The Fiddler's Gun (Fin's Revolution, #1)

Dec 26, 2010 Tara Chevrestt rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, ya, first-reads, pirates, blew-me-away-list, revolutionary-war

Wow! This has left me reeling! Meet Fin Button. She is seventeen years of age and has spent all but the first seven days of her life in an orphanage. Despite the nuns' desire to make her into a young lady, Fin has other ideas. Rather than sit with a needle and thread, she is out punching the daylights out of her fellow unruly male orphans, wearing pants, cursing, and she would much rather use a hammer and saw than be stuck in a kitchen all day. Unfortunately for Fin tho, the nuns do put her in a...more Wow! This has left me reeling! Meet Fin Button. She is seventeen years of age and has spent all but the first seven days of her life in an orphanage. Despite the nuns' desire to make her into a young lady, Fin has other ideas. Rather than sit with a needle and thread, she is out punching the daylights out of her fellow unruly male orphans, wearing pants, cursing, and she would much rather use a hammer and saw than be stuck in a kitchen all day. Unfortunately for Fin tho, the nuns do put her in a kitchen all day, but it is in this kitchen that she makes good friends with Bartimaeus, a former pirate "saved" from a life of crime.

While Fin wreaks havoc in the orphanage, America is on the verge of the revolutionary war with England. It is no surprise that such an independent, headstrong gal like Fin sides with those for independence and there is no love lost between her and the Red Coats. Unfortunately, an ill planned run away attempt goes sour causing Fin much distress with the above mentioned Red Coats, especially when they go after her dear Bartimaeus. She ends up running away again, this time leaving six dead Red Coats in her wake. She can never go back and this means leaving behind her boyfriend, Peter just days before they are due to wed.

With only a fiddle and a gun named Betsy, Fin turns to the sea. From here on out it is barroom brawls, piracy, mutiny, sword fighting, storms, capture, escape, canons shooting, and even a treasure map discovery. Assuming Fin survives the high seas, will she make it back to the orphanage and Peter? Will Peter even be waiting for her after two long years? Will she bring trouble back with her? After all, where Fin goes, trouble is soon to follow... And what of this treasure?

There are great secondary stories too. Bart is an old man who thought he had escaped his past, but discovers the past catches up. Fin deals with a lot of inner turmoil regarding her desire to be accepted by others and she questions her faith at difficult times.

I found it just a bit preposterous at first that a seventeen year old girl is allowed to run around free and in pants to boot in the 1700s, but had the author stuck to historical accuracy in this case, the fun would have diminished considerably. This is a young adult book and just extremely FUN. However, I feel adults will enjoy it just as much if not more. Fin is a very likable, spunky, fiesty, and very strong heroine. No damsels in distress here!

This was a goodreads win for me and I am very greatful to have had the pleasure of reading it. I look forward to the second one coming out late this year. (Or sooner I hope!)(less)

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Jul 25, 2010 Natalie (Mindful Musings) rated it 3 of 5 stars

In a Sentence: While a little slow to start, The Fiddler's Gun is an exciting historical adventure with a great main character.

My Thoughts

One of the things I thought of while reading The Fiddler's Gun is that it reminded me of Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, which I really enjoyed as a kid. However, I think that The Fiddler's Gun will hold more appeal for older readers as well as younger ones.

The main character, Phinea "Fin" Button is a sassy, tomboyish orphan who yearns for some...more

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Jun 13, 2010 A.S. Peterson rated it 5 of 5 stars · (Review from the author)

Early praise for The Fiddler's Gun:

“Peterson has lovingly crafted a work of historical fiction which begs the question, “Can this really be a debut novel?” With dogged fidelity, he captures the spirit, manners, and social conditions present during the American Revolutionary War. We meet colorful, credible characters who navigate the high seas of life and love, dependence and independence, war and peace, truth and consequence and despite forays into ostensibly dark places, The Fiddler’s Gun carri...more

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Jan 08, 2010 2bnallegory rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: literature, history

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Just received this book from The Rabbit Room and I want to thank them and Goodreads for having the giveaway and allowing me the chance to read this book.

Although one isn't supposed to judge a book by its cover, it is a lovely book and I can not wait to begin reading it.

The cover is a lovely water color and Evie Coates did do a great job of evoking the mystery and depths of the swamp.

This book was really great, I believe that it only took just three days to finish, it was that hard to put down. T...more

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Feb 24, 2010 J.J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review is going to almost completely devoid of any plot points. I enjoyed the story and loved the characters so much that I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you. But I will start by saying this is not a kid's book. It is violent and there is a bit of mild language, but neither is gratuitous.

It's hard to believe this is the first book by A.S. "Pete" Peterson. It can sometimes take me months to get through a book if I don't find it interesting. It has to grab me in the first few pages, or...more This review is going to almost completely devoid of any plot points. I enjoyed the story and loved the characters so much that I wouldn't want to spoil anything for you. But I will start by saying this is not a kid's book. It is violent and there is a bit of mild language, but neither is gratuitous.

It's hard to believe this is the first book by A.S. "Pete" Peterson. It can sometimes take me months to get through a book if I don't find it interesting. It has to grab me in the first few pages, or at least the first chapter, to keep my attention. If it feels like work to turn each page and is a strain on my brain to keep going it might not get finished. Not so with The Fiddler's Gun. I became almost instantly attached to Fin Button. When she starts to trust and love people close to her I started to trust and love them too. Likewise when she starts to hate certain people I hated them too. The characters are portrayed with such realism that I started to think of them as real people that I either adored and wanted to hang out with or loathed so much that I wanted to punch them in the face. I haven't cared about characters in a book this much in a long time.

There is a lot of swashbuckling action that reminded me of some of the great moments from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (so much so that I plan on watching them again soon). But there is also much heartache and grief. Fin Button is a flawed young lady and she has endured more suffering than most will in their entire lives. That endeared me to her from the start. And because of that attachment to her, certain events were so tragic that I had tears in my eyes. I felt the same sting of pain that Fin felt. But despite the tragedies endured by our characters there is much hope and laughter. I can't count how many times these characters made me smile, and I could picture their faces as they laughed with one another. I felt like I was there laughing and smiling along with them.

I could say a lot more but I don't want to spoil it. The story and characters are incredibly well written. It's apparent that a lot of thought and care went into this book. Having participated in Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month) the last few years and finishing a 50,000 word novel in 2006 and 2009, I have a fresh appreciation for the time and energy it takes to create characters that readers will care about. Pete did an amazing job creating characters that I adore. Fin. Tan. Knut. Jack. Peter. These are names I won't soon forget. I can hardly bare having to wait for the story to finish up in The Fiddler's Green.

If you are a fan of any kind of fiction you absolutely must read this book. It's a great mix of heart wrenching drama, swashbuckling action, young love and romance (yes, there is a love story) war and historical fiction. I'm glad Pete (at the prompting of his younger brother Andrew) put this story to print for us all to enjoy. I'll be getting this as gifts for all my reading buddies and I plan on spreading the word to any outlet I can about this book.(less)

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May 20, 2012 Shannon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Shannon by: Aimee Guest

Shelves: historical-fiction, youngadult

The Fiddler's Gun comes very close to being a five star book for me. Here's why: the writing, the story and the characters. It tells the tale of a Georgia orphan during the Revolutionary War. Yet Fin Button (Fin being short for Phinea, the 13th girl born to parents who left her at the orphanage) is no typical character. She is bold, headstrong, lovely, endearing and infuriating - in short, she's a lot like each of my very own daughters. Perhaps even more importantly, she's real and I enjoyed rea...more The Fiddler's Gun comes very close to being a five star book for me. Here's why: the writing, the story and the characters. It tells the tale of a Georgia orphan during the Revolutionary War. Yet Fin Button (Fin being short for Phinea, the 13th girl born to parents who left her at the orphanage) is no typical character. She is bold, headstrong, lovely, endearing and infuriating - in short, she's a lot like each of my very own daughters. Perhaps even more importantly, she's real and I enjoyed reading her tale.

Peterson's writing manages to be fun, engaging and reminiscent of the historical setting - not an easy triumvirate. After reading just a few pages, I was compelled to read a few paragraphs aloud to my daughters. Sadly, after getting a bit further into the book, I decided this was one to share with other adult readers, not my 10 and 12 year old readers. It's not that there's anything strictly offensive in the book, but Fin goes through some harrowing ordeals and if I found some scenes difficult to endure, I'm sure they would bother my girls even more. But the book is well-written throughout, whether it's setting a scene that is grim or gleeful.

The other thing Peterson manages to do in this book is convey truth without hitting you over the head with it. Early on in the book, a character talks about turning his pain into beauty with a fiddle. A fiddle might not be your tool of choice, but I believe there's great truth in the idea that our pain exists for a reason - and pain is often the source of and inspiration for great beauty.

If you're in the mood for historical fiction that takes you to the world of Revolutionary War, piracy, sailors and a girl who has lost her way, The Fiddler's Gun will take you there. If you want a summer read that will entertain you and make you think, I think this book is a good choice. It's not too long to read over a long weekend, but it may leave you longing to read The Fiddler's Green - the next book in Fin's tale. Because if you're like me, you'll want to know where Fin goes from here and where she finally ends up.(less)

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Jan 07, 2011 Becca rated it 5 of 5 stars

It's difficult to put into words what this book means to me. I'm ashamed to admit it now, but I opened _The Fiddler's Gun_ expecting a cliche' pirate plot plus a dash of _Anne of Green Gables._ I closed it humbled.

Beneath the surface of a robust, action-paced, high-seas adventure plot, _The Fiddler's Gun_ ministers humbly to the deepest matters of the soul. Loneliness. Rejection. War. Rest. Love. Hate. Faith. Ungrace. Redemption. Each is woven into a story that crashes and swells almost before y...more

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Jun 24, 2010 Colin rated it 5 of 5 stars

normally dismiss historical-fiction because I fear that it will be really, really boring and that I might accidentally learn something. So when I got The Fiddler’s Gun I was conflicted. On the one hand I hate history and on the other, I love pirates. I was conflicted until finally my love of pirates won and started to read the book.

It was pretty awesome.

There was the initial culture shock from reading about people who didn’t know what a large hadron collider was but then I realized historical-f...more

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Jun 03, 2010 William Bentrim rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Fiddler’s Gun by A. S. Peterson

I don’t often say, “outstanding work” upon reading a new author. The Fiddler’s Gun is historic fiction set in rural Georgia at the outset of the American Revolution. It is a tale of an orphan coming of age and coming to grip with personal characteristics that frighten her.

Fin Button is a very likeable character exhibiting very modern frustrations with pre-determined roles. She doesn’t see her self as falling into acceptable life roles for her time and place. T...more

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Apr 08, 2010 Rachel John rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

I won this from a goodreads giveaway.
The back of the book had a short summary that I almost wish I hadn't read. I think it would have been more enjoyable going in with no ideas about the characters.

This is part one of a two book series basically about the Revolutionary War, Piracy, Love, Sin, and Redemption.

The main character Fin Button is left at an orphanage for not being a boy, and thereby begins her journey through life of not fitting in. She lives life by her own rules. There are only two p...more

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Mar 24, 2010 Kristen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! I picked up "The Fiddler's Gun" at my friend's house and couldn't put it down after skimming the first five pages. This book made me wish for subway delays and long waits in the dental office so that I could be whisked away into Fin's world. I do not particularly like books about wars or pirates, and yet I was completely captivated by this story. Peterson hooked me with the initial subtle dash of Anne of Green Gables in the opening chapters. But really, it only took those first 5 pages for...more

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Jan 31, 2010 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you enjoy reading historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! The Fiddler’s Gun is set in Ebenezer, a suburb of Savannah, GA. Phinea Button is a young woman who has lived in an orphanage since she was an infant. Phinea, more affectionately known as Fin to the other orphans, was a tomboy and a troublemaker, often pulling pranks on the women who ran the orphanage. The younger orphans considered Fin to be their protector, getting into a number of fights with the older kids who were being b...more If you enjoy reading historical fiction, I highly recommend this book! The Fiddler’s Gun is set in Ebenezer, a suburb of Savannah, GA. Phinea Button is a young woman who has lived in an orphanage since she was an infant. Phinea, more affectionately known as Fin to the other orphans, was a tomboy and a troublemaker, often pulling pranks on the women who ran the orphanage. The younger orphans considered Fin to be their protector, getting into a number of fights with the older kids who were being bullies.

In an effort to civilize Fin into a proper lady, Fin was sent to work in the kitchen with Bartimaeus. It’s there that Fin begins to learn about the war that’s brewing and the oppression of the colonies from the British government. Initially, Fin hopes to avoid the coming war because all she wants is to marry her best friend Peter, who was also an orphan. When British soldiers begin to show a greater presence in the area, the situation goes sour.

