The title character is a 17th century shipwright from Hispaniola, having done her apprenticeship with a lovely man who died and left her the business. Jacquotte has a white father, a French nobleman and drunken asshole Arnolde. Her mother, died while birthing Jacquotte's brother, Marceau. For most of the story, Jacquotte is about 20. A bunch of shit happens, and Jacquotte, Marceau, and their friends find themselves indentured on a pirate ship, working for a captain who is a drunken asshole. 

Lots more shit happens, including a lot of gnarly violence, but also some same sex lovin' for Jacquotte and her BFF. It's not a bad read if you can handle the gnarly violence! If you have an interested in Haitian history and/or women legends, you might be able to tolerate the icky stuff.