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The Emerald Storm (Ethan Gage #5)

by William Dietrich (Goodreads Author)

3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 · rating details · 192 ratings · 48 reviews

The year is 1803. Swashbuckling, ribald, and irreverent hero Ethan Gage has outsmarted wily enemies and survived dangerous challenges across the globe, from the wilds of the American frontier to the pyramids of Egypt. Now the rakish hero finds himself in the Caribbean with his wife, Astiza, on a desperate hunt to secure the lost treasure of Montezuma—a legendary hoard rumo...more

Hardcover, 348 pages

Published May 8th 2012 by Harper

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Dec 21, 2012 Kara Jorges rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ethan Gage is back for yet another swashbuckling adventure in the Napoleonic era. Ethan is a married father now, and ready to settle down with his family. He’s got a large emerald to sell to finance his retirement, so he and wife Astiza go to one of Paris’s premier jewelers to sell it, and thereby find themselves in the middle of another adventure when their son is kidnapped. The French authorities believe Ethan’s emerald to be only one small piece of a large Aztec hoard lost somewhere in the Ca...more

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Dec 02, 2012 Gordon rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Emerald storm is an unusual historical novel. It concerns the slave revolution in Haiti. The historical setting is compelling and authentic. The real characters such as Dessalines well drawn.

Most intriguing is the descriptions of the motives and attitudes of the slave owners and of the slaves. I have read extensively about slavery and about Haiti in particular and I have not seen such a concise and accurate explanation of the repulsive excuses the slave owners used to justify slavery. This...more

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Jun 28, 2012 Cyndi Beane-Henry rated it 5 of 5 stars

***Note this review is from an uncorrected proof, so the actual final print may be slightly different than the reviewed copy.

I absolutely adored this book! [I think I know someone who is so like the main character, Ethan Gage!]

This fast paced thriller takes you from Paris to the tropics. From historical characters with names you're sure to recognize to the un-named heroes of an era long gone.

One is swept up with Ethan Gage as he struggles to keep his family together and protect his fortune. Only...more

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May 14, 2012 Robin Carter rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ethan gage
A sort of serious Harry Flashman / MacGyver hybrid in the 1800's. A man for whom no mission is to big. Life has changed somewhat since he has changes his personal circumstances, but his need for racing from one sword fight to another, from one intrigue to the next is not diminished.
As writers go WD is excellent, the plot is fun and well told, couple that with the daring do of Ethan Gage and you the reader will find yourself flicking to the next page and the next and if you're like me l...more

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May 08, 2012 Bridget Petrella rated it 5 of 5 stars

I loved this book! In the fifth installment of master storyteller William Dietrich’s bestselling adventure series, the swashbuckling, battle-scarred hero Ethan Gage must race from the slopes of the Alps to the sultry tropics of the Caribbean to pursue a mysterious Spanish treasure as the fate of England— and of the world’s first successful slave revolt— hang desperately in the balance. The Emerald Storm is the action-packed historical masterpiece that Ethan Gage fans have long awaited. Fans of t...more I loved this book! In the fifth installment of master storyteller William Dietrich’s bestselling adventure series, the swashbuckling, battle-scarred hero Ethan Gage must race from the slopes of the Alps to the sultry tropics of the Caribbean to pursue a mysterious Spanish treasure as the fate of England— and of the world’s first successful slave revolt— hang desperately in the balance. The Emerald Storm is the action-packed historical masterpiece that Ethan Gage fans have long awaited. Fans of the Indiana Jones adventures, the Sharpe’s Rifles series, and the thrilling works of James Rollins, who himself calls Dietrich’s writing “adventure at its grandest,” will find The Emerald Storm a satisfying, sword-in-hand romp through history— and new readers will discover it as the perfect introduction to the breathtaking Ethan Gage

The year is 1803. Swashbuckling, ribald, and irreverent hero Ethan Gage has outsmarted wily enemies and survived dangerous challenges across the globe, from the wilds of the American frontier to the pyramids of Egypt. Now the rakish hero finds himself in the Caribbean with his wife, Astiza, on a desperate hunt to secure the lost treasure of Montezuma— a legendary hoard rumored to have been hidden from Cortés's plundering Spanish conquistadors. Hot on his heels are British agents who want the gold to finance a black slave revolt in Saint-Domingue, robbing hostile France of its richest colony. The French, too, seek the treasure for the secrets it contains, the key to an incredible new means of invasion that can ensure Britain's defeat— on its own land.

