In this eleventh book in the series, Stockwin snares the reader’s attention from the start. . . . This novel depicts victory on many levels, in different ways, and with profound passion. It also demonstrates the price that victory, or [HMS] Victory, must pay in order to triumph over evil. This is a voyage not to be missed, one that will haunt the reader long after the last page is turned.
Elegantly plotted . . . the writing has the power of a broadside at close range.
Well-written mixture of high-seas adventure and character-based drama . . . impossible not to enjoy.
Written with authoritative detail by a gifted storyteller who is passionate about the Great Age of Sail.
Stockwin's descriptions of the bloody reality of naval combat 200 years ago are memorably vivid, and reveal a profound respect for the seamen who were willing to sacrifice their lives to help save their country.
This heady adventure blends fact and fiction in rich, authoritative detail. The author closely follows historical record, taking readers into the world-defining events of 1805.
The full-blooded seagoing adventures of Commander Thomas Kydd reach another thrilling chapter.
A rousingly exciting and delicious full-immersion in the perils of seafaring and society during the great Age of Sail!
~Dewey Lambdin, author of the Alan Lewrie series
Period dialect and seagoing argot aplenty add credibility to the adventure, and the unworldly Kydd is an apt lens for the reader's journey.
The vantage point of the common sailor gives the nautical novel a fresh twist. In Stockwin’s hands the sea story will continue to entrance readers across the world.
Stockwin continues to display his talents in transporting his audience from the 21st century to the chaotic worlds of Kydd, Renzi, and their imperiled homeland. . . . [He] goes into action with swords drawn and cannons and carronades blasting.
~Historical Novels Review Online