Publishers Weekly
★ 04/15/2024
Cameron debuts with an exciting and multidimensional story inspired by the women pirates who sailed the Caribbean in the 17th century. Jacquotte Delahaye, who is of Haitian and French descent, defies societal gender norms by learning to become a skilled shipwright in Yaquimo, Santo Domingo. Her occupation nurtures her soul as she copes with an alcoholic father, who has been thrown out of the French aristocracy, and cares for her disabled younger brother, who has trouble sleeping through the night. After her nefarious childhood friend Florian kills her father and the island’s governor during a coup, Jacquotte flees with a group of refugees including a young woman named Teresa. They set sail on the Dorado, the ship Jacquotte had been working on, but are captured at sea by the loathsome Captain Blackhand, who makes them indentured servants aboard his pirate ship The Marauder. Though Jacquotte didn’t choose the life of a pirate, she embraces it as a path toward regaining her freedom. Cameron further disrupts the typically male domain of pirate stories by portraying Jacquotte’s love for Teresa, who turns out to be the governor’s widow. There are many thrilling fight scenes, especially after Blackhand hatches a plan to steal a shipment of precious jewels, but the heart of the novel lies with Jacquotte, whose honor, passion, and tenacity leap off the page. This fiery feminist adventure shows what legends are made of. Agent: Rebecca Wearmouth, PFD. (June)
Katharine Beutner
"Briony Cameron’s debut—a vivid account of legendary figure Jacquotte Delahaye, shipwright turned pirate of the Caribbean, and her lawbreaking chosen family—is gritty, exciting, and tender. I loved the novel’s focus on queer joy in a rough world!"
starred review Booklist
"Debut novelist Cameron reimagines historical events in portraying her larger-than-life protagonist in a tale of triumph over a male pirate captain, racial inequality, sexism, slavery, and violence. This is a wonderfully gripping adventure story about a lesbian pirate of color who rose from obscurity to infamy at the height of the age of piracy. Fans of LGBTQ+ historical fiction and those who relish tales of notorious figures from the past will find that this novel is an absolute treasure."
Menna van Praag
Empowering. Uplifting. Illuminating. Cameron brings Jacquotte vividly to life; I was hooked from first to last. A tour de force of storytelling!
People Magazine
A thrilling, swashbuckling story of a young Santo Domingo shipwright’s rise to notoriety as the first female pirate captain of the Caribbean.
Lillie Lainoff
A high-stakes, gripping adventure full of heart-pounding duels and bonds that run deeper than blood, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an engrossing debut. Jacquotte and her determination to chart her own course, rather than follow the path others have set before her, will stay with readers long after the final page.
M. J. Kuhn
The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an action-packed, pirate-filled adventure on the high seas! Cameron weaves a beautiful and, at times, gut-wrenching tale of found family, self-discovery, and the true meaning of freedom. Readers will fall in love with Jacquotte as she finds herself and her purpose amid the waves of the Caribbean Sea. Fast-paced, steeped in realism, and brimming with lovable characters, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye will appeal to both avid historical fiction readers and those new to the genre.
Julie Walker
For anyone whose historical fiction wishlist includes unforgettable female characters, breathless adventure, and passion a-plenty."
Vaishnavi Patel
Thrilling, heart-pounding adventure meets thoughtful feminist history in The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye. Cameron has crafted a rare and special tale that looks upon the world with realism while leaving the reader with an enduring sense of hope. An absolutely stunning debut.
Sarah Underwood
"I tore through The Ballad of Jacqquotte Delahaye—packed full of action, excitement, peril, and romance on the high seas, this is the sapphic pirate book of my dreams."
PEOPLE MAGAZINE
A thrilling, swashbuckling story of a young Santo Domingo shipwright’s rise to notoriety as the first female pirate captain of the Caribbean.”—PEOPLE
New York Times bestselling author Vaishnavi Patel
Thrilling, heart-pounding adventure meets thoughtful feminist history…Absolutely stunning.”
From the Publisher
"Debut novelist Cameron reimagines historical events in portraying her larger-than-life protagonist in a tale of triumph over a male pirate captain, racial inequality, sexism, slavery, and violence. This is a wonderfully gripping adventure story about a lesbian pirate of color who rose from obscurity to infamy at the height of the age of piracy. Fans of LGBTQ+ historical fiction and those who relish tales of notorious figures from the past will find that this novel is an absolute treasure."—Booklist, starred review
Library Journal
06/14/2024
DEBUT Gritty realism, swashbuckling adventure, and beautiful romance combine in Cameron's richly crafted pirate tale. Jacquotte, the daughter of a Haitian mother and a French father, is a shipwright on her home island until she flees with her brother, a few friends, and Teresa, a woman with whom she shares an intimate connection. The group soon finds itself indentured to the legendary pirate Blackhand, and Jacquotte's life changes forever. She is swept up in the beginning of the golden age of piracy, first as a crew member and eventually as a captain herself. While the book features several scenes of swashbuckling excitement and heated romance that readers would expect in a pirate novel, the story is graphically realistic at times. As might be expected for a woman pirate in the 1650s, Jacquotte deals with period-accurate dangers, making for an intense read. Still, it's thrilling and ultimately joyful to see Jacquotte, with the help of her found family and her true love Teresa, rise to the same heights as the famous pirate captains of the period. VERDICT Cameron's debut thrillingly introduces readers to a compelling heroine who deserves her own place in the swashbuckler pantheon.—Jenny Kobiela-Mondor
