These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Blackhearts Kindle Edition

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 244 ratings

In this stunningly creative debut “filled with well-drawn characters…and smoldering passion,” (Booklist) Nicole Castroman reimagines the origins of history’s most infamous pirate—Blackbeard.

When Edward “Teach” Drummond, son of one of Bristol’s richest merchants, returns home from a year at sea, he finds his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, all Teach wants is to return to the vast ocean he calls home. There’s just one problem: he must convince his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following the death of her parents, Anne Barrett is left penniless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne takes a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks and Anne longs to escape the confines of her now mundane life. How will she ever achieve her dream of sailing to Curaçao—her mother’s birthplace—when she’s trapped in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn together by a shared desire for freedom, but kept apart by Teach’s father, their love is as passionate as it is forbidden. Faced with an impossible choice, Teach and Anne must decide whether to chase their dreams and leave England forever—or follow their hearts and stay together.

Shop this series

See full series
See included books
Shop this series
There are 2 books in this series.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

This option includes 2 books.

Something went wrong.
Bundle price: Kindle price
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up—After spending a year out at sea, "Teach" Drummond begrudgingly returns to the world of late 17th-century British high society that he was born into. He is desperate to return to the ocean and live the life he's always dreamt of. Not that long before his arrival, Anne, a teenage orphan, comes to the Drummond estate to work as a maid to save enough money to sail back to the West Indies, the birthplace of her mother. After a few "meet cute" moments, they fall madly for each other. When they are met with disapproval from the Drummonds and society in general (Anne is biracial, and interracial relationships were not accepted at the time), they desperately struggle to find a way out of their surroundings and hopefully make both of their dreams come true. This historical fiction story of the love between the man who will become Blackbeard and the girl of his dreams relies heavily on the romance elements to sustain it. Even though this takes place in the 1690s, there are very few historical aspects included. Teach comes off as a generic romantic lead and shows little of the qualities that will eventually make him one of the most feared pirates of that time. The book is left open-ended, with room for an eventual sequel. VERDICT For teen collections with a heavy romance readership; not an essential purchase for most.—Christopher Lassen, BookOps: New York Public Library & Brooklyn Public Library

Review

"Filled with well drawn and morally complex characters, a rich frame, and smoldering passion, this first novel will hit the mark with readers of historical fiction who want strong heroines and unexplored plots to ponder." (— Heather Booth Booklist)

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00Z7C1HGC
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Reprint edition (February 9, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 9, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1226 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 385 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 244 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Nicole Castroman
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Nicole was lucky enough to come with her very own best friend...she has a twin sister who can read her mind and finish her sentences for her.

At the age of 13, she went to Europe for the first time and it changed her life. She loves learning about different people, languages and cultures and speaks fluent German. She knows enough Spanish to get herself into trouble and can still read the Cyrillic alphabet from when she studied Russian.

She received her B.A. from Brigham Young University and has lived in Germany, Austria and two different places called Georgia. One is located on the Black Sea. The other is the state of Georgia where she now lives with her handsome husband and two beautiful children who continue to amaze her.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
244 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers

Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable. They praise the well-developed characters and the historical setting. The writing style is described as well-crafted and captivating. Overall, readers praise the fast-paced storyline and find it a delightful read for any age.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

30 customers mention "Readability"30 positive0 negative

Customers enjoyed the book. They found it a clean, engaging read for any age. The characters were well-developed and the writing style was smooth. Overall, readers described it as a fantastic debut that left them wanting more.

"A fantastic debut that will leave you wanting more! This book is brilliant!..." Read more

"...This one was good, but the story itself was a little lacking for me. But again I will say the characters more than make up for it!..." Read more

"Loved it!..." Read more

"...The romance is also one of my ALL TIME favorites. It was perfect in every way...." Read more

25 customers mention "Story quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging storyline with its history, romance, and intrigue. They find it a sweet, suspenseful read that explores the journey instead of the destination. The book has interesting insights into the 1700s in England and offers surprises.

