Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 29
March 19, 2019
Review of James L. Nelson's A Vengeful Wind
A Vengeful Wind by James L. NelsonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
When longships bearing more Northmen land on the beach on the other side of Loch Garman, Thorgrim Night Wolf knows the delicate truce with the Irish has become unbalanced. All he wishes is to finish repairs to his own longships, obtain the sails that the monastery is making, and set sail; instead, he and some of his men row across the water to offer hospitality. But the offer is rebuffed because Thorgrim slew the newcomers’ leader months past over control of Vík-ló. Thorgrim and his followers return to their makeshift longphort, hoping to depart before the Irish learn of the new Vikings. The gods have other plans.
Once a man-at arms and now a monk, Brother Bécc hates the invaders and wishes to eradicate them from all of Ireland. The arrival of more such vermin provides the lynchpin necessary for him to once again take up arms, first against the newcomers and then against Thorgrim Night Wolf. Bécc and the local rí túaithe lead their men on a carefully planned night attack when the Northmen are drunk and asleep. Just as a rout is achieved, out of the darkness upon the sea come hideous monsters – longships crowded with men with Night Wolf at their head. Bécc’s anger at failing to achieve God’s will is such that he murders a man and then uses Thorgrim’s intervention to attack the longphort.
In Angel-cynn (which the Norse call Engla-land) in the town of Sherborne, the people who matter gather in the cathedral to witness the marriage of the ealdorman to Cynewise, daughter of a neighboring ealdorman. Just after the couple exchange vows, a minor thegn kills the groom and calls for others to rise up with him. The assistance he seems to expect comes to naught and the murderer is slain. Nothwulf is stunned at the death of his brother, and is intent on finding out the reason for the murder. He also hopes to step into his brother’s shoes and become the new ealdorman, for surely a wife of two minutes who is as distraught as Cynewise has no desire to take over her husband’s duties. Yet Cynewise is not as meek or frail as she appears; behind Nothwulf’s back she plots, plans, and garners local support to gain King Aethelwulf’s support in naming her as ealdorman. The only one in her way is her brother-in-law, but with the help of the shire reeve who slew her husband’s murderer, Cynewise soon deals a crushing blow to Nothwulf . . . or so it seems until news of Norse ships landing give Nothwulf an unexpected advantage.
The opening of the eighth book in the Norsemen Saga is a bit slow as readers are introduced to a new storyline that involves a new land, new characters, and new words. Thorgrim’s tale continues in the second chapter, and thereafter, what happens in Ireland is intertwined with events in England. Only after a riveting battle between the Northmen and the Irish does it become clear as to why this new storyline has been introduced. Equally enthralling is the fearsome voyage on stormy seas that easily brings to mind the words of The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, “In this year dire portents appeared . . . and sorely frightened the inhabitants. They consisted of immense whirlwinds and flashes of lightning, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air.”
There’s some discrepancy between the descriptive severity of Thorgrim’s wound and the quickness of his recovery, yet this is a minor aspect. What is compelling is his maturing character arc and some of the realizations he comes to as he enters his fifth decade. Harald Broadarm, Failend, Starri Deathless, and other familiar characters help make his life more interesting, as do the reappearance of several characters from earlier titles in the series. As always, Nelson includes maps, a longship diagram, and a glossary to aid readers in their journey with unfamiliar settings and vocabulary. He also selects quotations from contemporary writings to hint at what is to come in each chapter.
A Vengeful Wind is a well-crafted blend of historical fiction and intrigue that vividly recreates a time period centuries in the past. Nelson’s gift of storytelling transports readers to these strange lands to such a degree that the modern world is soon forgotten and we’re swept away just as the Northmen find themselves cast from the shores of Ireland.
View all my reviews
February 18, 2019
Review of Annie Holmes' Katherine of Carrick (audiobook read by Morwenna Banks)
Katherine of Carrick - The Way of the Warrior by Annie HolmesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Katherine is a worrier . . . about her new home, a new morning, spiders, snakes, strangers, and more. And it’s hard for adults – except her mother – to understand that someone her size and age can have so many problems. If only she could be a warrior!
Seven-year-old Katherine loves big words and she’s quite inquisitive. She loves learning new information, but sometimes doing so riles the buffaloes in her tummy. Like now, as she awakens in her new home in a new city, Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland. With her two favorite pals, Bienkie her GO-TO Bear and Boongie Rabbit, and the constant repeating of her mantra (“There is nothing to fear but fear itself!”), she ventures from her bed to the window and is excited to see the lough, a rundown garden, the beach, and a castle!
Her first expedition must be to the garden, and the creatures there are thrilled, yet cautious. The fairies have said that Katherine of Carrick will save them, but she’s just a little girl and how can she protect them from Sammy the Bull and the Terribles? One of the garden’s occupants is Methuselah, who is very old and knowledgeable. He doesn’t want her to know who he is right now, so he waits quietly and watches. Once Katherine discovers him, she will also want to know his secrets, and he’s not certain he’s willing or ready to share them, even though so much time has passed.
While exploring the garden, Katherine learns that the house has a secret. She loves mysteries and immediately sets out to unravel the creatures’ riddle to find the secret. Once she does, she also discovers an old leather bag with a coat of arms on it, which becomes her grab bag. All is peaceful and calm until Sir Faithful Fortescue squawks an alarm: The garden is under attack!
The Terribles have arrived, claiming ownership of her garden, but Katherine isn’t about to let these big, brash boys continue their destructive ways. She confronts the terrible children, who warn her that Sammy the Bull will not allow her to get away with this. The garden belongs to them, not her. Knowing they will return, she comes up with a plan and with the rest of the League of the Little People (Bienkie, Boongie, and the garden creatures) organizes for the next invasion. But Katherine also worries. Being brave once often means that she must continue being brave; she’s just not certain she can.
Then Sammy the Bull arrives and he’s not even sure Katherine is a girl. After all, she doesn’t dress like a girl and she defies him. As far as Katherine is concerned, it’s obvious that Sammy hasn’t a clue about girls. After all, she rides her bike and loves adventure, and history is filled with heroines who do not play with dolls or hide in the house. The arguing eventually turns to pirates and Sammy dares Katherine to say how many girl pirates there were. She doesn’t know, but she’s certain there were some. Thinking he is smarter, Sammy dares her to name a real girl pirate, or the garden belongs to him and the Terribles. It’s a challenge she can’t refuse, even if it means that she must be braver than ever.
Morwenna Banks brings Katherine and all her friends (and enemies) to life in a way that allows the listener to be right beside Katherine from the moment the adventure starts all the way to the end. Her inflection is spot on in all the right places and she is truly gifted in giving each character a unique voice. The book is written for children ages seven and up, but even adults will enjoy listening. (I also had access to the e-book, which includes color pictures, but Banks does such a fabulous job that I ended up using the book to write my notes for this review.) I particularly love the way she emphasizes “girl” pirates and says Katherine’s favorite words, “Supermurgatroid” and “Humongous!” I wanted to cry when Katherine’s world falls apart when Sammy injures Bienkie, and I laughed a lot at Katherine’s dilemma about how to go to the bathroom in Kveldulf, a Viking longboat. The Twisted Sisters reminded me of the three witches in MacBeth. I particularly enjoyed meeting Harry Gold and his Pieces of 8, an assortment of men from the past who assist Katherine in her quest for girl pirates. As she journeys through history, we meet Simon Danseker, Eustace the Black Monk, John Paul Jones, Woodes Rogers, Nathaniel Mist, Daniel Defoe, and a woman pirate (although I won’t say which one).
If I have any reservation about this audiobook, it’s the cover art. It’s not appealing to the eye and gives the wrong impression about what the book is about. This was not the case with either the cover art for the hardback or paperback versions – both of which come closer to hinting at what the book is about. The audio version is more reminiscent of virtual reality or steampunk, neither of which has anything to do with the story.
Each evening, when I sat to listen to the story while doing jigsaw puzzles, I found myself eager to discover where Katherine’s journey would lead her and who she would meet next. I wanted the tale to go on and on, but alas it does come to an end . . . but Annie Holmes assures listeners that Katherine will return in Katherine of Carrick: The Secret History of the Mongols. I heartily recommend this audiobook to readers and I am amazed at how ingeniously Annie Holmes wove a wide array of history into a children’s tale filled with magic and detecting. Best of all? It’s a story about Girls and Girl Pirates!