Fin has a bad run-in with some soldiers, which leads to events that inadvertently throw her into the war. Having no choice, Fin must leave her home and Peter. In Savannah, Fin is mistaken for a boy and pressed into work on a merchant ship. While at sea, Fin encounters British marines, dangerous seas, pirates, and more! From sea battles to treasure hunts, there is no lack of excitement in Fin’s life once the British come to town!

I can’t recommend this book enough! I was instantly drawn to the book by the attractive cover! A number of people have asked me what I’m reading because the cover art caught their attention. The title is written in a very cool script that integrates the design of a fiddle down the middle. In the foreground, there is a ship’s wheel and branches covered in Spanish moss, and in the background you can see a ship on the ocean. You immediately gain a sense of adventure on the high seas just from looking at the cover!

The writing was fantastic and flowed well. Throughout the book, the author constantly introduces the reader to new characters. Even with so many characters, I never had trouble keeping track of who was who or who was speaking. You learn the history behind the primary characters, and grow attached to them as you learn about their lives. I found myself crying a couple of times! I love how each detail ends up tying back into the main plot. Characters and even personal items that initially seem insignificant come to light later in the book as the key to some incredibly important situation (Think “Tom Riddle’s Diary” in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and how you learn the true significance of it in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince).

The plot itself was very interesting, keeping my attention throughout the book. I couldn’t put it down! The plot is initially a bit slow as Fin is dealing with life at the orphanage, but within a few chapters, the story is off and running as Fin escapes to a life at sea. Once Fin joins the crew of the ‘Snake, there’s a never ending deluge of activity keeping Fin and the crew busy. The author manages to mentally paint every scene for the reader, describing everything from the appearance of the ship deck to the stench of the guy standing nearby. You become so immersed in the story that you feel like you’re standing on deck with the crew!

This was my first foray into historical fiction based around the Revolutionary War, and I couldn’t have had a better introduction! This book has so many great plot elements- a strong, independent heroine, adventure, patriotism, pirates, treasure, sword fights, romance… I could go one for ages! You really must try this book! It will make you laugh out loud, cry, and everything in between! If you buy it from The Rabbit Room (the link to the left), and you get the book club bundle, the books are all signed! Give it a read! I can’t wait for Book Two!(less)

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Jun 29, 2011 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this book up because of two things, neither really a good reason to pick up a book, but both seem to work for me. First, the cover. Evocative and very cool looking, almost spooky in a Louisiana scares me sort of way. Second, the era of the book was the Revolutionary War, a time period I feel that is just lacking any exploration in any media…just seems like we have forgotten this period and all the coolness that happened then.

The book is the extraordinary tale of one girl’s journey from...more I picked this book up because of two things, neither really a good reason to pick up a book, but both seem to work for me. First, the cover. Evocative and very cool looking, almost spooky in a Louisiana scares me sort of way. Second, the era of the book was the Revolutionary War, a time period I feel that is just lacking any exploration in any media…just seems like we have forgotten this period and all the coolness that happened then.

The book is the extraordinary tale of one girl’s journey from a non-name orphan into a world of adventure. The author’s writing is easy to read and not a challenge to understand the action going on in many of the scenes. He has an good style that lends itself to the subject matter and simply make you forget about the historical inaccuracies and even some of the implausible situations the heroine finds herself in.

The books’s blurb:

America is on the brink of war with England, and Fin Button is about to come undone. She’s had it with the dull life of the orphanage, and she’s ready to marry Peter and get away from rules, chores, and a life looked after by the ever-watchful Sister Hilde. But an unexpected friendship forms between Fin and the fiddle-playing cook, Bartimaeus, which sets her on a course for revolution.

With Bart’s beloved fiddle and haunting blunderbuss as her only possessions, Fin discovers her first taste of freedom as a sailor aboard the Rattlesnake. She’s hiding some dark secrets, but there are bigger problems for the crew—they are on the run from the Royal Navy, and whispers of mutiny are turning the captain into a tyrant.

When Fin finally returns home, will she find Peter still waiting, or will she find that she’s lost everything she once held dear?