"...This book has a subtle charm that explores the journey instead of the destination (swashbuckling pirates), so if you're a reader who prefers..." Read more

"...Blackhearts is not one of those, either. I LOVED the slow, sweet way these two fell in love and I couldn't wait to read more...." Read more

"...well-researched, gorgeous must-must-must read that weaves together fact with fiction to bring to life many of the missing pieces from one of history..." Read more

"Blackhearts is an unstoppable story full of history, romance, and intrigue...." Read more

15 customers mention "Character development"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find the story engaging and appreciate the compassionate characters. The book is described as a historical fantasy novel based on a historical figure.

"...the fact that he may have a temper, Teach is the kind of compassionate character who sweeps you off his feet, not with what he says, but what he..." Read more

"...a "slow burn." It's a wonderful journey with some of the best characters I've read in a while." Read more

"...I don't like swoony romances - this is not one. Anne is such a smart character; I loved that she didn't fall head-over-heels in love and act like a..." Read more

"...The plot may move slow, but the character development is truly spot on...." Read more

15 customers mention "Writing style"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find the book well-written with surprises and a captivating story. The plot is well-thought-out and the author's storytelling is clever and inventive. The characters are lively and the writing is engaging.

"...I loved this girl! She is the perfect match for Teach. She's witty, educated, has a hard time not speaking her mind..." Read more

"4.5 stars Plot: Blackhearts is a beautiful novel that explores two characters desperate to escape their societal limitations...." Read more

"...It is a beautifully written, remarkably well-researched, gorgeous must-must-must read that weaves together fact with fiction to bring to life many..." Read more

"...This is Nicole Castroman’s debut novel and her writing style is genius. The story is told from the 3rd person limited POV...." Read more

7 customers mention "Pacing"5 positive2 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced, with well-developed characters and plot.

"...Blackhearts is not one of those, either. I LOVED the slow, sweet way these two fell in love and I couldn't wait to read more...." Read more

"...It wasn’t a direct hate to love, it was a nice slower paced kind. And I think that’s what makes it more heartwarming...." Read more

"This was a quick and sweet story. Definitely not the pirate adventure I half expected, but still filled with its own style of twists and turns...." Read more

"Fast paced, wells developed characters, plot. I can't wait for the next book." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2016
    A fantastic debut that will leave you wanting more! This book is brilliant! I absolutely love what Castroman did with the story of one of the most dreaded, if not the most dreaded pirate in history, Blackbeard. I never would have thought I could have fallen in the love with this pirate, but what Castroman does with his story is amazing. Very little is known about him, and I love that not only do we get a back story on him, we get a character to know, and love, and see the beginning of what made him turn into the feared pirate he became.

    I might have a thing for pirates, and Castroman just upped that to a whole new level with Teach's story. Teach is a character whom I couldn't help but falling for. Despite the fact that he may have a temper, Teach is the kind of compassionate character who sweeps you off his feet, not with what he says, but what he does for those he cares about. Trust me, there's nothing he wouldn't do for those who cares for. Not to mention he doesn't stand for innocent people getting hurt, which I found fascinating, and greatly admired about him. He's a character who naturally commands attention when he's in a scene. To be honest, there's no way you could pretend he wasn't there, and trust me, he uses this to advantage a time or two. He's also someone who's easy to sympathize with. He comes from high society through his family's name, yet he wants nothing to do with the title he was born into and the money his father has. He's a character who feels trapped by the responsibilities that come from that. I greatly admired his wanting to be free to do what he wanted to do, and that was sailing the seas.

    To equally match him is the book's main character, Anne. I loved this girl! She is the perfect match for Teach. She's witty, educated, has a hard time not speaking her mind (something frowned upon in high society), and can take care of herself. She grew up having a good life, but after something happens (which I won't spoil here), she now finds herself a servant/staff member in Teach's father's home. I admired Anne's strength. She has nothing left to lose, and yet this girl continues to keep going, and won't give up on her dream to sail away from England. At the moment, she's doing all she can to make the dream a possibility. One of the things she and Teach have in common, is the need for escape from the life they're both stuck in. Like Teach, she's something who's trapped by the standards of society because of her birthright.

    The chemistry between Teach and Anne is awesome! I knew from the moment these two met that I was in for one heck of a battle of wills, and I couldn't wait to see which one would cave first. With these two stubborn characters, I knew the sparks were going to fly. Did they ever! These two couldn't have been more perfect for each other. It was highly entertaining watching these two fall for each other. It was definitely not a love at first site, though there was something there. Their first meeting was definitely unforgettable *snickers* What transpired shortly after that first encounter was simply awesome, and slowly grew into something so much more. I love that they had a lot of similarities and understood each other, and their need to follow their passion. It's one of the things that drew them closer together. I love that they confided in each other, and learned to trust one another. My one of my favorite scenes between these two revolved around a book! *sigh*

    This debut swept me off my feet! I loved this book! I seriously hope there is a sequel, because with the way this book ended, I need to read it now. haha. Seriously though, that ending is begging for a sequel, and I REALLY hope that happens, because I am not ready to be done with Teach and Anne's story. There's so much more to be told, and I can not wait to read it. I highly recommend picking up this book! I am looking forward to reading many more of Nicole's books.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2017
    4.5 stars

    Plot: Blackhearts is a beautiful novel that explores two characters desperate to escape their societal limitations. I've seen complaint that this book doesn't feature any pirates despite being about Blackbeard and that it was a slower paced read, but that's what made this book so endearing to me. This book has a subtle charm that explores the journey instead of the destination (swashbuckling pirates), so if you're a reader who prefers character growth and exploration over high-speed action - this one is for you. I'm so happy to hear that the publisher green-lighted a sequel because while it is an origin story, I do think there is much much more to this story than what Blackhearts has given us.

    Characters: Blackhearts' soul is within the characters that Castroman introduces. I immediately fell in love with the fiery Anne - the daughter of an English merchant and West Indes slave - who is forced to accept her lower status based solely on her skin tone. I connected with her because she was a young woman trying to survive in an environment that made it obvious that she didn't belong. I read Castroman's author note about Anne and I loved how she used her family's experience to help craft Anne's turmoil of finding a place that felt like her own. If you couldn't tell, I really loved Anne, this is why representation matters people! Our dashing Blackbeard, or Teach, took some time for me to warm up to because he was just so forward. While this is Teach's story, I found this to be Anne's story more than anything, but I'm excited to see more of Teach's transformation into Blackbeard in Blacksouls.

    Worldbuilding: In the author's note, Castroman remarked that she enjoys history and it truly showed in how she sculpted this world. I felt right at home in the posh setting of Teach's home and I could vividly picture the crowded markets and unsavory docks. Not only that, but she made a point to highlight race relations in England and how these mixed-race offspring were treated. I really respect Nicole Castroman for the amount of detail she put into not only her world but in the interactions between characters and their thought process. Everything felt respectful and deliberate.

    Short N Sweet: Blackhearts can only be described as a "slow burn." It's a wonderful journey with some of the best characters I've read in a while.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2016
    Could. Not. Put. This. Down.
    I started BLACKHEARTS yesterday, but I had to work (gah! - but I'm a LIBRARIAN! Can't I read while I work? Pretty please?) I snuck it in my purse and read a few chapters whenever I thought I could get away with it. Which is why I'm not "sharing" this on Facebook. Too many work acquaintances. ;)

    Now, I'm not a huge fan of romance. My boss teases me every day that I should write historical romances and I hiss at her. But Anne and Teach had me HOOKED. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't watch Mission Impossible with the rest of the fam. I don't like swoony romances - this is not one. Anne is such a smart character; I loved that she didn't fall head-over-heels in love and act like a love-sick ninny. I also don't like quicky romances, you know - met you today, in bed an hour later = true love. Blackhearts is not one of those, either. I LOVED the slow, sweet way these two fell in love and I couldn't wait to read more.

    I really, really, REALLY hope there is a sequel!
    2 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Sofie
    5.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on July 10, 2016
    I was very surprised but how much I enjoyed this book! I thought I'd find it to be average but it's actually a great story. This isn't a pirate tale YET, but it sure seems like the sequel will be!

    This is historical fiction and revolves around Blackbeard back when he was a young man, and the girl he grows to love, Anne. Blackbeard's name (nickname) is "Teach" which I still think is stupid but perhaps that truly was his nickname in real life? Not sure. Weird name aside, Teach and Anne are wonderfully flawed, brave, passionate characters. This is a much heavier book than I excepted: poverty, the risks of pre-marital sex, and the dangers of rape are not glossed over in this book. I think isn't appropriate for a younger audience.

