Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 24

Review of The Trafalgar Chronicle New Series 4

The Trafalgar Chronicle: New Series 4: Dedicated to Naval History in the Nelson Era by Peter Hore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The annual journal of The 1805 Club shares the latest research into Vice Admiral Horatio Lord Viscount Nelson and his era. Each issue has a central theme, and this, the twenty-ninth such offering, focuses on his friends and contemporaries. The majority of those depicted in this volume come from families that remained loyal to the British Crown, during and after the American Revolution, even though their members lived in the American colonies at the outbreak of hostilities. Others opted to follow the road toward independence. These twenty-one essays also cover a breadth of distance, extending from Honduran islands to Australian shores and several places in between.

John Lehman’s “The Decaturs, the Lehmans and the Privateers” examines the American privateers during the Revolutionary War with particular emphasis on Captain Stephen Decatur, Senior of the Fair American, and his ship’s surgeon, George Lehman.

“The Summer Before Trafalgar” is Susan K. Smith’s survey of Benjamin Silliman, a college professor from America, who visited England in 1805. He kept a journal of his travels and special events, such as his opportunity to see Admiral Nelson and what happened when news of his final victory and death reached London.

With numerous connections to Irish officers, some of whom were mentors and others who were friends and colleagues, one might almost claim “Nelson Was an Irishman,” as Des Grant explains in his essay.

Since seamen faced many perils, it is no wonder that religion played a role in the everyday lives of the crew. Not all naval chaplains adhered to the stereotypical preacher, as The Reverend Lynda Sebbage discusses in “Sin Bo’suns in Nelson’s Ships.” One of her atypical examples is a chaplain who often found himself one step ahead of the authorities.

While men fought the conflicts, women also played their parts. Derek Morris and Kenneth Cozens look at what women of this era could and did do in “The Role of Women in London’s Sailortown in the Eighteenth Century.”

Harold E. ‘Pete’ Stark discusses “North America’s Seafaring Cities” in his essay of ports and how they evolved in North America, the Atlantic, and the Caribbean. Not all served the same purpose. Nor were they equal in importance to the Royal Navy. But all played a role in Britain’s maritime economy.

“Loyalist Mariners during the American Revolution” is Thomas B. Allen’s offering. He covers the often-neglected Whaleboat War and includes the perspective of the common sailors – such as Jacob Nagle, one of the few sailors who shared their experiences – who fought.

Tom S. Iampietro shares the story of “Admiral George Augustus Westphal,” who lived longer than any other officer who served with Nelson at Trafalgar. Wounded himself in the battle, he was with the admiral when he died. T. Jeremy Waters, on the other hand, looks at Westphal’s brother, “Admiral Philip Westphal,” whose career was overshadowed by his younger sibling.

The man who holds the record for longest naval service is “Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Parry Wallis.” Jeremy B. Utt outlines this man’s career from when Wallis’s name first appeared in a muster book when he was four years old to his time as Queen Victoria’s naval aide-de-camp.

Present at Nelson’s death, “Lieutenant Richard Bulkeley” was immortalized in Benjamin’s West’s depiction of the admiral’s death, as discussed in John R. Satterfield’s essay. He was a midshipman aboard Victory, where he spoke with Nelson before he died. His own life was cut short at the age of twenty-five.

Andrew A. Zellers-Frederick contributes two offerings in this volume. The first is about one of Nelson’s Canadian friends, “Admiral Sir Manley Dixon, KCB.” The second discusses “Rear-Admiral Thomas Tudor Tucker” of Bermuda, who survived the wreck of HMS Sceptre, participated in the navy’s experiment of adding citrus to grog rations, and was present when the Royal Navy captured the USS Essex, during the War of 1812.

Anna Kiefer reviews the career of “Captain William Gordon Rutherford, CB” of North Carolina, who enlisted in the Royal Navy more than once and also served with the Honourable East India Company. Barry Jolly reconsiders the career and life of “Rear-Admiral John Peyton” since he has often been confused with other family members. Rui Ribolhos Filipe’s “The Beach of the English Dead” considers the actions of Captain Conway Shipley, the first British officer to die in action during the Peninsular War. Rather than focus on a particular person, Mark West delves into the “Russians on the Tagus” and their connection to Portsmouth and the naval hospital at Haslar.

