This “thrilling, swashbuckling story” (People) based on true events illuminates a woman of color’s rise to power as one of the few female pirate captains to sail the Caribbean, and a forbidden love story that will shape the course of history.

In the tumultuous town of Yáquimo, Santo Domingo, Jacquotte Delahaye is an up-and-coming shipwright, but her ambitions are bound by the confines of her self-seeking French father. When her way of life and the delicate balance of power in the town are threatened, she is forced to flee her home and become a woman on the run along with a motley crew of refugees, including a mysterious young woman named Teresa.

Jacquotte and her band become indentured servants to the infamous Blackhand, a ruthless pirate captain who rules his ship with an iron fist. As they struggle to survive, Jacquotte finds herself unable to resist Teresa despite their differences. When Blackhand hatches a dangerous scheme to steal a Portuguese shipment of jewels, Jacquotte must rely on her wits, resourcefulness, and friends to survive. But she discovers there is a grander, darker scheme of treachery at play, and she ultimately must decide what price she is willing to pay to secure a better future for them all.

Passionate, action-packed, and unputdownable, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is “a beautiful and, at times, gut-wrenching tale of found family, self-discovery, and the true meaning of freedom” (M. J. Kuhn, author of Among Thieves).

About The Author

Photograph by Sarah Smith

Briony Cameron

Briony Cameron is a queer disabled writer based in Cardiff, UK. Her father was of Jamaican, Panamanian, and Cuban heritage and her mother is of English and Welsh heritage. She studied English and creative writing at university, graduating in 2020. She has a keen love of history that began with her first reading of The Three Musketeers as a child. She has been writing since she could pick up a pencil, first emulating the comic books her dad raised her on before moving on to novels. In 2020 her short story “The Nantes Affair” was longlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Short Story Competition, and her debut novel, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye, was longlisted that same year for the Penguin WriteNow Competition, and in 2021 it was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Prize. Alongside writing, she is an avid knitter and she loves to play videogames and spend time with her dog, Keanu.

Product Details

Publisher: Atria Books (June 4, 2024)
Length: 368 pages
ISBN13: 9781668051023

Raves and Reviews

“A thrilling, swashbuckling story of a young Santo Domingo shipwright’s rise to notoriety as the first female pirate captain of the Caribbean.”

– People Magazine

“Readers will feel the ship deck shifting and pitching as Delahaye shoots, duels and brawls her way through danger and power plays while falling in love with a woman who also embraces the seafaring life. The novel’s Pirates of the Caribbean sensibilities are tempered with accounts of the mistreatment of women, enslaved people and multiracial characters. The author’s lively and compassionate writing style is addictive.”

– The Washington Post

"Debut novelist Cameron reimagines historical events in portraying her larger-than-life protagonist in a tale of triumph over a male pirate captain, racial inequality, sexism, slavery, and violence. This is a wonderfully gripping adventure story about a lesbian pirate of color who rose from obscurity to infamy at the height of the age of piracy. Fans of LGBTQ+ historical fiction and those who relish tales of notorious figures from the past will find that this novel is an absolute treasure."

– Booklist, starred review

“Cameron debuts with an exciting and multidimensional story inspired by the women pirates who sailed the Caribbean in the 17th century...The heart of the novel lies with Jacquotte, whose honor, passion, and tenacity leap off the page. This fiery feminist adventure shows what legends are made of.”

– Publishers Weekly, starred review

“A high-stakes, gripping adventure full of heart-pounding duels and bonds that run deeper than blood, The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye is an engrossing debut. Jacquotte and her determination to chart her own course, rather than follow the path others have set before her, will stay with readers long after the final page.”

– Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All

"Briony Cameron’s debut—a vivid account of legendary figure Jacquotte Delahaye, shipwright turned pirate of the Caribbean, and her lawbreaking chosen family—is gritty, exciting, and tender. I loved the novel’s focus on queer joy in a rough world!"

– Katharine Beutner, author of Killingly

“Thrilling, heart-pounding adventure meets thoughtful feminist history in The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye. Cameron has crafted a rare and special tale that looks upon the world with realism while leaving the reader with an enduring sense of hope. An absolutely stunning debut.”

– Vaishnavi Patel, New York Times bestselling author of Kaikeyi

"I tore through The Ballad of Jacqquotte Delahaye—packed full of action, excitement, peril, and romance on the high seas, this is the sapphic pirate book of my dreams."

– Sarah Underwood, author of Lies We Sing to the Sea

“For anyone whose historical fiction wishlist includes unforgettable female characters, breathless adventure, and passion a-plenty."

– Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read

“Empowering. Uplifting. Illuminating. Cameron brings Jacquotte vividly to life; I was hooked from first to last. A tour de force of storytelling!”

– Menna van Praag, author of The House at the End of Hope Street