Caught between the French and the rebel slave forces, Ethan and Astiza are in a race for gold and glory that will thrust them into the center of a bloody struggle for freedom as they try to rescue their son. And this time, Gage's luck may be running out. Brilliantly combining science, history, mythology, and wit, William Dietrich has woven a larger-than-life tale that sees Ethan embroiled in the Napoleonic era's ideals, opportunism, and inventions, which gave rise to the modern world. Filled with intrigue, voodoo, a hurricane, violent political unrest, and unexpected passion, The Emerald Storm is Dietrich's most captivating work to date.(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Kathleen Minde rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-action-thriller

Having not read any of the Ethan Gage Adventures series by William Dietrich, but heard good reviews, I wanted to read his latest book, "The Emerald Storm". Self-proclaimed adventurer, antiquarian and spy in the 1800's, the swashbuckling Gage sounded akin to James Bond with a powder-packed pistol and waistcoat. Page one finds him clinging to the side of a frozen fortress. I was hooked. However, Gage is now a devoted newlywed with a young son; his main goal in life is to settle down with his famil...more Having not read any of the Ethan Gage Adventures series by William Dietrich, but heard good reviews, I wanted to read his latest book, "The Emerald Storm". Self-proclaimed adventurer, antiquarian and spy in the 1800's, the swashbuckling Gage sounded akin to James Bond with a powder-packed pistol and waistcoat. Page one finds him clinging to the side of a frozen fortress. I was hooked. However, Gage is now a devoted newlywed with a young son; his main goal in life is to settle down with his family in his native America. But he is learning, in his new role as provider, that adventuring and gambling do not put food on the table. Womanizing is not an option. And, as he fumbles with fatherhood, he realizes that his skills as a "savant" and "electrician" are useless as he keeps misplacing his son "like a button".

When called to meet with Napoleon Bonaparte one last time before he retires, he cannot resist. Bonaparte needs him for a final mission: stay in Paris and convince the Americans to purchase the Louisiana Territory. His colony in Saint-Dominigue, now Haiti, is crumbling due to the slave rebellion and yellow fever is diminishing his army at an alarming rate. He has no troops to protect the Territory, the British are threatening a naval war, he needs the money. Gage agrees to stay, if only to sell an emerald he "procured" from an Ottoman in the last story. It is his retirement fund and pension for he and his wife, Astiza, and son, Harry.

Disaster strikes when the emerald and Harry are snatched by a renegade police inspector, Martel, who tortures Gage while cryptically demanding "where are the flying machines?" At this point, the reader would expect an impassioned search for Harry and revenge against Martel. But instead, the book takes a circuitous meander involving British spies, Gage becoming a double agent, and a French prison break-in. The British tell Gage that Martel is searching for Montezuma's hidden treasure in Haiti. And Gage, being a treasure hunter at heart, sets out to find this prize and his son. He and Astiza set off for Haiti with Gage fretting over the state of their marriage. Astiza is questioning their union and foresees tragedy.

When they finally, after sailing for over a month, arrive in Haiti, the story becomes meatier, the action more focused, new characters are introduced. Dietrich's depiction of the historical French sugar plantations with it's slave population adds a stimulating essence. Attempting to establish a Little France on the island, the Europeans build huge mansions in the humid forbidding jungle. They fill the houses full of antiques, overdress in the oppressive heat and throw parties while the colony dies off and their wallpaper molds. They enslave the native population to harvest sugar, the island's gold. This all comes to a head with voodoo, rebellion, treasure, betrayal, battles on land and sea, and a deadly hurricane. The last third is the best part of the book.

Although this is part of a series, "The Emerald Storm" can be read as a stand alone novel. But throughout the book, Gage makes passing references to "an extremely unhappy experience with a Nile crocodile" or "an Ottoman that came to too close to his wife" or submarine adventures that inspire me to read the other novels. This book appears to be a marital lull and judging from the state of affairs by the end of the story, I expect by the next book Gage will come out of retirement with pistols blazing.

The Historical Note chapter at the end of the book explains that many of the events depicted in the novel were true, most characters did exist, and the hidden treasure of Montezuma is legend.
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Aug 10, 2012 Bernie Charbonneau rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Any Indiana Jones Adventure Seekers

Shelves: library-book, historical-fiction

This is the 5th novel in the continuing adventures of the intrepid "Ethan Gage" by Mr. Dietrich and it is a very good read. Having followed Ethan from the first novel, I always look forward to the next scandalous tale. If you have been following this series then you are aware that Mr. Dietrich has centered his character around Napoleon and the early 19th century.
In this latest book, we are involved with the slave uprising in the Caribbean island of Saint Dominique which as we know today as Hait...more

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Sep 17, 2012 Chris Bauer rated it 4 of 5 stars

I'm disappointed that I chose the latest book in the "Ethan Gage" series to start with. I will definitely have to go back and start the entire series in proper order.