Anthony Cross analyzes the development of hot air balloons and their use during times of war in “Bringing Up Franklin’s Baby.” Anthony Bruce assesses another weapon in warfare, the navy’s use of “The Carronade.”

The final two essays return to the Caribbean. Rear-Admiral Michael Harris investigates the “Battle of St. George’s Cay, 10 September 1798,” which also has ties to British seafarers and buccaneers. Douglas Hamilton probes the extraordinary career of “Captain John Perkins,” a black officer and former slave assigned to protect British colonies involved in slavery.

In addition to these articles, black-and-white illustrations, tables, and maps are found throughout the book. There is also a section of color plates depicting ships, campaigns, and commentary involving the Royal Navy. While notes are included, no index is provided.

This latest offering of The Trafalgar Chronicles educates, clarifies, and demystifies the Nelson Era. Its focus is broader than some previous issues, but this serves to immerse readers in a wider swath of topics that might otherwise be missed. The fourth volume in the new series is a compelling review of the variety and depth of research being conducted and readers will meet people and visit places that are more often than not forgotten in history books.




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Review of James L. Nelson's Kings and Pawns

Kings and Pawns: A Novel of Viking Age England by James L. Nelson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


No matter how hard he tries, the gods refuse to allow Thorgrim “Night Wolf” Ulfsson to return home to Norway. He and his men, numbering between three and four hundred, as well as their seven ships, are now in Engla-land, where they have captured a rich monastery and many English soldiers. Night Wolf prefers to ransom them and be on his way, but the conniving machinations of two locals vying to be proclaimed ealdorman interfere his plans. Cynwise, who would pay the Danegeld and secure her claim to the title, must contend with a father who would usurp her rights and her brother-in-law who feels he should inherit his brother’s position. Nothwulf, allied with the influential and wealthy thegn Leofric, has no intention of paying the ransom. He plans to decimate the Norsemen through slyness and trickery, thus proving he is the best candidate for ealdorman.

Night Wolf has two sons: Harold Broadarm, who accompanies him on this long raiding journey, and Odd Thorgrimson, who remains at home taking care of both his own farm and his father’s. In spite of being clever and good at what he does, a small part of Odd also resents being left behind, unable to prove himself as a true Norse warrior. But news of unexpected visitors to Night Wolf’s farm and King Halfdan’s insistence that Night Wolf owes back taxes, even though Odd has diligently paid them, stir unwanted trouble that finally provide him with the chance to prove his mettle to both himself and the other hauldar, prosperous landowners like himself. They are reluctant allies until they realize that what Halfdan proposes for Odd could well be their own fates as well.

Kings and Pawns is the ninth book in The Norsemen Saga and has all the hallmarks of the previous titles – intrigue, betrayal, courage and bravery, cleverness and brawn, and fickle nemeses – to guarantee that readers find themselves on a whirlwind adventure where expectations and actualities don’t necessarily coincide. Starri Deathless epitomizes the berserker of history in a way that illuminates how these warriors must have appeared as they fought their enemies. Failend’s soul-searching seems an important component at the beginning of this tale, but as it unfolds, both she and her struggle fade away unresolved. The introduction of Odd and his conflict with the power-hungry and jealous Halfdan promises a new and compelling dynamic to the saga. Odd’s surprise attack makes for interesting comparisons to those that his father endures.

Nelson’s expertise lies in his portrayal of battles, whether they take place on land or water – and this tale incorporates both. Nothwulf’s snare and Halfdan’s ambush are equally harrowing but in different ways. Nelson interweaves the various threads of this epic tapestry of nail-biting drama in a way that leaves readers clamoring for more tales of Night Wolf and his family.




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Reviw of John McKay's Sovereign of the Seas 1637

Sovereign of the Seas 1637: A Reconstruction of the Most Powerful Warship of Its Day by John McKay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Charles I ascended the English throne in 1625 to discover a navy in desperate need of revitalization. For an island nation, dependent on the protection afforded by armed ships capable of navigating the surrounding oceans, he needed to build England into a maritime power. This meant building new, more powerful ships that demonstrated not only his nation’s dominance of the sea, but also its prestige to other countries. One outcome of this goal was the construction of the Sovereign of the Seas, the largest warship of her time and the first to be armed with 100 guns.

