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Ship Kings #1
The Coming of the Whirlpool
From the award-winning author of Praise and The White Earth comes a magnificent young adult series about destiny and desire, set in a brilliantly realised fantasy world.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
7 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Andrew McGahan
16 books109 followersAndrew McGahan (b. 1966) was an Australian novelist, best known for his first novel Praise, and for his Miles Franklin Award-winning novel The White Earth. His novel Praise is considered to be part of the Australian literary genre of grunge lit.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
October 4, 2011
what a fantastic adventure!! Part Hobbit, part Pirates of the Caribbean, part Horatio Hornblower, the first book in Andrew McGahan's Ship Kings series is wonderful. Clever writing, fabulous plot and fresh characters make this an outstanding read for just about anyone
June 6, 2016
This is my second reread of 'The Coming of the Whirlpool' and it literally couldn't get any better EVERY SINGLE TIME. I love everything about this book: the characters, and the brave soul that is Dow Amber; the setting which ranges from the headland forests and pines to the bays and seas of New Island; the atmosphere, so strong, thrilling, powerful and present; the writing and the author's exceptionally correct yet unforgettable style! I feel this AWE every single time I open this novel and a rush of anticipation and fear JUST before I turn the first page. I love how thought through and MEANINGFUL every event was. How the author was a sort of narrator AND storyteller at the same time! Every letter, word, sentence, paragraph, chapter was RAW. I have enough praise for this novel to go many time over the page limit!
Congratulations to Andrew McGahan on publishing the first instalment in his spell-binding new series!
Congratulations to Andrew McGahan on publishing the first instalment in his spell-binding new series!
January 2, 2012
McGahan's 'genre hopping' writing is not, in his view, deliberate, rather based on his "vague collection of interests at the time, followed by a crystalising moment where the novel takes shape" - more a feeling about the story than an actual plot. For example, his brilliant novel - Wonders of a Godless World - was triggered by a re-reading of Russell Hoban's 'Ridley Walker', inspiring him to create a world with its own logic and language. 'Ship Kings' too has its origins in other books, written by Tolkien and Thomas Covenant. Thankfully Andrew McGahan is adventurous and brave enough to 'genre hop', unearthing new skills in his already extensive repertoire.
November 27, 2011
I wanted to like this novel more than I actually did. Just a little underwhelmed. Dow Amber lives in a timber town in the middle of the island kingdom of New Island. He escapes his intended future as a timber getter when his love of the sea becomes apparent to his parents and the townsfolk. They agree that he may leave the town to become an apprentice fisherman on the coast, when his mother divulges a secret from her family's past - that Dow's ancestor was a famous Admiral who was executed after New Island lost the war against the Ship Kings, who now rule the island and the seas.
Dow goes to live with Nathaniel, an old fisherman who lost his son and grandson to the maelstrom, a huge whirlpool that occasionally occurs at the head of the bay where they fish. Dow takes to the sea life, though fishermen on the island are not allowed to actually venture beyond the heads by law of the Ship Kings, who are afraid that the islanders may reacquire their sea skills, which they lost when then were defeated. Dow must keep his identity as the descendent of the Admiral a secret from the Ship Kings when they arrive in port to collect their annual tribute. He comes to their notice when his curiosity about their navigation methods tempt him to trespass on one of the warships to try to see the binnacle and compass. He escapes punishment when Nathaniel is offered in his place to receive 75 lashes. This precipitates the climax of the novel, where Dow faces the maelstrom in an attempt to rescue Nathaniel, who has decided to commit suicide by sailing into the whirlpool to join his lost son and grandson. Again, Dow comes to the attention of the Ship Kings, who decree that he will be punished for the supposed murder of Nathaniel. The novel ends with a surprise attack on the Ship King fleet. Dow,a prisoner on board the Ship King warship as it sails from New Island to their home port, is taken to verify the attack by a mysterious black ship, which was seen briefly by the Commander and Dow.
Dow goes to live with Nathaniel, an old fisherman who lost his son and grandson to the maelstrom, a huge whirlpool that occasionally occurs at the head of the bay where they fish. Dow takes to the sea life, though fishermen on the island are not allowed to actually venture beyond the heads by law of the Ship Kings, who are afraid that the islanders may reacquire their sea skills, which they lost when then were defeated. Dow must keep his identity as the descendent of the Admiral a secret from the Ship Kings when they arrive in port to collect their annual tribute. He comes to their notice when his curiosity about their navigation methods tempt him to trespass on one of the warships to try to see the binnacle and compass. He escapes punishment when Nathaniel is offered in his place to receive 75 lashes. This precipitates the climax of the novel, where Dow faces the maelstrom in an attempt to rescue Nathaniel, who has decided to commit suicide by sailing into the whirlpool to join his lost son and grandson. Again, Dow comes to the attention of the Ship Kings, who decree that he will be punished for the supposed murder of Nathaniel. The novel ends with a surprise attack on the Ship King fleet. Dow,a prisoner on board the Ship King warship as it sails from New Island to their home port, is taken to verify the attack by a mysterious black ship, which was seen briefly by the Commander and Dow.
April 12, 2012
A boy's sea adventure, only for the first 3/4 of the book he doesn't yet make it to the sea. Dow Amber is a heroic young adventurer who is brave in the face of difficulties and injustice, but this entire book reads like an introduction: we see him set up for his adventure but he hasn't truly begun it yet.
This book may appeal to avid readers who can persevere with the extensive description of the protagonist's thoughts; there is so much pondering of 'what if' that even in 300 pages there is not much room for action.
There's also the occasional introduction of a fairly utilitarian view of girls, it remains to be seen whether the series improves on this point as it progresses. Dow is a young teen when he is granted his first 'hot kiss' by one of the neighbourhood girls, and once he has left his town he only thinks of her to lament what 'intoxicating' things they might have been doing together if he had not left, since his town permitted a lot more than kissing 'as long as they were careful' - whatever that means. Such wonderings felt a little out of place in a book which otherwise seemed to be aimed at 11-14 year olds. It only comes up twice and is brief, so it may be passed over without much notice for kids who read a lot.
There's also some injury and death which may disturb more sensitive readers, an old man is brutally flogged to within an inch of his life, and the same man is later lost to a whirlpool after glimpsing the dead bodies of his son and grandson who had been taken by the same ten years before. But it is all in context and there is nothing gratuitous.
Overall there is a sense of honour and right which guides the path of the young protagonist and makes his story appear to be a worthy one, though where it will go from here remains to be seen. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
This book may appeal to avid readers who can persevere with the extensive description of the protagonist's thoughts; there is so much pondering of 'what if' that even in 300 pages there is not much room for action.
There's also the occasional introduction of a fairly utilitarian view of girls, it remains to be seen whether the series improves on this point as it progresses. Dow is a young teen when he is granted his first 'hot kiss' by one of the neighbourhood girls, and once he has left his town he only thinks of her to lament what 'intoxicating' things they might have been doing together if he had not left, since his town permitted a lot more than kissing 'as long as they were careful' - whatever that means. Such wonderings felt a little out of place in a book which otherwise seemed to be aimed at 11-14 year olds. It only comes up twice and is brief, so it may be passed over without much notice for kids who read a lot.
There's also some injury and death which may disturb more sensitive readers, an old man is brutally flogged to within an inch of his life, and the same man is later lost to a whirlpool after glimpsing the dead bodies of his son and grandson who had been taken by the same ten years before. But it is all in context and there is nothing gratuitous.
Overall there is a sense of honour and right which guides the path of the young protagonist and makes his story appear to be a worthy one, though where it will go from here remains to be seen. www.GoodReadingGuide.com
February 2, 2019
Even though this book is classified as fantasy, I would call it a coming of age story with lots of boats and marine metaphors.
The fantasy is very light. We have a made up world - New Island -complete with maps (I love a good map!) and descriptive names like The Claw and The Rip. But we have no fantastical creatures (so far) or magical powers to contend with.
Dow Amber is the young man in question. Born into a wood cutters family high up in the mountains. As the eldest son he is destined to follow his father into the woods. But on his first outing Dow spies the sea from the top of a plateau...and so begins his quest.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2011/...
The fantasy is very light. We have a made up world - New Island -complete with maps (I love a good map!) and descriptive names like The Claw and The Rip. But we have no fantastical creatures (so far) or magical powers to contend with.
Dow Amber is the young man in question. Born into a wood cutters family high up in the mountains. As the eldest son he is destined to follow his father into the woods. But on his first outing Dow spies the sea from the top of a plateau...and so begins his quest.
Full review here - http://bronasbooks.blogspot.com/2011/...
July 1, 2017
Great fantasy story. Particularly enjoyed the description of "the rip" which sounds very familiar to Port Philip Bay which I'm guessing partly inspired it. Having watched ships struggling through on an outgoing tide after a southerly storm, I can almost picture a whirlpool.
June 1, 2018
Such an amazing novel - reminiscent of the Earthsea series by Ursula Le Guin in all the best ways. I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book!
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October 8, 2019This book is well written and the character development really engrosses you. It can be a bit slow at the beginning but definitely worth it.
September 18, 2012
From the age of six Dow Amber's life seems mapped out for him*. Like his father and grandfathers before him he is to cut timber, and apart from yearly tree felling excursions on the Great Plateau, he will live out his life in the village of Yellow Bank. But the very first time Dow visits the Great Plateau, his father takes him to see the sea, and Dow's view of his world is changed forever. On returning to the village, his planned life seems confined and he longingly remembers the sea. As Dow matures he begins to enjoy his life as a timber cutter, but each year on the Great Plateau, Dow's yearnings for the sea are reawakened. Finally a glimpse of one of the Ship Kings great ships reignites his determination to seek a life at sea. What seems an impossible dream becomes a reality when at a meeting of the winter council, it is revealed that Dow has an ancestry stemming from a great admiral - an admired hero who fought the Ship Kings in the wars that led to their domination of New Island. Suddenly it seems possible, even his true "fate", that Dow should go to sea.
And so Dow begins a journey that will lead him to the strange, lonely fishing village of Stronmer on the enclosed bay of The Claw in the shadow of Stoneport. He soon discovers that this "fate" of his is intended to revive the fortunes of Stronmer. But from his first sighting of the Ship Kings and their mighty vessels, his overwhelming obsession is to go to sea aboard one of their ships. A remarkable series of events unfold as Dow comes face to face with the legendary and lethal maelstrom and is invited on board the Chloe by Captain Vincente.
This is a departure for Andrew McGahan who is well known as a writer of adult fiction here in Australia. I will confess to not having read any of McGahan's adult fiction, but I do read a lot of young adult and junior fiction. The writing here is spare and unadorned but settings, places and characters such as Nathaniel and Mother Gow are neatly evoked. At some points I found it reminiscent of Wizard of Earthsea in terms of evocation of place; a world of many islands. Something of Dow's character and its adolescent angst reminded me of Ged's as well. And although it is fairly obvious from the beginning that Dow will achieve his dream of going to sea - the series is to be called the Ship Kings after all and the Fair Warning indicates as much (and more) - the final plot twists that enable this are surprising and have piqued my interest for the rest of the series.
*Spoiler alert - Andrew McGahan puts his own spoiler alert or "Fair Warning" at the start of the book
And so Dow begins a journey that will lead him to the strange, lonely fishing village of Stronmer on the enclosed bay of The Claw in the shadow of Stoneport. He soon discovers that this "fate" of his is intended to revive the fortunes of Stronmer. But from his first sighting of the Ship Kings and their mighty vessels, his overwhelming obsession is to go to sea aboard one of their ships. A remarkable series of events unfold as Dow comes face to face with the legendary and lethal maelstrom and is invited on board the Chloe by Captain Vincente.
This is a departure for Andrew McGahan who is well known as a writer of adult fiction here in Australia. I will confess to not having read any of McGahan's adult fiction, but I do read a lot of young adult and junior fiction. The writing here is spare and unadorned but settings, places and characters such as Nathaniel and Mother Gow are neatly evoked. At some points I found it reminiscent of Wizard of Earthsea in terms of evocation of place; a world of many islands. Something of Dow's character and its adolescent angst reminded me of Ged's as well. And although it is fairly obvious from the beginning that Dow will achieve his dream of going to sea - the series is to be called the Ship Kings after all and the Fair Warning indicates as much (and more) - the final plot twists that enable this are surprising and have piqued my interest for the rest of the series.
*Spoiler alert - Andrew McGahan puts his own spoiler alert or "Fair Warning" at the start of the book
June 22, 2016
This is a strange book. The pacing, the world and the writing is unlike most other YA books. Perhaps this is because this is the author's first of the genre, but it's probably down to his style. It takes place in a fantasy world, but it is quite different form other fantasy worlds from other YA's. There are no dragons or knight or vampires. This world is very unique. New Island has been taken over by a powerful group of people called the Ship Kings. They rule the world with an iron fist, and nobody dare defy them. It has been like this for over a generation. The New Islanders have since been treated poorly, and have forgotten the ways of the ocean. Dow Amber is a growing young man living in a forest village. The rule of the Ship Kings is that the New Islanders have to have the occupation their father had. Dow Amber, by law, is meant to be a tree cutter, however, he longs for the sea. It turns out that he is a descendent of a great seafarer who though in the naval war between the Ship Kings and the New Islanders. This gives Dow the chance to leave home and go to the coast where he will work as a fisherman. However, the Ship Kings mustn't know his ancestry or they may kill him.
The story is nothing amazing, but it's entertaining. Some scenes are downright boring while others are very exciting. Particularly those during the whirlpool. And any scene that heavily features Nathaniel (Dow's heavily troubled fishing teacher) is both tragic and engrossing. The world building is pretty small, and it almost hurts that this novel is mostly spent thinking about the sea. For a sea adventure series, there are practically no parts with the open ocean. However, it was exciting hearing the very supernatural myths and stories about the ocean, which teases the next books to come.
The characters are pretty generic. Dow is a mostly plain protagonist who is kind of selfish. Nathaniel is the best character, an old man full of anger, pity and sadness. Boiler is pretty cool but doesn't really develop. Everybody else is meh.
Overall, this is a strange, but good book that while not amazing, is still pretty good. I'll be reading the next ones as they seem to be more exciting.
The story is nothing amazing, but it's entertaining. Some scenes are downright boring while others are very exciting. Particularly those during the whirlpool. And any scene that heavily features Nathaniel (Dow's heavily troubled fishing teacher) is both tragic and engrossing. The world building is pretty small, and it almost hurts that this novel is mostly spent thinking about the sea. For a sea adventure series, there are practically no parts with the open ocean. However, it was exciting hearing the very supernatural myths and stories about the ocean, which teases the next books to come.
The characters are pretty generic. Dow is a mostly plain protagonist who is kind of selfish. Nathaniel is the best character, an old man full of anger, pity and sadness. Boiler is pretty cool but doesn't really develop. Everybody else is meh.
Overall, this is a strange, but good book that while not amazing, is still pretty good. I'll be reading the next ones as they seem to be more exciting.
January 10, 2013
I enjoyed this YA novel way more than I expected to. Even with Andrew McGahan's reputation I was skeptical about going the distance with this one. Luckily, all my initial expectations were well and truly changed.
This is an assured and well-written story, with a young, brave and driven protagnoist in Dow Amber. Dow grows up on New Island in the logging community of Yellow Bank, ready to follow in his fathers footsteps and become an axeman, as is expected of him.
At the age of eleven, he becomes a man in the eyes of his village and he sets off into the forests with his father and a group of axemen to learn his trade. One day his father takes him through the forest to the edge of a cliff and Dow spies the ocean for the first time. He is completely captivated. Feelings stir in him and he feels more and more drawn to life at sea, flouting all the traditions of his society, he seeks to become a sailor. Following the revelation of a secret from Dow's past, he resolves to leave and sets out for the port of Stromner.
Much of the novel concerns itself with Dow's journey to the port, and his subsequent arrival and settling in at Stromner. As is my custom I will not be posting spoilers here, but I WILL say that Dow has to show the strongest of resolve and a great deal of courage to even get close to his first goal - becoming part of a ship's crew.
Along the way he meets many characters including the mysterious Nell, a ship's scapegoat; Mother Gale, the village wisewoman; and Nathaniel, a bitter old sea-dog who has lost the will to live.
This can be hard going at times - there is a lot of talking between the great action scenes, but never does the talking feel superfluous. Every word is there to take you further into Dow's world and make him more interesting.
I can't wait to read The Unquiet Ice when I am back in my library!
Recommended for 12yo and up.
This is an assured and well-written story, with a young, brave and driven protagnoist in Dow Amber. Dow grows up on New Island in the logging community of Yellow Bank, ready to follow in his fathers footsteps and become an axeman, as is expected of him.
At the age of eleven, he becomes a man in the eyes of his village and he sets off into the forests with his father and a group of axemen to learn his trade. One day his father takes him through the forest to the edge of a cliff and Dow spies the ocean for the first time. He is completely captivated. Feelings stir in him and he feels more and more drawn to life at sea, flouting all the traditions of his society, he seeks to become a sailor. Following the revelation of a secret from Dow's past, he resolves to leave and sets out for the port of Stromner.
Much of the novel concerns itself with Dow's journey to the port, and his subsequent arrival and settling in at Stromner. As is my custom I will not be posting spoilers here, but I WILL say that Dow has to show the strongest of resolve and a great deal of courage to even get close to his first goal - becoming part of a ship's crew.
Along the way he meets many characters including the mysterious Nell, a ship's scapegoat; Mother Gale, the village wisewoman; and Nathaniel, a bitter old sea-dog who has lost the will to live.
This can be hard going at times - there is a lot of talking between the great action scenes, but never does the talking feel superfluous. Every word is there to take you further into Dow's world and make him more interesting.
I can't wait to read The Unquiet Ice when I am back in my library!
Recommended for 12yo and up.
April 19, 2012
Dow is born to be a woodcutter, being the eldest son, but finds his excitement quickly dulled once he begins his apprenticeship. But then he climbs to the headland on the edge of the forest and views the ocean for the first time. He is memsmerised - even more so when he sights great ships in the distance. But what use is a passion for the sea when you live in a village on the egde of the forest? And, what's more, where would such a notion come from?
Andrew McGahan has written a pleasing new world where these questions pose very difficult problems for Dow. Difficult, but not impossible. And even when it seems he will be able to follow a life which at least aproximates his heart's desire, unthoughtof barriers arise. New Island is his home. It was once a strong naval community, but has generations hence lost the ight to pursue a life on the seas. Now the people work to provide tribute to the Ship Kings - the nation that has ruled the seas since the Great War, generations ago. A life at sea is in fact forbidden to New Islanders.
The travails of Dow provide for an original and engaging story. I did find that the middle section of the novel spent too long on too few incidents, yet by the end I was immediately hoping that McGahan's publishers would get that second volume out quick smart.
Andrew McGahan has written a pleasing new world where these questions pose very difficult problems for Dow. Difficult, but not impossible. And even when it seems he will be able to follow a life which at least aproximates his heart's desire, unthoughtof barriers arise. New Island is his home. It was once a strong naval community, but has generations hence lost the ight to pursue a life on the seas. Now the people work to provide tribute to the Ship Kings - the nation that has ruled the seas since the Great War, generations ago. A life at sea is in fact forbidden to New Islanders.
The travails of Dow provide for an original and engaging story. I did find that the middle section of the novel spent too long on too few incidents, yet by the end I was immediately hoping that McGahan's publishers would get that second volume out quick smart.
February 12, 2012
The only thing stopping this book being traditional high fantasy was an absence of elves and dwarves. However, it still read like one and moved at a very slow pace for much of the book. I found it very difficult to get into and didn't overly enjoy it. The formality of the writing made it very hard to connect with the characters and I wasn't emotionally moved by or connected to many of the books events. The fact that this is the first book in a planned quartet may have had something to do with the slowness, but even the arrival of the series-naming Ship Kings about half way through the book, though causing the pace to pick up a bit, didn't really raise the excitement levels.
Possibly the best thing I can say about the book is that it wasn't predictible - even though I knew that certain events had to occur for the series to progress, I couldn't predict what those events would be or what the outcome of them would be once they occurred. However, I have no hunger to know what happens next, so I think it is unlikely that I will continue with the series.
Possibly the best thing I can say about the book is that it wasn't predictible - even though I knew that certain events had to occur for the series to progress, I couldn't predict what those events would be or what the outcome of them would be once they occurred. However, I have no hunger to know what happens next, so I think it is unlikely that I will continue with the series.
April 29, 2012
The Coming of the Whirpool has all the elements of a modern classic for young adults: an unlikely hero who is only too aware of his frailty, a monumental struggle against the elements, drama, the hero's conflict within himself as well as with society.
The narrative's highs and lows mirror a sea voyage, the beginning of the journey, the quick takeoff under full sail, the unsettling calm of the doldrums, and the returning of the wind after the calm.
Although the language and level of description may be unfamiliar to some of today's teen readers (unless they are keen fantasy or crime lovers), this story brought to mind other great sea tales such as Moby Dick and The Old Man and the Sea. Dow has stayed with me long after I had finished reading - for me, the mark of a great story!
The first in a trilogy, the story is none the less satisfying and bound to be a classic of our time. 4 1/2 stars
The narrative's highs and lows mirror a sea voyage, the beginning of the journey, the quick takeoff under full sail, the unsettling calm of the doldrums, and the returning of the wind after the calm.
Although the language and level of description may be unfamiliar to some of today's teen readers (unless they are keen fantasy or crime lovers), this story brought to mind other great sea tales such as Moby Dick and The Old Man and the Sea. Dow has stayed with me long after I had finished reading - for me, the mark of a great story!
The first in a trilogy, the story is none the less satisfying and bound to be a classic of our time. 4 1/2 stars
March 6, 2012
It is quite literary. You have to be quite dedicated to reading it. At least I did. I have picked it up and put it down since the start of the year. But the last quarter I read in a couple of days. The last quarter is where it all pays off – for me, where the story all comes together. I wasn’t sure about the book or the style or the story until the last quarter, when The Coming of the Whirlpool did indeed sweep me up in the awe and the adventure of the sea and sailing and Dow’s world. Somehow I forgave the slow pacing and ponderous nature of the first half to two thirds, the relatively little action, because the end of the story feels so rewarding, and I get the feeling McGahan knew exactly what he was doing all along.
Full review at:
http://bookgrotto.blogspot.com.au/201...
Full review at:
http://bookgrotto.blogspot.com.au/201...
March 24, 2016
Why do the Young Adults get so many of the good stories. There should be another category "books for the Young Adults and readers who like to be lost in a good yarn".
In a fictional world where the Ship Kings rule and on North Island men are destined to follow in their fathers footsteps and pursue whatever job they had.
Each of the known Islands also have similar rules and each Island provide a specific set of goods to the Ship Kings. So the known world is ruled by rules and imposed fear.
Dow Amber comes along and is about to change the status quo that has existed for 80 years. Born into a wood cutting family he dreams of the ocean. By the end of the book he is on the ocean and a series of storylines have commenced.
This is an adventure story, a story about the sea, a great romp and thoroughly enjoyable.
In a fictional world where the Ship Kings rule and on North Island men are destined to follow in their fathers footsteps and pursue whatever job they had.
Each of the known Islands also have similar rules and each Island provide a specific set of goods to the Ship Kings. So the known world is ruled by rules and imposed fear.
Dow Amber comes along and is about to change the status quo that has existed for 80 years. Born into a wood cutting family he dreams of the ocean. By the end of the book he is on the ocean and a series of storylines have commenced.
This is an adventure story, a story about the sea, a great romp and thoroughly enjoyable.
October 11, 2014
This is an adventure story about a boy who wants to lead a different life to that which is expected of him to lead. He doesn't want to be a wood cutter but instead wants to go to sea on ships, something that is no longer permitted in his land. This is set in the time of sail ships made of wood on an island that is controlled by a foreign power. This is the way it has been for 80 years but Dow Amber wants a different life and he is given the opportunity. His quest to go to sea has just begun.
This is clearly the first book in a series and though entertaining in many ways it's a bit too introspective at times which is slows the story. I enjoyed it and will read the other books in the series, even though they are aimed at a much younger audience than myself.
This is clearly the first book in a series and though entertaining in many ways it's a bit too introspective at times which is slows the story. I enjoyed it and will read the other books in the series, even though they are aimed at a much younger audience than myself.
November 7, 2012
Absolutely loved it! I'd be surprised if not many people have heard about this book, it just seems too good to be true. And that ending! Ahh how I want the next book to come out! It's funny though, because this book was originally meant for my younger brother, but he never read it, it was during the holidays, I was bored. Add them all up and there you have it, I'm reading it. And I couldn't put it down. While quite a long book for just the beginning of a story, you will get sucked into the whirlpool if you're not careful.
January 9, 2015
What a joy. Rarely a book comes along that ticks all the boxes for me, but this one did. It not only told a great tale, but it twisted and turned in ways I wasn't expecting. I think I might even read the sequel (unheard of for me). No magic, just a world where the engine isn't invented yet - think "Pirates of the Carribbean"-style set in a world of Islands and the 'Pirates' are in charge.
Hugely recommended to Y9 and older as Dow Amber (our hero) starts young and ages to 16 by the end of this first in a series.
Hugely recommended to Y9 and older as Dow Amber (our hero) starts young and ages to 16 by the end of this first in a series.
July 29, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Have read Andrew McGahan's adult work and wondered how he would go with a book for younger readers. The plot really sets the stage for the coming adventures of Dow Amber, a young man with his heart set on following his dreams to a life of adventure on the high seas. This book contains much description which enables a very imagineable setting and well developed characters. Although a little slow at the beginning, I couldn't put it down.
July 12, 2013
Similar to Rangers Apprentice, this looks like it is going tone an epic tale. The story is about Dow Amber and how he has a love for the sea even though he was born in the woods of the Highlands. We discover he is a great, great, great grandson of Admiral Honous Tombs, the last great sea captain of New Island. In the first book of the series we find out how Dow ends up going to sea and the adventurers he has along the way.
April 3, 2016
I found this very slow with little character or world development. By about 50 pages I was questioning if I should continue, but decided that as it is a series it must improve!
Sadly, I just never engaged with the story and although I pushed through to the end, I won't be continuing with the next book.
Sadly, I just never engaged with the story and although I pushed through to the end, I won't be continuing with the next book.
May 26, 2016
A well-written and interesting YA novel. I liked how the writer developed a pretty realistic rich and developed society in an imaginary landscape, thus making this story relatable. It is more of an imaginary tale than a fantastic one. I'm sure it can be read by teenagers (from 14-15 I'd say) because the story never gets boring, however as a twentysomething I also enjoyed it a lot!
September 11, 2011
Andrew McGahan is amazing - he writes in so many different styles and always surprises. This is McGahan's first teen novel and it is the beginning of a fantasy trilogy. This is a magical novel with fascinating characters and a great set up. I can't wait to see where book 2 will take us.
March 8, 2013
what a fantastic adventure!! Part Hobbit, part Pirates of the Caribbean, part Horatio Hornblower, the first book in Andrew McGahan's Ship Kings series is wonderful. Clever writing, fabulous plot and fresh characters make this an outstanding read for just about anyone
November 7, 2011
Loving what I've read so far, a great combination of engaging writing with a literary edge to it. Fiona Parker and I will be speaking with Andrew on FRiday Nov. 11 after the 10.30am news on ABC Local Radio 91.1FM. I'll post my full review after that.
November 26, 2011
All the hallmarks of a swash-buckling classic from Miles Franklin award-winning author Andrew McGahan. The first in the Ship Kings series, 'The Coming of the Whirlpool' brims with adventure, heroism and secrets. A must-buy for boys 12+ this Christmas.
January 31, 2012
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. This review is the personal opinion of Lyn herself, and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of any judging panel, the judging coordinator or the Aurealis Awards management team.
I will be reviewing and rating this once the AAs are announced.
I will be reviewing and rating this once the AAs are announced.
May 14, 2012
I'm not in the target audience, but it's the kind of stuff I love - a driven young hero, a vivid fantasy setting, adventure, bravery, intriguing characters - roll on Book Two in the Ship Kings series.
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