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Fighting Sail #9
The Blackstrap Station
Christmas 1803, although the group of shipwrecked Royal Navy seamen have anything but festivities in mind as they pitch their wits against a French force sent to catch them. And all the while rescue, in the shape of a British frigate, lies temptingly close, yet just beyond their reach... Encompassing vicious sea battles, spirited land action and treachery from friend as much as foe, The Blackstrap Station tells a stirring tale of courage, honour and loyalty, set against the backdrop of what becomes a broiling Mediterranean summer.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 11, 2016
99 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Alaric Bond
24 books39 followersAlaric Bond has written for television, radio and the stage but now focuses on historical nautical fiction with twenty published novels, fifteen of which are in his acclaimed ‘Fighting Sail’ series.
Set in ‘Nelson’s Navy’ of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, these have no central hero but feature characters from all ranks and stations; an innovative approach that gives an exciting and realistic impression of life aboard a warship of the period.
Hellfire Corner is the first in an intended new series and marks a change in emphasis, although future ‘Fighting Sail’ instalments are planned.
Set in ‘Nelson’s Navy’ of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars, these have no central hero but feature characters from all ranks and stations; an innovative approach that gives an exciting and realistic impression of life aboard a warship of the period.
Hellfire Corner is the first in an intended new series and marks a change in emphasis, although future ‘Fighting Sail’ instalments are planned.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 22, 2016
After their ship HMS Prometheus is forced ashore by Napoleon’s navy, Lieutenant Mr. King leads two boats full of officers and men as they evade capture ashore in France. Mr. King and his band of seamen embark on an exciting journey and escape, involving unanticipated captures of their own. Those British captures have far reaching consequences for Mr. King, the men of Prometheus, and others in the King’s service.
Blackstrap Station features action and sea battles, immersive period detail, and characters whose lives are shaped by the political, economic, and social structures of their day. Ninth in the top notch Napoleonic Age Fighting Sail series, Blackstrap Station is essentially Mr. King’s story; full of escapes, moving friendships—even a romantic triangle—and unforgettable action.
Blackstrap Station features action and sea battles, immersive period detail, and characters whose lives are shaped by the political, economic, and social structures of their day. Ninth in the top notch Napoleonic Age Fighting Sail series, Blackstrap Station is essentially Mr. King’s story; full of escapes, moving friendships—even a romantic triangle—and unforgettable action.
August 1, 2025
inconsistency
The author tends to wander in his story line. There is always some female involved in the plot and most of the time King is involved. His interactions with these females always lead to a disappointing end for him. Sir Richard Banks is often referred to as a Peer of the realm when he is only a knight of the realm. A Baronet is referred to as Sir but it not a peer of the realm even though it is hereditary. Only a Baron upward is a Peer of the realm. Also it seems like any ship they are on is always slower than the enemy. One final thing is that only the lieutenant with the most seniority is the first lieutenant on a ship. Timothy was listed as second lieutenant and Hunt with less seniority was first lieutenant. That could not happen in the Royal navy. Like I said the author tends to wander and seems to add completely irrelevant story lines as a filler. An example would be adding a perverted serial killer in to the story. That was probably the worst example imaginable.
The author tends to wander in his story line. There is always some female involved in the plot and most of the time King is involved. His interactions with these females always lead to a disappointing end for him. Sir Richard Banks is often referred to as a Peer of the realm when he is only a knight of the realm. A Baronet is referred to as Sir but it not a peer of the realm even though it is hereditary. Only a Baron upward is a Peer of the realm. Also it seems like any ship they are on is always slower than the enemy. One final thing is that only the lieutenant with the most seniority is the first lieutenant on a ship. Timothy was listed as second lieutenant and Hunt with less seniority was first lieutenant. That could not happen in the Royal navy. Like I said the author tends to wander and seems to add completely irrelevant story lines as a filler. An example would be adding a perverted serial killer in to the story. That was probably the worst example imaginable.
March 13, 2024
Following on from HMS Prometheus, Tom King and company continue their adventures in the Mediterranean, resuming their battles with the French and each other. And that’s what makes this book so enthralling and entertaining. At its heart is a story about people in conflict, fighting their own personal battles and demons alongside the enemy in the form of a formidable French frigate. There’s friendship, rivalry, love, jealousy, cowardice, treachery, bravery and the whole range of human emotion, delivered in a compelling story set on the shores of Malta and at sea.
The author excels in the details about life on board ship, adding an authenticity and atmosphere that enriches both the mundane day to day activities and the rousing battle scenes. You can almost taste the salt beef and feel the timbers shudder as the enemy’s cannons wreak their damage.
For me, this is the most enjoyable book in the series so far because of the greater focus on the characters and the conflicts they face.
I would thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series.
The author excels in the details about life on board ship, adding an authenticity and atmosphere that enriches both the mundane day to day activities and the rousing battle scenes. You can almost taste the salt beef and feel the timbers shudder as the enemy’s cannons wreak their damage.
For me, this is the most enjoyable book in the series so far because of the greater focus on the characters and the conflicts they face.
I would thoroughly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews