Bloody Black

by Rhiannon Hargadon

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Pirates, Romance, Dark Romance, Fantasy Romance, Enemies To Lovers

Paperback

First published August 25, 2025

About the author

There 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.

Reviews

[Briar Boleyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

If Buttercup from the Princess Bride became a feral pirate queen…

[Hades ( Disney's version ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an ALC of Bloody Black by Rhiannon Hargadon

Feminine rage hits the high seas at about a million knots per second and I loved every moment of it! Bloody Black is storytelling at its finest! It's powerful, it's entertaining, it's history with a twist.

But remember, we listen to our favorite neighborhood Underlord when she say 👏🏼 check👏🏼 your👏🏼 trigger👏🏼 warnings 👏🏼.

However! While most books with offending topics are usually best when completely skipped by those impacted. I personally feel this is a rare exception where you're definitely going to want to shelve it until you're ready.

I honestly don't know what to call myself. I've personally never liked either "victim" or "survivor" but as someone who has had unfortunate dealings with the sensitive issues. I found this to be very powerful. Our FMC is super tangible and relatable going through a grieving process that mirrors reality almost perfectly.. Because, while we all heal in different ways the steps we take getting there are similar.

And I think that plays a huge part in making this book stand out from other books that touch on this subject. Everyone subjected to that sort of pain deserves the constant reminder that there ARE in fact rainbows after hurricanes. This delivers that reminder BEAUTIFULLY! I truly believe this could help a lot of women get through some hard days.



Until next time,
Hades
🩵

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

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. SA of the main character

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. and I did not blame Prudence for her mutiny / walking away. Her sister had just died and there was a very good chance she would have too helping Anne reclaim her throne

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.

[Liz (lizzreadz) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Amanie ✮⋆˙ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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. ♥︎

[Kendra Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Noi (in & out)]

Politely, this made me want to smash things.
DNF -25%

[Unnamednonsense · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[shelbysbookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book is labeled as dark and has trigger warnings to skip a chapter with descriptive scenes, but it honestly is the star of the show for the entire book. you are constantly reminded of the episode and those involved and it can be pretty heavy.

i almost wished we got her backstory as a flashback, maybe in pieces, and got to see her as the fearsome blackbeard first. the first 20% of the book is tragic and hopeless before it jumps to three years later.

things fall apart for anne as revenge consumes her but you can’t help but root for her too! the ending was satisfying and the robb was perfect and patient. the found family and revenge plots were my favorite part of the book.

the narrator did a great job! thank you netgalley for the arc.

[Patrícia Moutinho · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Якщо перед цим я читала книгу "Купідона не виправиш" яка була дуже легкою і позитивною, то "Криваво-чорний" виявилася зовсім протилежною, похмурою і важкою.
Взагалі вперше читаю щось про піратів і морську тематику, тому було дуже цікаво. Починається книга напрочуд зі швидкою хімією між героями, що дуже підозріло. І зовсім не дурно. Бо той блондин, що не головний герой, виявився ще тією паскудою. Те що він зробив, то просто жах. Я вже була пожаліла що взялася за цю книгу, але продовжила чисто заради помсти від принцеси Анни, хотілося щоб вона була кривавою, як і назва книги. І так воно і було. За три роки вона стала такою сильною і вольовою жінкою. Справжньою грозою всіх морів та океанів. Зібрала свою команду, яка взагалі не шарила в усіх тих піратських і корабельних справах, але їм це не завадило йти до своєї мети.
І ще сподобалося як душевні біль і рани Анни почали загоюватися після того як вона зустріла Робба. Який терпляче і повільно зцілював її. Але мене вразило в цій історії, як зовсім чужі люди, стали сім'єю. Хоча після втрати одного члена команди створили бунт проти свого капітана, це мені було не зрозуміло, бо вони від початку знали про її помсту і підтримували. Це справді ніж в спину, але я рада що ця книга мала свій щасливий кінець. Навіть попри те, що було дуже багато жертв та втрат, школа що не всі персонажі змогли побачити такий фінал
Мені сподобалася книга, але вона не одна з найкращих, тому десь на 3,5/5⭐

[Meg (fantasybook.adventurer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨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.

[Lucie V.]

This book is free on Amazon (Canada) today (02/14/2026). 🙂

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really entertaining even though a little bit chaotic at moments. But you´ll get female rage along with funny moments, spice and adventure.

[muhgooo · Rating 1 out of 5]

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 tell, not show. 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.

[ᴀɴɴᴀ. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

я вже на досвіді і знаю, що якщо на початку з’являється блондин, то з великою ймовірністю це не наша зупиночка і треба чекати якийсь підвох. саме це й сталось і наша гг Енн втратила все, що мала. коли у неї з’являється можливість помститися, вона її не втрачає і вкладає угоду з дияволом. але що саме вона йому пообіцяла так і не було нормально пояснено

другорядні персонажі мені сподобались, але все ж хотілося б більше деталей про них і їхні здібності. особливо бракувало моментів, де видно, як Енн зростає разом із ними, стає піратським капітаном, справжньою пошестю морів - Чорною Бородою, пізнає та зближається зі своєю командою, будує власну систему шпигунів і збирає інформацію для пошуку тих, хто її зрадив. по факту ж ми отримали просто дірку розміром у 3 роки

Енн разом із командою захоплюють ворожий корабель «Конкорд» з його лейтенантом Роббом, який спочатку мав бути просто пішаком, але це переросло в дещо більше. він - справжнє сонечко, золотий ретривер, ніжний і терплячий. після того, що пройшла Енн, це саме те, що їй було потрібно. але, знову ж таки, хотілося б більше дізнатися про його історію, бо персонаж явно вартий більшого розкриття

загалом мені сподобалось. книга затягнула, але, як уже було сказано, хотілося б більшого розкриття подій та персонажів

[Dayna | daynas.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book SO viscerally

full review to come!

[Jennifer Miner (black_rosereads)🖤 · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[MyNeverEndingTBRList · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bloody Black is an entertaining retelling of Blackbeard. The beginning really hooked me, but the pacing slowed in places, and the story felt predictable overall. The ending felt extremely rushed.

Please check trigger warnings.

3.5 stars

[chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[britta ⋆˙⟡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[shelvesofstephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 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.

[Chasing Silhouettes · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Shelby | Spicy.booknook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A swashbuckling adventure with feminine rage and a quest for revenge? And a dash of romance too?! I knew I had to read this one and it did not disappoint. So first off, the author lays out all the TWs for you, so take notice if you need to. There are graphic events and traumatic themes throughout this story of women wronged and seeking vengeance.

I really don’t want to give too much away, it’s a pirate story at its bones, a Blackbeard retelling, but it’s a lot deeper than that as well. Anne is a Princess broken and betrayed. She has the worst done to her and as hope starts to fade, she makes a deal that changes her life. A lot of this story is pretty gut wrenching, but you will cheer for Anne and her band of misfits. And Robb, the enemy that she should hate but slowly starts to fall for, is pretty swoony. He’s calm, flirty but also understanding and is a good balance to Anne’s ferocious personality.

Overall a great story that had so much going for it. Sometimes felt like we were on fast forward, but that (to me) was a minor issue. This is a standalone, but I would absolutely not be opposed to a spin off.

I keep going back and forth between four and five stars. It’s not perfect but it’s so damn entertaining.

MF Pirate Romantasy
Feminine Rage
Morally Grey FMC
Cinnamon Roll MMC
Band Of Misfits
Quest For Revenge
Sloooow Burn
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[ciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

“you are more than the bad things that have happened to you.”

—

bloody black takes you on a raw, emotional journey through trauma, healing, and revenge.

anne, our fmc, endures one of the most traumatic experiences i’ve ever read, and the story really doesn’t hold back. she strikes a bargain to get revenge on the men who wronged her which had me rooting for her every step of the way. her anger, her pain, her need for justice was all so raw and completely justified.

and then there’s robb. my sweet robb. he’s fun, flirty, and cannot stop himself from making a retort—even when anne very much wants him dead. watching him slowly become her anchor through everything was beautiful. the way he learns her, cares for her, and shows up for her so gently after everything she’s been through… my shayla.

the found family in this story was also so beautifully done. a group of people, all shaped by their own trauma, coming together and finding a way to heal alongside each other. i cried more than once because of them.

this book is heartbreaking, but it also feels incredibly important. so many women experience similar trauma, and i really appreciated the way this story handled both the pain and the healing. the character development was done so well, and it truly shows that things don’t stay that dark forever.

this is definitely on the darker side of romantasy, so make sure to check the content warnings before going in.

“𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒈𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆. 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒃𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒊 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆. 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒊 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒐. 𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒆. 𝒉𝒐𝒎𝒆. 𝒂 𝒇𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆.”

[Kelsey H · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Kez Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kate Pace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing in a sense of I haven’t read a great pirate romance in forever. A FMC you instantly connect with, feminine rage, and found family.