“And I thought you were my savior in my darkest hour. How very wrong I was.”
1794: Devastated by the violent disappearance of her husband, Charles Sharpe, Eliza struggles to save Pleasant Hall from the hands of crooked creditors and the governor’s greed. In the aftermath of the attack, her husband’s enemies have branded him a traitor and declare him
dead.
But an unlikely source carries knowledge that he still lives, and he alone knows who has taken Charles. Eliza’s desperation drives her to form an alliance with the king of the underworld himself: Captain Hiram Bruin, a notorious man who is more pirate than privateer.
Eliza’s death has been ordered by Lord Dunmore, and Bruin himself tasked with the deed. But Hiram Bruin has never been a man to follow orders. He offers her passage on his ship, the Fortuyne, and his personal protection. In her hour of distress, Eliza accepts—for she has no
other choice.
Bruin takes Eliza on a wild and dangerous voyage from the island of New Providence to the wild and untamed Saba, and finally to England, where her journey started three years ago.
Eliza endures her new sinister reality, one where death creeps ever closer, and quickly learns that the only monsters at sea are men. Ensnared by the salt air and damning secrets, one thing is startlingly clear: Bruin wants to take everything she holds dear. For the roots of revenge lie
deep…
Will Eliza be able to save the life of her husband before it’s too late? What price is she willing to pay for his freedom? And can she escape this unimaginable nightmare, fueled by a man of unspeakable cruelty?
Gina Giordano always had an insatiable curiosity and a penchant for history. Born in New York City, she is a writer, artist, and a conjurer of the past. She holds a BA in history and a master’s degree in historical fiction from New York University, and has traveled to over sixty-five countries across the globe. When she is not climbing ancient ruins or exploring forgotten
palaces, she enjoys swimming with sharks in remote pristine waters. Her debut novel, Strange Eden, was longlisted for the 2023 Bath Novel Award.
My thoughts: Eliza and Charles finally found a way to each other, only to be ripped apart by the events on the island. She’s been told that he’s dead, but refuses to believe it. Pirate Hiram Bruin tells her he knows where Charles is, abducts her onto his ship the Fortuyne and they set sail.
Bruin is a terrifying character, and his crew of reprobates isn’t any better. But Bruin has a personal vendetta against Charles which he keeps from Eliza, all the while attempting to convince her to give up her search and marry him.
As they traverse around the Caribbean and then across the Atlantic to England, Eliza must brave events that would destroy a weaker woman. Murder, rape and intense cruelty, are all part of life aboard the ship.
Meanwhile Charles is suffering through his own hell, held prisoner in South America by a dangerous criminal who makes his prisoners fight each other. He knows that he needs to stay alive and make his way to Eliza and Philippe, wherever they are.
This final chapter in Charles and Eliza’s story is probably the most shocking, the crimes of the Bahamas governor, Lord Dunmore, are mounting and he will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
Charles and Eliza are incredibly strong and brave people, they suffer terribly at the hands of their enemies and must overcome all obstacles to find their way to safety and keep their son well.
Gripping, shocking and full of drama, this brings the Strange Eden trilogy to a sensational end, where it began, in an English country garden.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 