Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 36

Review of Nic Compton's Off the Deep End

Off the Deep End: A History of Madness at Sea by Nic Compton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After reading the opening to this book, in which the author shares the story of his father’s psychological scars as a result of surviving a German U-boat attack in 1941, I was struck by the similarity of my father-in-law’s reticence to talk about what he experienced when he helped liberate Dachau concentration camp. It also compelled me to delve deeper into Off the Deep End to learn more about a subject that is sometimes alluded to, but rarely discussed in detail in the many maritime histories I have read. Equally astonishing is the fact that while non-fiction has skirted the subject, it has long been a central theme in literary works such as The Odyssey, Moby Dick, The Old Man and the Sea, and The Caine Mutiny.

Within the twenty-three chapters of this book, Compton examines madness and mental illness both in the past and the present. He explores a plethora of phenomena – seasickness, mirages and optical illusions, and hearing voices – that on the surface don’t seem to fall under this umbrella, but when explored in greater depth actually do. And he accomplishes this using everyday language that any reader will understand, rather than relying on scientific or medical jargon. Through first-person accounts or contemporary examples he showcases mood swings, stress, depression, obsessive behavior, calenture (feverish delirium and a desire to throw oneself into the sea), scurvy, psychoneurosis, and insanity. External factors – warfare, climate, syphilis, shipwreck, mutiny, piracy, and cannibalism – are also explored. Compton looks at both the effects on the sufferers and the impact on the crews. Some historical examples focus on events aboard HMS Beagle (before and during Charles Darwin’s voyage) and the whaleship Essex, as well as such individuals as Christopher Columbus, Captain Bligh, and Fletcher Christian. The book also examines how changes in ship technology and the stress of round-the-world sailing and solo voyages affect sailors.

Rather than end on a dismal note, Compton elects to show how the sea and sailing can also help to heal a person’s mind and body. He begins with the Reverend John Ashley, whose ministry to fishermen led to the establishment of missions that help sailors around the world, and progresses to such life-changing seafaring programs as Outward Bound and Turn to Starboard. One particularly heartwarming story that he shares resulted from a twelve-day voyage that helped to alter the millennium-long divide between two boys, one Israeli and the other Palestinian.

Some interesting artwork appears under the chapter titles. The endnotes provide additional information that doesn’t fit neatly into the narrative, as well as full bibliographic citations. Although no list of the organizations mentioned is included, this information can be found by hunting through the endnotes. Space was reserved for an index, which was not included in the e-galley I read.

Readers might wonder whether this is the best book to read in only a few sittings, but it never brought me down or left me feeling depressed. Instead, I experienced a sense of wonder and amazement that this topic has been ignored in other maritime books. I also had a few “aha” moments (example: Compton’s explanation of the Flying Dutchman). I highly recommend Off the Deep End, as it is not only a fascinating book but is also one that helps “to stimulate discussion of these issues and encourages a broader acceptance of the lows as well as the highs of life at sea,” which was Compton’s goal in writing this book. (261)




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Review of Jennifer Mook-Sang's Captain Monty Takes the Plunge

Captain Monty Takes the Plunge by Jennifer Mook-Sang

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The most feared pirate sailing the seas is Captain Monty the Malodorous. He’s brave and bold and an expert swordsman. There’s just one problem. He can’t swim, which is why he doesn’t bathe. (He claims no self-respecting pirate would even think of doing so, even though his crew regularly takes baths.) No one seems to mind much until Captain Monty falls in love with a mermaid named Meg. As much as she likes him, she refuses to go out with him because he stinks!

Her rejection depresses Captain Monty so much that he keeps to himself and refuses to hunt for treasure or attack other ships. He mopes around so much that he doesn’t even realize his crew has gone ashore until he needs their help. An octopus has attacked Meg and dragged deep into the sea. Captain Monty can’t forsake his beautiful Meg. He must save her, even though it means he must jump into the ocean.

This is a delightfully refreshing tale that is sure to please pirate and animal fans alike. Captain Monty is a fox, and his crew is comprised of an otter, an elephant, a rabbit, a parrot, and a bear. When he takes the plunge, he puts himself at risk and thinks of an inventive way of to save Meg. Rather than using the common “Arrrr!”, he says “Yar-har-har!” – which sounds far more piratical – and although the author keeps within the boundaries of common pirate lore, she steers clear of clichés. The artwork is equally captivating and colorful. It also includes tiny details readers might overlook the first time through. (For example, watch for the flying pig. He’s not where you’d expect.) At times humorous, the illustrator always captures the emotion in the scene. Captain Monty Takes the Plunge is a great way of teaching young pirates that some risks are worth taking and anything is possible if you just try.




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Review of E. S. Bell's The Dark of the Moon

The Dark of the Moon by E.S. Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


When 300 Zak’reth warships converge on Isle Calinda, Selena Koren is the only one who can save the people. This Aluren Paladin is gifted with the ability to summon the sea, but she’s young and still learning to use her power. She calls forth a wall of water, which destroys the 12,000 enemy warriors. The destruction ends the war, but the Two-faced God is angered that Selena’s wave also takes the lives of 400 innocent men, women, and children – the people she was trying to save. To punish her, the god wounds her with a black crescent-shaped hole over her heart.

Thus begins the first book in the Chronicles of Lunos series, and ten years have passed since that fateful day. Selena is known as the Tainted One, and ever since the god left the hole, she has never felt warmth. She prays daily for forgiveness and removal of the wound, but while the god answers her prayers to heal the sick, her pleas for self-healing go unanswered. Until she is summoned to the Moon Temple to meet with her superiors.

When Selena appears before the High Council, she learns of whispers of a new war with a new enemy. The Bazira follow the Shadow face of the god and have been slowly gathering adherents by preying on people’s fears and lack of hope. Two Bazira priests have gained much power and influence; to thwart this threat Accora and Bacchus must die, and the only one who might succeed in this endeavor is Selena. But cold-blooded murder goes against all that she believes. Her refusal to assassinate the priests results in a stern ultimatum – heed the order or be exiled and demoted in rank. Only one enticement convinces her to obey: forgiveness and the healing of her wound.

That promise entices Selena to accept the mission. Her sole companion these past ten years has been Ilior oth’Makir, a Vai’Ensai. Often called “dragonman,” he cannot return home because the Zak’reth ripped off one of his wings. Selena saved his life that day, and he has stood by her as both friend and guardian since before the attack on Calinda. The captain of the vessel hired to transport them to Accora’s island has no desire to enter those treacherous waters; instead, he abandons them on Isle Uago where pirates find safe haven.

Sebastian Vaas goes by many names, including Bloody Bastian – the moniker mothers sing in a ditty to warn their children to behave. He’s an assassin for hire, although he earned his bloodthirsty reputation in the Zak’reth war after they raped his sister and killed his family. Tired of killing, he now earns his living doing odd jobs and ferrying cargo from one island to another. The money isn’t nearly as lucrative, which has left his ship in need of repairs and his crew unpaid. (Not that they complain. None can speak, having had their tongues cut out or been born mute.) The promise of gold doubloons, however, has drawn him out of retirement for one last job. Zolin, the High Vicar of the Bazira, wants to hire Sebastian’s special talents. He cares nothing of his target, until he discovers he is to kill the one person who killed so many Zak’reth – Selena Koren. But gold is money, and Sebastian accepts the assignment.

The characters, plot, and subplots are intertwined in layers of complexity and just when you expect the problem to resolve, another twist sends you tumbling into another adventure more heart-stopping than the last. A dead ship, a lone survivor, rotting and corrupted merkind, a bounty hunter, sea scorpions, a blind nun, fortunetelling, witches, a blood dragon shapeshifter, and magic are just some of the intriguing episodes in this book. My favorite involved the whaling community on an island of ice, where frozen dragons, dragon carvings, and an underground library are so vividly described that I felt as if I was actually among the characters during their stay.

