Forbidden Frontier

I have been looking for this book for some time and finally found it just before Christmas. It was worth the wait.

Charlotte Badger, the main character in the book, is Australia's first female pirate. Charlotte is a lovable character with strong opinions and a strength of character that gets her in and out of trouble. The novel is mostly set in early Australia, and Charlotte is a convict sentenced to seven years in the new colony.

Charlotte's story is interwoven with the story of the Reverend Nathan Wesley and his wife, Elizabeth. So not only do we see a convict view of the colony, but also from a minister and his wife.

The hardship of life in early Sydney is portrayed beautifully. The life, loves, hurts, hardships, pain and friendships are displayed in a book that captured me early and kept me entertained until the end. I laughed and cried at different points.

It is a beautiful tale, told in a manner that keeps you turning pages. Zana Bell has a beautiful way of telling a story from multiple viewpoints. I can highly recommend this book to all but especially if you like historical reads.