BlackHeart's Legacy

The Odyssey of Jon Sinclair, Book 1

By: Sally Copus

Narrated by: Paul Woodson

Length: 7 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's Summary

Jon Sinclair is a precocious 12-year-old boy, living with grandparents who have a very unique hobby: time travel. Having already made several trips in the time capsule known as the Carousel, Jon and his grandmother plan a trip back to July 4, 1776, to watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

But things go horribly awry when the computer system of their space -time ship malfunctions, and they are thrust onto the shores of Port Royal, Jamaica, in 1692. As his grandmother works to repair the back-in-time ship, Jon wanders off on his own...and is promptly kidnapped by the notorious pirate, Captain BlackHeart. Forced into the role of cabin boy, Jon does his best to adapt to a rugged life at sea as his grandparents embark on a desperate search to find him.

Will Jon survive his frightening ordeal? Or will he meet his fate at the hands of rival pirates - or, worse yet, as the result of a tidal wave that threatens to destroy the entire pirate stronghold?

Filled with excitement, mystery, and harrowing danger, BlackHeart's Legacy, Book One in the Odyssey of Jon Sinclair trilogy, is a thrilling time-travel adventure that will captivate listeners of all ages.

©2010 Sally Ann Copus (P)2015 Sally Ann Copus

Fun, fun, and more fun!

my 11 tear ikd son and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and are eagerly looking forward to the next!

Blackheart's Legacy: Fun for any age group

What did you love best about BlackHeart's Legacy?

With a little imagination, you can cast yourself into the role on any of the characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of BlackHeart's Legacy?

Enjoyed Blackheart being outsmarted by the 12 year old, Jon.

Have you listened to any of Paul Woodson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I haven't, but I'll be watching for his name from now on. Great job.

Any additional comments?

Enjoyed the book very much. The author pulls you right into the story. Job well done.

What an adventure for any age!

Any additional comments?

What a fantastic adventure! Meant to be for 9 through 14 year olds, but I’m telling you right now, I found it exciting with time travel to 1692, Port Royal, Jamaica Islands. It’s everything a youngster would love and those of us ‘oldies’ ready to travel to far-off lands. But this time travel was an ‘oops’, almost ending in disaster.

“Traveling with Jon on his journey has enriched my life,” says Copus. “I can’t wait to see where he takes me next and what we find there.”

What a fun adventure with Jon and his Grammy and later Allistair at the infamous Pirates’ Babylon, better known as Port Royal in the Jamaican Islands.

We didn’t know where we were when we eventually reappeared other than it was 1692. However, Sally Copus did a terrific job, along with narrator Paul Woodson, through her words and his way of storytelling to bring us up to speed. We saw the forest where the Carousel landed, the town of Port Royal with ships in the harbor, the pirates and people a little unsavory.

Jon separates from his grandmother (not such a good idea Jon), however this creates a bunch of adventure we shared with Jon. Grammy, dressed as a young lad, eventually locates Jon when she cleverly listens for any word from the men coming off the ships.
Now BlackHeart was an unusual pirate and we find out how in the storytelling. SharkScar was one scary character and a true evil man who never seemed to disappear — always reappearing and creating havoc, both for BlackHeart and then for the Sinclairs. Each pirate tried to outmaneuver the other to get to sunken treasures.

I learned a lot with this listen and that’s just the way I like it. The pirates used a bell diving apparatus a predecessor of diving equipment. It truly existed. Any time a story piques my interest in a historical event and gives me insight to the workings of people’s minds, I say it was very much worth the read.

The special black opal ring BlackHeart wore was very intriguing, adding the spice of the paranormal. I hope we hear more about this gem in the following stories of the series. I love the fantasy mix with some real events, although it had me googling to try to know fact from fiction.
Yes, my readers, there was an earthquake in 1692 that dropped part of Port Royal into the sea and if you go to that small town and do some skin diving, you’ll see a city under water. I wonder how much treasure is left buried in that area. Ah, more googling will help me find my answers.

Ms. Copus entertained me greatly at the same time as providing me knowledge about the past. I was surprised how engaged I was when it was geared for middle school. Narrator Paul Woodson truly brought to life the characters with his depiction of pirates and their unsavory thoughts with his usual superb performance.

Some things I take away from the story: Not all spoken is the truth, nor are appearances necessarily reality. People of the 17th century were as we see them today: some good men and women trying to make a difference, some people need to be given a helping hand to help themselves, other people are guided by greed and nothing will deter them from their path.

Loved It!!!

Any additional comments?

I found this book very fun and entertaining. It is meant for children, but is still a lot of fun to listen to. It seems to be one of those that actually fits all ages. The fact that the main character is a young boy will attract some of the younger readers. I fully intend to get this in book form for my son to read. The storyline was full of fun twists and the narrator did a really good job of reading it. He had a way of bringing the story to life that some narrators don’t have. Without giving up too much of the story, 12 year old Jon and his granny go back in time to 1692 and end up involved with pirates. Overall, the book is fun, fast paced, and very entertaining. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Great reading!!!

If you could sum up BlackHeart's Legacy in three words, what would they be?

Time travel generations

Which character – as performed by Paul Woodson – was your favorite?

I think Paul Woodson did a great job with all characters. He did enough voice changing and inflections accents to make all characters interesting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am moved just by the fact that it's a story of a grandmother and grandson going on a journey together.

Any additional comments?

While this is not the type of book that I typically read, it is definitely great for the younger crowd. I work with fourth graders and think this would be great for that age group through possibly middle school. Time travel and pirates make for an exciting way to learn about some historical events, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I think this book also teaches the value of relationships between children and grandparents.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent time travel voyage

If you could sum up BlackHeart's Legacy in three words, what would they be?

Time travel excitement

What was one of the most memorable moments of BlackHeart's Legacy?

When John wonders off on his own exploring and then realizes he is lost. The descriptive details and exciting storyline were incredible. The narrator's voice and excitement also made that moment more enjoyable.

What about Paul Woodson’s performance did you like?

His voice was very enjoyable to listen to. I didn't think his voices were amazing, but I did love his Blackbeard voice. I thought Woodson did a great job of creating the tone of the book. I could hear the excitement and worry in his voice when the situation became intense. Depending on the situation he did a wonderful job of making his voice match whatever was needed.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book moved me honestly. I enjoyed this book so much I shared it with my children. My son asks to listen to a little of it each night. I haven't come across such an original idea about time travel or pirates.

Any additional comments?

This book was an enjoyable listening experience. I would gladly read/listen to another book by Sally Copus or Paul Woodson. I really enjoyed that the author mixed science fiction with pirates. Any age would enjoy this exciting voyage of time travel and pirates.
I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Captivating storyline, intriguing characters

Would you listen to BlackHeart's Legacy again? Why?

I would not listen to BlackHeart's Legacy again unless there were a different narrator. I felt as though Paul Woodson spoke too quickly and did not have enough variation in his inflection to transition clearly from one character to another. Throughout the entirety of the book, I wish I had a copy in front of me so I could make it a read a long.

What was one of the most memorable moments of BlackHeart's Legacy?

I truly enjoyed the section where the folks on the ship were cured of scurvy through their diet; I am a bit biased since it's one of my favorite topics.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

I feel as though Woodson could have spoken a little slower and have more pauses throughout transitions.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did not have an extreme reaction to this book, no. It was perfect company throughout three different flights- it kept me relaxingly entertained.

Any additional comments?

I am curious to read the book to see if my impression is any different from the audiobook.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing adventure story

Any additional comments?

What an amazingly awesome story "Blackheart's Legacy" was to listen to. I thought that Paul Woodson was the absolute perfect person to narrate this tale and he did a wonderful job of bringing Sally Copus' characters to life. Jon and Grammy were very well written and were developed beautifully. I really enjoyed the storyline and thought that it was new and exciting. Who doesn't love a 12 year old boy and his grandmother going on adventures in a time machine that mistakenly takes them back to the Caribbean in the 1692!! I think that even though the series is intended for young adults/children, I think it can be loved by people of all ages. I cannot wait for the second installment and hope to see this story make it to the big screen!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Pirates Tale Imaginatively Told

If you could sum up BlackHeart's Legacy in three words, what would they be?

Timetravelling Pirates Tale

Would you be willing to try another book from Sally Copus? Why or why not?

Yes. I found the story to be new, original and intriguing.

What three words best describe Paul Woodson’s voice?

Consistent, Flexible and Plesant

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It could have been but as I listen to books on my commute that was not possible.

Any additional comments?

This story would appeal to a wide audience including adventure seeking adults and children needing a tale of heroics.

Thumbs up!

This story is super catchy right from the beginning. A time machine, I mean come on who wouldn't want to hear more about that. And when they take you on their next adventure with them you can just sit there and listen with your mouth open because you don't want to miss any details. This audiobook is an awesome, and catchy story for anybody who likes adventures.

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.