Since this is the first book in the series, Bell introduces some characters and plots that are only peripherally involved with this particular story. Here, these subplots serve as background, as well as providing brief interludes to allow readers to catch their breath and be introduced before future titles provide fuller accountings of their stories. Bell also includes a map and a glossary to help orient the reader to the world of Lunos.

The Dark of the Moon is a riveting fantasy, whether the genre appeals to you or not. Selena and Sebastian are both haunted by the past and those they have killed, but how they deal with those memories provides stunning portrayals of how people cope. Reading this story is like wending your way through a cornfield maze or a haunted house. You never know what happens next, but something unexpected is always sure to happen. I eagerly await Shadow Moon Rising, the next book in the series, which is slated to be released in 2018. If you’re brave enough to risk the journey, I think you and your inner pirate will enjoy this voyage as much as I.




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The Bloody Black Flag by Steve Goble

The Bloody Black Flag: A Spider John Mystery by Steve Goble

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


All Spider John Rush wants is to see his wife and child in Nantucket, but fate always draws him back to the sea and piracy. Such is the case when he and his friend Ezra reach Boston. To evade the law, they must accept an offer to join Captain William Barlow’s Plymouth Dream. These pirates need of able mariners like Ezra, but they especially prize John’s carpentry skills. Although old hands with the sweet trade, joining a band already formed means he and Ezra are outsiders. Further alienating them from the others is a tattooed man, who knows the blood of a witch runs through Ezra’s veins. Having survived the sinking of a ship on her maiden voyage makes him an even greater pariah.

Unlike other pirate ships, Captain Barlow runs Plymouth Dream with an iron fist. He’s not opposed to listening to others, but he and only he makes the decisions. He puts no store in superstitious drivel, so as long as Spider and Ezra do what is expected, they are welcome aboard his ship.

Soon after they depart New England waters, Spider John finds Ezra dead. The consensus is that his death is the result of over-imbibing and melancholy. John knows there is nothing accidental or suicidal about his friend’s demise, but aboard a ship of cutthroats, only a fool starts slinging accusations of murder around. Spider vows to find the killer and make him pay. Solving the crime with only two clues – knowing the killing device was made from the wood of an apple tree and the silver flask left to disguise the death – further complicates his task, especially since he must find the killer before they reach their destination. To help him in his search, he enlists the help of Hob, the young cabin boy who goes everywhere on the ship without raising undue attention. The more they hunt, the more names are added to the suspect list. As if the fates are amused by Spider’s fruitless investigation, they spice it up with a phantom frigate that doggedly pursues the Plymouth Dream and the theft of a priceless object that Barlow intended to sell to a mysterious Frenchman.

The Bloody Black Flag is the first tale in the Spider John Mystery series. Spider is more a thinker, than a man of brawn and action, although readers who prefer ship chases, boarding prey, and mutinies will find those woven into the warp and weft of this tapestry. The wide variety of characters makes for an interesting cast, all of whom are running away or hiding from something. Figuring out which is the murderer will keep readers guessing until the end, and it may be as surprising to them as it is to Spider. Goble expertly weaves pirate lore into this historical mystery and his gift of words easily transports us back to October 1722 and the deck of the Plymouth Dream.




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Anne Bonny by Phillip Thomas Tucker

Anne Bonny the Infamous Female Pirate by Phillip Thomas Tucker

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Ask for the name of a female pirate and Anne Bonny will inevitably be given. History has left us two main sources of information about this woman – Captain Charles Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates and the account of her trial in Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1720. The former isn’t an entirely accurate history of famous pirates and the latter covers only a short period in Anne’s life that is primarily seen from the victims’ perspectives. Anne herself left no journal or diary detailing her life. Over the centuries, a number of books, mostly collections about women pirates, have included Anne, but author bias and cultural interpretations have sometimes intruded into these biographies. Dr. Tucker’s goal is to separate the mythology from Anne’s story to resurrect the real Anne Bonny and place her within the world in which she lived.

Anne Bonny begins in 1698 and lays the framework for who her parents were, how she came to be born, and how circumstances in Ireland eventually led to Anne and her parents emigrating to South Carolina. Subsequent chapters cover her life in that colony, her marriage to James Bonny, her move to the Bahamas, her love affair with Calico Jack Rackham, her life as a pirate, and her capture and trial. The account of her life concludes with what happened to her after she vanished from her gaol cell until her death in 1782. The narrative ends with a conclusion and endnotes. Maps and other blank-and-white illustrations are included throughout the book.

This book has a number of weaknesses. The absence of an actual bibliography and index make it difficult to locate information within the narrative. The format of the endnotes causes confusion as to which part of the narrative provided either the subject discussed or the quotation. Also, a few of the source materials cited here fall under the category of primary documentation. The majority are either secondary or tertiary resources; a few, such as Wikipedia and Answers.com, are questionable resources. Dr. Tucker incorporates source citations within the endnotes, but only the first usage includes the author, full title, and publication date. If the resource is a website, a URL is never provided and trying to locate it using a search engine is nearly impossible from the limited information that is provided.

Equally frustrating is the frequent use of language conveying hypothetical conclusions, such as likely, might, possibly, perhaps, maybe. In a non-fiction book that purports to set the record straight and to fill in the gaps, how can this be achieved without providing definitive historical evidence to back-up these claims? A subsection of chapter two is “Dynamic Irish Women”, yet the first woman role model discussed is Joan of Arc, who was French. If Anne knew of Grace O’Malley, who was Irish, her story may have inspired Anne as Dr. Tucker claims.

Several of his points also raise red flags. On page 49, Anne was “unaware that piracy was a most dangerous profession.” Captain William Kidd’s imprisonment, trial, and execution in 1701 were big news back then and Anne was not illiterate. Newspapers and broadsheets often carried tales of pirate attacks. The zenith of bringing pirates to justice and executing them may not have been reached at the time Anne became a pirate, but she was associating with them in the taverns of New Providence when Woodes Rogers was tasked with the job of ridding the pirates from the Caribbean. How could she not have known piracy was dangerous?

Two other examples pertain to Edward Teach or Blackbeard. On page 56, Dr. Tucker writes, “Some scant evidence exists that even Edward Teach . . . was of mixed black and white ancestry.” Ten pages later this becomes a rumor and that he was “a light-skinned mulatto,” yet no evidence is provided to support or discount this – why include a rumor in the first place? As to Dr. Tucker’s claim that Anne “might well have seen Blackbeard on the sandy streets” of Nassau, this is highly improbable. Anne didn’t arrive there until November 1718 and in November Blackbeard was in the environs of the Carolinas and was slain on 22 November.

On the other hand, this book provides an interesting perspective of Anne and how cultural influences and societal attitudes may have influenced her life and her decisions. It also shows her as a typical teenager, experiencing the angst of growing up and living in patriarchal societies where religion and on which side of the tracks you were born played a role in who and what you could be, especially if you were female. Dr. Trucker also does a commendable job expressing why society feared Anne and what she represented.




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Pirates Magnified by David Long

Pirates Magnified: Get up close with real-life pirates in this search and find extravaganza by David Long

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Think you know about pirates? Open this book and find out. And don’t forget to bring along the magnifying glass that you’ll find inside the front cover, because I guarantee you’ll need it to explore every tiny detail of the pages that discuss pirates and pirate life.

The publisher “believes that books should encourage curiosity” and inspire readers to discover, and Pirates Magnified surpasses this goal. I’ve read a lot of books about pirates, but even I met a new pirate or two as I studied each page. Just don’t expect this to be your typical picture book when you open the front cover. There are illustrations galore, but you will have to come back time and again to absorb all the information found inside.

