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Fire on Dark Water
A debut historical novel about a female pirate's life on the high seas.
Born a despised gypsy and tricked into a life of brutal debauchery, Lola Blaise quickly learns the harsh ways of the world, and of the men who inhabit it. But in the New World waits a different sort of life, full of danger and passion, where one false move could mean death: a life of piracy.
On the is...more
Born a despised gypsy and tricked into a life of brutal debauchery, Lola Blaise quickly learns the harsh ways of the world, and of the men who inhabit it. But in the New World waits a different sort of life, full of danger and passion, where one false move could mean death: a life of piracy.
On the is...more
Paperback, 336 pages
Published
June 7th 2011
by Berkley Trade
(first published April 19th 2011)
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Reviewed by Amie Lou
Book provided by publisher for review
Ahoy! And beware--there's no Cap'n Jack here. Fire on Dark Water is a novel about piracy and the gritty lives the pirates lived told through the eyes of a gypsy whore. It has not been romanticized--it is real, bloody, and not for the squeamish. But...it is also elegantly written, blending fact and fiction into a riveting tale. Perriman's voice of Lola is so enthralling, you'll forget you're sitting in a recliner in the 21st century instead...more
Book provided by publisher for review
Ahoy! And beware--there's no Cap'n Jack here. Fire on Dark Water is a novel about piracy and the gritty lives the pirates lived told through the eyes of a gypsy whore. It has not been romanticized--it is real, bloody, and not for the squeamish. But...it is also elegantly written, blending fact and fiction into a riveting tale. Perriman's voice of Lola is so enthralling, you'll forget you're sitting in a recliner in the 21st century instead...more
Fire on Dark Water by Wendy K. Perriman
Historical Romance –June 7th, 2011
4 stars
Lolomura (AKA Lola) Blaise’s, adventure started in London when she was kidnapped and brutally mistreated at the age of ten. Through a series of incidents, she has made her way to the New World and ended up in Providence, a pirate’s heaven. There she works as prostitute. Her tumultuous journey continues as she catches the attention of Blackbeard, marries Blackbeard, and rubbed elbows with Annie Bonny, the only female...more
Historical Romance –June 7th, 2011
4 stars
Lolomura (AKA Lola) Blaise’s, adventure started in London when she was kidnapped and brutally mistreated at the age of ten. Through a series of incidents, she has made her way to the New World and ended up in Providence, a pirate’s heaven. There she works as prostitute. Her tumultuous journey continues as she catches the attention of Blackbeard, marries Blackbeard, and rubbed elbows with Annie Bonny, the only female...more
Jun 24, 2011
Kristin (MyBookishWays Reviews)
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
pirates
You may also read my review here:http://www.mybookishways.com/201...
Fire on Dark Water begins in 1702 England, when 10 year old Lola Blaise is spirited away from her gypsy family by people that would sell her to men wanting to “experience” a virgin. Yeah, the world Lola lives in is nasty, brutal, and unforgiving, especially where gypsies are concerned. Lola eventually falls in with a gang of thieves and is eventually caught and sent to Newgate, where she is banished to America for 7 years to be...more
Fire on Dark Water begins in 1702 England, when 10 year old Lola Blaise is spirited away from her gypsy family by people that would sell her to men wanting to “experience” a virgin. Yeah, the world Lola lives in is nasty, brutal, and unforgiving, especially where gypsies are concerned. Lola eventually falls in with a gang of thieves and is eventually caught and sent to Newgate, where she is banished to America for 7 years to be...more
Many know that I have a love affair with historical fiction. To me I suppose it is the lure of a world that is like mine, but so greatly different; from the clothes, to the vernacular, to the customs, to the time period, etc. It’s in these worlds (if they’re cleverly written) that I can find myself transported and feel as though I am part of the landscape. In Perriman’s debut novel, I felt like the preverbal fly on the dank and gritty walls, and y’all I needed a long hot shower after this one. *...more
Pirates!!
I picked this up at the Borders going out of business sale because I liked the cover. (Yes, I buy books because I like the covers. Sue me.) I also saw the word "pirates" on it somewhere, so it was a no-brainer. Luckily, it was also a very good read. Gritty, great voice, historically interesting, violent, and PIRATICAL!
In terms of Anne Bonny fiction (which this is, tangentially), I did like The Only Life that Matters and Kingston by Starlight better, but not by much. The protagonist (w...more
I picked this up at the Borders going out of business sale because I liked the cover. (Yes, I buy books because I like the covers. Sue me.) I also saw the word "pirates" on it somewhere, so it was a no-brainer. Luckily, it was also a very good read. Gritty, great voice, historically interesting, violent, and PIRATICAL!