She was a “ship of many superlatives,” and John McKay set out to show why she deserved this description. (9) An architectural draftsman and an expert on the design and building of historical ships, McKay consulted contemporary resources to craft the many different facets that make up a warship. Where primary materials didn’t exist, he consulted others and relied on knowledge of what is known about wooden ships of the period and somewhat later. There are aspects of the vessel that remain unknown, so his drawings include conjecture, but his plans are based on his expertise and experience to recreate the Sovereign in as much detail and as closely as possible to the actual seventeenth-century ship.

The historical summary covers how she came to be built, how people – especially the ship masters of Trinity House, who safeguarded sailors and shipping – reacted to the idea of such a large vessel, the effect her building had on subsequent events in English history, and what happened to her during and after the Civil War and Restoration. Costs are also shared, from the initial estimate of £13,860 to her actual price tag of £65,586 16s 9½d (or in more digestible terms, the aggregate cost of ten average newly-built ships of war).

The coffee-table-sized book is divided into fifteen chapters, the first three serving as an introduction to and a historical summary of the ship and those who had a hand in her design and construction, as well as a recap of the sources McKay consulted. The remaining twelve chapters pertain to specific aspects of the ship: hull design and construction, pumps, steering, ground tackle, deck arrangements and accommodation, decoration, masts and yards, sails, rigging, ordnance, and boats. There are a host of illustrations, including a color section detailing the ship’s decoration, period portraits and paintings, and an extensive array of plates rendering all aspects of the vessel detailed above. Two appendices discuss Trinity House’s Protest and Sovereign’s Sail Carrying Capacity. Tables highlight specific details throughout the text. Unfamiliar nautical terms are discussed. A bibliography and index are included, while the endpapers portray overhead and side views of Sovereign without her masts and her outboard profile. The author also provides information on how to obtain large scale copies of the renderings.

From her launch in 1637 to her demise sixty years later, Sovereign of the Seas was a ship worthy of this unique study. The book’s beautiful design and McKay’s artful renderings provide a fitting tribute to this amazing vessel and those who participated in her planning and construction.




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Review of William C. Davis's The Greatest Fury

The Greatest Fury: The Battle of New Orleans and the Rebirth of America by William C. Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It was a war few wanted, but President Madison’s declaration, with Congress’s stamp of approval, in June 1812, brought the fledging nation into conflict with its former overlord. It was the culmination of a number of grievances, not least of which was the forcible seizure of seamen from American ships. Becoming embroiled in war with the United States wasn’t high on Britain’s want list; it was already mired in a conflict with a greater foe, Napoleon, and would fight on whatever front threatened to upend its efforts to cripple the French emperor once and for all.

By 1814, both sides were tired of fighting, but neither was willing to give up. Negotiations for peace were ongoing in Ghent, Belgium. The United States still had not taken Canada – one of its major objectives – but it met with some success on both land and sea. As the year unfolded, key events set the stage for what would become the last major conflict of the war. In March, Andrew Jackson and his army won the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. In April, Napoleon abdicated and went into exile. In August, the British invaded Washington and burned the White House and other public buildings. The following month, the Americans prevented the enemy from taking Baltimore and killed Major General Robert Ross, whose loss was greatly felt by the British and impacted the outcome of a battle still to come.

No longer focused on fighting its primary foe, Britain turned its full attention on the United States in an effort to bring a resounding defeat on its former colonies. There was one weak spot that would confine the United States within a relatively small area, preventing further westward expansion. At the same time, Britain would gain control of the mighty Mississippi, connecting the northern realm of its empire to its islands in the Caribbean, and the wealth that flowed into New Orleans as people and product traversed the river. Thus, the British focused their attention and resources on Louisiana’s Gulf Coast. What they didn’t factor into their equation was a wily, imperious general determined to stop the British no matter the cost; a motley group of people willing to set aside their differences to protect what they held dear; and a weather pattern bringing an unusual amount of precipitation and subnormal temperatures to a land ill-suited for traversing with heavy ordnance and supplies or typical combat strategies.

Davis skillfully lays the groundwork for the series of skirmishes collectively known as the Battle of New Orleans. Readers see events unfold from both American and British perspectives, predominantly from people present at the time of the fighting. The narrative is intricately interwoven with these firsthand accounts to provide insights not included in other histories on this topic. Davis also deftly strips away the myths from the action, choosing to address them near the end of the book and providing a clearer picture of what happened when.

Within the twenty-two chapters, readers become familiar with well-known and lesser-known participants. Among the former are Major General Andrew Jackson, Governor William C. C. Claiborne, Jean and Pierre Laffite, Vice Admiral of the Red Sir Alexander Cochrane, and Major General Sir Edward Pakenham. The latter include Master Commandant Daniel Todd Patterson, Edward Livingston, Major General Sir John Lambert, Brigadier General John Coffee, Brigadier General John Adair, Brigadier General David Bannister Morgan, Ensign George Gleig, and Major Robert Rennie. A center section of black-and-white plates showcase portraits of people and illustrations of places pertaining to the Battle of New Orleans, or the war in general. Twenty-six pages of primary resources and only six of secondary appear in the bibliography, demonstrating the depth of Davis’s research and effort to strip away myth from reality. Additional details, as well as source citations, are found in the endnotes, while a comprehensive index provides quick access to material within the text.

Aside from summarizing events leading up to the final confrontation, Davis describes New Orleans, the sixth largest city in the United States at the time and a melting pot of 25,000 people with disparate traditions and cultures, where language identified a person’s politics and loyalties. From the opening salvos of the gun battle on 13 December 1814, seventy-five miles from New Orleans, to the British capture of the garrison at Mobile Bay in February 1815, to the weeks and months afterward, readers come away with a better understanding of what happened and why, as well as why the Battle of New Orleans was so important to Americans and how they saw themselves in decades to follow.

For readers thinking to pass up this book because they read The Pirates Laffite, don’t. The role of the Baratarians and Laffite brothers is shown here, but isn’t as strongly detailed. This book gives another perspective of the battle, but with heavier and more detailed emphasis on the British, Jackson and his army, and the locals who defended their city and homes. Davis also shares the ineptness of some, the mistakes of others, and the egos that interfered with the successful carry through of orders, and those who were left to suffer as a result.

Davis shares what happens to individuals, many of whom were everyday people, and what they endured. At the same time, he incorporates statistics and details of what transpires, but personalizes the events and shows what occurs from all perspectives. The inclusion of so many quotes from contemporary sources makes the events more real and vivid descriptions allow readers to feel, for example, as if they walk alongside British forces, slogging through bayous, swamps, and cypress forests, or enduring hunger and cold while sleeping in frigid temperatures and soggy clothing.

What makes The Greatest Fury a valuable addition to any collection on this historical event is its reliance on contemporary accounts to convey what happened and why. Equally compelling are the many components with which readers today will readily identify – business at a standstill, a legislature that refuses to work together, people coming together to support one another, fear and panic.





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Review of Helaine Becker's Pirate Queen

Pirate Queen: A Story of Zheng Yi Sao by Helaine Becker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Dreams and reality are very different, and fate cares little for a person’s hopes. When pirates attack a village, they take the usual plunder, as well as girls. So it is that one of these finds herself desired by the pirate captain. But she refuses to marry Zheng Yi unless he gives her an equal share. Her boldness pleases him and they wed, but six years later he dies. Since fate has dealt her a path she didn’t expect, she assumes control of the pirates with the help of a lieutenant named Zhang Bao. Together they forge a pirate confederation that is invincible.

This first-person narrative recounts the story of the most successful pirate, a woman whose name is unknown, but is known as Zheng Yi Sao (“wife of Zheng Yi”). Although this is a picture book, it is geared toward young pirates who can read. Yet it is also a tale that will engage adult pirates as well. Becker does a commendable job keeping the narrative g-rated, historically accurate, and on an even keel. The combination of subtle text and expressive pictures weaves a convincing tale filled with emotion and conveys a sense of place that transports readers back to China at the turn of the nineteenth century. For readers who wish to know more about the real Zheng Yi Sao, Becker summarizes what we know of her and includes resources where additional information can be found. Pirate Queen is a wonderful introduction to a successful pirate who never forgot she was a woman and who forged a second life once she retired from the sea.




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Review of Tamara Moss's Lintang and the Pirate Queen

Getting into trouble is second nature for Lintang. It’s not her intent; it just happens. The cause this time is Pelita the troublesome pixie. If not for her interference, Lintang would never have started the fire. If not for the fire, her mother would have the necessary ingredients to prepare the dish for the banquet. But when asked, Lintang blames the fire on a pirate. She doesn’t mean for the lie to slip out, but really, who’s going to believe a pixie did it?

And her punishment is super severe. She may not attend the banquet. She may not meet Captain Shafira of Allay. Her idol! The woman who can take her away from this boring island. The pirate who can take Lintang on adventure. It’s a chance she just can’t miss, which leads Lintang deeper into trouble. If she can replace the ingredient her mother needs, then her mother will allow her to attend the banquet, and she’ll finally meet Captain Shafira.

To assist her in this quest, she enlists the help of her best (and only) friend, Bayani. They are both twelve, but that’s where the similarities end. He’s responsible, but since being ill, he’s also secretive. He loves mythies, names them, even talks to them as if they are people. And that pesky Pelita is always hanging around him. Bayani will initially say no to her plan, but Lintang always gets him to do her bidding.

Of course, things don’t quite go as planned. A flowery scent and a clacking noise warn of danger . . . very bad danger. Somehow, she figures out how to get them out of this dilemma, but the malam rasha or night terror isn’t about to allow its prey to escape. She and Bayani have to warn the villagers. But who will believe them? After all, she is a gifted storyteller like her grandfather. Instead of helping the villagers, she angers them and her mother threatens her with dire consequences. Until a beautiful woman backs up Lintang’s story and promises to rid them of the malam rasha for a price.

Lintang is awestruck that she not only meets her idol, but that Captain Shafira also believes her. Now, if only she can convince the pirate captain to take her aboard the pirate ship when she leaves. Wishes, however, often come true, but not in the way one expects.

This the first entry in a new fantasy series for young readers. It includes an eclectic group of female pirates, including one who prefers to dress as a boy, and a host of mythical creatures, such as mermaids, a dragon, a sea serpent, and the harvester or Goddess of Death. To assist readers in understanding these beasties, Moss scatters pages from The Mythie Guidebook throughout the story that explain what they eat, where they live, how they behave, and just how dangerous they are. Although this adventure takes place in a fantasy world, it has Asian elements woven into the narrative. Captain Sharif is a larger-than-life pirate who may remind readers of Zheng Yi Sao, and Lintang is an amazing young girl with whom readers will readily identify. Lintang and the Pirate Queen is a tale of friendship, trust, and obedience that is spiced with danger, infection, and wondrous ships and places. It is an adventure that pirates young and old will enjoy, and when it ends, they will eagerly await the next journey of Lintang, the Pirate Queen, and their friends.

Review of Philip K. Allan's In Northern Seas

In Northern Seas by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Napoleon is frustrated. He conquers all in his path except one particular thorn; the British navy thwarts him no matter how he attempts to invade England. One of his ministers suggests an alternative method. Rather than mount a direct attack, France will strike where the English are most vulnerable – the canvas, hemp, and tar that their warships need. If French agents can persuade the Baltic countries to cease selling these supplies to the English, diplomacy and misinformation will prove a far better weapon to achieving his dream.

The loss of a ship, regardless of whether he did all that he could or not, necessitates a court martial. Captain Alexander Clay stands so accused. What puzzles him more than the outcome is the civilian with the silver-topped cane who attends the proceedings. Glances between that gentleman and the presiding admiral, followed by gentle persuading that a question asked need not be answered strikes Clay as odd. When the same gentleman appears unannounced at his home and wonders whether he might be interested in a new frigate, Clay is further nonplused. The answer, of course, is yes; after all, he is a captain in the Royal Navy and the country is at war with France.

The gentleman with the cane proves to be Nicholas Vansittart, a lawyer and influential member of Parliament. He is also a diplomat who requires Clay’s assistance in his current mission – to stop French interference in the Baltic trade. He admires Clay’s ability to get the job done, oftentimes using unexpected methods, and the manner in which he has advanced through the ranks on his own merit. With Clay at the helm of a fast ship, HMS Griffin, the hope is that together they can resolve the current difficulties through diplomacy. If not, Clay will already be on station to assist Sir Hyde Parker, Lord Horatio Nelson, and the Baltic Fleet in demonstrating just how far the British will go to protect their supply chain against Mad Tsar Paul’s League of Armed Neutrality.