The book is roughly 300 pages and opens with the young girl and her daily routine in the orphanage. It gets into a bit of coming of age as she realizes love, wanting more from her life, and rebelling against the nuns that try to force her to be an upstanding woman who will someday run a house and bear children. At first, this is appalling to her, much preferring to wrestle and punch with the boys. After a series of mistakes she ends up working in the kitchen with the interesting cook who has a mysterious past, and the titular fiddle. And thus begins the adventure.

I will say the first one hundred odd pages are a battle to get through, at least for me. They really delve into the girl, Fin, growing up, realizing she is falling in love, and yearning to spend her life with one of the other orphans that has made a name for himself in the town. This part I honestly had to battle through. It was slow and tough going.

Once that part is through, the book literally takes off and becomes a huge page turner. I took extra long lunches to get through them and not wanting the book to end. The wandering tale and the extraordinary situations and people she meets is excellent. I do not want to give away too much of the story, but as can be surmised from the cover and the blurb, there be pirates here! And if you like pirates, you will love the last 2/3rds of this book. It is full of swashbuckling action that leaves you wanting to watch another pirate movie.

I would give this book four stars. Yes the first third is a challenge to struggle through (especially if you are a grown male) but once you get through this, the book is well worth it. I will certainly be picking up the second book in the series and reading it as well.

The author maintains a website with more information on the books: http://www.thefiddlersgun.com/(less)

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Sep 11, 2010 Heather Kegler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fin has always felt she had no choice a girl. She didn't choose to be the 13th girl born to her parents, or be left at an orphanage, or prefer mischief over conformity. This is just the way things are. When assistants are being chosen to help build the new chapel, Fin wants nothing more than to be chosen, but this is a boys job and the Sister's assign her to Kitchen Aid instead. Much to her surprise she finds an unlikely friend in Brother Bartimaeus, the Cook. Who has kept his dark past secret f...more

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Oct 12, 2010 Kate rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

The first word that came to mind when I finished this book was WOW. I cannot believe this is A.S. Peterson's first book. Other words that aptly describe this book: adventurous, violent, emotional, action-packed, moving, and thrilling. This book is set in the years leading up to and during the beginning of the American Revolution, so it is categorized as historical fiction. It's not based on a true story, but it's definitely some fabulous adventure fiction based in a historical setting.

I love boo...more The first word that came to mind when I finished this book was WOW. I cannot believe this is A.S. Peterson's first book. Other words that aptly describe this book: adventurous, violent, emotional, action-packed, moving, and thrilling. This book is set in the years leading up to and during the beginning of the American Revolution, so it is categorized as historical fiction. It's not based on a true story, but it's definitely some fabulous adventure fiction based in a historical setting.

I love books with strong heroines. Fin is another strong woman, but in a bit of an unusual way. Although her father abandoned her in an orphanage, she seemed to have absorbed his desire for a son and would rather wear boy's clothes and do men's work rather than wear dresses and darn socks. Her flight from the orphanage and adoption of a disguise as a young man on a ship was pretty easy.

The Fiddler's Gun strikes me as a unique coming-of-age story. Fin may wish she were a boy, but once she gets out into the world and grabs ahold of her own destiny she begins to find that being herself is even better. She finds a happy medium in which she doesn't hide her gender, but continues working on the ship as a member of the crew. I think her connection with Bartimaeus was really important too, since he became a father figure to her that she had never had before. Bart was one of my favorite characters, and **spoiler alert** his death (and Fin's heartbroken reaction to it) brought me to tears. Tears from me are the sign of a really good book.

There were a couple of aspects of the story that I found a little hard to swallow, and the first has to do with how long her disguise as a young man on the ship lasted. I had a hard time accepting that she could keep up her facade in such close quarters. Living on a ship with a bunch of men, sleeping in the same quarters, etc.--I just felt like they would have found her out a lot sooner than they did. She also escaped rape on a couple of occasions and wasn't threatened with rape as often as I would have expected. She was running with some pretty rough characters who she made enemies with that I would have thought would have attacked her at some point, but didn't.

Fin would definitely meet my definition of "tomboy" and even though I couldn't quite understand Pete's attraction and devotion to her, their relationship was sweet. I read a review on Goodreads at one point that complained that Fin was selfish and unlikeable. But after everything she had been through, who could blame her for wanting to take her destiny into her own hands? She did act selfishly on several occasions, but she also seemed to act to protect others as well, and often at her own expense. She took actions to protect the orphanage and Peter on more than one occasion, and she left the orphanage to keep them safe and with the hope that she could one day return.

