Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "fighting-anthonys"

The Reaper by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After preventing pirates from capturing a convoy of East India Company ships, Captain Gilbert Anthony finds his life and career in the Royal Navy forever altered. Newspapers tout his bravery and honor throughout the kingdom. A grateful EIC honor him with gold coins and a ceremonial sword. The king bestows on him a knighthood. And his father entrusts him with training his half brother, Midshipman Gabriel Anthony, to become a naval officer. This last task also involves inheriting Gabe’s uncle, who seems to be Gabe’s protector, but Dagan is a skilled topman with sharp eyes, which make him as asset aboard Gil’s ship.

On his father’s death, Gil becomes the Earl of Deerfield, but the Admiralty has need of him far from England’s shores. Colonial grievances have been mounting and the possibility of war looms. A more immediate threat, however, are the pirates preying on merchant ships in the Caribbean and off the coast of America. With his recent success against such rogues, the Admiralty thinks he’s the best one to confront this menace. To aid in this endeavor Gil assumes command of HMS Drakkar, one of the realm’s largest frigates captured in 1759 from the French. Gabe will serve as the senior midshipman, and among the other gentlemen joining the crew are a young boy named Mr. Davy and Fourth Lieutenant Witzenfeld.

Soon after the frigate sails for Antigua, Witzenfeld reveals his true character – a cruel tyrant with a temper and a vulgar mouth to match. He continually persecutes Davy, which brings the lieutenant into contention with Gabe. Problems escalate, forcing Gil to find a tactful way to deal convince the crew that they can trust him while demonstrating no favoritism or permitting abuse.

A second complication comes when they sight two schooners plundering a barque. One woman who survives the attack is Lady Deborah McKean, to whom Gil finds himself attracted – a thought that irks him since she just witnessed the murder of her husband, as well as the brutal rapes and murders of the other women aboard the merchant ship. Turning his attention to his purpose for coming to the West Indies, Gil gathers what scant information he can of the attack, leaving him with more questions than answers. That trend continues after further encounters with the pirates, including rumors of a fifty-gun black ship with black sails. Might there be someone ashore in league with the pirates? Why do they rarely leave survivors, even those who might garner high ransoms? Or is there a more nefarious purpose behind the attacks? When a coded letter falls into Gil’s hands, he acquires vital information that might lead to answers . . . if they can decode the message.

First issued in 2005, The Reaper is the first book in The Fighting Anthonys series and this new edition has been revised. Readers are quickly drawn into this high seas adventure, rife with action and interwoven with romance. It even includes some original poetry by Aye. While no decisive indication of the time frame is provided, it occurs sometime after the Battle of Quiberon Bay (November 1759) and July 1775 when the epilogue takes place. If there is any drawback at all in the story, it is that it ends too soon, but The Reaper definitely snares the reader into wanting to read the second volume, HMS Seawolf. It is indeed a worthy addition to the growing collection of nautical fiction.




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HMS Seawolf by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Set early in the Revolutionary War, HMS SeaWolf is the second installment in The Fighting Anthonys saga. It recounts a fictional version of the very real threat that American privateers posed, attacking merchant shipping to acquire much needed gunpowder and armament for General Washington’s Continental Army, but seen from the perspective of the men and officers of the Royal Navy.

Stationed in the north Atlantic, Admiral Lord Gil Anthony’s squadron must cruise from Nantucket to Sable Island, east of Nova Scotia. His orders are to protect merchant shipping convoys from privateers who consider these waters their personal raiding grounds. Although he misses his half brother, who is in the Caribbean, he also realizes that keeping him close hinders Gabe’s career.

Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony doesn’t necessarily agree with the war between the American colonies and the British, but that doesn’t keep him from doing his duty. His current assignment has taken him to Barbados to deliver dispatches, which is why the commander in the Caribbean slightly alters those orders. His Majesty’s troops stationed in Halifax have dire need of the convoy slated to deliver gunpowder and troops there. Under no circumstances can the Royal Navy afford to lose another cargo to the rebels, which is why Gabe finds himself inching his way northward playing nursemaid to the ships. HMS SeaWolf and her men prefer to run free, but can only go as fast as the slowest vessel under their protection.

One master, however, disregards Gabe’s commands and sets out ahead of the convoy. As all the vessels head toward Charleston, South Carolina, they encounter a storm that separates the ships where the enemy privateers are known to hunt. When all but Turtle are accounted for, Gabe suspects that her master may be in league with strange sails sighted by the lookout. As SeaWolf pursues, his suspicions are confirmed. During the offloading of this precious cargo by the enemy, Gabe attempts a daring plan to retake Turtle. An unexpected consequence results in an explosion that sends Gabe, the men who accompany him aboard the wayward vessel, and Turtle’s master to kingdom come.