View all my reviews
Review of James Schaneep's Marooned
Marooned (Click Your Poison) by James SchannepMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Marooned is an adult version of the “choose your own adventure” books that were popular several decades ago. Set sometime between 1500 and 1850 – a time that can be further narrowed to 1650-1725, for those thinking this specifically occurs suring the golden age of piracy – you are the main character and depending on which path you follow, you will find yourself immersed in one of three storylines.
The story begins with you – no age specified, but old enough to travel alone (which may or may not be the wisest decision you make) – bound for London on a bumpy carriage ride. Your queasiness is a small price to pay to be the first to hear your cousin’s adventurous tales of life at sea, now that his ship has come home. Your task is to bring him back to his mother, your aunt, and you have just enough money to get there, feed the two of you, and return whence you came. But the docks of London are a scary place, especially for someone as naive as yourself. Luckily, James arrives just after you alight. What you don’t expect is that he isn’t too keen on the idea of returning home. Instead, he wants a drink and a woman, which leaves you with a decision to make: join him at the pub, immediately drag him back home, or venture into a mysterious brothel.
The shortest story line, and the one I tended to find myself on more than once, places you aboard a Royal Navy frigate. You may volunteer or you are forced, but for better or worse, you’ve taken the king’s shilling and must now do as you’re told. You may find yourself on the lower decks amid a host of others, or you may be on the path to become an officer. Whichever path you select, it is but the first of many dangers you will encounter. Some result in your demise; others lead to glory and higher rank. It just depends on the choices you make.
The second story line lands you aboard a merchant ship, bound for the colonies. You may have signed aboard willingly or been seized by crimpers. This leads to a fork in the road, so to speak, that will take you on an adventurous journey or lead you to the dark side, where mutiny and piracy abide. There’s even a murder mystery to solve.
There are occasional lapses in historically correct dialogue, where a modern word slips in (for example, rubber-necking), which may jerk you out of the story. There are also subtle toasts to people who have influenced the author, such as the frigate HMS Hornblower, Vice-Admiral Maturin, or a sailor/pirate named Rediker. The history of the time period and pirate life demonstrates a significant amount of research, and the ingenuity required to craft a well-told book like this is remarkable. Even the myriad deaths you might experience come straight from the past and the dangers of life at sea in the Age of Sail.
Schannep does provide hints as to what path you follow – anchors, skull and crossbones, and palm trees – but you’ll probably find yourself too caught up in what’s happening to pay much attention to these and not all pages have them. For those who have read previous titles in the series, there are references to those books in this one and he dares you to find them. While some pages overlap in the story lines, you eventually find yourself on a unique path.
Once you begin Marooned, you’ll find yourself unable to put it down . . . even if you die. After all, with more than fifty possible outcomes, you just have to explore them all.
View all my reviews
Review of S. R. Staley's Calusa Spirits
Calusa Spirits by SR StaleyMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Healing from his wounds, Juan Carlos Santa Ana desperately tries to stave off Spanish soldiers sneaking aboard La Marée Rouge. He has few weapons at his disposal and the infection in his shoulder and chest threaten to steal what strength he possesses. The enemy came from the shores of Cuba, for him and for Isabella – one labeled traitor, the other pirate – and from the sounds above and outside the great cabin, there is little hope that anyone will come to his aid. His only chance is to escape his present location, to seek help from whoever is still able to stand on his own two feet.
Bold ingenuity and stalwart determination allow the pirates to succeed, but Isabella knows their respite will be brief. The Captain-General of the West Indies will not give up his relentless pursuit of her or Juan Carlos. But their best chance of escape means sailing straight into the lion’s den. In that way they might just make it to New Orleans.
For her entire life, Isabella has fought for freedom and equality. The last six of those years have been at sea. She escaped the bonds of slavery, which is why she is determined to help others, but how much longer can she survive? It is a question that comes close to being answered when they stop in La Florida, now in the hands of the British, in hopes of replenishing their supplies. Instead of the trading post they expect to find, they are surrounded by at least 350 Calusa warriors from a fierce tribe that’s not supposed to exist any longer. Even though they are an unknown enemy, Isabella, Juan Carlos, and several pirates accompany the warriors deep into the swamp to trade. But the Calusa have other plans for them.
Calusa Spirits is the third volume in the young adult historical fiction series, Pirate of Panther Bay. Staley includes two maps, one of West Cuba (c. 1787) and Florida’s West Coast (c. 1781), to orient readers to the two main locales of this book. There is also a short glossary of Calusa words. As in previous titles, this one introduces new characters who join the pirates, such as a man from Japan forced to join the Spanish soldiers. The time period isn’t explicitly stated, but there are enough hints within the text for readers to figure out that it is set in 1781.
Although backstory is expertly woven into the dialogue and narrative, there is a bit too much sprinkled throughout the book, sometimes at places that disrupt both the tension and the flow. In spite of this, readers who have enjoyed the previous titles will enjoy this latest offering in Isabella’s saga, and those who have not will easily pick up on what has come before.
An interesting twist in the story comes with the introduction of Pierre and Jean Lafitte. The two young boys (thirteen and two, respectively) are captives, who are with their mother, and it is Pierre’s knowledge of the Calusa that assists Isabella in their escape. The fight scenes, especially the final one with the Calusa, make readers’ hearts pound. I look forward to future adventures of Isabella, Juan Carlos, and the other pirates, including the Lafittes.
View all my reviews
Review of Mark McMillin's Blood for Blood
Blood for Blood by Mark M. McMillinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Blood for Blood. The words are Mary’s first thought upon waking and her last at night. They are her “ungodly prayer” for the wrongs committed against her and those she loves. They give her life purpose for continuing to live. For as long as she can remember the Dowlins have hounded her, and now the son and his henchmen seek to destroy her. They thought they had killed her and her lover when they torched an old mill, but Mary survives and gives birth to a daughter. Now, the time has come to renew her travels; she seeks out her old crew and reclaims her ships, Phantom and Diablo. Not to return to smuggling and the New World, but to England to serve the woman who long ago saved her life – Queen Elizabeth.
Her mission this time is to accompany Sir Francis Drake in his attempt to gain Portugal’s assistance in England’s war with Spain during the autumn of 1588. But their relationship is contentious at best, and Drake’s way of doing things often collides with Mary’s. Still, she heeds orders as long as her ships and her men are not needlessly endangered, even though this is slated to be a military campaign on land, rather than an assault from the sea.
In war plans rarely turn out as expected, and such is the case for this expedition. Then Mary is charged with aiding and abetting the enemy – a foolish charge that results in gaining freedom for a number of imprisoned Englishman, including one of the queen’s best spies – all because she defied Drake’s orders to implement her bold and daring plan.
Weathering this storm, she renews an old acquaintance with Captain Guilliaume Le Testu, the son of the corsair who lost his life during Drake’s raid on the mule train carrying Spanish silver. Le Testu puts forth an opportunity to return to the New World to plunder enemy ships and recover some of the silver buried so long ago. It is a tempting offer, especially since Drake’s most recent expedition is doomed to failure. She and her men decide to join Testu, but on her terms. Even though the long reach of Dowlin and the Siol Faolcháin can pursue her there, this time, they strike closer to home – attacks in Ireland that have a devastating effect on Mary and a young lad who joins her operation.
A fair portion of this historical novel takes place on land, rather than the sea, but McMillin skillfully recreates the time period with clever insertions of historical events interwoven with Mary’s fictional tale. The battle with Spanish forces in Panama is a nail-biting sequel to one of the most famous occurrence in Drake’s Caribbean escapades. Equally compelling are the poignant episodes where Mary once again suffers retribution. Events in her past, told in the previous title The Butcher’s Daughter, are neatly recounted and completed, so readers unfamiliar with that title will still find themselves grounded here. While the setting may be familiar to many, the time period makes this story more unique, for it unfolds long before the golden age of piracy begins. It spans the final decade of the sixteenth century and Mary is a product of her times, for “I was born in blood and I will die in blood, or so the story goes . . .”. (397)
View all my reviews
January 19, 2019
Review of The War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession 1701 - 1714 by James FalknerMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
One of the most compelling questions on every monarch’s mind in the last decade of the seventeenth century was: Who will succeed King Carlos II of Spain? His empire stretched from the Iberian Peninsula to the Americas and included lands in the Low Countries (Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg today), North Africa, and the Philippines. To rule these required a firm hand, yet he had neither offspring nor siblings to ascend the throne.
Although lesser claimants existed, two men from two different countries could make strong cases as to why they should be the next king of Spain. One was Philippe, Duc d’Anjou and grandson of King Louis XIV of France. The other was Archduke Charles of Austria. At the time, no one wanted to go to war and eventually, many ruling monarchs agreed that Philippe would become the next king of Spain. But succession questions where no direct heirs exist were never an easy thing to resolve, especially when the contenders and neighboring countries had their own goals and desires.
Then Louis, who rarely made unwise choices, sent soldiers into the Spanish Netherlands in February 1701. The move was supposedly to protect his grandson, who was now Philip V of Spain, but the Dutch were highly incensed over this move. In early September, England, Holland, and Austria joined together to form the Grand Alliance; soon after Denmark and the German states agreed to assist them. Two additional moves on Louis’s part tipped the scale on the side of war. He refused to allow English manufactured goods to be imported to France, and he recognized the Catholic son of the deposed James II as the rightful ruler of England and Scotland. The Grand Alliance declared war in May 1702.
What became known as the War of the Spanish Succession was a conflict that encompassed much of Europe, the West Indies, and even Canada. While most of the war occurred on land, the navies engaged in sea battles and privateering played a significant role. Although peace negotiations began early, nothing was resolved until 1713, 1714, and 1715, years in which the various parties eventually signed treaties. During more than ten years of fighting, numerous elements impacted its outcome: issues of who would command the armies, harmony amongst allies and commanders, conditions of the troops, court rivalries, and distractions at home (such as insurrection in southern France and the bitterly cold winter of 1709). In the end, all parties got what they initially wished and the Spanish people, who never had a voice in the matter, gained a king worthy of their respect and trust.
James Falkner, who specializes in this time period and this conflict, covers all this and more in a volume that presents an unbiased overview of the diplomacy, politics, and military initiatives that took place during the War of the Spanish Succession. He includes numerous maps, illustrations, and a chronological time line to assist readers. There are three appendices. The first two provide the main terms of the 1702 Treaty of Grand Alliance and the Treaties of Utrecht, Baden and Rastadt, and Madrid (1713-1715). The third appendix provides brief biographies of Key Military Figures, their careers, and what became of them. Among those included are James FitzJames, Duke of Berwick; Prince Eugene de Savoy-Carignan; Prince George of Hesse-Darmstadt; John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough; Camille d’Houston, Duc de Tallard, Marshal of France; Louis-Joseph de Bourbon, Duc de Vendôme; Claude-Louise-Hector de Villars, Marshal of France; and François de Neufville, Duc de Villeroi, Marshal of France. The book concludes with end notes, a bibliography, and an index.
Falkner provides a good grounding for readers about how the question of succession becomes an issue, who the principal claimants are, and why their claims are the strongest. Those seeking detailed analysis of the various battles and sieges, however, need to look elsewhere, for The War of the Spanish Succession merely summarizes these actions. Also missing are events that take place outside of Europe and the Mediterranean. Privateers garner only a scant mention, yet the plethora of these men will have a major impact on history once the war ends. Although the text is highly readable, it doesn’t always hold the reader’s interest and lay readers may become easily confused as to who’s who and for which side they fight. Readers with a particular interest in this war and military history during the eighteenth century, however, will delight in this one-volume overview.
View all my reviews
Review of Fire Aloft
Fire Aloft: Revenge of the Aero-Pyrates by Rev DiCertoMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
In the midst of a battle between Union and Confederate airships in 1869, Billy Leary knows he’s about to die. After leaving Ireland, neither he nor his brother Jimmy thought to become entangled in this bloody war. But the Union hadn’t offered them a choice. No sooner had they stepped ashore than they were conscripted into the air corps, and now, the Rebel commander, Garrett Prescott, has fired on the Union airships after they surrender. In spite of being an engineer there is nothing Billy can do to prevent his vessel’s explosion. At least Jimmy yet lives.
