no "X book of the series isn't so great but the rest of the series is good;" it would be zero skips if it were a music album.

[Stephanie Vicente · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing read by Kennedy Sutton. I kept seeing her books floating around TikTok and needed to read this one because of how good I heard the author's writing was and this book ended up having me hooked and I was captivated by this new series. The ending of this book had me wanting to know more and I am excited for book 2 ! I had a hard time putting this book down and I had a great time reading this.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn Kennedy. You did it again. Kept me at the edge of my seat the whole last quarter of this book. The subtle foreshadowing with that stupid handkerchief. Jeez. Okay that being said, this books is a fantastic start to a new series. It was lovely to see old friends and meet new characters. I can’t wait till March to see what kinda of trouble and trauma(cause it’s not a Kennedy Sutton book without it) the gang goes through.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! This book had all the hand brushing, longing glance, slow burn romance I have come to expect from a Kennedy Sutton book. It also came with that gut wrenching, heart stopping ending I've also come to expect. Thank God for a rapid release! This author knows what she does to us with these cliff hangers and is doing right by us in writing ahead XD

[Audrey S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for a review.

As always Kennedy Sutton books are devastating in the best way.
It is full of deeply characters I couldn't help but love and plot lines that had me on the edge of my seat. It was great to revisit old characters and meet new ones. I loved seeing Jon and lil grown up. Can't wait for the next one!

[Kirsha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when secondary characters we love get their own series! Jon has always been a favorite of mine, and it was a dream come true to see him now as the main character in pursuit of his own happily ever after. Immediately our expectations are defied when Jon falls in love with the most unlikely of women, but I fell in love with her, too. This book is sure to be a fan favorite!

[Daelen Liljenquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I haven’t finished the book yet it is already so good. The characters are each unique and are well thought out. Overall the book is very good and I can’t wait to see how it ends

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love when authors make me feel things. And this book made me feel so many things! Eagerly awaiting the second book in the legacies series... because oh Lil... you are so very messy!

[E.A. Buckingham-Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ripped my heart to pieces and put it back together only to rip it to pieces again. The characters, the story, the tragedy and messiness of it all... so so good!