Like a ship navigates the swells and troughs of the sea, this seventh book in the Alexander Clay series keeps readers traversing wave after wave of action and adventure. Whether in Paris, London, Copenhagen, or St. Petersburg, intrigue abounds. Clay and much of his old crew, as well as a few new ones, find themselves in the thick of things. One new character, Vansittart’s valet, has ties to two of them, neither of whom are particularly pleased to renew his acquaintance. To further spice up this nautical tale, Allan interweaves humor, romance, bigotry, assassination, murder, and theft with coming to terms with a disability, narrow escapes, and an enemy ship stalking the Griffin. The denouement is a riveting account of the action during April 1801’s Battle of Copenhagen. It is rife with closer-quarter fighting, ships of the line, and Nelson’s famous turning of a blind eye. Readers will find themselves sitting on the edge of their seats, holding their breath as the story carries them back in time to revisit old friends and experience unexpected hazards.




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Review of Philip K. Allan's The Turn of the Tide

The Turn of the Tide by Philip K. Allan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Three distinctive episodes open this sixth book in the Alexander Clay series. A one-eyed Scotsman named Major Fraser eludes French gendarmes with the help of a French royalist. Able Sedgwick attends an abolitionist meeting to speak about his experiences as a slave, but hecklers disrupt the gathering and when things turn ugly, Able’s mates come from a nearby tavern to even the score. Captain Clay gives away the bride, his sister, to his best friend and fellow officer at their wedding. Soon after, Alexander is summoned to London for a special meeting with the First Lord of the Admiralty.

The summons means an end to the brief sojourn at home and a start of a new mission. Although Clay’s frigate, the Titan, is to join the Channel Fleet blockading the French coast, the First Lord has a detached assignment for him and it involves Major Fraser. For some time, he’s been working with the Choannerie, French royalists based in Brittany who are determined to upend the revolutionary government. The British government is amenable to assisting them, but before becoming too involved, Clay must land Fraser and several marines, along with a sufficient number of rifles, in enemy territory. Clay decides to send his own trusted marine, Lieutenant Thomas Macpherson, with Fraser to be his eyes and ears.

The initial ambush that the Choannerie plan goes off without a hitch, and that success convinces the First Lord that one additional show of resistance is necessary, but it must involve a much larger and more secure target. Major Fraser has such a place in mind and while he works ashore in France, Clay and the Titans practice for their part in the attack. He has reservations, but places his trust in Fraser. Tom acquires tidbits of knowledge that alone are insignificant, but when put together leave him quite unsettled. While belowdecks, a new recruit who claims to have psychic powers causes a ripple of discord that disrupts the happy ship.

This episode in Alexander Clay’s adventures takes place both at sea and on land. Aside from showing life at sea from the perspectives of the ratings and the officers, Allan weaves interesting subplots throughout the tale. One of these is an annoying and elusive French privateer; another is a cleverly perpetrated hoax to teach a lesson. The climax is stunning, riveting, and awesomely unveils the treachery behind a finely honed plan of vengeance. Fans of the series will find this book as good as or better than previous titles; newcomers will quickly become fans eager to discover what happens to Clay and his Titans.




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Review of C. G. Mosley's The Pirate Raiders

The Pirate Raiders by C.G. Mosley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Death immediate. Death delayed. Not much of a choice, but captured pirates can’t be choosy. Governor Winters of Jamaica offers the notorious Captain Redd a choice. On the morrow he can dance the hempen jig, or he can earn a royal pardon. Sounds like a no brainer, but Redd has escaped capture this long knowing nothing is that easy. That missing detail is a big one, and the reason either side of justice’s scales weigh heavily in favor of death immediate or death delayed. After all, the likelihood of surviving the latter option is less than nil. But as the governor reminds Redd, he is a pirate with a reputation of being quite resourceful when the need arises.

