The Determined by Rachel Rueckert

Mary knit her brow. “You’re suggesting that it isn’t a women’s competency that prevents them from joining crews, but rather men’s fear of them?”

“Yes. Some rubbish like that. It threatens a man’s strength. His way of being in the world. The natural order of things.”- Anne, The Determined

The Determined by Rachel Rueckert is a historical fiction novel exploring the stories of the two most famous female pirates - Mary Read and Anne Bonny - who lived and fought in the Caribbean during the fading Golden Age of Piracy. It draws from one of the only known authentic historical source on the history of piracy - A General History of the Pirates by Captain Charles Johnson.

The Determined alternates between the background stories of each of these women. Mary Read was born in England to a father who was hung for being a pirate. In order to survive, Mary’s mother had her dress as a boy, a practice she kept up for much of her life. Anne Bonny was born in Ireland and grew up there, England and South Carolina before escaping to a life at sea. When the two women meet, Mary uncharacteristically offers help thus beginning the brief but intense friendship between the two women. Each experienced making difficult choices, grieving losses, and struggling to find safety. Further bonding them is being the only two female pirates in the

man’s world of piracy.

I never wanted to be approved to read a book so badly as this one and it did not disappoint. This novel was highly engaging and informative. I love when I learn history that I didn’t know before starting to read the book. Both women are strong and independent people who exhibit resilience, intelligence and courage especially when the pirate leading them, Calico Jack, falters in his leadership role. The author incorporates the real event of Captain Charles Johnson visiting the two pirates when they are captured and imprisoned separately to write down their story as a tool to reveal the women’s respective backgrounds within the novel. (And the history of Captain Johnson is just as fascinating - make sure you read the author’s note at the end!) The Determined also provides a window into what it meant to being a woman in the 1700’s - restricted roles, lack of respect, don’t push back against men, and don’t dare to be different or want more because you will be ostracized.

Anne sighed. “Being a burden - not a son…To be a woman is to be a liability. Dependent. Vulnerable. Trapped. Blamed. Hunted.” Then she sighed. “No, that’s not right - not the better part, anyway. But to give it language somehow feels…small. Limiting. And whoever I am - whatever it means that I was born a female and go about the world as such - I resist being caged, confined and cornered, fixed into a time and place, stuck in a certain way or position. Determined. I’m as much in flux as the shifting tides, as a ship aching to make way.”

The Determined is a powerful and moving story that highlights women who are bold and risk much to secure their rightful place in the volatile world of piracy.

This novel will be available for purchase February 24.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.