The book ends at a bit of a cliffhanger, and I am waiting oh-so-anxiously for the next book, The Fiddler's Green, which will be published in December of 2010. Guess what's going to be on my Christmas list? :) I highly recommend this book--it was just as good as I hoped it would be.(less)

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Jan 11, 2010 Lanica rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Christians who enjoy adventure and the high seas.

Recommended to Lanica by: First Reads

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fiction, read-in-2010, reviewed, series-continuing, young-adult

I would give this book 4 and a half stars if it were possible.

I really enjoyed the story, the characters and the setting. The writing was wonderful. I could tell that the author had thought about each word as he set it down. There were allusions to the sea and piracy throughout the book, even when he was describing something completely unrelated to either. The book was expertly blended into one whole unit, each line building on the story as a whole, making the book cohesive in storyline and ima...more

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Mar 19, 2011 Sheree rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction, read-in-2011

*Squeal* this was one utterly captivating read. I laughed, I cried, I sighed, and I was completely immersed in Fin's world from page one. Tragedy, love, hope, redemption; from orphanage antics to adventure on the high seas; The Fiddler's Gun has it all.

Peterson does a wonderful job recreating the tone and feel of a southern colony in British America in the 1700's. Colonists are chafing for independence from British rule, revolution is at hand and turbulence follows on the backs of the redcoats....more

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Nov 17, 2010 Cory rated it 4 of 5 stars

This historical fiction is a beautiful tale of loss, love, action and pirates! The setting for most of the book is colonial Georgia, around the 1770s. It doesn't take a historian to know that there is a lot of action to be found there, and Peterson finds it, to be sure. The protagonist is a young lady named Fin Button who is a stereotypical Tom Boy who is thrown into a set of circumstances that are very unusual. At every step of the plot, the scenes, feelings and conversations are so decorated w...more

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Dec 23, 2010 Susan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Susan by: Tara Chevrestt

Shelves: goodreads-authors, first-reads, historical-fiction

Thank you to author Mr. Peterson and the Goodreads giveaway program for giving me a copy of The Fiddler's Gun. This is a fast-paced and fun book for anyone who wants to read about orphans and pirates, the days of America's fight for independence, and one tough female protagonist. Fin was originally named Phineas by a mother hoping to soften a father's heart to the birth of yet another daughter. Still, she ended up in a Georgia orphanage, wild and rebellious, with only fellow orphan Peter for a f...more

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Dec 01, 2009 Redheadkate rated it 5 of 5 stars

As I read the first two pages of The Fiddler’s Gun by A.S. Peterson, these lines stole the air right out of me.

"…time has a way of leading a person along a crooked path. Sometimes the path is hard to hold to and people fall off along the way. They curse the road for its steep grades and muddy ruts and settle themselves in hinterlands of thorn and sorrow, never knowing or dreaming that the road meant all along to lead them home. Some call that road a tragedy and lose themselves along it. Others,...more

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Feb 12, 2010 Jenni Simmons rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, reviewed

http://www.curatormagazine.com/jennis...

Order your copies now: https://store.rabbitroom.com/books . . . you'll be so happy that you did.

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Dec 11, 2010 David Schwan rated it 4 of 5 stars

I received this as a free book through Goodreads First Reads.

A rip roaring ride through colonial American history. The heroine is left by her parents at an orphanage where she befriends the cook who has a mysterious past. Through various events she gets finds herself on board a ship that becomes a privateer, raiding British merchant vessels. The last 1/3 of the book is a fast paced ride against British forces that are pursuing both her, and the ship she is on. Some interesting twists near the en...more

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Jan 10, 2011 Greg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

Pirates. The craze never seemed to catch on with me, so going into this book I was entirely too skeptical that the book could have been anything but bad. Spurred on by the claim of being historical fiction, I gave it a shot and I must admit I am glad I did. The book is not about your typical swashbuckling pirates out for buried treasure, propelled by a spot marked by an 'X' on secret treasure map.

While some of the classic pirate traits exist (enter treasure map), the story is vaguely about the h...more Pirates. The craze never seemed to catch on with me, so going into this book I was entirely too skeptical that the book could have been anything but bad. Spurred on by the claim of being historical fiction, I gave it a shot and I must admit I am glad I did. The book is not about your typical swashbuckling pirates out for buried treasure, propelled by a spot marked by an 'X' on secret treasure map.

While some of the classic pirate traits exist (enter treasure map), the story is vaguely about the hunt for treasure, but instead focuses on the hardships endured by a young girl, Fin Button, who longs only to belong and to be able to choose her own destiny. Most of the book was extremely well written and very enjoyable, especially thanks to some of the characters you end up meeting (thanks Knut!) and made for a story that was hard to put down near the end.

I must say, though, that I found some parts of the story to be quite cliché and rather predictable. The romantic aspect of the whole story felt unimaginative and idealized... no conflict or tension, just unbridled love that overcomes everything and anything, no matter the situation. Other than the romance, I found some of the characters to be entirely one dimensional and some further character development tended towards the predictable: strong first-mate, loyal to his captain and crew who has a tender soft-side when no one is looking; mad captain hell-bent on his own personal vendetta; orphanage sister who seemingly takes pleasure and being strict with the children; just to name a few.

Despite the shortcomings listed, it by-all-means did not stop me from finishing the book or recommending it to others. It's a fun story with a couple good twists tossed in just to keep you on your toes and to keep the book from being entirely predictable. I think it's worth a read if you are a fan of action, adventure, historical fiction, or pirates; you're bound to have fun with the story and have a few good laughs as well.

Note on my review: I received this book through the First Reads program here on Goodreads along with the sequel, "The Fiddler's Green" which I plan to set out reading soon. Thanks to the author for supplying the first book in the series in order to facilitate the reading of the second.

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Mar 04, 2010 Mari - loves to read rated it 5 of 5 stars

Phineas(Fin for short) Button was left on the doorstep of Ebenezer orphanage in Georgia 17 years ago. Fin has grown up to become quite the tomboy, much to the Baab Sisters despair, she ought to have behaved like a lady and worn pretty dresses and a bonnet over her hair. When the opportunity to do some carpentering presents itself Fin hopes to get chosen for the job, instead she is chosen to kitchen duty. Needless to say Fin is really disappointed but she finds comfort and friendship in the orpha...more Phineas(Fin for short) Button was left on the doorstep of Ebenezer orphanage in Georgia 17 years ago. Fin has grown up to become quite the tomboy, much to the Baab Sisters despair, she ought to have behaved like a lady and worn pretty dresses and a bonnet over her hair. When the opportunity to do some carpentering presents itself Fin hopes to get chosen for the job, instead she is chosen to kitchen duty. Needless to say Fin is really disappointed but she finds comfort and friendship in the orphanage's cook, Bartimeous Gann.

Just when everything seems to be going Fin's way a dramatic incident occurs and Fin's life will never ever be the same. This book has it all; adventure, America on the brink of war with England, piracy, friendship, love and redemption.

I finished this book late in January and I've spent a long time pondering how to write the review this book deserves. The Fiddler's Gun is a brilliant historical adventure and I so hope this review reflects that.

You know how a book sometimes stays with you even when you're not reading it you still think about the characters in the story and wonder how they are doing and what they are up to? The Fiddler's Gun is that kind of book. I'm taking a chance here telling you this, maybe there are others like me out there or maybe I'm just crazy feeling that way about some books? I couldn't stop thinking about Fin and her adventure among pirates, soldiers and sailors. Author A.S. Peterson has a gift with words, he writes beautifully! I cannot wait for the second and last book about Fin, The Fiddler's Green, to come out!

The story takes place in a America at a time where America and England are on the brink of war. We meet our heroine Fin Button in an orphanage in Ebenezer, Georgia. Fin struggles to be herself while others try to teach her how to be a proper lady, to be the more like the female ideal of her time. There is just two people in Fin's life that accepts her just the way she is; her best friend Pete and her friend and tutor the cook Bartimaeus.

Just when thing starts to work out for Fin something terrible happens. Fin has to run away to protect herself and the people she loves. But how can Fin survive all on her own, she has no money, no food, no nothing. After searching a bit Fin, quite by coincidence, gets a job at a ship called Rattlesnake.

Fin is strong, brave and good but she has a touch of evil in her as well, a great three dimensional character.

For those of us who likes a dash of romance there is a little bit of that in the book as well.

I don't want to write much more about the book, you really should buy it and read this wonderful adventure. This book is great both for young adults and adults alike!
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Dec 16, 2009 Molly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads, historical-fic, favorites

I won this on first reads and now it is my favorite book!

