Yashas Mahajan's Blog, page 45
August 18, 2016
Character Origins #2: Rafael
Rafael’s Narrative
“How do you feel, My Young Prince?”
On its face, that was a simple question, and yet I did not quite know how to answer it. For one, its tone almost seemed to mock me.
Yes, after three years of absence, I would have preferred to have my family welcome me home, and to not have every meal for the past week by myself, but I had not expected it. We are not the most sentimental of people, anyway.
Still, it did feel good to be back.
Despite the many changes within and beyond the Castle, the view across our balcony had remained the same. The dull, limestone mountains to our North looked just the same, under the pale blue sky. The quarrying operations were probably being conducted further to the North.
It was the city itself that had undergone the largest change during my absence, and I could not wait to explore it. There was much to do within the Castle though, at least until Father arrived, and the least I could do in the interim was reacquaint myself with pulse of the people.
“I have never been better, Uncle Yaegar,” I replied, meaning every word of it. “Actually, I was just about to leave for the range.”
I was actually trying to avoid Count Yaegar, whose paradoxical existence had always puzzled me. On one hand, I always found the way handled himself, with his wispy grey hair falling all over his face, and his unusual, sing-song voice, unsettling at the least, and revolting at the worst; on the other, I could not ignore his prodigious intellectual insights on all matters regarding Our Land.
After all, Father would not simply hand over the title of Governor of the frontier town of Dresden light. He was definitely a trusted ally, and a man I could learn a lot from, but just not taking offence to his manner took too much effort.
“I actually came to speak about something important,” he said, grinning sheepishly. “There is a matter that needs attention, and I do not have the authority to take the decision.”
I simply nodded, unfastening my quiver and placing it on the shelf. Despite royal blood running through their veins, the Yaegars did not have much power outside the province of Dresden. Without wasting another moment, we made our way to the Court.
I was surprised to see the crowd waiting for us inside, especially considering Father was away. One man, dressed in black robes, his arms and legs shackled, was escorted in by the guards
It was evident from the locket around his neck that he was like one of the many zealots I had had the misfortune of meeting, during my travels. What always baffled me was the fact that these sects seemed to be exclusively composed of unusually dense young men.
I quietly took my place to the right of the stone seat. The Count simply stood behind me. Somehow, at the very moment, his presence felt reassuring. The captain of the guards approached me, and sought permission to initiate the proceedings. I nodded.
“Your Highness,” he spoke, his voice impassive but firm, as is expected from a Heiligesian soldier. “This man was caught assaulting an elderly civilian, in the east quadrant of the city. As of now, we have charged him with assault with intent to murder. However, considering the situation, we could only hold him for another day without trial, and we were afraid he might try to flee.”
“I understand,” I replied, while my eyes scanned the crowd. “Is the victim present here? We would like to hear his testimony.”
“Actually, he is still in the infirmary,” the captain explained. “The injuries were severe.”
“What do you have to say, in your defence?” I asked the accused. I was conscious of the blood rushing into my cheeks, and tried to not let it show.
“Your Highness, it is a simple situation,” he began, and I could already feel myself losing control. “That heretic deserved it. He dared to defy our teachings. It is an insult to Our Lord, and the law of the land grants us the right to pass judgement on—”
“Such insolence?” I snarled, rising from my seat. “The land grants us, and only us, the right to pass judgement on the citizens of Staal. Know your place.”
“It is you who is being foolish, Child! Even your father has not dared to defy us! The Lord will smite—”
This time, I could not hold myself back anymore. Walking up to the man, I punched him straight into his throat, simply to make him stop spouting nonsense. As I prepared to hit him again, a firm hand grasp my shoulder. I stopped.
“I have reached a decision,” I proclaimed. “This is not a simple act of violence, but a challenge to the authority of the Crown. Such a transgression cannot be pardoned. First, brand him on the forehead. Even if he flees, he shall never hide. And second, extract the names of his comrades. They shall all be brought to justice.”
❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖
“I must apologise for my behaviour, Uncle,” I sighed, as we walked along the corridor. “That was unbecoming of my position.”
“I liked it,” he replied, a manic look flashing in his green eyes. “One cannot lead a kingdom without passion. However, you may have made a powerful enemy, today… Or maybe exposed one who already existed… I wonder…”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen, Young Prince, I am going to tell you something that no doctrine will ever teach you. Our People are too proud to admit this, but never fail to preach… Pride comes before the fall.”