But Billy’s demise doesn’t occur. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in a Rebel field hospital where Prescott offers him a choice – serve in the Confederate Aerial Navy or be confined in Andersonville. Since the latter is more a death trap than prison camp, Billy opts for the former. To prevent the possibility of being called a traitor for switching sides, he changes his name to Billy Reilly. When the War of Confederate Independence finally ends, Billy eventually marries, has a family, and decides to open a store in the Dakota Territory. That decision leads to a tragedy that alters his life, and Billy finds himself once again crossing paths with the infamous Prescott.
In 1880, Captain Gallagher, aka Jimmy Leary, has finally found something he’s good at. He loves being a buccaneer of the air, and he’s worked hard to create a haven where the aero-pirates can gather in relative safety in a fledgling mining town in the Arizona Territory. He and his crew, aboard the Anna Sable, swoop down and attack trains, regardless of whether they belong to the Union or the Confederacy. His favorite targets are those carrying cargo and money belonging to Thom McGuire, a rich and powerful man who’s determined to rid the airways of the aero-pirates.
Justine Arthurs dreams of commanding an airship, but she’s too darned good at being an agent. During the war, she was a Pinkerton agent working behind enemy lines. Now’s she works for McGuire, and her current assignment is to offer Garrett Prescott a lucrative job. He agrees on two conditions: declare the Arizona Territory a company protectorate and name him as its governor. With assistance from the Union Aero Corps, Prescott vows to defeat the aero-pirates in a year or less.
Union airships converge on the aero-pirates safe haven and an overeager officer offers them a pardon. If they renounce their old ways and swear allegiance to the Union, the buccaneers will be granted amnesty for past crimes. Gallagher counsels feigning acceptance, but Bart Scharf refuses to sign and vows to make war on those who do.
Not believing the aero-pirates have truly surrendered, Prescott sends Justine to find out all she can about Gallagher any way she can. Her task proves easier than she expects, but as she gets to know him and he lets her command the Anna Sable, she finds that she’s not immune to his charms. Best to put an end to this charade as soon as possible. To that end, she arranges an ambush, but killing the buccaneers isn’t as easy as she expects. Nor is it a simple thing to keep Gallagher far from her thoughts.
In spite of losing his heart to the woman he knows as Faye, Gallagher has enough sense to be wary of her. Her betrayal cuts him to the quick, and he’s determined to make her pay. But getting revenge must wait until after he and his fellow aero-pirates stage the biggest haul of their lives.
Fire Aloft is a rousing steampunk adventure filled with intrigue, romance, and treachery. While much of the story is set in 1880, numerous flash backs covering a time span of twelve years are interspersed throughout the story until the death-defying, heart-pumping, spectacular show-down. Doc Holiday is among the host of unique characters populating the story, and there is a restaging of the gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone. This may be about air pirates, but historical piratical elements are seamlessly woven into the story. For example, the offer of amnesty, Prescott’s no-nonsense suppression, and Scharf’s belligerent refusal to renounce his criminal ways are reminiscent of Governor Woodes Rogers’ ousting of the pirates from the Bahamas and Charles Vane’s audacious escape.
View all my reviews
Review of The California Run
The California Run by Mark A. RimmerMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Harry Jenkins has two particular skills – wooing women and acquiring their valuables. Of course, his latest victim came with a father who’s now intent on reclaiming his daughter’s honor. That necessitates a hasty escape from Ireland, which is how he comes to be in New York. One might think Harry has learned his lesson. Alas, such is not the case. He needs to increase the distance between his vengeful pursuer and that requires money, so a new target is needed. Much to his chagrin, Lady Margaret Thompson seems immune to his charm. Then miracle of miracles, she suddenly pursues him and helps him acquire a ticket to San Francisco.
The past eight years were pure torture for Sarah Doyle, lady’s maid to Lady Margaret Thompson. On the eve of their voyage to New York, her employer postponed their trip and on a whim, Sarah appropriates her identity and luggage and sails to America. Nor has she taken this chance only to be duped by Harry Jenkins, so she separates him from his ticket and baggage and, for good measure, convinces two strangers to waylay Harry so she can board the California-bound clipper as Mrs. Harry Jenkins.