So what will you find within these pages? There is information about when pirates lived, the merchants whose ships carried the “treasure” pirates wanted, how pirate ships navigated the seven seas, and what life was like when a pirate went hunting. Next, you’ll meet eleven pirates from different countries, some of whom aren’t always found in other books about piracy.
After learning who these men and women were and what made them stand out from other pirates, you’ll find out about storms at sea and treasure hunters.

All these pages feature a brief summary of the topic, 10 Things to Spot, and a double-page “eye-boggling” illustration populated by many, many pirates and townspeople both on land and at sea. The best way to “read” this book is provided on the page facing the Table of Contents: study the action on the page, read the text, and then try to find the ten objects with the magnifying glass. You may not find them all – I certainly did not – and it may require more than one visit to find all ten. But this book isn’t made to read in a day. It’s meant to be savored and explored, just like a treasure hunt.

There’s also a Rogues Gallery of twenty-one other pirates, including the youngest known pirate. Two pages entitled “Can You Find?” is meant to test your memory. Do you recall seeing the object while you studied the pages and, if so, which page was it on? (If you don’t remember, you’re invited to go back through the book to see if you can find it.) Answers are provided for the pages with the “10 Things to Spot” – and yes, I had to look up a few, including one particularly scurvy shark. To round out your discovery of pirates, the book ends with six rules you need to know to talk like a pirate and three columns of pirate slang. There is also a glossary of words used in the text and general ship terms.

Pirates Magnified is a great introduction to pirates that engages the reader and allows him or her to be an active participant in the learning experience. So much action is crammed onto each double-page spread, it’s mindboggling. A few pirates are depicted in various stages of undress, although in a tasteful fashion that doesn’t include graphic details. For the most part, the artwork is realistically portrayed; at least one cutaway of a ship is more on a par with a Royal Navy vessel or one that the East India Company might sail to allow readers to have a better sense of what ships were like and to cram more pirates in them. Also, larger ships are more interesting and let you see more details than the smaller ones pirates really used.

My only complaint pertains to the choice of ink and typeface used in the text. Both are fine on pages where the background is a light color. But on pages depicting night, black on dark blue causes a lot of eye strain, even if read through a magnifying glass. My eyesight might not be as keen as it once was, but the pages are so busy why make young eyes strain even harder to read what’s printed on them?

What I particularly enjoyed was the inclusion of pirates and other historical information that isn’t often found in other books on the subject. One example of this is “Merchants on the High Seas,” which provides many illustrations of items traders carried from one port to another and is more realistic of the treasure pirates of the golden age actually captured. Another example is the inclusion of a wide range of pirates, not so much from a historical perspective, but rather from a gender, age, and ethnic one. Pirates Magnified is a good sampling of the pirate world and a real brain tester. The book’s sturdy construction insures that it will hold up to frequent usage and close perusal. It’s sure to please inquisitive young pirates and provides a great way for parents and children to learn about pirates together.




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The Ballade of Mary Reede by N. C. Schell

The Ballade of Mary Reede: Twilight of the Buccaneers by N.C. Schell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


One summer in 1752, the son of an old shipmate visits John Tanner at his home in the hills of New England. This lad brings with him a small chest with the message that perhaps it’s time to tell the story. What’s inside awakens a host of memories and emotions – some good, some bad – but his friend is right. Nearly three decades have passed since Captain Johnson published his account of the pirates, and he omitted many details to protect John and others. Better to record the full story now, before it’s too late.

Captain Charles Johnson first entered John’s life at the age of ten. The successful investor had once sailed with William Dampier and later journeyed to the Levant. He also has a particular fascination with pirates, attending their trials, collecting anecdotes, and interviewing them in their gaol cells before they hang. When John turns thirteen, Johnson provides him with the opportunity to learn the trade of ship’s carpenter. Once John receives his papers, Johnson offers him the position of master carpenter aboard the Rachel, a brig he helped to build.

Rachel sails for the Caribbean, where the threat from pirates has lessened since Governor Woodes Rogers arrived at New Providence. She is a happy ship and all goes well until a topsail schooner is sighted off the island of Turks. John’s best friend, able seaman Candy Jones, suspects those aboard the strange sail are pirates, perhaps even some he knows. He hopes not, as he took the King’s Pardon and has no intention of going back on his word.

After the captain is rowed over to the pirate ship, some of the cutthroats board the Rachel. Two in particular catch John’s attention. The first is Black Mike Magoon, whom John likens to a “maddened highland bullock.” He once sailed with Blackbeard and is just as crazy and violent. The other has a handsome face and keen eyes that always watch what’s happening around him. Mark Reede is quiet and polite, but prefers people call him by his surname. When John finds himself on Black Mike’s bad side, Reede saves John’s life. Doing so is to honor their captain’s wishes, but the intervention heightens the animosity between the two pirates and Black Mike vows a day of reckoning will come – sooner rather than later.

After Captain Jack Rackham comes aboard Rachel, the looting begins, a trial is held, and volunteers are asked to join their merry band. But John and Candy aren’t given an opportunity to decline Rackham’s generous offer. Both are forced; neither signs the pirates’ articles and each vows to do only what he must to survive. Reede is given the responsibility of protecting and teaching John. As the days pass, John enjoys his time with Reede, yet is also perplexed by feelings that don’t make sense. Although the pirates successfully raid other vessels and trade with maroons and smugglers, their seizures incense the authorities and before long pirate hunters are on their trail.

This is by no means just a pirate tale. It’s also about the maroons and smugglers, people whose lives intersected with pirates. The meaning of nautical jargon may stump a few readers, but its use never impedes the story’s flow. Schell incorporates a mock trial into this narrative, but as a wonderfully descriptive way of showing how pirates entertained themselves and sat in judgment of sea captains and their treatment of the sailors under them. His interpretation of how the animosity sparks between Reede and Magoon is plausible and enlightening. The same is true of what happens to Anne Bonny after she is condemned to hang.

Having Charles Johnson, the author of the most famous pirate history ever published, participate in this story is both delightful and refreshing. His role may be minor, but it is definitely an important one that is easily believed. Schell instills life into this historian’s book so it is no longer mere words on the page. His portrayal of these men and women is as vivid and realistic as the world he weaves around them. He is a master at creating unique, memorable characters be they major or minor ones. Although I share Irish roots with Anne Bonny, it is Mary Reed who has long been my favorite of this famous duo and this story is an admirable and realistic portrayal of her life. As for the minor characters, my favorite is Trinket, a pirate who comes back from the dead.

The Ballade of Mary Reede is the first book in the Twilight of the Buccaneers series. It is a well-crafted, captivating tale rich in historical detail and pirate lore. The love story is both heartwarming and heart wrenching, and even though history tells us how the story must end, never once does Schell permit us to stop hoping that love will triumph. His re-imagining of John’s farewell to Mary is a poignant moment that stays with you long after the story ends.




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Best Pirate by Kari-Lynn Winters

Best Pirate by Kari-Lynn Winters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Tuna Lubbers want the treasure hidden on Crossbones Island; so do Barnacle Garrick, who has the map, and his pirates. As his daughter moves the candle closer to examine the map better, she knocks it over. The flame burns through the map precisely where X marks the spot, which angers her father. He warns Augusta that she must “be nimble and fearless – not clumsy and afeard!”

Her teacher is the nimble, sneaky, and fearless Scully – the dog who will sneak onto the island and steal the treasure right from under the tuna-loving cats. Augusta practices everything that she learns and is well on her way to being the pirate her father wishes. Until she drops a cannonball on Scully’s good paw.

With only a peg leg left to stand on there’s no way he can retrieve the treasure as planned. No, that task falls to Augusta. It’s the only way to make amends. She takes the jolly boat ashore to find the treasure. Instead, she comes face-to-face with Scuppers, the son of the captain of the Tuna Lubbers.

Scuppers is terrified to confront a Frilly Dog, but he can’t go back without the treasure. Before the showdown between the two begins, the ground gives way beneath their paws and they fall into a deep hole. Finding the treasure proves simpler than either expects. Escaping from the hole, deciding who gets the treasure, and getting it back to the ship before anyone discovers them gone prove s to be a bigger problem to solve.

Best Pirate is a wonderful, amusing tale that shows sometimes it takes smarts, rather than fighting, to get out of a sticky situation. And sometimes an enemy may really be a friend . . . if you’re willing to work together. The story is beautifully illustrated with expressive characters that capture the imagination of those reading or listening to this pirate tale. To get readers and listeners into a proper frame of mind for the story, the inside front cover features examples of Pirate Talk and the inside back cover has Nautical Talk, as well as a diagram showing the parts of a ship. This is the third tale featuring Augusta Barnacle and it’s the best one yet!




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Assassins of Alamut by James Boschert

Assassins of Alamut by James Boschert

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


During an attack on a caravan, Frankish soldiers are drawn into battle with the Turks. At the same time, a second, smaller group of interlopers snatches fourteen-year-old Talon de Gilles and the priest Jean de Loche and whisks them away from Palestine. Not once during the long journey to Persia is Talon permitted a chance to escape, and he soon learns that a silent captive suffers fewer beatings.

There is little Sir Huges de Gilles can do to rescue his son. The only ones who might have a chance are the Templars, but their network of intelligence doesn’t extend into the mountainous regions of Persia where Talon has been taken. He may never see his son again, because the Saracen sect that has taken him works for the Master and are called “Assassins.” They wage a silent, murderous war on Christians and Muslims alike. They are feared by everyone, but fear no one. Once an Assassin slays his target, he expects to die and go to Paradise.

In the castle of Samiran, Talon is kept alone in a room without windows. All he has known has been taken from him, and he expects death to be his future. But the Master has other plans for this noble boy. He is of an age where he can be trained and molded to do the Master’s bidding, and one day in the future, Talon will infiltrate a royal court and murder an infidel king. The priest is of lesser worth, but his knowledge of Latin and the ways of Christians will help other boys learn to be invisible when their chance for Paradise comes.

Taken from his solitary prison, Talon is taught all the necessary skills of an assassin and the ways of the Ismaili. His partner in training is Reza, and because he accepts Talon, both boys are never fully trusted by the others. As time passes they become experts in archery, fighting with blades, wielding all manner of weapons, and the art of stealth. Talon also learns about Persia’s history and people. His first real test comes not in training exercises or demonstrations, but on the hunt when he and another boy are tracking a lion. After the other boy is badly wounded, Talon risks his own life to save the other boy. The wounds he suffers nearly kill Talon, but his slaying of the beast gain him stature and respect among the Ismaili at the castle.

While convalescing, Talon meets the beautiful Rav’an, the thirteen-year-old sister of the Master. A friendship is kindled in the garden, but such contact is dangerous for both of them. Rav’an understands what awaits Talon and that there can be no future for them together, but still she savors each rendezvous. She comes to trust him and knows he will protect her no matter what. When her brother sends her to Alamut while he travels to Syria, she asks that Talon and Reza be named as her protectors. Rather than be parted from his friend, Talon asks Rav’an to seek permission for Father John to accompany them as well.

Rav’an’s faith in her protectors is well placed, for they keep her alive when an enemy band attacks their party on the way to Alamut. She has always liked this castle where she was raised, but even before they enter its gates, she notices changes. The people are fearful and a sense of foreboding permeates the fortress high in the mountains. She soon discovers the reason why – her uncle and cousin rule through fear. Uncle Arash has the eyes of a cobra and his network of spies throughout the Middle East makes him a powerful and devious man. Cousin Ahmad is overly protective and always telling her what to do. The more she is around them, the more she begins to fear she may never see her brother again. She enlists Talon’s help and he soon discovers her fears are well founded.

Rather than allow the treachery of Arash and Ahmad to succeed, she and her protectors, with the aid of Father John and her maid, plan their escape. Timing will be crucial. They must leave just as the first snow falls and before the mountain passes are sealed shut for the winter. But two will have to sacrifice themselves to succeed in this venture. Even after they reach their first safe haven, there are many more dangers to face before they can find and warn the Master. Even then, they may not be safe.

Assassins of Alamut takes place during the Crusades and is the first book in the Talon series. Boschert includes maps and a glossary of Persian words to help readers unfamiliar with this culture. This epic adventure in exotic locales is reminiscent of the historical sagas popular in the 1970s and 1980s. From first page to last you are whisked back in time, yet although set in the past, this story is relevant to what happens in the world today – children stolen from their parents and trained to fight, religious fanaticism, and senseless killing to further one’s goals. Hope, love, and loyalty are intertwined with hatred, jealousy, and betrayal. You shiver from the cold. You smile as love unfolds. You hold your breath as each new danger appears. Whether the well-drawn characters warm your heart or creep you out, this haunting and captivating story spins a spidery web around you so that when the last page is turned, you are compelled to read the next book to learn what becomes of Talon and Rav’an.




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Vital Spark by Leah Devlin

Vital Spark by Leah Devlin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Having secured a new job as a fisheries biologist at a marine station in the Upper Chesapeake Bay, Alexandra Allaway finally comes home to her grandfather and his best friend – the two men who’ve raised her since she was a baby. Instead of a happy reunion, the friend has vanished and her grandfather has been murdered. Clutched in Randy Allaway’s hand is an old gold coin. She also finds an old map with three dots and a message to tell no one and that someone named JAllaway might come.

Unable to stay in the house, Alex bunks in her grandfather’s tugboat, Vital Spark. Her companion is a misbehaving, over-exuberant nuisance, a dog whom she calls “Water Boy.” Long after Alex falls asleep, a noise awakens her. Emerging from the cabin, she sees a slender woman dressed in white whispering to Water Boy. When the intruder spots Alex, she dives overboard and vanishes.

Once the police arrive, Alex heeds the warning to keep silent. Detective Jay Braden leads the investigation, but personal problems at home soon require more of his attention and his partner, Detective Will Jenkins, must spend more time with Alex. She’s uncertain how she feels about this, since her acquaintanceship with Will dates back to their high school days. On one hand – the one that dropped the eraser down the back of her jeans – he’s a jerk; on the other, he’s attractive and she remembers the one night they spent together a long time ago.

Each year around this time, her hometown of River Glen stages its annual pirate festival. According to legend, the infamous pirate Giles Blood-hand sailed up the Chesapeake and buried his treasure here. As far as Alex knows, no one has ever found the legendary gold, but that doesn’t mean people aren’t still looking for it. Against her better judgment, but at a friend’s urging, Alex dons pirate regalia and attends the festival. While there, she meets Carly, Will’s five-year-old daughter. Carly is the only good thing to come out of his relationship with his manipulative ex-wife. Carly loves playing “pirate” and innocently remarks that Alex looks just like Giles Blood-hand’s sister.

Alex works to puzzle out the clues left to her while the police investigate not only her grandfather’s death and friend’s disappearance, but also the murder of another woman bearing a marked resemblance to Alex. Disparate threads unravel to reveal an intricately interconnected web whose origins date back to Giles Blood-hand, and with ties to a twenty-six-year-old unsolved murder.

The first entry in the Chesapeake Tugboat Murders series, Vital Sparks keeps you guessing until the very end. The book is populated with a host of characters similar to a circus sideshow, enriching the story and making your visit to River Glen memorable. Devlin deftly weaves science, history, pirate lore, romance, and mystery into a remarkable tale with serpentine twists and a final showdown that promises more puzzling mysteries to come. Her Giles Blood-hand Wikipedia entry seems authentic, but it’s as much a figment of her imagination as this delightful cast of characters and thrilling romantic suspense.




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