Dietrich does an excellent job of capturing the feel of the dawn of the 19th century with this work. The protagonist, Ethan Gage, is an American adventurer / treasure hunter and all-around scoundrel with plenty of self-effacing charisma and charm. This work details his efforts to recover both his son and a fabled treasure lost for c...more

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Mar 24, 2012 J.R. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Hoping to cash in a bauble from his last adventure and retire, Ethan Gage finds himself forced into another escapade—rescuing the Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L’Ouverture from a French prison and gaining the key to a legendary treasure trove.

Before long, he finds himself a pawn in the hands of both Napoleon’s agents and the British and with his exotic wife, Astiza, and Harry, their toddler, kidnapped as hostages to be exchanged for the treasure and the secret of an incredible new weapon.

From...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Russell Stoewe rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am continually impressed with William Dietrich's ability to turn a phrase and imagine a scene. He has a certain flair for dramatic and sarcastic dialogue that makes him the ideal scribe to write Ethan Gage as a likeable rascal.

I have enjoyed each of the Gage adventures and look forward to the next, if only because it sounds like a return to a more interesting (in my opinion) locale. The Emerald Storm is an excellent tale of flagging loyalties and intrigue in the Caribbean, but the area and its...more

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May 25, 2012 Frank rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ethan Gage is a sort of reluctant soldier of fortune. He claims he wants to cash in and just live a life of the rich and famous but in fact he loves the danger and adventure of trying to not only outsmart those with the treasures and secrets; he also must outsmart those enlisting he to find the treasures and secrets and he has no problem in claiming alliance to all sides. He straddles the fence and is really only serving himself. This book will take you from the Alps to the Caribbean with lots o...more

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Oct 27, 2012 Cherie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is one of a series of books written by Deitrich featuring a dashing American who always seems to get himself mixed up into historical events. This one has him playing a triple spy role -- American, French, and British -- while trying to rescue his wife and son who had been kidnapped and taken to the island of Haiti. Also involved are a fabulous emerald, Aztec treasure, the revolution that drove Napoleon out of the Americas, and some amazing, early scientific experiments.

It is an enjoyable...more

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Aug 22, 2012 Toni McKilligan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cliff-hanger alert! I fell in love with Ethan Gage about a year or so ago when I stumbled upon one of his earlier adventures. Since then, I have looked eagerly forward to each new book I find and read it with the enthusiasm of the arm-chair adventurer that I am. In other words, I lap them up. Far too late, Ethan finds himself betrayed as he searches for and finds the lost treasure of Montezuma. Encouraged by the emerald he stole in Egypt, Ethan set sail for Haiti with his new bride Astiza to loo...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

Book 5 in the Ethan Gage saga is much the same as his previous adventures. A man simply wanting to get the good life. In this case, he is newly married, and just wants to retire from public life with his wife, Astiza, and son Horus "Harry". And naturally things have a way of turning on poor Ethan.

What starts as trying to sell an Emerald he procured in the last novel, turns into a wild chanse for ancient Aztec treasures from Montezuma. The allure of flying machines amidst this lost treasure spark...more

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Jun 09, 2012 David Ketelsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book gratis from the Goodread's Giveaway program.

This book is very well written. Dietrich has a writing style that makes reading easy and the pages just fly. My only criticism is that I really don't like the main character, Ethan Gage, that much. I think most people would relate well to Gage but I find him too breezy. His cavalier attitude towards danger rubs me the wrong way. But that aside, Gage's ability to keep digging himself further into trouble makes for a great...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Randy rated it 5 of 5 stars

After a lifetime of adventuring, Ethan Gage is ready to settle down, retire. He's been mentored by Benjamin Franklin, explored the American west at President Jefferson's behest, spent time in Egypt and the Holy Land with Napoleon, and wrested his wife from Barbary pirates.

You see, his wife, Astiza, and he have a small son and they are in France to sell an emerald taken from the pirate that had his family.

The adventuring life won't let him go though. He's grabbed bu a rogue French policeman named...more

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May 17, 2012 Albert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction

It's 1803. Ethan Gage is in Paris with his beautiful and intelligent wife Astiza and son Harry. He wants to sell an emerald that will enable him to retire in comfort and enjoy life with his new family back home in America. But fate will not allow it.

Before he knows it, his son is kidnapped and he must solve a mystery of lost Aztec treasure to get his son back. The ensuing adventure takes Ethan from the slopes of the Alps to the tropics of the Caribbean.

This is the fifth installment of the Eth...more

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Jul 07, 2012 Tim Sexson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this title free through the GoodReads First Reads program. This is a great adventure. American adventurer Ethan Gage is playing three sides (American, French, and Haitian) in order to save his wife and son and find the fabled treasure of Montezuma. A quick read with plenty of daring escapes and action. Slowest point is on Dessalines's island, but otherwise awesome book. Equal parts Indiana Jones, National Treasure, Master And Commander, Pirates Of The Caribbean, and CutThroat Island....more

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Aug 30, 2012 Shaun rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction

Got this book from a first-reads give away and was pleasantly surprised by the quality.