Aboard SeaWolf everyone mourns Gabe’s loss, except for his uncle. Although chances of surviving the conflagration are slim, Dagan Dupree is certain his nephew yet lives, but he is unable to do anything about it. And it would be wrong for Lord Anthony to hear the news from anyone else’s lips. Reluctantly, Dagan sails north with the rest of the convoy, while at the same time vowing to return to find Gabe and bring him home.

A few early scenes are a bit disjointed; their purpose for inclusion is uncertain and they aren’t connected to the main plot. Nor are pronouns always clear as to who is who, as in the scene with a commodore before the convoy leaves Barbados. In the EPUB format that I read, there were several explanatory notes, but the numbers aren’t linked to the endnotes, requiring readers to manually go to the end of the book and then return to the story where they left off reading.

Aside from these minor issues, Aye weaves together the intriguing topics of gunpowder thefts, white slavery, sexual abuse, romance, and a planned invasion of Nova Scotia to craft a fast-paced novel that holds the reader’s attention from first page to last. Original poetry introduces each part of the story, and Aye also includes a glossary for those unfamiliar with nautical terminology. He further spices the tale with a strange alliance between enemies with Dagan on one side and Francis Marion, the Swamp Fox, on the other. Equally satisfying are resolutions to several questions that Gil and Gabe were left to ponder when the first book in the series ended. Whether old fans or new, HMS SeaWolf is a delightful addition to the stories about the Anthony brothers and the men of the Royal Navy who served with them.




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Barracuda by Michael Aye

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A mail packet pounded to bits, a flagship sunk, and a devastating attack on a 64-gun ship send Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his squadron to Saint Augustine, Florida. His mission is twofold: protect the British port and its merchant shipping, and stop American privateers’ raids in 1776. Gil and his men enjoy the warmer climate after a stint in the North Atlantic during winter, but these waters are prime hunting grounds that also provide excellent hiding places for the rebels and their allies.

After delivering dispatches on their way to Florida, Lieutenant Gabriel Anthony, captain of HMS SeaWolf, and his longtime friend, Lieutenant Francis Markham of HMS Swan, investigate distant gunfire. What they witness are two ships attacking a brig. The red and yellow sails identify one of the attackers as a Spanish frigate; instead of allowing the prey to surrender, the Spaniard pounds the brig into oblivion. Only twenty-seven men survive.

Nor is this the Royal Navy’s only encounter with the Spanish “ghost ship,” as she becomes known because the frigate always seems to vanish afterward. Although the reason for such viciousness and the identity of her master are unknown, the Anthony brothers realize that they must stop this Spaniard and his vendetta against the British. When patrols prove fruitless, Gil alters his strategy. They will seek out as much intelligence as possible before launching any attacks. Information provides clues that lead them to the Keys, but it will take skill and cunning, as well as luck, to bring the enemy to heel.

This third installment in this nautical series weaves together high action with numerous subplots providing vivid glimpses into rivalries, long absences from family, life at sea and in port, love between enemies, and a court martial involving ear biting. There are some minor irks – a wounded character who miraculously heals, incorrect words (i.e., “to” for too, “partial” for “parcel”), and a climactic battle that ends too quickly – but the humor, longing, and adventures overcome these. Fans will enjoy this fast-paced and satisfying episode in the saga of the Fighting Anthonys.




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SeaHorse by Michael Aye

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


An alert seaman hears the sound of gunfire. Out of the dense fog blanketing Carlisle Bay a fireship emerges. Those aboard HMS Prudent must deal with this threat before they can assist the anchored convoy. Only later is it revealed just how successful the ruse worked. It is but the latest of the daring raids by enemy privateers on British shipping in 1777.

Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony savors his time ashore in England, getting to know his new daughter, Macayla, and renewing his acquaintance with his wife, Lady Deborah. While they enjoy their rare moments alone, his half brother Gabriel savors his recent promotion to Captain and eagerly awaits his upcoming nuptials with Faith Montique, whom he rescued from her nefarious uncle’s evil doings in South Carolina.

Such idyllic leisure ends much sooner than expected when both men receive new orders. Given a new flagship, Gil is to take up command of the Windward Islands and transport Lord Ragland to his new post as governor of Barbados. Gabe also receives a new, but unhappy, ship. Half of HMS Peregrine’s crew have deserted and the other half requested transfers. Refusing to be left ashore once again, both their wives declare that they will accompany their husbands on this voyage and then take up residence at Lady Deborah’s home on Antigua.