He paused for a moment, waiting for my response, but I had none. Once again, I was caught between the dilemma of the man’s manner and wisdom. However, I knew it stood to reason that I hear him out, and I motioned him to continue.
“The Heiligesian army has never been defeated in direct battle,” he said, his voice lower than I had ever heard. “Battles were lost by proud kings who failed to see the strength of the enemy within. Your Father was the first to realise this, and he has since stopped and sought to forge peace with our neighbours. He has made friends beyond our borders, in his bid to hunt down the enemies within.”
“I think I understand,” I replied. That was, however, a lie, but I did know it would be important in the years to come. I would have to remember these words, and think over them.
“Have you been writing your experiences, like they would have told you?” he asked, looking straight through my pretence.
“Not yet,” I had to admit.
I had not expected my first week back in Staal to be this eventful. Perhaps writing this down would help me, someday.
In a way, this is the day my story begins…
Characters:
Trivia:
Rafael:
He is named after an archangel, s is common among Heiligesian boys, especially royalty and nobility.
However, the name Rafael is not as common.
He has acquired ambidexterity through rigorous training, also common among Heiligesian archers.
Image credits: Rinmaru Games
August 17, 2016
Book of the Week #20:
by Robin Cook
It has been a while since I wrote one of these, right? I had almost forgotten the format I usually use…
And as I picked this book out of the shelf, my sister was like, “Really? Blindsight? Do something like Mutation or Coma…”
Yes, those two do have a more intriguing plot, but that is not the only thing that comes a good book. Blindsight was the launchpad for the main protagonist, who has thus far featured in ten books. And that is one of the things that I love about this book; it is a beginning…
Plus, it was the first Robin Cook novel I read, and that is always a factor.
Firstly, I would like to take a moment to highlight the importance of real life experiences to a writer. Robin Cook, a Harvard educated surgeon, served as a submarine doctor involved with the US Navy’s SEALAB program. His first book was written while serving on USS Kamehameha… Yeah, not kidding…
Considering this, it is not a surprise that many of his plots revolve around revolutionary medical research, and its impact on society.
This book introduces Laurie Montgomery, a young, plucky pathologist, who disregards her superior’s instructions to reveal the truth behind a politically sensitive case. During her investigations, she finds herself caught in an elaborate conspiracy involving the mafia and the dark side of the medical world.
Basically, it is a usual “young girl against the big, bad world” story we see so often in American TV shows, combining relatable elements like overbearing parents and inimical superiors, with incredible ones like drug lords and deep, dark secrets. And, at its best, you can literally see the images flashing in front of your eyes…
In the location, the writer has with the generic surroundings of a large hospital, and the contrast of light and darkness throughout the city, which only a true metropolitan like New York can provide.
However, apart from the two main protagonists, this book uses far too many stock characters and overused clichés for my taste.
The plot, while not overly innovative, and does seem interesting enough to hold your attention through the entirety of the story, but it will, quite definitely, fade out of your mind once you finish it. Moreover, the climax is surprisingly weak.
All in all, it is not Robin Cook’s best work, and does not even come near the brilliance of Coma or the audacity of Godplayer, however it is very well suited for young writers.
Either way, you can find it here.
Well, that is all for now.
Thank you…
August 16, 2016
Word of the Week #20:
I initially intended to use Metamorphosis, but this is slightly better, and for a very simple reason:
This way, you don’t imagine a weird, winged worm bursting out of a perfectly agreeable little cocoon, while we are talking about significantly more important things…
Plus, I do tend to prefer metallurgy over biology…
Change, as we seem to have accepted, is inevitable, and yet we often fail to observe it in ourselves. It is only when we introspect over it, forced by a chance encounter or unforeseen circumstance, that we begin to realise.
Recently, I have had the pleasure of reconnecting with a couple of old friends, and while I often maintain otherwise, they did all comment about how grown up I seem.
And while I still do not entirely agree with them, I can understand why they would think so…
This path has been a long, taxing, and at times somewhat frustrated, and it may have left several worthy predecessors lost and broken. But it is only after bearing the heat and hammering along the way have I acquired my shine.
Of course, there would be many who would disagree, and to them, my message is simple:
August 11, 2016
Character Origins #1: Zeleina
“Here we are.”
The hushed voice was still loud enough, in the tight confines of their carriage, to rouse her from the light drowse.
“I know!” she proclaimed, nevertheless, sitting upright in her seat and peering through the windowpane. “I have been watching.”
A dreary, grey sky, accompanied by the faint pitter-patter on the roof of their carriage, welcomed them into the city. To a girl raised in the colourful, vibrant city of Solvahal, this sight of unimaginative rows of blocky houses and unadorned streets immediately had a rather depressing effect.
“Why do we have to live here?” she asked, dread filling her heart.
“This is our new home,” her brother replied, uninterested. “Where else would we live?”
The crowd along the street had grown louder, as their carriage approached the heart of the city. She could see the bright, cheerful faces lined outside the barricades. She could hear them chanting her father’s name, singing of his glory. A single ray of sunlight shone upon her face, piercing through the clouds, forcing her lips into a smile.
I ought to be happy, she concluded, and there was ample reason for that. After a hundred years, the war had finally ended, and a peace treaty had been signed. She was happy because, finally, the canopy of fear and sorrow could dissolve, and peace was within their grasp. But more than anything, she was happy because her father had done something four of his predecessors had failed to do. King Edward Gyldene II had outlived the war.
The carriage stopped well inside the castle wall. A pair of attendants, quick on their feet, opened the doors. Standing up, regal and proud, Princess Zeleina stepped out. It was fortunate that she was not yet tall enough to need to crouch, else the doorway would have struck her head…
The drizzle had subsided, and a light breeze made her long, silver hair brush across her face. There was something pleasant in the scent of this fresh, wet mud.
“Greetings, Prince Edward,” a hearty voice hailed. “Greetings, Princess Zeleina! Welcome to the Castle of Torden.”
“Ed, Zeleina, this is Lord Tomas,” their father explained. “He will be our host, hereafter.”
“Greetings, Lord Tomas,” Ed replied, a slightly quizzical look on his face. “Lord of?”
“Oh, I am the Lord of No Land,” Tomas answered, with a polite chuckle.
Zeleina remembered having heard the maids gossip about this man, a commoner who had earned his position through his service to the kingdom. With his deeply tanned face, bristly beard, and brown hair tied into a messy braid, it was not hard to believe that the man standing in front of her was not of noble lineage.
“—and might I add that you look more and more like your mother, every passing day,” she heard him say, having unconsciously ignored the rest.
She nodded politely, in response, but cringed inside her own mind. She hated when people said that.
“And this, here,” Tomas continued, “is my only son, Scar.”
He looks like a street urchin, she thought, as she watched the young boy step forward, his auburn hair uncropped and unkempt, a shabby muffler wrapped around his neck. As he clumsily bowed forward, she saw a large scar across his cheek.
Scar actually has a scar, she noted. At that very moment, his grey eyes glinted, and within them she saw something she could not understand, nor forget.
“Greetings, Your Royal Highnesses,” spoke young Scar, his voice uncharacteristically clear and firm. “It is an honour to make your acquaintance.”
Simple though they were, those words stirred within her a feeling she had never experienced in her short life. His shimmering eyes, his sonorous voice, there was something melancholy about them. The burning sensation it caused was not unlike that when her brother pinched her ears.
After a short conversation, the royal family retired to their chambers. The journey from Dulce Lago had been long and arduous, and they deserved a respite. It was after sundown when King Edward summoned them to the garden. As they walked out, they were greeted by a sweet, and strangely familiar, scent. The King stood there, alone, facing the castle wall.
“Do you know why we moved to Torden?” he asked, without turning towards them.
“Because this is our new home?” Ed responded, unthinkingly, earning a sharp jab in the ribs by his sister.
King Edward let out a short laugh, before turning around, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
“To me, this has always been home,” he replied with a sorrowful smile on his face, as he pointed towards the window behind them. “That, Zeleina, is the room where I first saw you… And here, this is where I last saw your mother… Finally, I have returned.”
Zeleina took a few steps forward. In the distance, she could see the Roman runes carved into the wall.
Here Lies
Arianna
Characters:
Trivia:
Zeleina:
Her name is based on the goddess of the moon.
She is one of the few characters whose personality is largely based on a close friend of the writer.
Edward:
His name and appearance is inspired by a popular anime character.
The name Gyldene translates to golden, a reference to their golden hair.
Scar:
His name is of Alban descent, and is a diminutive of Oscar.
Like the writer, Scar is left-handed.
Image credits: Rinmaru Games
August 10, 2016
Book of the Week #19: [Guest Post]
by Neil Gaiman
Neha:
Well, now that The Writer Guy has become excessively busy with the final countdown of the launch of his Arrkaya: Origins, it was only fair for The Editor Girl to take over…
And what more could she ask for, than one of her nerdy friend demanding a space in the blog…
I am pretty sure all readers who do know him would undoubtedly agree with me when I stress on how big a literature nerd he is. I mean, any book I get excited about, he has already read it; any Literature Fest I want to visit, he is already going in it. Not only that, his immense love for DC Comics and Manga is purely evident as he has a tendency to sparkle when anybody talks about these, just like Alex Louis Armstrong.
And trust me, it took him less than twenty seconds to decide this was the book he wanted to, as he says, ramble on. And his apparent rambling has been very effective for me. I am surely reading this one, well after I finish the five I already have in my reading queue.
“By the way, I have hidden a super spoiler in this,” he says. “Just something I like to do… If you read the book, get in touch… I’ll tell you what it is…”
Let’s see if you can figure that out yourself…
Prasanna:
People populate the darkness; with ghosts, with gods, with electrons, with tales.
I solemnly swear that I’ll try to make this, as short as possible…
American Gods is not, in my very honest opinion, a book. It feels more akin to a meandering journey through the woods, in the dark, without a flashlight. Meaning that it is slow, suspenseful and the reader is very likely going to get lost. It is a byproduct of unique character development and a writer who has just let himself fully tap into the reservoirs of his considerable experience.
The plot is essentially this: When America was founded, it already was an amalgam of various cultures. When these people came, from different corners of the world, they brought something with them. (No, it wasn’t oppression; that came way later…) It was, quite simply, faith. And with faith came the manifestations, the Gods.
We follow two mysterious men, Mr. Wednesday, an expert grifter, and Shadow Moon, a recently released convict, on a strange journey meeting many such forgotten Gods, to unite against the new Gods (Media, Information, and such) borne out of our decadence, social and spiritual .
I read American Gods, at a very strange time, I had just finished the third year of engineering. And this meant that a break was due; trust me, the stress of an examination can only be countered by an amazing book. So when my family and I left for a 10 day trip to Manali, and other nearby scenic landscapes, I started thinking about what to read on this trip. When suddenly Neil Gaiman’s voice whispered in the back my head. “One of my amazingly written, award winning, dream-like books”, he said. And that was it.
I, in my literature nerdiness, read the Tenth Anniversary Edition. Because it features, among other things, the original untrimmed text of Gaiman. What this means for you, is that it’s even more meandering than the original. By the way, that Manali trip was one of the best trips, of my life. Why, you ask? Because I fell sick, and then, to the utter dismay of my parents, used the better of my trip reading, instead of sightseeing. Unbridled joy.
WARNING: Very mild, non life threatening, almost negligible SPOILERS ahead.
What makes this book amazing isn’t what the author says, but rather, what he doesn’t. When we initially are introduced to the characters, we know very little about their motivations. This puts us in a very alien point of view. Gaiman by masterfully keeping the reader, rather distanced from the characters (emotionally) makes the reader feel alienated. The exception being Shadow Moon, the protagonist, by making the reader feel sorry for Shadow early on, the reader literally feels his discomfort. When, he is thrust into this strange and scary world, we fear for him. Using these circumstances, Gaiman, makes the novel about the isolated immigrant, arriving in America.
Thus, as you follow the dynamic duo of the novel, you are put into a place where a strange and detached culture is predominant (the new Gods), and you feel the pangs and toils, of the forgotten cultures (the old Gods). Which is why you are left spellbound, as Gaiman masterfully peels, layers after layers off his myriad characters.
Read the book in an uninterrupted binge, or in multiple short readings, in a place where you won’t be disturbed, or in a Mumbai local (Ninth Circle of Hell), it is entirely up to you. You will probably be dazed for a long time after finishing it, maybe. But the beauty, the true core of the book will only become available to you, by reading it multiple times. Some subtleties in all probability, might escape you. And those subtleties are where, you will truly start appreciating the doozy, that American Gods is.
Mischief Managed…
Also many thanks to The Writer Guy and, The Editor Girl for letting me ramble (extensively) on their blog…
Yashas:
Well, it is always fun when self-confessed nerds gang up against the world…
Still, three guest posts in as many weeks? Where, and why, is the Writer Guy slacking off, one might wonder.
Fear not, mon chérie… I am simply upto something fairly crazy…
Anyway, you can find American Gods here.
So, that is all for today.
Thank you.
August 9, 2016
Word of the Week #19:
Now that is one word that almost completely describes our entire world, which seems to make even less sense, the more closely you examine it.
Why, just this week, a Union Minister lauded a bunch of rules that he himself has been photographed flouting… And not in his obscure past as a nameless rookie either…
Now, living in a country where the police force is catastrophically understaffed and ill-equipped, where investigations routinely last for years, and swift convictions are a rarity, one would expect the administration to have grown efficient and judicious in the use of resources, but NOOO!
Will they expedite the investigation if your kid gets murdered? Not really…
Will they offer you protection if you are a witness in an important trial and your life is under threat? Don’t count on it…
Will they punish the ones responsible for the collapsed bridge that claimed at least a dozen lives? Have they ever…
But try driving to the nearest shop without a helmet, and they will hunt you down and make you pay. They may lay down tens of roadblocks, if need be, but they will make you pay.
After all, the world has already run out of thieves, rapists, and murderers, especially the ones with outstanding warrants. Not to mention the drug dealers and the smugglers and the terrorists roaming around the streets.
I mean, ISIS who, right?
And no, I am not whining because I got caught driving without a helmet. One has to get out of the room, for that to happen…
August 5, 2016
Character Origins #0:
As the end of our publicity campaign draws nigh, we can begin revealing more details about the beloved characters from the upcoming Arrkaya: Origins.
And what better way to do that than by anthologising their origin in the form of periodical short-stories on the blog.
These stories would serve as personal prologues for the respective characters, as the progression of events leads to their story in the series.
Next week, we begin with a character that is certainly among our personal favourites.
Great things afoot…
August 3, 2016
Book of the Week #18: [Guest Post]
by L. Frank Baum
Yashas:
Okay, so this is the third guest post of the blog… And this week, we welcome an adorable young lady to share her views on a beloved children’s book which, for some reason, I have not read. I have not even seen the movie…
I hate flying in blind, but, well, what can we do…
The readers who do know her would probably understand why she chose this book: the story of a cute little girl, and her journey through a colourful, yet somewhat weird world, to find her way back home.
Another thing to note is that she is looking at me, while I write this, so I won’t be going into too many details. However, I can categorically state that she will, if all goes well, become an important piece in our long-term plans…
Yeah, I have a lot on my mind…
Anyhow, let us dive into the book, shall we?
Roopam:
“You’ve always had the power my dear, you just had to learn it yourself.”
-Glinda, The Good witch.
This book fell in my hands during my Primary school days. Inspite of all the other Fairytales I knew, this book is one of my favourites since then!
I guess the unique thing about it, that caught my conscience was, that it ended where it had started. The story was all about the journey and returning home.
This story is about an innocent, joyful little girl named Dorothy, who lives with her Uncle Henry and Aunt Em in the dull, grey land of Kansas. Her only source of joy and colour in life, is her little black dog Toto! She keeps dreaming of living a better life and getting out of the small bubble of Kansas.
One fine day, a terrible cyclone swept across the Prairie. Dorothy, along with Toto, gets carried away with the cyclone. Hours later, she wakes up to find herself in a Magical land full of beautiful sights and overflowing with colours and hustle…
What follows is her expedition back home, as she interacts with several beings like the Munchkins, the Winkies, the Winged Monkeys, and many other creatures. She also makes friends on her way with the Tinman, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, among others.
For help, they go in the search of The Great Wizard of Oz, to the green city of Emerald, each of them seeking something. The journey leads them to various adventures and surprises…
I would definitely recommend The Wizard of Oz to all kids, and teenagers as well. It has a different dimension of imagination that all of us would definitely enjoy.
Yashas:
Well, that was simple and cute, just like the person who wrote it… No wonder many of my posts are considered long and pretentious, and often quite mean…
However, knowing me, you can expect me to add my tuppence to the post, right?
Basically, this story revolves around the evergreen themes of coming-of-age and homecoming, which are especially significant at my age, when all my friends are leaving the nest, and spreading their wings… Perhaps this will reinforce their sense of home and self… Then again, I have not read the book, so what do I know…
Anyway, you can find the book here, and it is cheaper than a bottle of Thums Up, so…
Okay, that is all, for today.
Thank you…
August 2, 2016
Word of the Week #18:
Yes, most of us have encountered this term, in the Second Law of Thermodynamics.
And yes, most of us probably did not quite understand the entire concept. I, for one, can admit that my understanding of Entropy, and, by extension, of Thermodynamics, is unexpectedly inadequate.
Often is the case that you can understand the situation by eliminating the jargon, and trying to look at the basics; however, you do run the risk of erroneously oversimplifying a complex concept.
Simply put, this one concept makes the world run, the way it does.
Why is it easier to dirty your clothes than to clean them?
Why do ACs and refrigerators guzzle as much electricity as they do?
How does a single spritz of fragrance freshen the entire room?
Why are crowds considered unruly by default?
Why does a weak administrator lead an entire kingdom to ruin?
The answer remains the same: Entropy
Of course, for further details, you might want to contact Shruti…
July 27, 2016
Book of the Week #17:
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Fifteen men on the Dead Man’s Chest, Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest, Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!”
Sounds familiar, yeah?
See, this is one thing you need to know:
This is, literally, the Mother of all pirate stories. Everything you think you know about pirates, may it be the treasure maps with the big X, the rum, the weird beard, the peg leg, or the parrot on the shoulder, actually comes from this book.
Such is the legacy of Treasure Island that it has already spawned more than 50 film and TV adaptations over the past century.
In this book, Stevenson has decreased the emphasis on the thoughts and intents of the characters, and instead focused on the plot. This yielded a relatively short, intense, fast-paced book, perfect for a younger audience. And one decade back, this became one of the many, many books that I read at the perfect age.
10 years have past, now, but I still vividly remember the battle for the occupation of the stockade. This was probably my introduction to action as a genre.
The actual story begins when an old pirate arrives at an inn, and entrusts his belongings to the innkeeper’s young son, Jim Hawkins, before drinking himself to death. Finding a treasure map in the old sailor’s chest (the large wooden box, not the ribcage), young Jim joins some enterprising townsmen on an epic adventure…
Recruiting a group of sketchy characters, our heroes embark on their voyage to Treaure Island, on a ship known as the Hispaniola… You know, as we all do, at some stage in our lives…
What follows is a lengthy voyage, filled with plenty of exposition and a fairly unsurprising plot-twist. The discriptions of the sea are not too extensive, just effective, demonstrating the author’s experience as a travel writer.
However, while I do appreciate this part of the story, I just cannot enjoy ships… Just the thought makes me woozy… I wonder if it is pure co-incidence, then, that my favourite parts of the book occur at the blockade.
And despite the character development being minimal, the narrative perfectly chronicles Jim’s coming-of-age through the course of the adventure.
The narrative, while being in first-person, is not stream-of-thought, instead being decipted as Jim’s recollections. As a consequence, there is a gap between the thoughts of Jim, the narrator, and the actions and words of Jim, the character, which further emphasises his growth.
It is noteworthy that, for a span of three chapters where Jim is absent, Doctor Livesey takes over as the narrator. And while I generally love a staggered method of narrative, the complete absence of variation between the two seems odd.
Of course, it makes sense if you postulate that the Doctor filled Jim in, regarding the events that occured in his absence, but then the shift in narrator seems redundant. There could have been a simpler way to handle this.
Another thing that would irk a grown up is the fact that most of the characters are too shallow. For example, if a guy seems sketchy, he IS sketchy. If one seems noble, he IS noble… This is the direct consequence of the narrative style.
And, the notable exception to this trend is Long John Silver, who went on to become the archetype of a pirate: sly, cunning, with a wooden peg and a talking parrot on his shoulder. In fact, he is almost entirely identical to Barbossa from the Pirates of the Carribean movies.
So, to whom would I recommend this book? Well, anybody who enjoys an action-packed adventure, and is looking for a quick read with minimal investment, should try this. You can find it here, for free.
Well, that is all for today, matey!
Savvy?
