β Scribed by Stockwin, Julian
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
Readers unfamiliar with the previous eight books in the Kydd series (The Admiral's Daughter, etc.) may find themselves lost at sea with the plot and setting of Stockwin's underwhelming latest addition. After the death of Cmdr. Thomas Kydd's one true love, Rosalynd, in Daughter , Kydd's depression only worsens when his ship, the HMS Teazer , is assigned to the Channel Islands, a backwater in the sea war between England and Napoleonic France. His crew's loyalty flagging, Kydd is framed for smuggling, then cashiered from royal service. After a brief stint working as a stagehand for a roving theater troupe, he is recruited to captain a privateer, duty he previously considered beneath him, while his steadfast friend and clerk, Nicholas Renzi, falls into the service of the prince of Bouillon, who is part of a plot to kidnap Napoleon and restore the Bourbon throne. Full of indecipherable sailing jargon and one-dimensional characters, Stockwin's plodding installment sinks. (Oct.)
Copyright Β© Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
"Stockwin's richly detailed . . . portrait of life on ship and shore in Britain's oceanic empire is engrossing. He writes evocatively of shipboard routine, the panic and confusion of combat, and the terrifying approach of a storm at sea, and he knows how to stage enthralling action scenes." βPublishers Weekly on the Kydd Sea Adventures series
"Likable Tom and his shipmates make a snug fit in that page-turning Forester and O'Brian traditionβthanks to retired Royal Navy author Stockwin." βKirkus Reviews on the Kydd Sea Adventures series
"Fans of fast-paced adventure will get their fill with this book." βThe Historical Novels Review on the Kydd Sea Adventures series
π SIMILAR VOLUMES
Thomas Paine Kydd, in command of His Majesty's brig-sloop Teazer, has sunk to the depths of depression following the tragic loss of his fiancee. Adding to his despair, the young sea officer offends Admiral Lockwood and is ordered to sail Teazer to the Channel Islands for guard duty.
Following the loss of his fiancΓ©e, Lieutenant Thomas Kydd descends into depression in this installment of the riveting nautical-adventure series. Rescued from despair by his close friendΒ Renzi, Kydd finds life increasingly difficult when he is framed and dismissed from his ship. The pair eke out a p
Thomas Paine Kydd, in command of His Majesty's brig-sloop Teazer, has sunk to the depths of depression following the tragic loss of his fiancee. Adding to his despair, the young sea officer offends Admiral Lockwood and is ordered to sail Teazer to the Channel Islands for guard duty.