Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "kydd-sea-adventures"

Kydd by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After a long day at work in his family’s wig shop, Thomas Kydd sits in a pub, minding his own business. A press gang waltzes in. forever altering his path in life. He’s whisked aboard the Duke William, an old ship-of-the-line bound for Spithead where the Royal Navy fleet gathers before setting sail to wage war against France in 1793. Rated a landman, Thomas finds his life is no longer his own. It belongs to King George, and no one in this new domain cares whether he lives or dies. He is alone. He has no friends. He is totally out of his element. It is up to him alone to fit in, to find his way in an alien world, until one man, Joe Bowyer, takes him under his wing with a warning: stay a landman and remain mired in the anger and despondency overwhelming him, or pull himself out of the dregs to become a seaman.

Kydd takes Joe’s advice to heart and discovers he has a knack for sailing . . . if he survives. There are rumors that the captain is a Jonah. The ship leaks. Each day brings new trials: suicide, murder, piracy, treachery, battles on land fighting alongside French Royalists or at sea against Revolutionists, imprisonment, betrayal, desertion, menacing French privateers, and fire.

With the mastery of a virtuoso, Stockwin delivers a seamless tale that ensnares the reader in whatever Kydd sees, hears, feels, and experiences, be it a ferocious flogging, the depths of despair, men fomenting mutiny, or the brutality of war. Readers quickly find themselves transported back to the late eighteenth century. No punches are pulled. No incidents betray the readers’ sense of believability. Kydd is a deftly woven and riveting sea story that refuses to let go once the grappling hooks are thrown. When the last page is turned, readers yearn for the next book in the Kydd Sea Adventures.

(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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Command by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It is early in the first decade of the 19th century. England still fights the French. William Pitt is no longer prime minister. King George once again suffers madness. And no matter what Thomas Kydd does, Captain Rowley finds fault with it. They share a past, one as treacherous as a rogue wave on a storm-swept sea. This latest incident sees Kydd relieved of duty and awaiting the admiral’s decision on charges of dereliction. He expects to be tossed out of the Royal Navy; instead, he receives orders to hie to Malta and take command of a new brig-sloop. Although this is the backwater of the Mediterranean, with little chance of engaging the enemy and advancing his career, nothing dampens his spirit. He has achieved a dream: being the indisputable commander of his own ship, and what a fine vessel is HM Sloop Teazer.

His orders are many-fold, especially for a single vessel, but he is determined to carry them out to the best of his ability. He conveys dispatches and important passengers, escorts small convoys, protects trade, renders service to the civil government of Malta, and harries the enemy. Three familiar faces join him in these endeavors: his servant Tysoe, Midshipman Bowden, and Toby Stirk (a former mate and gun captain of Seaflower). Gone, however, is Nicholas Renzi, and it’s possible the two friends may not encounter one another again.

As always, nothing is as simple as it appears. Time and again, Kydd must rely on his astuteness and lessons learned from past mistakes to deal with sticky situations, such as one vessel to protect a convoy of twenty-seven, Barbary corsairs, and a cunning but brutal French privateer. All while taking individual seamen and melding them into a cohesive unit that works and fights together as one.

Stockwin excels at showing readers the isolation and loneliness of command, as well as the profound responsibility that rests on Commander Kydd’s shoulders. This is also a tale of what it takes to fit out a new ship and what happens when peace comes, ships are decommissioned, and officers find themselves out of work. This leaves Kydd in a quandary because the navy is his life, but it also offers opportunity that sees him in command of a ship transporting convicts and settlers halfway round the world. Instead of glossing over less-than-glamourous aspects of life, Stockwin seamlessly incorporates them into Kydd’s life in ways that serve to mentor Kydd as a leader of men who must make life and death decisions that affect those who serve under him. Neither does Stockwin neglect Renzi, but his path in life profoundly shifts after a near-death experience. Command, the seventh offering in the Kydd Sea Adventures, provides a startling contrast between life in the Royal Navy and merchant marine, as well as providing glimpses of what awaits those who find themselves forging new lives in Australia.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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The Admiral's Daughter by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Peace does not bode well for Thomas Kydd in 1803, because he stands adrift on English soil since his return from Australia. Although pressed into the Royal Navy, it has become his life and he desperately wants to return to its fold. The peace, however, is tenuous and the powers that be in London have decided it is better to declare war anew first rather than allow Napoleon Bonaparte to proceed with his plan to dominate the world. Kydd receives a summons to appear in Plymouth, but by the time he arrives there, the admiral has few ships to offer him. He opts for one that he knows well, HM Sloop Teazer, his last command. He also secures permission for Nicholas Renzi, now a civilian, to accompany him aboard Teazer as his secretary. (A position that allows Renzi time to work on his study of natural philosophy with an aim to write a book that will shed new light on this topic.)

