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emily_mh's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
While this story is undoubtedly centred around the sea, I would like to make clear that it isn’t about Kemosha being a pirate - not fully. Instead, the narrative is sort of structured like a coming-of-age novel in which a character explores themself and seeks a dream, and where in this case being a pirate is a part but not the whole. I thought this structuring was really effective. Looking simply at the action, of which there is a lot, you might think this book was paced strangely, but looking at the action in the context of Kemosha’s coming of age means the pacing makes a lot more sense. I actually think it was perfectly paced when viewing the book from this perspective, as the right amount of time is spent on each stage of Kemosha’s development. Nothing felt rushed or bogged down.
I was completely hooked throughout Kemosha’s tale. I don’t want to spoil anything, but on the way to achieving her dream, she goes on several quests, encountering many different people and scenarios, one of which is, of course, becoming a pirate - or in this case, privateer may be more accurate. I really appreciated how Wheatle explored pirates as oppressors. I think the lasting image of pirates I have (courtesy of mainstream media) is of them as an oppressed group rallying against authority and providing an alternative, more equitable way of life. Wheatle shows us here that while all the former may be true, pirates can also be oppressors themselves in their colonial-style pillaging and mistreatment of women.
The plot is set against the historical backdrop of Jamaica (and the Caribbean more broadly) in 1688, a setting which Wheatle effortlessly brings to life. It’s historical fiction like this that makes me fall more and more in love with the genre. I liked that Wheatle was inspired by real-life female pirates Read and Bonny, and that the story featured the historical figure Captain Henry Morgan. But what I liked most was that Kemosha is a far better depiction of the “pirates of the Carribean”, as typically these are shown as being white. Wheatle himself notes the historically poor rep in his author’s note.
Kemosha herself was a great MC. She was so resolute, so committed to her loved ones, and was guided by her moral compass at every turn. I was so pleased she got a happy ending.
Unfortunately I do have two criticisms for this otherwise wonderful book. The first is that the first-person narration isn’t used very effectively. Usually this perspective serves to give the reader a real insight into the MC’s inner world, but oddly we don’t really get this here. This is to the point that internal thoughts are italicised, like they would be in third-person, as they are few and far between. My second critique is that the romance between Kemosha and Isabella is very insta-love. This is not an objectively bad thing but it is a trope that I don’t personally like. Despite this, I did understand why Kemosha and Isabella were drawn to each other and loved that two queer women of colour living in the 17th century got their happy ending.
Rep: Black African-Jamaican sapphic MC, sapphic biracial Costa Rican LI, Mandinka SC, Black Jamaican SCs
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Drug use, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Medical content, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and War
Major: forced separation from family Moderate: loss of a loved one Minor: capital punishment, gambling, eye trauma, menstruation, drowning, child birth, imprisonmentbookboyfriend's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This was good but dark at times, i really enjoyed the adventure and the badass female lead. The writing flowed and was action packed. I sped through the last 100 pages.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Torture, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
rubadubindabathtub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, and Alcohol
atla98's review
fast-paced
3.0
Although there was lgbt rep it felt kinda rushed and perhaps an afterthought. The two characters in that relationship were reasonably well written though so points for that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape
porshea's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Toni Morrison is often quoted as saying, “If there’s a book you want to read but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” Alex Wheatle, author of Kemosha of the Caribbean definitely had this sentiment in mind as he crafted the story of Kemosha Black, an enslaved teenager turned free privateer in 1668 Jamaica. In the author’s note of this novel, Wheatle points out his dissatisfaction with the lack of representation in pirate lore dominating society for hundreds of years, but particularly in the recent blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean. This novel serves his mission to bring this representation to life so well that Kemosha of the Caribbean is easily the best pirate tale I have ever encountered.
If that seems a bold statement, its boldness pales in comparison to Kemosha’s enduring bravery and steadfastness. At the beginning of the story she is called to leave her brother and all of the people she has grown up with to tend to the tavern of a man she has never met before, a life he promises will be humiliating and at his every whim before he even changes coin with the owner of the plantation where she resides. Her anxiety of leaving behind everything she’s ever known has her leaping from the cart on their journey to Port Royal, incurring his ire and watchfulness before she learns of her fate. Once she arrives in his tavern, a white patron immediately makes clear that he intends to rape her, while paying the tavern owner for the act. Her escape from this new life sends her into the path of a father figure who will help her control her life going forward. The level of independence and freedom that Kemosha gains is hard-won and joyous. She finds love in the arms of another woman of color who has beaten the odds to thrive alone on an island where white men are in constant pursuit of claiming ownership over her body. Read more here: https://blackgirlscreate.org/2022/02/the-plot-thickens-kemosha-of-the-caribbean/
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment