Cindy Vallar's Blog, page 8

Julian Stockwin's Caribbee

Caribbee by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This fourteenth Kydd Sea Adventure returns Captain Thomas Kydd to the Caribbean, which he hasn’t visited since he was press-ganged into the Royal Navy as a seaman. Now, he comes to Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane of the Leeward Islands Squadron for assistance in rescuing captured men in Argentina. Instead, Kydd and L‘Aurore are reassigned to Cochrane’s command since he is woefully short of frigates to protect the all-important sugar trade and to prevent the French from sending theirs to ports where the proceeds can fill Napoleon’s war chest.

Unfortunately, Kydd’s return isn’t all happy. One of the other commanders in the squadron is known to him and not in a good way. Captain Tyrell of the ,i.Hannibal was a lieutenant when they first encountered each other and his penchant for strict discipline left a bitter taste in Kydd’s mouth. Now in command of a ship-of-the-line, Tyrell is even more of a martinet, continuing to sow seeds of hatred amongst his crew. Equally unsettling is the fact that Tyrell thinks Kydd familiar but cannot fathom why. Sooner or later, Kydd fears that Tyrell will remember and destroy all that he has worked so hard to attain.

In the meantime, Renzi is plagued with a deep sense of foreboding. Napoleon is not one to take defeat lying down. In the year since Trafalgar, he has had time to plan and foment payback. Renzi fears that when he launches his next attack, it will prove catastrophic. It doesn’t take long for the emperor to reveal his next move, and it brings English trade to a standstill. One of the Jamaican planters affected is none other than Renzi’s brother.

Further complicating British trade in the West Indies is the fact that a pair of mysterious corsairs are seizing British vessels without fear of reprisal. The raiders and their prizes simply vanish and are never heard from again. While Kydd and his men patrol the Caribbean Sea in search of the enemy, Renzi follows through on the thought that a masterful organizer, similar to a spy master, is behind the many French successes. If Renzi can figure out where the enemy’s base of operation is, Kydd and the rest of the squadron can destroy the enemy once and for all.

Caribbee is an engrossing tale that mixes sea adventure and intelligence while contrasting how two men command their ships. One garners loyalty, the other, hatred bordering on mutiny. One aspect of this comparison involves the transfer of one of Kydd’s lieutenants and how he deals with the intolerable situation that he encounters. Interwoven into the central theme of the war and the navy, readers will enjoy noteworthy episodes that include tangling with an underwater volcano, a love interest for Kydd, a bumbling lieutenant who makes an audacious arrival that arouses Kydd’s ire sufficiently to want him transferred off L’Aurore, and a charge of murder that may see Kydd hanged. One of the best so far in the series where readers get reacquainted with people from Kydd and Renzi’s past and jaw-dropping action abounds.


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



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Julian Stockwin's Betrayal

Betrayal by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Sneaking around the African jungle in the dark of night isn’t the safest way to take the enemy. After all, there are lions and snakes and animals with horns. The water may be more familiar, but unknown dangers lurk there as well. The French ship has chosen her hiding spot well some distance up the Zambezi River where L’Aurore cannot venture. A frontal assault by boats will be a slaughter, but Captain Thomas Kydd is not to be deterred. It’s vital to discover the location of Admiral Maréchal’s squadron and Nicholas Renzi’s intelligence, acquired from locals, is their first lead. Kydd’s plan is fraught with danger and timing will be key.

Later, Kydd learns the risks have been for naught. Maréchal and his ships have returned to France. Of course, that presents Kydd with another dilemma – one that he gives no thought to until after he meets with his commander, Commodore Home Popham. They are far from home and the war, and with everything going smoothly in Cape Town and its environs, the opportunity to distinguish themselves in ways that will gain them honors, riches, and promotions are just about nil. Has Kydd truly gone from working in a wig shop to commanding his own ship only to have his career stymied?

Never fear, Popham isn’t one to sit on laurels. Prior to Trafalgar, an idea was put forth to the prime minister and received his blessing. It involves taking advantage of the unrest in South America to gain new allies and profit from the seizure of the treasure currently going to, when possible, into Napoleon’s coffers to fund the war. Now is the perfect time to implement that amphibious operation and using a page from Nelson’s handbook, Popham intends to have his squadron sweep across the ocean and seize Montevideo and Buenos Aires for the British just as they did when they conquered Cape Town. With Kydd’s help, they should have no trouble gaining the army’s assistance and swaying the other captains over to their way of thinking. There’s only a slight problem; they will be undertaking this venture without proper orders from the Admiralty. Better to take action and ask for forgiveness later. After all, this will be a cakewalk. What can possibly go wrong?

Stockwin is a master at recreating exotic locales that transport readers back to past places and times. Nowhere is this more evident than in Betrayal, the thirteenth Kydd Sea Adventure. Contrasts between Africa and South America make the latter even more menacing, as do revelations about Popham that Renzi shares with Kydd. Equally engaging, at least to anyone who has ever thought of writing a book, is Renzi’s trials and tribulations once he decides to craft the novel that his friend suggests. As with any creative endeavor, taking an idea and turning it into reality isn’t as easy as it appears. In this regard, Renzi’s writing shines a mirror on the dilemmas that Kydd faces. Patriotic fervor is another theme interwoven into this story. Rather than a coin with two sides, this passion can be multi-faceted and involve intrigue as much as treachery. While Kydd spends a fair portion of his time on land in this tale, the contrivances that place him on water are unique and the action, hair-raising. While stories set during the Napoleonic era are many, Stockwin selects lesser-known aspects of it to provide readers with uncommon undertakings where the risks and the rewards are high.


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



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Review of Dead Man's Chest edited by Russell K. Skowronek and Charles R. Ewen

Dead Man's Chest: Exploring the Archaeology of Piracy by Russell K Skowronek

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Archaeology studies what remains of people who lived in the past. History tells us what happened and why. One examines the physical items left behind, whereas the other peruses the written records. Over the years many histories of pirates have been written, but no one had seriously considered studying the archaeology of piracy. Skowronek and Ewen wanted to change that; in 2006, they found other like-minded people and published X Marks the Spot. Ten years later, they brought us Pieces of Eight. In both titles, their intent was not to craft stuffy, pedantic volumes that were meant only for students and practitioners of archaeology. They wished to also share the knowledge found with others interested in maritime piracy. Now, they add a third volume to the mix. Dead Man’s Chest shines a light on new avenues of study and revisits a few finds to provide different perspectives. The sixteen essays found here are written by doctoral candidates, archaeologists, curators, consultants, historians, paleographers, professors, anthropologists, conservationists, archivists, and oceanographers.

Although popular culture tends to celebrate pirates, the men and women who preyed upon merchantmen during the Golden Age of Piracy were actually thieves and murderers who utilized violence and intimidation to acquire their ill-gotten goods. Ewen’s opening salvo shines a thought-provoking light on this reality in “On Celebrating Piracy: But Should We?”

From here, the book is divided into four sections: Pirate Swag: Material Culture Studies, Transatlantic Piracy, Pirates of the Caribbean and Tierra Firma, and Piracy in the Indian Ocean. The first set of essays discusses some of the artifacts that archaeologists have unearthed and what those tell us about pirates. Kimberley P. Kenyon’s “The Stories They Tell: Recent Finds from Queen Anne’s Revenge/La Concorde” highlights recovered items from Blackbeard’s flagship. Since this vessel was a slaver before pirates acquired it, she highlights the dilemma of determining whether an artifact belonged to or was used by pirates (a theme that surfaces in several other essays in the book). Jessie Cragg and Michael Thomin remind us that pirates also lived ashore in “Sail Bags and Black Flags: Identifying Material Culture of Nineteenth-Century Pirates.” It concerns a ship that set sail in 1794. Instead of the few weeks it should have taken to arrive at her destination, the voyage lasted five months because pirates attacked twice. In “‘Running a Rig’: Pirates and Archaeology in Video Games,” Coy J. Idol and Katherine D. Thomas discuss the influences of archaeology on Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag and Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. Jean Soulat’s focus in “The Material Culture of Pirate Wrecks and Lairs: A Reflection of Colonial Archaeology through Multicultural Assemblages from the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries” explores the delineation of items found at archaeological digs and how it may be possible to differentiate between those that belonged to pirates and those that did not.

The second group of essays continues this comparison between legal and illegal behavior as it relates to piracy. In “Casting Piracy a Line: An Examination of the Influence of Piracy in the Archaeological Record of Two New England Fishing Settlements,” Megan Rhodes Victor shows how difficult it can be to distinguish between fishermen and pirates when they inhabit the same area. Patrick J. Boyle’s “The Archaeology of Lundy Pirates: A Case Study of Material Culture” concerns a known area frequented by pirates and whether found items are connected to pirates. Bradley Rodgers and Jason T. Raupp’s “The Mystery of Morgan’s Island: Archaeological Insights into a Possible Pirate Wreck at Somerset, Bermuda” demonstrates how the confluence of historical documentation and archaeological studies allow for a reexamination of a past event and its proper interpretation.

The third set of essays opens with Kenneth S. Wild’s “What’s to Become of Me? Pirates and Refugees in the Archaeological Landscape of the Virgin Islands.” Here, he focuses on pirateering, a profession where the line between privateering and piracy blurred. Alexandre Coulaud, Nathalie Sellier-Ségard, and Martijn van den Bel demonstrate the possibility of an emerging pattern in locations where pirates are thought to have set up temporary camps in “Pirates at Grand Case Bay, St. Martin (French West Indies): Interpreting Archaeological Evidence from a Late-Seventeenth-Century Settlement.” Tortuga has long been associated with pirates, but archaeological studies of the island have not been possible; Laurent Pavlidis suggests avenues of research should that change in “Mysterious Tortuga Island, Republic of Haiti.” Geraldo J. S. Hostin’s investigation into “The Pirate of Cotinga Island: The History and Archaeology of a Mysterious Shipwreck in the South of Brazil” puts forth a convincing case as to the identity of the pirate who lost his ship in 1718. Lynn B. Harris concentrates on the connections between “Buccaneers and Harpooners of the Miskito Coast.”

Archaeological investigations in the Indian Ocean are the topic of the fourth section of essays. John de Bry and Jean Soulat discuss recent and upcoming explorations of “Pirate Lairs in Ambodifototra Bay (Saint-Marie Island, Madagascar)? Traces of Fortifications and Camps in Archives and Archaeological Remains.” A French expedition discovered one of the earliest pirate shipwrecks in 1979. Soulat, Yann von Arnim, and Patrick Lizé reconsider what archaeologists discovered and how they made their determination in “The Speaker (1702) Pirate Shipwreck on the East Side of Mauritius: Review of Archaeological Data and Research Perspectives.”

The parting shot in this collection comes from Skowronek with “Unpacking the Dead Man’s Chest.” When X Marks the Spot came out, the majority of the research shared came from historical inquiries. Whereas archaeological waters were uncharted then, much like in the days of these pirates, Dead Man’s Chest and its companion volumes show that the archaeology of piracy does exist and can shed new light on pirates and how they lived.

We tend to think of archaeology as stodgy and dull. Sometimes, it takes just one book to show us the error of that thinking. (My awakening came when I read Anna Ritchie’s Viking Scotland.) To find not one but three offerings that achieve this for pirate afficionados is a true treasure trove. Dead Man’s Chest is enlightening, entertaining, and compelling. The pictures, tables, and maps provide us with concrete examples, while the references and index permit us to explore the archaeology of piracy further. Skowronek and Ewen, as well as the contributors, share their enthusiasm and knowledge to mentor and inspire us, whether we are armchair wannabes, exploring a possible career, or already working in the field of archaeology. If you want to know about piracy during the early eighteenth century, Dead Man’s Chest is a must read. Once read, you’ll want to delve into the earlier volumes to learn even more.


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



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Review of Angela C. Sutton's Pirates of the Slave Trade

Pirates of the Slave Trade: The Battle of Cape Lopez and the Birth of an American Institution by Angela C. Sutton

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


History is required in school, but during my youth at least, my teachers didn’t always show how what happened one place was connected with or impacted events happening elsewhere. My research into pirates and the past has taught me that these interconnections do exist. More and more, books that come across my desk strive to show this bigger, often global picture. Pirates of the Slave Trade is one such book.

At first glance, readers may wonder what was the Battle of Cape Lopez. Those familiar with pirate history know of it but more because of what happened at this fight than by its name. It took place off the coast of West Africa on 10 February 1722. The outcome brought about the demise of one of the most prolific pirates of the Golden Age of Piracy, Bartholomew Roberts. The subsequent trials at Cape Coast Castle led to mass hangings of fifty-two pirates. Captain Chaloner Ogle of the British Royal Navy would be honored with knighthood. Piracy began to wane, whereas the buying and selling of slaves increased in scope and intensity. In turn, this led to changes in how Europeans viewed Africans and how Britain and her colonies, especially in what would become the United States, characterized those who were enslaved.

This is, in essence, what Pirates of the Slave Trade is about, but Sutton touches on many peripheral topics related to piracy and slavery. After setting the scene and introducing the main characters, she examines what drew Roberts and his men to Africa. He was neither a stranger to the slave trade – his sailing career started aboard slave ships – nor unknown when he returned to African waters in 1722. (He was already a notorious pirate, having captured more than 400 vessels and murdered a governor.) Captain Ogle, on the other hand, was a pirate hunter, a man determined to end Roberts’s depredations and he possessed the authority to do whatever it took to accomplish the pirates’ eradication.

Sutton also introduces a third man to this equation: John Conny, an Ahantan king who learned the ins and outs of European slave trading operations firsthand and used them to his advantage in what is now Ghana. As he grew more influential and powerful, he sheltered pirates and made it possible for them to prey on ships of the various West India companies in African waters.

The book is divided into two parts. “The Battle of Cape Lopez” identifies principal players and establishes the parameters that lead to the final confrontation between the Royal Navy and the pirates. “The Birth of an American Institution” delves into the battle’s legacy, asking and seeking answers to:

Who were the real gentlemen of fortune here?
And who are they today?
Who benefits from global extraction-based exploitative processes that change the face of the entire world?
And who among us (“us” meaning the national as well as the global population) are left behind? (143-144)

Maps, artwork, and tables accompany the narrative. Footnotes provide additional information on topics mentioned in the text, while endnotes provide citations to source material consulted. There is an index, but no bibliography.

Sutton deftly lays the groundwork on the slave trade and slavery, piracy in Africa, and the people and places involved to orient the reader in the primary purpose of this book. She discusses the trading companies to a fuller degree than is often covered in history volumes. Readers gain a better understanding of before and after, especially as regards slavery in America. She skillfully shows how one incident leads to another and another, showing their interconnectedness and the resultant outcomes. In addition, she utilizes the words and deeds of William Snelgrave, a captain engaged in the slave trade who also became a captive of three pirates, to graphically depict the before and after changes.

Many authors writing books about pirates and their connections to slavery tend to gloss over the details, preferring to mention rather than elucidate. Sutton dares to venture much further into what is a provocative and sometimes incendiary discussion; she does so “with an antiracist lens.” (238) She explains why and lets readers know that they can effect change – a fact that resonates today. Pirates of the Slave Trade is enlightening, thought-provoking, and a must read for anyone who wants a fuller picture of the connections between piracy, the slave trade, and the legacy the downfall of one created for the other.


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



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Review of Ryan Starrett & Josh Foreman's Pirates, Raiders & Invaders of the Gulf Coast

Pirates, Raiders & Invaders of the Gulf Coast (No Series by Ryan Starrett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Gulf Coast of the United States has a complex history populated with people from different walks of life and lands near and far. Between 1699 and 1819, six different nations flew their flags here: Spain, France, Great Britain, the State of Muskogee, the West Florida Republic, and the United States. It was a land inhabited by tough survivors and a region fought over more than once because its waterways provided access to land and opportunity.

Among the individual stories found within these pages are those of Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, who sought peace between the Choctaws and the Chickasaws. Jean Baptiste Story served as a galley slave. Governor Bernardo de Galvez upset the balance of power along the Gulf Coast when he captured Mobile. William Augustus Bowles went AWOL from the British army, tried his hand at mutiny, and established the State of Muskogee. Emigrés from Haiti sought refuge in New Orleans and its environs, only to experience a well-organized slave insurrection in their new homeland. Jean and Pierre Laffite established a smuggling operation and eventually helped the Americans during the Battle of New Orleans. Lieutenant Robert Gleig, a veteran of the Duke of Wellington’s forces in the Peninsular War, participated in that final battle of the War of 1812. There are also accounts of the Massacre of Fort Mims and the Seminole Wars.

The book is laid out in chronological order and the chapters cover specific periods and people. It opens with the French and Indian Wars, which cover 1702 through 1759 and goes through Manifest Destiny (1816-1835). The authors include a preface, a list of key people, an introduction, an epilogue, notes, and sources. There are many illustrations, but no index, which makes it more difficult to locate information on specific people since they may be discussed in more than one place.

This is an interesting introduction to the early history of the Gulf Coast. The title is something of a misnomer, as the only pirates discussed here are the Laffites, even though many others found safe havens along the coast between Tallahassee in the east and Galveston in the west. For those seeking a quick, enlightening initiation into the history and people of this area, Pirates, Raiders and Invaders of the Gulf Coast is a good place to start.


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



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Review of Rebecca Simon's The Pirates' Code

The Pirates’ Code: Laws and Life Aboard Ship by Rebecca Simon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Many people may think of pirates as being somewhat chaotic and in favor of anarchy. The opposite is true, as Dr. Simon adeptly demonstrates in her latest book, The Pirates’ Code. Each crew of pirates devised their own set of rules under which they would sail, and these articles of agreement dictated what would happen to anyone who failed to adhere to them. Such codes also indicated how much each pirate received from plunder and how much compensation injured pirates were entitled to. The pirates and their codes under discussion here sailed during the most prolific period of piracy, 1650 to 1730. The earliest mention of such an agreement comes from Alexandre Exquemelin, a buccaneer and the author of The Buccaneers of America. Four other articles of agreement have come down to us. The first, which appeared in a colonial newspaper and an account of thirty-six men tried for piracy, belonged to pirates who sailed with the infamous Edward Low. The other three codes (published in Captain Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates) were from the crews of Bartholomew Roberts, George Lowther, and John Phillips.

After introducing readers to the Golden Age of Piracy and articles of agreement, Dr. Simon divides the rules into individual chapters in which she explores the purpose of each and how it impacts a pirate’s life. The first focuses on work and wages on a pirate ship, providing some comparisons to life in the merchant marine and navy. The second examines punishments; these pertain to both those the pirates suffer when in violation of the rules and what they inflict on captives. Chapter three concerns health and safety, while the fourth explores intimate relationships among pirates (male and/or female). Weaponry, fighting tactics, and safety are covered in chapter five. The subjects of food, drink, and vices are discussed in the sixth and seventh chapters. Entertainment and culture are explored in the final one. She concludes her study of the articles and pirate life with a look at how the pirates bring about their own downfall by the end of the era. Black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout the book, which also has a center section of color pictures. There are a select list of pirates that includes tidbits about each and a glossary. References, a bibliography, and an index round out the volume.

There are many books that focus on pirates and their lives at sea, but Dr. Simon brings a fresh perspective to this topic by examining them from the lens of their articles of agreement. She provides snippets from contemporary documents and eyewitnesses, be they pirates or victims, to showcase how aspects of the rules impacted what pirates did and how they lived. Specific pirates, some well-known and others who are not, are showcased to validate what is discussed under each rule. Throughout the book she emphasizes that these codes served specific purposes: to safeguard their environment, to minimize conflict among themselves, to maintain loyalty within each crew, and to provide protection from the hazards of working at sea. In other words, the goals of these articles were to gain wealth and stay alive.

The Pirates’ Code is informative, refreshing, and remarkable. It shines a light on a much-discussed topic while also bringing forth new material not found in previous books. Regardless of your level of knowledge of pirate lore, this volume is a treasure for any collection.


(This review was originally published at Pirates and Privateers: http://www.cindyvallar.com/RSimon.htm...)




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Review of Rita Chang-Eppig's Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea

Deep as the Sky, Red as the Sea by Rita Chang-Eppig

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The death of her husband surprises Shek Yeung. Not because he dies; that possibility is expected when one is a pirate. What catches her off guard is that she loved him. After all, he’s the one who stole her from her life as a prostitute to live and prey upon the sea. His death complicates her life. She commands half the Red Banner Fleet, but everything now belongs to her husband’s “adopted” son and lover, Cheung Po. Her husband’s death also puts the pirate alliance on wary footing. If she wishes to maintain control and her freedom, there is only one option: she and Cheung Po must marry.

Despite their age differences and outlooks on life, Shek Yeung and Cheung Po do wed. Theirs is a fragile alliance, but one that is on surer footing than the confederation of pirate fleets. Kwok Po-Tai of the Black Banner is the biggest threat and Cheung Po doesn’t trust him since the man dislikes sharing sea space with the Red Banner. Kwok Po-Tai is also jealous. Once her late husband’s protégé, he found himself displaced by Cheung Po. Choy Hin of the Blue Banner has close ties with Cheung Po but is also addicted to opium. He’s too easily swayed by his wife, who believes everything her English contacts share, especially if they pertain to her most hated enemy, the Dutch. The only way they will continue to rule the seas is if the Red, Black, Blue, Green, and White Banners stay united. If not, the imperial forces will win.

In addition to her concern about the alliance, Shek Yeung believes there is at least one spy among them. Then news comes that the Chinese emperor has chosen a new leader to wipe out the pirates. Pak Ling, known as the Emperor’s Sword, successfully suppressed the rebels in the north. He is smart, crafty, and determined – a formidable enemy who uses many strategies to defeat his foes. The failure of the White Banner to meet up with the Blue is also worrisome. As is intelligence learned from a Dutch captive about a pact between European enemies and the Chinese emperor.

Although loosely based on Zheng Yi Sao, this novel is not historical biographical fiction. Instead, it shadows what is known of the real pirate while offering unique and provocative circumstances to make Shek Yeung a compelling character shaped by life experiences. It is also a story of survival and knowing when to hold and when to fold. The author successfully entwines history, myth, and fiction into an intricately woven tapestry that vividly recreates time and place.




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Review of Oksanna & Larissa Crawley's Pirate Glitterbeard

Pirate Glitterbeard by Oksanna Crawley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Freedom. This is an important word to pirates. But Pirate Gruffybeard of The Heart’s Desire isn’t free. He has a secret and if the crew finds out, they may not listen to him anymore.

He loves anything that’s pink and glittery, but only in his cabin when he’s alone can Pirate Gruffybeard be his true self. One day, he sprinkles pink glitter on his beard and puts on a pink skirt. Just then, the lookout cries out a warning: Pirate Squidlips and the Rotten Turnip are approaching. If she captures his ship, Pirate Gruffybeard knows he and his crew will be shark bait.

Without thinking, he runs out on deck. The crew is stunned. Rather than hide, he shares his secret. Instead of being horrified, his crew share theirs until the lookout once again shouts. Time is running out. They must act. Should they sail closer and fight the Rotten Turnip? Pirate Gruffybeard thinks not, but what can they do to turn the tables in their favor?

Written for young pirates, this story is about having the courage to be who you really are. The authors, a mother-daughter team, have created a unique story that demonstrates through narrative and colorful illustrations that it’s okay to be quirky and that just because you are does not mean you can’t be courageous too. This is a tale about acceptance and following a different path. While these pirates may not be what readers expect, they are true to pirate lore and come up with an ingenuous way to escape the danger they face.




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Review of Julian Stockwin's Conquest

Conquest by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Soon after the victory at Trafalgar and the death of Lord Horatio Nelson, the Russian tsar and the Austrians capitulate, leaving the Coalition against Napoleon Bonaparte in ruins and Britain once again alone in her struggle against the French. Having escorted Nelson’s body home, Thomas Kydd and his men expect to join the nation in mourning their beloved hero. The Admiralty has other plans. L’Aurore is to rendezvous with Commodore Home Popham. No other information is provided; simply get to Madeira as quickly as possible.

Kydd dislikes being kept in the dark, but the need goes far beyond whatever he may imagine. Napolean began the race for empire, but now that Britain rules the seas, it is time for her to launch her own imperial expansion. The first objective is to take command of Cape Town in south Africa, settled by the Dutch who are now allied with the French.

To maintain secrecy, the fleet sails westward to Brazil, but all does not go as planned. Kydd’s frigate escorts the slower transport ships, while the rest of the fleet continues on as planned. In the dark of night, the dreaded call of “Breakers!” is heard. No sooner is that danger processed than Kydd realizes there is also land to their other side. Trapped with no idea as to where they are and how to extricate themselves from this dangerous situation, Kydd anchors and warns the rest of his flock to do the same. Dawn reveals that not all the ships in his care have weathered as well, so by the time they finally arrive in African waters, the army’s horses, men, and artillery are greatly depleted. Still, there is little else to do but carry on and Kydd is assigned as naval liaison, which means he must go ashore and witness the battle rather than being an active participant – a fact that greatly chafes.

Despite their small amphibious force, the British succeed, almost too easily. It doesn’t take long to discover why the town capitulates so easily – there is but a few days’ worth of food left and starvation threatens. With the help of Nicholas Renzi as Colonial Secretary, General Baird begins work as the new governor. The townsfolk must be won over and there is still the Dutch army who has retreated to a mountain stronghold to deal with. And any day now, French squadrons that patrol the waters around Africa and the Indian Ocean are certain to launch their own attack to reclaim Cape Town for their emperor.

On one coastal patrol, Kydd and his men happen upon a shipwreck with seemingly only one survivor. With the help of a translator, it is soon revealed that others set off on foot. Knowing the dangers these stalwart individuals face, Kydd is determined to find them before they all are lost. That kindness is later returned when information about an impending attack leads Renzi to trek into the wild bush in hopes of verifying the existence of this secret army, while Kydd risks a court-martial and the loss his men’s respect when he abandons a sea fight to discover the true reason for the enemy frigate’s dogged pursuit of them.

This twelfth installment in the Thomas Kydd series provides an exotic locale that is vividly recreated by Stockwin. The perils and beauty are keenly experienced, and the adventures, both at sea and on land, are riveting. There is the mysterious warning of the Ox-eye, a reunion with a circus strongman from Kydd’s past, a reclusive French woman, and a battle in which camels and a fog-horn play key roles. Treachery and intrigue abound, leaving Kydd and Renzi, as well as readers, wondering who to trust. Conquest is thrilling adventure with high stakes that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end.


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




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Review of Julian Stockwin's Victory

Victory by Julian Stockwin

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


After delivering dispatches and mail to blockading ships off Brest, HMS Teazer nears England. A lookout spots a French privateer and Commander Thomas Kydd pursues. Except the enemy is not alone. The privateer lures Teazer into a trap and a French frigate swoops in to capture the English prize. It’s a nail-biting chase that drives Kydd and his crew closer and closer to France, but they refuse to surrender and when it’s over, good men and a good vessel are gone.

With many men of higher rank clamoring for ships to command and with Napoleon’s invasion fleet ready to sail any day, Kydd’s prospects of securing a new vessel are slim to none. Yet each morning he visits the Admiralty in hopes of gaining his desire. Until one day, he receives a note telling him not to return. He faces a future on half pay with no idea of where to turn or what to do, but Nicholas Renzi studies the missive’s wording and a kernel of an idea blossoms. After he and Cecilia Kydd investigate, they launch a surprise befitting a post-captain.

The relationship between Nicholas and Cecilia grows strained in the aftermath of her brother’s promotion. Nicholas doesn’t want to declare his true feelings until he publishes his book and can comfortably support a wife and family. Cecilia is miffed that he refuses to take the plunge after all his hard work. When he does, he experiences a rude awakening regarding publishing and what will and will not sell. Like dominos falling, one crushed dream results in an awareness that another must also die. At the same time, Cecilia begins to wonder if maybe she must let go of her vision for the future as well before it’s too late to have the family and home she desires.

In this eleventh book in the series, Stockwin snares the reader’s attention from the start and the realm of emotions experienced mirrors the crests and troughs of waves during a storm. Other books depict the Battle of Trafalgar, but his use of a midshipman to witness Admiral Lord Nelson’s death resurrects the sorrow and devastation felt then in a way that makes these feelings just as palpable two centuries later.

Equally acute is the opening battle with the two French ships. There’s an immediacy that transports the reader to Teazer’s deck to experience the confusion, the wreckage, the smells, and the sounds that mark the hell that the Teazers undergo, as well as the grief Kydd senses as his beloved ship sinks. Just as profound is Renzi’s shock and dismay that his magnum opus may never be published and the realization he must grapple with as to what that means for his future with Cecilia.

“Victory” is defined as overcoming an enemy, of succeeding in an endeavor against great odds. This novel depicts victory on many levels, in different ways, and with profound passion. It also demonstrates the price that victory, or Victory, must pay in order to triumph over evil. This is a voyage not to be missed, one that will haunt the reader long after the last page is turned.


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




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