As the ship is readied for duty, Kydd must hurriedly set sail with less-than-a-full complement for France. It is vital that British citizens leave before Napoleon learns of the imminent declaration of war. But it is a race against time because Napoleon has already issued arrest orders for any English found in France. Through luck and ingenuity, Kydd and most of his crew escape aboard Teazer with their rescued passengers.

After returning to his new home base at Plymouth, Kydd meets with his commander, Admiral Sir Reginald Lockwood. He is in charge of protecting the coast of England, and Kydd is assigned to patrol from Weymouth to the Isles of Scilly. His primary task is to stop enemy privateers and warships from attacking coastal vessels. Secondary duties include delivering dispatches, important passengers, and unusual cargo to wherever they may be needed, as well as to work with the Revenue to stop smugglers. This is Kydd’s first time to sail in home waters, so there is a learning curve to master, and the chance for fame and glory is minimal. But this assignment allows him to be in total command, away from the watchful eye of superiors.

Privileges and responsibilities come with his new command, some of which find him not at sea but on land. As an officer in command of his own vessel, he is expected to have a real home and to entertain . . . at least this is what his sister Cecila tells him. He also needs to look to his attire; he must have suitable civilian fashion to mix and mingle at social affairs. At one of these parties, he meets Persephone Lockwood, the admiral’s daughter. They are attracted to each other, even though her family has ties to the royal court. Two problems arise as their relationship grows serious: her mother is determined to separate the lovers, and a sojourn with Renzi brings someone new, who quickly becomes an obsession, into Kydd’s life.

This eighth volume in the Kydd Sea Adventures offers readers a wealth of experiences rarely encountered in other naval adventures (a tour of Plymouth Dockyard, what occurs when a ship is caught in a ground sea, and a church service at sea). His nemeses this time around are himself, a brutal French privateer whose knowledge of England’s coast is beyond remarkable, and a mystery man who has organized the smugglers over a wide region in ways that allow them to evade capture. There is a nail-biting chase that results in a difficult choice. There are several confrontations with Renzi, one that threatens to dissolve their friendship once and for all. A dangerous mission results in friendly fire from a frigate off a treacherous section of the French coast. Someone from Kydd’s past provides surreptitious clues about how smugglers work and ventures undercover into their perilous enterprise. Readers experience the frustrating futility that Kydd and his men do as they watch a merchant ship wreck and are unable to rescue her crew. There is the promise of retribution to come, as well as devastating grief. The Admiral’s Daughter is a blend of highs and lows that will affect each reader in different ways. It is consummate storytelling that is not to be missed.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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Invasion by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having cleared his name, Thomas Kydd returns to his beloved Teazer albeit with a new first lieutenant who is reliable but neither ambitious nor innovative. Orders return them to the coast of France to search for enemy vessels. These are to be destroyed or taken in any way possible, for Napoleon is preparing to invade England and the Royal Navy is the country’s first line of defense. Upon encountering an enemy escorting a British prize, Kydd attempts a night boarding to retake the ship. The unsuccessful bid results in Nicholas Renzi, Kydd’s longtime friend and ship’s clerk, to suggest an alternative. The risk is high, but Kydd takes the chance. The result makes Admiral Saumarez realize that Kydd and Teazer are needed elsewhere where they can be used to better effect.

Kydd’s new orders assign him to Admiral Keith’s Downs Squadron, situated near the English Channel and close to the action. A brief meeting with his commanding officer makes it clear that on this station, Kydd’s first duty is to destroy the enemy no matter what. First, though, he must learn exactly what he faces and how dire the situation is for his country. This takes him to London where he becomes privy to closely guarded information about Napoleon’s plans and capabilities, as well as English plans to thwart the invasion. The newspapers are also rife with rumors of all sorts of strange inventions that the French emperor will use to achieve his goal of conquering England. Kydd’s secret meetings reveal that anything, even the most preposterous idea, may indeed be possible. Before long, he discovers the reality of this and the dilemma it poses to the way naval wars are fought.

During this time, Kydd returns home to visit his family. The experience makes him realize just how much he has changed since he first departed Guilford as a wigmaker. He decides if he wishes to go any further in his career, he must reenter society. To that end he hires a special tutor to turn him into the gentleman he must be to hobnob with those with power and influence.

Renzi, on the other hand, is summoned to a secret tête-à-tête to which not even Admiral Keith is privy. He is asked to participate in the negotiations for a prisoner exchange, although this is merely a cover for his real purpose. The cartel ship will get him into France and while there, he is tasked with finding an inventive American and persuading him to work for the English, whom he detests, instead of Napoleon. Otherwise, Renzi must kill him.

This tenth installment of the Kydd Sea Adventures provides a rousing fresh perspective about the invasion threat that England faced during the Napoleonic Wars. Stockwin draws the reader in with danger and possibilities and then clearly shows the personal struggle that seamen faced as new ideas threaten duty, morality, and traditional rules of engagement. Woven into this excellent tapestry are elements of everyday naval life, such as the savagery of sea combat and hand-to-hand fighting, searching for an AWOL crew member, and edge-of-your-seat lifesaving gambles. At the same time, readers glimpse life in Paris during the war and what it’s like for an enemy to openly walk the streets there. Equally compelling are the scientific inventions that are introduced, the conflicts they arouse, and how personal experiences can be melded with new ideas to provide alternative ways of achieving goals. Along the way, readers meet such historic people as Robert Fulton, William Pitt, Admiral Keith, and Captain Frances Austen (Jane Austen’s brother). Invasion is a thought-provoking experience filled with exploits to interest fans of historical fiction, nautical fiction, and even steampunk.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates & Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)




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Inferno by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


After his most recent trials and tribulations, Captain Thomas Kydd is in sore need of rest and renewal. The one man who may provide such a place is an old friend and mentor, Tobias Stirk. He, too, is injured, although his are more physical in nature than Kydd’s. To be on a more equal footing – friends instead of commander and commanded – Kydd travels incognito to Dunlochry, Scotland, on the island of Mull. There, the two become involved in a search for treasure aboard the remains of an Armada shipwreck. Just one problem: the hoard is far enough underwater that to retrieve requires diving equipment. The device closest to their location has only been used once before and that was a long time ago.

While away from the navy on their own adventure, Napoleon’s new policy threatens the very existence of Britain. No other European country is permitted to trade with the English, and with only Denmark, Sweden, and Russia not under the emperor’s control, he may well achieve what his failed invasions could not. When word reaches London of secret talks between France and Russia, those in command feel there is little recourse left to them. They must demand that Denmark surrender its navy to the British for the duration of the war. That is the sole way to keep the French from achieving total domination of Europe and to maintain open avenues to trade in the Baltic, where vital naval resources are purchased.

There’s just one problem, and it’s a doozy. Denmark is a neutral country. To violate that neutrality will be injurious to British honor, yet no one has an alternative to stopping their archnemesis. Still, before taking such a step, King George wishes to appeal to his Danish counterpart for a peaceful accord without going through regular diplomatic channels. Only one person may achieve this goal, Nicholas Renzi, the Earl of Farndon, and this time, his wife Cecilia, Kydd’s sister, must participate in the subterfuge.

In the meantime, Kydd resumes command of Tyger and joins the fleet that is amassing to carry out the Admiralty’s directive. This will be a joint operation between the navy and the army. Major General Sir Arthur Wesley will command the land forces, and their action is seen through the eyes of a young ensign whose brother serves aboard Tyger. With each passing day, the clock ticks closer to all-out hostilities and no way out for those within the walls of Copenhagen, including the Farndons. Danger also stalks Kydd, who is approached by a stranger seeking assistance and leaves his ship in hopes of securing additional help from rebel Swedes. Instead, he finds himself kidnapped and awaiting transport to France to stand trial before his most public execution.

Inferno is the seventeenth entry in the Kydd Sea Adventures series, but it is one in which Thomas Kydd plays only a minor role. In some regards, the same is true for Nicholas. Instead, much of the story takes place in government offices in London and on the ground outside Copenhagen. This is a fictional recounting of the Second Battle of Copenhagen, a complicated affair that Stockwin does a superb job of simplifying just enough for most readers to follow without getting bogged down in details and to comprehend the nuances that made this episode in Anglo-French-Danish relations so important to Great Britain.

There are two minor technical shortcomings with this book. First, there are a few formatting issues, such as the “Dramatis Personae” (list of characters) being placed in backwards and split in half by the placement of the maps. Also, it helps to think of the title not as a conflagration, as suggested by the cover art, but as “a place or state that resembles or suggests hell.”

Die-hard Kydd fans will find this a rendering of good historical fiction, but some readers may be disappointed that Kydd does not play as central a figure as he has in earlier novels. (There are forty-three chapters between one of his appearances and the next.) Perhaps Stockwin’s intent is to provide readers with the same respite Kydd needs while providing an engaging and different interlude before his next adventure.


(This review originally appeared at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/Stockwin.h...)



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