Meet The Cast of Hell's Revenge

Ahoy, mateys! I’ve been sailing along with finishing the first draft of my historical fiction pirate novel, Hell's Revenge: The Rise and Fall of a Pirate Queen. I can’t believe I’m almost finished.

I’ve teased some of the main characters on my Instagram, but today I’m going to introduce you to more of the cast of Hell's Revenge.

Angélica “Hell” Spencer

Angélica is the protagonist of Hell's Revenge. She is the daughter of an English naturalist and a Nahuatl(Aztec) woman. Her mother died when she was very young, so Angélica spent her life aboard ships with her father. She is trained in the natural sciences, but she is also a polyglot and well-versed in philosophy.

Angélica’s love interest gives her the nickname “Hell” because she’s no angel. She feels more connected to this name and adopts it as her primary moniker later in the book. Hell is bisexual, and throughout the book, she has many partners. Her true love, however, is Henry. He is the sailor who teaches her how to wield a blade, and he is the only person who truly accepts her for who she is.

Henry Martin

Henry was the son of a whore from Liverpool, and he joined a ship’s crew as a boy when he was very young. The Navy is his life. We first meet him as a young lieutenant who is quickly rising through the ranks. Henry is a clever strategist and brilliant fighter. He’s kind and prefers to command his ships with compassion rather than an iron fist.

He has no desire for the politics that being an officer of the Navy involves. His flaw is his unwavering loyalty and integrity. Too much of a good thing, you know? He adores Hell and sees her as his equal.

George Spencer

Angélica’s father is not your typical gentryman. He’s spent most of his adult life away from England, where he leaves the running of Spencer Manor to his employees. After Angélica’s mother died, he never found love again. His daughter is all he feels he needs.

George is a loving father. He wants what’s best for Angélica, but he tries not to treat her like a dainty lady. He educates her in art, philosophy, science, and languages. He is a well-respected naturalist. However, he does still understand that Angélica is a young woman in a man’s world, which leads him to make some decisions that his daughter does not like at all.

Deirdre Byrne

When Angélica and her father return to England, she meets Deirdre. Deirdre is the first true friend Angélica ever has. She’s quiet and reserved, and she is a devoted friend and confidante. Later, their friendship blossoms into something more. But the two are too different to last because Hell’s heart belongs to the sea (also because it’s the 1690s and they’re both women.)

Evelyn Campbell

Evelyn is your classic mean girl, wrapped in a mantua and petticoat. She’s the daughter of the wealthy Lord Campbell, and she hates Angélica. She is determined to embarrass Hell and make her an outcast. But Angélica gets her first taste of revenge when she gets even with Evelyn.

Charles Smith

Charles is a servant at the Spencer Estate. He and Hell played together as children. He is a good friend and a distraction to Angélica’s loneliness during her time in England.

Lieutenant John Wheatley

Wheatley is the second lieutenant of the HMS Integrity, the ship Henry captains in the middle of the book. He despises Angélica and is fiercely loyal to his captain.

Ben Davies

Ben is a young, novice sailor who serves as Henry’s servant on the ship. Like Henry, he was born in a brothel. Henry takes it upon himself to educate Ben and treats him like a younger brother. Ben is at first enamored by Angélica but later becomes a close friend who admires her. He’s also the only person that Angélica’s pouched rat likes besides Hell and Henry.

Maggie May

We meet Maggie much later in the novel. She is a brilliant Caribbean woman who earns a living with less than legal or moral means. Hell is taken by her, and she becomes our protagonist’s BFF (with benefits).

Quetzalli

No pirate is complete without a pet. But Angélica isn’t your typical pirate, so she walks around with a four pound Gambian pouched rat on her shoulder. She meets Quetzalli in Ghana. The rat immediately adopts Hell and follows her into town. She’s a lot of fun to write. Quetzalli allows me to write a softer side to Hell and serves as some comedic relief. Quetzalli is a Nahuatl word that is essentially a term of endearment. One of Hell’s only memories of her mother was being called Quetzalli.

And that’s the main cast! These characters have really come alive and decided to do their own thing. I can’t wait for you to see them in action.

~Krystal