Review: Destiny's Gambit by R.J. Wood

Destiny's Gambit by R.J. Wood

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Destiny’s Gambit is an exciting tale featuring an eclectic blend of old fashioned pirate ships, space travel and magic. In it, a young boy struggles to find his lost parents all the while learning of a fate he’d never expected.

I thought this was a rather well done and unique story. The idea of space ships being literal seafaring ships encased in bubbles of air caught my imagination. Jake’s abilities and that of his new companions were equally intriguing. I particularly enjoyed the riddles and puzzles he and his new friends had to solve to track down Jake’s father and the hints at a greater destiny that leave plenty to the imagination and future installments.

The author took great pains to ensure the nautical terms and activities were accurate. And Jake himself is often called to explain them to others in the story. His knowledge is explained as a result of a long-standing fascination with seagoing vessels, which comes in handy throughout the story. It seemed a bit much for an average 12-year-old, but I grant that if a kid had an obsession with a topic, such a degree of knowledge would be possible.

Overall, I really liked this story. There’s a cool blend of exotic locations, historical seafaring, and science fiction. Added to that, the characters are interesting and diverse, and the puzzles they face draw you in. I think younger readers, in particular, will really dig this story.

I received a review copy of this ebook from the author via Lola’s Blog Tours.




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