Some of you know I review a couple of books a year for the Historical Novel Society. to be honest, I did it partly for the free books. Some of them are solid, some are… not so much. And every once in a while I come across one that is such a fun read i need to share it with you all.
That brings us to The Black Scorpion by UK writer Jacqueline Malcolm. It starts out as a pretty standard story about a young African king’s coming of age, then turns into a thrill ride when he’s sold into slavery, loses his family, and winds up as a pirate in the Caribbean. It’s as fun as it sounds. So……
Jacqueline, tell us about you.
First and foremost, I’m a storyteller so anything attached to creatively telling stories is my happiest state whether that is through books or plays – whatever I do is about telling someone’s story. I’m absolutely fascinated by human nature. How perfectly imperfect we are. How we strive endlessly to be someone we’re not. We’re a conundrum filled with so many contradictions and yet with the ability to love and care so deeply for people and things we consider vulnerable.
As a PhD Research student, I recently founded the ‘It’s Dr, Actually’ Podcast in partnership with ColourfulTV on YouTube. The show aims to demystify the doctorate holder and discover more about the person behind the title. I really wanted to put them centre stage and explore more about their personal journeys and what happened after their thesis.
I’m endlessly curious about the choices people make when courage, love, loyalty, selfish desires, and survival collide.
I loved The Black Scorpion- tell us about it.
Set in the 18th Century, Black Scorpion is about a young African prince who becomes king at the death of his father. He becomes a great king but he loses his memory and wakes up chained aboard a slave ship. That ship is eventually overtaken by Pirates and he becomes the greatest pirate on the seven seas. But then his memory comes back. And he remembers he was never a slave, nor was he even supposed to be a pirate. He is a king, with a kingdom, and a queen, and a son – and he needs to get back home to claim what he has lost.
It’s an epic tale with gods and spirit animals and pirates and mermaids. There’s love, hate, and all the passions that come with simply being human.
I do love to have my buckle swashed! What is it about this story that appealed to you?
Overall, what I am really writing about is the identity crisis I believe we are currently living in. When we don’t know who we are then we accept whatever label is given to us and we become the best version of that label. But when we know who we are, only then can we become brilliant as then we can live our purpose.
Unfair questions: what’s your favorite (or favourite) scene in the book?
To be honest, I have several as the protagonist pretty much goes through 3 deaths where his life is changed so completely, that he is forced to start again. But for me, I think it is that moment when his full memory returns and the fullness of who he is becomes clear to him. The revelation of how great he is was quite a challenging part to write because I really didn’t want to miss it. I wanted the reader to be able to smell it – taste it – the power of that revelation that he was so much more than he had ever imagined. That was the crux of the story and so means a lot to me.
Well I think you pulled it off (but who the heck am I?) Where can people learn more about your work?
Everything you need to know about my creative storytelling can be found on my website. It includes details about my plays, option to listen to my Podcast, and all the key links worldwide where you can read and review my book:
I’d love to connect with readers and hear their thoughts on Black Scorpion
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