Saltblood

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**WINNER OF THE WILBUR SMITH ADVENTURE WRITING PRIZE** 'A gripping tale of one woman's extraordinary adventures ... Saltblood is a triumph of the imagination' ELODIE HARPER, author of 'The Wolf Den' trilogy. In 1685, a daughter is born as her half-brother dies, leading her mother to decide that Mary will become Mark to secure his inheritance. This dual existence takes Mary from serving as a footman in a grand house to the navy, where she learns trust and navigation, and then to the battlefields of Flanders, where she finds love amid chaos. Yet, her longing for the sea remains. Drawn back to the water, Mary must reinvent herself once more, as a woman aboard a ship poses great danger. This time, she transforms into a pirate. Breathing life into the Golden Age of Piracy, the narrative unfolds as a wild adventure, exploring themes of gender, survival, passion, and transformation through the remarkable story of Mary Read. 'Saltblood is exquisite. The writing is sumptuous and lyrical, the story fascinating' LOUISE O'NEILL. 'Startling, fresh and brilliant' ANNA MAZZOLA. 'A wonderful tale ... Master and Commander meets Thelma & Louise' JAMES OSWALD. 'A thrilling, gender-shaking roar of a tale every reader will enjoy' NEIL BLACKMORE. 'A glittering jewel of a novel; a treasure chest of delight' E.S. THOMSON.