It's a swashbuckling adventure starring Ethan Gage. I would characterize him as a 19th century Indiana Jones with less scruples. His allegiances are to himself and his family, but for practical reasons they sway with whoever can aid his cause the most. This leads him to hobnob with some of histories greatest characters, from Dessalines, to Napoleon. He's also got a bit of a James Bond feel to him, only instea...more

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Jul 15, 2012 Jayw added it

American adventurer Ethan Gage just wants to retire with his wife, child and emerald egg he stole from a Pasha. Bonaparte wants him to stay in the biz long enough to help him beat the English.The English want him too. When Gage's son is kidnapped, he finds himself searching for Montezuma's lost treasure in Haiti while trying to stay out of the gun sights of both French and English.

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Jun 05, 2012 Jennifer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, novels

Found this on the new book shelf at the library and immediately got pulled into the ridiculously outsized and fun adventure. Think Indiana Jones as a somewhat hapless and cheeky rogue. Unfortunately, I also discovered it's the 5th in a series -- and I have missed the first 4. Not sure I will try to pick them all up... I suspect this could get wearing after a while.

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Aug 24, 2012 Kurt Edwards rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book came to me through a Goodreads giveaway. I liked this book and the characters. I didn't realize that the book was part of a bigger story which involves the same main characters. At first it took time to get going with the book because I felt like I was missing a back story. When I realized I was missing a back story since this is the fifth novel in this story, I was able to settle into it and began the adventure in earnest. This book is a stand alone novel and it is not necessary to re...more

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Feb 09, 2013 Deon Stonehouse rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-set-in-france, books-set-in-the-caribbean, historic-fiction

This swashbuckling adventure series is great fun to read! Ethan is always in the most dire of difficulties, he is very resourceful in his escapes. Dietrich writes interesting stories spiced up with humor and thrills. Emerald Storm has Ethan carting around a stolen emerald with a long line of people willing to hurt him to take possession of the treasure. After a meeting with Napoleon, Ethan is thrown into cahoots with the Brits and sent to rescue Toussaint L’Ouverture from a prison in the French...more

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Aug 23, 2012 happy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-historical, thriller

Fun read if you don't take it seriously. The action goes from Paris, to the Alps to Haiti and finally Martinique. In this edition of the series Gage is trying to settle down with his wife and son and gets sucked into adventures and ends up in the Caribbean searching for a lost treasure. Along the way he ends up helping the Haitian exslaves expel the French from Haiti and gets caught in an out of season hurricane.

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May 24, 2012 Anne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: firstreads

This was a book I won through the firstreads program. I think I would have liked it more if I'd read the previous Ethan Gage books. I felt like I was missing something the whole time (which I probably was). The story can stand alone, but referred to things that happened in previous books. There is lots of action, historical fiction and mystery all wrapped together in one book.

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Jul 01, 2012 Ryan Rauber rated it 4 of 5 stars

I love the Ethan Gage series, and this may be my favorite so far. This time Ethan Gage is thrust into the middle of the Haitian Revolution of 1803, while trying to rescue his son from a ruthless French agent who wants him to seek out the fabled treasure of Montezuma. This book provides all the humor and action of the previous novels perfectly. It does end on a slight cliffhanger, but I would pick up the next Ethan Gage adventure regardless.

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Jun 07, 2012 Steve rated it 2 of 5 stars

Another Ethan Gage adventure. Dietrich may be relying more than he should in this book on how captivating a character he has built with Ethan Gage. Still had action and Ethan prevailing in unlikely circumstances. He set up for the next book in the series, but I may not be tempted.

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Jan 04, 2013 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library-books

Well, it is clear that Ethan and Astiza are never going to be happy. Horus is likely to be traumatized for life; yet, our hero is obsessed with Napoleon. Maybe Jubal can be the voice of reason.

This is starting to get frustrating - after 5 books, resolve something!!

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Nov 06, 2012 Doug rated it 3 of 5 stars

Liked it, but just a bit too far-fetched for me to give it a better rating.

Very interesting locale for the Ethan Gage adventure -- the history of Haiti is fascinating and tragic at the same time.

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Jun 30, 2012 Karen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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About William Dietrich

William Dietrich is a NY Times bestelling author of the Ethan Gage series, which has sold into 28 languages. He is also the author of six other adventure novels, several nonfiction works on the environmental history of the Pacific Northwest, and a contributor to several books.

Bill was a career journalist, sharing a Pulitzer for national reporting at the Seattle Times for coverage of the Exxon Vald...more

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The Emerald Storm (Ethan Gage #5)

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