But before they depart, thugs posing as highwaymen attempt to assassinate Gil. A letter from Gabe’s uncle, Dagan, who stayed behind in the Colonies to visit with family and his new lady love, warns of approaching ill winds and that he will rendezvous with them in the Caribbean. Soon after the squadron departs Plymouth, escorting a convoy of merchant ships, the brothers discover just how cocky and daring the rebel privateers are after strange sails are sighted, vanish, and then launch a surprise attack. On their arrival in the West Indies, the news worsens as the war progresses. General Burgoyne surrenders, the British are preparing to evacuate Philadelphia, and the evidence confirms that soon after the New Year the French will join the Americans, which means the Spanish will as well.

The saga of The Fighting Anthonys continues in this fourth book in the series. As always, readers are treated to original poetry (such as “The Forgotten Salt”) from the author. These serve to introduce each of the three parts that make up the story. Unlike previous installments, this one is less even in the telling. What happens after the white flag is hoisted in chapter 15 is never clearly stated. Aside from Gabe’s first boarding of Peregrine, readers never see how he turns an unhappy ship into a happy one. While the scene depicting a lightning strike is astonishing, it lacks sufficient tension and Gil’s recovery is too quickly dispensed with. The ball scene flits from one character to another and Lord Ragland’s comment about not knowing what comes over a minor character’s behavior is one the reader will readily understand. There is no hint of this trait prior to its occurrence; nor does it surface anywhere else in the story. Some readers may also find the occasional interruptions in dialogue and narrative to explain nautical words – such as “sweeps (long oars)” – annoying. The book includes a glossary, where some of these words, but not others, are defined.

On the other hand, Seahorse is fraught with danger both on land and at sea. The assassination attempt on Gil is but the first “ill wind” they encounter; an enemy from the past carries out a vendetta against the brothers and anyone they love is fair game. Then there’s a perilous duel and a suspenseful sea battle. Not to mention a brief cameo by Captain Horatio Nelson. Fans of this series should enjoy this addition to The Fighting Anthonys.




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Peregrine by Michael Aye

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The arrival of the French fleet off Sandy Hook, New York in 1778 becomes a waiting game as the British face their new enemy across a sand bar during the American Revolution. When conditions finally permit the French to advance, however, they opt not to engage in a battle of broadsides and sail away. No one knows why, but their absence allows Lieutenant George “Jep” Jepson to head south for Barbados to deliver his passenger, Sir Victor MacNeil, who works for the Foreign Office.

Sir Victor needs the assistance of Vice Admiral Lord Gilbert Anthony and his squadron. They are to collect colonial prisoners of war from St. Augustine, Florida and deliver them to Norfolk, Virginia for a prisoner exchange. The mission has added importance for Sir Victor, for among those to be reclaimed are British spies and should their true identities be discovered, they will face dire consequences. Gil’s presence is needed because of his acquaintanceship with the rebels’ representative, whom he met earlier in St. Augustine.

No matter how much planning takes place, something always goes awry. Something is amiss with Bart, Gil’s coxswain and longtime friend, and when the truth is uncovered, his life is in grave jeopardy. Aside from keeping a wary eye out for French privateers, distant gunfire alerts men aboard Captain Gabriel Anthony’s Peregrine of danger. When he sends a boat to discover what the fog conceals, they discover a dead body minus its uniform. Later, they come upon an American brigantine that has taken a British frigate. When Gabe and his men draw close, one of the captured seamen is tossed over the side before the brigantine sails away. The rescued victim delivers a chilling message that resurrects haunting images from the past for Gabe, his uncle Dagan, and Lieutenant Davy.

This book is the fifth entry in The Fighting Anthonys series. It opens with a list of characters in the series and ends with a glossary. Poems by the author introduce each section of the story, which is divided into three parts. One caveat regarding the character list is that it doesn’t include all of them. This volume introduces Sir Victor’s servant, but his name is not mentioned in his first scene. When he reappears, it’s disconcerting for readers to meet him by name and not immediately know who he is.

The unfolding of this adventure is uneven in the telling. Readers expecting Gil and Gabe to take center stage, as has been the case in previous volumes, will find that this title is more a tale about men who serve with them, such as Bart, Jep, and Dagan. Gabe doesn’t become a truly integral character until late in the story. There are also occasions where misspellings and poor wording interfere with the flow of sentences.

On the other hand, Aye’s medical background and naval experience provide tense scenes, sometimes with unexpected twists. This is especially true in those involving Bart’s operation and Dagan’s handling of their new nemesis who has ties to the past. Fans of the series will enjoy Peregrine, but readers new to the series will probably prefer starting with earlier titles to get a better feel for the characters and their adventures.




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