If told to kill someone, Gideon has no problem doing so. He’s not a hired killer, although he does enjoy using his knife. No, he owes Thaddeus Oglesby and will do almost anything for him. After all, his employer is one of the most powerful men in the city. Not even the law can touch him. Oglesby also owns Sapphire, the Yankee clipper upon which Gideon normally serves as second mate. The ship is soon to depart for San Francisco, but this time without Gideon. He’s to hire on as one of the crew of the Achilles to make certain she does not reach San Francisco first. Even if that means sending the newly-built clipper and those aboard to the bottom of the sea, for his employer has no intention of losing the race to California, the $50,000 wager, or the rich profits the first ship will garner once her cargo is sold in the gateway to the gold rush.
Being the second mate of Achilles is both an honor and a worry for Nate Cooper, who’s never served as a watch officer before. His first introduction to the chief mate proves less than welcoming, since Robert Biggs seems to rely heavily on a belaying pin and the lash to make the crew carry out their work. Nate disagrees with such tactics, but he’s not in a position to object. He knows only too well that he will have to prove himself every day of the 200-day voyage that he is the best seaman for the job, not only to himself, but to the captain, the chief mate, and the crew. Nor will this be an easy task, for the men of the forecastle are a mix of crimped landlubbers – one of whom is Harry, who hasn’t a clue about sailing, and nine Swedes, who barely speak English – and packet-rats, unruly bullies who’ve crewed aboard the transatlantic Liverpool packet ships.
Someone who shares his misgivings is Emma Jacobs, the captain’s niece. She has accompanied him on his voyages for three years, although this is the first stint on a clipper. During that time, she’s become an adept navigator and when rumblings of replacing Nate with another crewman as second mate begin, she intervenes and begins teaching him the art of navigation to better secure his position.
Set in 1850 during the California Gold Rush, The California Run is an arresting depiction of shipboard life during a 15,000-mile journey around Cape Horn. The unique and entertaining characters provide a volatile mix to which are added a thief, a saboteur, and a murderer. Interspersed throughout the story, rather than interwoven into it, are explanations about the ships and her crews. While this lessens the tension somewhat, it provides newcomers to nautical fiction with a good grounding in what it was like to be a merchant seaman when the fastest ships ever built sailed the seas.
View all my reviews
Review of A Man of No Country
A Man of No Country by Philip K. AllanMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
After marrying the love of his life, Captain Alexander Clay finds his idyllic shore leave cut short. His frigate Titan has been repaired, but instead of rejoining the Channel Fleet, he and his men sail for the Mediterranean to assist Admiral Lord St. Vincent. Rather than the boring voyage expected, they investigate suspicious actions aboard a merchant brig and thus discover that pirates control the vessel and the crew is locked below. After rescuing the captives, they later spot a Russian sloop that runs aground rather than fight. When Clay’s men reach the shore, one of the evaders turns out to be John Grainger, who claims to have been forced to navigate for the Russian privateers. Although he dresses like a Turk, was raised in Algeria, and has their coloring, he speaks English and has piercing blue eyes. He just claims not to know where he was born. Once aboard the Titan, he joins the Royal Navy.
When they arrive on station, Clay meets with the admiral. He and his vessels maintain a blockade on the Spanish navy, which means no naval ship has ventured far into the Mediterranean. Therefore, Titan is to become the eyes of the fleet. Clay will find out what’s happening, what the French are planning, and visit Ambassador Hamilton in Naples.
While the ship resupplies and their captain meets with the admiral, Sam Evans, Adam Trevan, Joshua Rosso, and Sean O’Malley, along with John Grainger, visit a tavern. Able Sedgwick arrives late, having stopped to purchase a blank journal in which to record his life’s story as an African slave to help the abolitionist cause. John mistakes the journal for his own and when he accosts Able, the serving girl notices John’s tattoo and becomes terrified. When Able later questions her, she divulges the true meaning of the mark.
Once the Titan returns to sea, she becomes enshrouded by a dense fog and those aboard find themselves surrounded by the Spanish fleet. Since they remain invisible to the enemy, Clay tricks two of the vessels into firing upon each other. It’s a neat trick, but later he regrets how he endangered his mission. He soon puts his reckless misstep behind him, when he sends his men ashore to seize a merchant ship that eluded them and to launch a surprise attack on an enemy fortification. In doing so, they discover the captured prize carries military tents and cooking equipment bound for Marseille.
Upon their return to the ship, Sam discovers that he’s been robbed. More thefts soon follow, and Able overhears one of the new men threatening someone. No matter how much searching the master of arms does, he finds no trace of the missing money or the thief. To keep the growing discontent from endangering the ship, Clay enlists Able’s help in discovering the truth.