In terms of Anne Bonny fiction (which this is, tangentially), I did like The Only Life that Matters and Kingston by Starlight better, but not by much. The protagonist (w...more
1 like · like · see review
Fire on Dark Water was definetly not my cup of tea. I must say first that it was very well written and researched. The setting and descriptions seemed accurate and realistic. However, I do not enjoy reading continuously about rape and abuse. Women were used up and discarded like refuse. The main character was raped and beat so many times I couldn't imagine her continued will to go on. After a brutal scene of gang rape on a pirate ship, I found it hard to belief that Lola could just lay around an...more
Seldom does historical fiction meld a female protagonist with realistic storytelling; at this, Perriman succeeds. This well-researched pirate saga isn't filled with romantic tales of reformed rakes, nor of a heroine of privilege looking for love. Instead it is a gruesome story of violence, adventure and survival - all told from the narrative perspective of the resourceful Lola Blaise. I was riveted to the yarn spun by the stongwilled Gypsy lead who exemplified the fortitude required of those who...more
Fire on Dark Water, by Wendy K. Perriman was my first experience with Historical Fiction. I did not know what to expect, since I generally stick to the Sci-Fi Fantasy genre. Therefore, I was taken out of my comfort zone, which is a good thing at times. After all, how do you know if you don’t like something, until you’ve tried it? Fire on Dark Water is a daring book, which plays with one’s emotions. From the first chapter onward, Lola Blaise’s tragic life was indeed gripping...
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This story attracted my interest because I like to read period, historical novels, but I had a hard time connecting to this one. If you are expecting a sweet romance, this is definitely not it, It is completely the opposite is harsh, violent and not for the soft of heart.
Lola is a young gypsy girl that learns the hard way that her life was to be a living hell. Early on she is raped, abused and taken advantage of and subsequently thrown into slavery, but she learns the best way to live through it...more
Lola is a young gypsy girl that learns the hard way that her life was to be a living hell. Early on she is raped, abused and taken advantage of and subsequently thrown into slavery, but she learns the best way to live through it...more
I LOVED this book. I enjoy anything and all Pirate related things so this book was an easy fit. It is a Historical fiction about a young Gypsy girl who ends up being married to Blackbeard, is friends-ish with Calico Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny. All of the Pirate related information is accurate with a little bit of a twist with the Gypsy girl's story. So much fun to read, I couldn't put it down and finished it within a day or two. If you want Pirates and adventure this is the book for you!
I enjoyed the read, but there were times that it seemed like the author was trying too hard to write like a female pirate.
I did enjoy the "historical" characters and how the author wove them into the novel. There were instances that I didn't care too much for the storyteller, Lola, and to be honest I did skim through a bunch of pages because it didn't really have too much going on.
I did enjoy the "historical" characters and how the author wove them into the novel. There were instances that I didn't care too much for the storyteller, Lola, and to be honest I did skim through a bunch of pages because it didn't really have too much going on.
I deceived myself - upon reading the back blurb I thought it would be about a female pirate, as in a woman who wields a sword and commands the ship or at least swings on ropes. That would've been pretty awesome. But it held to what was probably closer to the true condition for women in that time and surroundings, used and abused and tossed aside.
Great writing style. I don't think I could do better, but the story itself wasn't what I hoped for. It's not as strong a woman as I expected. It's not a lady pirate. It's a woman going through--holy moly--just about whatever a woman could be put through back then, to the point it was a bit much. And well, frankly, anytime a writer uses a real historical or famous character, someone isn't going to like your portrayal of them. I rather like Ann Bonney's bits in other books...and her character in t...more
1 like · like · see review
Great story, strong female characters, accurate account of history, can't wait for the sequel.
Pirates and gypsies!!!! What more can you ask for?
Already have two books going but had a hankering for the sea last night. This book fits the bill. Pirates and gypsies? Yes please! Only one chapter in and already hooked.
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Wendy Perriman grew up in the ancient English town of Kirkham. After graduating from the University of Lancaster she completed a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education at Bristol University then taught English, Drama, and Dance at various international secondary schools in England, Germany and the United States.
Wendy moved to America in 1994 and is now a dual citizen. She returned to academia and...more
More about Wendy K. Perriman...
Wendy moved to America in 1994 and is now a dual citizen. She returned to academia and...more
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Sep 21, 2011 05:12am