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Castaways of the Flying Dutchman #2
The Angel's Command
Ben and his black labrador, castaways from the legendary ghost ship Flying Dutchman, swore never to go to sea again. But fate casts them adrift once more on a French pirate ship, with two villainous sea captains--and a ghost--in pursuit.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
52 people are currently reading
1608 people want to read
About the author
Brian Jacques
257 books4,274 followers Brian Jacques (pronounced 'jakes') was born in Liverpool, England on June 15th, 1939. Along with forty percent of the population of Liverpool, his ancestral roots are in Ireland, County Cork to be exact.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
Brian grew up in the area around the Liverpool docks, where he attended St. John's School, an inner city school featuring a playground on its roof. At the age of ten, his very first day at St. John's foreshadowed his future career as an author; given an assignment to write a story about animals, he wrote a short story about a bird who cleaned a crocodile's teeth. Brian's teacher could not, and would not believe that a ten year old could write so well. When young Brian refused to falsely say that he had copied the story, he was caned as "a liar". He had always loved to write, but it was only then that he realized he had a talent for it.
He wrote Redwall for the children at the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in Liverpool, where as a truck driver, he delivered milk. Because of the nature of his first audience, he made his style of writing as descriptive as possible, painting pictures with words so that the schoolchildren could see them in their imaginations. He remained a patron of the school until his death.
Brian lived in Liverpool, where his two grown sons, Marc, a carpenter and bricklayer, and David, a professor of Art and a muralist, still reside. David Jacques' work can be seen in Children's hospitals, soccer stadiums, and trade union offices as far away as Germany, Mexico, and Chile (not to mention Brian's photo featured in most of his books).
Brian also ran a weekly radio show on BBC Radio Merseyside, until October 2006, where he shared his comedy and wit, and played his favourites from the world of opera - he was a veritable expert on The Three Tenors.
When he was wasn't writing, Brian enjoyed walking his dog 'Teddy', a white West Highland Terrier, and completing crossword puzzles. When he found time he read the works of Mario Puzo, Damon Runyon, Richard Condon, Larry McMurty, and P.G. Wodehouse. He was also known to cook an impressive version of his favourite dish, spaghetti and meatballs.
Sadly, Brian passed away on the 5th February 2011.
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October 23, 2024
In some ways Brian Jacques's Castaways of the Flying Dutchman trilogy is drastically different from his Redwall series, but they're more similar than is apparent at first glance. The Flying Dutchman books primarily feature human characters rather than anthropomorphized animals, but the speech patterns, battles between heroes and villains, and the passion for good vittles and great adventure are themes the two series share on an elemental level. At the start of The Angel's Command it has been only eight years since Captain Philip Vanderdecken and the crew of the Fleiger Hollander—a ship known to one and all as the Flying Dutchman—were cursed by an angel to roam the seas forever as ghosts. Ben—age fourteen when the curse was pronounced—and his black Labrador Ned were spared eternal confinement aboard the Flying Dutchman, but must wander the earth forever, ageless and homeless as they carry out the angel's mandate to do good for people in need. We catch up with the pair in the year 1628 at Cartagena, Colombia, where they happen upon a gathering of seamen at a tavern called the Rhum Tigre. Raphael Thuron, buccaneer captain of the French ship La Petite Marie, is engaged in a high-stakes game of skill and chance against Rocco Madrid, pirate captain of the Spanish Diablo. Madrid consistently bests Thuron at their game, winning large quantities of gold and diminishing the Frenchman in the eyes of his own crew, until Ned figures out he's cheating. Taking advantage of their unique telepathic link, the dog communicates the thought to Ben, who passes it along to Thuron. The captain of La Petite Marie turns the tables on Madrid, reclaims his gold, and sets out on the high seas before the Spaniard can gather his wits and stop him. Thuron insists Ben and Ned accompany him as good luck charms, for Madrid would slay Ben for his part in Thuron's reversal of fortune.
Merciless as a pirate captain has to be, Thuron adores Ben and Ned, and can see in their eyes that they are more than they appear to be. After retaking his gold from Madrid, Thuron considers a quiet retirement in France; perhaps he can emulate his brother, who chose the priesthood rather than piracy. But Madrid and his crew are hot on La Petite Marie's trail across the turbulent Caribbean Sea, hell-bent on killing the French captain for his gold. It's a battle of wills and wits between two proud buccaneers with everything to lose, but the Diablo and La Petite Marie aren't the only players. Redjack Teal, privateer captain of the English Devon Belle, orders his crew to join the fray when he spots these two handsome ships speeding away from Cartagena. Son of an esteemed British family, Captain Redjack could become enormously wealthy by seizing either ship, and his reputation as a privateer would grow by orders of magnitude. Thuron, Madrid, and Redjack are in a wild chase across the Caribbean, but only Thuron has Ben and Ned, who have already seen much in their lifetimes and whose wisdom may tip the balance in Thuron's favor. The Frenchman is faultlessly loyal to his two favored passengers, but will his allegiance save him from death so he can enjoy retirement in rural France?
"There are good men and bad men. All my life I have tried to be good, but I am no saint. Just a man who likes to help others."
—Padre Esteban, The Angel's Command, P. 73
Now traveling on land at the border of France and Spain, Ben and Ned adjust to the sudden end of their life's recent maritime chapter. Boy and dog soon fall in with a spirited teen girl named Karay and a boy of about Ben's apparent age named Dominic, who sketches faces to earn his keep. The "Facemaker of Sabada," Dominic's talent is seeing beyond external features to what resides in the souls of his sketch subjects, and not everyone is happy with what they see when he renders their likeness. What would he draw if he peered into Ben's eyes, a boy fated to remain fourteen forever, never allowed to settle down to a normal life? As a unit, Ben, Ned, Karay, and Dominic seem capable of earning a living wage in the village of Veron, but the angel did not bring Ben and Ned here for mundane reasons. Remanded into the custody of Comte Vincente Bregon, a community leader, the four wanderers learn the old man's sad story. Years ago, the comte's brother Edouard married into a family of dark magicians called the Razan. It was doomed to end badly, and after Edouard's death, the Razan abducted his son, Adamo. The comte hasn't seen his nephew in the eighteen years since; he would lead a posse into the Pyrenees to challenge the Razan matriarch, Maguda, but the family has sworn to wreak destruction on Veron should the comte ever leave in search of Adamo. Weakened and heartbroken at the loss of the only kin he had left, the comte has resigned himself to never seeing Adamo again, but Ben, Ned, Karay, and Dominic have something to say about it. The comte pleads with them not to risk their lives, but our heroes launch a daring rescue attempt, knowing the Razan would gladly slay them on sight. If they somehow gain entrance to the Razan mountain fortress, a confrontation with Maguda is inevitable; are even Ben and Ned capable of withstanding her miasmic powers? And after all that, would Adamo still be alive after decades of captivity? The angel's mission is daunting, but if Ben, Ned, and their new friends accomplish it they will leave a wondrous legacy, mysterious though Ben and Ned's role in it is sure to become in the proceeding years. Will a blue-eyed boy and his good-humored Labrador ever completely satisfy the angel's command?
This book improves considerably on the first of the trilogy, Castaways of the Flying Dutchman. Captain Vanderdecken is an eerie presence on the exotic seas; is he as close on Ben and Ned's heels as they believe, or is fear magnifying the threat in their minds? This sub-narrative adds texture to The Angel's Command. It's notable that the story takes place centuries prior to the previous book, which was set in 1896 England. The ending is quite good, a fitting picture of the legend that Ben and Ned leave in their wake as they trot the globe searching for meaning and security. I hope the trilogy's conclusion, Voyage of Slaves, allows a measure of closure to the eternal task imposed on them by the angel. I'd probably rate The Angel's Command two and a half stars; it isn't nearly so wonderful as the best of Redwall, but it's a quality read that sets up intriguing possibilities for the finale. I hope to see you there.
Merciless as a pirate captain has to be, Thuron adores Ben and Ned, and can see in their eyes that they are more than they appear to be. After retaking his gold from Madrid, Thuron considers a quiet retirement in France; perhaps he can emulate his brother, who chose the priesthood rather than piracy. But Madrid and his crew are hot on La Petite Marie's trail across the turbulent Caribbean Sea, hell-bent on killing the French captain for his gold. It's a battle of wills and wits between two proud buccaneers with everything to lose, but the Diablo and La Petite Marie aren't the only players. Redjack Teal, privateer captain of the English Devon Belle, orders his crew to join the fray when he spots these two handsome ships speeding away from Cartagena. Son of an esteemed British family, Captain Redjack could become enormously wealthy by seizing either ship, and his reputation as a privateer would grow by orders of magnitude. Thuron, Madrid, and Redjack are in a wild chase across the Caribbean, but only Thuron has Ben and Ned, who have already seen much in their lifetimes and whose wisdom may tip the balance in Thuron's favor. The Frenchman is faultlessly loyal to his two favored passengers, but will his allegiance save him from death so he can enjoy retirement in rural France?
"There are good men and bad men. All my life I have tried to be good, but I am no saint. Just a man who likes to help others."
—Padre Esteban, The Angel's Command, P. 73
Now traveling on land at the border of France and Spain, Ben and Ned adjust to the sudden end of their life's recent maritime chapter. Boy and dog soon fall in with a spirited teen girl named Karay and a boy of about Ben's apparent age named Dominic, who sketches faces to earn his keep. The "Facemaker of Sabada," Dominic's talent is seeing beyond external features to what resides in the souls of his sketch subjects, and not everyone is happy with what they see when he renders their likeness. What would he draw if he peered into Ben's eyes, a boy fated to remain fourteen forever, never allowed to settle down to a normal life? As a unit, Ben, Ned, Karay, and Dominic seem capable of earning a living wage in the village of Veron, but the angel did not bring Ben and Ned here for mundane reasons. Remanded into the custody of Comte Vincente Bregon, a community leader, the four wanderers learn the old man's sad story. Years ago, the comte's brother Edouard married into a family of dark magicians called the Razan. It was doomed to end badly, and after Edouard's death, the Razan abducted his son, Adamo. The comte hasn't seen his nephew in the eighteen years since; he would lead a posse into the Pyrenees to challenge the Razan matriarch, Maguda, but the family has sworn to wreak destruction on Veron should the comte ever leave in search of Adamo. Weakened and heartbroken at the loss of the only kin he had left, the comte has resigned himself to never seeing Adamo again, but Ben, Ned, Karay, and Dominic have something to say about it. The comte pleads with them not to risk their lives, but our heroes launch a daring rescue attempt, knowing the Razan would gladly slay them on sight. If they somehow gain entrance to the Razan mountain fortress, a confrontation with Maguda is inevitable; are even Ben and Ned capable of withstanding her miasmic powers? And after all that, would Adamo still be alive after decades of captivity? The angel's mission is daunting, but if Ben, Ned, and their new friends accomplish it they will leave a wondrous legacy, mysterious though Ben and Ned's role in it is sure to become in the proceeding years. Will a blue-eyed boy and his good-humored Labrador ever completely satisfy the angel's command?
This book improves considerably on the first of the trilogy, Castaways of the Flying Dutchman. Captain Vanderdecken is an eerie presence on the exotic seas; is he as close on Ben and Ned's heels as they believe, or is fear magnifying the threat in their minds? This sub-narrative adds texture to The Angel's Command. It's notable that the story takes place centuries prior to the previous book, which was set in 1896 England. The ending is quite good, a fitting picture of the legend that Ben and Ned leave in their wake as they trot the globe searching for meaning and security. I hope the trilogy's conclusion, Voyage of Slaves, allows a measure of closure to the eternal task imposed on them by the angel. I'd probably rate The Angel's Command two and a half stars; it isn't nearly so wonderful as the best of Redwall, but it's a quality read that sets up intriguing possibilities for the finale. I hope to see you there.
October 10, 2017
Every bit as good as the first book. It is kind of like two stories for every book, with only two of the same characters: Ben, a fourteen-year-old boy that never grows old, and Ned, a black Labrador. In the first book, the first story was Ben aboard the Flying Dutchman, and the second story was Ben in a peaceful village called chapelvale. The first story in this book had Ben aboard an honorable French Buccaneer vessel. The second story placed the boy and his dog in the woodlands, on the border of Spain and France, where he and new friends take on a bloodthirsty band of savage Rosan. I loved this book!
January 27, 2008
I liked it better than the first...This is a serious book in children's wrapping. Those unused to Jaques fire-side stories may not understand the allure his books have. They are traditional in the best sense of the word: enjoyable, identifiable, and with a clear sense of right and wrong devoid (mostly) of any specific religion...the Castaway series is more Christian than his Redwall series, but not overbearingly so, and the moral lessons are universal.
May 7, 2022
Someone referred to "The Castaways of the Flying Dutchman" trilogy as their favorite comfort series. It's impossible to put it any more succinctly than that.
A common criticism of this book include:
1) Ned & Ben lives are unchallenging, making friends, not starving to death and their plans working out etc.
2) The good guys are "too good" and bad guys are "too bad"
Needless to say the book is essentially perfect. Comfort series is my new favorite term.
A common criticism of this book include:
1) Ned & Ben lives are unchallenging, making friends, not starving to death and their plans working out etc.
2) The good guys are "too good" and bad guys are "too bad"
Needless to say the book is essentially perfect. Comfort series is my new favorite term.
May 26, 2008
Let's get one thing strait; I love Brian Jacques. As in LOVE. And when you love something or someone, you tend to be pretty forgiving of its/their faults. That being said, I really didn't enjoy this book or it's predecessor Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, nearly as much as I enjoy Jacques' Redwall series. It seems as if, in this series, all the faults present in the Redwall books have been magnified. One of the big problems in this one is the lack of a real sense of peril. The villains are so ridiculous that you never truly fear them. Now, of course this is a young adult novel, so Jacques would want to keep anything truly frightening to a minimum. But still, even if I were reading this as twelve year old, I'd feel as if I was being patronized. And it seems as if one of the good guys is always in the right place at the right time, or knows someone who was at the right place at the right time, and overheard the villains plotting and scheming, and so they know not to meet at the belltower at ten o'clock like they planned, because so-and-so is going to be there. And everyone the main characters meet is a good old soul, who takes to them immediately and is willing to go out of their way to help them, or is bad, and they instinctively know it and avoid him/her. Also, and again, this is probably because it's intended for a young audience, all the characters are either Good and Pure, or Evil and Devious. There's a very clear cut Good vs. Evil theme, and I truly believe that people in the YA category can handle the "shades of gray" element that is in a lot of adult fare.
I feel very let down. And even though I'm already halfway through the next book, after this I'm sticking to Redwall.
I feel very let down. And even though I'm already halfway through the next book, after this I'm sticking to Redwall.
April 13, 2011
As a child, this was my favorite book. It's clear that Brian Jacques was my favorite author as a child, but what I loved about the Flying Dutchman series that he wrote is that it took us out of the fable-styled storytelling, and grounded us more in the real world with fantasy elements thrown in. Ben and Ned are wonderful protagonists, with Ben sounding like an ordinary boy with a huge destiny as an angel, and Ned is hilarious as the faithful canine companion. The side characters in The Flying Dutchman are also what tipped this installment in its favor. Karayna and Dominic are splendid characters, with Karayna becoming the role model for most of my female characters. She's powerful, intelligent, and proud, but she's also down-to-earth, fun-loving, and willing to do anything for those she cares about. Dominic was like reading myself in the book. Jacques had a way of writing that can suck you into the story, and I frequently find myself rushing back to his stories from my childhood, re-reading the tales, and then trying to figure out how to manage such a task. If the reader isn't immersed, then the author isn't doing his/her job.
April 15, 2024
Around the Globe in 52 Books
[Prompt: A Book with a Journey]
What an amazing novel!!
Brian Jacques just has a way with writing, that his words just feel action packed and really leap off the page. This was an incredible journey from start to finish that had a really nice wrap-up that called back to the first journey in this book.
It was also great to see both Ben and Neb be able to be more like a child and a puppy at least in the first adventure. Smitten by their fellow pirate captain, Ben and Ned are labelled as his 'good luck' and follow the French pirate on his adventure to secure his gold and peaceful retirement.
The second story is just a great adventure with some heartfelt moments. And the music in this portion, oh my lord the songs! So good, just beautifully produced pieces within this audiobook that are honestly great to listen to on their own. But in this story, really show how great the production was in this audiobook.
But the best by far, was Captain 'Red Jack' Teal. What an overly dramatic, devilishly cunning pirate/not pirate that was just performed to perfection. His actor definitely deserves an award as recognition for perhaps the best voice acting I've ever heard in an audiobook. So much passion and emotion poured into this character to make him unforgettable. Perhaps I'm being just a little overly dramatic myself when I say this is my favorite character in all of fiction.
Definitely a great and memorable adventure that captures the heart and spirit of the first, but providing more adrenaline fueled adventures and much better supporting characters. Where the first one had some lulls in its adventure, this one is all hands on deck. A great adventure!
[Prompt: A Book with a Journey]
What an amazing novel!!
Brian Jacques just has a way with writing, that his words just feel action packed and really leap off the page. This was an incredible journey from start to finish that had a really nice wrap-up that called back to the first journey in this book.
It was also great to see both Ben and Neb be able to be more like a child and a puppy at least in the first adventure. Smitten by their fellow pirate captain, Ben and Ned are labelled as his 'good luck' and follow the French pirate on his adventure to secure his gold and peaceful retirement.
The second story is just a great adventure with some heartfelt moments. And the music in this portion, oh my lord the songs! So good, just beautifully produced pieces within this audiobook that are honestly great to listen to on their own. But in this story, really show how great the production was in this audiobook.
But the best by far, was Captain 'Red Jack' Teal. What an overly dramatic, devilishly cunning pirate/not pirate that was just performed to perfection. His actor definitely deserves an award as recognition for perhaps the best voice acting I've ever heard in an audiobook. So much passion and emotion poured into this character to make him unforgettable. Perhaps I'm being just a little overly dramatic myself when I say this is my favorite character in all of fiction.
Definitely a great and memorable adventure that captures the heart and spirit of the first, but providing more adrenaline fueled adventures and much better supporting characters. Where the first one had some lulls in its adventure, this one is all hands on deck. A great adventure!
April 3, 2024
hard nostalgia, quite entertaining and warm!!
January 11, 2016
This book is separated into three sections and each section is a story. There are only to main characters. The first one is a blind boy named will who gets visited by an angel when he needs to know where their destiny will take them. The second is the boy's dog. They both can talk telepathically. They have and are going many adventures throughout this book. Compared to many of the books I have read this book seems to have the most adventure. It's not jus this book but most of the books I have read from the Redwall series are quite similar to this book.
November 2, 2013
Once again, I thought Brian Jacques did an amazing job with this book. The first part of the book was a little slow, with being on ships most of the time, but when I got to the second half when Ben and Ned met Karay and Dominic, I didn't want to stop reading. The action when they are fighting the Razan and trying to find Adamo really grabbed my attention, and I can't wait to read the last book in this trilogy.
September 23, 2009
A worthy sequel.
November 2, 2018
This trilogy is bookended by two genuinely great books and The Angel's Command feels overlooked. This is by no means a bad book, and it's at least more ambitious than the first, but there are definite issues. For starters, the pacing is all over the place. While both individual narratives are excellent, they both end a bit prematurely and the second one feels incredibly rushed. The main conflict is resolved in an utterly unsatisfying manner and everything feels hurried. The villain problem from Castaways of the Flying Dutchman is somewhat carried over here, but the antagonists in this book are for the most part more fleshed out and more compelling.
The strongest parts of the prequel were by far the characters, main and supporting, and the central idea, and that is the case here as well. Ben & Ned continue to be two magnetic, highly likable central characters that the reader can't help but root for. The new cast of supporting characters are also well-written, especially Thuron, Karay, and Dominic. The central idea of Ben & Ned being cursed and forced to live for eternity is still very much at play here, though it often takes a backseat to other plot points.
We do have to talk about the ending here, as it is a major talking point. Castaways of the Flying Dutchman had a fantastic, moving ending that caused me to give the book 4 stars instead of 3.5. Brian Jacques is a master of weaving together multiple storylines and crafting the perfect ending, as those who read the Redwall series undoubtedly know. Unfortunately, the ending for The Angel's Command was just, disappointing. Yes, it somewhat set up the future for Ben & Ned but it also was underwhelming. When Castaways of the Flying Dutchman ended, readers put the book down with a tear in their eye. When this book ended, they looked for more pages. It seems harsh, but endings do matter.
The strongest parts of the prequel were by far the characters, main and supporting, and the central idea, and that is the case here as well. Ben & Ned continue to be two magnetic, highly likable central characters that the reader can't help but root for. The new cast of supporting characters are also well-written, especially Thuron, Karay, and Dominic. The central idea of Ben & Ned being cursed and forced to live for eternity is still very much at play here, though it often takes a backseat to other plot points.
We do have to talk about the ending here, as it is a major talking point. Castaways of the Flying Dutchman had a fantastic, moving ending that caused me to give the book 4 stars instead of 3.5. Brian Jacques is a master of weaving together multiple storylines and crafting the perfect ending, as those who read the Redwall series undoubtedly know. Unfortunately, the ending for The Angel's Command was just, disappointing. Yes, it somewhat set up the future for Ben & Ned but it also was underwhelming. When Castaways of the Flying Dutchman ended, readers put the book down with a tear in their eye. When this book ended, they looked for more pages. It seems harsh, but endings do matter.
April 27, 2020
It’s been a very long time since I read this second book in the series! There’s so much that I had forgotten, but it was such a pleasure to re-discover some of my favorite stories from the trilogy!
Like the first book, this one contains two of Ben and Ned’s adventures in time. Ben and Ned are our boy and dog duo, blessed with immortality and the ability to communicate with each other in exchange for traveling the Earth and helping those in need. Their escape from the Flying Dutchman is still fairly recent, less than a decade has passed when we pick up the story.
The pair are traveling through South America and end up at a port frequented by pirates. There they befriend the good-hearted Captain Raphael Thuron, and hastily join his pirate crew. But their ship is being pursued by a rival, Captain Rocco Madrid! Whilst the two pirate ships attempt to outrun each other, they catch the attention of another vessel, a ruthless English privateer! What ensues is a wild sea-chase, Thuron’s ship trying to outmaneuver the other two as they escape across the Atlantic. It’s hilarious and exciting and so enjoyable to read. The author spent time at sea himself, and you can tell in the way he explains sailing and ship mechanics; it makes the story very immersive.
The second tale follows up the first, as our duo is now traveling through France, having left the seas behind for the moment. There they befriend Dominic, a highly skilled artist known as the “Facemaker of Sabada,” and Karay, a pickpocket, singer, and all around clever girl. The group has teamed up to rid the area of the Razan, a terror-provoking cult of thieves that hide themselves in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. Their most terrifying adventure yet, they’ll have to survive gun fights, avalanches, and bears to make it out of this one alive.
What I love most about this novel is how it comes full circle. The final scenes find Ben and Ned back on the ocean, paying homage to Raphael Thuron and their origins on the Flying Dutchman. It’s a very satisfying ending, and an incredible story.
Like the first book, this one contains two of Ben and Ned’s adventures in time. Ben and Ned are our boy and dog duo, blessed with immortality and the ability to communicate with each other in exchange for traveling the Earth and helping those in need. Their escape from the Flying Dutchman is still fairly recent, less than a decade has passed when we pick up the story.
The pair are traveling through South America and end up at a port frequented by pirates. There they befriend the good-hearted Captain Raphael Thuron, and hastily join his pirate crew. But their ship is being pursued by a rival, Captain Rocco Madrid! Whilst the two pirate ships attempt to outrun each other, they catch the attention of another vessel, a ruthless English privateer! What ensues is a wild sea-chase, Thuron’s ship trying to outmaneuver the other two as they escape across the Atlantic. It’s hilarious and exciting and so enjoyable to read. The author spent time at sea himself, and you can tell in the way he explains sailing and ship mechanics; it makes the story very immersive.
The second tale follows up the first, as our duo is now traveling through France, having left the seas behind for the moment. There they befriend Dominic, a highly skilled artist known as the “Facemaker of Sabada,” and Karay, a pickpocket, singer, and all around clever girl. The group has teamed up to rid the area of the Razan, a terror-provoking cult of thieves that hide themselves in the Pyrenees mountains between France and Spain. Their most terrifying adventure yet, they’ll have to survive gun fights, avalanches, and bears to make it out of this one alive.
What I love most about this novel is how it comes full circle. The final scenes find Ben and Ned back on the ocean, paying homage to Raphael Thuron and their origins on the Flying Dutchman. It’s a very satisfying ending, and an incredible story.
January 10, 2020
Brian Jacques enchanted me with his Redwall books, so when I saw this swashbuckling sea adventure I knew I had to read it. Being the second book in the series and having not read the first one, I didn't feel lost at all, embarking on a brand new adventure with these characters.
At first I thought it simple. The writing is gauged toward a younger audience, replete with exclamation points and 'pal!', and I kept thinking the characters were more like twelve rather than their actual fourteen and above. It was fun, but not magical. But then I kept reading, and it continued to grow deeper and deeper, like sinking. By the end I was almost in tears for Ben and Ned, who are forced to wander forever, never to have a place or people to belong to.
The story came in two parts, one on the sea, one on land, and everything tied together wonderfully. There was humor and wit, danger, and terrible villains. I loved it, and am eager to know the rest of the tales from the castaways of the Flying Dutchman!
At first I thought it simple. The writing is gauged toward a younger audience, replete with exclamation points and 'pal!', and I kept thinking the characters were more like twelve rather than their actual fourteen and above. It was fun, but not magical. But then I kept reading, and it continued to grow deeper and deeper, like sinking. By the end I was almost in tears for Ben and Ned, who are forced to wander forever, never to have a place or people to belong to.
The story came in two parts, one on the sea, one on land, and everything tied together wonderfully. There was humor and wit, danger, and terrible villains. I loved it, and am eager to know the rest of the tales from the castaways of the Flying Dutchman!
December 22, 2017
See Zack & Clare's reviews -- I agree.
Ben and Ned the black Labrador dog have been saved from the Flying Dutchman and it's dead crew, which is always after them, even in their dreams. Ned can talk with Ben, who can nod or shake his head in the negative. Ben & Ned don't age, and have to move on when they have fulfilled their purpose of aiding or helping those around them -- or getting the bad guys caught. They are sometimes aided by a Christian Angel. So far, so good?
This book is written in two parts. The first part is a sea tale, with maps, sea shanties, pirates and such, called "The Petite Marie". The second part "The Razan", is about a band of not-too-bright guys who follow a dastardly witch who speaks in Thee's and Thou's, and is FINALLY killed abruptly when . . .(!). Character development is good, if somewhat shallow and transparently moralistic. I was able to easily put this book down.
Ben and Ned the black Labrador dog have been saved from the Flying Dutchman and it's dead crew, which is always after them, even in their dreams. Ned can talk with Ben, who can nod or shake his head in the negative. Ben & Ned don't age, and have to move on when they have fulfilled their purpose of aiding or helping those around them -- or getting the bad guys caught. They are sometimes aided by a Christian Angel. So far, so good?
This book is written in two parts. The first part is a sea tale, with maps, sea shanties, pirates and such, called "The Petite Marie". The second part "The Razan", is about a band of not-too-bright guys who follow a dastardly witch who speaks in Thee's and Thou's, and is FINALLY killed abruptly when . . .(!). Character development is good, if somewhat shallow and transparently moralistic. I was able to easily put this book down.
July 4, 2024
This was a looooooong read, and accounts for my long reading drought!
Brian Jacques is really incredible at building worlds. You can picture the ocean and the islands he describes and even the night sky when the story continues into Spain and France.
There are some very uplifting themes in all of his books which I find inspiring. I started hearing the Redwall books when I was really little, as audiobooks, and it's very heartening to read the storytelling I grew up on.
The good vs. evil themes are great and I like underpinnings of religion that run through the book. I do not like when the good characters die. Raphael just died out of nowhere and it was somewhat upsetting to end part one with La Petite Marie sinking. Part Two was my favorite of the two. Loveeeee all the characters. The scriptwriting is a little bit predictable at times but the characters and the worlds themselves are great. Brian Jacques never disappoints :)
Brian Jacques is really incredible at building worlds. You can picture the ocean and the islands he describes and even the night sky when the story continues into Spain and France.
There are some very uplifting themes in all of his books which I find inspiring. I started hearing the Redwall books when I was really little, as audiobooks, and it's very heartening to read the storytelling I grew up on.
The good vs. evil themes are great and I like underpinnings of religion that run through the book. I do not like when the good characters die. Raphael just died out of nowhere and it was somewhat upsetting to end part one with La Petite Marie sinking. Part Two was my favorite of the two. Loveeeee all the characters. The scriptwriting is a little bit predictable at times but the characters and the worlds themselves are great. Brian Jacques never disappoints :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2022
I remember not enjoying this book as much as its predecessor, and re-reading the two this weekend - definitely not as good. I do feel a bit bad rating it two stars because it's better than the other two star books I have read this year, but I just feel like it's not quite a 3 star book.
The plot in The Angel's Command is a lot weaker, the first book only really has God and his angels as the only 'mystic' element, but this one introduces, the closest I can come to is 'magic' but that isn't quite right, but also introduces ghosts/phantasms. The first book did have a premonition I guess, but the elements added here still feel out of place.
The storyline also feels very 'ramped' up, but in such a way that it doesn't feel like a narrative fit for its predecessor.
This definitely is not the authors finest work.
The plot in The Angel's Command is a lot weaker, the first book only really has God and his angels as the only 'mystic' element, but this one introduces, the closest I can come to is 'magic' but that isn't quite right, but also introduces ghosts/phantasms. The first book did have a premonition I guess, but the elements added here still feel out of place.
The storyline also feels very 'ramped' up, but in such a way that it doesn't feel like a narrative fit for its predecessor.
This definitely is not the authors finest work.
August 1, 2019
One of my favorite books, the Flying Dutchman series does not disappoint with this second instalment. The story kept me reading through the night, and remained compelling and entertaining, even in the slow beginning. The characters were still able to grow and develope, even in their perpetual blessed states. I love the dynamics between characters both old and new and the bits and pieces of the past we're given through this story. Really one of my most reread books. I love it.
June 23, 2025
extra star for nostalgia. Another childhood reread, but it really didn't hold up. It feels like a strung together series of little stories you would tell a child; the characters have very little depth and their characteristics/reactions are pretty much only there to serve the plot, the transitions are terrible, the whole business with the Flying Dutchman felt repetitive and like it wasn't going anywhere. Overall just not that enjoyable of a read
June 16, 2019
Still an enjoyable read but didn't live up to my high expectations. I love Jacques' writing but this book lacked continuity and felt like 2 separate stories with only a small connection at the end. There was no cohesive plot, which was disappointing since I really enjoyed the first Castaways book. Hopefully book 3 will round out the trilogy. Again...good book but could've been better.
September 22, 2020
This was a great book! I love the characters and the adventures they have together. I was really excited that the first story was set on the sea because I love pirate stories. It also connected itself really nicely with the 2nd story. I know this book is written for a younger audience but I still think it's a good book for any age.
January 13, 2021
I liked this a little more than book one, but I'm beginning to think Brian Jacques' writing just isn't my style. I kept waiting for The Angel's Command to excite me. Instead, I only felt a mild interest throughout the story. I'll still read the third book to finish the trilogy, but I won't go in with high expectations.
June 11, 2022
The first part of the book seemed very slow, even though it was a sea adventure with pirates. The second part moved much faster for me, but there was little real excitement until close to the end. It's been many years since I read the first book, but I seem to remember enjoying it more than this one.
June 14, 2020
I’ve been planning to finish this series for years and years... though I definitely feel a little too old for it now, I’m glad I held out (and I have one more to go!). Honestly still one of the saddest stories ever. Remembering why I was so affected by the first book now.
Read
September 14, 2020I liked this book. It hooks you in with a swash buckling adventure, then switches the cast and slows the pace for the second part. However, the pace picks right back up for the climax and ends on a touching note. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a good adventure.
September 19, 2020
Book two of one of my favorite comfort series! I've read this series so much that going through the book is more like a trip through memory lane, but the same moments hit me every single time, and will probably continue to hit me every time I read it.
September 19, 2021
Very happy to have finally read this book. I have read the first one multiple times and I have even read the last one, but I've only just read this one. There is something so satisfying and right about completing a series.
October 27, 2021
Great Author
I have been reading Brian Jacques books for years. All excellent and this series is no exception. Readers young and old will enjoy these books. Good wholesome book. Easy read but collects my attention page after page.
I have been reading Brian Jacques books for years. All excellent and this series is no exception. Readers young and old will enjoy these books. Good wholesome book. Easy read but collects my attention page after page.
August 19, 2024
childhood nostalgia
i grew up with this writer's work i am now actively trying to read every book by this writer there are 22 red wall books 3 or this series that is all that i i am aware of
i grew up with this writer's work i am now actively trying to read every book by this writer there are 22 red wall books 3 or this series that is all that i i am aware of
July 18, 2017
I think I am sad that there is only one book left to this series. At least we have Redwall and this series to remember Brian Jacques by, such a talented story teller.
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