Saltblood

'A ravishing picaresque told with fireworks, finesse and gusto'

PAUL LYNCH, author of Prophet Song

'A gripping tale of one woman's extraordinary adventures ... Saltblood is a triumph of the imagination'

ELODIE HARPER, author of 'The Wolf Den' trilogy

Step into the perilous and captivating world of the late 17th century with Saltblood by Francesca De Tores. Seamlessly blending historical detail with evocative storytelling, this riveting novel explores the tumultuous life of Mary Read, a historical figure who defied society's constraints. Born in a rented room outside Plymouth in 1685, Mary’s life takes a remarkable turn when her mother, recently bereaved of Mary's half-brother, decides to raise Mary as a boy to continue receiving an inheritance. Thus, Mary becomes Mark, embarking on a dual existence fraught with peril, passion, and transformation.

Mary's journey is an odyssey of disguise and determination. Serving in a grand house under a French mistress, Mary learns the subtleties of dual identities. Her path leads her to the navy, where the skills of navigation and trust become her weapons for survival. From the navy to the battlefields of Flanders, she follows her only true friend through a landscape coloured by bloodshed and camaraderie, finding unexpected love even amidst chaos. But despite the adventure and the bonds she forms, Mary is constantly pulled by an irrepressible yearning for the sea.

Drawn back to the water’s edge, Mary faces a new challenge: a woman on a ship is considered a curse, a danger. In response, Mary reinvents herself once more, transcending societal norms and becoming something more perilous than a mere woman—a pirate. Her transformation marks the beginning of an extraordinary tale that sees Mary navigate through treacherous waters, defying expectations, and etching her name into the lore of the Golden Age of Piracy.

Saltblood breathes life into this transformative age, weaving an intoxicating narrative of gender and survival, passion and loss, and the ceaseless quest for identity. Francesca De Tores crafts an epic adventure, painting a vivid portrait of a woman who dared to live by her own rules amidst the unforgiving landscape of history.

'A wonderful tale and so exquisitely told ... Master and Commander meets Thelma and Louise'

JAMES OSWALD, author of the ‘Inspector McLean’ series