As the Titan ventures past numerous harbors, Clay has lookouts count the ships in the harbor. When combined with the tents and cooking equipment, it soon becomes evident that General Napoleon Bonaparte is amassing an enormous fleet. Clay immediately returns to report to the admiral to find that Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson has arrived with reinforcements. Clay joins his squadron and they set out to determine where the French plan to go. When Titan revisits the harbors, Clay discovers the French fleet has disappeared. It soon becomes a battle against time to find out where Bonaparte intends to launch his next invasion.
A Man of No Country is the fourth offering in the Alexander Clay series. The eye-opening prologue is a powerful and horrifying depiction of a Barbary pirate attack, where the merchant captain warns his young son that should he be captured, he must join the pirates in order to survive, but his request comes at an excruciatingly high price. Discovering the identity of the thief proves to be a challenging mystery for the reader. We also learn more about Able’s traumatic and chilling journey from Africa to the Caribbean. A bit of humor is inserted into scenes where Clay meets Lady Emma Hamilton, and Allan does a fabulous job in making the reader experience Clay’s awkwardness and discomfort at becoming prey to her feminine wiles. There is also a daring sea rescue in the midst of a terrible gale. All the adventures lead up to the stunning and breathless sea battle between the Royal and French Navies that history knows as the Battle of the Nile.
View all my reviews
Review of Assassination of Al Qahira
Assassination in Al-Qahirah by James BoschertMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Forced from his home in France and on his way to Palestine, Talon de Giles senses something is amiss after fourteen days at sea. The tempest overhead pounds the vessel and excess water on board does not bode well. He wakes his fellow Templars, but they can do little. The vessel strikes razor-sharp rocks and the four men are tossed into the turbulent froth. Only Talon, Max, and Montague wash ashore with their lives and the clothes on their backs. With no idea where they are or which direction to go, they make do as best they can until opportunity presents itself.
Months later a caravan on its way to Al Iskandrîyah stops for the night near where the Templars camp. Talon’s training as a kidnapped child of the Assassini serves him well and he steals camels, weapons, food, and silver without anyone being the wiser. He also discovers that Alexandria is not far, so the three unkempt, bearded, scarecrow-like men head to the Egyptian city to arrange passage to the Holy Land. But the Templars are betrayed, Montague is slain, and Talon and Max are imprisoned on accusations of being Christian spies. Rather than reveal his true identity, Talon adopts the name of Suleiman and spins a tale that keeps them alive. For now. Emir Abbas Abdur Rahman ibn Athir Faysal, the man in charge of the prison, distrusts Suleiman and his story, so until he discovers the truth, Talon and Max will remain prisoners.
To remain in their cell means certain death, so the two friends watch, wait, and plan until the day arrives when they can escape. Being strangers in a strange city, they dare not stay in Al Iskandrîyah. Using his particular skills of stealth, Talon steals horses and they flee into the countryside. One day, they are high ground when they see a grove of trees where people mill about. When a caravan approaches the oasis, the grove is suddenly devoid of humans. Fearing an ambush, Talon and Max rush in to aid those being attacked. Their intervention saves the lives of Lady Khalidah and her two children, but Max is badly injured. They go with the noble family to their estate, where Lady Khalidah insists they stay until her husband returns to thank them. While Max recovers, Suleiman tutors the children. He’s wary of staying, but he won’t leave Max.
This third Book of Talon is a spine-tingling, edge-of-your seat thriller that centers around a man who covets another man’s wife and property and will do whatever he must to rid himself of his enemy. Interwoven into this tale are exotic locales, palace intrigue, assassination, betrayal, and a fascinating look into the underground world of Al Qahira (Cairo). Throughout the story there are scenes where the tension runs high and you forget to breathe. They culminate in a heart-thumping final battle on the Nile. As always Boschert drops readers into the midst of the action, spinning an intricate tale that snatches your imagination and doesn’t let go until the book ends. Even then, he leaves us with a tantalizing twist of what is to come in Talon’s next adventure, which may bring Talon closer to reuniting with his love Rav’an and friend Rexa . . . if they are still alive.
View all my reviews