    This book does move slowly at times but when it gets going, it's simply unputdownable. Teach lives for life on the seas, his father lives for money and reputation, and Anne lives for freedom and opportunity. This isn't an easygoing love story and I can't wait to see what happens to Teach and Anne next! I will definitely be buying the next book!
  • Gwendolyn S. Sargeant
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favourite books of all time!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2016
    I absolutely love this book and look forward to the 2nd part of this book. I hated to see this end and yesterday and today I tried to make it last but I couldn't I had to finish it. I loved the two characters Edward (Teach) and Anne. Both extremely strong characters and strong minded. They know what they want in life. Unfortunately Anne had such a hard life and Edward in a loveless relationship. Both Anne and Edward are thrown together rather comically at the start and that's where their relationship starts to build. It is the perfect love story in my book and I find myself imagining myself as Anne and having such feelings for Teach. I can't wait to see what Ms Castroman has in store for Anne and Edward and it has peaked my interest in the historical Blackbeard.
  • Amazon Kunde
    4.0 out of 5 stars Toller Jugendroman!
    Reviewed in Germany on March 4, 2016
    Ich hab BLACKHEARTS durch und fand's wirklich toll!
    Es ist cool, wie immer zwischen den Charakteren hin und her geschwenkt wird. Die Heimatsgefühle und Heimatssehnsüchte sind authentisch dargestellt und konnte ich gut nachempfinden!
    Zu den wenigen Infos, die es über Blackbeards Leben vor seiner Zeit als Pirat gibt, ist es gut recherchiert.
    Mini-Kritik: der Anfang ist eher klassisch aufgebaut und kennt man von anderen (Jugend-)Romanen - etwas zu absehbar nach meinem Geschmack. Ab Mitte des Buches sorgen aber immer wieder unerwartete Handlungen und Geschehnisse für Spannung und machen die Geschichte einzigartig.
    Vor allem das Ende hat mir gut gefallen - kein typisches romantisches Happy End und lädt ein sich die Geschichte selbst weiterzudenken.
    Im Englischen super lesbar - auch für Leute, die nicht regelmäßig englische Litertur lesen.
    Also: I LIKE, I LIKE, I LIKE!!!!
  • a. lloyd spanton
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Pre-Pirate Read, Can't Wait for More
    Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2016
    I’ve been obsessed with the show Black Sails for some time now. As the third season ended I felt a giant pirate void, so it was perfect timing when I picked up Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman. A little bit of pirate, a little bit of love, and a whole lot of adventure. That’s exactly what I needed to satisfy my sea legs.

    This didn’t turn out to be quite what I was expecting; there was definitely far more romance than swashbuckling adventures. That isn’t to say it was bad, I actually quite liked the romance here – it was done in such a way that it didn’t define everything, even though that’s ultimately the only progression, and it certainly wasn’t instalove, which would have really discredited the characters and the story. It was actually quite a dreamy and romantic tale when you weave in notions of pirates and the difference in status among the two characters Anne and Edward Teach Drummond.

    Of course I loved Anne. She was high spirited and always forgetting her place, never able to hold her tongue, which was the perfect match for Teach. The two of them had such an electric spark from the very start, but the trust and respect and admiration for each other definitely took its time to grow and mature. I enjoyed watching it blossom.

    The backstory about Anne’s father and her proper place in society added another level of interest and another layer of character to her. And how this briefly saved and then derailed her plans was a nice little twist to things. All these smaller points came together to build this interesting story.

    There were also some subtle moments that really focused on slavery and how people reacted to how different Anne was, even when she was in a lady’s position. It was an important addition for the time and for the story and spoke wildly to Teach’s character, who wasn’t at all phased by this, and to the character of others in their lives.

    Like most first books in a series, a lot of this set things up for exciting adventure to come. I was a little disappointed that they didn’t even set to the seas at all in this book, but I can’t wait to see how these two fair on the high seas and will happily pick up the next book as soon as I possibly can

    Originally posted on citygirlscapes.com

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?