Cindy Vallar's Blog - Posts Tagged "thomas-kydd-series"

Tyger by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Returning home from the Mediterranean, L’Aurore is discovered to be a rotting ship. Her crew is paid off and Thomas Kydd finds himself on land. He is to command a heavy frigate, but it could be a year before she is finished and ready to man and sail. In the meantime, he must appear as a witness at the court martial of his former commander. He finds himself betwixt wind and water as regards Commodore Popham, who did seize the initiative but also abandoned his post.

A conversation between friends is overheard by a reporter, and the next day Kydd finds himself a pariah. Instead of the promised new frigate, he is ordered to take command of Tyger, a ship recently beset by mutiny. If he declines, his naval career will be at an end. If he accepts, his chances of successfully carrying out his duty are slim to none. But Admiral Russell, whose force is part of the North Sea Fleet, believes in giving opportunities and judging men by their actions. He chooses Kydd and the Tygers for a mission to Archangel, Russia. As an ally, the Royal Navy should be welcomed with open arms; instead, their arrival is anything but. Distrustful of what he sees, Kydd must find a way to uncover the truth while getting his men to trust him and work as a cohesive unit. Tall orders when suspicion, betrayal, and discontent are the current watchwords of his crew, and the Admiralty merely wants to get rid of him.

This sixteenth title in the Thomas Kydd series delves into the notorious and unusual court martial of Sir Home Popham, showcasing both sides of the coin. While interesting, it leaves readers and Kydd feeling like fish out of water. Yet there is purpose in its inclusion, for it provides a stunning look at how a hero can fall from grace in an instant. At the same time, it sets up how Kydd comes to command Tyger and finds himself embroiled in a mutiny once again. The key to this novel is that much lies beneath the surface; nothing is exactly as it appears. Enemies lurk where least expected and this time, readers understand exactly what is meant about the loneliness of command as Kydd sails through treacherous waters from England to the Baltic and the High Arctic.


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



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Pasha by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The summons from the Admiralty is not unexpected. The court-martial is inevitable; Thomas Kydd just doesn’t know whether he will stand as a witness or join his former commander as a defendant. He no sooner arrives than finds himself in front of the king and honored in a way he never expects.

His friend, Nicholas Renzi, encounters his own share of surprises. He must fulfill his promise to Thomas to propose to Cecilia Kydd, but how can he do so without the means to support her? He’s had no word as to whether his first novel has met with success or failure. Then a family death leaves him with a dilemma that opens a door he thought long closed. It also requires him to confess a truth to Cecilia, one which may turn her against him once and for all.

The return home means that the friends’ paths in life must finally diverge. Renzi does not leave Kydd emptyhanded. He recommends a young man named Dillon, who is both loyal and determined to see the world. That wish is granted when Kydd and his men are sent to join the Mediterranean squadron. Currently Admiral Collingwood blockades the port of Cádiz, but he has a different assignment for Kydd, one that will take him and Dillon to Constantinople. It’s essential that the French not gain a foothold there. Sailing to and from the city is fraught with danger, and upon arrival, Kydd discovers not only civil unrest but also that the British ambassador is determined to destroy the Ottoman city.

Renzi’s new station in life offers him a unique opportunity, one that also takes him to Constantinople. Whereas Kydd sails right in, Renzi’s path there is more clandestine. How he accomplishes his mission is totally at his discretion, but he will be on his own and at the mercy of the sultan and his advisers, which include French agitators determined to win Constantinople for Napolean.

Pasha is the fifteenth title in the Thomas Kydd series. Stockwin deftly recreates time and place so readers become immersed in the intrigue and adventure that unfolds from two different perspectives. Although Kydd has some unique experiences that showcase new aspects of sailing and command because of the setting, it is Renzi who plays a more prominent role this time around. His story is reminiscent of television’s Mission Impossible exploits, just set in the first decade of the 19th century. This book showcases international intrigue and the domino effect. Maps and a glossary provide readers with orienting information, while the list of Dramatis Personae offers a handy reference as to who’s who. Stalwart fans of Stockwyn and the Kydd series will find this an engrossing tale rife with unusual encounters and noteworthy action. As always, each book in the series can stand alone, so newcomers will soon find themselves entangled in the lives of both Kydd and Renzi.


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



View all my reviews