Redd, of course, opts for a chance of obtaining that royal pardon . . . as long as his crew is released too. Not exactly what the governor wants, but he is in a tight spot and Redd is the only person who has even an inkling of success. Winters even provides a sloop for the pirates, but as Redd knows only too well, what chance does a sloop have when the pirate Redd is pursuing has a formidable galleon? Pursue a fellow scoundrel. Sounds simple, but this is no ordinary pirate. Captain Winston Trimble isn’t known for niceties; after all, he flies the red flag – no quarter given, no mercy asked – no matter whether the potential prize belongs to a merchant, the navy, or even a pirate. Oh, and did I forget to mention he now possesses King Solomon’s signet ring – the one that can summon the kraken from the depths of the sea?

Finding Trimble won’t be easy. He has a reputation for being quite elusive. Luckily, Winters has a solution to that problem. Also caged within the prison is a young pirate whom Trimble marooned. Being the governor, though, Winters cannot just release a condemned pirate. Again, that would make things too easy. No, Redd and his mates must snatch him as he’s transferred from the gaol to the place of execution. Oh, and did I mention that if you’re caught, you and your mates will hang beside Andy Bonnet?

Intriguing twists to resolve unfathomable problems are spiced with black magic, a pirate with unusual pets having healthy appetites, and rabid cannibals. Mosley also includes a pinch of horror, just enough to whet readers’ appetites without grossing them out. He deftly spins a tale that seems very real, although there are two minor historical quibbles – galleons as pirate ships and bicornes instead of tricornes – for those familiar with Golden Age piracy. Told in first person, Pirate Raiders is a gripping swashbuckler that puts readers into Captain Redd’s shoes as he confronts dastardly villains at every turn, myriad roadblocks to hamper the journey, and daring rescues that border on the impossible. A rousing adventure not to be missed.




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Review of Ben Jeapes's H.M.S. Barabbas

H.M.S. Barabbas by Ben Jeapes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The lie. So small, yet it shaped his life and now lays heavy on his conscience. On the day they bury Dr. Livesley, Sir James Hawkins, FRS, MD, puts pen to paper, just as he did many years ago, to confess the truth.

At seventeen – four years after he wrote Treasure Island – Jim embarks on a new adventure. He wants to be liked and respected for who is he, not what he has, and so he follows in Dr. Livesley’s footsteps. With that gentleman’s help, he gains an apprenticeship with a London doctor. The journey to that city necessitates a stopover in Plymouth where he will find passage aboard a ship. But Plymouth is a navy town, and the navy is always in need of sailors. A press gang snatches him off the street, separating him from the papers that will prove his identity and his apprenticeship. Dr. Livesley’s sister and her daughters, in whose house he’s been staying, do their utmost to get him released, but they haven’t sufficient funds or influence to do so.

The officer in charge of the press gang owes a debt to a lieutenant; Mr. Bale offers to forgive the debt if Jim is among those sent aboard H.M.S. Barabbas. Once on the ship, Jim meets Captain Malachi Hands – a man whose very name unnerves Jim since he once killed a pirate of the same surname. While Mr. Bale has his own reasons for wanting Jim close to hand, Captain Hands has a far more sinister reason. He knows exactly who Jim is, what he has done, and what he knows. Pretending to be solicitous to Jim’s situation, he has Jim sign his name to a blank piece of paper and tells him that things should right themselves soon.

Except that they don’t. And Jim realizes that he’s been tricked about the same time he realizes that Barabbas has weighed anchor. Rather than going to London, he’s headed for the West Indies, where the ship is to pursue smugglers. Except that’s not quite true either, and reality proves far more horrible than he imaged. Nor is the crew what he expects. When not tending patients, the ship’s doctor drinks himself into stupors. Anything out of the ordinary results in pain. Only one other lad was bought by Lt. Bale; everyone else was handpicked by the captain; and the entire crew hides a secret – everyone but Jim.

From first page to last, the further adventures of Jim Hawkins ensnare you and, like Jim, escaping proves far more difficult than either of you imagine. Little is what it seems – and just when you think all is right with the world and the end is in sight, another unexpected twist leads you deeper into the bowels of the ship with Jim. H.M.S. Barabbas is a rousing escapade rife with betrayal, treachery, and smugness. On the opposite barb of the anchor can be found friendship, honesty, and humility. The action is gritty and realistic, while the characters are diverse and vividly drawn. Whether you’re a fan of Treasure Island or not, this is a riveting tale where the “pirates” aren’t what you expect and the end suggests a tantalizing promise of more adventures to come. (And the author’s biography is equally intriguing.)




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