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Jan 19, 2011 Rachel rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, colonial-history, fiction

Hmm. A hard one to review. It's deep, with complex characters; good writing. But I found it dark. Parts of it I really liked, but between the language (shocking!) and the darkness of it I couldn't call it a favorite. I would like to read the sequel, because the story's really not done with this book. It was interesting to read this concurrently with a more scholarly book on the Revolution; this reminded me that in spite of all the economic and political causes of the war (quite interesting in th...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Drew rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm embarrassed to say that it took me five months to slog through The Fiddler's Gun. But to be more specific, it took me five months to slog through the first half, and five days to zip through the second half. The end of the book is as exciting as the beginning is not.

The Fiddler's Gun. starts out like any number of period romance novels. The country is on the brink of revolution, and 17-year-old Phinea (Fin) Button longs to be free of her life at an orphanage, anticipating the day she will ma...more I'm embarrassed to say that it took me five months to slog through The Fiddler's Gun. But to be more specific, it took me five months to slog through the first half, and five days to zip through the second half. The end of the book is as exciting as the beginning is not.

The Fiddler's Gun. starts out like any number of period romance novels. The country is on the brink of revolution, and 17-year-old Phinea (Fin) Button longs to be free of her life at an orphanage, anticipating the day she will marry Peter. Naturally, this is when tragedy strikes, and she must flee her home and her beloved Peter.

Here is where the period romance ends, and the adventure begins. Fin Button is less Anne Shirley and more Anne Bonny. On the run from the British, she seeks refuge aboard the Rattlesnake, a ship that's just been given a Letter of Marque to harry the British as she plies her trade along the Atlantic coast.

The Fiddler's Gun turns the stereotype on its head. Here it's the woman who has run off to sea, wondering if her man will wait for her return. But she has little time to worry about it, what with all the mutinies and pirates, and several escapes, each one more narrow than the previous as the British (and her past) seem forever catching up with her.

As she struggles against her circumstances, she also struggles with her own dark side -- a violence she often calls upon out of necessity, yet deeply regrets.

Fin is a fascinating character in a fascinating setting. It's a shame that it takes nearly half of The Fiddler's Gun before the story really takes hold, and my average rating is based on that flaw, but if you can slog through the first half of the book, the second half is exciting and rewarding.

This is a rip-roaring, sea-faring adventure. Though some "first-novel" tropes are evident (particularly in the first half), the second half is loaded with vivid descriptions of ship-to-ship and hand-to-hand combat, excellent characterizations, and nifty plotting.

Next up: Fiddler's Green, the conclusion of "Fin's Revolution." We'll see if Peterson can bring this ship into shore without slowing the exciting pace. (less)

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Feb 04, 2012 Kris Irvin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I give it a solid 3.5 stars. I had some issues with the pacing of this novel and with the characters. Fin seemed way younger than her age at the beginning of the novel, and then kind of grated on me during some of the middle parts. The beginning went kind of slowly, which worked, but then the middle moved slowly too. Only toward the end does it pick up the pace.

I did love Fin's character and/or the idea behind her. She was kind of awesome, even if she was holy brat-terror in the beginning (I un...more

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May 01, 2013 Seth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, ya-fiction, historical-fiction, ebook, reviewed

Phineas (Fin) Button is a tomboy and a fighter. She's spent all of her 19 rebellious years causing trouble at an orphanage near Savannah, Georgia, in the pre-Revolutionary 1770s. When she develops a close friendship with the onsite cook, Bartimaeus, she learns about his past life of piracy and murder. His protection during a sinister encounter with some British soldiers turns violent and Bartimaeus hangs, while Fin goes on the run, a murderer. She eventually joins a ship's crew as a deck hand, d...more

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Apr 08, 2011 Ali M. rated it 4 of 5 stars

The beginning of this novel is deceptive. You think you're in for a sweet, charming historical yarn about an orphanage, and then it turns twisted and unexpectedly dark. Not without reason, not without purpose, and not without some moments of charm and levity to spare. But still. Several scenes knocked the wind out of me, I was so completely unprepared for them.

The writing is vivid and colorful with a great storyteller's voice. This sets it apart from the stark, pace-focused prose of a lot of mod...more

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The Fiddler's Gun (Fin's Revolution #1)

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